i ' E 525 ffiioorapbis anb Ipersonal IRecoUections Bi2 (5eo. B. TOriQbt IReprintet) trom tbe ©bto arcba^olooical an& Ibistorlcal (Siuarterl^ IJolume Biabt, 1899*1900 •T63 By Transfer. Ok-zSfHh ^r^-^l^*"*— >^ o^ ^2. ^^^ ^^ / <^^i__ HON. DAVID TOD. BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. BY GEORGE B. WRIGHT. "Lives of great men all i-emind us We can make our lives sublime ; Arid, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time." "Footprints, that perhaps another Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother Seeing, shall take heart again." — Longfellow. Part I. BIOGRAPHY OF DAVID TOD. David Tod, second of the Civil War liovernors of Ohio, was born at Youngstown, Trumbull (now Mahoning) County, Ohio, on the 22nd of February, A. D. 1805. His father, the Honorable George Tod, settled in Ohio in 1800, having left his native state-, Connecticut, with many others of the early pioneers who settled the Western Reserve. Ohio was then a territory, and the same year of his advent George Tod was called on by Governor St. Clair to act as Secretary in 1802. The same year, when Ohio was admitted into the Union as a state, Mr. Tod was elected as one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, and held that of^ce seven years in suc- cession. He was after that re-elected to the same position, but on the breaking out of the war of 181 2 with Great Britain he re- signed his seat on the bench and tendered his services to the Government, and was commissioned Major, and afterwards pro- moted to the Colonelcy of the Twelfth Regiment. During this struggle he won laurels for his coolness, cour- age and heroism, especially at Sackett's Flarbor and Fort Meigs. At the close of the war he resigned his commission and re- turned to Trumbull County. Soon after this he was elected Vol. VIII— 1 ( 101 ) 102 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications . Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, having for his district the whole northern part of the state. He was a very generous, liberal-minded man, and in the old pioneer times when small salaries were paid to all officials, with a large family to maintain, he did not accumulate any surplus, but fell behind and was compelled to mortgage his Brier Hill farm. But he left to his children a "good name, which is better than riches." His wife, Sallie Isaac, the mother of David Tod, was a very beautiful woman, a most excellent wife and mother, wor- shipped by her children and beloved by every one who knew her. She was the sister of Mrs. Ingersoll, the wife of Governor ^' Ingersoll, of Connecticut. To his mother, as well as his father, David Tod owed a large share of his native talent and good- ness. Judge Tod remained on the Common Pleas bench for four- teen years, retiring in 1829 at the age of fifty-five. For the remainder of his life he pursued his profession of law, attended to the management of his Brier Hill farm, near Youngstown, and cared for his family. He died in 1841 at the age of sixty- seven, esteemed and revered by every one. David Tod, reared as a farmer boy at the old Brier Hill farm, and being aniong the youngest of his father's children, had, with his father's limited means at that early period in Ohio, none of the educational advantages or opportunities enjoyed by the youth of the present day. His only early education was obtained at the day schools, which were held for only a short portion of the year. He received his further education at the old Burton Academy in Geauga County, Ohio. He paid for his school expenses after he became of age. He had great native talent, and most excellent judgment of men and things material, and his active life and experience afforded him the greater part of his education, and he might fairly be said to have been self-educated. Although a self-made man. he was well fitted to fill any place or position to which he might be called. He studied law in the office of Colonel Powell Stone, at Warren, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1827, at the ag-e Hon. David Tod. 103 of twenty-two. He was then in debt for his tuition, and other expenses about one thousand dollars. He commenced practice with the Hon. Mathew Burchard. The bar of Trumbull County was attended in those days by such able and distinguished prac- titioners as the Hons. Elisha Whittlesey, Ebon Martin, Joshua R. Giddings, Rufus T. Spaulding, Calvin Pease, Powell Stone, Mathew Burchard, John Crowell, Andrew Loomis, Thomas D. Webb, and later Benjamin F. Mills, Reuben Hitchcock and others. It was regarded as one of the ablest and most dis- tinguished bars in Ohio. David Tod soon became eminent as a jury lawyer, and was very popular, being regarded as one of the strongest in the profession. He had a deep-toned, musical voice. He was mag- nanimous and genial, of commanding appearance, great socia- bility, and was always listened to with delight, and was the life and charm of society. His practice soon became large and extended, and enabled him not only to pay off the debts he had incurred, but also to repurchase the old Brier Hill farm, which had been mortgaged and sold. This he cherished as his sacred home until the day of his death, and he kept it as a home for his father and mother while they lived, replacing the old log cabin thereon with a good, commodious frame house. On June 4, 1832. at the age of twenty-seven, he married Maria Smith, daughter of Justice Smith, of Warren, Ohio, one of the early settlers there, who built the first grist and saw mill in that section of the state. There was then no grist mill within sixty miles of Warren. From this marriage seven children were born, four boys and three girls — Charlotte, John, Henry, George, William, Grace and Sallie. The oldest daughter, Charlotte, married Gen- eral August V. Kautz, of the regular army in 1866. She died in 1868 and her husband, the General, fifteen or eighteen years later. John Tod, the oldest son, died suddenly at Columbus, Ohio, on the 4th of December, 1896, while attending a meeting of the State House Commission, of which he was a member. David Tod's widow and five children are still living, residing at 104 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. Yoiingstown, Ohio. The old Brier Hill farm and homestead still remains, kept and cared for as in the life of its owner. In the days of Andrew Jackson, David Tod became his ardent admirer, and supported him for the Presidency, and attached himself to the Democratic party, although his father was a devoted Whig. He continued with the Democratic party until its rupture at Charleston, South Carolina, in i860, at the Democratic Na- tional Convention, where he figured as First Vice-President, and subsequently as President at the meeting of the delegates at Baltimore, Maryland. These two conventions, no doubt, had a strong