GENEAL-OwV
o
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLI
3 1833 01729 2480
GENEALOGY
977.1
F498B
1907-
WKE SO CEXTS, mUfit 8 CENTS
NEW SERIES VOLUME XVI.
i The Firclands Pioneer
I F1RELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY }
) i
rWE RRELANDS MEMORIAL BUILDING
NORWALK, 0^0
f lA-r: ''■
.:. .,.■.'-■-
PRICE 50 CENTS, POSTAGE 8 CENTS
NEW SERIES VOLUME XVI.
The Firclands Pioneer
H'HI.ISHED BY THE
FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
HEADQUARTERS IN ,\ fe (\ < > o -
THE FIRELANDS MEMORIAL BUILDING
NORWALK, OHIO
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1906-1907.
Hon. Rush Et. Sloane, President Sandusky
Hon. C. II. Gallup, First Vice-President Norwalk
A. J. Barney. Second Vice President .Milan
Dr. A. Sheldon, Recording Secretary Norwalk
Hon. S. E. Crawford, Treasurer Norwalk
Hon. C. II. Gallup, Librarian .Norwalk
Miss Marian Comings, Assistant Librarian Norwalk
Dr. F. E. Weeks. Biographer Huron County Clarksfield
John McKelvey, Biographer Brie County Sandusky
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES.
The President and Secretary, Ex-Officio,
J. M. Whiton, Hon. C. II. Gallup, I. M. Giu ett,
Thomas M. Sloane. Hon. J. F. Laning.
PUBLISHING COMMITTEE.
Hon. C. H. Gallup.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
OF
FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING
OF THE
Firelands Historical Society
FIRELANDS MEMORIAL ROOMS, PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING, NORWALK,
OHIO, DECEMBER, 12, 1906.
MORNING SESSION.
The annual meeting of the Firelands Historical Society
was called to order in the Memorial Rooms of the Society at
the Public Library, by the president, Judge Rush R. Sloane,
at 10 a. m.
President Sloane said :
The first business in order this morning is the invocation
of our Heavenly Father upon the proceedings of this meeting,
and I will ask Rev. Mr. Dumper to open the meeting with
prayer.
Invocation by Rev. Mr. Dumper:
Let us pray. Almighty God, who of old didst lead our
Fathers to this place and to them didsl granl assured dwelling
and security, the blessings of home and of harvest, we be-
seech Thee that Thou wouldst, as we recall those days, make
us mindful of Thy manifold mercies in the enjoyment of
our heritage. Help us to remember that in their courage,
their strength, their faith, they are set for our example, and
do Tl bequeath to us their visions and their hopes. Eelp
1210 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
us, Lord God, to meet their spirit with the consecration of
Thy presence, to realize that others have labored and that
we are but entered into their labors. As they have striven,
so help us to strive, to take their spirit of prayer, their spirit
of high endeavor as our constant inspiration, our renewal of
strength, so that we, with them, may maintain and set for-
ward equal just ice, liberty, sound learning' and culture, re-
ligion and piety in our blest community.
Heavenly Father, we pray Thee that Thou wilt bless this
annual gathering and those instrumental in setting it for-
ward. With them, help us to see the real truth which binds and
exalts the generations of men. Help us, with them, to recall
and emulate those who have gone before. Guide us, Father,
lest iu our prosperities, we forget the rock whence we are hewn
and whence we derive our strength; lest in the face of our
difficulties and dangers we forget what manner of spirit we
are of; lest, God. when we have eaten and are full, we Eorget
Thy abundant blessings; lest, forgetting the past, we should
also forget Thee. Help us and open our eyes that we may see
that real divinity which in the flight of time shapes all our
days, so that recalling those, the brave and the faithful, the
deeds of those, the patient and the true, we too may read that
deeper spirit of history and see with the faith of old limes that
it is the Lord's doings and it is marvelous in cur eyes. In all
these gatherings, Lord God, lead us to see this vision of Thy
Providence, this spirit of history, and pledge ourselves anew to
m of the fathers. We ask it for Thy great name's sake.
Amen.
President Sloane:
Ladies and Gentlemen: In behalf of the officers of this
Association, I welcome you here today. We have met for the
purposes of consultation and for examining the beau:
jects which are on exhibition in the other room. Certainly our
officers have been especially active in getting matters in good
shape, and no pioneer can enter this building without feelings
of thankfulness for all the active work thai has been done here.
Of all the counties in < >hio, no other county can exhibil the sight
that is to be seen on every hand in this fine building, and we
PROCEEDINGS 1211
certainly all feel not only thankful to the citizens of Norwalk
who have so actively interested themselves in this good work,
hut we feel that a Heavenly Divine Providence has guided us
in obtaining' within th<' years thai have gone by, not quite fifty
years, a lovely nice home and a building in every way suitable
to our demands. I am sure that we feel very thankful to the
gentlemen who have so kindly labored in effecting and prepar-
ing this complete work.
My pleasure is to tell you that the officers of this society
feel thankful thai you have met them here, a goodly number
and a goodly day.
That we may continue prosperous and healthful as an in-
stitution, is nn Eervenl wish and prayer, and I hope that in the
future, as in the past, it will be known as one of the leading
historical societies of the state.
1 thank you for your attention.
lion. C. II. Gallup:
1 move you the appointment of a committee of three to
reporl a list of officers Eor election for this society for the
ensuing year. Supported and adopted.
President Sloane: I will name as members of that com-
mittee, Mr. C. 11. Gallup, Mr. Isaac McKesson and Philip N.
Schuyler.
Mr. Gallup: Mr. President, there are matters of business
connected with this institution which should be attended to
at this time. I would like to call the attention of the pioneers
to the fad thai we have our museum in a fire proof room, ab-
solutely safe, concrete Boors and concrete ceilings, from the
basement to the roof, so that all the resl of the building can
burn away and our museum will remain intact. Thi i
is provided with an au1 atic drop steel curtain thai is held
open bj a fusible link thai will mel1 .-it the temperature of boil-
ing water. Before wood would burn, that curtain will drop and
shut off the museum pari from the rest of the building. I make
this statement .so you may know thai what \oi I
historical value is protected for all ti ,
1212 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
While we have a fire proof, permanent museum, we have
a perpetuity of management. This society may cease to exist,
the Library Society may ce; and still it will all be
looked after, because back of all these societies stands the
Whittlesey Academy, an organization which exists in perpetuity,
built upon framework planned by the early citizens here, of which
Mr. Schuyler, imu present, was and is still a member. There
.are twenty- Hour others.
The lease under which we occupy provides for its perpe-
tuity. We Know thai it will never be frittered away, never
disturbed and taken to some other pit It is permanent for
all time, I'm- you and your children to come, see and study, and
I can I'll yen there is a greal deal to study in what tl
here.
I have been at work nearly two years, trying to arrange,
and label your collection, and have only made a mencement
at it. yet ymi will see many labels. Everything has a history.
Everything refers in some waj to the early settlement of the
Pirelands, either in itself or because the person who brought it
here is a pioneer or the descendant of a pioneer.
We have one collection here thai is very valuable. Large
sums id' money have been offered for it and refused. It was
made at my requesl in the Phillipine Islands by the grandson
.d' one of inn' pioneers, Ethan A. Pray, who was -., conduct <■ en
the underground railway. One of bis grandsons is in the
service of the United states. I requested his brother to write
him ami the Van Dusen collection is the result.
A g I manj others have their collections bere and they
aiv here for all time. A few more such friends as
Wallace Van Dusen of the I'. S. Army would soon make our
collection one i
We nave a Dumber of Life members, although aol as many
as we oughl to have. They are as follows :
J. • >. Cunningham, Joh it C. H. Gallup, < '. Et.
Green, ('harks Graefe, P. 11. Jones, J. P. Laning, P. Et. Loomis,
John MeK, Ivy. P. \. Schuyler, Rush li. Sloane, T. .M. Sloane,
G. T. Stewart, Pruman B. Taylor, J. M. Whiton, Calvin Whit-
ney, Th lore Williams. S. A. Wihlman.
PROCEEDINGS 1213
At our last meeting, the following were added to this list:
J. Warren Keifer, Albert Douglass, Hiram Smith. David
Gray, John Beattie, E. L. Young.
The payment of $5.00 will constitute you a life member of
this society with the right to future publications; $10.00 will
constitute yon a life mber with the right to future publica-
tions of this society and the back numbers so far as we have
them mi hand fur distribution. I think Vol. 'J of the old series
is the farthest hack we can deliver to you. There will be four
numbers of that and then fifteen numbers of the new series, so
that you get a very valuable historical collection if you become
a life member by the payment of the $10.00 fee.
It requires $1.00 for one year's membership, and we would
like now to take a. list of those pioneers who are here, with their
ages. We would like to have the names of all who see fit to
become members for the ensuing year.
My name is [saac McKesson. I was born January 12, 1821.
1 live in Collins, Ohio.
Mr. Gallup: Mrs. McKesson, do you care to give your age?
Mrs. McKesson: 1 was born in 1840.
Mr. Gallup: Let me tell a story right here. I was at
Newark. X. .1.. last summer, visiting Hie State Historical Society
i is. and tiny have very nice rooms, hut they haven't the col-
lection we have, except in Revolutionary relies and library.
Aside from that, their collection does not compare with ours.
There was a gentleman from the Emerald Isle in charge. He said
he was there merely in the absence of the Librarian who was off
on her vacation. Every time 1 called he regretted very much
the librarian was not there so that 1 could see her. Finally I
said. "Ilou old a lady is the librarian.'" "Faith," he said. "I
niver ask a lady her age, but if I was to give you my opinion, 1
should say she was aboul forty." (Laughter).
My name is \Y. ('. Allen. 1 was born November 5, 1831. T
live in Klyria. Ohio. Moved to the Firelands in L834, ami. with
a short period of time excepted, have always been a resilient
of the Pirelands. For several years 1 was the secretary of this
society. 1 have had the pleasure of attending manj of the
meetings of the society. My friend, McKesson, and 1. went to
1214 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
some of the first meetings. We went to Sand Hill and to Wake-
man. Among the relics shown was a new pulpit built for the
use of Kev. Betts. By the way. I claim to be some relation to
that pulpit. I married the daughter of the man that made it.
My name is Charles Soule. I am seventy-seven years of
age. Live in Norwalk.
H. S. Mitchell. Live in Norwalk.
6. H. Mains, Wakeman. Ohio. Seventy-three years of age.
E. B. Harrison, Norwalk, Ohio. Was born November 23,
1S34. Came to Norwalk in 1853. Then part of it was only a
wilderness, especially over on the Hill. •
L. S. Gilson. Norwalk. Sixty-five years of age.
Russell Godfrey: I want to make a few remarks. When
Ethan Pray's name was mentioned, it brought to my mind a
little incident that transpired many years ago that gave a color-
ing at least to my life. In the winter of 1840 and 1841, Ethan
Pray taught school in North Fairfield. I was a pupil in that
school. I was about six years old at that time. The teacher,
Mr. Pray, always opened the school with prayer. I was a small
boy and full of mischief. One morning while he was engaged
in that service. I had a piece of chalk in my pocket. I took it
out. His back was turned, and I marked down the back of his
old bine swallow tail with that piece of chalk, little thinking
that he felt it. When he got through, he pulled off his coat,
went and got his whip and I think he gave me as
ever got. Bu1 that whipping was the best lessen 1 ever
learned in school. It taught me never io interfere with public
worship of God in any form from that day to this, and I feel
thankful today for that lesson. Aliout ten years ago. 1 met .Mr.
Pray here on the square and was introduced to him. I told him
of this incident. "Well." he said, "if it did you any good, 1
of it."
I have been a residenl of Huron countj many years, would
have been today if they hadn't sliced off Ruggles township. I
have always been sorry they took us off from old Huron. In
Huron county lay m; es and greatesl interests. 1
have friends here in Norwalk. and there is no spot on earth
that seems more like home than North Fairfield and Norwalk.
PROCEEDINGS 1215
I attended the home coming at North Fairfield last year, and
I saw but very few of the people I knew in 1840.
I wish to become a member of this society. I expect to
remain in Norwalk for some little time at least.
I was born in Marcellns, N. Y., January 6, 1833. I came
with my parents to North Fairfield in 1834.
R. N. Wilcox: I am old enough to be a pioneer, but have
only lived on the Western Reserve about forty-six or forty-seven
years. I was born in Connecticut in 1831. My post office
address is Milan, Ohio.
F. W. Rowland: 1 was born in 1837. My father moved to
Clarksfield in 1818. My greal grandmother was Grace Wild-
man. I was six years old when she died. I am not much of
a pioneer, but was born in a Log house just south of Clarksfield
Hollow. I have always lived, with the exception of just a few
years, in Huron county. I now reside in Wakeman.
J. N. Watrous. Born in 1823.
D. B. Smith, Clarksfield. Fifty-four years of age.
W. M. Peek. Wakeman. Born in 1834.
Mr. Gallup : A person does not have to be a pioneer to
become a member. We take in anybody.
A. W. Pierce. Born in 1833. Live in Collins.
Presideni Sloane: Our besl and ablest men have written
a great many articles for the Pioneer. They will bear the in-
spection of anybody. The lone is g 1. the object is good. It
is full of the love of your state. Love of your country. It has
always been on the right side. It is of greal historical value.
I hope we will get a i'cw more to sign here today.
1). L. C Ransom, Sandusky. Ohio. Born in 1840.
Thomas Stratton. Born in 1821. Present, but do not care
to become a member just now.
('. W. Manahan. Xonvalk. Ohio. Ninety-three
Mr. Gallup: Mr. Manahan is the oldest person present.
President Sloane: 1 hold iii my hand a work thai '
been published. H is of more than ordinary interest. Sou will
recall, those of you who were present four years a 'o. thai on
that occasion Hon. Charles Pennewell, then of Cleveland, de-
an address here upon the military career of William
1216 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Hull a1 the time governor of Michigan and the commander of
the army defending the city of Detroit. Judge Pennewell's
address was a masterly cue and most interesting.
Within the presenl year, the friends and family of Robert
Lucas have published his journal of the War of 1812 during
the campaign under General William Hull. Etoberl Lucas at
one time was governor of Ohio, elected tin- second time governor
of Ohio, and also became the territorial governor of the state of
Iowa.
This is the introduction of the Robert Lucas Journal:
"The War of 1812, beneficial as it was in its results to
the United Stales, does not present when studied in de-
tail a consistent progress toward victory. It was begun
with seeminglj no thought for preparation and concluded
with apparently little aid to the causes which broughl it
about. It was not well managed by tie' administration
al Washington and among the generals in the field, there
was much blundering incompetei Individual bravery
and patriotism broughl glory in the naval warfare, but
on the land, with few exceptions, the campaigns were dis-
tinctly unfortunate. Particularly discouraging was the
opening campaign under the command of General Wil-
liam Hull, governor of the territory of Michigan.
"Tlie purpose of the Hull campaign was to march
to l>et mil and from that place across the river and com-
mence a conquesl of Canada. General Hull, with an
arm; sting largelj of Ohio volunteers, made his way,
in May and June, through the swamps and wild. 'mess of
lie ii and Camped .'i few miles below the town of Detroit.
i Mi Julj 12th, urged by his impatient officers, he crossed
the river and began his conquest by issuing a proclama-
tion to the inhabitants of Canada. The following weeks.
however, broughl little hut inaction and vacillation, and
early in August he withdrew his force under lover of
i to l lanada soil, (hi Sunda
ing, the sixteenth of August, 1812, without having
d the enemj in a single concerted action, he sur-
' 'oit i,, the British.
PROCEEDINGS 1217
"Although the officials at Washington were very culpa-
ble in the management of the movements in the west, the
administration succeeded in extricating itself from the
blame, and General Hull received the outpouring of
wrath from his entire country for the failure of the cam-
paign. His disappointed army was particularly bitter
and even accused him of treacherous betrayal. A courl
martial tried the case, convicted him of cowardice and
ied him to be shot. President Madison, however,
spared his life. General Hull spent the remainder of Ins
years in retirement aud died an old man. still insisting
upon the rightness *of his course aud finally attempting
to justify himself before the nation.
"During the disastrous Hull campaign. Robert Lucas
of Scioto county, Ohio (afterwards governor of the state
of Ohio and still later the organic governor of the Ter-
ritory of Iowa), was in constant service and in a position
which brought him in contact with every phase of the
campaign. He kept a daily .journal of the events which
is distinctly valuable in that it gives a contemporaneous
view of the campaign from the standpoint of an actual
participant. For over ninety years, this interesting .jour-
nal, which is here published for the first time, has been
carefully preserved by the descendants of Roberl Lucas.
It is recorded in a note book of about 8x4% inches in
dimensions, opening at the end, with board covers and
leather back and corners. The covers are broken and
the pages are yellow with age, but despite its almost one
hundred years, the writing is as legible as ever and tells
a story of exciting interest to the student of American
history.
"Roberl Lucas, the author of the journal, had come to
Ohio near the beginning of the nineteenth century and
settled in what is now Scioto county. In L804, he was
commissio 1 lieutenant in a i pany of volunteers re-
cruited in apprehension of the refusal of Spain to peace
ahly surrender possession of the Louisiana territory, then
recently purchased of Napoleon bj the United States
THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Again in 1807, he was chosen captain of a volunti
pany. who tendered its services to President Jefferson,
during the excitement following the attack upon the
Chesapeake by the British ship Leopard. Actual service
was, however, not required of either of these c panies.
"In the Ohio militia, Lucas had risen by sui
promotions until at the opening of the War of 1^1 -. lie
was brigadier general of the second brigade of the second
division, lie had been for some time desirous of becom-
gular army officer, and being finally tendered an
appointment, lie accepted in April, I^Il*. a commission
as captain in the regular army of the United States. A
■ later, lie received orders from Major i
Duncan McArthur (at that time in coi
second division of the Ohio militia) to transmit at once
oportion of the 1,200 men required
of the state for the coming campaign againsl the British.
i rders placed Roberl Lucas in rather a peculiar
lint having received no orders as a regular
led after some delib iration thai the
litem's i ".sitaled his attend-
brigadier gem ral in the I »hio militia.
Withoul delay he set aboul recruiting volunt.
"The need Eor volunteers was urgent and Lucas threw
himself into thi with all his enthusiasm. In-
stead id' waiting for a position as officer, which hi' could
tedly have had after the organization of h
irst as a
private companies which chos
i. I lis purpos
nlistments amo brigade.
His name rer pany roll th
os to have preferred the in-
l ranger
i shows. Thus. Roberl Lucas was
I ime a captain in the 1 baited States
PROCEEDINGS 1219
army, a brigadier general in the Ohio militia and a pri-
vate in a volunteer company.
"The volunteer companies started on their march to
the rendezvous at Dayton, Ohio, on April ".27, 1812, and
from this point the Robert Lucas Journal tells its own
story.
"Beginning with the twenty-fifth day of April, 1812,
the journal records the details of the campaign until
August sixteenth, when Detroit was surrendered. Then
it tells of the return of the disheartened Ohio volunteers
across Lake Erie and the state of Ohio and down the river
to Portsmouth. It ends on September 4, 1812, with the
arrival of Robert Lucas at his home in Portsmouth, Scioto
county, Ohio. One hundred and forty-one pages are
devoted to this daily chronicle. Following these are
twenty-eight pages upon which are recorded religious
poems, evidently composed by Robert Lucas in his later
years of life.
"But this unique manuscript did not remain altogether
unknown to the world. It has been used at least twice
in preparing short sketches of Robert Lucas. In 1834,
the writer of a newspaper sketch favoring the re-election
of Lucas as governor of Ohio evidently had access to its
pages. Again in 1870, Dr. Frederick Lloyd at that time
corresponding secretary of the State Historical Society
of Iowa wrote for the Annals of Iowa a brief sketch of
Iowa's first governor, which shows intrinsic evidence that
he had perused the pages of the Robert Lucas Journal.
"The most notable instance of the use of the manu-
script, however, was at the close of the Hull campaign.
Among the four colonels in the campaign under General
Hull was Lewis Cass. Immediately after the surrender
of Detroit. Ceneral Hull was taken to Canada as a pris-
oner of war. Colonel Cass, however, started at once for
Washington where he made a detailed report of the cam-
paign to the secretary of war. This report severely
condemned General Hull for his conduct of the campaign
and was largely instrumental in bringing about the court
THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
martial and conviction of that officer. A comparison of
the < 'ass reporl with the Robert Lucas .Journal reveals the
fad thai Cass incorporated into his report sections taken
verbatim, or with slight alterations, from the Journal.
The conclusion thai Ca.ss copied from Lucas rather than
the reverse is strengthened by the fact thai the para-
graphs in which the duplications occur mosl frequently
are those describing in great detail the events a1 Detroil
on the day of the surrender, at which time Colonel Cass
was miles away on an expedition to the River Raisin. It
is fair to presume thai Lucas Inane, I the journal to Colonel
('ass to assist him in the preparation of his report.
■"The record is entirely in the hand writing of Roberl
Lucas. It was written in camp and on the march for he
evidently carried the journal with him throughout the
campaign. Oh August 25, as he was leaving Cleveland
nil his return home, he writes. '1 here got a knapsack
and fil(l)ed it with my uniform cloth(e)s, hat, my jour-
nal ami such other articles as I did no1 wish to Leave.'
The writing naturally is hurried and in some cases rather
difficult to decipher. Especially is this true in regard
to proper names to which the contexl gives no clue. Care
has been taken to verify these names from every available
source, hut in many cases such verification is impossible.
In editing the manuscript of the Robert Lucas Journal
certain rules have been followed which may require a
brief explanation. An effort has been made to reproduce
the journal with exactness as regards spelling punctua-
tion ami capitalization. Where letters have been omitted
bj the author, they have been supplied in editorial
brackets. Exception, however, has been made in some
cases where words would have been uniformlj used as
abbreviations as Genl for General and Colo I'm- Colonel.
'i matters taken from the collection of Lucas
letters and papers lia\e been printed in appendices. ao1
as a part of the journal, 1ml simply as throwing addi-
tional lighl upon the story of the campaign.
PROCEEDINGS 1221
"The editor wishes to make special acknowledgment
to Prof. Benjamin P. Shambaugh for valuable advice
and assistance in preparing the manuscript for press.
"John C. Parish.
"The Stale University of Iowa. Iowa City."
Mr. Gallup: I move you, Sir. that the thanks of the society
be extended to our worthy president for the presentation of this
valuable historic paper.
Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Mr. Mains: There is a little incident connected with Hull's
surrender. White Pigeon was named from an Indian chief.
When Hull surrendered his army at Detroit, White Pigeon
was present. He started for home, warning the people on the
way, until he arrived at what is now White Pigeon. He was
taken sick soon afterward from the over exertion and was buried
there. The Indians have built a mound over the grave.
Mr. Sheldon : I have a letter or two here from some of
our members who could not be present. Among those received
are the following :
December the 3rd, 1906.
Dr. A. Sheldon, Norwalk, Ohio.
My dear Dr. Sheldon :
It seems that I am foreordained to disappointment as to
attendance in Norwalk of the meeting, of the Firelands His-
torical Society. This year the board of managers will be in
session on the twelfth and thirteenth of December, and as it is
a parole meeting, my presence is imperative. I shall, therefore,
be under the necessity of sending my regrets. I have always
wished to attend these meetings in your city, and still hope
to do so in the future and trust you will not get weary of sending
me invitations.
Yours truly,
J. A. Leonard.
Superintendent Ohio State Reformatory,
Mansfield, Ohio.
1222 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Mansfield, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1906.
Dr. A. Sheldon, Sect., Norwalk, 0.
Dear Sir:
Tour notice of the annual meeting of the Firelands His-
torical Society came duly to hand. In answer I can say, on ac-
count of the lateness of the date, December 12th, and my age,
January 7, 1907 (94), Justice would say. stay at home. Nothing
would please me more than to be with you all on that memorable
day, and I hope you may all enjoy yourselves and be happy.
My best respects to all.
Yours very truly,
H. R. Smith.
Dr. Sheldon : Mr. Smith was with us last year. He was
the oldest person present at that meeting.
President Sloane: "What is the pleasure of the meeting in
regard to these letters?
Mr. Allen : I move the acceptance of these letters and that
they be filed with the secretary.
Motion seconded and carried.
Mr. Gallup : Mr. William H. Cleveland presents this beauti-
ful deer head, with this card: "Killed and mounted by "Wm.
II. Cleveland. Killed in Ottawa county, November 15, 1S95.
Presented December 12, 1906."
Mr. E. B. Harrison: I move that a vote of thanks be ex-
tended to Mr. Cleveland for this magnificent gift to the His-
torical Society.
Mot inn seconded and unanimously carried.
Mr. Gallup: The committee that you appointed this fore-
the Domination of officers have directed me to report
this list of officers :
dent, Hon. Rush R. Sloane. Sandusky, Ohio.
First Vice President, Hon. C. II. Gallup, Norwalk. Ohio, in
place of s. A. W'ildiiian. who having been elected to the Circuit
Bench will be in Toledo most of the time Eor the nexl few years.
Si cond \ ice President, A. J. Barney, Milan, Ohio.
Recording Secretary, Dr. A. Sheldon, Norwalk, Ohio.
Treasurer, lion. S. E. Crawford. Norwalk. Ohio.
PROCEEDINGS 1223
Librarian, Hon. C. H. Gallup, Norwalk, Ohio.
Assistant Librarian, Miss Marian Comings, Norwalk, Ohio.
Biographer for Huron county, Dr. F. E. Weeks, Clarksfield,
Ohio.
Biographer for Erie county, Mr. John McKelvey, Sandusky,
Ohio.
Board of Directors and Trustees, the President and Secre-
tary, ex-officio. J. M. Whiton, C. H. Gallup, I. M. Gillett, Thomas
M. Sloane, J. P. Laning.
Publishing Committee, Hon. C. II. Gallup.
Your committee report this list and recommend their elec-
tion.
Mr. Allen : Mr. Chairman, I do not know who would be the
proper party to put that motion. I move'you, Sir, that the re-
port bo unanimously adopted.
Dr. Sheldon: I suggest that Mr. Mains put the motion.
Motion put by Mr. Mains. S mded and unanimously car-
ried.
After distribution of dinner tickets, .Mr. Gallup moved that
tin' meeting adjourn until 1:00 p. m.
Motion seconded and carried.
Adjournment.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Meeting called to order at 1:00 p. m. by President Sloane.
Dr. Sheldon: About two weeks ago, Mi-. .1. M. Wliiton, one
of our active members living in Wakeman, came over here to
Xurwalk and suggested Unit it' it was thoughl best, lie would
like to arrange a miniature "Id fashioned rami scene. He was
(inly here a short time, lie met and we came up here to the
library to see about it. Mr. Whiton said the platform here would
be just the place he wanted. We gave Mr. Whiton what en-
couragement be aeeded, and he told us wo mighl exped him
here. On Monda> morning last, he shipped his buildings up
here and himself and Monday and Tuesday he employed in
arranging his Earm scene. It is certainly a very greal credit
1224 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
to the society, and we wish to offer a resolution of thanks to
Mr. Whiton in behalf of the society, in behalf of the com-
munity. Mr. Whiton has kindly consented to let this remain
here for a time, as long as we want it. Probably we shall invite
in the school children by classes to come here and get an object
lesson or something of an idea of what pioneer times were. I
now offer this resolution.
President Sloane: You have heard the motion as made by
Dr. Sheldon, certainly a very deserving statement, and I should
be very glad to see that motion carried by the members of the
society that are present.
Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Mr. Gallup : We had a roll call this forenoon. Only part
of those here now gave their names. We would like now to hear
from all those who did not respond this forenoon, and those
who have come in since then, who wish to become members. It
is not necessary that you should be a native of the Firelands.
Anj'body can become a member for one year by the payment of
$1.00.
Dr. Sheldon : My mother has come in since dinner and
she wishes to give her name.
Mary G. Sheldon, born in 1816. in the county of Hunter,
state of New York. Came to this county when seventeen years
old and have been a resident of the county ever since. \Ye settled
in Fitchville township. After my marriage, went to Green-
wich township.
Mr. L. 1.. Doud: I would like to join your Association. I
have been a resident of this comity for sixty-eight years. Was
born here
Mr. George B. Sheffield: Born in the state of New York
in 1838. In 1840 came to North Monroeville and 1 have lived
within ten miles of this building ever since.
Dr. .Martin: I am eighty years old. I was born in Fitch-
ville. lluroi unty. When a boy, 1 went to school to Mrs.
Sheldon. I do uo1 know as I ever suffered any pioneer hard-
ships. We lived on Johnny cake and were satisfied, dee]- and all
kinds of animals. There is one thine | remember well and that.
PROCEEDINGS 1225
is the "leeky" milk* we use to get. There were a few things
about farming I never did like, pulling flax, turning the fanning
mill and grindstone. I haven't anything more to say.
J. H. Sharp : Born January 28, 1835, right across the
street from here, where the Universalist Church now stands.
Mr. Allen: I saw you, Brother Sharp, on the top of that
pole when it fell, but I didn't see you go with it — back in the
Lincoln days.**
Dr. Martin: There's a good deal of history about us young
boys.
President Sloane: I now want to suggest that during the
past year there has been a book published about Mr. Lincoln
that if you have not seen it, you ought to read. It is "Lincoln
the Lawyer." The writer is a distinguished gentleman of New
York City. He has discovered greater virtue in Lincoln as a
lawyer than lias ever been discovered by any man or woman.
He shows very concisely that Lincoln was not only greal in
politics, in his civil and home life, but great as a lawyer, and I
recommend the book to any one who lias not read it.
Dr. Sheldon : Mr. Gallup has gone to get a cane presented
to this society, made from one of the logs in the building in
which Lincoln kept grocery.
President Sloane: I do not recall that Lincoln ever kept
grocery.
Dr. Sheldon : Well, he kept a store of some kind.t
Isn't there some one else who feels interested enough to
become a member of this society? We want you. We want
you all. boys, girls, men and women. There isn't any reason
*The "leek" is a wild onion that in early days grew plentifully in
our pasture lands. Cows grazing on "leekj pa itures" produced "leeky"
milk and butter.
**ln the second Lincoln campaign, 1SC4. James H. Sharp and Paul
Jones were fifty feet up on the crosstrees of a liberty pole on the
courthouse corner. When the topmast was raised to place, some slip
caused it to fall and break in pieces but the boys bung tight.
tin is::l' candidate for legislature but tailed. After the campaign,
the chance to obtain a pari interest in a grocery store tempted him
into an occupation for which lie was little tilted. Ho became junior
partner, in firm of Berrv & Lincoln. — Abraham Lincoln, by G. .Morse,
vol. 1, p. 39.
1226 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
why you should not become a member. It is a Historical Soci-
ety, not a Pioneer Society.
President Sloane: I will say, fellow citizens, in regard
to these books, I do not believe you can make an investment in
books that will pay more in what you learn from them than
will these Fireland Pioneers. A full set will sell readily any
day for $75.00.
Mr. Gallup: Mr. President, you were talking about Lin-
coln a few moments ago. I have here a cane. There is a
medallion representation of Lincoln on it, that is as perfect as
any picture 1 have ever seen of Mr. Lincoln. This was pre-
sented by Mrs. H. K. House. December 11, 1906. It was pre-
sented l«i !•'. I). Reed by Dr. Reed of Illinois. F. D. Reed, by
the way, was the first white child born in Huron county. lie
:i iii Greenfield township, April "-'•"i. 1812, ami died at
Norwalk, obi,,. Augusl 1::. 1891. This letter was sent with it:
'•Petersburg. 111.. April 27, 1889.
" I (ear Friend :
"By today's express, I send you a cane made from a piece
of lumber that came from the inside woodwork of Lincoln's old
store at old Salem. The carving was done by a man
who lives here and who has made a number of such canes."
My name is Sarah Brown. Mrs. Henry Brown. I was born
in Norwalk, Augusl 12, 1829. It has been my home ever since.
I am a grand-daughter of Piatt Benedict, the first settler here
in Norwalk.
Benjamin Nyman, residenl of Norwalk. eighty-six
age.
A. J. Barney, hern m 1829. Came to the Firelands in
1832. Lived on the Firelands ever sine-.
1'. N. Schuyler, resident of Bellevue, bora Septa
1819.
President Sloane: I have always hail a greal deal >>( re-
specl for my friend Mr. Schuyler. I always thoughl that he
was il Idesl man 1 knew. IP was the oldest man in the
Norwalk Seminary in 1843 when 1 attended it.
PROCEEDINGS 1227
EL R. Boardman : I do not profess to be a pioneer. I have
lived in Huron county seventy-two years.
Norman Baker: I am the son of the late Ansel Baker.
Born in 1855 in Norwalk township. By the way, father was one
of the men that cleared off the timber where the Benedict
school house stands. He came here before the '40 's.
Fanny Bright: Wakeman, Ohio. I was born in lSl'D in
Essex county, New York.
I. M. Gillett: I was born in the state of New York in 1826.
Came to Ohio in 1839. Stopped at Milan in 1840 and have lived
there ever since on the top of the hill, about one-quarter of a
mile from the place where Nathan Comstock located on the
Firelands in 1809 and built the first house in the county, which
will make it one hundred years in 1909. Although I have lived
near the Rattlesnake creek all these years, I never saw a rattle-
snake there.
ilrs. I. M. Gillett. born in Elector, N. T., February 26, 1836.
My people moved to Clarksfield when I was six months old.
We lived there about three years and then moved to Milan.
"When I was nine years old, we moved to Norwalk. In 1854, I
was married to I. M. Gillett. We now live on the old State Road,
just south of Rattlesnake creek.
James Taylor, Norwalk. Seventy-two years of age. Born
in Sehnectady, N. Y. Came to Ohio in 1832.
Dr. Sheldon : I came to the Firelands in 1836. My father's
folks came in 1824 and settled in Greenwich township. I have
heard my father say that the road wasn't entirely cut through
then. We lived a half mile east of the center of Greenwich. It
is really so Inn-' ago, I do not remember very much about it.
My f;il her helped cut the road through, running easl from the
center of Greenwich towards Ruggles. 11 must have been pretty
new when (hey first came here.
Roberl Ellis, born A.ugus1 17. L833. My father came into
the state in 1816 from Vermont, footed it every step of the
way. I was born in Eri tmty, Florence township.
A. J. Barney: 'talking ahoul means of transportation, — I
live mi the old State Road, — think of the travel in those days.
I sat mi the fence one day and counted thirty-five covered
1228 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
wagons in sight at one time when settlers were going west to
settle Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.
Dr. Sheldon : We were to have had a little talk today from
Mr. Laning, comparing the means of transportation now with
the old times, but he was called to Washington. He expected
tn have been with us today.
.Mr. Manahan: Talking about transportation, — I was born
in 1813. I came to Ohio in 1833, via Erie canal, long before
any railroads were built. We traveled day and night. We
little thought a man could travel and sleep at the same time
then. We had four horses. About every twelve miles, they
threw out a couple of planks and let out two fresh horses on
the tow path. A boy drove them. We made sixty miles in
twenty-four hours and we thought that was going through the
world fast enough. We came to Buffalo and took a steamer.
We were four days and four nights coming from Buffalo to
Huron. When we came to Ohio, my father persuaded me to buy
some land up here in Hartland township. He bought 200 acres
at $3.00 per acre. Fifty acres of that I sold to Thomas Stratton.
I think he paid me $10.00 an acre. That land adjoins Xorwalk.
I do nut know what it is worth now. My father was anxious for
me to improve it. It took me one whole day to chop a tree
down. They were large white oak trees. It was exceedingly
difficult for a small man to chop a tree down. Now that land
is cleared up and one tree would be worth as much as T paid
I'm- thr land.
Mr. IVrrin: I ratlin- hate to OWIl up that I am a pioneer.
There are too many ladies present. I arrived in this town
sixty-nine years ago last May. My father started from Wilkes-
barre, Pa., with two teams. We were twenty-one days on the
road. Me camped over night right where the Hollenden Hotel
in the city of I lleveland now stands.
I have attended your meetings, but not fur the pasl two
years. The thought always strikes me that we talk too much
;il t tin' terrible harshness of the early days. We give a wrong
impression i<> the young, They think- we didn't have any fun
in those days. 1 wanl it distinctly understood that we had as
much fun then as they do now.
PROCEEDINGS 1229
We always dressed alike. I can remember very well seeing
the boys of East Milan coming down the street with their butter-
nut suits of clothes their mothers had made them, with their
skull caps with the tassels on top, looking very much like Co-
manche Indians. I remember one time I hoed corn for 18c. a
day and I got the money. I went to Milan and bought me a
speckled hat. I went the next day to Sunday school. I had
on tow linen pants my mother had made me and a blue round-
about. I was barefooted. I waited until the old church at
Milan was pretty nearly full, and I then walked up the aisle,
holding my little speckled hat in my hand. I was as proud as
any dude of the present day. I knew I was the best dressed boy
there.
I remember at one time when we had a celebration and the
governor was to speak. I had never seen a governor and when
he got up to speak, the thought came into my head, "Why he's
nothing but a man after all."
We all of us remember those things better today than we
do things that happened a few days or years ago.
I remember something about the good things to eat we used
to have. I can see the great square blocks of ginger cake. I
wish I could get a piece as good as that again. I would give
a dollar fur it now.
I remember very well in after years, teaching school and
boarding around, and when the old ladies had boarded the school
master, as they called it, they made their soap, did their butcher-
ing and thought their dirty work was pretty nearly all done.
I remember going to board at one place. There was but one
room and there were two young ladies, a bed in this corner,
a bed in that corner. I was bashful. I have always been
troubled that way. I was kind of worried, wondering how we
were going to get through with that evening, but when bedtime
came, a curtain was drawn here and a curtain was drawn there,
and we slept there just as happy as we do nowadays.
We were just as well contented then as we are at the present
time.
Mr. Gallup: Mrs. H. K. House has sent in a picture of her
father, Frank Reed, the first white child born in Huron county.
1230 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
This piece of wood which I have here was taken from the
old block house at Mansfield. They are -nine' to have a celebra-
tion and reproduce the old block house. They haven't got the
old original timber. We have it here. It came from Mrs. II. K.
House also.
Mr. Gallup: Dr. Weeks has a presentation he wishes to
make.
Dr. Weeks : Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : I have
simply a collection of photographs of a few of the early pio-
neers of Clarksfield township.
We have here first, Samuel Rusted who built the first house
in the township in 1S17. the most important pioneer of the
township. He was a man of affairs for a good many years, built
the first mill and first store.
Here we have Samuel Stiles, the first white child born in
the township, in 1813.
Here is Ezra Wood and wife. He came with Samuel
Husted in 1S17. Ezra Wood helped build the first house.
Benjamin Stiles came to Clarksfield in ISIS. In 1810 he
bought 1300 acres of land in the township.
Here is Dr. Andrew McMillan who came in 1822.
Here is Simeon Hoyt and wife, who came in the fall of
1817. He was one of the surveyors who came to the Firelands
in 1806 and surveyed the Firelands. Thirteen of them came
to Cleveland. There were only three families living in Cleve-
land then.
Zara C. Norton ami wife were the firs! couple married in
the township. They were married in 1818.
Upton Clark came to Florence in 1811. He lived in the old
block- house not far from what is called the Sprague house. He
ea to Clarksfield in 1822.
Vine, Rowland and wife, lie came in 1818.
Smith Starr was the first postmaster. He came to Clarks-
field in Isi7. 1 had the pleasure of presenting to this society
his commission.
This last one is Aunt Eliza Smith, as everyone called her.
field with her mother and stepfather in
PROCEEDINGS 1231
1817, when four years of age. She lived there until her death
in 1895.
The old ruined log: house was built in Wakeman by Edward
Denman. It illustrates the passing of the log house.
I take pleasure in presenting these photographs to the
society.
Dr. Weeks: History of the Starr family in the Firelands.
See page l-h>L' this volume.
Mr. Gallup : This review of the Starr family is valuable,
and I wish we had a like history of every family in the Fire-
lands. It has a value in history.
Mr. Harrison : I am one of those fellows who look at the
funny side of things. It occurred to me that the Starrs were
very numerous, so numerous that we could not count them. It
reminded me of a story of an Irishman, a little the worse for the
whiskey he drank. He undertook to count the stars. "One star,
two stars, star-r-r-r-s. " That's the way we found that Starr
family.
Mr. Gallup: Mr. President, I would like to hear from Mr.
Stratton.
Mr. Stratton : I live over the line in Hartland township.
My father came to the Firelands in 1821. He bought 100 acres
for $2.50 an acre, and built a log cabin about twenty-four feet
square. We went into it and lived there without any floors or
windows. We were a family of eleven.
I know a good deal about pioneer life and about farming.
When my father settled on that farm, I cannot remember for
five or six years what happened, but after I can remember, all
the farming tools he needed was a maul and iron wedsce. an ax
and hoe and yoke of oxen. He couldn't have used a plow if
he had had one because of the roots and stumps. He raised a
IVw potatoes and a little corn and hoed it the best lie could.
In the fall he cleared off another piece to raise a little wheat.
lie had to cut it by hand with a hand sickle, and Id the wind
blow the chaff out.
There were very few settlers here then. The woods were full
of deer, wild turkeys and small game, wolves and seme bear.
1232 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
There were plenty of Indians. They built huts here and there
in the woods, covered the huts with hides, deer and bear. I ean
remember of seeing only four bears. I remember one night 1
had gone with my father to a neighbor's a mile and a half
away. As we were going through the woods, right in the path
stood a great big black bear. Father put me on his shoulder and
we lit out. for home. After that I saw two more, just at sun
down playing around the roots of a tree.
There was no provision for school whatever. There were
no school houses, no place to go to school. Finally there was
a muii moved into the neighborhood who had a good common
school education. He told the citizens that if they would gel a
house, he would teach a free school. They finally succeeded in
getting a log house, fixed it up, and he taught a free school,
and that was the best school I ever went to. He was an excellent
good teacher. "Squire" Dounce (John Dounce, Ed.) was his
name. After that, they built a log school house and hired a
teacher. Each man who sent scholars to the school must pay
their proportion and the teacher generally had to collect the pay.
The girl I married taught school two summers for $1.50 a week
and had to collect her own pay. I have a grand-daughter teach-
ing school now, and every thirty days she goes to the township
treasurer and draws her $40.00. There have been great changes,
some for the better and some perhaps not. I do not know.
Let me tell about the first funeral that was held. One of
the early settlers that came was a man by the name of Barker.
I think they had four children. A girl about ten years old
soon died. There was no possible chance to buy a coffin any-
where. He had a box he brought his goods in. He took that
box apart and made a box himself and called it a coffin. He
went four miles to dig a grave. He had no team to get to the
graveyard. Father had no horses, but had a yoke of oxen. He
had a wagon. I was a boy of nine or ten. I took the oxen a
mile and a half through the woods, and he and I put the coffin in-
to the wagOD and we wenl to the grave, Pour miles away. The
family all went with us. The oxen could hardly stand the trip.
The grave wasn't long enough for the box and the mun him-
self dug ii longer. The way we managed to get it in. we go1
PROCEEDINGS 1233
a rail and put the coffin on that and then slipped the rail out
and let the other end down. We waited until it was done ; then
we all got into the wagon and went back. The oxen were so
tired, when we got to our place, they all got out and went home
without anything to eat since early in the morning. After that,
I and one of my neighbors made the coffins for the neighborhood,
even after I was a man grown. I think we never got over $2.00
apiece for them, buying black walnut lumber, and generally
about $1.00 or $1.50 and carry them to the grave, always in a
wagon. You see what a difference there is now.
I could go on with this a long while. I have had great ex-
periences. I have helped clear up four farms. I have often
wondered how my father could go into that log house in the
shape in which it was and raise a family of nine children, but
somehow or other he did it. I do not know how.
In the early days all those old pioneers would drink whiskey
to keep from having fever and ague, but I and my brothers,
five of us, I do not think any one of us ever used tobacco or
whiskey in any form. I always thought falling into a bad
habit would never do me any good in the future life, and it is
so much easier to fall into a bad habit than a good habit and so
much harder to get out. I have lived to be an old man. I have
enjoyed perfect health. I have never employed a doctor, never
employed a lawyer. Today I stand here in perfect health, but
just ready and willing to go whenever the Lord shall call me.
I was eighty-five years old the twenty-sixth day of last July.
President Sloane : You will all remember probably that to-
day they are discussing in Washington the celebrated question
of Mormonism, that is, the right of Smoot to occupy his seat
in the Senate of the United States. I hope you will have some
time before you adjourn to say some words on that subject. I
would like your views on the propriety of the admission of
Mormons, with nil their hideous ideas, to full fellowship in our
Senate. We certainly do not admit highwaymen. Should we
admit Mormons? Having lived for more than three-quarters
of a century in Ohio, one of the most glorious states in the
Union, and generally on the right side of every question. I
hope the time has not come when this state will supporl a
1234 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
treacherous traitor, an unlawful mau to occupy a seat in the
Senate of the United States. This is merely a .suggestion.
I want also to say before I leave, that we have in the south-
ern part of this county a most admirable and excellent gentle-
man. He was not born in Ohio, but he came to Ohio when but
eight or nine years of age. He used to be in Bellevue. His
name is Henry Flagler. My grandfather lived just east of
BelleA'ue near Strongs Kidge. Strongs Ridge is named after
him. Mr. Flagler became interested in the Standard Oil. Today
he is a man of immense wealth. I have been in hopes thai be-
fore he passed away, lie would like to aid our efforts. J had
the subject before him once. He is engaged today in a great
work. He is building a railroad over the ocean commencing at
Key "West. He told me about two months ago that within two
years, he proposed to have that whole railroad completed. I am
hoping, if I am able to see him this winter. I will get something
to aid this society.
With these suggestions, I beg to Leave you this afternoon.
Mr. Gallup. Vice President, in the chair.
Mr. McKesson: 1 will not bore you with a long sj h.
I will simply say a word or two to Let you know why and how I
became a pioneer. My grandfather was born, educated and mar-
ried in Scotland. He was a royal clergyman. He came with
others to the new world about 176 — . I haven't the date. My
father was the youngest of six boys. He became a millwright.
He came to Ohio in 1S27. He worked on almost all the mills,
and improving them in northern Ohio. We landed
at Sandusky. 1 was about seven years old. I could tell
many stories, jusl such as have been told. We go1 here before
Brie county was organized. My father became a residenl of
Huron county. Then when we were cut off, wo became resi-
dents of Erie county. Wo helped cut the roads through and
build bridges. 1 want to say that my friend. Judge Sloane, was
one of the loyal men who helped in all the enterprises of Erie
helping in and pushing forward all the important im-
the county. 1 was under him and with him,
holding some positions, that tiny say were very creditable.
PROCEEDINGS 1235
When I was a boy of about ten or twelve years, I went over
in Sandusky county and got a teacher to conn' and teach school
in a little old house of father's.
I have some of the infirmities of old age, but I can say
that whereas I was blind, I now see. I am glad to be here, glad
to be one of the pioneers, glad to have helped to make this
country what it is, to have helped in the church and Sunday
school. We pioneers have furnished the country with good boys
and girls to fill all the offices and carry on the business of the
country.
Mr. Gallup: We have with us a. guest from a neighbor-
ing county, Hon. Basil Meek.
Mr. Meek: Mr. President, of course it would lie highly im-
proper for me to take much of your time in any extended re-
marks. I have been in correspondence with your worthy chair-
man in regard to some historical matters in relation to Sandusky
county. In that correspondence he kindly furnished me the
information, and extended an invitation to me to attend your
meeting today, which I very gladly and thankfully accepted. I
assure you that I have been delighted, interested beyond any-
thing I could express to you in this meeting of the Firelands
Historical Society; hearing your experiences and visiting your
rooms and looking at your historical collections and relics, and
observing the financial basis and wonderful improvements and
everything you have here to make your society one of perma
nence. This place being almosl the Athens of all this region
about here makes it intensely interesting. I shall earn home
with me delight I'ul feelings of this meeting.
T have been trying to figure out how 1 mighl become eligi-
ble to membership in your society. If it is true, as was once
claimed, ymi had all the region from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
then I was born within the limits of your jurisdiction. That is.
by the charter of 16B2 of Charles the Second. And then further,
1 argued within myself that at one time the region in which \
lived was a pari of Huron county by annexation. At any rate
in 1815, all that vast, region from the wesl line of your county
to the lake and to the Wood ■•<>! 1 1 it \ line, and thel >n line due
north to the north line of the state was annexed to Euron
1236 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
county, and of course that took in the Lower Sandusky region.
While we were so annexed, all that region was organized by the
commissioners of your county into a township known as Lower
Sandusky township. All that vast region in which Fremont now
is, was a part of Huron county. Then after a while, when the
Indian titles were extinguished, your county commissioners or-
ganized another township. All that region east of the Sandusky
river was put into Huron county. So you see I have some claim
to be eligible to membership in this delightful Pirelands Associa-
tion. Now we continued in that condition until 1820, when we
set up for ourselves, and since that time we have been Sandusky
county. We were subject to your civil jurisdiction. I have
just been looking at the records today. Many of our citizens
figured as administrators and in other positions. I might say,
also, that while we were within the jurisdiction of this county,
we contributed to this county the first material you ever had for
a necktie party. We contributed a couple of Indians. They
were tried here and executed somewhere around here.
Mr. Gallup : The son of the man who shot one of those
Indians when he escaped from jail is here today.
Mr. Meek : Mr. Lane afterwards became Supreme Judge.
He was prosecuting attorney and drew the indictment, and I
argued from the fact that the place of crime was laid in Lower
Sandusky by so able a lawyer as Judge Lane, who was assisted
in the prosecution by Peter Hitchcock. He certainly must have
considered all that region Lower Sandusky. If I am entitled
to membership, it is in that way. We have been so closely re-
lated. We can dovetail in so many respects in our history.
1 thank Mr. Gallup for his kind invitation and T thank you
Eor listening to these brief remarks. It has been an intensely
interesting occasion to me.
Mr. Gallup: Is the gentleman present whose rather shot
03 E those Indians? What was your father's name.
Charles William Soule: He was one of the guards and shot
one id' the Indians when he was escaping, wounding him severely
I. ui qo1 Eatally. That was in 1819.
Mr. Gallup: Our friend, Mr. Meek, .seems to be laboring
under an apprehension that he is not entitled to membership
PROCEEDINGS 1237
in this society. I think that I can demonstrate to a certainty
that he is entitled. The grant of the King of England of 1662
to John Winthrop and his eighteen associates extended "from
Narragansett Bay on the east to the South Sea on the west ' ' and
under and by virtue of that grant, we claim to be descendants of
the ancestry that came from the sunrise, and from here to the
sunset, we claim their posterity, and you come in under that.
Mr. Meek: I wish to join the Association then.
Mr. J. M. Whiton of Wakeman: I was born in Lee, Mass.,
April 25, 1830. I received my early education in a log school
house which that building represents.* I came as near receiv-
ing a diploma there as I ever did. I am not positive that that
yoke of steers represents the identical ones that hauled the logs
my father used or not. I was apprenticed to a blacksmith at
the age of eleven to remain until I was twenty-one when I was
to receive one hundred dollars and two suits of clothes. I got
to thinking the matter over when I was about eighteen. Well,
I didn't have the two suits when I was twenty-one. I was in
California and didn't need but one. That was fifty years ago.
I do not recall anything especially new worth mentioning at this
time.
Mr. Gallup : We would like to hear from Mr. Mains.
Mr. Mains : I presume there aren 't a great many here that
were born any further east than I was. I was born in Athens,
Somerset county, Maine, November 23, 1833. At the age of
three, my parents moved to Russia on the center road about two
miles west of Oberlin and settled at a place now called Wilcox
Corners, and then afterwards they moved to Berlin. The first
school I ever attended was taught by John H. Boynton.
I have lived in Huron county since '75, in Erie county be-
fore. I used to wade in the mill pond with W. W. Boynton, Su-
preme Judge of the state of Ohio. I do not know of any im-
portant matter that lias transpired.
Mr. Gallup: We have with us today an old time pedagogue,
who was grounded in the faith that "to spare the rod was to
♦Pointing to school house in farm scene.
1238 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
spoil the child, " and I think we would like to hear from Mr.
Allen.
Mr. Allen: Mr. Chairman, personal reminiscence enters
largely into the interests of a meeting of this kind. I will only
detain you a few moments.
Among the early settlers of Wakeman township were Jarvis
Hanford and Hannah, his wife, grandfather and grandmother
of my wife. When I use to visit my wife at the old place before
I was married, they had lived together a.s man and wife for
sixty years. I remember well of hearing the old lady say to my
wife, "Your grandfather isn't quite as smart as he use to be.
He ain't good for much." And the old gentleman would say
rather depreeatingly, "Well, mother, you needn't complain. I
guess you couldn't get anybody else that would live with you as
long as I have. ' '
Our worthy chairman has referred to tic fact that I am
a pedagogue. J was. a good many years nun. < i» the twelfth
of June last I went to Greenfield to attend a reunion of the
school of fiftj years ago. I had the pleasure of meeting about
twelve or fifteen of the scholars who came to school to me then.
I want to say to yon that it was a very enjoyable occasion ind 1.
Some of them were called upon to say a few words sort of com
plinientary to the old teacher. A woman got up. of doleful
countenance, and said. "1 remember well that he punished me
one day. lie had made a. rule in school. I wasn't there that
day and I didn't know about it. The next day I violated the
rule and he punished me." "My dear woman." 1 said. "I beg
your pardon today after fifty years. I take it all back."
Years ago, 1 had the pleasure of serving this society as
secretary. All of these older gentlemen 1 know well and have
met them upon many of these occasions. In September, '88,
Brother McKesson and I attended a meeting at Sand Hill anil
also at Wakeman, at which Rev. Betts. the first minister in Wake-
man township, was tin' speaker. I remember afterwards we
invited a venerable gentleman at Akron to deliver an address
at Monroeville. Upon tlio.se occasions, I have been clad to greet
the pioneers of todaj and yesterday, and to greet you all once
X S92246
PROCEEDINGS
more. After passing my seventy-fifth milestone, I am able to
get around every day in the week and do my day's work.
Julia E. Smith: As I do not hear any word from Green-
field, I would like to make a few remarks. My grandparents
came to Huron county in 1811. They were driven back by the
Indians and finally settled on a farm on the Huron river. They
knew something of the pioneer life. One of the speakers has
said that he never saw a rattlesnake. A rattlesnake made his
home in the floor of my grandmother's house, and afterwards
found a good resting place in a cradle in the house. She re-
moved it with a pair of tongs. My grandfather marked the trees
from his farm, a mile and one-quarter from the center of Green-
field, so that they would not lose their way. The farm is still
owned by some of the Smiths. My grandfather and grand-
mother were Erastus and Fanny Smith.
Mr. Ransom : I ought to praise the pioneer days for some-
thing the old Methodist Church did to me. When I was a boy
of ten or twelve years old, a glorious revival was held in the
old Perkins Church of which Father Gurley was the pastor. I
remember my venerable grandfather, Benjamin Wright, was
at the very height of his eloquence, praying that Adam's sin
should be wiped out. There were two of us, little, impulsive
boys. We went to the mercy seat. It was a glorious revival.
Many were receiving the power and being converted. When
my grandfather came to these two little boys of whom I was
one, he said, "You little fellows go over to the side and kneel
down and let these older ones come here." I looked up and
next to me was a coal burner, screaming "0 God, have mercy
on me, a sinner." We got up and went over to the side. The
heat of the mercy seat began to leave us. The other little boy
began pinching me. I was still praying earnestly that I might
get rid of Adam's sin, that I did not want to go to Hell, I
wanted to go to Heaven. Finally as the little boy became insist-
ent, I turned to him and said "What do you want?" He gave
me a piece of tobacco. I took it, — put it in my mouth. It was
my first and last chew of tobacco. Saved in a Methodist meeting.
