Seneca County, Ohio - Chapter 13: Governor Edward Tiffin - a Biography, 1880

IT IS SAID that (iovernor Tiffin, of ('hiliicothe. was a particular friend of Mr. losiah Hedges, at the time the latter laid out and platted Tiffin, and for that reason nanud his town alter his Iriend.

There are so many incidents and historic events interwoven with the life and public services of ( Iovernor Tittin. and, there is so much beaut}' in his private life and character, that to withhold them from the reader seemed wrong to the writer, especiallv after so much research and unexpected success in securing the material. Some may be glad to preserve a memoir of the distinguished and illustrious pioneer alter whom the capital ol our county is named.

The peculiar traits of character of Doctor Tiffin, as a leading man in his da}', associated, as he was in his public life, with men of strong minds and remarkable ability, tended largely in starting our noble state on he! proud career. The old "Uuckeye state" was especial!}' lavored in being led into the constellation of this union of states by the hands oi siir h distinguished patriots and statesmen as met in the territorial legislature in ( 'incinnati. and in the first constitutional < onvention. in ('hiliicothe. from i ;<;X to 1X05. and after. The}' stamped their own iniii\ idu.dity upon their time, directed the firs!, infant'lc >teps and determined the destiny, of llie young and growing state.

with a kuo\\ ledue of law resulting from close application for a considerable time. will. I hope. jiistif\ the lil>ert\ 1 now take in recommending him to \oiir attention : re^ardinu; with due attention the delicacy as well as importance of the character in \\hich I act I am sure you will do me the justice to heiie\e thai nolhiiiL'; hut a knowledge of the irent lema P 's merits, founded upon a lonu' acquaintance, could ha\e induced me to IrouMe \oii on this occasion.

There is no doubt but that a knowledge of the fundamental principles of law was a powerful factor in placing youn^- Tittin ;unonLr the first stalesineii of liis time, and the wonderful sagacity ot (ien. \\ashiuLilnn < ompreheuded, the man and the pla< e uhere he mi-ht be utili/cd.

Since I wrote \oii 1 have found a letter addressed to me li\ the late Col. Allen Latham, of Chillicothe. written at a time when I thought | \\duld enlai'n'e m\ memoir of the old (.overnor. I >ent the Colonel a cop\ of my nieiiioii-. and asked him to write me what he could of hi> recollections. It harmoiii/.ed with m> statement, as \oii will see. and \oii \\ill .^et a lietter desci-ipt ion of his person and his gentlemanly manner-;. He lielon.Li'ed to the old /-' </<'//" of highly cult 1 1 red men.

I ha\e a ciip\ of his first message IM the Legislature: also his message in reirard to the capture of the Klemierhasset-Jiiirr expedition. ;iu,| 1'roideut .letter-Mil'^ laudation of the (iovernor's activity, etc.. etc. If \i.u desire to u-e them in \otir narrative. I \\ill send them to \oii.

( )ue of the ui"-.t lloui'isliiii'j." towns in the slate hears Titlin's name, and as you are aliout \\ ril inn' a historv of the pioneer era. I fee] that \ mi can make \our \\ ork more at t raet i\ e hy such details, as \\ ell as honor a dist inuuished man ot hi- time. \'er\ Kespectfiillx .

wilderness through \vliich they moved. In about two weeks they reached Pittsburgh, without any accident by the way. There they embarked in "broad horns" on a full river, and lloated peacefully and swiftly on its broad bosom, swaying from shore, amidst all the strangeness. and granduer and deep silence ot the wilderness. They landed at the mouth of the Scioto. where Portsmouth now stands, and thence took their -low and tedious march through the unbroken and thick forest of the valley of the Scioto. guided only by the bla/ed path of earlier pioneers.

On the jyth day of April. 179^. they at last reached their destination. having been more than thirty days on the way. The whole community came out to welcome them, and to assist in the unloading of their train and tin- care ot their wonderful stores. Such a cavalcade had never before been seen : so much refinement, intelligence and abundant possessions of usetul and ornamental household goods had never before been found on the frontier. Worthington and Tiffin were both elected to the territorial legislature that met in ('incinnati in 1799.

