Maj. Gen Ambrose E. Burnside VS Clement L. Vallandigham

Click to enlarge.. After Burnside's troops arrested Vallandighham and roughly hauled him to Cincinnati to stand trial in a military court he was asked to enter a plea for the charges against him. Vallandigham said: 'This is a military tribunal. I do not recognize this court's authority to try me!"

Another interesting aspect of this story is Clement Vallandigham's accidental death at the Golden Lamb in Lebanon, Ohio.
  John Zimkus historian at the Warren County Historical Society and author of Historical Footnotes of Lebanon, Ohio wrote a colorful account how Vallandigham died. While representing a defendant in a murder case, Vallandigham enacted his view of what occured at the crime scene. He attempted to prove the murdered man actually shot himself while pulling a pistol out of his pants pocket. Thinking that a pistol he was using as a prop was unloaded, Vallandigham pointed it at himself and pulled the trigger. The gun went off, and Vallandigham was mortally wounded.
Clement Laird Vallandigham was buried at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

Paul Lawrence Dunbar

                                                                     Click to enlarge...

  Paul Laurence Dunbar was an American poet, novelist, and playwright born in Dayton, Ohio in 1872. Dunbar began to write stories and verse when still a child. He was the only African-American student at Dayton’s Central High School and became president the literary society, edited the school newspaper, and member of the debate club. Dunbar was also a classmate and lifelong friend of Orville Wright. Dunbar often helped Orville with literature assignments, while Orville helped Dunbar through math classes.

  During the years the Wrights were involved in the publishing business, Dunbar edited the Wright’s newspapers, and with their help, went on to publish a book of poetry called Oak and Ivy that received national attention.

  In later years, Dunbar went on to write novels and lyrics for In Dahomey the first musical comedy written and performed entirely by African Americans. It was produced on Broadway and successfully toured England and the United States for four years.

  Tragically, in 1900 he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, then often fatal, and was advised by his doctors to drink whisky to alleviate his symptoms. Depression and declining health drove him to dependence on alcohol, and further damaged his health. He died alone and penniless in Dayton on February 6^th, 1906.

  Upon hearing the sad news, the Wrights stepped in to pay for the funeral and make the arrangements for his final resting place. Orville and Wilbur wanted Dunbar to be buried in the same section as Wright family plot but was politely told that Woodlawn Cemetery didn’t allow ‘the colored’ to be buried next to white folks.

  At the time, congress and the ‘monument builders’ of Washington had appropriated funds and had grand plans to build a great monument and tomb for the Wright family, a place of honor befitting the founders of modern aviation.  

  Orville and Wilbur told Woodlawn officials that if that if Dunbar couldn’t be interred in their section, they would move the family plot to Washington, DC. Woodlawn quickly relented when faced with the prospect of losing their celebrities.

   Today, there is no grand mausoleum and monument to the Wrights at Woodlawn. The Wrights’ family plot is hard to find because it is marked only with a modest headstone flanked with short flag poles and small markers on the ground for each member of the Wright family, and nearby; the final resting place of Paul Lawrence Dunbar.

Charles F. Kettering and Grand Theft Auto...

 Kettering was born in Loudenville, Ohio in 1876. He started life as a teacher, even though he had to quit school twice because of poor eyesight. He finally finished his degree in electrical engineering when he was 28.

 In 1909, while working for N.C.R, Charles F. Kettering partnered with electrical engineer Edward Andrew Deeds in his families barn, and invented the world’s first self-starting system for cars. Deeds in turn, showed the self-starting system to Henry Leland, the president of Cadillac Motors who immediately ordered 8,000 starting systems to be installed on his Cadillacs.

  It didn’t seem to matter much to Kettering that  he didn’t actually have the machinery, people, or facilities to complete the order. Kettering and Deeds hadn’t even named the company at that time. This is how Dayton Engineering Laboratories (DELCO) was born. DELCO boomed with the demand for starters, and within two years employed 1,500 people.

     Back in those days General Motors manufactured their cars with slow drying oil based paint that took six to eight hours to dry to the touch. The paint was hand brushed over a primer, and then the cars were left outside for thirty days to allow the paint to cure and harden to a tough, durable finish. Then the cars were brought back in to be buffed for a deep, lustrous shine. This process caused many delays in production, sometimes stopping the assembly line altogether because there simply was not enough room on the premises to park the cars to allow the paint to cure outside.

   Kettering saw this as an opportunity, and began to work with DuPont Paint Company to develop a new automotive finish that he offered to General Motors. He announced his paint would dry to touch in twenty minutes, and didn’t need to be buffed to produce a glossy new car finish.

  DuPont’s leading chemist was unconvinced and said:

  “Not possible Kettering, our people have tried it already. Just can’t be done!” he stated emphatically.

   Undaunted, Kettering asked him to have lunch at his expense; so he could explain the chemical properties of his new product. The executive quickly accepted the offer, knowing Kettering was a legendary cheapskate.

   Over lunch Kettering patiently explained his revolutionary automotive paint theory; and massive production cost benefits to GM's production, but the man was unconvinced and told him so. He tersely thanked Kettering for the meal and left.

   Kettering loitered for a while in the restaurant, and unhurriedly paid the bill as the G.M. executive returned in a panic. He shouted “call the Police my car has been stolen!”

  Kettering followed him back out to the restaurant parking lot and pointed to a car parked in his original spot.

   “Why, there it is!”

   “No” the manager said, “It looks like mine, but my car isn’t that color.”

  “It is now.” Kettering said slowly.

