Morrow County, Ohio - Chapter 5 (2 of 2 so headed), 1880 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 5

GILEAD TOWNSHIP - DESCRIPTION, TOPOGEAPHY, ETC. - SETTLEMENTS - MILLS AND OTHER PIONEER i:MPR0VE:MENTS - VILLAGES - INCIDENTS AND EARLY SOCIETY - 1830-1848 - RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL - ANTISLAVERY MOVEMENT.

THE territory now embraced in this township has been taken from several surveyed town ships, and may properly be divided into seven parts, viz.: No. 1. The south part of what is called "the three-mile s'rip," including ten and one-founh sections or scjuare miles. No. 2. The north par" of the same strip, which was "school land," including fen and a half sections. No. 3. One section west of the "boundary," formerly belonging to what is now Cardington Township. No. 4. Three and a half sections also west of the boundary, formerly belonging to Canaan Township. No. 5. Three and one-eighth sections east of the sou'h part of the three-mile s'rip, formerly belonging to Franklin Township. No. 6. Four and a half sections east of the north part of the three-mile strip, formerly belonging to Congress Township. No. 7. About one square mile souh of the three-mile strip and of the "Greenville Treaty line," formerly belonging to Lincoln Township. The land east of the boundary line and north of the Greenville Treaty line is wihin the Wooster District of land. The land west of the boundary line and north of the Greenville Trea'y line is within ihe Bucyrus Dis'ric of land, and a part of the " new purchase." The small pordon of the township lying south of the Greenville Treaty line belongs to the " United States Military Lands."

The present limits of the township embrace nearly thirty-four sections or square miles, or about twenty-one thousand six hundred acres of land, and by the census just finished (1880), has a population of near two thousand five hundred inhabitants.

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 east;ern 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 Rig Walnut Creeks. Alum Creek heads within a half mile of the Whetstone, just south of Mount Gilead. In general, the soil is good - a considerable portion deep, black and rich, other portions thinner and more clayey - none sandy and barren, none leachey, but retaining all the fertilizing material put upon it.

The land in its original state was very heavily timbered. 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 chesinut 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, nettles, etc. There was in early times a vegetable called " ramps," a species of garlic or onion, which came up through the woods early in the spring and covered the ground in great abundance. This, being almost the only green thing, was

The land generally has a natural drainage, and there is but little stagnant water, especially since the improvement of the country and the opening of the runs and swales ; although almost all the land is made much more productive by open ditches and underdraining.

Springs are quite numerous; some of them strong enough to form runs of permanent water. There arc but few soft-water springs. The water generally is hard, impregnated with lime and iron. The early settlers selected the lands that had springs, and generally built their cabins near them. Hence the springs are found on the lands first settled in the township.

Some good stone quarries have been worked in the township. Good building stone are abundant in the bluffs of the Whetstone near Mount Gilead. There are also two other quarries, one in the Quaker settlement, and another at Harshner's on the school land, from which considerable stone has been taken.

The surface of the land is diversified - in some places level or but slightly rolling, in other places still more rolling, and in others considerably broken by bluffs and ravines ; especially is this the case on Whetstone and Sam's Creek in the vicinity of Mount Gilead. Nearly the whole of the land is fit for cultivation and for farming purposes - very little, if any, waste land in the township. The productions most congenial to the soil, and the most easily and profitably raised, are grass, timothy and clover, hay and seeds, corn, wheat, oats, rye and flax. The common vegetables and fruits are also easily raised. The original forests abounded with deer, wolves, raccoons, opossums, squirrels, porcupines, ground hogs and wild turkeys. Old beaver dams were seen in several places.

the larger part of what is now Gilead Township, with most of what is now Cardington Township, and a portion of Washington Township, 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 Jrom Canaan, Cardington, Congress, Franklin and Lincoln Townships 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.

Part No. 1. - The first settlers of the township were the two brothers, Lewis and Raljih 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, Va., 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

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, 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 1830, 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 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 Parcell settled on Sections 6 and 7. In 1829, Thomas Parr and James Shepard settled on Sections 18 and 6. The next year, 1830, Amos Crichfield settled on Section 18.

Part No. J/.. - 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. 5. - From 1825 to 1830, families settled about in the order of time as here written - most of whom were from Pennsylvania : Berkley 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 Forgy 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

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 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 nextwas the State road laid out by Col. 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 Hardenbrookf^lbert Nichols, Alban Coe, Mrs. Nichols (crossing the Whetstone with the State road) at Ustick's mill, Isaac DcWitt, James Montgomery, Eli Johnston, Rufus Dodd, the Merritt Settlement and so on.

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. A county road was established leading from thit< village to Friendsboro, passing Ustick's mill, John Hardcnbrook, Joseph Worsely, James Johnston, Isaac Blazor and James Bennett, to the Delaware road. The first resident of the village of Whetstone was called Charles Webster, who built a cabin on the northeast corner of the public square, in December, 1824. The next house was a small frame, built by Henry Ustick, on the southwest corner of the town, and first occupied by Henry James, Ustick's miller. John Roy, originally from New Jersey, moved from Martinsburg, Knox County, to the village in 1827, and occupied a house which he had had built, and kept the first store. This was the second frame house. The third frame house was built and occupied b}' Greenberry Merritt, the first hatter of the place. The fourth frame house was built by William Coo^er^on Main street, where >vas a cabin in which John Cooper, his brother, lived, and after having worked in the place two years, as the first carpenter, moved his family to his new house in the spring of 1829. The fifth frame house was built and occupied by George D. Crops, who came to the place in the fall of 1828, from New Jersey. Harmon R. Miller and Joseph I. Roy, from New Jersey, bought out Merritt, and established a tannery in 1829. There were three other cabins in town, occupied by Dr. R. H. Ran dall, the first physician ; Henry Smith, the first blacksmith, and Robert Moore, the first tanner. In 1829, John Cooper moved to the school land. In 1830, William N. Mateer bought out Moore, and became the first chairmaker, and Ayres bought out Smith, and became the secund storekeeper, having his store in a part of William Cooper's house. Rev. Henry Shedd became a resident of the village in 1830, he and his fomily boarding with G. D. Cross, and became the first resident preacher. Thus in 1830, six years from the origin of the village, there were in it nine dwellings, five frames and four cabins, occupied by ten families ; and thus was laid the foundation of what was to be the county seat of Morrow County. For

About the same time that Youngstown was laid out, another village, as a rival town, was laid out on the Mansfield road, near Allen Kelley's, by James Bailey, named Jamestown. Bailey had there a small store, and Appleton Rich had a blacksmithshop ; and this was the culmination of the town. Allen Kelley bought out Bailey, and the store was kept there for some time, last by R. & N. House.

During several years after the settlements had commenced, the Wyandot and Delaware Indians were frequently seen passing to and fro, and encamping for a time in the neighborhood, on their hunting and trading expeditions. They were generally friendly and quiet when well treated. They tied their children with their backs to boards, and when they called at the cabins of the whites to trade or get refreshments, the squaws would set the little papooses up on the outside, and they would remain very (juiet, while the parents were engaged within.

There was a curious character, ragged and barefooted, with his bag of apple-seeds, who occasionally passed through the township - Jonathan Chapman, or Johnny Appleseed, as he was called. He kept on the outskirts of the settlements, planting apple-seeds in the woods, then going around to attend his young nurseries. He had at least one nursery, if not more, in this township, and that was on the "school land." He was, in religious sentiment, a Swedenborgian, and lived a moral and blameless life.

