Charles Cist's Philadelphia Cherry Wood Walking Stick.

The Charles Cist Heirloom: An Unassuming Secret Messenger

In the Cist family, there exists an unassuming heirloom that holds a significant historical narrative. This modest walking stick, standing about four feet tall and crafted from cherry wood, features a silver cap with "Charles Cist" etched into the front. What makes this ordinary-looking cane exceptional is its secret compartment, concealed within the silver cap.

During the Revolutionary War era, this Philadelphia walking stick was ingeniously employed as a clandestine courier for written messages exchanged among patriots. The secret chamber housed within the cane's silver top was used to transport letters to and from the printing shop of Cist and Styner. As the British authorities could stop and search anyone in the streets, patriots carrying these messages would boldly offer, "Go ahead, search me."

Upon initiating the search, the patriot would hand the walking stick to the British soldier while stretching out their arms as a silent gesture of cooperation. Unbeknownst to the British soldiers, they were, at that very moment, holding the key to revolutionary communication—the secret compartment containing the vital message to be printed by Cist and Styner.

Andrew C. Allen   April 16th, 2015

Blog Event in Historic Lebanon, Ohio.

My next blog event will be in Historic Lebanon, Ohio on June 6th, Saturday, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Royce Cafe' & Coffeehouse is located at 30 East Mulberry Street-1st Floor Lebanon, OH  45036.

Come learn how Charles Cist and the new hit TV show TURN on AMC are related. Learn a new added vantage point to Colonial America during the American Revolution.

Look for the 99 cent special printing of historical information on Charles Cist and Cist family matters.

Buy some coffee, read, and enjoy the gem of Historic Lebanon, OH. It really does have much to offer.

See you there.
Andrew C Allen April 10, 2015
513.638.7140
pewabic34@gmail.com

Stephen Daye Press

This blog is about early British North American printing. This was before the birth of Charles Cist, but since Mr. Cist was a European first and then an American, there might be a connection between the two. Most of the Industrial goods came from Europe first. We shall find common connections. I am good at this. I am taking notes on names, places, and events. History repeats itself, therefore we can see a pattern.

Additionally, Scott Stamp Catalog number 857, year 1939, shows a picture of the Stephen Daye Press. This is were I had the idea of making a connection and placing this into the data base of information.

Stephen Daye

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre, printed by Stephen Daye, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1640. First book printed in British North America

Stephen Daye, Sr. (c.1594 – December 22, 1668) was the first British North American printer.

Life[edit]

Daye was born in Sutton, Surrey London, and emigrated on June 7, 1638 to Cambridge Massachusetts on board the "John of London" with his wife Rebecca (Bordman - from a previous marriage) (died October 17, 1658), sons Stephen, Jr. (died December 1, 1639), Matthew (died May 10, 1649), and stepson William Bordman (died March 25, 1685), and three household servants. In 1638 he is recorded as being a locksmith by profession who was under financial contract to Reverend Joseph Glover to repay the loan of £51 for ship transportation for himself and his household and the cost of purchasing iron cooking utensils. Further, he was contracted to set up a printing press at Glover's home in Cambridge, Massachusetts and to be paid wages according to Massachusetts custom.
Glover died on the ship John of London during the voyage, but Daye was legally bound to fulfill his contract setting up the printing press with the aid of his sons and stepson in the home of Rev. Glover at Cambridge. Elizabeth Glover, the widow, was the legal owner of the press and Daye's debt and contract upon the death of her husband. In 1639, it is generally thought or cited in the survey of the literature that Daye printed his first work, The Freeman's Oath, a broadsheet. However, this work may have actually come second following the printing of the first almanac composed by William Pierce. Pierce's almanac, as was typical, commenced with the month of March, which according to English law and custom was the first month of the year, rather than the Gregorian calendar that began in January. Consequently, Daye must have printed Pierce's almanac prior to the English first of the year that began on March 15. In 1640, he printed the Bay Psalm Book, the first book published in the American colonies. The next year, 1641, Daye was rewarded for his work with three hundred acres of land.
Andrew C. Allen  April 1, 2015
513.638.7140
pewabic34@gmail.com

New York City Public Library Visit

New York City in the Winter still has  many activities during the winter months. It has been awhile since I attended the New York City Public Library at 5th Avenue and 52 street. She is still a grand building! I was happy to see many people waiting outside in the snow to wait for the doors to open for the public.
I went upstairs and rented a computer and signed up for a library card. I did preliminary research on their data base for anything related to Cist family. I came up with an article about Henry M. Cist running for Mayor of College Hill, but lost to Mr. Worthington, an old Cincinnati family. I am retrieving it.
Andrew C. Allen
513.638.7140
pewabic34@gmail.com

Sanibel Island, Florida March 7-14th visit.

