School-house of 1851, in which President Garfield taught.
School-house of 1851, in which President Garfield taught.
School-house of 1851, in which President Garfield taught.
The writer still holds the larger end of an uncanceled scholarship in one of the then leading, but now defunct, college institutions.
As late as 1837, there was no public school system operating in Ohio. But the year following a law was passed for the purpose of adopting a system on a uniform footing. Still it required thatteachers should be qualifiedonlyin reading, writing and arithmetic. Amendments and improvements, however, went on, and in 1847 the “State Teachers’ Association” was organized, and deserves great credit for the good work done and still doing in obtaining beneficial legislation and raising the standard of teachers and the curriculum of “High Schools.” And at the present time Ohio compares favorably with other states in regard to her system for general and liberal education, regardless of color or previous condition.
Information derived from newspapers was measurably lost—the inefficient postal service prevented the circulation of metropolitan papers; and those published in Ohio for half a century were under the ban of slavery. And with the censorship of Kentucky and the cotton states it is not surprising they were short-lived and unattended with prosperity. The first paper published in the North-west was printed in Cincinnati, November 9, 1793, under the name of “The Sentinel of the North-western Territory.” The journal was owned and edited by William Maxwell. Newspapers in those days were comparatively small and poorly executed in presswork; and changed names, ownership or ceased to exist so frequently that not a few attempts at journalism became lost to history.
During the territorial days, and while the seat of government tarried at Chillicothe, Mr.Willis, the father of N. P., the poet, author and artist, published a literary paper for a short time. After the capital became permanently located at Columbus, Philo H. Olmstead, from 1813 to 1818, published “The Western Intelligencer”—then changed the name to “Columbus Gazette” and in due time to “Columbus Journal.”
Small as these and other beginnings were over the settled portions of the state, the press and its influence became of more and more importance, and kept pace if not in advance of many other leading departments connected with an advanced civilization. As ideas beget ideas, so inventions beget inventions, until time and space are no more, and the wild elements meekly bow in submission to the will and works of man. If John Gutenberg, Fust, Mentel or Koster, with their little inventions, could see the automatic working of one of those mammoth printing machines, which noiselessly move with such rapidity, exactness and intelligence—even putting human volition and precision to shame—any one or all of the once contesting discoverers would stop disputing in astonished wonderment long enough to set up and strike off on their own inventions a single line, in quotations, “Large trees from small acorns grow,” and abandon further contention.
Newspaper educators at an early day, like the schoolmaster, had a limited showing in a countryso financially short. Editors and publishers could not conduct the business without a given amount of support. But this needful requirement was too manifestly uncertain to justify an expensive venture; for there was little or no money in the country, nor means to procure it by exchanges. Still, the experiment was occasionally made, but most generally failed even in the hands of the most economical management and moderate expectations.
The following is a brief of a four-paged paper, ten by fifteen inches in size—“No. 33, Vol. I.”—dated June 5, 1818. This paper was started at the county seat of one of the early settled localities, and in agriculture one of the leading counties in the state. This number treats of the following subjects:
THE OLIVE BRANCHVolume I.]June 6, 1818.[Number 33.
THE OLIVE BRANCHVolume I.]June 6, 1818.[Number 33.
THE OLIVE BRANCH
Volume I.]June 6, 1818.[Number 33.
