USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Five > Part 2
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Colonel Donn Piatt (1819-91), "Donn Piatt of Mack-o-chee," one of Ohio's most original, daring and picturesque political characters, was conspicuous during a long and varied career, in which he acted a brilliant though often eccentric part. His bold and aggressive course, as lawyer, diplomat, and partisan editor, has been detailed in Charles Miller's "Donn Piatt : His Work and his Ways." Mr. Piatt is the author of "The Life of General George H. Thomas," a narrative which was described in the Westminster Review as "The record of a great genius told by a genius." Besides his historical writings and his varied newspaper work, Donn Piatt produced several books in imaginative literature, viz: "Poems and Plays," "Sunday Medita- tions," and "The Lone Grave of the Shenandoah."
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Whitelaw Reid (1837-), proprietor of the New York Tribune, late U. S. Minister to France, now ambassa- dor to England, was born in Xenia and educated in Oxford, Ohio, and though he has long been a resident of New York, and later of London, he remains faithful to his native state and makes occasional pilgrimages to the scenes of his boyhood experiences on the banks of the Little Miami. Mr. Reid has won many honors as journalist, diplomat and author of vital books. His great work, "Ohio in the War," ranks among the standard authorities in the history not only of Ohio but of the Republic. It is a book which grows in value as the years pass. Other books by the same author are: "After the War," "Schools of Journal- ism," "Newspaper Tendencies," "Two Speeches at the Queen's Jubilee," "A Continental Union," "Prob- lems of Expansion," "Our New Interests," "Town Hall Suggestions,". "Our New Duties," "Monroe Doctrine," "Greatest Fact in Modern History," and "How America Faced Its Educational Problem."
As in politics and military affairs, so also has the genius of Ohio shown itself bold and aggressive in journalism, employing the press as a powerful agency for the enlightenment of public opinion. Never has the "small drop of ink," been put to more direct, practical and potent use, than by some of the resolute and fearless young journalists of the State. The modern world has developed many famous newspaper correspondents, knights errant of the notebook, ad- venturous souls who forged to the front of danger to report the climaxes of history and of battle. These men have shown indeed that often Captain Pen is
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
mightier than Captain Sword. They have wielded words to conquer armies,-and to lift up states. Two conspicuous examples may here be given of soldiers of fortune who won fame at the point of the pencil.
On Ohio's beadroll of heroes is the name of Januarius Aloysius MacGahan (1844-78), the American journal- ist who may be said to have used the sword of Russia to strike off the Turkish shackles from an oppressed state and on whom history bestowed the name "Libera- tor of Bulgaria." In the words of Henry Howe: "His experiences, in variety, during the few years of his foreign life, probably were never equalled by any journalist, and never did one accomplish so much, excepting Stanley." Of MacGahan's work, regarded as to its literary merit, the great English war corre- spondent Forbes says: "There is nothing which excels it in vividness, in pathos, in a burning earnestness of purpose, in a glow of conviction that fires from heart to heart." The name and fame of MacGahan have been lauded with just enthusiasm by several distin- guished pens. The man was born and is buried in Perry County, a shire which took its name from the victor in the Battle of Lake Erie, and in which Sheridan was reared to manhood.
George Kennan (1845 -), born in Norwalk, Ohio, started self-supporting life by practicing the telegraphic art in Cincinnati. He traversed fifteen hundred miles of Siberia, saw the prisoned exiles of the Czar, learned the facts concerning Russian depotism, and gave to the civilized nations such knowledge as must eventually result in reform. The American periodical in which his graphic accounts were published was suppressed
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in Russia by the authorities at St. Petersburg. Never- theless Kennan's searchlight shone and still shines, illuminating darkest Russia. His books, "Tent Life in Siberia," "Siberia and the Exile System," may fairly be assumed to have hastened those changes of national and international sentiment, which compelled alterations in the policy of the Czar, and induced him to issue a decree enlarging Russia's liberties and abating despotic ills.
Since the publication of his important books on Russia, Mr. Kennan has given the public: "Cam- paigning in Cuba," "Folk Tales of Napoleon," and "The Tragedy of Pelèe."
In the catalogue of men of Ohio birth who have attained distinction in journalism and have written important books, belongs the name of William Eleroy Curtis (1850 -), author of "The United States and Foreign Powers," "Life of Zachariah Chandler," "Japan Sketches," "Venezuela," "The True Thomas Jefferson," "The True Abraham Lincoln," "Modern India," "One Irish Summer, " etc.
