The music was composed by Mary Earl, and the original lyrics were written by Ballard MacDonald. In 1989, the Ohio legislature adopted an amendment to section 5.09 of the Ohio Revised Code that changed the words of the state song. The new lyrics are the work of Youngstown attorney Wilbert McBride. Cities so grand, mountains above, Led to this land I love. Chorus Beautiful Ohio, where the golden grain Dwarf the lovely flowers in the summer rain.
Cities rising high, silhouette the sky.
The buckeye tree derives the name from its large brown seeds, which resemble the eyes of the white-tailed deer. The territory was ruled by a governor, a secretary, and three judges, who were all appointed by Congress. These five officials performed the executive, legislative and judicial functions of government. The first meeting of the legislature convened in Cincinnati in 1799. The body elected Edward Tiffin as Speaker of the House and William Henry Harrison as the territory's representative to Congress.