Death

July 22: James Birdseye McPherson Killed

He was born in Ohio in a small town in Sandusky County before it was a town. Today, the citizens of Clyde proudly honor his contribution to the Nation by giving him his rightful place in their community. He would grow up to play a pivotal role as a U.S. General commanding the right wing of General Sherman during his campaign to take Atlanta during the Civil War.

McPherson had been with Sherman for a long time including the siege of Vicksburg the following year. As Sherman would later say, his good friend and right hand, was James McPherson. When James asked Sherman for a short leave so he could marry his fiance in Baltimore, Sherman denied that request. A decision he would openly regret a few months later.

After his death, his body was returned to Clyde and buried in the family cemetery not far from the home where he was born on November 14, 1828.

James Birdseye McPherson was the first born son of William and Cynthia. William had come to this area from New York state 5 years before to purchase some land, build a house for his bride-to-be. He came with several of his friends, one of them was James Birdseye for whom William would name his son.

William was a blacksmith and a farmer. From some records it indicates that he may have had a quick to rise temper. Like many of his friends that would later join him in Sandusky County, his family were Scottish. He purchased a rather substantial piece of land that was at the time known as Hamer’s Corners (this name would later be changed to Clyde in honor of Clyde New York which was named for the Clyde River in Scotland).

Four years after the McPherson’s set up household in Hamer’s Corner, Cynthia gave birth to James B. McPherson. No description of this birth or of the baby was recorded, but many years later after James’ death, his mother Cynthia related a story that when he was 3 weeks old a group of Seneca Indians stopped in at their house to see the new baby. One of them declared: “He will be a great man.”

When James was 11, the country experienced a major financial crisis that became known as the Panic of 1837 which was similar in scope to the 2008 financial crisis experience that lasted seven years. Banks failed, businesses failed, prices declined and thousands of workers lost their jobs. Unemployment rose as high as 25% in some areas.

Like most businessmen of the day, the Panic of 1837 caused dramatic changes in William first in his financial health and then later his physical health. The stress of his losses and his efforts to try and protect his family ultimately caused him to become bedridden. Since the family business had collapsed, young James found it necessary to work for others in order to help provide for the family. At the age of 12 he had become the man of the family which would prove to have a long lasting effect on him and his career.

Fortunately, James was able to find work as a clerk in Sterntown (known today as Green Springs located about 6 miles southwest of Hamer’s Corner). Robert Smith the owner of a general store and the local mill adopted James (not legally). They exposed him to a rich education where he learned to read, appreciate music and was exposed to a variety of people one of those being Rutherford B. Hayes who was six years older than James and the two became good friends. It was through the Smith family and Rutherford that several years later afforded him the opportunity to move up in the world when he became a West Point cadet.

In 1847 James’ father died. The following year 19 year old James left home for West Point. He would never return to Hamer’s Corner other than for short stays.

During the battle for Atlanta, General McPherson was at General Sherman’s tent discussing what McPherson thought about how the Confederate would attack. It was in Sherman’s mind that the Confederates were retreating from Atlanta, but McPherson was certain they were setting up an attack of the Union’s flank and rear. It was a heated discussion and ongoing when a large volume of gunfire erupted in the direction of where McPherson’s troops were located and confirming his belief that Confederate forces were mounting an attack and that attack had begun.

McPherson quickly returned to his men until he reached his XVI Corps. Here he found his men struggling against an overwhelming advance of Confederate forces. Realizing the importance of this contact, McPherson decided to personally go on to his XVII Corps so they could be brought to bear upon the advancing Confederates.

Photograph taken a few days after McPherson was killed of the spot where the event happened just outside of Atlanta in 1864. In the center of the image in the distance is a tree with a sign tacked to it stating this was the spot where McPherson was shot.

McPherson’s two corps were separated by a thick woods which he had to navigate to reach his XVII Corps. McPherson, his aide and Colonel R.K. Scott were alone when they came upon a Confederate skirmish line. Both sides were suddenly taken back, and the Confederate skirmish line of 3 or 4 men simultaneously yelled for the two Union men to halt. Realizing what was about to happen if he were to be captured, McPherson and his aide wheeled their horse and bolted. The skirmish line reacted with volley of fire. McPherson’s aide turned in his saddle and saw the line taking aim and he later reported sliding around in his saddle so his horse was between him and the enemy. Unfortunately, James Birdseye McPherson was hit and killed, becoming the highest ranking Union officer to die in battle.

