Ohio History Journal

Editorialana.                        95

a reversal of the theory so universally accepted that Asia was the birth-

place of the race that later found its way, somehow and somewhere into

the western continent. Granted that the original American was "native

and to the manner born" and not an importation -the logic we may lay

down is as follows: barring the ice man, who may have or may not have

existed first, the Mound Builder was the first to put in an appearance,

at least so far as any remaining evidences testify. It is generally con-

ceded that the Mound Builder, whether the ancestor of the Indian or a

distinct race, antedated the Indians so-called. In other words, whoever

he was and whatever his descendants were, he, the Mound Builder, was

the "oldest inhabitant," and the one who may be called the original

American. It is well conceded that the Mound Builders' domain was

chiefly in the valleys of the Upper Mississippi and Lower Ohio. In the

present bounds of the Buckeye State are found the most numerous and

clearest evidences of his former habitation. In some twelve thousand

locations has he left remains of his sojourn or activity in this state. It

was his most populous region. May it not then have been his primitive

birthplace? And as the Scioto Valley is richest in his fortifications,

villages and burial sites, may it not have been the original center and

starting point? Ergo may not the original Adam and Eve have found

their Eden along the banks of the Scioto river rather than on the banks of

the Euphrates. Why not? "Man is very old in America--perhaps he

has been here fully a hundred thousand years, if not more," says Mr.

Pierce and Doctor Boas states, "that the American race has inhabited

our continent for an inconceivable long time." Vale, Asiatic antiquity

of the race and hail to the Buckeye beginning of the human family.

Ohio has ever been a wonderful state, prolific in all that is great and

progressive. No other state can compete with her in offering proofs

that here was not merely an aboriginal man but the original man. Upon

these scientific (?) suggestions the newspapers have reveled in comment

and criticisms. One very prominent daily went so far as to secure views

of the plains and hills about Chillicothe and present them as Kodak

pictures of the (New) original Garden of Eden. It only remains for

some enterprising journalist to discover in the mounds of Ross county

portraits of the primal pair before the serpent broke into the family

circle. Plausibility is further added to the theories above by the fact

that the serpent reclines on the hilltops overlooking Brush creek in

Adams county. Thither he doubtlessly crawled and still remains, "grand,

gloomy and peculiar," a gigantic warning to all happy families.

Editorialana.                         97

"All right," was the reply. "Bring them in."

A black man and woman were now taken from the wagon to the

house, and after receiving food, the secret panel from the cupboard was

removed, and they entered the hidden closet. Leaving the house, quietly,

the stranger drove away, while the whole scene remained enshrouded in

mystery. This scene was often repeated in the dark days before the

Civil War.

Perhaps there is nothing in the history of Clark County about which

so little is known, as her part in the "Underground Railway." Long

before the war, a Kentuckian, having followed his slave to Ripley, and

there losing all trace of him remarked, "He seems to have disappeared

on an underground road." Although spoken in fun, this incident after-

ward gave a name to those secret stations stretching from the Ohio river

and elsewhere to Canada.

The "Fugitive Slave Law," of 1850 gave the slave holders the right

to search for their slaves in other states, at the same time providing

for the laying of a heavy fine on any one refusing to assist in the search.

This law made even the enemies of slavery cautious, but they did not

cease giving secret aid and shelter to fugitives. Thus the history of the

Underground Railroad in Clark County was never written. Neither

diaries nor records can be found, and but few are living, who shared in

the exciting events of those days.

Most of the northern states east of the Mississippi, were crossed by

the trails of fugitive slaves. But of all these, Ohio was the favorite.

Slaves starting from the Ohio river, first reached the friendly Quaker

settlements of Clinton County. From there they went to Wilberforce

either through Xenia or Jamestown. The route then led to Selma and

South Charleston or Springfield. Another route entered from Dayton.

On reaching Springfield the fugitives were taken either to Urbana or

Mechanicsburg.

It will never be known how many citizens aided in secreting slaves.

In Springfield, John D. Nichols, whose residence in Mechanic street was

the secret station, probably assisted more slaves than any other person.

Others who gave support and money were: Geo. H. Frey, Christopher

Thompson, John Baldwin, Mrs. Ann Warder, Sampson Mason, Daniel

Morrow, Perry Stuart, Robt. Pyles and Chas. Stout. In the country were

Joseph Dugdale, James Farr, D. Heiskell, E. G. Coffin, Samuel Howell,

Jacob Jonathan and Wm. Pierce and others.