During ten years, from 1824 to 1834, the elections of the township were held at a schoolhouse near Mosher's Mill. Mount Gilead afterward became the voting place, an honor it still retains to the present day.

Lewis Hardenbrook (the first Justice), then Isaac Blazor, Henry Ustick, Isaac DeWitt and George D. Cross, who was first elected in April, 1833, and held the office, by successive re-elections, nearly forty-seven years.

The first mail route through the township was from Mount Vernon to Marion, going and returning once a week, passing Kelly's and Whetstone. The mail was carried on horseback. The name of the post office was Whetstone, Marion County, and the first Postmaster was Charles Webster, and the second was John Roy.

The early settlers of the township were not lawless renegades, but, with very few exceptions, moral and industrious people - many of them religious. They were generally the owners of the soil - settling the country for the purpose of getting homes - living and letting live - but a few squatters, and some who cleared the land of others on a lease, having the use of it for a term of years, as a remuneration. They were distinguished for an open and generous hospitality - the latch-string of the cabin always out for travelers and new-comers - and for neighborly kindness, going at any time, and at almost any distance, to help at raisings and rollings and other cases of need. There were among them many good and noble and useful men and women.

There were some noted men in the community in those early times, ^ewis Hardenbrook, with all his peculiarities, was one. He was generous, whole-souled and kind hearted. Those old patriarchs, Jonathan Wood and Asa Mosher, were noted for their sterling good qualities. They were active, enterprising and public-spirited. Henry Ustick was a prominent man - Justice of the Peace, Colonel of the militia, County Commissioner, and Associate Judge of the County. Abraham Newson was not only distinguished for his good humor, but for being the largest landholder and the biggest settler - owning 1,000 acres of land, and weighing from 350 to 430 pounds. J/Lewis Hardenbrook, John Nicols and William Cooper were noted for their success in hunting.

Neighbors were very friendly and sociable - running together and eating together without any ceremony. Social gatherings and bees and frolics were common for special purposes and on particular occasions. The mode of living was coarse and plain - eating corn bread, potatoes, cabbage,, pumpkins and turnips, wild hog, deer, ground hog, raccoon, squirrels, wild turkey and pheasants. The wearing apparel was home-made - manufactured by the women mostly from flax for summer, and from flax and cotton, and wool and cotton for winter. Wool was scarce ; for it was difficult to keep sheep on account of the wolves. Shoes and moccasins were made of the tanned skins of ground hogs ; and men's clothes were frequently made of diessed deer skin and caps of coon skin. The primitive cabin was in many cases built without nails or glass or any article of hardware. An ax, "frow," saw and auger were the only tools necessary to build a cabin. The component parts were round and straight logs, clapboards, eave-bearers, weight poles, split sticks and mud for the chimney and for chinking and daubing, a spacious fireplace to take in a big back-log, puncheon floor, ladder for the loft, greased paper for the windows, a door made of clapboards and an open porch with various useful articles hanging round. After awhile some progress was made in building better houses, in the use of nails, glass, hewed logs, shingles, boards, lime, stone and brick. The great idea and aim of a new settler was to make a clearing for the raising of some crops to support the family. This one thing must be done - the heavy forests of timber must, by some means, be cleared away, and this was a Herculean task ; but by patient, persevering labor it was done ; the openings were made by the ax, handspike and fire, the fire being a good servant, but sometimes a bad master ; and by means of the maul and wedge the cleared spot was fenced in. There were three ways of clearing land - first, clearing all awaj^ for the buildings, for cultivation and for a small orchard ; second, clearing off" the underbrush and smaller growth, killing the largest trees by burning brush-heaps around them, or by "girdling" them, and, third, by making large deadenings, which would become ripe for clearing by fire in about five years. This was the Oiisiest and most expeditious way and insured much better crops. These deadenings wore often very dangerous to man and beast, especially in a windstorm ; and it is remarkable, that so few accidents happened amidst the falling timber. The labors, hardships and privations of the early settlers were shared by both men and women - the women working out heroically with the men in picking and burning brush, as well as doing the housework, spinning and weaving, knitting and sewing, etc. Some of the women were also excellent nurses and famous midwives, spending considerable time in acts of usefulness throughout the settlement.

In early times the health of the people was remarkably, good in this township, though a few were broken down by the hardships of a new country. There were no deaths in the township for about eight years after its first settlement. The first death was that of Elizabeth Bryant, daughter of Mrs. H. IJstick by a former husband, September 9, 1825, about eight years old; then there were some deaths of young children, and, in August, 1832, Mrs. John McQuig died, probably the first married person who died in the township ; the next was Mrs. Charles Webster, who died in January, 1833, a resident of the village. Some disasters occurred, which may be properly noticed. About 1830 or 1831, three sons, nearly grown up, of Mr. Smith, a blind man, perished in the well ; something like a snake was seen in the water, and one of them went down to get it out and fell, then another went down and he met with the same fate, and then another ; and all perished by what is called damps. A few years after, a man committed suicide by poison, and, in the year 1843, Isaac DeWitt, Esq., an old settler, was killed in his own house by lightning.

In cases of sickness, neighbors were very attentive ; frequently the cabin would be full of visitors by night and by day. Sometimes such an overflow of kindness proved too burdensome and injurious to such as were very sick. Funerals were attended by the people generally, both near and remote. As a wedding was of rare occurrence, a general invitation was extended ; there was a wedding one day and an infair or reception on the next ; at both, the tables were loaded with the best that a new country could furnish. Much joy was loished to the newly married couple, and general hilarity and good feeling abounded. The earliest marriages of the township occurred among the Moshers and the Woods in the Quaker settlement, the ceremony being at the public meeting, according to the custom of the Friends. The two earliest weddings in the vicinity of the village were those of Charles C. Webster to Ann Worsely, and Marvin G. Webster to Maria Newson in December, 1828. The first person of the village that entered the marriage relation was Nathan T. Brown, who was married to Mary Moriarty in May, 1832. Those who officiated at weddings received from 50 cents to $2. Money was hard to be got, from the fact that there was scarcely anything to be sold that would bring money. It was very difficult to get money enough to pay the taxes. " Store pay," or orders on the store, was the general currency of those times. About all the salable products the early settlers had were ashes and maple sugar. The ashes were made into black salts ; these and the sugar were sold to the store, and exported to Portland on Lake Erie for New York City. Transportation, or hauling by wagons to the lake in such muddy and rutty roads, was a hard and tedious business. The wagons in return brought back salt, tobacco, coffee and some few dry goods - after awhile, pork, and wheat were hauled to the same market.

Fifty years ago, the country presented a new and wild appearance. The deep and thick woods abounded with underbrush and rank vegetation and wild game. Honey-bees were also plenty ; and many a splendid tree, as poplar and black walnut, was cut down for bees or a coon, and left to decay. The roads consisted of trails among the beech roots and through the mud - in some places underbrushed, and in others only blazed - with no bridges or crossways. In passing from one neighborhood to another, or from one settlement to another, persons were guided by the blazed trees. The buildings generally were rude log cabins. Besides the five frame buildings in the village, Henry Ustick's house and mill, and the barns of Lewis Hardenbrook and Abraham Newson, and a little store at Jamestown, were the only frame buildings in the township. The main settlements were in the southern portion of the " three-mile strip," with a few settlers in the adjoining corners of Knox and Richland Counties, while the " school land " on the north, and nearly all west of the " boundary," and northeast and southeast, were just beginning to be settled. When, in the latter part of 1829, the first resident preacher, with his wife, came to the township on horseback, in crossing the creek south of the village, where now is the fine iron bridge, the woman's bonnet was caught in the brush and left hanging there ; and the preacher, before escorting his lady into town, was obliged to go back and get her bonnet. There were in the village eight or nine families - two living in small frames in the western part, and seven about the public square in three frames and four cabins. The two parts of the town were separated from each other, and surrounded by dense forests. There was a little store and post office kept by John Roy, on the south side of the public square. To get a letter from the Eastern States out of the office, 25 cents must be paid.

