OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 55 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 05 : Issue 55 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Tid Bits - Part 38 ["Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0c7d01c54ed1$392cb5d0$0300a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - Part 38 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 11:23 PM Subject: Tid Bits - Part 38 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley April 24, 2005 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley Tid Bits - Part 38 notes by S. Kelly +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ part 38. Kelley Bank Bill of 1845 The Kelley Bank Bill resulted from Andrew Jackson's attack on the Second Bank of the United States and the Panic of 1837. In 1832, Jackson ordered the withdrawal of federal government funds, approximately ten million dollars, from the Bank of the United States. The President deposited these funds in state banks and privately owned financial institutions. Ohio had nine of these banks. As stated before, Nicholas Biddle, the director of the Bank of United States, tried to keep the national bank operational by calling in loans, yet many businesses did not have funds available to pay off their debts. As a result numerous businesses had to close their doors due to the lack of funds during 1833 and 1834. After this brief economic downturn, the United States' economy boomed. State banks began loaning money to industrialists and farmers. The banks also began printing exhorbitant amounts of currency. This action led to high inflation. At the same time that banks were loaning out large sums of money and printing out currency, foreign governments and businesses, hoping to benifit from the United States burgeoning economy, loaned large sums of money to American businessmen. Due to high inflation, United States and individual state currency quickly depreciated in value. In July 1836, Jackson issued Specie Circlar. Under this act, the government would only accept gold or silver in payment for Federal land. Foreign investors also did not want to accept American currency as payment, and they began to call in their loans to American businessmen before the currency depreciated further. American citizens rushed banks to withdraw the necessary funds to pay off their debts. Unfortunately, many banks had loaned out too much money and did not have sufficient funds or reserves on hand to meet the demands of their customers. Approximately 800 banks closed their doors in 1837, stifling economic growth and bankrupting numerous businesses, including many of the banks. In 1845, the Whig Party controlled Ohio's govenment. Mordecai Bartley served as governor, and the Whig representatives dominated the state legislature. Whigs had traditionally favored the creation of banks. The Kelley Bank Bill hoped to regulate banks operating within Ohio's borders. It also intended to encourage additional banks to open their doors within the state, providing Ohio residents with access to loans. Alfred Kelley, a Whig member of the Ohio legislature and a banker, introduced the bill. The Kelley Bank Bill would still permit private banks to operate in Ohio, but a new State Bank of Ohio would oversee the activities of these other financial institutions. Under the Kelley Bill, the state would be divided into twelve districts. Each district would have at least one bank that belonged to the State Bank of Ohio and oversaw the State Bank's actions. In reality, the State Bank was no more than a commission made up from other banks in Ohio, and they were responsible to the Ohio legislature. The Kelley Bank Bill gave this commission, also known as the Board of Control, the power to regulate the amount of currency produced by the individual banks. It also required all banks to maintain thirty percent of the total funds deposited in the bank in reserve. The banks could invest the other seventy percent as they saw fit, it would be primarily be through loans. As a result of the State Bank of Ohio and its regulatory ability, Ohio's banking system became more stable. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe was born on June 14,1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut. Her father, Lyman Beecher, placed a heavy emphasis on education. He was a Congregational minister and dedicated his life to spreading God's word and helping others. Harriet received her formal education at the Hartford Female Seminary, a school opened and operated by her sister, Catherine Beecher. Upon graduation, Harriet became a teacher at the seminary, as was her brother, Henry Ward Beecher. In 1832, the Beecher family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Lyman Beecher had accepted a position as president of Lane Theological Seminary. Harriet accompanied her father. While in Cincinnati, she met Calvin Ellis Stowe, a professor at the Lane Teological Seminary. The two of them fell in love and eventually married. It was during 1830s that Harriet became an abolitionist. Cincinnati was locatd on the Ohio River, just north of Kentucky, a slave state. Thousands of runaway slaves passed through Cincinnati as they traveled to their freedom along the Underground Railroad. She soon become friends with several