USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of Huron County, Ohio, Its Progress and Development, Volume I > Part 14
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I would not for a moment claim all the credit for the wondrous success that attended these vast negotiations which supplied almost wholly from the begin-
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CITY HALL, MONROEVILLE
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ning to the end the money, the sinews of war during the great rebellion, the most gigantic contest this world has ever seen, but would share it with the host of faithful partners, clerks and assistants we employed and with our own numer- ous editorial staff and with the whole body of the press and newspapers through- out the land. The latter without exception or any discrimination whether they were north or south, east or west, republican or democratic, or "copperhead," or Protestant or Catholic, with the single exception of the Sunday newspapers, I never paid a dollar to these breakers of the Sabbath, all alike published my ad- vertisements and my special editorial articles. All were fully paid in cash, no discount asked and no commissions deducted by agents. It was a grand feast for the newspapers and the amount I expended during those four or five years reached probably two millions of dollars. Then too the country all the time was flooded with circulars and pamphlets and every possible means vigorously adopted to expand patriotism, to encourage the down-hearted, and to exalt the duty of every one subscribing to the current loans.
The officers and soldiers in the camps were fully instructed, and in addition to appeals to them for faithful service they were asked to subscribe and they did subscribe many millions of dollars. It is not too much to say that my efforts to popularize these various loans reached a grandeur of success that the world had never witnessed before; and that whilst our brave officers and soldiers and sea- men were fighting great battles. I was confronted all the time with enemies less brave but equally active and strategic and determined, whom with the help of God and of splendid partners and assistants were finally overcome. I was asked during the great war when it seemed that a large portion of our prominent men in the army and navy and in public offices from the president and secretaries down were western men and particularly Ohio men, to explain how this could be. My answer was, so far as Ohio was concerned, that the men now of an age and experience to occupy these positions were the children of those energetic men and women pioneers who settled the Western Reserve and other parts of the noble state. They came from New York, Pennsylvania and New England states mostly, and some Virginians and Marylanders, but the mere fact of com- ing here and of battling as pioneers had given their offspring sturdy and promi- nent characters, such as Chase, and the Shermans and Stantons.
While I was, of course, more or less intimate with all the public men at Washington during the war yet I found my time so fully engaged that I spent but little of it in their company and, unless for some especial work or consulta- tion connected with the creating and issue of some new loan, I seldom visited Washington. My representatives there were my brother, Governor Henry D. Cooke, and Mr. H. C. Fahnestock, two noble and able men and partners in our house there.
I have gone to Washington and conferred with Mr. Chase, Mr. Lincoln, Gen. Grant and Mr. McCulloch, Mr. Fessenden, John Sherman and many others, and all these gentlemen have from time to time visited me at Ogontz, my home near Philadelphia, and Gibraltar, my Western Reserve island home, and I have en- joyed unusual opportunities in conversing with them during and since the war, but will have to reserve these anecdotes and details for some other occasion. They were all noble men ; our nation owes them a debt of gratitude that monu-
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ments and honors cannot repay. I have always felt that in this matter of men fitted and born for the occasion none but our nation's God could have chosen and sustained these glorious characters who were prominent in those dark days of strife and bloodshed.
I will state that this nation stands today just where I prognosticated she would in due time stand, the most powerful, the richest, the most enlightened, and the freest and happiest nation on this earth.
We have kept all our promises financially, have seen our whole land again reunited so that we have no north and no south, and our financial and commer- cial credit is greater even than Great Britain. We have been able to borrow money at two per cent, in fact have lately paid off a debt bearing only that interest and have lately taken a British loan of twenty-five millions and sent them the gold out of our superabundance to pay for it and I presume from signs I see that we shall loan large sums to Russia before long and perhaps to other powers of Europe. We are kings in the iron, coal, cotton and grain trade.
