(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 200 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY way of general education. Neighborhoods were thinly settled, money was scarce, and the people generally poor. There were no school houses, and there was no public school fund, either statc or county. All persons who had physical strength enough to labor were obliged to work. A pioneer states that "the school houses of an early day, as a general thing, were of the poorest kind. In towns, they were dilapidated buildings, either frame or log, and in the country they were invariably of logs ; usually but one style of architecture was used in building them. They were erected, not from a regular fund, or by subscription, but by labor given. The neighbors would gather together at some point previously agreed upon, and, with ax in hand, the work was soon done. Logs were cut, sixteen or eighteen feet in length, and of these walls were raised. Broad boards composed the roof, and a rude fireplace and clapboard door, a puncheon floor, and, the cracks filled with 'chinks, ' and these daubed over with mud, completed the schoolhouse, with the exception of the windows and the furniture. These were as rude and primitive as the house itself. The window was made by cutting out a log the full length of the building, and over the opening, in winter, paper, saturated with grease, served to admit the light. Just under this window, two or three strong pins were driven in the log in a slanting direction. On these pins, a long puncheon was fastened, and this was the writing desk of the whole school. For seats, they used benches made from small trees, cut in lengths of ten or twelve feet, split open, and, in the round side, two large holes were bored at each end, and in each a stout pin, fifteen inches long, was driven. These pins formed the legs. On the uneven floors these rude benches were hardly ever seen to have more than three legs on the floor at one time. And the books ! They were as promiscuous as the house and furnishings." Education received the earnest attention of the pioneers of Morrow county and at an early day log schoolhouses made their appearance, in the different townships, often before churches did. The first settlers were too scattering to form a good school district, and as there was but little money for the payment of teachers, they had to be supported mainly by subscription. Yet, notwithstanding all these disadvantages, the interest in education went steadily forward. The first school in Gilead township was in the Quaker settlement about 1823. Afterwards there was a school and a log HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 201 schoolhouse in the eastern part of the township, another in the southeastern, and another in what is now Edison. The first school in Cardington township was opened in the fall of 1823. The house was of hewed logs and was built with great care, as it was designed for church purposes as well as school, and was erected in 1823. Shortly after Enos Mile's came to Chester township, in 1815, there was a schoolhouse built there. Mr. Miles was a teacher and an enthusiast on education, and sold the land upon which the building was erected for a pint of oats, so anxious was he for a school near his new home. It was of logs and had greased paper windows. The first school taught in Wcstfield township was in a private house at Shaw Town. The first schoolhouse was of logs and was built in 1823. Schoolhouses were among the first structures built in Franklin township, even before the meeting houses, an early settler tells us. The first schoolhouse made its appearance as early as 1815. There was a schoolhouse built in South Bloomfield township in 1819, about a half mile southwest of Sparta. Lincoln township's first structure for the purpose of schools was built of logs, sixteen by nineteen feet, in 1819, on section 2. In 1834 the first school was taught in Congress township. It was kept in a small cabin, built for school purposes, not far from Williamsport. The first school in Perry township was taught in 1817, in the Singery settlement. The next schools were in Johnsville and Woodbury. The first school house in Washington township was built in 1825, and has been described as follows : "It was a rough structure —round logs scotched down on the inside,' which means that the roughnesses were hewn away after the logs were laid in place; puncheon floor, 'slab seats and counters scanty ;' fireplace six feet wide, at one side of the building, with stick chimney daubed with mud, like the chinks between the logs. It was located on the road, a little more than a mile north of Iberia." The first schoolhouses in the county were built in the most primitive style, all were of logs, and the most of them had greased paper windows. Even before the people were able to build houses, schools were taught in the cabins of the settlers or in any building that was found suitable. 202 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY DEFECTS IN PRESENT SYSTEM. The late A. K. Dunn, in his report to the Commissioner of Common Schools, speaks thus of the schools of this county : "Morrow county has made very commendable advancement in the educational advantages afforded to her people, and, although the progress made in each succeeding year is not as great as desirable, yet in the course of the last twenty-five years the improvement is very obvious. Much has been done by way of improving the appearance and comfort of the buildings erected for the use of the public schools. although a great deficiency in these respects still exists in many districts of the county. The graded schools and schools in special districts are well conducted, under the control of well-qualified and efficient teachers, by whose efforts the proficiency in the branches taught has been made very creditable, and by reason thereof the districts are supplied with better qualified teachers than formerly, and the standard of qualifications has been gradually raised, from time to time, until the teachers and schools of the county will compare favorably with other counties in the state. "A great evil in our county, that requires a speedy remedy, is the many small districts, enumerating but a small number or scholars, in many instances not half enough to make a school respectable in numbers if all in the district should be in daily attendance. In these small districts teachers are usually employed; not so much with a view to their qualifications as to their cheapness, and to confer a favor on some relative, friend or neighbor. In such districts, usually, the teachers who are barely able to obtain fourth-class certificates are employed. If these small districts could be combined or consolidated in such way as to make each district contain the necessary number of scholars to form a school large enough to generate a spirit of emulation among pupils and teachers, the tendency would be to make qualification in the teacher the chief object in their employment, instead of low price and favoritism, and teachers of fourth-class qualifications would find no place to impose themselves on the community. "One of the main difficulties in the way of obtaining well-qualified teachers is the entire neglect on the part of many directors to make a high standard of qualifications a requisite for employment, it being sufficient, in the estimation of such directors, that a teacher have a certificate to enable him to draw the public money, no matter how low the grade. The only remedy for this is in the directors and the people in such districts." HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 203 The first school taught in Whetstone, or Youngstown, was in 1831, by Mrs. Mary G. Shadd, and in part of the building, at the southeast corner of the south public square, now the home of Mrs. Judith Heck. In 1833 a quite commodious octagonal school building, for those times, was built on east Center street, on the lot now occupied by the office and dwelling of Dr. J. C. McCormick, and continued to be occupied for school until 1853. The teachers in same, from time to time, were P. K. Francis, John Ustick, Miss Barnes, Miss Hayden, Joel Bruce, J. M. Rogers, S. R Morgan, L. B. Vorhies and William H. Burns. The writer attended this old schoolhouse in 1846 and 1852. “LICKIN AND LARNIN TEACHERS." Erasmus Philipps was a successful teacher and owned a schoolhouse on West Center street, and taught a select school. He was a severe disciplinarian and his motto was "Lickin and Larnin," and "No Lickin No Larnin." His scholars all feared him, but he "jollied" them, and many liked him as a teacher. The writer, as a small lad, so feared him, that he was never the scholar of "Ras" Philipps, as he was called. He taught for many years (until about 1853), moved to Williamsport, and taught there until 1866, when he committed suicide. Other teachers of select schools were Elizabeth Hicks and Miss Mary J. Bartlett, who taught in an old frame building near the corner of Center and Walnut streets, in 1845. She is now aged eighty-six years, the widow of. David M. Fredericks, and resides in Lima, Ohio. In 1851-3 Mrs. W. S. Spalding had a seminary for young ladies in the First Baptist church, which then stood on the northeast corner of the South square, and for a year thereafter said church was used for the TJnion school, of which Samuel E. Adams was superintendent. UNION SCHOOLS OF MT. GILEAD. The Union schools of Mt. Gilead have borne such an important part in the moral, and intellectual development of our community, and sent out scholars equipped with such literary accomplishments and wide influences, that an earnest effort will be made to set forth the part they have taken in our historical progress. 204 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY PICTURES OF PRESENT DAY SCHOOL: (1) MT. GILEAD SCHOOL, (2) CARDINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 205 The first Union school building was erected in 1853-4, on the grounds now occupied, and was ready for occupancy by September, 1854; was razed in 1873 and the present Union school building erected at a cost of $24,000. In 1908 the High school building was completed at a cost of $13,000. SUPERINTENDENTS. The first superintendent was a Mr. Strong, whose mind gave way, and he continued only two or three months. This was in the fall of the year 1854. William L. Terrill was second superintendent, and until 1856 ; then William Merrin until September, 1857 ; Edward C. S. Miller for 1857 and 1858, and Will Watkins for 1859. In September, 1860, Milton Lewis became superintcndent and thus remained until September, 1875. At that time, Philip H. Roetinger. became superintendent, and in June, 1876, the first class from the high school graduated. A list of all subsequent superintendents to date, is hereafter given: James Duncan, 1876-7 ; John Barnes, 1877-8; Theodore J. Mitchell, 1878-81; Azariah W. Lincoln for 1882-4; Joseph H. Snyder for 1885-91; Monroe W. Spear for 1891- 1902; C. H. Winans for 1902-4 ; C. B. Stoner for 1904-9 ; Frank J. Ryan, present incumbent. DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES. While Superintendents Terrill and Merlin were men of culture and good teachers, the most enthusiasm was created among the scholars while Edward C. S. Miller was superintendent in 1857 and 1858. Most of the young men, yet in their "teens," three years later became soldiers in the Civil war, and their work is now done, or they are old men and closing up life's work. Their records are briefly traced below. Jerry M. Dunn; who became captain in Company C, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and in 1867 was elected to the Ohio legislature. John S. Cooper left college at Oberlin, in 1861, and became sergeant in Company C, Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was transferred to the United States Engineers' Corps, and then to lieutenant colonel, One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and a leading lawyer in Chicago until his death, November 15, 1905. William M. Eccles was graduated at Oberlin ; served in the 206 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY Forty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was admitted to the bar ; practiced patent law in St. Louis, Missouri; earned a competency and returned to Morrow county, where he died April 15, 1898. Byron L. Talmage served three years in Company C, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and is cashier of the First National Bank, Richwood, Ohio. Robert F. Bartlett served in Company D, Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was twice wounded in battles, and resides at Mt. Gilead. Samuel P. Snider became a student at Oberlin and a soldier, in Company D, Sixty-fifth Ohio- Volunteer Infantry ; was twice wounded in battles and promoted to sergeant and captain, and since the Civil war has served a term in the congress of the United States from Minnesota. John Wood became a teacher in Indian schools on the frontier. Bruce Moore pursued literary studies and is professor in a Virginia college. All of these were students under Edward Miller. Denton J. Snider, a native of Mt. Gilead, recited Hebrew to Professor Miller. He served briefly in Company H, Tenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry as second lieutenant. He was an intense student and pursued his literary studies with vigor. He gave a course of Shakespearean lectures, and also one on Greece before 1879, and the next year lectured at Orchard House before the Concord School of Philosophy. At that time A. Bronson Alcott, William