Chilling blasts swept the plains. The streams were swollen into torrents
by the spring rains. The Indians, however, whose hunting parties ranged
these forests, were at that time friendly. Still there were vagrant
bands wandering here and there, ever ready to kill and plunder. * * *
Though these wilds may be called pathless, still there were, here and
there, narrow trails which the moccasined foot of the savage had trodden
for uncounted centuries. They led, in a narrow track, scarcely two feet
in breadth, through dense thickets, over craggy hills, and along the
banks of placid streams or foaming torrents. * * * It was generally
necessary to camp at night wherever darkness might overtake them. With
their axes a rude cabin was easily constructed, roofed with bark, which
afforded a comfortable shelter from wind and rain. The forest presented
an ample supply of game. Delicious brook trout were easily taken from
the streams. Exercise and fresh air gave appetite. With a roaring fire
crackling before the camp, illumining the forest far and wide, the
adventurers cooked their supper and ate it with a relish such as the
pampered guests in lordly banqueting halls have seldom experienced.
Their sleep was probably more sweet than was ever found on beds of down.
Occasionally they would find shelter for the night in the wigwam of the
friendly Indian.”
In amusing contrast to this rose-colored view of life in the woods are
the terse and evidently feeling words from the pen of Washington
himself, recorded in his journal under date of March 15, 1748: “Worked
hard till night and then returned. After supper we were lighted into a
room, and I, not being so good a woodman as the rest, stripped myself
very orderly and went into the bed, as they call it, when, to my
surprise, I found it to be nothing but a little straw matted together,
without sheet or anything else, but only one threadbare blanket, with
double its weight of vermin. I was glad to get up and put on my clothes
and lie as my companions did. Had we not been very tired, I am sure we
should not have slept much that night. I made a promise to sleep no more
in a bed, choosing rather to sleep in the open air before a fire.”
Again, after being much longer away from home, Washington says in a
letter to a friend: “Yours gave me the more pleasure as I received it
among barbarians and an uncouth set of people. Since you received my
letter of October last, I have not slept above three or four nights in a
bed. But after walking a good deal all the day, I have lain down before
the fire on a little hay, straw, fodder, or bear skin, whichever was to
be had, with man, wife and children, like dogs and cats, and happy is he
who gets nearest the fire. I have never had my clothes off, but have
lain and slept in them, except the few nights I have been in
Fredericksburg.”
With these and similar experiences, Washington and his companion, with
their little party, consisting of an Indian guide and a few white
attendants, continued through the weary weeks and months occupied in the
fulfillment of their mission. This work was well and thoroughly done;
the surveys made were afterwards proved to be careful and accurate. The
party finally returned to civilization on the 12th day of April, 1749,
more than a year after they set out. The report made to Lord Fairfax
proved a source of immediate profit to Washington, who, though but a
little more than seventeen years of age, was soon after made one of the
official surveyors of the colony of Virginia. His late employer soon
removed to a point in the newly surveyed territory, beyond the Blue
Ridge, where he set aside ten thousand acres of land, to constitute his
home estate, and projected a grand manor and house, after the English
style. The proposed site of this dwelling—which, though Abbott describes
it in glowing terms, was never built—is about twelve miles from the
present village of Winchester.
Washington pursued his labors with the additional sanction given by his
office, which entitled his surveys to become a matter of official
record. As will be readily understood, the demand for such services in a
new country was great, and, as the number of competent men was small,
his labors commanded a correspondingly large remuneration. So for three
years he continued patiently working, his ability and industry
commanding respect and gaining a daily wider recognition. He was so
accurate in all his processes that no considerable error was ever
charged against him, and a title, finding its basis in one of his
surveys, was rarely disputed. The minute acquaintance with the soil,
timber and other natural advantages of the region, thus obtained, proved
of great practical value to him in after years, when his increased
wealth needed investment; much of the finest land which he surveyed
passed into his hands, and was later owned by members of the Washington
family. He held his office of colonial surveyor for three years, when he
resigned to accept more important trusts.
WALTER BUELL.
[Illustration: [Fleuron]]
EDITORIAL NOTES.
The purposes which this publication is intended to subserve are the
promotion of historical studies in general and an increased familiarity
with the history of the western portion of this country in particular.