One of the noted incidents of the underground days, was the arrest

of five neighboring citizens and an attempt to take them away for inter-

fering with United States marshals, in capturing a slave. When the party

reached South Charleston they were stopped by Sheriff Layton. While

serving papers upon them, the ruffian marshals struck the sheriff to the

ground, inflicting serious wounds.

Constable Coffin now pursued the deputies to Green County, where he

overtook them and released the captives, after arresting the marshals.

Their arrest became a noted event, the New York Times referring to

it as the "Rebellion in Ohio." This act, however, aroused South Charles-

ton to an anti-slavery feeling, and at a public meeting they passed this

resolution:

Resolved, That we will make our town too hot to hold any informer,

resident or foreign, who may be found prowling in our midst, endeavor-

ing to involve our citizens in legal difficulties.

Within two blocks of the Nichols station of the Underground Rail-

road, now lives Chas. A. Harris. As a boy he once helped three fugi-

tives escape. One night in 1854, Dr. Joel Harris, who lived north of

Vol. XVII-7.

98         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

Springfield, aroused his son Charles, then but thirteen, telling him to go

to the barn and hitch up. The boy obeyed, but soon came back, fright-

ened, informing his father that he heard some one in the haymow. Tak-

ing a lantern, the father went out with Charles, and called, "Who's

night.

"Is that you, Dr. Harris ?" called a negro voice.

Soon three fugitive slaves appeared. They had been secreted by

Peter Bird, having been brought from Springfield.

"After giving them food," said Mr. Harris, "my father ordered me

to drive them to Pickrellton, nine miles away. Arriving, I called Mr.

Pickrell, saying as my father had told me, "I have brought some people."

Mr. Pickrell then led the fugitives into an orchard. Removing brush

from a hollow sycamore, the slaves crawled into a cave, dug out beneath,

where they were provided with food and blankets. The brush was thrown

carelessly over the entrance, and the slaves awaited the coming of another

night."

Among the colored freemen of that time, the most active for the

slaves, was Robert Pyles. His son, James H. Pyles, recalls the arrival

of seven fugitives one night. Secreting them at the Buckeye hotel barn,

they were hurried northward without discovery.

It is nearly fifty years since the time of the Underground Railway.

"Those were strenuous days," said men who are yet living to tell its

secrets. "All the money offered us by Southern slave masters, could not

silence abolition, for it was right." During the period more than five

thousand slaves escaped to the north, and not one was ever known to

be captured in Clark County. With their faces toward freedom, one

could hear the slave song:

"Dark and thorny is de pathway

Where de pilgrim makes his ways

But beyond dis vale of sorrow

Lies de fields ob endless days."

*       *    **

In conclusion with this paper, additional "notes" were submitted for

publication whenever it should be printed. This was made necessary, Mr.

Hypes explained, by the fact that he felt that the matter was important

but that it could not be added to his paper without running over the

1,000-word limit which was set by the rules of the contest.

These notes were retained by the contest editor and were not sub-

mitted to the judges. They are however, given here.

NOTES.

The introduction of the account, is based upon an actual event which

took place on Mechanic street across from my home. The old slave

station contained two secret closets. The part of the house which con-

tained the original slave cupboard has been removed, but the part con-

taining the other hiding place still stands, and is number 307 South

Mechanic street, now Lowry avenue. Before the former part was re-

moved, however, I frequently visited the cupboard, and have looked upon

it with much curiosity.

Entrance was gained to the latter by a trap door, which was cut

through the floor in a closet. Two joists had been removed between

the floor and lower ceiling, thus giving more space for the fugitives to

move. The trap door was easily covered over and would hardly have

been recognized.

Editorialana.                         99

A daughter of Mr. Nichols, the anti-slavery man, is yet living, and

gives in a letter to me interesting facts. She says:

"My father and mother became earnest anti-slavery advocates in

1841, and from that time until the war, the colored people knew my

parents as friends, and our home was a refuge. When old enough,

probably about the year '48 or '49, I became greatly interested in the

black people, who came quietly to our kitchen door after dark and left

before daylight; often we children did not know who our callers were,

but we soon understood 'the back door knock,' the look exchanged be-

tween mother and father, and the anxious mysterious atmosphere that

pervaded the home, until father had word from the next 'station.' I

remember one morning before light, hearing a noise down stairs. I

crept to the kitchen to find a big black man and woman, for whom break-

fast was being prepared. I was quickly taken back to bed.