F. Harris, Reverend William H. Channing, Julia Ward Howe, Ralph W. Emerson and other notables wcre lccturers before that school. He tramped through Greece, and published in two volumes "A Walk in Hellas ;" also "Delphic Days," a poem; in 1885, a second poem, "Agamemnon's Daughter," and in 1889, "The Freeburgens," a novel. He is extremely metaphysical in his writings, and above the comprehension of common mortals. Lillian Whiting, in "Boston Days," makes flattering mention of him : "He is too great for any praise of mine." The young ladies who attended school under Professor Edward Miller were Annie Snider; America Snider (now Mrs. Chase), Satt Talmage (now Mrs. J. M. Albach), Anastasia Talmage (later Mrs. James Olds, deceased), Viola Talmage, Amelia Stover, Emma Sayre (now Mrs. N. N. Coe, who was a teacher for HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 207 many years at Elkhart, Indiana, and Lima and Marion, Ohio), Ann Electa Sayre, Xira V. Ensign and Mary Knox Talmage. Superintendent Milton Lewis, from 1860 to 1875, gave the Union school a high reputation, and several who further pursued their studies at college came under his instructions, and among others were James G. Shedd, William W. Gurley; Frank K. Dunn, the latter of whom is now a judge of the supreme court of Illinois; Mr. Gurley, a leading lawyer in Chicago, and Mr. Shedd, at his death some years ago a collegiate professor. A later scholar was M. Belle Russell-Miles, who took courses in the New England Conservatory of Music, in Boston, and, under Tecla Vigna, at the Cincinnati Conservatory. For twenty-two years she has been leading soprano in the leading churches of Columbus, Ohio. We do not know of any scholars, or graduates, of our Union schools who have not done well in life's duties, and many of the young lady graduates are wives and mothers, in quiet homes ; priestesses who minister at those sacred altars. They have not made any great stir in the world ; but their work is equally important with those who have. A few who have been unusually successful in professional, literary and musical departments, and have reflected credit on Mt. Gilead schools, in addition to those already mentioned, require to be noticed. Henry Byron Newson, of the class of 1876 was graduated at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1883 and later at John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, and at Heidelburg University, Germany, serving as professor of ancient languages and mathematics at Kansas State University, Lawrence, for many years prior to his death, February 18, 1910. Ellor E. Carlisle, class of 1879, took a post-graduate course, and has been a teacher at Wellesley College, Massachusetts. Annette M. Bartlett Scott, class of 1882, was afterwards graduated at the State Normal schools of Lebanon; Ohio, and Oswego, New York, and from April, 1887, for over nine years, was the principal of the Normal School for Girls in the City of Mexico, Mexico, and later professor of music and mathematics in the State Normal school, North Adams, Massachusetts. Her home was Mt. Gilead until 1901. William F. Duncan, class of 1883, became a lawyer, and has been, and is now, judge of the court of common pleas, at Findlay, Ohio. 208 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY Frank Wieland, class of 1886, is an eminent physician in Chicago, Illinois. Edwin T. Pollock, class of 1887, is an officer in the United States navy. Frederick N. McMillan, class of 1870, post-graduate at Wooster University, 1895, and same year entered McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago. Became minister of Presbyterian church, 1897; pastor Memorial Church, Dayton, Ohio, for eleven years ; since November, 1910, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio. Raymond Nold, class of 1901, is pursuing musical studies. Bert Miller, 1892, is clerk of United States district court. Edward M. McMillin attended the Union schools of Mt. Gilead, and in 1888 was graduated at Wooster University, and by McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, in 1891. He was first pastor at Gibson City, Illinois, same year; then at Adrian, Michigan, and for several years has been pastor of the First Presbyterian church at East Liverpool, Ohio. Corinne E. Russell, a student in Mt. Gilead Union school, studied music and voice culture under Professor Hubbard, an eminent teacher, of Boston, Massachusetts. She taught one year at Athens, Georgia, and now conducts a studio at Springfield, Ohio. Irma Talmage, student in the Union schools, graduated at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1902, and at Smith's College, Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1903. She has taught at Lancaster and Sandusky, Ohio. In the summer of 1910 she was employed, with six other ladies, and fivc men teachers, to take charge of a school at Peking, China, by authority of the Chinese government. Part of the indemnity paid to the United States government by the government of China, on account of the Boxer insurrection,, was returned to China by the national government, and the money so returned was used to found this school at the Chinese capital. Miss Talmage is now at Peking, and her resolution displayed in this undertaking is most heroic. One of the teachers of the primary grade of long ago, said of several of her scholars : "I taught them their letters, and to read, I am proud of them." A teacher looks back with affection to the rosy-cheeked children who were so anxious to learn, and to please their teacher, and especially so, if they have made. good. If they have not, the affection remains ; but there is sorrow for the failure. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 209 GRADUATES OF MOUNT GILEAD HIGH SCHOOL, 1876-1910. The list of graduating classes of Mt. Gilead High School is now given, and also as many teachers who taught in the school; as can be recalled. The first class graduated was in 1876, under Superintendent Philip H. Roetinger. 1876—Kate Allison-Heffernan, Ada Corwin-James, Carrie Dalrymple-Powell and Jessie Miles-Jackson. W. F. Bruce at commencement gave a recitation, "The Curse of Regulus:" 1877—James H. Beebe, Emma Beebe Crocker, Mary Annette Bunker Thompson, Belle Loren, Gertrude Mateer-Miles and Alice Newson-Case. 1878—Smith C. Bingham, Cora A. Keyser-Ruhl, Harriet E. Place-Reid, Edwin N. Gunsaulus and Henry B. Newson. 1879—Ellor E. Carlisle and Frederica I. Andrews. 1880—Ned Thatcher and John Osborn. 1881—Halleck Campbell, Abbie Hales-Crane, Jennie Jinks, James W. Pugh, Ernest H. Pollock, Frank Powell, Charles Wiant, Tamar Elliott, May Ivey, Carrie McCraeken-Pugh, Margaret Pugh-Essig, Walter Pollock and George L. Newson. 1882—Annette M. Bartlett-Scott, Fanny I. Burt, Carrie Chase-Pollock, Nellie Gunsaulus-Griffith, Metta Goorley-McMillin, Grant Lydy, Kate Wieland-Ramey, Kittie Van Horn-McLachlin, Hattie Boyle, Douglas Beem, Mina Chase-Vaughan, Nellie Goorley, Grant Halliday, Hortense Kingman-Foster and Elmer Wood. 1883—Walter Andrews, Jennie Carpenter, Albert Meader, Sophia Wieland, Anna Loren-Brown, William F. Duncan and Alice Parsons. 1884—Kittie Beebe-Dickinson, Nellie Helt-King, Alice Wood, Vertie Work, Anna Glathart-McKinstry, Grace Shaw-Laycox and Emma Wieland. 1885—Frank McGowen, Harriet Gunsaulus-Kennedy, Gertrude Mathews-Williams, Kate Ensign Young, Letty Ivey, Ava ShauchLefever, Nellie Benedict-Carlisle, Margaret Mateer, Mabel Mozier-Storer, Rose McAninch-Balmer, Mame Richardson and Alice Vorhies. 1886—Frank Wieland, Frederick Briggs, Nellie Newson, Lizzie Ustick-Garver, Kate Gunsaulus-Copeland, Anna Goorley-Wieland and Edna Shama. 210 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY 1887—William G. Brown, Rebecca Glathart, Stuart Eagleson and Edwin T. Pollock. 1888—Mattie E. Beck, Femer Boyle, Eva Gardner and Fred D. Garbison. 1889—Mattie Mitchell-Bruce, Clara Mozier-Baker, Jessie Wright, John Gordon, Clara Goorley-Fogle, Anna Talmage and John Mateer. 1890—Charles M. Breese, J. Watt Conger, Annis Pollock, Frederick N. McMillin, Maude Cooper, John Gouber, Harriet Reynolds and Edward J. Wieland. 1891—Nellie Annett, Grace Eagleson, James E. Vaughan, Charles M. Briggs and Mary Loren. 1892—Ralph Gage, Bert Miller, Josephine Talmage-Vail, Carrie Wieland, Edna Dean Booher-Warren, Maude Smith-Duncan, Bessie K. Talmage-Peck and Albert Wolcott. 1893—Alonzo Barnes, Milton Jackson, Frank Goorley, Free Miller, Helen Talmage, Paul Carlisle, Keturah Levering, Edith Matthews-Barber and M. Rae Purcell. 1894—Harriet B. Adams, Grace Goorley, Gertrude Glathart, Ralph V. Mateer, Carrie H. Johnson-White, Mary Roberta Wheeler-Calender, Ezra L. Rinehart, Ray H. Vanatta, Frances Adell Doty, M. Emma Garbison, Josephine Plumb, Lucy Matthews-Hyde, Austin Kelly, Georgiana Wood-McCully and Sarah Swingle. 1895—Bert Barnhard, Bessie Duncan-Shaw, Ada Booker-Moore, Margaret Eells-Gilrette, J. Ralph Fulton, William W. Eccles, Henry C. Kelker, Blanche Houck-Breese, Judith Wright-Long, Edith Talmage-Dennison, Walter Wood, Minnie Breese, Wilder Joy James, Mabel Lewis, Mary Matzer, Laura Rhodebeck-Pierce, Belle Talmage-Terry and Allen B. Whitney. 1896—Martin O. Brown, Glenn Earley, Ed. Hedrick, Hettie Holt McClelland, J. Lesley Jackson, Arthur Vaughan, Lloyd De Golley, Mary Eccles-Hobson, Frances M. Furboy-Cummins, Fred. Fritsch, J. Wesley Jackson and Joe Walcott. 1897—C. B. Emahizer, Helen Miller-Barr and George Smiley. 1898—Esther Eells-Spellhouse, Carl V. Beebe, Louise Barton, George Hickson, Jane Jago-McKinnon, Goldie Orsborn-Doty, Clarence C. Whitney, Orva Brown, Bessie Cooper, Maude Gruber-Sayre, Anna Lincoln Knapp, Nettie Miller Lockridge, William D. Matthews and Mabel Breese-Crawford. 1899—C. Simms Brown, Earl A. Bixler, Harry Mozier, Bessie McCracken-White, Aura Bennett Smiley, Margaret Boyer-Perry, Elizabeth Davis-Peck and Lizzie Newson-Bennett. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 211 1900—Herman Beebe ; Grace. Boyer, Mt. Gilead; Byrd Bomberger, Nell Burgoyne-Ruhlman, Maude Coe-Phillipps ; Olga Dunn-McCammon, Portland, Oregon ; Herbert George, Mary Levering, Edwin M. Mathews, Herman Powell ; Alice Wilson-Mathews, Mt. Gilead; and Mary Wood. 1901—Helen Barton, Helen Cooper, Mt. Gilead, Ohio ; Ralph B. Howard, Carl Morris, Mt. Gilead, Ohio ; Mary Mosher-Jackson, Mt. Gilead, Ohio; Raymond Nold, Newark, Ohio ; Clarence B. Russell. 1902—Nelle Bennett-Carlisle ; Samuel Bennett, Abbie Bixler, Albert Brown, Lewis Case, Reid Howser, Earle Martindale, Grace Wingett, Marion, Ohio, and Elba Kingman. 1903—Hugh 0. Allison Asa Breese, Faye Cleveland, Edna Dumbaugh-Hurdman, Fredericktown, Ohio ; Mabel Griffith, Vada Elliot, Nelle Fulton, dead ; Bertha Kelker-George ; Harry Kelly, Floyd 0. Olds, Dwight E. Smith, Xantha Swingle, Henry R. Talmage and Horace Whitney. 1904- Ola Burns,, Mabel Brown, Edna Breese-Leitar ; Glenn Brown, Harley Gardner, H. Earle Griffith, Katherine Henry, Herbert Mathews, Ray McFarland, Edith Mozier, Minnie McAdams, Louis K. Powell, died January 6th, 1905 ; James L. Russell, Mt. Gilead, Ohio ; Edith Ramey-Darr, deceased; Mabel Randolph, Daytona, Florida ; Mabel Smiley, and Elizabeth White, Mt, Gilead, Ohio. 1905—Ottie Apt, Charles Davis, Anna George-Hatton; Ila Harding-Saw; Frank Howell and Blanche Lefever. 1906—J. Ralph McGaughey, John J. Hickson and Lulu Lee. 1907—Edith B. Bennett, Elizabeth Bennett, Helen Jerrine Booher, Helen E. Breese, Ella Adelia Gardner, Lola M. Howard, Laura C. Peters, Helen Josie Ramey, Bertha H. Talmage-Whitney ; Mary Clara Terry, Helen T. White, Edna Louise Young, Grover Fred Clements, Geo. A. Hickson, Chas. F. Hulien, C. Ward McCormick, Harley D. Miracle, Harry Morehouse and Archie R. Tuttle. 1908—Zoe M. Armstrong-Kelly; Addie Mae Bachelder, Helen Bakes, Edith G. Bomberger, Golda Marie Boyer-Pickett; Edith Paulina Brown, M. Rheta B. Hartpence, S. Guy Hildebrand, Earl W, Lefever, Vina V. Lefever, Esther Mae McAnall, Edna Virginia Miller, E. Harold Mills, Frank Burr Morton, Phoebe Harlan „Mosher, Edith M. Peters, Ray W. Pittman, Hazel D. Ramey, Ethel Dorothy Whitney, Guy Harrison Whitney, Mary Rebecca Wilson, Effie Muriel Wood, Imo Rose Wright and Clara Louise Young. 1909—Ethel J. Breese, Guy G. Brown, Henry N. Case, 212 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY Raymond G. Miller, Edna M. Rule, Dottie R. Bowman Caroline J. Bird, E. Glenn Fulton, Beryl R. Pugh and Merrill D. Sterritt. 1910—Edith Breese, Hubert Ashley, Mabel Crawford Charles Hickson, Wilton Jackson, Janet Schaaf, Anene Bowman, Goldie Clements, Isaac Hartman, Dale Masters, Mary Pugh and Gladys Whitney. HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS. Elizabeth Tillotson, Julia Brown-Mateer, Lena Howard-Searles, Amanda Brown-Purcell, Mary Miller-Byrd, Albert Miller, Fred H. Warren, Sabina Knox-Irwin, Eliza Fant-Bailey, Sadie Powell-Howard, Elma Talmage-Barton, Matilda Montgomery-Haines, Mary Dunn-Connolly, Hannah Brown, Mabel Rae Purcell, Frances Beebe-Prophet, Emma Lord, Edna Dean Booher-Warren, Margaret Knox-Talmage, Amanda McKee-Stinchcomb, Mary Andrews-Miller, Amanda Dodge, *Mary Shedd-Clark, Emma Sayre-Coe, Margaret Sanford-Holt, *Gertrude Mateer-Miles, *Mary Virginia Fogle, Minerva Romans, Harriet Gunsaulus-Kennedy, Edna Shauck, Emma Boyd Latham, Annie Pollock, Margaret Mateer, Kate Wieland-Ramey, Ethel K. Arbogast, Belta Yockey, Carrie Wieland, Blanche Houck-Breese, C. G. Leiter, Robert Guinther, C. H. Henderson, Ina Lanning, Ivah M. Schenck, Clara Miles, Bessie Wilson, Ethel Whitney, Abbie Bixler, Bertha Kelker-George ; Margaret Reynolds, Belle Knox-Cook, Hortense Chapin-Spear, Mrs. Ina Chapin, Alvin Ilen-Richardson, Mary Mateer-Fluckey, Maude Summers, Clara Goorley-Fogle, Jessie Miles-Jackson, Alice Osborn-Talmage, Ella Allison, Frances Doty, *Nellie Fulton, Laura Powell, Belle Lerch, R. 0. Witcraft, *Fay M. Daubenmire, Josephine Kelly, Helen Bakes, Clara Young, Madge A. Payne, Lydia Morrow, Ea M. Harding-Law, Archie. R. Tuttle, E. A. Bixler, Eva Gardner, Clara Mozier, Alice Parsons and Susan Wood-Powell. Teachers of Music : T. J. Davis, S. C. Harding and *W. H. Critzer. COURSE OF STUDY (ADOPTED 1904). First Year—Freshman. 