Clinton County, Ohio - Chapter 30: Town of Wilmington, 1915 (part 2 of 2)

"Some time during the night, a Frenchman belonging to Logan's army deserted to give notice to the Indians of the near approach of the Kentuckians. The fact of his desertion was soon ascertained. The army was aroused and put in motion. The race for the Indian village was closely contested, but the deserter, having the advantage of the start, retained it until the end. When Logan arrived at the principal Indian town, the Indians were aroused and evidently trying to make their escape. The deserter had given notice of the approach of the Kentuckians, but not in time to enable the Indians to get away. Their towns were destroyed by fire and their fields of corn laid waste. Twenty warriors were killed, seventy or eighty prisoners taken, and the women and children left but a precarious supply of miserable foed.

"The Frenchman who deserted from Logan's army had been taken prisoner by General Clark, in one of his campaigns in Dlinois, under such circumstances as plainly showed that he and the Indians were not on opposite sides. He was permitted to accompany the army of Clark to Kentucky, where he remained two years, when he joined the forces of Logan and accompanied them to the crossing of Todd's fork.

"The camp then and there made was a controlling call for the deputy surveyor of Colonel Anderson, the principal surveyor of the lands'reserved by the state of Virginia, for the officers and men of three years' service in the Virginia, or Continental, establishment. On the county map, it is named the Deserted Camp. Five military surveys start from this spot, as one corner of each of these surveys. All call for 'beginning at Logan's encampment in October, 1786, where a man deserted from him.' "

The location of the court house in what is known as "Shadagee square" has called attention to this peculiar name. Its origin is shrouded in Irish mystery and during the summer of 1915 many persons have been discussing the reason for applying this name to this particular square. The Journal-Republican probably is responsible for applying this name to the square bounded by South, Main, Sugartree and Walnut streets. The word "Shadagee" belongs properly to only the southwest corner of the square and by this peculiar Irish appellation Wilmington people have known it for more than a half century.

When the matter of locating the court house eame up and that square was selected by nearly everybody as the proper place for the new building, the Journal-Republican commenced calling the entire square Shadagee, that being the shortest and simplest way to identify it, but, strictly speaking, the nickname Shadagee, through many years, has been applied to the one corner of the square.

From the best information which can be obtained, the corner got its name in the fifties at the time the first railroad was built through Wilmington. The road was known then as the Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville, but now is a part of the Pennsylvania system. The contractor who was building the section through this county employed and brought here a large force of Irish immigrants, many of whom could speak no language but their own, and for several weeks they were housed in temporary shacks near that corner. In those days Wilmington had saloons and bad whiskey provoked many fights. Drunk and disorderly cases were numerous in that section. In fact, Shadagee was Wilmington's bad section in the early days, and it is believed that during the time those Irish workmen were here some one of them applied that name to the fighting! corner. Shadagee may be an Irish name, and the condition of that section of the town may have reminded one of the laborers of a similar place in Ireland.,; This is a surmise, but it is a reasonable one. 'The corner was given the nickname about that time and it has clung _ to it ever since. Lately the name was broadened to apply to the whole square, but, in all probability, the word Shadagee is of Irish origin and perhaps was, and it may be still, a well-known place on the "ould sod."

The Clinton county and Wilmington centennial celebration and home-coming opened on Thursday, August 25, 1910. For a month three professional decorators, with their assistants, had been working night- and day, and still many of the orders were left unfilled. There was not a business house or a residence but wore its gala dress.

The record shows that two thousand two hundred ninety persons registered, and many more failed to do so. People came from all over the United States; some had not been back for five or ten years, some for thirty or even fifty, but they all joined in the home-coming spirit, making it an occasion to be remembered and an important event in the history of the county. ;

The home-comers were entertained with band concerts, fire-works, receptions, reunions, addresses from prominent men of the state and county, centennial street pageants, and many other forms of amusement and events of interest to those assembled to enjoy the occasion. Over twenty thousand people thronged the streets on Friday, and the good order everywhere was remarkable.

