(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) CHAPTER XVI. GILEAD AND CARDINGTON TOWNSHIPS. NATURAL FEATURES OP GILEAD TOWNSHIP-POLITICAL-EARLY SETTLERS- PIONEER MILLS AND ROADS-FIRST VILLAGES-TERRITORY OP TOWNSHIP- JOHN BEATTY-EDISON-CARDINGTON TOWNSHIP-ISAAC BUNKER AND FAMILY-OLD MILLS AND HOSPITABLE MILLERS -INDIAN VILLAGE ON THE WHETSTONE- SETTLEMENT AROUND THE WHETSTONE MILLS-APPROVED BEE HUNTING-FIRST ROAD-WATER COURSES AND DRAINAGE. This township has undergone a marvelous change since the coming of the pioneers. Instead of being the abode of savages, it is now occupied by intelligent, energetic, peaceable, civilized men and women, who have converted the forests into cultivated fields and fruitful orchards, clothed the hills with luxuriant vines ; filled the valleys with corn and vegetation and covered the sterile plains with beautiful gardens and fields of bloom, while the music of reapers and mowers fill the land with the sweet melody of songs of industry and plenty sits enthroned and crowned, swaying her joyous scepter over happy homes where thousands dwell in peace and sweet content. While the citizens of Gilead township have done much, additional efforts should be put forth to further advancement in the future—to make a dozen vines grow where but one grew before ; to cause trees to spring up where but one appeared before ; to make two stalks of wheat bend their heads to the harvester, where but one nodded its head in the past and to cause two ears of corn to swing their silken tassels to the breeze, where but one had before waved its plume. Further efforts should be made to build churches and schools, universities of learning, a children's home, a hospital for the sick, and circulating libraries to furnish reading for the poor. Additional effort should be put forth to teach the youth in the public schools to love their country, and to fondly - 300 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 301 cherish the memory of the pioneers who opened the gates of Morrow county and Gilead township to the tide of a marvelous civilization. NATURAL FEATURES OF GILEAD TOWNSHIP. The land in Gilead township in its original state was very heavily timbered, with a natural drainage and the surface diversified—in some places level or but slightly rolling, in other places broken by bluffs and ravines, especially on the Whetstone, (now called Olentangy) and Sam's creek, in the vicinity of Mt. Gilead. (PICTURE OF COOPER'S DAM (BUILT IN 1836), MT. GILEAD) The principal stream of the township is the East fork of the Whetstone, which runs a southerly course to the county seat, then in a westerly course till it passes out of the township. The largest tributary to this stream is Sam's creek, in the eastern part of the township. In the northwestern part of the township is Thorn run, a tributary of Shaw creek in Canaan township. In the south and southeastern parts of the township, are the runs which constitute the headwaters of Alum and Big Walnut creeks. Alum creek heads within a half mile of the Whetstone, just south of Mt. Gilead. The land in Gilead township has such drainage that there has 302 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY been but little, if any, stagnant water since the improvement of the county, especially since the opening of the runs and swails. Springs are quite numerous and some of them are strong enough to form permanent runs of water. They are principally hard water springs, and are often impregnated with lime or iron. The first settlers selected the lands that had springs and built their cabins near them. In general the soil of the township is good, a considerable portion being deep, black and rich. Other portions are thinner and more clayey, but there is no barren soil. In early times the prevailing timber was beech and sugar maple ; but there was a great variety and large amount of other timber, as white, burr and red oak, white and yellow poplar (tulip-tree), black and white walnut, shagbark and pig-nut hickory, white, black and blue ash, white and red elm, cherry, chestnut, basswood, white maple, quaking asp, sycamore, gum, buckeye, etc. It is a. singular circumstance that no chestnut was found on the west and north side of the Whetstone. There was also an abundant undergrowth of crab-apple, wild plum,, dog-wood, iron-wood, spice-bush, prickly ash, etc. Some stone quarries have been worked in the township, and good building stone has been abundant in the bluffs of the Whetstone near Mt. Gilead. There were also two other quarries, one in the Quaker settlement, and the other on the school land. The productions molt congenial to the soil of Gilead township are grass, timothy and clover, hay and seeds, corn, wheat, rye, oats and flax. Garden vegetables are grown in abundance, and fruit trees are easily cultivated. The forests originally abounded with deer, wolves, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, ground bugs and wild turkeys. POLITICAL. During ten years, from 1824 to 1834, the elections of the township were held at a school house near Mosher's mill Mt. Gilead afterwards became the voting place. The formation of the new county, and making Mt. Gilead the county seat, gave a new impulse to the life and enterprise of the township For many years Gilead township had but one justice of the peace. The south part of the Three Mile Strip originally belonged to Delaware county. After the organization of Marion county in March, 1824, the larger part of what is now Gilead township, with HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 303 most of what is now Cardington township, and a portion of Washington, constituted Marvin township. A new township called Gilead was organized in June, 1835 ; and since the formation of the new county, additions have been made to it from Canaan, Carding-ton, Congress, Franklin and Lincoln township until it has assumed its present size and shape. It is bounded on the north by Canaan, Washington and Congress, on the east by Congress and Franklin, on the south by Harmony and Lincoln, and on the west by Cardington and Canaan. EARLY SETTLERS. Part No. 1.—The first settlers of the township were the two brothers, Lewis and Ralph Hardenbrook, from Jefferson county, Ohio, who purchased and settled the southeast quarter of section 2, in 1817. The next year, 1818, Jonathan Wood, Asa Mosher and Peleg Rogers from the state of New York, settled on section 14. The most of the children of their large families in course of time settled around them. Thus the foundation of the Quaker settlement was laid. The next year, 1819, Isaac DeWitt, from Knox county, and John Hardenbrook, from Jefferson county, settled on section 3. The next year, 1820, William Montgomery, from Jefferson county, and Joseph Worsley, a native of England, settled on sections 11 and 3. In 1822, Henry Ustick, from Knox county, and Isaac Blazor, from Jefferson county, settled on sections 2 and 10. The next year, 1823, the two brothers, John and Albert Nichols, and their brother-in-law, Alban Coe, all from Loudoun county, Virginia, and Charles Webster, originally from Massachusetts, settled on sections 1 and 2. Joseph Peasely also settled the same year in the second set on section 11. In 1825, Abraham Newson and Frederick Lay, from Maryland, settled on section 11. The next year, 1826, James Johnston, James Bennett and James Montgomery, from Jefferson county, settled on sections 10 and 3, also Joseph P. Newson, from Maryland, settled on section 11. The next year, 1827, Mrs. Sarah Thomas Nichols, from Virginia, settled on the quarter of L. and R. Hardenbrook, who had sold out, and Alexander Crawford, from Licking county, settled on section 13. The next year, 1828, Allen Eccles and his sons, Jacob and Samuel, from Licking county, settled on section 13, and Martin McGowan on section 12. In 1829, Abraham Coe, from Virginia, and Samuel Rickey, from New Jersey, settled on sections 12 and 10. There were also living in this part in 1830 (date of their settlement not 304 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY known) Robert Bunker, Smith, Baruch Butler, Devore, Joshua White, A and 0. and P. and S. Mosher, and D. and I. and J. and R. Wood, in the second settlement. Part No. 5.—In 1823, James Bailey and Samuel Straw, from Pennsylvania, settled on section 6. In 1826, Lewis Hardenbrook and John Pareell settled on sections 6 and 7. In 1829, Thomas Parr and James Shepard settled on sections 18 and 6. The next year, 1830, Amos Critchfield settled on section 18. Part No. 3.—James Beatty, from Pennsylvania, settled in 1826; Hiram Channel and William Foreman in 1829, and Aubert in 1830. Part No. 4—Eli Johnston, from Jefferson county, and Rufus Dodd, from Knox county, settled on section 35, about 1824. In 1826, Mrs. Campbell, from Jefferson county, settled on section 35.. In 1830, Andrew Dalrymple and Ezekiel Clark settled on sections 26 and 35. Part No. 6.—From 1825 to 1830, families settled about in the order of time as here written—most of whom were from Pennsylvania : Barkley Finley and Charles Hull on section 29; Henry James and Mrs. Willot on section 31; James Fulton on section 32; David and John Moody on section 31; John Porgy On section 32; Noah Brooks on section 29 ; William Miller on section 30; Francis Hardenbrook and James Andrew on section 32. Part No. 2.—Marvin G. Webster and his brother, Charles C. Webster, settled on section 35 in 1828 ; then followed, the next two years, John Harshner on section 23; Jacob Wyrick and S. Hazen on section 22 ; Samuel Doty, John Cooper, Jackson and William Dowling on section 26. PIONEER MILLS AND ROADS. Part No. 7.—Paul White was the first settler, about 1819 or 1820, and Ashley Nutt next. The first grist and saw mill to accommodate these early settlers was built by Asa Mosher, on the Whetstone, in what is now Cardington township, in 1821. The next grist and saw mill was built on the same stream by Henry Ustick. A saw-mill was also built on Sam's creek by Samuel Straw. These mills were carried on upon rather a small scale, but were of great utility in those early times. For many years, supplies for the families were scarce ; and it was difficult to obtain the necessary grain, and to get it ground in the dry time of the summer and fall. Corn meal and other supplies had to be packed HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 305 on horseback from Owl Creek and Delaware county, but with hominy-blocks and roasting ears, mush and milk, pone and butter milk, venison and wild turkey, the people got along cheerily and hopefully. The first road laid out in the township was the Delaware and Mansfield State road. The next was the state road laid out by Colonel Kilbourn, of Worthington, about the year 1823, leading through the township from Worthington to New Haven, Huron county. There was also a trail or blazed track much used, leading from Owl Creek to Shaw Creek and the Sandusky plains. This route, in its somewhat winding course, passed Allen Kelley, Lewis Hardenbrook, Albert Nichols, Alban Coe, Mrs. Sara Nichols, (crossing the Whetstone with the State road) at Ustick's mill, Isaac DeWitt, James Montgomery, Eli Johnston, Rufus Dodd, the Merritt Settlement and so on. FIRST VILLAGES. Three villages or towns were laid out in the township—one by the Moshers on the Delaware road, where it crosses the boundary, called Friendsboro ; but it was never built up. The next was laid out on a small scale on the knolls of the Whetstone, on the northeast half of section 2, by Jacob Young, of Knox county, the proprietor of the soil, September 30, 1824. Its proper name was Whetstone, though it generally went by the name of Youngstown—now Mt. Gilead. A county road was established leading from the village above mentioned to Friendsboro, passing Ustick's mill, John Hardenbrook's, Joseph Worsely's, James Johnston's, Isaac Blazor's and James Bennett's, to the Delaware road. The first resident of the village of Whetstone (Mt. Gilead) was Charles Webster. About the time that Youngstown was laid out, another village was platted on the Mansfield road, near where Allen Kelley lived, and was named Jamestown. James Bailey opened a small store there, Appleton Rich had a blacksmith shop and this was the culmination of the town. Allen Kelley bought out Bailey and continued the store for some time. For several years after the settlement in Gilead township, Indians passed to and fro on their hunting and trading expeditions, and sometimes camped in the neighborhood. They tied their babies with their backs to boards, and when they called at the cabins of the whites to trade or get refreshments, the squaws would 306 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY set the little papooses up on the outside of the cabin, where they would remain very quiet while the parents were engaged within. TERRITORY OF TOWNSHIP The territory included in this township, has been taken from several surveyed townships. The south part, called "the Three Mile Strip," includes ten and one-fourth sections, the north part of the same strip, called "school land," including ten and a half sections. One section west of the "boundary" formerly belonged to what is now Cardington township ; three and a half sections also went to the boundary, formerly, belonged to Canaan township Three and one-eighth sections east of the south part of the Three Mile Strip were formerly a part of Franklin township ; four and a half sections east of the north part of the Strip formerly belonging to Congress township, and about one square mile south of that portion of the township and of the Greenville Treaty line, was originally attached to Lincoln township. The land east of the boundary line and north of the Greenville Treaty line is within the Bucyrus district of land and a part of the "New Purchase". The small portion of the township lying south of the Greenville Treaty line belongs to the "United States Military Lands." JOHN BEATTY. John Beatty was an honored resident of Morrow county for many years. He was a citizen of Mt Gilead from about 1849 to 1859, and then of Cardington until about 1873. He was in the banking business in Cardington, of the firm of House, Beatty and Company, whose bank was established in 1854, and was the first institution of the kind in that place. He was also a member of the Cardington flouring mill company. At the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Beatty was the first man in Morrow county to enlist. He was elected captain of, his company, subsequently made lieutenant colonel, then colonel of the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry and in 1862 was advanced to the position of brigader general of volunteers. He was also a member of congress from the Cardington district. He is now in the banking business at Columbus. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 307 EDISON. Edison is about two miles west of Mt. Gilead, and is a station at the crossing of the Cleveland and Columbus division of the Big Four railroad and the Toledo and Ohio Central branch of the Big Four. The Big Four road has only recently secured the control of the Toledo and Ohio Central, and it is expected they will make big improvements on it in the near future. It is also the western terminal of what is locally known as the Short Line railroad, running from Mt. Gilead to Edison. This Short Line road is a Mt. Gilead enterprise, the project being authorized by the legislature, to build a road to span the two miles between Mt. Gilead and what is now Edison, thereby giving the county seat a direct connection with the Big Four. Before the building of the Short Line, the little town which is now its western terminus, was known as Gilead Station. After the road got into operation, its name was changed to Levering, and later still to Edison. Edison is now a place of 387 inhabitants, according to the last census. It has a hotel, a church, a bank, an ice-cream manufactory, a store, a grocery, etc. Its prosperity is due to its location at the crossing of the roads above mentioned. E. B. Blair is the postmaster. CARDINGTON TOWNSHIP. What is now Cardington township was the abode and hunting grounds of Indians ere the white man trod its soil. The evening serenades in the grand old forests were not the music of the handsomely uniformed bands of the present day, but the whooping of the hunting bands of Indians, the hooting of the night owl and the howling of the wolves. Here the pioneers lived in their rude log cabins, with their coarse fare of corn bread and the game of the forests. It was here their children- received a common school education in the round-log schoolhouses, daubed with mud, with greased paper for window lights and rude benches made from split logs. But many of those pioneers and their children lived to see the wilderness and the solitary places made glad, and the desert places to rejoice and blossom. The Indians went to their happy hunting grounds, the bear and the wild-cat fled from advancing civilization, the forests gave way to countless beautiful and productive farms, the log cabins disappeared and their places were filled with comfortable and attractive farm houses. And in 308 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY the place of the log school houses and churches, now beautiful stone and brick structures have risen, with their spires pointing heavenward. Cardington township is generally of rectangular shape, lying along the western boundary of Morrow county just south of a middle line drawn east and west. The regularity cf its eastern boundary is marred by the absence of a section from the northeast corner of its territory and cf a similar piece taken from its southeast corner. With the exception of these mutilated corners, it is five miles square and contains about twenty-three square miles of territory. The treaty of 1796 opened the country south of the Greenville treaty line, and, by an act of congress passed in June of that year, the tract of land included between the original seven ranges and the Scioto river, for a space of fifty miles was appropriated to satisfy the claims of the officers and men of the Revolutionary army. These lands were surveyed into townships five miles square. When by the treaty of October, 1818, the last Indian claim to the land north of the Greenville treaty line was extinguished, a line passing due east and west through the state, forming now the northern boundary of the counties Richland, Crawford and Wyandot, was established as a base line for the survey of the "new purchase." Beginning on either side of the state, the surveying parties worked toward the middle and met on either side of the "three-mile strip" or range 21, counting from the eastern side of the state. This land, with other tracts in different parts of the state, was known as Congress land, because sold to purchasers by the immediate officers of the general government, and was regularly surveyed into townships of six miles square. The original township, of which Cardington formed a part, was erected by the commissioners of Delaware county, December 1, 1823. Asa Mosher, Noah White and Isaac Bunker were elected the first trustees of the township. Slocum Bunker was the first justice of the peace, and Delmo Sherman was the first constable. The election was held in April, 1824, at Mosher's mill, and the second election was held in the same place. The second justice of the peace was John Shunk, and the second constable Alexander Purvis. The latter held office for several years. In 1825, Gilead was erected, taking off the territory on the east; in 1848, that part of Cardington south of the treaty line, which borders upon Westfield was set off from the latter township, and later a piece of territory about a mile square was added to the southeast corner from Lincoln. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 309 ISAAC BUNKER AND FAMILY. Isaac Bunker came from Vermont and was educated as a mechanic. The Benedicts to whom he was related had come to Peru during the period 1809-12 and Mr. Bunker made up his mind to follow them. He built a large wagon after the Pennsylvania type, bought a stage team, and, hiring an experienced driver, embarked his family and goods and came to Peru. While undecided as to his further movements, his attention was, called to the advantages offered by the Whetstone-Olentangy as it passed through the present site of Cardington. Examining the place with Cyrus Benedict, Mr. Bunker decided to settle here, and purchased forty acres, afterwards increasing his purchase to one hundred and sixty acres. On the 28th of March, 1822, Mr. Bunker came to his new purchase with a force of eight or ten men, chopping out a road from the Peru settlement as he came, and selecting a site for his cabin, he began to make a clearing. With the force at his command, the building of a cabin was short work,and on April 1, 1822, he had completed a home for his family in the forests which then covered the land now occupied by Cardington. In the following month the family, consisting of a wife and eleven children, came from Peru to possess their new home. His family established in their new quarters, Bunker pushed his plans with characteristic vigor and soon had a log blacksmith shop on the land adjoining his house lot, and a log barn located a little west and across the frontier road which ran along where Main street now furnishes an avenue for travel. These finished, a brush dam was built across the Whetstone near the iron bridge, at the western end of which the frame-work of a saw mill was erected, and a little below this a grist mill was erected, being supplied with water through a short race. The latter, which was in most demand, was finished first, doing its first grinding in the fall of 1822. The saw mill was completed immediately afterward, doing business in the winter* or early the following spring. The buhr-stones for the grist mill were cut out of large "nigger heads" on the Peru farm, and measured some three feet long and ten inches in diameter. They were cut by Henry James and Slocum Bunker, and cost weeks of hard work. A little later Mr. Bunker built a cabin on the east side of Water street, and Slocum Bunker, his son, built a cabin on the northwest corner of the old cemetery, which was afterwards used as a school house and a public hall. Vol. I-20 310 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY At the time of Mr. Bunker's coming, there were no white families within the present limits of Cardington township, save in the eastern part near the Gilead line, where two squatters, William Langdon and Stephen Sherman, had raised cabins on the land later occupied by Robert Mosher. But known is of the is known is of the is known is of the is is known is of the is is known is of the is known is But little is known we origin of this family. Langdon's wife died here very soon, which was probably the first event of the kind in the township. Sherman being obliged to move by the purchases of the land, squatted again on the Singer place and later succeeded in securing a little farm of forty acres. Bunker's operations were well known in the settlement of Peru, and created quite an excitement among those who were not satisfactorily situated at that place. In the fall of 1822 there was an extensive migration from Peru to various points of the new township Among the earliest of those who came in at this time were the Foust families. Jacob Foust, Jr., had come early to Peru with his brother John, and passed through this locality as early as 1814 with the surveyor that ran out the Mansfield and Delaware road. Later their father, Jacob Foust, Sr., with the rest of their family, came and took up their residence in Peru. Just west of this farm near the same stream, Jacob Foust, Jr., erected his cabin just north of the treaty line in the southwest quarter of the township. Another family was that of the Elys. They came originally from Pennsylvania to Sunbury township, Delaware county, where they remained until the summer of 1822, when Michael with his son Peter and family, came to Cardington and entered an eighty-acre farm on lot 28, east of the Fousts, where the elder Ely lived until his death. Closely following this family, came Isaac Bowyer. He built a saw mill on Shaw creek, in 1830, which he operated for some ten or fifteen years. The stream is sluggish, with low banks, and the dam banked the river up for a considerable distance and caused the water to Overflow a number of farms, resulting, it is said, in considerable sickness, the condition of the country being productive of miasmatic troubles at the time. Among the Peru families that came at this time was that of John Keese. On coming to Cardington he located on a farm in section 18 in the western-middle part of the township. In the early part of the following winter, 1822-3, Peleg Bunker, whose wife was a Benedict and had been the means of his coming to the early settlement in Peru, located at Cardington. He was HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 311 originally from New York, belonged to the Society of Friends, and at a later day became prominent in the early manufacturing enterprises of the village. Another important accession at this time was that of Cyrus Benedict, the founder of the Alum Creek settlement in Peru township in 1809. The Delaware and Mansfield road was soon chopped out and a connecting link between the old and new land soon established. The road from Marion to Delaware had been early blazed out in a unique fashion The road had been regularly run out as far as Haven's Mills, in Claridon, and thence Jonas Foust, who had been to the mill, turned his horse loose, and, following the animal home, he blazed the trees with his tomahawk along the path which his horse took. OLD MILLS AND HOSPITABLE MILLERS. In the meanwhile improvements were rapidly taking place. In the Foust neighborhood, a horse mill was put up by a German named Gatchill, about 1824. But previous to this, and in fact, the first in the township, a mill was erected by Asa Mosher