Kdward Tiffin would have made an accession of value to any settlement in the west. Here lie selected his residence. lie was a man of well cultivated mind, gentlemanly manners, a friendly -pint. and his ( ondiict was guided, not only \>\ high morality, but b\ true Christian pr'iii ij'ic-. lie immediately identified himself with his new home and it- enterprising people. lie rapidly acquired a reputation, not only as a ph\si< ian. but also tor hi- virtues as a man.

membered that show hou readv e- o] the profession under sudden emerge; '.i - (in one <» < a-; on. while di-tan' trom home, a terrible ac<idi.nt mai'.e :; mi e--ar\ that an amputation of the leg .diotiid be made. The I)oetor was without instruments, ye*, he tjiiii kly <ontri\ed all that was necessary, pertornied the opt ration and saved the man's lite.

Thus he was busily cn^a^cd until the ta!! oi 17. ,,,. \'.\\\ i; i» very evident that his aitive mind u.is taking a u :dt ran^e -i: pub'.ii at'fa: rs; tor the people, re<o^ni/iiiL; in him abilit.es other than j>roii-s-,ii>nal, (ailed upon him to ser\e them as a i epi cseti!at,\ e in the territorial legislature, winch started him on his < areer in the ]-->', \.< a! vsorld.

|ud^e liurnet. in his letters to the < Mim Ilistorn a! Sot ;eiy. >a\'s of the Ross t oimty delegation, that "They \\ere no; e\t eiletl in talent ar.il energy by any other in the territorx. She sele< ted her stp>n^< -; men , \\orthnmton. Tittin. I-'indley and I.an^ham were ipialitietl to exert an intluem e in any deliberate bod\ . and the\ did no; jail to cmphn ;;. The\ were natives ot \ ir^inia. e\i ept Tiltm. uho \sas born in Kn^'.and and. it was said, t ame to this country as surgeon's mate in the army oi l>nr^o\'ne. This latter statement, though ^em-rails be!;e\ed. is not true. ho\\e\er. Tittin \\.ts but ele\ en \eais old. u!:en l'.ur^o\iu- >urrendered.

Tin.- convention m.i_t in CMiillirothe in November following, and I'.dward Tittin was chosen president. Here his intelligence, fairness and readiness in decision, united to most courteous manners, elevated him so mnch in the estimation ot that body of able men, that he was brought fnrward. at the conclusion ot the busjncss belore the conven- !;on. as the candidate for governor. lie was elected in Januarv, 180^. without opposition, receiving 45^5 votes. In October, i.Sos. he was i.- elected unanimously, receiving 47^ votes. He declined to be a - ...ndidate tor a third term.

Hi- state papers are briel. but clear in their suggestions for the rii.ict.ment of all those measures that would open roads, develop agri i imural and mineral resources, advance education, protect the frontier and favor immigration. The highest proot ot his (qualifications and executive abilities, are his repeated unanimous elections.

The most notable feature oi his gubernatorial career was the arrest of the ISnrr-Pdennerhasset expedition. In the- latter part of 1806. Aaron llurr collected numerous boats and quantities of stores in the neighborhood of I'dennerhasset Island, below Marietta. Governor Tiftin. learning that the expedition was ready to sail, dispatched a i o'arier to the commandant at Marietta, and directed him to occupy a po-i'ion below the island, where with a Held batterv they could com mand the channel. I'.urr. seeing that his plans were discovered and knowing th.e impossibility ot running the blockade, abandoned the i \pedition and lied.