The one hundredth birthday celebration of Clinton county came to a delightful close on Sunday, August 28. The occasion will long be remembered by the inhabitants of the county and those who returned to their native town, as an event to be remembered a life time. :

The commissioners of Clinton county approved the purchase, on March 20, 1835, of one hundred acres of land one mile east of Wilmington for the consideration of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars as a site for a county infirmary. A building, erected on the farm a short time afterwards, was constructed with the constant view of strictest economy consistent with the requirements necess4ry for the convenience and comfort of the occupants. James Harris, James Fife and Isaiah Morris were appointed directors on March 11, 1836, and they at once selected as the superintendent and matron Jamés Wilson and his wife Eleanor, then residents of Wilmington. They were in charge for four years. During their term of office the greatest number of inmates at any one time was seventeen, but the average number was much smaller. The first inmate admitted was Mary Johnson, of Clark township, a native of North Carolina. She had been a resident of Clinton county twenty-six years, a pauper for seventeen years and subject to fits of insanity. Julia Clause, the second person admitted, was from Union township, and was afterwards transferred to the asylum for the insane at Columbus. George Washington Morey, the second superintendent, remained in charge until March, 1845, when he was succeeded by Isaac Pidgeon. Mr. Pidgeon had charge of the infirmary from March, 1845, to March, 1855, and was succeeded by Humphrey Riddell, who was superintendent until September, 1855, when he resigned and was succeeded by William B. Ashcraft, who served until March, 1858. A. Taylor' Moore then became superintendent and continued in the position until March, 1861, when he was, in turn, succeeded by Bennet B. Arnold, who remained until March, 1866. William P. Wolf entered upon the duties as superintendent in March, 1866, and continued in charge for three years. Josephus Blair succeeded him in March, 1869, and discharged the duties of that office until March, 1872, when H. F. Armstrong succeeded and continued the same- until 1880. Armstrong's place was taken by Joseph N. Stephens, who remained until 1885. In 1885 Ralph Miller was appointed superintendent and remained in office until 1893, when he was succeeded by Joseph N. James. Mr. James served as superintendent for over fifteen years. He was succeeded by Charles Holaday, who gave way, in March, 1913, to Frank L. McDonald, the present incumbent of the .office.

The first addition to the infirmary farm was made on April 10, 1856, when fifty acres were purchased from Jesse Hughes in survey No. 1,690, for two thousand six hundred dollars. The next addition was made on December 29, 1859, when thirty-six and threequarter acres were purchased in the same survey from Jesse Hughes for the consideration of one thousand nine hundred and fourteen dollars and ninety cents. The third addition was made on March 28, 1867, from survey No. 1,162, and consisted of one hundred eleven and forty-one hundredths acres. This land was purchased of the sheriff of the county, who sold it under a partition suit styled Francis M. Underwood vs. Socrates Harlan et al. The price paid was six thousand two hundred sixty-six dollars and twenty-five cents. _ Fifteen acres in survey No. 2,690, bought on June 1, 1872, of James R. Webb, for one thousand eight hundred dollars, constituted the fourth addition to the farm. On March 6, 1876, a purchase of one and thirty-seven hundredths acres in survey No. 2,693, was made from James Wallace for one hundred sixty-five dollars and forty cents. The sixth addition was purchased from Edith Emma Moody on October 2, 1880, and consisted of fifty-four acres in survey No. 1,698. The sum paid for this tract of land was four thousand eighty-seven dollars and ninety-five cents. This brought the total area of the infirmary farm up to three hundred sixty-eight and fifty-two hundredths acres. However, at the present time (1915), the infirmary farm consists of three hundred and thirty and ninety-eight hundredths acres. When the remainder was disposed of by the county the historian has been unable to discover.