on the Whetstone. This was built in 1819, before the land was surveyed. Robert Mosher and David James were twenty-eight days in accomplishing this work, but it is said turned out " buhrs" that did the business equal to those in use now, though they could hardly be called as durable. A brush dam was constructed and, during the season of high water, there was a constant demand for its services. Persons living as far away as Bucyrus brought grist to the mill and were often obliged to remain over night, the miller dispensing a free hospitality. While this mill absorbed the patronage from the north and the east, the Bunker mill received that of Shawtown and the west. Here the hospitality of the miller was frequently taxed to an extent that absorbed the profits of the business, but it was extended cheerfully as a part of the business in a new country. The settlement on the Whetstone, having attracted considerable attention by its activity, Horton Howard, bought, as a speculation, the property which afterward became known as the Gregory farm. Howard was a quaker, and had been a merchant in the village of Delaware, but was then receiver in the Land Office located at that place. Attracted by the stirring activity of the new settlement he 312 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY PICTURES OF MAIN STREET BRIDGE AND DAM, CARINGTON HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 313 entered into partnership with Peleg Bunker, and a log cabin was put up on the north side of the Whetstone, for the purpose of accommodating a carding machine The dam was built across the river at the point where Gregory street first strikes the river coming from the south. Bunker built a cabin for his residence a few yards south of the bend on the west side of the street. In the following year, Howard located on his property, moving into a cabin that had been previously erected for him a little south and west of Bunker's. The frame building was erected on the other side of the river, at the end of the dam, and machinery for fulling and dressing cloth was added. Trapping was another source of income that could be indulged in without detracting greatly from the necessary work of clearing, but, as a matter of fact, it was found that it required the instinct of the true-born hunter to accomplish any respectable results from this sort of hunting. There were few animals save "coons" that were worth the bait, but in some seasons these animals were so numerous as to prove a nuisance to the growing crops, and a blessing to the hunter. Generally however, five "coons" in a single night, in favorable weather, was a good catch. Their skins were worth about twenty-five cents a piece and in this way many a frontier farmer procured the means to pay his taxes when all other resources had failed. INDIAN VILLAGE ON THE WHETSTONE. When the Indians sold their claims to the lands north of the boundary line, they were granted the privilege "to fish, fowl and hunt" in the territory, so long as it was government land. The insecurity of this tenure could hardly be realized by the contracting savages and the settlers coming upon the scene almost as soon as the conditions were known, found an Indian village located upon the banks of the Whetstone on rising ground. It was composed of huts about eight feet long, built up on three sides with poles and covered with bark tied on with poles and thongs. Two of these huts faced each other, the open sides fronting the huge fire which was built between them. The Indians of this village were members of the Wyandot, Seneca and Miami tribes, and their custom was to come down from their reservation early in April or May, and stay until time to plant corn, when they went to their reservation to put in their 314 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY crops. After the harvest they came again for the fall hunt, and many of them frequently stayed all winter hunting and, trapping. These periodical visits of the Indians were kept up for, twelve or fifteen years after the coming of the whites, but the grow scarcity of the grain and the more attractive solitudes of the "Northwestern Territory" gradually diminished their numbers, and they finally ceased their visits altogether. The early community that settled in Cardington was largely made up of those who had known pioneer life in the adjacent settlements, and were better prepared to encounter the difficulties of their new home. These were not so great as those encountered a few years earlier, but, although not so completely isolated as were the early settlements of Delaware and Knox counties, they experienced enough of the hardships and inconveniences of frontier life to impress us of a later day that it was a very serious business to clear up a new country. The nearest mills were in Marlborough and Peru townships; the only available tannery was Israel Height's, at Windsor Corner, and stores were only found at Delaware, Fredericktown, Mansfield and Marion. John Roy soon established a store at Mt. Gilead, which, with the mills erected by Bunker, relieved the settlers from the necessity of taking long journeys for the commonest necessities of life, although for salt, glass and iron, Zanesville continued to be the only source of supply. To this point such settlers as were able to bear the expense made long pilgrimages through the woods for these indispensable articles. Jacob Foust, Sr., used to make the journey with an ox team and wagon, consuming about eight days on the journey and bringing back four or five barrels of salt, the limit of a load for one yoke of cattle to draw. The arrival of such a load put the whole neighborhood in commotion, and the salt was readily sold at fifteen dollars per barrel, the purchase consideration being paid in barter or work. In 1824, Thomas Sharpe came from Pennsylvania to Carding-ton. He was elected surveyor of Morrow county in 1856, and after his term of service emigrated to the west. In the same year, Gideon. Mann came to the place later owned by P. T. Powers. Mr. Mann was a native of Rhode Island, but came at an early date to Chenango county, New York. William Barnes was another early newcomer, hailing from Mechanicsburg, Ohio. In 1828 Reuben Oliver came here from Virginia and entered land, and in the same year David Merrick arrived from Harrison county, and in 1830 his son-in-law, Lewis Barge, HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 315 came to Cardington from Belmont county. The latter moved into Bunker's old log cabin, on Water street. He lived there two years and established a wagon shop. Robert Maxwell came to the township in the same year, and, after making an effort to buy out the interest of some earlier settlers in vain, he entered a large tract of land. He was a man of marked energy, of considerable means and has dircted his attention principally to handling stock. SETTLEMENT AROUND THE WHETSTONE MILLS. The community that gathered thus about the milling point on the Whetstone was made up largely from the members of the settlements in adjacent territory. No sooner was the "new purchase" placed upon the market than those who had failed to secure eligible farms, or who had contracted the habit of "going to the new country," pressed forward to occupy the land, in some cases outstripping the government surveyors. The earliest of these pioneers found the woods swarming with game of all kinds, to which were added large numbers of hogs that had wandered off from the frontier settlements and had "set up" for themselves. These latter animals afforded considerable sport to those who delighted in adventure, and some narrow escapes from injury at their tusks are related. Wolves were numerous and troublesome to the stock of the settlers, frequently destroying calves and young cattle. The Severity of the winters of 1824-5 destroyed the larger part of the game in this vicinity. Snow fell to the depth of twenty inches, and a heavy crust formed on this and prevented the animals from reaching the ground, which resulted in the starvation of vast numbers of turkeys, deer and hogs. The latter animals were found in piles,. dead through starvation and cold, while the crust, giving the lighter footed wolf a cruel advantage over the deer, resulted in the destruction in this way of vast numbers of the latter animals. Among the early settlers, Jonas Foust was considered a great hunter and a crack shot. He devoted a considerable portion of his time to this pursuit, and added not a little to the limited resources of the frontier by his accomplishment. Hunting at that time was something more than a pleasure. It was a necessity, and it is very doubtful whether this country could have been brought under cultivation without the aid of game to support the family until the land proved productive. 316 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY APPROVED BEE HUNTING. Bee hunting made valuable returns to those who were proficient in this accomplishment, a single tree often yielding as much as ten gallons of strained honey. The woods were full of bee trees and it is said that a barrel of honey could be discovered in a week, though it was not so easily secured. The plan adopted by regular hunters in this line was to provide a bait made up of a little water, honey, anise seed, cinnamon, brandy and "life everlasting." The latter was an herb that grew in certain parts of the country and was so necessary to success, and so much in demand, that the frontier stores kept it as a regular article of sale, and hunters would send as far as Mansfield to procure it. About a pint of this mixture was prepared at a time, and the intelligent hunter, taking a little of this liquid in his mouth, would spirt it upon the first bee he saw on a flower. The bee would at once make for its tree, and the others, smelling the odor, would follow the perfumed bee to where it would return for more of the attractive material. Here they would find the bottle of bait uncorked, and, diving into it, would bear back a burden of the precious liquid to their hives. The most difficult part of the business would then be to track the bee to its stores of honey. Old hunters claim that the few drops of brandy to a pint of the mixture had the effect on the bees to cause them to fly direct to their trees without circling into the air, as is usual with them before they take their flight homeward.. To "airline" a bee was the test of proficiency in this accomplishment, and it was not all who were successful in this essential particular. The result of these expeditions, as the honey found ready sale at a distance, provided other necessities. Two villages laid out within the limits of the township, Friendsborough and Cardington. The latter will form a prominent feature in another chapter; the former can scarcely be said to have had any history. It was laid out on the property later owned by Robert Mosher, in the eastern part of the township, by Colonel Kilbourn of Worthington, in 1822. The plat covered three lots of land, the project assuming a very ambitious character at the start, and later dying altogether. FIRST ROAD. The first permanent step toward the introduction of civilization into this township was made in 1814, when the surveyor, John HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 317 Milligan, assisted by John and Jacob Foust, surveyed and blazed out the Delaware and Mansfield road. The road passed along where Jonas Foust later lived, and the party camping there one or two nights, left the surveyor's name and the date on a tree near the camp where it remained for years afterward. From this point the road approached the village of Cardington, a little east of the site of the railroad, near the gravel pit; thence it ran along the south line of Nichols street and thence along the gravel road and out by the old toll-house. On this road the mail was carried on horseback as early as 1815, and many stories are told of the dangers by highwaymen and wild beasts that infested the road. Four years later a stage was run once a week, driven by a man named Brockway, but after four months' trial the difficulties of the day proved too many, and it was discontinued. WATER COURSES AND DRAINAGE. The first settlers found the township a low, wet tract of land, covered with a heavy growth of timber. Owing to the level lay of the land, the streams in the central part are sluggish, affording but little drainage, and, in fact, it was necessary to convert them into ditches before they proved of any advantage in this direction. Toward the eastern part the land undulates slightly, and the banks of the Whetstone sometimes reach a height of ten or more feet. The latter river enters the township on the eastern side, near the track of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway, and, following in a general way the course of the railroad south to the village, it takes a sudden curve west through Slate banks; passing through the village, and turning south again about the middle of the township, it passes out of its territory. Two streams, Big run and Shaw creek rise in the southern part of the township, and, passing southwest, through the central part, in about identically the same course, about a mile apart, join the Whetstone, the former just west of the village and the latter in Westfield township. During the early settlement, these water courses could hardly be called streams They simply marked the low, marshy ground that existed at that time and which, when overcharged with moisture, sought this channel to feed the Whetstone. In the process of cultivation, these streams were converted into ditches, their channels deepened and straightened for a large part of their length, 318 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY PICTURE OF SCENES ALONG THE WHETSTONE RIVER HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 319 and, in the drying-up of the country, they have taken on more of the character of creeks. There is but little bottom land along the Whetstone, nor is there much variety in the soil of the township. It was principally a black, sticky clay, requiring careful draining, and, when well tilled, capable of producing magnificent crops. 