USA > Ohio > Ross County > Chillicothe > Ohio centennial anniversary celebration at Chillicothe, May 20-21, 1903 : under the auspices of the Ohio State Archaelogical and Historical Society : complete proceedings > Part 53
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At a comparatively early period in the development of Ohio, the kingdom of the quill and the type-case was largely con- trolled, in the then "West," by five able and energetic enthusiasts, Dr. Daniel Drake, Rev. Timothy Flint, Judge James Hall, Hon. E. D. Mansfield, and the poet Wm. D. Gallagher. Three of the number were born near the close of the eighteenth century, and two, at the very beginning of the nineteenth. Their lives and services I have endeavored to chronicle in a published volume,*
* The Beginnings of Literary Culture in the Ohio Valley.
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and there is no need for more than a mere allusion to them in this condensed summary. Suffice it here to say that every one of the five mentioned deserves to be remembered gratefully for his devotion to the things of the mind, and that credit is especially due to the memory of Mr. Gallagher, who labored indefatigably in the cause of literature for its own såke.
EARLY PERIODICAL LITERATURE.
The newspaper, especially the Sunday newspaper of the present day, has become the vast circulating library of the people. Most of the magazines which are so widely distributed and read throughout the country, come from the East. The curious inves- tigator who examines the dusty files of old Western newspapers and periodicals, will be astonished to discover how great was the quantity and variety of this kind of literature, issued from Ohio presses, before the State had reached even her semi- centennial. Of a list of 120 periodicals, monthly and weekly, published in the Ohio Valley anterior to 1860, more than 90. were printed in Ohio. The Ohio State Library contains in bound volumes, fifty-two different literary periodicals published in Ohio. Neither newspapers nor professional journals are in- cluded in the catalogue : the periodicals referred to were devoted chiefly to literature, and they furnished their readers. with much that was original and often well written, - in prose and verse - story, poem, comment, criticism, and essay. A bare transcription of the names of a few of the most meritorious and influential of these early ventures, is all the notice I can give them now. From the ninety I select the following eleven: "The Literary Cadet," Cincinnati, 1819, Editor, Dr. J. R. Buchanan; "The Literary Gazette," Cincinnati, 1824-5, John P. Foote; "The Western Review," Cincinnati, 1827-30, Timothy Flint; "The Cincinnati Mirror," 1830-36, W. D. Gallagher; "The Western Monthly Magazine," 1832-37, James Hall; "The Western Mes- senger," 1835-41, James Freeman Clarke; "The Hesperian," Co- lumbus and Cincinnati, 1838-41, W. D. Gallagher; "The Ladies' Repository," 1841-76; "The Herald of Truth," 1847-8, L. A.
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Hine; "The Genius of the West," 1853-56, W. T. Coggeshall ; "The Dial," 1860, M. D. Conway.
Since the Civil War, the business of publishing literary magazines has not flourished in Ohio, or, to any great extent, in the west generally, the demand for such periodicals being supplied mainly by New York, Boston and Philadelphia. But the newspapers during the war period, as before and after, were maintained as indispensable vehicles, not only to purvey news and politics, but to carry popular literature to almost every house and home. The excitements of the years 1861-5 intensified men's thoughts and feelings, and gave force and color to what was written for print. Those times of storm and stress brought out the best powers of many editors, field correspondents, and purposeful contributors to the press. The State of Ohio enjoys a full share of distinction on account of her newspaper men and newspaper literature. Some of her journals made it an object to encourage and reward praiseworthy effort in the higher forms of composition, - that is, in literature proper, as distinguished from ordinary reportorial work and editorial commonplace. Many men and women, in Ohio, learned to write skillfully, by taking pains to meet the most exacting requirements of critical editors, and were thus trained in the school of practical jour- nalism to become ready with the pen, and, in some cases, fitted for the authorship of successful books.
SOME OHIO JOURNALISTS.
Charles Hammond (1779-1840), born in Baltimore and edu- cated in the University of Virginia, came to Ohio in his early manhood; started the "Ohio Federalist," in Belmont County ; was a member of the state legislature (1816-21), and reporter for the Supreme Court of Ohio (1823) ; and from 1825 to 1840, editor in chief of the Cincinnati Gazette. He was a man of Hamiltonian power and versatility, admired by Clay and eulogized by Webster as the "greatest genius who ever wielded the political pen." His formidable rival on the Jackson side was Moses Dawson, editor of the Cincinnati "Advertiser."