influence in enlisting him in the cause of the Union. Pie was appointed postmaster at Warren, Ohio, under Jack- son's or \^an Buren's administration, and continued in that posi- tion until 1838, when he was elected, in the strong Whig County of Trumbull, over his opponent, Hon. John Crowell, as Sena- tor to the Ohio Legislature, where he served two years with marked ability. He continued to practice law until about 1844, when he moved to his Brier Hill farm, the old home, to which he was so much attached. He then started the project of developing the coal in that section, and after long and persistent effort in- troducing it into Cleveland, and other lake markets by way of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Canal. He was one of the prin- cipal agents in carrying forward the scheme of constructing the Canal. He was a director of the company for a long time, and one of the pioneers in coal shipments from the Brier Hill and Girard Mines. In this way he laid the foundation for his fu- ture success in amassing wealth, and gave the impetus to the great development of the coal and iron trade, and other busi- ness of the Mahoning Valley. He was also one of the chief and efificient actors and managers in promoting the construc- tion of the Cleveland and Mahoning Valley Railroad, of which company Jacob Perkins was the first President, and David Tod one of the Directors, and after the decease of Mr. Perkins he was made the President, and so continued until his death. Hon. David Tod. 105 These enterprises brought Mr. Tod in close touch with the laboring classes, and he became their friend and helper, many of whom, through his aid and encouragement, became pros- perous, and acquired remunerative positions, and thus many homes were made comfortable and happy. The railroad from Cleveland to Youngstown was opened in 1856, and Mr. Tod, not many years afterwards, when the road passed into the con- trol of the Atlantic & Great Western Railway Company, had the satisfaction of seeing the company relieved of a large and embarrassing load of floating debt, which imperiled his entire fortune. This was accomplished by his personal efforts and wise management, and the value of the stock of the company was brought up from thirty per cent, below, to above par. The in- habitants of the Mahoning Valley owe to David Tod, more than to any other man, the great wealth of that prosperous mining and iron manufacturing region. To his talents, geniality and goodness of heart may be at- tributed his popularity as a speaker, and they will account for his nomination by the Democratic party for Governor in 1844, and in the then strong Whig state he was defeated by his opponent, Mordecai Bartley, by only about twelve hundred votes. In the winter or early spring of 1847, Mr. Tod was ap- pointed by President Polk, Minister to Brazil to succeed Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, who was recalled at the request of Brazil in consequence of his arbitrary course which threatened to in- volve our country in war with that empire. With the feeling existing in that government, the difficulty created by Wise, and the total lack of experience on the part of- Mr. Tod in the matter of diplomacy and court etiquette, made it a very deli- cate and trying position. Nevertheless, he accepted the appoint- ment and embarked for Rio in June, 1847, with his wife and some of his younger children, and remained there about four and a half years, returning home in December, 185 1. His native talent and large endowment of common sense, with his experience and knowledge of men, enabled him to fulfill his mission to the satisfaction of our government and the delight of his friends at home. He succeeded while there, not only in healing all troubles and difficulties, but in concluding 106 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. a negotiation by which he obtained about $300,000 from that government on claims which had been, for more than thirty years, the subject of mternational dispute. He was largely instrumental in inducing the government to break up the in- famous slave trade. He placed the government of Brazil on a solid and firm footing of friendship with the United States. He so far secured the good will and esteem of the Emperor of Brazil as to receive letters addressed to this government of the highest commendation. He often lent his kind aid and purse to our countrymen and sailors residing in Rio, or passing through, and on his leaving they presented him with a valuable silver memorial of their great esteem and friendship. His relations, whether with that empire or with the rep- resentatives of other governments there, as well as his efforts in behalf of his countrymen, were an entire success. And it may safely be said that no representative from this government to a foreign court ever surpassed Mr. Tod in diplomatic influence, tact and favor. On his return home his friends and neighbors, without distinction of party, gave him a most cordial ovation, and a greeting and welcome of which any one might be proud. Not the least gratifying was the heartfelt manner in which all his employees met and welcomed him in a body. Having been attached so^ long to the fortunes of the Democratic party ; be- ing the idol of his Democratic friends in his section of the state ; having received positions of honor and trust at their hands, and reluctant to change to any new organization, or position, politically, he adhered to that old party until i860 in spite of all the assaults upon it, and upon its pro-slavery wing at the South, made by tlie growing Republican party. He was a delegate to the Charleston convention in i860; was the First Vice-President while Caleb Cushing was Pres- ident. He was strongly in favor of the nomination of Stephen A. Douglas, and against yielding to the pro-slavery demands of the South, and bid defiance to their threat of seceding from the Union if their demands were not complied with ; and when they adjourned to Baltimore and the southern delegation left Hon. David Tod. 107 the convention, and Caleb Gushing with them, he took the chair and the nomination of Douglas was made by the remaining delegates of the party. He gave his support to Douglas with all his force and voice during that campaign. The withdrawal of the southern delegates, the nomination by them of Breckenridge, the defeat of Douglas and the threat of secession, made him resolve to stand firmly by the govern- ment. As soon as the south began to show war, and fired on Ft. Sumter, David Tod immediately bent his energies to sus- tain the Government, and counseled union of all patriots. On the first call for troops he telegraphed President Lincoln, advising a call of three hundred thousand volunteers instead of seventy- five thousand, and gave his most earnest support to Mr. Lin- coln. He