The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 51, July 1947 - April, 1948 Page: 193
406 p. : ill., ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Book Reviews
most important historical figure of Southwestern Pennsylvania,
is of prime importance.
It is through the material on Gist, therefore, that the docu-
ments are most easily examined. There is little information on
Gist published elsewhere; it is interesting to note that the diaries
completely ignore the years from 1754 to 1760, when published
material on Gist and on Southwestern Pennsylvania is most com-
plete. The account of Gist given in the diaries is largely unsub-
stantiated by any other source and is often in complete contra-
diction; his place of residence and occupation before 1750 is
completely different, and the diaries also add ten full years to
his life, in opposition to reliable sources.
The language and the style of the records are unusual; the
diaries give the impression of having been written for future
historians and not for the writer's eyes alone; the court records
show a minuteness of detail which is unique among early records.
Mr. Horn includes several accounts of Indians he claims to have
interviewed in 1892; he states the wording to be exactly that of
the interview, and it is amusing when, in his quoting of "Mathias
Splitlog," an educated Indian who remembers minutely events
150 years old, he suddenly changes from perfect English to the
best Hollywood-Indian dialect.
Much of the material contained in the author's own chapters
is obviously insufficiently supported; his biography of Gist begins
with a questionable account of his ancestry and family and ends
wtih an original account of his death.
Volume II contains the only two chapters written by anyone
other than Mr. Horn. One of them is by an archaeologist, Frank
B. Jones, and the other is by A. L. Moredock, one of the holders
of the copyright of the volumes, who traces one of Gist's journeys
for the Ohio Company and attempts to coordinate the material
given in the diaries with other sources.
Mr. Horn's chapters on pioneer life, biography, and history
are mostly general accounts found much more ably written in
other volumes. Among the accounts containing undoubted fact
is inserted the unauthenticated material found in the diaries
and court record. Especially interesting and voluminous are the
sketches of pioneer settlers of Southwestern Pennsylvania. They193
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 51, July 1947 - April, 1948, periodical, 1948; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101119/m1/235/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.