From 1830 to the formation of the new county in 1848, immigration into the township became more rapid, and nearly all the vacant land was settled. Many of the old settlers sold out to newcomers, and 'large farms were opened and put under cultivation, new and better buildings erected, the roads improved and new ones laid out and opened, bridges and mills built, and the whole country improved in many respects. And just here we might as well speak of one of the most extensive mill enterprises that has ever been in the township, perhaps - that of Judge House, built on the Whetstone Creek, east of town, some forty years ago. It was originally built as a gristmill, but some ten years later a saw-mill was added, and still later, a planing-mill. At first they were all operated by water only, but afterward steam machinery was put in, so that when water fails in the dry season, the mills are run by steam. It has three run of buhrs and does a large business, running the year round. It was built about 1840, as we have said, and in 1855 it passed into the hands of John C. House, a son of Judge House, who still runs and operates it.

Among the men who came into the township during that period(1830-1848)and who were the most active and efficient in making improvements, and who have passed away either by death or emigration, may be mentioned Allen Kelly, a cattle-dealer and drover ; William Timanns, who built a large mill ; Charles Russell, at the stone quarries ; Solomon Gellar, John Snider, William Loren, Richard Wells, John Blakely, Samuel Peasely, Ebenezer Brown and Simeon Brooks.

The construction of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad, which runs through the township, and was opened for business in 1851, has undoubtedly done more than anything else to increase the material prosperity of the township in opening convenient and good markets, and in rapidly advancing the value of real estate.

How things have changed in fifty years ! Wellcultivated and productive farms, with good houses and barns, and horses and cattle and sheep and hogs ; good roads and bridges and mills ; railroads and telegraph wires ; fine schoolhouses and good churches, now occupy the place of the almost unbroken heavy-timbered land, and the log cabins, and the rooty and muddy and miry roads.

The people, instead of trudging around on foot in the woods, or riding " double " on horseback, or perchance jolting along among the roots in a big wagon, or getting stalled with a load in the mud, are riding about on smooth roads, in splendid buggies and carriages, or gliding swiftly from town to town, or from city to city, in elegant palace cars.

The improved farming implements and multiplied machinery of the present day have taken the place of the ax, the grubbing-hoe and the maul, the utensils of the fathers ; and in the house are heard ihe click of the sewing machine and the music of the parlor ortjan and the piano, instead of the buzz and hum of the spinning wheels and the racket of the loom. And we now see much .shirking of labor and love of fashion, and exciiement and extravagance and display; much hurry and bus le in speculation, and much running about selling all kinds of patent rights and books and pic'ures, instead of the steady, hard work and frugal habits and rustic simplicity of early lime.*.

The village of Whetstone, when originally laid out, contained the south public s((uare and eighty lots, four by eight rods each. On December 7, 1832, Henry Ustick, the proprietor of the soil, laid out an addition to the town of seventy lots more, including the north public square. In 1832, the name of the town was changed by an act of the Legislature, from Whetstone to Mount Gilead. The name was suggested by Daniel James, after a town in Virginia. Warsaw was also suggested by Henry Ustick. A paper with the two names was carried around among the citizens of the village, and it was found that Mount Gilead received the majority of votes. The town had a slow growth. The ground was so uneven, much grading, cutting down and filling up had to be done at a great expense of labor.

The following early business men, in addition to those already mentioned, resided in the town : Joseph Axtell and Nathan T. Brown, hatters; Grafton B. Rigdon, John P. Garrigus and Charles Stott, blacksmiths ; Oliver Sayre, Joseph B.

Conkling and Stephen Taylor, saddlers and harness-makers ; Hugh Kearney, William Linn and Elzy Barton, tailors; John Giles, cooper; Alfred Brees, wagon-maker ; Nathan Williams and Craven 0. Yan Horn, cabinet-makers; Joseph Lash and Elias Cooper, carpenters ; John Mateer, millwright ; Jonathan Wilson and FLshback, stonecutters; R. and N. House, H. Ustick and Ira Miller, merchants; John Merrell, Silas Miller and James R. Sage, tavern-keepers ; Drs. John physicians ; Samuel Kelly, the first lawyer. William and Elias Cooper, George D. Cro.«s, Joseph B. Lyon, Richard House, C. 0. Van Horn and Levi Thurston continued longer in a permanent, business than other citizens of the village.

It was a great event to the village of Mount Gilead, when, about the years 1845-46, there was a line of stages passing through the town, carrying the mail and passengers from Delaware to Mansfield. When the stage-driver, with his fourhorse coach full of passengers, wheeled into town, cracking his whip, and stoppeil for the change of horses and for dinner, there was almost as much, perhaps more, excitement and interest than now, when the trains on the Short Line arrive. There was another great event - when the town, after a long and earnest struggle, and much expense of time and money, became an established county seat. There was then a great jollification - bonfires and a large assembly of people in the old Presbyterian Church. Speeches were made and mutual congratulations were passed ; and amid the excitement of the occasion, Capt. Rigdon got his leg broken by tumbling over the bank of a deep cut in the street. For, in anticipation of becoming a county seat, the citizens had begun in good earnest to improve the uneven town.

The first brick building erected in the village was the little shoemaker's shop of Joseph B. Lyon in 1833. He obtained the brick of Joseph Peasely. The next was the blacksmith-shop of

The formation of a new county and the making of Mount Gilead the county seat in February, 1848, gave a new impulse to the life and enterprise of the town, especially by the influx of groceries, lawyers, physicians, newspaper presses and office seekers.

The citizens of the town made a gross blunder, when, by misapprehension and indiflference and want of united eflPort, they let the golden opportunity slip of securing the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad. The consequence has been, that the town has had to depend upon the mere fact of its being the county seat, and upon some share of the patronage of the country for support and gi'owth ; though it has, without doubl, received indirectly much benefit from the railroad.

Within the last thirty-five years the town has been visited by several destructive fires, consuming business houses, four taverns, a large gristmill, a saw and planing mill, a foundry, etc. New and elegant brick blocks have, however, been built in the place of some of the burnt frames.

Many of all trades and occupations have come and gone ; some succeeded and some failed, some changed their employment, and others went West ; some have retired from business and some have died. It would take quite a volume to describe all the changes that have occurred during the last fiftysix years among the citizens of this small town.

The advantages for a common school education were for a number of years rather poor. The first settlers were not compact enough to form good school districts ; and well-qualified teachers were scarce. There was but little school money for the payment of teachers ; and they had to be supported mainly by subscription. Notwithstanding, the early settlers manifested considerable interest in the education of their children. The first school of the township was in the Quaker settlement, the next in the settlement on the Whetstone^ and an old-fashioned log schoolhouse was built and occupied near Ustick's mill about 1823 or 1824.