Albert Shaw (1857 -), now an influential journalist of New York City, was born in Butler County, Ohio. So well known to the public are his good works in behalf of economic and social improvement that his name has become a synonym for civic benefactor. He is the proprietor of the "Review of Reviews," and the author of "Icaria: a Chapter in the History of Com- munism," "Cooperation in a Western City," "History of Cooperation in the United States," "Municipal Government in Great Britain," "Municipal Govern-
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ment in Continental Europe," "The Business Career in Its Public Relations," and "Political Problems of American Development."
Isaac Kaufman Funk (1839-1912), head of the pub- lishing house of Funk and Wagnalls, was born at Clifton, Ohio, and educated at Wittenberg Theological Seminary. He founded "The Missionary Review," "The Literary Digest," and other periodicals, edited and published the great "Standard Dictionary," and was the author of "The Next Step in Evolution," "The Widow's Mite," and "The Psychic Riddle," the last two being discussions of psychic or so-called occult questions and phenomena.
The long list of Ohio journalists who gained promi- nence in their profession would include the names: John M. Gallagher, Samuel Medary, William H. P. Denny, Greeley Curtis, M. D. Potter, J. A. Cockerill, Richard Smith, D. R. Locke, Alexander Starbuck, E. V. Smalley, L. E. Holden, N. C. Wright, C. L. Brownell, and John R. McLean.
PERSONAL NARRATIVE, MILITARY REMINISCENCE, ETC.
Closely allied to the literature of journalism, and connecting it with history proper, is the class of books giving individual views of events military or civil, in the experience of Ohio citizens. To this department belong the writings of Joshua R. Giddings (1795- 1864), a volume of whose strong, clear, radical speeches was published in 1853, and whose incisive book, "The Rebellion; Its Authors and Causes," came out in the year of its author's death. Giddings's "Exiles
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of Florida," published in Columbus in 1858, recounts with power and pathos the history of the negroes in Florida.
The "Memoirs" of U. S. Grant (1822-85), "dedi- cated to the American soldier and sailor," a model of simple, sincere and unassuming narrative, is always charming and often impressive with the eloquence of plain truth. The volumes were composed in the shadow of death, with the brave purpose of paying bor- rowed money and of providing for the author's family; and the published work eventually brought to Mrs. Grant nearly half a million dollars, the greatest suc- cess, it is said, that "a single work has ever had."
Following the example of their great chief, two other scarcely less honored Ohio generals, William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-91), and Philip Henry Sheridan (1831-88), prepared volumes of "Memoirs," which were published posthumously, and which furnish the student and the future historian with much authen- tic information, in vivid and picturesque language.
Gen. Roeliff Brinkerhoff (1828-1911), sociologist and prison reformer of international repute-chairman of the executive committee of the Ohio Centennial- published an exceedingly valuable and entertaining volume bearing the title: "Recollections of a Life- time." General Brinkerhoff, whose home was in Mans- field, Ohio, was vice-president of the International Prison Congress, which met at Paris in 1895. He succeeded General Hayes as president of the Ohio Archeological and Historical Society.
Manning F. Force (1824-99), of Cincinnati, gallant soldier and incorruptible judge, was a life-long student,
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
an accurate scholar, and precise writer of high merit. He is the author of the war histories: "From Fort Henry to Corinth," "Marching Across Carolina," "Recollections of the Vicksburg Campaign," and of several pamphlets on archæological questions.
Jacob Dolson Cox (1828-1900), Governor of Ohio, general in the Civil War, and member of the U. S. Cabinet, an accomplished orator and writer, one of America's progressive men of science and culture, was a master of style and his work belongs to standard literature. His principal books are: "Atlanta: the March to the Sea," "Second Battle of Bull Run, " and "Military Recollections of the Civil War," the last having been published since its author's death.
Henry Martyn Cist (1839-1903), lawyer, soldier, originator of the Chickamauga Park project, another highly esteemed son of Ohio, is the author of two his- torical books: "The Army of the Cumberland" and "The Life of Gen. George H. Thomas."
Gen. Joseph Warren Keifer (1836 -), ex-speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives, a brave officer in the Civil War and distinguished also in the war with Spain, chairman of the Ohio Centennial Commission of 1903, has contributed to our national literature a comprehensive and judicious work entitled "Slavery and Four Years of War."
In the list of autobiographical writers in Ohio stands the name of Levi Coffin (1798-1877), reputed president of the "Underground Railroad, " a sturdy abolitionist, whose intensely interesting book, "Personal Reminis- cences," is one of the unique and permanently useful products of Buckeye history.