320 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY PICTURE OF MARION, NORTH OR SECOND STREET, CARDINGTON AND MAIN STREET, CARDINGTON CHAPTER XVII VILLAGE OF CARDINGTON. FOUNDED, PLATTED AND IMPROVED-MAYORS OF CARDINGTONEARLY EVENTS AND SETTLERS-FOUNDING OF THE CHURCHES-THE PARK MUSEUM- FOUNDING OF INDUSTRIES-HON. CALEB H. NORRIS AND C. S. HAMILTON- CARDINGTON IN 1850—CARDINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO-RAILROAD BETTER THAN COURT HOUSE-THE OLD CARDING MILL-CARDINGTON IN 1911. Passengers aboard the "Big Four" trains between Cleveland and Columbus cannot fail to notice the attractive and thriving town of Cardington, and its beautiful little park between the railway station and the village proper, with its clump of stately trees, amid which stands a log cabin filled with historical relics, reminding one of an age that is now passed by. And the winding creek, with its mills and a dam to harness the waters, relate to the early settlement, when the pioneers founded the town of Cardington. Less than seventy years ago the sun rose over the eastern tree tops, flooding with light a very small village nestling peacefully in the green valley. We now behold contrasting conditions, for the sun of the present noon-day casts its rays upon a picture far different from that which it greeted at its rise on those pioneer mornings ; the Cardington of today is a flourishing little city of about fifteen hundred inhabitants, with fine business blocks, graded schools and attractive churches. FOUNDED, PLATTED AND IMPROVED. The Village of Cardington was founded in 1836, and at that time there were not over half a dozen houses in the place. But there were saw, grist and carding mills, and two or three cabins at the west end. One street wound along the river bank from the ford at the site of Bunker's mill to the carding mill, and then on to the Delaware road, where Main street crosses Marion street, cat-tail swamp barred the way. The first commercial enterprise - 321 - 322 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY was a store, and there was a tavern to entertain strangers. So great have been the changes that but few of the old landmarks can now be pointed out. The original plat of the village included the territory on both sides of Main street from the alley at the brick building occupied by Shur as a store, east to the river ; also between Second and Walnut streets, from the alley east of the Cunningham residence, east to the river. In 1849 John Thompson platted twenty-nine lots; six fronting on Main street, six on Marion, eleven on Second and six on Walnut. In 1849 Leumas Cook added nine lots lying on the north side of Main street, and the following year he added eleven lots on the south side of that thoroughfare, between Marion and Depot streets, and south to Second. In 1851 James Gregory added to the towns' forty-eight lots, including the territory extending west from the old American House on both sides of Main street to Third. In the same year, George Nichols added eleven lots south of Walnut and west of Center street. Additional lots have been added from time to time until the village has reached its present size. The Greenville treaty line, which marked the limit of Delaware county on the north, passes through Cardington from the east, and, running southwest, passes through Boundary street to the west line of the corporation. The first public improvement made in Cardington was a sidewalk, a single plank in width, laid down on the south side of Main street from the railroad to the old Christian church on Water street. This was in 1852. Three years later better sidewalks were laid. The grading of the town and making the streets presentable constituted no light task. The surface sloped from the east and south, leaving what is now the business section of the town covered with swamp and water. No general effort was made to establish a grade until about 1868. A fire department was organized in 1874. Fires were almost unknown during the first years, and, though considerable apprehension was felt that a time would come which would more than offset their good fortune, nothing was done by the village toward protecting property against fire. Seven thousand dollars would probably, cover the whole loss by fire during the first fifty years of the town's history. In 1856, Joseph Whistler had a small house burned ; in 1865, William Cunningham had a blacksmith shop burned ; in the following year, Louis Mayer had a fire in his drygoods store ; in 1870, S. W. Gregory and Dr. T. P. Glidden each HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 323 lost a house ; and in 1871, a millinery store was burned. After this period, the fires seem to grow more destructive. In 1874 William Shunk's store, with three other storehouses, including the Bank building, were destroyed, involving a loss of $8,000; in November, 1875, G. R. Cunningham's establishment was consumed, involving a loss of about $20,000, and two days later the barns of the Nichols House were burned. MAYORS OF CARDINGTON. 1857-8—John Shur. 1858-9—Daniel Wieder. 1859-60 —Charles Maxwell 1860-61—Daniel Norris 1861-2—John Andrews. 1862-3—J. C. Godman. 1863-4—John Andrews. 1864-7—W. C. Nichols. 1867-8—G. P. Stiles. 1868-9—J. B. Clark. 1869-70—W. C. Nichols. 1870-2—A. K. Earl. 1872 4—S. Brown. 1874-5—William G. Beatty. 1875-6—J. C. Bump. 1876-8—Seth Cook. 1878-9—C. W. Case. 1880-4—J. B. Waring. 1884-6—J. W. Barry. 1886-8-0. P. Russell. 1888-90—C. W. Case. 1890-92—E. Winebar. 1892—G. F. Pollock. 1893—C. W. Case. 1894-6—Seth Cook. 1896-1900—T. Peck. 1900-5—F. N. Lavelle. 1905—Henry Retter. EARLY EVENTS AND SETTLERS. The first person married who was a resident of the town, was Slocum Bunker, who was united with Miss Matilda Wood. The first couple married who were both residents of the town, were John Kessler and Rebecca Stout. The ceremony was performed by John Shunk, a justice of the peace, in a house on Water street. The first lawyer was Thomas McCoy, who was also the tallest man in the town. The first physician was Andrew McClure, who came in 1836. The first resident minister was Charles Caddy, a Protestant Methodist, who lived in an old house down by the mill race. Bunker moved into his new place and in a few weeks he died. Howard continued the business for a year, but the land office having moved to Tiffin, he was obliged to locate at that place and put his carding business in the hands of a Mr. Phillips He con- 324 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY ducted the business for years until the growth of the country, and the improvement in manufactures, superseded the use of these mills. In 1825 Isaac Bunker built a shop between his two mills, in which he manufactured wagons on the old eastern plan. He had carried on this business to some extent in a part of his saw-mills before this, but anxious to increase his trade be provided better facilities for prosecuting the undertaking. Two years later he built a frame foundry building on the east side of the river, to which he constructed a race and supplied machinery to run the bellows by water power. It was known as a "pocket furnace." Iron was bought at Mary Ann furnace, located in Licking county, on the Rocky fork of Licking creek. Charcoal was the fuel used, and was made by Bunker on his place ; the principal business of the foundry was the manufacture of Jethro Wood's patent cast-iron plow. In 1826 a postoffice was established here. Heretofore the community had obtained its mail at Westfield, where it arrived weekly, or at Peru, where it came once in two weeks. This was not so great an inconvenience as would seem at first thought, as mail was a very scarce article in the new settlement. A, mail route had been established between Delaware and Mansfield, passing through this settlement as early as 1815, and the carrier brought the Delaware Gazette to the few who could afford to take it at that time. In the year named an office, under the name of Cardington, was opened—the name being suggested by the manufacturing interests of the place. Isaac Bunker was the first postmaster, who was succeeded by his son Slocum, and he, in turn, by Leumas Cook. The first tannery was started about this time by John Thompson on the spot where the store of W. H. Marvin afterward stood. In 1861 Shunk and Wagner built a tannery and carried it on until 1865. In 1830 Slocum Bunker opened the pioneer store in a frame addition which had been built to the old Bunker cabin. Three years later he sold out to Peleg Mosher ; in 1835 Benjamin Camp opened up a store on the Nicholas place which was the only one at that time. Later, John Lentz had a store and sold goods for a time. The site of the first tavern in Cardington was on the lot where the residence of Jesse W. Mills later stood. John Smith was the author of this enterprise, but in 1836 he sold out to Thomas McKinstry, who was later succeeded by Martin Brockway. The latter HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 325 built a large house on lot 8, which served the public under several administrations for eighteen years. In 1850 David Mosher erected a building for hotel purposes on the north side of West Main street, on a lot later owned by Henry Smith. A man by the name of Davis entertained the public here. Daniel Morris succeeded him, and for a few years continued the business at the old place, but later he built the two lower stories of the Nichols House, and opened it as a hotel in 1854. Three years later J. H. Benson added a third story, and one room on the west side. The house was later owned by W. H. Marvin and I. H. Pennock. The American House was built west of the railroad for a warehouse, but was later moved and fitted up as a hotel. It was owned at different times by Leumas Cook, W. and W. A. Hance and A. M. Lowe. It is not in existence as a hotel now, and the building has been used for other purposes. In 1830 a Public Library was inaugurated, Slocum Bunker, Lewis Barge, Doctor Andrews and William Barnes starting the project and being joined by others. The books in possession of each were brought together under the name of the Cardington Library. Slocum Bunker was its librarian for a time and kept the books in the old Resley House on Main street. Lewis Barge then took them in charge, and kept them in a cabin on Water street. Here they remained until the library discontinued. The first white child born in this town was Joseph Bunker, who died in Texas in 1841. The first death in the village was that of David G., a son of Isaac Bunker, in September, 1824, who was the first one buried in the cemetery on the Marion road. The first burial in the old cemetery was that of a child of Amos Casteel, and the first burial in the new cemetery was Mrs. Estaline, wife of David Armstrong and daughter of Israel Hite. FOUNDING OF THE CHURCHES. The early settlers of Cardington were principally Quakers, coming from the settlement of Peru, and they brought their old-time religious faith with them. About 1822 or 1823, the neighbors desiring to have preaching, Jonas Foust went to Waldo and brought Samuel Wyatt, a Free-Will Baptist minister, to preach in his cabin. This arrangement was kept up for some time until something more permanent could be secured. A little later, the United Brethren were represented, and among the early preachers of that church and others, were Francis Clymer, Loraine, Cad- Vol. I-21 326 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY PICTURE OF GLENDALE CEMETERY, CARDINGTON HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 327 wallader, Moore and Dewitt. The first building erected for church purposes in this section was a log cabin on the land that Johnson Oliver later owned. This was put up by the United Brethren society, about the year 1828. In the eastern part of the township, the Quaker settlement