1. Light reading. Traits in Washington City Drawing-Room. Mrs. Monroe. The President. Virginians. The Belles. Foreigners. Etiquette. Foreign Ministers. The Secretaries of GovernmentDepartments. Western Opposition. American Manufacturers. Essex Junto. Two Different Descriptions of Men that Inhabit Virginia, Contrasted.2. Foreign News—Spain. Major-General Jackson’s Letter to Gov. Rubute, Bowleg Town, Suwanny, April 20, 1818. Late from the Army—Milledgeville and Indians. Patriots victorious—Marching on to Carraccas. The President of the United States. More Specks of War at Detroit. The Belt had passed through the Winnebago, Sack, Fox and Hickapoo Nations. Mercury at Green Bay through the Winter, 25°. Letter from “Savannaa,” April 30, 1818. Letter from Porto Rico. Letter from Upper Canada. Extract from a Vermont Paper. Expensiveness of the Ground purchased for the Bank of the United States at Philadelphia, being One Thousand Dollars per Front Foot.3. Obituaries. Advertisements. Court Proceedings. Expulsion of Masons from the Order. Patent Pumps. Paris Papers. One Hundred and Forty Vessels perished in the late Tremendous Gale along the English Coast. Injurious Effects of Flannel. Masonic Notice. Prospects for continuing the Publication of “The Olive Branch.” Advertisements.4. Poetry—“Absent Friends. Defense of Putnam. Improvement of the Loom for Weaving. Sheriff Sale of Accounts.” His own Included.
1. Light reading. Traits in Washington City Drawing-Room. Mrs. Monroe. The President. Virginians. The Belles. Foreigners. Etiquette. Foreign Ministers. The Secretaries of GovernmentDepartments. Western Opposition. American Manufacturers. Essex Junto. Two Different Descriptions of Men that Inhabit Virginia, Contrasted.
2. Foreign News—Spain. Major-General Jackson’s Letter to Gov. Rubute, Bowleg Town, Suwanny, April 20, 1818. Late from the Army—Milledgeville and Indians. Patriots victorious—Marching on to Carraccas. The President of the United States. More Specks of War at Detroit. The Belt had passed through the Winnebago, Sack, Fox and Hickapoo Nations. Mercury at Green Bay through the Winter, 25°. Letter from “Savannaa,” April 30, 1818. Letter from Porto Rico. Letter from Upper Canada. Extract from a Vermont Paper. Expensiveness of the Ground purchased for the Bank of the United States at Philadelphia, being One Thousand Dollars per Front Foot.
3. Obituaries. Advertisements. Court Proceedings. Expulsion of Masons from the Order. Patent Pumps. Paris Papers. One Hundred and Forty Vessels perished in the late Tremendous Gale along the English Coast. Injurious Effects of Flannel. Masonic Notice. Prospects for continuing the Publication of “The Olive Branch.” Advertisements.
4. Poetry—“Absent Friends. Defense of Putnam. Improvement of the Loom for Weaving. Sheriff Sale of Accounts.” His own Included.
The deplorable condition of the press of Ohio at the time is so graphically and candidly set forth by the editors of the Olive Branch—the only paper published in the county—in their last appeal for support, is better illustrated by reproducing the article entire:
“PROSPECTS“For Continuing the Publication ofTHE OLIVE BRANCH.“The publishers now call upon the citizens of —— county, and the country adjacent, to determine if they shall continue publishingThe Olive Branch. They have fully and firmly determined to discontinue its publication, unless the number of their subscribers is considerably increased. They apprehend their present number will not pay the expense of the establishment; and they do not think themselves able, nor are they under obligations, to lose more by it than they have lost already.“If, therefore, the citizens of the county are desirous that a paper should be published at this place, and if any thinkthisworthy of their patronage, let them declare it by adding their names to the list of our subscribers. By this declaration, yea or nay, when fully and explicitly made known, we shall positively abide.“Some persons ask, ‘What is to be thecharacterof our paper?’ And whatinducementsweoffer them to become subscribers? In a few words we will tell them: Its character shall be truly American and Republican. Americans by birth and education, we have no partiality for European institutions or policy.Republicansin principle, we will never disseminate aristocratical or monarchical doctrines. We will ever oppose, with our utmost endeavors, their progress. We do fearlessly declare perpetual war against them. Believing our forms of government infinitely superior to any ever before witnessed, we will rather perish in their defense than sit silent spectators of their destruction.“We will ever respect and inculcate virtue, both public and private, and deprecate vice in all its dazzling forms. Nothing shall ever appear in our columns to disturb the present public tranquillity, unless we see danger lurking therein, which duty requires us to expose to public view. We hold the Christian religion in sacred veneration, and shall never, therefore, suffer an aspersion to be cast upon it through our columns.