I have implemented a working vacation on Sanibel Island, Florida by visiting Sanibel Public Library for the week, March 7-14th. (This is the first time that my mom has been to Florida since my dad passed away. I am down here visiting her. We are having a good time together). The staff at the library is extremely helpful! A special thank you to Joanne and Duane who helped me find connections to add to this blog.

Henry M. Cist was a Union soldier who fought at the Battle of Chickamauga and Knoxville, Tennessee. I am searching for connections to why the Cist family owned The Thistle Lodge on Sanibel Island. The government issued homestead acts to encourage settlers to visit and stay in Florida. Henry M. Cist was the secretary of the alumni association of the Battlefield of Chickamauga for many years. He is the author of Army of the Cumberland.

Mr. Duane E. Shaffer helped me locate Florida's Civil War Explorations Into Conflict, Interpretations and Memory, by Dr. Irwin D. S. Winsboro. Dr. Winsboro is Professor of History at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Florida. In his book he discusses the social, economic, political, and settlement issues that faced the State of Florida during and after the Civil War. I am putting together information about Henry M. Cist military pension income and personal connections that helped the Cist family make a decision to have a home at Thistle Lodge on Sanibel Island. My goal is to help educate other descendants of  Civil War veterans, both Union and Confederate soldiers, Black and White soldiers to find their own connections and find happiness, fulfillment, a sense of belonging, and healing.

Mr. Duane E. Shaffer showed me his novel from the library collection, Men of Granite New Hampshire's Soldiers in the Civil War. I am not finding many connections with this book because most of their battles were elsewhere, but that is not to say there are no connections. I just have not found them yet. I am taking names from these books and making cross references from Encyclopedia of the American Civil War A Political, Social, and Military History, David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, editors. As a scholar, I would like to point out the immense work that went into all these reference books! I have written down the mailing address for this book to ask if the editors would consider adding Henry M. Cist involvement in the Civil War in their next edition. I have done this before. When I take down names from different books and find connections this helps me to find out more about how societies, groups, and decisions are made to form cities, states, and grow America. These men and women who shed their blood, starved, and made other sacrifices had the right to add to the growth of America after the American Civil War.

I asked my family to make reservations at the Thistle Lodge restaurant on Thursday, March 13th. The lovely lady who greeted us shared with me certain photos throughout the restaurant. I remember my father showing me  old photographs of the Cist family in the front yard. I went up stairs and to my left was the photograph that I remember seeing as a child long ago. I thanked the hostess. The menu  insert gave me added history of the Lodge.

Additionally, I looked through American Family Name, Patrick Hanks, Editor, and found no reference to the Cist family name.

Andrew C. Allen / March 13, 2015
513.638.7140
pewabic34@gmail.com

Camp Tech Blogging Seminar in Toronto

This blog is not necessarily about Charles Cist, but how I am navigating this blog with current technologies and new skills to improve the interest in the Cist family blog.

I navigated through Google about blogging events in Toronto for February 2015. I learned about Camp Tech located at 215 Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto. Camp Tech's goal is social innovation for small businesses. An individual can become a member of Camp Tech for a monthly fee. It is very reasonable for new owners and established business owners.  The office space is earthy and filled with wood floors and ample spaces for classes. Staff members are very down to earth and will help assist you with your explained needs.

Ms. Wendy Kam Marcy, co-founder, of www.hipurbangirl.com was the guest monitor for the evening. She presented a full, fact- filled, evening on how to improve your blog, increase readership, engage more readers to respond to post, and check statistical analytic.

First, Find a passion topic, create a niche, understand your target, focus, and write about it.
Second, review your competition, get guest bloggers to post and review your own blog.
Thirdly, increase clicks by creating contests, event listings, story-telling, have a blog that is fast loading, mobile, and is professional looking.
Four, keep post to a minimum of 400 words/ max 800 words.
Fifth, get affiliate marketing to your blog, selling ad space, stay away from paid link exchanges! Add more video to blog content.
Finally, just do it. I continue to do research on Cist family. My travels are taking me to different libraries in the Midwest. I am working on a trip to Philadelphia when the snow melts.

photo of Lewis J. Cist