Afterward there was a school and log schoolhouse in the eastern part; another in the southeastern, and another at what is now Levering Station. Among the early teachers of the township were Peleg and Peace Mosher, Taber Randall, William Campbell, Jacob Eccles, the two sisters, Elizabeth and Martha J. Foster, from New Hampshire ; Luther D. Mozier and William N. Mateer. Luther D. Mozier has probably taught more in the township, outside of the town, than any other person. Forty and fifty years ago male teachers received for their services from SIO to |15 per month; and female teachers from 75 cents to $1.50 per week. Board was thrown in as being of not much account, and teachers generally boarded around in the cabins of the families, as best suited their convenience. By contrasting the past and present systems of education, we give the following statistics of Gilead Township for the year 1879, as reported to the County Auditor : Balance on hand, September 1, 1878, $1,224.07; State tax, $444; local tax for school and schoolhouse purposes, $2,053.30 ; total from all sources, $3,862.40. Amount paid teachers within the year, $1,589. Whole number of schoolhouses in township, outside of the town of Mount Gilead, eight ; value of school property, $8,000 ; number of teachers employed - male 9, female - 6, total 15 ; wages paid them per month - males $37, females $20 ; pupils enrolled - males 150, females 125, total 275 ; average daily attendance - males 100, females 91. total 191. Balance on hand, September 1, 1879, $2,050.43.

Mrs. Mary G. Shedd taught the first school in the village, in a part of the house of G. D. Cross, in 1831. Other schools were taught in various buildings of the town. About 1 834, a new frame schoolhouse - round, or rather octagonal - was built, and continued to be the chief schoolhouse for many years. Philander K. Francis, John Ustick, Miss Barnes, Miss Hayden, Joel Bruce, J. M. Rogers, Samuel B. Morgan and others, taught in the town in former years. Erasmus G. Phillips was a famous teacher for many years, and had a good schoolhouse of his own. Of late years.

education has been gradually rising in the town and township ; and its progress is still onward and upward. In 1854, the union graded school system was adopted by the town district, and has been continued with a good degree of success. Milton Lewis, as principal teacher and superintendent of the schools for fifteen years, did an efficient work in pronooting education in the township and the county. In 1854, a large two-story brick schoolhouse was built by the district ; and, in January, 1873, another schoolhouse, more spacious and elegant, was dedicated and begun to be occupied.

Quite a number of the youth of both sexes have received an education above the branches generally taught in the common schools. Eleven young men have pursued a regular course of study at colleges, and received their graduating diplomas; while many others have entered the professions, not having completed the regular course of college study - all from this town and township; a number of young women have also graduated at seminaries. The township has furnished ministers of the Gospel, lawyers, physicians, teachers, and many active business men. here and elsewhere.

In February, 1S29, a Sunday school was established in this township by Rev. Eldad Barber, an agent of the American Sunday School Union. It was a union school for the whole neighborhood, and was held during the summer season for four years in the old log schoolhouse, near Ustick's Mill. John Roy was the Superintendent for the first year, Henry Ustiek for the second, William N. Mateer for the third, and John Mateer for the fourth. It had nine or ten teachers and about seventy scholars ; it also had a library. After the Methodists and Presbyterians had regular preaching and organized churches, the school was taken first to the Methodist Church, then to the Presbyterian Church, and after awhile became two schools.

schools of the township - members of the church - to fill various useful stations in society. N o less than twelve young men, who were members of these schools, have become ministers of the Gospel.

In the spring of 1830, the first temperance movement in the township was made in the little village of Whetstone. Rev. H. Shedd delivered a lecture, and formed a temperance society of about forty members. During the last fifty years, various eiforts have been made to promote temperance and to prevent intemperance, and various societies and organizations, both open and secret, have been formed, have flourished, and passed away ; and still the desired reformation, and protection of community against the liquor traffic and the evils of intemperance are not yet realized. A great change has been eff"ected in the habits, practices and sentiments of many people in reference to the manufacture, sale and use of intoxicating drinks - and some good done by every movement - but the sad fact remains that the liquor power is still outraging ihe community by its secret and open violation of law ; and neither the professed temperance principles of the men, for want of decided and united action, nor the tears and prayers of virtuous women, in all their untiring quiet efforts, and in all their bold and earnest crusades, have been able to overthrow it.

In early times, there were two small distilleries in the township. They were then considered very useful institutions, accomplishing two great objects - furnishing a market for corn, and furnishing that indispensable article, which was regarded so useful in stimulating the pioneers in their arduous labors. In after years, there was another distillery, established in connection with a large grist-mill, near the mouth of Sam's Creek. This establishment did an extorsive business for a number of years.

The attention of the community was first aroused and directed to the subject of slavery in March, 1836. William T. Allan, the son of a Presbyterian slaveholding minister of Alabama, after much difficulty obtained the use of the Presbyter- ian Church at Mount Gilead, and attempted to deliver a course of lectures on the abolition of slavery. On the first evening, there was blowing of horns, beating of tin pans, etc., around the house. As he proceeded in his lectures, the excitement and opposition on the part of a certain class of people increased, and showed itself first in an attempted reply to his arguments, and in a regular built mob, which broke up the meeting. Other lectures were delivered and other meetings held, at diiferent times, and in diff"erent parts of the township, till March, 18-10, when S. W. Streeter lectured in the same church in Mount Gilead, and there was another mob. But an antislavery constitution (for a society) was bravely signed on the spot, in the midst of throwing of eggs and uproar, by twenty-three persons - fourteen men and nine women, and the meeting was broken up in disorder. In May, 1840, L. D. Butts lectured at the same church, and there was another mob, more violent and furious than any of the preceding ones, which followed the antislavery people some distance with hooting and yelling, and rails and other usual accompaniments of mobs. For some years the question was, not whether slavery onght to be abolished, so much as whether the right of free speech on that subject should be allowed.

It may be a matter of some interest to know what were the real sentiments of the early Abolitionists of this township. They believed that immediate emancipation was the duty of the master and the right of the slave - that slave-holding is a sin and should be dealt with as other sins - by reason and argument, moral means and appeals to the best interests of all concerned. They endeavored to create a public sentiment in the church and in the country so strong and influential, that the system of iniquity might be abolished peaceably, and as soon as possible by the slaveholders themselves. They did not advocate emancipation by physical force or resort to arms, or any interference \yith slavery in the States, except by moral means - by free speech and a free press - neither did they countenance the amalgamation of the whites and blacks, nor even advocate negro sufi"rage. They believed in the natural and inalienable rights of man, according to the Great Declaration, and they believed it is right and safe to carry into practice the Golden Rule of our Savior, ''To do unto others as we would wish others to do unto us."

A branch of the " underground railroad " passed through this township, which did quite a business, though the principal depots were in Peru and Washington Townships. It is not necessary to pursue the subject further, or notice the wonderful change that has taken place in these modern times in regard to slavery and human rights. Slavery is abolished ! Liberty is triumphant and universal !

The religious denominations of the township were Methodists, Presbyterians, Friends, Regular Baptists, Disciples, Secedera and Universalists. The Friends had a society and log meeting-house. About fifty years ago they divided into two bands, Orthodox and Hicksites, and had separate houses of worship. The latter have become extinct as an organization, the former are a large and flourishing church with a respectable house of worship.