Rev. Smith: Perhaps I have a little distinction in a com-
pany of this kind in the sense of being an outsider to the
1240 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
spirit of this meeting from the standpoint of your pioneer life
and your achievements and memories. I am like Melchisedec of
old, having neither father nor mother, of being one who came
to this country with his shoes on. I have tried to liberalize my
life. Being an Englishman by birth, I am an American by
adoption and a Welshman by marriage. I came to this broad
land of my own choice and by my own deliberation. I preferred
to become an American citizen. Perhaps to a good many of you
there is no especial credit attached to your being Americans.
But I could help it. And so I take great pride in my citizen-
ship. I once held up my hand and severed my allegiance from
the realm of Queen Victoria to become a citizen of the United
States. However, I have not gone through what many of you
people have. My life has been spent in cities, factories and
coal mines. I am glad now that I am settled in an exceedingly
American community. I am a neighbor of Brother Whiton
who has constructed that miniature farm. Of course. I was single
when I came and I was very bashful and that was the means of
my marrying late. There comes a time in a young man's life
when in all seriousness, lie says "Wilt thou" and I have beard
of a young man who said "Wilt thou?" and she wouldn't wilt.
Well, I got over that crisis. I am very happily situated. I am
in perfect sympathy with the spirit of this meeting. I was here
some years ago. I feel more and more that I am being filled
with the American spirit. I enjoy your fellowship and your ac-
quaintance. I am sure no one could be more in accord with the
spirit of this gathering than I am today.
Mr. Gallup : In the notice for this meeting, it was requested
that each pioneer should bring some one thing, or more, to add
to our museum. Some have done so. We have quite an addi-
tion of valuable pictures and articles that have come in pursu-
ance of that notice. They swell the volume of the historical
record that we are making and that this society has been making
for forty-nine years. On the fourth day of July next, will
occur the fiftieth anniversary of the first meeting of this His-
torical Society, and it is now being talked that we will hold our
next meeting on that date and celebrate the fiftieth anniversary
of the Firelands Historical Society. I? is an historical society
PROCEEDINGS 1241
and the history of the society is a valuable history. It has taken
up the work of collecting and publishing everything that it
could get hold of that relates to the history of the Firelands or
northern Ohio or the Western Reserve. Some day it will be
sifted out by an able author, and from our records one of the
most interesting and valuable histories that has ever been writ-
ten can be compiled. It will be done. ' I do not know who will
do it. It will take an able man. The material is in our books.
It is scattered all through them. Every page has something on
it. We have been making history here today. These talks from
those who will soon pass over to the other side are today ex-
ceedingly interesting to us. How much more interesting they
will be for those who come after us. Think of that! Think of
the history we have written here today. Why, I remember well
the first meeting we held on the fourth day of July, 1857. Cook
was the first speaker, Eleutheros Cook, father of Jay Cook. He
delivered a very interesting address. Jay Cook was the financier
that managed the finances of the United States so admirably
that he carried through to success Lincoln's fight against seces-
sion. It was the work of Jay Cook in selling the bonds of the
United States that enabled us to preserve our nation as one
instead of a divided quarrelsome duality. It is a nation now
spelled with a great big N, and largely through the instru-
mentality of that man Jay Cook. We have in our books an ad-
dress delivered by him, giving the account of how he. financed
the rebellion. It is the only one in existence, prepared and
written by him. It is in our books. That is only one of the
items of valuable history that we have.
I had occasion during the past year to review a little of the
grand field of our history. I took a trip down through the lower
bay of New York out through the channel. As I came back,
thankful that I was an American citizen, turned to a niece who
was with me and recited those lines, commencing
"Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself has said
This is my own — my native laud."
1242 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Afterwards I went from Boston to Nova Scotia and from
Nova Seotia up the Gulf and River St. Lawrence. I went over
the same route that Jacques Cartier took when he started the
trail of civilization up through the water shed of the St. Law-
rence that dominated all this lake country, to the Mississippi
river, and I thought how proud he must have felt as he was
discovering that grand water gate to a new continent and for
the first time disturbed the home of the Indian. We have a lit-
tle of the result here, part of the old block house at Mansfield.
This was built by Americans to defend themselves against the
Indians and British, after Woolf gave up his life that we should
become the descendants of an English Gov.ernment instead of a
French. All that ran through my mind, as I passed the
plains of Abraham. We are now getting results of the seed
that was sown so many years ago. We are all proud of those
results. We are all proud of what our ancestors have done. We
are all proud to collect their history and store up their records
and we have a place here for that now. Every pioneer, the
descendant of every pioneer, is interested in perfecting this his-
tory and making it as complete as possible. Everything I can
get hold of, of my own or relatives, comes here for this museum,
and I want the pioneers to stand by me and help me. We are
building something that we will all be proud of, not us alone,
but our children and children's children. Think what this
museum will lie a hundred years from now! You are proud
now. What will your children think a hundred years from now?
Dr. Sheldon : Before we adjourn this meeting, it being the
first meeting since Mr. Boardman tendered an antelope to the
society, I move that a vote of thanks be extended to him.
Seconded and unanimously carried.
(Voice : What are you going to do with Smoot?
Dr. Sheldon : I move you that it be the sentiment of this
meeting that no man should have a seat in the Congress of the
United States who is in any way connected with Mormonism.
Motion seconded.
Mr. Gallup: I would say we have a state, admitted as a
state that was founded upon the doctrine of polygamy, but be-
PROCEEDINGS 124S
fore it was admitted as a state, bound itself by solemn pledge to
abolish and abandon polygamy. After their admission, they
claimed the right of a sovereign state that would allow them to
control their domestic affairs in their own way. It is a fight
against that betrayal of their pledge now being carried on in our
Congress, and the hearts of all true, loyal Americans that re-
spect clean lives, are with those who are seeking to expel Smoot
from the Senate. This motion is that it is the sense of this meet-
ing that that resolution in the United States Senate should be
adopted, and that Mr. Smoot should be expelled. Are you ready
for the question?
Unanimously carried.
Dr. Weeks : I notice the presence of a gentleman, Mr.
George Peck. His father came to Florence in 1815 and is living
yet.
List of members who paid the $1.00 fee for the ensuing
year:
Isaac McKesson, Collins, Ohio. D. L. C. Ransom, Sandusky, 0.
W. C. Allen, Elyria, Ohio. C. W. Manahan, Norwalk, 0.
G. H. Mains, Wakeman, Ohio. L. L. Doud, Norwalk, Ohio.
David Gibbs, Milan, Ohio. A. J. Barney, Milan, Ohio.
E. B. Harrison, Norwalk, Ohio. Basil Meek, Fremont, Ohio.
L. S. Gibson, Norwalk, Ohio. W. G. Holiday.
R. N. Wilcox, Milan, Ohio. H. R. Boardman.
F. W. Rowland, Wakeman, 0. William H. Cline, Norwalk,
J. N. Watrous, Norwalk, Ohio. F. E. Weeks. Clarksfield, 0.
D. B. Smith, Clarksfield, Ohio. Norman Baker.
W. M. Peck, Wakeman, Ohio. Russell Godfrey.
A. W. Pierce, Collins, Ohio.
Vol. 15 delivered to Messrs. McKesson. Sheffield, Barney,
Rowland, Watrous and Ransom.
Mr. Gallup: 1 want to announce that a large collection of
bills were sent to me over a year ago as a loan to this Association,
some one hundred or more Confederate bills. They have qow
1244 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
been presented to us by Mr. D. E. Smith. He loaned them over
a year ago, he now makes a presentation of them to this society.
Mr. Rowland : I move that a vote of thanks be extended to
him for this gift.
Seconded and carried.
On motion the meeting- adjourned.
Additions to the Museum 1906.
List of articles donated or loaned to the Pirelands Historical
Society since last publication.
Donated by:
January — B. D. Angell. Glass-blower's pipe and a glass
block, used in Fostoria by D. D. Angell. Unfinished wine glass
as it came from the mold. Fancy glass ornaments. Candle-mold
for twelve candles. Daniel Angell 's account-book, 1816. Two
pictures of George and Martha Washington. Mortar from
Providence, R. I.
April — Daniel Angell. Book, English composition. Old
brass candlestick. Decanter, blown by Dalton D. Angell of Pitts-
burg. Ox yoke owned by Ephraim Angell, used in the thirties
and forties. Model of sorghum press, used by Ephraim Angell
when agent for a Boston firm, about 1858. Group of the Angell
family.
February 25, 1906. Mrs. Garret Davenport. Donated. Two
brass candlesticks, part of household outfit starting married life
sixty years ago.
Frank W. Buggies. Loaned. Ox yoke worn by a pair of
oxen on a trip from Wilkesbarre, Pa., to Ridgefield township in
1830. Reel used by Mrs. Edna Ruggles, great-grandmother of
F. W. Ruggles, in 1798. Skillet used by Mrs. Daniel Ruggles
in 1823. Hetchel and wool-cards used by Mrs. Daniel Ruggles
in 1823. Army knapsack carried by Daniel Ruggles when he
came on foot from Wilkesbarre, Pa. to Ohio in 1832. Canteen
of Dwight Ruggles used in the Civil War. He died at Fort
Ward. Va.. in 1864. Iron mortar, belonged to Daniel Ruggles,
1823. Wooden clock bought of peddler, 1832. Spinning-wheel,
1835. Spark-guard. Bake-oven, reflector, 1830. Bible printed
1800, owned by Henrietta Jane Watkins. Communion set used
in Daniel Ruggles' residence by Freewill Baptist Church Society,
1246 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
1834-45. Church record of same society, founded 1834. Record
date, 1836. Sailor's jacket worn by Alfred Ruggles on the
frigate Constitution, 1848-50. Copy of picture of Alfred Rug-
gles taken in 1851.
Arthur Ruggles. Loaned. Lanthorn owned by Martin Rug-
gles, 1825.
C. H. Gallup. Loaned. Picture of Piatt Benedict, first
president F. H. S., and picture of his mother, Clarissa Benedict
Gallup.
May — T. N. Aggus. Loaned. Sword bayonet, relic of the
San Francisco earth-quake disaster, with letter of transmittal.
A. B. Terry. Loaned. Purse and housewife made by Nabby
Herrick Guthrie, who lived 1769 to 1826, great grandmother of
A. B. Terry.
Mrs. W. H. Bishop. Old book, the property of J. H. Sterl-
ing of Olena, Lace veil, belonged to Mrs. Smith, mother of Mrs.
John Clarke of Olena. Presented by Mrs. Clarke and brought
in by Mrs. Bishop.
Emma J. Carl. Tongs, wrought-iron, made by Samuel Haw-
kins about 1841. Foot-warmer, belonged to Mrs. Elizabeth H.
Carl.
John R. Lewis. Huron Reflector. March 18, 1834, to Jan-
uary 26, 1836.
C. H. Gallup. Bucket No. 1 of Norwalk's first fire depart-
ment, owned by Piatt Benedict.
Mrs. Mary E. Lindsey. Books. Byron, 8 Vol. 1825. Scott,
5 Vol. 1824. Opinions of Lorenzo Dow, 1804. Metrical version
of the Psalms, 1812.
By Olive Stewart. Loaned. A piano.
G. W. Graves. Maple tree, grown on lot southeast corner
Main street and Woodlawn avenue.
J. G. Gibbs. Quill pen from Bank of England. Thread-
needle street. London, 1901. One number of Brother Johnathan,
printed at New York. Saturday. December 17. 1839.
Frank Sawyer. Assessor's numeration of soldiers and ma-
rines, 1863.
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ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM 1247
S. E. Crawford. County Military Committee Records, 1860.
Willis Carpenter. Hammer head found in garret of Old
American House, made early in the century when iron was a
shilling a pound. "Strap rail" from Mad River R. R., Belle-
vue, Ohio.
W. W. Peckham. Map of Huron county, made in 1854.
Dr. Charles Slocum, Maumee Valley Pioneer Association
proceedings of twenty-seventh annual reunion, 1901.
Purchased from Morgan E. Ink. Binder's trimming plane
for trimming books. Norwalk Reporter and Huron Advertiser,
Vols. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Norwalk Experiment, Vol. 1, 2, 3, form-
erly property of J. P. McArdle.
Mrs. D. D. Benedict, Portraits of Dr. W. F. Kittridge and
Mitchell Harrison and daughter. Cane made by Dr. D. D. Bene-
dict 1854.
C. H. Gallup. Spectacle ease made by Samuel Lyon from
wood of apple tree removed from yard of Piatt Benedict, 1878,
presented by him to Mr. Gallup. Commemorative biographical
record of Huron and Lorain counties, 1894.
Alexander Briggs. Henry Clay badges purchased and worn
by the Whig rally, 1844. Two-dollar Ohio R. R. bill and four-
dollar bank-note.
Mrs. W. R. R«ad. View of W. Main St. taken about 1894.
Hon. C. P. Wickham. Piece of Missouri onyx.
Mrs. S. M. Beekman. Primitive all-wood hatchel, made in
1820 by Havilah Smith and presented by his daughter.
Davenport collection. Birds, minerals, etc., in glass case.
Collected by Garrett Davenport and presented by his wife,
Susanna Pratt Benedict, April, 1906. Also "Life of Franklin."
Ralph Mesnard, May, 1906. Burr's map of Ohio, 1833.
H. L. Stewart, May 5, 1906. Membership roll of Norwalk
Lodge No. 43 I. O. of G. T., 1854.
Record of Franklin Literary Association, 1842.
John Crawford, May. Land patent issued April 15, 1833,
to John Morse of Huron county, O.
1248 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
S. E. Crawford. Shells, cornicopia. abalone, yellow helmet,
purchased in San Diego, Cal., March.
C. H. Gallup. Calendar watch, belonged to Iehabod Mar-
shall and given to Mr. Gallup in 1853 by his grandfather, Piatt
Benedict, April.
Mary E. Lindsey. Nugget of copper.
James Gibbs, May. Tax receipt of 1829 signed by H. S.
Buckingham, Treas. Tavern license issued May, 1824, signed
D. Gibbs, clerk. Ante-bellum political speeches, one volume.
F. W. Christian, May 17. Indian arrow ; hatchet ; pestle.
Mrs. M. M. Smith. Picture of 0. G. Carter, taken in his
jewelry store in Xorwalk on his ninetieth birthday.
Mrs. "W. H. Bishop, May 28. Collection gold and copper-
bearing ores from mines near Boulder Col. Ulster county, Ga-
zette (N. Y.) printed January 4, 1800.
Ralph Brown. A derelict revolver found in a tree forty
feet from the ground in the Brown woods on Woodlawn avenue.
H. R. Boardman, June 1. Stuffed antelope brought from
Wyoming and prepared by him.
H. S. Mitchell. Old papers.
H. L. Stewart. Justice Summons, Fairfield. Co. Conn. 1767.
Mrs. Mary A. Saunders, May. J. A. Jones's saddle pur-
chased from Col. Jones in 1865. Used in War of the Rebellion
by Col. Jones.
Norwalk Lodge, Red Men of the World, June. American
eagle, killed by Jacob Nufer. near Huron, Erie Co., 1890.
Mrs. W. R. Read. Deer's head, shot by "Ran" Reed in
northern Michigan.
Dr. L. W. Puffer, July 16. New York Sun, February 5,
1853. Last words and dying speech of Levi Ames, October, 1773.
Indentures of apprenticeship of Mary Morchant, 1778. Six-
pence of Continental money. Mass. 1776. Dollar bill of Vermont
State, 1804.
Mary P. Clark Flinn, August. Masonic apron of Lester
Clark, who came to Norwalk in 1816.
ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM 1249
Jaue Morse (R. F. D. No. 3). Oxford bible printed by
Thomas Baskett, printer to the University, 1760. Piece of home-
made flannel used in Morse family as a book mark. Conch shell
used in Morse family as a dinner-horn. Two hanks of swingled
flax, work of Lydia Whitney. Fourteen arrow-heads and one
drill. One Indian axe. Splint-bottomed chair. Pocket powder-
horn, Civil War. Piece of Delft ware. Old piece of pottery.
Three glass dishes. Watts hymn-book, 1834.
James Smedley. Donated June 15, 1906. Pewter syrup
pitcher, plowed up in the garden of David Manville (ex-county
commissioner) twenty years ago.
Weaver's shuttle, used by Miss Abigal Smedley (donor's
great-aunt) in Litchfield Ct. about 1800.
Dr. W. E. Gill. Donated. Fine specimen of Rocky Moun-
tain Amethyst.
Oliver W. Williams. Found after his death at his house in a
box labelled "Old Court-House keys, for the Firelands Historical
Society," said keys. .
Mrs. Horace Kellogg. A pistol-holster used by Col. Kellogg
during War of the Rebellion. Piece of flexible stone, brought
from Stokes county, N. Ca.
Mrs. Mary A. Rule. Vols. 19-23 of Norwalk Experiment.
Mrs. L. W. Puffer. Quartz from Brockton, Mass.
John Cnlhane. An Italian home-made razor.
Mrs. Irving Lindsey; placed in custody and if not claimed
by her to become the property of the society at her death.
Three Vols, entitled "The Crystal Palace," and a vase given
to Amarilis .Skinner, mother of Irving Lindsey, at her wedding
in 1824.
Mrs. T. D. Shepherd, October. Five old books. Arrow-
heads found on the Minor Cole farm.
John R. Lewis. Hammer and pair of old waffle-irons that
were in the use of the Lewis family when they came to Norwalk
in 1S44.
Miss Anne Schreiber. A wooden swift made by B. Hunkele
1250 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
in Germany and saved from shipwreck about 1840, by the owner,
Mrs. Karl Messner, when coming to America.
Mrs. E. G. Persing. A book "Every man his own lawyer,"
dated 1859 ; and Ohio geological survey maps for 1873.
Clark Johnson. Kifle dating from 1721.
J. P. Link. Mail-bag used in Norwalk between 1830 and
1841.
H. A. Gallup. Sword used in war of 1861-5.
Mrs. Henry Bishop. Desk used by Win. Pitt Brown be-
tween 1830 and 1841.
Umphrey Winslow. A musket carried in the Civil War by
David Brownell, Co. E. 72d 0. V. I.
D. B. Smith of Clarksfield. His production "Ohio relics."
Mrs. Lucinda Barnum. Pictures of her parents, the first
couple married in Clarksfield. Rev. Zara C. Norton and Cyn-
thia Post,
R. G. Spurrier. Loaned. One pepper-box revolver. Al-
len's patent Worcester, said to have been used in 1827. Pepper-
box revolver. Benson Co. Norwich county. One Colts revolver,
patent No. 13457. 31 cal. Turkish dirk brought from Roumania
by C. C. Thompson. Mold for eight candles, brought from Conn,
by Benj. Stiles to Clarksfield about 1817. Half-moon "lanth-
orn," in the Spurrier family since 1840. Perforated tin lanthorn
of about 1830, brought to Clarksfield from Conn. Hatchel, age
unknown, used in 1860 by Mrs. Piatt Sexton. Pair of ox-shoes,
from Wm. Starr's farm in Clarksfield. Sickle used by Ansey
Finch in Clarksfield, 1840. Three muskets, changed from flint to
cap-lock, carried in War of the Rebellion. One Colts rifle, re-
volving breech, used in the War of the Rebellion. One double-
barreled shot-gun, revolving barrels. One squirrel-hunter's rifle.
One maple flute, used in 1840 by W. W. Stiles.
C. B. Benedict; gift in trust according to the following
agreement :
"Desiring the safeguarding and public use of my collection
of birds' eggs, Indian relics, fossils and minerals. I hereby de-
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ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM 1251
liver the same into the custody of the Firelands Historical Society
of Norwalk, Ohio, subject to withdrawal by me, in whole or in
part, at any time during my life-time; otherwise to remain the
property of said society."
A schedule of said collection is hereto attached as part of
this agreement.
Signed. C. B. Benedict.
The conditions of the foregoing agreement are hereby ac-
cepted.
Signed. Firelands Historical Society.
By C. H. Gallup, Librarian.
Schedule of the collection :
Two Indian stone hatchets. 58 stone arrow-heads and
chipped Celts. 12 imperfect chipped Celts. Box of silk cocoons.
Collection of several hundred eggs of birds of different varieties.
33 boxes of samples of different minerals. 58 boxes of samples
of different fossils.
Miss Mary A. Stewart. October 20. Hand-made bolt and
piece of the hull of the "Constitution."
Mrs. Lucinda Barnum, October 17. Portraits of her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Norton.
H. S. Mitchell. A Burnside carbine used in the War of the
Rebellion.
Dr. C. H. Foss, Texas steer horns and carved head, October
30.
Dr. F. E. Weeks, November. A tar-bucket made in 1826 by
George McKim.
Deposited by George Lawrence, a portrait of Ralph Law-
rence, Co. G, who died in the Spanish-American War.
H. S. Mitchell. A package of contracts and bonds of the
early part of the century ; and ' ' Proceedings and debates of the
Virginia Constitutional Congress of 1829-30."
Cornelia Stedwell Moe. A hair wreath of the Stedwell fam-
ilv of Fitchville, made by Harriet Stedwell.
1252 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Malcolm Patrick. Fire-bucket No. 7, belonging to S.
Patrick.
H. S. Mitchell. Roster of Co. H, 166th Regiment, Ohio Na-
tional Guard. May 2, 1864.
J. H. Crawford. Loaned. Silk flag. November 17.
Miss Mary A. Stewart. Indian coat.
Mrs. Sarah Brown. Piece of bark cloth. November 27.
Miss L. F. Gallup. Old-time spool-stand.
Mrs. Seneca Ronk. Pictures. "The soldier's home" and
"Thinking of home." November 28.
Miss Mary A. Stewart. African bow and arrow, and spear.
R. G. Spurrier. Loaned. Japanese shoe and sandal, and
Indian pipe. December 7.
Mrs. Fannie Wooster. Fire Department buckets. No. 2 and
3, and candle molds for a dozen candles.
Mrs. Randolph Reed. Confederate hundred-dollar bill, and
picture of the home of the Theodore Gambee. December 11.
Mrs. P. C. Breekenridge. Map of S. America made by
Esther Ann Gibbs Breekenridge when fourteen years old ; and
tobacco box belonging to James 0. Breekenridge.
Edward Birmingham. Cooper's adz found in house built by
H. D. Gauff in 1861.
Ruth Sturgess. Three old books. "Wharton's Remains."
2 Vols., and "American Antiquities."
Mary P. Clark Flinn loaned framed portrait of her father,
Lester Clark.
Chas. D. Smith of Norwalk has loaned to the Firelands
Historical Society, to be placed on exhibition in the. society's
museum in the library building, a rifle which belonged to his
uncle, the late Eugene Smith, of this city, which weapon has
an interesting bit of history attached to it,
Eugene Smith was a soldier in the Civil war. In 1849,
when gold was discovered in California, Mr. Smith's brother,
Martin, was among the hundreds of men who migrated to that
state in search of wealth. While Euaene Smith's regiment, the
ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM 1253
One Hundred and Twenty-Third 0. V. I., was in West Vir-
ginia, Martin Smith, who had returned east on a visit, went to
West Virginia to visit his brother, and while there presented to
him a valuable rifle with the following inscription carved
upon it :
"Eugene Smith, Bellevue, Ohio. Presented by bis brother,
Martin. February 10. 1863."
On the following June 13 the battle of Winchester was
fought. Mr. Smith participated in that engagement, using the
rifle given to him by his brother. During the battle Mr. Smith
was taken ill, and, realizing that he would be captured by the
enemy, and not wanting his rifle to fall into their hands, he
handed the weapon to a comrade, George A. Darke, with the
request that Darke should destroy the weapon in case he also
should be in danger of being captured.
Darke was captured during the battle, but before he was
taken prisoner by the rebels he hid the rifle under a pile of
brush, evidently not having time to destroy it, or hoping that
a turn in events would enable him to recover it.
Mr. Smith heard nothing concerning the rifle until Febru-
ary 25, 1905, when he was surprised to receive the following
letter from Lexington, Va.:
'"I have in my hands a Henry rifle with the following in-
scription carved on it: 'Eugene Smith, Bellevue, 0. Pre-
sented by his brother, Martin, February 10, 1863.'
•'Thinking that if you are the man referred to in the in-
scription you would like to own the gun, I have taken the liberty
to write to you. It is in good condition, and I would be glad to
sell it. Let me bear from you in regard to the matter.
"Very truly.
' ' L. W. Moore. ' '
Mr. Smith was greatly pleased at tin 1 prospect of recovering
the highly-prized weapon. He at once replied to the letter,
and after brief negotiations with L. W. Moore, the weapon was
sent to him.
At Mr. Smith's request, the rifle, after his death, which
occurred February •">. 1906, was presented to his nephew, Chas.
D. Smith, who has loaned it to the Firelands Historical Society.
1254 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Leonard Alcott donated colored print of battle near Mora-
vian town October 2, 1813. Date of print Dec. 6, 1813.
C. H. Gallup. Donated. "Blue Laws of Connecticut,"
Code of 1650. The Treaty of Greenville and Expeditions of
Generals St. Clair and Wayne.
"Walter Sherman. December 25, 1906. Book, Traveller's
pocket-guide and hotel-directory for 1847.
J. B. Strickland. Set of ship-calker 's tools.
J. W. Baker. Sample of linen spun and woven by Bessie
Brown.
Frank E. Best. Government revenue lock from distillery
at Weaver's Corners. Also an old-fashioned invitation.
Mrs. Ella Williams. Niles Register, Vol. 16.
T. S. Williams. Collection of Historical Society of S. Caro-
lina, Vol. 1.
C. F. Venus. Collection of Indian arrow-heads.
Edward F. Gregory. Collection of pipes.
John W. Rexford. Buck-tail hat worn by him in the Penna.
Buck-tail Brigade, in the War of the Rebellion.
Martin M. Hester. Book. "Machinist's receipts," bound by
J. P. McArdle of Norwalk in 1838. Dinner-horn used by M. M.
Hester in 1832. Sickle used in 1817. Ginsing hoe used in 1817.
5 stone Celts. 1 Indian war-hatchet. 3 ceremonial stones. 2-4
stone arrow-heads.
R. E. Little. Black-billed white swan killed in Huron
county. Loaned.
Arthur Underhill. Old pan-cake griddle.
E. G. Martin, loaned. Roster of the Co. G in the Spanish-
American War.
F. E. Weeks. Two papers. "The Crisis," of November 19,
1862, and December 10, 1862, and a pamphlet, "History of the
schools of Clarksfield, Ohio."
A. Sheldon. February 25. Piece of travertin o"r calcreous
tufa.
ADDITIONS TO THE MUSEUM 1255
G. W. Graves. Model of a wood-sawing machine patented
by A. E. and I. V. Warner in Norwalk, August 1. 1865, together
with the letters patent.
C. II. Gallup. Old chair, brought to Norwalk in 1856, as
property of Mrs. Isaac D. Fisher.
('. II. Gallup. Loaned. Reports of the Record Commis-
sioners of the City of Boston, Nos. 1-36, covering official records
of the Town of Boston and vicinity from 1630-1840.
Mrs. W. E. Gill. "Flag of our Union." Vols. 6. 7 and 8.
bound.
Webb C. Hayes. Book. "93d Anniversary of the Battle of
Fort Stephenson."
Ralph Brown. Loaned. His grandfather's clock, in use
in New York state about 1820, and brought to Ohio about 1856.
Guy ('. Humphrey, member of Co. A, 24th < >. V. I. and Co.
D. 5th I'. S. V. V. Lithograph copy of band-written list of the
commissioned officers, prisoners in Libby Prison.
Mrs. A. X. Reed. Donated American almanac, 1831-1856,
and 1S59-1860.
.1. W. Dawson. Donated. Methodist almanac, 1855.
Presented by :
Mrs. W. R. Reed. Pictures of Mr. and Mrs. Lemuel Sherman
of Norwalk.
Mrs. Ella Newman Shepherd. Record of the first Sunday-
school organized in Norwalk, dated June 10, 1831.
Mrs. Electa Lockwood. "The Spectator."
Mrs. Abbie Walton. Book of Martyrs.
I. M. Gillett. Package of arrow-heads and chips with some
I). L. Justice. An old-time sickle.
George Sheffield. "The Christian Reformer" and old
"Book of Psalms."
Mrs. Harriet Bishop. An old hand-made saw plowed up in
an old garden on Hester streel in Norwalk.
W. II. Cleveland. A handsomely mounted deer head.
1256 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
HENRY LAURENS, PATRIOT AND DIPLOMAT.
There recently eame into the possession of this society a
book of 307 pages with this entry on the inside of the front
cover :
"Charles Warley, Antwerp Plantation, Askepoo, 8th March,
'58."
And on a fly leaf, the following entries:
"Theodore S. Williams, Columbia, S. C— April, 1865.
Confiscated. ' '
"The home of Charles Warley in South Carolina was burned
by the soldiers of the 25th 0. V. V. I. by order of Gen. Foster,
February, 1865.
"The library was dumped into the yard. I confiscated this
book and now present it to the Firelands Historical Society, Jan-
uary 16, 1907.
"T. S. Williams."
The book is "Collections of the South Carolina Historical
Society, Volume 1." Published the same year as Vol. 1, No. 1 of
the Pioneer— 1857.
Its first public meeting was held on June 28, 1857. Our first
meeting was six days later, July 4, 1857.
Fifty pages of this book are devoted to "A Narratire of
the Capture of Henry Laurens, of his confinement in the Tower
of London, etc., 1780^ 1781, 1782."
This paper is the personal story of that grand patriot and
diplomat. Henry Laurens of Huguenot descent was born in
Charleston, South Carolina, in 1724. In 1775 he served as
President of the South Carolina Provincial Congress and was
one of the committee who in 1776 drafted the Constitution which
created South Carolina an independent state and was chosen its
first vice president.
In 1777 lie was sent to Philadelphia as a delegate to the
General Congress and in November of that year was elected its
president to succeed John Hancock and served until December,
1778.
HENRY LAURENS 1257
Having been appointed by Congress as an agent, to negotiate
a loan from Holland, on August 13, 1780, sailed from Phila-
delphia for his intended destination, but on September third was
captured by a British war frigate, transported to England and
held prisoner in the Tower of London until December 30, 1781,
when he was admitted to bail, or as he terms it "enlarged."
April 5, 1782. at the request of Lord Selburne, he left Lon-
don for the purpose of assisting the negotiation of terms of
peace.
After visiting John Adams, at Leyden, Holland, he returned
to London, and his report to Lord Selburne largely influenced
the attitude of the British Ministry in future negotiations, and
most effectually disposed of what he called the *'choak-pear" of
French participation.
Upon his liberation becoming known in America, Congress
joined him with Franklin, Adams and Jay on the peace com-
mission and he participated in its final success. It was he who
secured the insertion in the preliminary treaty of November 30,
1782, of a clause for the protection of negroes and other property.
He soon after retired to private life refusing public honors
often tendered him.
He died in his sixty-ninth year, December 8, 1792.
One of the provisions of his will reads as follows:
"I solemnly enjoin it upon my sun, as an indisputable duty,
thai as soon as he conveniently can after my decease, he cause
my body to be wrapped in twelve yards of tow cloth, and burned
until it be entirely consumed; and then collecting my bones,
deposit them wherever he may see proper." This was done.
Since obtaining possession of this fine old book, we have,
through our Congressman. Hon. J. F. Laning, caused investiga-
tion to he made :is to the extent of the publicity of Mr. Laurens'
personal story and find it rare.* It is with pleasure we publish
it in full only regretting space does out. in this issue, permit
giving many official letters relating to the imprisonment, pub-
•Letters on next page.
1258 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
lished as an appendix to the narrative. "We may give them in
Vol. 17. Ed.
Columbus, 0., Feb. 12, 1907.
Hon. J. F. Laning, Norwalk, 0.
Dear Mr. Laning:
We do not have in the State Library Vol. 1 "Collections of
the Historical Society of South Carolina." It is the only pub-
lication, apparently, that contains the narrative of the capture
of Henry Laurens and bis imprisonment. I have made some-
what careful search and am sure that this is not published else-
where, unless within very recent years.
Very truly yours,
C. B. Galbreath,
State Librarian.
Library of Congress, Washington.
February 18, 1907.
Sir:
Your communication of February 11 has bad the attention
of the Division of Bibliography and the Chief Bibliographer
now reports that the Library of Congress has a copy of the "Col-
lections of the South Carolina Historical Society," volume 1,
published in 1857. It does not appear that Henry Laurens' nar-
rative of his captivity in the Tower has been published elsewhere
than in that publication.
If this should be desired by the Historical Society of Nor-
walk, Ohio, it could be sent on inter-library loan. The enclosed
circular may be of interest.
Very respectfully.
M. D. McGuffey,
Secretary.
Hon. J. F. Laning, House of representatives.
\ \ UtRATIVE OF THE CAPTURE OF BENR1 LAURENS, OP HIS CONFINE-
MENT IN THE TOWER OF LONDON, &C. 1780, 1781, 1782.
T was commissioned by Congress to proceed to Holland, and
endeavor to borrow money, anywhere in Europe, on account of
the United States of America.
Before my embarkation, I applied to a member of the commit-
tee for foreign affairs, for a copy of a sketch of a treaty, pro-
jected by Mynheer Vanberkel, of Amsterdam, and Mr. William
Lee, in the service of Congress, as a. foundation for what might
be a proper treaty, between the United Provinces and the United
Stales, when the independence of the latter should lie established.
The gentleman replied : "You may take the original, it has never
been read in Congress, and is a paper of no authority. ' ' He gave
me the original ; I threw it into a trunk of papers, chiefly waste,
intending to garble the whole at sea, and preserve the few which
I should think worth saving. This unauthentic paper — the
project-eventual of two gentlemen, in their private capacities, —
was made by Great Britain the foundation of a war with the
United Provinces.
There being none of the frigates of the United States in
port, I .embarked at Philadelphia, the 13th August, 1.780, on
hoard the brigantine Mercury, a packet belonging to Congress,
commanded by Capt. William Pickles; a vessel with good ae-
commodations, and esteemed an excellenl sea boat, and as East
a sailor as any in America: the sloop-of-war Saratoga, of 16
guns, commanded by Capt. Young, being ordered to convoy
the Mercury to the hanks of Newfoundland; and. moreover, 1
had orders from the .Marine office to Capt. Nicholson, of the
Deane frigate, of — guns, and to Capt, Nicholson, of the
1260 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
frigate, of — guns, who were every moment expected to arrive
from a cruize, to join the sloop-of-war. and to convoy the Mer-
cury as above mentioned. These two frigates we met within the
capes of Delaware. I sent the order to the first in command, and
required his attention. In return, he informed me both ships
were in want of fresh water; that they would run up the bay,
take in watex*, and come down again immediately. The Mercury
anchored in Penniport, where we waited four or five days for
the frigates ; but having no account of them, nor. indeed, did
I much expect them, for at that time, little regard was paid
to orders, inconsistent with the captain's own convenience. The
wind being favorable, and the equinox advancing, I ordered the
sloop-of-war and the Mercury to prepare for sailing. We pro-
ceeded and went to sea the same day. The sloop continued with
tin' Mercury to the sixth day: when findinu' that the latter far
outsailed the former, and that we were obliged to shorten sail
every night, in order to keep with the convoy, by which much
time was lost: and considering the sloop as a very slender de-
fence, I recommended to Capt. Young to make a short cruise
and return to the Delaware.
On the 3d September, at the first 'lawn of day. a sail in sight
was announced, far to leeward. Capt. Pickles put the Mercury
close upon a wind: and had he continued her so, the strange
sail would not have come up with us; but he altered his opinion,
and put her before the wind,- — her worst sailing, especially as
she was badly ballasted with sand. The vessel in sight altered
her course also: and about nine o'clock, began to fire her bow
guns. At eleven o'clock, her shot went over the Mercury, and
two between her masts. Capt. Pickles then hauled down the
American flag. The pursuer came up, and proved to be the
Vestal, British frigate, of 28 guns, commanded by Capt. George
Keppel. Such papers as were thought to be of importance, on
board the Mercury, were thrown overboard or burned; but the
trunk of useless papers above mentioned, remained. My Secre-
tary, Major Moses Young, asked me what he should do with
them. I replied, "they may remain where they are; they are
of no consequence." Rut recollecting there were private letters
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1261
among them, and being urged, I consented they should also be
thrown overboard. This was done in some confusion ; the papers
were put into a long bag, and 20 or 25 lbs. weight of shot upon
them. The air in the long bag buoyed up just the mouth of it.
The people on board the frigate instantly perceived and hooked
it \ip. These were Mr. Laurens' papers, so much talked of
throughout Europe, for arranging of which the British Ministry
gave Mr. Galloway, according to report, £500 sterling, and were
at a farther expense to bind in rough calf, gild and letter them
in 18 folio volumes, and afterwards returned the whole to Mr.
Laurens again.
Capt. Keppel had not thought them of such value. After
great labor, in drying and perusing, he said to me; "Mr. Lau-
rens, you must certainly have destroyed your mail. I find
nothing of any importance among these papers." I acknowl-
edge the destruction of papers, which I thought ought not to
appear, and then related every circumstance of the bag which
he had taken.
About one o'clock, Capt. Keppel sent an officer in his barge
to conduct me to the Vestal. He received me very cordially,
on the quarter-deck; conducted me into his cabin, where he paid
me this compliment: "I am glad to see you, Mr. Laurens, in
my cabin. At the same time as a gentleman, I am sorry for
your misfortune." I offered Capt. Keppel my sword and my
purse, containing about fifty guineas' value in gold; he refused
both. "Put up your money, sir, I never plunder." I could
be lavish in praises of Capt. Keppel, for his polite and kind con-
duct towards me, in all respects.
Among other questions, Capt. Keppel asked why I had ex-
posed myself in so small a vessel unarmed. I informed him of
the convoy I had, and that of which I had been disappointed.
He replied, "It is fortunate for me the Nicholsons did not
obey their orders; if they had," said he, "I should have lost
the Vestal. I have only 108 men on board, and not above twenty
of them seamen. They mighl have taken the Fairy, too, she
is just at hand."
Soon after the Mercury's colors had been struck, I observed
my Secretary, Mr. Young, appeared in a gloomy countenance.
1262 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
I encouraged him to keep up his spirits. "I feel a satisfaction,"
said I, "in being captured by a British ship-of-war. I shall
now be sent to England, where I shall be of more real service
to my country than I could possibly be in any other part of
Europe. ' '
The 14th or 15th September, the Vestal and Fairy, which
had joined her. entered the Basin of St. Johns. Newfoundland.
Soon after we had anchored. Admiral Edwards sent his compli-
ments, desiring I would dine with him that and every day
while I should remain in the land.
The Admiral received me politely at dinner; seated me at
his right hand; after dinner he toasted the King; I joined. Im-
mediately after he asked a toast from me. I gave "General
Washington," which was repeated by the whole company, and
created a little mirth at the lower end of the table. The Ad-
miral, in course of conversation, observed I had been pretty
active among my countrymen. I replied that I had once been
a good British subject, but after Great Britain had refused to
hear our petitions, and had thrown us out of her protection, I
had endeavored to do my duty. The Americans. I added, had
not set up an independence. Great Britain had made them
independent, by throwing them out of her protection, and com-
mitting hostilities upon them by sea and land. Nothing re-
mained for Congress but to declare to the world that the
United Colonies were independent. The Admiral said he be-
lieved Great Britain would be glad to have peace with the
Colonies upon any terms, except adhering to the treaty of alli-
ance with France. I answered that was a sine </»</ n<>n: it was
impossible the United States could violate that treaty. They
cannot lay down their arms but in conjunction with France.
The Admiral regretted.
"While I was in Newfoundland, I never heard the term rebel ;
and as occasions required. I spoke as freely of the United States.
of Congress, and of independence, as ever I had done in Phila-
delphia. Nine Captains of British men-of-war, honored me by
a visit on board the Vestal; every one spoke favorably of Ameri-
ca, but lamented her connection with France. One of these
gentlemen advised me, upon my arrival in London, to take apart-
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1263
incuts at the New Hotel; "Then," said he, "we shall know where
to find you." I smiled and asked, "If there was not a hotel in
London, called Newgate." "Newgate !" exclaimed two or three;
"they dare not send you there." "Well, gentlemen, wait a
few weeks and you will hear of the hotel where I shall be
Lodged."
('apt. Lloyd, the Admiral's Captain, made me a present of a
sensible pamphlet, written and published by himself, under the
signature of "Valens," in which the war carried on by Great
Britain against America is condemned, and Lord Mansfield
treated with just severity for the part he had acted in the
British House of Lords.
Capt. Keppel left the Vestal under the command of his friend,
the Honorable Capt. Barclay, of the Fairy, and entered this
vessel himself, taking me on board with him; and aboul the 18th
September, sailed for England. We had not lost sight of the
Island of Newfoundland, when a cry of fire was made on hoard
the Fairy, said to be near the powder room door, and that un-
guarded in the usual way. Officers and men. except Capt. Kep-
pel. at first were in confusion; but his presence of mind, ex-
ample and activity calmed them, and the fire, though very alarm-
ing, was soon suppressed. The Fairy made a rough, wet and
short passage.
In ten days we landed at Dartmouth. I was put under the
charge of Lieut. Norris, who in a post chaise with four horses,
drove rapidly towards London. Mr. Norris having friends in
and near Exeter, stopped in that city two days and three nights.
He was absent from me almost the whole time. In that mterval,
a gentleman whom I had never seen nor heard of before, called
upon, and in strong terms invited me to make my escape. Said,
nothing was more easy; I might go to his house, which was very
private and retired, and there slay till Hie bustle of enquiry and
pursuit should be over, and then 1 mighl go very safely out of
the kingdom to Holland or Flanders. I thanked the friendly
gentleman, but absolutely declined the proposition, lie asked,
"If I was under any parol promise to Mr. Norris''" -"No, sir;
but the confidence thai young gentleman has reposed in me, I
think, implies a parol." "Why, sir, kings and princes in your
1264 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
circumstances have made escapes." "True, sir, but I feel no
inclination or desire to escape." The gentleman was amazed.
I thought I saw a prospect before me, and was perfectly tranquil.
Lieut. Norris appeared, and proceeded to London. We ar-
rived at the admiralty office late in the evening of the 5th
October. Some hours were taken up to collect two or three of the
ministers, and a justice of the peace. About 11 o'clock at night,
I was sent under a strong guard, up three pair of stairs, in Scot-
land-Yard, into a very small chamber. Two king's messengers
were placed for the whole night at one door, and a subaltern's
guard of soldiers at the other. As I was, and had been for some
days, so ill as to be incapable of getting into or out of a carriage,
or up or down stairs, without help, I looked upon all this parade
to be calculated for intimidation. My spirits were good, and I
smiled inwardly.
The next morning, 6th October, from Scotland-Yard I was
conducted again, under guard, to the secretary's office. White
Hall, where were present, Lord Hillsborough, Lord Stormont,
Lord George Germain, Mr. Chamberlain, solicitor of the treas-
ury. Mr. Knox, under secretary. Mr. Justice Addington, and
others.
I was first asked, by Lord Stormont. "If my name was Henry
Laurens." "Certainly, my Lord, that is my name." Capt.
Keppel was asked, "If that was Mr. Laurens?" He answered
in the affirmative.
His Lordship then said: "Mr. Laurens, we have a paper
here," holding the paper up, "purporting to be a commission
from Congress to you, to borrow money in Europe for the use
of Congress. It is signed Samuel Huntingdon. President, and
attested by Charles Thomson, Secretary. We have already
proved the handwriting of Charles Thomson." I replied: "My
Lords, your Lordships are in possession of the paper, and will
make such use of it as your Lordships shall judge proper." I
had not destroyed this paper, as it would serve to establish the
rank and character in which I was employed by the United
States.
Another question was asked me, which I did not rightly
understand. I replied: "My Lords. I am determined to answer
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1265
no questions but with the strictest truth ; wherefore, I trust, your
Lordships will ask me no questions which might ensnare me,
and which I cannot with safety and propriety answer."
No farther questions were demanded. I was told by Lord
Stormont, I was to be committed to the Tower of London on
"suspicion of high treason." I asked, "If I had not a right to a
copy of the commitment 1 ' ' Lord Stormont after a pause, said :
"He hesitated on the word right," and the copy was not granted.
Mr. Chamberlain then very kindly said to me: "Mr. Lam-ens,
you aie to be sent to the Tower of London, not to a prison; you
must have no idea of a prison." I bowed thanks to the gentle-
men, and thought of the new hotel, which had been recommended
by my friends in Newfoundland.
A commitment was made out by Mr. Justice Addington, and a
warrant by their Lordships to the Lieutenant of the Tower, to
receive and confine me.
From White Hall, I was conducted in a close hackney coach,
under the charge of Col. Williamson, a polite, genteel officer,
and two of the illest-looking fellows I had ever seen. The coach
was ordered to proceed by the most private ways to the Tower.
It had been rumored that a rescue would be attempted. At the
Tower the Colonel delivered me to Maj. Gore, the residing Gov-
ernor, who, as I was afterwards well informed, had previously
concerted a plan for mortifying me. He ordered rooms for me
in the most conspicuous part of the Tower, (the parade.) The
people of the house, particularly the mistress, entreated the
Governor not to burthen them with a prisoner. Tie replied, "It
is necessary. I am determined to expose him." This, was, how-
ever, a lucky determination for me. The people were respectful
and kindly attentive to me, from the beginning of my confine-
ment to the end; and I contrived after being told of the Gov-
ernor's humane declaration, so to garnish my windows by honey-
suckles, and a grape vine running under them, as to eoi al my-
self entirely from the sight of starers, and at the same time to
have myself a full view of them.
Governor Gore conducted me to my apartments at a warder's
house. As I was entering the house. 1 heard some of the people
say: "Poor old gentleman, bowed down with infirmities. He
1266 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
is come to lay his bones here." My reflection was, "I shall not
leave a bone with you." I was very sick, but my spirits were
good, and my mind forboding good, from the event of being
a prisoner in London.
Their Lordships' orders were, "To confine me a close prisoner;
to be locked np every night ; to be in the custody of two wardens,
who were not to suffer me to be out of their sight on< moment
day or night; to allow me no liberty of speaking to anj
nor to permit any person to speak to me; to deprive me of the
use of pen and ink; to suffer no letter to lie brought to me. nor
any to go from me," &e. As an apology, I presume, for their
first rigor, the warders gave me their orders to peruse. A senti-
nel, with fixed bayonet, was placed at the door of the barrack,
in which I was confined, part of whose duty it was to keep off
all strangers from approaching within thirty feet of the door.
And now I found myself a close prisoner, indeed: shut up in
two small rooms, which together made about twenty feet square ;
a warder my constant companion ; and a fixed bayonet under my
window; not a friend to converse with, and no prospect of a cor-
respondence.
Xext morning, 7th October. Gov. Gore came into my room,
with a workman, and fixed iron bars to my windows; altogether
unnecessary. The various guards were sufficient to secure my
person. It was done, as I was informed, either to shake my
mind or to mortify me. It had neither effect. I only thought
of Mr. Chamberlain's consolation.
I asked Mr. Gore, "What provision was to be made for my
support?" He replied, "He had no directions." I said, "I
can very well provide for myself, but I must be allowed means
for obtaining money." He gave no answer. In a word. I dis-
covered I was to pay rent for my little rooms, find my own
meat and drink, bedding, coals, candles, &c. This drew from me
an observation to the gentleman jailer, (the officer who locks up
a prisoner every night. I who would immediately report it to
the Governor: "Whenever I caught a bird in America I found
a caga and victuals for it."
What surprised me most was. although the Secretaries of State
had seen the ill state of my health, and must also have heard of
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1267
my continuing ill by reports, daily made to them, they never
ordered or caused to be provided for me, any medical assistance.
The people around me thought, for a considerable time, my life
in imminent danger. I was of a different opinion.
When the Governor had retired from his iron liars, neither
my servant nor ha »'gage being yel arrived, I asked the warder,
"If he could lend me a book for amusement." He gravely
asked: "Will your honor be pleased to have Drilincourt upon
death?' " I quickly turned to his wife, who was passing from
making up my bed: "Pray, .Madam, can you recommend an
honest goldsmith, who will put a. new head to my cane; you see
this old head is much worn?" "Yes, sir, I can." The people
understood me, and nothing more was said of 'Drilincourt.'
The 14th October, Mr. William Manning, and my son Henry,
through the intercession of the Bishop of Worcester, obtained
from the Secretaries of- State a warrant to visit me. They were
restricted to half an hour, and to converse only in presence and
hearing of two extra officers, besides the warder.
The 17th I was informed an unsealed letter had been sent for
me by Capt. Lloyd, Admiral Edward's Captain. The Governor
was pleased to arrest, and never deliver it to me.
About this day. a kind, and, as she afterwards proved, a very
faithful friend, offered her service to convey for me any letter
or note to my friends in the city, and carefully to bring their
answers. At first I entertained doubts, apprehending the kind
offer might descend from White Hall, projected for ensnaring
me.
After a few days, being again urged by the good woman, I
made a trial. Pen and ink were forbidden, but 1 found pencil
would serve my purposes effectually, and thenceforward I cor-
responded with my friends, and with some of what were called
"Rebel Newspapers," as Ereelj as I could have done if I had
I n at full liberty. My pencilling was generally copied by a
friend out. ami s times by one in the Tower.
The 20th, Governor Gore informed me the Secretaries of State.
in consequence of a verbal application. | I suppose of some
friend.) permitted me to read the newspapers, and he was
pleased to recommend the "Morning Chronicle," the paper he
1268 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
took in. I ordered the warders to take for me the "Morning
Post," "Public Advertiser." and "London Evening," the
"London Gazette," and other papers occasionally.
November 4th, General Vernon, next officer of the Tower to
Lord Cornwallis, (the latter is Constable;) General Vernon,
Lieutenant of the Tower, called to visit me ; behaved like a gentle-
man and a man of feeling ; conversed freely without stiffness or
reserve; the very opposite of Mr. Gore. The General promised
to apply on my behalf to the Secretaries of State, for leave to
walk the Tower grounds, and for the use of pen and ink.
The 7th, General Vernon called upon me again; informed me
I was permitted to walk the Tower ground, when I pleased, and
that he would give the necessary orders. Pen and ink, not
granted; in truth, I had no need of them. I had become an
adept at pencil writing.
The 8th, Governor Gore, hypocritically kind, came and told
me I had leave to walk about the Tower; (he had received the
order from General Vernon) — but advised. I would only walk
the parade before the door, "if you go farther," said he. •"there
will be such a rabble after you." I treated his kindness with
contempt, and refused to walk. The parade is the very place
where he had predetermined to expose me. — The order of Gen-
eral Vernon, received by him from the Secretaries of State, was,
"that I should be permitted to walk the Tower grounds." Mr.
Gore attempted to supersede both. The Governor grew uneasy,
and asked the wardens why I had not walked? They answered
that I was lame with the gout.
Sunday, 12th November, hobbled out; a warder with a sword
in his hand, at my back; the warder informed me, Governor
Gore had ordered that I should walk only on the parade. I re-
turned immediately to my little prison.
The 16th, the Governor more uneasy, jealous and fearful of
General Vernon, sent me notice I might walk the broad pave-
ment (115 yards') before the great armory, and within the
armory, all arbitrary on his part ; but the walk within the build-
ing was very agreeable, it would afford sufficient exercise, and
viewing the quantity and variety of military stores, etc., etc.,
was amusing. I visited the place almost every day, till the third
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1269
December, when going there Lord George Gordon was also a
prisoner in the Tower, unluckily met, and asked me to walk with
him. I declined it, and returned instantly to my apartment.
The governor being informed of this, by one of his spies, although
the warder explained and proved to him, I was in no respect a
transgresser, caught hold of the occasion, and locked me up. I
remained thus closely confined by his arbitrary will, forty-seven
days; if any, the fault was in Lord George, but the brutal Gov-
ernor dared not lock him up.
The 14th December, a short visit, in the presence of two
officers, from Mr. Manning and my son, Henry.
The 15th, from Miss Manning and Mr. "William Manning.
The 30th December, being very ill, I requested the advice of a
physician, the Governor would admit no other than the surgeon
of the battalion, in the Tower.
1781. January the 3rd, Mr. Oswald gave a very short, but'
kind visit, in presence of officers, as usual. A general and un-
pointed conversation. He had been in Scotland, till lately.
The 9th, the governor, apprehensive of a complaint to General
Vernon, affects to relent; sent a message, "I might walk on the
parade, before the door," which amounted to a prohibition; I
refused to accept the favor.
The 13th, General Vernon called on me, was affable, and
polite, I reminded him of pen and ink, said, "he had applied,
but it could not be granted ; he was sorry for it, the Secretaries
of State were new, and he believed, did not well understand
tower business, I joked on the use of pencil, he laughed heartily.
Mr. Oswald, Mr. Manning and Henry Laurens called this day ;
mixed conversation. I made no complaint to General Vernon of
my confinement; although, I am assured he called in hopes I
would.
18th, the Governor called, I received and treated him with
coolness; he looked awkwardly, and retired.
The 22nd, Lord George Gordon sent me a piece of scots cake,
the Governor being informed of it, was wrathful beyond all
decency; sent a warder to tell me, I should receive nothing but
through him; I answered the warder, "Go tell the governor, I
1270 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
will receive nothing through so dirty a channel,'" the warder
went immediately, and told him.
February 8th, Lord George Gordon conducted to Westminster
Hall, for trial ; I am told of very rude behavior of the governor
to him. I am informed the Secretaries' warrant for a visit to me
limits no time : the governor assumes that liberty.
Sunday 18th, General Vernon, having been fully informed
by a friend in the Tower, of the governor's arbitrary locking
me up, from the third December, called and very kindly en-
quired, if I took my walks abroad as usual. I replied in the
negative, and candidly explained what had passed between the
governor and myself. He was exceedingly displeased, and said
aloud, the people below stairs heard him. "I'll take care to give
orders that you may walk when you please and where you
please." Ee gave orders, not to the governor, but to Mr. King-
horn, an inferior officer.
The 22nd February, walked abroad, first time since third
December. The Governor very angry, and much mortified, 1
must expect the effect of his ill nature in some other way ; but I
despise him.
Monday, 26th February, Mr. Oswald, having solicited the
Secretaries of State for my enlargement, upon parol, and offered
to pledge "his whole fortune as surety for my good conduct."
sent me the following message, in addition to the above by Mr.
Kinghorn, the gentleman jailer: "Their lordships say, if you
will point out anything, for the benefit of Great Britain, in the
present dispute with the colonies, you shall be enlarged." The
first part of the message overwhelmed me with feelings of grati-
tude, the latter filled me with indignation. I snatched up my
pencil, and upon a sudden impulse wrote a note to Mr. Oswald as
follows, and sent it by the same Mr. Kinghorn :
"I perceive, my dear friend, from the message you have sent
me by Mr. Kinghorn, that if I were a rascal, I might presently
get out of the Tower — I am not. You have pledged your word
and fortune for my integrity. I will never dishonor you, nor
myself. Yes, I could point out, but is this the place? If I had
nothing in view but my own interest or convenience promises
and pointings out would be very prompt; but this is not a proper
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1271
place. I could point out a doctrine, known to every old woman
in the kingdom. 'A spoonful of honey will catch more flies, than
a ton of vinegar.' What I formerly predicted to you, came to
pass.* I can forsee, now, what will come to pass, happt n to me
what may. 1 fear no 'possible consequences.' I must have pa-
tience, and submit to the will of God, I do not change with the
times. My conduct has been consistent, and shall be so."
Thursday, 1st March, 1781, General Vernon visited me; polite
and affable, as usual. At intervals of time I employed my pencil
in writing paragraphs of American intelligence, for the rebel
newspapers, as they were called. Some of these excited jealousy.