It would require hundreds of pages to record the incidents and efforts accom- panying the plans adopted for raising the millions of dollars required each month during the war. In fact the experience of past negotiations was no guide to present ones, and not only in the form and terms of the different loans was there a constant variance, but instead of being sold by the treasury department the most of these gigantic loans were sold to the public through myself as genera! subscription agent. I thus employing all banks, bankers and other agents who were accountable to me direct daily, and by me settlement was made with the treasury department. 1 paid all advertising and appointed all my own agents. The treasury department had practically but little to do in the matter beyond printing the bonds and receiving and disbursing their proceeds. The wisdom of Mr. Chase, of Mr. Fessenden and Mr. McCulloch as secretaries of the treasury was shown by a non-interference with my plans and the giving me perfect liberty to manage the loans in my own way. I was aided by some of the best writers in our land and thus was enabled to introduce and popularize many ideas that were adopted and universally believed in. Such for instance as that ex- penses of war if disbursed in our own borders tends rather to add to the nation': vigor and wealth, also that the population was rapidly increasing through immi- gration, increasing far beyond the loss by war. also that a government bond was first lien upon all else and the best security in the world. Remember, my dear friends, that from 1861 to 1865 practically the bulk of the funds raised was through my efforts and the efforts of my firm. We were God chosen. I have always thought we were helped and sustained by His Gracious power.
When in Washington I met, of course, most of our public men. How famous their names are now, such men as Chase, Lincoln, Sherman, Fessenden, McCul- loch and Seward.
They were all great men and worthy of our remembrances. 1 have not time to tell you of incidents of deep interest taking place continually in conrec- tion with these men. Suffice to say such incidents were exciting and worthy of the men and the times.
During the battle of Gettysburg my office in Philadelphia was crowded with subscribers to the loans, and after the battle many citizens whose sons were in
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that battle and had been wounded and who had failed to get passes to visit them came to me and said, "Surely we are subscribers to the loans, can't you give us a pass?" I told them I would try, and sat down and wrote a short note to the commander at Gettysburg, which was accepted in every instance, allowing the Philadelphia father to pass to his wounded son. I have always regarded advertising as the great power to be availed of. I disbursed during the five years of war over two millions of dollars in advertising the loans.
Now a word in conclusion. The cost in commissions and printing and ad- vertising, for instance in Europe and perhaps at times in England reaches two or two and a half per cent. For this guarantee some great banking house like Rothschild's places the loan. I understand that they simply financier it and do not take the risk of a dollar.
How different this is from the terms under which Jay Cooke undertook to financier for our treasury. He got but a paltry three-eighths per cent to cover all his advertising and agents of all kinds, and out of this scarcely saved a penny.
The whole amount of the outlay by the government during the war for ma- terials, engraving and printing bonds and commissions allowed did not exceed seven and a half millions of dollars. So far as Jay Cooke & Co. were concerned they were left to enjoy the honors of such heroic deeds for they certainly saved nothing else.
Since writing the above I have seen an article in the September McClure's magazine written by the Hon. Geo. S. Boutwell, ex-secretary of the treasury, who says, in part: "It is not easy, in this age of comparative freedom and power in financial affairs, to comprehend that in the year 1871 the iong estab- lished bankers of New York, Amsterdam and London, either declined or neg- lected the opportunity to negotiate the five per cent coin bonds of the United States upon the basis of their par value.
It was in this situation of affairs that Messrs. Jay Cooke & Co. proposed to undertake the sale in London, by subscription, of one hundred and thirty-four million five per cent bonds then unsold. Authority was given to Messrs. Jay Cooke & Co. to proceed with the undertaking, and when the books were closed, September Ist, I was informed that the loan had been taken in full."
I may mention in passing that Messrs. Jay Cooke & Co. paid for the bonds as they were delivered, either in coin or in five-twenty bonds.
Thus the services of Jay Cooke & Co. were called for long after the close of the war.