Methodist meetings and classes began to be held over fifty years ago at the houses of Joseph P. Newson and James Beatty and others, with occasional preaching. They built a frame church in Mount Gilead, in 1832, in the southwest part of the town. It was occupied about twelve years, and then passed into a tan-house. The present Methodist Episcopal Church was built in -184-4. About the year 1830, a new circuit was formed, including the town and vicinity. Revs. Silas Ensign and Russell Bigel^w were the first preachers ; S. Ensign and Z. Bell first traveled the circuit, and Russell Bigelow was the first Presiding Elder that attended the quarterly meetings.

In November, 1829, Rev. Henry Shedd came to the township and commenced preaching regularly a part of his time to the Presbyterians. The places of preaching were at the houses of Henry Ustick, John Roy and George D. Cross, and in

H. Ustick's mill and in Lewis Hardenbrook's barn. Previous to that time, Revs. William Matthews, E. Washburn and John McKinney had preached occasionally in the township.

Some of the early settlers in the eastern part of the township were Baptists. A church was formed in Congress Township, called Brin Zion, about 1 824. A frame meeting-house was built in 1833, and, in 1857, a new church edifice was erected on the old site, where is a cemetery. Revs.

A church of the Old School Baptists was organized a short distance from Brin Zion some years after the foundation of that church, and a church edifice built. It is located on Section 30, in the southwestern corner of Congress Township, which has recently been attached to the township of Gilead. Among the early members of this congregation were Mr. Mellott, Enoch Hart, Mr. Jacobs, Rev. Mr. Frye and others of the early settlers in that vicinity. There is no regular preaching at this church at present, but a union Sabbath school is carried on during the summer, and the ministers of Mount Gilead go out occasionally and preach to the congregation. A cemetery was laid out adjacent to the church, and is among the oldest burying grounds in either Gilead or Congress Townships, and contains the mortal remains of many of the pioneers of the neighborhood.

About the year 1848, a Baptist Church was organized by Rev. Benjamin H. Pearson, and a church edifice erected in Mount Gilead. The house remained unfinished a number of years, being occupied also as a court house, schoolhouse, etc., till 1857, when it was sold, the church having become extinct. A new Baptist Church has since been organized, and their present church edifice was erected in 1856. There were also in early times a few families of Disciples, of Campbellite Baptists, and William Dowling was their preacher. Also, there were two or three families of Seceders, and Rev. S. Hindman, of Iberia, preached among them occasionally. The Universalists have an organization, and built a church in 1860. They have generally had preaching since.

Methodist camp-meetings were held about threefourths of a mile northwest from the town, in 1830 and 1831, also half a mile w^st of the town in 1832 and 1833. The Methodist preachers at these meetings were Revs. R. Bigelow, W. B. Christie, Shaw, S. Ensign, Z. Bell, Smith, McDowell, Goff, Westlake, Felton and Lorain. Presbyterian campmeetings were held in the eastern part of the township in 1833 and 1834. The Presbyterian ministers who preached at these meetings were Revs. A. Jinks, C. N. Rawson, J. McKinney, J. Thompson, B. W. Higbee and H. Shedd. These meetings were largely attended and the behavior good ; the privileges of the Gospel were appreciated and improved. The hospitality of the people was unbounded. These Christian pioneers lived about a week at each meeting in their wellprepared log tents in the woods, holding family, social and public worship. God blessed their labors for the spiritual good of themselves and their fellow-men.

With this brief glance at Gilead Township, and the early history of the town of Mount Gilead, we will close this chapter, and leave the further history of the town to be completed in a new chapter.

Histoky Of Morrow Couxty Chapter Yi

THE history of Gilead Township and of the town of Mount Gilead, may very properly be divided into two parts - their ancient (if not a misnomer) and modern history. The first part comprises the early settlement, the laying-out of villages, their growth, pioneer improvements and the introduction and advancement of Christianity and education. This part has been thoroughly and completely written up in the preceding chapter by the Rev. Mr. Shedd, whose residence in the town of half a century has eminently fitted him for the work, and faithfully has he performed it. He has marked the coming of the pioneer ; his settlement in an unbroken wilderness among savages and wild beasts, and his hard-fought battle for very existence on the distant frontier of civilization. That period that is veiled in all the romance of pioneer life, he has well and truly portrayed. He has noted the planting of the standard of the Cross, the introduction of the schoolmaster, and the influence for good that religion and education have exercised in the community. He has given the laying-out of the town, and its rise and growth. All of these subjects Mr. Shedd has noticed in a satisfactory manner, and with far more ease than a stranger could have done it. A pioneer himself, he has witnessed the development of the country, and has been enabled to paint the scenes of real life from personal observation and recollections. With great accuracy he has traced the history of the town and township to a period within the memory of the present generation.

In this chapter we shall take up the "modern" history of the town particularly, noting some of the more important facts that have transpired within the past few years. Its progress in manufactures and trade, the perfecting of its educational and religious institutions, together with other subjects that scarcely belonged in the preceeding chapter, will be noticed here. These of themselves are sufficient groundwork for a lengthy chapter, but in order not to exceed allotted space must be treated briefly.

The laying-out of the town of Mount Gilead has already been noticed by Mr, Shedd, and its natural growth followed from a puny village to a substantial town, noted for its prosperity and business enterprise. It was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, passed February 16, 1839. The act embraced a number of towns in the State, and was as follows : " Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Ohio, the several towns hereinafter named be and the same are hereby respectivelv created bodies corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, as follows, to wit ; * * *

' The town of Mount Gilead, in the county of Marion, ***** together with such additions as may from time to time be to them respectively made, and the above-named towns shall be entitled to all the privileges secured by, and shall in all respects be governed by the provisions of an act entitled, ' An act for the regulation of incorporated towns.' " Thus legally constituted, Mount Gilead moved along the " even tenor of its way" for nine years, when, upon the formation of Morrow County, in 1848, it became, almost without opposition, the county seat of the new county. In anticipation of such an event, some little preparation had been made in the laying-out of streets and grading them, and otherwise beautifying the town, that'it might, as the seat of justice, present an attractive and inviting appearance. By the census of 1850, the first taken after the formation of the county, Mount Gilead had a population of 646 ; in 1860, it was 789; in 1870, it had increased to 1,087 ; and at the census just completed (1880), its population has reached 1,262, showing a steady increase in numbers, as well as in prosperity, during the past thirty years.

The records of the corporation have not been as well kept, and are not as perfect as some towns of our acquaintance, and it is no easy task to extract information from them. We can find none extending back to the incorporation of the town in 1839, but to the beginning of the year 1849 only. We learn, however, that " Samuel Bushfield was the first Mayor ; S. J. Cromer the first Recorder," and that the " first Councilmen were John H. Young, James M. Talmadge and others." In 1848, J. S. Christie was Mayor, and Cromer Recorder. In 1 850, J. H. Stinchcomb was Mayor, and, in 1852, when the records became somewhat perfect, we find the following Board : Thomas H. Dalrymple, Mayor; Ross Burns, Recorder, and John J. Gurley, E. R. Fally, George D. Cross, Joseph D. Rigour and C. D. Ensign, Councilmen. In 1854, Robert Mitchell was elected Mayor, and Mathew Roben, Recorder. The records, however, are too imperfect to try to trace out the names of the different oflBcers down to the present time, and we shall make no attempt to do so, but merely give the present incumbents, who are as follows : L. K. Powell, Mayor ; W. G. Irwin, Recorder ; James Carlisle, R. P. Halliday, Bradford Dawson, Allen Levering, Howard Whitby and Valentine Meader, Councilmen.