1st Semester English I Algebra I Physical Geography 2nd Semester English I Algebra I Botany *Deceased. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 213 Elective—Choose One Latin I Arithmetic Review Latin I Commercial Arithmetic Second Year—Sophomore. English II Plane Geometry General History English II Plane Geometry General History Elective—Choose One Latin II Bookkeeping Latin II Bookkeeping Third Year—Junior. English III English III Elective—Choose Three Solid Geometry Bookkeeping Latin III German I Algebra II Commercial Geography Latin III German I Fourth Year—Senior. English IV Physics English IV Physics Elective—Choose Two U. S. History Latin IV German II Civics Latin IV German II Mathematics. Algebra I—Wentworth 's New School, the first eighteen chapters, fivc times a week during the year. Algebra II—Same text, Quadratics, chapters XIX to XXIV inclusive, five times a week during second semester. Plane Geometry—Wentworth 's Plane and Solid Geometry, five books, five times a week for the year. Solid Geometry—Same text, three books, five times a week, first semester. Arithmetic—Wentworth's Advanced Arithmetic, five times a week during the year. Vol. I-14 214 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY Bookkeeping—Business Practice and Commercial Paper, five times a week for the year. Science. Physical Geography—Davis' Elementary, with experiments, five times a week, first semester. Botany—Bergen's Elements, Revised, with experiments and plant analysis, five times a week, second semester. Zoology—Jordan and Kellogg's Animal Life, with field and laboratory work, five times a week, first semester. Physiology—Overton's Applied Advanced, with experiments as outlined, five time a week, second semester. Physics—Carhart and Chute's High School, with experiments, five times a week for the year. History. English History—See under English II. General History—Myers' five times a week during the year. U. S. History—McLaughlin's History of the American Nation, five times a week, first semester. Civics—Fiske 's Civil Government, five times a week, second semester. Latin. Latin I—Collar and Daniell's First Latin, five times a week. Latin II—Four books of Caesar, four times a week ; Dodge and Tuttle's Latin Prose Composition, once a week. Latin III—Six orations of Cicero, including Pro Lege Manilia, four times a week ; D. and T's Composition once a week. Latin IV—Six books of Virgil's Aeneid with Prosody and Mythology, five times a week. English. English I—Part I of Lockwood and Emerson's Composition and Rhetoric, four times a week for the first twenty-four weeks ; Scott's Ivanhoe to be read outside of class, with weekly class reports. Careful class study of Eliot's Silas Marner for the remain- HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 215 ing twelve weeks ; thc Merchant of Venice to be read outside of class with weekly discussions in class of plot, setting, characters, episodes, climaxes, etc. English II—Parts II and III of S. and E's Composition and Rhetoric, four times a week for the first semester, and reports, once a week, from the class concerning their study (outside of class) of Scott's Lady of the Lake, Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and Lowell's Vision of Sir Launfal. As a preparation for further study in English, the class will study Montgomery's English History, five times a week, the second semester. English III—Part IV, exclusive of chapter XIX, of S. and E's Composition and Rhetoric, five times a week for nine weeks; Macaulay's Essay on Milton and his Life of Johnson for remainder of semester; Tennyson's Gareth and Lynette, Lancelot and Elaine, and the Passing of Arthur to be rcad outside of class. Brander Matthews' American Literature five times a week, the second semester. English IV—Halleck 's History of English Literature five times a week, first semester. Burke's Speech on Conciliation with America and Shakespcare's Julius Caesar three times a week, second semester, with semi-weekly reports from the class on Sir Roger de Coverly Papers, Shakespeare's Macbeth, and Irving's Life of Goldsmith. German. German I—The Shorter Eysenbach five times a week for the year. German II—Easy stories and plays of German literature, drill on the rudiments of grammar, and conversational exercises. OHIO CENTRAL COLLEGE. Ohio Central College was located in Iberia, Washington township, Morrow county, a mile and a half west of the Big Four Railroad, on the Mansfield-Marion wagon road and was in operation a little more than a quarter of a century. The entire history of the institution is marked by five periods. The first two antedate the commencement of the college proper. The first period covers the brief history of a select or high school, conducted successfully by the Reverend J. B. Blaney and Mr. Elliott, and by Josiah Alex- 216 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY ander and his brother Samuel. At the commencement of the second period, in 1849, a large two-story brick building was erected, through the liberality mainly of Mr. Hugh Elliott, and the school took the form of a young ladies' seminary, Miss Mary J. Haft acting as Principal. The Female Seminary, as it was called, soon became a mixed school under the care of the Reverend Joseph Andrews. This school continuing but a short time, the property was sold to Dr. Thomas Mills, and by him transferred to the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church of the United States of America. This transfer marks the beginning of the third period. The synod, (PICTURE OF OHIO CENTRAL COLLEGE, IBERIA) in 1854, obtained from the legislature of Ohio a charter with college powers, and the school was organized under the name of Iberia College. This college opened its doors to all classes, without distinction of sex, race or color. This continued till after the war of the rebellion, when the Synod of the Free Presbyterian Church dissolved, and the college passed under the care of the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Mansfield. This marks the beginning of the fourth period of the institution's history. This period came to a close in 1875. During this time the name of the college was changed from Iberia to Ohio Central. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 217 Owing to financial embarrassment, the Mansfield Presbytery relinquished all control and all claims, and the college property was legally transferred in 1875 to a joint-stock company. This company framed a constitution and by-laws, providing that the college be positively Christian in its management, but not sectarian. Nine trustees, belonging to three different denominations, were chosen, and for the last five years the work has been carried on under this new management. Under the administration of the Free Presbyterians, a second building was erected, containing recitation rooms, rooms for the literary societies, and a chapel. The college, with the societies, possessed a library of about four hundred and thirty-five volumes ; also valuable maps, a mineral and geological cabinet, and chemical and astronomical apparatus. The campus contained about five acres, nicely situated, with gardens, shade trees, and grassy lawns. Trustees of the college during the Free Presbyterian administration : Reverend Samuel 'Hindman, Allen McNeal, Richard Hammond, Thomas S. Mills, M. D., Hon. S. P. Henry, Reverend John Rankin, Reverend William Perkins, James Auld, Sr., Archibald Brownlee, James Morrow, Reverend George Gordon, Reverend S. T. Boyd, William Reed, M. D., Reverend M. T. Finney. Trustees during the administration of the Mansfield Presbytery : Reverend R. H. Pollock, D. D., William Dickson, Reverend J. Y. Ashenhurst, Archibald Brownlee, John Finney, Matthew Hindman, Professor Edward F. Reed, Reverend D. H. French, D. D., Allen McNeal, Reverend William Wishart, D. D., Richard Hammond, J. J. McClaren, E. Burt, Esq., Reverend W. A. Campbell, Reverend W. H. French, D. D., and several others whose names cannot be obtained.. Trustees during the last administration : Reverend William Maclaren, D. D., Samuel Nesbit, E. Burt, Esq., John McNeal, Allen McNeal, Enoch Dunham, John Quay, E. J. Crane Esq., John Frater, Reverend John P. Robb, John S. Hunter. The first and only president of the college during the time it was under the care of the Free Presbyterian Synod was the Reverend George Gordon, A. M., a man of sterling worth and strong convictions. He suffered imprisonment in the city of Cleveland for an alleged violation of the Fugitive Slave Law, but before his term expired he was released by the authority of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. Mr. Gordon died in 1868. The same year, perhaps, in which President Gordon died, the college passed under the care of Mansfield Presbytery, and the Reverend James Patterson, D. D., was chosen president. Dr. Patterson came 218 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY from Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he had been for a number of years president of Westminster College. He was president for less than a year, and from Iberia he removed to Iowa, and became pastor of a church. The Reverend W. H. French was chosen president in 1869, and held the office for about two years. His successor was Professor Ed. F. Reed, A. M. He was president for about two years, when he resigned, and accepted a professorship in Monmouth College, Illinois. John A. Ramsay, A. M., a graduate of the Indiana State University, was president pro tempore about one year. And with him ended the United Presbyterian control. After the reorganization of the college, in 1875, as a nonsectarian but Christian institution, the Reverend William Maclaren, D. D., was elected president, and held the position one year, and then removed to Red Wing, Minnesota. After Dr. Maclaren's resignation, the Reverend John P. Robb, A. M., became president. This college was, nine miles north of Mt. Gilead. After an existence of over a quarter of a century, the school was discontinued, and the state bought the property for a "Working Home for the Blind." This was opened June 20, 1887, with G. C. Tressel, of Cleveland, as superintendent, with his wife and daughters as assistant. Besides furnishing the buildings, the state supplied the equipments, trusting that it could be made self sustaining without further aid. It had but few inmates, and was yet experimental, when it was destroyed by fire in 1894. It was not rebuilt and the school ceased to exist. HESPER MOUNT SEMINARY. Hesper Mount Seminary was opened in 1843, under the auspices of Jesse S. and Cynthia Harkness. The pressing need of such an institution gave it a remarkable impetus, and for the first twenty years the longest vacation was one week, making an average of four terms of twelve weeks each per annum. In 1844 the founders purchased land, and in 1845 built a large dwelling and boarding house, with a school room. This building was erected nearly opposite the Friends' meeting house, where the first four terms of the school had been taught. On account of the elevation of the site, the name "Hesper Mount Seminary" was given it. The attendance of this school varied from fifty to over one hundred. The regulations were liberal and benevolent, especially to orphans and to the poor who were striving against adverse circumstances to get an education. The health of Mr. Harkness failing, HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 219 caused the school to be discontinued for six years, and after its resumption the terms were limited to three a year. The scholars came from nearly every state in the Union. The school was discontinued in 1881, after an existence of thirty-eight years, and the man who started the school in 1843, died in 1909, aged ninety-six years During the last weeks of Mr. Harkness' life, the faithful wife, despite her more than ninety PICTURE OF HESPER MOUNT SEMINARY. years, was his almost constant attendant, and after his death her strength failed from being overtaxed. The condition of her system made her an easy victim of pneumonia, and she died just two weeks after her husband's death, respected and beloved by all who knew her Life was full of good things for this couple for a remarkable period of years. THE LATE JESSE S. HARKNESS. The following from the Morrow County Sentinel, of October 7, 1909, is self-explanatory Jesse S. Harkness, Morrow county 's oldest resident, and founder of the famous old Mt. Hesper Seminary died at Alum Creek, Peru township, last. Thursday morning about 8 o'clock. He was ninety-six years of age. For some time his condition had been critical and death was not unexpected. Among the older citizens of Morrow county no one was better known or held a higher place in their esteem. His life was devoted to the establishment and upbuilding of his schools and all over the entire county and indeed the nation are to be found his pupils. They will mourn his death with the deepest sorrow but remember with pleasure the instruction and counsel given in their younger days by Mr. Harkness and his good wife. On Tuesday, September 21st, the couple celebrated their sixty-eighth wedding anniversary at the building which was formerly the Seminary, 220 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY but in which they have made their home since it closed. Many of their former pupils were present at this celebration who will remember with gratitude the privilege of being present at the last anniversary of this remarkable couple, but a few short days before Mr. Harkness was called to his reward. To tell of the life of Mr. Harkness. is to give also the story of that of his estimable wife and the history of Hesper Mt. Seminary. Jesse S. Harkness was born in New Hampshire, July 27, 1813; his wife in Vermont, January 14, 1818. Then came to Marion, now Morrow county in the fall of 1842. For a period of six months immediately following they taught school in a house owned by Samuel Peasley, between Mt. Gilead and Edison. In the spring of the following year they commenced a school in the Friends' brick church on Alum Creek, south of South Woodbury, on the Ashley and Marengo road. PICTURE OF JESSE S. HARKNESS. In 1844 Mr. Harkness began the now historic building, on the hill just south of the church. It was completed in 1845 and dedicated under the name of Hesper Mt. Seminary. For a time the funds from the district school and the state were merged for this work and for twenty years the couple taught four terms of school a year, but a single week of vacation intervening. At the end of twenty years the work was discontinued, but in five years was again resumed for several years. The average attendance was from forty to seventy-five scholars. At this time the Ohio Wesleyan University was just beginning to grow in favor and many students from Morrow county institution attended there. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 221 In 1853 Mr. Harkness with his brother-in-law S. G. Chamberlain, a skilled workman, started a shop for the manufacture of spokes, hubs, wagon work, buggies and sleighs. He was the first to use steam power in the county. Mr. Harkness was above the ordinary as a Bible student. He had read the Bible by courses one hundred and thirty times and averaged, when in health, about thirty-five chapters a day. His life and work will be remembered by a vast army of students who are now occupying important plans in the work of the world. He is survived by a wife who though in her ninety-second year is still bright and affable. The funeral services were held from the Alum Creek church on Sunday at 10 o'clock conducted by the Rev. Isaac Stratton of Columbus. Interment was made in the South Woodbury cemetery. THE ALUM CREEK ACADEMY. The Alum Creek Academy was founded in 1875 by Dr. Clayton W. Townsend, the object being to afford all the advantages of education usually attained in two years at colleges. Dr. Townsend opened his school in a room rented for that purpose, but as it progressed and the interest in it increased, the room was soon found to be too small to accommodate the pupils. The Doctor then bought a school house and moved it to the southeast corner of where the Ashley and Marengo road crosses the Delaware and Mt. Gilead road. It is a very beautiful and plcasant location for a school, being upon the west branch of Alum creek on a plateau over looking the stream and surrounding country. Dr. Townsend refitted the school house by an addition in front, making it two stories high, and cutting of a recitation room above and below. Under his careful and efficient management the school continued to increase. After it had been in operation about three years, Dr Townsend left, for the purpose of completing his education at Haverford College, Pennsylvania, leaving Miss Rachel Ella Levering to succeed him as principal. The great need of the academy was suggested to Dr. Townsend during the interval which occurred at Hesper Mount Seminary, and he was assisted by Samuel Levering, who furnished the building and the beautiful grounds upon which it was located. A new school building was erected in the early eighties. The present principal is Professor Wheeler. 222 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY PRESS AND COUNTY CO-EXTENSIVE. The history of two of our newspapers is co-extensive with the erection of the county in 1848. The Union Register, a paper devoted to the advocacy of the principles of the Democratic party, and to general and loeal views, claims to have been first established, and that claim seems to be correct. John B. Dumble, early in the year 1848 came from Marion county, and established the Democratic Messenger, and published the same for a few years, as the Democratic party was then in the ascendency in the county. He was succeeded by George W. Sharpe, who died in September, 1854, and on his death, his son, George Sharpe, the father of the present member of Congress, Hon. William G. Sharpe, edited the paper for a few years, and those years covered a period of great political agitation and unrest. About 1860 Reuben Niblet took charge of the paper, and the name was changed to Union Register, and that name has continued to this time. William H. Rhodes was proprietor for about one year, but was not successful. Judson H. Beebe formed a joint stock company and under that arrangement the paper was published for about six years, under the editorial management of Hon. H. S. Prophet, a son-in-law of Judge Beebe, and now of Lima Ohio. Samuel Shaffer edited the paper for one year, and on October 18, 1868, Hon. William G. Beebe and his brother, Charles S., took charge of and edited the Union Register. William G. Beebe has ever since been the editor and proprietor, and has made the publishing of the paper a successful enterprise. Carl V. Beebe, a son, has been associate editor since 1905. In the latter part of the year 1848 the Morrow County Sentinel was established by David Watt, under the name of the Whig Sentinel. He had come to Mt. Gilead during the campaign for the county seat. He was a talented man, and it was thought that his brillianey as an editor would give the paper a good start, and it did, although it was a struggle. The Free Soilers at that time had to be counted with, and they gave the paper their influence. Many Democrats in those years broke away from their allegiance to party and about 1854 the "Know Nothings," a secret organization for political purposes, gave their votes to a new party, and against the Democracy. The writer well remembers when he was a lad about fourteen years old, that the next morning after the October election of 1854 when the "Know Nothings," had gained a surprising victory, (now called HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 223 a landslide in politics), and he was with his father, and on the way to Mt. Gilead father and son met Mr. William Williams, an old soldier of the war of 1812, to whose heart Democracy was a very dear subject, and Mr. Bartlett said : "Well Uncle Billy, how has the election gone'?" and Uncle Billy with great disgust, replied: "Oh Franklin township has gone all Hellward!" David Watt continued editor of the Sentinel for three or four years and sold the paper to William P. Durable, a brother to John B. Dumble, the editor of the Democratic Messenger, and, as the struggle for ascendency was now on between these two papers, the contest between them was an exciting one. William P. Durable was editor and proprietor for five years, and in March, 1857, sold the paper to John W. Griffith, who is now its senior editor, and his son, Harry S. Griffith, has been associated with his father in the proprietorship and editorial management since the year 1886. Truly, fifty-four years of editorial life entitles John W. Griffith to be crowned as a veteran editor. These years have been the most exciting and troublous in the history of our country, and during fill that period the Sentinel has been loyal to the country and to the Republican party. In 1854 the name was changed from Whig Sentinel to Mt. Gilead Sentinel as the word "Whig," was no longer a "Mascot" to bring good luck. In 1860 the name became Morrow County Sentinel, and so has remained to this time. Harry Earl Griffith, since January, 1908, has been associate editor, which makes three generations—grandfather, father and grandson—in charge of the Sentinel at this time ; which is a good record. The Morrow County Republican was issued first on July 27, 1905; Oscar A. White editor, and John M. Kinney, publisher. In the initial number these sentiments were announced : "Devoted to Morrow' county, that it may be loyal; keeping close to the people, that it may be useful; defending the rights of citizenship, that it may be patriotic." The paper appealed to the class of people who believe that every person ought to have a fair chance in business. Oscar A. White remained as editor a little over or e year, and then A. J. Mercer took charge, as editor and publisher, November 29, 1906. On January 8, 1908, C. M. and C. H. Bartlett edited and published the paper until November 28, 1908, and J. M. Hoffa has since been its editor and publisher. He is a practical printer, has a well equipped office and his paper is a credit to himself and to the town in which it is published. CHAPTER XI. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. DEMANDS ON THE PIONEER DOCTOR-EARLY PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY- MORROW COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. The early physicians of Morrow county shared the hardships and privations of the early settlers, joined them in their-joys and sorrows, helped them to build their rude homes and to defend them against the natives of the forest. No other class of men have done more to promote the good of mankind and develop the resources of a country than the physicians, and wherever they are found they are uniformly on the side of order, morality, science and religion. DEMANDS ON THE PIONEER DOCTOR. It is impossible for us to fully appreciate the primitive manner in which the earliest of these men practiced medicine. They had to be in a degree pharmacists and practical botanists. Roots and herbs were an important part of their armamentarium. Infusions and decoctions were the order of the day. The sugar-coated pill was then unknown. In fact the life of the modern physician is sugar-coated when compared with that of the pioneers. These men were obliged to be fertile in resources, apt in expedients and ingenious in improvising. It was related by Mr. Geo. S. Bruce that in an early day when typhoid fever first became epidemic, every one siezed with the malady died, and the doctors in every case resorted to bleeding the patient. He became sick and called a doctor who came and said "Why you have typhoid fever," and proceeded' to get his lancet ; but Mr. Bruce said, "No you shall not bleed me," and he was the first one to recover. In looking over the lives of these men we find general characteristics that are worthy of thought. They were brave and active, energetic and progressive beyond their time. On their lonely - 224 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 225 travels in the earlier years they had to face the treachery of the Indians and the hunger of the wolves. The more the lives of these men are held up to view, the more sterling qualities we find to admire. It is the purpose of this chapter to preserve a brief record of the medical practitioners of the county, so far as is practicable. PHYSICIANS OF THE COUNTY. Dr. David Bliss was the first practicing physician in Morrow county. He settled in South Bloomfield township prior to 1820. He seemed well adapted for the hardships of a pioneer doctor, as he was of robust constitution. For a number of years before his death, which occurred before the Civil war, he paid more attention to farming than to his profession. Dr. Richard H. Randall was the second physician in the county, and located in Mt. Gilead about 1827. He continued the practice in Mt. Gilead until 1840, when he removed to Williamsport, then to North Woodbury, and subsequently to one of the western states, where he died. Dr. Alfred Butters settled in Bennington township at a very early date and built a log cabin, one eorner of which he used as an office. His practice became quite extensive, and his face was familiar for miles around. He usually went dressed in a complete suit of deer skin. He was very intelligent and a good talker, and was in the habit of supplying the preacher's place when that dignitary was absent. He preached in his deer skin suit at one end of the room, while his rifle, brought with him to church, remained at the other. One Sunday, in 1819, he started to church with his rifle on his shoulder, and, having proceeded about half way, saw a large bear in front of him traveling along at a rapid rate. He raised his gun and fired and the bear fell dead upon the earth. The animal was conveyed to his cabin, and the hunter reached the meeting house in time to conduct services. Dr. R. E. Lord was an early physician in the county and the first in the town of Chesterville. He was a man of rather delicate constitution, yet was possessed with enough energy and vim to enable him to perform the arduous duties of a pioneer physician. He located in Chesterville in 1830, and continued in the profession there until 1860, when he withdrew from general practice. He died in 1864. Narratives of this doctor's love and self-sacrifice are yet related. 