Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-08-04
0hioensis is--Why Ohio Is called the
Buckeye State.

On the 26th Of December, 1893, the forty-!ith
anniversary Of che settlement Of Cincinnati was
celebrated by natives of Ohio BY what was C, Il.
ed q Buckeye dinner. On that occasion the late
DR.. DANIEL DRAKE, Of Cincinnati, gave a mo. /
humorous and ingenious description Of the
Buckeye tree. We extract from his explaua-
ton as follows:
"The tree which you have toasted, Mr.. Pres
i1ent, has the distinction Of being one Of a faini.
lyof plants, butt few species Of which exist un
earth. They constitute the genus 1E,cHim Of
botanists, which belongs to the class H,7,tundria
Now tie lattcr,a Greek phrase, signifies seren
H,eri; and there happens to be exactly seven
species OF the genus thus they constitute the
seven wise men Of the woods, in proof OF
which may say that there is not another fami
ly Of plants on the whole earth that possesses
these talismanic attributes Of wisdom. But this
is not all. OF the seven species, our emblem.
tree was discovered tdst-it is the youngest Of
The family-the seventh sou and who does not
know the manifold virtues Of seventh sonl
Neither Europe nor Africa has a single na
tiVe species of 4E,euiHs, and Asia but one. This
Is Il Q 4EscHitis HppacdstdRHnt, Hursec hestuut
Nearly three hundred years since, a minister
from one Of the courts Of western Europe 10
that Of Russia. found this tree growing in Mos
COW, whether il had been brought from Siberia
lie was struck with its beauties, and naturali zed
il in his own country. 1t spre ad with aston
ishng rapidty over that part Of the continent.
and crossing the channel, became one Of the
favorite shade trees OF our English ancestors.
"Eyery native in the valley Uf the Ohio (and
Of the Miami should feel pro nd Of the appeia-
ton, which from the infancy Of our settlements,
has been conferred upon him, for the Buckeye
has many qualities which may be regarded as
typical OF noble character.
"It Is not merely native Of the west, but Pc
culur TO it; has received from the botanist the
specific name Of OiioeRsis, that does not grow
elsewhere. What other tree could be so ft an
emblem Of our native population?
"In all our woods there is no tree so hard 10
kill as he Buckeye. The deepest girdng will
Mt deaden it. and even after IL Is cut dawn and
worked up into the side Of cabin, il will send
ont Young misunderstanding 10 all tho world
that Duckeys are not easily conquered, aud
could with difficulty be destroyed.
"The Buckeye has generally been cnni, m d
as unfit for fuel, but its very incombustbil,y ha
been found an advantage; for no tree of the for.
sstiS equa ly Va uable for "backlogs," which arr
the sine quu non of every good CABIN fire. Thus
treated, 1t may be finally though slowly, burned
| when another fits virtues appears as no Other
tree Of our woods affords So grate quantity o
| alkili: thus there is piquancy in lis very ashes
"The bark Of our emblem plant has some
striking properties. Under proper method o
preparation and use, it is said to be efficAciou.
in the cure ofague and fever but unskilfully
employed, 1t proves r violent emetic; which in
dicates that he who tampers with a buckeye
| will not do it with impunity.
"Who has not looked with admiration on tn,
fine foliage Of the Buckeye in early spring
while the more sluggish tenants Of the forest re
main torpid in their winter quarters and whn
| tree in all our wild woods bears a q wer which
can be compared with that OF our farorite
We may fearlessly challenge for ii the closes
comparison. Its early putting forth. and III,
beauty Of ITS leaves and blossoms, are appropri
ate types Of our native population, whose rapi,
and beautiful development will not be deried b,
those whom | address, nor disproyed bl
reference to their character.
"Finally, the Buckeye derives its name f on
the resemblance OF its nut to the eye Of the buck
the finest organ Of our noblest wild animal
while the name itself is composed of Wells
and a Saxton word, belonging, therefore, to tn
oldest portions Of oar vcrnacular tongue, an
connecting us with the primitive stncks, Of whic
our fathers were but scions planted in the Ne'
World"