Save

May 13: John Clem Dies

By admin

On this day in 1937, Brigadier General John Clem died and was later buried in Arlington National Cemetery. John Clem was born in Heath, Ohio and would become the last Civil War Veteran on active duty when he retired from service in 1915. A year after John Clem retired, Congress passed an act promoting him to Major General.

The fact that John Clem was afforded such honors, is only trumped by the fact that John Clem was actually born John Joseph Klem in 1851, making him just 9 years old when he first tried to enlist in the 3^rd Ohio Infantry in May 1861, just days after fighting began. John J. Klem actually changed his name to John Lincoln Clem to prove that he was a “Union Man.”

Having being rejected by the Ohio Infantry, John tried to enlist in the 22^nd Michigan that was also posted to Camp Dennison in Cincinnati. They too refused but John had no where else to go since his mother had been killed earlier the year before. John spent much of the next year or so hanging out with the boys from Michigan and when they departed from Cincinnati in 1862, John tagged along, taking on the tasks of drummer boy for the unit. Members of the company even began to pay him a monthly stipend of $13 out of their own pockets.

John Clem gained notoriety when the 22^nd Michigan took part in an engagement in Georgia that became known as the Battle of Chickamauga, the second bloodiest battles during the war. During this battle, it was reported that a Confederate cannonball destroyed John’s drum. The battle dragged on for 3 days and on the third day, things began to break down for Union forces. Many of the men in the 22^nd were captured. John escaped capture by fleeing back to Union lines on an artillery caisson. It was widely reported that a Confederate officer demanded John immediately surrender, but instead, the young 12 year old raised his weapon and fired at the officer striking him down. Once he got back to his own unit, John was advanced to the rank of Sergeant becoming youngest person ever to hold that rank.

After this encounter, John was later captured and held as a POW before being paroled 2 months later. When word of John’s daring escapade during the battle appeared in a newspaper, John Clem became almost an instant celebrity. Folks everywhere knew him as the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga.

Before being discharged from the army at age 13, John Clem would be promoted to lance corporal.

Years later President Ulysses Grant would help the young man who served his country at such an early age, by personally giving his second lieutenant ‘s commission in 1871.

John Clem would once again see action during the Spanish-American War. In 1903 he became a Colonel and then in 1916 he left the U.S. Army once again after 53 years of active military duty. Twenty-one years later on this day and at the age of 85, John Clem, the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga died. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Sept 19: President Garfield Dies from Gunshot Wounds

By John Merrill

garfield-train-depot — Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Terminal

On this day in 1881, Ohio born James A. Garfield died as the results of two gunshot wounds he received back on July 2, 1881 as the President was making his way through the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Terminal in Washington D.C. Here, Charles J. Guiteau, a crazy person who had been stalking the President because the President had not given him a government job.

As President Garfield entered the station on that Saturday morning, Guiteau stepped forward. He raised the weapon and fired the first shot which grazed the President’s right arm. Garfield cried out “My God, what is this?” and began to turn toward where the shot had come. Guiteau fired again striking the president in his back near the first lumbar vertebra but missing the spinal cord. Garfield collapsed on the dirty depot floor. For a moment the room was still and then it erupted in screams. beginning a never ending series of events that would ultimately cost the president his life.

From that moment on, the President’s life would be in the hands of a host of doctors, some of whom were almost by any standards incompetent, even by 1881 standards. This fact would later be brought out in Guiteau’s trial that it wasn’t him that killed the President, it was his doctors.

From the time of the shooting till the time of his death, some 12 different doctors poked and prodded Garfield’s into his wounds. Although in much of Europe the idea of bacteria and the infections that can come from bacteria was accepted medical knowledge, in the United States, the medical professional rejected this notion and ignored those precautions recommended to prevent bacterial infections.

garfield-doctors — LEFT TO RIGHT: Dr. Woodward, Dr. Hamilton, Dr. Reyburn, Dr. Barnes, Dr. Agnew, Dr. Bliss discuss Garfield’s condition.

In early September, Garfield was moved from the sweltering heat of Washington D.C. to Long Branch, NJ in hopes that the cooler temperatures might be beneficial. The improved environment found at the Jersey Shores may have benefited Garfield’s mental conditions, they did not improve his overall health. In fact, the bacterial infection in the President’s wound was slowly destroying him and at 10:35 P.M. Dr. D.W. Bliss confirmed the President had died. The 49 year old president died from a bacterial infection that spread to his blood. He had gone from over 200 pounds to just 135 at the time of his death.