The county commissioners, on March 3, 1902, voted to refer to the voters of the county the question of whether twenty-seven thousand dollars should be spent in repairing and rebuilding the building. On July 11, 1902, the contract for repairing the infirmary was awarded to J. P. Vance for a total of eight thousand four hundred seventy-two dollars and thirty-five cents.

In 1913 a change was made in the management of the infirmary. At that time the board of infirmary directors was abolished and their powers divided between the superintendent and the county commissioners. The commissioners now select the superintendent. The following is a list of the directors:

The first official mention of a county children's home came on February 4, 1884, when the board of infirmary directors met in conference with the county commissioners to consider the cost of keeping dependent children in the children's homes of other counties. At this meeting it was agreed that "it would be a saving to the cuunty if a suitable home could be built for the unfortunate and dependent children." The question of erecting such a home was referred to the voters of the county on April 10, 1884, the result being an affirmative majority. By October, 1884, a site had been purchased and buildings erected. William M. Mann, Joseph Noon and Harlan H. Hadley were appointed trustees, with their terms to end, respectively, on the first Monday in March, 1886, 1887 and 1889.

On July 20, 1899, the commissioners rejected bids for the construction of an addition to the children's home on the ground that they were too high for the amount of money in the treasury for that purpose. The report of the trustees for November 30, of the same year, shows thirteen children in the home.

In 1902 it was decided that a new home should be built, and on March 31, of that year, the commissioners accepted plans for a building submitted by Hannoford & Sons, and ordered the auditor to give notice for bids of the work. The bids were received and examined on May 9, and the contract let to J. P. Vance for the following items: Excavating, brick work, carpenter work, cut stone, heating, rooffing, painting and glazing. plaster and iron work, at a total of twelve thousand five hundred and sixty-five dollars. The Electric Supply and Construction Company, of Columbus, Ohio, received the contract for the electrical work at one hundred dollars. The old home farm was disposed of and the new buildings erected on the present site of the home, about a mile northwest of the city of Wilmington, on the Xenia pike. The farm consists of forty-six and eighty-three hundredths acres, which was purchased from Shipley McMillan.

The following is a list of those who have acted as trustees of the children's home: _ 1885-6, William Mann, Joseph Noon, H. H. Hadley; 1889, L. P. Whinery, Joseph Noon, H. H. Hadley; 1892, Matthew Fife, Joseph Noon, H. H. Hadley; 1893, Matthew Fife. Dr. R. T. Trimble, H. H. Hadley; 1894, Matthew Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, Jesse N. Oren; 1897, Matthew Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, C. Rhonemus; 1899, Jesse N. Oren, Matthew J. Fife, C. Rhonemus; 1900, Jesse N. Oren, Matthew J. Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble; 1901, Jesse N. Oren, Matthew J. Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, C. Rhonemus; 1902, David M. Rudduck, Matthew J. Fife, Dr. R. T. Trimble, C. Rhonemus; 1908, David M. Rudduck, Matthew J. Fife, Dr. E. Briggs, C. Rhonemus; 1911, David M. Rudduck, J. F. Bennett, Dr. E. Briggs, CG. Rhonemus; 1912-15, David M. Rudduck, J. ¥. Benett, J. E. Clevenger, C. Rhonemus, James BE. Smith has been superintendent of the home for many years past.

Express Companies Friends With Lincoln In The White House

During the Civil War there lived in Clinton county, about fifty miles northwest of Cincinnati, Isaac and Sarah Harvey. They were of the conservative type of Friends of that generation. Isaac was a man often "moved" to do what seemed, to his prudential neighbors, strange, if not foolish, things, which made some of them call him the, "crazy Quaker." But he was also a man who did not feel "easy" in his mind if his concerns could not be translated into conduct.