In conclusion, my dear friends, after thanking you for your patience in lis- tening to so long a story, I would refer to the history of this favored portion of our country and the circumstances which led you to adopt it as your home. This belt of land on the south bank of Lake Erie, including many islands, is called the Firelands of the Western Reserve, granted long ago as compensation for losses and trials and sufferings endured by your fathers and mothers many years ago in Connecticut in the Revolutionary War. A glorious and goodly land was then provided for you by a kindly and beneficent government, but, oh, I would remind you that there is a better land, a land of pure delight which our loved and powerful Saviour has gone to prepare for you, "Sweet fields ar- rayed in living green and rivers of delight." This coming inheritance is a new
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and Heavenly reserve made ready for all who now hear my voice. The journey thither will not be through dangerous forests and Indian foes or wearisome marches and toilful struggles, but will be to those of you who are looking for- ward to a future home in that Heavenly reserve, but an instant of transition. You will find there no early or later toil and struggles such as you met within this earthly reserve, but will realize in that Heavenly reserve such peace and rest and joy as we pilgrims of earth cannot conceive of.
May we all meet again in that Heavenly Reserve .- From the "Firelands Pioneer."
THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Firelands Historical Society was organized in the court house at Norwalk in June, 1857. It has held annual meetings in Norwalk and numerous quarterly meetings in various portions of Huron and Eric counties since its organization fifty-two years ago.
The following is from an address of the Hon. Rush R. Sloane, at the annual meeting of the Firelands Historical Society in 1906:
"Nearly half a century has elapsed since the organization of the Firelands His- torical Society, which took place in this town of Norwalk, when many of the first settlers of the Firelands were present and participated in that memorable event. In the years that have since passed, nearly all of those pioneers have crossed the great divide.
"It is our proud privilege and pleasure to claim the possession and ownership of the only building solely used for historical and archaeological purposes by any organized county society in Ohio. Even the 'Historical and Archaeological Society' of our state has as yet no home for its library and valuable archaeological deposits. While Huron and Erie counties through the agency of this society and many years of zealous work has now such a home, wherein we can safely deposit in a fireproof museum the authentic records which commemorate the labors and achievements of our ancestors. For all time these collections and such other of like contribu- tions as may come to our society, may be viewed and reviewed by the present and future generations with a gratified pride of worthy ancestry.
"In 1857 the pioneers of the two counties of Huron and Erie met at Norwalk and organized 'The Firelands Historical Society,' the chief purpose of which was to collect and preserve in proper form the facts constituting the full history of the 'Fire Lands.' and to secure an authentic statement of their resources and produc- tions of all kinds. The society, which has a charter, was not organized for profit. and yet no corporation has ever declared richer or greater dividends. And what has this society done? Its meetings, quarterly and annual, have been quite regu- larly held. Its publications, forty-five numbers or volumes, are, in number of pages, exceeding those of any county historical society in Ohio or in the west. These publications devoted to the early history of the Firelands and of the state of Ohio include nearly seven thousand pages of valuable early history, most of which was never in print before and contain full and complete memoirs of thirty-two town- ships reported by original pioneers in these townships. It has collected valuable books, papers, pamphlets and writings along special lines which cannot now be
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duplicated. It has also many bound volumes of newspapers, in which both the local, as well as the general history of the state and country is preserved for the use of investigators and historians. Its collection of maps, many made by the original surveyors, will be of great value in settling matters of facts and early land titles. It has a large collection of genealogy which is often consulted for early family history.
"The museum collection embraces a large number of Indian relics, nearly all found within the Firelands. The selection embraces rare fossils and petrifactions which possess great interest to the geologist and student, and tend to confirm the theory that the shores of Lake Erie at some remote period extended farther south than they do now.
"There are original letters from our early statesmen and warriors, from Gen- erals Washington, Greene and Harrison, from Cass and Chase, from Grant and Sherman, and from many of the present day.
"There are guns and pistols, cannon and rifle balls, musket bal! and grape shot, powder flasks and pocket books picked up on the battlefields of all the wars in which our country has engaged, and also numerous mementoes of the battle on Lake Erie on September. 10, 1813.
"During the existence of our society since May, 1857, it has exchanged its pub- lications with a large number of state historical societies, thus spreading broadcast the early and important events of our section of Ohio, both in peace and war, which go far to make up and complete the grand and glorious history of the state of Ohio's century of growth, and which mark its transformation step by step from a wilderness into its present prosperous condition.