226 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY Dr. T. P. Glidden was the first physician to locate in the town of Westfield, and he commenced his practice there in 1833. He later removed to Cardington where he died. Dr. Jesse S. Hull settled in North Woodbury in 1842, where he practiced medicine until 1857, when on account of failing health he retired, and soon after died of lung trouble. Dr. L. B. Vorhies was born at Ithaca, New York, January 18, 1821. He came to Ohio when a mere lad with his widowed mother and located in Morrow county' near Williamsport. He was a self-made man ; he blazed his pathway through life by his own efforts. Receiving a good common school education he taught many terms of school in the county; read medicine with Dr. Lewis H. Cary in Mt. Gilead, and graduated from Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Vorhies first marriage in 1848 was to Miss Eliza Straw, whose death occurred in March, 1853. Two children were .born to them both of whom are deceased. Ada, who died in infancy, and William, June 26, 1906. In March, 1854 he was again married to Mrs. Emily Cook Morehead. Three daughters were born, all of whom are living. He commenced the practice of his profession in the village of Iberia, Ohio, and after a few years' residence there moved to Mt. Gilead, where he had an extensive practice, both in the town and surrounding country. The doctor was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and a ruling elder at the time of his death, which occurred June .3, 1891, at his home in Mt. Gilead where he had been a resident for over forty consecutive years. The daughters by the second marriage are Mildred Roberta, wife of Hon Wm. G. Beebe ; Mary Adella, wife of Professor Parker, and Alice Vorhies. Dr. Henry H. Shaw, who died of consumption August 20, 1896, "at his home in Mt. Gilead, had practiced at that place since being mustered out of the Union army in 1865. He was born in Franklin township, this county, in 1825, a son of David and Elizabeth (Hardenbrook) Shaw. Dr. Shaw began the study of medicine with the firm of Lord, Swingle & Brown in 1850, and, the partnership having been dissolved one year later, he was then with Drs. Hewitt & Swingle three years. After attending a course of lectures at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and graduated at the medical college of Columbus in 1854, he began the practice of medicine at New Hartford, Butler county, Iowa, remaining there until 1859. From that time until the spring of 1861, he practiced medicine in Mt. Liberty, Knox county, Ohio, and then removed to Johnsville, this county. In October of that year the doctor enlisted as a private HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 227 in the One Hundred and Eighty Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company I. About the middle of January, 1865, he was cited before the examining board and appointed assistant surgeon of the One. Hundred and Eighty-Fourth Regiment and held that position until mustered out of the service in 1865. Since that time Dr. Shaw had followed the practice of medicine at Mt. Gilead. He was first married to C. Amanda Chamberlain, a daughter of Squire C. H. Chamberlain. Of their four children one daughter, Ola A., who is an invalid, is now living. The doctor's second marriage was to Mrs. Shipman, who survives him. The funeral services were held Sabbath afternoon, Rev, J. T. Lewis of the Baptist church preached the sermon, after which the remains were laid at rest with the ever impressive Masonic ceremony. The members of Hurd Post and W. R. C. also attended in a body. Dr. Joseph McFarland, of Blooming Grove, this eounty, has been in practice nearly sixty years. He was born August 29, 1827 ; commenced the study of medicine with Dr. John Main, of Mansfield, in 1847 and later took a course at the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, practicing to some extent prior to his graduation from that institution February 19, 1852. He commenced his permanent practice at Blooming Grove, Morrow county, April 13, 1852, and has since resided there, active in his profession. Being a homeopathist, he did not resort to phlebotomy, even in the pioneer days when it was "all the fashion." Dr. McFarland's cotemporaries were Dr. C. S. Haswell and Dr. Brown, the latter residing at Blooming Grove where he settled there in 1852. Later came Drs. McCune, Clutter, Russel, Carter, Clouse, Jones, Lewis, Whitney, McMillan, Harding and Canis. Chesterville was the location of Dr. John McCrory, who eame in 1840; Dr. Hamilton Main, in 1847, and Dr. William T. Brown, in 1849. After about ten years' praetice there .the health of Dr. McCrory failed and he had to discontinue his practice. He died in 1872 of cancer. Dr. Main was in active practice until his death, which occurred in 1867, of pneumonia. Dr. Brown practiced in Chesterville and vicinity until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he offered his services as a surgeon and was accepted. He died while in the service. Dr. A. S. Weatherly located in Cardington about the year 1862, and began the practice of medicine. He was a man of great energy and with mental and social endownments. He died of consumption. Dr. Eli S. Sylvester settled near Pulaskiville, in 1842, where he 228 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY practiced his profession for about twenty years. Dr. Cook commenced to practice in the same town in 1870, but after six or seven years of service in that line, he turned his attention to the ministry and became a minister of the Christian church. Dr. Charles Kelly is also worthy of mention, as a local practitioner. Dr. D. M. L. Singrey practiced medicine in Perry township at an early date and lived on the old homestead where his father had settled, in 1816. Dr. Thomas Richards was the first practicing physician in Sparta. Drs. Patee and Sapp were the first physicians in Peru township, and Dr. Johns practiced in North Bloomfield township. Dr. William Farquer settled in Chesterville in 1834, and after practicing there for some time removed to Mt. Vernon. Dr. Richards was a native of Vermont, and came to Morrow county in 1830, locating at Sparta, where he was in general practice for about ten years, when he removed to the western part of the state. Dr. L. H. Cork located in Mt. Gilead about 1838, and in 1854 removed to the west. Dr. Fred Swingley commenced the practice of medicine in Chesterville. He later removed to Mt. Gilead and then to Bucyrus. Dr. John Steikel located in Mt. Gilead in 1832, but did not remain long. About the same time, Dr. Welch settled in Mt. Gilead but he only remained about five years. Dr. D. L. Swingley commenced the practice of medicine in Chesterville in 1840, and continued for a number of years, when he removed to Mt. Gilead in 1863. Dr. S. M. Hewett, a native of Vermont, located in Chesterville, where he practiced medicine until he removed to Mt. Gilead, where he continued the practice of his chosen profession. When the Civil war came on he entered the service, and remained in the service of his country until the close of the war. He then located at Cincinnati. Dr. L. H. Pennock commenced the practice of medicine at South Woodbury in 1843. Being a man of great energy, he soon obtained an extensive practice. He later removed to Cardington and entered the banking business. Drs. White and McClure located at Cardington, and practiced medicine there for some years. Dr. White died in 1861. Dr. William Geller located at Mt. Gilead in 1840, and after remaining about fifteen years, removed to California. Dr. Mansier located in Mt. Gilead about the same time. Dr. Frank Griffith commenced the practice of medicine at Iberia about 1842, and after remaining HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 229 there a few years, went west. Dr. William Reed also practiced in Iberia at an early day. Dr. John Talmage Beebe settled in Mt. Gilead about the year 1845, where he continued in active professional life until 1864 when he removed to Iowa. Drs. Duff and Weatherby commenced the practice of medicine about 1845 at Williamsport. They remained there a year or more, when Dr. Weatherby removed west, and Dr. Duff, after a few more years in the neighborhood, removed to Galion, where he died. Dr. Eaton settled in Sparta about the year 1842, where he practiced for about twenty-five years. Dr. Alfred Burns also located in Sparta about the year 1846. where he practiced for about twenty years, and died in 1864 of erysipelas. Drs. Shaw and Page located in Sparta, the latter in 1843, and the former in 1858. Dr. James Page practiced in Sparta but a short time, and then removed to Mansfield, where he died. Dr. Shaw's health gave way and he died in 1864 of consumption. Dr. Samuel Page located at Pagetown in about 1839. He continued there in practice for thirty years, when he turned his attention to other pursuits. Dr. Doty located at Westfield in about 1859. Later he went into the army, where he died. Dr. George Granger, who became a physician of that place in 1838, died at Mt. Gilead in 1860 while county treasurer, and Dr. E. Luelln, who studied with him and was his partner has died but recently. Dr. J. M. Lord, a son of Dr. R. E. Lord, commenced the practice of medicine in Chesterville in 1862, and continued until 1870, when he died of pulmonary hemorrhage. Other practitioncrs at that place who may be mentioned : Drs. W. C. Hodges and J. D. Varney. Dr. Newcomb loeated in Johnsville about the year 1842, ana after about ten years practice there removed to Westerville. Dr. H. H. Shaw located at Johnsville in 1858, where he continued to practice until 1865, when he removed to Mt. Gilead. Dr. Denison settled at Johnsville about the time Dr. Shaw moved to Mt. Gilead. Dr. Ruhl, Sr., practiced for a number of years in North Woodbury, and his son, Dr. Rhul, Jr., located at West Point in 1877. Dr. Howell located at Williamsport in 1868. Dr. H. R. Kelley located in West Point in 1856. Later he removed to Galion. Dr. James W. Williams eommenced the practice of medicine in Chesterville in 1864. About the same date, Dr. Whitford located in Chesterville. Dr. J. A. Thoman located at Williamsport in 1876. Dr. Calvin Gunsaulus commenced to practice at Sparta in 1864. He later removed to Mt. Gilead. Dr. Bliss, Jr., a son of Dr. David Vol. 1-15 230 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY Bliss, commenced the practiee at Sparta in 1862. Dr. Bushrod D. Buxton located here in 1871, and Dr. J. H. Tinis is also well known to the fraternity. Dr. H. S. Green located in Cardington in 1868 and Dr. J. L. Williams at the same place in 1876. Dr. H. E. Conner located in the same town in 1877. Dr. J. N. Thatcher located at Denmark in 1870.. Dr. Miller commenced the practice at West Point. Dr. Tucker located in Mt. Gilead about the year 1865, where he is still residing. Dr. Coble commenced his professional career in Johnsville in 1868. Dr. Morgan located at Westfield, and Dr. W. C. Bennet in Iberia, in partnership with Dr. Wm. Reed. Dr. F. C. Shaw located at South Woodbury in 1870, and Dr. T. J. Williams at Marengo in 1875.     Dr. Merriman also settled in Marengo, as well as Drs. C. M. Eaton and F. E. Thompson. Dr. A. D, James commenced the practice of medicine in Mt. Gilead, in the spring of 1880, in partnership with Dr. D. L. Swingley. Dr. Howard commenced his labors at Marengo about 1876. Dr. S. Shaw located in Marengo in 1870: Dr. Aaron Neff established a good practice at Williamsport. Dr. Paxton practiced at Iberia in its early history and among its other worthy practitioners may be mentioned Drs. J. M. Briggs, T. S. Mills and D, B. Virtue. Dr. Charles Kelley began his practice in 1846 at Williamsport. He later removed to the neighborhood of Mt. Gilead and then removed west. Dr. J. L. Graves is also identified with medical practice at Williamsport. Dr. John Ressley practiced medicine at Cardington for thirty years or more. Dr. J. W. Russell, Jr., located at Johnsville in 1859, where he practiced until his health failed him. Dr. Alf McConica practiced in South Woodbury until his health failed, when he removed west, where he died. Dr. J. F. Vigor located at Levering Station—now Edison—in 1878. Drs. W. H. Lane and S. Ewing commenced their practice at Cardington, about 1875-6. Dr. J. M. Randolph commenced praetice in the neighborhood of Marengo in about 1840. Dr. Isaac H. Pennock practiced at Cardington from 1863 to 1875 ; other practitioners worthy of mention, Drs. Theodore Glidden, G. G. Hackedorny, J. L. Williams, Z. M. Clyne, C. H. Neal and Joseph Watson. Dr. McClernand located near Bloomfield in 1842. He was followed by Drs. Hubbell, Mendenhall and Hess. This list Of pioneer physicians is as complete as possible, and any omissions which may be noted have occurred, not intentionally, but from lack of information. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 231 MORROW COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. A medical society was formed in Mt. Gilead about the year 1850. A general call of the physicians of the county had been made, and the following physicians responded : Drs. I. H. Pennock, H. R. Kelley, Hamilton Main, Charles Kelley, S. M. Hewitt, W. T. Brown, James M. Briggs and D. L. Swingley. After some preliminary work, an organization was effected and Dr. J. M. Briggs was elected president. A number of meetings were held, but finally the organization failed to be kept up. In 1867, the old soeiety having been declared dead, a new one was organized, with new constitution and by-laws. The following officers were elected : Dr. I. H. Pennock,, president; Drs. J. M. Lord and D. L. Swingley, vice presidents, and Dr. A. S. Weatherby, secretary. The society continued to flourish, until the failure of Dr. Weatherby's health rendered him unable to attend the meetings. . An indifference then grew up on the part of the members, and on the 14th of July, 1870, the last meeting of the association was held, at which there were present but five members. Another meeting was appointed for the 25th of. August, but when the day came, there was not a quorum present, and further effort to keep the society alive was abandoned. It seems that after a lapse of nearly five years, a few of the old members met at the court house for the purpose of again reorganizing the medical society of the county. The old constitution and by-laws of the previous association were adopted with few amendments, and the following officers elected : Dr. Gunsalus, president; D. L. Swingley and D. A. Howell, vice presidents ; H. S. Green, secretary ; and H. H. Shaw, treasurer. The next meeting was at Cardington, August 19, 1875. There seems to have been another break in the society, as the next meeting after this was held in August, 1877. This meeting took place in Cardington, and, upon again organizing a medical society, proceeded to elect officers, as follows : Dr. H. S. Green, president; Drs. Connor and Tucker, vice presidents ; Dr. J. L. Williams, secretary ; and Dr. Gunsalus, treasurer. The old constitution and laws were again adopted for their government, and used until June 7, 1878, when a new constitution was adopted. At the meeting in October, 1878, the following officers were elected : H. S. Green, president; Drs. Gunsalus and Miller, vice presidents ; Dr. Williams, re-elected secretary, and Dr. Tucker, treasurer. The meetings of the society 232 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY now occurred regularly, and, at the next annual meeting, Dr. Miller, of Iberia, was elected president, and Dr. Williams re-elected secretary. The society now seems to be permanently established, and at the recent meeting (March, 1911) the following officers were elected: J. C. McCormick, president ; E. C. Sherman, vice president; J. H. Jackson, secretary ; and R C. Spear, treasurer. Dr. W. C. Bennett was selected as delegate to the state meeting to be held in June. CHAPTER XII. MT. GILEAD AND VICINITY. FIRST FOREST LANDS TAKEN UP CLEARING OFF THE FORESTS-FIRST PERMANENT SETTLERS-WHETSTONE LAID OUT-THE YOUNG AND HARRIS FAMILIES-HOW THE PIONEERS LIVED--NATHAN NICKOLS, JR., AND DESCENDANTS-OTHER PIONEER FAMILIES AND CITIZENS-DISTANT PRODUCE MARKETS-MT. GILEAD AS IT IS-RAILROADS AND INDUSTRIES. By. Robert F. Bartlett. At the commencement of the nineteenth century the lands which afterwards constituted Morrow county were one vast un broken forest, and Mt. Gilead was not yet founded. The forests in the vicinity were very remarkable on the second quarter-section, east of that on which the village is now located, and being the northeast quarter section 1, .township 14, and range 21, on the hills north of Sams creek, was the center of the most gigantic yellow poplar forest trees ever found in Ohio, among the beech, and hard maple trees. These poplar giants on this quarter section stood every ten or twelve rods apart, and were from three to seven feet in diameter, and from sixty to seventy feet without limb. FIRST FOREST LANDS TAKEN UP. When the writer was a small lad, he frequently went through this forest, and was greatly moved by the magnificence of these old trees. His maternal grandfather, Nathan Nickols, Jr., of Loudoun county, Virginia, entered or bought this, and the quarter section next west, among other lands, from the United States, about 1823, and on the 30th day of July, 1829, the first quarter section named, containing the big trees, was aparted, or set off to the writer's mother, as a. part of her ancestral estate, and appraised at $125. Asa Mosher, Charles Webster, and Abraham Newson, who were among the first settlers, were the commissioners who made, this appraisement. - 233 - 234 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY On the hills southeast of Mt. Gilead and south of Sam's creek, were mainly beech, and sugar trees, an occasional poplar and many very large white oak trees. Further eastward one mile were many chestnut trees, of large size, in the woods. Westward the forests were chiefly walnut, burr oak and elm trees. All the forests were unbroken and uncleared, in the year 1800, herds of deer, and wolves, an occasional bear, and flocks of wild turkeys roamed through these forests, and were game for the Indians, and the earliest white settlers who came a few years afterwards. To the west of Morrow county, as it exists, lay the prairies or Sandusky plains, partly in Marion and Crawford counties. From "Howes' History of Ohio," we learn that Mt. Vernon was laid out in 1805, Delaware in 1808, Marion in 1821 and Bucyrus in 1822, all by the owners of the land. Newark was laid out in 1801 and the first hewed log house built on the public square in 1802. Mansfield was settled about 1809 and two block houses were built near the public square in 1812. So it is a historic fact that the county which is now Morrow was, in 1820, an unbroken forest. The first settlers endured great hardships and privations, and it is almost beyond belief how they existed for the first few years after their arrival in the woods. They had only the bare necessities of life. They were favored by the abundance of game, and they were trained to be good marksmen with a rifle. Two men at Whetstone, Lewis Hardenbrook and John Nickols, were noted hunters. The first thing to be done, was to clear away the trees, and build a cabin of logs, which was usually located near a natural spring of water. Then a patch, or a few acres, were cleared, usually along a creek, where the soil was the richest for corn, potatoes, buckwheat and other crops, as the clearing up process advanced. CLEARING OFF THE FORESTS. A description of the process of clearing off the forests, and producing the fertile farms that we now see throughout the country, may be of interest to this generation. In that day timber trees were of small value and the problem was, how to get rid of them the most easily ; for settlers wanted the lands cleared as quickly as possible for crops. First a few acres up to twenty or twenty-five, were in common parlance "deadened." That is, the owner, his stalwart sons and hired "hands," went into the woods, and with axes (in HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 235 July or August) "girdled" each tree by cutting a ring around it, through the bark. Very frequently, the leaves on the trees thus girdled, wilted and turned yellow and sere, before frost came, the same fall of the year. The following spring very few trees came out in leaf, most of them dead and beginning to decay. Then the trees were chopped down and cut into convenient lengths for logging, or two dry logs were placed across a third log, and the latter was "niggered" off, or burned off. In the meantime the "brush," or limbs of the trees, were burned in "brushheaps," and the "deadening" or "clearing" made ready for the "log-rolling," to which all the neighbors were invited, and a regular "frolic" was had. LOG-ROLLING. On the day fixed the neighbors came with yokes of oxen, and occasionally teams of horses, and log chains, and the clearing was divided into two or three sections as nearly equal as possible. Leaders were then chosen, and the men divided into sides, or parties; each side was assigned a section and the fun commenced. The members of each party exerted themselves to the utmost to first finish their section, and build the most log heaps. Usually all was hilarious, and the work done in good humor, but sometimes a fist fight occurred. Down to 1840 a full whiskey bottle was expected at every "log-rolling" or corn husking, but on the eighth day of April, of that year, a half dozen of immoderate drinkers met together in Baltimore, Maryland, and, pledging each other to total abstinence from intoxicating drinks, started the "Washingtonian Temperance Movement," which in the next few years swept over the country, and checked the custom of having whiskey at log-rollings, corn huskings, and other frolics. The last log-rolling the writer attended was, as water boy, when he was nine years old, and upon that occasion his father told the neighbors, when invited, that if he could not have a log-rolling without whiskey he would not have one. He had the log-rolling. That was all within two miles of Mt. Gilead. During the two or three years that a "clearing" was in operation, the "deadening" was a lair for rabbits, opossums and other "varmints." 236 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY FIRST PERMANENT SETTLERS. The first settler near Mt Gilead was Lewis Hardenbrook in 1817, and his brother Ralph came soon after and they built a cabin on the one hundred and sixty acres of land immediately south of Mt. Gilead, which includes the Agricultural Society Fair Grounds and hills beyond, as well as all the land east to the Sunbury road. These two men cleared off this farm. Their father, Lodwick Hardenbrook, a soldier of the Revolution, had entered this land from the United States. It is the southeast quarter of section 2, township 13, range 21. Lodwick Hardenbrook sold this farm, in 1823, to Nathan Nickols, Jr., of Loudoun county, Virginia, for $1,100, and conveyed it to him by deed bearing date February 24, 1826; acknowledged before Isaac Blazer, justice peace, of Marion county, Ohio, with Joseph Worsley and Abraham Hardenbrook as witnesses. Lodwick Hardenbrook died February 14, 1845, aged nearly ninety years, and his grave is in the old cemetery at Mt. Gilead. Asa Mosher and. Jonathan Wood came to the township in 1818, and settled about two miles south of the location of Mt. Gilead, with large families, and commenced the Quaker settlement. Isaac Dewitt came in 1819, and was afterwards in his own house, killed by lightning. Before the year 1825, nearly all of the following settled in the vicinity of Mt. Gilead : Allen Kelly, Samuel Straw, William and James Montgomery, John Hardenbrook, Isaac Blazer, James Bennett, Charles Roswell and Marvin S. Webster, James Beatty, Joseph Worsley, Henry Ustick, Alban Coe, John and Albert Nickols (these last three in 1823), Abraham and Joseph P. Newson, Fred Loy, James Johnston, Sarah Campbell, Rufus Dodd, Hiram Channel!, Allen Eccles, Alexander Crawford and Eli Johnston. These settlers came from Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Maryland, and the New England states. About these times Jonathan Chapman, called Johnny Apple-seed, was a visitor to every settlement in central Ohio. WHETSTONE LAID OUT. In September, 1824, Judge Jacob Young, of Knox county, Ohio, was the owner of the quarter section of land on which the village is now mainly built. On the 30th day of that month he laid out eighty lots, about the south square, and the plat of these eighty was bounded on the north by Center street ; on the east by a line ex- HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 237 tended south from Walnut street and the length of two lots east of the South square to the old cemetery ; on the south by the alley running west, and by South street to Rich street ; and on the west by Rich street. The first addition of seventy lots including the North public square, was by Henry Ustick, who was a prominent man. Because the village was laid out by Jacob Young, it was called Youngstown until 1823, when on the petition of a majority of its citizens, the Ohio, legislature changed the name to Mt. Gilead, which name was suggested by Daniel James, a native of Londoun county, Virginia, wherein was a town of that name. Jacob Young, the founder of the village, has yet many descendants living in it, and it is proper to give his ancestry, in cne line, as far back as is known. James Harris, one of. Jacob Young's great-grandfathers, was born at the City of Bristol, England, about the year 1700, and about the age of twenty-five came to the state of New Jersey, and there married a Miss Boleyn. To them, at Essex county, New Jersey, one daughter and six sons were born. One of the latter was George Harris, who was a soldier in the Continental army in the American Revolution and at the battle of Monmouth. The daughter was Abigal Harris, and she married Nathaniel Mitchell, at Essex county, New Jersey, August 30, 1752 ; five daughters and three sons were born. The oldest of these was Hannah Mitchell, born August 26, 1753, and she married John Young at Essex county, New Jersey. Of their eight children was Jacob Young, born in Essex county, New Jersey, November 27, 1774, and the founder of Mt. Gilead. The family of John and Hannah Mitchell Young came to Knox county about 1.803. Mary Young, a sister to Jacob married Robert Dalrymple. THE YOUNG AND HARRIS FAMILIES. Jacob Young of this sketch, married Tryphena Beers, and to them eight children were born, one of whom, Susan, married Aaron N. Talmage. To them were born Ann Eliza, who married Thomas H. Dalrymple, of Mt. Gilead ; Maria, who married Lewis H. Rowland, of Mt. Gilead ; M. Burr Talmage, president of the National Bank of Morrow county ; and Cornelia R., who married Jacob W. Dalrymple, and they reside at Montrose, Colorado. Abigail Harris Mitchell first came from Essex county, New Jersey, to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and thence to Knox 238 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY county, where she died March 21, 1822, aged ninety-one years, at the home of her son, William Mitchell. The Dalrymple families, of Morrow county, are descended from Mary Young, a sister