Garfield Tomb at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland

It had been 16 years since the assassination of President Lincoln but in those years presidential security had not changed.That issue would not be addressed until after the assassination of another Ohio president, William McKinley who died just 4 days short being exactly 20 years from today, the day James A. Garfield died.

Save

Sept. 14, McKinley: The President is No More!

By John Merrill

President McKinley delivering his speech to the exposition fair goers on September 5, 1901. In the crowd directly below him stood Leon Czolgosz.

For the past few days doctors feebly suggested the President might pull through. Newspapers were giving 2 hour updates of his temperature and heart rate. These reports were being posted on bulletin boards throughout the country wherever a telegraph office was located. On Thursday everyone was hopeful.

I have passed the best night of any since I was shot,”
McKinley told his fretful wife Ida.

Suggestions that it would have been better to have taken him to a hospital were scoffed at by the medical professionals in Buffalo. He is getting the best possible care here at Milburn House. “The president will recover,” said Dr. McBurney on Thursday. Dr. McBurney was one of several doctors attending the wounded president 24 hours a day.

In Washington D.C. plans were being made for a great celebration upon the President’s return to the capital. A great parade will be conducted from the railroad station up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. The special train will be outfitted to transport the president once he is healthy enough for travel, but will be expected to travel slowly so as to not overly tax the President’s strength.

Officials that had gathered at Buffalo once they received news of the shooting on September 6, began departing on Thursday when it appeared that McKinley would make a full recovery.

On Friday evening (yesterday) there was an unexpected down turn in McKinley’s health. The President slipped into unconsciousness. Oxygen was administered. Some time elapsed before the President opened his eyes again. He motioned to someone to come closer and whispered “Mrs. McKinley.” Ida was brought in but he had again lost consciousness.

Knowing the First Lady’s unsettling manner of collapsing when faced with agitation, the doctors suggested she be taken outside the room again. Again the President opened his eyes, and again whispered “Mrs. McKinley?” and again she was called back. This time a chair was pulled closer to her dying husband. She sat down and clasped her hands around his.

Across the country newspapers had for several days been printing the President’s biography telling his life story, his accomplishments both in and out of office. Everyone already knew he was born in Ohio, had served in the Great Rebellion and had been governor of Ohio. They wanted to know the personal stories of people that knew the President before he was president.

Stories of how even as a boy he displayed his intellect and was able at 16 to help support his family by taking on a job as a district school teacher for $25 a month. Accounts involving McKinley and the Great Rebellion were plentiful and how, when the war came, he was one of the first to enlist as a private.

A few days after his enlistment, he, like so many other Ohio boys, boarded a train for Columbus. Here they gathered at the new Goodale Park until there was no room and no trees left. They then marched over to Camp Chase where McKinley became part of Company E of the 23^rd Ohio regiment. The sprawling fields at Camp Chase were dotted with 100s of canvas tents supplied by the state.

Here at Camp Chase which would in a few years become a confederate prisoner of war camp, among these 1000s of boys and young men, William McKinley’s intelligence was noticed and he was promoted from private to commissary sergeant and put on the staff of another future president, Rutherford B. Hayes. After the war, Hayes would be McKinley’s mentor and political adviser.

McKinley’s bravery at the Battle of Antietam was noticed by Hayes who wrote to Governor Todd of Ohio, who then responded by ordering his promotion. By the time McKinley was mustered out of service in 1865, he had become a Major, a title he held dear and honored to have achieved. As he told an old friend who asked what he should call him now that he was President of the United States. McKinley replied “You must still call me Major McKinley, for I won that title. These other titles are only temporary.” His wife would also call him Major.

On this Saturday morning in 1901, the 39^th President, the 6^th president from Ohio (3 of whom died while in office) would die in his bed at Milburn House in Buffalo, New York. Just before his death, McKinley whispered to his wife “God’s will, not ours, be done.” Ida McKinley, his most fragile wife of 30 years whispered back “For his sake, For his sake,” as she clasped both of his hands.