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Another absorbing narrative of varied personal observation and experience is William Cooper Howells's (1807-94) "Recollections of Life in Ohio, from 1813 to 1840," a book of rare charm, intelligence and sug- gestiveness. Not one page of this most delightful and authentic record of things as they were could be spared.
Col. William E. Gilmore (1824-1905), Chillicothe, soldier, lawyer, man of genial culture and magnani- mous sympathies, was rightly described by Henry Howe as "an adept both with tongue and pen." He it was who made the last speech delivered in the old State Capitol at Chillicothe. Colonel Gilmore was a wit, a poet and orator. His principal published work is "The Life of Edward Tiffin, First Governor of Ohio," a succinct and authentic biography.
To a period somewhat prior to that of the writers just mentioned belongs Rev. James B. Finley (1781- 1857), whose "Autobiography," first published in "The Ladies' Repository," and afterwards in book form, abounds with anecdote and incident illustrative of early life in Ohio.
HISTORY, LOCAL AND GENERAL
Perhaps the energy of the Ohio intellect has nowhere been more effectively exerted than in the sphere of history and archeology. The State itself and the several counties of it, afford numberless attractive themes for the annalist, the politician, the student of civilization. Some idea of the amount that has been written concerning the state may be obtained by a
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
glance at Thomson's "Bibliography of the State of Ohio," 1880, which briefly describes over fourteen hundred different books and pamphlets relating almost wholly to the history of Ohio. This number of titles is far greater than is to be found in any printed list of publications bearing upon any other state. The exceptional distinction in which Ohio is held as a center of historical interests and collections was strikingly emphasized by the late John Fiske, who, in his "History of the United States," advised his readers to apply to the "Robert Clarke Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, who keep by far the largest collection of books on America that can be found on sale in this country." Ohio writers have shown as much energy and enterprise in historical research and statement as have booksellers in collecting and cataloguing. Probably the richest and fullest department of the literature produced in the State is the department of history.
The first attempt to collate the annals of Ohio was made by Nahum Ward, whose "Brief Sketch" was printed in 1822. Eleven years later was issued Salmon P. Chase's "Preliminary Sketch," prefixed to an edition of the "State Laws." After these publications came: Caleb Atwater's "History of Ohio," 1838; James W. Perkins's "Annals of the West," 1846; Jacob Burnet's "Notes on the Northwestern Territory," 1847; Henry Howe's "Historical Collections," 1847; S. P. Hil- dreth's "Pioneer History, " 1848, and "Early Pioneers," 1852; and James W. Taylor's "History of Ohio," 1854.
"Historical Collections of Ohio," by Henry Howe (1816-93), has been described as a "treasure-house of local and general information, of history, of legend
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and story, of geography and antiquities, of everything indeed pertaining to Ohio and Ohio history." The author traveled over the State in the years 1846-47, gathering his material; and again in 1886-87 he made a tour over the same ground collecting fresh matter for a revised Centennial Edition of his book, which was published in three large volumes. The work has run through several editions, the plates having been purchased by the State soon after the author's death.
Emilius Oviatt Randall (1850 -), of Columbus, official Reporter of the Supreme Court of Ohio, educated at Phillips Academy, Cornell University, and the Ohio State University, an "all around" scholar, a professor of law, and a member of many learned socie- ties, is a clear and accurate writer, mainly on topics of western history. He is the author of "A History of Blennerhassett," "A History of the Separatist Society of Zoar," and "The Mound Builders of Ohio," and the editor of the "Ohio Archeological and Historical Quarterly." Mr. Randall has edited twenty volumes of the publications of the Ohio Historical Society and thirty volumes of Reports of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and he also assisted in editing the "Bench and Bar of Ohio," a substantial work in two volumes.
Daniel Joseph Ryan (1855 -), of Columbus, lawyer, legislator, formerly Secretary of State for Ohio, Chief Commissioner of Ohio at the World's Fair in Chicago, has devoted much of his time and energy to literary work. Mr. Ryan is the author of "Arbitration between Capital and Labor," "A History of Ohio," the article "Ohio" in the Encyclopedia Americana,
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and of a very comprehensive and valuable work of reference entitled "The Civil War Literature of Ohio, a Bibliography, with Explanatory and Historical Notes."
Eugene Frederick Bliss (1836 -), of Cincinnati, ex-president of the Ohio Historical and Philosophical Society, member of the American Historical Association and of the American Antiquarian Society, translated and edited "The Diary of David Zeisberger," an important contribution to the history of the Moravians in Ohio. He is also editor of a volume, "In Memory of Elizabeth Haven Appleton," and of a collection of short stories entitled "Tales for a Stormy Night."
William Alexander Taylor (1837-1911), of Colum- bus, attorney at law, journalist, and late Commissioner of Soldiers' Claims for Ohio, a diligent student of poli- tics and history, and a poet of considerable reputation, is the author of numerous publications, including: "Ohio Statesmen," "Ohio in Congress," "Evolution of the Statesman," "Ohio and Its People," "The Peril of the Republic," and "Eighteen Presidents and Contemporaneous Rulers."
Burke A. Hinsdale (1837-1900), one of Ohio's most eminent educators, enriched our literature with several volumes, including: "President Garfield and Education," "The Old Northwest," "How to Study and Teach History," and "The American Govern- ment." Professor Hinsdale also edited the works of his friend, President Garfield, which were published in two volumes.
Charles Elihu Slocum (1841 -), a prominent physi- cian and surgeon of Toledo, has contributed to the
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literature of Ohio "The History of the Maumee River Basin" and "The History of the Ohio Country between the Years 1783-1815."
Michael Myers Shoemaker (1853 -), of Cincinnati, founder of the Ohio Society of Colonial Wars, is the author of several volumes historical and descriptive, embracing: "Sealed Provinces of the Tsar," "Quaint Corners of Ancient Empire," "Heart of the Orient," and "Wanderings in Ireland."
Professor George Wells Knight (1858 -), of the Ohio State University, is the author of a very valuable "History of Land Grants for Education in the North- west Territory" and (in collaboration with Professor Commons) a "History of Higher Education in Ohio." John Rogers Commons (1862 -), born in Darke County, Ohio, now a resident of Milwaukee, a graduate of Oberlin, professor of political economy in the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, is the author of "The Distribution of Wealth," "Trades Union and Labor Problems," "Races and Immigrants in America," and other vol- umes.
Henry William Elson (1857 -), of Athens, Ohio, professor of history in the Ohio University, is the author of "Side Lights on American History, " 2 vols., "How to Teach History," "Elson's History, " 5 vols., "Historical Biographies for Children, " etc.
Isaac Joslin Cox (1873 -), assistant professor of history in the University of Cincinnati, is the author of "La Salle and His Companions," 2 vols., and "The Early Exploration of Louisiana." He now has in preparation a life of William Henry Harrison.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
Special distinction should be given to the name of Philip Van Ness Myers (1840 -), formerly dean of the University of Cincinnati, author of "Life and Nature under the Tropics," "Remains of Lost Em- pires," "Ancient History," "Mediæval and Modern History," "General History," "Eastern Nations and Greece," "History of Rome," "History of Greece," "Rome, Its Rise and Fall," "The Middle Ages," and "The Modern Age." Dr. Myers has long been recognized in the educational world as an authority among American historians, and his admirable works are studied wherever the English language is spoken.
Elroy McKendree Avery (1844 -), of Cleveland, widely known as the author of numerous standard text-books in physics and in chemistry, has within recent years attained eminent distinction as a historian. In 1886 he was induced by his publisher "to devote the rest of his life to the great labor of preparing his 'History of the United States and Its People,'" a comprehensive work to be completed in sixteen volumes, eight of which have already been issued.
There are several historians of distinguished note, who, though not now resident in Ohio, were born in the State and may properly be included in this outline. Among these are: Hubert Howe Bancroft (1832 -), who, with the aid of collaborators, prepared for the press five volumes on the "Native Races of the Pacific States, " and thirty-nine volumes of "The West Ameri- can Historical Series"; James Ford Rhodes (1848 -), now of Boston, formerly of Cleveland, author of "A History of the United States from the Compromise of 1850," a masterly work now in course of publication
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and to be completed in eight volumes; and William Milligan Sloane (1850 -), a native of New Richmond, Ohio, now professor in Columbia University, author of "The Life of James McCosh," "The French War and the Revolution," and a four volume "History of the Life of Napoleon."
