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Would it not be wise for the mothers of today to pay more attention to the example of the mothers among the early settlers ?

The tree of this example, like other trees, is known by its fruit. The pioneer mothers taught their children, by precept and example, the necessity and value of useful labor in the development of human character, but their influence did not end there. Upon them to a large extent was imposed the task of the moral training and education of their children, and most faithfully, and with a self-sacrificing devotion, of which only mothers are capable, did they execute this task. School books must be furnished; there were in those days no free school book advocates; they had not then been born and it was generally for the mothers to see that their children were suitably provided and equipped for attending on week days the school and on Sundays the church. The means which the united labor of fathers and mothers had earned and their joint economy had saved were legally under the control of the fathers, but the details of application were left to the mothers and many faithful mothers were put into their graves prematurely by reason of their assiduous devotion to the moral and educational training of their children. The result was the children of the families of the early settlers were well taught in the rudiments of a common education and in comMost of the prominent and influential men and women in this city to-day and in the state and nation are largely indebted to the love and devotion of their mothers for the moral training, education and habits of industry and economy which have enabled them to achieve distinction.

mon sense.

It was natural, therefore, that our esteemed and lamented friend, George C. Dodge, should be elated at the election of Mrs. J. A. Harris vice president. She is a fitting type of thousands among the early settlers, who, without romance, ostentation or mystery, in a quiet way, contributed largely to the growth and prosperity of the country.

I have not referred to the influence of woman in the history of the early settlers to detract from the influence of man, but to show that in what we most admire in that history woman was the coequal of man and "a helpmeet for him," and besides I wanted to vindicate Moses, and could not do it better than by reference to the character of pioneer women. A word to the ladies by way of advice, which is generally

cheap, unless given by lawyers: You, by the action of our society, are eligible to office and you may wish to know how to hold on to it. Cultivate inoffiensive partisanship and you will then be as wise as men and harmless as doves.

At the suggestion of Vice-President Mrs. Harris, the ladies of the association formally recognized the tribute paid them by Mr. Hutchins. Mrs. Lohmann then rendered "The Old Barn Window, John," and gracefully responded to an encore with "The Devoted Apple." Hon. John A. Foote moved a vote of thanks to Mrs. Grace Perkins Lohman for her inspiring musical selections. Mr. Foote said that he had never known the difference between a chord and a discord, but the vocal music had touched his heart as it had never been touched before. was unanimously adopted.

The motion

GOVERNOR CLINTON AND THE OHIO CANAL.

MR. PRESIDENT:

A PAPER READ BY GEORGE B. MERWIN.

The important subject of opening and rendering permanent a navigable water communication between lake Erie and the Ohio river had been discussed by the press and business men for some length of time in various parts of the state, and in January 1822, the legislature enacted a law and appointed commissioners to examine the country and report on the practicability of making a canal from Lake Erie to the Ohio river. These commissioners employed the Hon. James Geddes, of Onondaga county, New York, as an engineer, who arrived at Columbus, the seat of government, in the month of June 1822. On his way he had examined the Cuyahoga summit.

In the spring, summer and autumn of 1822, Mr. Geddes examined the country for a canal a distance in length amounting to nine hundred miles; our engineers leveled eight hundred miles. The commissioners themselves assisted in the examination, devoting nearly all their time to this service, and continued the examination of different canal routes

during the whole season of 1823-4 and finally early in the year 1825, determined on commencing at Cleveland, and ending at Portsmouth on the Ohio river, a distance of three hundred and fifty miles.

All this being done, Judge Bates, of Rochester, New York, was appointed chief engineer; every other necessary preparation being made, the canal commissioners and all our constituted authorities, invited DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York, to be present and dig the first shovelfull of earth, which was to be done on the Licking ummit, in Licking county, about three miles or more westwardly of Newark, on the fourth of July, 1825.

Governor Clinton was a warm friend and advocate of internal improvements throughout the United States by the general government, and was on that account looked upon as a probable presidential candidate at the next ensuing election and was considered the father of the Hudson and Erie canal. He wrote that he would arrive in Cleveland the last day of June.

The Superior was due that day, but it was uncertain whether he would come on the steamboat or in the stage.

My father sent me down to Condit's tavern in Euclid, where the stage horses were changed, to see if Governor Clinton was in the stage and told me to come home lively; in half an hour the stage arrived but that very distinguished gentleman was not among the passengers.

