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This lovely painting, owned by Kingsville Library, is a fitting
introduction to the library's Historical Tour of Kingsville circa 1874. For it was
in a log cabin within the bend of the Conneaut Creek that a representation of the
approximate 25 families then living in the area met to establish the Township of
Kingsville, Ohio in October, 1810. Elections were held the following Spring,
formally setting the date of 1811 for incorporation of Kingsville Township.
The
site of the painting scene is at the old ford across the creek on what we now know as
Kingsbury Road. There were several families living within the bend in log cabins
similar to the one pictured. A few years later, a covered bridge was built at the
ford and Silas Kingsbury built his grist mill near his log cabin home, perhaps the very
cabin shown in the painting.
The artist, Junius Ralston Sloan, was born in Kingsville in
1827, son of Seymour and Drusilla
Luce Sloan. His family lived here until moving
to a farm in West Springfield, Pennyslvania when Junius was almost eight
years old. they returned to Kingsville often to visit family and
Junius attended the Kingsville Academy during 1847 and became close friends
with Robert Spencer, son of Platt R. Spencer from Geneva.
Junius was an itinerant portrait painter for several years in
upstate New York before returning to marry Sara Spencer, Robert's sister, in June,
1858. They made their home in Erie, Pennsylvania for a short time.
The family moved to
Chicago Illinois, where Junius focused on landscape painting.
Sometimes taking the family for an extended stay, he made many trips to Geneva, Ohio, the Catskills, and Yonkers, NY.
His paintings have been shown in well known galleries in Chicago and New York and he is
recognized as a fine artist even though he had no formal art education.
A large collection of his paintings and memorabilia are on display at the
Valparaiso University Brauer Museum of Art in Valparaiso, Indiana. For more information
about the artist and his work, visit the Sloan Collection at http://www.valpo.edu/artmuseum/
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