immediately subscribed one thousand dollars to the Township War Fund, and raised and equipped at his own ex- pense the first company of volunteers raised in Youngstown. Thenceforward, until the war ended, he sustained the adminis- tration of Lincoln with all his power and influence. The country being thus in deadly peril, and its unity in danger, the patriots of Ohio, including all Republicans, and many war Democrats, moved without regard to party to Unite for the support of the Union, nominated David Tod for Gov- ernor, and elected him in October, 1861, by over eighty-five thousand majority. Clement L. \'allandigham, and men of his spirit, who were in sympathy with the South, and those who feared that the Democratic party might be broken up, still stood aloof, and did not support this patriotic nomination, and in the end became virtual supporters of the South and a great em- barrassment to the Government. During 1862 and 1863, two of the stormiest years of the war, when matters were still somewhat in chaos, and proper svs- tem and organization had not been effected, when supplies of men, means, surgeons and nurses were lacking; when large numbers of troops were being called for ; when distress and discouragement prevailed, and Ohio was threatened with in- vasion by Kirby Smith, a Confederate General ; then it was that David Tod, with his large heart, his good sense, unbounded pa- 108 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. triotisin and energy, proved to be the right man in the right place. He pei formed an enormous amount of labor, and gave most efficient aid t:) the country in his very responsible position. The care of the soldiers, the sick, wounded and afflicted, their wives, dependents and friends, have all good cause to re- member Governor Tod. His excellent knowledge and judg- ment of men and great care in the appointment of officers, gave excellent commaiulers to the troops of Ohio, with very few ex- ceptions, and he made as few mistakes in this respect as was pos- sible in the great uiultiplicity of appointments and promotions to be made. He made comparatively few requests of Secretary of War Stanton, or I'resident Lincoln, and those he did make were maturely considered, and were always found important, and therefore prom])tly granted. On his retirement from the Executive Office, the Legis- lature of Ohio, then in session, passed and published in the vol- ume of Ohio Laws for that year, the following most beautiful and appropriate joinf resolution and vote of thanks: Whereas, Tin- executive term of Governor Tod has been a period of unexampled trial to the state and nation, involving the existence of the government, and demanding devoted loyalty and extraordinary ex- ecutive ability; and Whereas, Tm oui opinion these demands have been met by him in a manner eliciting the approbation of all loyal men. Therefore, the general assembly of the State of Ohio, in the name and behalf of the people, of Ohio, feel constrained to award to Governor David Tod, upon his retirement from office, this public testimony of our approbation and esteem. Resolved, Tliat the- thanks of the general assembly of the state of Ohio arc hereby tendc led t<^ him for the able, self-sacrificing and de- voted manner in whteli he has discharged all the duties of chief magistrate of the state ; for his devotion in ministering to the sick and wounded soldiers ; for his kindness, courtesy and assistance to the friends and families of the soldiers in their anxious inquiries for those exposed in camp, upon the battle-fields and in hospitals ; for his pecuniary sacri- fices for the soldicr.s' encouragement and comfort; for his patriotic ad- dresses made to tlie regiments, from time to time, when going into ser- vice ; for his well -arranged system of half-fare tickets, by which the relatives of the soldiers were enabled to visit the hospitals and battle- < '►4 O Hon. David Tod. 109 fields to convey relief, or bring to their last resting place amid the homes of the loyal north, the remains of those who have given their lives for their country's protection ; for the enduring memorials to the dead of the rank and file in the cemeteries of Spring Grove and Gettysburg; for the preservation of peace and order of the state ; for the speedy sup- pression of disloyalty and resistance to laws ; for untiring industry in the business of the state: for deep-toned loyalty; for the full and faithful discharge of the trust which two years ago was entrusted to him by a loyal people ; for all this he takes with him into his retirement our thanks, our approval, and our desire for his future welfare ^nd happi- ness. And when the terrible drama of this infamous rebellion shall have closed, his tDfficial discharge of duty will remain a proud monument to his memory, and a rich legacy to his children." James R. Hubbell, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Charles Anderson, President of the Senate. . Governor Tod, much worn with the great labor he had performed, gladly sought the Brier Hill farm to devote some care to his personal affairs needing his attention. During his relations with President Lincoln, although some- what prejudiced at first, he became his warm friend and ad- mirer. He heartily accepted the proclamation to abolish slavery as an appropriate means of crushing the rebellion. On the retirement of Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, President Lincoln, wholly without solicitation of Gov- ernor Tod or any intimation of it beforehand, tendered him by telegraph that Cabinet position. But being much worn and exhausted in his very arduous labor as Exectitive of Ohio, need- ing rest at his age, and desirous of looking to his private af- fairs, he promptly declined with suitable thanks the honorable position so generously tendered him. Governor Tod thenceforward devoted his time, care and attention to his interesting family of wife and seven children ; to the coal and iron works, and the Cleveland and Mahon- ing Valley Railroad, of which company he remained President until his decease, on November 13, 1868, at the age of sixty- three years, eight months and twenty-three days. In Novem- ber, 1868, he was elected by the Republicans one of the pres- idential electors at large. At the meeting of the Electoral Col- 110 Ohio Arch, and His. Society PublicatioJis. lege held at Columbus on December i?t, 1868, seventeen days after his death, the following gentlemen were appointed to re- port resolutions expressive of the sense of the College in re- gard to his death : Stanley Matthews, E. F. Schneider and F. Kinsman. The Committee reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted : Whekeas, David Tod, formerly governor of Ohio, who departed this life on the 13th of November, 18()8, had been chosen a member of the Electoral College for the state, at large ; and Whereas, It is peculiarly appropriate that we give expression to our feelings in regard to his decease, be it therefore Resolved, That we deeply deplore the loss that the State and Nation have sustained in the death of this distinguished citizen ; that his public career and services, especially his patriotic course at the outbreak of the rebellion, and his distinguished and invaluable labor as Executive of Ohio during one of the most critical periods of the war. have earned for him the lasting gratitude of the people, and made his name precious to every lover of his country. Resolved, That while we cherish with pride the public reputation of the deceased, we remember also his exalted character and sterling worth as a man ; his noble and generous qualities as a friend ; his genial man- ners, which adorned alike the Executive Chamber and the social circle and which combined to win for him the universal respect and affection with which his memory will always be associated. Resolved, That Hon. Samuel Galloway, one of the members of this body, be requested to deliver this evening before the College and the public, an eulogy upon the life and character of the deceased. Resolved, That the following named gentlemen be requested to of- ficiate at the meeting for that purpose : As President, Governor R. B. Hayes ; as Vice-Presidents, Hon. James L. Bates and General George B. Wright ; as Chaplain, Rev. A. G. Byers ; as Secretaries. Morton E. Brazee and W. R. Thrall. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions and a copy of the pro- ceedings of the meeting, this evening, be furnished to the family of the deceased. The meeting in the evening was largely attended, Mr. Gal- loway delivering a most eloquent eulogy on the life and char- acter of Mr. Tod ; a most truthful and fitting tribute, full of evidence of Mr. Galloway's intimate acquaintance and. sincere regard for his friend and neighbor. The eulogy was delivered at the request of the Electors, who ordered it printed in pamph- Hon. David Tod. Ill let form, and thousands of copies of the proceedings and eulogy were distributed through the state and country. Such was the respect for him and feeling entertained to- ward him, that his funeral was attended by a number esti- mated at twenty thousand people. The people of the Mahoning Valley of all classes have long mourned his loss as their great friend, adviser and benefactor. Part II. PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF DAVID TOD. My first acquaintance with David Tod was a few days after his election as Governor of Ohio, in 1861. I was then Quar- termaster General of Ohio, in the midst of active duties equip- ping and sending to the field volunteers for the Federal Army who were being called by the President to suppress the rebel- lion. He came into the ofhce with Governor Dennison, who introduced him to me as his successor. I was struck with his handsome, smooth-shaven face, and genial, cordial manner. He was about five feet, ten inches in height, stoutly built, and weighed about one hundred and ninety pounds ; a fine shaped head, with a prominent forehead ; bright, dark-brown eyes, with dark hair slightly tinged with gray. I was not only favorably impressed with his appearance and genial manner, but surprised at his request that I become a member of his staff and continue in my present position. I had known of him as a prominent Democratic politician, while I had always been a Whig and a Republican, and presumed, of course, that he would select his staff from his own party friends. I had known of Mr. Tod's election to the Legislature as State Senator from Trumbull county in 1839. I was familiar with his campaign for governor in 1844 on the Democratic ticket, and had taken part against him, and in favor of his Whig opponent, Mordecai Bartley. That was a very vigorous campaign on both sides in which great processions with flags and emblems, song singing, and displays of all kinds were in vogue. The custom of song singing in political campaigns had 112 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. been introduced four years before when General Harrison and Martin Van Buren were opposing candidates for the presidency in 1840. John Greiner, of Columbus, was the Whig poet, and composed many songs satirizing the candidates from the Pres- ident to the candidate for the humblest position. One verse of a popular Whig song of 1840 will be remembered by those now living who were voters at that time : "Oh what has caused this great commotion Motion, motion — our country through? It is the ball a-rolling on For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too. For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too. And with them we'll beat little Van, Van, Van is a used up man And with them we'll beat little Van." The songs of 1844 were more prolific, and those of John Greiner were very popular. The following will serve as ex- amples : "At Lindenwold the fox was holed. And the coons all laughed When they heard it told Ha, ha, ha what a nominee Is James K. Polk of Tennessee." These are the first of a number of verses of the popular songs. "Soon after the great nomination Was held at Columbus so odd, There was quite a jollification At the residence of Governor Tod." "His mother, good, pious old lady. Her spectacles threw on the sod ; Good gracious ! Who would have thought, Davy Would ever be Governor Tod?" Mr. Tod was a hard money man, and in one of his stump speeches said he would "prefer pot metal money to shin-plas- ters." This saying gave him the name of "Pot Metal Tod." I remember in one of the processions of that year, a large wagon, drawn by eight horses, was laden with a cupola in full blast Hon. David Tod. 113 molding "Tod Dollars," which were about two and one-half inches in diameter and half an inch thick ; on one side were the words "Tod Dollar." They were thrown into the street as fast as molded, and quickly gathered up by the crowd. I saw one of these dollars in Mr. Tod's ofhce at Brier Hill as late as 1866, where it was used as a paper weight. Notwithstanding the state was largely Whig at that time, Mr. Tod was beaten by his Whig opponent, Mordecai Hartley, by less than twelve hundred votes. As minister to Brazil from 1847 to 185 1, he won great credit as a diplomat. His energy and success in developing the coal and other interests in the Mahoning Valley ; his career as First Vice-President at the Democratic National Convention at Charleston, South Carolina, and subsequently at Baltimore in i860, are all referred to in the preceding biography and need not be repeated here. It was at this interesting and prosperous period that the civil war broke out and fired the hearts of every lover of the Union at the North. William Dennison was then Governor of the State, and with patriotic zeal was doing all