I mounted my horse and started at a lively gait; just as I passed the residence of Nathan Perry, he took the bit in his teeth and ran away with me. As I came to the public square my hat fell off, and I came through the square and Superior street John Gilpin-like, my hair flying in the wind, my coat tails at right angles with my body and my hands clinched in the mane. Fortunately the stable door was shut and I received no injury.

Many of the citizens, learning of my errand to Euclid, on seeing me return in such a very unceremonious manner came to me and inquired if Governor Clinton was on the stage; being answered in the negative, we all went down to the bank of the lake to see if the boat was in sight. She was about ten miles off.

It was a heavenly day, not a cloud in the sky, the lake calm as the river, its glistening bosom reflecting the fierce rays of an almost tropi

ical sun; she soon passed Water street, dressed with all her flags, and came to anchor about a mile opposite the mouth of the river and fired her usual signal gun.

Her commander, Captain Fisk, ordered the steps to be let down and her yawl boat to be placed along side of them; then taking Governor Clinton by the hand seated him in the stern of the boat, and was followed by his aids, Colonel Jones, Colonel Read, and Colonel Solomon VanRensallaer, who had traversed the state when a wilderness, as an officer under General Wayne. Messrs. Rathbone and Lord, who had loaned us the money with which to commence the canal, and Judge Conkling, United States District judge, of New York.

They came up the river, the stars and stripes waving over them and landed at the foot of Superior street, where the reception committee with carriages and a large concourse of citizens awaited them and took them to the Mansion house, then kept by my father, where Governor Clinton was addressed by the late Judge Samuel Cowles, who had been selected by the committee to make the reception address.

Governor Clinton made an eloquent reply. In a part of his remarks he made the statement, "that when our canals were made, even if they had cost five million dollars, they would be worth three times that sum ; that the increased price of our productions, in twenty years would be worth five millions of dollars; that the money saved on the transportation of goods, to our people, during the same period would be five million of dollars, and that the canals would finally pay their tolls, refund their entire cost, principal and interest."

De Witt Clinton was a man of majestic presence. In his person he was large and robust, his forehead high and broad, his hair black and curly and his eyes large, black and brilliant, and, take him all in all, looked as though he was born to command.

As the weather was very warm and the distance to Licking county about one hundred and fifty miles, it was thought best to get an early start in the morning and take breakfast at Mother Parker's, who kept a tavern at the foot of Tinker's creek hill about one and a half miles down the creek west of Bedford. She was a black eyed, steel trap style of a Vermont woman, and a good cook. Half an hour after daylight an extra stage came and the party left.

A small swivel, used for celebrations, had been left at some former occasion on the brow of the hill on the west side of Vineyard lane, now called South Water street. My father woke up the late Orlando Cutter, his store was where the Atwater block stands—and got some powder and when the stage got a few rods up Superior street, gave the party a parting salute; then mounting his horse he soon passed the stage and rode on to give Mrs. Parker information who was coming and that she must prepare a good breakfast. He also inquired where her husband, Cordee, was and if he had taken his bitters, of which the jolly old fellow was very fond. She said he was out at the barn, where my father found him with as heavy a load as his buckskin breeches could waddle under. My father quietly picked the old fellow up and took him in the granaray, returned to the house and assisted in getting the breakfast by grinding and making the coffee, while mother Parker fried the ham and eggs and made some biscuits. The party sat down and did justice to the fare set before them, as my father said.

Such was the manner and style of the reception and departure of Governor Clinton and his distinguished friends in Cleveland. I cannot, sir, close this narrative without adding to it, my humble tribute of respect to the memory of the late Alfred Kelley, acting commissioner, then a citizen of Cleveland, and a prominent actor in the civil polity of our state and to whom in my opinion, Cleveland is indebted for its selection as the termination of this great work, and also for its early commencement and completion. He was a man of energy, preeminent talents and enlightened policy.

RETROSPECTION.

A PAPER READ BY JOSEPH GLIDDEN.

DEAR FRIENDs of the AssOCIATION:

What I propose to bring before you at this time, is in the nature of a panorama. I have selected a few names of people that I have known in the last half century on the Reserve, and I propose to pass them rapidly before you, just giving you an opportunity to glance at them,

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