The field is a broad and inviting one. The early annals of every
locality possess a peculiar charm for its own people, while they furnish
something of interest to the people of every other locality. The
conductors of this Magazine invite the aid and co-operation of every
person interested in the development and preservation of local history,
and shall rely in a special manner upon the friendly offices of
Historical and Pioneer Societies. These organizations accomplish great
good in the work they are carrying forward from year to year, and they
should increase in number until every county, or section of the country,
shall have a Pioneer Society. The publishers of this monthly now have in
course of preparation by an able and well informed writer, the history
of Ohio, which will be published serially in the numbers of this
Magazine, to be followed by the history of other States. A department
will be devoted to local history, in which county and town annals, and
sketches of pioneer settlers and of representative men and women will
have chief place. The contributions of students of history, who have
something to say of interest to the general reader, will be welcomed to
the pages of this publication. We have received already the proffer of
papers by able and experienced writers, and hope to make the Magazine of
indispensable value to a large number of readers. To furnish essays on
historical subjects by writers of experience and ability; to provide a
history of each of the great Western States that have not already
satisfactory State histories; to afford a medium for the publication of
the proceedings of Historical and Pioneer Societies, and to publish such
other information regarding these and similar organizations as will
enable them to become better acquainted with one another; to give
sketches of the lives of early settlers, and of others who have largely
aided in the development of the material interests, or in promoting the
advancement, in other respects, of the community in which they dwell; to
add to the interest of the printed text by the help of engravings where
they can be employed to advantage, and especially to employ the services
of art in portrait illustration; and to use skill and taste on the part
of the printer in giving a neat appearance to the Magazine—these are the
chief features of the programme which we have formed for the work we
have undertaken. We do not lightly esteem the labor, or overlook the
difficulties which lie before us. We expect the Magazine will have
friends if by its excellence it merits them. It has a field of its own,
differing from that occupied by any other publication, and its success
will be sure and enduring if it achieves it by deserving well of its
patrons and readers.
* * * * *
The American Historical Association held its first annual meeting at
Saratoga, September 9, under the friendly auspices of the Social Science
Association. The importance of this movement, whose object is the
promotion of historical studies throughout the country, cannot be
overestimated. No society of like aim, national in character, seeking to
create an interest in the study of American history in every section of
the country, has ever existed. The nearest approach to it was the
“American Historical Society” organized in 1836, at Washington, D. C.,
with John Quincy Adams as President. Its membership, however, was made
up from residents of Washington, Congressmen, and a few persons outside
of the Capital who however, were only honorary members. The meetings
were of irregular occurrence and were held in the House of
Representatives. The active spirit of this old Historical Society was
Peter Force, whose work in the publication of rare collections of early
colonial history was of incalculable value to the Nation, and to whom
the country is likewise indebted for the collection of the “American
Archives.” This society was, however, only local in character, and had
only such purposes in view as were of easy attainment at the National
Capital. On the other hand, the new organization, having no one place
for its habitation, is a national association of students of history,
who may come from any section of this and other lands. Historical
specialists and active workers everywhere, whether from academic centres
or State and county historical societies, if approved by the committee,
will be welcomed. The annual membership fee is $3.00, the life
membership $25. Forty-one active members were enrolled at Saratoga, and
the Executive Council has selected 120 more persons, students of
history, resident in various sections of the country, to whom
invitations to become active members are to be extended. A constitution
was adopted and the following distinguished persons selected as
officers: President, Andrew D. White, President of Cornell College; two
Vice-Presidents, Professor Justin Winsor, of Harvard and Professor
Charles Kendall Adams, of the University of Michigan; Secretary, Dr.
Herbert B. Adams of John Hopkin’s University, Baltimore; Treasurer,
Clarence Winthrop Bowen of the New York _Independent_, New York City.
These gentlemen, with three associates—Mr. William B. Weeden of
Providence, Professor Emerton of Harvard College, and Professor Moses
Coit Tyler of Cornell University—form the Executive Council, which is
empowered to pass judgment upon all nominations which may be made
through the secretary, and which has charge also of the general
interests of the Association. President White delivered an admirable
address on “Synthetic Studies in History,” and several other important
papers were read—all of which, together with a record of the
proceedings, will soon be published in pamphlet form.