of Gilead had services early ; but as early as 1824 the Methodists had begun their pioneer work. At this time Reverend J. Gilruth preached in the cabins about, and in the same year the building, put up for the double purpose of school house and church building, was thrown open to any denomination that chose to use it. The Reverend Mr. Oldfield was an early preacher; but little more is remembered of him. Of the later organizations, it has been difficult to ascertain as complete a record as would be desirable, and for what follows on the different church organizations we are indebted to the pen of Reverend A. K. Earl. The order in which the Methodist and Christian churches were established is difficult to determine, but it is believed that the Methodist Episcopal church was the pioneer organization, with the Christian church coming close after it, and then the Methodist Protestant church in 1837-38. The Christian church was a very early organization in Cardington ; but there is now no authentic information as to its history. As early as 1841, this society had an organization, and held regular meetings. In the winter of 1842, this society held a union protracted meeting with the Protestant Methodist church, which resulted in considerable accessions to their membership. The church had hitherto been without a regular place of worship ; but, under the impulse of the revival, the society set about securing this desideratum. In the following year, aided by several of the Universalist belief, the society erected a comfortable building on the corner of Main and Water streets. At one time, this church had quite a numerous membership in the county, and this village seemed to be the rallying-point of the denomination. At this time (1841-42) Cardington was a small village, composed of about twenty-five or thirty families, and a population of from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty persons. There was no church edifice in the place, but a frame school house, situated a little south of Main street on what is now called Center, served as a preaching place and place of meeting for all denominations. From the best information obtainable, the Methodist Protestant church was organized during the winter of 1837-8, by Reverend David Howell. In the organization, John Shunk and wife, 328 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY Leumas Cook and wife, Robert Cochran and wife, Jacob Bovey and wife, and probably their three daughters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary ; also, J. D. Glisson and his mother and sister, Mrs. Hartsock, were included. At the close of that conference year, Reverend Moses Scott was appointed to the circuit. It was called the Mount Vernon circuit, and included parts of the three counties of Knox, Licking and Marion. Mr. Scott remained two years, and was succeeded by Reverends J. B. Roberts and Charles Caddy, who remained but one year, which brings the history of the church to the fall of 1841. Prior to 1842, there was no Sunday school in Cardington. Some time during that year an agent of the American Sunday School Union, by the name of Jones, paid the village a visit, lectured on the subject, and organized a Sunday school auxiliary to the American Sunday School Union, and supplied it with a library of books.. In the organization, Reverend T. C. Thompson, of the Methodist. Protestant church, was made superintendent, and G. W. Purvis, assistant superintendent. It was to all intents and purposes a union school, and remained so until the other churches felt themselves strong enough to go alone, when they withdrew their stock and organized schools of their own. A Presbyterian church was organized, according to the records in this village, July 4, 1851, under the name of the First Presbyterian Church of Cardington, with seven members, viz : James Harrison and wife, James Gregory and wife, Israel Hite and wife, and J. G. Arbuckle.. Messrs Harrison, Gregory and Hite were elected elders. The organization was accomplished by Reverend Henry Van Deman, of Delaware, Ohio. By death and removal their numbers were so reduced that, in 1860, Mrs. Sarah Gregory only remained to represent the church. In September, 1860, the organization was "perpetuated," as the records term it, under the supervision of the organizer, Reverend Mr. Van Deman. The exact date of the organization of the Methodist Episcopal church is not given, but at an early period Cardington was an appointment on the Mt. Gilead circuit. One writer states that in 1841 the membership was small. Among the early preachers of the M. E. church at Cardington were Reverend Zephaniah Bell, Reverend Silas Ensign and Reverend Samuel Shaw, all well known preachers Of the pioneer period. In 1841 Reverend Samuel Allen was the preacher in charge. Among the early members were Anson St. John, William Hill, John Richards and James Hazelto, with their families. Subsequently they fitted up an unfinished HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 329 frame building that stood on the lot later owned by M. L. Mooney. They had a few more accessions about this time, Reverend Richard Sims and Lewis Mulford, with their wives uniting with them; also Andrew Grant and wife, having removed from Sunbury, joined the church by letter. Ere long they sold their church edifice and were without a place of worship for regular services. Sometimes they held their meetings in private houses, sometimes in school houses, and sometimes in the churches of the other denominations. In 1854 Reverend Lemuel Herbert was assigned to this circuit, which at that time contained three appointments—Cardington, PICTURE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CARDINGTON. Bethel and Boundary.. Reverend Herbert being an energetic and persevering man, succeeded in building a new church, and members were added to the society. After using this building for fifteen years or more, the congregation erected a new house of worship. The Catholic church formed an organization at Cardington about 1870, with a membership of sixteen families, and erected a small brick edifice. The German Lutherans organized a church in the west end of Cardington in 1868, and secured an appropriate place for worship. 330 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY THE PARK MUSEUM. One of the attractive and unique institutions of Cardington is the Park Museum, in which are treasured historic mementoes of both national and local interest—all housed in a typical log cabin, built in 1858 and "secured by a lock and key of massive size, made in Germany a century ago." The words quoted are from the pen of Mrs. A. B. French, now of Clyde, but a native of Cardington, who made a visit to the museum and wrote a full and instructive article of what she saw there and the reflections aroused by the unique collection. It is from her paper that the description is gleaned which follows.. One of the first articles to attract attention was a stirrup worn by a cavalryman in the Civil war. Four horses were shot from under him and he escaped unhurt. Turning to the left is seen the coat and haversack worn and carried by that respected townsman, Sergeant George S. Singer of Company C, Ninety-sixth regiment, O. V. I., who enlisted April 8, 1864, and was detailed to carry the colors in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, which was called the Red river campaign. Mr. Singer was in that battle which raged so fiercely and resulted in the defeat of the Union forces. While the Northern men were falling beneath shot and shell and defeat was sure, the orders came to the remaining few to save themselves. While obeying this order, a comrade (perhaps an orderly carrying dispatches) was shot, and both horse and rider fell. Mr. Singer paused long enough to unstrap the coat from his dead comrade's horse. Time and again he was ordered to halt, and demanded to give up the colors, but amid the fullisade of bullets (some of which went through his clothing) he brought off the colors. The coat he carried on the retreat down the Red river to the Mississippi and sent it home. Miraculous indeed was his escape. A bullet hole through his haversack is a silent witness of the dangers he encountered of being killed. From this battle many Morrow county homes date their sorrow. Not far away is a flag staff carried by a soldier in the War of 1812; a sword that went through the Mexican war and a child's tiny cradle, the last one hundred and twenty years old. Perhaps in the next case are the stocks, ball and chain, which illustrate the old-time methods of prison punishment, with "Uncle Joseph Morris's silk hat and Aunt Jane's Shaker bonnet, which no doubt were worn when our country was in the throes of a great rebellion. Uncle Joseph was indeed a good Samaritan. He did great work HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 331 In securing homes for orphan children and protecting the runaway slave, which our older settlers in Morrow county will remember. His heart was warm and tender as a woman's. He had a place in it for a whole race of oppressed people and all who needed sympathy. The destitute and friendless turned to him and sought his door, where they received a cordial welcome and protection from Aunt Jane and himself. Could an angel do more? Surely no man could. He had a long tunnel made extending from his house to the carriage shed, and when the former was closely watched and he wanted to start runaway slaves on their northward journey, they were sent through the tunnel to this shed, where they would leave after night, eluding the watchers. 'When I looked at his traveling trunk (one hundred years old or more) I thought if it could speak what an interesting experience it could relate,' continues Mrs. French. "Not far from the reminders of our Quaker friends hang the saddlebags of Preacher Bell, (their age not known) a minister who with an assistant had seventeen appointments to make every two weeks. What a story they could tell of going through snow, rain and sleet, over roads almost impassable when the country was new and sparsely settled. Just back of them stands the first stove ever made in Cardington. It was made by Slocum Bunker in 1810, from pig-iron brought overland from Zanesville. It was fashioned into a small heating stove for the Hixite church. Gone are the faithful who gathered in brotherly love to hear the question answered, 'If a man die shall he live again?' "I then turned to a bible one hundred and fifty years old, owned by the Joshua Horr family. Beside it lies another book, `A History of the Bible,' written in 1710, two hundred and one years ago. "While looking at the first telegraph instrument used in Cardington, by Morgan Payne, who is still living at the ripe age of eighty or more years, I fully realized we had made rapid advancement along inventive lines and kept pace with the religious thought of our age. What tender memories of early days that instrument must recall. Bright days of young manhood when the father's family was unbroken. How little he or others ever dreamed, when he was sending or receiving dispatches by dots and dashes on strips of paper, that he would live to see neighbors converse with each other out of hailing distance and business men transacting business hundreds of miles apart by means of the telephone, or that he would sit in his easy chair at a ripe old age and   332 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY read in the morning paper news from thousands of miles away, of messages received from ships at sea by wireless telegraphy. It must seem like a new world to him and yet wireless telegraphy, or the telephone is no more perfected for this day and generation than were the dots and dashes in an early day. Mental telepathy, in one of the golden tomorrows, will supersede both. "We also notice a china bowl, cup and saucer, one hundred and fifty years old or more, brought from Germany by George Jenkin's mother's ancestors in a sail boat. No doubt the little band of passengers encountered many storms at sea. What courage it must have required to leave the fatherland on so perilous a journey as a nine-month voyage. The dangers met and overcome, the seasickness and worst of all, homesickness when the land of their birth receded from view, will never be known. Could they have been permitted to pass one of the present day fine steamers, especially on a moon-lit night, they would have thought it a phantom ship ploughing the sea. "My attention was then called to articles from Ireland brought by Jerry Dean's ancestors—a fire shovel, candlemolds and shaving mug 100 years old or more—and for a time we are on Erin's soil. "The next interesting article to attract my attention was a little dress, one hundred years old, worn by Stephen Brown, long since gone to the home of his fathers, and in fine state of preservation. The linen was spun by his mother. "We were deeply impressed with the home relics. The ancestors of George Faust brought from Germany an iron kettle that is one hundred