USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio in three volumes ; an encyclopedia of the state : with notes of a tour over it in 1886 contrasting the Ohio of 1846 with 1886-90, Vol. III > Part 31
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New York Independent. - Mrs. Hayes seemed delighted to welcome every one to the White House, whether friend or stranger, whether poor or rich. That was the secret of her success as hostess-that she was really glad to see every one whose hand she grasped ; her warm heart shone in her warm greeting. She retired from the White House amid uni- versal regret. She was a woman of ceaseless activity in all good work. Those who mourn her loss in Fremont are numbered by the thousand ; but those who mourn her loss throughout the country must be numbered by the million. She was a woman that the country may always be proud of. Her
charm, her grace, her dignity of manner and her force of character will not be forgotten.
New York Herald .- Memories of a noble life hover about the death-bed of Mrs. Ruth- erford B. Hayes. This spotless woman de- serves the love and respect of the whole country. Whether nursing the dying soldiers of the Union army or banishing the wine cup from the White House, she displayed the courage and devotion that are born of inner purity. All honor to the blameless wife and mother, the uncompromising champion of temperance, the friend of unfashionable vir- tues.
Washington Post, June 24, 1889 .- Wher- ever her name is known will the news of her mortal illness carry a sense of regret and loss. Certainly no American woman in the past or present has created for herself, under all pub- lic and trying conditions, so little criticism and so much admiration, respect and affec- tion as the wife of ex-President Hayes. . . The histre of her public life, the loveliness of her home life and family relations, were the reflex of an uncompromising conscience, a broad charity and an unquestioning reliance and submission to the law that is more just and wiser than man's.
Gracious as a woman, sincere as a Chris- tian, herself the friend of many, she goes . down into the valley, covered and crowned with the love of an entire people. The sym- pathy which goes out to those who are near- est and have watched over her with unspeak- able sorrow, is as complete and sincere as the reverence with which the people will here- after utter her name.
Brooklyn Eagle .- She was a woman of the purest and best type ; a woman whose in- stinets were those of supreme refinement and benevolence. Her life was controlled by a sovereign purpose, and that purpose to do good. She believed that a woman's sphere was limited only by her opportunities for making her life a benediction. She felt that she had a mission in the world, and acting upon that confidence she was able to bequeath a memory of noble deeds that no perishable monument can rival.
Dayton Journal .- It is not disputable that Mrs. Lucy Webb Hayes was the most notable woman of her day, as the peenhar and singu- lar representative of the dignified, graceful and lovable woman of general cultivated home society of this nation. No woman who ever occupied the White House commanded the exclusive character of profound respect, associated with affection, that was the dis- tinetion of Mrs. Lucy Webb Hayes. . When the historian of our war times records the noble women who were distinguished for their virtues, the name of Luey Webb Hayes will glitter in the shining galaxy as a model American woman.
New York Tribune .-. .. She lived upon
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a high plane all her life, and her influence was everywhere beneficent. . . . She knew how to make all visitors feel perfectly at home when within her doors. She was de- voted to her domestic duties, and romped with her children in the nursery with all the freedom of a loving mother ; and all her so- cial duties at Fremont, Columbus and Wash- ington were performed with dignity and grace.
Toledo Commercial .- The lesson of her life should not be lost upon the young. If they would be held in high esteem, they must be true to the right-true to themselves, to their families and to their convictions of duty. These are the elements of character which have drawn forth the admiration of all. This is a simple, but it is an all-important lesson.
Look in our eyes ; your welcome waits you there, North, South, East, West, from all and everywhere. Oliver Wendell Holmes.
Her presence lends its warmth and health to all who come before it ;
If woman lost us Eden, then such as she alone restore it.
Whittier.
The woman who, standing in the chief home, stood bravely for the sake of every home in the land .- Adeline T. D. Whitney.
Whene'er a noble deed is wrought,
Whene'er is spoke a noble thought, Our hearts in glad surprise 'To higher levels rise.
Longfellow.
To perform one's functions with fidelity and simplicity is to be both hero and saint .- Edward Eggleston.
Her country also and it praiseth her .- Louise Chandler Moulton.
When high moral worth and courage com- bine with gentleness, matronly dignity, gra- ciousness and sweetest charity, the charm is complete.