"I, one evening overheard father telling mother 'he had found a half

killed darkey in the cornfield,' who must get some supper and sleep,

and he would see Mr. -     , and get him off before daylight. I did

not see the man."

E. G. Coffin who aided in the arrest of the United States marshals

for the assault on Sheriff Layton, was a nephew of Levi Coffin of Cin-

cinnati. At the head of the underground, he aided hundreds of slaves

on their way north. He was a Quaker. E. G. Coffin often drove the

underground 'express,' from South Charleston to Mechanicsburg, and had

secretly taken the slave Addison White there in 1855. For this and other

service he now states:

"The outbreak of the war itself, was all that saved me from a term

in the state penitentiary, over which I afterward presided as warden."

AUTHORITIES.

Geo. H. Frey, Sr., E. G. Coffin, James H. Pyles, Chas. H. Pierce,

Walter Pierce, Mrs. D. A. Johnson, Mrs. Belle Nichols Rebuck, Ver-

sailles, Indiana. As to arrests, The Springfield Nonpareil, issue 1857.

THE CENTRAL OHIO VALLEY HISTORICAL CONFERENCE.

During the Summer and early Fall of the past year (1907) a number

of Cincinnati gentlemen interested directly or indirectly in history in

general and Ohio Valley history in particular formulated a plan for hold-

ing what was designated as the Central Ohio Valley Historical Confer-

ence. The purpose of this plan was to bring together for the opportunity

of discussion and mutual acquaintance and co-operation all writers, schol-

ars, teachers and others engaged in the field of history and all societies,

whose object might be, in whole or part, the promotion of history, gath-

ering of material, presentation and dissemination of the same. Patriotic

societies were included in the scope of the project. The chief, if not

original, protagonist of this idea was Professor Isaac J. Cox, of the de-

partment of history of the University of Cincinnati. Professor Cox sub-

mitted the plan to the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Historical

Teachers' Association, which organization gave the idea enthusiastic sup-

port. General and special committees were appointed and many patriotic

100        Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

and historical societies lent their aid to the cause. The main and execu-

tive committee consisted of Mr. Charles Theodore Greve, author of "The

History of Cincinnati," the "Bench and Bar of Ohio," and professor of

law in the Cincinnati Law School; Professor Isaac Joslin Cox, mentioned

above, and Mr. Frank Parker Goodwin, professor of history in the Wood-

ward (Cincinnati) High School. Great praise is due this committee for

the energy and tact displayed in their work and for the more than success-

ful conclusion of their efforts, culminating in the series of important and

interesting meetings held Friday and Saturday, November 29th and 30th,

1907.

The first session of the conference was held in the afternoon of

Friday in McMicken Hall, University of Cincinnati. Mr. Charles T.

Greve presided and Mayor E. J. Dempsey of Cincinnati and President

Charles W. Dabney, of University of Cincinnati, welcomed the delegates

to the conference in short addresses, in which they expressed their appre-

ciation of the work being done by the historical and archaeological and

patriotic societies in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. The

main speaker of the occasion was Reuben Gold Thwaites, L.L. D., Sec-

retary of the Wisconsin Historical Society and well known author of

many works on western history. His theme was "The Mission of Local

History." It was a strong plea for the search for and preservation of

historical data hitherto neglected. Mr. E. O. Randall briefly presented

the history of the "Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society,"

its purposes, lines of work, relation to the state and local societies. Mr.

Virgil A. Lewis, Director State Department of Archives and History,

Charleston, W. Va., spoke of the work of his state and the great oppor-

tunity yet unimproved of gathering historical matter pertinent to the Ohio

river; his subject was "State Aid in Local History."  Mr. Charles B.

Galbreath, Ohio State Librarian, outlined the work of Ohio Library in

historical departments. "Local History Work in the Counties of Ken-

tucky," was interestingly and wittily put forth by W. W. Longmoor,

Curator Kentucky State Historical Society, Frankfort, Ky. The topic

"Recent Work in Prehistoric Fields," by Mr. Frederick W. Hinkle, Cin-

cinnati Branch, Archaeological Institute of America, afforded the speaker

an opportunity to present to the public for the first time an account of

the recent explorations in the famous Madisonville Prehistoric Cemetery.