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Edward Deering Mansfield (1801-1880), a graduate of West Point and of Princeton, migrated to Cincinnati in 1825, formed a law partnership with O. M. Mitchell, the astronomer, and became a political writer of great influence. He was for a time a professor in Cincinnati College, and afterwards editor of the Gazette, and correspondent of the New York Times, under the pseudonym of "Veteran Observer." Besides his work as pub- licist and newspaper man, Mansfield engaged in authorship, pro- ducing a popular "Political Grammar," a "Life of Daniel Drake," "Life of Scott," "History of the Mexican War," a book on "American Education," "Personal Memoirs," etc.
Orville James Victor (1827 -), was born in Sandusky and brought up to the newspaper business in Ohio. After achieving a reputation as a writer, he removed to New York where he now resides and is still engaged in active literary pur- suits. In addition to his labors in miscellaneous journalism, he has found time and energy to write an elaborate "History of the Southern Rebellion," "A History of American Conspiracies," and several biographies.
Murat Halstead (1829 -), born in Butler County, educated in the common school and in Farmer's College, one of the fore- most of American journalists, is a typical Ohio man, selfmade and thoroughly made. His trenchant pen has been, and is, like unto a sword, and has helped to fight many political battles. Aside from his prodigious labors in the field of controversy. he has done a great deal in lines distinctively cultural and literary, being a brilliant and successful magazine writer and general author. While proprietor of the Cincinnati Commercial, Mr. Halstead did much to raise the standard of newspaper matter and to encourage merit in writers. His influence on the litera- ture of the Ohio Valley has been great. Among his published works are the following: "The Convention of 1860," "The White Dollar," "The Story of Cuba," "The Life of Wm. Mckinley." "The Story of the Philippines," "The History of American Ex- pansion," "Our Country in War," "Official History of the War with Spain," "Life of Admiral Dewey," "The Great Century," "The Boer and the British War," "The Galveston Tragedy," "A Life of Roosevelt."
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Henry Van Ness Boynton (1835 -), another distinguished journalist from Ohio, and not less famed as a military hero in two wars, - now chairman of the Chattanooga National Mili- tary Park Commission, is the author of two notable books : "Sherman's Historical Raid, a Response to and Criticism of Gen. Sherman's Memoirs," and "The Chickamauga National Military Park."
Whitelaw Reid (1837 -), editor of the New York Tribune, late U. S. Minister to France, was born in Xenia, and educated in Oxford, Ohio, and though he has long been a resident of New York, he remains faithful to his native state and makes frequent pilgrimage 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," 1867; "Schools of Jour- nalism," "Newspaper Tendencies," "Two Speeches at the Queen's. Jubilee," "A Continental Union," "Problems of Expansion," and "Our New Interests."
Colonel Donn Piatt (1819-1891), "Donn Piatt of Mack-o- chee," one of Ohio's most original, daring and picturesque char- acters, 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 partizan editor has been detailed in Charles Miller's "Donn Piatt: His Work and his Ways." Mr. Piatt was the author of "The Life of General George H. Thomas," a narrative which was described in the Westminster Review, as "The record of great genius told by a. genius." Besides his historical writings and his varied news- paper work, Donn Piatt produced several books in imaginative literature, viz : "Poems and Plays," "Sunday Meditations," and "The Lone Grave of the Shenandoah."
As in politics and military affairs, the genius of Ohio has shown itself bold and aggressive in journalism, employing the press as a powerful agency for the enligtenment of public opin- ion. Never has the "small drop of ink," been put to more direct,
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practical and potent use, than by some of the resolute and fear- less young journalists of the Buckeye State. The modern world has developed many famous newspaper correspondents, knights errant of the note-book, adventurous 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 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 better than fame at the point of the pencil.
George Kennan (1845 -), born in Norwalk, Ohio, started self-supporting life by practicing the telegraphic art, in Cincin- nati. He it was who traversed fifteen hundred miles of Siberia, saw the prisoned exiles of the Czar, learned the facts concerning Russian despotism, and gave to the civilized nations such knowl- edge as must eventually result in reform. The American peri- odical in which his graphic accounts were published was sup- pressed 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 inter-national sentiment, which compelled alterations in the policy of the Czar, and induced him a few months ago to issue a decree enlarging Russia's liberties and abating despotic ills.
On Ohio's beadroll of heroes is the name of Januarius Aloy- sius MacGahan (1844-1878), the American journalist 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 has be- stowed the name "Liberator 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-correspondent 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."
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The name and fame of MacGahan have been lauded with just enthusiasm, by several distinguished 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.
