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It seems like presidential candidates are starting to campaign earlier and earlier these days. When one election is over, another is just around the corner. For us, that means that we will again be bombarded with signs, commercials, fliers and phone calls in support of one candidate or another. It can get overwhelming sometimes, but it is the beauty of the system we have that the people have the power to effect real change.
In years past, visiting our region was high on the list of presidents and presidential hopefuls, no doubt because of our strong manufacturing history, but even before steel came to our valley, presidents were making stops here, especially in Steubenville.
Several years ago, I did an article explaining some presidents who have visited here, and that list has grown as I have dug into more of our history. It would be difficult to actually create a complete list, but the list is growing.
As I explained in my previous work on this subject, George Washington was in our area in October 1770 and stopped at Mingo Junction. He also wrote about Harmon's Creek in his journal. There is a historical marker on the West Virginia side below Follansbee commemorating that event. Probably other presidents traversed the river after Washington but the most anticipated and impactful was the stop in 1861 of President-elect Abraham Lincoln on his way to his inauguration. Lincoln stopped at the station on Market Street in Steubenville and gave a brief but memorable speech.
In October 1865, Gen. U.S. Grant, although not the president at that time, visited Steubenville amid excitement and fanfare. Grant arrived at the upper train station on Market Street accompanied by his wife, his four children, father-in-law and two members of his staff. Grant traveled to the U.S. Hotel for breakfast. The Rev. Thomas Boyle gave a stirring address to the Grant entourage and his supporters who were congregating to hear the great man speak. Grant declined to make any remarks other than a thank-you. After only a few hours in the city, he departed for Pittsburgh.
Grant returned to Steubenville about a year later, this time with President Andrew Johnson. Johnson was traveling through the city on his way back to Washington from campaigning in the western states. His reception in Steubenville was not warm and his brief time in the city was marked with stress for his party.
When Johnson's train arrived in Steubenville above Market Street, it was reported that between 400 and 500 folks were waiting for him. There were no cheers but general moans and groans. Gen. George McCook, a hero of the Civil War, welcomed the president and his group to the city. The president tried to speak but his words were drowned out by the chanting of the crowd despite McCook's best efforts.
The people wanted to see Grant and Admiral David Farragut, who were traveling with the president. Grant and Farragut, heroes of the Union during the Civil War, were well loved and respected in Steubenville, but Johnson was decidedly not, due to his politics and views of reconstruction of the southern states after the fall of the Confederacy.
George Armstrong Custer, another Civil War veteran who would find fame in the Native American wars of the west, also was on the train and attempted to quell the crowd, but to no avail. Johnson never did get to speak that day.
The Steubenville Weekly Herald reported that when the train moved off, "thus ended the most farcical and disreputable reception -- the most bungling on the part of his friends -- the most cheerless, unsightly -- that we have ever witnessed in this city or any other city. But as much as it may be regretted, it is but a fitting reward to treason and treachery, by a betrayed and outraged people."
Other future presidents visited Steubenville in the ensuing years, in 1870, Rutherford B. Hayes visited Steubenville and had to wander the streets of town in the middle of the night until he could get a room at the U.S. Hotel. In 1879, James Garfield visited during the August Civil War Veteran's reunion. An estimated 40,000 to 50,000 visitors were in the city to hear the orators. Garfield was then a senator.
In 1895, William McKinley came to town to visit his friend, Robert Sherrard, and took a tour of the city. He would pass through town again on his way to his inauguration in March 1897. In 1908, presidential hopeful William Howard Taft visited Steubenville and was treated to a grand reception. Flags, banners and decorations were draped over many of the businesses in town. The grandstand was set up in front of the city building and an estimated 40,000 visitors came to see the presidential hopeful.
Taft visited East Liverpool, Wellsville, Empire, Toronto and Mingo Junction on his tour of the valley that day. It was one that was remembered for a long time in Steubenville. In February 1909, Teddy Roosevelt passed through the city by train, but did not stop.
The city of Steubenville would host other presidents over the years -- Harding came in 1920, FDR in 1932, followed by Nixon in 1952, Carter in 1979 and Ronald Reagan in 1980.
The history of our presidential visits are rich. Who knows what the future will bring?
Perhaps another president, or presidential hopeful, will make their way to Steubenville and join the ranks of these important and historic visitors to our city.