One of the Secretaries of State, as I was informed, said, "they
smelt strong of the Tower." 1 had written and had printed
the history of the apostate Arnold. This gave much offense. A
friend informed me, Governor Gore was determined to make a
search for all my papers, these I concealed therefore, within a
bed, on which I lay; but having received a second assurance
of the governor's determination. I burned them, and lost valuable
minutes.
The 7th March, Mr. Oswald visited, and was left alone with
me. It immediately occurred he had some extraordinary subject
from White Hall for conversation, and so it appeared.
Mr. Oswald began by saying, "I converse with you this morn-
ing not particularly as your friend, but as a friend to Great
Britain." I thanked him for his candor, he proceeded: "I have
certain propositions to make for obtaining your liberty, which
I advise, you should take time to consider, I shewed the note
you lately sent me to Lord George Germain, who was at first
very angry, he exclaimed, 'rascals! — rascals! — we want no ras-
cals — honey! honey!! vinegar! they have had too much honey,
and too little vinegar ! they shall have less honey and more vine-
*In February, lTTti. I had written to Mr. Oswald as my opinion, that
if Great Britain persevered in her cruel war, against America, foreign
aid would be called in by the latter; an alliance with France would
follow. In a letter to me by the hands of Governor Johnston, Mr.
Oswald pays me a compliment upon my foresight, and says he had not
thought such a thing possible. In conversation, Mr. Oswald had said
he wished me out of the Tower, "for fear of possible consequences,"
and had sent messages to the same effect.
1272 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
gar for the future.' " I said to Mr. Oswald, I should be glad
to taste a little of his lordship's vinegar, his lordship's honey
had been very unpleasant, but Mr. Oswald said, "that note was
written without a moment's deliberation, intended only for your-
self, and not for the eye of a minister." Mr. Oswald smiled,
and said. "It has done you no harm." I then replied. "I am as
ready to give an answer to any proposition which you have to
make to me, at this moment, as I shall be in any given time. An
honest man requires no time to give an answer where his honor
is concerned. If the Secretaries of State wdl enlarge me upon
parol, as it seems they can enlarge me if they please. I will strictly
conform to my engagement, to do nothing, directly or indirectly,
to the hurt of this kingdom. I will return to America, or remain
in any part of England which may be assigned, and render my-
self, when demanded."
Mr. Oswald answered, "No, you must stay in London, among
your friends. The ministers will often have occasion to send
for, and consult you; but observe. I say all this as from myself,
qo1 by particular direction or authority; but I know it will be
so. You can write two or three lines to the ministers, and barely
say, you are sorry for what is past. A pardon will be granted.
Every man has been wrong, at some time or other of his life,
and should not be ashamed to acknowledge it." I now under-
stood Mr. Oswald, and could easily perceive my worthy friend
was more than half ashamed of his mission. Without hesitation,
I replied, "Sir, I will never subscribe to my own infamy, and
to the dishonor of my children." Mr. Oswald then talked of
long ami painful confinement, which I should suffer, and re-
peated "possible consequences." "Permit me to repeat. Sir."
said 1. "1 am afraid of no consequences, but such as would flow
from dishonorable acts." Mr. Oswald desired, "I would take
time, weigh the matter properly in my mind, and let him hear
from me." I concluded by assuring him, "he never would hear
from me in terms of compliance: if I could be so base, I was sure,
I should incur his contempt." Mr. Oswald took leave, with such
expressions of regard and such a squeeze of the hand, as induced
me to believe, he was not displeased with my determination.
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1273
In the course of this conversation, I asked, "Why Ministers
were so desirous of having me about their persons." Mr. Oswald
said, "They thought I had great influence in America." I an-
swered, "I once had some influence in my own country; but it
would be in me the highest degree of arrogance to pretend to
have a general influence in America. I know but one man, of
whom this can be said; I mean General Washington. I will
suppose, for a moment, the General should come over to your
Ministers. What would be the effect? He would instantly lose
all his influence, and be called a rascal."
Mr. Duche dreamed that he had an influence, even over the
General. What was the consequence of his apostacy? Was
the course of American proceedings interrupted? By no means.
He was execrated, and the Americans went forward. This tended
to show that America was in earnest.
From Mr. Oswald's being left alone with me, it was natural
to infer, orders had been given from above for that purpose,
and yet he might not have acted by particular direction or au-
thority, lb' reported the issue of his conversation with me to
Lord George Germain, who from thence forward received him
very coldly, once rudely, as he afterwards informed me. Lord
George suspected he was too much my friend. A more suitable
agent, as they imagined, was soon found out.
The 8th, General Vernon called on me; sat an hour chatting.
I famy the General wished to be informed of the effect of Mr.
Oswald's visit, without the presence of an officer, which had
excited the curiosity of every body in the Tower. I was alto-
gether silent ; but on the 14th March, came my old friend Major
General James Grant, and gave me the honor of his company
and conversation, only three hours and a quarter; asked me a
great many queer questions. I endeavored to frame answers, as
queer. That he came directly from the minister, was to me too
evident, in order to sound and tempt me. He talked much of
long and disagreeable confinement ; how glad my old friends
would be to see me abroad, and how easily 1 might get enlarged.
After being very tedious he put his hand to his waistcoal pockets,
and said, "Colonel Laurens. I have brought paper and pencil
to take down any propositions you may have to make to the ad-
1274 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
ministration, and I will deliver them myself." I instantly re-
plied, "My dear General, I have paper and pencil, but not one
proposition beyond repeating a request to be enlarged from
this confinement upon parol. I think I have a right to
expect the indulgence in return for my treatment of British
officers and other British prisoners in America, which you are
not ignorant of, and you must pardon me, General, for saying,
I am ungratefully treated; attempts to soften and bend me
by rigor will prove ineffectual. I had well weighed what con-
sequences might follow before I entered into the present dispute.
I took the path of justice and honor, and no personal evils shall
cause me to shrink."
I spoke forcibly, because 1 was persuaded the General would
report every syllable. The General appeared much chagrined;
changed his subject, and after unimportant conversation took
leave, promising to call upon me again — but never did.
The very next day, the loth, a Doctor Grant, a gentleman with
whom I had no acquaintance, had formerly seen, but never con-
versed with him, visited me, introduced himself by saying he
had been with .Mi-. Robinson, Lord North's secretary, and had
permission, as a physician, to visit me, as often as he should
think necessary. It was not difficult to see the drift of this un-
solicited favor. I thanked the doctor; a loose sounding con-
versation with enquiries of my health followed, then much of
American affairs. I strenuously maintained the rights of my
country, and removed many aspersions which had been cast
upon it, I remarked, the doctor is not limited in time he stayed
with me as long as he pleased.
Monday, 19th, Doctor Grant again; long conversation on
American affairs; he slightly blamed administration for the war;
wishes it was over. But he is sure, America will never be so
happy independent of Great Britain, as in connexion. "That
may he, sir," 1 replied, "hut the war cannot end until inde-
pendence shall he established. There is no medium, all other
hopes are vain. Great Britain made the United States inde-
pendent by throwing them out of her protection. Congress had
only to declare to the world the independence of the States; the
Americans never rebelled, nor levied arms against their king;
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1275
when they were assailed, they defended themselves and will de-
fend themselves to the end." The doctor lamented the act cast-
ing the Americans out of protection, but replied seemingly much
disappointed. — Upon every proper occasion my sentiments are
thus freely delivered because I know they will be reported to
ministers, and by them, no doubt, to the king.
The 22nd March. Mr. Manning called on me; this friend in-
forms me. my worthy friend, Gabriel Manigault, Esq.. had given
him direction to apply all his money, in Mr. Manning's hands,
to my use. if needful. Mr. Manning has labored hard by long
letters to convince me. the Americans are on the wrong side in
the present contest; he wishes me out of the Tower, and presses
me to apply in proper terms for enlargement, he is certain, no
body eaii or will censure me. I defend the cause of my country,
and say to him. I will never ask for. nor accept a pardon: if no
other person in the world would censure, I should always carry
one about me, who would never cease from bitter reproaches:
that I will do nothing that shall cause my children to blush after
I am in my grave. Mr. Manning's language, I apprehend is
learned from Lord Hillsborough.
The 23rd April, Governor Gore sent me a gazette extraordi-
nary, containing an unfavorable account of our affairs in
America with an insulting message, "I fancy this will not please
the high stomached gentleman." I bid the messenger, a warder,
say to the governor, "1 should soon return the compliment."
Mr. Oswald sent me a message by Mr. Kinghorn, intimating,
"that my eldest son's arrival at Paris, in a public character,
was very much resented, and was very injurious to me." Mr.
Manning wrote to me on the same subject, "my confinement
was tin 1 more rigorous, because the young man had now openly
declared himself an enemy to his kin? ami ntry." The
former was well assured, that my writing to my son to withdraw
himself from the court of France would lie well taken at the
British court. 1 replied to both, "mj -on is of age, ami ha- a
will of his own: if 1 should write to him in the terms you re-
quest, it would have no effect ; In- would only conclude that con-
finement and persuasion of my old friends had softened me.
I know him to be a man of honor: he loves me dearly, and
1276 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
would lay down his life to save mine; but I am sure, he would
not sacrifice his honor to save my life, and I applaud him. ' ' He
had now openly declared himself an enemy to his king and
country. Is this new ? Was he not a prisoner at the fall of
Charleston ? Was he not exchanged for a British officer ? Did
he not give an equivalent for a right to use his sword again?
The 15th May, General Vernon called and desired to know
what hour I should walk abroad, Lord Hardwick wished to see
me, if I had no objection — none. The hour was fixed. I walked
out, the general and his lordship met me on the lines: the general
drew me into a pretty long conversation; Lord Hardwick con-
stantly eyed me. but was silent.
I fancy some of my impudent speeches, reported at Whitehall,
and at court, may have attracted his lordship's curiosity. I
always spoke (void of insolence) of the United States, of Con-
gress, of independence, of the alliance with France, as freely
in the Tower, as I could have spoken in Philadelphia. Frequent
hints were given to me, that I declared my sentiments too boldly.
I answered my sentiments were never obtruded upon any body;
but when gentlemen asked questions, if I gave no answers it
would be interpreted sultenness or stupidity; if I gave answers,
they must be such as appeared to me to be decent and fitting. I
was put in mind, I had lately said to Mr. Oswald, ' ' I would bet
all I was worth in the world, against a single guinea, the twelve
judges of England would not subscribe to an opinion that the
United States were in a rebellion or had ever been."
The 4th June. Governor Gore to the joy of every body, sick
and going into the country, he is relieved by Col. Par. who calls
immediately to see me, and appears to be, in conversation and
manners, directly reverse of the Governor.
The 6th June, Col. Par called again, very kindly, very un-
warily offers to introduce my sou to lodge with or near me. I
thank the Colonel, but gave him a caution: •"if you should
suffer my son only to visit me. without a warrant from one of
the Secretaries of State, you would incur very high displeasure."
He thanked me in his turn.
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1277
Col. Par called almost every day, and was always as sociable
as if we had been old mess mates. The 12th he brought a strange
gentleman with him ; they eat and drank with me.
The 17th, Col. Par. it being Sunday, called and asked if I was
inclined to go to church, he would accompany me; answer. "Not
much disposed to hear my country cursed and abused in your
prayers ; besides, sir, were I to accept your offer you would be
highly centured."
The 20th, Col. Par walks with me on the lines; no warder;
this proved to have been a ministerial appointment. Dr. Grant
came up, Col. Par retired and left me abroad with the Doctor,
unguarded. Much conversation respecting America ensued; at
length the doctor opened his business : he and all my friends
wished to see me at large, he and they all entreated me to accept
a pardon, which would be granted upon the most easy terms of
application, even of one of my friends, in my name, without my
writing. I thanked the doctor, for his kind intentions; but said,
"Sir, the sentiments which I have heretofore had the honor of
expressing 1" you, might have convinced you, I did not feel any
compunction, nor view myself in the light of a transgressor,
wherefore it is impossible for me to apply, for or to accept a
pardon." The doctor, said he was exceedingly disappointed;
he had entertained hopes, that a regard for myself, for my
family, for my friends, would have led me to accept what would
be so generously granted.
The 23rd, Governor Gore returned, he had not taken leave of
me. but came immediately to see if his prisoner was safe.
The 25th, the Governor again.
The 27th, the Governor again, what can all this mean? He
had not been accustomed to pay such frequent visits. Somebody
has told him of Col. Par's civility, and the bear is jealous, as
he may have heard of the attempts to release me from the Tower;
wishes to pay court. I treat him witli decent contempt.
.Mr. Manning, still anxious for my enlarge nt and safety,
wi'itcs to me: "I am truly sorry to find my endeavors prove as
ineffectual with you as they have with the ministers. 1 am
anxious to prevail with them, but I do not by any means wish to
persuade you to act against your conscience, I would not say
1278 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
more in your behalf, than you mean. Your engaging to do
nothing to the hurt or prejudice of the kingdom [parol,] I fear
will not. be listened to. Therefore as you justly observe, I may
cease my labors. The proper mode of application for your en-
largement has been pointed out — [pardon,] and I wish you
could persuade yourself to be of my opinion, but the subject is
too delicate to enlarge upon."
To which I sent the following answer in pencil, "I will not
willingly, my dear friend, be guilty of an act which would
make you ashamed of me. Imprisonment and even death by the
hand of power, — justice and equity will never give their assent-
shall not shake me. Your apprehensions draw your commiser-
ation : possibly your applause may be hereafter excited.
"Were I to do what your kindness insinuates as a wish, I
shovdd incur, after a little time, your contempt. You might
indeed continue a decent carriage, and permit me to breathe the
air of Totteridge (his country seat,) which you recommend for
its purity, but you would lose all esteem for me.
"The subject you say is too delicate to enlarge upon, or in
other words, 'my kind wishes to you, have led me to a line
beyond which I cannot step: I cannot take upon me to advise
you.'
"Now, sir. why is the subject too delicate? because you have
doubts of the propriety of the thing, which you hint, but do not
recommend. Had there been no scruples in your mind, respect-
ing the propriety you would not have hesitated one moment.
Your friendship would have said, 'this is my advice, concurred
in by all your friends. '
"To me there appears no delicacy or difficulty in the subject;
when Mr. Oswald conversed with me some months since, on the
same point, and desired I would take time to consider, I replied,
'I am as ready at this moment to give an answer as I shall
be at any future time.'
"My conduct has been either right or wrong; if the former, I
must not, in order to escape bodily suffering, commit an act
which would place me in a despicable light before all mankind,
friends and foes alike, and cause my children to blush for me
after I am dead. On the other hand, if I felt a conscience of
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1279
guilt, I would not content myself with offering 'future services.'
I would not delay one moment to cast myself at the footstool of
offended majesty, more for the satisfaction of calming my mind
by making the most humble acknowledgement of my transgres-
sion than from a desire of pardon.
"My conscience acquits me, is serene and undisturbed; if I
die let me die in my integrity.
' ' You may perceive, my dear sir, I require no admonition to
speak clearly and explicitly ; I have never been in the practice
of speaking otherwise. — Indeed, I have wished to speak no more
on the subject; this you might have learned from total silence
in my last. I did not think it expedient or polite to tell you in
a few abrupt words, 'I will never apply where you direct, nor
anywhere for pen and ink to subscribe myself a villain,' but such
were my feelings.
"Your labors and those of Mr. Oswald, in my case, appeared
to have been unproductive, therefore, I wished to cease your
trouble, and to wait in humble resignation for events.
"Had I the facility of an Arnold, I should expect somewhat
more than an Arnold's price. I should be a much better pur-
chase, but I only ask in return for some services to your people,
a suitable retaliation.
"You have replied to me, the parols and exchanges which I
mentioned were taken and made in America, but that I am in
England. 'Did not my captivity commence in America? "Was I
not landed upon American ground, where I saw exchanges and
parols going forward? Is not this making a distinction where
there is no difference?' But I will trouble you no more, unless
you desire it. H. L. "
P. S. "Will you be so good, as to purchase for me a hand-
some watch: chagrin base, enameled dial plate. I am indebted,
and must make some acknowledgement for civilities and at-
tention. ' '
The 25th, having been long refused a visit from my son,
Henry, lie contrived to meet me on the lines when I walked
abroad: we saluted and passed by, bu1 dared not converse.
Penciled an address to the Secretaries of State, titled, "The
representation and prayer of Henry Laurens, close prisoner in
1280 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
the Tower," etc., dated the 23rd, which Governor Gore delivered
to their lordships. The representation was calculated for con-
tradicting false reports, which my friends informed me had
been made to the Secretaries, of my political principles and con-
duct, and to display the duplicity of Lieutenant-Governor Bull.
The prayer was only for two articles.
First, the use of pen and ink, to draw a bill or bills on John
Nutt, merchant in London, who owed me a considerable sum of
money. No provision had been made for my support. I had
then been nearly nine months confined, and I had exhausted my
other funds; but it was intended chiefly to show to Lord Hills-
borough that Mr. Nutt, who had his lordship's ear at command,
and was the reporter of my political principles and conduct
above mentioned, was an interested person, who wished my
breath and debt might be extinguished at the same time.
Second, for permission to my son, Henry, to visit me. for con-
certing a plan for his farther education and conduct in life. No
notice taken of the paper.
I have employed myself many days in penciling large extracts
from Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and
drawing parallels and reflections from the conduct of Great
Britain in the commencement and prosecution of the war, against
the American colonics, proving the impolicy and folly of the
former; the injustice and cruelty of proceedings in the war.
In this paper I set forth many facts, of which the people of
England, even of the first classes, had been wholly ignorant.
When the extracts and parallels were finished, I sent them to
a friend to be copied. The book was then circulated, from hand
to hand, among all those gentlemen who were averse to the war;
including members of both Houses of Parliament. I was in-
formed by many of my friends, the performance was much ap-
proved of, and that several members of Parliament had warmly
declared the war should be stopped at the next meeting of Parlia-
ment. Men were shocked by my account of the cruel and barba-
rous acts of the British troops, which they believed upon my
testimony. Indeed, the accounts could not be controverted. I
was strongly urged by a gentleman of celebrated wisdom, to
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1281
suffer the book to be printed and published. But this I declined
for very obvious reasons.
About this time also, I pencilled a vindication of the proceed-
ing of Congress in suspending the embarkation of General Bur-
goyne and his troops, captured at Saratoga. Many gentlemen,
who were friendly to America, and who had centured Congress
for that act. assured me my observations had afforded them per-
fect satisfaction.
July 12th, Governor Gore goes into the country again for
health. Col. Par takes his place, and continues bis kind atten-
tions In me.
The 28th, a mortifying meeting. My son Henry on the lines,
in it permitted to speak to him, and he refused access to me.
August the 14th, Mr. Oswald visits me, and hopes I shall be
s i released. I am almost indifferent. I am convinced my
country will be benefitted by my sufferings. I am not idle.
The 22d, Col. Par, the Governor being returned, calls to take
leave of me. This gentleman, from the 12th July, has visited.
sat and walked with me, almost every day.
Governor (lore calls to see if his prisoner is safe
September. I pencilled the route which Lord Cornwallis was
making in his attempt to go through the United States, and sent
it with a paragraph of observations, to the "London Currant,"
in which both were copied and published. 1 had said his Lord-
ship is gone into the country to smell the jessamine, lie may
reach such a spot, and then his Lordship will hear: 'Hitherto
shall thou go, and no fart her. ' lie will make a second Saratoga
business of it. or may possibly, by a precipitate retreat, save
himself, a few officers and men. The bulk, with artillery and
baggage, will fall into American hands." His Lordship after-
wards surrendered his army near the place.
When intelligence of the defection in the Pennsylvania Line
had reached London, it occasioned a general exultation. Several
of my real friends conversed with, or wrote t e, od the sub-
ject, observing, "Thai Sir 11. Clinton had sent proper persons
to enlist the American soldiers into the British army." I felt
no alarming concern. 1 said to those friends, to General Ver-
non, and even to the rough Governor, "This circumstance is
1282 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
no more than I had expected, no more than I had foretold Con-
gress before I quitted it." "If speedy justice is not done to
your troops, there will be a defection: I shall not wonder if it
spreads through the army."
"With respect to the persons sent from New- York to enlist,
depend upon it, they will meet a worse fate than the seven sons
of Seeva did. (Acts 19th.) The defectioners will say to them.
"Congress we know! and Washington we know! but who are
ye? who dare to interfere in our family quarrel"" They will
seize those persons, and they will be treated as spies, and hanged.
You will hear of this very soon."
These sentiments quieted the minds of true friends, and
demonstrated to all, my confidence in the goodness of our cause.
My friends complimented me by saying in this article I had
been prophetic ; which lost me no credit with them.
September :23d, for some time past I have been frequently and
strongly tempted to make my escape from the Tower, assured,
"It was the advice and desire of all my friends, the thing might
be easily effected, the face of American affairs was extremely
gloomy. That I might have 18 hours start before I was missed;
time enough to reach Margate and Ostend ; that it was believed
there would be no pursuit," &c. &c. I had always said: "I
hate the name of a runaway." At length I put a stop to farther
applications by saying. "I will not attempt an escape. The gates
were opened for me to enter: they shall be opened for me to go
out of the Tower. God Almighty sent me here for some purpose.
I am determined to see the end of it.'* Where the project of an
escape originated is uncertain ; but I am fully convinced it was
not the scheme of the person who spoke to me upon the subject.
The ruin of that person and family would have been the conse-
quence of my escape, unless there had been some previous assur-
ance of indemnification.
The warders inform me the commanding officers from time to
time, and other officers of the battalion in the Tower, had de-
sired to send me books and papers to amuse me; but the Governor
had forbid it under pretence that improper papers might ac-
company them. He is a strange fellow! He suffers hares,
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1283
partridges, woodcocks, &c, to be sent me unsearched ; these might
contain bellies full of treason.
Monday, 8th October, Mr. Kinghorn, gentleman jailer, called
with a witness attending. He apologized, by saying he hoped
I would not be offended by the message he came to deliver. He
was sent by the Governor to know if I would pay £97 10s., due
to the two wardens, for one year's attendance upon me. That
formerly such demands were sometimes discharged by state
prisoners. I laughed, then replied, "This is the most extraordi-
nary attempt I ever heard of. 'Tis enough to provoke me to
chant;!' my lodging. I was sent to the Tower by the Secretaries
of State, without money in my pockets, (for aught they knew.)
Their Lordships have never supplied me with a bit of beef, nor
a bit of bread, nor enquired how or whether I subsisted. 'Tis
upwards of three months since 1 informed their Lordships the
fund which had, to that time, supported me, was nearly ex-
hausted. I humbly prayed for leave to draw a bill on Mr. John
Nutt, who is indebted to me, which they had been pleased to
refuse by the most grating of all denials, a total silence; and
now, sir, when it is known to every body that I had no money,
a demand of this nature is made for £97 10s. If their Lord-
ships will permit me to draw for money where it is due, I will
continue to pay my own expenses, so far as respects myself;
but if I were possessed of as many guineas as would fill this
room, I would not pay the warders, whom I never employed,
and whose attendance I shall be glad to dispense with. At-
tempts, sir, to tax men without their own consent, have involved
this kingdom in a bloody seven years war. I thought she had
long since promised to abandon the project. LTpon the whole,
sir, lie pleased to deliver to the governor as my answer: 'The
demand or application which you have made by the governor's
order, appears to me to be extraordinary and unjust, and I will
not comply with it. ' "
Mr. Kinghorn and his witness both said they were glad I had
given such an answer. The demand was indeed unreasonable
and unjust; that if 1 had complied with it, the same sum would
have Keen drawn from the Treasury, and plainly intimated into
whose pocket ime (if the sums would go. "Very well, gentlemen,
1284 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
lie may plunder your own Treasury, he shall not cheat me if I
can prevent it."
Mr. Kinghorn retired with repeated apologies, and his cus-
tomary respectfulness. Within a. day or two I got an account
of this transaction into the newspapers. I was informed it ap-
peared so extraordinary to people, that many of them refused
at first to believe it ; but I found means for confirming the truth.
Kinghorn would not deny or cover a syllable of it. The idea
of changing my lodging became a topic for some days.
Col. Fitzpatrick. Lord and Lady Craven, Mr. Davidson. Mr.
Manning. Mr. Oswald, and others of my friends, have, for some
time past, been heaping presents of birds, hare, venison. &c.
upon me, to the mortification of the governor, and the comfort of
some honester people about me. I have been so unwell since my
confinement as to be deprived of appetite for eating; yet for the
honor of the United States I have kept up a well spread table;
paid a guinea per week for marketing and cooking; and had
three full suits of new clothes made, which I was not in want of.
The 25th, maladies increasing upon me; my money expended ;
nothing to eat, -except what might be sent to me. which I ac-
counted as nothing, and which did not come every day. An
account of my wretched condition appeared in the public prints,
which, I was informed, gave administration much uneasiness,
and brought loud reproaches upon them. Sir John Dyer, com-
mandant of the Tower battalion, for the time, enquired of the
people of Ihf house. "If tlic printed accounts were true." They
answered in the affirmative. lie went, to Governor Core; ad-
monished him upon the occasion: "If Mr. Laurens should die,
Mr. Gore, you will be indicted; for he has been neglected." The
Governor was alarmed; made a virtue of necessity; came im-
mediately, and in language to which I had not been accustomed
to hear, from him, offered to go, without delay, to the Secretaries
of State, with any message I should please to send. 1 replied :
"The Secretaries of Stale, sir. do not want information: 'tis
upwards of four months since you were so good as to deliver
to them my representation and prayer, for the use of pen and
ink, to draw a short bill for money. I have also been a man
in authority. Governor Core; I have treated British prisoners in
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1285
a very different way from that which I have experienced; their
Lordships have been fully acquainted with ray conduct by
British officers, and can give proof of this. I thought myself an
humble man, before I came here, but I now find I had mistaken
myself. I am one of the proudest men upon earth; I will not
condescend to apply to their Lordships again." The Governor
said, "He would certainly go." "Sir," I replied, "I have no
right to control you; but this 1 have a certain right to insist
upon, that you deliver no message as from me ; I send none.
The Governor withdrew, and looked as if he was of my opinion,
that 1 was a very proud and saucy chap. I was neither;
but I spoke not my own. but a language becoming the dignity
of the United States. I was very sick: this is truth; but I was
in no danger of starving. I might have had as much money as
I wanted, from Mr. Oswald and Mr. Manning; the latter had a
considerable balance of mine in hand. I had a large sum de-
posited in Prance, but I had resolved to drive their Lordships
either to make proper provision for me, or to allow me the use
of pen and ink. to draw upon John Nutt, upon whom only
I would draw. I was persuaded they would boggle at making
provision.
In the evening the Governor returned ; said the Secretaries
had considered I should have the use of pen and ink.
The next morning, the 30th October, pen and ink was brought
to me, and taken away again the moment I had finished a
draught on Mr. Nutt, for fifty guineas; more at one time would
not have been allowed; the bill was paid.
November 5th, my son Henry wrote a very humble request
to Lord Hillsborough, for permission to see me. His Lordship
was very wrathful; called it an impertinent letter. He should
not see his father. This I resented, too; "That fellow! that
fellow!" said I, "if he and I were in a strang untry. without
i iey in our pockets, I should be obliged to maintain him; he
has not understanding enough to get his own living." Mr.
Manning, the next day. sent his Lordship a turtle, and in four
days, viz: on the 8th November, obtained a warrant for himself
and my son to visit me. Whether my language, or Mr. Man-
1286 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
ning's turtle, had softened his Lordship, is a question; but. I
am told, every word I had said was carried to him.
At this visit, my friend Manning, still laboring toiget me out
of the Tower, by conversion, informs me a regular civil govern-
ment was established, by British authority, in South-Carolina;
that amongst a great number of other men, my worthy friend,
Gabriel Manigault, Esq., who had also been President of Con-
gress, and Henry Middleton, Esq., had returned to their allegi-
ance, and become good subjects. I answered, "With respect to
civil government, depend upon it, sir, it will soon become a
very uncivil one; I know my friend Manigault 's sentiments;
but he is far advanced in years, extremely infirm; he has sub-
mitted to anything for obtaining peace and quietness in his few
last days. Mr. Middleton, although he has been a President of
Congress, loves his rice fields. Should all South-Carolina con-
form, the United States will not be lost. I will not subscribe to
my own infamy.'' This ended the conversation.
November 14th, I prevailed upon the gout, which had long
harassed me in all parts of my body, to fix in the extremities,
seized by an extremely violent fit in both feet and anckles, eon-
fined to my bed.
The 17th, a message from Mr. Manning, "If I wished to get
out of the Tower, I must get more sick," answer, say to Mr.
Manning I am sick enough for myself, but I will not sham
sickness to oblige any man in England. I was in extreme pain,
and provoked by the tenor of the message.
The 18th, Doctor Grant, who has almost wholly discontinued
his visits from the time I had refused to accept the generously
offered pardon, called on me and prescribed what I never took;
I was too ill for conversation.
The 20th, The Rev. Mr. Featherston, chaplain of the Tower,
being informed I was very ill, applied to the Governor; the
Governor came to me; I spoke to him freely, and feelingly
charged government with cruelty and ingratitude, but I cannot
recollect the whole that passed. At the same time, I was much
affected by considerations of the neglect of my own country;
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1287
this was enough to make any man revolt, especially one who
might have changed sides with great pecuniary advantage.
The 29th, Mr. Manning by my faithful messenger, sent me a
letter from Dr. Franklin, to Mr. Hodgson, agent in London for
American prisoners, in which the Doctor says he is glad to learn,
I am contented or satisfied with the treatment I had received
in my confinement, and desires Mr. Hodgson to supply me with
one hundred pounds. In bed, I pencilled on the Doctor's letter,
the Doctor has been much misinformed respecting the treatment,
I am very greatly dissatisfied; as to the £100, I have money of
my own, if I had not, that sum would only be a drop of water
from the very tip of Lazarus' little finger. This is the first voice
of seeming consolation from my country, now near thirteen
months confined in the Tower; near fifteen months since Con-
gress knew I was a prisoner: seeming consolation indeed, but
they were poor and torn by parties; Mr. Laurens had been a
strenuous opposer of the corrupt and wicked party, often the
strongest.
Ministry, I am informed, wish to get rid of me, but differ in
opinion as to the proper means.
December 1st, about noon a warder informed me, there was a
young man who said his name was Bradfille, had been walking,
wished to see and to dine with me; a considerable time on
parade, enquired of my health; said he wished to see and to
dine with me ; he was told he could not see me without a war-
rant from the Secretaries of State; that I was too ill to dine,
and if I was well, no person was permitted to dine with me.
After he had walked near two hours, the Governor was in-
formed, and went to the man, asked "what his business was;"
he repeated as above, the Governor was on the point of turning
him out of the Tower, when he produced a warrant from Lord
Stormont; he was then ushered in by Mr. Kinghorn, who re-
mained with him, while he stayed. I had never seen nor heard
of such a person; he began by enquiring of my health, said he
had entertained hopes of dining with me, "I am very ill, sir, and
my diet is water gruel." "I have read very bad accounts of
your treatment in the Tower."
1288 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
"You have read nothing but the truth, sir, and not half of
that." "Surely, sir, administration can not be acquainted with
these things." "I charge them as authors of the whole."
"I am sorry for it. You have a brother and other relations
in the South of France ; I am going there, and shall set out next
week; if you will write to your friends, I will be particularly
careful of your letters."
"Write? sir; I am not allowed the use of pen and ink."
"There are several little articles in London which would be
acceptable to your family in France. I will take great care to
deliver anything you may be pleased to send by me. I shall
certainly see your friends."
"Little things, sir. my money is very little, my friends will
not expect presents from the Tower of London."
I was nearly exhausted by this dialogue, and by the feelings
of my mind ; I suspected the man to be a spy, and was filled with
indignation. Mr. Kinghorn perceiving my condition, desired
the gentleman to leave me. He retired, but as he was going out
of the room, turned and said, "I shall wait upon you again, sir,
on Tuesday next.
Mr. Kinghorn went out of the room with him, and after a
little time returned and said, ' ' I am very glad, sir, you gave that
fellow such answers, may depend upon it notwithstanding his
genteel appearance, he was sent as a spy." I have found out
that he is or very lately was a servant of Lord Stormont. "Very
well. Mr. Kinghorn, I should not have cared if he had been Lord
Stormont himself." "I believe you would not," said Mr. King-
horn.
Taking it for granted, he was such an emissary he must have
been sent to make the following discoveries.
First whether any person was permitted to visit me without
a warrant; whether any person dined with me: whether I was
really sick: to learn my sentiments on the printed accounts; to
find out whether I had the use of pen and ink, and how my
money stood, and to draw from me a letter. Mr. Bradfille or
Pratville came no more.
Tlie 1st December, Mr. Bourdieu sent me the following en-
crairy from Mr. Burke: Whether Mr. Laurens has any objection
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1289
to petition the House of Commons, which will not injure him on
either side of the water, desiring his release or removal to a
more easy custody, a safe and inoffensive form shall be sent to
him. I penciled an answer:
"I have no objection, against petitioning the House of Com-
mons, in any form that will not injure me on either side of the
water, desiring my release on parol, strengthened, if necessary
by large security.
If more easy custody means removal to any other jail or place
of confinement, my present ill state of health objects.
The Governor is indeed rugged, but in the hearer hereof, 1
have a nurse and respectful attendant, the wardens who were
set to watch and incommode me, are my faithful domestics.
These considerations must, for a while, balance against the Gov-
ernor and the want of conversation with friends and relations.
The 6th December, Mr. Oswald called, he has written to the
Lord Advocate of Scotland and to Lord Hillsborough in my
favor, and assures me, my confinement is nearly at an end. Mr.
Bourdieu informs me by a letter that .Mr. Burke is very busy
for me in another quarter. Mr. Oswald renewed conversation
on American affairs; he said there would he no difficulty in
making a peace with the Americans, and to their satisfaction,
hut the alliance with France was a choak-pear. I was full in
repeating, "There is but one way under heaven for effecting a
peace: Great Britain must formally or tacitly acknowledge the
independence of the United States, and withdraw her fleets and
armies, then the United States will treat; but only in terms of
that alliance. Your administration forced that pear upon them-
selves, they must swallow it." Mr. Oswald shrugged his should-
ers. This gentleman was ever an enemy to the war: he said to
me in London, in 1774: "If Great Britain forces a war upon
America, she cannot spare troops enough to subdue Virginia
alone (where he had Ion- resided in his youth.) if the people
there will he faithful to each other." We did not then think
of foreign troops and French alliance. This evening Mr. Bour-
dieu sent me a letter to him from Mr. lSurko; another from Mr.
Bridgen to Mr. Burke, desiring to know what success Mr. Burke
had in his endeavors on my behalf. Mr. Burke complains of this
1290 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
enquiry as an "improper interference which tended to distract
him, Mr. Bourdieu writes. Mr. Burke threatened, if such inter-
ferences should happen again, to withdraw his aid. This was
an unpleasant circumstance, but I thought I saw my way before
me; I penciled a very plain answer to Mr. Bourdieu. 'I see
nothing criminal or offensive in Mr. Bridgen's application, be
this as it may, it was made without my privity : if Mr. Burke,
who entered a volunteer, will withdraw his aid for a little offici-
ousness of my friends, I must be content."
It appeared to me, that Mr. Burke might, as a party-man, be
making a stalking horse of me, for serving some other end than
purely the cause of justice and humanity, in my deliverance,
and I had taken a fixed resolution against whining; besides my
confidence was placed in the steady and disinterested friend
who at length accomplished the views of his anxious labors in
my favor, and who I knew had much more influence at fountain
head than Mr. Burke.
I should here observe that neither Mr. Bourdieu nor Mr.
Bridgen had ever been permitted to visit me. their conduct and
unguarded speeches in the war had rendered both obnoxious,
especially the first who had publicly opened a policy of insur-
ance, taking ten pounds to return an hundred if Great Britain
did not acknowledge the independence of the United States in.
or before the month of December, 1780. Ministery were highly
provoked: he was threatened with Newgate; his letters were
often opened and scrutinized at the past office ; he was called the
French American rebel. Mr. Bourdieu lost a considerable sum
of money by his premature insurance.
The 14th December. Mr. Burke sent me through Mr. Bourdieu
the following note: "Lord North is willing to consent to an
exchange, Mr. Laurens for General Burgoine. Lord Hillsborough
raised difficulties; he conceived that on such a commitment as
that of Mr. Laurens he could not be discharged and his con-
dition changed from a State prisoner to a prisoner of war without
the intervention of a pardon.
Mr. Burke having before tried me on the subject of a pardon
to be obtained without my own application or immediate knowl-
edge, and finding I would not accept pardon upon any terms,
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1291
replied to their Lordships, "Mr. Laurens will not even connive at
a pardon, but expects to be treated as a prisoner of war."
I pencilled an answer to the note above:
"The commitment which Lord Hillsborough alludes to is 'on
suspicion.' Pardon is intended to purge oil' guilt, either charged
and proved, or confessed, or both, in a party acknowledging
himself amenable, or made so. and for restoring him to his
former state, that of a subject.
"Can a British subject be deemed an equivalent in exchange
for a. British subject? or is it possible that a pardon under
the great seal, whether solicited or spontaneously granted can
change a pardoned subject into an American prisoner of war?"
"What is to become of Mr. Laurens hereafter? — should he,
under the idea of pardon be enlarged and the proposed exchange
(which in his present weak state appears to him to be a solecism,)
take place?
"Shall he, conscious of having obtained enlargement by the
"intervention of a pardon, however privately and even without
his desire procured return to America, and lift his arm or give
his counsel against the monarch who has freely and graciously
set him at liberty? or shall he remain here an object of derision
and contempt to virtuous men on both sides of the water, and
scandalize his own children.
"An effectual and more concise, as lie conceives, would be to
remand him to America where he was made a prisoner, and order
the commander in chief at New York or commanding officer at
Charleston, to exchange him according to the usual practice."
To the above I received this verbal message, "Mr. Burke and
.Mr. Bourdieu are altogether of Mi-. Laurens' opinion."
The hint in my note of the 14th, I'm- an exchange of prisoners
laid the foundation for that general exchange which I after-
wards negotiated with Lord Shelburn.
The Kith, Doctor Granl called; I was very ill in bed; in the
course of conversation he said it was difficult to put a man to
death in this country, not knowing where he meant to apply the
observation, I replied, "There is, however, in this country a facil-
ity in murdering a man by inches; I have experienced it in a
degree not to lie paralleled in modern British History. He said
1292 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
the ministers really commiserated my circumstances they were
puzzled on the mode for enlarging me.
The 19th Mr. Kinghorn comes with a message from Governor
Gore; the Governor is sure I corresponded with Mr. Burke; say
to your Governor, Mr. Kinghorn, I am as sure, he corresponds
with the Morning Herald.
The 20th December I pencilled a letter to Congress, and made
eight copies, these I sent to Amsterdam through Flanders to be
forwarded by different vessels to America, directions to be
blacked with ink.
Tower of London, Dec. 20, 1781.
Gentlemen : — Almost fifteen months I have been closely con-
fined and inhumanly treated, and even now I have not a prospect
of relief. The treaty for exchange is abortive. There has 1 n
languor, and then- is negled somewhere. If I merit your atten-
tion, yon will no longer delay speedy and efficacious means for
my deliverance. Enter this and what it may produce on the
secret journal, and pardon the omission of ceremony.
HENRY LAURENS.
A friend will ink over the superscription:
"To the President of Congress,
For Congress,
at Philadelphia."
1 pencilled a representation and prayer to the House of Com-
mons, which was presented to the House, and laid on the table.
My deliverance being at hand, a copy may be seen in print. En-
titled,
"The underwritten representation and petition of Henry
Laurens, a native of South-Carolina, sometimes recognized by
the British commissioners in America, by the style and title of
"His Excellency. Henry Laurens, Esq.. President of Congress,"
now a close prisoner in the Tower of London.
Most respectfully showeth.
This was my own doing. Mr. Burke had not sent me a form
as he had promised.
The pencilled copy now in my possession is much defaced,
and in several parts illegible.
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1293
The 24th, received the following note from Mr. Oswald:
"Mr. Oswald presents his compliments to Mr. Laurens. He
is just come from Lord Stormont's where there was a council.
After it broke up, he was called in. Among other things un-
necessary to be taken notice of, Mr. Oswald was glad to find
their lordships express themselves with such tenderness regard-
ing .Mr. Laurens' present painful and dangerous state of health,
and wished that the nature of forms which take some days, did
nut put it out of their power to give him relief. Mr. Oswald
used the freedom to wish, once a resolution was taken, if taken,
that the number of these days might be as few as possible. Upon
the whole although he had no right to expect a direct message
or promise to carry from these ministers, yet he could so well
perceive the indulgence of their feelings for Mr. Laurens'
present inconvenient situation, that he would freely venture
to take his place in case the said days exceed the number that
circumstances of indispensible form may require. R. 0.
Monday, 24th December, 1781."
The 28th. Doctor Turton, a discreet sensible gentleman, come
by direction of the ministers to examine and enquire into the
state of my health, he asked many pertinent questions of myself
and Dr. Grant, who accompanied him. Doctor Grant give him
a long and deplorable detail. "When he had finished, I said to
Dr. Turton, "Sir, Doctor Grant's relation is very true applied to
my condition some days since, but I should be uncandid if I did
not acknowledge that I am not quite so ill at present. The
gout is extremely severe in both feet and ankles, but it has re-
moved some of those alarming complaints mentioned by Dr.
Grant; in a word, I am much better; but in making your report,
sir. you will make some considei-ation for the state of the mind,
ax well as the body." The doctor replied, "Most certainly."
The 29th, Mr. Chamberlain, Solicitor of the Treasury, the
gentleman who had spoken so kindly to me when I was com-
mitted, called, he said, in order to enlarge me, that very evening.
Saturday, if I had two gentlemen to bail me. I thanked him
heartily Eor his kind condescension, but being Saturday, my
friends would lie out of town, and besides I could not be removed
1294 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
for a day or two. Mr. Chamberlain added, I came so early, be-
cause I know the judges will do no business to-morrow, but if
you will wait till Monday, Lord Mansfield will attend.
The 30th. Being now considered as enlarged, much company
visited and congratulated me; Governor Gore became very kind.
proposed to give me an airing in a coach ; he being a gouty man
himself, must have seen 1 was not capable of bearing the jostling
of a carriage.
The 31st, the last day of the year. 1781. I was put into a
sedan chair, and carried to Searjanfs Inn, one of the inns of
court, where Lord Mansfield kindly proposed to meet me for
preventing the fatigue of being carried to his lordship's house
in Bloomsbury. I was conducted into a very spacious room,
surrounded by books, and crowded by people Of genteel figure.
Before I left the Tower. I had desired my good nurse to remove
none of my things, saying I expected to take my old lodging
that night. I had premeditated a .short speech, which I appre-
hended might have produced that effect, but which I was re-
solved to make, because it appeared to be essential. After wait-
ing a very long time in the court, it was said Lord Mansfield
would not come. A gentleman was thereupon going to proceed
in the business. I raised my voice and said, "Sir, I am not a
lawyer, and have had no opportunity for consulting my judicious
friend: I speak the suggestions of my own mind, (all was silence
:nnl attention) I know not the nature of tin- obligation which
is to lie required from me. therefore I think it necessary to make
this previous declaration, that I hold myself to be a citizen of
the United, free and independent States of North America, and
will not do any act which shall involve me in an acknowledge-
ment of subjection to this realm: having made this declaration
I am ready to enter into any obligation."
The room resounded with loud whispers, "do you hear him?'*
what signifies talking of dependence and words to that effect.
I had reflected if I dare say all this in one of the King's courts,
what will they think my countrymen will do at 1100 leagues dis-
tance : just at this juncture Lord Mansfield was announced. I
believe his lordship was informed of my declaration because 1
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1295
saw the gentleman who was to have acted in his lordship's place,
whisper to him.
Lord Mansfield was very condescending, enquired kindly of
my health, and when I attempted to rise on crutches, he entreated
me to sit.
Mr. Oswald and his nephew, Mr. John Anderson, then ap-
peared as my bail. A verbal recognizance was taken in easy
penalties for my appearance at the court of King's Bench, the
next Easter term, and not to depart thence without leave of the
court. When the words of recognizance "Our sovereign lord,
the King" were repeated, I said aloud, "not my sovereign lord."
Thus terminated a long, and to me an expensive and painful
farce. I humbly think independence is established from this day.
My friends here are all of this opinion.
Two of them, when I was returning to America, advised me
to accept a certificate in favor of my conduct, which they said
would be signed by a very great number of respectable characters
signifying that I had laid the foundation of the peace, etc.*
I declined, saying, if my countrymen would not admit my
whole conduct to speak for itself, a certificate would avail me
nothing; a consciousness of having acted with a single eye for
the honor, interest and welfare of my country would support
me.
I was carried from Searjant's Inn to Lodgings, taken for me
in Norfolk Street Strand, and laid in bed where I was soon
surrounded and fatigued by numerous visitants. I found it
necessary the third day, pained as I was, to fly to Bath for re-
pose. I had been so Long accustomed to write with pencil, I
could not with freedom and ease manage a pen for some weeks.
When I returned to London, I had frequent conversations with
Lord Kockinham and members of both Houses of Parliament,
at his lordship's house; they were all heartily disposed to peace
with the United States, but the alliance with France was, as Mi-.
Oswald had expressed it, a " choak-pear. "
•Probably the rapture of Lord CornwalHs might have contributed
to hasten the peace more than anything I bad said or done, but I may
truly bear this testimony of myself— that 1 was not deficient in my
endeavors.
1296 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
To speak truth requires no great talents or abilities. The
part I had to act, I had confined within a narrow compass, and
I found myself equal to the task. I uniformly and firmly main-
tained there could be no peace without a formal and tacit
acknowledgement of independence, and that France and the
United States must treat and lay down their arms at the same
time.
The Duke of Richmond desired, by a card, to see me. I was
often with his grace, and constantly maintained the same lan-
guage in few plain terms. — His grace proposed divers plans for
coming to a right understanding with the United States, some
of them appeared to me chimerical, and all fell short of the
point aimed at.
I assured the duke there was no middle way. At one time
the duke happened to say. "Suppose, Mr. Laurens, we were to
grant your independence;" I interrupted his grace: "Grant,
my Lord Duke ! We have independence, who can take it from
us? Great Britain may. if she pleases, acknowledge it.*' This
affected the duke; "Well. Mr. Laurens. I will not dispute about
a word. I will say acknowledge." etc.
When Lord Shelburne was coming into place, his lordship
appointed a first meeting with me at a gentleman *s house;
nothing was said of American business but in general terms.
I afterwards often waited upon his lordship at appointed
hours. At the first interview, in conversing upon American
business I introduced the subject of a general exchange of
prisoners, observing there were upwards of eight hundred
Americans, imprisoned at Gosport and Plymouth. Many of them
had been confined upwards of five years; these, if sent to Amer-
ica, would redeem an equal number of the best troops in the
British army, captured under Lord Cornwallis; that the ad-
vantage of such an exchange would manifestly be on the side
of Great Britain. His lordship approved of the plan for him-
self, and said he would mention it to the king. I waited on his
lordship the next morning, when he informed me. my proposition
was agreed to, that transports should be appointed. I intimated
that many of the prisoners who had been long confined wen-
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1297
almost naked. These, his lordship said, should be clothed, and
proper attention had to the whole. The business was carried
into effect; this appeared to me to be a farther progress in the
great point of independence.
I had visited all those prisoners, to their greal joy and com-
fort. They made great complaints of the agent's treatment of
them. I spoke to the agent, who in part justified his conduct,
and promised that for the future there should be no ground
for complaint. lie knew I stood well with the ministry. The
expenses of my journeys, and file money I distributed amongst
the prisoners, amounted to about two hundred pounds; none but
a heart of flint could have resisted the distribution to such naked,
poor wretches, many of whom had suffered imprisonment, hunger
and nakedness upwards of live years, in preference to fighting
against their country with full bellies.
For Ibis expense, Congress were pleased to allow me nothing;
very little more than nothing have they allowed me for my
heavy expenditures, when I was their President.
In all conversations with Lord Shelburne, his Lordship re-
gretted the independence of the United States; for the sake,
he said, of the inhabitants; lie was sure they would not lie so
happy without, as with the connexion of Greal Britain. I ob-
served upon one occasion, to his Lordship, "the Americans had
conducted their measures with tolerable success, through an eight
years' difficult struggle; I believed his Lordship might safely
trust them for the rest."
I always laid down the same doctrines to his Lordship, which
I had asserted to the Marquis of Rockingham, to the Duke of
Richmond, and to every body. "Well, Mr. Laurens, if we must
acknowledge your independence, I shall be grieved, as I have
already said, for your own sakes; you will lose the benefit of
the Habeas Corpus Act." I could have laughed heartily any
where else; but in this presence, I contented myself with saying:
"My Lord, we have adopted, and we can make laws."
Lord Shelburne was so anxious lest, by a separation from
Greal Britain, the United States should lose the benefil of the
1 laheas ( 'orpus Ael, as to induee his Lordship to send Sir William
1298 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Meredith to expostulate with me on the subject. Sir William
came to my bedside; I was lying ill in the gout; after a little
general conversation', he presented me a thin quarto volume,
written and published by himself, on the Habeas Corpus Act;
desired I would read it with attention, and he would call again.
Sir William called in two days ; asked if I had perused the book.
"Yes, Sir William; and as far as I am competent to judge, it is
very ingenious ; but it contains nothing substantially new to me.
I perceive, however, you cannot, in England, liberate a prisoner
with so much facility as we can do in America."
"I myself. Sir William, with the aid of an attorney at law,
have set a common foremast sailor, who had been illegally im-
prisoned, on a Saturday afternoon, at liberty that very Saturday
night, by a writ of Habeas Corpus. The Chief Justice was so
obliging as to attend a hearing; if he had been absent, or had
declined hearing at so late an hour. I would have applied to two
Justices of the Quorum ; determined I was to finish the business
that night.
"The Chief Justice read over the warrant of commitment;
he said it was illegal ; the magistrate deserved to be disgraced.
He reprimanded the Provost Marshal for confining a subject
under such a warrant, and ordered the man to be immediately
set at liberty, without any expense for fees.
' ' Can you. Sir William, so instantly, and without fees, obtain
the liberty of a wrongfully imprisoned subject in England
Sir William smiling, and answered, ' ' I fancy not. " " Well, Sir
William, you may depend upon the truth of my relation; but
this was in South-Carolina. I believe each of the States have as
ample benefit of the Act; if they have not, they may easily have
it, by virtue of their own authority." I heard no more of the
Habeas Corpus Act. We talked of other matters. Sir William.
I suppose was not displeased with my observation, strongly
pressed me to dine with him as soon as I could go abroad, and
begged I would allow him to introduce me at breakfast to the
Duke of Bolton and his family ; they were very desirous of seeing
me; I accepted both.
The 4th April. 17S2, Lord Shelburne desired to see me.
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1299
"Well, Mr. Laurens, I hope you are mistaken in your opinion
that the United States cannot treat of peace separately from the
Court of France. Something may have happened in your ab-
sence which you are not apprized of. I believe not, my Lord.
Here is a letter, said his Lordship, from Mr. Diggs; do you know
him? "Yes, my Lord, I know him well. Diggs is just arrived
from the Hague, where he had a conversation with Mr. Adams,
who assured him the American Ministers can treat for peace
with Great Britain, independent of France."
"Mr. Diggs! It is, generally, a hard matter, my Lord, to
prove a negative ; in the present case, I think the business would
not be difficult."
"If you have doubts, said his Lordship, I wish you could make
it convenient to converse with Mr. Adams yourself.
How can that be, my Lord? Your Lordship knows I am
in a few days to appear at the Court of King's Bench. That,
replied his Lordship, shall be no obstacle; I shall take care of
that part: you shall be at full liberty, without any consideration.
I started; my Lord, I dare not accept of myself as a gift; Con-
gress had offered Lieutenant General Burgoyne, in exchange for
me; I have no doubt of their giving Lieutenant General Lord
Cornwallis. "Well, said his Lordship, that will be very generous
on your part ; then you will go ? Yes, my Lord. When ? Your
Lordship sees the condition I am in; gout in both feet; hut I
will go the day after to-morrow, if your Lordship will, in the
meantime, be pleased to signify in writing, a dispensation for
my non-appearance at the Court,
That shall be done, replied his Lordship ; this business must be
a profound secret, Mr. Laurens. I am well aware, my Lord.
The next day .Mr. Oswald called upon and informed me Lord
Shelburne had desired him to go to Paris and converse with
Doctor Franklin; and enjoined him to the strictest secresy, (in-
tending that neither of us should know anything of the business
of the other.) Mr. Oswald replied, from every body, my Lord,
except Mr. Laurens; hut I cannol enter upon this business with-
out his knowledge and opinion. Mr. Oswald asked me to give
him a. letter to Doetor Franklin, (see the end.) Our baggage
1300 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
was soon packed, post chaises and four were provided, and hav-
ing each a gentleman attendant, we proceeded rapidly to Mi-
grate, where we joined company as if we had heen acquaintances
accidentally met, and to avoid suspicion, dined in public; it was
necessary to conceal my name, or not to call it. We talked in
company of going to Ostend for a frolic, hired a packet and
landed there. Mr. Oswald and his friend proceeded to Paris;
I and mine to Leyden, having previously agreed that he who
should first return should wait at Sittingburne, about forty
miles from London, until the other should come up, and then
make reciprocal communications.
At Leyden I gave notice to Mr. Adams, at the Hague; he
presently came, and our business was finished in a few minutes.
Mr. Adams gave the lie to everything Diggs had written : and
said I was right in all I had asserted respecting peace.
I returned and waited at Sittingburne eight and forty hours
for Mr. Oswald. When that gentleman appeared, we entered the
same carriage, and on the way to London, communicated our
respective discoveries. Mr. Oswald was so fully convinced from
what he had learned from Doctor Franklin, in confirmation of
what I had often said to him on former occasions, as led him to
declare to me he would not return to Paris, or be employed in
any treaty without authority in his pocket to acknowledge the
independence of the United States. From that ti he labored
to effect a pence upon the most liberal terms.
I waited on Lord Shelburne, and informed his Lordship of the
issue of my mission; that Mr. Adams denied the assertions of
Mr. Diggs in the whole. Then, Mr. Laurens, independence, said
his Lordship, must be a preliminary. Yes. my Lord, it must be
a preliminary and the ultimatum. If it must be so, added his
Lordship, 1 shall be sorry for it, for your sakes.
This noble Lord, after having thus tacitly agreed with me,
and after having given Mr. Oswald instructions to admit in-
dependence as a preliminary, loudly exclaimed in the British
House of Lords: "On the day the independence of America shall
be acknowledged the sun of Great Britain's "lory will set."
CAPTURE OF HENRY LAURENS 1301
In the preceding pages I have said much of myself; I had no
other subject to speak of. I might have said much more, and
would have said much more, of any other man in my circum-
stances, if I had been as well acquainted with them. I have given
a plain narrative of facts, deducting many anecdotes which may
possibly hereafter appear.
The historian will select w-hat he shall judge proper in general
terms, or in particular, carefully avoiding every appearance of
flattery or partiality. It is submitted to him to determine how
far it will be prudent to introduce particular names of Lords
and gentlemen, spoken of in the narrative
COPY OF A LETTER TO DR. FRANKLIN, BY THE HAND OF MR. OSWALD.
(See page 1299.)
London, 7th April, 1782.
