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Othello W. Hale (b. July 5, 1841, d. Nov. 13, 1906) was a son of William Hale and Harriet Carlton. He was a younger nephew to Sophronia Hale Hammond, and settled in Akron, Ohio. His first wife was Elizabeth Hanson (b. 1839 in England, d. 1876). In his later years he became the acknowledged historian of the Hale family and visited Hanover, Galesburg, Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Jackson, Tenn., gathering news about the family and recording it. Much of his correspondence is still available at the Western Reserve Historical Society, in Cleveland, Ohio.
The following letter from Othello W. was directed to Charles N. Hammond family in Jackson, Tennessee, and found in the possession of his heirs in 1974.
If you will excuse pencil and pencil pad3.12, I will talk a little with you. Wish you could see us just as we are now, and enjoy the beautiful scenery that is before us. It is true that I have neglected my correspondence-but the truth is, having resumed my office work on my return from the South and not being very strong, and then having had the difficulty with my kidneys and heart, it necessitated my dropping out almost everything that was not a dire necessity under this rule. I have improved gradually until I am almost myself again. But my office hours are full with business and as we retire about with the chickens (sometimes a little ahead of them) I have no time to write.
Sister Harriet of St. Paul has been with us for two or three weeks, and this last week we are camping in a tent on top of our recently acquired little mountain (It seems so for Ohio.) which the Dr.3.13has named ``Portage Knob''. It overlooks the Cuyahoga river to the Tuscaruwas river, about eight miles distant. The Indians used to paddle up from Lake Erie on the Cuyahoga and then carrying their canoe on this path would reach the Tuscaruwas river, and could then go down it to the Ohio River. This path was so well defined and noted that it was at one time the boundary of the U.S. and French Possessions west. Great interest is being taken in it just now and at a point on West Market St. in the western part of Akron, almost directly in front of Sophronia J. Richie's3.14 palatial residence that cost $100,000 and which they have named ``The Frontier'', has just been placed a monument representing an Indian with his bow and arrow and on the pedestal an inscription telling that at that point the Portage Path crossed the street, (or rather the Street crossed the Portage Path).
From the point I write we can see four miles North down the valley, and to a high hill which is part of the Old Sugar Camp on the old homestead, where we hope to celebrate the Hale centennial four years from July just passed. We can also see just below us the camping ground where in 1812 our grandfather Jonathan Hale and his brother Jason Hammond3.15 were called into the army, and a time when the Indians were hostile. And as their families were so isolated, grandfather's family packed what few valuables they had in a brass kettle and buried them in the chip yard, and went up to their Aunt Hammonds to stay, as although Jason, the father, was gone to the army with Johnathan Hale, yet there were some young men there to help protect them, and Uncle Elijah Hale's family were also there.
These are historic grounds and both Emma and I are very much interested in them. As by an old letter found among her grandmother Hines things, was one written from this same Camp Portage, Sept 9th, 1812 by her grandfather, Capt. David Hines, to his family at Canfield, Ohio, where Emma's brother and other relatives now live.
We have in plain view, the shop where three vessels which were used and sunk in Lake Erie at the battle of Perry's Victory, Sept. 10th, 1813, were built. These same boats are to be raised by the government soon as souvenirs of the War of 1812. So you see we have been resting in, to us, a delightful spot.
We have a family living on the place that are real nice -- and we take our meals with them, giving us just enough exercise going up and down the hill three times a day -- I mean Harriet and Emma -- for I drive to the office each morning and return at night, except for the last two days have been here all day myself, planning some improvements. We hope next season to build a cottage on the top, where we can each summer live several months. Am myself exceedingly happy out here and Emma is improving. Sister Harriet will be with us about three weeks longer, and we are looking for Bro. Will and Kate his wife3.16 every day to stay a week or so. Their headquarters are in Philadelphia.
This is the first time I have camped out since I enlisted in the army in 1861. Never took to it very well and would not now only for this place. But although it has rained very hard much of the time, especially nights, yet we have enjoyed it much, kept dry, cool, and Oh! so restful. The Ohio cousins are all quite well.
Last Sunday, Harriet, Emma and I drove to the old valley where our loved ones are laid to rest. A beautiful spot, with an evergreen hedge around it and a fine Maple tree overshadowing it, which I planted before I left the farm in 1866. We called on Cousin C. O. and Pauline3.17, and Aunt Jane and then drove to Richfield visiting cousin Alida Humphrey and family. You know it was one of her daughters that our boy, Dr. Irving Cozad married. He has a fine farm on high lands, and has a fine home like house. But just a few weeks ago the lightening struck his fine $4,000 barn and it was burned to the ground, machinery, grain and all. It was insured for about $2,000 which promptly paid, but he can't begin to replace it for the money. They are in some doubts about rebuilding, as all their children have left home, or soon will. But as he was raised there he can think of no other place as home.
We have to break camp tomorrow for two weeks and go in to keep Blanche's house, and baby Dorothy, while she and Don take their vacation. Expect to have a very nice time with Dorothy. Blanche leaves her girl who is very efficient, and as everything is very convenient we do not expect a hard time. But we do dislike to leave here.
Cousin C. O., at the old homestead, has a full house of Summer boarders. Decoration Day3.18 we took dinner with them and they fed thirty-nine. Our son Herbert drops in on us quite often and his wife and children were with us for two weeks. They are all well.
The Dr's Sanitarium is almost full to the brim, and he is very busy. We hope they can come out to eat dinner with us today, but it is uncertain. Cousin Millie Oviatt3.19 and Clara Ashman with the latter's daughter (who is the liveliest music teacher you ever saw) are all O.K. Cousin J. P. Hale and his good wife Zedalia3.20, with their 12 yr. old boy Andrew, are thinking of going to Cal. next week on his vacation. My niece Lillie Alexander Coats and husband, who live near us, and who left for Cal. the day we returned from the South, and who were gone two months, being at Los Angeles when the Earthquake quaked, returned so much elated with the country that should not be surprised if they moved there in a year or so. They visited our cousins (this some of them) and enjoyed it hugely. But they missed some of the cousins. When we go we shall miss none. That is, if our money holds out.
Well now, if this does not bore you enough, I don't know what would. And say, as I am so lazy, won't you please mail this to Cousin Una and Rollie, as I owe them a letter3.21, and this will perhaps interest them as well as to write another. And will they please to mail to our oldest living cousin, Judge Augustus Hammond who lives at Hot Springs, Arkansas. You don't know him, do you? Well he is the son of Rachel Hale Hammond (wife of Jason Hammond, brother of Calvin Hammond), grandfather Hale's sister, and is 85 years old. He was born at Hammond's Corners, just opposite or nearly so, where your grandmother and grandfather, Sophronia Hale and Ward Hammond lived, and if each of you will write him, he will enjoy it very much. And you will hear from him.
He may mail it to Mrs. Carrie Hammond3.22, Willowbrook, Cal., Compton, RFD #2, and they may send it to Mrs. Julia Edgerton, Hanover, Ill.
