A Horse Named Black Hawk.
Today I am reading through the July-August 1968 issue of the Tallow Light. It is a good issue with an article of the German immigrant Sophia Gerhardt, A history of the Newport Township postal service, a family history by Lillian Sara Michaelis, among others. One in particular jumped out an me and I would like to share it with you.
The story is from the 23 July 1868 issue of the Marietta Register:
E.W.T. Clark, of this city, has a horse named “Black Hawk”, which he has owned from he day foaled, 1 April 1834; consequently Black Hawk is in his 35th year. We saw him the other day, in the pasture. He was in good condition, and yet bids fair for several years of usefulness. His “whiskers” are slightly gray. In telling his history, Black Hawk says that his mother was a stray taken up by Joshua Shipman, deceased, and sold for $15; that his father’s name was “Poca”, owned by the late Deacon William R. Putnam; that he himself has always been a “quiet and unobtrusive citizen,” in politics a Whig, then a Republican; and that he remembers with particular pride his active participation in the campaign for Gen. Harrison, in 1840, on one occasion in which year he went from Marietta to Columbus, under the saddle of W.F. Curtis, to attend,, as Black Hawk veritably says, “the whalingest convention I ever saw.” He will not take an active part in politics this year, living as he does in retirement — but his influence is very decided, so far as it goes, for Grant and Colfax.
Now that is a horse with a story to tell. Did anyone else find the fact that this story was only three sentences kind of hard to keep up with?
It appears though, that not everyone in town agreed with the political beliefs of Black Hawk. In the same paper that day was the following statement:
“Praying For Grant: - A meeting was being held at a little village in the State of Monroe County, and while the minister was leading in prayer, a good old brother would give his assent by ejaculating , “God Grant! God Grant!” One of the congregation who rejoiced in being called a Copperhead, arose and left the church, declaring that he would attend no church where they prayed for Grant!”
The Archives and collections of the Washington County Historical Society is stuffed full of great stories such as these.
Is there some part of our county history that you would like to study? Maybe for a school project or to satisfy a personal curiosity? We are always looking to people to write articles for the new issues of the Tallow Light. The Archives are open to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm at this time. Our phone number is 740-373-1788, and the email is wchs.ohio@gmail.com.