To the foregoing far from exhaustive account of the historical literature of Ohio may be added the following miscellaneous list of the titles of some important books, with the names of their authors: "The Blennerhassett Papers," William H. Safford; "The St. Clair Papers," William Henry Smith (1833-96); "The Public Domain," Thomas C. Donaldson (1843-98); "Ohio," Rufus King (1817-91); "History of the Declination of the Great Republic," Hirum H. Munn (1838, -); "Life of Lincoln," "Life of Hayes," and "History of the Louisiana Purchase," James Quay Howard; "Oliver Cromwell," Samuel Harden Church (1858 -); "His- tory of American Coinage," and "Constitution of the United States," 3 vols., David Kemper Watson (1849 -); "The Mother of an Emperor" and "The Life of William Allen Trimble," Mary McArthur Tuttle (1849 -); "Che-le-co-the; or Glimpses of Yesterday," L. W. Renick and others of Chillicothe; "Life of Lincoln" and "Abraham Lincoln and His Presidency," Joseph H. Barrett (1824-1910); "The Life of Thomas Corwin" and "The Life of Governor Morrow," Josiah Morrow, Lebanon, Ohio; "History of the First Congregational Church, Marietta, Ohio," Rev. C. E. Dickinson; "Anti-Slavery Opinions before 1800," William F. Poole (1821-94); "Four Great Powers" and "The Navy during the Rebellion, " C. B.
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
Boynton; "Life of Stephen A. Douglas" and "Life of Salmon P. Chase," R. B. Walden; "Rosecrans' Campaign with the 14th Army Corps," W. D. Bick- ham; "The Hayes-Tilden Disputed Presidential Elec- tion, " Paul Leland Haworth (1876 -); "The Teaching of History and Civics," Henry E. Bourne (1859 -); "Ohio Historical Sketches," F. B. Pearson and J. D. Harlor; "The Story of a Regiment," E. Hannaford; "The Second Regiment of United States Volunteer Engineers, " Captain William Mayo Venable (1871 -); "The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom" and "The Government of Ohio," Professor Wilbur Henry Siebert (1866 -); "History of Political Par- ties," J. P. Gordy (1851-1908); "The Educational History of Ohio, " Dr. J. J. Burns (1838-1911); "Cen- tennial History of Cincinnati," 2 vols., Charles Theo- dore Greve (1865 -); "Concerning the Forefathers, " Charlotte Reeve Conover; "Source-Book of the Renais- sance," "Select Colloquies of Erasmus," and "History of Modern Europe," Professor Merrick Whitcomb (1859 -).
Passing allusion should not be omitted to the very numerous Ohio county and local histories, which are of varying literary merit but generally authoritative and valuable.
EDUCATION
Statistics show that in the school-book business Ohio has long held a leading rank among the producing centers of the world. Millions upon millions of copies of school and college text-books have been published in the State within the last three-quarters of a century.
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Few other states have developed so large a quota of pedagogical authors as has Ohio. A single publishing- house advertises in its trade catalogue, among numerous other issues, about two hundred books by Ohio authors alone. The mere record of the titles of volumes, in endless variety, contributed by Ohio men and women to the vast literature of education and culture, would fill many pages.
SCIENCE
As would be expected in a state so practical as Ohio, and so renowned for successful achievement in many lines of discovery and invention-a State which counts such men as Thomas A. Edison and the Wright brothers among her natural products,-the spirit of scientific inquiry and experiment, as well as the genius of speculative knowledge, finds a congenial home in the Buckeye Commonwealth.
Almost from the time when white settlers began to occupy the lands between Lake Erie and the Ohio River, much attention has been given in that region to geology, archeology, and the study of what used to be called comprehensively the Natural Sciences. Bright on the record of original investigators whose writings are known in Europe as well as in America, are the names of Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland (1793- 1877), of Cuyahoga County, a naturalist whom Agassiz delighted to honor; Dr. Charles Whittlesey (1808-66), also of Cuyahoga, an archæologist of high standing; Wm. S. Sullivant (1803-73), of Columbus, a botanist and bryologist of international fame; and John Strong Newberry (1822-92), professor in the
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THE RISE AND PROGRESS
Columbia School of Mines, one of the foremost masters of geology and paleontology. These four belong geographically to the northern part of the State. To find their intellectual peers among the earlier scientific men of Ohio, we may look to the vicinity of Cincinnati, which, like Cleveland, Columbus, and other leading cities of the State, produced her quota of savants. Three may be remembered as nobly representative of their class. First of these, in the order of time, was Ormsby McKnight Mitchel (1809-62), the astronomer, whose once popular books, "The Planetary System and Stellar Worlds," "The Orbs of Heaven," "Popular Astronomy," and "Astronomy of the Bible," gave to the written page the glow of eloquence characteristic of the living speech which won for the author the reputation of an orator. When the war broke out, Mitchel put aside the telescope for the sword.
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