In the preceding chapter is noticed the layingout of the " Village of Whetstone," the original name of Mount Gilead, and also the laying-out of an addition by Henry Ustick in February, 1832, of "seventy lots, including the north public square." Some of the additions laid out since that of Ustick's are those of Dalrymple, in June, 1854; of Talmadge & Young, in January, 1859 ; of House, in April, 1867, and Richards' Addition in March, 1874. Besides these additions, J. D. Rigour laid out an addition to the town in an early day of rather peculiar shape, being somewhat that of an " obtuse-angled triangle," extending from Main out between Marion and Hi";h streets ; narrowing down to a point at the west end. These several additions, together with the original plat, give the town a suflScient area for a much larger population than it has at present. There is plenty of room for its people to flourish without getting in each other's way.

Mount Gilead is located in the heart of as rich a farming community as may be found in Central Ohio, and in this respect is not surpassed by any of its neighbors. Cut off" from all railroad facilities until the building of the Short Line, interfered materially with its prosperity as a manufacturing center. While the building of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad was a benefit indirectly, yet its great distance from the town did not fulfill the requirements of a manufacturing community. Hence while many of the surrounding towns have become lively with the hum of machinery, Mount Gilead, for the lack of railroad communication, has been forced to depend chiefly upon her mercantile trade. The few manufacturing enterprises which have been from time to time started in the town we shall now proceed to mention briefly.

One of its largest manufactures, perhaps, was its woolen-mills. The first eff'ort of this kind was made many years ago - far back beyond the beginning of this chapter. In 1866, a large woolenmill, costing some $25,000 or more, was built by a stock company. The stock finally passed mostly into the hands of James Meeker, one of the principal men in inaugurating the enterprise. During his career, he had several diff"erent partners, at different times, and did an extensive business. In 1870, a flax-mill was added to the concern by putting in machinery adapted to the purpose, and, as a combined woolen and flax mill, its business correspondingly increased. On the 5th of April, 1872, it was burned to the ground, entailing a loss of about $17,000, which was but partly covered by insurance - having about $5,000 insurance. This so crippled Meeker financially, that he made no effort to rebuild, and so ended that branch of business in Mount Gilead.

A large planing-mill, saw-mill and sash factory in the southwest part of the town, owned by George N. Clarke, J. M. Andrews and Dr. Briggs, after being in operation for a time, doing a flourishing business in its several lines, was burned in September, 1870. The loss to the owners was about $5,000, which so discouraged them that they never rebuilt the establishment, but left it a heap of " smoldering ruins."

In 1846, a grist-mill was built in the south part of the town, by Cooper & Son. This mill was also burned in the fall of 1862. A sympathizing community rendered them substantial assistance, and in 1863 they were enabled to rebuild. This was much superior to the mill that was burned, and is still in active operation. It has three run of buhrs, and its reputation as a first-class mill is without contradiction. In 1877-78, Cooper & Son sold out to House & Dawson, who are the present owners. Cooper & Son, before disposing of the mill, erected a foundry (the building now used as a cheese factory), which was run by power from the mill. The foundry was known as the "Mount Gilead Turbine Wheel Manufactory," but as an investment it never paid, and in the end the Coopers lost money, and finally discontinued the business. The foundry building is now used, as we have said, as a cheese factory, which is more particularly referred to in the general history of the county. The Tabors built a foundry before the war, near the Short Line depot, and for a number of years carried on a large business in repairing machinery and general custom work. They turned out some fence and plow work, but their specialty was custom. The fate of this establishment was that of the woolen-mill and the sash factory ; it was burned, and never rebuilt.

Mount Gilead has been singularly unfortunate in her manufacturing enterprises ; indeed, a fatality has seemed to follow almost every enterprise of the kind that has been inaugurated, and but few have escaped destruction by the " fiery element," which so often breaks loose in the town. About all that remains in the way of manufactures are House & Dawson's mill, Carlisle Brothers' carriage-works, and Doty & Co.'s planing-mill. The carriage-works of Carlisle Brothers were established in 1866, and are doing a large and flourishing business. The planing-mill is of recent origin. The Mount Gilead Tile Works, which may also come under the head of manufaciuring enterprises, were established in the summer of 1875 by B. B. McGowen, Smith Thomas and William C. Wilson. In the summer of 1878, McGowen sold out to the other two partners, and in the spring of 1879 established the " Stone Tile Works," out near the stone quarries southeast of town, from which the works take their name. W. W. McCracken is a partner in the Stone Tile Works "with McGowen, but the business is wholly managed by the latter gentleman. Both these, and the Mount Gilead Tile Works, west of town, do a large business in the way of manufacturing all kinds and sizes of drain tiling. Some of the fires alluded to were, that destroying Meeker's woolen and flax mill, the steam saw and planing mill and sash factory of Clark and others. Cooper & Son's mill. Tabor's foundry, and a fire that burned several business houses on Main street. These frequent fires led to the organization of a fire company, and on the 16th of June, 1870, the Olentangy Fire Company was organized. The company, or town, more properly speaking, purchased an exellent hand engine, which is still in use. It was operated for eighteen months by the "Old Guard" Military Company. The "Old Guards" took charge of it as a fire company in October, 1878, and continued as such until April, 1880. Since that time, the Town Marshal, J. E. McComb, has had charge of the engine as Chief of the Fire Department.

The first tavern - that great place of resort in a country town - was built and kept by John Merrill. It was of the regular pioneer pattern - a small log structure - and the bill of fare was "corn pone" and "wild meat," with coffee occasionally, sweetened with maple sugar. This pioneer tavern was the great resort of the surrounding community, and the news emporium where all the male gossips met to smoke their pipes and exchaniie their daily experiences. Ah, how few now know the importance of the frontier tavern. It was, of course, the place of rest for the weary traveler, whether on foot or on horse. It was the market-place for all ; the hunter with his venison and turkeys, the trapper with his furs and skins, and the knapsack-peddler here gladdened the hearts of all with his " bough ten " wares. At the tavern, too, were all public gatherings called - to arrange for a general hunt, to deal out justice to some transgressor, or to put up the stakes for the horse race. But this pioneer institution is among the things of the past, and as we sit at the wellladen boards of the American and Globe, it is hard to realize the frugal fare of the pioneer tavern. Few towns of the size of Mount Gilead are better supplied with hotel accommodations than it is at the present day, and the American and Globe ho tela are very models of excellence in their way.

A few words as to the beauty of the thriving little city and its business blocks, buildings, etc. It is but seldom that in a small town we find as many handsome residences and substantial business houses. The Van Home Block would be an ornament in a large city. It was built in 1876, and contains three large stores on the ground floor, together with the town hall. The second floor is devoted to offices in the front part, while the rear comprises a very elegantly appointed theater known as " Levering Hall." The Granite Block, the third story of which is a Masonic hall, Union Block and the bank blocks are all substantial and even elegant buildings. Several other business blocks are in course of construction, which will add much to the beauty of the town, and to Main street especially. The court house, more particularly mentioned in the chapter on organization of the county, was built in 1852-53, and is a substantial brick building, possessing, however, little beauty or modern appearance. A few thousand dollars might bo spent in adorning and modernizing the ungainly structure. The post office and mail facilities of the town have grown to some extent since the first office was established, with one mail a week, and as Postmaster General Ustick slings around his mail-bags, now he perhaps don't realize that the first representative of that department in Mount Gilead could carry the week's mail-receipts in his hat.