Dear Sir — Richard Oswald, Esq., who will do me the honor
of delivering this, is a gentleman of the strictest candor and
integrity. I dare give such assurance from experience, little
short of thirty years, and to add, you will be perfectly safe in
conversing freely with him on the business which he will intro-
duce. A business which Mr. Oswald has disinterestedly engaged
in from motives of benevolence, and from the choice of the man,
a persuasion follows that those who appointed him, mean to be
in earnest.
Some people in this country, who have too Long indulged them-
selves in a 1 n i s i 1 1 l;- every thing American, have been pleased to
circulate an opinion that Doctor Franklin is a very cunning man.
In answer to this, I have remarked to Mr. Oswald: Doctor
Franklin knows very well how to manage a cunning man; but
when the Doctor converses or treats with a man of candor, there
is no man more candid than himself.
I don'1 know whether yon and Mr. Oswald will ultimately
agree in political sketches; but I am certain, as gentlemen, you
will pari very much pleased with each other.
Should you think it proper, sir, to communicate your senti-
ments and advice mi our affairs, the re amply, the more
13C2 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
acceptable, and probably the more serviceable. Mr. Oswald
will take charge of your despatches, and afford secure means of
conveyance. To this gentleman I refer you for general informa-
tion of a journey which I am immediately to make, partly in his
company, to file off at Ostend for the Hague. I feel a willing-
ness, infirm as I am, to attempt doing as much good as can be
expected from such, a prisoner upon parade.
As General Burgoyne is certainly exchanged, (by Congress;)
a circumstance, bye-the-bye. which might possibly have em-
barrassed us, had your late proposition been accepted.* May I
presume, at my return, to offer in exchange another Lieutenant
General, now in England, a prisoner upon parol ? or what shall
I offer in exchange for myself; a thing, in my own estimation,
of no great value.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, and. permit me to
add, great veneration, sir, your faithful fellow-laborer, and
obedient servant,
H. L.
His Excellency, Benjamin Franklin, Esq., Passy.
♦Congress had ordered Dr. Franklin to offer General Burgoyne in
exchange for Mr. Laurens. Afterward, without proper notice to the
Doctor, exchanged the General for an equivalent in American soldiers.
Re-Union of Village School of fifty
Years Ago.
THE REUNION AT STEUBEN.
June 12th was a gala day in Steuben, occasioned by the re-
union of pupils of the village school of fifty years ago with their
old teacher, W. C. Allen, now of Elyria, Ohio, says the Chicago,
0., Times. Mr. Allen is active and mentally very acute for a
man of his age. His 75 years sit lightly upon him. Arriving
on the scene the day before the meeting, he proceeded to look up
such of the old pupils as he could find still residing in this vicin-
ity. Having found them he was taken in charge and enter-
tained during his visit.
The gathering on Tuesday was at the parsonage and
grounds, as being the nearest point adjacent to the school grounds
of half a century ago. Guests began arriving on the early cars
and Centerton, Chicago Junction, New Haven, Attica, Fairfield,
Shiloh, Peru, Norwalk, Oberlin and Cleveland, were represented,
and one old pupil came all the way from Indiana to meet teacher
and friends.
The house and trees were decorated with plenty of flags and
bunting and presented a holiday appearance. People to the
number of 100 arrived, mainly acquaintances and friends of Mr.
Allen of that far-away time.
At noon a dinner of good things was served, with plenty
of ice cream and cake for second course, to which ample atten-
tion was given, Mr. Allen returning sincere thanks for the meet-
ing and all pleasures connected with it. Dinner disposed of, the
company adjourned to the church where appropriate services
were held. Mr. Allen made remarks bringing up reminiscences
of that olden time fifty years ago. Producing the original
school register and the selfsame old port-folio in which he car-
1304 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
ried it, he proceeded to call the roll, to which, alas ! only twelve
were present to respond out of a total of sixty-one names, cover-
ing the years of 1856 and '57, many living in other states and
many having answered the roll call to the other world.
It was a joyful gathering, but saddened to some extent !>y
regret of the absent ones. Each pupil responded to roll call with
a few words, briefly expressing their pleasure at being present
and meeting so many oldtime friends as well as their respected
teacher.
Mrs. Jennie Graham Steel of Oberlin, and Mrs. Augusta
Brown Husted, of Cleveland, made very pleasing remarks, giv-
ing a great deal of credit to Mr. Allen for having started them
in life educationally aright. Mrs. B. McMaster read an original
poem, entitled, "The Old School Bell," which was received with
applause. "Auld Lang Syne" was sung, when the people re-
paired to the open air, where two photographs were taken by
Mr. Poster, of Norwalk. The first picture was of the pupils and
their teacher, the second was of the general assembly with the
first included.
Shortly after this last important feature was accomplished,
farewells were spoken and the participants each wended their
way to their respective homes, but with one accord saying they
had had a good time enjoying the reunion and hoping for more
of them at lesser intervals than fifty years.
Mrs. Anna Stkingham.
Rape of Ruggles Township.
PKOM HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY. 1863. BY H. S. KNAPP.
The law to erect the county of Asblancl passed the General
Assembly of Ohio on the 24th of February, 1846. Its present
territory originally formed the Townships of Vermillion, Mont-
gomery, Orange, Green, and Hanover, with parts of Clearcreek,
Milton, Mifflin, and Monroe,* in Richland County; also, the
Townships of Sullivan and Troy, in Lorain County; all except
the eastern tier of sections of the Townships of Jackson, Perry,
Mohican, and the fractioned Township of Lake, in Wayne
County, and the whole of Ruggles, in Huron County. The
counties from which Ashland was made contained originally an
aggregate of 2940 square miles and ninety -three townships.
The several dates of their organization and number of civil
townships were as follows:
Counties.
When-
organized.
Square
miles.
No. of
townships.
1813
1812
1824
ISIS
900
660
580
800
25
20
29
2940
93
For many years after its organization, Richland County
the largest of any county in Ohio. This fact gave rise
to a multitude of new county schemes. There was scarcely "o
laid-out" town outside a limit of twelve miles from Mansfield,
that had not annually beleaguered the legislature with applica-
tions for new counties for the benefit of town lot owners. Within
what is now Ashland County, there were numerous schemes
which proposed to affect the territories of some of the counties
from which Ashland was finally made — prominent among which
•Monroe was subsequently retroceded to Richland County.
1306 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
were the new County of Ellsworth, with the seat of justice at
Sullivan ; the County of Mohican, with the seat of justice at
Loudonville ; the County of Vermillion, with the seat of justice
at Hayesville ; also, applications from Jerome, Orange, and
Savannah for new counties, with the seats of justice at their
several towns ; and at a later date, a new county for the benefit
of real estate owners at Ashland. The success of the last-named
project, by the passage of the act of 24th February, 1846, and
by the vote of the electors of the new county on the first Monday
of April of the same year, was regarded as a final settlement
of all rival schemes; but the erection, at the legislative session
of 1847-48, of the County of Morrow, a long pending and rival
"claim," was a yet further invasion of the territory of "Old
Richland." The checks imposed upon the General Assembly
by the constitution of 1851, with respect to the erection of new
counties and the removals of county seats, are among the wisest
provisions of that instrument, and destroyed the occupation of
a horde of mercenary lobbies, whose corruptions had attained
such magnitude as generally to control the legislation of the
State. The constitution of 1802 simply prescribed the mini muni
area to four hundred square miles, without any guarantees for
private rights involved in the changes of county lines and
county seats. The legislative power over these subjects was
supreme. One legislature could "permanently establish," and
their successors could, and often did, as permanently unsettle
and unmake "as a breath hath made." Rights which might be
truly termed "vested." acquired under the most solemn legisla-
tive sanctions of former years, were wantonly invaded; and in
an hour of fancied security men would find the accumulations
of years virtually confiscated by "solemn" legislative enact-
ment — an enactment secured by the corps of "lobbies" who
held control of every avenue leading to the law-making halls —
and not only that, but had invaded the sanctity of the premises
within the legislative bar and dictated the votes of the worse
then "wooden men" who were often sent as "representatives of
the people." Unless other abuses have recently reappeared at
Columbus, and the lobbies found other prey, the corruptionists
have had a long fast at Ohio's capital.
THE HALL OF FAME.
THE HALL OF FAME FOR GREAT AMERICANS.
By HON. GIDEON T. STEWART.
Following the example of ancient and modern civilized na-
tions in the erection of pantheons, temples, and other grand edi-
fices, dedicated to the names and memories of their most honored
founders, rulers, heroes and benefactors, the Hall of Fame for
great Americans was erected on University Heights, in the City
of New York, and was there dedicated on May 30th, 1901, with
appropriate ceremonies. Of the prime movers in this patriotic
enterprise, were Chancellor Mac Craeken and other eminent heads
of the New York University. The sum of over one fourth of a
million dollars was contributed by munificent citizens to this pur-
pose; of which the largest gift came, at the beginning, from the
hand of an American woman. Miss Helen M. Gould, being one
hundred thousand dollars, without which it would not have been
attempted. The structure was then described by the ''New York
Tribune," as follows:
"The Hall of Fame is an imposing colonnade ot stone, open at
the sides, but roofed, five hundred feet long, semi-eircular in
shape, and in the architectural style of the early Greeks. The
spaces between most of the pillars which support the roof are filled
in with a solid stone hallustrade about four feet high. On the
inner side of this ballustrade are L50 panel-, each eight feet long
ami two feet wide. These panels are intended for the heavy bronze
tablets hearing in high relief, the name- of the elected. On tup
of the ballustrade between the pillars, and immediately over each
Dame, will eventually he placed the busts of the men whose fame
is there perpetuated." This refers to the first election when only
men were chosen.
To till these 150 panels, the names of the Greal Americans, by
1308 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
whom it was provided in the original contract of construction, that
they shall be occupied, wore all divided into these fifteen distinct
classes, to wit :
( 1 ) Authors and Editors.
i '.' i Business Men.
( 3 ) Educators.
( -I ) Inventors.
(5) Missionaries and Explorers.
(6) Philanthropists and Reformers.
( ? ) Preachers and Theologians.
i 8 i Scientists.
(9) Engineers and Architects.
( 10) Lawyers and Judges.
(11) Musicians. Painters, and Sculptors.
(12) Physicians and Surgeons.
( L3 ) Rulers and Statesmen.
(II) Soldiers and Sailors.
(15) Distinguished Men and Women, outside the above
Classes.
The power of appointing the Hundred Judges on whom the
duty devolved of electing the 150 Great Americans for Tablets in
the Hall of Fame, consisted of the four following classes, by whom
the Board of Judges was ai cordingly appointed :
(1) University or College Presidents and Educators.
(2) Professors of History and Scientists.
(3) Publicists, Editors and Authors.
(4) Judges of the Superior Court, both State and National.
Of a thousand names sent in by the members of this grand
patriotic organization throughout the United State-. 234 were duly
submitted to the election of the Hundred Judges, and the follow-
ing named Twenty Nine were duly chosen by a majority for each
of them being nol less than fifty-one votes of all the Judges, to
wit:
GEORGE WASHINGTON, first Presidenl of the United
States.
JOHN ADAMS, second Presided of the United State..
THE HALL OF FAME. 1309
THOMAS JEFFERSON, third President of the United
States.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN, sixteenth President of the United
States.
ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT, eighteenth President of the
United States.
ROBERT EDWARD LEE, Military Scientist, who after the
civil war. was in 1865, and until his death in 1870, Pres. of Wash-
ington College, dow Washington and Lee University, in Virginia.
DANIEL WEBSTER, Lawyer. Orator, Statesman in Con-
gress, Secretary of State under Harrison and Tyler; in all his
public career devoted to the Union of the United States as the
dominant issue.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, in many public offices and
foreign Missions, Eminent as Philosopher, Scientist. Inventor,
Philanthropist, Editor, and Author. President of Pennsylvania
in us:, to 1787.
JOHN MARSHALL, reputed "The greatest of American
Jurists." Appointed by John Adams, as Chief Justice of the Un-
ited States Supreme Court from 1801 until his death in L835.
Was soldier and officer through the Revolutionary War. Envoy to
France, Statesman in Congress, United State- Secretary until
1801. Author of Life of Washington.
KA I. I'll WAl.I »( ) BE ERSON, I ! real as Preacher, Theologian,
Poet, Author. Philosopher, Reformer, and Philanthropist.
ROBERT FULTON, Scientist Engineer, Architect, Inventor
of the Steamboat, Torpedo and other works.
IIKNKY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW, Great Poet, Au-
thor. Scientist. Educator and Philanthropist.
WASHINGTON IRVIXO. Minister to Spam, and famous
in the literary field as Author of the "Alhambra," his Lives of Co-
lumbus and Washington, his "Sketch Book,' 5 and other ven popu-
lar work..
JONATHAN EDWARDS, Preacher, Theologian, Missionary
1310 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
to ihe Stockbridge Indians, Author of his book on "Freed f
the Will," with others giving him high repute in Metaphysics.
SAMUEL FINLEY BEEESE MORSE, Inventor of the
Electro-Magnetic Telegraph. Congress appropriated thirty thous-
and dollars in the year 1S43, for his first telegraph line from
Washington to Baltimore, which thence extended over the world.
He B'as brilliant as a Scientist and eminent as a Philanthropist,
Painter and Artist.
DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT, a native of the South,
he espoused the Union side in the Civil War. Because of his
bravery, skill and success in naval battles, the office of Vice-
Admiral was specially created for him in the yeai 1864, and that
of Admiral in 1866, which latter he retained until his death.
HENRI 7 CLAY, Lawyer. Orator, Statesman in Congress,
House and Senate, and great political leader, being several times
the favorite candidate of the Whig Party for President of the
United States. When he said "I would rather be Right than
be President,'' he .save the characteristic speech of his life. He
was one of the commissioners to Great Britain which made the
Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.
GEORGE PEABODY, Native of Massachusetts but world-
wide in his humanities. Founder of the Peabody Institute at
Baltimore, Peabody Museum at Harvard University, the George
Peabody & Company Banking Institution at London. England,
where he gave to erect lodging-houses for the poor. •$•2,500,000.
Returning to the United States, he gave $3,500,000 for promoting
the cause of general education, at the South. In all he devoted
more than ten million dollars to public charities and schools,
with $150,000 to Yale College. As a Business Man and Philan-
thropist, he was a '"'Great American.*'
NATHANIEL HAWTHORN, Eminent as Editor and Auth-
or in such works as "Twice Told Tales.'" "Scarjei Letter." and
others giving him fame as the then greatest romance-writer of
America, lie served for five years as United States Consul at
Liverpool, with good repute.
PETER COOPER, Business Man, Philanthropist and Re-
THE HALL OF FAME. 1311
former, in New York City, where he founded Cooper Union for
the purpose of free instruction to the working men and women in
science, and the arts; and to reform the currency, he helped or-
ganize a new political party, which nominated him for Presidenl of
the United States in the year 1876.
ELI WHITNEY, was Inventor of the Cotton-gin, whirl, so
improved the process of fitting cotton for market, thai it increased
its United States export from ISO, 500 pounds in 1791. to
41,000,000 pounds in 1803. He also established an arms-factory
which furnished improved arms to the Government, near New
Haven, Connecticut, the first in this country.
HOKACE MANX was a leader of Educational Reform in
Massachusetts, where from 1837 to 1848, he was Secretary of the
State Board of Education. He held norma] schools and teachers'
conventions throughout that State. lit- was elected to Congress
h\ the Anti-Slavery Whigs from 1848 to 1853. Then he went to
Ohio, and became President of Antioeh College, urging his school
system through that State until his death in 1859. and exerting
vast good as an educator in both states.
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, World-famous as a Naturalist,
Author. Editor, Scientist. Painter, Sculptor, Explorer and Dis-
coverer, mainly devoting himself to Ornithology. His great work
"Birds of America," has received the eulogies of mam learned
societies in Europe and America.
JAMES KENT, Judge of the New York Supreme Court
from Kits to 1814; ten years its Chief Justice; and from 181 l to
1823, Chancellor of New York. He was author id' ••Kent'.- Com-
mentaries "ii American Law." popular with Court and Bar in all
the United States.
HENRY WARD BEECHER, Preacher and Tl [ogian, for
forty years to his death, popular pastor of a great Congregation in
the City of Brooklyn. He visited England in the Civil War.
where his eloquenl appeals exerted a greal influence for the I lion
against Slavery.
JOSEPH STORY, prominent as a Lawyer, Ruler and States-
man for ten years. Then, in 1811, he became Associate Jvt
1312 THE. FIRELANDS PIONEER.
of the United State- Supreme Court, and so continued for thirty
three years until his death. He was author of his "Commentaries
on the Constitution of the United States." and ••Commentaries on
the Conflict of Law-;" very able works and favorite text books in
the Courts.
WILLIAM ELLERY CHAINING, Eminent a- a Preacher,
Theologian, Editor ami Author. As pastor over the Federal
Street Church in Boston in the year 1803, he became loader of the
Unitarian movement: Philanthropist, active in other religious.
moral, and socal reform-.
GILBERT CHARLES STUART. Xative of Rhode Island,
he studied the aTt of painting in Europe painting portraits of many
prominent Europeans. Returning to the United States, he made
a specialty of taking the best portraits of George Washington. His
excellence in portraying individual character and the evident
genius of his life pictures, in both countries, gave him great popu-
larity in his professii m
ASA CRAY, this famous Naturalist, made five journeys to
Europe ami Egypt preparing his "Egyptial Flora." He is cele-
brated for !n- botanical explorations, discoveries, and publications
throughoul the scientific world. He was a native of New York,
n-here his death lefl a fame worthy of his distinguished career. He
was author of "Gray's Elements of Botany," "The Flora of North
America." "Review of the Life of Darwin:" was ExploreT of Bo-
tanical Productions in Europe. Asia and Africa, and received high
honors of Cambridge and Oxford Universities. Was Professor of
Natural History in University of Michigan.
As expected, the vote of the Hundred Judges was unanimous
for the man who was "First in War. Firs! in Peace and First in
the hearts of his Countrymen." Next to Washington their vote
was nearly so for Abraham Lincoln. Thattheghost of Civil War
had vanished, was proved by the fad that a very liberal voir came
for the two great opposing generals of thai war. Cram and Lee.
The Hall of Fame is a perpetual monument to the unity and patri-
otism of the nation. That no distinction of ses exists in the
• \ purpose of this institution is apparent from the fad that
THE HALL OF FAME. 1313
;it the nexl quinquennial election, held by it- Eundred Judges in
October, L905, three of the eight names elected by them for Tablets
in this Hull of Fame, were of A riean women, eminent in the
attainments and achievements which entitled them to historic
rank as Greal Americans, in the magnificenl structure so largely
erected by aid of women and dedicated equally to them.
THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
LIVING WORDS FEOM DECEASED 6EEAT AMERICANS,
[NSCRIBED ON THE HALT. OF FAME.
It was provided in the erection of the Hall of Fame, that
over each of the 150 Tablets shall be inscribed some brief senti-
ment in the lift — words of the person there named. The following
are from those named by the llr-t election of the Hundred .Judges,
in October, L900.
FROM GEORGE WASHINGTON.
-of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political"
"prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable"
"supports. Reason and experience both forbid us to"
"expecl thai national morality can prevail in exclusion"
"of religious principles. Promote then, as an object"
"of primary importance, institutions for the general"
"diffusion of knowledge."
FROM JOHN ADAMS.
"A- a government so popular can he supported only by"
■■universal knowledge and virtue, it is the duty of all"
"ranks t<> promote the mean- of education, as well a-"
■'true religion, purity of manners, and integrity of life."
FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
"With malice towards none, with charity for all. with"
"firmness in the righi as (led gives us to see the right,"
"let us strive mi to finish the work we are in."
FROM THOMAS JEFFERSON.
"We hold these truths to he self-evident, that all men"
INSCRIPTIONS.
"Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among"
"these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness."
FROM ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT.
•-I determined 6rs1 to use the greatesl number of troops"
"practicable; second, to hammer continuously against the"
"enemy, until, by mere attrition if in no other way, there"
"should lip nothing left to him bul submission
FROM EGBERT EDWARD LEE.
"Duty, then, is the sublimest word in our Language — do"
"your duty in all things — yon cannot do more, you"
"should never wish to do less."
FROM DANIEL WEBSTER.
"I profess in my career hitherto to have kept steadily"'
'•in view the prosperity and honor of the whole country"
"and the preservation of our Federal 1 nion.
FROM BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
"This constitution can end in despotism, as other forms"
"have done before it, only when the people shall b me"
"so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being in-"'
"capable of any other."
FROM JOHN MARSHALL.
"The Constitution, and the laws made in pursuance"
"thereof, are supreme; they control the constitutions"
"and the laws of the respective States and cannot be"
"eont rolled by them."
FROM RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
"The day is always his who work- in it with serenity and"
""real aims. The unstable estimates of men crowd to"
i THE FIRELANCS PIONEER.
"him whose mind is filled with the truth, as the heaped-"'
"tip waves of the Atlantic follow the moon."
FROM ROBEET FULTON.
"To divert the genius and resources of our Country to"
"useful improvements, to the sciences, the arts, eduea-"
"tion, the amendment of the public mind and morals, in"
"such pur-nits lie real honor and the Nation's glory."
PROM HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW.
"The distant mountains thai uprear their solid bastions"
"to the skies, are crossed by pathway- thai appear as we"
"to higher levels rise. The heights by great men reached"
"and kept, were not attained by sudden flight, but they,"
"while their companions slept, were toiling upward in"
"the night."
FROM WASHINGTON IRVING.
"The intercourse between the author and hi- fellowmen"
"is ever new. active, and immediate — well may the world"
"cherish hi- renown. It has been purchased by the dili-"
"gent dispensation of pleasure."
FROM JONATHAN EDWARDS.
-Cod is the head of the universal system of existence"
"from whom all is perfectly derived and on whom all is"
"most absolutely dependent: whose being and beauft is"
"the sum and comprehension of all existence and ex-"
"cellence."
FRO^l SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE ^lORSE.
"1 am persuaded that whatever facilitates intercourse be-"
'•(ween the differeni portions of the human family will"
"have the effect, under the guidance «\' -omul moral"
"principles, to promote the besl interests of men."
INSCRIPTIONS.
PEOM DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT.
"As for being prepared for defeat, I certainly am not."
"Any man who is prepared for defeat would be half de-"
"feated before he commenced. I bope for success, shall"
"do all in my power to secure it. and trust to God for"
"the rest."
FROM IIF.XliV CLAY.
"Thai patriotism which, catching its inspiration from"
"the immortal God. animates and prompts to <]ci'<]< of"
"self-sacrifice, of valor, of devotion and of death itself,"
"that is public virtue, that is the sublimest of all public"
"virtues."
FROM GEORGE PEABODY.
"Looking forward beyond my stay on earth. I see our"
"country becoming richer and more powerful; but, to"
"make her prosperity more than superficial her moral"
"and intellectual development should keep pace with her"
"material growth."
FROM NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.
"Living m solitude till the fullness of time, I still kept"
"the dew of my youth and the freshness of my In-art."
PROM PETER GOOPFR.
"The greal objeci I desire to accomplish is to open the"
'avenues of scientific knowledge to youth, so that the"
"young may see the beauties of creation, enjoy its bless-"
'in--, and loam to love the Author."
FRO^I FF1 WIIITMA
•The machine it is true operates in tin- Hr-i instance on"
'mere physical elements to produce an ac< umulati tnd"
THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
"distribution of property ; but do no1 .-ill the arts of"
"civilization follow in its train?"
FEOM HORACE MANN".
"The common school is the greatesl discovery ever made"
"by man. It is supereminent in its universality and in"
"the timeliness of the aid it proffers."
FROM JAMES KENT.
"We ought not to separate the science of public law"
"from that of ethics. States or bodies politic an- to he"
"considered as moral persons having a public will"
"capable and free to do right and wrong."
FROM JOSEPH STORY.
■■Tin' founders of the constitution with profound wisdom"
"laid the cornerstone of our national Republic in the"
"permanent independence of the judicial establish-"
"ment."
FROM GILBERT CHARLES STUART.
••The portrait of George Washington was undertaken"
"by me. Tt had been indeed the object of the most"
"valuable years of my life to obtain the portrait."
FROM HENRY WARD P.EEOHER.
"It matter- little to me what school of theology rises or"
"falls, so only that Christ may rise in all his Father's"
"glory full orbed upon the darkness of this world."
FROM WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING,
"I think of God as the father and inspirer of the soul;"
"of Chrisl as its redeemer and model; of Christianity"
"a- given to lighten, perfect, ami gdorifv it."
INSCRIPTIONS
FROM J<
IHN JAM J
)S
AUDI
BON.
'The
productions o
E natuiv si
urn
becai
ne my
play-'
'mates
, I fell an
intimacy w
nli
them
not consisting'
'of friendship merely, but wh
ich
bordei
■in- -mi
frenzy'
'must
accompany rnj steps thr
oug
h life/
PROM ASA GRAY.
■•I confidently expect thai m the future, even more than"
■■in the past, faith in an order which is the basis of"
'"science, will not be dissevered from an Ordainer which"
- "i- the basis of religion."
SECOND ELECTION FOR HALL TABLETS HELD BY THE
HUNDRED JUDGES IN OCTOBER. 1905.
At the Second Election held by the Hundred Judges of Names
for Tablets in the Hall of Fame I'm- Greal Americans, the follow-
ing were duly chosen by a majority for each of not less than fifty
one votes of all the Judges, to wit:
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. Sixth Presided of the Tinted
State-.
JAMES MADISON, Fourth Presided of the United States.
ALEXANDER EAMILTON, Lawyer, Statesman, Soldier,
Author and Editor, served on Washington's Staff, to his victory at
Yorktown and m the Suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion; was
also in his Cabinet a- Secretary of the Treasury. His name re-
ceived s; of the 100 votes of the Judges at tin- eleeton.
LOUIS AGASSIZ received 82 votes, one of the highesi num-
ber given. He was a greai Naturalisl famous as Professor of
Geologj and Zoology. Also as Author, Editor, Scientist and Ex-
plorer.
JOHN PAUL JONES, Soldier. Sailor and Naval Com-
mander in the Revolutionary War for the United States. After-
wards he was Rear-Admiral iv the Russian Navj and honored in
the French Navy.
1320 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
EMMA WILLAKD, Founder of the Troy, New York, Female
Seminary, m the year 1821, and its principal until the year 1838.
She ranked as pioneer leadi r of the Reform for the Higher Educa-
tion of Women; was Author of the most popular school books in
the country of that period and long alter, especially her Geo-
graphy and Atlas. Shi> was also an eminent Poet, author of the
familiar song. "Rooked in the Cradle of the Deep."
MARY LYON, Founder of Mount Holyoke Seminary at South
Hadley. Massachusetts, in the year L836, and its principal until
the year. 1849. She was a famed Educator and Scientist, devoted
in the Reform of the Higher Education of Women.
MARIA MITCHELL, daughter of Win. Mitchell, the Ameri-
can Astronomer Tn October, 1847, she discovered a new comet.
This was one of the most magnificent id' the present age, first visible
in the Western sky during the autumn of 1858. It had been
but faintly observed in Europe. With other discoveries by her,
this won distinction for her in the chief observatories there. On
her home return she was presented with an elegant tele-cope by
American women: and was the first woman elected to the American
Academy of Arts ami Sciences. She served from the year 1866,
until her death in 1889, as Professor of Astronomy in the Vassar
College id' Poughkeepsie, New York, founded in i.861, h\ Matthew
Vassar for the Higher Education of Women, and which he endowed
with a fund of $778,000.
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS
JOHN ADAMS AND THE TREATY ORIGIN OF OHIO.
By HON. GIDEON T. STEWART.
The victory of General George Washington with his Ameri-
can and French forces at Yorktown, Virginia, and the surrender
of General Lord Cornwallis with his entire British army there,
on October 17th, 1781, practically ended the decisive battles of
the Revolutionary War. but did not then bring peace between the
two hostile nations, for the reason that France and Spain were
engaged in their own hostilities with Great Britain, and claimed
to be necessary factors in all peace treaty negotiations between
thai power and the United States.
In September, 1779, about four years before the high trust
was finally accomplished, John Adams of Massachusetts, was ap
pointed by the American Continental Confess, then in session in
the city of Philadelphia, Commissioner to negotiate a treaty of
peace with Great Brtain, which appointment he accepted en V
vcmber 4th. 17T9. He was one of the Committee of five who pre-
pared and reported in that body the Natonal Declaration of Inde-
pendence which it adopted on July 4th. 1776; and was an active,
influential member of it from its first session on September 5th,
1774. He was there a zealous advocate of the nation's indepen-
dence, and chairman of the Board of War. Hence, the conspicuous
confidence by that Congress, in his abilty, integrity, and patrio-
tism, when he was thus appointed by it. sole Commissioner to treat
for peace with Great Britain, in the midst of the war. Ee had.
before this time, served with approved success on a brief
mission from the United Stales to France, in (he year 1778.
Bui confident of success in its war of subjugation, (irent
Britain was indisposed to consider the claim of national inde-
pendence so strongly represented by John Adam-: ami. with that,
the proposed peace was prompt!] refused bj it. as a leading pur-
pose of his mission. The subsequent victory of Washington at
Yorktown, tended to open the eve- ami ears of the British nation
to the subject.
1322 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
Other causes of delay existed between the two countries in
the progress of this negotiation, by the diplomatic interventions
of France and Spain. Conrad A. Gerard was the first French
Minister to the United State-, and as such he had negotiated the
treaty between France and the United States, of February 6th.
1778. He came to America that year and returned the next.
While here, he was rerj active m bis endeavors to control all nego-
tiations of this countn with Great Britain. In that treaty which
he had procured with the United States, was interpolated an offen-
sive and defensive alliance against Great Britain.
Benjamin Franklin was sent by the Continental Congress on
a mission to France, in the year 1778, and co-operated with Gerard
in negotiating this alliance with that power. In token of this
personal esteem at the French Court, Benjamin Franklin re-
ceived the King's picture set with 408 diamonds, which by will
Franklin gave to his daughter Sarah Bache. He was then in his
76th year and requested Congress to -end some other person to
supply his placed Franklin had I □ highly honored in France
during his embassy there, had obtained large loans and contribu-
tions of men. arms, and supplies which greatly helped to achieve
the military and financial success of the infant republic in the
Revolutionary War: and he felt obligations from this treaty with
France, which Adams refused to recognize.
Great Britain, France and Spain, being unable to concur on
terms of settlement between themselves, indefinitely postponed the
negotiations for peace with Great Britain by the United States,
until the year 1782, when the fall of the North ministry cleared
the way for the treaty as between the two parties most directly con-
cerned in it.
In the meantime. Congress evinced it> confidence in John
Adams further by his commission as a Minister Plenipotentiary
to Holland to < fleet a loan and obtain a treaty of alliance where
he was opposed by the same treachery and guile on the part of the
French and Spanish diplomats, with the same perfidious purpose,
to prolong the war between ("heat Britain and the United States
in the interesl of the conspiring parties, and against that of the
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS. 1323
new republic; but Adams bravely persisted in his efforts, until
.1 i'i.t the surrender of Cornwallis, he was enabled to accomplish his
mission to Holland, as he did, with remarkable success. On April
19th, 1782, he obtained recognition for himself and his govern-
ment, and was formally installed at the Hague as minister of the
United States; and from the Dutch bankers he procured liberal
loan- for its financial support. He then triumphantly returned to
Paris, in October 1782, to resume his important duties as Treatj
( lommissioner to Great Britain.
The second French Minister, A. C. Luzerne, succeeding
Gerard, pursued the same wily tactics, perverting the good feeling
which he found existing toward his country in the Continental
Congress and among the people of the United States, to the in-
terest of France in continuing this war against Great Britain; and
seeing the firm honest} of Adams in his trusts as Minister of the
Republic in Europe, endeavored to supplant him by procuring
substitutes more supple to the influence of France and Spain; but
failing in that, by various expedients, he procured the appoint-
ment of additional Commissioners, as a pretense to represent more
Tulh different sections of the republic, Benjamin Franklin of
Pennsylvania, John Jay of New York, Thomas Jefferson of Vir-
ginia, and Henr} Laurens of South Carolina. The latter had be-
fore been appointed Minister to Holland, but was captured on his
voyage to that country, by the British government, and was con-
fined for fifteen months in prison. Jefferson failed to serve on the
embassy.
The question which met the three acting Commissioners on the
threshhold of their proceedings, was the demand of France and
Spain, then at war with Great Britain, to be included in the
treatj negotiations with that power. Of the three. Franklin.
alone, favored this demand, while Adams and Jay opposed it as a
combination of hostile int.i osl- which, at the best, could only tend
to delay and defeat the treaty.
Adams as Minister to France, and .lav as Minister to Spain,
in the \car 1780, ha«l discovered the selfish designs of those two
powers m their efforts to obtrude themselves on the treatj proceed
1324 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
ings of the United States; they fore* .aw schemes to roh flu
republic of its territoria] and commercial rights and property, to
divide them as common spoil between themselves, or to exact from
Greal Britain terms of compromise solely with and for then
and were convinced that better terms could be obtained 1- them
in a separate treaty with Great Britain, entirely between the two
nations, without the intervention of other governments, li was
like a battle of three lions in a cage.
The position of Adams was well understood by his i olleagues
in the Continental Congress before his appointment as envoy to
negotiate the treaty. In one of the early debates, he there said:
"We should separate ourselves as far as possible and as long as
possible from all European politics and wars." Upon that basis
he firmly and persistently pursued his patriotic duty.
The position of Benjamin Franklin was as zealously, and at
times, bitterly held to the contrary of Adams and in favor of
France. The following letter written by Franklin when he was
Minister from the United States to the Court of France, dated
January 15th, 1782, at Passy, to David Hartley, and published in
Franklin's Autobiography, (Vol. .",. page 37), evinces. his strong
opposition to a peace treaty with Great Britain without France
being especially included in its negotiations and final term- of set-
tlement :
"I received a few days since, your favor of the 2nd inst, in
which you tell me, that Mr. Alexander bad informed you, '-America
was disposed to enter into a separate treaty with Great Britain. 1 am
persuaded i.hat your siren- desire for peace has misled you. and
occasioned your greatly misunderstanding Mr. Alexander; as I
think it scarce possible he should have asserted a thing so utterly
void of foundation. 1 remember that you have, as you say, often
urged this on former occasions, and that it always gave me more
disgust than my friendship for you permitted me to express. But,
since you have now gone so far as to carry such a proposition to
Lord" North, as arising from us, it is necessary that 1 should be ex-
plicit with you, and tell you plainly, that I never had such an idea;
and I believe there is not a man in America, a few English Tories
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS 1325
excepted, that would not spurn the thought of deserting a noble
and generous friend, for the sake of a truce with an unjust and
cruel enemy."
In a letter to John .lav. then F. S. Minister at Madrid, dated
January 19th, 1782, Benjamin Franklin wrote: "Mr. Laurens
being imn at liberty, perhaps may soon come here, and be ready to
join us, it there should be anj negotiations for peace In Eng-
land they are mad for a separate one with us, that thej may more
effectually take revenge on France and Spam. I have had several
overtures hinted to lately from different quarters, but 1 am
deal The thing is impossible. We can never agree to deserl our
first and faithful friend on any consideration, whatever. We
should become infamous by such abominable baseness." I Bige-
low's Autobiography of Franklin. Vol. 3. page 41).
But Jay had become pretty well informed as to the police of
Spain by the disclosures to him as Minister there, in its desire
to -hare in the treaty negotiations; and as to the French policy,
John Adams then defined it in these words: "In substance it has
been this— in assistance afforded us in naval force and in monej to
keep u- from succumbing, and nothing more; to prevent lis from
ridding ourselves wholly of our enemies: to prevent us from grow-
ing powerful or rich: to prevent us from obtaining acknowledg-
ments of our independence by other foreign powers; ami to pre-
vent us from obtaining consideration in Europe, or any advantage
in the peace but what is expressly stipulated in the treaty ; to de-
prive us of the grand fishery, the Mississippi river, the western
lands, and to saddle us with the Fori.'-." (Morse's John Adams.
219. note.)
Of the actions of the Continental Congress in their servility
to France, by their recorded instructions to the Peace Commis
sioners. John Adams afterwards wrote: "Congress surrendered
their own sovereignty into the hands of a French Minister.
Blush, blush! Ye guilty records, blush and perish! It is glory
to have broken such infamous orders. Infamous I say, I
they will be to all posterity H"u i an such a -tain lie washed oul ?
Can we cast a veil over it and forget it?' 5 (do 226).
1326 THE FIRELANCS PIONEER.
At the request, and too much at the dictation of the French
Minister Vergennes, Congress instructed the Treat}' Commission-
ers, "To make the most candid and confidential communications
upon all subjects to the Ministers of our generous ally, the King
of France; to undertake nothing in the negotiations Eot peace or
truce without their knowledge or concurrence and "ultimately to
govern themselves by their advice and opinion."
John Jay knew that France and Spain were acting in concert
to defeat the claim of the United States for the free navigation of
the Mississippi through the Spanish po--e.— ion.-, and he therefore
united firmly with Adam- against Franklin in the conflict between
the Commissioners.
After the resignation of Lord North and the death of the
Marquis of Rockingham, Lord Shelburne succeeded in charge of
the colonies, in the department of Foreign Affairs in the British
government, and he consented to treat with the Commissioners of
the United States on the claim- presented by them, without any
reference to the claims of France and Spain, or the intrigues of
Vergennes.
The French Minister complained in his home correspondence,
of what he termed characters "so little manageable" as those of
Adams and Jay.
Laurens, as a British prisoner in the Tower of London, could
take no part in the treaty discussions or decisions, until he was
released in exchange tor Lord Cornwallis, which was just in time
to be present at the dose of the negotiations when he readily ac-
quiesced in the majority voice of his associates.
This splendid diplomatic victory achieved by the iron firm-
ness, integrty, and patriotism of John Adams and John Jay. was
one of the most remarkable achievements in the political history of
nations. They si I opposed to united forces not only of Great Bri-
tain, France. Spain and the United States, but to one of the most in-
fluential of their own members, and to the Continental Congress
which had appointed them, trampling under foot it.- express in-
structions, acting in defiance of them; and yet because the\ knew
that they were right, they persevered and triumphed. It either
FRENCH AND SPANISH CONSPIRACY 1327
of them had taken a step backward, or parted from the other, all
would have been lost for which they contended. They firsl divided
the forces opposed to them, by treating with Greal Britain alone
and by combining its interests with that of the United States,
apart from Prance and Spain: and aexl by making a treaty op-
posed to the express instructions of the Congress which appointed
them, in utter disregard of the consequences to themselves. They
Knew thai their country would do them justice when the truth
was known, and the vast benefits conferred by the treaty were
realized, in contrast with the great evils which it prevented.
A- Franklin was, at the same time when France was in war
with Great Britain. Minister to France, and Treaty Commissioner
to Greai Britain, both then at war with each other, his internun-
cial relations were in conflict, and he should have declined the
treat] mission; but the Continental Congress which appointed
him to both, was involved in the same fatal fatuity, which demand-
ed the sacrifice of their country, for an imaginary debt of grati-
tude to France. In his Farewell Address to the people of the
United States. George Washington warned them against alliance
with foreign powers and reliance on their friendships, when op-
posed to their own interests.
Both France and Spain conspired in the secrel scheme that
the thirteen states of the republic should he confined to their orig-
inal limits, and that all the rest of the American continent should
he divided in parts between them and Great Britain. The whole
original area of this republic was onlj aboul 850,000 square mil -
and its population was less than four millions. It would have
been a diminutive power like Switzerland and oilier small
countries of Europe, strictly confined to their boundaries, and ow-
ing then- continued existence onlj a- balances of power between
the great nation, of EuTOpe, subject at an\ time to their entire
destruction, when the combined interests of these nations required
it.
The Continental Congress insisted merely on independence
for the republic of the United Stale-, and threw all the res! of its
vast interests and prospects into th< I I nntrol in
1328 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
the treaty at its own selfish will and pleasure; trusting all to its
seeming friendship at Yorktown. Facts afterwards revealed,
taught the lesson so well repeated in the Farewell Address of
Washington. It then transpired, that the French Ministers had
sough! to purchase the favors of both Spain and Great Britain,
at the expense of the United State-, to which they proposed only
to extend a nominal independence. They proposed that the Ohio
river ihould be recognized as the southern boundary of Canada
and so conceded to Great Britain all North America above that
line, including the control of the valley and .waters of the tipper
Mississippi River, as a condition for conceding to France and Spain
all the vasl regions wesl and south from the Atlantic to the Pa-
cini Oceans, excepi the narrow limit- of the thirteen colonies as
they -tend at tlie beginning of the Revolutionary War, at Lexing-
ton, ; n April, 1775.
To accomplish this design. the\ secretly commenced a separ-
ation with the British government, so as to force the
United Stale; commissioners to accept terms so fixed in advance,
by the three other parties to the proposed treaty. The firm atti-
tude of Adams and Jay in refusing to admit France and Spain as
parties to the treaty negotiation, defeated this conspiracy. A
favorable change in the British Ministry greatly aided that suc-
cess. On the resignation of Ford North, the two sections of the
\\ nig party coalesced, both opposed to the admission of France ami
Spain a^ treat] parties, and were friendly to the Uniti
Lord Rockingham became Prime Minister, and with him came into
office Shelburne, Camden, Grafton, Fox. and Conway, the Duke of
R d, and Lord John Cavendish, all favoring the recognition
of the independence of the United States, en terms of future
amity with Great Britain.
As the French Ministers had plotted the union of the two
Latin nations, against the two Anglo-Saxon nations, so the two
latter began to see the necessity of combining force- and in ■ ;ts
against the former. Spain had ceded the Florida- to Great
Britain by the treat] of 1763, taking from France b sei rel treaty
the vast region vvesi of the Mississippi river. Bui Spain was again
TREATY OF PEACE. 1329
a1 war with Great Britain and had retaken the Floridas, making
some conquests in the region of Lake Michigan and claiming terri
tory there. Hence the two Anglo-Saxon parties refused to recog-
nize the Latin schemes in their treaty negotiations, and came to
conclusions favorable to their own interests; while the French and
Spanish Minister-; retired, baffled and enraged.
France had been committed by secrel treaty of alliance with
Spain to continue its war with Great Britain until Spain could
have Gibralter, and would have so continued the war with the
United States. Spain sought to exclude the United States from
the Mississippi valley and river, but was ready to concede the
monopoly of the Upper Missssippi region to placate Great Britain.
in return for its desired services in the treat; conquest and rob-
bery of the United States. Spain claimed the monopoly of the
Lower Mississippi valley and river, to and with the Gulf of Mexi-
co, holding that as a elosed sea against the commerce of all other
nations; and the control of the whole continenl wesi to the Pacific
Ocean, mm tilled with free and prosperous States of ibis great
Republic.
The preliminaries of the treat} of peace were first arranged
al the city of Paris in the year 1782, and were formally ratified
and - gned a1 the city of Versailles, in France, on Septem I !
1783, by the American Commissioners, John Adams. John Jay.
Benjamin Franklin, and Eenry Laurens, and by the British Com-
missioner Hartley, which was ratified bj the King of England on
April 9th, 1784. This terminated the War of the Revolution.
begun al Lexington April 19th, l775,recognizing by ad of Great
Britain the independence of the American Republii as a memtaer
in the family of aations, firsl and promptly recognized b] Norway,
Sweden, and the Netherlands, and afterwards by France, Fi
6th, 1778, when its war policj 30 dictated.
By the treaty of Paris and Versailles, more than twice the
e < mi of territory was acquired in absolute severalty, by the United
States, compared with thai proposed bj France and Spain I i
Britain in 1782, including the righl to the fisheries on the Cana-
dian and Newfoundland coasts. The boundary was es1
1330 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
on the Saint Lawrence river system to the forty-fifth parallel, and
thence following the highlands to the sea. The right to naviga-
tion of the entire Mississippi river was secured, with that of travel
and trade across the vasl domain to the Pacific Ocean.
The subtle and venomous intrigues of the two French Minis-
ters, Gerard and Vergennes, with their many emissaries by whom
they surrounded the Continental Congress, against John Adams.
because his firm patriotism, mental acumen, and sterling honesty
were in the way. failed in their main object to procure his recall.
Inn succ led in other particulars, defeating a treaty of com-
merce by him supplemental to that of peace. But when the suc-
cess nf Adams in this first treaty was known, Congress promptly
restored that function, by the appointment of Adams. .lav. and
Franklin to negotiate the commercial treaty with Great Britain,
which was soon accomplished to the general satisfaction of Con-
gress and the people of the United States.
Henry Laurens was presideni of the Continental Congress
from the years 177? to the year 1778. ^fte.r he signed the peace
treaty, his impaired health forced him to retire from public life.
and lie died in the year 1703.
It was a most extraordinary spectacle before the whole civil-
ized world t«i see John Adams ami John Jay. two of the four Com-
missioners from the United States standing so firmly en their
moral eonvictons of duty against the powerful nations of France
and Spain, and their most skilled diplomats, with the eminenl
American scholar and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, ami almost
the entire body nf the Continental Congress which had appointed
but was then opposing them, reiecting from their negotiations
those two nations with all their diplomats and ministers against
all the political influences at home and their professed friend- in
Europe, entering into single treaty with Great Britain on demands
so astounding to all ; yet in that battle of the giants, the two Ameri-
can heroes foughl in the face of all the opposing conditions and
forces, and bravely conquered, driving their country's enemies he-
fore them, ami actually compelling the adoption nf tin- grand
treaty of such amazing magnitude. The revulsion of public -en-
SUBSEQUENT TREATIES. 1331
tuiH'iit in and mil of the Continental Congress when the event was
known, was universal and most enthusiastic. Years after, the pop-
ular song of "Adams and Liberty" was shouted and sung all over
the land.
The grand treaty victory was complete, and without a parallel
in the diplomatic annals of nations.
In the year l". s ">. John Adams was appointed first Minister
of the United .States to Great Britain, in which capacity he fur-
ther proved himself always alert, brave, and patriotic. He re-
turned home from thai important mission, in the year 1788; and
was the nexl year, 1789, nominated and elected first Vice Presi-
dent of the Onited States, with George Washington as first Pres-
ident, in which offices they were unanimously repeated for the sec-
ond term, in the year 1793. At the end of that term, in the year
1707. John Adams was chosen second President of the Tinted
States, with Thomas Jefferson as Vice Presdent
During the years 1784 to 1789, John day who had stood so
firmly by the side of Adams in the last part of the -real treaty
conflict, was honored with the office of United States Secretary of
Foreign Affairs. In Hie year L789, he was appointed bj Presi-
dent Washington, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United Stales: and he continued to hold eminent positions in
public life, from the hand id' hi- grateful country, until hi- death
in the year 1829.
By subsequenl treaties with Great Britain, France. Spain,
Mexico, Russia, ami the annexations of Texas and Hawaii, the
territorial area of over four million square miles was obtained
by logical sequents, in the march of Republican expansion, which
would have I n unknown to history if the infant republic had
been left in the straight-jacket prepared for ii by the political
conspirators of the four years in which John Adams fought with
them and won In- grand treaty victon of September 3rd, 1783.
Now we all - e the glorj of In- life and achie\ ments in their
radiant results, shining ou1 from Plymouth Rock of Massachusetts
to the Golden Gate of California. Peace ha- its victories far
greater than these of war, and the noblest of its triumphs are in its
1332 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
conquests over war. Such was the peace victory achieved
by Adams and Jay. Since the Napoleonic era. aggressive
wars between civilized nations for the expansion or contra* I if
empires and republics, have been and will be largely superceded by
the triumphs of treaties and the victories of peace.
The effect of this -rand treaty on other nations was toward
general and permanent peace. France relinquished its schemes
of empire in the new world, and by one peace treat] of April 30,
L803, transferred to the United States, the vast territory known as
the Louisiana Purchase, with an area of 1,182,752 square miles.
for the price paid of fifteen million dollars, under the administra-
tion of President Jefferson, which event was celebrated in the
World's Exposition at St. Louis, in 1904. Spain sold and ceded
by peace treaty of Februar] 22nd, 1819, to the United States, the
territory of Florida, with an area of 58,680 square miles, for the
price paid of five million dollars; and. on December 10th, 1898,
the Philippine, Guam, and Porto Rico [slands, with an area of 133,
713 square miles, at the price paid of twenty million dollars. Rus-
sia sold to the United States, by peace treaty of March 30th, 1867,
the territory of Alaska, with an area of 590,884 square miL ■. for
the price paid id' seven million two hundred thousand dollars.
Mexico -old and ceded by pea.ce treat] of Guadalupe Hidalgo on
February 2, 1848 (supplemented and affirmed 1>\ the Gadsden treaty
of 1853), to the United States, the lands since formed into the
States - f California and Utah, and the territories of Arizona and
New Mexico, for the price paid of eighteen million dollars, with
an area of 393,960 square miles, being in proportion to area, mow
than double the price paid to Russia for Alaska, and more than
three fold the price paid to France for tin- Louisiana Purchase.
The nation of Texas, on its application, was admitted as a
State into the Union of the United States, on December 29th,
1815, with an area of 265,780 square mile-. Hawaii was, on its
application, admitted as a part of the insular territory of the
United States, on August 12th, 1898, with an area of 6,677 square
miles. Before the annexation of Texas, that had been an inde-
pendent nation through more than nine years. Its war with
WAR WITH MEXICO. 1333
Mexico for its national independence ended with the battle of
San Jacinto, on Aprl 2nd, 1836, from which time it was conceded
by Mexico, and acknowledged by France, England, Belgium, the
United States, and other nations; and as such, it was peacefully
admitted into the American Union. But after its annexation, a
dispute arose of the slate and Mexico, as to the boundary between
them. Without time being given for peaceful treaty and adjust-
ment of the difference, the slave-holding President of the United
States, James K. Polk, at the demand of the Slave Power, or-
dered three generals of the United States army, with their separ-
ate commands. Generals Zaehary Taylor and Stephen W. Kearney
at the north, and General Winfield Scott at the south, to cross the
disputed line and over into Mexico, evidently for conquest of the
whole republic. As soldiers they obeyed the President, as commander
in-chief of the armies of the U. S. though personally opposed
to the object of the war when known to them subsequently. After
a dozen or more great battles and victories by them, the capitol city
of Mexico was surrendered, and the whole republic lay conquered
and crushed at the feet of the Slave Power. This Ls known in his-
tory as the war of the United States with Mexico.
Il did noi involve the question of Slavery in Texas, for thai had
been befoTe established in both its National and State Constitu-
tions, through more than ten years, but it was plainly the question
of thi extension of slavery over all Mexico. The Whig Party, in a
body, denounced this expansion of Slaver; by the crusade of
United State- armies over a sister republic. The .-teat Ohio ora-
tor, Thomas Corwin, in the United States Senate in his famous
speech against the Mexican War, said as to those invading armies,
in defiance of the cries of "treason" around him. "If T was a
Mexican, I would welcome them with bloody hands to hospitable
graves." The storm that swept over the north was too strong, and
President Polk bowed before it. The armies were ■ recalled
It- capitol citj and every inch of earth covered by the nr i io
were surrendered back to the sister republic; ami by a treaty of
peace the war ended where it bad begun, at the boundary line in
dispute on the Bio Grande River. After their return. Generals
1334 THE FIRELANOS PIONEER.
Taylor and Scott both publicly denounced the object of the war
on which they had been sent ; and a1 the next Presidental election
of the United States, General Zachary Taylor was nominated and
elected President by the Whig Party, on a platform and policy ut-
terly opposed m every extension of slavery. The re
the two Republics since then lias been of the most peaceful and
friendly character.
But against the Slave Power which hail caused the war with
Mexico, the arm of Divine Providence came with avenging thun-
ders. The Slave State of Texas, or February 1-t. 1861, passed an
ordinance of secession, ami joined with the other ten seceding
slave states in war against the Union. Tn that conflict the
Slave Power was overthrown and utterly destroyed, so that not a
particle or shadow of it now remains. The great Slave Power
which made the war with Mexico, n now onlv known in tin- grave
of history.
The si ' state of law- am! facts exist a- to the war with
Spain. It was begun solely on the part of the United State*, to
-ccuro the independence of Cuba. That accomplished, the war
ended by treaty of peace fully recognizing the independence of
Cuba. It was followed by a treaty of purchase for other Spanish
possessions, at the high price paid by the United States of twenty
million dollars. The title so transferred was all by purchase and
none of it by conquest. The wars since existing in those islands
were no part id' the war of the United States with Spain, hut were
incident to the progress of civilization and the enforcement of law
ami order there.
The treaty of peace achieved by John Adams and his associate
commissioner- wfth Great Britain, of Septemher 3rd. 1883, was a
peaceful exchange of charter rights and purchased titles in the
hands of the two nation-. Not an inch of the vast area in it. on
either side, was clai d or conceded by military conquest, in the
war closed between them, including the whole line of peaceful set-
tlement and demarkation by them, afterwards followed and af-
firmed by the Oregon treaty of 1846, from the Atlantic to the
Pacific Ocean. From all the law and fad- of history, it is evident
ANTI SLAVERY DECLARATION. 1335
that ih" United States as a nation, holds no pari of its vast do-
main by armed force or war of aggression against any civilized
people. As the light of the twentieth century dawned on our
world, ii revealed this great inter-ocean republic, extending from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, beneath these smiling heavens of God,
without the clank of a slave's chain among its more than eight}
millions of inhabitants; without the brand of war conquest on any
of its historic records; and without the slain of human blood on
the nation's title, throughout all its grand circumference.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were master spirits of the
Continental Congress and able Leaders in the cause of national in-
dependence. The chief draftsman of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence was Jefferson, but Adams was potent in its substantial
formation. Both of them agreed in the desire to place in that in-
strument the fundamental truths on which the coming constitution
of the Republic should he predicated, especially a- against human
slavery ami the slave trade. Accordingly m the original draft re-
ported by the committee id' five appointed I'm- this purpose, by that
Congress, the British monarch. George III. was arraigned before
the whole civilized world, in these words struck out by the Slave
Power in that body, with a stroke of false policy which saved
Slavery and cost the ('i\il wax: "He ha- waged cruel war
against human nature itself, violating it- most -acred rights
of life and Liberty in the persons of a distant people w] ever
offended him. capturing ami carrying them into slavery in an-
other hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transporta-
tion thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel
powers, is the warfare of the Christian King of Ureal Britain. De
termined to keep open a market where men should he bougb.1 and
sold, he has prostituted his negative for suppressing every legisla-
tive attempt to prohibit or restrain this execrable commerce. And
that, this assemblage of horrors might want no fad of distinguished
dye — he is now exciting those very people to rise in arms among as
and to purchase thai liberty of which he has deprived them, bj
murdering the | pie on whom |„. also obtruded them : thus paying
off former crimes committed against the liberties of one people,
TKE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
be urges them to commit against the lives of
mother
Through more than a centurj from the year L760 (<> the yeai
L861, there was a continuing conspiracy between the Slave Traders
of \"u England and the Slaw Traders of Georgia, Smith Carolina
and other portions of the South, to extend and perpetuate Slavery
and the Slave Trade together, throughout the Colonies forming
into states of the Republic. By intrigues of this conspiracy operat-
ing in the Continental Congress, thai body was influenced to strike
out from this original draft of the Declaration of Independence,
as si i reported by the committee of five, all it's above quoted words,
so that it was adopted and sent oui to the world without that or
any other condemnation of African Slavery and the Slave Trade.
Adams and Jefferson with other friends of the cause also suc-
ceeded in obtaining from the Continental Congress, in February
1777, then in session at Philadelphia, the unanimous adoption of
the following resolution :
"Resolved: That it he recommended to the several Legisla-
tures mi the United States, immediately to pass laws the most
effective for putting an immediate stop to the pernicious practice
of distilling grain, by which the most extensive evils are likely to
be derived if not quickly prevented." Although limited by it's
words to grain distillation, it's moral effect was against the whole
evil of the manufacture and traffic of intoxicating drinks. Hav-
ing then no Constitution empowering it to enact and enforce such
laws, that Congress could only appeal to the Stale Legislatures
then holding this power, to exert it for the public good.