and seventy-five years old, which left a lasting impression with me. The names inseparably connected with it are my ancestors also. "In the case to the right is a copper kettle, pounded out by hand and brought from Germany by the Schimpf family in 1855, age not known. The warm-hearted Germans settled here in an early day. They came from the land of literature and science and had to endure many privations that few realize. But they would go any distance to do a kind act for a neighbor. Did they receive the welcome expected when reaching our shore after the long journey from home and friends and 'rocked in the cradle of the deep?' We hope so. The hard-working and thrifty German has done much to promote the industrial interests of our country, while to the Yankee we are largely indebted for our inventive genius. "But they are not the only ingenious race. Our attention was called to a small hand-made loom to weave gallowses on, made HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 333 by John Leachner, before there were any saw mills or nails. It is fastened together with wooden pegs, showing great ingenuity. We also saw a pancake griddle made in Wales in 1780, one hundred and thirty-one years old. The ancestors of Mrs. George Ulery, the honest Welsh, left their thrifty farms, neat farm houses and fair Welsh mountains to make a home in the new world. They, too, have proven their patriotism and are staunch and true. "As we looked at the cane and carpet bag one hundred and sixty-five years old, brought from England by the Barge ancestors, mentally we cross the mighty deep. "We turn again to Germany and see the three years of cruel war of a century ago, of which the officer's lantern is a reminder, and also the army blanket that was carried through three years of the Civil war here after its experience over there. What a history could be written of the blanket. The wool fabric must have been of better quality then than it is now. The blanket is still in a fine state of preservation, as are the woolen rolls presented by Mrs. Theodore Purvis. They were made by the carding mills after which Cardington was named. "When the visitor first enters the Park museum the works of art from the different grades of the high school will attract their attention. Professor Flickinger has thoughtfully placed them with the handiwork of our ancestors. The pictures denote great artistic ability which has been cultivated by the aid of competent teachers. The years will come and go and when the hands of teachers and pupils have turned to dust, the birds will sing as of old, sunlight and shadow meet and mingle, and another generation fighting life's battle will no doubt view their work with the same interest we do our forefathers'. "We now ask the reader to excuse us if we linger awhile by the old arm chair loaned by Mrs. E. S. Weiser and the writer. The chair has been in the Payne family one hundred and fifty years, and how much older we do not know. It has worn out three pairs of rockers and sixty years ago reseated the last time by our father, William P. Faust, (now deceased) with twisted hickory bark, which is still in good condition. Many, many years ago, the chair was brought overland from Hartford, Connecticut, in a moving van by Ezra Payne, father of Austin Payne, who died in Cardington in November, 1885, in his ninety-fourth year. While the family were enroute here one of the little girls died. They were far from doctor or undertaker and had to hew out a rude coffin from the section of a tree, in which the little one was 334 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY placed. They kissed the pallid lips and laid her to rest under the shoreless expanse of the sky, lit with the light of countless stars, there to sleep among the mountains and forest that formed a home for innumerable wild animals. With tearful eyes and aching hearts they resumed their journey, while the grief stricken mother with heart tendrils torn, sitting in the chair, watched the little mound till it gradually receded from view.' The chair has been used as a cradle for each succeeding generation as they came and went. While looking upon it with reverence, visions of our sainted mother, Amy Payne Faust, came to us and memories of childhood's happy days. "Mother, dear mother, the years have grown long. Since I was hushed by thy lullaby song. Sing, then, and unto my soul it will seem Womanhood years have been but a dream; Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue, Mother, dear mother, my heart yearns for you. "Many a summer the grass has grown green, Blossomed and faded are faces between, Yet with strong yearning and passionate pain, Long I tonight for thy presence again; Come from the silence so vast and so deep, Mother, dear mother, my heart yearns for you. "We turned from the reminder of happy hours on hearing the wind sweep through the leafless trees, sounding like a sad refrain as though nature was sighing in her dreams. Were the sweet strains from Nature's Aeolian harp, or from the dulcimer and accordion lying side by side in the case at our right? The former is one hundred years old or more and was presented by Lenn Fleming. The latter was brought from Germany many years ago by Henry Hartman, now deceased. "As though to break the pensive spell the pitiful bark of two coyotes is borne to our ears from the zoo. We start to the door and our attention is called to the piece of wood from the home of George Washington. "On going out of the door we saw in front of the cabin a stone wash basin, hand made in 1813. Not far off, a stone hominy bowl, weight fifteen hundred pounds. To the left are two buhr grinders that were used to grind corn. The one used by hand bears the marks of a century. The other for horse power was made in 1818 by Ira Ink, grandfather of Mrs. Isaac Hickson. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 335 "Could the oxen, whose combined weight was four thousand two hundred pounds and the massive yoke used on them, when tilling the soil, stand by the auto-plow recently invented by a Minnesota man, which can plow fifteen acres per day at the nominal cost of three, dollars per day, what a contrast there would be ! Then if an aeroplane could gracefully settle down by the side of the harness one hundred and thirty-nine years old, brought from Virginia by the Cunards, the contrast would be still greater. While viewing the above you can be resting yourself on the settee and dining table combined, age I do not remember, presented by Al Dennis. "If it is in the golden summer time when the bees are in the blossom and the tassel on the corn, you will see the trees full of green leaves, beautiful flowers in bloom and bright hued shrubbery lining the fine walk, and no doubt by that time you will hear the playing of water around a fountain ; and if it should be in the evening, sweet strains of music will be wafted to you from the band stand near the entrance, and with the electric light illumination it will seem like a fairy land where lovers love to linger. "Cardington can well be proud of her school for the living and the fine chapel and mausoleum in Glendale for the dead, and also the Park Museum in which their treasures can be cared for long after they are promoted to a higher grade in the school of the great beyond" FOUNDING OF INDUSTRIES. The early industries of Cardington are no more, and prominent among these were the grist mills. The mills of the pioneer period have been almost entirely relegated to the rear. When the roller process mills were inaugurated, they made finer and whiter flour than did the old buhr mills, and became more popular on account of the whiteness of the bread and the lightness of the cakes, made with it. An early settler of Morrow county narrated to the writer upon a recent trip -to Chesterville that when the roller process flour was first introduced into their neighborhood, his wife came home from a call upon one of their neighbors and said that she had seen there such white bread made with a new kind of flour, and that she must have some of the same kind. He got it for her, and while they have since had whiter bread, he has never thought it had the strength and nourishment that the old time buhrflour had, and added that the modern flour was not the kind a 336 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY pioneer needed to furnish strength to clear the forests. The old time flouring mills were converted into chop and feed mills, and later discontinued. There is an old mill yet standing in Cardington, but it is not in use and is now only a monument of the early period. The woolen factory, carding mills and tanneries have all disappeared, giving way to new conditions and new utilities. The water in the Olentangy at Cardington is quite low, but it has not now at any time the volume it had fifty or more years ago, when these early industries were run by water power. The clearing of the forests had a tendency to partially dry up the streams. The manufacture of wagons and carriages was one of the earliest industries of Cardington. Bunker, the early founder of the village, was a successful wagon maker in Vermont, and notwithstanding the numerous projects that divided his attention, he found time to devote to his old business in the new country. Succeeding him came Thomas C. Thompson, who established a carriage shop in 1836. In 1874, the Hook Brothers started a cooper shop in the village, finishing their work, save hooping, at the saw mill of Joseph Smith, a little northeast of the village After a year or so, the whole business was moved to the village, where the hooping had been done from the first, putting up a shop just west of the depot. In November, 1877, the business was sold to Lee & Utter, and two weeks later S. Atwood was taken into the firm. In 1847, J. H. Fluckey commenced the blacksmith business, doing custom work until 1873, when he began the manufacture of carriages. Another enterprise was the furniture factory of J. S. Peck. This industry had an early origin in Cardington. In 1844 Anson St. John supplied the village and the surrounding country. In 1851 Edbert Payne established a furniture shop, but after operating it a few years, he sold out and went west. Asa McCreary also had a furniture store about that time. The progress from Bunker's single little store, followed by Peter Doty, Robert Jeffries, John Shunk, Shunk & Wolfe, Martin Brockway, David Armstrong and John Shur, covers the growth in business for some thirty years. The advantages offered by the river and railroad were largely counter-balanced by the strong competition offered by Chesterville and Mt. Gilead. But time gradually told in favor of this village, and at the beginning of the HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 337 war a class of enterprising men had become established in business, and made Cardington, during that period, one of the most active little towns in central Ohio. With such business activity, it would be natural to find the banking business prominently represented. The first bank was organized as early as 1854, by R. J. House, John Beatty and Richard House, under the name of the Banking Company of House, Beatty & Company. HONS. CALEB H. NORRIS AND C. S. HAMILTON. Among the many prominent men who were once residents of Cardington, mention should be made of Hon. Caleb H. Norris; now a resident of Marion. He was born in Waldo township, Marion county, Ohio, September 29, 1849. When Caleb H. Norris was four years old his parents removed to the vicinity of Cardington, where they resided for thirteen years. At the age of seventeen he graduated from the Cardington high school. In 1860, the family returned to Marion county and he began the study of the law. He graduated with distinction, is regarded as one of the ablest lawyers and jurists in this part of the state, and is now a judge upon the bench. In the practice of law his influence has been for good. Deferential to the bench in a manly way, courteous to his professional brethren, faithful to his client as far as honor will allow, a gentleman in court, on the street and in his office—these were his every day characteristics. Such a course of conduct could not fail to bring honor to himself and to his profession. In his private life and as a citizen and a neighbor, he has acted well his part. "Formed on the good old plan, A true and brave and downright honest man! He blew no trumpet in the market place, Nor in the Church with hypocritic face Supplied with cant the lack of Christian grace; Loathing pretense, he did with cheerful will What others talked of, while their hands were still." The author of this work attended the Republican convention which was held at Cardington to nominate a candidate for the Fortieth congress, to succeed the Hon. James Hubbell, who was then the representative from that district. The writer recalls the convention very vividly from the fact that he had a friend who 338 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY worked industriously