"In the society's publications are to be found the able, interesting and eloquent addresses of such pioneer citizens and distinguished men as Eleutheros Cooke, Elisha Whittlesey, E. Lane, Giddings, L. B. Gurley, President R. B. Hayes, Gen- eral L. V. Bierce, P. N. Schuyler, Clark Waggoner, G. T. Stewart, and many others. These addresses being of great interest and value and never published elsewhere."
Every citizen in the Firelands should be interested in preserving a history of the events transpiring within our borders. The only way to do this successfully is to support the Firelands Historical Society in its laudable efforts to carefully preserve and frequently publish these volumes of history, biography and record of passing events.
Platt Benedict was the first president of the society, and continued its president until his death, 1866.
CONSTITUTION.
Art. 1. This society shall be called "The Firelands Historical Society."
Art. 2. Its objects are to collect and preserve in proper form, the facts con- stituting the full history of the "Fire Lands :" also to obtain and preserve an au- thentic and general statement of their resources and productions of all kinds.
Art. 3. The officers of the society shall consist of a president, five vice-presi- dents, a treasurer, one recording and two corresponding secretaries.
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Art. 4. The officers hereof shall be elected annually at the annual meeting, and shall perform the duties usually pertaining to their respective offices.
Art. 5. The annual meeting of the society shall be held in Norwalk, on the second Wednesday of June, at 10 o'clock A. M., of each year hereafter.
Art. 6. Any person a resident of the "Fire Lands" may become a member by signing this constitution, and paying into the treasury the sum of twenty- five cents.
Art. 7. This constitution may be altered or amended at any annual meeting hereafter, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present.
The secretary, on being called abroad, was excused by the house, and A. G. Stewart, Esq., was chosen to act in his absence.
An election of officers was then had, which resulted as follows: President-Platt Benedict.
Vice-Presidents-William Parish, Eleutheros Cooke, Zalmuna Phillips, Seth C. Parker, and John H. Niles.
Treasurer-Charles A. Preston.
Recording Secretary-Philip N. Schuyler.
Corresponding Secretaries-F. D. Parish and G. T. Stewart.
The Firelands society has one of the largest and finest museum collections in the state. It is well cared for and is kept in fire-proof rooms of the Firelands memorial building.
PRESENT OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND TRUSTEES OF THE FIRELANDS HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Hon. C. H. Gallup, president, Norwalk, Ohio; Hon. C. P. Wickham, first vice- president, Norwalk, Ohio; Hon. Thos. M. Sloane, second vice-president, San- dusky, Ohio; Hon. S. E. Crawford, treasurer, Norwalk, Ohio; Lucy Strutton, librarian, Norwalk, Ohio; George F. Titus, assistant librarian, Norwalk, Ohio; Dr. A. Sheldon, secretary, Norwalk, Ohio; Hon. C. H. Gallup, curator of museum.
Board of Directors and Trustees-The president and secretary ex-officio; W. W. Whiton, Wakeman, Ohio; Hon. J. F. Laning, Norwalk, Ohio; George F. Titus, Norwalk, Ohio ; G. S. Mordoff, Norwalk, Ohio; A. S. Prentiss, Norwalk, Ohio.
Publishing Committee-Hon. C. H. Gallup, Norwalk, Ohio.
Biographer Huron County-Dr. F. E. Weeks, Clarksfield, Ohio.
Biographer Erie County-John McKlevy, Sandusky, Ohio.
REMEMBER THE PIONEERS.
(From a paper written by I. M. Gillett, of Norwalk, and read at a meeting of the Firelands Pioneer Society.)