to Jacob Young, the founder of Mt. Gilead, who married Robert Dalrymple, and are of the Harris blood. The foregoing family history is largely obtained from the history of the Harris family, published in 1888 by Sarah J. Harris Keifer, Green Springs, Wisconsin. Two other families of Mt. Gilead are descended from James Harris through George Harris, his son, and the Revolutionary soldier, and brother to Abigail Harris Mitchell, named above. George Harris, son of James Harris, of Bristol, England, married Hannah Tunis in Essex county, New Jersey, about 1745, and to them eleven children were born. In 1787 he moved with his family to Washington county, Pennsylvania, and there his daughter, Pamelia Harris, was born October 17, 1788. There she grew to young womanhood, and March 4, 1813, married Joseph Miller, a soldier of the War of 1812, and to them were born one daughter, and six sons. Two of these sons came to Mt. Gilead, in an early day (Nehemiah and William), and there they died and their children reside, viz : Mrs. Robert F. Bartlett and Mrs. Lemuel H. Breese, daughters ; and Gilbert E., John F., Parker J., William Edwin, and Melville D., sons of Nehemiah and Plympton T., son of William. EARLY POSTMASTERS AND LETTERS. Charles Webster built the first cabin in Mt. Gilead in December, 1824, on the northeast corner lot of the South publie square, and he and Ann Worsley, a native of England, were the first couple to be married in Gilead township. She died in 1833. He was the first postmaster in Whetstone, and had the postoffice in his cabin. The mail which consisted of letters only, was carried once a week from Mt. Vernon to Marion, and back. Papers in those early times were distributed from the printing office. That is, subscribers called for them or they were distributed by the printers. No envelopes were used for letters until 1847. The letters were written on a sheet of foolscap paper, then folded over lengthwise, about one-third of the width from each side ; then the ends were tucked in, one in the other, and sealed with a sealing wax wafer. The address, the post mark, and the amount of postage (which was from five to twenty-five cents, according to the distance and to the num- HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 239 ber of sheets in a letter) were all endorsed on the letter. Postage was not required to be prepaid, until 1855. Postage stamps were first used in 1847. If the sender did not pay the postage, on letters sent previous to 1855, then the receiver of the letter paid it. The postmaster frequently charged postage on his book account, if it was not paid in money, which was searce, or in produce. In 1845 postage was reduced to five cents for three hundred miles and under, and ten cents for greater distances. In 1851 postage was made three cents for three thousand miles, prepaid, otherwise five cents ; and was doubled for greater distances. In 1863 postage on letters was made three cents per ounce, and in 1883 two cents. The writer has a letter postmarked from Mt. Gilead, April 6, 1832, written by his grandmother, Sarah Thomas Nickols, to her mother, Martha Davis Thomas, in Virginia, on which the postage is eighteen and three-fourth cents. John Roy was the seeond postmaster, at Mt. Gilead, and the postoffice was in his store on the south side of the South square. HOW THE PIONEERS LIVED. In December, 1824, when Charles Webster built the first cabin in Whetstone, a few settlers had bought lands in the woods in the vicinity, and they all helped each other, to build, and in every other way. For many years it was an ideal society as ever existed in any country. The simplicity of the lives of these settlers was complete. The outfit for settler was a rifle with flint lock musket (no percussion caps yet), bullet molds and lead ; an axe, f row, saw and auger, maul and iron wedge. That the girls and boys of this generation may, as nearly as possible, know how their ancestors lived and struggled to make this country what it is, let me describe the building of a cabin, whieh was the initial work. When a cabin was to be built, the settler cut the trees of uniform size into lengths he desired his cabin to be, usually about thirty feet long, with width of from twenty to twenty-five feet. These logs were dragged up to the place where the cabin was to be built, where four granite boulders, or "nigger-heads," were imbedded in the ground for the four corners of the building. Then two logs laid lengthwise were fitted on these corner stones; both ends of each were beveled to present a right angled upper edge and the two cross, or end logs, were cut so that the cut would dovetail or fit these beveled upper edges of the ends of the 240 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY PICTURES: SCENES NEAR THE “OLD MILL,” MT. GILEAD HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 241 lower logs. Then the logs, or sleepers for the floor, were notched in. At eaeh corner of the cabin was a man to fashion each log ; as the other helpers pushed it up on skids, laid up for that purpose. After the first log, as each tier of logs went up, spaces were left for doors and windows, as well for an immense fireplace and outside chimney. At the top of the first story joists were notched in for an upper floor, and the tiers of logs carried a few feet higher for the upstairs. Then the gable ends were carried higher, and joists of smaller logs to sustain the roof were notched in until finally the ridge-pole was reached. Clapboards constituted the roof, and they were weighted down by heavy-weight poles, held in place every two or three feet by blocks of wood. Nails were not to be had, and the weight poles answered, to hold the roof on. The floors were made of 'puncheons." And what are puncheons you ask ? I go to Webster's Dietionary, and I find several definitions, with meanings widely different, but one peculiar to the United States. It says : "A split log, or heavy slab, with the face smoothed ; as, a floor made of puncheons." Webster quotes, as his authority, a noted American lexicographer. You may believe they were not very smooth floors, but very solid. A ladder was the means of reaching the upstairs, through a corner space in the upper floor. The outside chimney was, at bottom, built with stones or bog ore, and the top, with rough puncheons, and daubed with clay mortar. No panes of glass were to be had, and oiled paper or skins of animals were made translucent to let in some light. Then the spaces between the logs were chinked and daubed with clay mortar, and the cabin was finished. No people were more happy and contented than the pioneers in the forest, notwithstanding their privations. Both sexes 'wore coon-skin caps, and moecasins ; the women linsey-woolsey dresses and the men buckskin breeches. In later years a hewed log house was a luxury. No lumber was to be had, and saw mills became a necessity and there was one or more on every stream. Grist mills, as they were then called, were very important. Henry Ustich built the first one, also a sawmill on Whetstone creek, southwest of the village. William Timanus also built both a grist and sawmill on Whetstone creek, northeast of the village, and later Richard and Nathan Howe built a flour-mill east of the village, on Sam's creek. William Cooper's mill was built still later, and there was also also a sawmill, the water power of which came from the dam for Cooper's mill. The 242 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY mills of Nathan N. House and William Cooper are yet in operation, but of the others scarce a vestige remains. No leather was brought in and as a result tanneries were built in every neighborhood ; two at Whetstone, one at Kelly's, two miles east, one at Cardington and others elsewhere. To these the settlers took their skins to be tanned, and after several months got their leather and took it to the shoemaker to have shoes made for the family, or to the harness maker for harness. It was better than is now made in the great tanneries, at Napa, California, Chicago, Illinois, and other places south and east. A woolen mill was built on East Marion street about 1835, by Manna Thompson, and the motor power was a tread wheel about forty feet in diameter, set some eighty-five degrees from the perpendicular and operated by a span of horses tied to -a bar, who walked and thus ran the wheel. To this mill the settlers took their wool and received rolls for spinning, or cloth for garments. It was operated first by Thompson ; then by Cooper and Sackett; and last by Stevenson and Meeker, with improved motor power. That old tread-wheel was a wonder in the writer's boyish eyes. About 1866 this old woolen mill was converted into a carriage factory, operated by James and William M. Carlisle, and destroyed by fire about 1880. NATHAN. NICKOLS JR., AND DESCENDANTS. Referring to the earliest settlers, Nathan. Nickols, Jr., came from Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1823, on horseback and bought of Lodwick Hardenbrook, a soldier of the Revolution, the southeast quarter of section 2, township 13, range 21, which was partly cleared by Lodwick's sons, Lewis and Ralph, for the consideration of one thousand one hundred dollars. This one hundred and sixty acres lies immediately south of Mt. Gilead. Nickols also entered from the United States, section 1 in same range and township, lying east of section 2, and other lands amounting in all to nine hundred and sixty acres. He returned to Virginia and the same year his sons, John Nickols and wife, and Albert Nickols and daughter, Ruth and her husband Alben Coe, Sr., came to Whetstone and settled on those lands. John Nickols and wife located on the one hundred and sixty acres next east from Whetstone, where he built a cabin on the west side of Whetstone creek on the hill and near a spring of water, about fifty rods north of the East bridge. Alben Coe, Sr., and HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 243 wife built their cabin on the one hundred and sixty acres which includes the stone quarry. Albert Nickols settled on the southeast quarter of section 1 and each of these three children accepted the one hundred and sixty acres -settled on as his patrimony. John and Albert were rovers, and in a few years sold out, and both went to Missouri. John, in 1847, and Albert, in 1848, were soldiers in the war with Mexico. Nathan Nickols, Jr., the father, came again in 1825, returned again to Virginia, and died suddenly in Londoun county that state March 21, 1827, leaving his widow, Sarah Thomas Nickols, and twelve children, three in Ohio, and nine in Virginia. He was a slaveholder, and owned two slaves, but by his last will freed them and they were brought to, and were settled in Belmont county, Ohio. The heroic conduct of the widow in this emergency, fairly illustrates the heroism of the mothers of those times. Nathan had planned to emigrate to Ohio, and to give each child one hundred and sixty acres of land. The widow was advised to give up the emigration, but she said "she believed Nathan had divine guidance in making his plans, and she would do her best to carry them out," and during the summer of 1827 she loaded the remaining nine children (the youngest of whom was only one year old) into covered wagons, with provisions for the journey of many days ; took the road west through Smeker's Gap, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and came through the Allegheny mountains, from Cumberland, Maryland, on the National road, to the Ohio river ; and thence through an almost trackless forest to Whetstone, and the "Land of Promise." The widow, soon after her arrival; had a brick house built, on the spot where John Dawson's house is now located, for which Nathan, in his last will, bequeathed one thousand dollars. She caused to be planted, .west of the house, an orchard of apple trees; got from the nurseries of "Johnny Appleseed ;" and from one of these trees, the apple of choice flavor, called "The Mt. Gilead Beauty," was produced and propagated by Charles Albach and other nurserymen of Mt. Gilead. The widow also bought of the United States an additional eight hundred acres of land, making 1,760 acres, all owned in the family in the vicinity of Whetstone, or Youngstown. Massey Nickols, who married Norval V. Hiskett, February 12, 1829, got her one hundred and sixty acres in the north part of Cardington township, and the land is now owned by the heirs of Frank Romans, deceased. On July 30, 1829, a further division 244 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY was made among the other children by Asa Mosher, Abraham New' son and Charles Webster, appraisers. Sarah Nickels, who married Abner M. Bartlett, November 9, 1837 was given the northeast quarter of section 1 (House's mill dam later), and the great poplar forest, appraised at one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Harriet Nickols, who married Rev. Robert F. Hickman, April 14, 1831, was given the northwestern quarter of section 8, range 20, township 17, appraised at two hundred and thirteen dollars and fifty cents. It is now Jack Gordon's home farm. Ann Nickels, who married Jacob Painter, December 3, 1833, was given, the northeast quarter of section 7, range 20, township 17. Margaret Nickols, who married Abraham Coe, November 5, 1829, was given the northwest quarter of section 26, range 17, township 5, appraised at two hundred and thirteen dollars ; her son, George 0. Coe, now owns one-half of his mother's ancestral estate, and her grand daughter, Ella Detwiler, the other half. Martha Nickols, who married Preston J. Frierad, July 16, 1835, was given the southwest quarter of section 26, range 17, township 5, appraised at two hundred and thirteen dollars. After marriage they sold out and went to Tipton, Iowa. This one hundred and sixty acres is now owned by William L. G. Taber. Mary Elizabeth Nickols, who married Joel R. Bartlett, April 13, 1843, was given the southeast quarter of section 15, range 17, township 6, one mile north of Cardington, appraised at one hundred and ninety dollars. This one hundred and sixty acres was owned in part by W. R. Burr. All of the foregoing marriages were near Mt. Gilead, at the old homestead, except the last which was solemnized at the home of a sister in the village. Two of the four sons remained to be provided for. Nathan got, by devise in his father's will, the ancestral homestead next south of Mt: Gilead, at the death of his mother, June 23, 1839; and George was given the money and bought his one hundred and sixty acres of land one mile east of Cardington, where he died, September 18, 1885. Sarah Thomas Nickels, faithfully carried out the plan of her deeeased husband and each of these twelve children were given one hundred and sixty acres of land. Twelve grandsons of this pair, and nine husbands of granddaughters, served their county in the Civil war on the Union side ; two gave their lives and four were made cripples for life. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 245 OTHER PIONEER FAMILIES AND CITIZENS. In the spring of 1825, Abraham Newson and wife, Lucy Friend Newson, came to Whetstone from Maryland, and settled one-half mile southeast of the village on the northwest quarter of section 12. He became the owner of large tracts of government land in the vicinity. The sons were John, Joseph, Preston, Henry, Abraham, Jr., and Nelson and the daughters, Louisa, who married James Madison Talmage ; Elizabeth, who married Benjamin Hall ; Nellie, who married Horace McKee ; and Lucy, Jr., who married D. T. A. Goorley. Many descendants of Abraham and Lucy Newson yet reside in our community. The original pair and their sons and daughters are all dead, except Lucy Goorley, and Abraham Newson, Jr. Abraham Newson was the largest man that ever lived in Morrow county; his greatest weight was 427 pounds. Other large and influential families were those of Allen Kelly, Samuel Straw, John Blakely, William Montgomery, James Montgomery, William Goorley, William Foy, Amos Critchfield, Joseph P. Newson Sr., Jacob Cooper, Isaac Cooper, Elias Cooper, Alfred Breese, Charles Breese, Luther D. Mozier, James Fulton, Joseph Sayre, Alexander Crawford, Richard House, Nathan House, John Shaw, John Weaver and John Mateer. George D. Cross was justice of the peace over forty years, in Mt. Gilead. Charles Russel and family came from Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1830, and after a brief stay in Belmont county, Ohio, came to Whetstone in 1832 and bought out Ruth and Alben Coe, Sr., who owned the stone quarry and farm. There, Russel and family resided until his death, December 21, 1871. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. There were two daughters, Sarah, who married George W. McCall, and Mary, who married Hosea Bigelow. The seven sons were Francis M., Robert, Leedom, Burr, Barton S., Charles and John W. David Talmage was an early settler and shoemaker in Mt. Gilead, and his children were Aaron N., David Smith and Maria. The last named married Elias Cooper, and died May 26, 1910, at Mt. Gilead, in the ninety-second year of her age, having lived there seventy-four years. William Cooper was one of the early settlers and came in 1829. He built the flour mill near the south bridge and in September, 1862, it was burned, and he again rebuilt the one now in Vol. 1-16 246 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY use His sons were James, now deceased, and E. F. and Calvin, yet living. Of the daughters, Mary married Joseph McCurdy (now deceased) ; Elvira first married John R. Lanious, and after his decease, Dr. Nathan Rucker ; and Ella became the wife of George Jago, and is now deceased. Other prominent and influential citizens among the many who settled, in Mt. Gilead before 1848, were Leve Thurston, James S. Drimble, Joseph B. Lyon, who built the first brick building, a shoe maker's shop on the corner of South Main and South streets; Andrew Donau, who built the first brick dwelling in 1842, standing and in good repair, on the corner of West Marion and Rich streets; C. O. Van Horn, Henry Snider, John R. Snider, Abner M. Bartlett, Charles Byrd, Elzy Barton; Joseph D. Rigond and W. S. Clements. By 1830 Whetstone had four cabins and five frame houses, and the population was estimated at sixty. In 1850 the census of Mt. Gilead reported 646; in 1860, 789 ; in 1870, 1,087; in 1880, 1,262; in 1890, 1,329; in 1900, 1,528, and 1910, 1,673. DISTANT PRODUCE MARKETS. Before 1846, produce of the farmers had to be hauled away by teams to market ; there was but little demand for produce, and the price was too low to pay. An instance, eggs were two cents a dozen, and butter was six cents per pound. As late as 1845, John Weaver, and his son-in-law, David Bailey, loaded each a Conestoga wagon, from the store of J. D. Rigour and Company, on the north square, with produce, and, with five horses (two spans and a leader) hitched to each wagon, started on their journey across the Allegheny Mountains to Cumberland, Maryland. The writer was then a lad of five years old, and that train of two great Conestoga wagons, and ten horses, with harness that nearly covered them, made an impression on his mind that he cannot forget while reason remains. After 1847 and until 1852, farmers in Morrow county hauled wheat to Mansfield, and to Milan, for fifty cents per bushel and less. The first storekeeper at Whetstone was John Roy, and he came from New Jersey in 1827. He was followed by R. and. N. House, in 1832, who four years before had a store at Jamestown, or Kelly's Corner, two miles east of Mt. Gilead. Richard House continued his business until 1872. Other storekeepers were James Shaw, C. K. Lindsey, J. D. Rigour and Company, and James S. Trimble. They came before 1848. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 247 In November, 1844, in honor of the election of James K. Polk, of Tennessee, to be president of the United States, the residences and business places of the Democrats of Mt. Gilead were illuminated by placing two or more rows of lighted tallow candles across the front windows, for an hour or two after night fall. It was for the few years preceding 1848, agitated and proposed to form a new county, with Mt. Gilead as the county seat, out of portions of adjoining counties, and that representatives, especially Hon. Barnabas Burns, senator from Richland county, vigorously opposed the foundation of a new county. But the realization of the ambition of those who wanted a new county, as well as the celebration at Mt. Gilead, which commemorated the events, have already been described. MT. GILEAD AS IT IS The substantial business blocks erected on North Public equare, erected by Mark and Perry Cook, commenced in 1894 and ended with the Masonic Temple block in 1899, and the business blocks, residence flats and offices erected by Dr. Nathan Tucker, commenced in 1900 with the ereetion of his laboratory and ended in 1907 with the erection of the cement block building- at the corner of Main and Center streets. Dr. Tucker has spared neither pains nor expense to make his improvements of the most durable and substantial character. He became a citizen of Mt. Gilead in 1866, and for several years life was a struggle, but he has now prospered beyond his most sanguine expectations, and his generosity is equaled by his success. Other citizens have erected residences in the last sixteen years(after removing the old houses to vacant lots and repairing them) with modern improvements of hot air, steam and hot-water systems of heating, as well as gas and electric lighting, that have also tended to make Mt. Gilead an ideal village. About the only old building dating back to 1845 is the agricultural store-room, on the northeast corner of North square, erected in that year. RAILROADS AND INDUSTRIES. As the railroads of Mt. Gilead and Morrow county have immeasurably contributed to the local, industria and commercial well-being of the people, a brief history of their development is here given. Sometime after the organization of Morrow county and 248 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY the erection of Mt. Gilead as the county seat, railroad building was agitated, the project being to build a road from Cleveland to Columbus, passing through Mt. Gilead, and the village was asked to subscribe for the enterprise. Fifty thousand dollars worth of stock was at once taken and the line surveyed. But the managers desiring to make sure against failure on the part of the subscribers, went to Mt. Gilead, as to other towns, to get security for the subscription ere work was commenced. But the Mt. Gilead people, thinking that the road would go through their town anyway, temporized and the railroad officials left the town in disgust. Going to Cardington, they did not meet with much success. as to the taking of stock there, for the town was small and the inhabitants were not wealthy. However, John Shunk, who kept a hotel there, suggested that the contemplated route be changed and suggested that if they would follow the line surveyed in 1830, for the Ohio canal, they would save nearly as much as the Mt. Gilead subscription. This line would pass two miles west of Mt. Gilead. The line was therefore agreed upon 'and work commenced upon the road at once, to the chagrin and disappointment of Mt. Gilead. When the road was built a station was located two miles west of Mt. Gilead, which is now called Edison. The road was completed and the ears commenced to run in February, 1851. In getting the railroad, Cardington secured a better prize than Mt. Gilead did in becoming the county seat. Although the Cleveland and Columbus railroad, now known as the Big Four, was completed and doing a fine business, it was two miles from Mt. Gilead. After a while the matter was agitated of building a spur from the railroad to Mt. Gilead, and for that purpose an "Enabling Act," was passed by the legislature, by which a vote was taken for a tax of $18,000, an amount that was supposed to be sufficient to build -the road, but this was found insufficient, and an additional $3,000 was voted afterwards. These sums built the road and made it ready for rolling stock, which was put on by the railroad, in consideration of a lease given to that road for twenty years by the board of trustees of the Short Line, as the spur is called. Its construction has been of advantage to Mt. Gilead and the surrounding country. The Toledo and Ohio Central railroad was projeeted in 1868, but a number of years elapsed ere its completion. This road runs from Toledo south through Mt. Gilead. Quite important industries, which have been in operation for many years and have been successful, are the tile factory and the HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 249 tile and pottery works. They were originally established, in 1875, by B. B. McGowen, Smith Thomas and William Wilson, as the Mt. Gilead Tile Works, which have passed through the ownership of several parties. In recent years the manufacturing of pottery articles has been added to the making of tile. About 1907 the plant was burned, but has been rebuilt on a larger scale and is now doing a prosperous business under the management of Walter S. Emerson, as president. The plant is located along the Toledo and Ohio Central and Short Line railroads, west of Mt. Gilead. The incorporators are Walter S. Emerson, J. R. Seitz, R. B. McMillin, Jesse Smith, Judson Wilhelm and Ralph Buck. The plant is valued at $15,000 and stock on hand at $22,000. Since the spring of 1879 tile works east of the village have been owned and operated by B. B. McGowen and Son, and for a time William W. McCracken, deceased, was a part owner and partner. This is also a prosperous enterprise. The most substantial improvements in Mt.. Gilead have been made in the last twenty-seven years. In 1883 the Hydraulic Press Manufacturing Company was first organized, and from a modest beginning has become a large and flourishing industry. We give herewith an authentic history of it. The Hydraulic Press Manufacturing Company, located at Mt. Gilead, is the largest and most important manufacturing industry that has existed in Morrow county to this date. The company was originally incorporated under the name of "The Hydraulic Press Company." The date of incorporation was January 1, 1883. The first directors were M. Burr Talmage, A. Q. Tucker, James Carlisle, Joseph H. Pollock, Silas M. Brown, W. W. McCracken, John F. Bowen, Robert Brocklesby, James M. Albach, Neely Noble, Minor Harrod, William Carlisle, G. V. Smith, J. E. Davis and W. J. Campbell. The first officers were James Carlisle, president; Minor Harrod, vice president ; E. C. Chase, secretary; J. H. Pollock, assistant secretary ; and R. P. Halliday, treasurer. The inception of the design of a press operated on the hydraulic or hydrostatic principle for cider making purposes was in the mind of Mr. A. Q. Tucker during the year of 1867, who then lived on his farm adjoining the village of Gilead Station, now Edison, Ohio. The first conception of a hydraulic eider press originated with Mr. Tucker while engaged in the excessively hard labor of expressing cider on a screw press, in the autumn of the year named.