As the war proceeded, and the cause which produced it persisted, in the summer of 1862 Isaac Harvey developed a compelling concern to visit Washington and lay the burden of his mind upon the heart of the great President. In 1868 Nellie Blessing-Hyster visited the Harveys, and the story of her experience was first printed in Harper's Magazine about 1874. In 1889 it was restated; and published in the New Voice, New York. The quotations are from this story, although we have taken the liberty of supplying the real names in place of the fictitious ones used by the author. We start the story with Nellie Blessing-Eyster's meeting with Isaac Hngyey in the hallway of the Harvey home.

"I crossed the threshold, when suddenly, from an armchair just inside the door, there arose a tall, slender old man, who, leaning on his cane, confronted me. His appear: ance would have been remarkable anywhere. His dress was of coarse, but spotless, white linen, the only bit of color being a narrow black ribbon carelessly knotted under his broad, unstarched collar. His thin hair was white and fine as spun glass, a few locks falling over his high, unwrinkled forehead. His complexion was as fair as a girl's and the faciaz expression intellectual and benignant. His eyes, however, were concealed by green goggles. Such a vision of majestic old age instantly arrested me. Nothing could have been more unexpected. He at once spoke:

""Thy footstep is that of a stranger; enter, for indeed thou art welcome,' was his - Salutation. Upon which, I advanced a step or two, and laid my ungloved hand in his with a few words of greeting.

""T have come from the city of Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania, to visit my sister, Grace Harvey. I went with her to meeting this morning and was invited home to dinner by a lady whom. my sister calls "Aunt Sarah Harvey." Do you know her? I replied.

" "Yes, I do.' There was an jnstant's pause, when he said: 'Thou hast come, then, from the great world of which I know but little. God - ever blessed be His holy name - has seen fit to take away my sight, but I have witnessed the coming of the Lord, and mine eyes have seen the salvation of his people, so I am content.' and, clasping his long, wellshaped hands, his lips moved as if in prayer. My emotions were alive. They were those of awe, reverence 'and admiration commingled. His articulation was unusually distinct, every word having a purity of finish which would have been marked in the diction of a professional elocutionist.

"Surely this could not be Uncle Isaac, even though he was in a certain sensé a 'little queer.' Before he again spoke, Aunt Sarah, Rebecca and my sister entered.

"'Thee got here first I see," said Aunt Sarah. 'Now, dear, thee must feel at home.' Let me take thy hat. We are plain people, but thee and Grace are truly welcome. Hast thou felt lonely this morning, father?' she asked, pushing aside the stray locks with which a breeze was toying, 'and did thy poor eyes pain thee much?'

"This, then, was the 'Crazy Quaker.' His smile was perfect, as he answered gently: 'Oh, no, mother, I forgot my eyes.' His words came to me very clearly: 'For our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight-of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen; for the things which are "geen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.' I thank thee for bringing the young stranger home. I will enjoy her speech.' :

"'T am the one to feel grateful, sir,' I replied impulsively. 'I have traveled a great deal in my life, but never before been in a place like this. Everything charms me, and I am glad of the privilege to just sit still and hear you talk. May I not also call you "Unele Isaac?'

"Aunt Sarah's kind heart was satisfied. 'I see three can entertain each other," she said, 'so I will get dinner. Grace, thee and daughter can help me.' Uncle. Isaac and I were left alone. He broke the silence by asking: 'Hast thou seen General Grant? Dost thou think him a good man? I long to hear his voice, and daily pray to God to strengthen his hands and to make kim worthy of the great work to which he has been called.'

"I said I knew him only as the soldier-statesman, but I felt that he, perhaps, more than any living American, would perfect the grand schemes left unfinished by the death of Abraham Lincoln. At the mention of that name the old man's face glowed with a beauty almost divine. Every fiber in his body seemed animated with new life. Laying his hand lightly upon my shoulder, he asked in a voice of suppressed eagerness, 'Hast thou seen Abraham Lincoln?