McKinley looked about the darkened room seeing the doctors and nurses, then spoke softly towards them and said “Good-bye all. Good-bye. It is God’s way. He will be done.” These became the last words of William McKinley, a man known for his eloquence as he slipped into unconsciousness for the last time. Sensing the end was near, Ida was quietly ushered out of the room for fear that she would collapse. At 2:16 A.M., Dr. Rixey placed his finger on the president’s neck. “It is over,” he said tearfully. “The President is no more.”

The gates at the Pan-American Exposition where the President was shot on September 6, were closed today and would not re-open until Monday morning. Twenty years later a new housing development would cover those same grounds once occupied by the Pan-American Exposition and a large stone would be place where the Temple of Music once stood. It still stands there today.

Save

April 29: Lincoln Funeral Procession Arrives at the Statehouse

By John Merrill

Lincoln’s Funeral Train of 9 cars pulled by the locomotive The Nashville left Cleveland at 10:30 p.m. for it’s overnight trip to Columbus. All along the way at every depot, large bonfires were lit to light the way for the Funeral Train. Thousands gathered in the torrential rains that fell all through the night, to catch sight of the passing funeral train. In the car called “America” all the way to the back was the black draped coffin of Lincoln. In the front of the same car was the smaller casket of Lincoln’s son Willie who died in 1862.

statehouse-lincoln-funeral-train-2 — The Nashville in Cleveland waiting to depart for Columbus later in the evening of April 28, 1865.

At 6:32 a.m. the funeral train passed through Lewis Center, then, just as the train was rolling through Worthington at 6:56 a.m., the rains began to let up and by 7:30 a.m. as the train pulled into Union Station, the gloomy overcast skies began to break. The military escort had already assembled and been waiting patiently since 6:00 a.m. to take the coffin to the Statehouse.

That morning in the Saturday edition of The Daily Ohio State Journal an itinerary was published so that mourners would know where Lincoln’s casket would be at what time. Residents were also asked to appropriately decorate their homes along the parade route.

Long before the funeral train arrived at Union Station on the north side of the city, the order of the funeral procession had been determined. A special hearse had been constructed. The black broadcloth draped hearse was big: 17 feet long, 8-1/2 feet wide and more than 17 feet tall (today’s semi trucks are less than 14′ tall). The entire structure resembled a Chinese pagoda. Around the cornice of the canopy were 36 silver stars.

Once the train arrived at Union Station the casket was transfer by the 29 man military escort of veterans to a hearse pulled by 6 white horses, with black blankets across their back and black feathered plumes attached to their head. Besides the military escort, the hearse was also followed by the Mayors of both Columbus and Cincinnati as well as City Council members of both cities. Twenty-two honorary pall bearers including many of Columbus’ prominent citizens (Robert Neil, Fernando Kelton, Lincoln Goodale, and D. W. Deshler). Today, Kelton House is a museum of the Victorian era, and one of the artifacts on display is a lithograph of the funeral procession, along with the actual armband that Fernando wore performing his duties as a pall bearer.

lincoln-car — Lincoln Funeral Car in Columbus at Union Station. Note the standing water in the ditch from the torrential rains that fell during the night.

The entourage traveled south on High Street to Broad, went east on Broad and then turned south on 4th Street. It then traversed through several downtown neighborhood streets until coming back on Town Street to High Street. From there it would go north to the west entrance of the Capitol Building.

All along the way 1000s of mourners lined the streets with the houses and businesses draped in black. Some youths with plenty of stamina, kept pace along side the hearse during the entire route.

abraham-lincoln — Funeral procession headed north on High Street on Saturday morning, April 29, 1865.

At the West Gate of the Statehouse (today, this is where the McKinley Monument stands) an arch was built over the large gate posts. At the center of the arch were the words: “Ohio Mourns”. The Statehouse columns were wrapped in in black cloth to create spirals. Above the columns on the cornice a sign hung with a quote from Lincoln’s last inaugural address:

“With malice to none. With charity for all.”

Each of the Statehouse windows were heavily draped in black. Directly above the west door was placed the inscription

“God Moves in a Mysterious Way.”

Just before 9:00 a.m. the process came to a halt on South High Street near the west gate to Capitol Square. There is a break in the gray clouds and sunlight spreads across those gathered. At about 9:00 a.m., the head of the procession arrived at the west entrance to Capitol Square. The 88th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was acting as special escort. They formed 2 lines on either side of the walk from the west gate to the entrance. Eight Sergeants of the honor guard placed the casket on their shoulders and slowly walked up the walkway and into the Rotunda. All around the Rotunda were fresh floral arrangements.

a-lincoln-casket — Lincoln casket covered in lilacs in the Ohio Statehouse rotunda.