* * * * *
Hon. Harvey Rice, who has attained the ripe old age of 84 years,
celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his arrival in Cleveland on the
24th day of last September. Nearly two hundred persons, acquaintances
and friends, assembled at his residence, 427 Woodland Ave., Cleveland,
to pay him their respects—a very fitting tribute to one to whom not
alone the citizens of the Forest City, but also the people of Ohio, and
in a certain sense of the whole country are very largely indebted for
valuable services. For his able efforts in behalf of the improved
management of common schools he has for many years been appropriately
called the father of the Ohio system of common school instruction, which
has been largely imitated by other States. Mr. Rice is the author of
several books, some of which have had a very good circulation. He is a
graceful writer of poetry as well as of prose.
* * * * *
No other branch of knowledge is so neglected as that of history. Many
who are familiar with mathematics, philosophy, the sciences, and the
languages are almost totally without historical knowledge. Many who do
give it attention too often study it inadequately, considering it a dry
statement of facts, events and dates. History, when rightly studied,
affords information of the greatest profit and rarest interest. It
unfolds to our understanding not merely the chief events of the past,
but the purposes, the efforts and achievements of the great minds of
each age in the actual drama of life, and gives us many pleasant
glimpses into the world of thought, purpose and feeling of another time.
* * * * *
In importance and value history is excelled by no other story. It does
not possess an equal interest for every student, for the very evident
reason that every student of history does not evince for it the same
degree of fidelity and love. But to every disciple it brings a reward.
It widens the horizon of his thought, solves for him many an intricate
problem in the affairs of life, acquaints him with the events of the
human race, brings him in contact with the greatest minds and loftiest
spirits of every age, and enables him to gain a better understanding of
the fellow-beings with whom he mingles.
* * * * *
The earliest Historical Society in this country, we believe, is the
American Philosophical Society, of Philadelphia, organized in 1743. If
any reader knows of an earlier historical organization we shall be
obliged for the information. In fact, we would like a complete list of
all the historical societies in the country. Who can furnish it?
PIONEER SOCIETIES.
The editors of this Magazine will be very thankful for such news
relating to Pioneer and Historical Societies as will be of interest to
the general reader. These organizations are doing an important work, and
deserve great commendation. We make brief mention of the proceedings of
a few societies, of whose annual meeting we have had information.
* * * * *
THE ASHTABULA COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION held its last annual reunion
August 28, at Jefferson, O., and was well attended. An interesting
address was delivered by Judge Darius Cadwell of Cleveland, O. The next
regular reunion will be held at Jefferson, July 4, 1885. The following
gentlemen are the officers of the society: A. Udell, President; J. A.
Howells, Secretary; N. E. French, Treasurer.
THE WESTERN RESERVE PIONEER ASSOCIATION—On the same day, the 28th of
August, the members of the W. R. Pioneer Association held their annual
meeting in Burgess Grove, near North Solon, in sight of the log cabin in
which James A. Garfield was born. The association has reached its
fifteenth year, and its membership includes residents of Cuyahoga,
Geauga, Lorain, Summit, Portage, Lake and Ashtabula counties. Gen. A. C.
Voris of Akron, delivered the annual address, while interesting speeches
were also made by Judge Tilden and R. C. Parsons of Cleveland. The
officers are: W. H. Curtiss, President; Samuel Patrick, Secretary, and
J. M. Burgess, Treasurer.
THE GEAUGA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY held its annual gathering August
23, in Newberry township, in a delightful grove near the shore of what
has recently been christened Emerald Lake. The membership of this
society is very large. Hon. Lester Taylor, a venerable and worthy man,
is its presiding officer; James M. Bullock, Vice-President; W. R. Munn,
Secretary; Donald Johnson, Chairman of the Executive Committee. Hon.
Geo. H. Ford was the orator of the day, and delivered an exceedingly
able address, and was followed by W. L. Utley of Wisconsin and Hon. A.
G. Riddle, of Washington, D. C., who spoke in a delightfully
entertaining manner. The number of people who attended this interesting
reunion was estimated at two or three thousand. The people of Geauga
County attested their interest in local history by the publication, in
1881, of a very full and thorough history of their county.