“As the happiness of most of mankind lies in their social domestic circles, we shall hold them sacred. We will never designedly cast into them the apple of discord; nor will we knowingly cause a pang to thehonest heartor a blush upon ‘the modest cheek.’“Theinducementswe offer are:“First—A weekly account of the most importantevents and transactions occurring in our own country.“Secondly—An account of such as transpire in other parts of the globe affecting us; and among these, every thing important relative to our Mexican and South American neighbors will have a preference.“Thirdly—The most important state papers and documents relating to or coming from our government.“Fourthly—Well-written essays, either original or extracted, on political, moral and scientific subjects, and relating to the topography and geography of our country.“Fifthly—A view of the proceedings of our state and national legislatures, and a strict examination of the laws passed by them.“Sixthly—Literary articles which conveyinstructionwithamusementwill find a niche in our paper. We shall not, however, seek toamuseunless we can at the same timeinstruct. To excite or gratify the public taste for amusement alone we consider dangerous to our freedom. By such means Pericles destroyed the liberties of Athens, and Cæsar of Rome. Modern France, too, had her Pericles and her Cæsar; she followed them, and she is now ruing her folly. Similar must be our fate when wefollow afterthe siren song of amusement. We will never be the willing instruments of thus sapping our free institutions. If our paper can not find a sufficient support without this, let it go ‘to the tomb ofthe Capulets.’ For we will sooner breast the torrent of public feeling on this subject, though we are swept by it into the deep bosom of destruction, than glide upon its surface and trim our barques to its course.“Renick, Doan & Co.”
“PROSPECTS
“For Continuing the Publication ofTHE OLIVE BRANCH.
“The publishers now call upon the citizens of —— county, and the country adjacent, to determine if they shall continue publishingThe Olive Branch. They have fully and firmly determined to discontinue its publication, unless the number of their subscribers is considerably increased. They apprehend their present number will not pay the expense of the establishment; and they do not think themselves able, nor are they under obligations, to lose more by it than they have lost already.
“If, therefore, the citizens of the county are desirous that a paper should be published at this place, and if any thinkthisworthy of their patronage, let them declare it by adding their names to the list of our subscribers. By this declaration, yea or nay, when fully and explicitly made known, we shall positively abide.
“Some persons ask, ‘What is to be thecharacterof our paper?’ And whatinducementsweoffer them to become subscribers? In a few words we will tell them: Its character shall be truly American and Republican. Americans by birth and education, we have no partiality for European institutions or policy.Republicansin principle, we will never disseminate aristocratical or monarchical doctrines. We will ever oppose, with our utmost endeavors, their progress. We do fearlessly declare perpetual war against them. Believing our forms of government infinitely superior to any ever before witnessed, we will rather perish in their defense than sit silent spectators of their destruction.
“We will ever respect and inculcate virtue, both public and private, and deprecate vice in all its dazzling forms. Nothing shall ever appear in our columns to disturb the present public tranquillity, unless we see danger lurking therein, which duty requires us to expose to public view. We hold the Christian religion in sacred veneration, and shall never, therefore, suffer an aspersion to be cast upon it through our columns.
“As the happiness of most of mankind lies in their social domestic circles, we shall hold them sacred. We will never designedly cast into them the apple of discord; nor will we knowingly cause a pang to thehonest heartor a blush upon ‘the modest cheek.’
“Theinducementswe offer are:
“First—A weekly account of the most importantevents and transactions occurring in our own country.
“Secondly—An account of such as transpire in other parts of the globe affecting us; and among these, every thing important relative to our Mexican and South American neighbors will have a preference.
“Thirdly—The most important state papers and documents relating to or coming from our government.
“Fourthly—Well-written essays, either original or extracted, on political, moral and scientific subjects, and relating to the topography and geography of our country.
“Fifthly—A view of the proceedings of our state and national legislatures, and a strict examination of the laws passed by them.
“Sixthly—Literary articles which conveyinstructionwithamusementwill find a niche in our paper. We shall not, however, seek toamuseunless we can at the same timeinstruct. To excite or gratify the public taste for amusement alone we consider dangerous to our freedom. By such means Pericles destroyed the liberties of Athens, and Cæsar of Rome. Modern France, too, had her Pericles and her Cæsar; she followed them, and she is now ruing her folly. Similar must be our fate when wefollow afterthe siren song of amusement. We will never be the willing instruments of thus sapping our free institutions. If our paper can not find a sufficient support without this, let it go ‘to the tomb ofthe Capulets.’ For we will sooner breast the torrent of public feeling on this subject, though we are swept by it into the deep bosom of destruction, than glide upon its surface and trim our barques to its course.
“Renick, Doan & Co.”
Although ably edited—containing interesting, well-written and well-selected articles, the verdict was “perpetual suspension.” The inhabitants of neither town nor country cared to become “readers of newspapers.” The agrarian element of society had not extended to business transactions. The contracted condition of the “circulating medium” was such that it became absolutely necessary to ignore every luxury that required “spot cash;” while state laws made the credit system so dangerous, honest people kept as free as possible from financial obligations. They did not wish to take the risk of seeing their names posted in public places, stating the time the indebtedness would be sold by the sheriff at public outcry to the highest bidder.
And the citizen continued on his even way, enjoying the chase—catching wolves and foxes; and hunting the deer, turkey and squirrel; and in summer tilling a few acres of corn—a small “patch” of flax—enough potatoes, beans, pumpkins, and gourds for the use of the family. The soil produced well, and with but little labor enough corn could be raised for family meal andto winter the small amount of stock—the fire-wood was secured from wind-falls in the “deadening,” and with a horse and cow, a few sheep, and a good dog, the “squirrel hunter” became wonderfully well satisfied with his environment, and had no desire for change. The amount he knew of things transpiring in the outside world was obtained by the word of mouth in the regular line of communication.
The women carded the wool and hackled the flax, and spun and wove the same; and from year to year there were no changes in household appearances or landed possessions. The “deadening,” however, was a little larger in area, in order to keep up the easily-obtained supply of fire-wood, and to increase the amount of the natural grasses and green things in summer for the benefit of the stock.
All domestic animals subsisted on what nature furnished in the woods during spring and summer, and each individual owner had an ear-mark for hogs and cattle recorded at the county-seat, which gave security against mistakes, and when animals became lost furnished information of ownership and acted as a substitute for a square in the “lost” column of some newspaper. It must be remembered that Ohio was not settled all over at once. It came into the Union an immense wilderness, and much of it remained unoccupied for long periods. The first tree cut, in Hardin county, was cut for bees in 1837—a deadblack-walnut, seventy-two feet to the first limb. And as the counties became organized and settled the inhabitants all commenced at the same point—the same style of cabin and like simplicity—benches were used for chairs, earth for flooring and carpet, forked sticks driven into the ground with cross poles for bedsteads, clap-boards for bed-cords, and pond-grass for feathers, a single pot and frying-pan, with a few pewter dishes, constituted the primitive outfit, sooner or later, for every county in the state.
The immigrants who pushed forward into the interior counties suffered most for want of mills and from the high price of freight, and merchandise, as salt, flour, and other necessaries of life, all came from Chillicothe or Zanesville. Salt was ten and twelve cents a pound, calico one dollar a yard, coffee seventy-five cents, and whisky two dollars a gallon.
High prices ruled in all new settlements long after they had been reduced in and at the vicinity of Chillicothe and Zanesville; and which, too, was only partly owing to exorbitant rates for transportation. So little and so few were articles purchased, that pioneer merchants did not enter the interior counties of the state for many years, and orders for flour, and salt, and other necessaries, accompanied by the silver, would be forwarded generally by the bearer of the order, as no regular mail or line of transportation was run from one settlement to another. For want of roadsthe inconvenience was tolerated, as it did not detract much from the power of the inhabitants in every part of the state from living well and living easy. Still there were a few from isolation or improvidence suffered hardships and unpleasant conditions, especially in the interior counties.