for Mr. Hubbell. The nomination went to C. S. Hamilton, of Union county, who was elected at the ensuing election. A sad tragedy occurred; however, which resulted in Mr. Hamilton's death at the hands of his insane son, soon after he had entered upon the duties of his office. His death occurred in 1867. At a special election General John Beatty, of Morrow county, was chosen to fill the vacancy Caused by Mr. Hamilton's tragic death. CARDINGTON IN 1850. The following article was written by Morgan Payne and printed in the Morrow County Independent, July 18, 1901: "Morgan Payne, who is one of the pioneers of Cardington, has furnished the Independent a few reminiscences of the Carding-ton of fifty years ago, when Chesterville was the metropolis of Morrow county and Cardington and Mt. Gilead were struggling for second place. When Mr. Payne came to Cardington from Westfield township, the town was only a few buildings near the East Main street bridge. The old saw mill near the dam was unfit for work; the Christian church was standing on the corner of Main and Water streets; Anson St. John had a shop where he made some furniture ; the Grant House stood where it now does; Dr. Resley lived next door to the hotel, which was where Mrs. Bradley now lives. Then there was the Shunk House, and across the street from it the building where Henry Bailey kept store, Over the gate entering the Bailey store was an arched. sign bearing the words, "Cold. Water." There was .a small one room school house opposite where Mrs. Prophet now lives, and Mr. Starr had just erected a store building on the corner on which Dr. Neal resides. This building was after a few years moved to the Odd Fellow lot on the corner of the square. A little later David Armstrong kept a store on the lot where Charles Koppe lives, and Mr. Brockway sold his hotel to Mr. Salisbury and built the Beell brick building. A Mr. Thompson owned the property where Dr. Green's office stands. The only buildings on South Marion street were a small frame house where the Gano brick is, occupied by John Gregory, father of J. D. Gregory, and the house near by on the farm owned by Mr. Brockway. Among the men who were here fifty years ago are George Bell, John Fluckey, A. Mayer, E. Burt, D. B. Peck, Amos Earl and Hartley Ensign. Many of the others are laid away in the old cemetery. In 1864 Mrs. David Armstrong was the first person buried in the new cemetery. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 339 "Mr. Brockway conducted the hotel. The stage stopped there every day. The stage driver changed horses at Westfield and Mt. Gilead, but once he had to procure a horse at Cardington. When coming into Cardington from Westfield the driver would always begin blowing a whistle at what is now the west corporation line and then drive the horses as fast as they could go from there to the hotel. One day, after one of the runs, one of the horses dropped dead just as the hotel was reached, and one of Mr. Brock-way's horses was used for the remainder of the trip. The stage route was kept up for a short time after the building of the railroad. "The organization of the county, with Mt. Gilead as the county seat in 1848, and the building of the railroad through Carding-ton in 1849 and 1850, put these two towns in position to fight for first place in the county instead of second. Cars began running on the railroad in 1851. John Shunk was agent and Mr. Payne was the operator, a position he held for twenty years. Merritt Burt pumped water for the engines by horse power. The cattle yards were located north of the bridge. There was no switch near them and when a car of stock was to be shipped, Mr. Burt took his horse and pulled the car across the bridge to the yard, where it was loaded. The first house north of the bridge was a hotel, where E. S. Weiser now owns, built for the accommodation of the stock men. The hotel was the property of Alex Purvis, and it is from him that the north part of Cardington came to be called Alextown. Often eight and ten cars of stock left Cardington at one time. "About this time Daniel Norris, father of Judge Norris of Marion, made the brick and built the hotel, and Mr. Payne boarded there a number of years. A few frame houses were also put up on the lots between the square and the railroad, and a few small ones west of the track. Drs. White, Glidden and Resley were the physicians, and George Stark kept the post office where H. C. Long now lives. "Soon after he came here Mr. Payne was offered the square piece of ground between Marion street and Dr. Green's office, and between Main and Second streets for $700. It was grown up to willows; Mr. Brown's tan shop was there and a few sunken tan vats stood on the lot. Mr. Payne was inclined toward making the investment, but Mr. Godman and his brother, who was undertaker at that time, advised against it, saying business would never come that far down town because the horses would scare at the cars. At the present time the most sought after hitching place in Carding-ton is in the shade of the grove facing the railroad. 340 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY "In 1854 or 1855, while the south was trying to force slavery into Kansas, Mr. Payne helped a runaway slave family on its way to Canada without knowing that he was violating the Fugitive Slave Law. One evening after the departure of the train and while he was alone in the office, a colored man came and asked him for something to eat. He said his wife and child were in the woodshed. Mr. Payne procured them food and drink, hid them away in the shed and at 10 o'clock that night put them on a freight train bound for Cleveland. There were three in the family. The child was almost white and the mother part white. They were from Kentucky and said their master was going to sell them to go farther south, as he was afraid they would run off and go to Canada. The next morning as Mr. Payne came down stairs at the hotel he saw two blood hounds lying on the floor of the bar room and heard two men asking Mr. Norris for a livery team. They procured a rig at John Sanderson's barn; loaded the hounds and started for Aaron Benedict's between Woodbury and Stanton-town, where there was a station of the under ground railway and where they expected to find the fugitives. Cardington was not on the route usually selected by the runaways and the men made no inquiries here, although their presence caused Mr. Payne to examine the laws, when he found that he had made himself liable to a term in the penitentiary for harboring and aiding human beings. "Mr. Payne will be eighty-three years old the 27th of August, 1911, and has lived in Cardington sixty years. He was born in Liberty township, Delaware county, Ohio. Age is now fast removing the vigor of former days from him and his associates who witnessed the development of the town, and in a few years they will be no more. Payne avenue was named after Mr. Payne and runs through an addition which he laid out in North Cardington. While employed by the railroad company he made six inventions of railroad appliances, one of which is still in use." CARDINGTON SIXTY YEARS AGO As Remembered by Mr. and Mrs. H. Wagner, and Given in a Recent Interview. It is not an easy matter to obtain reliable material relating to the birth of a town, but in this instance the writer was fortunate and local history found here may be relied upon as truth. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 341 Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are well known and respected citizens of Cardington and reside on West Main street. Mrs. Wagner's father was James Gregory, Sr., who owned considerable of the land on which Cardington is located. From childhood to the present time she has been identified with the town. Mr. Wagner is not a Buckeye, coming here from Maryland, in 1863, forty-seven years ago ; in business many years he is still active—doing the work of a young man every day. Before starting out on this story of early days, it should be said that no home in Morrow county is more richly endowed with antique relics than that of Mr. and Mrs. Wagner ; some of them will find their way to the Park Museum and serve as a reminder of the town's early history. As Mrs. Wagner's life began here, it is her recollections that naturally- come first. James Gregory, Sr's., farm comprised two hundred and forty acres and extended from where the Methodist Episcopal church now stands to where Mrs. Jane Williams formerly lived in Alextown, or as it ought to be called, the North Side. A dozen small houses comprised the town when her folks first came here, while a store stood where E. Winebar now lives. It was the only one in town and was afterward moved to where Mrs. Ruth Chipps now lives; it was first kept by a man named Doty and afterward by Shunk & Godman. The first church was located on the lot where the Heimlich home on East Main street now stands. It was called the Christian church, and if the records of all the meetings held there could be found they would make interesting reading. As the only church, it was to the people of those days more than it means to us now, for we have the choice of six churches, besides the mission in the Shaw building. Mrs. Wagner was present once in this church and saw the ceremony known as "washing of the feet" performed. This church was removed to the lot back of the Heimlich home, and is now used by Charles Heimlich as a barn. He cut the church in two and sold half of it to D. J. Babson for thirty-five dollars, proving what an immense lot of lumber there was in the old building. Mrs. St. John was the last one to reside in it before its removal to its present site. The next church was the Protestant on the corner where the Methodist Protestant church now stands. The old building was bought by Loomis Cook and removed to where the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) now stands and was used by him as a dwelling house. Vol. I-22 342 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY The first school house was located where Mrs. Fiedler recently lived, opposite the Prophet home, and was a small frame of one room where the pupils sat on benches. The first teacher's name was Poe—no relation to the one who told us about the bust of Pallas with a raven sitting upon it; in fact he bore no resemblance to the melancholy poet, for he could scarcely hold his own with the pupils and did not keep good order. Think of that. first school house and then go and take a long look at the old Cardington High if you do not believe our town has grown some and improved greatly. Where are those pupils and their first teacher now ? What a reunion it would be if only, alas ! they were here to shake hands with one another. RAILROAD BETTER THAN COURT HOUSE. There was quite a rivalry about the location of the county seat between Cardington and Mt. Gilead. Very few people know what a narrow margin there was between the selection of the towns for (PICTURE AT THE BIG POUR DEPOT, CARDINGTON) the site of the court house. A mass meeting resulted in raising funds and sending a representative for Cardington interests to the general assembly. But Mt. Gilead runs the court house and claims the county seat honors, which after all does not amount to HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 343 much for materially building up a town or increasing its population, as may be proven by comparison between the two towns after all this lapse of time. People have often wondered why Cardington got the railroad and Mt. Gilead got left. Here is the truth of it: The surveyors were at Mt. Gilead making overtures to the citizens of that place relating to the location of a railroad station there. A misunderstanding brought them back here saying that they had been insulted and Cardington might have it instead, if ten acres of land were deeded to the company for depot and grounds. There was some tall hustling done about that time and at a public meeting Loomis Cook sold the town three acres of land for $300. James Gregory, Sr., donated the other seven, making the required ten. It was a great day for Cardington when the first engine went through ; it was like a southern barbecue or county fair, people gathering for miles with dinner baskets, patiently awaiting to see the sight. When it did come, the people and the engine made some noise, the people shouting and the engine doing some fancy tooting, a result of which was that a fine horse of James Gregory, Sr., was frightened to death. It was in a pasture field where Henry Axthelm now lives, and escaping ran down West Main street as far as where the Ernie Payne home now stands and turned back home and dropped dead. Take it all in all, it was a great day for Cardington. The first depot stood where the present one is and John Shunk was the first agent. The railroad offices were located at the place where the old Cunningham House, owned by Wat Shaw now stands. To the railroad Cardington owes many years of wonderful prosperity, for at one time the town was a center of trade for miles in every direction. The railroad was the magnet, for it was the only one near and a great shipping medium for farmers, and if the town did lose the county seat it gained something of more value in a business sense—the railroad and all that goes with it. THE OLD CARDING MILL. The old carding mill, after which the town was named, was located on the brow of the hill just below where Philip Loyer lives. It was a three story building, owned by James Gregory, Sr., and managed by his son, William Gregory. It was run by water power. The farmers came from great distances with wool. The 344 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY big building was often as full as it could be crowded from top to bottom with wool brought there to be carded, after which the farmers would return for the rolls and take them home for spinning and weaving. Then they would come back with the rough cloth and the mill people would do the fulling, dressing and pressing. It would now be ready for the tailor—home or imported kind. The mill people would card the wool in the summer time and full the cloth in the winter. Great strings of farm wagons might often be seen awaiting their turn to unload at the Cardington mill, suggesting what an immense business was done there. Think what our forefathers endured to get a suit of clothes ; take it from sheep shearing until the traveling tailor, with his historical "goose," or mother fashioned it. What a lot of work and worry ! You may see spinning wheels at the Park Museum, the same kind your great-grandmother sang duets with, as she spun the rolls of wool ready for weaving. To be a good weaver, to make fine cloth, or excel in coverlets—a few samples of which with date and initials are still found, strong and beautiful in their colors and patterns, in our households—was to be greater than a king, at least you would have been popular. Shoddy was unknown in those days and a good piece of cloth meant that it would still be good after many years. It is interesting here to note that two of James Gregory, Sr's. sons—James (connected with the mill) and David—went to California, possessed like thousands of others with the gold fever. They left Cardington in a two horse wagon, well stocked with provisions and everything necessary for the trip. When they got to St. Louis they traded their horses for oxen, joined a caravan of five hundred ox teams and continued the journey. They were nine months on the road, remaining between two and three years, and on their return a ware house was opened in a building afterward occupied by A. Mayer. A sad incident of the California trip was the death of young Needham, who went with the Gregory boys from this place. When within only one hundred and twenty miles from the diggings he was taken ill. He called on a doctor who accidentally gave him a dose of morphine instead of quinine. He never awakened and one Cardington citizen lies in California, filling a nameless grave. The first grist mill was owned by Charles Wolfe, who sold out to Jesse Mills, grandfather of the Mills Brothers, and after that Dick Mills, their father, owned and ran it. It was the old water mill formerly occupied by D. J. Babson. The flour mill has been in the Mills family for three generations. HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 345 A tannery formerly occupied the land where John Under-wood's handsome new block now stands. A man by the name of Tyler was killed by lightning in this tannery. It was owned by Shunk and Wagner and afterward removed to Gilead street. The building is now the property of Alfred Dennis. The first mayor was John Shur. The first newspaper was called the Cardington Flag. The first elevator, by James and David Gregory, was afterward carried on by Andrews & Reichelderfer. The first hotel was down near the Lentz home and owned by a man named Brockway. It may surprise many people that the Lisse building was once a hotel ; also to know that Hotel Gregory was once a one story structure owned by Dan Norris ; afterward Henry Benson put on an additional story, then another. The first jewelry store here was owned by Merritt Burt, a brother to Nicholas Burt and an uncle of Charles Burt. Mr. Wagner came here in 1863 from Maryland and began clerking in the store of Shunk & Wagner, in which his brother David was a partner. William Shunk was provost marshal of this congressional district, a responsible and paying office in that day of civil strife. Mr. Wagner has many pleasant memories of his Maryland home and among them the listening to some of the silver tongued orators of a generation or two ago—General Robert E. Lee, then a Whig, afterward commander of the Confederate army; Lewis Cass, a Democrat; John J. Crittenden, one of Kentucky's most famous sons; President Franklin Pierce and Henry A. Wise, governor of Virginia, who sentenced John Brown to death—John Brown whose "soul goes marching on." As the episode of John Brown was national, it may interest the present generation to hear one verse and chorus of a song popular at that time in Virginia : In Harper's Ferry section They had an insurrection, Old John Brown thought the niggers would sustain him, But old Gov. Wise put the spectacles on his eyes, And he marched him to that happy land of Canaan. Chorus. The good Eastern ship had just made a trip, Twelve days at least without strainin' But we'll take a big balloon, that will carry us soon To that happy land of Canaan. 346 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY To hear Mr. Wagner talk of Cardington of nearly fifty years ago impresses one with the idea that this was a live business place and the people hustlers. He has sound ideas on high prices and believes that one factor in the industrial problem is too few producers to the great mass of consumers. The nucleus of the town was around what is now East Main street and the Mt. Gilead bridge. It was a great railroad center and trade was brisk. There were seven dry goods stores, four or five groceries and three regular shoe stores here at one time. Trade was immense, extending half way to Marion, Waldo, Prospect, Iberia, Ashley, Marengo and Fulton came here to buy and to ship stock on the railroad. It was certainly lively in those days, and Cardington had a reputation far and wide as a respectable, law-abiding and hustling town. It was a great center for conventions and its hospitality was famed far and near. Cardington suffered from the effects of a large fire that originated in a clothing store in the first room east of the Shunk store, then located where the Beatty & Chase block now stands This establishment with Taylor's shoe store, located on the site of the present National bank, burned to the ground. Wagner afterward removed to the Farrington grocery site on West Main street, and Shunk opened up again where Miss Long conducts a millinery store. There was a very poor chance to fight the flames then, and the fire department of Galion came down to our relief. What a reunion it would be if those citizens who lived here fifty years ago could meet once more and look around them. There would not be one familiar landmark left of their time, but alas, it is as the poet says: Aye, thus it be! One generation comes, Another goes and mingles with the dust. And thus we come and go- Each for a little moment filling up Some little space. And thus we disappear In quick succession, and it shall be so Till time in one vast perpetuity be swallowed up. CARDINGTON IN 1911. By W. B. Conaway. While Cardington receives credit in the census of 1910 of 1,349 souls, a slight decrease over 1900, it has in the past few years taken on new life, new energy and an accelerated growth which promises HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 347 to make her future certain and sure. During the past ten years she has added seven new factories. The Cardington Cabinet Company, making a line of ice cream freezers, hose reels and cement block and tile machines, employs thirty-five men ; it was established in the fall of 1906. The Ohio Stave Company employs the same number in making barrel hoops, and was moved here from Marysville in April, 1906. The H. C. Long Handle Company started In 1911, employs fifteen men in making fork handles. The Cardington Cement Tile & Block Company, has a force of seven, constantly making cement blocks and tile. The Russell hay barn employs a number of men in baling hay. The John Loeffert Cigar Company, just organized, will make cigars on a large scale. The Cardington Canning Company organized in 1901, operates only during the sweet corn and tomato season. There are, in addition the J. S. Peck & Son furniture factory, the Slicer Carriage Shop, the grist mill and Independent office, which have for years been giving the town its reputation as a manufacturing center. Nowhere in the state of Ohio can a finer lot of business men be found than in Cardington. They are alive to every opportunity, and the desire is always present to give their trade the best and make the price such that competition will have no effect. The stocks of merchandise are large in all lines, and every line of trade is amply represented. The business blocks and store rooms are unusually large. The businesses include five hardware and two drygoods stores, four groceries, clothing store, department store, two jewelry stores, three shoe stores, two barber shops, two drug stores, furniture store, three millinery stores, two harness shops, tailor shop, two bakeries, two insurance and real estate agencies, five restaurants, three automobile garages, hotel, laundry, two livery barns, four blacksmith shops, two photograph galleries, sewing machine agency, notion store, and fruit store. Besides its excellent business enterprises, few towns of its size support as many places of amusement. The pleasure-loving in the community support two moving picture shows, two pool rooms and a bowling alley. The town has for years boasted of its Ladies' Public Library, and is noted as the smallest town in the state supporting such an institution. For fifteen years it has supported an excellent lecture course. Cardington has two banking institutions, the Citizens and First National, both of which are strong financial houses. The Morrow County Building and Loan Company was incorporated in 1884 and has a capital stock of $300,000. Its deposits amount 348 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY to $75,000. All of these institutions are well managed and ably officered, and every effort is made to extend courtesy to their clients consistent with conservative business methods. W. P. Vaughan is cashier of the First National bank, E. M. Willits of the Citizens, and E. H. Conaway is secretary of the Morrow County Building and Loan Company. The Morrow County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, which was chartered May 14, 1897, has its headquarters here, with O. C. Romans as secretary and R. F. Mosher president. It has nearly 2,000 policies in force, representing nearly $3,000,000 in insurance. The company is officered entirely by Morrow county farmers and has a steady growth. Several of the leading denominations are represented in Cardington. The pulpits are filled by able men whose aim is to uplift and make conditions better. Cardington churches and ministers are a credit to the town and reflect the moral standing of the community. The town has six churches and five resident ministers. Reverend Martin Weaver is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, Reverend A. E. Black of the Methodist EpisReverend M. F. Lauffer of the Evangelical Lutheran. All these, together with Shaw 's mission, hold services twice each Sunday. . Reverend Charles Harris, of Gambier, is minister in charge of the Episcopal church and holds services every two weeks. Reverend Father Style, of Delaware, conducts services at the Catholic church once a month. The United Brethren country congregations of Center and Shawtown have their parsonage in Cardington, occupied by Reverend J. G. Turner and family. The schools of Cardington are recognized throughout this section as being of more than average excellence. The teachers employed are capable, conscientious instructors and the high degree to which they have advanced the schools is gratifying to every resident of the town. When the youth graduate from the Cardington high school they all especially well prepared to meet every requirement. The equipment of the schools possess many of the modern devices for the education of the young. The laboratory is equipped with all the appliances necessary for performing experiments in physics and chemistry. A fine library is a valuable part of the school property. An astronomical observatory and a good museum are, also at hand. More than forty pupils residing outside the town are attending the high school and the number of high school tuition pupils has been as high as sixty. F. H. Flickinger is superintendent, and W. J. Bankes principal of the high school.