T'ni: jiix-ss of the eastern states lauded (lov. Tittin tor his prompt :;,d successful destruction of the nefarious scheme, and President |effer-ou. in his letter to the < >hio legislature. I-'ebruai'y J. i.So;. commends ;he (iovernor for his promptness and energy in destroying the expe- (';:' ion. [Si i A IM-KN in \. ]

A' the expiration of his term ot ottice. in 1X07. (iovernor Tittin was '.._-( led I'ni'ed Stiles Senator and tool; his seat in I >e( ember, his ere to the government. His labors, An part, are exhibited in the state papers. When the British army approached Washington, in 1814, and orders were given to hurry off the public papers. Mr. Tiffin was the only one who. by prompt action, carried all his department to a place of safety. The other departments lost many valuable papers in the conflagration ordered by the British general.

Nothing could wean Governor Tiffin Irom his Ohio home, and Mr. Madison gratified the wish of his heart by ordering an exchange of office with Josiah Meigs, who was then surveyor-general of the west, with his office in Cincinnati. Mr. Meigs was appointed commissioner of the general land office, and Gov. Tiffin was made surveyor-general, with the privilege of locating the office in Chillicothe. There he located, and continued at the head of this office of surveyorgeneral, during the remainder of the term of Mr. Madison, and through the succeeding administrations of Mr. Monroe and Mr. J. O. Adams, and into that of General Jackson, up to within a few weeks of his death, when General Jackson appointed General Kytle, of Cincinnati, to supercede him. He received his successor on his death-bed, transferred to him his office, and died a few days thereafter.

There were several thousand dollars in his hands belonging to the I'nited States, which were promptly handed over; and so were his books and papers, in the best of condition. This office had control over the vast realm known as the northwest, and the beautiful arrangement of the surveys, of the public lands is greatly due to the sagacitv and order that marked Gov. Tiffin's life.

Gov. Tiffin was reared in the pale ot the Church ot Kngland, and after his removal to this country, he continued hi.-, relations to the same organi/ation. which still existed almost as, the state church of Virginia - -for the American hierarchy had not yet been established. But the Torv charaett r of many ministers, during the revolution, and the almost abandoned state ot so manv < hurches. before the establishment of the 1'rotestant Kpiscopal church, had so alienated the people from its communion, that a greater opportunity was oilered tor the propagation of the Method!-;' doctrines and Usages. The unusual /cal and fervid oi the new preachers, excited universal at tent ion, and great religiiemcni and inquirv prevailed. The great Missionary Bishop, Asbury. traveled tar and wide in the states and territories, to lo'est settlements, preaching with L^i'eat eloquence and power in., sen ietii s and consecrating ministers.

aifairs with prudence, he did not accumulate great wealth, as he might have done, but yet he never suffered any worldly embarrassment. He l:\ed well, and in harmony with his position in socielv. but always within his income. He was hospitable, and in fhe days of his health, many of the most distinguished personages ot the counlry enjoyed the hospitalitv of his bo'ard. His beautiful home was embellished by his refined taste. His earnest piety was an important element in promoting the best interest of his adopted town and country.

(iov. Tiffin left his widow and children in independent circumstances. Mrs. Tiffin died in 1X27. Thev left live children, already mentioned.

1'oliticallv, Ciovernor Tiffin was of the Jeffersonian school - the old Republican party: but for many years preceding his death, was not conspicuous as a politician. He was an in ti male friend ot Mr. M ad i son, and named one of his daughters after him.

lie-voting all his time and his talents to the interest of the stale, he very much neglected his own private affairs. Hut for this, he would unquestionably have accumulated a large fortune. His patriotism, however, was of a kind with that of the great men and statesmen of his day. "Kverything tor country - nothing for sell." What a change has come over the minds of the leading men of these degenerate days! A reverse element seems to have set in upon the ebb and llow of American politics. "Kverything for self, nothing for the country." seems to be the watchword of the hour. The men who pledged their lives, their property, and their sacred honors for country and freedom, are dead, but their sons and grand children are here, and have not these inherited a part of the unselfish love of countrv thai made iheir ; tlhers great in the eves ol the world?

('oh Allen Latham, of Ross count}', an intimate friend of (iov. Comegys with the following items about ">he )ot;tor was so kind as to pla< c ai mv disposal: