Ohio

Historically Ohio seems to have had everything--great physical beauty; rich resources of coal oil gas and fertile soil; a central location with easy means of transportation by land and water; inventive and dynamic people; and the kind of national political influence that wealth and a large population can give a state. It was no accident that eight of the nation''s presidents had an Ohio connection character the first Ohioans exhibited qualities that seemed typical of Americans in general. The spirit of the place was large vigorous and buoyant Walter Havighurst writes of the colorful early days when settlers attached forests with ax and fire. Keep the ball rolling and Give it a try became Ohio slogans as boosterism surged fields were planted towns were founded and canals were dug. Steamboats steel plants and the rubber industry brought growth to Cleveland Cincinnati and other major cities making Ohio a commercial and industrial as well as an agricultural heartland.