THE

NEW YORK

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Astor, Lenox and Tilden

Foundations.

1900

28350

PREFACE.

6

HE Ohio State Archæological and Historical Society herewith presents to its members and patrons Volume V of its publications. We are justified in saying, that it is the most valuable contribution to the historical literature of Ohio yet published by the Society. It contains material never before made accessible to the public, and this material has been gathered and placed in logical and intelligible form by gentlemen thoroughly competent to do this work.

Mr. D. J. Ryan, Secretary of the State of Ohio, for the years 1888-1892, has been a close student of the events pertaining to our state, has written "A History of Ohio" — (1888) and has contributed to the press many articles upon our state's history. In the chapters entitled "From Charter to Constitution", Mr. Ryan has prepared what may be called an abstract of the title to the territory that now constitutes the State of Ohio. He has produced in their order, copies of the documents establishing the chain of possession and transfer from the original colonial grant (1606) of the English crown to the state Constitutional Convention of 1802 and the act of Congress of 1803 recognizing the State of Ohio. The disputes as to the territorial boundaries of the state were treated in the last volume (IV) of the Society, published January, 1896.

The article by Mr. J. F. Laning, member of the State Senate from Huron County, appropriately supplements the one by Mr. Ryan. Mr Laning is the author of "Ohio Civics," "Law for Ohio Schools," "The Growth and History of Ohio," etc. His paper on the evolution of the counties or gradual division and re-division of the state into counties, was especially prepared for our Society. Mr. Laning was unable to continue the article to the present date in time for the issuing of this volume. The completion of the article will appear in a subsequent publication of the Society.

While thus accomplishing original and valuable work in the historical line, the Society has done more the past year in the Archæological department than ever before, as the admirable report of Mr. Warren K. Moorehead is evidence. Perhaps no state in the Union offers richer or greater opportunities of research and study in the fields of American Archæology and Ethnology than does Ohio.. Not only is Ohio great in its present position in the nation, but it apparently was equally prominent and potent in the prehistoric period.

As Mr. O. C. Hooper wrote, after his visit to Ft. Ancient with the Society, June 7, 1897:

Before Ohio knew a name, a thousand years ago,

A great cazique stood on the heights and watched Miami's flow:
Tall, straight, majestic as a god, he looked the valley o'er
And heard the hungry breeze repeat the water's sullen roar.
About him Nature lay full-garbed in leaf and blade and flower,
While he, the boss, stood clothed upon with little else than power.

*

And thus he died, this earthly boss of all that mighty clan:
His aim was high, like every aim of the Ohio man.
He failed, but still did good, and so quite justified the birth
Of that desire within his breast to have and own the earth.

Mr. Moorehead's report of the work of the Society is ample proof that the prehistoric Ohio man is worthy of careful and minute investigation. The funds placed by the state at the disposal of the Society for Archæological research have been economically and profitably expended. The worth of the publications of this society is attested by the increasing demand for them by similar societies and public libraries throughout the United States and even in foreign countries.

The secretary's report to the governor for the years 1895 and 1896, re-printed in this volume, speak for themselves and fully set forth the scope and work of the Society, during the period in question.

The Society will hereafter publish its documents in the form of a Quarterly Magazine, the first number of which will appear January, 1898. The paging of these quarterlies will be con