'Yes,' I said. 'Once I stood so near him while he addressed a multitude that every line of his grand face was as visible to me as is yours. It was the last time that he spoke to a crowd as Abraham Lincoln, citizen, for in a few days he took the oath of office as President of the' United States. Once again I stood near him, but it was to look upon his coftined face as it lay in state in the Senate chamber of Pennsylvania. Did you ever see him, sir?'

"Perhaps thou wilt not sympathize with me. I rarely speak of these things save among my own people. In what light dost thou view the colored race?

"The freeing of the slaves and the education of the freedmen had long been among my 'enthusiasms,' so, when called upon to 'rehearse the articles of my belief, I did it so promptly that he could not doubt my sincerity. Folding his thin hands, his face wearing an expression of sweet gravity, and his words coming slowly as if he was weighing the value of each, he said:

"«T will answer thy question. My quiet life has known few storms. I have loved God as my first, best and dearest friend, and He has ever dealt most tenderly with me.

' "Turing the first years of the great rebellion, when I read and heard of the condition of the poor crushed negroes, I tried to think it was a cunning device of bad men to create greater enmity between the North and the South; but when I read Lincoln's speeches, I thought so good and wise a man could not be deceived, and then I resolved to go and see for yourself. At one of our first-day meetings I spoke of my intention, but although the brethren felt as I did upon the subject, they said it was rash for me tc expose my life, for I could do no good. Nevertheless, I went, traveling on horseback through most of the Southland. ¢

""Often my life was in danger from guerillas, but there was always an unseen arm between me and the actual foe, and in a few weeks I returned, saying the half had not been told of the sufferings of these poor, despised, yet God-fearing and God-trusting people.'

"That summer,' he continued, 'I plowed and reaped and gathered in my harvest as usual. Day by day I prayed, at home and in the field, that God would show his delivering power as He had to the children of Israel. Nothing seemed to come in answer. Occasionally, during the beginning of the war, news reached us that battles had been fought by the Northern men and victories won, but still the poor colored people were not let go.

""One day, while plowing, I heard a voice, whether inside or outside of me I knew not, but I was awake. It said: "Go thou and see the President." I answered: "Yea, Lord, Thy servant heareth." And, unhitching my plow, I went at once to the house and said to mother: 'Wilt thou go with me to Washington to see the President?" "Who sends thee?' she asked. "The Lord,' I answered. "Where thou goest I will go," said mother, and began to make ready.

""My friends called me crazed; some said that this trip would be more foolish than the first, and that I who had never been to Washington and knew no one in it, could not gain access to the great President. The Lord knew I did not want to be foolhardy, but I had that on my mind which I must tell President Lincoln, and I had faith that He who feedeth the sparrows would direct me. :

"We left here on the 17th of ninth month, 1862, the first time mother had been fifty miles from home in sixty years. It was a pleasant morning. Before we left the house we prayed that God would direct our wanderings, or, if He saw best, direct us to return. Part of our journey was by stage. Every one looked at and spoke to us kindly. Oh, God's world is beautiful when we see the invisible in it.

""We got to Washington the next morning. It was about early candle light, and there was so much confusion at the depot and on the street that mother clung to my arm, saying: "Oh, Isaac, we ought not to have come here! It looks like Babylon!" "But the Lord will help if we have faith that we are doing His will," I replied, and we walked away from the cars.

"Under a lamp-post there stood a noble-looking man reading a letter. I stepped before him and said: "Good friend, wilt thou tell us where to find President Lincoln?'

" "He looked us all over before he spoke. We were neat and clean, and soon his face got bright and smiling, and he asked us a few plain questions. I told him we were Friends from Ohio who had come all of these weary miles to say a few words with President Lincoln. because the Lord had sent us. He nodded his head and said, "I understand." Then he took us to a large house, called Willard's hotel, and up to a little room away from all the noise.

