Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-05-16
UNWE.S HISTORY OF OHIO.

living i'll the state or elsewhere, is cherish
ed 4 stout volume containing the IIiStOr-
ical Collections OF Ohio. by Henry Howe
For neary fifty years it has been the stan
dard authority i'll Ohio history.
Many now past middle age remember
with gratitude to the author, the many
hours spent in early youth poring over
the interesting pages of this work, imbib-
ing theTefrOm the love of country and in
spiratiOn to higher motives in life, as they
learned Of heroiSm and Sufferings of the
pioneers while bringing the land out OF
barbariSm into civilization.
Its author, Henry Howe, son Of Gen.
Hezekiah Howe, the Yale College book
seller. had been associated with John W.
Barber in preparing similar works on
New York and New Jersey, issued in
lS41 and lSii and in 1915 had published
Historical Collections of Virginia prepar-
ed wholly by himself. In 1916. at the age
of 80, he undertook the preparation of
Historical Collections of OHIO. and on the
back of his old white hCTSe POmp. he
travelled over this state. visiting every
county seat and settlement of Importance.
examining records. Sketching with his
pencil objects of historical interest. and
gathering from the lips OF the pioneers.
not one Of whom is now living, valuable
material that would otherwise have been
OSt.
As Mr. Howe says: So young was the
land in that year that the very lawmakers.
81 out of I01, were born strangers. Only
four years before had the state grown its
first Governor in the person of Wilson
Shannon. The very state capitol in which
the Legislature assembled was a crude
structure that scarce any Ohio village of
this day would rear for a SchOOl-hOuSe.
Ohio was new land opening to the sun.
It's habitatiOns were largely of logs, many
of them standing on the margin of deep
forests. on soil for the first time brought
under the benign influence of human cul-
tivatiOn.'
More than year was spent in travel
ing over the state, and in 1Sl7 the EIiStOr-
ical Collections were published at Cincin-
natl, with las engraYingS, mainly from
tie authors drawings The work was
sold by subscription. and has had the
largest sale of any subscription book in
Ohio. even down to the present day. Sub
sCTibeTs were never better pleased with
their investment nor got more real value
for their outlay.
In September. 1885. Mr.. Howe resolved
to again make the tour of Ohio for new
edition. Scarcely less energetic at SO, than
when as a yong man of 80 he made his
first tour. lie visited every county. not
ing the changes and progress Of the state
as whole and in each locality, every
where gathering material at the fountain
head, arranging with more than 100 pho
tCgraphers for views OF the same places
sketched in his youth.
There was more to be seen this time,
and although the facilities for getting
about were incOmparabiy greater than
when lie logged along on the back of the
wnite-haired POmp 1t took him longer to
make the journey.
The first of the two volumes that will
comprise the work has just been issued.
1t is a large compact volume of nearly
$50 pages and 300 engravings. beautifully
printed and tastefuily bound. The first
200 pages contain a series of articles that
in themselves would make a volume of
very great value, written as they are by
the highest authorities on these subjects
within the state.
The remaining pages OF the first volume
are devoted to separate views of counties.
Only a personal inspection continued
for hours together can afford an idea Of
the rich and wonderful stores of infOr-
nation thaJ are brought together in this
book by It's means the reader can ac
company the venerable historian into any
county of the state and partaAe with him
of all lie learned and heard and saw OF
past history. Of pioneer Renaissance, of
early struggle, of thrilling adventure, of
social traits, strange antiquities, Of grad
ual progress and present condition. And
everywhere ne contrasts what he saw as
itnUW exists with what he also saw nearly
fifty years ago.
Mr.. Howe is now a resident Of Column
bus. o., where he is engaged III preparing
for publication the second volume OF his
work. which viii contain the county his
tories not given in the first volume.
OF the many great events connected
with Ohio's centennial year, perhaps none,
considered in its connections, influences
and results. viii make a more lasting i'm
preston upon the future than the appear
ance Of the first volume of this great and
important work. Every Ohioan should
feel proud of this historian of its people,
aud heartily join him in his expressed
sentiment that at viii be a just satiSfac-
ton to ME if in my declining days | can
see that this work is proving Of the same
widespread benefit to the present people
of Ohio as did that of my young life to
those of forty wears ago.