In the fall of 1803, Henry Berry, a Welshman, came to this country to establish a home, and leaving his wife and smaller children in Philadelphia, Pa., took his two boys, one nine and the other eleven years old, and put up a small cabin in the interior of Delaware county, fifteen miles from the nearest one of the three families that constituted the white inhabitants. At this time the country was full of Indians and wild animals, and was distant from sources of supplies seventy-five to one hundred miles. The father was so infatuated with the country, he hurriedly erected a small cabin of such timber as he and his boys could handle; and when covered, but without floor, chimney, or fire-place, and without daubing or chinking, he fixed the children a place to sleep, started back for Philadelphia, hoping to get the rest of his family West before the cold weather set in. When he reached Philadelphia he found his wife dangerously sick with a protracted fever, and before she was able to travel Mr. Berry became sick, and winter came on, and he was unable to return until the June following.
The boys had not been heard from; the winterhad been unusually severe, and they had been left with but a short amount of provisions, without a gun, surrounded by Indians and wild beasts, and were compelled to live upon such animals as they could capture; and with no fireplace or chimney they passed a cold winter in that open cabin. And when the father returned with the family, he found the boys had cleared enough ground for a large garden and had vegetables growing from the seeds they had brought with them from Wales. Of course the boys suffered much, but like the one on the burning deck, they heroically stood their ground regardless of consequence.
But the man who would refuse cornbread and carry a bushel of wheat seventy-five miles on his shoulder, to get it ground, is not properly a subject of pity or sympathy.
Before the state had reached its fortieth anniversary, almost all parental heads establishing homes in this country, prior to the opening of the Erie Canal (1825), could, at the sound of a dinner horn, call in a large family of well-grown children, numbering a “baker’s dozen,” more or less; and oftener than otherwise, without the loss of a single addition.
The ratio of natural increase of population was satisfactory, and death rate was small. The climate was healthful; living simple and easy; house-keeping uncomplicated and destitute of style. Rural homes were all alike unostentatious,and early marriages were seldom, if ever, deferred on account of immaturity or financial circumstances; and large families became fashionable. Seldom less than ten, and only occasionally more than twenty children, were added to the household.
People may have been poor in accumulated wealth, but it was not felt or despised. A father with eight or ten robust sons had a sure foundation for a hope to see the destruction of the surrounding forest, cultivation of the soil, and the transformation of a portion of the wilderness into fields of waving grain, fruits and flowers.
It is possible, and has been no uncommon thing for heads of large families to live to see their great-great-grand-children; for it would seem true, as in history, longevity and children are very nearly related. As a rule, large families are healthy, having inherited a full measure of vital resistance. Records of centenarians show that both males and females of those who have gone into the second century have been nearly all parents of large families; and read quite similar to the following: “Alexander Hockaday has just celebrated his one hundred and twelfth birthday. His wife, a few years younger, is still living. They were blessed with twelve children, eleven of whom are living near the aged couple with their numerous posterity.”
No doubt the existing conditions of a desirable new country, and the exemption from avarice,penury or speculation, with the enjoyment of that happy state unknown to wealth, want or war, were favorable to longevity and natural increase. States of the mind and existing impressions, like acquired habits, are transmissible as certainly as that of the resemblance of physical and moral qualities. And with the pioneer posterity, much of that strong manifestation of character and mental endowment was due to the multiplicity and salutary combinations of causes. Blood will tell, but in addition to descent, posterity had all the winning influences of a quiet, simple and easy mode of living—pure air, earth and water, filled with inspiration to greatness and dispensed by nature to those who delight to worship within her temple and partake wisdom from beasts, birds and flowers.