The investigations were conducted in the summer of 1907, by the archaeo-

logical department of Peabody Museum, under the direction of Professor

F. W. Putnam. Mr. Hinkle personally participated in the explorations

which proved to be rich in discoveries quite new to Ohio archaeology.

In the evening the delegates repaired to the Queen City Club, where

at the banquet table they met a number of noted Cincinnatians. Charles

T. Greve acted as toastmaster. He introduced as the chief speaker of the

evening, William Dudley Foulke, of Richmond, Ind., a member of the

United State Civil Service Commission. His subject was "The Autocrat

Editorialana.                        101

of Indiana." The curiosity of the delegates had been aroused regarding

the identity of this personage, but it was soon allayed, as the speaker in

his introductory remarks mentioned the name of Oliver P. Morton in

such eulogistic terms as to leave no doubt that the famous War Gov-

ernor of Indiana was the "autocrat." The speaker told the story of Mor-

ton's life in such a manner as to keep the attention of his audience alert

till the last word was spoken. A chapter from the most exciting fiction

could not have been more interesting.

Prof. William H. Venable, who was expected to read an original

poem entitled, "The Founders," was unable to be present. His son, Prof.

Emerson Venable, recited the poem. This production is published else-

where in this Quarterly under the title, "Cincinnati." Short speeches were

then made by Prof. Merrick Whitcomb, R. G. Thwaites, Archer B. Hul-

bert, W. W. Longmoor, F. P. Goodwin, Virgil A. Lewis, James Alton

James and E. O. Randall.

The guests were Isaac J. Cox, R. G. Thwaites, J. A. James, C.

L. Martzolff, F. P. Goodwin, E. Venable, V. A. Lewis, S. B.

Harding, M. E. Marsh, Frank T. Cole, E. F. McIntyre, John Uri Lloyd,

C. M. Thompson, Albert S. Hill, Thomas C. Miller, Thornton M. Hinkle,

Harlow Lindley, Herbert Jenney, Charles L. Burgoyne, S. K. Bartholo-

mew, A. A. Weerland, M. Whitcomb, C. T. Greve, A. B. Hulbert, Alex-

ander Hill, E. R. Blaine, G. S. Sykes, E. W. Coy, D. L. James, C. J.

Livingood, John H. Miller, F. L. Steele, W. H. Mackoy, F. W. Hinkle,

C. L. Metz, John W. Harper, Ferd Jelke, Jr., F. R. Dyer, Demarchus C.

Brown, Harry B. Mackoy, John E. Blaine, P. S. Conner, Alston Ellis,

W. W. Longmoor, W. H. Siebert, W. D. Foulke, E. O. Randall and J.

A. James.

Saturday morning at McMicken Hall, was given to the teachers of

history. Mr. Wilbur H. Siebert, Professor of European History, O. S.

U., Columbus, Ohio, presided and rendered an appropriate address on the

general subject of history teaching. Welcome remarks were made by

Professor F. B. Dyer, Superintendent Cincinnati Public Schools, and

Professor Merrick Whitcomb, University of Cincinnati. A most scholarly

address was made by Mr. James Alton James, Professor of American

History, Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., on "The Teacher of

Social Sciences." This was followed by a discussion of the features of

the address by Professor Samuel Bannister Hardin, University of Indiana,

Bloomington, Ind.; Clement L. Martzolff, Professor of History, Ohio

University, Athens, Ohio; and Bertram L. Jones, Instructor in the Manual

Training High School, Louisville, Ky.; Archer Butler Hulbert, Professor

of American History, Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, and author of

many works on American history, spoke on "The Use of Local Records

in History Teaching," explaining his method of directing his pupils in

conducting original work among material accessible to their use.

At the close of the Saturday morning session the attendants upon

102       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

the conference were tendered a luncheon, served in one of the halls of

the University of Cincinnati. In the afternoon a reception was held by

the Hereditary Patriotic Societies, in the quarters of the Patriotic Soci-

eties, Mercantile Library Building. The social features of the reception

were preceded by an exceedingly entertaining program of addresses by

representatives of the Patriotic Societies. General Benjamin R. Cowen

presided and an introductory address was made by Mr. Henry B. Mackoy,

Covington, Ky., Sons of the Revolution and Chairman Reception Com-

mittee. Succeeding speeches were delivered by: Mrs. Herman Groesbeck,

Society of Colonial Dames; Rev. Henry M. Curtis, D. D., Society of

Colonial Wars; Mrs. John A. Murphy, ex-State Regent Daughters of the

American Revolution; Mr. John A. Blaine, Sons of the Revolution and

Mrs. Joseph C. Hosea, Daughters of the Confederacy. It was a brilliant

and fitting close to the two days of historical revelry and feasting. The

papers read and addresses made throughout the conference were of a

high order of merit and interest. The audiences were large and enthusi-

astic. Nothing could have exceeded the perfect arrangements of the

various committees in charge or the courtesy and hospitality of the

authorities of the University of Cincinnati and the people of the city.