THE MAHONING VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY held its eleventh annual session
at Youngstown, September 17. John M. Edwards, its venerable presiding
officer, delivered an interesting address, in which he urged the members
to contribute such information respecting the history of the Western
Reserve and its early pioneers, as they were able to furnish, which
information it is intended to preserve, with a view to collation and
publication. After making brief biographical mention of such pioneers as
had passed away since the last meeting of the Society, Mr. Edwards spoke
as follows:
I will now speak briefly of another matter suggested by what has just
been said. After the death of Benjamin Stevens, of Warren, at the age
of 96 years, a question was raised as to who was the oldest person
residing there or in that or neighboring counties. Daniel Warner, of
Mesopotamia, was reported as saying that he thought himself the oldest
man in the county, being 92 years old. There were also reported in the
newspapers the names of Mrs. Lucy Adams, of Warren, aged 90; John
Langley, of Vernon, aged 93; Hezekiah Howe, of Bloomfield, aged 98,
all old residents of the Reserve. Mr. Howe has resided in Bloomfield
from an early period. His daughter, Mrs. Baker, is said to have been
the third child born in the township. He is probably the oldest
citizen and pioneer of that county.
But Mahoning County has among its citizens the oldest man in this part
of the Reserve, and perhaps in the State. Charles Birch, of
Lowellville, in Poland township, was born in Staffordshire, England,
January 4, 1778 or 1779, being at this time 105 or 106 years old. He
is not positive as to his age within a year, but thinks he was 106
years old in January last. He was a soldier in the British army—was at
the burning of Moscow, fought under Wellington at Waterloo, receiving
two wounds in that battle, and draws a pension from the English
Government. He came to the United Slates in 1851, and is residing with
a daughter. His memory of events in which he was a participator is
still good. Two other questions of interest, and of like import, are
frequently asked:
First—Who is the oldest living pioneer on the Reserve?
Second—Who is the oldest living native born citizen of the Reserve?
We have heard several names as the probable persons, given in response
to each question, but the precise dates necessary to solve the
question are wanting. We request our friends, who can do so, to
furnish us names, dates, place of present residence, etc., sufficient
to enable us to satisfactorily answer the questions.
At our last reunion, after discussion, it was resolved unanimously to
continue the reunions annually. Our citizens have accordingly made
preparations for your reception and enjoyment. We are pleased to see
so many of you here to-day, and we extend to all a hearty welcome.
THE FIRELANDS’ HISTORICAL SOCIETY.—This society, which was organized in
1857, held an interesting meeting at Peru, Huron County, October 8, and
was addressed by Rev. J. N. Lewis, P. N. Schuyler, Dr. J. C. Sanders,
and Rev. T. F. Hildreth. Dr. Sanders, of Cleveland, the orator of the
day had for his subject “The Pioneer Physician,” and spoke in a very
able and interesting manner. P. N. Schuyler, of Bellevue, O., than whom
no other person has been more deeply interested in the welfare of the
society, or has done more for its well-being, made an earnest appeal to
the members to sustain the society’s publication, The Firelands Pioneer.
There were thirteen persons at the meeting who had settled on the
Firelands before the year 1820, and sixty who have been residents for
forty-five years or more. There were seventeen persons present over
seventy-five years old; six over eighty, and one over eighty-six.
Captain C. Woodruff is the presiding officer of the society, and H.
Stewart, Secretary. The Secretary being absent, C. E. Newman, Esq., of
Norwalk, Ohio, an active member and earnest worker, performed the duties
of that officer.
THE LICKING COUNTY PIONEER, HISTORICAL AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, Newark,
Ohio, Isaac Smucker, President, C. B. Griffin, Secretary, has a total
membership of 377, of which 125 are pioneer resident members; 78
antiquarian members, the rest being associate, corresponding and
honorary members.
HISTORICAL NEWS.
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS will soon publish ‘Life and Times of Augustus
Adolph,’ by John L. Stephens; ‘The Works of Alexander Hamilton,’
including his contributions to the _Federalist_, by Henry Cabot Lodge;
and a translation of the Marquis de Nadaillac’s work on ‘Prehistoric
America.’
* * * * *
JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO. will have ready in November, ‘Nathaniel Hawthorne
and his wife,’ by Julian Hawthorne, a book that will prove acceptable to
many readers.