The first effort made at banking in Mount Gilead was about the year 1854. A bank was established by James Purdy, John Anderson, John Shauck, Beoustock and Sowers, Richard House, A. C. Dunn and W. Smith Irwin. Richard House was President of the institution, and W. Smith Irwin, Cashier. About three years afterward, it wound up its business and became the banking-house of Richard House & Co., or the Granite Bank. This finally drifted into the First National Bank of Mount Gilead, and the first bank of issue ever in the county. The First National was organized in 1864, with Dr. J. M. Briggs as President, a position he held from organization up to 1880, with the exception of two years. R. J. House was the first Cashier. At present, W. F. Bartlett is President ; Allen Levering, Vice President ; R. P. Halliday, Cashier - a position held for thirteen years in succession. For the same period, R. P. Miller has been Teller. About the commencement of the banking business, J. D. Rigour opened a small bank or broker's office. J. S. Trimble also did a banking business in connection with an extensive grain bu.siness in which he was engaged at West Gilead. He finally took in the business of Rigour, occupying Rigour's banking-house and carrying on a large banking business until his fi^ilure, in 1878. The Morrow County National Bank was established in February, 1880, and hence is a young institution. William Marvin is President, George N. Clark, Vice President, and M. B. Talmadge, Cashier.

The town of Mount Gilead has two flourishing newspapers, the Union Register and the Morrow County Smtinel, the latter Republican and the former Democratic in politics. They are both live, V(ide-awake papers, and fiiithfully stand up for the doctrines of their respective parties. As their history is more particularly given in another chapter, we will not repeat it. A library was established in Mount Gilead some years ago, but it has never amounted to much. The few books it once possessed, we believe are still stowed away in the town, but are of little use to the public, or as a library, and the organization, we are sorry to say, is no longer kept up.

In the educational history of the county, given in another chapter of this work, the introduction of schools and the schoolmaster is noticed at some length, and the pioneer mode of teaching After the town of Mount Gilead became large enough to have a school, Mrs. Mary Shedd, we are told, was the first teacher, and taught a school in 1831. Without going into the early history of the schools of Mount Gilead, which have been noticed in the preceding chapter, we will merely glance at the present school of the town, as we find it today, under the successful management of Prof. T. J. Mitchell, Principal. The town forms a special district, and present the following statistics as reported to the auditor ;

The church history of Mount Gilead extends back to the early settlement of the town. The organization of the first church society is accredited, in the preceding chapter, to the Methodists. More than half a century ago, the itinerants of this denomination made their appearance and formed classes at the cabins of the early settlers. The official records of this early period, however, are not at hand, so that only general facts can be given of its early history. The present generation can hardly realize the changes that have taken place since those primitive times, when the Methodist " circuit-rider " traveled over the thinlysettled country, and proclaimed to the scattered settlers the glad tidings of salvation. The pioneer evangelist, Rev. Russell Bigelow, was one of the first Methodist ministers in this section of the country. From data as reliable as can be found, Mr. Shedd places the erection of the first Methodist Church at Mount Gilead in the year 1832, but societies or classes had been formed several years previous to that date. This edifice was used by the church as a place of worship, we are told, for about twelve years, when it passed into a " tanhouse." The present church building was erected in 1844, at a cost of about S8,000 (as we were informed by Judge House, one of the oldest members now living in the town). The present Pastor is the Rev. Mr. Pollock, and the membership is not far from one hundred and fifty. A large and flourishing Sunday school is maintained throughout the year, of which Mr. Z. B. Plumb is Superintendent. This church, with a history extending back over more than half a century, it is only truth to say, that the most sacred memories and hallowed associations cluster around it. Without being wealthy, it is a church that gives liberally, and its reputation in this regard is well

The first Presbyterian Church* was organized at the house of Geortre D. Cross, in the village of Whetstone, November 2, 1831, and was called "the Presbyterian Church of Morven." Rev. Henry Shedd, assisted by Rev. Eldad Barber, of Marion, organized the church under the authority of the Presbytery of Columbus. The church consisted of twenty-six original members - nine males and seventeen females ; seven men and their wives, ten other women and two young men. Three Elders were elected. In October, 1835, the name of the church was changed to the " First Presbyterian Church of Mount Gilead."

During the years 1834-35, by a great effort of the people, a frame church edifice was built, forty feet square. It was erected at the old graveyard on a spot of ground donated to the church by Jacob Young, the original proprietor of the town. Previous to the division, Rev. Henry Shedd was stated supply and Pastor six years, and Rev. William Matthews stated supply one year. The Ruling Elders were James Bennett, John Roy, Thomas Mickey and John Mateer. Other leading active members were Henry Ustick, Joseph Axtell, William N. Mateer, John Hardenbrook, John Ustick, Nathan T. Brown, William Cooper, George D. Cross, Joseph B. Lyon, Ebenezer Brown, Simeon Brown, Jesse Fisher and Lewis Hardenbrook. The division into what was called Old and New School took place in 1888-39. Of the seventyfive members of the Mount Gilead Church, fortyfour went into the New School Branch and thirty-one into the Old School.

The old church building was occupied until October, 1859, receiving a complete course of repairs in 1849. After it was left as a house of worship, it was occupied as a carpenter shop until consumed by fire November 5, 1860. In 1857, the unfinished Baptist Church was purchased by James S. Trimble for §250, and presented to the New School Presbyterians, on condition that it be moved and fitted up as their house of worship. The condition or proposition of Mr. Trimble was complied with ; the whole cost of the house, and the lot on which it stood, was $1,500. The church was dedicated January 1, 1858, and occupied until the re-union of the two branches of the church, when it was sold to the Disciples, and is now converted into a grain warehouse at the Short Line Depot. The house in which the society now worships, was erected by the Old School Branch in 1851-52. It required great sacrifice on the part of the people to get the house ready for holding public services. It has been repaired from time to time at considerable expense.

The reunion of the two branches was efiected in October, 1865. At the time of the reunion, the church had 126 members - 75 from the Old School and 51 from the New School, and 8 ruling Elders. Rev. Milton McMillen was Pastor of the reunited church for seven years. The present Pastor is Rev. William S. Eagleson, six ruling Elders - Joseph B. Lyon, James M. Briggs, John P. Mateer, James S. Trimble, Charles Shedd and John W. Cook, and three Deacons - William Pennyard, Ross N. Mateer and William F. Blaney. The membership is 185. A Sunday school is carried on during the year, and is at present under the superintendence of J. G. Miles. It is in a flourishing condition, with an average attendance of about one hundred.

The Baptists * living in Mount Gilead and vicinity, by invitation and agreement met on the 10th of December, 1853, at the house of Rev. William Branch, for the purpose of organizing a church. Thirteen Baptists were present, nearly all of whom favored organization. Five of the thirteen had letters of dimission and recommendation, while the eight were not so provided - having failed to take recommendations from their respective churches. It was decided that the five should organize under the name of the " Siloam Baptist Church of Mount Gilead." The five constituent members were Rev. William Branch, L.

