Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-20
COM NE NOR ALTON
OF SETTLEMENT
TABLET is UNVEILED ON CAMPUS
OF MARIETTA COLLEGE
WITH CEREMONY

WITH CEREMONY
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth Participates
in Prcceedinss-In Presence OF Gath
erins Of Prominent People From All
Parts of Country.
Marietta, o., Oct. 19.-The tablet
commemorating the first permanent
settlement in the old Northwest Ter
ritory' was unveiled here today by
Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, on the col
1 lege campus in the presence OF large
and distinguished gathering OF prom
4 inent citizens from all parts OF the
country The following address was
/ delivered by Homer Lee:
(. 1t is nearly century and a quarter
since those revolutionary officers under
the lead of Gen. Rufus Putnam met at
the Bunch Of Grapes Tavern in Boston
on April rs, 1856, and organized the
/ Ohio Company of Associates. The dl-
rect fruit of that meeting has been OF
i incalculable value to this nation. me
j Great Ordinance of 1887 for the gov
eminent of the Northwestern Ierrl-
tory would not have been passed IN us
4 final form had it not been for their per-
sistence. The settlement at Marietta
laid the foundation for the common
}, wealth of Ohio The influence OF these
pioneers shaped the development OF
this western region. Their names
and their deeds are worthy OF everlast-
!, ing remembrance.
A small group of sons of Ohio deslr-
ing to perpetuate under the old name
! and finally became incorporated No
vember 20, 1902, under the laws OF the
State of New York as the Ohio Com
, pany of Associates. This company has
, undertaken to erect chain of memor-
ial tablets concentrating the STIR
ring events of historic interest from
the period when Ohio was vacant
territory to the time when she became
l a. new state northwest of the Ohio
in order that the lesson of the lives OF
these founders may become deeply i'm
pressed upon the minds of the youth
of the present and coming generations
These tablets of imperishable bronze
!, will be placed upon sites where perpet'
, ual preservation and care will be as
! sured.
$ 1t was planned to place the first tab
4 let upon the walls of the sub-treasury
] in New York city, which stands upon
the site of the old Federal Hall. Ii
, was while meeting in this building that
: the Continental Congress passed tbs
$ great ordinance Of 1887 concerning the
S Northwest territory, and that other or
|, dinance so closely connected with II
a authorizing the sale of lands to the
Ohio company. Through the co-opera
ton of the lamented William Mckinley
: before he became president. the proper
authority was ultimately obtained tt
place the first Ohio company memorial
alongside the Washington statue with
out an act of congress. This table
! was installed on November 20, 1905
n under the most fiattering auspices.
4 guard of honor from the army ant
y navy commanded in person by Majo,
3 General Frederick D. B. Grant as wei
n as details of minute men were in at
n tendance. The Grafton of the occasion
was delivered by Hon. Stewart L
n Woodford, to great throng filling
III Wall street. The tablet was accepted
a on behalf of the United States by Hon
y Hamilton Fish, assistant treasurer, ant
~ addresses were made by Lieutenan
" Governor Bruce, the acting Mayor o
n New York City and others.
81 The site TO" the second tablet wa
n fixed here at Marietta. the first set
n Element in Ohio, the home and fina
d resting place of Rufus Putnam, TIN
a great lea Ter, and his comrades, who's
% bodies lie clustered about yonder an
cient conical mound. The most apprc
IA pirate spot in this city seemed to b
N the campus of Marietta collegs
n which has become the custodian of s
81 many of the ancient documents of tn
"a Ohio company, including the origina
"a records and the correspondence @
"a General Putnam. We found these dc
VI 'cuments carefully filed away an
~ guarded as precious treasures but i
r. building not fire proof. 1t is Target
"a due to watchful providence that the
= have been preserved to find secur
81 home in this magnificent new librar
"a building.
u 1t is the purpose Of the new Obi
~ COMPANY to erect other tablets in Boz
|M ton, Hartford, and if possible in tn
81 capitals of Indiana. Illinol@, Michigan
III WISCONSIN,, and Minnesota, states !
sW whole or in part belonging to the ol
M northwest territory.
IA And now we have gathered here
"a unveil the second tablet in this chat
~ and we all hope this memorial and tn
@ institution which stands sponsor #
t it, will be as lasting as lie pre- hi
SS toric mounds that a-e SO conspicior
@ a feature of th:s, .eautiful city.
E Ladies and gentlmen it is my plea
~ ure in behalf Of the Ohio compny {
M associates of New \ ork to present
Z the city of Marietta and to Marriott
I college which will be its custodia
M this memorial to the brave and trl
gM men who laid the foundations Of tn
Na western hemisphere. May it serve /
IVA intended purpose ind quicken the pa
s riotism and devotion to ligh ideals
rs 4l,< ara,aarat .nIas of