  In truth, Kettering’s staff had stolen the chemists’ car, and then completely repainted it and returned it to its original spot. Bone dry and gleaming in the afternoon sun. A deal with Kettering’s fast dry lacquer paint, for all of G.M’s Automotive Division, was soon signed.

Ohio Legends presentation at the Warren County History Center in Lebbanon, Ohio

  Howdy!

  Here is the link to the video of my talk at the Warren County History Center and Harmon Museum in Lebanon, Ohio. I'm still not much of a public speaker, but the audience was kind and didn't toss me out. You will notice a glitch at the beginning of the "Terror in Delaware" story, because my laptop battery died unexpectedly!
  Luckily for me, Education Director and Historian  John Zimkus came to the rescue.and fixed the technical problems. I'd like to thank John Zimkus and the Warren County History Center for giving me the opportunity to share my books, and my friends and family for their generous support. Special thanks to my wife Patti for her terrific coaching!

  Jeff



https://thelebanonchannel.viebit.com/player.php?hash=u4alEMM6D5KK

Ohio Legends 1 & 2 are now available in E-Book at Amazon.com

James Ditty (the lost brother) Click images to enlarge!

  How can I tell this story? I do not believe it, but I know it is true. I have learned over the years that many times when people relate important stories of their family’s history and origins, important details get lost and there is no corroborating evidence to back up their claims. Over the years memories fade, and details are lost from generation to generation. But in this case, we can rely on the DNA evidence, and you can’t argue with the science involved.

  Last Christmas my daughter Tina suggested we share the cost of one of those DNA kits, as a Christmas gift to my wife Patti.   

  Patti has a deep interest in her genealogy, and has spent a good deal of time researching her family. The DNA testing works like this:  you provide a sample of your DNA, then you send it off to a lab, and they are able to discern your ethnic origins, and break it down to percentages of race and geographic locations.

  It is a straightforward proposition, and then in a few weeks you receive a pretty generic breakdown of your ethnicity. There is also a little checkbox on the form that instructs them to report any DNA matches that were revealed. Patti checked the box in passing, mostly just to complete the form.

  Within a few days, Patti received a bombshell in her e-mail. A man named Dennis Ditty in Minnesota claimed to be a direct blood relative of Patti, and asked for any details about his father James Ditty who died in 1960.

  Patti was suspicious and didn’t answer the e-mail immediately, wary of some new internet scam. Instead, she asked her father if he knew of a James Ditty who like her father, was born in Tennessee but moved to Michigan early on, and was now living in Minnesota, and was about 70 years old.

  Patti’s Dad immediately said: “No”;-but then stopped mid-sentence, remembering something from his past. He recalled that more than 60 years ago after his mother died he and his brothers were placed in the county orphanage. The youngest son James was adopted by foster parents, who he learned later moved to Michigan.

  In time, the family took the rest of the children in, but by then his brother James had been adopted and moved out of state.     

  Patti’s Dad was unable to obtain any more information on James, as all the documents were sealed by the court, and later destroyed. He spent the rest of his life wondering what kind of man his little brother became.

  Patti went back to her extensive notes on her family’s genealogy, and constructed a time line of events that matched perfectly. After 60 years they had discovered the lost brother!

  The joy of discovery was tempered with the realization that James had passed so many years ago and never knew his roots.

  By all accounts James was good man, honest and hardworking who loved his kids, could draw and paint well, and had a gift for music, just like the rest of his family.

  James son Dennis, his wife Debby and family were reunited with a host of relatives they never knew they had yesterday in Vandalia, Ohio, and discovered they all had much in common.

  You can see in their faces that time and troubles had not wiped away the unmistakable family resemblances.

  I am beginning to understand now that whether we like it or not, we all need a sense of belonging, of roots, and in a word; family.

Jeff Wilson

Patti's Dad Leon (L)---Dennis Ditty (M)---------Patti's Uncle Kenny (R)

A whole lot of Family!!

    

Ohio Legends Books-- Hits the Road!

                                Warren County History Center ‘Lunch and Learn Series:

  When: One Wednesday each month (except in July) 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Doors open at 10:00 a.m., lunch served promptly at 11:30 a.m., program ends at 1:00 p.m., museum closes 4:00 p.m.
The City of Lebanon began taping the Lunch & Learn programs beginning in September of 2015. 
  Where: Warren County History Center, 105 S. Broadway, Lebanon, OH 45036
  Details: Enjoy a gourmet catered served lunch, the company of new and long-time friends, and a special lesson in history.
Cost: 2017 Lunch & Learn Price $25 non-members, $20 members.**JUNE ONLY: Special Price of $25/Members, $30 Non-Members***
Please note the member price applies to members only. Single members may purchase one ticket per event at member price, Family members may purchase two tickets per event at member price. All others, please select the non-member price.
Paid registration is required in advance--by the Saturday prior to the event. Reserve online, by phone at 513-932-1817, or by mailing a check to the above address.

  August 16, 2017

Topic: Ohio Legends PART II - Another Look at Ohio's Diverse, Unique History and its Remarkable People

Details: Jeff Wilson author and illustrator of Ohio Legends, Ohio Legends Volume 2 and the soon to be released Ohio Legends Volume 3, was so well received at the April 2016 Lunch & Learn that we have invited him to come back. Every page in his books has a short story with an original, expressive illustration that brings to life a bit of Buckeye trivia or an oddity about an Ohio inventor, ghost, visionary, hero, crackpot or criminal. Wilson will tell new stories and share some more of his drawings of that fascinating place called Ohio.

Speaker: Jeff Wilson is a free-lance cartoonist, writer and illustrator. A life-long resident of the Buckeye state, he lives in Vandalia, Ohio with his wife Patti and enjoys any good, goofy story about Ohio.