in his power under the greatest difihculties, to organize and place the State on a war footing to aid the Federal government in sustaining the Union. As the time drew near for the nomination of a Republican candidate for Governor in 1861, while many friends of Governor Dennison desired and advocated his re-nomina- tion, many eyes were turned with interest toward David Tod — a lifelong Democrat, but now recognized as a staunch Union man — as a suitable candidate for nomination. His previous record as a business man and high character for integrity and honor made him a popular candidate, and in October, 1861, he was elected as the Republican candidate by over eighty-five thousand majority. He had already shown his zeal in the cause of the Union by telegraphing the President, when the first call for volunteers was made, advising the call of three hundred thousand instead of sevent}-five thousand. He had raised and equipped, at his own expense, the first company of volunteers in Youngstown, and subscribed one thousand dollars to the 114 Ohio Arch. a7id His. Society Publications . war fund of his own township. He thus entered upon his ad- ministration as Governor in January, 1862, with a mind and heart well fitted for the work. In his inaugural address before the Senate and House of Representatives on the 13th of January, 1862, he said, among other things: "On the great and absorbing question of the day — the war for the maintenance of our National existence — I am indebted to the friends of the Union for their generous selection, from the well-known fact that / ivas zvilling to sur- render everything but honor to quell the unholy rebellion. The more I reflect upon this important matter the more thoroughly am I convinced that the future welfare of ourselves, our chil- dren and our children's children depends upon preserving at all hazards the integrity of our National Union." It was during the civil war that I learned to know and es- teem Mr. Tod. For two years we were neighbors and were irt daily association, going to and from our homes to the State House. We visited Washington and the hospitals at Cincin- nati and Camp Dennison together, and when in the city, we visited Camp Chase nearly every week. Regiments were being organized there and thousands of Rebel prisoners were held. From the first call for volunteers to the end of his term he was ready with his counsel and purse in every way to aid the Ad- ministration in maintaining the Government. He was the intimate friend, co-worker and adviser of Pres- ident Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton, and in daily com- munication with them. Mr. Lincoln once said of him, "Gover- nor Tod has aided me more and troubled me less than any other Governor." This was doubtless for the reason that the Governor never asked for anything that was not, in his judg- ment, necessary and of vital importance to the welfare of the Ohio troops. By order of the Governor, I went to Wash- ington and spent a week with Secretary Stanton, asking for im- proved arms, equipments and other supplies for the Ohio sol- diers. Mr. Stanton said to me, "If you will be patient with us, the Ohio soldiers shall have the best arms and equipments the Government can procure." Such was the feeling of the Pres- Hon. David Tod. H5 ident and Secretary Stanton — who was an Ohio man — to- wards Governor Tod and the Ohio soldiers. As soon as he entered upon his duties as Governor, he examined carefully the different departments of the State Gov- ernment and wherever he found it ncessary to introduce re- forms, adopted careful business methods. He exhibited rare ability for the duties imposed upon him and never sought to avoid responsibility. He ignored partisan politics and said to every one applying to him for civil or military appointments, "This is no political warfare, but a hand-to-hand struggle for the life of the Nation, and it is the duty of every citizen of Ohio to devote his best energies for that object." On this pa- triotic idea he strove to administer the duties of his ofifice. Of the thousands of appointments which he was called upon to make, he adopted, as far as possible, the Jeffersonian rule of "honesty, capability and faithfulness to the constitution." He was an excellent judge of men and possessed the rare "com- bination of talent, tact and human sympathy, seldom erring in his selection of men to fill responsible positions. To aid him in this and other important duties, he advised and secured the appointment of a military board of citizens in most of the con- gressional districts of the State, chosen by the loyal citizens themselves. With these committees he was constantly in com- munication, thus learning the character of the men seeking ser- vice, also the general feeling throughout the State towards the administration at Washington and the conduct of the war. He was anxious to enlist his Democratic friends in the cause of the Union. He soon learned, however, that many of his old political friends and associates were in sympathy with the South and would not be enlisted actively in support of the war. He be- came more and more convinced of this as time went on, but this only bound him closer to Mr. Lincoln and the administra- tion and carried him farther and farther away from his old Dem- ocratic allies until he became notorious as a hater of copper- heads, as those persons were called who opposed the war and its prosecution. He was accused of being arbitrary and des- potic, but he was always kind and conciliatory and strove in all 116 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Piihlications. cases to be just, even to those whom he knew were opposed to the administration, but he never hesitated in carrying out the orders of the War Department, even if it involved the ar- rest of persons accused of treason. He never faltered in his support of Mr. Lincoln, and when it was known that the proclamation of freedom to the slaves would be issued as a war measure, while many good men doubted its policy and not a few pronounced it unconstitutional and tyrannical, Governor Tod never for a moment wavered, but both publicly and privately endorsed and approved it. When \ allandigham was tried and convicted of treason by a court- martial, he advised the President to send him into the rebel territory instead of executing the sentence against him. In the darkest periods of the war, when the Federal armies were meeting with defeat, he often said to me, "We must stand by Mr. Lincoln ; he knows better than any of us what is best, and this accursed rebellion must and will be put down." "Then it was that Governor Tod began to ascend from the eminence of party leader to the mountain height of loftiest patriotism." He exhibited, in a marked degree, the attributes of firmness, tem- pered with justice, benevolence and kindness to the unfortun- ate ; sagacity and tact combined with unflinching integrity, and with all, a remarkable endowment of common sense were marked features of this character. To these must be added his social qualities and his ready wit and humor. He was sometimes grave and thovightful, but never morose or out of temper. He endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact, and to the sorrowful and afflicted he always had a kind and cheerful word. His short, but earnest speeches to the regiments and com- panies about to leave for the battle fields were full of patriotic sympathy and good advice. He called them his brothers and boys, and cautioned them to be careful of their health, to be temperate and always obedient to orders of their officers ; to have coolness, patience and courage under all trying circum- stances ; to save their money and send it to their friends at home ; that they w'ere bound on a glorious mission, the pro- tection and preservation of the best government in the world. en O P O o m Q H- ( w to Q O to Hon. David Tod. 117 and the prayers and best wishes of all loyal people would go with them ; that upon their good service might depend the future of our glorious Union. He assured them that every act of courage and bravery would be known at home and re- warded by a generous government. These addresses were re- ceived with enthusiastic cheers and responses of: "We will, we will." He visited Camp Chase prisoners often and satisfied him- self that they were well fed and cared for. To the sick pris- oners he was especially kind, allowing them to see their friends. Mrs. Thurman, wife of Senator Thurman, a southern lady by birth and of a most benevolent and kind (lis])osition, was allowed to visit and minister to sick prisoners at her pleasure. An order that the prisoners should deposit all their money >in my hands, to be drawn out in small sums, subject to his ap- proval, was strongly objected to at first, but finally became popular with the prisoners themselves, as every dollar was sac- redly kept and any balance remaining at the time of their dis- charge or exchange was paid over to them. During his term, many of the best young men of the South were taken prisoners and sent to Camp Chase prison ; some of these young men were sons or neighbors of his po- litical friends whom he had known before the war. To these and all other prisoners he was kind and courteous, granting them every privilege consistent with orders and regulations of the War Department. One of the features of Governor Tod's administration was his noble and generous charity. To every object for the pro- motion of Union sentiment, for the aid- of societies caring for sick and wounded soldiers, for the promotion of enlistments in the army, and in every other charitable movement, he was a conspicuous and liberal giver. The day he had been Gov- ernor six months he contributed his entire salary as Gover- nor, up to that date, to the bounty fund for raising volun- teers to fill up the depleted regiments in the field. He never allowed a mother, wife or sister of a sick or wounded soldier on their way to visit the loved one in camp, or nospital, to Vol. VIII— 2 118 Ohio Arch, afid His. Society Publications . leave his office empty handed, or without a kind and cheering word. He would send an order to me for a ticket of transpor- tation to the place of destination and return, and would then see to it that they had sufficient to meet their expenses, supplying what was necessary from his own purse. I was in his office one day when a Methodist minister called who had been made Chaplain to one of the Ohio Reg- iments. The Governor greeted him cordially. It appeared that the Chaplain had officiated at the funeral of the Governor's mother, to whose memory he was devotedly attached. He told the Chaplain "his mother was an angel in Heaven and her spirit was constantly watching over him, and that when he left this world he was certain of being with her again." After a short interview with the Chaplain he turned to his secretary, Judge Hoffman, and told him to fill up a check for one hun- dred dollars, which he handed to the Chaplain as a slight me- morial to his mother. He and his family entertained royally at their home in Co- lumbus, living at the time on Town street in the house now owned and occupied by Mr. D. S. Gray. The Governor was a delightful and welcome guest at all social gatherings. He was quick and responsive in conversation and attracted every one to him. I spent a delightful afternoon with him on New Year's Day of 1863, calling on friends and neighbors, for it was then the custom to make New Year's calls. As an instance of his quick and ready wit, I recall a din- ner party given by Mr. and Mrs. William Deshler in honor of Salmon P. Chase, then Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, who was making a short visit to Columbus. Among the twenty or thirty guests present was the Rev. Granville Moody, the "fighting parson," as he was called. He was Colonel of the Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at that time was in command at Camp Chase. As the guests were assem- bled around the table, the Rector of the church, where the family attended, was about to invoke a blessing, when Colonel Moody, without invitation, arose and commenced praying for the host, hostees, and family, for the honored g:iests, for the President of the United States and members of his Cabinet, Ho7i. David Tod. 119 for the Judges of the United States Supreme Court, for the Generals of the Union Army, for the Governor of the State, and so on, until the soup was getting cold and the guests im- patient, when he finally pronounced "Amen." Immediately the Governor at the other end of the table called out, 'Why Colonel, you forgot the 74th Regiment." This convulsed those present with laughter, embarrassment was removed, all were in good humor, and the dinner proved a great success. The following anecdote is told of Mr. Lincoln and Gov- ernor Tod : One evening while visiting the White House Mr. Lin- coln said, "Look here, Tod, how is it that you spell your name with only one d. I married a Todd, but she spelled her name with two d's. All of her relations do the same. You are the first Tod I ever knew who spelled his name with so few let- ters." Mr. Tod, smiling, replied, "Mr. President, God spells His name with only one d, and what is good enough for God, is good enough for me." President Lincoln used to repeat this story to some of his intimate friends with great hilarity. I called on Mr. Lincoln with Governor Tod in the fall of 1863. We found Mr. Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward alone together. After our reception and a short interview on general matters. Governor Tod asked the following question : "Mr. President, how many candidates are there in your cabi- net for President?" There had been much discussion among Republicans as to the propriety of renominating Mr. Lincoln for a second term. It was known that Mr. Chase and his friends were actively engaged in promoting his nomination over Mr. Lincoln. The friends of Mr. Seward were also hoping that he might be nominated in case of a contest. In reply to Gov- ernor Tod's question the President said: "Governor, your ques- tion reminds me of an experience I once had when practicing law in Illinois. One day a rather seedy looking man called at my office with a bundle under his arm, and requested to see me privately. I took him into my back room, when he told me he had invented a new augur to turn with a crank instead of the old-fashioned way, and if I approved of it he desired me to procure a patent for him. He unfolded his bun- 120 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. ble and exhibited his model. I procured a plank and told him to bore a hole in it. He set the augur and began to turn the crank. But we discovered that he had set the screw the wrong way, and instead of boring itself in, it bored itself oj^f." It proved a very apt illustration in the following almost imani- mous nomination and election of Mr. Lincoln. After this Mr. Seward and Governor Tod each told an anecdote, and the in- terview ended. In visiting the Capitol the next day, while in the hall of the Senate Chamber, I asked the Governor if he was not go- ing to enter the Senate. He replied, '*No, not until the people of Ohio send me there." He then had an idea, I think, that he might be elected to the Senate after the close of his term as Governor. While on this visit to Washington an evening reception was given to the President and his Cabinet, and a few dis- tinguished guests. In the course of the evening the President was talking to a circle of friends around him, among whom was his Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Wells. The President re- marked that he had made a very interesting visit to the hos- pital that day. That he found one poor fellow approaching near his end, and he asked him if he could do anything for him. The soldier replied, "Mr. President, if you could only send for my grandmother, I think I could die happy after see- ing her. She raised me, and I am very fond of her." I asked him where she lived, and he said in Iowa. I told him it would be impossible to get his grandmother there. "Oh, well," he said, "Mr. IJncoln, if you could send Secretary Wells to see me it would be a great comfort. He looks exactly like my grandmother." Governor Tod and I were at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, together on the loth of November, 1863, at the dedication of the National Cemetery, and sat near Mr. Lincoln when he de- livered that memorable address of less than two hundred and fifty words, and occupied less than ten minutes, while the ad- dress of Mr. Everett, the orator of the day, was nearly an hoi«r in delivery. Whenever reference is made to that memorable occasion, we recall his words: "We are met on a great battle- Hon. David Tod. 121 field of the war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that this Nation might live. * * * B^t in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot commemorate, we cannot hallow this ground. * * * Jt is rather for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased dovtion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion ; that we here highly re- solve that these dead shall not have died in vain ; that this Nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that gov- ernment of the people, by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth." Mr. Lincoln congratulated Mr. Everett on his able ora- tion. In reply Mr. Everett said, "Mr. President, your short address will be remembered and cjuoted when I am gone and my oration long forgotten." The years of 1862 and '63 were probably the most anxious period of the war to the loyal people of the North. Our Union army had met with severe repulse at Arkansas Post and at Stone River. A large element of the population of the State was hostile to the policy of the administration, and did not hesitate to criticise and find fault. It was reported that let- ters were written to soldiers in the field advising them to de- sert and come home and they would be protected from ar- rest. A powerful, secret, disloyal organization existed in this and other states, whose object was to cripple the administra- tion and put a stop to the war. Demands were made upon Mr. Lincoln to withdraw the army from the field and treat for peace. The Democratic party in its National Convention solemnly pronounced the war a failure. Clement L. Vallan- digham had returned to the state and was the favorite of his party for Governor ; he was stumping the state and his meet- ings were largely attended, much enthusiasm being manifested. Great fear was felt by many that the next state election might result unfavorably to the Union cause. It was not until the surrender of A^icksburg on the 4th of July, and the terrible battle of Gettysburg was fought, followed by the battles of Look- out Mountain, Mission Ridge and Chattanooga, that the tide be- 122 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. gan to turn in favor of the Union cause and patriotic Union men began to take heart. These victories inspired the hopes of many, but it did not lessen the zeal and bitterness of the opponents of the Government. Some of the men not friendly to Governor Tod began to discuss the question of his re-nomination for Governor, as had been done in the case of his predecessor, Governor Dennison. Governor Tod had, of course, made some enemies, but a large majority of the Union men in Ohio, and of the Ohio soldiers in the field, were believed to be friendly to him and desired his re-nomination. A few disappointed place-seekers opposed this and began to cast about for a man to succeed him. John Brough had been a popular and successful Democratic candidate for Au- ditor of State in 1839. One member of the Legislature from Washington county, together with a gentleman of this city, who was a politician and had favored the nomination and election of Mr. Tod and labored in the campaign, had become ofifended at the Government failing to appoint a friend of his to some position. These two gentlemen conceived the idea of writing to Mr. Brough, then General Manager of the Bellefontaine Railway, with headquarters at Indianapolis, but having a resi- dence in Cleveland. They accordingly united in a letter to Mr. Brough, asking if he would allow his name to be used as a nominee for Governor on the Republican ticket. Mr. Brough replied, modestly, that Tod was a good Governor, but that in such times as these, every man should be willing to accept any call to duty for his