The bier, where the casket would be placed, was covered with lilacs that had just come into bloom throughout the city. When the casket was lowered to the flowery bier which sat upon a carpet that helped cut down on the echo of footsteps across the marbled floor, the 6’6″ long casket with Lincoln’s body, crushed the lilacs in such a way that the room was filled with smell of the fragrant lilacs. Although Lincoln’s body had been embalmed before leaving Washington D.C., the process was not yet perfected and his body had already begun to deteriorate badly giving off a putrid odor that had to be masked by the floral arrangements. To help preserve the President’s body during the 12 day trip back to Springfield Illinois, it would be packed in ice. A mortician also accompanied the body and applied chalk to Lincoln’s face to mask the discoloration.

Two sets of lines formed on High Street, one stretching north to Long Street and another south to Rich Street. It was estimated that 8,000 people an hour walked past the casket.

Photograph of Lincoln's casket superimposed over contemporary color photograph of the rotunda. — Photograph of Lincoln’s casket superimposed over contemporary color photograph of the rotunda.

At 3:00 p.m. on the east side of the Capitol Building, a platform had been erected where state and local dignitaries and military generals spoke about Lincoln’s contributions. The feature speaker was General Hooker.

Funeral hearse waiting for Lincoln's casket to be removed from the statehouse for its return journey up High Street to Union Station. — Funeral hearse waiting for Lincoln’s casket to be removed from the statehouse for its return journey up High Street to Union Station.

At 6:00 p.m. the doors to the Capitol were closed, a bugle sounded the assembly and the soldiers reformed for the final escort back to Union Station following the same route in reverse. From Columbus the funeral train would move on to Indianapolis, then to Chicago, and finally down to Springfield, Illinois for final burial.

After the casket was removed from the Rotunda, the doors to the Statehouse were re-opened and visitors continued to quietly pass through the great room where Lincoln’s body had laid in repose. After the last visitor passed through, the flowers from the bier and the floral displays around the room were collected. These flowers were then auctioned off and the money collected was donated to charity groups throughout the city that were helping wounded veterans returning from the Civil War.

The original plans for the funeral train called for it to travel on to Cincinnati for another public viewing. However, due to the condition of Lincoln’s deteriorating body, it was decided to forgo the Cincinnati stop, and move on to Indianapolis, then Chicago and finally to Springfield, Illinois.

November 25: Ohio Inventor Charles Kettering is DEAD!

By John Merrill

Anyone that has a driver’s license has probably used a key to start their car. For those that don’t know what happens when they turn that key, in its most basic concept, allows a jolt of electricity to run from the battery to a motor that actually turns or cranks the engine. Sparks are then ignited in the piston chambers that cause a mixture of air and vaporized gasoline to explode. Once all of the cylinders start revolving, the starter motor quickly disengages from the engine and it continues on its own.

Sure, everyone knows that you say. But if you ever see any of those old movies where the guy has to stand in front of the car and turn a crank to get the engine started can appreciate what it was link before the self-starter was invented.

When Kettering was 39 year old, a man born in Loudonville, Ohio, a man that had notoriously bad eyesight and had to have a fellow student read out loud his reading assignments, got his patent for the electric automobile starter. Kettering’s electric starter had been first installed on the 1912 Cadillac. By the early 1920s Kettering’s self-starting motor would be installed on just about every car made. That refinement in automobile ownership made the automobile more attractive, especially women. It was the beginning of the automobile culture that continues to this day.

Kettering and his company, DELCO (Dayton ELectronics COrporation), went on to create a number of improvements to the automobile including shock absorbers, the automatic transmission, quick-drying automotive paint, and safety glass.

Although he was most famous for his contributions to the auto industry, Charles Kettering also known for developing several medical innovations such as an incubator for premature infants, venereal disease treatments and a number of magnetic diagnostic devices. During his time at DELCO and later at General Motors (GM), Mr. Kettering accumulated a great fortune. In 1945 he and Alfred Sloan, another GM vice president, established the Sloan-Kettering Institute for cancer research.

On this day in 1958 at the age of 82, Charles Kettering died of a stroke at his home in Kettering, Ohio, a suburb of Dayton, named for the inventor.

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This:

Share This: