SANDSTONE AND CHISEL: THREE HISTORIC OHlO "INDIAN" ROCK CARVINGS by James L. Murphy Professor Emeritus State University Libraries Columbus, OH 4321 0

INTRODUCTION According to Lee Jobes, his father had diers - besides Washington and Grant, considerable spare time while monitoring Theodore Roosevelt, General William T. Historic rock carvings often have in- the oil wells and began rock carving to pass Sherman, and General James B. McPher- trinsic interest as folk art, not to mention the time. Besides the lndian head near Bar- son are represented. Scattered throughout their historic significance, and are worth tlett, he also made a number of carvings the wooded park are additional smaller documenting for that reason alone. Also, in sandstone outcrops along Muskingum bas-relief carvings along the sandstone in today's politically charged climate, ar- River tributaries near Stockport. Most of ledges. These include an lndian head and chaeologists and historians are often re- these, however, were subsequently van- torso, replete with feather headdress and quired to assess the validity of "lndian dalized. For this reason, a more specific rock carvings," as it is sometimes difficult raised tomahawk, on a ledge next to an- location for the Jobes lndian Head Petro- other carving that resembles President Ru- to distinguish Historic rock carvings from glyph is not provided here. (Many years therford B. Hayes, during whose term ma- prehistoric carvings. Unfortunately, po- liticizing rock art has become a common ago there was a somewhat similar, elabo- jor reforms in United States lndian policy tactic with some Native Americans, so that rately lndian head carved by an unknown were initiated (Figure 3). it is important to document the specific na- sculptor in Silver Switch Hollow, a tributary As with the Jobes lndian Head carving, ture and history of any and all "Indian rock of the between East Liverpool the feathered headdress alone is sufficient carvings" before they can be co-opted by and Wellsville, Columbiana Co., Ohio, but to identify the Baughman lndian as a mod- any particular group. Three such Historic it, too, was destroyed by vandals.) ern work; its location adjacent to a putative carvings are documented in this article. No one is likely to mistake the Jobes sculpture of President Hayes only under- lndian Head for prehistoric art, especially scores the point. Tool marks are not con- since it is three-dimensional, clearly signed spicuous on these carvings, although chisel THE JOBES INDIAN HEAD ROCK, and dated, and includes an lndian head- marks are plainly discernible on many of the WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHlO dress more typical of Plains lndians than other Baughman sculptures. Nearby is a par- In September, 2007, while trying to lo- those who inhabited Ohio, Its location tial sculpture of what may be intended as the cate a purported lndian rock carving in the along an abandoned road cut into the head of a bison (Fig. 4) but clear traces of village of Bartlett, Washington Co., Ohio, I small cliff is further evidence, although the metal tool-making are present on it. Again, learned from local historian Myrtie McVicar strongest evidence is the information pro- context and documented history leave no of nearby Vincent, of an Historic petroglyph vided by Lee Jobes. question about the origin of these carvings. in the form of an lndian head. She put me in contact with Lee Jobes, the son of the THE BAUGHMAN PARK THE PORTSMOUTH man who made this and other carvings, as INDIAN HEAD ROCK INDIAN HEAD ROCK well as Dana McAtee, who kindly took me to the location of the Jobes petroglyph. Baughman Park has been much in the Unquestionably the oldest of these three The carving is located on a small sand- news recently due to the auctioning of the "Indian" carvings, the Portsmouth lndian stone cliff adjacent to an abandoned road in more prominent, free-standing rock art. Head rock is also the most controversial. It Fairfield Township, Washington Co., about The story of this remarkable sculpture park is an eight ton sandstone boulder that until a mile south of Union Cemetery, and cannot has been detailed by Aaron Keims (2001). September 9, 2007, rested in the Ohio River be reached by car. Figure 1 shows the main The park is located along a ridge top opposite Portsmouth, Ohio. The boulder features of the carved head, which is three formed of resistant Massillon sandstone, was a local landmark for much of the lgth dimensional and sports afeather headdress. north of Black Run and about three miles century, and many citizens of Portsmouth The carving is about 12 inches high. The west of Frazeysburg, in Jackson Township carved their names or initials on it. The ear- soft Dunkard sandstone is heavily eroded of Muskingum County. liest published reference to it is Squier and and covered with moss and lichens, and the The statues and other carvings at Baugh- Davis' 1848 brief account, though as Coe carving is only moderately well preserved, man Park were the work of Brice Baughman (2008: 3) notes, those authors probably due largely to its heavy relief. More shallow (1875-1 954), whose father Noah Baughman never actually saw the rock. The earliest ac- carvings would by this time undoubtedly opened a sandstone quarry in 1898. Brice count of any substance occurs in the Ports- have been obliterated by weathering. began carving the larger statues in 1898, be- mouth Inquirer of September 26, 1851: Figure 2, taken at a slightly different ginning with William McKinley and continuing "The river is now within three inches of angle, shows the initials L.J. carved im- until 1972, his last effort being the Harding the lndian Head. This mark is the outline of mediately to the left of the head and well statue. (At the recent auction, the McKinley a human head engraved upon a large rock above it is the year 1928. Proximity of statue brought $8500 while Harding's soared now but a few feet from shore. It is said to names, dates, initials, or other carvings to $35,000 and one of Grant to $36,000.) Af- have been cut by the lndians many years do not prove contemporaneity, but in this ter operating a funeral home along with the ago when the river was some two or three case there is reliable oral tradition. Accord- Baughman farm for many years, the elderly feet lower than at present. We do not know ing to Lee Jobes, his father, "Lon" Jobes Baughman moved from the farm to nearby upon what authority the lndians have this (1889-1968) made this and other carvings Dresden. After his death in 1954, the land credit, but think it more likely that the pio- while monitoring oil well drilling in the area. passed through several hands, eventually neers cut it for a low water mark." The 1920 census lists Alonzo B. Jones as being purchased by the Longaberger Co. in A few years later, the Portsmouth Daily a stationary engineer in Wesley Township, 1997, which sold it in February of this year to Tribune (September 5, 1854) reported that Washington Co., while his brother Frank Kevin and Heather Morehouse. "Old river men say that the river is at a J. Jobes was an oil lease boss in Palmer The most dramatic sculptures are the lower stage at Cincinnati than it has been Township. By 1930 Frank was an oil field dozen or so large free-standing statues since 1831. The brief article continued: foreman but "Lon" had taken up farming. of various 1gth century politicians and sol- "Just opposite Portsmouth there is a water mark called the "lndian Head," from was suggested again in 1914 but nothing on using the term "pecked" to describe the its being supposed to have been cut by was done. The rock remained underwater, method of manufacture used on the Ports- the lndians many years ago. It represents except for a brief exposure in 1920, when mouth head, as it obscures his important the rude outlines of a human face, and is a dam downstream was damaged and the (and I would say, incontrovertible) conclu- cut upon the eastern side of a large rock water level lowered. At this point, with a mo- sion that a half-inch wide metal tool was embedded in the water just above Mr. Col- tor boat and considerable ingenuity, broth- used, such as a narrow chisel or perhaps a lings' Tannery. This mark is now more ex- ers Henry T. and Arthur Bannon managed screwdriver. In this case, while oral and writ- posed than since 1849 [i.e., 18391 as will to take a photograph of the carving. Sub- ten tradition is somewhat ambiguous, physi- be seen from the following which we copy sequently, over the ensuing eighty-some cal examination of the carving is conclusive: from the "log" at the U.S. Hotel." years, even the precise location of the rock none of the marks on the rock are American "1839 Nov. 10 Mouth 10% inches out of was forgotten. Finally, in 2002, historian and Indian. This scientific conclusion could not watec.." preservationist Steve Shaffer, rediscovered have been reached if the Portsmouth lndian Other data is given for 1846, 1848, 1849, the rock after several seasons of leading a Head had not been salvaged through the 1851, and 1854, when "mouth just on the scuba diving team in search of it. effot-Laof Steve Shaffer and his associates water-line - therefore lower than since According to Dr. Robert F. Maslowski, re- - at tha~rown expense - making it all the 1839." This information was included in tired archaeologist with the U.S. Army Corps more regrettable that the issue has become Collins' 1874 History of but he of Engineers, Huntington District, Shaffer a political football in the Commonwealth of referred only to "the log kept in the neigh- had initially approached the Corps which Kentucky, largely through the grandstanding borhood" as the source; he did correct the agreed to help locate the rock and arrange of Kentucky state Rep. Reginald Meeks, D- 1849 typo to 1839. to have it moved to Portsmouth. (Maslowski Louisville, a member of the Native American So, while the earliest reference to the 2007). Initial attempts to locate the rock us- Heritage Commission. At the present time, carving is 1839, the first known reference ing the Corps' side scan radar were unsuc- two members of the team that recovered the calling it the "lndian Head" is 1848. Of cessful but perseverance eventually paid course, as with the Jobes and Baughman off and a group of scuba divers relocated rock are facing felony charges in Greenup "lndians," calling it an "lndian Head" does the rock in 2002. On September 9, 2007, Co. court and the Kentucky attorney-gener- not mean that it was carved by an Ameri- the rock was successfully raised from the al has suggested that civil charges might be can lndian any more than were the prolific river bed and transported to a Portsmouth avoided by returning the rock to Kentucky, cigar store "wooden Indians" dating back municipal