country, etc. This was sufificient encouragement and these gentlemen went to Cincinnati, enlisted William Henry Smith, then Man- ager of the Cincinnati Gazette, in favor of Brough's nomina- tion, and from that time became the manager of the Brough cam- paign. A meeting was arranged for Mr. Brough at Marietta ; it was largely attended and Mr. Brough made a long and pa- triotic speech in favor of the Union cause, giving the key-note for the next Republican campaign. This speech was published in the Commcreial Gazette and other papers, and liberally dis- tributed. Through Mr. Smith's influence the whole Republi- can press of the southern part of the state joined in the sup- Hon. David Tod. 123 port of Mr. Brough, while the press of the northern part of the state adhered to Governor Tod for renomination. The Gazette and other southern papers harped upon the unpopular- ity of Governor Tod with the soldiers (which was not true). Mis action in securing the summary dismissal of Colonel Ma- son, of the 71st O. V. Infantry, charged with cowardice, was commented on unfavorably. When the delegates met for the nomination of a candi- date, the friends of Brough were very active and zealous. At the nominating convention only one division of the army in the field was represented, and the soldier vote at the election of Brough was only 41,467, when at the same time we had over 160,000 soldiers in the field entitled to vote. Who was to blame for the failure of representation of the large num- ber of soldiers, I have never learned. At the nominating con- vention Brough received 216 votes and Tod 193, giving Brough the nomination by twenty-three majority. As soon as the vote was announced. Governor Tod rose on the platform and heartily endorsed the nomination, pledging his earnest sup- port of the ticket, which was given, up to the day of the elec- tion. This was regarded as a wonderful exhibition of mag- nanimity by a candidate who, only a few hours before, felt con- fident of his nomination, as did many others. His speech was warmly applauded, and many who were present were moved to tears by Governor Tod's patriotic and earnest appeal for unity and harmony, and their disappointment at his defeat. And several who had voted for Brough said publicly, "We have made a mistake, we ought to have voted for Tod." The general feel- ing was then, and has been ever since, that a great injustice had been done to a most worthy citizen in not re-nominating him for a second term. But this was not a time of second term governors ; Dennison was only given one term ; Brough failed for a second term for precisely the same alleged reasons that had been urged against Governor Tod's re-nomination ; and the next Governor, General J. D. Cox, was only given one term ; thus, in eight years the state had four governors. Brough was not even named for re-nomination at the Re- publican State Convention in June, 1865, but General J. D. Cox 124 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. was nominated by acclamation. Brongh died on August 28th, 1865, and Lieutenant-Governor Charles Anderson filled the of- fice until January, 1866, when General Cox was inaugurated. After the election and Mr. Brough's inauguration, Gov- eiMior Tod retired to his Brier Hill home, where he was happy and contented, looking after his large and prosperous business. I saw him frequently after his executive term closed, and once enjoyed a delightful visit with him and his family at Brier Hill. He always bore the same cheerful, buoyant spirit, and gloried in the preservation of the Union, to which he was so devoted, notwithstanding the enormous sacrifices involved. On Mr. Chase's resignation of the office of Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Lincoln telegraphed to Mr. Tod tendering him the place, which he immediately declined, fearing his health would not enable him to assume the important duties. He had more than once been threatened with the malady that finally ended his life. After the defeat of Mr. Tod for re-nomination for Gover- nor in 1863, and the election of John Brough, the many friends of Mr. Tod, anxious to show their appreciation of his ser- vices as Governor, advocated his election as United States Sen- ator at the end of Mr. Chase's term, who had resigned in 1861 to become Secretary of the Treasury, and John Sherman had been elected to fill the vacancy. I know, personally, that Mr. Tod desired to be a Senator, but he would make no active can- vass for the position. He said every office he had ever held came to him unsolicited, and any other must come in the same way. Besides, the many friends of John Sherman felt that he would be entitled to re-election after serving out the unexpired term of Mr. Chase. Mr. Sherman's following was large in the state, and the Republicans of the Legislature were nearly unani- mous for him ; he wa-s elected Senator and Mr. Tod's name was not presented. Soon after his defeat for renomination as fiovernor, his friends spoke of him as a worthy candidate for delegate at large for the Electoral College of Ohio, and in Feb- ruary, 1864, I wrote to Mr. Tod informing him of this. On February 24, 1864, he replied as follows : BRIER HILL FURNACR. Hon. David Tod. 125 Brier Hill, Oh40, February 24, 1864. General Geo. B. Wright, Columbus, Ohio. My Dear General : — Your favor of the 18th is at hand. I am proud to know that I have the confidence of so many good men as you name. It will be inconvenient for me to attend the Convention. Indeed, I would feel awkward in personally soliciting the position I desire. If the dele- gates in attendance do not think it for the interest of the cause we have at heart to place my name upon the ticket, I do not desire to have it placed there, and in writing you on the subject, I only desired to have it known that I would feel honored by the position. Very truly yours, David Tod. This letter is characteristic of him ; he was not an office seeker, but was always ready to respond to the call of duty to his country, of which he was an ardent lover. At the follow- ing election in November he was elected a presidential elector at large. But his death occurring on the 13th of November. 1868, he was not privileged to cast his vote for General Grant, as he would have done had his life been spared. The action of the Electoral College on the death of Governor Tod is given in the foregoing biography. I attended Mr. Tod's funeral at Brier Hill, which was the largest assembly of the kind, except that of President Lincoln, that I have ever witnessed. The number present was estimated to be over twenty thousand. Governor Hayes, who was present, made some appropriate remarks as to the life and character of the deceased. \ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 704 268 n ^ ^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 704 268 A 4^