John Adams was the firsl President of the United States, who
with his family, occupied the Presidential mansion in the city of
Washington known as the White House, so called because it was
painted white. It's cornerstone was laid in the year 1792 and it
was completed in the year 1800, the third year of his administra-
tion, so that his home in it was brief, and he very gladly retired
from it to his native home in Braintree (Quincy), Massachusetts.
His wife, Abigail Adams, was one of the most admirable women
thai ever filled the place there, of "first lady in the land." She
ADAMS' FAMILY. 1337
was a daughter ot the eminent divine, Rev. Win. Smith, of Wey-
mouth, Massachusetts, and died in the year 1818. Her letters to
her husband were' published in bhe year L848. They arc rich in
literary and historic merit. In a letter from John Adams to her,
he wrote this excellent appeal, evincing their mutual devotion to
their home life, and the education of their children:
"The education of our children is uever oul of my miud.
Train them to virtue. Habituate them to industry, activity, and
spirit. Make them consider ever] vice as shameful and unmanly.
Pire them with ambition to be useful."
Their eldest son, John Qirincy Adams, who was sixth Presi-
dent of the rimed Suite.-, testified to the truth and value of his
mother's response to this appeal, when he said that if the world
bad found an-, good in his life and character, it was all derived
from the teachings and example id' hi- mother.
The first White House was destroyed l>\ the Brtish army.
which let- pari of one daw took possession of Washington, in the
War of 1812, and burned a large ['art of the city. The second
White lion-,' was completed in the yeaT 1818, and was first occu-
pied li\ Presidenl Monroe, ft was occupied by John Quincy
Adam- in the year 1825, for four years.
Thomas Jefferson was Minister Plenipotentiary to F ranee in
and between the years of 1784 and 1789. Then returning to the
United State-, he entered the Cabinet of President Washington,
as Secretary of State. He was Vice Presidenl of the United
States under President John Adam-, to the year 1801, when he
became third President of the United States, which office he held
for two terms. He then retired to his birthplace and home, at
Montii ello in the state of Virginia.
John Adams, at the close of his presidential term, retired to
his birthplace and home at Braintree, (now Quincy), Massa-
chusetts, where lie lived to kno^ that his son, John Quincy Adams,
born there, had been inaugurated as Presidenl of the United
State-, in the year 1825.
John Adam- and Thomas Jefferson both lived to witness the
dawn of the fiftieth anniversary of the American Declaration of
1338 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
[e iendi In event of which, both had borne so conspicucras
a part. They differed with their usual zeal and ability, i
tiot rising over the Federal Constitution; but in their opposi-
tion to the Rum Power and it's offspring, the Slavery Power, they
never differed. Jefferson was perhaps more publicly pronounced,
but at heari he tvas uoi more tmU devoted, in defense of the equal
rights and self-rule of the people, than was John Adams, so
strongly affirmed by them both, in that great charter of freedom
for the world. All personal asperities soon passed awav ami their
old time friendship filled their declining years. Thi
itinued bo the close of life, and finally, tit
died at their homes, on or about the same hour of the -ante day,
July 4th. L826.
As tin- sad tidings spread abroad over their own and other
countries, all true patriots and philanthropists bowed in
mourning honors to their memories. Triumphant over death,
the -rand truths which they had so proclaimed in their lives, now
inspire the souls of nations, and resound in the banner cries of
Liberty and Reform, throughout the World.
JOHN QITINCY ADAMS AND Ills WELCOME To OHIO,
IX THE YEAR 1843.
Ormsby M. Mitchell, was an eminent American scholar and
military commander. He commanded the Department of the South,
in the war for the Union against the Seceding States, through the
year 1861, but died in the next year, of an epidemic Eever caused
by this service for his country. Numerous astronomical instru-
ment- were invented by him; and lie personally made extensive
observations of stars, nebulae, and solar spot- Due of the most
important of his scientific achievements, was the institution of the
first Western Astronomical Observatory, at the City of Cincinnati,
Ohio, in the year 1843. To aid this great enterprise, ex-President
John Quincy Adam- consented to personally attend and lav its
corner-stone there, which he accordingly did. on Thursday, Novem-
ber 9th, 1843. His best way of travel then was an arduous one.
for he '.v;i- in the seventy sixth year of in- age. and there were no
ADAMS' VISIT TO OHIO. 1339
railroads on his route. Be had to go chiefh bj stage-coach; and
bis long solitary journey . w ith only the good end in his mental \ tew,
exemplified the patient, persevering heroism of his character, lie
arrived at the State Capital of Ohio, Columbus, on the 7th day of
November, 1843, and was received as guest of the City at its chief
hotel, the fSTiel Eouse, built by the head of the famous Stage Com-
pany, Xicl Moore & Co., where be had a public ovation on the nexi
day. He then stood at the upper from of the hotel, giving and
receiving the cordial hand-grasp of the large multitude of citizens
win. pressed up the steps to personally greet him. The Ohio State
Journal of that day contained the following poem, composed for
th :casion by a law-student in the office of Hon. Noah H.
Swayne, a leading jurist of thai City, and afterwards, from L862
to 1881, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. II
was entitle, 1 "Ohio's Welcome In John Qumcy Adams," and truly
expressed the ardent sentiments of the people throughout the
State, of honor and affection towards the venerable statesman, and
of gratitude to his father, John Adams, second President of tic
United States, to whose eminent diplomatic talent-, and most
faithful labors through four years a- Treaty Minister Plenipoten-
tiary to Great Britain, the Stale of Ohio owes it- very existence in
the 'world:
olllo'S WELCOME TO JOHN QTJINCY ADAMS.
(By Gideon Tabor Stewart).
Old Massachusetts Eagle yet.
Hail from his aeried rock !
That mounting form hath often met,
In year- agone the shock,
When fell Detraction stormed and Hate
Tugged fiercely at his fame:
Think ye he recked their venom's prat,'.
< >r quaked for In- good rjanie ?
Go, in irk him well. How braved he then.
Seek from himself reply.
) THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
Aye read 11 in his conquering mien,
And still all glorious eye.
Look now nil him, unscathed, unshent,
As « hen his pimon first assayed
[ts s1 rengt h above his native glade ;
( >r when in primal vigor bent,
It beaconed through mid-firmament.
Bird of gray plume, say whither imu.
Goes forth thy soaring eye!'
Turns it as erst to Kingly halls,
For mission arm and high?
No. for I mark thine aged ken
Seeks ool .1- wont, the sun :
Rut o'er the broad and prairied West
Its < ompass deepens on,
To where the blue Ohio's sheen
Breaks through its folding wing,
Broods the Hesperian t !ity Queen,
A stately, gorgeous thing.
Why goes that glorious pilgrim forth
At. this t mie-w eary hour?
What new-orbed sun is in it tit ing m i\\
To spell him with its power?
Ask where Ohio's star ; s seen
Whence dun < ►ccasus lies,
Blazing from high with solar sheen,
A eressel in the skies.
Not with a feebly waxing ra\
Dim struggling from the cope of day.
For. like Minerva sprung from Jove,
Sun-horn ami armed her car she drove.
Yes, he hath sought our glorious State
To gaze before his eV e was dim,
On fairest germs of highest fate.
That from this peopled empire great.
Their seer-like presage lend to him.
And he is here, what greeting his?
OHIO'S WELCOME TO ADAMS.
Floating of banner-!" Trumpets' breath?
Trail of bright arms? Nay, what were this,
Bui a mock pantomine of bliss?
The ji>\ of free hearts claims a roice,
Ami hand seeks hand when heart- rejoice.
Such welcome speaks Ohio's choice.
Bear what the Western Empress saith:
Relic of olden worth, thy step
Falls pleasant to my ears.
With soul of pride I gaze on thee.
Scion of Pilgrim years.
That form unbowed by Time's rude hand,
Still stately as of yore;
That step whose vigor ceaseth not,
Firm as in years before;
Thai eye whose living luster quelled
Oft-times the hardiest foes.
Looks forth as though its calm, clear light,
Xo shadow ever knows.
Still, still the same, in youth or age,
All hail from thy far pilgrimage '
And is this he whose clarion voice
Rang cut long years ago.
With thoughts that burned and words that
His own and country's foes?
In years when my n<>w peopled realm
No human sound awoke.
Save «ben from some grim ambushed rock
The deadly war-whoop broke:
<>r savage shout, or stealthy tread,
Stirred in the sullen wold ?
Yes, he is cine iif th'ise whose might
Gave t" our age its mould.
Whose high and eloquent maud.
Reared empires in this forest land.
And is ibis he who thriee^vent forth
( lharged with a nation*- weal.
THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
'J'h dictate peace in Kingly halls
And bush wars horrid peal?
Yes. this is he. New England's sage,
With intellect whose scope
:i the farthest goal of mind
Where human thought can cope
Ami still though Age has looked on him.
His mind has never yet waxed dim.
And is this he whose hand hath strung
With master skill the lyre,
And poured its living chord- along
I'lic bard's impassioned fire?
Who sane of vanquished Erin's Kings,
A lay of olden time.
When Ocean's Emerald Isle was won
H\ Albion's art and crime.
And Treachery's arm laid waste her land
With Rapine's torch and Murder's brand ?
But numbers sweeter thence aspire
When gentler themes commove.
<)r in bereaved Affection's hour
Consoling Mother love :
Or waking strains for Beauty's bower,
Of merry note and kindly power.
Still through the mists of Time his eye
Reveals it< minstrel fire;
And still the founts that inly lie
The Old Man's heart inspire.
Ami is this he whose name once filled
The land with its acclaim.
When by a shouting people home
To its high place of fame?
When he stood forth our Nation's head.
The guardian pilot of its helm.
By millions loved, by all obeyed,
The honored chieftain of our realm?
Yes, Statesman. Poet, Chieftain. Sage.
OHIO'S WELCOME TO ADAMS.
Stand bodied forth in thee.
1 1 igh Fame, from her empyreal urn.
lias poured her sunshine free
Upon that head, time-bleaehed and bare ;
Lo still its luster lingers there !
\nil is this he whom late we saw
Poisi il i - t longress Hall,
Where quaking hearts and craven tongues
Plotted the Old Man's fall,
And threat'ning voices clamored him;
All lion-like at bay.
Spurning the chains base hands had forged
On si ml and lip to fray,
While despots licicd\ struggled there
To ban and bar the free heart's prayer?
And lo ! a censure scroll appears.
Accursed each minion lip
Which stirred no) with (he breath of -corn.
\\ hen i hat foul damning scrip
Breathed out on air its ghost of Hate.
Aye, doubl] i ursed eai li one.
Whose recreant tongue would vi-it not.
Those who his ancient fame would blot.
With the heart's malison.
Yes, NdaiiH. when all hostile tongues
Which then maligned that fame.
Shall blacken in Oblivion's maw.
Th\ ever-living name
Will rise o'er their forgotten dust,
\ \ai ion's pndc. a People's trust.
Behold the man ! Yes he has come
'I'o consecrate that art
Which here would raise a dwelling place.
lie,- starry lore, plucked from the skies.
To guide man through their mysteries.
Magician, lav that hand of thine
1344 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
Upon yon quarried base,
And straight a pillared dome shall rise,
A tower of beauty in my skies.
From whose far-beaming face.
The firmamental night shall flee ;
And mighty Space all gorgeous lie,
In its unbosomed majesty.
Aye bid it rise, for it shall stand
A monument of thee :
And may its light abroad this land,
Be shed as true and well.
As ever, on thy country's shrine.
Thy mind's rich luster fell."
Public receptions with official addresses were rendered to
John Quincy Adams, at. Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton. Labanon,
Newark, and other cities through which he passed in the State, on
his way and return. He was met at Cincinnati by delegations
from St. Louis, Louisville, Frankfort and other cities uniting
visits from him, with a personal request from the home of his
friend, Henry ("'lav at Ashland, all which he declined for the
reason that the next session of Congress was very near, and he had
no time to spare for personal purposes and enjoyments, lie said
that he had traveled a thousand miles to perform a high duty and
had not turned from his route to visit any place.
In Cincinnati, be arrived al thi hotel -elected by the City for
his reception, the Henrie House, in the afternoon of Wednesday,
November 8th, where the Gazette of Thursday, described his ar-
rival and reception as follows:
"THE WELCOME."
"The booming of the cannon .it half past twelve o'clock, yes-
terday, announced the arrival of John Quincy Adams at Mount
Auburn, the beautiful village north of Cincinnati. Quickly the
word sped throughout our city, and as quickly our citizens gath-
ered in front of the Henne Bouse where he was to he welcomed by
the Mayor of the city. This area was filled earlv. and. as the
ADAMS AT CINCINNATI. 1345
gathered throng, which followed him from the corporation line,
poured into it. the dense mass Looked like a sea of human beings.
At half past one,.Mr. Adams reached the Eenrie House, and soon
after appeared on the balcony, when the welkin rani: with the shouts
of welcome! The Mayor, Henry E. Spencer, then addressed Mr.
Adams. The effort was a happj one, A native of the s'xl, and
familiar with the growth of the west, he referred — eloquently re-
ferred — lo its past progress and its present advancement.
"•The Mayors address was received most enthusiastically; when
the applause subsided, Mr. Adams spoke in reply as follows, in a
manner characteristic of all true greatness — with simplicity, direct-
ness, ami earnestness. His heart was full, lie felt what he aid,
and others felt for and with him. More especially was this the
ease when he replied to the Mayor's allusion to his venerated
father, in tones and language so tonchingly eloquent it pro-
duced a thrill in the mighty multitude, and in nothing was their
sympathy so strongly expressed, as in the deep stillness which
reigned while he thus spoke:
••Ml,'. MAYOE AND FELLOW CITIZENS:
I have lived a long life, public and private, during three
fourths of which I have been witness to the birth, the rise, and the
progress, of a people, over that which I first kne\* to be a wilder-
ness, and which lia^ already b me what might now be termed
an empire. I have known the territory which now constit
State of Ohio, as a wilderness, in possession of the savs :
original proprietors of the country. Fiftj years have passed
:i«a\ ince the tear.- streamed Erom my eyes at the loss of dear
bosom friends, upon a field which now constitutes part of your flour-
ishing State. [ have seen in the sequel of that transaction, the men
of that savage race has performed, subdued by the superior disci-
pline, education, religion and military power ofmj countn I
subsequenl to that, -ecu the establishment, by the Revolutionary
Congress of the Tinted States, of the North Wesl Territory. And
there, with a joy which has never ye\ forsaken m\ bosom, 1 have
seen implanted the race who have declared unto their posterity,
1346 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
through all the lapse of time, thai neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude shall exist in that territory. I have seen that principle
implanted in the elementary principles of your existence as a
State. Under the provision of that principle of the ordinance for
the government of the North Wesl Territory. I have seen the State
of Ohio spring into life. On the same day in which it was my for-
tune to enter (lie Senate of the l r niteil Stag's, as a Represental ive of
one of the eldest original States of tins Union, on that same day
I took by the hand two members of the Senate of the United
Slates from the State of Ohio. From that time forward, a space
of m years, I have witnessed the growth of that State. And in
the vicissitudes of human life, and making allowance for the im-
perfections which belong to human nature, in the light of those
principles which I hope may never ho eradicated from the bosom
of man. 1 have seen the people of the State of Ohio, nut always
right, l>ut always intending to be right, and always advancing in
prosperity, in happiness, in virtue, and everything that can give
glory to a people. All this T have seen without indulging the
hope of ever personally witnessing Iter progress, or her territory
itself. Tt is so far distant from the place of my nativity — there
was so little occasion to call me here — occupations numerous and
oppressive made it so improbable that it would ever be in im power,
that r had always believed 1 should be able only to admire at a dis-
tance, and not come to the enjoyment of personal observation.
"In the course of the last summer, being on an excursion
some distance from my own State, one of youT immediate fellow-
citizens came to me with an invitation from a society formed in
the bosom of your city, for the erection of a building, to he dedi-
cated and devoted to the purpose of human improvement by the ac-
quisition of knowledge in tin 1 lirmamont over our heads: the so-
ciety of which he was a member having passed resolutions inviting
mi' to come and take pari with them, in laying the foundation of
that building which 1 hoped would tend to the improvement of the
condition of man on earth. On receiving that imitation, all diffi-
culties and objections vanished from my mind. 1 could not pos-
sibly refuse. Every obstruction in the way vanished before a hope
that T should be permitted to take part in a stop which 1 believed
ADAMS' ADDRESS. 1347
would tend to the advance nt of knowledge upon earth, and the
glory of my country. 1 have c among you, fellow-citizens, on
that account, but in coming here, little did I expect to meet a mul-
titude like this now before me. Little did 1 expect the mark of
respect which your Mayor has done me the honor to show in your
name. The purpose for which t came annum- you is not yet ac-
complished; but before the sun of tomorrow shall go down in the
West, 1 hope it will be. And for myself, permit me to say, if 1
should not live to see the light of another day, there ivould be none
more glorious on which to die.
"Allusion has been made, fellow-ctizens, not only to the ser-
vices, which with good intentions, it has been my fortune to be-
stow- on you, as a portion of the country, but also to those which
of the Legislature of the territory north west of the river Ohio,
they formally and solemnly acknowledged the services which he
had rendered to this Union and to them, by refusing the proposi-
tion of the British Commissioner for the negotiation of a peace,
which would have bounded the territory of the United State- upon
the Ohio.
"Fellow-citizens, any testimony of regard from my country-
men, for any services ever rendered by myself, touches my heart
in a manner which never can be forgotten. But to that which
refers to the services of my father, any thing which regards myself
is. in the comparison, as dust in the balance. I know it is true —
from the lips of my father I heard it more than once, that the
greatest enjoymenl of his lif,. was tHe acknowledgement by Ohio
of the services he had rendered on that occasion. With regard to
my services, I trust, fellow-citizens, thai they are not yet entirely
concluded. I .-till entertain a hope, from the disposition which
my fellow-citizens of the Congressional district to which 1 belong,
have shown to place me as their sentinel upon the watch tower of
the Constitution, that it may yet be in m\ power to render some
slight service to them and to von. Bui whatever that may be —
whether or not m\ services may hereafter be of any importance to
them or \ou - the remembram f your kindness to me. this day,
will remain with me till the last drop of blood shall cease to cir-
1348 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
culate in my heart. And with this I trust you will permit me to
add my prayer to Almighty God, for his blessing upon you and
your posterity so long as time shall last."
•'Warm was the greeting of the | pie when Mr. Adam- con-
cluded! Hearty and enthusiastic his reception! One deafening
shout spoke out their joy and the honesty of their welcome! Tin'
■lay was fine and the welcome to the venerable patriot was a
glorious one. marked by the deepest enthusiasm, and unattended
by anv untoward event, calculated to mar the happiness of the oc-
casion."
LAYING THE CORNER-STONE.
The Cincinnati Chronicle of Friday November 10th, contained
the following account of laying the Corner-St I' the Observa-
tory < 'ii t lio day before :
"Though the day pr ised line weather yesterday.
at sunrise, the echoes of the cannon iiad hardly died away, before
the clouds began to pour down rain, which continued during the
forenoon. Notwithstanding this, the procession was formed ac-
cording to the programme, and proceeded, accompanied by an im-
mense concourse of people to the Observatory hill, where the im-
portant ceremony of laying the Corner-Stone was performed. The
procession was formed on Broadway, and moved down Broadway
to Front, down Front to Main, up Main to Sixth Street, and easl
on Sixth Street to the iVFAdamized road of the Observatory, and
from there to the summit of the hill.' Notwithstanding the in-
clemency of tlio day. the procession was. on the whole, the best one
we ha 1 i seen in Cincinnati. The Military wo never saw to better
advantage. TheiT appearance and discipline were both good.
The Astronomical Society turned out well. and. we should think,
numbered three or four hundred members, thus demonstrating the
truly republican principle on which this Scientific association was
formed. \- tin. lonp array passed through the streets, it was
surrounded by a vastly greater assemblage, which tilled the side
wall.:-, and windows of the houses. As we moved through Main
Streei. it seemed as if even store and building had been crowded
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE. 1349
chiefly with ladies, who showed their smiling face- through the
windows. A white streamer stretched across Sixth Street on which
was inscribed "John Quincy Adam-, the Defender of the Rights
of Man."
■•When ihc procession reached the McAdam road whiehaseends
the hill, they saw long roads of carriages and footmen ascending,
and great numbers of persons who had already reached the sum-
mit, standing on the brow of the hill. When the train entered the
encL sure, the military opened ranks, and the order was inverted.
The Board of Control, followed by Mr. Adams and suite, entered
first, and proceeded to the platform erected on the stand from
which the speech would be delivered. At this period the ram
poured down heavily, and Judge Burnett. President of the So-
ciety, announced to the audience, that the deliver; of the d
prepared by Mr. Adams for the occasion, would be postponed to
this dav. in Wesley Chapel, and that the ceremony of laying the
Corner-Stone only, would be performed: Air. Adams then
descended to the spot selected as the site of the Corner-Stone,
which was formally laid. Under the Corner-Stone was deposited
a number of documents. Mr. Adams made remarks appropriate
to the occasion, which formed, we believe, the last paragraphs of
his regular address; but that being postponed, and hoping to favor
our readers with the whole, we shall attempt no regular report of
thi fragment. At the close Mr. Adams made this remark, 'that
"Here in a State where, from the Lakes to the Ohio, were exhibited
the evidences of growth, liberty, education, refinement, and vir-
lispositions, he had come, and we ^cro assembled to lay the
foundations of a building devoted to Science, devoted to the con-
'ii of the starry Heavens. Here, at least, would arise one
Light House of the Skies! Fro,,, the St. John to the Sabine—
from the hills of Neversink to the Columbia River, there was no*
one Observatory, unless one erected by foreign money. Here at
least, wc were assembled to lay the foundation of one which we
m i-j lit hope would aid in tin- cause of Science am! Improvement
in after ages. This duty I now proceed to perfoT
"'This Corner Stone I new lav in the United States of North
America, in the State of Ohio, in thi- City of Cincinnati, on the
1350 THE FIRELANDS PiONEER.
9th day of STovember, 1843. Ami now I ask a blessing from
Heaven on the Observatory and Members of this Society, on the
P, .pi, of this City, of this State, and these United Stair- of
North America."
"The Procession then returned to the City and the ceremonies
of the day were closed. At about half pasi seven P. M., a Torch
Light Procession of the thim Associations and fifteen hundred
Firemen of the City moved through the streets to a poinl where,
Mr. Adam- was received and escorted to the Ladies' Temperance
Tea Party. The night was dark and damp so that the lights pro-
duced the utmost possible effect. Not less than two thousand per-
sons were assembled outside ami inside of the grounds when Mr.
Adams entered, and as ho ascended the steps, one long and spon-
taneous cheer rang through the air."
A- described by the pro-- reporters, although in his 76th year,
lie appeared to be in full possession of his intellectual faculties,
in excellent health, the crown of his head bald and shining, and
in the words of the Poem, radiant with the sunshine "I' Fame,
"Lo still its luster lingers then!" John Quincy Adams was born
in Quincy, (formerly Braintree. the birthplace of Ids father John
Adams, of John Hancock, ami other distinguished patriots), on
July 11. 1767. Me graduated at Harvard University in 1788, ami
was admitted to tin 1 law profession in 1791. From 1794 to 1791
he was United States Minister to Holland, and from 1797 to 1801,
Minister to Prussia. From 1803 to 1808, he was United States
Senator from Massachusetts. In 1809 he was Minister to Russia,
and in 1814 Minister to England. From 1817 to 1825, he was
Secretary of Stale under President Monroe. In 1825 to 1829, he
was President of the Cnited States. In the Plymouth Didrict of
Massachusetts where he lived, he was elected Representative to
Congress in 1830 ami there continuously re-elected until his death
which occurred at hi- post of duty in the Capitol at Washington,
en February 23, is is. He "a- one of the Commissioners who
negotiated the Treaty of Ghent.
The persona] Diary of John Quincy Adams carefully continued
by him throughout hi- public life, filled many volumes, and .- a
compendium of many important events in his own history ami that
ADAMS IN CONGRESS. 1351
of the nation, li appears Erom this, that in September, 1830, a
prominenl citizen came to him with the suggestion that he might,
if he wished, be elected from the Plymouth, Massachusetts dis
triet, to the National House of Representatives in Congress. This
acceptance of the position, the citizen said, "instead of degrading
the individual would elevate the representative character."'
To this Mr. Adam- replied, that he "had in that respea uo
scruple whatever. No person could be degraded by serving the
people as a Representative in Congress. Norin his opinion would
an E.\-Presiden1 of the [Jnited States be degraded by serving as a
Selectman of his town, if elected thereto by the people." This
fa. t being known, his election resulted by a vote for him of 181?
out id" 2565 votes then east. This was repeated through the period
<d' about sixteen years to his death, lie took his seat in the House
a- a member of the twenty-second Congress, in December L831.
Although a National Republican in Party, (afterwards named
Win- i. he disclaimed all partisan connection, and declared him-
self independent in polities. He served as chairman of the Com
on Manufactures and Foreign Affairs, and in other im-
portant positions of that body. One <>( his first art- there was to
present fifteen petitions signed by many citizens of Pennsylvania,
l'<>r the abolition of Slavery and the Slave-trade in the Districl of
Columbia, which on his motion \\ n s referred to the Conunitte i
the District of Columbia. This was followed by thousands of
petitions through the sixteen years, signed by hundreds of
thousands of the people, causing discussions, which the friends >'\'
Negro Slavery attempted to suppress by many artifices, parli-
amentary threats and persecutions, opposed by wonderful per-
severance, and frequent success, which formed a continuous con
tliet throughout hi- Congressional career for the rights of Free
Petition, Free Speech and free I'ro- . on the Sla\erv question.
On May is. L836; a resolution was adopted by a rate of it:
to 68, requiring that "all petition-, memorials, resolution- or
papers relating in any way or to any extent whatsoever, to the
subject of slaven <>v the abolition of slavery, shall, without being
cither printed or referred, lie laid upon the table; and that no
further action whatever -hall he had l hereon." Mr. Adams, when
1352 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
his name was called rose and said "I hold the resolution to he
a direct violation of the Constitution of the United Stan-, the
rules of tins House, and the rights of my constituents." This
was enforced as a standing ride of the House and regularly in
each new Congress, was met by the motion of Adams, for many
years, to rescind it. which was voted down as a matter of course.
It. however, made up the issue of Slavery against the people, on
which Lincoln was elected first to Congress, and afterwards to the
Presidenc} of the Nation. The sound of the slave-drivers whip
over the heads of their Representatives and Senator- in Congress,
recoiled in thunder votes from the ballot boxes of the North,
"(Jans- T)ciis rult pfirdore, /iritis rfrmentat." Motion- and resolu-
tions were presented by pro-slavery members to remove Adams
as chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, to in-
flict on him a censure from the speaker in the presence of the
House, and to expel him from his seat as a member of the House
in Congress. To them all he answered, "I defy them. I have
constituents to go to who will have something to say if this House
axpels me. Nor will it be long before the gentlemen will see
me here again." Those personal attacks on Adams only resulted
in his honor, and his active enemies in several instances after-
wards became his eulogists and friends. In the year after his
return from Ohio, on December ■">. 1844, he made his usual motion
to strike mtt the House rule which forbade the reception and con-
sideration of Anti-Slavery petitions, and called for the yeas and
nays. A motion was made a- usual to lay his motion on tic table,
and upon that the question taken by yeas and nays, resulted 104
in his favor against SI. and his motion was not laid on the table.
The question then put upon it resulted in 108 against 80; and
he wrote in his diary, for that day, the record of his victory with
the words. "Blessed, forever blessed, be the name of God." The
next week anti-slavery petitions were received and referred p. the
Committee on the District of Columbia. Bu1 crowned with this
victory for the glorious Righl of Petition, hi- life was near it-
end. On November 19, he was struck by paralysis when, in the
city of Boston.
DEATH OF ADAMS. 1353
Morse in bis biography of John Quincy Adams, (pages
308-9), says:
"He recovered from the attack however, sufficiently to resume
his duties iii Washington some three months later. His reappear-
ance in the House was marked by a pleasing- incident; all the
members rose, together; business was for the moment suspended;
his old accustomed seat was at once surrendered to him by the
gentleman to whom it had fallen in the allotment, and he was
formally conducted to it by two members. After this, though
punctual in attendance, he only once took part in debate.
On February 21, 1848, he appeared in his seat as usual. At
half-past one in the afternoon, the Speaker was rising to put a
question, when he was suddenly interrupted b\ cries of "Stop!
Slop! Mr. Adams!" Si. me gentleman near -Mr. Adams had
thought that he was striving t«. rise to address the Speaker, when
in an instant he fell over insensible. The members thronged
around him in great confusion. The House hastily adjourned, lie
was placed on a sofa and removed first to the hall of the rotunda,
and then to the Speaker's room. Medical men were in attendance
but could I f in. service in the presence of death. The stern
old lighter lav dying almost on the very field of so many battles
and in the very tracks in which he had so often stood erect and
unconquerable, taking and dealing so many mighty blows.
"Late in the afternoon some inarticulate mutterings were con-
strued into the words, "•thank the officers of the House." Soon
again he said intelligibly, "This is the last of Earth! I am run-
tent!" It was his extreme utterance. He lav thereafter uncon-
scious, till the evening of the 23d, when he passed quietly away,
lie lies buried under the portal of the church at Quincy beside
his wife, who survived him four years."
In the year 1825, when John Quincy Adams was President of
the United States, the first Railroad in the whole North and South
American continent, was projected by Gridley Bryant, and con-
structed from the Citv of Quincy, four miles in length to the near-
est tide-water at the Atlantic Ocean, by steam power, on iron rails.
This was done by the enterprise of John and John Quincy Adam-.
co-operating with other citizens there. The power of steam had
1354 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
been employed before this, i q rivers, in the yeai 1818 on the
Great Lakes, and across the Atlantii Ocean to Liverpool, in the
year 1819. Robert Fulton had used H on a steamboal in the year
it had not befon the Quincy Railroad been so employed
on roa ; - l R -:< ; in history, was begun in the year
182" , at somi - i Penns; Ivania, to thi Lehigh Rii er.
Stephen.*! motive proved a success in the year 1829; but
the next Mar there were only twenty-three railroads operating in
all the United State-. The Quincy Railroad was the first move-
ment in history, to connect the two Oceans, Atlantic and Pacific,
beginning with thai first link of four miles and followed by lines
from various points, extending arm-- the Continent, under the
eanic system now being repeated 1>\ our Government at
Panama. In all enterprises of City, State, or Nation, the two
Adams, father and son, wen- conspicuous leaders during their
lives, giving their influence and efforts of head, heart and hand, for
promoting the public good. Now that little road of four miles.
has multiplied into a massive system of hundreds of thousands of
n this continent, of which the United States holds more
than half of all in the world. The City of Quincy was so named
from Josiah Quincy an eminenl patriol of the American Revolu-
tion.
As a writeT and orator John Quincy Adams, when eighty years
of age, was no! less potent than before. He was known as "'The
Old Man Eloquent." lie was still the powerful advocate of many
great national reforms. He was a member of President Monroe's
Cabinet as Secretary of State. He there advocated the full poli-
tical independence of all the South American continent and people.
arid the resull then was, the so-called -Monroe Doctrine, in their
favor against all the encroaching powers of Europe. When he suc-
Monroe in the presidency, he further advocated the Pan-
American Union, including the total abolition of the African
Slave-Trade. He largely influenced the Supreme Court of the
United States in its decision of the Amistad African Slave case,
holding thai black captives had the right to rise on their kidnap-
pers, when taken from a foreign country where they were free men,
and no! bound b\ treaties with Spain. He also, as President, Sena-
HIS POLICIES. 1355
tor in Congress, and Secretary of State, asserted the religious free-
dom of all the people. He denounced the Holy Alliance of
European rulers against the freedom of American citizens of all
states, races, and religions. In one of his Presidential Messages
to the Senate, he said:
"The Congress of Panama is believed to present a fair"
"occasion for urging upon all the new nations of the"
"South, the just and liberal principles of religious'*
"liberty; not by any interference whatever in their in-"
"ternal concerns, but by claiming for our citizens whose"
"occupations or interests may call them to occasional"
"residence in their territories, the inestimable privilege"
"of worshipping their Creator according to the dictates"
"of their own consciences."
In his famous address at New York, on "The Jubilee of the
Constitution," at its fiftieth anniversary, he asserted the integrity
of the Union against the doctrine of State rights. Then first ut-
tered by the Southern Slave Power, John Quincy Adams.
"The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution"
"of the United States are parts of one consistent whole."
"founded upon one and the same theory of government,"
"then new not as a theory, for it had been working itself"
"into the mind of man for many ages and been especially"
"expounded in the writing of Locke, but had never be-"
"fore been adopted by a great nation in practice. The"
"grossly immoral and dishonest doctrine of despotic"
"-tnte sovereignty, the exclusive judge of its own obli-"
"gallons, and responsible to no power on earth or in"
"heaven for the violation of them, is not there. The"
"Declaration says, "it is uo1 in me. The Constitution"
"-ays "It is not in me.' 5
This was the issue fought out main years after, between the
forces of Grant and Lee, and decided for Liberty and the fjnion
on 'this platform of the Declaration and the Constitution, one and
inseparable, as proclaimed by Adam over eighty years ago.
Hi.' was also an anient advocate and exemplar of the i.nti-Rum
Reform. With most of the ex-Presidents of the United States al
1356 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
that time, lie signed the following Presidential Protest against the
traffic and use of anient spirits, then the common form of Rum.
"Being satisfied from observation and experience, as well"
"as from medical testimony, that ardent spirits, as a"
"drink, is not only needless, hut hurtful: and that entire''
•'disuse of it would tend to promote the health, the virtue"
"and the happiness of the community. We hereby ex-"
"press our conviction that, should the citizens of the"
"United States, and especially all young men, discon-"
"tinue the use of it, they would not only promote their"
"own persona] benefit, hut the good of the country and"
"the worhl/'
In a public address at his native place of Quincy, he said to
Ins fellow citizens:
"1 regard the Temperance movement id' the present day"
"a- one id the most remarkable phenomena of the human"
" race, operating simultaneously in every part of the"
"world for the reformation of a vice often solitary in"
"itself, hut as infectious in its nature as the smallpox, or"
"the plague, combining all the ill of war. pestilence and"
"famine. Among those who have fallen by intemperance"
"are many respected fur their talents and worth and"
"exalted anione' their neighbors and countrymen."
John Quincy Adams with members of Congress, formed and
for manv years vigorously sustained, a Total Abstinence Society in
that body, against the use of Ardent Spirits, which exerted a great
influence on legislation there and throughout the nation, against
the destroving evil. Ho gave a cordial welcome and support to
Temperance Evangelist Father Theobald
orld-workers in the cause. In the great up-
llions in the Baltimore Washingtonian movemnt,
■ranee Societies he was an active and
crown of transcendent glory to both
icy Adams, that thus more than eighf\
Anti-Slavery and Anti-Rum reform.
Mil. hut the other i- Net at the apex of
the emiiii
Matthew
■lit (';
itholic
ther wi
rising of
the n
dllions
and othc
nized
earnesl f
uppori
or. Ii
John Adt
mis ai
id Jobi
years agi
i, they
stood
the lion-1
eaders
t of bo
Now the
one gj
ant evi
ADAMS AND THE TEMPERANCE REFORM. 1357
its infancy. The most melancholy of all the results of the great
civil war of 1801 was the suspension of the Temperance Reform
and as a consequence, the prodigious increase of the Rum curse,
permeating all departments of the body social and politic.
While he and bis father before him, occupied the White Eouse
at Washington, they strictly inhibited ardent-spirits from its tables,
and made the President's home sacred to Temperance, as a cardinal
virtue of the nation. They caused laws to be enacted largely pro-
tecting the Indiantribes, the District of Columbia,and all the Ter-
ritories of the Republic, from the poisonous and debasing effects
of Alcohol. This continued with all the Presidents, until Andrew
Johnson was made President by the hands of a drunken assassin.
Since then, except the <>ne term of Rutherford B. Hayes, the White
House has been a palace of the Rum Power, social and political,
inviting to its feasts the Rum representatives of all nations; and
the chief financial income of om- government has come to it from
the red hands of rum-murder.
The most melancholy of all the results of the great civil war
is the suspension of the Temprance Reform, and hence, the pro-
digious increase of the Rum Traffic. But notwithstanding the
black war clouds that so long impended over us, the rainbow of
hope is again in our skies. In this twentieth Christ century, there
are hopeful signs of a grand resurrection of the Temperance Re
form in the organized action of Christian Women throughout the
world; in the rapid union of patriots b] the million, at the ballot
box; and the voice of a vast majority of the people of all nations,
races and religions, no\\- =o loudly pronounced against the Rum
Power, as the crime of crimes, the shame of civilization, and the
evil above all other evils, demanding its total prohibition. The
voices of John Adams and John Quincy Adams a- from their
graves against it. will be beard ami obeyed, for tin: salvation of our
< ni n and the world.
Some Relics and Reminiscences of the
Fifty-Fifth Ohio Infantry.
BY HARTWELL OSBORN.
"Happy is the man who recalls his ancestors with pride, who
treasures the story of their greatness, tells the tale of their
heroic lives, and with joy too full for speech realizes that late
has linked him with a race of goodly men." — Goethe.
The future historian who shall turn the pages of the Fire-
lands Pioneer will be interested in those which record the great
uprising of the loyal people of the North to defend the existence
of the Union.
In preparing a history of the Fifty-fifth Regiment of Ohio
Volunteer Infantry a number of original documents were dis-
covered, some of which were of value as historical matter both
to the historian and the genealogist. In order to preserve these
for future use this paper is written.
The original papers are numbered and will be safely placed
in the Archives of the Firelands Historical Society in Norwalk,
where the descendants of those who toiled to make the state and
of those who fought to preserve it may read the story of those
painful but glorious days.
True history is made out of such original documents as these,
which, although of minor interest in our day may become the
prized treasures of the future.
Upon April 12. 1861, the guns of Fort Sumter woke the
nation to action, and President Lincoln called for seventy-five
thousand men. The fatal field of Bull Run upon July 21, 1861,
announced to the people of the North the magnitude of the.
struggle — and the President called for five hundred thousand
men.
In response to this call the Fifty-Fifth Ohio was organized.
1360 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
In this connection it is interesting to note the following
letter :
(Original No. 1.)
War Department, Washington. July 27. 1861.
Col, Geo. H. Safford, Norwalk, Ohio.
Sir: The regiment of infantry which you offer is accepted
provided you have it ready for marching orders in thirty days.
This acceptance is with the distinct understanding' that this de-
partment will revoke the commissions of all officers who may be
found incompetent for the proper discharge of their duties.
You will promptly advise Adjutant General Thomas at
Washington the date at which your men will be ready for muster-
ing and he will detail an officer for that purpose.
By order of the Secretary of War,
James Lesley. Jr..
Chief Clerk, War Department.
Upon the same date Hon. Sainl. T. Worcester, M. O, wrote
Col. Safford from Washington as follows:
(Original No. 2.)
Washington, July 27. 1861.
Geo. H. Safford. Esq.
Dear Sir: I called at the War Department this morning
and obtained the enclosed order which I now forward to you. I
had seen Mr. Cameron in regard to it the evening previous. You
will of course determine for yourself whether you will be able
to comply with the conditions of the order by having the regiment
organized and ready for acceptance in thirty days. Many regi-
ments are at this time now being offered and it would seem to
me according to present indications that all would be very sure
to be tendered, within the next thirty days which the Government
will be able or willing to accept. But I leave the whole matter
to your .judgment and discretion.
Very truly yours,
Samuel T. Worcester.
P. S. — In your letter to me you said nothing in respect to
yourself or anyone else being appointed Colonel, and your name
REMINISCENCES 1361
being put in the order need make no difference. The name of
any one else as I suppose may be substituted for yours, if you
wish to have it done, and when the regiment is organized any
one as I suppose upon whom the officers can agree will hold the
office of commander of the regiment. The order I have sent you
is as I understand it the usual form of such orders in like cases.
For any instructions that you may need I suppose that Adjutant
General Thomas will be the proper channel of communication.
Col. Safford upon August 25th was preparing for a visit
to Columbus to interview Governor Dennison, as is evident from
the following:
(Original No. 3.)
Norwalk, August 25, 1861.
Hon. Wm. Dennison.
Bear Sir: The bearer of this, Geo. H. Safford, Esq., my
friend and Townsman, visits Columbus at this time to confer
with you in respect to the enlisting and organizing a volunteer
regiment of infantry in Huron county, and its vicinity. He
will submit to you a list of the names of Field Officers whom he
desires to have appointed with the testimonials in their favor to
which I beg leave to call your attention. Mr. Safford will per-
sonally explain to you his plans and prospects in respect to the
enterprise and I commend him to your confidence as a gentleman
earnestly engaged in the cause in which he is enlisted and in
whose statements you may fully confide. Hoping you may look
upon his application and efforts with favor, I remain.
Yours faithfully,
Samuel T. Worcester.
It is evident that the citizens of Norwalk were deeply inter-
ested in the plan of raising the regiment, for Col. Safford carried
with him tn Columbus not only Judge Worcester's letter to
Governor Dennison, but he also carried the following petition
to the Governor which contains the names of some of Hie most
prominent residents of the village.
1362 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
(Original No. 4.)
To His Excellency Gov. Denison :
The undersigned citizens of Huron county respectfully
recommend to your Excellency the appointment of A. G. Sutton
as Colonel, Geo. H. Safford as Lieut. Colonel, and Calvin Carr
as Major in a regiment, of Infantry to be raised in Huron and
Erie counties and vicinity. We have full confidence in saying
that, the above named are men of patriotism, honor and ability,
and possess the necessary requisites to entitle them to said ap-
pointment. The undersigned would further represent that un-
der said appointments a regiment would soon be raised and ready
for active duty. The undersigned would further request your
Excellency to authorize the establishment of a camp at or near
Norwalk, Ohio, being of opinion that said camp ran be estab-
lished and said regiment organized and filled for active duty
with as little if not less expense to the state than would be in-
curred by sending them to other camps.
J. F. Dewey, Treasurer Huron Co., G. M. Cleveland. Sheriff
Huron Co.. I. S. Coe, P. M. at Norwalk, Asa K. Billyer, Geo. Q.
Adams. Probate Judge, -James Brown, Recorder of Huron Co.,
J. C. Curtis, Jr., Clerk II. C. P.. H. Beardsley. J. Beardsley,
Jos. M. Parr, W. 0. Parker, Samuel T. Worcester, R. T. Rust.
Justice Peace, E. A. Pray, Justice of the Peace, John Kennan,
C. S. Parker, F. A. Wildman, 0. Jenney.
The omission from the above paper of Charles L. Boalt is ac-
counted for by the following letter which is characteristic of the
writer, showing his intense interest in the movement and his
ardent desire for its success :
.(Original No. 5.)
Norwalk. 0., August 26, 1861.
Gov. Dennison :
A petition was presented to me this morning for signature
asking you to authorize the raising of a Regiment with .Mr. A.
G. Sutton as Colonel. Geo. Safford, Lieut, Colonel, and Mr. Carr
as Major.
With the last named gentleman who resides at Sandusky
City I have no acquaintance personally. All speak well of him.
REMINISCENCES 1363
As to the two former I would very willingly have signed the
petition but for the fact that I think the age and infirmity of
Mr. Sutton preclude the probability that he has the physical
ability to endure the hardships of actual service. He was in the
Mexican War and all accounts give him great credit for his
conduct and bravery. From what Mr. Safford tells me I pre-
sume the main object in putting forward his name was the aid
it will be in raising the Regiment and that he does not contem-
plate qualifying.
I deemed it proper to make this explanation rather than
sign the petition.
Very respectfully,
C. L. Boalt.
Other citizens were deeply interested in this movement as
the following letter, dated August 26th, indicates:
(Original No. 6.)
Sandusky, August 2ii, 18(51.
Geo. H. Safford. Esq.
Mi) Dear Sir: I am glad to learn that you are engaged in
raising a regiment for the war, and I earnestly hope you will
meet with complete success.
I do not know much of the modus operandi, and am
not fully informed as to your plans, but I suppose it is necessary
that a Colonel be appointed in the first instance. In my opinion
you ought to receive and ought to aca /</ thai appointment your-
self. I am impressed with the belief that you will succeed in
raising your men better in thai way than in any other which
has been suggested; and knowing your capacity and energy I
am prepared earnestly to recommend your appointment,
I am well acquainted with Mr. Can 1 . You will find him to be
a man of decided energy and activity and always faithful and
true, lie will make an excellenl officer.
Yours truly.
W. P. Stum:.
1364 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
The result of Col. Safford's visit to Governor Dennison at
Columbus is seen in a copy of General Order No. 51, Adjutant
General's office, dated August 31, 1861.
(Original No. 7.)
I do solemnly swear that I will bear true
allegiance to the United States of America and the State of
Ohio, that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all
their enemies or opposers whatsoever, and observe and obey the
orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of
the officers appointed over me, according to the niles and articles
for the government of the armies of the United States. So help
me God.
Attest :
HEAD QUARTERS, OHIO MILITIA.
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE.
Columbus , 1861.
Sir: ....
Yours of is received.
Enclosed please find authority for recruiting a Company.
It is important that no time shall be lost in filling it up to the
full numbers. It is to be regretted that the quota of Ohio is not
more rapidly supplied. With a vigilant and active enemy we
must be prompt.
Should you tail in the attempt to recruit a full Company
within the time, communicate to this office your progress, and
let it be then determined whether it is best to continue the at-
tempt or unite the men recruited with some other Company. Do
not permit the labor expended in recruiting to be lost in the vain
desire to command a Company. Be careful to avoid any rivalry
with others who may be recruiting in the same neighborhood.
Remember that it is of the first importance that all who are
willing to enlist shall be secured to the service. That man is
little better than a traitor who permits his selfish ambition to
interfere with the increase of the army. Have such men as are
willing to enlist, though your Company be not made up. mustered
into the service.
REMINISCENCES 1365
When fifty men are recruited, they may be mustered as the
nucleus of a Company, and a First Lieutenant may be mustered
with them. He may be afterwards chosen and commissioned
as Captain. The Captain and Second Lieutenant are mustered
when the Company is full.
For obvious reasons, no subsistence can be allowed while
recruiting. The Government allows transportation and subsist-
ence when the Company is started for camp, and not before. Men
who cannot support themselves, may be sent into camp, mus-
tered into service, and then subsisted.
There are in a Company of Infantry, 1 Captain, 1 First
Lieutenant, 1 Second Lieutenant, 1 First Sergeant, 4 Sergeants,
8 Corporals, 2 Musicians, 1 Wagoner, and not less than 64, nor
more than 82 Privates.
Make report of progress as often as once in each week to
this office.
Certificates of Transportation to be only used for forward-
ing recruits into camp.
Respectfully, your obd't Servant,
Adjutant General.
HEAD QUARTERS, OHIO MILITIA.
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE.
Columbus, August 31, 1861.
General Order No. 51.
Great injury is done to the recruiting service in Ohio, by
the attempts of unauthorized parties to enlist volunteers. This
injury is augmented by the efforts of those who are duly author-
ized, to raise too many companies in the same neighborhood.
The result is that many fractions of companies are formed
and none completed, competition becomes violent, angry feelings
excited, until (lie strife ends in an entire and permanent de-
moralization. All good citizens are invoked to prevent tlii.s dis-
astrous competition, ami exert their influence to harmonize and
1366 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
consolidate into full and effective companies all the patriotic
men disposed to serve their country.
Immediate information of all unauthorized proceedings of
this kind is earnestly solicited, with the names of the parties and
the facts in the case.
No one will be authorized to enlist companies of volunteers
without producing evidence of good moral character, and all
letters heretofore issued will be considered as cancelled on the
expiration of the time to which they are limited.
This Department desires it to be expressly understood, that
after a company is formed, and before it is mustered into service,
the members will have an opportunity of indicating their choice
of officers, and the choice will in all ordinary cases be approved
by the Governor of the State.
For the information and encouragement of those who desire
to enlist, the following conditions of the service are made known,
■ — all volunteers will be disbanded at the close of the war. Dur-
ing service, an allowance of $3.50 per month is made for cloth-
ing, and that which is supplied by the Government is of the
most durable kind, and at the lowest wholesale prices. Mounted
men can furnish their own horses and equipments, and receive
forty cents per day for the use and risk, or the Government will
furnish to them if desired.
Every volunteer who may be wounded or otherwise disabled
in the service, w-ill be entitled to the same benefits as are or may
be conferred on persons in the regular service. The widow or
legal heirs of such as die, or are killed in the service, will receive
their pay and allowances due, and the siun of one hundred dollars
in addition. Those enlisted men who serve for two years or dur-
ing' the war. are entitled, when discharged, to a bounty of one
hundred dollars.
Camps of rendezvous are established in various parts of the
State under the command usually of the Colonel of the Regiment
there organizing. Persons may proceed singly, or in squads, if
they choose, to any of these camps and select the company they
prefer to join, or unite with companies already forming in their
neighborhood for such regiments as they may choose to go into.
REMINISCENCES 1367
The Government provides transportation and subsistence after
leaving the place of enlistment.
No additional cavalry or artilery companies can be accepted
at this time, but there is pressing- need of all the Infantry com-
panies that can be recruited.
By order of the Commander-in-Chief,
C. P. Buckingham,
Adjutant General of Ohio.
In September arrangements were made to include companies
which were being' recruited in Seneca county, especially at
Tiffin. A letter from D. F. DeWolf (original No. 8) is an indica-
tion :
Tiffin, 0., September 5. 1861.
G. H. Safford, Esq., Norwalk, Ohio.
Bear Sir: Our regiment (49th Ohio Infy.) is nearly full.
But I think there are others who will be as willing to go if a
good staff can be got up. How are you doing? Please let me
know. How far have you got things settled upon? Have you
an order? Do you want a company from this region? Of
course we can do nothing until this regiment is off. But they
promise to be off on Monday or soon after, and by the time they
are off we want to know whether another company is needed in
our neighboring regiments.
Please let me know at once how far you have progressed
in your organization, etc., etc. I think and so do my friends
that a company can be raised here yet.
Very truly yours,
D. F. DeWolf.
Another offer to raise a company is indicated in a letter
from Z. Surles. (Original No. 9).
4 Corners. Huron ('<>., Sept. 17. 1861.
Col. Ceo. H. Safford.
Dear Sir: Do you want any assistance in raising your
Regiment, if so, send me an order to raise a company and it shall
be done.
Z. Suri.es.
1368 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Upon September 17, 1861, Col. Safford received a letter
from Frank C. Long (original No. 10) which illustrates the
interest which even the boys took in the war preparations:
Bellevne, September 17.
Dear Sir: If you want a drummer boy in your regiment I
will go. I am 4 feet 8y 2 inches high and thirteen years, one
month and eight days old and I can drum very well. I should
like to go very much and if you will take me send me word.
Frank C. Long.
One would like to know whether this patriotic boy succeeded
in his endeavor to serve his country.
Col. R. P. Buckland wrote Col. Safford on September 18th
introducing his nephew, Henry W. Buckland, who wished to
raise a company for the 55th Ohio. (Original No. 11).
Fremont Ohio, September 18, 1861.
Col. Geo. H. Safford, Esq., Norwalk, Ohio.
Dear Sir: This will be handed to you by my nephew,
Henry W. Buckland,* who wishes to consult you about raising
a company for your Regiment. Henry volunteered under the
three months' call and has paid considerable attention to military
matters. I can say for him that he is ah active energetic young
man.
Yours truly,
R. P. Buckland.
The following letter from C. B. Gambee of Bellevne illus-
trates the tribulations of a recruiting officer. (Original No. 12).
Bellevue, September 21. 1861.
Col. G. H. Safford.
Dear Sir: I met Mr. Marsh yesterday at Weaver's Corners,
he tells me that he has been to work since Tuesday and has not
got a man. the country is full of recruiting officers. I also saw
the other man (Sloan) that has been recruiting for me and he
is about discouraged.
*Henry W. Buckland served during the war in the 72d Ohio Vol.
Infy.
REMINISCENCES 1369
I tell you it is going to be pretty hard work to raise a com-
pany about this town. "When I last saw you, you spoke to me
about a friend of yours at Huron that wanted an order for rais-
ing a company. I wish you would write him immediately or
send him word to come and see me if he can get 25 or 30 men,
I can make an arrangement with him that would be satisfactory.
You will please write me by return mail, his name and the place
he lives. Major J. C. Lee speaks here this evening. Can't you
come over. Truly yours,
C. B. Gambee.
P. S. — I wish Gov. Dennison was obliged to recruit men, for
a week. I am satisfied the first hard woi*k he would do after
that would be to issue a proclamation of a draft.
C. B. G.
In spite of his forebodings Col. Gambee enlisted a full com-
pany and his company was the first to be mustered in as a com-
pany. (Original No. 13).
Col. Geo. II. Safford. Bellevue, September 28, 1861.
Dear Sir: I intend to go into camp on Monday next. Will
be there on the 10 o'clock train. Will probably have 60 or 70
men. If I need any farther instructions please write me by
return mail. Truly yours.
C. B. Gambee.
P. S. — Have you blankets provided for the boys.
Progress in enlisting men is indicated in a letter to Col.
Safford from Capt, Wood, mustering officer. (Original No. 14).
Toledo, Oct. 1, 1861.
Colonel :
I shall be in Norwalk Tuesday October 8th, to muster into
service such troops of the 55th Regiment as may be presented
to me. You will therefore collect all the men of your regiment
that you can and have them in camp mi thai day.
Respectfully.
E. Morgan Wood,
Capt. U. S. A.
1370 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Lieut, Col. Geo. H. Safford, 55th Regt, 0. V. U. S. A.
Norwalk, Ohio.
There is no evidence that Capt. "Wood mustered into service
any of the 55th Ohio. One of the original muster rolls of the
regiment dated Dee. 31. 1861, bears the signature of Capt.
Belknap of the 18th Regt. U. S. Infy. as mustering officer.
(This muster roll accompanies this paper.)
Upon October 10, 1861. Lieut. Col. Safford issued his Gen-
eral Order No. 1. (Original Xo. 15).
General Order Number One.
Headquarters 55th Reg. 0. V. I*. S. Army.
Camp McClelland, Oct. 10. 1861.
By command of Lieut, Col. G. H. Safford, D. F. DeWolf,
Adjutant.
No Colonel of this regiment, having reported for duty. Lieut.
Col. Safford hereby assumes command.
In entering upon the duties of the organization of this
regiment lie trusts that every individual of the command fully
appreciates the importance of observing the first duty of a
soldier: Obedience to command — without which there can be no
efficiency.
Cleanliness is next in importance and captains of companies
arc especially enjoined to see that the men under their charge
pay especial attention to the duty with this view — frequent in-
spection will be made to see that the request is complied with.
The hair will be kept short.
The officers are required to appear at all times in uniform
when on duty.
No member of the regiment, will be permitted to leave their
quarters until in camp, and after which time the camp except on
duty, without a written consent setting forth the necessity of
absence, signed by the company commander, countersigned by
the Col. or Adjutant, and with officer's verbal authority, for a
time less than twelve hours, when they must register their name
with the Adjutant when and time of return, in a book to be kept
for that purpose, for longer time the army regulations will be
strictly followed.