In the catalogue of men of Ohio birth who have attained distinction in journalism and have written important books, belongs the name of Wm. Elroy Curtis (1856 -), author of "The United States and Foreign Powers," "Life of Zachariah Chandler," "Japan Sketches," and "Venezuela."
Another worthy and unalienated though absent-from-home son of Ohio, is Albert Shaw, of New York City (1857 -), who was born in Butler County. So well known to the public are his good works in behalf of economic and social improvement that his name is a synonym for civic benefactor. He is the pro- prietor of the "Review of Reviews," and the author of "Icaria : a Chapter in the History of Communism," and of those solid and suggestive books: "Municipal Government in England," and "Municipal Government in Continental Europe."
PERSONAL HISTORIES, MEMOIRS, 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 on the year of his death. His "Exiles 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 (1822-1885), "dedicated 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
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a million dollars, the greatest sucecss, 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 (1820-1891), and Philip Henry Sheridan (1831-1888), prepared volumes of "Memoirs" for posthumous publication. These liter- ary performances, though they have not escaped sharp criticism, are worthy of the clear headed, generous hearted heroes who wrote them.
James Abram Garfield (1831-1881), was at the head of a college long before he rose to distinction in politics and in war, and his interest in matters of culture and education was always keen. The wide range of his reading, his power of thought and of terse expression and his zealous advocacy of good principles, all appear to advantage in his published "Works," edited by his friend B. A. Hinsdale, also an Ohio author and scholar. Many of President Garfield's sayings found lodgment in the affectionate memory of the people.
Manning F. Force (1824-1899), gallant soldier and incor- ruptible judge, was a life-long student, an accurate scholar and precise writer of high merit. He is the author of the war his- tories : "From Fort Henry to Corinth," "Marching Across Caro- lina," "Recollections of the Vicksburg Campaign," and of several pamphlets on archaeological questions.
Jacob Dolson Cox (1828-1900), Governor of Ohio, and gen- eral in the Civil War, and member of the U. S. Cabinet, an ac- complished 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: "At- lanta : the March to the Sea," "Second Battle of Bull Run," and "Military Recollections of the Civil War," the last being pub- lished 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 historical books: "The Army of the Cumberland," and "The Life of Gen. George H. Thomas."
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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."
Gen. Roeliff Brinkerhoff (1828 -), sociologist and prison reformer of international repute, - chairman of the executive committee of the Ohio Centennial, has recently published an exceedingly valuable and entertaining volume bearing the title: "Recollections of a Lifetime."
In the list of autobiographical writers in Ohio stands the name of Levi Coffin reputed president of the "Underground Rail- road," a sturdy abolitionist, whose intensely interesting book, "Personal Reminiscences," is one of the unique and permanently useful products of Buckeye history.
Another absorbing narrative of varied personal observa- tion and experience is Wm. Cooper Howells's (1807-1894), "Recollections of Life in Ohio, from 1813 to 1840," a book of rare charm, intelliegnce and suggestiveness. Not one page of this most delightful and authentic record of things as they were, could be spared.
Col. Wm. E. Gilmore (1824 -), Chillicothe, soldier, lawyer, man of genial culture and magnanimous sympathies, is rightly described by Ohio's chief historian 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 is 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. Among nis poems some of the most noteworthy are, "Say-O-Wis, the Elk Chief," "Ossian at the Grave of Oscar," and "Destruction of the Priesthood of Baal."
To a period somewhat prior to that of the writers just men- tioned belongs Rev. James B. Finley, whose "Autobiography," first published in "The Ladies' Resopitory," and afterwards in book form ( 1871), abounds with anecdote and incident illustrative. of early life in Ohio.
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HISTORIES, LOCAL AND GENERAL.
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. Hildreth's "Pioneer His- tory," 1848, and "Early Pioneers," 1852 ; and James W. Taylor's "History of Ohio," 1854.