Ohio abolitionists, including John Rankin, whose home in Ripley, Ohio served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The stories she heard from runaway slaves and the Underground conductors while she was in Cincinnati served as a basis for her book. "Uncle Tom's Cabin." In 1850, her husband Calvin Stowe accepted a position a Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. It was there in Maine Harriet wrote her book, " Uncle Tom's Cabin." The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 inspired her to write the novel. She objected to the federal government actively assisting slaveowners to reclaim their runaway property in Northern States. Like William Lloyd Garrison, Harriet realized that most white Northerners had never witnessed slavery firsthand. Most Northern whites had no idea of how brutal slavery could be. Through Uncle Tom's Cabin, she sought to humanize slavery for the readers. She wanted to educate them about the brutalities of the institution, hoping her readers would rise up against slavery if they understood the beatings, the rapes, and the division of families that sometimes occurred. Because her book was a work of fiction, she received much criticism for her supposedly inaccurate portrayal of slavery. It is important to note that Harriet Beecher Stowe's noval was based on extensive research with former slaves and with active participants, both whites and blacks, with the Underground Railroad. Despite criticism, the book became a bestseller. An abolitionist newspaper originally published the book as a serial in 1851 and 1852. In 1852, the story was published in book form and sold 500,000 copies in its first five years in print. It brought slavery to life for many white Northerners. In 1862, Harriet Stowe met President Abraham Lincoln while she was visiting Washington, D.C. Lincoln purportedly stated, " So, you're the little woman who wrote the book that started this Great War!" To place the blame for the Civil War on Harriet Beecher Stowe's shoulders would not be entirely correct, however, Uncle Tom's Cabin did help exacerbate the animosity between the North and rhe South. Harriet Beecher Stowe became an instant celebrity. She traveled extensively including, Europe, to promote her book and to encourage other people to protest slavery. In 1853, she moved with her husband to Andover, Massachusetts, where Calvin had accepted a teaching position at the Andover Theological Seminary. He retired in 1864, and the Stowes than moved to Hartford, Connecticut. She continued her literary career and eventually published thirty books. In 1852 was published " The Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin." which was an influential collection of documents and testimonies opposing slavery and "Dred; A tale of the Great Dismal Swamp," published in 1856, was a novel of the same vein. Her literary reputation was strengthened further by four novels revealing the influence of her New England background They were " The Minister's Wooing," published in 1859; "The Pearl of Orr's Island" published 1862; " Oldtown Folks," published 1869; and " Pogamuc People." published 1878, and others. Harriet Beecher Stowe died in 1893. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Globe Theater The Globe theater was one of the first theaters in the city of Cleveland. It was built by J.W. Watson in 1840. It was located on the 2nd floor of a business building on the norh side of Superior Ave., approximately midway between Bank ( W. 6th ) St and Seneca ( W. 3rd ) St. The theater was 60' wide by 100' long and approximately 25' high. The Globe had good accoustics and seated nearly 1000, but the shallow stage measured 40' wide by 15' deep. Although quite handsome, it was redecorated frequently because of changes in ownership and name. Over the years the facility was known as Watson's Hall ( 1840-45 ), Melodeon Hall (1845-60), Brainard's Hall (1860-72) Brainard's Opera House ( 1872-75 ), and the Globe Theater ( from 1875 until its demolition in 1880.) Among its many interesting attractions held in the theater, Ralph Waldo Emerson lectured on 10 Jan 1847 on the " Man of the World " and Louis Kossuth , the orator and eminent Hungarian patriot, spoke on 2 Feb 1852, The Great Royal Japanese Troupe from the Imperial Theater of Yeddo appeared on 28 Feb 1873. The last performance, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was held 29 Jan. 1880. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Cleveland Academy The Cleveland Academy was created in 1821, when the trustees of the village of Cleveland raised over $ 200 for the construction of a new and larger school. The two story brick schoolhouse, completed in 1822, was located on the north side of St.Clair Ave. On 26 June 1822, the academy was opened under the direction of Rev. William McLean as headmaster. Other instructors included John Cogswell, who followed McLean, and Harvey Rice, who served as instructor and principal until 1826. Curriculum at the academy consisted of reading and writing, geography, greek, Latin, and mathamatics. Students, or scholars ranging in age from 8 to 21, were charged a tuition of $4 by the trustees for each term of 12 weeks. The academy was operated as a private primary school until 1830, when competition from other private institutions in Cleveland prompted its sale by the trustees. Following the incorporation of Cleveland in 1836, the Board of Managers repurchased the academy property and rented spaces in the building to small classes and businesses. On 5 May 1847, Chas. Bradburn, school manager for Cleveland, recommended to the city council that the academy, now in disrepair, be demolished and the lot be used for new schools. It was demolished in the winter of 1849, and in its place the city built a new $6,000 school, called the West St.Clair Street School. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits continued in part 39. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 00:42:44 -0400 From: "Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <0c8301c54ed1$61e22870$0300a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - part 39. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 4:54 PM Subject: Tid Bits - part 39. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley April 28, 2005 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio by Darlene E. Kelley Tid Bits - part 39. Notes by S.Kelly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ part 39. Major Wilkins Disaster, 1763 Letter of J.P. Kirtland East Rockport January 11, 1836 Colonel Charles Whittlesey; Dear Sir; -- On arriving at home a few days since, after a three month's absence, I received yours of the 10th of December. I am greatly obliged for the information it contained in regard to the disaster which befell Major Wilkins' Expedition in 1763. I had come to the conclusion that its locality was at the mouth of Rocky River; several circumstances seemed to confirm it especially the discovery there, adjacent to an old camp fire, of a surgeon's amputating knife and other impletments ( Wilkins' surgeon was drowned ) and a " Point of Pines " still exists a little east of Rocky River ( Wilkins was wrecked at a bluff just beyond a " point of pines." ) But you once informed me that you supposed he was lost on the north shore of the lake and in your letter you state he was wrecked by a violent Southeast wind. With such a wind I see not how he could have suffered much off the mouth of Rocky River. To-day in searching a recent map in Bell's History of Canada ( 2 vol. Montreal, 1866 ), I find " Point aux Pins " laid down on the Lake shore in the town of Shewsberry, Kent District, Canada, opposite Cleveland, a little further east. These facts lead me to entertain doubts which of these two localities was the one where Wilkins suffered. I wish you would turn your attention to this point. The Major Moncriffe of whom you wrote was second in command under Wilkins. He addressed a letter to the commander at Detroit, written half in Erse, half in English, informing him of the details of the disaster and the conclusion to return the expedition to Niagara. He took an active part with the Tories at New York at the breaking out of the revolution, and subsequently at Savannah and Charleston as lieutenant colonel of engineers--- died at New York 1791, and was buried in Trinity Church. On examining the monuments there three weeks since, I did not discover his. He was an uncle to General Montgomery and brother-in-law of John Jay and Gov. Livingston, of New Jersey. His daughter was the beautiful girl said by Davis and denied by Porter, to be seduced by Aaron Burr. The wreckage of Bradstreet on McMahon's beachin 1764 is certain. It is a query whether the sword, bayonets and gun-flints discovered at the beach at Rocky River, and the camp-fire knife, bayonet, & etc., on the plateau near Tisdale's point were the vestage of his or Wilkins' catastrophe. During my recent tour I secured several additional facts relating to Bradstreet's expedition at Hartford, at Boston and New Haven. Very truly yours, J. P. Kirtland. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Some Maritime Disasters Maritime disasters were recorded in Lake Erie waters off Cleveland when the first explorers entered the area. The high rocky shore from just east of Cleveland west to Cedar Pt. combines with shallow water and sudden squalls to create one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the Great Lakes. However, not all wrecks have been due to natural causes; poor seamanship and mechanical failure have also claimed their toll. Over 60 major wrecks littered the approaches to Cleveland before improvements in navigational aids and safety equipment were effected in the 20th century. The North American Indians were fully aware of the dangerous southern shore of Lake Erie, and generally they would transverse the lake along the Canadian coast. In 1764 a British fleet commanded by Col. John Bradstreet met a sudden squall somewhere near Rocky River on its return from the siege of Ft. Detroit by Pontiac and his Indian allies. Damage to the boats forced part of the expedition to return to Fort Niagara on foot. It should be noted that during the previous year, a fleet under Maj. John Wilkins' command was also thought to have floundered off Rocky River, however, it is now believed that it met disaster along the lake's Canadian coastline. In 1771 the British also lost the schooner Beaver between Bay Village and Lorain. The early years of American settlement along the lake generated comparatively little