its trials and its hardships, can be rescued from oblivion and inscribed, as they should be, on the heart tablet of every child in the land. These are the grand aims of the association. It will be readily inferred, therefore, that the association does not convene for the purpose of celebrating an annual “festival” in the ordinary sense of that word, but rather for the purpose of enjoing "a feast of reason and a flow of soul," with simplicity of preparation and with a desire to create and leave a record of its work as a bequest to posterity. This it proposes to do by appropriating its funds arising from membership fees to the publication of an annual pamphlet containing its proceedings, with notices of its deceased members, and distributing the pamphlet gratuitously to the members of the association, so that we shall have, in time, a valuable history of the original pioneers and early settlers of our city and county, to which we, and they who follow in our footsteps, can refer, and derive both profit and pleasure. In fact, every generation has its early settlers, in whose life experiences all succeeding generations become interested. Thus time consecrates character, and embalms it. Hence our Association has the elements of perpetuity, and will, we trust, perpetuate itself.

If we look back into the records of early times, we shall encounter the surprising fact that a little less than a century ago this beautiful region which we now occupy was a part of

that vast unexplored territory whose western boundary was supposed to be lost in the golden twilight of the setting sun, and whose wild domain seemed destined to remain forever hushed in the silence of its own solitude, save when awakened here and there by the dismal howl of the wolf, and still more dismal warwhoop of the savage.

From time immemorial, a powerful Indian tribe, known as the Eries, occupied the south-eastern shore of Lake Erie, from whom the lake derives its name. They were a warlike race, and as evidence of this, have bequeathed to our times a series of earth mounds, some of which are still visible at different points along the lake coast. The origin and object of these mounds furnish a mystic problem, which our modern antiquarians have not, as yet, satisfactorily solved. It is quite probable, however, that these mounds were designed to mark not only the battle fields, but the sepulchres of the brave Eries, who lived, flourished, and became extinct at a date which belongs to the pre-historic ages. After their extinction they were succeeded by fragments of various migrating tribes, who continued to occupy the ancient domain of the Eries, especially the Valley of the Cuyahoga, for a long period of years, and in fact became "monarchs of all they surveyed."

Yet this wild region had a much higher destiny-a destiny which its dusky occupants did not comprehend. Their prophets, however, frequently predicted that a superior race

would at no remote period invade their wild domains and appropriate them. In fact there were at that time, though unbeknown to the Indian prophets, great moral forces at work in the civilized world, which ultimately verified their prophetic utterances. Adventurers from the Old World soon began to colonize, at various points, the wilds of the New World. Our Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock. A series of small colonies soon dotted the New England coast. Among these was the colony of New Haven, a colony that grew in strength and in greed, loved land and liberty, and resolved to have more of both. In order to effect this, she sent her favorite Governor, Winthrop, in 1662, to England, with a prepared charter such as she desired, to solicit from Charles II. a grant of additional land and liberty. Though Winthrop accepted the mission he felt doubtful of its success, for the reason that his constituents had sympathized with Cromwell, who had beheaded Charles I., the royal father of the reigning King, and especially as the latter had recently expressed his indignation by ordering the dead body of Cromwell to be disinterred, publicly hanged and buried at the foot of the gallows.

In view of this expression of contempt on the part of the King for the memory of Cromwell and his adherents, Winthrop, when admitted to an audience, became sadly embarrassed in hitting upon a favorable method of introducing the subject of his mission, but, as luck would have it, he be

thought himself of the sparkling, massive finger-ring which he wore, and which had been bestowed by Charles I. on his father in recognition of valuable public services, and, disengaging the ring, related its history, and placed it in the hand of His Majesty, who, at sight of it, was moved even to tears, since it instantly recalled from the past many endeared memories of his royal sire. Availing himself of this golden opportunity, Winthrop delicately alluded to the subject of his mission, and in a reverential manner presented the prepared draft of a charter which he had brought with him, and requested His Majesty's seal and signature, which were readily accorded. The Colonial Governor then returned to New Haven, bearing the "glad tidings" of his success, and was received by his expectant constituents with wild enthusiasm.

The charter thus obtained granted to the New Haven Colony all the territory lying west of her limits and between the same parallels, from "sea to sea." Neither the King nor the colonists at that time had any definite knowledge of the extent of the grant. Soon after this Charles II. died and was succeeded by James II., who did not sympathize with the New Haven colonists or approve the extravagant grant which they had received from his royal predecessor. He therefore demanded a surrender of the charter and directed a military force to march on Hartford, where the Colonial Assembly were in session, to enforce the demand. The Assembly,

though surrounded by royal troops, instead of being intimidated, proceeded coolly to discuss the question of surrender, until nightfall overtook them, when candles were sent for; but before lights could be brought some sly colonial patriot seized the charter, which lay on the table, escaped with it through an open window, and hid the prize in the heart of a neighboring oak. When the lights appeared, the charter was nowhere to be found. The commander of the besieging troops appreciated the "logic of events" and retired with his troops in disgust, frankly acknowledging that he had been completely outgeneraled. In due time, however, the charter was reproduced. The old charter oak, while it stood, was revered as the "tree of liberty." The great and glorious principles of that charter still remain embodied in the Constitution of the plucky little State of Connecticut-a State that has produced more eminent men, in proportion to her population, perhaps, other State in the Union.

than any

It was in the month of August, 1679, that the first ship that ever sailed on the waters of Lake Erie was seen in the distance approaching the coast of the Western Reserve. This ship was the "Griffin," commanded by La Salle, built by Frenchmen near Buffalo, and sent out to explore the lake regions and secure trade with the aborigines. The Indians of the Reserve beheld the vision with alarm, and believed it to be a white-winged messenger, half walking and half flying