Ohio Indian Trails, The Ohio Canals and Weather Wisdom
The Standing Stone Trail c. 1933. As reproduced in Frank N. Wilcox and William A. McGill, Ohio Indian Trails (Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2015), color section following page 106.
“The experiences which led up to my writing ‘Ohio Indian Trails,’ began with various trips around the State with Alfred Mewett...On one occasion, we traveled west and down the old Miami and Erie Canal to Cincinnati, and reached Marietta part of the way by picturesque river packet. Another trip took in all the Muskingum and Mahoning valleys. I found my interest in Ohio history growing, especially that part dealing with the old Indian paths... At this time, I was quite disgusted with creative art, but these experiences actually provided an ultimate stimulus to return to it.”
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Starting in 1930, Wilcox began focusing on research for his first book Ohio Indian Trails, a New York Times bestseller, which led him towards a more historical, archaeological, and topographical mindset. He was racing time trying to document, in writing and in drawing, the historic Native Americans in Ohio before urbanization completely took over. Wilcox was also attempting to unveil what was positive about the American frontier, explaining the diplomacy and commerce of the trails, as well as document historic events and notable figures.