building, with plans to display it in building a suitable shelter for its display, and to the 17th century. In fact, there are several a new Portsmouth city welcome center. The paying legal fees he estimates at $90,000! historical traditions indicating that it was discovery and recovery of the Portsmouth (Associated Press 2008) carved by an early 1gth century inhabitant lndian Head Rock is a fine example of vol- Acknowledgements: Considerable thanks of Portsmouth, either as a water mark or unteerism in historic preservation. are due to Myrtie McVicar and Lee Jobes as a Kilroy-type lark. E. T. Book, who was A month after recovery of the rock, the for providing information and particularly killed during the Civil War, is mentioned as carving was examined by Dr. Fred E. Coy, a to Dana McAtee for taking me to the Jobes one likely candidate (Anonymous 2008; Kentucky expert on rock art, who concluded petroglyph site. Bob Maslowski has kept me Portsmouth Daily Times 1908). No such that it was probably made with a half-inch apprised of events surrounding the Ports- historical traditions have been verified. Al- wide metal tool. This feature is well shown mouth lndian Head Rock. though a number of the people who carved in Figure 6, confirming that Lorber was cor- their names on the rock have been identi- rect in describing the face as chiseled. Coe REFERENCES CITED fied, there is no way of identifying any of also felt that the lack of differential weather Anonymous them as the person who carved the stone. indicated the carving could not be much 2008 The Legendary Portsmouth, Ohio Indian's Because the Portsmouth lndian Head earlier than the adjacent dated initials and Head Rock. Portsmouth: Portsmouth Rock was submerged by damming of the names. He also noted that Native American Civic Forum. Ohio River in the early 1900s, it has rarely rock carvings rarely include representation Associated Press been seen since, and we have had only a sin- of ears or noses and cites other archaeolo- 2008 Kentucky Proposes Settlement on Rock gle blurry photograph taken during extreme- gists who agree. Dr. Carol Diaz-Granados, Saga. lronton Trbune, November 7, 2008. ly low water in 1920 (Bannon 1921, 1927). In for example, asserts that "The lndian Head's Bannon, Henry T. a 1979 letter cited by Swauger (1984: 161) 1 Rock head is probably historic, along with 1921 The Indian's Head. Ohio Archaeological rashly "joined other authorities cited in judg- the initials and dates!" Dr. Kenneth Tanker- and Historical Publications 30: 71 -74. ing the petroglyph to be Native American" sley, on the other hand, refers to "a similar 1927 Stories Old and Often Told, Being Chron- rather than accepting the origin suggested individual" at the Leo Petroglyph Site "in icles of Scioto County, Ohio. Baltimore: in the Inquirer. Swauger concurred, though Irontown, Ohio." Leaving aside the fact that Waverly Press. probably less because of my opinion than these carvings are nowhere near Ironton, because of the (then) only known photograph Coe notes that the Leo example does not Collins, Richard H., ed. of the petroglyph (Bannon 1921, 1927: 130), include ears or a nose (Coe 2008). Most 1874 History of Kentucky: By the Late Lewis which he thought indicated the carving was remarkably, the Leo head wears what I in- Collins. Covington, KY: Collins & Co. in form and style "consistent with customary terpret as a bison headdress and also por- Coy, Fred E. round-head Native American treatment of trays eyebrows; it is nothing like the Ports- 2008 An Analysis of the Face on Indian's Head the subject in the region." In any case, study mouth head. Coe also analyzed 71 round Rock. E.S.R.A.R.A. Newsletter 13(1): 2-5. of the actual carving (Coe 2008) refutes any face figures included in Swauger's studies Goldstein, Ezra suggestion that the chiseled head could be of Ohio Valley rock art and found only one 1996 Presidents in the Woods. American Heri- American lndian in origin. example that included eyes, ears, nose and tage Magazine 47(2): 117-1 18, 120,122. Figure 7 Is an old postcard view of the mouth, in a West Virginia rock shelter, but downstream side of the rock ca. 1906, before the presence of paint suggested it was not Keirns, Aaron J. 2001 Statues on the Hill. Howard, Ohio: Keims. it was submerged. In 1908 there was a plan Native American. A more typical example of by Portsmouth historian Henry Lorberg to re- an Ohio Valley American lndian round face Maslowski, Bob move the rock to Portsmouth but the plan fell carving is shown in Figure 8, taken by the 2007 History of the Indian's Head Petroglyphs through, probably due to the townspeoples' author the last time the Smiths Ferry, Penn- Controversy. Unpubl. Memorandum pro- inability to raise and transport the eight-ton sylvania, petroglyphs were exposed, during vided by Maslowski, October 24, 2007. rock. (Lorberg reported that an E.T. Book the winter of 1959. Note that while it has Portsmouth Daily Times had carved the face as a young boy in the spirit lines emanating from the top of the "Would Preserve the Historic lndian 1830s, using a chisel.) The idea of preserv- head, the carving has no nose or mouth. Rock." Portsmouth Daily Times, October ing the rock by removing it to Portsmouth It is unfortunate that Dr. Coe persisted 8, 1908. &UPS. 1 W Jobes IndrSv, Head Rock, near Mp: Wbg@nCo., Ohio

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