lake traffic. There were 2 notable sinkings. In 1806, Lorenzo Carter rescued a fugitive slave named Ben from a schooner off Cleveland. In 1808, Cleveland's first fishing boat, captained by Joseph Plumb of Newburgh crewed by Amos Spafford's son, Adolphus, floundered in a storm off Bay Village. New settlement and technological innovations, including canal and the steamboat created a transportation industry that centered on Cleveland as a hub. However, these changes represented new dangers to the ships on the lake. Collision, fire, and explosion were added to weather as major hazards and quickly took their toll. The year 1850 proved to be particularly horrendous. On March 23, off Cleveland, and April 18, off Vermillion, the boilers of the Troy and the Anthony Wayne burst, killing 22 and 40. Then on June 26, paint stored near the firebox of the G.P. Griffith burst into a terrifying fire. Seven miles out from Willowby, the captain ordered a desperate race for shore. Half a mile out, the Griffin struck a shoal. Ran aground, the wooden ship burned to the water and over 250 died. On that Sunday, the large steamboat took her departure from Buffalo. There were 256 in the steerage, forty five in the cabins, and a crew of twenty five. Many of the passengers were hopeful immigrants from England, Ireland, and Germany. The below ballad by Kate Weaver seems to befit the tale; ' Twas on Lake Erie's broad expanse One bright midsummer day, The gallent steamer Griffith Swept proudly on her way. Ah! who beneath that cloudess sky, That smiling bends serene, Could dream that danger, awful, vast, Impended o'er the scene? Could dream that ere an hour had sped, That frame of sturdy oak Would sink beneath the lake's blue waves, Blackened with fire and smoke? ' [ Actually the Griffith had come across the Lake in fine style that Sunday and was steaming along three miles offshore and about twenty miles from Cleveland at four o'clock Monday morning when the fire was discovered. ] 'A seaman sought the Captain's side, A moment whispered low, The Captain's swarthy face grew pale, He hurried down below. Alas! too late! Though quick and sharp And clear his orders came, No human efforts could avail To quench the insidious flame. ' [ Aboard the Griffith the mate had reported smoke coming from the hold. When the alarm was given, the passengers, half-clothed, tumbled up on deck. The circumstances were frightening, but they behaved remarkably calm. Not one scream was heard. Nobody made a motion to leap overboard. They seemed to have faith in the captain. ] ' The bad news quickly reached the deck, It sped from lip to lip; And ghastly faces everywhere Looked from the doomed ship. " Is there no hope, no chance of Life? " A hundred lips implore; " But one," the captain made reply, " To run the ship ashore." [ The nearest shore lay to the southeast of the Griffin. ] "A sailor whose heroic soul That hour should yet reveal --- by name John Maynard, Eastern born -- Stood calmly at the wheel. " Head her southeast!" the captain shouts Above the smothered roar; " Head her southeast without delay ! Make for the nearest shore !" "No terror pales the helmsman's cheek Or clouds his dauntlass eye, As in the sailor's measured tone His voice respond's " Aye, Aye ! " Three hundred souls-- the steamer's freight-- Crowd forward, wild with fear, While at the stern the dreadful flames Above the deck appear." [ At this moment the shore was less than two miles away from the Griffith. The Captain ordered full steam ahead, which increased the draft and fanned the flames, but it seemed a chance worth taking, with the beach and safety only five minutes distant. ] " John Maynard watched the nearing flames, But still with steady hand He grasp the wheel, and steadfastly He steered the ship to land, " John Maynard." with an anxious voice, " Stand by the wheel five minutes yet, And we will reach the shore !" Half a mile from safe haven, the wheelsman of the Griffith struck a sand bar out in the Lake. The Captain himself led the panic. He threw his wife, his two children, and his mother overboard, and followed them into the water, never to be seen again. With that example as a guide, the passengers went frantic. They ran around in circles on the blazing deck and burned to death. They jumped into the water without throwing a stick of furniture or loose board to help buoy themselves up. They beat at the waves with there fists and drowned. Only the strongest swimmers survived and one of them, the barber's wife, was the solitary woman saved of all the wives and mothers and daughters who had gone aboard at Buffalo, bound around the Lakes to raise families in the prosperous land. The mate swam ashore and brought help in small boats. In all, thirty men and the lone woman survived from the original passenger and crew list of 326. Estimates vary, but at least 250 and perhaps 296 perished in that red hour on Lake Erie. It proved impossible to legislate good seamanship, however by the introduction of modern navigational aids and radio gave the sailors better advantage. Gales remained the most common cause of sinkings. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits continued in part 40. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V05 Issue #55 ******************************************