"« «Stay here,' he said, 'and I will see when the President can admit you." He was gone a long time, but meanwhile a young man brought us up a nice supper, which mother said was very hospitable in him, and when the gentleman returned he handed me a slip of paper upon which was written: "Admit the bearer to the chamber of the President at 9:30 o'clock tomorrow morning." My heart was so full of gratitude that I could not express my thanksgiving in words. That night was as peaceful as those at home in the meadows. _

"~*The next morning the kind gentleman came and conducted us to the house near by in which the President lived. Every one whom we met seemed to know our conductor 'and took off their hats to him. I was glad that he had so many friends. At the door of the big porch he left us, promising to return in an hour. '"Yoy must make your talk with him brief," he said. "A big battle has just been fought at Antietam. The North is victorious, but at least twelve thousand men have been killed or wounded, and the President, like the rest of us, is in great trouble."

""T did not speak. I could not. The room into which we were first shown was full of people, all waiting, we supposed, to see the President. ''Ah, Isaac, we shall not get near him today. See the anxious faces who come before us,' whispered mother. "As God wills,' I said.

" Tt was a sad place to be in, truly. There were soldiers' wives and wounded soldiers sitting around the large room, and not a soul but from whom joy and peace seemed to have fled. Some were weeping; soldiers with clinking spurs and short swords were rapidly walking through the halls; men with newspapers in their hands were reading the news from the seat of war,.and the President's house seemed the center of the world. I felt what a solemn thing it must be to have so much power.'

"Here Uncle Isaac's voice got husky and tears fell from his eyes upon his wrinkled hands. I reverently brushed them off, and in a few minutes he continued:

"'When the summons came for us to enter - it was in advance of the others - my knees smote together, and for an instant I tottered. "Keep heart, Isaac," mother whispered, and we went forward. I fear thou wilt think me vain if I tell what pipe cabin

"It seemed so wonderful that for a moment, I could not realize it. To think that such humble people as we were should be there in the actual presence of the greatest and best man in the world, and to be received by him as kindly,,as if he was our own son, made me feel very strange. He shook, hands with us and put his chair between us. Oh, how I honored the. good man! But I said:. "Wilt thou pardon me that I do not remove my hat?' Then he smiled, and his grave face lit up as he said, "Certainly, I understand it all." The dear, dear man' - and again Uncle Isaac stopped as though to revel, as a devout nun counts her beads, in the memory of that interview.

"'Of that half hour it does not become me to speak. I will think of it gratefully throughout eternity. At last we had to go. The President took a hand of each of us in his, saying, "I thank you for this visit. May God bless you." Was there ever greater eondescension than that? Just then I asked him if-he would object to writing just a line or two, certifying that I had fulfilled my mission, so that I could show it to. the council at home. He sat down to-his table. Wilt thou open the drawer of that old Get A in the corner behind thee, and hand me a little box from therein?'

"Up to this moment: I had not noticed my surroundings. The old-fashioned furniture was oiled and rubbed, and a large secretary which belonged to the colonial period was conspicuous. I obeyed instructions, and soon placed in the old man's trembling fingers a small, square tin box which was as bright as silver. Between two layers of cotton was a folded paper, already yellow. The words were verbatim these:

""T take pleasure in asserting that I have had profitable intercourse with friend fsaac Harvey and his good wife, Sarah Harvey. May the Lord comfort them as they have sustained me. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

"Uncle Isaac!' I exclaimed, 'I can scarcely realize that away off here in the backwoods I should read such words traced by Mr. Lincoln's own hands. How singular!

"'Not more so than the whole event was to us, dear child, from the first to the last. The following second-day the preliminary Proclamation of Emancipation was issued. Thank God! Thank God!'

"Our new friend was waiting at the outside door when we came out. I showed him the testimonial. He nodded his head affirmatively and said: "It is well," ,

"We soon left Washington, for our work was done and I longed for the quiet of home. Our friend took us to the omnibus which conveyed us to the cars, having treated as with a gracious hospitality which I can never forget. May the Lord care for him as he cared for us.'

"Did you not learn his name?' I inquired, wondering what official in those days would have bestowed so much time and courtesy upon these unpretending folk.

"In the published diary of Mr. Chase he describes the eventful cabinet meeting prior to the announcement, Monday, September 22, 1862. The Sunday morning:directly suc- ceeding Uncle Isaac's. visit, Mr. Lincoln worked upon the Proclamation. God alone knows to what extent the President's long desired step was influenced by that half-hour's visit with Uncle Isaac; but I cannot help feeling that I have read a: page in his history which would have been sealed: but for my unexpected meeting with: that precious old Quaker.

'. "I have repeated our conversation, word for word, but I can no more express the timbre of Uncle Isaac's sympathetic tones than I can BETaDES in bers nad notes the soug of a soaring skylark."

We pass suddenly from the poetic diction of Nellie Biesaine Myster: to the prosaic confirmatory facts underlying the story. There are two very reliable sources of information along this line, represented by the two surviving sons of Isaac and Sarah Harvey. The son, Jesse, lives on the old homestead, near Clarksville, Ohio. The son, William, resides at Americus, Kansas. Jesse has no doubt that the story as told by. Nellie Blessing-Eyster is substantially as she received it from his father. :

Henry W. Wilbur spent two days in the company of William Harvey, at Indiana yearly meeting in August, 1911. He has many of the evident characteristics of his father, -although he strongly resembles his mother. From William it was learned, as might have been expected, that, his father was a pronounced antebellum abolitionist, and was connected with the "underground railroad." William was living at home when Isaac and Sarah made their visit to Washington, and remembers the details of his trip as it was told by his parents.

Isaac Harvey does not seem to have told Nellie Blessing-Eyster the pabicet matter of the concern which took him to the capital and the White House. William says that his father suggested to President Lincoln the advisability of stopping hostilities on an agreement of the government to pay to the owners three hundred dollars for each man, woman and child held in bondage in the country. The President felt sure that such a proposition would not be accepted by the leaders or the rank and file of the Confederacy.

Compensated emancipation, however, was not a new idea for President Lincoln. In March, 1862, he suggested that Congress pass a joint resolution providing that the United States co-operate with any state which may adopt gradual emancipation, to the extent of giving pecuniary aid to any commonwealth which should adopt this policy. This resolution passed both houses of Congress, but no practical result followed. It is well to remember that the original or preliminary draft of the Proclamation provided for the compensation of all loyal people, on the close of the rebellion, for all losses incurred by them, including the loss of slaves. :

Whether the visit of Isaac and Sarah Harvey helped to hasten the initial draft of the Emancipation Proclamation is a question which must always remain in the field of conjecture. But one thing is certain, there was a very sudden and rather remarkable change in the President's mind on the subject. This followed several events which came in rapid order. On the 19th of August, 1862, Horace Greeley issued his famous open letter to the President, entitled '"'The Prayer of Twenty Millions." It was answered by the President on the 22d, in one of Lincoln's most terse and epigrammatic utterances. At that time he did not see that a vigorous emancipation policy on the part of the President would be wise or helpful. On the 18th of September a delegation from Protestant churches in Chicago visited the president, and vigorously urged him to take a pronounced stand for the overthrow of slavery. Still he was not convinced.

On the 19th, six days later, the Harveys were at the White House, and on the 22d the country was electrified by the preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation . being flashed over the wires.

Such was the order of events leading up to one of the epoch-making acts in human history. Remembering how responsive Lincoln was to the finer and deeper motives and emotions of the human heart, it is not hard to believe that the visit of Isaac and Sarah

Harvey came to the great President as a sort of spiritual revelation, confirming the external events and internal leadings which caused President Lincoln to make the final decision in the case as he did and when he did.

In any event, the story as told by 'Nellie. Blessing-Eyster is worth preserving for its portrayal of the light and leadings of a Friend who represented the spirit of an older time, and also for its connection with Abraham Lincoln, now being considered: the typical, if not the first American. 2