Tapered mahogany wooden cane with smooth dark finish. One and three quarter inch long golden brass cap/band at top of cane is engraved with a man's profile, President G. Cleveland, on top. 2.125 inch wide brass ferrule on bottom above .75 inch steel tip.
On side written longitudinally: Carried and presented to the L.C.H.S. by George W. Hensel, Jr. 1943.
Engraved horizontally: From Grover Cleveland to W.U. Hensel Easter Time 1893.
Engraving from Hensel to LCHS was a later engraving.
Black tapered cane with perpendicular metal head, gold, embossed ornamentaion, engraved, "J. Fondersmith / from / John and Clara" 4 inch decorated gold handle at right angle to length of cane. Cane is smoothly finished, dark shaft tapered from 1 inch diameter at top to .75 inch diameter. Metal corner is matched desighn mitered with gold covereing top 2.5 inches of cane. Lower .625 inches of cane is metal.
Cane or walking stick of wood. The handle end is carved with the bust of a man.
Carving is the likeness of General Lafayette (1757-1834) who, according to family tradition, presented this cane to Amos Slaymaker when Lafayette visited White Chimneys and dined at the Slaymaker's tavern/hotel "The Pennsylvania Arms" during his grand U.S. tour in 1825. Carved gentleman wears a coat, jabot and high collar and is highly detailed. Executed in light toned hardwood, hair has light brown stain and pedestal portion is stained dark. Band of copper alloy below pedestal. Shaft of cane tapers to an end and is stained brown. Two-piece copper alloy tip, secured with two small nails.
Provenance
Passed from Amos Slaymaker through 5 generations of Slaymaker family and donated by Mrs. Samuel R. Slaymaker II.
Multiple minor nicks in carving and shaft with some loss of finish, esp. near bottom tip. Superficial checking/splitting in wood. Copper alloy tip is discolored with minor corrosion and band at top has multiple small dents. Cane tip not worn, thus not used.
Object ID
G.98.12.8
Notes
See page 30 of History of the Slaymaker family.
Place of Origin
France
Credit
Gift of Mrs. S.R. Slaymaker II, Heritage Center Collection
Walking cane used by Congressman Thaddeus Stevens late in life. Made of a tree branch with irregularities and smoothed knots; unusual wood with pronounced grain. Grip end curves into a burled knob. Glossy finish.
Silver cap on tip of grip is engraved: "This cane / was the property / of Hon. Thaddeus Stevens / during his latter days. / Presented to H.A. Zug, 1868." Bottom end wrapped with a 1.25" wide brass collar and an iron tip.
Provenance
Zug's relationship to Stevens is unknown. Henry A. Zug (22 Aug 1825 - 22 Apr 1890) married Fannie Hershey (5 Jul 1819 - ??) on 19 Nov 1844. Resided in Lancaster City.
In 1871 Henry Zug was a pharmaceutist at 44 E. Chestnut.
In 1873-74 Zug was a custom house inspector at 41 W. Orange St.
1880 Census says Zug was a "dealer in produce".
Death ceritificate of 1890 notes occupation as "druggist supplies".
His daughter, donor Lola Zug (9 Dec 1861 - 28 Jul 1952), was unmarried and a teacher in city.