The purpose of the conference to concentrate, direct and awaken new in-

terest in Ohio Valley History was more than accomplished. In connec-

tion with the meeting there was an exhibit of maps, manuscripts, and rare

volumes, in the library rooms of the Historical and Philosophical Society

of Ohio, in the Van Wormer Library Building. This exhibit was under

the direction of Miss L. Belle Hamlin, Librarian of the Society. A

special exhibit of books and maps, applicable to the nature of the con-

ference, was also made by Mr. N. D. C. Hodges, Librarian, in the rooms

of the Cincinnati Public Library.

At the Friday afternoon meeting a provisional committee of fifteen

on permanent organization was selected. This committee met after the

evening banquet and again on Saturday morning before the Teachers'

Session. At the close of the latter the committee of fifteen submitted

the report which follows and which was unanimously adopted by the con-

ference.

The Committee to whom was referred the task of drafting resolu-

tions on the subject of a permanent co-operation of the history workers

of the Ohio Valley beg leave to submit the following resolutions:

1st. Resolved, That there be formed an organization to be called the

Ohio Valley History Conference.

2d. Resolved, That membership in this organization be composed of

the following classes:

(a) Individual members.

(b) Organizations whose object it is to cherish all forms of patriotic

work, to stimulate a greater interest in history teaching in general and in

the subject of the local history of the Ohio Valley in particular, and to

Editorialana.                       103

aid in the collection, preservation, and publication of its records and of

original work based thereon.

(c) Persons not residing in the Ohio Valley but whose published

work or regular occupation naturally identifies them with our purpose.

3d. Resolved, That a second meeting of this conference be held one

year from date, at some place to be determined upon later, and that a

committee consisting of nine persons be empowered to prepare a program

and make other necessary preparations for this meeting; and in addition

to draft a permanent constitution to be acted upon at that meeting.

4th. Resolved, That the membership of this committee consist of the

following persons:

Isaac Joslin Cox, University of Cincinnati; Samuel Bannister Hard-

ing, University of Indiana; E. O. Randall, Ohio State Archaeological and

Historical Society; Virgil A. Lewis, State Department of Archives and

History, West Virginia; W. W. Longmoor, Kentucky State Historical

Society; Harry B. Mackoy, Filson Club and hereditary patriotic societies;

Frank Parker Goodwin, Cincinnati History Teachers' Association; Archer

B. Hulbert, Marietta College and Ohio Valley Historical Society, and

Clement L. Martzolff, Secretary, Ohio University, Athens.

The Committee of nine thus chosen decided to meet in Cincinnati on

January 17 and 18, 1908, at which time it will formulate definite plans

for the future scope and work of the conference.

KERR'S LIFE OF JOHN SHERMAN.

John Sherman in his will provided for the writing of an impartial

biography and in connection therewith his will says: "This provision

is not made to secure a eulogy, for I am conscious of many faults, but

I claim that in my duty to the public, I have been honest, faithful and

true." His biographer as well as his executor is Hon. W. S. Kerr, of

Mansfield, Ohio, in his duty enjoined upon him by Mr. Sherman in his

lifetime Mr. Kerr has written "John Sherman; His Life and Public

Services," in two handsome volumes making together nearly nine hundred

pages. Although Mr. Kerr approached his labor without literary train-

ing or experience, it can be truthfully stated no better written political

biography can be found in American bibliography. It is not only John

Sherman's life but it is an admirable contemporary history of events

surrounding the great Senator's career. It is not our purpose to dwell

upon the details of the work. It is sufficient to note that the work before

us is in complete harmony with the dignified character which is its sub-

ject. From Mr. Sherman's entrance into the House of Representatives

in 1855, to the day he laid down the port folio of Secretary of State in

President McKinley's Cabinet, it is a complete mirror of his public life

and a splendid review of all contemporary legislative politics in which he