The foregoing belong to the early history of Ohio, -to a period considerably before that of the Southern Rebellion. A partial list of historical books of later origin, written by Ohio pens, is the following: "The Blennerhassett Papers," Wm. H. Safford; "The St. Clair Papers," and "A Political History. of the United States," Wm. Henry Smith (1833-1896) ; "The Pub- lic Domain." etc., Thomas C. Donaldson (1843-1898) ; "History of Ohio," Rufus King (1817-1891) ; "The Old Northwest," Burke A. Hinsdale (1837-1900) ; "History of the Declination of the Great Republic," Hiram H. Munn (1838 -) ; "Life of Lin- coln," "Life of Hayes," and "History of the Louisiana Purchase," James Quay Howard; "Oliver Cromwell," Samuel Harden Church (1858 -); "History of American Coinage," David Kemper Watson (1849 -); "History of Ohio," Daniel J. Ryan (1855 -); "Side Lights on American History," Wm. Henry Elson (1857 -); "The Mother of an Emperor," Mrs. Mary Mc- Arthur Tuttle; "Che-le-co-the; or Glimpses of Yesterday," by L. W. Renick and others, of Chillicothe; "Life of Lincoln," by J. H. Barrett, - translated into German by John Eggers ; "The Life of Thomas Corwin," Josiah Morrow; "History of the First Congregational Church, Marietta, Ohio," by Rev. C. E. Dickin- son, D. D .; "Anti-Slavery Opinions before 1800," W. F. Poole : "Four Great Powers" and "The Navy During the Rebellion," C. B. Boynton ; "Life of Douglas" and "Life of S. P. Chase," R. B. Walden; "Rosecrans' Campaign with the 14th Army Corps," W. D. Bickham; "Ohio Historical Sketches," F. B.
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Pearson and J. D. Harlow; "Story of a Regiment," E. Hanna- ford; "History of the Second Regiment, U. S. V. Engineers," Wm. Mayo Venable (1871 -); "The Underground Railroad," "Handbook of Ohio Government," etc., Wilbur H. Siebert (1866 -); "History of Political Parties," J. P. Gordy (1851 -); "Modern European History," "A Source Book of History," Prof. Merrick Whitcomb; "Education in the United States," Richard Gause Boone; "Centennial History of Cincinnati," by Charles T. Greve; "Concerning the Forefathers," Caroline Reeve Conover. See also Robert Clarke's "Ohio Valley Historical Series," 12 vols.
James Florant Meline (1813-1873), a Cincinnati author of distinction may be remembered in this connection, on account of his most noted work, a controversial history written from a Catholic point of view and in reply to Froude. The book bears the title: "Mary, Queen of Scots, and her latest English Historian."
Emilius Oviatt Randall (1850 -), of Columbus, official Reporter of the Supreme Court of Ohio, educated at Andover, Cornell and the O. S. U., an "all around" scholar, a professor of law, a member of many learned societies, Secretary of the Cen- tennial Executive Committee, is a clear and accurate writer mainly on topics of western history. He is the author of a "History of Blennerhassett," "History of the Separatist Society of Zoar," and editor of the "Ohio Historical and Archaeological Quarterly." Mr. Randall has edited ten volumes of the publi- cations of the Ohio Historical Society and fifteen 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 several volumes.
Eugene F. Bliss (1836 -), ex-president of the Ohio His- torical Society, and member of the American Historical Associa- tion, translated and edited the "Diary of David Zeisberger," an important contribution to the history of the Moravians in Ohio.
Special distinction should be given to the name of Philip Van Ness Myers (1840 -), late dean of the University of Cin- cinnati, author of "Life and Nature under the Tropics," "Remains of Lost Empires," "Mediaeval and Modern History," "Eastern Nations and Greece," "History of Rome," "History of Greece,"
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etc. Dr. Myers holds rank as an authority among scholars and his admirable works are studied wherever English is spoken.
There are several historians of national reputation, who, though not now resident in Ohio, were born in the State and may properly be included in this outline. Among these are: Her- bert Howe Bancroft (1832 -), who, with the aid of collabora- tors, prepared for the press, five volumes on the "Native Races of the Pacific States," and thirty-nine volumes on the "History of the Pacific States"; - James Ford Rhodes (1848 -), now of Boston, formerly of Cleveland, author of an elaborate "His- tory of the United States from the Compromise of 1850," a work now in the course of publication and to be completed in eight volumes; - and Wm. 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 of a four volume "History of the Life of Napoleon."
There are in Ohio four principal Historical Societies each of which possesses a library and has published much valuable matter. They are named and located as follows: Firelands His- torical Society, Norwalk; Historical and Philosophical Society of Ohio, Cincinnati; Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society, Columbus; Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland.
SCIENCE.
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, archaeology, 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 (1808-1866), also of Cuyahoga, an archae- ologist of high standing; Wm. S. Sullivant (1803-1873), of Columbus, - a botanist and bryologist of international fame; and John Strong Newberry (1822-1892), of Cleveland, late of
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the 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 MacKnight Mitchell (1809-1862), the astronomer, whose once popular books, "The Planetary System and Stellar Worlds," "The Orbs of Heaven," 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, Mitchell put aside the telescope for the sword, and earned the laurels of battle to mingle with the evergreen leaves of scientific renown.
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