D. Huntington, Pres. National Academy of Design.
Few like thee have stood Upon the people's threshold where The heralds of all nations go And come as sea tides ebb and flow, With graceful bravery have stood In grand and sterling womanhood. Unfaltering in thy high estate,
The sunshine flashing from the dome, Where prince and people stand and wait,
There thou didst bring the charm of home, A chieftain's valor and a woman's grace, All lily white to that exalted place. Lives nobly ended make the twilights long And keep in heart God's nightingales of song. Benj. F. Taylor.
SARDIS BIRCHARD was born in Wilmington, Vt., January 15, 1801. He lost both parents while yet a child, and was taken into the family of his sister Sophia, who had married Rutherford Hayes. In 1817 he accompanied them to Delaware, Ohio. In 1822 his brother-in-law, Mr. Hayes, died, leaving a widow and three young children. Mr. Birchard at onee devoted himself to his sister and her family. He never married, but through life regarded his sister's family as his own. He was a handsome, jovial young man and an universal favorite.
In the winter of 1824-5, with Stephen R. Bennett as a partner, he bought and drove a large drove of fat hogs from Delaware to Baltimore. "Two incidents of this trip," says Knapp, in his 'History of the Maumee Valley,' "are well remembered. The young men had to swim their hogs across the Ohio river at Wheeling, and came near losing them all by the swift current. In the meantime they were overtaken by a tall, fine-looking gentleman on horseback, who had also a car- riage drawn by four horses with attendants.
He helped Mr. Birchard to get the hogs out of the way, chatted with him, and advised him to dispose of them at Baltimore as the best market. This gentleman, as they soon ascertained, was none other than Gen. Jack- son, then on his way to Washington after the Presidential election of 1824, in which he was the highest in the popular vote. but not the successful candidate, for the election being thrown into the house John Quincy Adams was chosen."
In 1827 Mr. Birchard removed to Fremont, then Lower Sandusky, and en- gaged in selling general merchandise. He was largely patronized by Indians, because he refused to sell them liquor. Mr. Birchard found the Indians very honest in their business transactions, and when any of them died with debts un- paid they were settled by Tall Chief, their leader. Mr. Birchard was very sue- cessful in his business ventures. He was connected with the first enterprise that opened river and lake commerce between Fremont and Buffalo ; was instrumental in securing legislation for the construction of wagon roads, and later, largely in-
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terested in the construction of the first railroads of the Maumee valley. He con- tributed largely to benevolent objects. The Birchard Library is a gift from him to the city of Fremont. He died in 1874, bequeathing his estate to his nephew, ex-President Hayes.
RALPH POMEROY BUCKLAND was born in Leyden, Mass., January 20, 1812. When but a few months old his father removed to Ohio and settled in Portage county. He was educated at Kenyon College, studied law, was admitted to the bar at Canfield in 1837, and the same year removed to Fremont. He was married to Charlotte Broughton, of Canfield, in 1838 ; was a delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1848; elected to the Ohio Senate in 1855, serving four years, during which time his bill for the adoption of children be- came a law.
In 1861 he was appointed colonel of the Seventy-second Ohio Vohinteer In- fantry, which afterwards, with other regiments, became noted as " Buckland's Brigade." He commanded the Fourth Brigade of Sherman's Division at the battle of Shiloh, and was made briga- dier-general November 29, 1862. Ile commanded a brigade of the Fifteenth GEN. R. P. BUCKLAND. Army Corps at Vicksburg and the Dis- trict of Memphis for two years, resign- ing from the army, January 9, 1865, to take his seat in Congress, to which he had been elected while on duty in the field. March 13, 1865, he was brevetted major- general of volunteers. He served two terms in Congress and has held many in- portant offices of trust ; was a delegate to the Republican National Convention of 1876. From 1867 till 1873 was president of the managers of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, and government director of the Pacific Railroad, 1877-80. He has done much for the improvement of the city of Fremont and is one of its most respected and beloved citizens. For two years ex-President Hayes was associated with Gen. Buckland as his law partner.
A REMINISCENCE, With some Poetry from " The World's Wonder."
When on my original visit to Fremont, I called on an elderly gentleman, Mr. Thomas L. Hawkins, who was the keeper of the magazine in Fort Meigs at the time of the siege. I found him at his home. It was in the gloom of the even- ing ; no light in the room where he gave me his recollections of its events. My mind being in an unusually receptive condition, and having no use for my eyes in the darkness, my cars did double duty ; so I remembered every word. The inei- dents I thus gathered will be found under the head of the history of the siege of Fort Meigs in Wood county.
I was not then aware that Mr. Hawkins was a cabinetmaker, a local preacher in the Methodist church, and, greater than all, a poet ! This discovery was re- served for my last visit, and it came from Mr. Hayes' library, wherein is a copy of a small volume entitled " The Poetic Miscellany and World's Wonder ;" by Thomas 1. Hawkins. Columbus : Scott & Bascom, printers, 1853.
Our poet allowed his muse to help him in his business, and so he brought her to his aid in advertising his stock in trade-washboards and mops.
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These verses have the charm of old-time rusticity ; carries back my mind to the days of the fathers, even before the arrival of the cook stove. I remember when they were unknown, and the people largely farmers, there being but few cities. Often have I seen, when a youth, on wash-days, huge kettles hanging by cranes over great kitchen fires, filled with snow to melt for soft water ; a dinner- pot over the fire for a boiled dinner, the usual menu for wash-days; and while the women of the family were bending over the wash-tub, some young girl or boy would be standing by a pounding-barrel, pounding the clothes prior to the rub- bing process. Pounding the clothes seemed to have been a common duty of the children of the family, who stood on stools to get the proper height. The pounder was a round block of wood, perhaps eight inches long and weighing per- haps five to ten pounds, into which was inserted a long handle, as in a broom, for a lifter, which both hands grasped during the pounding operation. With every washboard and mop sold by the poet was attached a card, with its poetic adver- tisement.
THE WASHBOARD. [Advertisement.]
Take notice, that I, Thomas Hawkins, the younger,
Than old Tom, my father, more active and stronger, In my journey through life, have found in my way What some call Ash Wednesday, men's wives call wash-day.
However enduring the conjugal life,
This day brings a cloud on the husband from wife ;
The dogs and the cats must stand out the way, And all about the house dread the coming wash-day.
To make the day pleasant, I've long studied how 'To bring back the smile on the dog and the COW ; To cheer the poor husband, the clouds blow away,
And smiles light the wife on that gloomy dark day.
The machinist for this has exhausted his skill,
In inventing machines poor woman to kill ; No valued relief, I'll venture to say,
Ilas loomed up as yet to dispel the dark day.
The washboard alone must end all the strifc, With a love-helping husband to cheer up the wife,
To straighten his rib, and show well he may With a few hearty rubs on that dark steamy day.
We have boards of this kind for both hus- band and wife,
We'll venture the price, 'twill end all the strife,
Which are fluted both sides ; then come, come away, And buy of our sunshine to dispel the dark day
THE MOP: [Advertisement.]
The wife that scrubs without a mop Must bend her back full low,
And on her knees mop up the slop And little comfort know.
And he who loves a cleanly wife, And wants to keep her clean,
Would make her smile and end all strife By buying this machine.
And can you thus your wife displease, With her sweet smiles dispense, And make her scrub upon her knees, To save some twenty cents ? [Which is the price of the mop. ]
You hardened wretch ! pull out y'r cash, Untie your money-stockings, And don't neglect to buy this trash From your old friend, Tom Hawkins.
JAMES BIRDSEYE MCPHERSON, General in the Union Army, was born in Clyde, O., November 14, 1828. His father worked at blacksmithing while clearing his farm of one hundred and sixty acres of woodland. The boy grew up in the hardy laborious backwoods life of the time. When he was thirteen years of age, the oldest of four children, his father died, leaving the widow to struggle against adverse circumstances, to provide for her little family. James was a helpful son, and to aid his mother secured employment in a store at Green
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Spring. He was a cheerful, upright youth, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. During his leisure hours he employed himself in study ; later he was enabled to spend two years in the Norwalk Academy. He received an appoint- ment to West Point and graduated in 1853, first in a class of fifty-two members among whom were Philip HI. Sheridan, John M. Schofield and John B. Hood. He taught for a year in West Point. For three years he was engaged in engineering duty on the Atlantic coast-most of the time in New York harbor. At the beginning of the war he was a lieutenant of engineers stationed in California, where for three years and a half he was in charge of the fortifica- tions in the harbor of San Francisco.