* * * * *
HARPER & BROTHERS announce ‘Indian History for Young Folks,’ by Francis
S. Drake, and ‘History of the Four Georges.’
* * * * *
THE APPLETONS have ready the fifth volume of the newly revised edition
of Bancroft’s ‘History of the United States’; the second volume of Mr.
McMaster’s History of the People of the United States,’ and the ‘First
Essays and Speeches of Jeremiah S. Black,’ edited by C. F. Black.
* * * * *
MR. WILLIAM O. STODDARD AND COL. JOHN HAY have each prepared ‘A Life of
Abraham Lincoln.’ Each of these gentlemen was President Lincoln’s
secretary during the civil war and had exceptionally good opportunities
for studying his life and character. Mr. Stoddard’s biography has just
been given to the public from the press of Fords, Howard & Hulbert, and
is an octavo book of 508 pages, with illustrations. The story of Mr.
Lincoln’s life, though often told, is always new and interesting, and in
the hands of Mr. Stoddard is so entertaining, so rich in anecdote and
incident, and sparkles with so much humor, that it is invested with a
greater charm than ever; while the book contains so much information
that is of permanent value to the student of history that it cannot fail
to receive an unusually cordial welcome.
* * * * *
LEOPOLD VON RANKE, the eminent historian, is the author, and G. W.
Prothero, the English editor and translator, of an important work on
‘Universal History,’ the first volume of which has just been published
by Harper and Brothers. We quote from _Harpers’ Magazine_ as follows:
The entire work, when completed, will be a universal history of the
world from the earliest historic period until our own day. Of this
great undertaking he has completed four volumes, covering the earlier
periods, and the volume now published relates to the oldest historical
group of nations—the Egyptians, the Hebrews, the Assyrian and other
Asiatic nations—and the Greeks. Every page is instinct with broad and
philosophic generalization, and the statement of unexpected but most
convincing facts and conclusions. Its style is perfect; the reader is
delighted by the charm of its steadily flowing narrative, while he is
instructed by its revelations of the origins and development of things
which have exerted, and continue to exert, a powerful influence upon
mankind, and have thus a universal interest and application. Those who
are curious may here find the record of the first development of small
independent communities into nations, of the first maritime expedition
and the first systematic war by land, of the first endowment of the
individual in society with those rights and immunities which are the
foundation of all civil order, of the first tragic person in history,
of the first establishment of the principles of hereditary monarchy
and democracy, of the first conquering power which we encounter in the
history of the world, of the first time that the power of money made
itself felt in the internal affairs of an important community, of the
first employment of mercenary troops, and a multiplicity of other
“first things” in history, whose analogues, parallels and counterparts
are traced by the great historian down through the centuries to our
own day. The volume before us brings the history down to the struggle
of Hellas and Carthage for the supremacy, and the rise of the new
power, Rome, that was destined to vanquish both.
-----
Footnote 1:
American Pioneer, volume one, 1842, contribution by Dr. S. P.
Hildreth.
Footnote 2:
A portion of the cleared ground was planted with peaches, and the
second or third year after, fine fruit was obtained from this orchard,
probably the first in Ohio. One variety has been quite largely
cultivated in Marietta and its vicinity, and named after its
originator “the Doughty peach.”
Footnote 3:
Ellen D. Larned, in the History of Windham County, Connecticut.
Footnote 4:
Arius Nye, in Transactions of the Ohio Historical and Philosophical
Society.
Footnote 5:
James R. Albach’s Annals of the West.
Footnote 6:
This village and Shawneetown, at the mouth of the Scioto, were the
only exceptions to the abandonment of the upper Ohio valley noted
above.
Footnote 7:
Gist, however, found, in 1750, the town on Whitewoman Creek, called
Muskingum, “inhabited by Wyandots” and containing about one hundred
families. This was undoubtedly an isolated government. As late as
1791, the Indian war being in progress, the different tribes were
massed in what is now the northwestern part of the State, and their
old abiding places, their favorite regions, were of course deserted.
Delawares, Shawnees, Miamis, Mingoes, Senecas, Chippewas, and others,
were upon the Maumee and its tributaries.
Footnote 8: