As early as 1974, the Allegany County Historical Society conceived the idea of commissioning a medallion to celebrate the 1976 Bicentennial of the United States of America. The medallion was designed to tell the story of early events in the history of America and Allegany County involving Moses Van Campen and Seneca Indian Chief John Mohawk. The one and half inch bronze medallion was minted in Connecticut by the Medallic Art Co. which produced some of the world’s most distinguished awards such as the Pulitzer Prize, the Peabody Award, and the Inaugural medals for eleven U.S. Presidents. One thousand medallions were produced in December 1974. An additional thousand medallions were produced in 1975. Each sold for $2.50.
The brochure, authored by the Society in 1974 and distributed with the medallions, tells the story of the two men depicted on either side of the coin and their relationship during and after the American Revolution. It also provided a biography of A. Thomas O'Grady, the artist whose incredible talent is captured in this unique and special artifact.
The brochure is reproduced below with permission of the Allegany County Historical Society. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission.
The Story of the Allegany County Historical Society Bicentennial Medallion
This medallion is in reality a two-headed coin depicting a story of international brotherhood. At the same time, it relates to the historic events in the early history of Allegany County.
The story has its beginning in the frontier conflicts of the Revolution. Moses Van Campen had been a militia officer in the defense of central Pennsylvania and was Quartermaster for General Sullivan on his devastating expedition to the Finger Lakes homeland of the Iroquois Nation in 1779. In the spring of 1780, believing the Indians to be of no further threat, the Pennsylvanians began returning to their ravaged farms to run their sugar bushes and prepare for spring planting. So it was with Moses Van Campen, his father and one of his brothers. They were surprised by a band of Indians who promptly proceeded to spear and scalp his father and lend the tomahawk to his brother. His uncle in another field met a similar fate. In all the 10 Indians in John Mohawk’s party had five captives. Besides Van Campen were his nephew, a Mr. Pike, a Mr. Pence, and a boy named Rogers. The captives determined to free themselves at the first opportunity. On the second night one of the Indians accidentally dropped his knife which Van Campen secreted until all were asleep. It was agreed that each of the men would dispatch three Indians— the first finished would get the tenth Indian. Pence took the guns, Van Campen, a tomahawk and Pike took to praying. Pence got his three while Van Campen disposed of his three as well as those of Pike. Moses then fell into hand to hand combat with the surviving Mohawk. Mohawk made his escape, but not before receiving a disfiguring blow to his neck.
It was not until 1797 that Mohawk and Van Campen were to meet again. This time it was when Moses was moving his family from Pennsylvania to the Karr Valley in what is now the town of Almond in Allegany County. Fearing the worst, the party stood off at a distance while the former enemies approached each other. To the relief of all, these two men clasped hands and the war between Red and White was a thing of the past. John Mohawk made many visits to the Van Campen residence in Angelica, and when queried bout the previous events would only comment “Yankee done it . . . Peace Now.”
Moses Van Campen went on to be surveyor for the 100,000-acre Church tract centered at Angelica. While on one of the early reconnaissance trips through the tract he is reputed to have cupped his hand to his ear. When asked whether he heard animal or Indian he replied: "I hear the footsteps of coming Millions.” Now as we approach the nations bicentennial these words are about to come to fulfillment with the completion of the Southern Tier Expressway.
Allegany County was erected in 1806, and Moses Van Campen served in nearly every county office until his death at the age of ninety.
A. Thomas O'Grady
A. Thomas O’Grady was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in the late thirties, moved to New York State and was graduated from Cuba Central School. Received a B.S. degree in Art Education from the State University College in Buffalo, M.S. degree from Alfred University. Teacher of high school art and photography at Scio Central School and for three years was an instructor of watercolor at Houghton College. In 1962, worked as an artist-illustrator with the Smithsonian Institute in archeological research in South Dakota.
Mr. O’Grady exhibited in many group and one-man shows in Western New York. One-man exhibits include S. U. N. Y. College at Buffalo and annual exhibits at the Park Gallery, Wellsville, New York. Mr. O'Grady has also held an exhibition at the Kottler Galleries in New York City.
His most recent exhibits were: January 1973, Six drawings and paintings were selected by the United States Department of State for foreign embassies. They are on loan for a two-year period; three paintings and two drawings, U. S. Embassy, Rome, Italy, c/o Ambassador Volpe; one painting, U. S. Embassy, Canberra, Australia, c/o Ambassador Greene; April, 1973, One-man exhibition Elmira, New York; May, 1973, One-man exhibition, S. U. N. Y. College at Alfred; October, 1973, One-Man exhibition, Houghton College; Spring of 1973, Nominated and selected for inclusion in the National publication “Outstanding Secondary Educators of America.”
Mr. O'Grady has received many awards in exhibitions including first prize in professional oil paintings at Chautauqua’s Twelfth Annual Art Exhibition. In January 1970, the first of a series of his paintings was copy-righted and reproduced in a- limited edition. The “Promise of Time” reproduction has been circulated throughout the United States and Canada. In September 1972, “Rural Gallery,” an oil painting was lithographed in full-color, copyrighted and offered to the public in a limited edition.
Mr. O’Grady, a member of the Society of North American Artists, was selected for inclusion in the national publication “Who’s Who in the Arts ’71” and has been listed in the New York Times, Cue Magazine and Art Now, with reviews of his work in the Park East newspaper and the France-Amerique, a French publication.
He is currently represented by the Park Gallery in Wellsville. He maintains the “Hill House Studio” and residence at 176 East Pearl Street, Wellsville, New York. Mr. O'Grady is married to the former Roseanna Collins of Allegany, New York. They have three sons, Sean 10, Brendan 8, and Timothy 4.
- Allegany County Historical Society, 1974
Thomas O'Grady, when interviewed by the Olean Times Herald in February 1975, explained the care needed in making the original plaster models. "I was surprised at the amount of detail that appears on the coin. I worked on the castings at school, figuring that they would be a good teaching aid for my students. They were just as disappointed as I was when something didn't come out right." Finally, he shared, "I wanted to do something that my children could show their grandchildren."
Thomas O'Grady was featured in the Wellsville Daily Reporter in October 2014 when he painted and contributed an original work for the Jones Memorial Hospital Ridgewalk and Run charity event. The painting was later auctioned at the Jones Memorial Hospital Gala in November 2014. The article can still be viewed here: www.wellsvilledaily.com/article/20141013/news/141019931.