He applied for active duty with the army in the field, where his promotion was very rapid. He became lieutenant-colonel November 21, 1861 ; colonel, May 1, 1862; brigadier-general of volunteers, May 15, 1862. Gen. Hellock placed him on his staff, but in the spring of 1862 he was transferred to the staff of Gen. Grant and served as chief engineer at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the. siege of Corinth and Inka. In the reorganization of Grant's army in 1863, he was appointed to the command of the 17th army corps. In the section cam- paign against Vicksburg, MePherson's corps bore a prominent part. When the army settled down to the regular siege of Vicksburg MePherson's command had the centre. A year had rolled by since he was doing duty on Grant's staff, a newly-fledged officer of volimteers. Now he was firm in his high position, was the compeer of Sherman, and a lieutenant trusted and honored by the general-in- chief. When Vieksburg was surrendered he became one of the commissioners to arrange the terms, and as a recognition of his skill and personal daring through- out the campaign, from Port Gibson to the bloody salients of the enemy's massive earthworks, which withstood assault after assault, he was made full brigadier- general in the regular army. From captain to brigadier-general in a year and a half !
When Grant at last turned over his command in the west to Sherman, and as- sumed the control of all the armies, McPherson succeeded the latter at the head of the Army of the Tennessee, then over 60,000 strong, and when Sherman set out on his campaign to Atlanta, followed him in person with about 25,000 of his troops, the 15th corps under Gen. John A. Logan, and the 16th under Gen. G. M. Dodge.
In the battles before Atlanta the new commander of the Army of the Tennessee proved his fitness for the role and displayed the highest and best quality of a soldier-capacity for leadership.
When Sherman's army was before Atlanta and he was extending his left flank to envelop the city, Hood opened the movement with a series of engagements from July 19 to July 21. On July 22, 1864, Hood withdrew from the trenches in front of Thomas and Schofield, and made a furious attack on Sherman's left flank, aiming at the destruction of MePherson's command. At the time the onslaught was made McPherson was in consultation with Sherman. He immediately issued an order for the closing of a gap between two corps, and then rode rapidly toward the threatened point, and while engaged in personally superintending the disposi- tion of the troops, and passing from one column to another, he came suddenly upon a skirmish line of Confederates. They called " Halt !" whereupon he en- deavored to turn into the woods and escape, but a volley was fired after him. A musket ball passed through his right lung, and shattered his spine, but he chung to his saddle until his horse had carried him further into the woods and then fell to the ground. His orderly was captured
About an hour after this had occurred a private of the 15th Iowa, George Reynolds, who had been wounded and was making his way back into the Union lines, came across the body of his general. Life was not yet extinet, but he could not speak. Reynolds moistened his lips with water from his canteen, re- mained until he had expired and then went to seek assistance.
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GENERAL JAMES B. MCPHERSON.
R. Grob, Photo., 1887.
MONUMENT TO GEN. JAMES B. MCPHERSON, CLYDE.
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The body was brought and laid out in the headquarters of Gen. Sherman, who, as he paced back and fro issuing orders for the battle still going on, shed bitter tears over the death of his favorite general. In communicating the news of his death to the War Department, Gen. Sherman wrote: "Not his the loss; but the country and the army will mourn his death and cherish his memory as that of one who, though comparatively young, had risen by his merit and ability to the command of one of the best armies the nation had called into existence to vindicate its honor and integrity."
McPherson was greatly beloved by the army, and when the news reached them that he had either fallen or been taken captive, a wild cry rose from the whole army, " MePherson or revenge," and the assault of the enemy was beaten back with great slaughter.
Gen. McPherson's body was taken north and buried at Clyde, O., and an im- posing monument now marks the place of his interment. He was but thirty-five years of age at the time of his death, beloved by all who came in contact with him for his noble traits of character, and in the full tide of a brilliant career which promised the highest attainments. Gen. Grant placed a high estimate on his genius, and always spoke of him in words of praise. In March, 1864, he wrote to Sherman, " I want to express my thanks to you and McPherson, as the men to whom, above all others, I feel indebted for whatever I have had of success."
Gen. McPherson's personal appearance was very prepossessing. Over six feet tall, well developed, graceful and winning in manner. He was cheerful, genial, devoid of jealousy and had a keen sense of honor. At the time of his death he was betrothed to an estimable young lady of Baltimore and expected soon to be married. His affection for his family was unusually strong, and they were rarely absent from his thoughts. When the news of his death reached Clyde the follow- ing touching correspondence ensued :
"To GENERAL GRANT :
"CLYDE, O., Aug. 5, 1864.