In the presence of the old men and old ladies, of the Firelands, nearly a century looks down upon us today. And what a century! Never in history has there been such a century, so remarkable in great events as the past one. There has never been such men of brains; such men of science as have lived in the past one hundred years. These meetings of the pioneers bring up the thought that
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all we enjoy are the work of our forefathers. It is difficult, at this late day to concede or believe all that we owe to them. It was the training that the boys of the Firelands received that made men of muscle and men of brains. The men who were chopping the trees, and clearing the forests made way for the railway, the telegraph, the telephone, and the electric car. I want you all to remember that the best servants make the best men. A pioneer is one that goes to prepare the way. I hardly know whether I am a pioneer or not. My father came here in 1839, with his family of six children, of which I am the only one that re- mains, that leaves me here fifty-nine years. Is that long enough to make me a pioneer ?
We all know that the country lying between the foothills of the Alleghanies and where the prairies break was an interminable forest not many years ago.
The roads, the houses, the schoolhouses in the valley and the churches on the hilltops, tell the tale of the work of the pioneers, a brave set of men and women.
It required as much courage to face this forest as it did for the Puritans to face King Phillip, the patriots to fight on Bunker Hill, the soldiers to stand in the trench as before Vicksburg, and the veterans to hold the field at Gettysburg.
I will not describe those early days. You old ladies and gentlemen can tell about those times. You old pioneers can go back in memory, and you do not need to have your recollection revived by me. . You remember the thatched log cabins, the yards full of weeds, and the woods in which the barefooted boy went for the cows before supper. Then you remember how hard it was to pull out the plow after it had sucked under a root. I think that was the hardest thing to do, excepting to pay taxes.
I saw the roads in the woods broaden out under the wheels of the carts in summer and by the sleds in winter. We were a church-going people then. We will not forget the old Methodist preacher who traveled about and asked for a gallon of oats for his horse-no half pecks then. Such people went to church.
The church had no ornamental pulpit, no carpeted floor, no cushioned seats. and often our feet rested on andirons. The fathers and mothers were strong, but died sooner than now. Early to bed and early to rise made the life work short. They had little of ideas for riches. They were working for homes; but without knowing it, they were preparing the way for roads from east to west, for great railways that now span the country and all great improvements.
What pleasure there was in the wood-chopping bees, and those house-raisings and huskings. They had the comfort of knowing that the latchstring was always out. There were none but were welcome to their generous hospitality. As they were raised, so they raised their children.
But while these heroic men are honored, we too often fail to remember the struggles of the noble pioneer women, our mothers. Always busy, we never knew when they went to bed, nor when they arose. They cooked for the men working in the woods, with poor material. They made the woolen cloth, spun it, wove it, and ten to one, that they cut the garments at home. Where on earth did they get courage for the work? It was a gift from God.
There was nothing wanted that mother could not supply. Praise then the pioneers as you will, but when you come to the mothers, your tongues must be dumb. Talk about your heroes; if you want to find one never daunted, never
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wanting in courage, take one of these old ladies for a pattern. I hope the day will never come when the old people will not be welcome.
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. BY SADE E. BAUGHMAN, MANSFIELD.
Extracts from a poem read at an historical society meeting.
Into an unbroken wilderness the early settlers came,
Clearing spots for their cabins and searching the forest for game.
And they were a hardy race of men, those grand old pioneers.
Who came to this unsettled country the fertile land to clear.
The women were brave and hardy, sharing dangers with the men, And aided in field labor and their homes they helped defend. We turn to the dear mothers as the needle turns to the pole,
And in neither verse nor story have their virtues been half told.
And we bless the noble pioneers, whose hands with toil were brown, We will sing their praise through all the land for they deserve renown. They left their homes and scenes of peace for log cabins in the woods, Where dangers lurked at every turn, these men and women good. *
They are in a land of light and promise we have never seen.
Where the streams are golden rivers and the forests ever green.
And dear forever be the graves and bright the flowering sod.
Where rest the grand old sires who loved their country and their God.
AN INTERESTING PAPER.
At a meeting of the Firelands Historical Society held in Norwalk, May 1. 1907, the following interesting paper was read by Mrs. W. A. Ingham, of Oheriin. 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.
"Norwalk-chief city of the Firelands-our childhood home -- was always, to us, enchanting ; the wide streets bordered by rows of maples, the sandy soil and emerald turf were lovely in our eyes and yielding to little feet.
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