REMINISCENCES 1371
The attention of the regiment is called to the Articles of
War that will be read to them from time to time and especially
to those portions relating to desertion, profanity and drunken-
ness, the observance of the Sabbath. Officers are enjoined to
suppress all irregularities.
The following calls are established until further notice :
1st. Reville at 6 A. M.
2d. Breakfast, 6:30 to 7:30 A. M., alternating each day
with the several companies as assigned.
3rd. Drill at 8 A. M.
4th. Guard mounting at 8 :15 A. M.
5th. Recall at 9 A. M.
6th. Drill for officers, 2 P. M.
7th. Drill, 10 A. M.
8th. Recall, 11 :30 A. M.
9th. Dinner. 12 A. M. and 1 P. M.
10th. Drill, 3 P. M.
11th. Recall, 5 P. M.
12th. Supper, 5 and 6 P. M.
13th. Reville at sunset.
14th. Tatto, 8 :30 P. M.
15th. Taps.. 9 P. M.
All commissioned officers are expected to attend Reville,
Tattoo and Roll Call as often as possible when it will not inter-
fere with their duties as recruiting officers.
Upon December 10th Chaplain Cowles accepted appoint-
ment as chaplain of the regiment. (Original No. 16).
Bellevue, Ohio, Dec. 10. 1861.
G. H. Safford, Lieut. Col. 55th Regt. O. V.
Dear Sir: Yours of the present date informing me of my
election to the chaplaincy of the regiment of which you are in
command is received.
You are hereby informed of my acceptance of the appoint-
ment.
Truly yours,
J. G. W. < lOWIiES.
1372 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
The organization of the regiment was effected upon October
17, 1861, and after nearly three months of drill and discipline
it left its camp at Norwalk on January 25, 1862, and reached
Grafton, W. Va„ on January 28. Upon February 3rd the com-
mand moved by R. R. to New Creek, Va. (now called Keyser,
W. Va.), arriving in a snow storm. The following order,
(Original No. 17) will recall to the survivors of the regiment the
forbidding conditions of that journey.
Head Quarters, Camp Lander.
New Creek, Va., February 3, 1862.
Lieut. Col. Safford, 55th Ohio Infantry.
8w: You will order your men to remain in the ears until
five o'clock tomorrow morning.
By order of Acting Brig. Gen. Dunning.
Lieut. C. W. Smith,
Acting Asst. Adjt. General.
The expedition of the regiment to Moorefield, Va., is vividly
recounted in a letter from Lieut. Col. Safford to his wife.
(Original No. 18.)
New Creek. Va., February 14. 1862.
My Dear Wife: I have just returned from Moorefield,
forty-two miles south of here, a very strong secession town, and
where the enemy had a force of 800. "We made a forced march,
leaving this point on Monday the 10th at 12 M., and reaching
our position opposite town on the morning of the twelfth just
at daylight. We found the enemy drawn up ready for us. on
the opposite bank of the South Branch of the Potomac. Our
force consisted of 600, 55th Ohio; 400, 73d Ohio; 250. 5th W.
Va., and only 100, 1st Va. Cavalry and two guns, Barnett's 1st
Ohio Artillery all commanded by Col. Dunning, 5th Ohio. The
enemies force we supposed to be 1,500 it was not probably over
800. All Cavalry but one regiment infantry. The town is in a
valley with a brawling river on the west of it or rather three
rivers coming together at this point and forming two islands
by the circuetus windings of the rive) - at the very place where we
were to ford it making three streams larger than the river at
REMINISCENCES 1373
Milan and very rapid indeed. The road we came up leads down
through a deep gorge in the mountain and landing us on an
open plain of bottom land directly in front of the town and in
rear of which on an elevated plateau about twice as high as the
houses near the enemy.
The sun was just shining and its rays glanced from their
sabres and bayonets, a glistening efulgence presenting a formad-
abel and gorgeous sight. Some of our boys declared there were
3000 of them. Our artillery moved down into an open bottom,
unlimbered and gave them a shot, it did not take effect, they
gave one grand hollow for Jeff Davis. Two more were sent and
another time they shouted, then we gave them a discharge from
two six pounders at once, and such a scattering you never saw.
They supposed because that the 3 first shots did not hit they
were out of our range and had gotten into a camp. We saw
them piling up the dead or wounded. We then suspended for a
few moments to see what they woidd do, for we feared to make
many such shots for fear of scaring them away too soon, and
we wanted before they went to let them taste a little of the doses
the boys had in their enfields for them. This had its desired
effect for they came out and commenced firing at our boys, who
just at this time were crossing the river in the wagons. Soon
after they opened on us with their infantry and for thirty-seven
minutes there was just as sharp firing mi boath sides as I want
to see.
The bullets flew like hail and to us about as harmless, for
only 4 were wounded on our side and none killed. The shots
went either over our heads or struck the ground before reaching
us. They did not have very good arms and no artillery. They
are no military and are cowards besides. Had they any skill or
pluck they coidd cut us all to pieces.
Give me 800 men and their position and knowledge of the
country and I would defy 4 regiments.
I forgot to tell you in order, how they fired on us in the
night '■'< mill's down the river where had been a ferry and where
we expected to cross. Some of the soldiers foolishly built tires
and which enabled them to see us from the other side of the
river to which point they had sent two companies to harrass
1374 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
and annoy us if we should attempt to ford the river. It was our
boys first experience and being fired on at night is decidedly
annoying-. If any thing will make cold shivers come over one
it is this. Two volleys from our boys scilenced them and they
only wounded two of our men. We learned next day that we
killed two for them. As I have stated their infantry sustained
a fire on us for 37 minutes when our boys having- got fully into
position on the Island gave them such shots as told and they
returned to their holes in the mountains aud many of them
into a hole in the ground. We ascertained for certain that wu
killed 17 woimded some 50. .The last discharge from our cannon
was a splendid one.
Some commanding officer said to have been a major, pre-
sented himself on the brow of a hill about one mile off, there
were two or three horsemen with him. The captain of the gun
discovered with his glass that he was making defiant attitudes
at him as much as to say shoote if you dare. He did shoote and
we saw the man and horse fly in all directions Utterly torn to
attorns.
We then formed our regiment in colums and marched into
the streets of their town being satisfied that were scattered so
as not to return. Col. Dunning sent word that we should take
possession of the town and that if they fired on us in the streets
he would sack plunder and burn it up. They replied if he was
barbarian enough he could burn the town and if he followed
them far enough they would fight him.
We marched on and myself and Sullivan were the first
to enter their main street. We led the colum in. Our regiment
being allowed to take the lead and as it was divided I com-
manded one division and took especial care to make the best
time and so reached our end of the town, first. The town was
deserted by most of the men. The ladies and darkeys were
all in tin- streets and I must say the colored population were
the only ones to welcome us. There was a great display of ivory.
the largest I ever saw. But the ladies, how bitter, they could
not restrain their wrath. Especially as we notified their sons
and husbands that we demanded them as prisoners of war. We
took 40 prisoners, examined all the building and seized all arms
REMINISCENCES 1375
and munitions of war. I have a few trophies for the boys, a
shot gun for Charley, a pistol for Will and a solid salt spoon
for Maine also an Eppulet for some one. We found 300 of
Jeff Davis cattle in and around Moorefield and down the river
besides any quantity of horses and mules.
I believe I must close. I have said nothing of myself. Our
casualties are only 4 wounded, none dangerous. I was close
to one boy who was shot in the face he fell like a heap. I got
off my horse, took his gun, ordered him to the ambulance and
felt savage, but I only got 2 shots for the scamps were gone. As
to Jack, he did not like the whistling of the bullets and to be
candid I guess I stood fire better than he did. The feeling of
going into action is cureous and not to be described that once
over and one can stand it as well as he could go about any other
business. I thought nothing of danger after first 10 minutes
and we are all proud today that the 55th behaved like veterans.
Every man did his duty and with one single exception not a
coward did I see. I must close I will write you more tomorrow
and send a map of the field.
Till then yours,
G. H. Sappord.
After the Moorefield "campaign" the regiment returned
to Grafton and were encamped on a flat piece of ground on the
river bank where an epidemic of measles broke out and ran
through the command. Surgeon W. A. Hammond U. S. A.
made an unfavorable report on the conditions and commented
severely on some of the officers of the regiment. The following
letter written in August. 1862, (Original Xo. 19) is a defense
of the officers and is both interesting and valuable :
Norwalk. Huron Co.. Ohio, Aug. 28, 1862.
The undersigned having seen the report of William A.
Hammond, Asst. Surgeon U. S. A., dated Grafton, Va., March
10, 1862, concernins' the sanitary condition of the 55th 0. V. I.
and believing great injustice is done to the Col., Lieut. Col., and
Major of the regiment in that report, hereby submits the follow-
ing statement of facts :
1376 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
The crowding of so many men in tents was not the fault
of the field officers as every effort was made by them to secure
a sufficient number of the Sibley tents.
It is said in that report that "the tents have not been
struck since the regiment has been in Grafton, and consequently
the ground over which they are pitched must be reeking with
gaseous emanations from the men."
If Doctor Hammond had known that it had stormed nearly
every day while we were at Grafton, up to the time he visited
us, he would hardly have advised the striking of the tents, to
pitch them again in the storm upon other wet ground. But we
know when we could have a few hours of sunshine the tents
were ordered to be thrown open and the ground thoroughly
aired.
We believe there is no regiment in the service where the
field officers have done more for the comfort and health of the
men than in the 55th 0. V. I. Not having the control of the
weather they could not prevent storms of snow and rain, and
being under the command of superior officers they were obliged
to pitch the tents for the camp upon such ground as had been
F. A. "Wildman,
Capt. Co. D.
"When the command returned from Moorefield to New Creek
it brought with it two negro boys, Dave and Ham Hamlin, who
remained with the command in spite of efforts to return them
to their owner as indicated in the following note:
(Original No. 20.)
Head Quarters Camp Lander,
New Creek, Va,, Feby. 16, 1862.
Col. Lee. 55th Ohio Vol. Infy.
Sir: I have understood that there are two black boys,
slaves of Mrs. Pugh in your encampment.
If so I desire that they be delivered up to Mr. Violate, who
is authorized to return the same to their legitimate owners.
S. H. Dunning,
Actg. Brig. Gen., Commanding.
REMINISCENCES 1377
The forbidding conditions of the camp at Grafton made the
members of the band very homesick, which brought forth the
following letter. (Original No. 21).
Camp Kelly, Grafton, Va., Mch. 11, 1862.
To Adjt. Gen. Geo. L. Hartsuff.
Dear Sir: We understand that some nineteen members ot
our regimental band together with two persons whose names
you will not find enrolled as members of the band have peti-
tioned for a discharge from service.
We beg leave respectfully to suggest that all but seven of
these men are healthy, robust individuals, able to do any kind
of service required of them, that much pains was taken to secure
the best teacher of instrumental music in "our part of the country
to lead the band and instruct them, many of them being at the
organization of the regiment beginners, that the remaining five
members, including the leader, are anxious with us to keep up
the band, that none of the regiments in this part of Va., and
which are likely to be brigaded with us have a band, that this
one in consequence of the labor bestowed upon it by its efficient
leader, and upon its organization by those who were active in
getting up the regiment is now a good well drilled band.
For these and many other good reasons we hope that the
efforts of a very few homesick swaines may not be effective in
depriving the regiment, probably the brigade of a good band.
A few are very homesick. These have induced other members
to send in their names, of all which we knew nothing till it was
done. Otherwise a little counsel would have counteracted the
disorganizing influence. Hoping for your favorable considera-
tion of the above suggestions made at the request and in behalf
of the field and line officers of the regiment,
I remain very truly yours,
D. F. DeWolfe, Maj. 55th Kegt. 0. V. I.
The good ladies of Norwalk remembered their soldier boys
at tin 1 front by sending them boxes of good things to eat.
1378 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
(Original No. 22.)
Soldiers Aid Society of Northern Ohio,
Central Depot, 95 Bank St.,
Cleveland, 0., March 31, 1862.
Lieut. Col. Safford, 55th Regt. 0. V. I., Grafton, Va.
Dear Sir: We have this day shipped per C. & P. R. R. as
.freight, marked Lieut. Col. Safford, Grafton, Va.. 1 Box, con-
taining as follows :
2 cans concentrated chicken. 12 cans fruit, 7 lbs. dried fruit.
Upon their arrival you will please sign the accompanying
receipt and return same by mail to
Mrs. B. Rouse, Pres't.
Upon March 31st the camp at Grafton was abandoned and
the regiment took a B. & 0. train for Green Spring. Lieut. Col.
Safford wrote Gen. Schenck at Cumberland for instructions as
to the disposition of sick men and received the following reply.
(Original No. 23) :
Head Quarters Cumberland Division,
Mountain Dept., Va.,
Cumberland Md., April 1st, 1862.
Colonel.- I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of
yours of above date, and in response have to inform you that
the sick may be sent to Cumberland. No man, however, will be
received without his descriptive list and papers correctly made
out.
You will push on to Romney and get established there soon
as possible.
All communications. Colonel, addressed to these Head
Quarters must come directed to the officer having charge of the
business, the subject calls for, and not to the general command-
ing, as many papers of these Head Quarters go to the Depart-
ment Head Quarters. I want them to be strictly correct.
I have the honor to be, Colonel,
Your most Obt. Servt..
Donn Piatt,
Asst. Adjt. Genl.
REMINISCENCES 1379
Lieut. Col. G. H. Safford,
Col. Comdg. at. Camp Schenck, etc., etc., etc.
The formal order to move from Grafton to Romney is con-
tained in special order No. 32, dated Cumberland, Mch. 31st,
1862. (Original No. 24.)
Head Quarters Cumberland Division,
Mountain Department,
Cumberland, March 31, 1862.
Special Order No. 32 :
V. Lieut. Col. George II. Safford, commanding the 55th
Regt. Ohio Vol. Inf'y. having reported for duty at these Head
Quarters, is directed to proceed forthwith with his command, by
railroad, to Green Spring station, and thence to march to Rom-
ney. by way of Springfield and the wire bridge across the south
branch of the Potomac.
Selecting the most eligible and defensible position for his
encampment at or near Romney, he will there establish the
regiment as a force of observation and for protection of the
country against all attack or aggression from that direction.
VI. Captain P. W. Hurtt, A. Q. .Master at Cumberland is
ordered to make all needful arrangements for the establishment
of a supply train for the commands stationed at Springfield,
Romney and Moorefield, and to furnish the regimental and de-
tached commands as far as practicable with proper and propor-
tional transportation.
By command of Brig. Gen. Schenck.
Donn Piatt,
Asst. Adj. Genl.
Capt. Garni marched with the right wing of the command
from Green Spring to the Wire Bridge beyond Springfield on
April 3d and reported the next day. (Original No. 25.)
Gamp Fremont, Va.,
April 4. 1862.
Lieul Col. G. II. Safford:
I proceeded with the righl wing of the 55th Regt. for Spring-
field and arrived there al 2 o'c. P. M. April 3d. Cos. D. I & C
unit into camp in accordance with your order. I marched
1380 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
A & F to the "Wire Bridge. We encamped near the Battery, on
a high bluff. Capt. DeBeck says it is 400 feet above the river.
The position is a strong one naturally and would be a fine place
for a fight, the men stood the march better than I expected.
Yesterday one Co. of the 3d Md. Regt. went to Romney and are
now there.
The teams with our tents and baggage did not reach here
in time to return to Green Spring Run last night, they go back
this morning, so I presume you will be here tomorrow with the
left wing.
Truly yours.
C. B. Gambeb.
Gen. Schenck pushed the command on to Romney upon
April 5th. (Original No. 26.)
Hd. Quarters, Cumberland.
April 5. 1862.
Lieut. Col. Safford, 55th Ohio Rgt. :
It is important that you move forward your command to
Romney at once. If you cannot take all your regiment then take
half first with company of Cavalry and one section of Battery
and the remainder as soon as possible — by order Brig. Gen.
Schenck.
Donn Piatt,
A. A. G.
( Endorsement. )
Hd. Quarters, Wheeling. Apl. 5th. '62.
Col. Safford, 55th Ohio Regt.:
Detail reported, were they ordered by Maj. McCrea. If not,
by whom. By order Maj. Gen. Fremont.
H. Thrall,
A. A. G.
Upon April 26th Lieut. F. H. Morse acting as Quarter
Master made a certificate concerning the death of a confederate,
Col. Isaac Parsons. This officer had a fine house near Romney
and was highly esteemed by the confederate General Stonewall
REMINISCENCES 1381
Jackson. The circumstances attending his death are not re-
corded. (Original No. 27.)
Romney, 26th April, 1862.
We, the undersigned, have personally examined (at the
request of the family) the dead body of the late Isaac Parsons
and find no evidence of gun-shot wounds or any other violence
on him.
Signed,
Wm. Firey,
Capt. Co. B, Maryland Cav'ly.
Capt. C. W. Shearer,
Co. B, 3d Regt. P. H. B.
Witnesses :
Wm. Vance,
Geo. W. Washington.
I certify that the above is a true copy of the certificate
originally made as to the death of Col. Parsons.
F. H. Morse.
Lt. & A. A. Q. M.
Romney, Va., May 12. 1862.
The usual friction between the surgeons and higher officers
is illustrated in the letters from Col. Safford to Head Quarters
at Wheeling with reference to "certificates of disability" and
the replies. (Original No's 28 and 29.)
Head Quarters, Mountain Department,
Wheeling, Meh. 30, 1862.
Colonel: I respectfully return your letter respecting "Cer-
tificates of disability" with the endorsement of the medical
director thereon, which you will read and return to these heari-
quai-ters. There has been three men of your regiment dis-
charged, the papers of which, together with those disapproved,
have been sent back to you. By order Maj. Gen. Fremont.
Henry Thrall,
A. A. G.
1382 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Lieut. Col. Safford, 55th Rgt. 0. V. I.,
Grafton, Va.
Grafton, March 27, 1862.
G. L. Hartsuff, Asst. Adj. Gen.. Wheeling:
Towards 40 days ago some certificates of disability were
sent, to the medical director. The men are sick and desire to get
off home. They evidently will be of no more use to the govern-
ment, should be discharged. The medical director has been
written to repeatedly. I should be pleased to have this matter
laid before the Commanding Genl.
Yours Respectfully.
G. H. Safford,
Lt. Col. 55th Regt, 0. V. I., IT. S. A.
Commanding.
(1st endorsement.)
I 32, Pge. 63.
Referred to the Med. Director.
By order, etc..
G. L. Hartsuff.
A. A. G.
(2d endorsement.)
Respectfully returned. Every certificate of disability that
has come to this office has been acted on. At this date there is
not one in this office. Two letters and one dispatch in reference
to certificates of disability have been received at this office, (the
former from Surg. Kling. the latter from Asst. Surg. Spooner)
during the month of March. Several certificates of disability
have lately been returned for correction, although Asst. Surg.
Dnnster, U. S. A. Inspector of Hospitals and Camps instructed
the Surg, and Commanding Off. of the 55th Ohio in the proper
way of making them out.
Jona Letter max.
Med. Director.
Med. Director's office, Mar. 29. "62.
The battle of McDowell, Va., was fought May 8, 1862. Only
a part of the 55th Ohio was present, Lt. Col. Safford with about
150 men being absent scouting in the mountains when the order
to march to the aid of Gen. Milroy was received.
REMINISCENCES 1383
The following (Original No. 30) is especially interesting for
the memorandum on the back by Gen. Milroy's Adjt. Gen.
.Monterey, May 8, 1862.
Capt. George, A. A. G. :
Lieut. Col. Saiford is here with about one hundred and
fifty men of the 55th Ohio Regt. and I wish to be relieved right
away so that I can join the Regt. and if it is needful right
away or immediately. Do all in your power to relieve us. Please
inform Col. Moss of the same.
Your Obt. Servt,
John A. Hunter,
Capt. Co. A., 2d Va. Regt.
(Endorsement.)
Lieut, Col. Seifon (Safford?) will fall back to the point at
which General Schenck's train now is.
Capt's Hunter and Grubb will remain at Monterey until
further orders. By order Gen. Milroy.
W. G. George,
A. A. G.
An interesting document is (Original No. 31) a letter from
a John "W. Moore to Lieut. Col. Safford asking for pay for
medical services, etc. :
Springfield, Hampshire Co.,
Virginia. May 30. 1862.
Lieut. Col. Safford.
Bear Sir: When you left this place on the 4th of April,
Walter B. Franklin, a. soldier under your command was taken
very ill and by your surgeon as well as yourself was put in
my charge. My son, Dr. R. H. Moore, as well as myself, attend-
ing him faithfully, he was deranged for about 8 days with
pneumonia, fever ami became convalescent on the 28th of April
so that he could leave. Franklin was supplied by me, nourish-
ment as well as medicine and medical attention and for my
services I have never received any pay although by Dr. Lyme
(Kling?) as well as yourself I was assured 1 should be well paid.
I wrote to you at Moorefield. Va.. by private Carr one of the
nurses, but as yet I have never heard from you. the object of
1384 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
this communication is to get you to attend to this matter for me
either from his father or any other way you think best. I wish
you would give me his father's address and let me hear from
you. Should you be not at home I hope your lady will answer
this or have it done by some friend.
I also attended private John Plotts, Co. H. Capt. Stevens,
who was wounded in the head by Been thrown out of the cars.
Also the loss of my rails burned by your men which you
said you would see that I was paid for. I am in hopes Col.
you will get me my pay for all and send me the money or have
it so arranged that I can get it. I send you each charge separate.
Walter B. Franklin of the 55th Ohio,
To John W. Moore,
April 4, 1862.
For visits and medicine and medical attendance as well as
nourishment.
To the 28th of April, $25.00.
To attending John Plotts of the 55th Ohio Regiment. $2.00.
For Rails Burned by the 55th Ohio Regiment. $5.00.
Please put that Ace. in right form of necessary and attend
for me.
Yours truly,
John W. Moore.
An interesting paper is a petition from members of Co. E to
Lieut. Col. Safford to appoint Henry W. Crosby, Sergeant Co.
E to position of First Sergeant. He died bravely fighting at
Resaca. Ga., May 15, 1864. (Original No. 32) :
Camp, June 29, 1862.
Lieut. Col. Safford:
We, the undersigned, Non Commissioned Officers of Co. E,
55th Regt. O. V., U. S. A., do request of you to appoint Sgt.
Crosby as 1st Sergt. of Co. E :
J. H. Boss, Sergt., Ambrose Rice, John West, J. L. Flaherty,
W. F. Smith. A. D. Peck, J. F. Wheaton. John Bellman.
Recruiting for the Fifty-Fifth Ohio.
BY HARWELL OSBORN.
General orders for recruiting the Army were issued before
the 55th Ohio had left its camp of instruction.
Among the papers left by Lieut. Col. Safford was a copy
of the first general order on the subject which appears by the
endorsement to have reached Col. Lee at Grafton. Va., about
Jany. 31st, 1861.
(Original No. 33.)
Head Qrs. of the Army,
Adjutant General's office,
Washington, Dec. 3, 1861.
General Orders, Xo. 105.
' ' Extract. ' '
• # # # *
III. Commanding officers of Regiments will detail two com-
missioned officers, with four noncommissioned officers or pri-
vates, to report in person to the Superintendent of the Recruiting
Service for their respective states on the 1st day of January,
1862 or as soon thereafter as practicable. These officers and non-
commissioned officers will be detailed for a tour of six months,
and will be assigned as recruiting parties to rendezvous by the
Superintendents. If found incompetent they will be relieved
and replaced by others.
X. Commanders of Volunteer Regiments, Batteries or In-
dependent Companies, requiring recruits, will make requisitions,
approved by the commanding officers of their brigades, divisions
and departments or corps d'armee, direct on the Superin
tendents of the Recruiting Service for their respective stairs.
who will furnish the necessary men.
By Command of Major General McClellan.
"over."
(Signed.) L. Thomas.
Adjutant General.
1386 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Official. (Signed.) E. D. Townsend,
Assistant Adjutant General.
To Col. J. C. Lee, 55th Rgt. 0. V.,
Camp Kelley, Grafton, Va.
Official.
X. C. McCrea, Maj. U. S. A.,
Supt. R. S. 0. V.
(Original No. 34.)
Head Quarters, Dept. "West Va..
Wheeling, March 12. 1862.
Col.:
You will detail one drummer and two privates from your
Regt, for the recruiting service to report to Maj. X. C. McCrea,
Superintendent recruiting for Ohio, Head Quarters at Cincin-
nati. By order Genl. Rosecrans.
Henry Thrall,
A. A. G.
Commanding 55th 0. V. I.
(Original Xo. 35.)
Head Qrs. Recr'g I. 0. V.
Cincinnati, 0.. Mch. 14, '62.
Commanding Officer. 55th Regt. 0. V.
Sir: In answer to your favor of the 8th inst. 1 would
prefer a first Lieut, and 2d Lieut, and 2 Sergts. and 2 corporals,
for the detail. With this detail I will be able to send Recruits
to your Regt. and also have it in my power to relievo the in-
efficient. Very Respectfully,
X. C. McCrea.
Major U. S. A.. Supt. R. S. 0. V.
Grafton, Va.
(Original Xo. 36.)
Head Quarters 55th Reg.
0. V. Inf., U. S. A., Camp Kelly.
Grafton, Va., March 15. 1862.
Special Order Xo.
To Francis A. Williams and Justus Squire privates in Capt.
II. X. Shipman's Co. and Uriah Sour of Capt. Brown's Co. In
compliance with the requirements of the annexed order from
RECRUITING 1387
Gen. Roseerans, you will proceed forthwith by the nearest prac-
tical route to the city of Cincinnati. O., where you will report
to Maj. N. C. McCrea for recruiting duty.
Transportation will he furnished you by the Assistant
Quarter Master. You will take two days rations and all your
arms and accoutrements. By order,
G. H. Safford.
Lt. Col. 55th Regt., 0. V. Inf., U. S. A.
Commanding.
(Original No. 37.)
Grafton. Va.. March 27, 1862.
G. L. Hartsuff, Ast, A. Gen.,Wheeling :
Having rec'd 2 communications from Maj. McCrea. Comd.
Recruiting Service for Ohio, and calling attention to Gen.
Order No. 105, 111 S. I wrote some days since to obtain leave
to comply with the same, provided it is necessary to have con-
sent from Department Hd. Qrs. to comply with said order. We
need some recruits and can get them if we can send out the
officers and now is the besl time to get them. An early reply
is respectfully solicited.
With respect,
G. H. Safford,
Lt, Col. 55th Regt, O. V. Comd.
(Endorsement.)
I. 34— Pge. 64.
lid. Qrs., Mtn. Dept.
Wheeling. Mar. 28, 1862.
Detail the officers by a. Regimental order and send it here
for approval.
By order, etc.,
G. L. Hartsuff. A. A. (i.
The records do nut show the result of the preceding orders,
and no other detail was made until Aug. 18th, as pi-, following:
(Original No. 38.)
Head Quarters, 1st Corps.
Army of Virginia.
Robertson River, Aug. is. 1862.
1388 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Special Order No. 40 :
6. The following named officers, non commissioned officers
and privates are detailed on recruiting service for the 55th 0.
V. I., and will report to the Adjutant General of the Army for
instructions :
Lieut. Col. Geo. H. Saft'ord.
1st Lieut,. Henry Miller.
1st Sergeant, W. H. Ragan, Co. II.
1st Sergeant, Edward Bromley, Co. G.
1st Sergeant, Jesse Braachenhurg, Co. K.
Corporal, Jacob Gatchell. Co. F.
Corporal, Theodore M. Wood, Co. D.
Corporal. "Win. H. Long, Co. C (Sick in hospital, Alexan-
dria, Va. )
Corporal. John Bellman, Co. E.
Corporal, Adam Cramer. Co. B.
Corporal, Daniel Swatland, Co. I.
Private. Arthur Franklin. Co. A.
By order of Maj. Gen. Sigel.
(Signed.) T. A. Mysenburg.
Asst. Adjt, Genl.
Official Copy. W. H. Chesebrough, A. D. C. & A. A. A. G.
Official. Edw. H. Allen, A. A. A. G.
(Endorsement.)
A. G. Office. Aug. 21. '62.
The within named officers and enlisted men will report to
Capt. A. B. Dod at Columbus. Ohio, for instructions.
Transportation furnished from Washington to Columbus.
By order,
Thomas M. Vincent,
Asst, Adjt. Genl.
Columbus, Ohio. Aug. 23. 1862.
Special Order:
1st Lieut.. Henry Miller, 55th Regt. 0. V., having been de-
tailed on recruiting service by Special Order Xo. 40, Maj. Gen.
RECRUITING 1389
Sigel, dated Robertson River, Va., Aug. 18, 1862, and having
reported to me for duty is hereby ordered to Upper Sandusky,
Ohio, where he will recruit for the 55th 0. V. I. Reporting to
me bimonthly.
G. H. Safford,
Lt. Col. 55th 0. V. I., Comd. Recruiting Party.
(Original No. 40.)
Head Quarters, Military Commander,
Columbus, 0., Aug. 23, 1862.
Special Order No. 11 :
II. Lieut. Col. Geo. H. Safford of the 55th 0. V. I. and
party having reported for recruiting service in compliance with
Special Order No. 40, dated Head Quarters. 1st Corps Army
of Virginia, Robertson River, Aug. 18, 1862, will, with his
party, repair without delay to Norwalk, Huron Co., Ohio, where
he will recruit for his Regt. and in the counties adjacent.
II. II. Recruits will be sent in detachments of from ten to
twelve to these Head Quarters where they will be clothed.
Wm. N. Grier,
Lieut. Col. 1st Cavalry,
Supt. "Vol. Recruiting Service for Ohio.
(Original No. 41.)
This is one of the hand bills issued by Lt. Col. Safford when
the recruiting party reached Norwalk, Ohio. It is not dated,
but must have been printed and distributed about September
1, 1862.
200 Volunteers
WANTED
To fill up the 55th Regiment, 0. V.
The War Department have
determined to fill up the Old Regiments, and it must be done
without delay. For that purpose recruiting parties have been
sent out from each Regiment, consisting of two Commissioned
Officers, and ten non commissioned Officers or Privates. Re-
cruit ing for the New Rcgiinaits has been suspended, but for the
1390 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Old. the same BOUNTY continues, and will be paid, as hereto-
fore :
**" One Month's pay in Advance $13.00
One-fourth of the Bounty 25.00
A Bounty by the Citizens 25.00
And a Recruiting Bounty 2.00
Making a total of $65.00 Bounty.
An opportunity is now offered of entering a good Regiment,
and mixing with Soldiers of experience, who have learned prac-
tically the best mode of preserving health.
Come then and aid your brothers who are already in the
field. The 55th is under the command of Maj. Gen. Sigel, the
rising General of the army. All who enlist can apply to Capt.
WUdman or Myself at my old Office in Norwalk; or to Corporal
T. M. Wood, Corporal John Bellman, Corporal Daniel Sweet-
land, C( nterville, Private Arthur Franklin, Monroeville.
Lt. Col. G. H. Safford,
55th Regiment Ohio Volunteers.
The result of the efforts of the Recruiting Party to obtain
recruits is not recorded. An interesting memorandum however
is found in (Original No. 42.)
55th O. V. I. Now registered.
Samuel Cannon. Co. F. Co. F. 3d, Bull Run.
Reuben Dodge, Co. K. Co. F, 2d, Culpepper.
David Warner, Co. F. Co. B, 1st. Bull Run.
William Ilarley, Co. F. Co. B, 1st, Front Royal.
James M. Keine, Co. F. Co. B, 1st, Bull Run.
John Copping Co. E. Co. I, 1st, Bull Run.
The above all in Camp Chase and I am going to the regi-
ment tomorow with recruits for same, I would like to take them
along.
G. H. Safford. Lt. Col.
RECRUITING 1391
Another detail for Recruiting Service was made at Gaines-
ville, Va., Nov. 7, 1862. (Original No. 43.) This order was to
cover drafted men.
Head Quarters, 11th Corps,
Army of the Potomac.
Gainesville. Va., Nov. 7, 1862.
Special Orders No. 103.
The following named officers are hereby detailed to proceed
without delay to Columbus, Ohio, for the purpose of receiving
drafted recruits for their respective regiments, and to conduct
them to the same.
# * # # #
Lieut. Col. George N. Safford, 55th 0. V. I.
Major Robert Reily, 75th 0. V. I.
Captain M. H. Crowell, 25th 0. V. I.
Captain W. E. Schofield, 82d 0. V. I.
By order Maj. Gen. Sigel.
(Signed.) T. A. Mysenburg,
A. A. G.
(Endorsement.)
Head Qrs. 1st Division, 11th Corps Army of the Potomac.
Gainesville, Nov. 7. 1862.
Official.
(Signed) Menshausen,
Capt. & A. A. A. G.
Official Copy.
Oscar Minor,
Lieut. A. D. C, A. A. A. G.
Head Qrs. 2d Brie:. 1st Div.
Camp at Gainesville, Va., Nov. 7, 1862.
Special Order No. 106.
# # # * #
III. In obedience to Special Orders No. 103 from Maj.
Gen. Sigel, Comdg. 11th Corps Army of the Potomac, Lieut.
Col. Geo. H. Safford of 55th Regt. O. V. I., Maj. Robt. Reily of
75th 0. V. I., Capt. M. N. Crowell of the 25th 0. V. 1. and I lapfc
1392 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
W. E. Sehofield of the 82d 0. V. I. are hereby ordered to pro-
ceed without delay, to Columbus, Ohio, and there to receive
drafted recruits for their respective regiments, and as soon as
possible conduct them to the same wherever they may be quar-
tered.
By order Col. McLean,
Comdg. 2d Brig. 1 Div.
Oscar Minor,
Lieut. & A. D. C, A. A. A. G.
Lt. Col. G. H. Safford:
No. of drafted men asked for to fill up your Regiment is
190. I refer you to Governor Tod for instruction.
Robt. Reily, Maj. 75th Regt. V. I.
Address box 806, Cin. P. 0.
Order to Arrest Deserters.
(Original Xo. ii.)
Camp at Gainesville, Va.
Nov. 7, 1862.
Lt. Col. G. H. Safford, 55th Keg. 0. V. Inly.:
You are hereby ordered to arresl any and all deserters from
the 55th Reg. 0. V. Infy. in the state of Ohio reporting them
to the proper authority to be transmitted to their Regiment.
J. C. Lee,
Col. 55th Reg. 0. V. Infy., Comd'g.
(Original No. 45.)
Letter from Capt. Robinson to Lt. Col. Safford.
Republic. Dec. 12th, 1862.
Lieut. Col. G. H. Safford.
Dear Sir: Your letter came to hand, contents noticed, in
reply I have no recruits except Brooks, he is getting very well,
thinks he is about able to try the service but says he cannot get
ready before the first of the week, he has a pr. of Boots making
that he can't get till the first of the week. I don't know about my
going to Columbus with the men when I was there they took
up my old Detail by the Adjt. General and made a new detail
RECRUITING 1393
from their office and I made up my mind not to trouble them
again till ordered, let me hear from you and if Easterbrooks
can get to your place before you send off your men he will go
otherwise he will wait till I go.
Yours Respctly,
H. Robinson,
Capt. 55th Regt. 0. V. I.
Order to report to Lt. Col. Brooks.
(Original No. 46.)
Head Quarters Ohio Militia.
Adjutant General's Office.
Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 21, 1862.
Special Order No. 1062.
Lieut. Col. George H. Safford of the 55th Regt. 0. V. I.
having reported to the Adjutant General of Ohio in pursuance
of Special Order No. 103 from Maj. Genl. F. Sigel for the pur-
pose of receiving drafted recruits and conducting them to the
55th Regt. He is hereby referred to Lieut. Col. Horace Brooks,
Superintendent. of Recruiting in Ohio, who is requested to order
Lieut. Col. Safford to the several camps in Ohio, in order that
he may receive those men that are assigned to or may be ob-
tained for his regiment. By order,
Chas. W. Hill,
Adjt. Genl. 0.
Order to Return to Regiment.
(Original No. 47.)
Head Quarters Ohio Vol. Recruiting Service.
Columbus, 0.. Dec. 23, 1862.
Special Order No. 463.
Lieut Col. George II. Safford, 55th Regiment 0. V. L.
Recruiting Officer at Norwalk, Ohio, will immediately, on receipt
of this order, close his rendezvous and report with his recruiting
parly and recruits at these Head Quarters for the purpose of
being ordered t<> his Regiment.
1394 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
He will report to this office officially with regard to such
of his recruiting party as may have been discharged from the
service. H. Brooks,
Lieut. Col. 2d U. S. Artillery,
Supt. 0. Vol. Rectg. Service.
Order for Recruiting Party to Return.
(Original No. 48.)
Head Quars. Ohio Vol. Rctg. Service.
Columbus, Ohio, Jany. 12, 1863.
Special Order No. 34.
Lieut. Col. G. II. Safford, with Captains II. N. Shipman
and James M. Stevens and Lieut. Henry Miller. 55th Regiment
Ohio Vol. Infy.. will proceed without delay in charge of his
Recruiting Party of 3 Sergts., 5 Corporals and one private,
also eight (8) recruits and (3) three stragglers, for his Regi-
ment, also one Recruit for the 75th Regt. 0. V. I. to be turned
over to the comd'g officer of the 75th Regiment with his Descrip-
tive List, etc., to Fairfax Court House. Va., or wherever it may
be, and report to the commanding officer of the same for duty.
Transportation furnished.
By order Lieut. Col. H. Brooks, 2d U. S. Artillery. Supt.
Ohio Vol. Rctg. Service. David M. Meridith,
Capt. 15th Infy., Asst. Supt, 0. V. R. S.
Pass from Washington, D. C, to Stafford, C. H. Va.
(Original No. 49.)
Head Quarters Military District of "Washington.
Washington. D. C, Jany. 16, 1863.
Guards: Pass Col. G. H. Safford. 55th Vol. Infy.. and
Captains Shipman and Stevens, and Lieuts. Miller and Ragau,
55th Ohio Vol. Infy. and (21) Twenty-one Privates to Stafford
Court House. Quartermaster will furnish Transportation.
By Command of Brig. Gen. Martindale, Military Governor
of District of Washington. E. M. Camp.
Capt. and A-Aide-de-Camp.
(Endorsement.)
This pass will expire Jany. 17. 1863.
In Memory of the Early Days of Norwalk.
'HOW DEAR TO MY HEART ARE THE SCENES OP MY CHILDHOOD,
WHEN FOND RECOLLECTION PRESENTS THEM TO VIEW."
The following well written article on the early days of Nor-
walk is from the pen of Mrs. W. A. Ingham, of Oberlin, who as
one of the "old girls of Norwalk," was formerly Miss Mary
B. Janes, daughter of Rev. John Janes, a Methodist Episcopal
minister, who for many years was an honored citizen of Norwalk.
In a note accompanying the article, which Mrs. Ingham
styles a "Christmas Reminiscent Letter," she says: "I am
writing to children of old citizens — Charles P. Wickham. 'Cale'
Gallup. Ella Newman Shepherd, etc., telling them about it, and
I believe you will have interested readers."
The Reflector places the article before its rentiers today, also
believing that many interested people will read it through care-
fully, dwelling on every line as the old scenes and familiar
names of honored citizens, many of them long since called home,
arise before them in memory.
Norwalk — chief city of the Firelands — our childhood home —
was always, to us, enchanting; the wide streets bordered by
rows ill' maples, the sandy soil and emerald turf were lovely in
our eyes and yielding to little feet.
In '11 my younger sisters and I were in the primary public
schools — Lizzie Higgins our teacher: whose attractive face,
drooping curls and gentle maimer made her our friend even
long after she wedded Hon. J. M. Farr, of the Experiment. Fur-
ther on, Sarah Mason instructed little folks.
At nine years of aire, father and mother wisely placed me
in Principal Edward Thomson's large Latin Grammar class at
the Seminary — as a basis of my future discipline in various lan-
guages. A small member thereof gained the hearts of teacher
and pupils by voluntarily, every morning, filling the wood-box,
1396 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
that the homely, oblong stove might diffuse warmth among us
chilly linguists. He was, then, Dave Gray, now, D. S. Gray, a
railroad magnate and philanthropist residing in Columbus, 0.
Norwalk Seminary was by far the most popular academy
of Ohio, and many substantial young men and women attended;
among them Rutherford B. Hayes, Bishop William L. Harris,
Governor Charles Foster. General McPherson, Judges Gershom
M. Barber. Charles E. Pennewell and George E. Seney. The
latter three I remember well, also Representative Francis Le
Blond, whose personnel and chapel orations impressed me, an
infinitesimal student, in a way altogether grand.
Sarah Gray, Emeline Yocum and Ellen Dunn were inti-
mates. We had a play-house in the Seminary yard; of course
we played "School." Our bell was a rusty tin basin. But I recall
with pleasure Thirza, Delilah and David Allen, the Dunn boys,
the Heath sisters, Julia, Talitha and Irene Pope, Sophia and
Cornelia Steele, Lydia, Althea, Ann and Ambrose Beebe, the
Bigelow sisters, McDonough and Cinderella Cary, Mary Jane
Hoyt, Huldah Seeley, Mary Tillinghast, Sarah Shaffer. Thos.
Cooper, E. P. Jones, Ann and Thos. Smith (what dimples Ann
had!) who, with their mother, lived in the present Theodore
Wooster house ; Sophia Walker — handsome, with a trace of Indian
blood: Jane Cook, who believed in Birney and Third Party —
Free Soil, it was then. She died at school, universally mourned ;
indeed, a long procession seem, now, to pass before me as name-
less shadows.
In a short time promotion brought into Latin reader the
four Marys: Mary Watrous, Maiy Beardsley, Mary Tattle.
Mary Janes; the fifth member was a brigbt. genial girl, grand-
daughter of Piatt Benedict — Sarah Gallup — pet-named Sal
Trot — whom I met in after years as the dignified Mrs. Henry
Brown.
Another Seminary girl, older than we, was the blue-eyed,
fair-haired Sarah Williams, who married Darwin Gardner, of
Cleveland.
It was a cruel fate that deprived us five girls and boys of
our father. Rev. John Janes. He was so witty and wise, so
EARLY DAYS OF NORWALK 1397
kind and mindful. His untimely taking off is even yet a source
of greatest grief; for years I could not see with composure a
young girl sharing her father's protection and society. Mother
mournfully gathered us about her — baby Johnny in her lap,
brother Frank, three years old and recovering from severe ill-
ness, and ns three sisters. Father's death in 1843 began an
era for me; as oldest child I felt a responsibility and aged beyond
my years. The first article ever written by me, appearing in
print, were lines on father's taking away, carried to The Reflector
office by Rev. Edward Thomson in February, 1843. In the next
month I passed my eleventh birthday.
It is interesting to note that The Reflector, aged and honor-
able, is about to celebrate its seventy-seventh Christmas. The
time-honored journal ought to hold a diamond anniversary.
Before the middle of that decade the dear old academy
blossomed into the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and
into Baldwin Institute. Berea, 0. A Christmas tribute should
here be paid to a very few who gave of their best years to Nor-
walk Seminary. Edward Thomson, a skeptical young man of
Portsea, England, came to Wooster, Ohio, with his parents,
studied medicine in that old town and was converted there. His
deep learning, piety and gifts as orator and writer brought him
to the head of our leading Methodist institution — from Nm walk
to Cincinnati as editor, then president of Ohio Wesleyan. In
all these positions he was brilliant, capable and beloved. His
successors at Norwalk were Rev. and Mrs. A. Nelson, Rev. and
Mrs. Holden Dwight; all of whom needed only to be known to
be forever remembered.
In April, 1846, Rev. Mr. Dwight became principal of Bald-
win Institute, but died in his prime the Mowing November,
greatly lamented. Theodore D. Shepherd, so long postmaster
of the Maple City, was a nephew of Holden Dwight.
Henry Buckingham, Alfred Henry Smith and myself were
tutored in Virgil at my home, evenings, by Mr. Curtis, a law
student. We lived on Main street; our place being the whole
St. Charles Hotel corner plat. Shepherd Patrick had a dry
goods store next to us; Obadiah Jenney kept the Mansion House
1398 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
nearly opposite; in a line with that were Theodore Williams' and
the Stoutenburghs ' stores. Across a narrow street, at the side,
was the Presbyterian church. Mother, shrinking from the re-
mote and almost inaccessible Methodist meeting-house, placed
us in the beloved Sunday school, so near our home. Cortland
Latimer was superintendent, John R. Osborn a prominent lay-
man, and Rev. A. Newton, pastor. My Sabbath school teacher
was Elizabeth Buckingham — a grand woman. The only two
class members whom I can define were Belle Scott and Louise
Latimer. A small host of town-girls were delightful friends:
Harriet and Sarah Buckingham, Cecelia Jenney, who from her
early years was a pronounced church woman, Martha and Ann
Eliza Mallory, Emma Brown, Sarah Jane. Louise and Caroline
Smith. Jane Rule, Cornelia Boalt, Rebecca and Sarah Miller,
and Laura Tifft, who married Dr. Seth Beckwith.
The names of citizens, wide-awake then, are now chiseled
in marble and granite. Some of them live again in their chil-
dren : Wickham, Kennan. Gibbs, Carter. Baker, Benedict, Gal-
lup, Colonel James A. Jones and brothers, surely are honored yet
in that community.
I must mention three or four : Rev. Leonard B. Gurley be-
longed not simply to one church or village; Huron and Erie
counties revered him. for he was orator, artist, poet and brilliant
in prose, furnishing most rare contributions to the Firelands
Pioneer. Who could forget Hon. and Mrs. S. T. Worcester and
the Woosters? To my childish eyes no mansion, anywhere,
seemed so palatial as Richard Vredenburgh 's villa in the grove.
There was nothing, ever, like those pillars!
T cannot omit Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Strong. Mr. Strong came
in 1873 to see mother dying in my Cleveland home, and bade her
good-bye. He used to say she was the most yesterday, today
and forever woman he ever knew.
Joel Blackman and wife, pioneers of Florence and later
residents of Norwalk, were second parents to me in my beginning
of life's career.
Tt was one of my heart's chief delights, with my little hand
in thai of Lib Smith, to go out into the country, on the farms
EARLY DAYS OF NORWALK 1399
of Charles and Caleb Jackson, and the Donnce's not far off.
Such apples and nuts, with popcorn, never, before nor since,
circulated about a generous hearthstone.
Right here our mother, Mrs. H. B. Janes, shall have her
due. Messrs. Boalt and Worcester assisted her in the settlement
of our estate. She read the statutes of Ohio, and becoming ad-
ministratrix, secured the respect and confidence of citizens.
Father owned property in Akron, 0., and there she chose her
' ' thirds. ' ' It was the one great mistake of our lives, to sell that
valuable plat in Norwalk, and has ever been to us an inextin-
guishable sorrow.
Before mother was twenty years of age she and her sister
founded the First Methodist Episcopal church of Ann Arbor,
Mich., and that is how father invited her to share his life and
work.
Mother did all she could for us children before leaving Nor-
walk. Four of father's nieces — two of whom mother had edu-
cated at the Seminary, married stirring business men of San-
dusky city; one of them. W. S. Mills, so long editor of the
Register. The older of these four gentlemen was Leonard B.
Johnson, whose hospitable home in the city and whose island
in Sandusky bay, delighted us all.
She had us know Milan, then in its prime, albeit Thomas A.
Edison was not yet its most distinguished child. Lyme, Mon-
roeville and especially Bellevue were dear to her. In person
and in memory she was devoted to the Firelands — noble New
England woman that she was !
The fact must not be lost sight of that this is a Christmas
article. When father died, mother chose a. beautiful knoll under
two great forest trees in St. Paul's church-yard, for the repose
of her dead. No more charming spot could be outlined even in
Mt. Auburn or Greenwood. Of course, "God's acre" endeared
us to St. Paul's — the oldest parish of Norwalk — founded in
1820. The sacred edifice itself, within and without, inspired
us with awe, especially on Christmas Kve during "illumina-
tion" — the chief anticipation of the whole year.
1400 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Let us glance into "the church" during its earliest Christ-
mas carols. The women singers, we will say, were twelve in num-
ber; six of them married, dressed in black with bishop sleeves.
white caps and poke bonnets; six young ladies arrayed in white,
all the sweet faces with woman's crowning glory combed
smoothly adown the cheek and over the ear. In their hands, all
in a line, is the anthem prepared for the occasion, printed on
fly-sheets :
"Strike the cymbal,
Roll the timbrel.
And again,
"Hosanna in the Highest! 7 '
No dim religious light pervades the sanctuary, but an illumi-
nation from candelabra of wood suspended from the ceiling,
perforated and holding in pyramidal shape a host of tallow
candles. Across the middle of the eight windows, in a wooden
frame, are lighted candles. The interior of the building is grand
with festoons of groundpine wound by the young men and
maidens of the parish. The supreme moment is when, all the
people rising, the rector emerges from the vestry, wearing a white
surplice and introducing in solemn tones the ritual, with "Dearly
beloved, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowl-
edge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness."
I love my prayer-book and the old established church which
John Wesley never left, and I always loved to go to St. Paul's,
expecting to see in the same places, year in and year out, stand-
ing to read the service, Mr. and Mrs. John Gardiner, Theodore
"Williams, Judge C. B. Stickney and the Chapin girls.
The first rector I can recall, is Mr. O'Kill, a bachelor, who,
out of the chancel, was a very social man; he paid court to the
dashing Louise Burgess.
A commanding figure, high in church circles, was Rev. S.
A. Bronson, D. D., of Sandusky, pastor of Judge Ebenezer Lane
there, also, presumably, of Rush Sloane, our President: he was of
a most genial personality and a power in the pulpit, who. in
1807, a babe in his mother's arms, came from Waterbury, Conn.,
to this Western Reserve, a pioneer of the pioneers. He was well
EARLY DAYS OF NORWALK 1401
known in St. Paul's pulpit, and to the satisfaction of everybody,
married the elegant Louise Williams. I remember, also, Rev.
Mr. Winthrop and Marion, nor should mention fail of chief
vestryman for years — Charles E. Newman.
Ever dear to me and mine will be that church-yard, in
whose earth our family dust is absorbed — even though its glori-
as a cemetery is departed; in whose enclosure and grass-grown
walks only neglect is apparent; where a horrible silence reigns;
whose acres are untrodden by eager feet and over which no
flower-laden hands ever, now, cause the grave to blossom in hope
of the final resurrection !
Genealogy of the Starr Families in the
Firelands.
BY DR. F. E. WEEKS.
The founder of the Starr family in New England, Dr. Com-
fort Starr, lived in the town of Ashford, county of Kent,
England. It is a small town forty-five miles southeast of Lon-
don. It is an old town and possesses a grey old parish church,
which has stood for centuries, and some of the tombs bear date,
1490, 1564 and 1591. In this old town lived Dr. Comfort Starr,
who practiced his profession of "ehirurgeon." or surgeon, and
was evidently a man of wealth, for he owned an estate and when
he came to America, brought three servants. In 1631 he was
warden of St. Mary's Church. He had two brothers, who lived
at Ashford and two sisters, Suretrust and Constant, who married
and lived at Charlestown, Mass. In 1634 he emigrated to Xew
England, with part of his family and the others came later. The
record at Sandwich tells the story of his emigration. ' ' Comfort
Starr of Ashford. ehirurgeon, three children and three servants,
embarked themselves in the good ship called the Hercules of
Sandwich of the burthen of 200 tuns, John YV itherly master, and
therein transported from Sandwich to the Plantation called
New England in America, with the certificates from the ministers
where they last dwelt, of their conversation and conformity to
the orders and discipline of the church, and that they had taken
th<' oath of allegiance and supremacy. Certificates signed,
Edm. Hayes.
Vicar of Ashford.
Jno. Honetwood,
Tho. Godfrey,
Justices.
Dated .March 21. 1634, 5.
He sailed with his three boys, the eldest about eighteen
years of age, hut there is no record of the sailing of the wife
GENEALOGY OF THE STARR FAMILIES 1403
and the younger children, though it is certain that they all came
to New England, sooner or later. He made his residence at New
Towne (Cambridge), and practiced his profession. His first
land purchase was the following: "June 19, 1638. Jonathan
Brewster of Duxbury, gent for 150 pounds sterling to him in
hand paid sould unto Comfort Starr of New Towne (als) Cam-
bridge, in Mattaehuset Bay chirurgeon all the messuage or
dwelling house, in D. wherein the said Jonathan Brewster do
live * * * also four score acres of upland and fiue acres
of meddow ground, &c." The Doctor took immediate possession
of his new purchase in Duxbury.
Some years later he moved to Boston, probably finding
Duxbury too small a town for the practice of his profession.
He died at Boston, Jan. 2, 1659-60. His wife, Elizabeth,
died June 25, 1658. They had eight children, all born in Eng-
land. The sons were Thomas, Comfort and John. Comfort
graduated from Harvard College in 1647, went to England in
1650 and became a minister. He died in Sussex in the 87th year
of his age. John lived in Duxbury and later in Boston. There
is a deed to a piece of land in Duxbury, given by John Starr,
signed by Capt. Myles Standish as a witness, dated August 28,
1655, preserved in "Pilgrim Hall" at Plymouth, Mass. Thomas
Starr was the ancestor of the families with which this paper
deals. The daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah and Lydia, all
married and lived in the neighborhood of Boston.
Thomas became a physician and was appointed "chirur-
geon" to the forces sent against the Pequot Indians, on May
17,1637. The following record is of interest : "Oct, 19, 1658.
General] Court held at Boston. Whereas Mr. Thomas Starr,
deceased, hauing left a desolat widdow and eight smale children
was ye chirurgeon of one of the companies yt went agains the
Pequotts in ansr to the request of seuerall gentn on ye behalf e
the court judgeth it meete to grannt fower hundred acres of
land to the sajd widow and children and doe hereby impower
ye Treasurer and Capt. Norton to make sale or otherwise dis-
pose of the sajd lands as may best conduce to ye benefit of the
widow and children, as they shall see meete." Many of the
1404 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
descendants of three of his sons, Samuel, Comfort and Josiah,
settled in Ohio, and we will give a brief sketch of these families.
John Starr (family number 27 in the Starr Genealogy), of
Groton, Ct, went to Nova Scotia and lived there until the break-
ing out of the Revolutionary war, when he was obliged to flee,
on account of his sympathy with the colonists. He served in
the Continental army and was granted a pension and a thousand
acres of land in what is now Franklin county, Ohio. He emi-
grated here in 1812 and built two log cabins on his land. A
part of this land is the site of the city of Columbus. He died
here in 1824. His descendants continue to live in Ohio. A
cousin of John, Major Samuel, a son of Samuel. 56. also went
to Nova Scotia and founded a family with numerous descend-
ants. He became as firm an adherent of the king as John was
an opponent, and became an influential man in the province.
William Starr, 34, a brother of John, 27, had four sons who
came to Ohio and lived on the Firelands, Thomas, Perez, William
and Jared. Thomas was born at Groton, Ct., Sept. 3, 1784. He
settled in Berlin township. See Firelands Pioneer, Nov. 1858.
He came in 1810 and lived in Berlin for many years. He was
married to Clementina Clark Feb. 5, 1814. She was a daughter
of the widow Clark, who came from Pompey, N. Y., to Florence
in 1811 and lived in the old "block house" south of Florence,
near the Sprague brick house. Two of the widow Clark's sons,
Town and Upton, lived in Greenwich and Clarksfield. Mr.
Starr's eldest son, William Eldridge, was the first white male
child born in Berlin township, his birth occurring Jan. 25, 1815.
He moved to Indiana and then to Iowa. The other son, Horace,
settled in Oberlin and died there. Thomas Starr's eldest
daughter, Julia, married Alexander Jones, of Berlinville. and
they moved to Clarksfield and lived for many years. She died
in Rochester, 0., a short time ago. Another daughter, Jane,
married Horace W. Minard, of Birmingham, and after her death,
Mr. Minard married her sister, Jennette. After the death of
Mr. Minard, she married David Ward, of Oberlin. Thomas
Starr died at Rochester, 0., Aug. 14, 1868, and his wife, who
was born April 9. 1791. died in 1873.
GENEALOGY OF THE STARR FAMILIES 1405
Perez Starr came to Ohio in 1810 and settled in Birming-
ham in 1817. He was a millwright and built a saw and grist mill
but sold out after five years and followed farming. He was born
in Groton, Ct., June 19, 1786 and died in Birmingham June
29, 1850. His wife was Nancy Randall, of Russia, N. T. His
children were Mary, born in 1813, married to Jacob W. Ott in
1847, and died in Birmingham in 189 — , leaving no children;
Lucinda, Harriett, Aurelia and Alfred, who all died unmarried;
Hiram P., born Oct. 10, 1822, married to Ann Jane Page in
1856, 2nd. to Mrs. Charlotte Jenkins in 1872 and 3rd, to Ama-
rette Norton. He died in Birmingham May 12, 1897. He left
a son and a daughter.
William Starr, born in 1775, went to Birmingham. The
first burial at that place was in September, 1818, and the next
was that of Arminta, wife of William Starr. After her death
he moved to Missouri, but died in Quincy, Illinois, in 1851.
Jared Starr came to Ohio about 1817 and settled in Huron
county (possibly in Erie, as Huron and Erie were one in 1817).
He probably moved to some other locality, as the record says
"He was a member of the Christian church, but, living in the
vicinity of the Mormons, became a proselyte to their faith, went
with them to Illinois, thence to Utah; died July 31. 1855, at
Salt Lake City. He was a high priest in the church, believed in
Joe Smith as a prophet, but rejected the doctrine and practice
nf polygamy." There were quite a number of families in the
vicinity of Birmingham who became Mormons, and it is possible
that Mr. Starr might have become a convert on account of living
in proximity to them. He had a family of nine children, most
of whom went to Utah and settled.
Jonathan Starr, 65, of Norwich, Conn., came to Ohio in
1813 and located near Akron. He left descendants in eastern
Ohio. His brother, Simon P., came to Summit county in 1827
and founded a family.
James Starr, 137, of Groton, Conn., moved to Franklin
county. Ohio, in 1815 and died in 1824. Two of his sons lived at
Carey, Ohio, and two settled in Texas. Three of his grandsons
1'nn-lif iii the Union army and two fought in the Confederate
1406 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
army. One of his sons, James Harper Starr, was Secretary of
the Treasury, under the republic of Texas.
Josiah Starr, 225, of South Farms, Conn., moved to Ohio,
where most of his family had gone, in 1831, and died in Portage
county in 1837. His son, John, went to Saratoga county, X. Y.,
in 1800 and to Huron, Erie county, Ohio, in 1S28, and settled
on a farm, where he died suddenly in 1833. John had three
sons, Josiah W., John "M. and Joseph, and a daughter, Mary,
who settled at Huron. Josiah died in 1862. His son John was
drowned at Huron in 1856. His daughter, Mary Jane, married
Franklin Pierce, a blacksmith, of Huron. John M. Starr lived
on a farm at Huron and had two sons who were farmers at
Huron, and a daughter, Mary, who married Charles A. Stine,
of Milan. Joseph Starr was unmarried. Mary Starr, the
daughter of John, married Henry A. Gilson and settled at
Huron. She died in 1863. Josiah Starr, a son of Josiah, 225,
emigrated to Ohio in 1809 and settled in Stow township, now
in Summit county, when it was an unbroken wilderness. He
raised a family of children, who scattered through the west.
John Starr, 251, moved from Catskill, N. T., to Granville,
Licking county, Ohio, in 1S14. and raised a large family. His
brother, Jason, a deaf mute, moved to Granville in 1849. Mary
Ellen Starr, a daughter of John, married Lewis C. Carr, who
was ordained pastor of the Baptist church at Birmingham, 0.,
in 1843.
Grace Starr, 268, of Middletown. Conn., in 1774, became the
second wife of Col. Return Jonathan .Meigs, who is well known
to students of Ohio history.
Eunice Starr, daughter of Timothy, 276, moved to Ohio
and afterward joined the Shakers at Lebanon, where she died,
over 80 years old. Her sister, Mercy, married Constant Rogers
and moved to Stow. Summit county, Ohio, in 1809.
Edgar Philander Starr, 298, moved from New York to
Cincinnati in 1849 and returned to New York in 1864. He was
active in church work and was secretary of the Board of Trustees
of Lane Theological Seminary.
Christopher Hamlin Starr, 302, of Middletown, Conn., in
GENEALOGY OF THE STARR FAMILIES 1407
1809, emigrated to Stow township. Summit county, Ohio, in the
same party of which Josiah Starr, 230, was a member. He
raised a large family of children who settled in Summit and
Cuyahoga counties. A grand-daughter, Mary Adeline Starr,
married Henry Lewis Osborn, of Peru, 0., and lived at Birming-
ham, afterward moving to Marengo, Ohio. Samuel Moore Starr,
326, of Middletown. Conn., moved from Steuben, N. Y., to
Hampden, Geauga county, Ohio, in 1822. He died in 1854,
leaving a son and two daughters settled in Geauga county.
Phillip Mortimer Starr, 338, of Middletown, Conn., received
a gift of land from his father in 1802, in what is now Athens
county, Ohio. He moved here at once and lived until his death
in 1857, leaving a family settled in this state. A daughter, Ann
Catherine, married Thomas, son of Thomas and Martha
(Daugherty) Welch, born in 1807 in Huron county, O. They
moved to Iowa.
William Starr, 343, moved from Middletown to Ashtabula
county, Ohio, in 1807, and then to Athens county. His only
daughter, Martha Lewis Starr, married John Welch, son of
Thomas and Martha Welch. He settled at Athens, was member
of Congress, State Senator, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio
and finally Chief Justice.
Capt. Josiah Starr, 391, moved to Danbury, Conn., in 1693,
and in the history of his descendants we find the names of many
families the same as many of the pioneers of the Firelands.
Thomas Starr, 394, had a daughter named Coziah or Keziah,
who married Eleazer Barnum. The history of their daughter,
Polly, is given in the following words: "Polly, born May 10,
1782, married (1st), Stowe, two children; (2nd) Jillson, two
children; (3rd) Ward and died about 1872 at Fairfield, Huron
county, Ohio. Another grand-daughter of Thomas Starr, Lois
Starr, was born in 1774 and married Eliphalet, SOD of James
and Hannah (.Fours Hoyl in 1795. She died in 1858 ; residence,
North Fairfield, Huron county. Ohio. Mr. Iloyt died in 1831.
Epenetua Starr, a grandson of Thomas, 394, and a brother
of Lois, was born at Danbury, Conn., in 1772. lie was five
years old when the British burned the town of Danbury. \vt well
1408 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
remembered the excitement of that day. When a young man he
moved to Cayuga county. N. Y., and in 1816 came to Green-
field township, Huron county, Ohio. He died in 1847. His
children were Hiram, Cyrenius, Orange, Sarah, Eli, Cyrus and
Hannah. Hiram married Nellie Lindsley and died in 1832.
Cyrenius settled at Plymouth and died in 1848. His wife was
Eliza McKelvy. Orange married twice and died in Greenfield in
1846. Sarah married James Easter of Greenfield and died in
1835. Eli died in 1847 in* the insane asylum at Columbus.
Cyrus married Polly, daughter of Martin Kellogg, in 1834, and
died in Greenfield in 1845. Hannah married Dean Keefer in
1842, and died in 1844. It seems strange that this whole family
of children should have died so young, between eighteen and
forty-seven years of age. Cyrenius, Orange, Cyrus, Sarah and
Hannah left children.
Noah Starr, a brother of Epenetus, moved from Skanea-
teles. X. Y, to Greenfield in 1832 and died there in 1850. His
children, who married, were Lucinda, married Anson Curtiss
Sarah, who married Anson Curtiss after the death of Lucinda
Clarinda, married Austin Hart; Mary, married John Keefer
Emory, Thomas and Elmon. They all had children, and most of
them lived in this county.
Charles Starr. 419, of Reading, Conn., lived in Butler coun-
ty. 0.. from 1821 until 1858. His brother, Julius, lived at the
same place from 1834 until his death in 1S37. Another brother,
George, lived in Butler county from 1835 until 1846, when he
moved to Dayton and died in 1869.
Ethel Starr, 471. moved from Danbury, Conn., to Board-
man township, Mahoning county, Ohio, in 1808.
Comfort. Starr. 473. a native of Danbury, lived in Patterson
and Southeast. N. Y.. until June, 1817, when he moved to Can-
field, in Mahoning county. Ohio. His wife was Abigail, daughter
of Eleazer and Keziah (Starr) Barnum. One of his daughters,
Caroline, married William Hart Husted, a brother of Samuel
Husted, the pioneer of Clarksfield, in 1S17. Her children, who
came to maturity, were Harriet, Abigail. Henry E., Edmond
J., and Hoyt L. She and the children came to Clarksfield about
GENEALOGY OF THE STARR FAMILIES 1409
1840 and Mr. Husted came later, but did not live with his wife.
After a time he went back to Danbury and was killed. Caroline
married Simon Aldrich and died at Fowler, Ohio, in 1875. Com-
fort Starr's son Ethel (a brother of Caroline) had a daughter
Mary, Mho married Orrin W. Knapp of Clarksfield. For the
history of the mother of Caroline Starr see Thomas Starr, 394.
Comfort Squires Starr, a brother of Mary, lived in Kent, Akron,
Norwalk. Ravenna, and Cleveland. Other children of Comfort,
473, settled in eastern Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
Daniel Lewis Starr, 521, moved from Greenwood, N. Y.. to
Margaretta township, Erie county, Ohio, in 1855. He was born
in 1806 and died in 1867. His children were Charles, a lawyer of
Toledo; Thirza, wife of John Ray. of Toledo; .Merrill L., of
Sandusky, former sheriff of Erie county ; Lewis A., of Castalia ;
Ella, of Newfield, N. Y.
Raymond Starr, 564, born in Danbury, moved to Penfield,
Lorain county, Ohio, in 1828. and to Elyria in 1831, and died in
1870. His sons and grandsons settled in Penfield and Elyria.
Talcott and Orrin Starr, brothers of Raymond, also settled in
Penfield.
Maj. Daniel Starr, 616, was one of the wealth}' men of Dan-
bury, Conn., and his house was burned by the British. In the
division of the Firelands, "Bull's Island" (now Johnson's
Island) in Sandusky Bay, was awarded to his estate, for his
losses. His grandson, Henry L. Whiting, sold it for $25.
Smith Starr, 668, was a. son of Peter Starr and Deborah
Smith (or Weed), and was born at Ridgefield, Conn., in 1784.
In 1805 he married Joanna, daughter of Bracy and Anna (Wild-
man) Knapp. In the fall of 1817 they moved to Clarksfield,
Huron county, Ohio, in company with Simeon Hoyt and his
family, when there was but one family living in the township.
Their children were John Taylor, born in 1806, Mary, born in
1808, Rory, born in 1810. Peter, born in 1812, Deborah Ann,
born in 1816, Smith, born in 1823, and William Knapp. born in
]si_'r>. Mr. Starr died in 1856, his wife having died ten years
before. John T. married Ortency Bills in 1831 and she died in
1841. He married Amanda. Ferry in 1S42 and moved to Kansas
1410 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
in 1857 and died in 1882, leaving a family of children in Kan-
sas. Mary married her cousin, Smith Starr Gray in 1S29, and
died in 1853. Rory married Eliza A. Smith, of Wellington in
1835 and after her death (in 1859) he married her sister Caro-
line in 1860. He died in 1872, leaving a family of children.
Peter married Rhoda Way in 1837 and lived in Clarksfield un-
til his death in 1859, leaving three children. Deborah Ann died
in 1883, unmarried. Smith died in 1848, unmarried. William
K. married Jane Arnold and died in Clarksfield in 1898, leaving
no children. Anna Starr, a sister of Smith, 668, was born in
1788 and married Abraham Gray. In 1810 they moved to Sulli-
van county. N. Y., and in 1825 to Clarksfield, where he died in
1842 and she in 1844. They raised a large family of children,
Smith S., Pamelia (1st), Erastus, Peter Starr, Deborah, Lydia,
Pamelia (2nd), Sarah, Samuel D. and Hiram, two children dy-
ing in infancy. Smith S. married Mary Starr and died in Iowa
in 1859. Pamelia (1st) died young. Erastus went to Norwalk
in 1829 and died there in 1889. He married Mrs. Eliza Parker
and left no children. Peter S. married (1st) Lucy Stiles, (2nd)
Alice Knapp, and died in Iowa in 1884. Deborah married Ed-
ward E. Husted and died in Norwalk in 1884. leaving a numer-
ous family in Norwalk. Lydia married Heniy S. Barnes and
died in Clarksfield in 1885. Pamelia married William Squire
and died in Iowa in 1867. Sarah married Hoyt Husted and died
in Clarksfield in 1863. Samuel D. married (1st) Mary Scott,
(2nd) Mrs. Anna Husted and died in Oberlin in 1905. Hiram
married Jane Rogers and lived in Kansas until his death in 1905.
Harry Starr, a brother of Smith and Anna, came to Clarks-
field in 184S. after the death of his wife, and lived until 1856.
He died at South Norwalk, Conn., in 1870. Two of his sons,
Samuel and William D„ lived at Bellefontaine, Ohio. Both
enlisted in the army at that place and rose to the rank of Cap-
tain, William losing his life in the service.
There were other Starrs who came to Ohio, but none who
founded families or remained any length of time.
Obituaries.
Baker. Mrs. Rachel R.. died at her home in North Fairfield,
December 29, 1905. Rachel Reed was born in Butler, Penn.,
February 29, 1824. In 1837 she moved with her parents to
Warren, Ohio, and a year later to Erie county. In 1843 she was
married to Giles Turner Baker, who came from Montville, Conn.,
and was a brother of the late Dr. George G. Baker and Daniel
A. Baker, of Norwalk. In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. Baker moved to
Fairfield township, where Mr. Baker died in 1865. She left five
children.
Bare, Mrs. Barbara, died at Ripley, March 6, 1906, being
nearly ninety-three years of age. She spent nearly her whole
life in Ripley. Her husband. Thomas Bare, died many years
ago.
Bartlett, Mrs. Margaret A., was a daughter of David and
Margaret Clock, of Monroeville, and was born January 26, 1823.
She was married to Ward Bartlett, April 18, 1848. They lived
at Strong's Ridge until 1866, when they moved to Wauseon,
Ohio. Here Mrs. Bartlett died on November 28. 1906. her hus-
band having died first. She left two children.
Beach, Mrs. Nora Gates, widow of Cyrus Beach, died at her
home in Ruggles township, Ashland county, (formerly a part of
Huron county), on March 22, 1906. She was born at Dansville,
N. Y., in August, 1816. She came to Ruggles when a girl and
lived on what was known as the "Beach" farm for seventy -three
years. Her husband died in 1880. She left four children.
Blish, Albert, was born in Bronsou township March 9, 1832,
and died at Norwalk. where he spent the most of his life, on
February 19, 1906. His wife (who was Miss Jennie Pearl West-
man), and a daughter survive him.
Breckenridge, Almira (Morton'), was born at Middlebury,
Vt., January 11, 1808. She was a second cousin of Vice Presi-
1412 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
dent Levi P. Morton. She was married to Myron Breckenridge
on June 21, 1831. They lived at Charlotte. Vt.. for a few years
and in 1836 they came in a covered wagon with their four small
children, to Peru, in this county. Later they moved to Ply-
mouth, then to Richmond, Ind., then to Norwalk. Mr. Breeken-
ridge died in 1887 and she lived until July 24. 1903. She left
eight children.
Brightman, Mrs. Pamela (Douglass), was horn in Elyria,
0., December 26. 1822. When a young girl she lived with her
step-father, the late Dr. Moses Sanders, in Peru township. She
married Alvin Brightman in 1842, and they lived on a farm in
Peru. She died at Norwalk on November 5, 1906. She left three
children.
Brown. Mrs. Arvilla Odell. was horn in Wayne county,
X. V.. December 21, 1830, and died in Hartland April 29. 1906.
She moved to New London with her parents about 1836, then to
Fitchville and later to Hartland. She married William Brown
July 4. 1852. lie had come to Hartland with his parents in
1837. They moved to Indiana and lived until 1861 when they
returned to Hartland. She leaves a husband and a daughter.
Burdue, M. W., was horn in Townsend township in March,
1841, in a log house which his grandfather built in 1811, when
he settled in the township. He died at his home in Townsend
June 23. 1906. He left a widow and four children.
Chandler, Eben H., was a son of Ebenezer Hunt Chandler
and Lydia Post, and a grandson of Simeon Chandler, who was
a son of Benjamin Chandler, a captain in Lafayette's army, who
came to America during the War of the Revolution. Eben was
born in Madison county. X. Y.. October 22. 1S33. He came to
Hartland with his parents in 1836 and to Clarksfield in 1840.
He died at Collins. O.. August. 18. 1906. His wife was Abbie
Bracy and she and five children survive him.
Chapman. Charles Huston, was horn in Luzerne county.
Penn., Augusl 24, 1818. He came with his father's family to
New Haven in 1837. He moved to North Fairfield in 1848. He
died there January 23. 1906. He left a wife and three children.
Mrs. Maria Gallup Dunton.
OBITUARIES 1413
Clark, Mrs. Charlotte E., died at Norwalk. January 7, 1907.
Charlotte Smith was bom in LaFayette, N. Y., May 1, 1820.
She came to Huron county in 1836. She married John J. Clark
April 5, 1847, and he died six years ago.
Cole, William H., was born in Bronson township May 12,
1839, and died at Peru, January 12, 1906. He married Hannah
Parker, who died leaving two daughters. In 1893 he married
Mrs. Judson Snyder, who survives him.
Collins, J. D., was born in Hampton, N. Y. v October 27,
1815, and died in Lyme township May 30, 1906. When a lad
he came to Ohio with his parents, locating in Lyme township
in 1839.
Couch, Mrs. Catherine, widow of William II. Couch, died
at Norwalk May 15, 1906. She was a daughter of Charles Lewis
Patch and Catherine Husted and was born in Danbury. Conn..
January 15, 1820. She came to Clarksfield township with her
parents about 1835. After her marriage she lived in Clarks-
field, Wellington, Cleveland and Norwalk. She leaves two
children.
Cunningham, Warren, was born in Florence township Au-
gust 7, 1823. When a boy he moved into what is now Huron
county and lived in Norwalk township more than seventy-five
years. He died April 6, 1906. His wife died in 1902. He left
eight children.
Dewitt, Mrs. Martha (Young), daughter of Josiah Young,
died at North Monroeville March 22, 1906. She was married
to Isaac DeWitt in 1840. She was born in North Monroeville
eighty-three years ago and lived in that place all her life.
Mrs. Maria Gallup Dunton, a former resident of Norwalk
and a pioneer of this city, died Friday afternoon, November 23,
1906, at her home in San Diego, Cal.
Mrs. Dunton was the wife of M. A. Dunton, who for years
was one of the most prominenl residents of Norwalk. About
twenty years ago the Duntons moved from Norwalk to San
Diego, where they have since resided. While living in Norwalk
Mr. and Mrs. Dunton were leading members of the Universalist
church.
1414 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
Mrs. Dunton was a pioneer resident of Xorwalk, having been
horn here on September 29, 1822. She was. therefore, eighty-four
years old at the time of her death. Her parents were Hallett
and Clarissa Benedict Gallup, her mother, being a daughter
of Piatt Benedict, who founded the village of Xorwalk in 1816.
Mrs. Dunton is survived by her husband and one daughter, Mrs.
Fannie L. Barrows, both of San Diego, and by two brothers and
two sisters, C. H. and Carroll Gallup and Mrs. Sarah Brown and
Miss Lizzie Gallup, of Xorwalk.
Edwards. Mrs. Mary (Book), was born in Switzerland in
April, 1810. She came to Xorwalk with her parents when she
was nineteen years of age. About 1839 she was married to
Ransloe D. Edwards, of Clarksfield, and they lived in Clarks-
field for a time, then moved to Xorwalk about 1847. Mr. Ed-
wards died in 1855 and the widow died February 3. 1906. She
left two children.
Filkins. Benjamin, was born in Xew York state October 24,
1826. and died at his home in Fitchville township October 18.
1906. He came to Fitchville with his parents when five years
of age. He was twice married. The first wife. Miss Martha
Ward, died about 1863. The second wife, Miss Louisa Green,
died in 1897.
Fitch, Mrs. Orlando Hollum. Harriet Bradford Comstoch
was born in Montville. Conn.. January 22. 1819. In 1822 the
family came to Ohio, stopping for a few months in Berlin town-
ship, then settling in Seneca county. Tn 1840 she was married
to Orlando Fitch and they lived in Lyme township for a year,
then moved to Sherman township and lived there until 1879,
when they moved to Monroeville where Mr. Fitch died in 1895,
and where the wife died May 3. 1906. She left three children.
Gibbs, Miss Mary B., was born in Xorwalk, Conn., Xovem-
ber 3, 1830. and died in Xorwalk. O.. Xovember 18. 1906. She
was a daughter of Stephen Gibbs and came to Xorwalk in 1835,
and lived on the same farm for seventy years.
Griffin. Orrin S.. was born in Greenwich February 13, 1S36,
and lived there until 188,5. when he moved to Xorwalk to take
OBITUARIES 1415
his office as county treasurer. He died in Norwali May 4, 1906.
On April 7, 1858, he was married to Lucinda Redfield, who died
in 1902. He left four children.
Haas, Henry, was born in Germany in December, 1833. He
came to Monroeville with his parents when but a few months
of age. He died at Monroeville April 8, 1906. leaving six chil-
dren.
Heitzman, George J., was born in France February 28,
1821. He came to this country in 1833 and died at his home
in Plymouth December 10, 1903. He was a soldier in the Mexi-
can, Indian and Civil wars.
MRS. MARY F. HESTER,
Mary, daughter of John and Margaret Finlay, was born in
Ardara. county Donegal. Ireland, October 2, 1824. Her parents
*A
with nine of their children, emigrated to America in the year
1833 and settled near Keen, Coshocton county, Ohio. May 21,
1850, she was united in marriage to .Martin M. Hester and they
1416 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
at once made their residence in Bronson, Huron county, Ohio.
Here she continued to reside until her decease which occurred
Thursday. July 5, 1906.
Mrs. Hester was the mother of three children. Win. J.,
deceased ; Catharine E., wife of Rev. E. J. V. Booth, of Dela-
ware, 0. ; and Finley, living ou the home farm in Bronson, Huron
county, Ohio.
May 21, 1900. the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Hester
was celebrated very pleasantly by the family and their many
friends.
The deceased was converted and united with the Methodist
Episcopal church at the early age of thirteen years and remained
a faithful and useful member of that church for over sixty-nine
years.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JUDGE DAVID HIGGINS.
David Higgihs was the eldest son of Rev. David and Eunice
(Gilbert) Higgins. He was born at Lyme, Conn..* August 2,
1789. His father at that time was pastor of the church at Lyme.
In 1801 his father and family removed to Aurelius, now the
city of Auburn, N. Y. During their residence there, David, Jr.,
was for two years a student at Yale College. In 1812 his father
was called to the Presbyterian Church at Bath, New York. Be-
fore this David went to Cambridge, Maryland, as tutor in a
private family. "While there he made the accpiaintance of and
married Miss Cecilia Davis of Harper's Ferry, Virginia. They
soon after removed to Angelica, New York, where he practiced
law for a few years. Their oldest son, Robert, was born here.
Before 1816 they removed to Hamilton, Ohio, performing the
journey on horseback, .Mrs. Higgins carrying their infant son
most of the time before her. In 1818 or 1819 they removed again
to Springfield, Ohio, where in 1820 their third child, a daughter,
Mary, was born. "While living in southern Ohio, he represented
Butler county in the Ohio legislature. In 1828 they removed to
Norwalk. Ohio, where he practiced law for many years through
northern Ohio, until his appointment as Circuit Judge. "While
Judge Higgins was holding court at Maumee in 1837-8, the cele-
OBITUARIES 1417
brated "Toledo war" arose, the cause being a dispute over the
boundary between Ohio and Michigan, which was decided by
Judge Higgins in favor of the Ohio contention, causing rebellion
on the part of the Michiganites, which necessitated the United
States taking a hand in the fight. Congress gave Michigan the
upper peninsula in return for the little strip she gave up to Ohio
just north of Toledo.
He resided in 1841 and 1842 in Mauniee City, after that
returning to Norwalk until, after the election of James K. Polk,
he went to Washington, D. C, where he received a clerkship in
the Treasury Department, which he retained until his death,
which occurred in 1873. His wife died in Washington in Octo-
ber, 1846. In 1848 he married Miss Letitia King of Washing-
ton, who, willi two children, a daughter and a son, survived him.
During his residence in Norwalk in 1834, his horse running
away, he. in jumping from the carriage, shattered his foot so
that amputation was necessary between the knee and ankle, so
that ever after he wore a cork leg.
Mrs. Mary Higgins Gibbs.*
Hinman, Munson S., a son of David Hinman and Mary
Squire; the latter a daughter of Joab Squire, of Florence, was
born in Clarksfield in 1838 and died at his home in Independ-
ence, 0., November 24, 1905. When he was a year old he went
away from Clarksfield with his parents.
Horner, Harriet A., born in Milan November 12, 1835, died
at Townsend December 29, 1905. She moved to Townsend with
her parents when two years of age and lived there the rest of
her life.
Howe, Milton, was born in Peru township in 1825 and died
in Oakland, California, October 27, 1906.
11 usted, Harley Hayes. — Died at Lincoln, Nebraska. Jan.
14, 1907, aged about 3j yens. He was a graduate of the State
University at Brookings, South Dakota, where for some time
*Mrs. Gibbs. niece of Judge David Higgins, was born in Bath. N.
Y., 1826. She came to Norwalk, O., 1S35. She is in her eigthy-first
year. — James O. emus.
1418 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
he was employed as a teacher of mathematics. His later years
were devoted entirely to the teaching of music, in which he
became very proficient, especially so upon the piano, violin,
cornet and other instruments. Mr. Husted was the great
grand-son of Capt. Samuel Husted. one of Clarksfield's earliest
settlers. Thomas Husted, the son of Capt. Husted, and his
wife, Agnes Nancy Frazier, a daughter of another early set-
tler of Clarksfield, were the grand-parents of deceased.
Jacobs, Mrs. Lucinda (Pettys), born in Townsend township
in 1828. died in Norwalk October 21, 1906. Her husband, Phile-
tus Jacobs, died a month before. They lived in Wisconsin from
1868 until 1890, and from the last date lived in Townsend and
Norwalk.
June, David, a son of Peter June, was born at Ithaca, N.
Y.. May 11. 1824. In 1S33 he moved to Sandusky with his
parents. In 1842 he went to Cleveland and in 1853 to Fremont
where he became a well known manufacturer. He died at Fre-
mont November 21, 1905. His wife died only a month before
his death.
Lawrence, Alonzo, born in Bronson township August 19,
1838, died April S, 1906. He was married to Electa Jane Her-
riek November 30, 1861. He spent his whole life, with the ex-
ception of four years, in Iowa, in Bronson township.
McGnckin, James, was born in Townsend township Febru-
ary 14, 1839. On January 1. 1861, he married Miss Jane Lester.
He died in Norwalk July 18, 190 — . having spent his life in
Townsend and Norwalk.
Miner, Mrs. Lydia Jane, a daughter of Warren Cooley and
Amarillus J. Seger, was born in Clarksfield in 1836. and died
at her home in Tacoma, Washington. September 2, 1906. Her
husband was D. I. Miner, and they spent some years in A. M. A.
work at Tougaloo University, and among the Indians in Wis-
consin. Her husband and three daughters survive her. One
daughter. Miss Luella Miner, is the well known principal of the
North China Woman's College.
OBITUARIES 1419
Newman, Augustine, a son of Slmbel Newman, was born
in Greene county, N. Y., March 9, 1822, and came to Bronson
township with his parents in 1834. He died at his home near
Norwalk March 22. 1906. He left a wife and two daughters.
He was a brother of Samuel F. Newman, the well known teacher.
Odell, Mrs. Larinda (Pettys), was born in Wayne county,
N. Y., April 14, 1834. "When she was eight months she came to
Townsend township with her parents. In 1853 she was married
to Samuel Odell. She died in Townsend, where she had spent
nearly her whole life. January 27, 1906. She left a husband and
one son.
Palmer, Mrs. Mary, daughter of Shubel Newman, was born
in Greene county, N. Y., May 22, 1824. In 1834 she came to
Bronson township. In 1845 she was married to Harvey Palmer
and they moved to Norwalk, where she died in 1906. She left
four children.
Pruden, Mrs. Naomi P. (Owen), was born in Seneca county,
N. Y., December 26, 1822. She came to Ohio when quite young
and was married to Ezra Pruden July 4. 1840. They were among
the pioneer residents of Norwich township. Mr. Pruden died
in 1904, and his wife followed on April 1, 1906. They lived a
wedded life of sixty-four years.
Sanders, Dr. John C, was born in Peru township July 2,
1825. He was a son of Dr. Moses C. Sanders, the pioneer physi-
cian of Peru and who settled there in 1818. His mother was
Miss Harriet Maria. Thompson. Dr. Sanders was a graduate of
Yale college, and after graduating in medicine, began his prac-
tice in Norwalk, in partnership with the late Dr. A. N. Read.
In 1857 he moved to Cleveland, where he continued in the prac-
tice of his profession until his death on December 22. 1906. He
held an honored position in his profession for many years. In
1854 he married Miss Alhina G. Smith, who died about ten
years a>_ r o. lie left three children, J. Kent Sanders. Paris.
France; Miss Albina G. Sanders, and Franklyn B. Sanders.
Sanger, Washington, was born in Oneida county, N. Y.,
October 7. 1821, and died at his home in Wakeman township
1420 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
April 6, 1906. His father died when he was quite young and
soon after his mother, with her family of children, moved to
Birmingham, 0., when Mr. Sanger was five or six years of
age. In 1850 he was married to Gitty Jane Stryker and they
lived on a farm in Wakenian township, where Mi-s. Sanger died
in 1883. He left a son.
Shank, Mrs. Sally, daughter of Alexander Twaddle and
Elizabeth Ramage, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, July 21,
1822. In 1823 she moved, with her parents, to Holmes county,
0.. and in 1835 she and a sister came to Clarksfield with two
brothers. She was married to Adam Shank, in Holmes county,
March 19, 1839, and they made their home in Clarksfield for the
rest of their days, Mr. Shank dying in 1901 and the wife on
July 18, 1906, leaving two daughters.
Slover, Mrs. Cornelia, died at her home in Olena May 29,
1906, in the ninetieth year of her age. She had lived in Huron
county since 1830. ,
Smith, Eugene, son of Col. James and Mary D. Smith, was
born in Lyme township May 17, 1832, and later moved to Belle-
vue. He was married to Miss Emily Morey April 21, 1858. In
1880 he was elected sheriff and moved to Norwalk, where he died
February 5. 1906. He left two children, Robert E. of Massillon
and Mattie D. of Norwalk.
Sowers, Colonel Edgar, a son of John Sowers, was born in
Ridgefield township August 31, 1832. After graduating from
college he lived in Missouri, but the war soon began and he re-
turned to Ohio and enlisted in the Union army. After the end
of the war he went to Cleveland and entered upon the practice
of law. He died at Cleveland February 20, 1906.
Stone, Elon A., a son of Daniel Stone and Mary Ann Wild-
man, was born at Danbury, Conn., in 1828. He came to Clarks-
field with his parents in October of the same year. He was mar-
ried to Mary Sexton July 12, 1851. They spent the rest of their
days in Clarksfield and he died there in April 18, 1904.
Stone, Mrs. Mary J., a daughter of Piatt Sexton and Delia
"Webb, was born in Clarksfield township June 17, 1825, and died
OBITUARIES 1421
there June 28, 1906. She left two children. (See preceding
notice) .
Stone. Mrs. Maria, a daughter of Sturges Hayes and Anna
Wakeman, was born in Connecticut January 20, 1827. She came
to Clarksfield with her parents about 1830. She was married to
Ezra W. Stone and they lived in Clarksfield township. He died
many years ago. Her death occurred January 23, 1907. She
left five children.
Strong, Mrs. Ann Eliza, was a daughter of Harvey Smith
and was born at Trumansburg, N. Y.. September 29, 1825. She
moved to Norwalk with her parents in 1835. In 1844 she was
married to Timothy R. Strong. She died at Norwalk October
3, 1906. She left four children. Of a family of thirteen, she
was the last to go.
Sutliff. Samuel, son of Nathan Sutliff:, died in Bronson
township August 29, 1906. He was born in Bronson in 1822.
He was unmarried.
Taylor, Benjamin Bradley, was born in Peru township in
1822 and died at Riverside. Cal., February 9, 1906. He lived
at Plymouth for many years. He married Miss Abigail Turner
about sixty years ago, and she and five children survive him.
Trowbridge. Mrs. Emma C, a daughter of John M. and
Emeline Smith, was born in Clarksfield township March 26,
1836. She was married to Milo Trowbridge. She died at her
home in Wakeman in 1906, leaving a son.
Towne, Mrs. Isabelle Catherine (daughter of John Winters
Upp and his wife, Catherine Yeizer Upp), was born in Sandusky
January 17, 1838. She was married to Sawyer P. Towne. March
4, 1861. In 1869 they moved to Norwalk. She died at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. C. O. H. Perry, at Peru, March 18. 1906.
She left three children.
Walker, George R.. was born in Sandusky. September 14,
1828. but spent his boyhood on a farm in Perkins township. In
1851 he was married to Miss Lucyra Scott. He practiced law
for fifty years in Huron, Plymouth and Norwalk, dying in tin'
1422 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER
latter place on April 19, 1906. His first wife died a number of
years ago and he married Mrs. Henrietta Ward in 1887. He left
a wife and one daughter.
Watros. Benjamin Franklin, son of William W. Watros and
Nancy Strong, was born in Fitchville township March 14, 1826.
He was married to Martha F. Kilburn, of New London, Decem-
ber 19, 1847. Nearly all of their married life was spent in New
London. Mrs. Watros died in 1905. He died at the Soldiers'
Home in Sandusky May 23, 1906. He left a daughter.
White, Mrs. Roxanna, the oldest daughter of John Denman
and Marinda Blackman, was born in Florence township Septem-
ber 30, 1824. She was married to Dr. Henry E. White April 29,
1848. They soon moved to Clarksfield and lived for a number
of years. She died at Toledo February 18, 1906. leaving three
daughters.
Whitmore, Mrs. Emily, daughter of Samuel R. Barnes and
Abigail Pierce, was born in South Britain, Conn., September
24, 1822. She came to Wakeman with her parents when about
a year old. At that time there were only two families living in
the place. After three years the famly moved to Vermillion.
She was married to T. J. Whitmore March 25. 1840. She died
at the home of her daughter in Millbury, O., September 10. 1906.
She left two daughters.
Whitney, Mrs. Roxana (Palmer), was born in Oriskanny,
N. Y., November 12, 1816. Her parents died when she was
quite young and she moved to Townsend with other relatives, in
1834. In 1840 she was married to Charles Whitney. They lived
in Townsend until 1891 when they moved to Norwalk. Mr. Whit-
ney died in 1900. She died in Norwalk at the home of her son,
Calvin Whitney, October 17, 1906. She left three sons and a
daughter.
Whitten, Mrs. Sarah J., was a daughter of Rodney and
Betsy Mason and was born in Norwalk October 10, 1836. She
was married to William W. Whitten February 22. I860, and
they settled near Clyde. O., then moved to Ottawa county, where
she died September 28, 1906. She left one son.
Contents
NEW SERIES VOLUME XVI
Paged Consecutively from New Series Volume X
ILLUSTRATIONS
Pioneer Farm 1237 : Museum, Lobby (2)
Museum 1246 I Dunton, Maria G...
Museum, Lobby (1) 1250 Hester, Mary F
1254
1415
1418
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Invocation 1209
President's Address 1210
Committee on Nominations. 1211
Business Announcement. . . . 1211
Life Members 1212
Robert Lucas Journal, War
1812 121G
Report Nominating Commit-
Election of Officers 1223
of Thanks to
Resolution of Thanks to W.
H. Cleveland
Resolution of Thanks to J.
M. Whiton
hit ion vs. Smoot.
Personal Reminiscences from
50 Pioneers 1213 to
1221
1222
1224
1244
1242
1216
1244
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS
Additions to Museum 1245
Henry Laurens, Editorial... 1256
Narrative of Henry Laurens 1259
School Reunion 1303
Rape of Ruggles Township. . 1305
The Hall of Fame 1307
Living Words 1314
John Adams and Treaty...
John Quincy Adams, Hi
Welcome to Ohio, 1843...
Relics, etc., 55th Ohio
Recruiting 55th Ohio
Early Days of Norwalk...
Genealogy, Starr Family...
1321
1338
1359
1385
1395
1403
OBITUARIES
Huron County 1413-1424
DECEMBER I, 1909
NEW SERIES VOLUME XVII.
The Firelands Pioneer
FIRELANDS MISTORICAL SOCIETY
HEADQUARTERS IX
THE FIRELANDS MEMORIAL BUILDING
NORWALK, OHIO
DECEMBER I, 1909 PRICE SO CENTS, POSTAGE 8 CENTS
NEW SERIES VOLUME XVII.
The Firclands Pioneer
I'l 1:1 Islllli llY THE
FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
111 \l>i;i Mil I lis
THE FIRELANDS MEMORIAL BUILDING
NORWALK, OHIO
OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1909-1910.
Hon. C. II. Gallup. President Norwalk, Ohio
Hon. (' P. Wickham, First Vice-President Norwalk, Ohio
Hon. Thos. M. Sloane, Second Vice-President. .Sandusky. Ohio
Hon. S. E. ( Irawford, Treasurer Norwalk. Ohio
Lucy Strutton, Librarian Norwalk, Ohio
Geo. F. Titus, Assistant Librarian Norwalk, Ohio
Dr. A. Sheldon, Secretary Norwalk. Ohio
Hon. C. II. Gallup, Curator of Museum Norwalk, Ohio
Dr. F. E. "Weeks. Biographer Huron County. . Clarksfield, Ohio
John McKei.vy. Biographer Erie County Sandusky. Ohio
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES.
The President and Secretary, Ex-Officio,
W. W. Whiton, Wakeman, Hon. -T. F. Lanino, Norwalk.
George F. Titus, Norwalk. G. S. Mordoff, Norwalk.
A. S. Prentiss, Norwalk.
PUBLISHING COMMITTEE.
Hon. C. 11. Gallup, Norwalk.
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
OF
Forty-Ninth Annual Meeting
OF THE
Firclands Historical Society
FIRELANDS MEMORIAL ROOMS. PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING.
NORWALK, OHIO. JULY 4, 1907.
MORNING SESSION.
The annual meeting of the Firelands Historical Society was
called to order in the main room of the Public Library Building,
by Hon. C. H. Gallup, Vice-President, at 10 a. m.
The meeting was in the nature of a Golden Jubilee, being
the fiftietb anniversary of the organization of the Society.
Mr. Gallup said :
Ladies and Gentlemen, Pioneers: We have asked you here
todaj I hat yim might commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of
the organization of 'Ph.' Firelands Historical Society, and that
you might commemorate the one hundred and second anniversary
of the extinguishment of the Indian title to the Firelands, more
than the Firelands. — to that part of the Western Reserve wesl
of tlie Cuyahoga river to the line .me hundred and twentj miles
west from the west line of Pennsylvania, and further, that yon
might in a sane and sensible way celebrate the one hundred ami
thirty-first anniversary of the independence of the Tinted States.
1428 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
I would say before we go further President Sloane is un-
able to be here today because of the infirmities of age and. as
Vice-President, it has fallen upon me to preside at this meeting.
That we may fittingly open these exercises I now call upon
Rev. Forrer to lead in prayer.
Invocation by Rev. Forrer:
Lord, our glorious and merciful Father, we recognize
Thee as our help in ages past., and as our hope for years to
come. Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Our fathers and our fathers' fathers steadied themselves and
braced themselves in Thee, and through Thy grace and imputed
power were enabled to overcome the adversary and to put to
flight the armies of the alien, to subdue kingdoms, to work
righteousness and to bequeath unto us a glorious heritage.
God of our fathers, be with us yet lest we forget, and be
Thou, we beseech, the rock of our hearts, the ballast of our lives,
our shield and our exceeding great reward.
Enable us. we beseech Thee, as worthy sons of honorable and
faithful sires, to carefully preserve our inheritance of life and
liberty and beloved country. To this end. do Thou preserve
us- from all calamities, from pestilence and famine, from war,
from secret conspiracy and open rebellion, and especially,
Lord, from all public sins and corruptions. Help us to love the
good and to eschew the evil. Make us strong and great in the
fear of God and in the love of righteousness, that being blest
of Thee, we may be a blessing to the nations of earth.
And now we commend Thy benediction upon the Society
here represented and upon the exercises of this day. Bless, we
beseech Thee, every one who shall participate in this day's pro-
gram, that he may acquit himself to his own credit and to the
edification and instruction of those who hear.
Guard us, we beseech Thee, through life, shielding us from
temptations that may beset us, and unto Thee, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, shall be all honor and majesty, all glory, dominion
and power, now and Eorevermore. Amen.
Mr Gallup:
The program calls for the election of officers for the ensuing
PROCEEDINGS. 1429
year at this meeting. 1 have this matter to suggest to the
pioneers and members of the Society. Judge Sloane. who has
been our President for quite a number of years and under whose
administration we have been enabled to secure a home for the
Society, is well advanced in years, and he has indicated a pur-
pose on his part not to accept a reelection. We have written
asking him to reconsider that determination, to which we have
received no reply. I would say that the constitution of this
Society provides that officers shall hold their offices until their
successors are elected and qualified. I would like to see Judge
Sloane remain as President of this Society, even though he may
not be physically able to perform the duties of the office. He is
entitled to the honor of holding the office of President of this
Society. I do not feel authorized to say that he woidd accept
if we .should reeled him. but if we should fail to hold an election
at this meeting, he certainly would hold over until his successor
is elected and qualified.
1 dow ask whether you want to carry out the program and
have an election at this meeting, or will you let it go over?
Mr. Sheldon : I move that a committee of three be appointed
to decide whether we shall have an election or not, the chair to
name the committee.
Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Mr. Gallup: I will name upon that committee Mr. Martin
Hester, Mr. J. M. Whiton and Mr. Isaac McKesson. You will
report at the afternoon session whether we shall have an election
or not.
The Society was Eavored with a vocal solo by Mr. B. B.
Wickham.
The next number I'll thr program was a paper by Dr. A.
Sheldon mi
"REMINISCENCES OF UNDERGROUND RAILROADS."
Ladies am! Gentlemen, Members of the Pirelands Historical
Society :
'Phis essaj or reminiscence will mostly concern the Society
nf Quakers, or Friends as they are now called, who settled on
1430 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
the Pirelands in the township of Greenwich aboul the year 1831.
They built a Log church and about ten years later built a large
frame church. It was located one-half mile east of the township
center, at the northwest corner of the farm owned by my father.
Many of my friends and relatives were members of this Society.
While I have no means of knowing the number of members, it
must have been near one hundred and twenty-five.
This soon became an active and important station on the
Underground Railway. While there were homes here and there
in other townships in the southern part of the Firelands which
were stations. 1 know of no other locality, where, with few ex-
ceptions, the entire community were friendly to the negro. And
just here I want to record the names of some of those heroes.
At the head of the Society was Willis R. Smith, who at that time
was the principal preacher. He was liberally educated for an
Episcopal minister. Next. I mention Joseph Healey and his
son. Jacob, who were also preachers; John L. Eddy, another
preacher; John Jenney and his sons. Benjamin and Abraham;
James and Joseph Bartlett; Humphrey Gifford; Benoni Coutant.
and many others. There were also quite a number of others,
not members of the Friends Society, who held office on the
Underground Railway. Cyrus H. G, Mead, living south of the
Center, a genuine Down-East-Conn. Yankee; Luther Mead, liv-
ing in the northwest part of the township, another New Eng-
lander-. my father. Rufus Sheldon, also of New England stock —
any of these could be depended upon as conductors or engineers
where the passengers were headed for the North Star.
Well 1 remember the quietness and secrecy that seemed to
pervade all nature when a train had to be made up. While we
boys were not told much about what was doing, we soon came
to know that an Ethiopian was somewhere in the vicinity.
Another first-class station was at Alum Creek in Morrow
county where there was a large society of Friends. This station
was too far from Greenwich to make a safe run, especially if they
were pursued. There were quite a number of stations in Rich-
land county where stops could be made when necessary. Two
stations were located just west of .Mansfield. Each had excellent
PROCEEDINGS. 1431
accommodations. One was kept by James Roe, the other by John
Phinney — these stations were about four miles apart. 1 have
heard the following incident regarding Phinney: At the time
he had three negroes secreted in his corn crib. lie received a
"grapevine" message thai the two owners would probably be
there early in the morning. Of course his plans were soon ar
ranged. Just before breakfast two gentlemen rode up wishing
to see Mr. Phinney. He very graciously invited them to alight
and hare breakfast and they accepted his invitation. In seating
them at the table he placed them so they could not see the corn-
crib, while he had full view of it. Soon after they were seated
he gave the hired man, who was outside, a prearranged sign to
hitch up. take the niggers and "git." The blessing consumed a
long time, and it is reported that the family ate very slowly
that morning. After breakfast Mr. Phinney took down the old
family Bible, remarking that it was their custom to have family
worship before beginning the active duties of the day. The
Southerners hesitated somewhat, but could hardly do less than
acquiesce. Mr. Phinney very slowly read the 119 Psalm, then
kneeling so that the old clock was in view, he prayed for one
hour. By that time, the negroes were well under way to the
next station.
My informant told me that nearly all the passengers who
came over th.it route were ticketed by the way of Greenwich.
The Palmers of Pitchville maintained a station on the Under-
ground.
There was also a station in Hart land, kept by James Lee.
Lee was a big brawny fellow and was never known to let any
slaveowner interfere with or thwart his plans. A little north
of Milan was a Friends' settlement of Hathaways. The home
of Peter Hathaway sheltered many a negro on his way to free
dom. < tn one occasion two negroes took an evening tram from
Greenwich for Hathaway Station. On arriving they were in-
formed thai an acquaintance from the Southland was awaiting
them in Sandusky, Ohio. Peter and his good wife were equal
to the occasion. Having secured women's mourning suits, they
left for Sandusky. The negroes attired in deep mourning wear
1432 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
ing heavy veils, each supported on the ami of a man. went to
the landing. The boat was waiting and the slaveowner was
standing on the gang-plank. Peter approached him, saying.
"Will thee please stand aside and let these ladies on the boat?"
As soon as they were aboard, the boat left the dock. The negroes
were on d,eck and taking off their veils, bid their master an
affectionate farewell. The owner, in great rage, turning to Peter,
said: "I will follow them to hell." Peter replied. "Thee had
best go the other way, thee will not find these people there."
It suits the purpose of this paper to make a little digression
from the Underground on the Firelands. Some time late in '50.
I began attending school at Oberlin. This was at the time of the
Wellington Rescue Case, a brief history of which may not be
uninteresting. In 1856 a negro, John Price, was received and
protected by Oberlinites. His master, John G. Bacon, in Sep-
tember, '58. learned that Price was in Oberlin. He immediately
took steps for his capture. He sent one B. P. Mitchell with
papers to consummate the arrest and return of Price. Mitchell,
afraid to go into Oberlin after him. secured the service of a
treacherous farmer living about, three miles from Oberlin. The
farmer's son persuaded Price to take a ride and when a short
distance outside of town. Price was captured and by a circuitous
route taken to Wellington to get a train on the Big Four. But
the fates were against the kidnappers. On the way to Welling-
ton they were met by two boys on horseback going to Oberlin.
The town was soon apprised of the kidnapping. This was
about 2 p. m., and in an incredible short time, at least two hun-
dred men and boys were on their way to Wellington. Arriving
there the number was augmented to five hundred. The rescuers
went at once to the hotel and demanded the release of the negro.
The captors were terribly frightened; however, they were soon
assured that no harm could come to them personally. The South-
erners tried to get Price to make a speech saying that he wished
to go back to the Southland. Finally he appeared and made
this memorable speech — "Gentlemen: I want to go back — be-
cause — because — I 'spose I must." It is hardly necessary to add
that John did not go South. After a few weeks maneuvering
PROCEEDINGS. 1433
on the part of the slaveholders, bills of indictment were found
against thirty-seven citizens of Oberlin, and warrants for their
arrest were issued. Among them were many prominent citizens.
Such men as Prof. H. E. Peck, J. M. Fitch, Chas. Langston,
Simeon Bushnell, Hon. Ralph Plumb. They were confined in
the Cuyahoga county jail for months. They were offered their
freedom on their own recognizance, which freedom they scorned
to accept. The story of their prison life would make a volume
by itself. While there they published a bi-monthly paper called
the "Rescuer." As I remember it, a more appropriate name
would have been the "Hornet." On the fifth day of April,
'59, the preliminary began. Hon. R. P. Spaulding, Hon. A. G.
Riddle and S. 0. Griswold volunteered their services for the
defense. The trial lasted for weeks, causing intense excitement
throughout the whole country. After remaining in jail three
months the cases were nollied and then came the triumphal re-
turn home. Such a homecoming; such a welcome, no words of
mine can paint. A special train brought them from Cleveland
and with them scores of others, among them prominent citizens
of Cleveland and other cities. Thousands gathered at the depot
to greet them. Amidst the thundering of cannon and inspiring
martial music they left the train. Prof. Monroe in a thrilling
speech made the address of welcome, closing with these words:
"Erect as God made you, you went into prison. Erect as God
made you, you have come out of prison. Welcome, thrice wel-
come. Fathers of Liberty." The vast company then repaired
to the First Church, which was soon filled to its utmost capacity,
and then began a meeting, which I believe has never had its
counterpart in the history of this, or any other country. I will
not attempt a description. Among the speakers were Joshua R.
Giddings. and you who were privileged to know Giddings in the
strength and vigor of his manhood, may imagine something of
what this opportunity offered to him. Among those who came
from Cleveland to witness the occasion was Gray, or as he was
called, Deacon Cray, one of the editors of the Plain Dealer. It was
understood that Gray had come to write for his paper an abusive
article about the meeting. Gray was given a Bea1 on the plal
1434 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
form as a reporter, which took all the sting out of his article, and
instead, he sent in his account highly eulogizing the meeting. This
greatly angered the Democratic Press throughout the country.
Mr. Gray afterwards became a republican, left the Plain Dealer.
and fought in the war with the Union Army. On the morning
following the meeting. Prof. Monroe and Giddings were walking
out and met Deacon Gray on the corner near Pitches' Book
Store. Prof. Monroe introduced them. As they shook hands.
Giddings remarked, that he felt an editorial thrill run through
his system. Cray retorted, that he thanked God that he was able
to send a thrill through one of these black republicans. You
should have seen the twinkle in the eye of Giddings as he came
back with. "I am glad In find a democrat that thanks God for
anything. ' '
These were days when history was being made by leaps
and bounds. Oberlin then despised and almost forsaken on ac-
count of her devotion to the cause of human liberty — today,
respected and honored throughout the entire land.
hi conclusion, 1 turn again to the Kin-lands. 1 know of no
greater honor that can come to this Society than to have recorded
the history of these noble men and women, who were among the
early pioneers in the settlement of the Firelands, but pioneers
in a greater sense in the struggle for the downfall of that relic
of barbarism, Human Slavery. Their place in the history of
tins country is beside Wm, Lloyd Garrison; Wendell Phillips.
Salmon P. Chase; Edwin M. Stanton; Joshua R. Giddings and
Benj. F. Wade. Though they were in the humbler walks of life,
they knew the right and knowing dared maintain it. They were
of those who lit the torches that built the furnace tires that were
to melt the shackles from the limbs of millions of human beings.
1 am proud to have known them and thankful that the years of
my boyhood and young maul 1 were spent in their midst.
Their memory remains with me as a benediction. 1 close
with a poem l>\ Emily C. Huntington, written -Inly 4th. 1859.
Miss Huntington had just graduated from oberlin. She after-
wards became the wife of John Miller, who was one of my in-
structors.
PROCEEDINGS.
A SONG FOR FREEDOM.
A song for Freedom! let it ring
Tn wild and stirring rhyme.
Fit for the glowing lips to sing.
When beating hearts keep time ;
For all the hills are blushing- red.
A glorious morn is breaking.
And earth is thrilling- to the tread
Of Freedom's hosts awaking.
Through the long night we only heard
The distant warder's cry,
And here and there a soul gave back
The watchword in reply:
Now. full and clear above them all,
The bugle notes are sounding.
A thousand voices swell the call.
A thousand hearts are bounding.
From lip to lip along the lines.
The battle-cry rings out:
"God speed the right!" then loud and high
The kingly leaders shout :
"Now witli your good swords flashing bare,
O host of GOD'S anointing!
Look to the heavens ! and follow where
The beacon star is pointing!"
Tin. Tyrants! ye who dared In steal
The pearl ye could no1 win,
Who thought to crush with iron heel
The free-horn soul within ;
Bowed to the dust beneath your sway,
Our hearts spring up tin- stronger;
LO. FREEDOM takes the crown to-day
And falsehood rules no longer.
1436 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
We cannot fail, while day by day,
In every cottage home,
Young children kneel, and softly pray.
"Thy heavenly kingdom come!"
So courage, heart! for come it must.
That kingdom high and glorious,
The tyrant's power shall fall to dust,
And truth shall reign victorious.
Emily C. Huntington.
Brooklyn, Conn., July 4. 1859.
Mr. Gallup : Dr. Weeks of Clarksfield has a question he
wishes to ask.
Dr. Weeks : I see the faces of a good many aged men be-
fore me, and I think it would be interesting to know how many
had taken an actual part in an underground rescue. Perhaps
a little experience would be interesting.
Mrs. Reed: Are the women included?
Mr. Gallup : Certainly.
Mrs. Reed : I can say that I helped cook for them when
they came to our house. One time fourteen came at once. My
father kept an underground station. A white man came with
them ; his grandmother owned the slaves, the estate was insolvent
and they were about to be sold. He brought them in a wagon,
sold the wagon and came across to Ohio. There were five men.
four women, this white man. and the rest were children We
kept then) hid in the barn and back of the orchard, and then
put women's clothes on the men and drove them to Sandusky.
A great many came to our house. One woman had walked
nine hundred miles and carried a child five years old who had
a fever. She had been a waiting maid and had traveled all
through the eastern states before she ran away. Her husband
was owned by a planter in an adjoining part of the township.
This child was the last that hadn't been sold South, and when
they found out that it was to be sold, they made up their minds
that they would run away. They started at the same time, but
she never saw anything of her husband. She had to feed the
PROCEEDINGS. 1437
child on berries and travel just by night. When she got to the
Ohio river, she saw a man rowing. He said, "You want to go
across, don't you?" He said, "I am your friend." She could
hardly persuade herself to trust him, but finally she did. He
told her to go across to the big white house and that the people
there would take care of her. Our folks gave her clothes. Her
husband had gone on the night before and left word that he
would be on the other side and would be waiting for her.
Mr. Gallup : What year was that ?
Mrs. Keed : I couldn't say, but I think it was in about '58.
Mr. Gallup: Will you tell us the name of your father?
Mrs. Reed: Lemuel Sherman.
Mr. McKesson : I was at Sandusky and helped to ship some
negroes to Canada. Judge Sloane took an active part in helping
them get away also.
Mr. Warner: While I have no personal knowledge of any
of these things, yet as a student of history, I am very much
interested in bringing all the light that can be thrown upon them
for the benefit of those who come after us. This feeling in part
may be due to my position as Superintendent of the Public
Schools in the western part of the county in Lyme township.
You are all familiar with the Strong's Ridge road, along which
settled a large number of New England people. There were a
great many stations of this underground railway along that
road. I have frequently talked with a gentleman by the name
of Samuel Miller who for many years kept a livery stable in
Bellevue. He was very active in forwarding these people along
the Maumee and Perrysburg road westward. I would like to
hear from Miss Helen Barnard, who, I think, has been in touch
with the people of that neighborhood, and can possibly name
some of the parties who were instrumental in that work in Lyme
township.
Miss Barnard: I can say but very little and that only from
what I have heard of what was done along the Strong's Ridge
road for the rescue of the colored people. My father's uncle.
Mr. Calvin Barnard, father of Henry Barnard, was. 1 under
1438 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
stand, quite active in helping people along this way to freedom.
And then there was Abner Strong, who lived two miles this side
of Bellevue, who was another very active helper. Dr. Charles
Smith was another. I heard one of his sons say that his father
very often found it necessary to send a load of eornstalks to
Fremont, and that these loads always went at night, and that
while he had no personal knowledge of it, he always thought
that some of these people were secreted under the eornstalks.
I have heard my mother speak of dark-skinned people coming
to her door after night and inquiring for Abner Strong, and
that she had no doubt they were negroes trying to get to the land
of freedom. Mr. Worthington Nims was a helper also. I have
looked up nothing and have perhaps forgotten some of them.
Prof. Wright : 1 would say that I was in Oberlin at the
time of the Oberlin rescue of which Dr. Sheldon has spoken,
and had some part in that rescue. I started with the crowd for
Wellington. I was rather a small boy, only weighed one hun-
dred and twenty pounds, and a larger man came along and said
he thought he ought to go instead of me. so they pushed me
out. I want to state one thing in addition to that. We won-
dered for a Icmg time what became of John, when 1 he was kept.
A classmate of mine ran him out of the hotel on his shoulders.
He disappeared in Oberlin. We found out afterwards that
President Fairchilds kept him in his house. .Mrs. Kennison.
President PairchilcPs daughter, now tells me (she was a girl
of ten or so then) that she held her breath ami trembled while
he was in her father's house. If they had heard it. they would
have confiscated his property.
I do not know as you understand how this Oberlin-Welling-
ton rescue came to an end. I was repeatedly out to Cleveland
to see the rescuers, Chase and Wade and the others. There
came a lull in the proceedings. There was an adjournment Eor
some weeks and these witnesses went down home 1" Kentucky.
Then when they were to begin the trial again, they came back,
and meanwhile an order had been made out for their arrest for
kidnapping, as they had not shown proper evidence that he was
PROCEEDINGS. 1439
a. slave. They were taken to Lorain county. Almost immediately
arrangements were made to have all the proceedings quashed.
While you are speaking of underground railroads, my wife
was from a Quaker community in the southern part of the state.
Her father was arrested for freeing a slave. The trial in which
Tom Corwin volunteered his services was among the distin-
guished trials of that time.
I say these reminiscences are of immense importance. I
hope you will have them put on record. They will soon pass
out of mind. It is of immense importance to the future that
specific records lie kept of your Society proceedings.
Mr. Peck: Mr. Ransom, who was with me just a few mo-
ments ago, could tell this incident to you better than I can. It
is an incident in regard to our worthy President, Hon. Rush
Sloane.* He says that for his assistance and the part he took
in one rescue, he was brought before the Tribunal of the state,
that the Supreme Court decision was given against him. which
cost him $5,000. Mr. McKelvey, could yon tell us more about
this?
Mr. McKeiv.-y: I rememher something ahoul it. There
was a fine entered against him. People around through the
country sent in contributions, so that just how much of it he
had to pay. I cannot say. I of course remember more or less
aboul it personally.
In Sandusky. I used to assist in getting the colored people
onto boats to take them across to Canada. There was a man
there by the name of Reynolds who would keep track and know
I chanced to be in Oherlin at the time Prof. Wright was
speaking of the matter there.
I rememher when Judge Sloane was appointed to defend the
colored people, lie took them into a private room to talk with
•See Underground Railroad of the Firelands, Vol. V— July, 1888, p.
28; The Ohio Fugitive Slave Law. Vol. V— July, lSSS. p. 60: Some
Experiences in Abolition Times. Vol. V — July, 1888, p. S:i; The Ordi-
nance of 1787. Vol. VII— January. 1894, pp. 89-91.
1440 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
them and suggested that they get out of the window, which they
did, and they got away.
I remember when I was a boy in Plymouth, there was an
underground railway station at the farm of Mr. Bly, north of
Plymouth. One time he kept three or four colored men at his
place in the barn, covered with hay. At another time, when the
Southerners were following them up, he put some of them in
the smokehouse, and had it arranged so that smoke was coming
out of the house, and in that way, they were not discovered and
got away.
Voice: There was a station in Wakeman kept by Deacon
Isaac Todd.
Mr. Gallup: The accumulating of history is never com-
plete. We are accumulating it today, and when tomorrow comes,
it will be growing. At our next meeting, we will have other
stories to tell, so history is never complete.
The year 1909 will be the one hundredth anniversary of the
first settlement in the township of Norwalk in 1809. We are
talking now of having a home week, asking all those who have
ever resided in the township and are now away, to come back
and spend the week. Of course that will include all who want
to come and visit with us. We shall probably perfect arrange-
ments for that when the time conies.
Dr. Sheldon : I move you that we adjourn to 1 :30 as per
the program, but that we meet at 1 :00 for the presentation of
relics and the reading of some letters that have been sent to us.
Motion seconded and carried.
Adjournment.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Meeting called to order at 1:00 p. m. by Hon. C. H. Gallup.
Presentation of relies by Mr. Sheffield as follows: A bundle
of white oak lath taken from 238 East Main St.: an old brass
candlestick which we had longer ago than I can remember, and
I am seventy-eight years old: a New York Tribune containing
PROCEEDINGS. 1441
the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the surrender of Lee;
an old calico apron with flags and cannon balls upon it; two
Chinese idols brought here sixty-one years ago ; a pepper box
used in England in 17S5, and a hand bag in 1823; a cushion
made and sold by Indians at Niagara Falls in 1856; a silver
thimble used by Mary Hudson in 1795, and an old jewel box
used in 1750 in Sussex, England.
Dr. Weeks : Here is an old foot warmer. They filled this
with coals of fire. It is donated by Sumner A. Wing, and was
brought to Ohio by his parents about 1838.
Here is an old Olney's Geography and Atlas. The geogra-
phy was printed in 1851.
Speaking of the days of slavery, this is a bill of sale of a
negro slave in 1754, made in New York. It came to Abel Weeks,
one of my ancestors.
Mr. Hester : Here is a picture of my family. My father came
here in 1827 and I have lived on the Pirelands ever since. I am
very thankful for the privileges and blessings we have had. We
should feel very grateful to those noble pioneers, and to those
who have gathered this history from the earliest records. God
has been very merciful to us. While other lands have been
visited by earthquakes, flood and fire, famine and pestilence,
God has favored this land. We have always had plenty, so that
we could realize the promise, "It is more blessed to give than to
receive."' When India, China and Japan have been in need, we
have been able to supply them and send support to them, not
only temporary, but the gospel which is of much greater value.
II' 'iv is a family history I have gotten up. It contains one
hundred and sixty years of record. I am thankful that there
have been useful men in the church ami in the state.
Mr. Gallup: This lath was homemade. Mr. Sheffield told
you where it came from. It was split and in the same way that
shingles u.^-d to hi' made in the early days. It was called roven
lath. This lath came from the house of Simon F. Rogers. Thai
house is associated with the proudest day of my life. Simon F.
Rogers was ;i si maker, lie made mi' my firsl pair of boots.
1442 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
Mr. Russell Prentiss of Monroeville presents Volume 2,
No. 3 and Volume 4 and Volume 8 of the old series of the
Pioneer to us. They are valuable. If any one has any of these
old numbers, you will help us by bringing them in.
M. W. Lowe presents a box of Indian arrows.
Miss Moss presents a sampler worked by Mrs. Daniel Moss
of Pittsfield. Mass.. I understand somewhere about 1812. Miss
M>.ss also presents this old sunshade.
This bonnel and cape were worn about fifty years ago by
Clarissa Gallup, my mother. They show the tooth of time in
quite a number of places.
This is a handkerchief which is aboul seventy years "hi. It
belonged to my grandmother. Mrs. Piatt Benedict. This old
fan. which is about fifty-five years old. belonged to my mother.
These are given by my sister. Elizabeth Gallup.
A banknote issued by the State Bank of Morris, N. J.. Sept.
1st, 1869, presented by Mrs. Reed.
Here is a flag of the Moro tribe in the Philippines, sent by
Dr. Van Dusen. who placed that large collection of Philippino
curios in the museum below.
Following the presentation of relics, Mrs. Harter sang a
solo.
Mr. Gallup: Ladies and gentlemen, I remember when I
was a schoolboy reading in one of the old readers or somewhere
the statement that. "The world is round like a ball." I guess
that is pretty true. It is a curious old world. It is whirling
around from west to east, and most of us think the sun is going
west. Did ever any of you know that some time in the past,
thousands, tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands
of years ago, the equator wasn't where it is now and the arctic
circle was here, and that sportive creature, the glacier, was pil-
ing up cobblestones all over your farms and covering the face
of the country with those granite eanucks that have bee» in
the way of the agriculturist for generations. Now they are
using them for building houses; the beautiful library at Clyde is
built of these eanucks, or "niggerheads."
PROCEEDINGS. 1443
This is a queer old world. It has wobbled, and the North
Pole that used to be so close is now so far away that even Peary
cannot find it.
But we have a man here today who has been on the track
of these festive glaciers and has followed them through
the terminal moraines of Ohio, through Europe and Asia.
Wherever they have left a trace he has noted it. I have the
pleasure now of introducing to you, that preacher, that author,
that scientist. Professor G. Frederick Wright of Oberlin.
"THE FIRELANDS DURING THE GLACIAL PERIOD."
Mr. President. Members of the Firelands Association, Ladies
and Gentlemen :
The foundations of this structure which you are rearing on
the Firelands were laid long ago and very deep. Twenty years
ago your presiding officer kept the record of a well which pene-
trated that foundation to a depth of twenty-seven hundred feet,
or more than half a mile. The record is as follows. — drift,
seventy-six feet. Drift means the material that was ground up
by the glacier and left scattered over the country. The differ-
ence between your drift in the Firelands and our drift in Ober-
lin is that the grist that was ground up is better quality than
ours. The mud is seventy-five feet deep in Oberlin when you get
it stirred up to the bottom. A distinguished author said that
he knew it was two and a half feet deep and that he would take
the rest on my word.
Seventy-six feet of drift. Then you come to three hundred
feet of shale. That is the black shale that you have underneath
you here. Then you have one hundred feet of corniferous lime-
stone. That is the limestone at Sandusky, and that they are
quarrying so extensively at Kelleys Island. Then you come to.
several hundred feet of Helderberg limestone in which gypsum
is found. That appears west of Sandusky at Put-in-Bay. Then
below that is the Niagara limestone, the same stratum of lime-
stone over which Niagara Falls plunges. There is some two hun-
dred feet of that. Then you come to the Clinton group that lies
1444 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
underneath the Niagara, then to the Medina shales and various
other shales and slates running down several hundred feet, un-
til finally you come to the Trenton rock, out of which you get oil.
All that is underneath you. Now the story which that tells
is told in a remarkable way in the collection of specimens which
you have here, better preserved than anywhere else. You have
specimens of those rocks in that remarkable shelf containing
those cases with the sand that came up with them. Let us begin
at the bottom and very briefly recount the story told in each
one of those cases.
At the time when this history begins, which was somewhere
about ten million years ago, this was an interior sea. The oldest
land in America is to the north of us and east, east of the Alle-
gheny Mountains and north of Lake Huron, and all this Missis-
sippi Valley was an interior sea into which were pouring streams
from every side. The Trenton limestone is made up of fossils.
Above that are the shales. You see the lake here after a storm
and the mud goes out for a certain distance and there it settles
and is undisturbed. For untold ages this mud was slowly ac-
cumulating until hundreds and thousands of feet thick, then
interspersed with strata of limestone, which means a condition
of things in which these fossils could live.
At Sandusky there are remarkable limestone quarries.
There is the Helderberg limestone in which gypsum is found.
I was asked two or three years ago to go down to Gypsum to
give testimony concerning the gypsum, as to whether that gyp-
sum was a continuous stratum under the rocks west of San-
dusky. It was very interesting to study the situation. We find
the gypsum is older than the salt in that region. It is all the
product of a sea that has dried up. It was a comparatively
shallow sea that dried up as the Caspian Sea is today drying
up. At Cleveland you will go down three thousand feet to find
the bed of gypsum, while west of Sandusky it is found at a
depth of fifty or one hundred feet.
You have some very remarkable things at Put-in-Bay which
belong to this lower Helderberg limestone. Crystal Cave is
PROCEEDINGS. 1445
' I ■«!■
probably the most remarkable thing of its kind in the world.
I used to take my class down to Green Island to see those beauti-
ful blue crystals of celestite. But a man found a cave at Put-in-
Bay big enough to hold thirty or forty men. Aladdin's cave is
scarcely anything compared with it.
The corniferous limestone is almost wholly made up of
fossils. It is most valuable for building and for making lime,
and is carried over almost all the country for these purposes.
There is no such thing as waste in the limestones of Sandusky
and Kelleys Island. You know they came down there to get the
building stone for the Soo Canal.
We have preserved over on those islands most remarkable
glacial grooves. Almost all of them have been quarried away,
except one single specimen fifty feet wide and one hundred feet
long. We have preserved this to show the wonders that the
glacial period left in that place.
Then above that is this black shale, some three or four hun-
dred feet thick underneath you. This is a deep sea deposit. In
that we find most remarkable fishes and seaweed. That
is a remarkable deposit, both for this history and for the
future. You have not found just in this vicinity the re-
markable fishes, but they have found them in Vermillion.
There is one fish something like a shark, with jaws as large as
my arm. A single specimen of that fish found in Lorain county
has been sold to Harvard College for $1,200. and another speci-
men to Columbia College for an equal amount. We have a few
partial specimens in Oberlin.
I was in London a little over a year ago and went into the
British Museum. Just before I went, during the St. Louis
Exposition, I received a telegram from Mr. Woodworth, curator,
wanting to know if I would be at home. I knew that I was Dot
the man he wanted to see, but my associate, Prof. Albert Wright.
Albert is the fish man and I the glacier man. I telegraphed him
to come on. He came and spent a couple of days, and then we
went up to Berea where Dr. Clark, an ordinary, homespun man.
had made the most remarkable collection of those fishes in the
1446 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
world. His house was full of them. When I got to England,
Mr. AY. asked me to come down and see our Western Reserve
fishes. There on a whole side of a room in the British Museum,
in the most conspicuous place, our fishes were preserved. Thus,
in order to study these things, you must go to New York or
Boston, or most of all to London, to study the foundations upon
which we stand.
Professor Claypole made an interesting discovery. He
found a little bit of a fish, a little longer than my finger, of a
peculiar class and forming the only known specimen of the
kind, right where the belly of a shark was. The shark had evi-
dently swallowed it, and there it was preserved upon the walls
of the British Museum.
This shale is of very great interest. While I was in college,
we didn't know much about petroleum. They were beginning
to use coal oil. We now know that this black shale contains
ten to twenty per cent of carboniferous metal. That is what
makes it black. You can almost run your sleds on our Oberlin
clay when it is wet. When the coal is exhausted, we would be
able to make coal oil from our shale for 25e. a gallon. So that
when gas. oil and coal disappear, they will find this deep foun-
dation full of richness which they can extract.
It is difficult to make brick out of that shale. There was
a company formed in Elyria to make brick, but the difficulty
was that when they got it into the fire, this carbonaceous mate-
rial burned it to a crisp, so that they had to give it up.
The thing that is nearest to you is the Berea sandstone. I
suppose we have the most remarkable quarries in that line in
the world. It was called Waverly sandstone. That is about one
hundred feet in depth, and then you come to the drift. Drift
means the deposit of the glacial period of which I am especially
to speak to you. It was the finishing touch brought by the ac-
tion of the ice of the glacial period. The rock foundations below
you were laid in water. The sand was spread out on the shore
of tin' ocean, having boon brought down by streams from distant
places. You can see the ripples in the rocks. Then there were
PROCEEDINGS. 1447
forces at work that lifted this land up. Now I surprise people
when I say that Oberlin is on a mountain and NorwaLk is almost
on a mountain. The definition of a mountain is an elevation
more than eight hundred feet above the sea, and Oberlin is
eight hundred and seventeen feet, and Norwalk seven hundred
and seventy-five feet above. If you go a little farther south,
it. is up to 1000 feet.
This land went up probably two thousand feet higher than
now just before the glacial period. It is a question whether the
glacial period was brought on by the changing of the poles or
not. or was brought on by this elevation of land. You ask. how
do I know this land stood up. I know it by the buried river
channels. The Cuyahoga river, for instance, in Cleveland, is
running live hundred feet above the bottom of its former bed.
They go down five hundred Eeel before they strike rock. We
thus know thai all over this country the laud was lifted up for
A glacier is formed by the accumulation of snow and ice.
Wherever snow accumulates faster than it melts, it will be piling
up. 1 have been in Greenland. There is an area there enveloped
in glacial ice thousands of feet thick, probably a mile and a
half. During the glacial period snow accumulated to the north
of us, and tin' ice began to move smith, until it. covered all this
region. We had then no Greal Lakes. Lake Erie was simply
a valley cut by a gorge like the Niagara gorge, with a stream
pouring off through the Mohawk Valley into the Hudson.
< >ne of the interesting things that has come to light within
the last few months is that the bottom of the gorge of the Hud-
son river up north of West Point is five hundred feet below the
presenl lied of the stream. You know they are making a desper-
ate effort to rret plenty of water for New York City. In order
to gel water they had to run their conduit across the river. They
went down live hundred feel before they out in the bottom uorth
of West Point, so thai if you should clean out the [Lulson river,
you would have a gorge live hundred feel deeper than now.
have been worn onlv when the land was devoted
1448 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
Truth is stranger than fiction. I have been now for thirty
years collecting these facts and have gathered them all over the
world, from Alaska, Greenland and Siberia, and I know where-
of I speak. I believe things that I am afraid you won't believe,
because you do not know enough to believe them. Faith rests
on knowledge. I wouldn't have believed these things to begin
with, and nobody would fifty years ago.
I have no sort of question but that glacial ice accumulated
over the Firelands to the depth of more than a mile. It. cer-
tainly covered Mount Washington in New England, and brought
boulders from Canada and left them on top of Mount Washing-
ton. I have seen a Canadian boulder down in Warren county,
Ohio, twenty feet long, twelve feet wide and eight feet out of
the ground. I do not know how much below. It was brought
right over your head on top of ice a mile deep. Down in Ken-
tucky they call them "nigger heads." They always knew there
what I meant when I asked for nigger heads. So the nigger
heads that in later times came from Kentucky to Canada were
only reprisal for nigger heads that Canada had sent to Ken-
tucky. A red jasper boulder that came from north of Lake
Huron was found south of Cincinnati. There is one boulder
down in Warren that covers three-fourths of an acre and is
twenty feet thick and has been carried a good many miles. Over
in Europe I came across a most remarkable boulder. You know
we tell stories about boulders the same as fishermen do about
fish. I was in Southern Sweden two years ago, and a geologist
took me out to a great boulder there which was three miles long
and one thousand feet wide and from one to two hundred feet
deep, which had been taken out of the Baltic Sea.
In dealing with this glacial period, we are dealing with
the most impressive and majestic forces you can imagine, and
which have close connection with the welfare of mankind.
Twenty-six years ago I made a survey of the glacial bound-
ary from the Delaware river to the Mississippi. When I had
completed the survey in Ohio. I came to Columbus and saw
Professor Chamberlain, and showed him a map. He showed me
the productions of wheat per acre and regularly, county after
PROCEEDINGS. 1449
county, it appeared that the wheat in the region of this glaciated
area averaged twice as much as south of the line. You will see
that the seat of empire in the United States and North America
is in this glaciated area, because the ice ground off the surface,
mixed it thoroughly and spread it over the country, filling up
the valleys, until you have a depth of seventy feet of soil, good
clear down to the bottom. It is never going to be exhausted.
That was the result of the glacial period.
Prof. Chamberlain says that the movement of ice from its
center at the north about Hudson Bay to the southern part of
Illinois was sixteen hundred miles. Then there was another
center in Labrador, and they think that perhaps the ice was
three miles deep. I have never told as big a story as that, but
I believe it was one or two miles deep over you here. I think
you can teach that to your children. The ice wouldn't move
down across Ohio without being as deep as that. We have no
glaeiometer here as in the White Mountains.
We now come to the final story, when the climate changed
so that this ice melted. You had a condition of things then that
the mind of man cannot begin to imagine. You had piled up
here twenty-four thousand million million tons of ice. You had
ice enough piled up to lower the water over the ocean from two
hundred and fifty to three hundred feet the world over. That
ice melted and you had the spring freshets of the glacial period.
I can prove that in the Missouri river there was an annual rise
of two hundred feet of water every August, and for a considera-
ble length of time in the Ohio of five hundred feet, due to the ice
melting. You have near you the watershed between the St.
Lawrence and the Mississippi. When the ice was melting back
there was a great flow of water to the south over into the Fire-
hinds, while for a long time there was a lake of water in front
of the ice. You have an interesting illustration of this in the
Ridge Road down here in Peru. That was the line of the outflow
of water before the ice had melted. This material held in the
ice was brought from Canada, and that was deposited in the
channel. When the ice finally melted, it slipped down and
you had this ridge of gravel left. There is another one in Hart-
1450 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
land. But when you get back to the vicinity of Lake Erie, you
have a condition of things which you can study to best effect
here in Norwalk and vicinity. The drainage that now goes to
the east was prohibited by the mass of ice that filled up all
the valley, so that the water was held up by the ice in tin- west
part of Lake Erie to the level oi the lowest basin in the
Mississippi Valley, which was at Fort Wayne, about two hun-
dred feet above the preseut level of Lake Erie. You follow-
that down and you will see immense gravel deposits along the
Wabash. This ridge road upon which Norwalk was built was
the shore of the lake. At that time water covered Norwalk and
this sandy deposit was thrown up. You can trace that border
around for hundreds of miles. It extends east of Cleveland and
comes through a little south of Elyria. through Amherst, Berlin
Heights and just south of Norwalk, and then circles around
to Findlay and comes out at Fort Wayne. That was formerly
a great mystery to the people. It is only in recent times that
it was thought to be the result of the glacial period. At Fort
Wayne you will find an opening of a mile which runs up
through Adrian. Michigan, so you have that upper line two
hundred feet above the lake.
When the ice kept melting back, we had not merely one
ridge, but three. It has been a very interesting process by
which we have learned to untangle this whole system. I am
anxious that the people of Northern Ohio should see and un-
derstand what these things mean. When the ice melted back
over Michigan, there was a thumb extending up to Saginaw.
When it got up to the thumb, there was a lower pass opened
about fifty feet lower than Ft. Wayne, and then the water ran
across that into the Grand river and into the southern end of
Lake Michigan, and from the Chicago drainage canal into the
Illinois river, and so into the Mississippi fifty feet lower than
the Ft. Wayne pass. Then there was another ridge formed,
so this one hundred and fifty foot ridge is the second ridge,
the middle ridge, as we call it. At Berlin Heights they are
crowded together pretty closely. That was the shore line when
the water had deserted the Ft. Wayne pass and crossed the
PROCEEDINGS. 1451
thumb into the head waters in Michigan, over through Lake
Michigan into the Illinois river. That continued for a long
while, the ice meanwhile slowly melting back. When it melted
back to the level of Grand River, Mich., the one hundred-foot
ridge was formed. The two hundred-foot ridge runs to Fort
Wayne and is then interrupted. The one hundred and fifty and
one hundred-foot ridges have no interruptions, but run right
around over this low place. During the existence of this
glacial lake, the black soil of the Maumee "Valley was deposited.
It forms the richness of that country. Thus matters continued
until the ice had melted off from the east.
Now I think it is a perfect pity that every school child
in the Firelands is not able to see with his mind's eye what
these things mean. You have them here in a remarkable degree.
You will have to distinguish a little between the ridges of sand
thrown up by water and the dunes. The wind blew up vari-
ous dunes or ridges of land. So I commend you who live in the
Firelands to the study of these phases of geology, so that you
can understand what this ridge means over here in Peru. I
wain to say to you that you need not wait to take a scientific
course to learn all these things. One of the most important
discoveries was made by Mr. Mudge up in Michigan, after I
had published my "Ice Age in North America." We spoke
about this pass at Ft. Wayne. He wrote he had found a lower
pass where the water ran off. I told him to write it up. He
wrote an article for the American Geologist and gave so perfect
a description that no one has improved upon it. I was anxious
to see him. I knew he was connected with one of the papers.
I didn't find many people who knew him. He was only a
journeyman printer. But what others had failed to find, he
ti;i'l found and discovered and described. The only way to per-
fect our knowledge of superficial geology is by having local
observers and those who can bring their knowledge to bear
upon the problems that are presented in almost every place.
Now you find in the study of the foundations of the Fire-
lands the things that prepared the earth with all its resources
for you. You find that those foundations were laid very deep
1452 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
and finished not long ago. How long ago was it that these
glacial conditions continued? Thirty or forty years ago, they
spoke as a matter settled that it was hundreds of thousands of
years ago. But we now know that the ice did not melt off
from the Mohawk Valley until seven thousand years ago. I
have spent an immense amount of time on that problem and
believe that from seven to eight thousand years these glacial
conditions continued so that the water did not begin to flow
east through the Mohawk Valley. That is, at the time contem-
poraneous with the highest civilization on the Nile, these glacial
conditions existed here. You have the evidence of this that you
can study near at hand. One is that Lake Erie is a glacial mill
pond. When the ice had formerly melted off entirely, the old
outlet to Lake Erie was dammed up by glacial accumulations.
Almost all our small lakes were depressions without any outlet,
filled with peat, perhaps a little pond in the middle of them.
Those are not very old.
The Firelands has a claim to considerable land they have
not got possession of yet. The "Western Reserve Company were
to have the excess of land over a certain number of acres. They
didn't know then how Lake Erie ran. They came in here to
survey, supposing they were going to get a great strip of land
off north here. The shore line went farther and farther south.
There wasn't any excess, in fact they didn't fill out the full
quantity. They have a right of possession to a great lot of Lake
Erie when it is filled up. How long will it be until the Fire-
lands get possession of this land? When the streams shall fill
up the western end of Lake Erie with sediment, then they will
get it. Lake Erie is shallow. It isn't fifty feet deep west of
here. I give this problem to my students. How long will it
take these streams to fill up the west end of Lake Erie and re-
store all the rights of the Firelands Company? I gave them
that question in Toledo. I told them how deep Lake Erie was,
how many cubic yards to be filled in, and told them to go down
to the Maumee river and dip up a pail of water and see how
much mud there was in it, and then calculate how many gallons
of water and how much mud will be required. An editor of
PROCEEDINGS. 1453
one of the papers came in next morning with the answer. He
said he found a pail and a half of mud in every pail of water
and that the western end of Lake Erie would be filled up in an
incredibly short period of time. If we could look forward ten
or fifteen thousand years, we would find the west end filled up,
and the Firelands getting its dues.
I have been studying Plum Creek in Oberlin. People
despise it, but it is one of the best object lessons in the world
from which to get the date of the glacial period. We have
made an interesting experiment. We built a reservoir twelve
years ago. We changed the channel and took possession of the
valley that it had worn, and cut in the rear a ditch five hun-
dred feet long. I have been gathering facts as to how much
material Plum Creek is carrying out of that channel. It is
carrying away some three hundred cubic yards a year and in-
creasing its width almost a foot a year. Then we went down
below and measured off a mile where conditions were favorable
and found how wide it is and saw how many cubic yards had been
removed from that region. Now this ditch that runs across back
of the reservoir is operating on both sides of the stream one
thousand feet, then this lower place is operating against thir-
teen hundred feet of that bank just as it is up at the reservoir,
so we can get a pretty accurate estimate of how long it has
taken Plum Creek to wear out that valley. The stage of the
glacial period would be the stage of your upper ridge. Oberlin
is fifty feet higher than that. This marks the time when the
level of Lake Erie fell down to that of the pass through Fort
Wayne. Then Plum Creek began to operate and has been at
work ever since.
We know that Niagara Falls is receding. At the time of
Christ, Niagara Falls were away down by the suspension bridge.
At the time of the Siege of Troy they were at the head of the
Whirlpool Rapids. The Niagara river would accomplish all
the work of wearing that gorge, in 7.500 years.
We need other investigations to confirm and bring home to
people who live near them these facts. It is almost beyond
the power of our imagination to think that the conditions of
1454 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
Greenland extended down over these Great Lakes seven or eight
thousand years ago, yet I have no doubt about it.
Now I am exceedingly glad to have had this opportunity to
bring the subject before you. It is a subject for your Historical
Society. I am a member of the Western Eeserve Historical
Society. I want to become a member of your Society. I want
to tell you about the "Western Reserve Society to provoke your
emulation. When I came to Oberlin twenty-six years ago, I
had just begun these investigations about the terminal moraines;
and what we had learned was that man was here following up
the retreating ice of the glacial period as he is following it up
in Greenland at the present time. I went to Judge C. C. Bald-
win and told him there was a good chance for the Society to do
something. He saw at once that whatever tells us about the
glacial period tells us something about man and his early his-
tory, so he raised money for three successful years, and I gave
my time and ran the line through to the Mississippi river. One
of the main tracts they have published was that of mine, giving
the detailed account of where the front of the ice was and where
the deposits of gravel were, and where the remains of man came
tn light. They have been found as near you as New London.
You have here a condition of things very interestinsr. Ed-
ward Everett Hale says he is going to write a novel about pre-
historic man. He said he had a plot in which he wanted to
make out that in prehistoric times there was a maiden belong-
ing to one tribe with whom a buck in another tribe was in love
but that it had been declared that it should never be until the
waters that were flowing to the South should turn and flow to
the North. He wanted me to find a place where that had oc-
curred. I especially described Akron and New London. When
the ice had melted back so that the channel at Fort Wayne was
opened, the water began to run the other way. Indeed, he could
find lots of places in Ohio where he could bring his plot out
with great effect.
I trust that this Society, like the Western Eeserve Society,
will annex to its province these geological features as well as
those related to things of a later date.
PROCEEDINGS. 1455
Dr. Peek: Tell us a little of the theory of the glacial
period.
Prof. Wright: That is too long a story. Your President
seems to think it was caused by the shifting of the poles. My
opinion is that the elevation of land spoken of is the most prob-
able cause.
Mr. Gallup: Professor Wright does not agree with me. I
stand by it. I am as certain as our old friend John Lewis was
when he brought an old rust corroded hammer here and said
that, "It was picked up on my father's farm and was one that
fell overboard when Noah sailed over this part of the country.
If anybody wants to disprove it, bring on the evidence."
My friends, we have with us here today, an old, old resident
of the Firelands. He once lived in that place that is now al-
most out of the world. You cannot get there and back the same
day and it, is only twelve miles. He lived up in Clarksfield.
From that little town came some smart men. One of them,
who was imported from New York, afterwards grew too large
for Clarksfield and went out to the great West to grow up
with the country, following Greely's advice before that advice
was given. And he grew up to good purpose. He has graced
the bar and the bench of Illinois. He is a philanthropist. He
has done much good to the poor and the weak. He has estab-
lished a Children's Home that is constantly doing good.
He is very near to us because he was raised here on the
Firelands. and is a life member of this Society. But there is
another reason that brings him nearer and dearer to us. He
was a compatriot, of Lincoln's, that man who was taken away
from us just at the time that made his name memorable. He was
an associate of Lincoln's, practiced law with him and was a per-
sonal friend. He is here to talk of Lincoln as he knew him. I
have the pleasure of introducing Hon. J. 0. Cunningham of
Urbana, 111.
Judge Cunningham : Ladies and Gentlemen : Most of you
are to me entire strangers, and were it not for one fact you
would be no more to me than any other like body of American
citizens. That fact is that when I was a boy. growing up in
1456 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
Clarksfield, I would come on an occasional holiday, and they
were big times too, to Norwalk to see the wonderful sights of
the County Seat, and you were doing the same thing then. too.
Your wrinkled faces and gray heads tell me that you are about
where I am, boys and girls of the Firelands who attended school
on the Firelands. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to
occasionally wander back to the old home, to the old scenes and
to meet those with whom I went to school. Today I meet some
of them here, boys once long ago with me. but gray haired men
now. We have a single purpose and a single interest. We love
this home of our youth ; we love these scenes and we love the
history being gathered together by these noble men for us and
those who shall come after us. You are making a record here
that will live for ages.
I am to talk to you today on that well known subject of
American liberty, Abraham Lincoln, whose name is so familiar
to every man, woman and child, not only here but elsewhere
the world over, and lest I may weary you with too straggling
a story, I have committed what I have to say to writing, and.
with your permission, I will read it to you.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
I have been asked to occupy a part of the time upon this
occasion in the presentation of a "talk" upon Lincoln. The
only fact which can be counted upon to recommend me for this
preference, is that when a very young man, young in years and
in professional experience, it was my good fortune to perform
my humble part as a lawyer along side of this now great his-
toric character, and to mingle with him and his compeers polit-
ically in some of those memorable campaigns which led up to
the greatest events in our history as a nation and to the career
which made him so notable in the history of the world.
So far as I am personally concerned 1 was mostly an ob-
server, not a participator to any extent in the matters which I
shall try to present in this paper. Further, these things just
happened and were not made to order nor with a purpose for
PROCEEDINGS. 1457
fiiimv use. So they arc qoI here told except at the desire of
friends, whose wishes expressed to me, have called them out.
In a former paper read by me before this association,* I
indicated that I severed myself from my childhood's home in
Clarksfield in 1852. With the ambitions of many another youth
of this county, I then soughl a home in the West, a location
then in miles no farther away than now, but in imagination
much farther.
After a year spent in Indiana, close to the Illinois line,
the tales of the rich and boundless prairies laying unoccupied
j usi across that line, led the two boys, who I said in that paper
left Huron county in August of that year, to Urbana, the coun-
ty seat of a county of Illinois containing 1000 square miles of
that prairie, then and now known as Champaign county.
This county was then a part of the Eighth Judicial Circuit
of Illinois, and the circuit courts of the eight counties constitut-
ing the circuit were presided over by the Hon. David Davis,
afterwards one of the justices of the Supreme Court of the
United States, and also, afterwards, a senator in the United
States Senate from Illinois.
The majesty of the law in the county was then personified
by a two-story brick courthouse, thirty by forty feet in size
and a nearby log jail, twenty feet square. The county seat then
consisted of a little cluster of wooden dwellings, some of which
were of logs, a few stores and shops and two hotels of the
western variety. It stood at the geographical center of the
county and its expectations of a future of any consequence
were based upon the conscious wealth of its lands and upon the
hoped for population which it was predicted was to come and
occupj them when the projected Illinois Central Railroad, then
Hearing the county, should connect it with the outer world. l"n-
til then Ibis county was in all respects, save its location, a
frontier county and town.
The two Huron county boys both aspired to the honorable
profession of the law. so that the outlook, as above described.
*See New Series, Vol. XIII, page 601.
1458 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
attracted them there and there they set their stakes, or rather
set down their scantily filled carpet sacks, and set about the
affairs of life, sunn winning from the generous population
friends: and in time, clients.
The Circuit Court of the county, then the only court of
general common-law and chancery jurisdiction, held two terms
annually, each term occupying two or three clays, only. Only
two lawyers had before then fixed their abodes there and they.
with lawyers from the neighboring counties, constituted the bar
of Champaign county.
Among this ambulatory bar was Abraham Lincoln, a resi-
dent of Springfield, the capital of the state, seventy miles away.
I lis only distinction at that time was the fact that lie was deemed
the best lawyer of that section, in civil matters; that he had
served one term in the lower house of congress and several
terms in the General Assembly of the state.
It was soon learned that for many years in the history of
the county, upon the evening preceding the day set for the
opening of each term of the court in the spring and fall of
each year, there arrived a1 one of the two hotels of the town,
by private conveyances, consisting generally of a two horse
wagon, antiquated carriages or on horsebaek. the judge and
several of these foreign lawyers, of whom one was always Lin-
coln, all fresh from the discharge of legal duties at some nearby
•ounty.
A room oi' rooms, generally one room with several beds and
an open fireplace, would be taken for the cavalcade, and was
the headquarters and rallying place for the term for the court,
lawyers and For such friends as were made welcome. During
the evenings and the intervals of court, this room was the scene
of good cheer and conviviality, made more interesting and en-
tertaining by the stories told and songs sung.
Here Lincoln told his best stories and probably gained his
first laurels as a conversationalist and entertainer. Davis, the
.judge, was not averse to unbending the judicial dignity and
himself often leading in the hilarity. He would call one after
PROCEEDINGS. 1459
another for this or that story, expressly for the amusement of
some newcomer, who. he assumed, had not heard it.
In this manner was leisure time passed away in a place
barren of any amusements except that afforded by the semi-
annual .•online: of the judge and lawyers, and the uneventful
sessions of the court.
Daylight leisure often afforded opportunities for out of door
pastimes, chief among which was that of strolling about the
little town or upon the roads leading through the nearby forest.
These strolls were a favorite manner of disposing of leisure time
by Lincoln. Frequently alone and unattended he would be
seen, in a thoughtful attitude, with his long arms thrown across
his back, pacing by long strides in the direction of the open
country. I have often seen him thus, myself, he seeming ut-
terly abstracted from all existing things. If accompanied by
friends his humor or mood would be different, and arguments
along political lines, stories, narratives or poetical recitations
would abound.
Not until the national upheaval in public sentiment which
followed the introduction by Senator Douglas of his bill for
the organization of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, did
Mr. Lincoln, within my observation, pay any attention to poli-
tics. This measure in effect repealed the Missouri Compromise,
then and for a third of a century a nest .sedative agent in allay-
ing the friction between the opposing sections of the federal
union. Those whose memory of public events extends back to
1854, will remember that at no epoch happening within the last
century, save the firing upon the national flag at Fort Sumter,
did public opinion at the North show greater resentment.
Douglas was by far the mosl popular man of his party in Illi-
nois, then largely dominant there, and Lincoln may be said to
be quite as prominenl in the Whig party there, tho' it never
presented, save in a few districts or counties, any serious obsta-
cle to the success of the dominanl party. It was for him, then.
to take up the challenge of Douglas and lead the opposition in
tlie congressional campaign of 1854.
He spoke at Chicago, Springfield. Peoria and at Urbana,
1460 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
during the fall term of court. To the latter speech I listened
to him for the first time where polities was the subject. I was
fresh from a youth and early manhood spent upon the Western
Reserve, where I had listened to and learned from Corwin,
Giddings, Root and the men of Oberlin. and with sentiments
concerning slavery there inculcated and thoroughly backed up
by parental teaching at home, had little patience at the modera-
tion of the speaker when dealing with that issue and the course
of our senator. His arguments against and denunciations of
Douglas for his services in behalf of universal slavery, with
little spoken derogatory of that institution itself, was so dif-
ferent from the political discussions to which I had listened,
and came so far short of my views on the question, that I felt
that he had failed to meet the demands of the hour. He knew,
however, the temper and prejudices of the constituency he was
addressing, largely drawn from Southern homes, and of the
best manner of dealing with them better than I did; and his
speech at that time, probably the third speech he had ever made
in public opposing in terms the demands of slavery, proved
to be wise and effective.
The campaign resulted in the complete fusion of the opposi-
tion to Douglas, made up of Democrats, Whigs and Free Sort-
ers, which at the polls overwhelmed Douglas, and for the first
time in the history of Illinois, returned a general assembly ad-
verse to his party.
This result made Lincoln the logical leader of the suc-
cessful but unorganized majority. It yet remained to organize
and consolidate it into a working party with a name, which
until that event it did not have.
Two years later and the Fremont and Buchanan campaign
ensued, with Lincoln again at the head of the opposition to
Douglas and his party, but at this time with a party with a
name and organization behind him. He was now the acknowl-
edged leader of the party of the Pathfinder.
During this campaign I heard Mr. Lincoln several times
upon the stump in my county and elsewhere, and in all of his
speeches there was a marked advance in the tone of his attacks
PROCEEDINGS. 1461
upon the institution of slavery. He freely and severely de-
nounced it and the late legislation in its behalf. His greatest
effort of the campaign was made at a state convention of the
new party under its name, held at Bloomington on May 29.
1856. if not the greatest ever made by him. Unfortunately no
report of it was made, and in the phraseology of historians it
is now known and spoken of as the "Lost Speech." I listened
to that speech. 1 chanced to be one of a company of my ac-
quaintances froi y own and from Vermillion county, who
traveled with Mr. Lincoln from our county, where he had been
in attendance upon court, to attend this convention. He had
been upon one of his semi-annual rounds of the circuit, and
feeling the importance of the coming convention at Blooming-
ton, had used much effort to secure from our vicinity a good
attendance there. Our company with him as the leader, was
the result of his effort. lie seemed happy at the result, and as
we were all known to him as young attorneys and editors of
his faith, politically, spoke in his most familiar manner to all.
calling each by his familiar name, and indulged in stories and
reminiscences with the greatest abandon and fi dom from
conventionalism.
Our route took us over the road now known as the Wabash
Railroad to Decatur and thence north by the Illinois Central
Railroad to Bloomington. We arrived at Decatur about the
middle of the after] n of .May 28, where, on account of there
being no train for Bloomington that evening, all remained for
tic night. A considerable portion of the day remained befon
us and the company kept well together, strolling about town,
and finally, at the suggestion of Mr. Lincoln, all went togetherto
the then nearby Sangamon timber. Here, seated upon the trunk
of a fallen tree, which lay in a thicket of spice brush, we spent
most of the remaining afternoon. Lincoln talked freely, as he
had during the afternoon, of his hopes and fears of the results
of the c ing convention, and of his earnest wish that the old
Whig elemenl Prom Southern Illinois mighl be well represented
there, lie well knew thai the radical anti-slavery element Prom
the North would be there in Porce and hoped Por enough of the
1462 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
conservative to give it. politically, a cosmopolitan character. He
yet feared the effect upon the Whig element among the voters
of any appearance of radicalism, and planned to avoid it. He
was among political friends and indulged in the greatest famili-
arity.
In this manner, we, as a lot of boys would have done, spent
the afternoon, Lincoln being only the big boy of the crowd.
He told us of his coming with his father's family to Decatur
about twenty-five years before then, in an ox wagon, as an
immigrant from Indiana, and of his beginning life along the
Sangamon river. 1 should not have seen greater familiarity
in the company had 1 suddenly been transferred back to my
Clarksfield home and again engaged with my boyhood friends
there, in a coon hunt or husking bee. All were boys again, and
none were surprised to see the leader of a great movement in
Illinois as much of a boy as was any one in the company.
Early next morning all took the train bound northward
for the convention, and were in due time among the many
representatives from all portions of the state.
I need hardly repeat what has become a matter of history.
the doings of that memorable convention, of which, and of its
platform utterances. Lincoln was the directing and controlling
spirit, and that, too, among the greatest and wisest political man-
agers of Illinois.
( ioming from the door of the hall which held that conven-
tion, at its close, was Lincoln, a Euture president of the United
States, whose memory a world reveres; Yates, the great war
governor of Illinois; Palmer, who succeeded Yates as governor
and who was a major-general in the war of the rebellion and
later a senator from Illinois; 0. II. Browning, a future cabinet
member and United States senator: seven men who were after-
\\;inlx chosen to seals in the lower house of Congress; one
foreign minister, besides many who were afterwards members
of tie General Assembly and judges of the courts of Illinois.
I must not leave this part of my subject without again
referring to the greal speech delivered by Mr. Lincoln, and which
has g down into history, as the "Lost Speech."
PROCEEDINGS. 1463
At this period there was. as my older hearers will remem-
ber, much wild talk on the part of many of the Southern poli-
ticians of disunion. To this kind of talk Lincoln turned his
discourse for a time, and adopting, as was his frequent habit,
the form of speech made use of in his first inaugural upon the
steps lit' the capitol at Washington, he addressed his argument to
a supposititious audience of Southerners, urging the unwisdom
of disunion, and the direful consequences to the country of an
attempt at it upon their part. He assured his audience that
Northern men had no desire for a separation and would never
consent to it. Warming up with his topic to vehemence, and
still using the pronoun in the second person, he closed this part
of his speech with these remarkable words: "Wt won't go out
of the Union, and you shan't!"
This was said with marked deliberation, he raising his
figure to its greatest height. Ins eyes, usually so mild and play-
ful, now Hashing with determination, and with forcible gestures
with his head and arms. Homely, emphatic, prophetic words!
How the echoes of that declaration thundered down the years of
the civil war and upon every battlefield! How they met and
vanquished every proposition from friend and foe alike, looking
to the termination of the war by any other means than the
permanent retirement of the armed opposition to tl nforee
Naturally the hearer will draw a comparison between the
Lincoln of the day before, at Decatur, and the Lincoln at the
com, .Hi,, in. in one case he appeared the natural and uncon
ventional man. a hoy among hoys, as if he was again back in
boy friends, while in the other, with argument, philosophy and
adroit comparisons, with all the skill of a Cicero, he held his
audience and ved them to his way of thinking until the elf
incuts which came together, unsympathetic and adverse to each
other in their way of looking at the dominating question of the
day. were fused into an active, aggressive and as it proved, suc-
cessful party.
During the campaign of 1858 in Illinois, known as the Lin-
1464 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
coin and Douglas campaign, wherein the personal contest of
these two giants for the seat in the United States Senate held
by the latter was the real issue, with the slavery question, now
freely and unhesitatingly argued upon every occasion as the
foundation. Lincoln shone out replendently. The general facts
of that campaign have gone down into the history of the nation
and need not generally be alluded to here.
I will, however, introduce so much of the facts as fell under
my own personal observation, for the lesson in character which
they afford.
About August 23, 1858, 1 received from Mr. Lincoln, in
answer to my letter to him. a letter in his own handwriting, of
which this is a copy :
'•Ottawa. Aug. 22, 1858.— J. < >. Cunningham, Esq.. My
Dear Sir: — Yours of the 18th. signed as secretary of the Rep.
fluli. is received. In tic matter of making speeches I am a
good ["deal] pressed by invitations from almost all quarters, and
while I hope to he at [Jrbana sometime during the canvass. I
cannot yet say when. Can you not see me at Monticello on the
6th of Sept. V
"Douglas and I. for the first time this canvass, crossed
swords here yesterday: the tire flew some, and I am glad to
know I am yet alive. There was a vast concourse of people —
more than could get near enough to hear. Yours as ever. A.
'Phis was written at Ottawa. Illinois, upon the day succeed-
ing the first joint debate, as will be seen.
I did meet Mr. Lincoln, as he suggests, at Monticello. Illi-
nois, on September ii. following, where arrangements were made
with him to follow Douglas at our fair ground, in Urbana, upon
September L'4. the day after Mr. Douglas was advertised to
speak. The last day of the county agricultural fair had been
fixed for Mr. Douglas by his friends by consent of the officers
of the association, and he was to speak from the bandstand,
which he did.
Lincoln came the next day as per his agreement, and altho'
one day after the fair, was greeted by a hire;!' audience.
PROCEEDINGS. 1465
I refer to this particular coming of Mr. Lincoln, while he
very often came to our town as a political speaker, on account
of the happening then of an event which, in my estimation, so
well showed the element of unassumed humility in the man's
character. Not a simulated phase for effect, but a spontaneous
and natural incident, without ostentation or premeditation.
I was one of the marshals of the day in control of the
multitude of people who. in procession, met the speaker at the
railroad station, two miles or more from the grounds where
he was to speak. The escort was lengthy and occupied a long
time in making the distance. When nearing the fair ground,
I was riding upon horseback near the carriage of Mr. Lincoln,
when he called me to him and asked, "Will there be a dinner
served upon the grounds?" The question raised the presump-
tion in my mind that, as it was then nearly twelve o'clock, he
was feeling the need of refreshment, so he was answered. "Yes.
Mr. Lincoln, you will lie served with a good dinner as soon
as we reach the grounds." He at once replied. "That is not
what I wanted to know for. If dinner is to be served, feed the
people at once and then let me talk to them." At the entrance
to the grounds he was met by a committee of ladies and escorted
to a seat at the head of the table supporting an abundance of
barbecued food, at which particular seat had been placed the
best of the spread for the vise of the honored guest. He took
the seat prepared for him, while the long tables were assailed
by his followers, and began eating his dinner. Looking
around, he saw ; Id woman standing not far away looking
intently at him. lb- at once recognized her as a waiter and
dish-washer at the hotel in (Jrbana, whom everybody knew as
"Granny." lb' said ti> her, "Why. Granny, have you no
place? You must have some dinner. Here, take my place."
The old lady answered, "No, Mr. Lincoln, I just wanted to see
you. I don't want any dinner." In spite of her protestations,
Lincoln arose from his seal at the head of the table and com-
pelled her to take 1ms place and have her dinner, while bo took
his turkey leg and biscuil and. seaiin<_' himself at the root of
a nearby live ate his dinner, apparently with the greatest satis-
1466 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
faction: meanwhile Granny Hutchinson filled the place at the
head of the table and ate her dinner as he had insisted she should
do.
This episode was characteristic of Lincoln. It required
no unbending of assumed dignity, for. while he was at all times
manly, he put on no airs of dignity. Instinctively he sympa-
thized with the lowly wherever he met them, and the look of
the lowly woman, standing aloof from those who were being fed,
with no one to speak to her. appealed to his sense of right and
he placed her in his preferred plaee. he taking for himself the
lowly attitude. It was that same instinct that made him the
friend of the black slave, and the emancipator of the race.
The dinner being disposed of the crowds of people assem-
bled around the stand where Douglas had spoken the day be-
fore and listened to Lincoln's reply, for an hour and a half. Five
days before, these men had met at Charleston in their fourth
joint debate, and the speeches at Urbana were substantially a
repetition of thai debate,
I should not depart from this personal portion of my paper
without telling you what I have often related of Mr. Lincoln
elsewhere, and what has also been told by some writers of con-
siderable note, in their publications. The incident in more
ways than one throws light upon the character of the man with
whom we are dealing.
During the spring term of our circuit court. 1858, and but
a few weeks before Lincoln entered with Douglas upon their
celebrated debate. I was one morning in the rooms of an artist
in Urbana whose business was to make pictures then known as
ambrotypes, before the science of photography had become in
general use in our place. Soon, in walked Mr. Lincoln, with
the remark to Alschuler, the artist, that he had been informed
that he. Alschuler. wished him to sit for a portrait. Alschuler
said that he had sent such a message to Mr. Lincoln, glancing
at his subject, who was attired in a long linen duster, but that
be could not take the picture in that coat, and asked if he had
id a dark coal in which he could sit. Mr. Lincoln said he had
not; that this was the only coat he had brought with him from
PROCEEDINGS. 1467
his home. Alschuler said he could wear his coat, and gave it
in Mr. Lincoln, who pulled off his long duster and put on the
artist's coat. Alschuler was a very short man in height, with
shorl arms, bul with a body nearly as large as the body of Mr.
Lincoln. The arms of Lincoln extended through the sleeves of
Alschuler's coat a quarter of a yard, making him appear quite
ludicrous; at which he. Lincoln, laughed immoderately, and sat
down for the picture l" be taken, with great effort at looking
sober enough for the occasion.
I have related a few instances and observations which tend
to illustrate and explain the many phases, eccentricities, if you
please, of this many-sided character, and which, with many
others, have so recommended Lincoln to the popular tastes and
demands of society as to endear his name to men of every caste
as has no other man in history!
The reasons underlying this condition are not entirely due
to lus public services as a successful leader of the nation during
the most trying period of the history of our Republic, but
rather, or quite materially, to reasons connected with his per-
sonality as a man and member of society before his advancement
to the presidential chair. This part of his life distinguishes
him and his relations to history over the great majority of men
who have succeeded in raising themselves above the level of the
common herd of humanity.
Heroditus was the father of history; Homer was great as
a poet: Miehael-Angelo as an artist and as a builder; Caesar
as a soldier; Cicero as an orator and Marco Polo as an explorer:
lint who among all of the world's great and noble has so identi-
fied himself with the plodding lowly ones of earth as to earn,
deserve and receive their applan.se. as does Abraham Lincoln?
for what other man in history are the sooty hands of toil raised
in praise, as for him .' Does any one ask why? Leonard Swett.
a neai- friend ami associate of many years, has answered the
query in these words: "Because he was. in life, the most sim-
ple ami direct in character; at one lime the humblest citizen of
'he land, at I ther the mosi exalted."
Abraham Lincoln in his life personated his ideal of gov-
1468 THE FIRELANDS PIONEER.
eminent, for he was. as a man, "Of the people, by the people
and for the people."
It was to no life of luxury and ease that this child of the
Kentucky forest was born, for he was no son of affluence! It is
not from such that the Great Republic generally chooses her
favorites! He was born to orphanage, for. at an early age he
lost his mother: to toil ; to penury: to a youth of struggles for
existence ! In his boyhood no partial friend made the acquisition
of knowledge easy and paved his way to collegiate honors! No
ample library at his home or town afforded him the means of
mental recreation and the acquisition of useful knowledge! No
graded school received him at six and carried him into college
at sixteen! II is childhood, that period of poetry, was devoid of
poesy, so hard were its conditions! His school of science was
only the open hook of nature. — the woods and hills of Kentucky
and Indiana ! His only help to getting on in the world were his
own brawny hands and his stout heart, spurred mi by an
American boy's ambition! He wore the homespun clothing of
flax and wool, prepared by the nimble fingers of his mother.
and early exchanged the ease of even such a childhood for the
labors of the fields and woods ! His hours of recreation were
taken from those of repose, and his hands were calloused by the
use of the axe and the plough! The truth, briefly told. is. that
nature made him a nobleman: adverse circumstances and
poverty failed to stamp out the impress.
While stately mansions in the surroundings of culture and
refinement furnished homes for such of his predecessors as
Washington. Madison, Monroe, Van Buren and Buchanan, the
rude forest cabin was the home of Lincoln's childhood, as it
was also of Jackson, the Harrisons, of Taylor and of Garfield.
The few hooks that did come under his observation, must
have been well sin. lied and their lessons well remembered, for we
find him at an early age with distinct opinions upon sonic of
the current topics ami able to debate them to the edification of
his older- associates.
This condition of the young man well assures us that neither
PROCEEDINGS. 1469
obscurity of origin nor paucity of opportunity can excuse a
permanenl lack of needful education in the American youth.
New Salem, or his first permanent residence in Illinois,
saw much advance in Lincoln, mentally. In speaking of his
condition as he was in his youth, at one time, he described him-
self as one of the class known as "scrubs." down South; and
it was from this mental condition that he sought to deliver him-
self, first of all. His progress was rapid by the use of books,
for before he had been there two years, we find him a formida-
ble candidate for a seat in the General Assembly of the state,
being defeated by a veteran politician by only a few votes and
a successful candidate for the same position two years there-
after.
For many years he led the precarious and 