"DEAR SIR, -I hope you will pardon me for troubling you with the perusal of these few lines from the trembling hand of the aged grandma of our beloved General James B. MePherson, who fell in battle. When it was announced at his funeral, from the public print, that when General Grant heard of his death, he went into his tent and wept like a child, my heart went out in thanks to you for the interest you manifested in him while he was with you. I have watched his progress from infancy up. In childhood he was obedient and kind; in manhood, interesting, noble and persevering, looking to the wants of others. Since he entered the war, others can appreciate his worth more than I can. When it was announced to us by telegraph that our loved one had fallen, our hearts were almost rent asunder ; but when we heard the Commander-in-Chief could weep with us too, we felt, sir, that you had been as a father to him, and this whole nation is mourning his early death. I wish to inform you that his remains were conducted by a kind guard to the very parlor were he spent a cheerful evening in 1861, with his widowed mother, two brothers and only sister, and his aged grandmother, who is now trying to write. In the morning he took his leave at six o'clock, little dreaming he should fall by a ball from the enemy. His funeral services were attended in his mother's orchard, where his youthful feet had often pressed the soil to gather the falling fruit ; and his remains are resting in the silent grave scarce half a mile from the place of his birth. His grave is on an eminence but a few rods from where the funeral services were attended, and near the grave of his father.
"The grave, no doubt, will be marked, so that passers-by will often stop and drop a tear over the dear departed. And now, dear friend, a few lines from you would be gratefully re- ceived by the afflicted friends. I pray that the God of battles may be with you and go forth with your arms till rebellion shall cease, the Union be restored, and the old flag wave over the entire land.
" With much respect, I remain your friend, "LYDIA SLOCUM, " Aged eighty-seven years and four months."
" HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, Aug. 10, 1864.
" MRS. LYDIA SLOCUM :
" MY DEAR MADAM, -Your very welcome letter of the 3rd instant has reached me. I am
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glad to know that the relatives of the lamented Major-General MePherson are aware of the more than friendship that existed between him and myself. A Nation grieves at the loss of one so dear to our nation's cause. It is a selfish grief, because the Nation had more to expect from him than from ahnost anyone living. I join in this selfish grief, and add the grief of personal love for the departed. He formed, for some time, one of my military family. I knew him well; to know him was to love. It may be some consolation to you, his aged grandmother, to know that every officer and every soldier who served under your grandson felt the highest reverence for his patriotism, his zeal, his great, almost unequalled ability, his amiability and all the manly virtues that can adorn a commander. Your bereavment is great, but cannot exceed mine.
"Yours truly, "U. S. GRANT."
CLYDE is eight miles southeast of Fremont at the crossing of the L. S. & M. S., I. B. & W. and W. &. L. E. Railroads.
City Officers, 1888 : Mayor, H. F. Paden ; Clerk, Chas. H. Eaton ; Treasurer, E. D. Harkness ; Marshall, John C. Letson ; Chief Fire Department, N. T. Wilder. Newspapers : Enterprise, Independent, B. F. Jackson & Co., editors and publishers ; Farmer's Reporter, Neutral, Reporter Co., editors and publishers. Churches : 1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Universal, 1 Catholic, 1 United Brethren, and 1 Advent. Banks: Farmers' & Traders', S. M. Terry, cashier ; Peoples' Banking Co., C. G. Sanford, president, John C. Bolinger, cashier. Population, 1880, 2,380. School census, 1888, 760; Frank M. Ginn, Superintendent of Schools.
Clyde is a wholesome, cleanly appearing little town. It has an enduring memory in having given to the nation, in the person of JAS. B. McPHERSON, a great soldier and the best type of a gentleman. The sites of the log-house in which he was born and the blacksmith shop where his father labored are botlı within the cemetery where to-day stands his monument and rests his mortal re- mains.
Clyde also was the birth-place of JAMES ALBERT WALES, caricaturist. He was born there in 1852, died . in 1886, and lies buried in the MePherson Cemetery. He was a highly valued artist. On the occasion of his funeral A. B. French, an old resident of Clyde, delivered a touching eulogy upon his boyhood, and Rev. O. Badgley preached the funeral sermon. "Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography " says of him : "He learned wood-engraving in Toledo and Cincinnati, thence going to Cleveland, drew cartoons for the Leader dur- ing the Presidential canvas of 1872. Later he went to New York and engaged to illustrate Puck. He eventually became one of the founders of The Judge, and was for some time its chief cartoonist. Wales was the only caricaturist of the newer school who was a native American. He was also elever at portraiture and his cartoons excellent."
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