C. K. Branch, Simeon Werrick, Mary Ann Barton and Mrs. A. B. Gurley. These declared themselves the church as above named, and then the eight following names were received upon their Christian experience : David Auld, Louisa Auld, Charles Carpenter, Eliza Darland, Joseph Waldorf, Martha Waldorf, Esther Harshner and John Smith. This new organization at once made provision for weekly prayer meetings and monthly covenant meetings, and secured the court room in which to hold public service on Sabbath. Erastus Waldorf was the first one baptized into the fellowship of this church. Rev. William Branch was invited to serve as a supply, and also clerk until oflScers could be elected. David Auld and Joseph Waldorf were chosen the first Deacons, on the 3d of June, 1854, and on the same date Rev. William Branch was chosen the first Pastor.

By request of the society, it was recognized as the " Siloam Baptist Church of Mount Gilead," by the Mount Vernon Baptist Association, and also received into the fellowship of that body, as one of the sisterhood, in communion, in September, 1854. On the 25th of January, 1855, Rev. William Branch closed his pastorate, and in June following Rev. E. D. Thomas became Pastor. In August of the same year the church decided to build a house of worship, and accordingly the trustees were instructed to contract for the same, with

D. Auld, for $1,800. The house was dedicated February 1, 1857 ; afterward, it was furnished at an additional cost of $230. Rev. E. D. Thomas closed his service as Pastor, in April, 1858, and was succeeded by Rev. A. Pratt, who took charge in June following. In 1860, the name of the church was changed to the " Baptist Church of Mount Grilead." May 14, 1861, Rev. J. G. Bowen became Pastor in place of Rev. A. Pratt, who closed his pastorship in March preceding.

The church, deeming it proper to express her mind on the question of temperance, declared by vote that it was the imperative duty of every member to abstain from the use of liquors as a beverage. Rev. J. G. Bowen did not continue long as Pastor, and the church was without a pastor until March 11, 1864, when Rev. Lyman Whitney took charge, and remained one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles Merton. He vacated the field at the end of four months, and was followed by Rev. J. G. Turieson, who supplied the pulpit for three months, closing in January, 1867. Rev. S. J. Bostwick became Pastor in February, 1867, and closed his labors November following. Repairs were now made on the house at a cost of $225. Rev. Watson Clark served the church for seventeen months, ending June, 1869, and was followed by Rev. J. B. Hutton, who remained until May 14, 1871. Rev. Edward Jones supplied the pulpit now for two months. In May, 1872, Rev. D. B. Sim began pastoral labor, and gave his service to the church until September, 1878, when he was succeeded by the present Pastor (the writer) in December following. In 1879, the church was newly painted, and other repairs made, at a cost of $200. Thus, from a small beginning in 1853, the Lord has led us along. With a membership now of two hundred - officered with Deacons and Trustees, and enjoying stated Sabbath preaching, weekly prayer meetings, Sunday school, and co-operative Christian work in education, home and foreign missions, we may take courage and persevere.

The citizens of Mount Gilead are particularly proud of their union school building, which is an ornament to the town. As a matter of interest to many, we give the following description of it, from the Mount Gilead Sentinel of January 30, 1873:

" Our New Schoolhouse. - To gratify many of our readers, who, though residing remote from the county seat, yet feel a proper interest in the improvement of our town, and particularly in our improved educational facilities, we will here give a brief description of the interior of our new union schoolhouse, which was opened for the reception of its army of little pupils on Monday last. While disclaiming any special reliance on architectural lore to render our description formally

" Without hazarding the assumption that the external beauty of our school edifice approaches that architectural perfection which Madame de Stael terms ' frozen music,' we think it probable that in its interior arrangement, it is not excelled by any similar building in the State. We may describe it as consisting essentially of two buildings, each 66x33 feet, and each including two lofty stories and a basemtrut. These buildings stand side by side eighteen feet apart ; and into each end of this central space is recessed a porch l-AxlS, leading into the hall 18x38, which serves to connect the two buildings, and provides ready access to the upper and basement stories ; the whole, of course, constituting a single building under the same slate roof

" We thus have, on the first floor, four fine rooms, each about thirty-one feet square in the clear, and each occupying a corner of the building, with ample light from two sides. Each room is wainscoted all around, from the floor to the level of the windows (the wainscoting grained in imitation of alternate panels of walnut and other woods), and above this is the ample blackboard surface, so indispensable in every schoolroom. Each room is also provided with a large ventilating stove, receiving pure air from without, while registers in the floor at each side convey the foul air into the draft. By a peculiarity in their construction, these stoves can also be adjusted, in a moment's time, to warm by radiant heat simply, like an ordinary stove. Every window in the building is weighted, and is provided on the inside with a series of folding blinds, by which the direction and intensity of the light desired is under complete and instant control. It must thus be conceded that, in the highly important matters of heating and lighting, our new school building is not only unexcelled by any, but strikingly surpasses not a few more pretentious edifices.

door is to the main entrance, and to the stairway leading to the second floor. Ascending this broad flight to the second floor, we find, at the right, two more rooms corresponding in size and finish with the two below ; while on the left, or south side of the hall, the entire space on this floor is thrown into a single room, 63x30 feet, which is flooded with light on three sides. This room is designed for the High School Department, while the lower departments of the school, while as at present organized, will occupy the rooms on the lower floor. This leaves the two north rooms above to be used for recitation rooms, for library, or any suitable purpose.

" Descending to the main hall, we pass directly below into the basement. Under the north wing are the two cellars, for the storage of coal, etc., while on the south side the two large rooms with floors will serve as play-rooms.

" The contract for putting up and completing the entire structure was let to Miller & Smith for $24,000, and it is the general impression that these gentlemen have most faithfully acquitted themselves of their important duty. Aside from their wish to honorably fulfill their obligations to the School Board, they have evidently been actuated by a laudable pride to complete a building that should be an honor to the town in which they live. Only the best materials - brick, wood and stone - have been used, and. with the corps of excellent workmen, they have combined these materials in a thoroughly workmanlike manner.

" On Monday last the new schoolhouse received its precious freight of immortal growing minds, which, encouraged and guided by faithful teachers, shall, in the unfolding future, 'shine as stars forever and ever.' "

The Universalist Church in ]Mount Gilead was formed in I860 by the Rev. H. R. Nye. The following persons united with the church at its organization : J. S. Ilurd, Catharine Talniadge, Jane Harris, Smith Thomas, Abram Coe, R. J. House, Sarah Dawson, J. J. Gurley and wife. H. E. Lambert and wife, Frank M. Ru.ssell, Huuh

Thomas, Mary J. Turner, and Charlotte E. Dawson. The church building is a substantial frame, and was built soon after the formation of the society. The Trustees were Smith Thomas, R. J. House, F. M. Russell ; and Henry E. Lambert, Treasurer ; J. J. Gurley, Clerk. John Hurd and Abram Coe were Deacons. The present Pastor is Rev. H. L. Canwell, and the membership is one hundred and twenty-four. A Sunday school, with an average attendance of about sixty, is maintained under the superintendence of Smith Thomas.

The Disciples or Christians had a church in Mount Gilead at one time, as noticed in the history of the Presbyterian Church, but it eventually became extinct, and their building is now doing duty as a grain warehouse at the Short Line Depot.

The benevolent and charitable institutions follow close in the wake of the Christian churches, and, in their way, exercise as great an influence for good as the churches themselves. Freemasonry, the oldest of all the secret organizations now in existence, is an order of "kingly origin and heavenly aim," and takes for its guide the Holy Bible as its greatest light. To go back to the origin of Masonry would be to go back almost to the beginning of time itself, and our space will not admit of such research. A Masonic Lodge was organized in Mount Gilead more than thirty years ago. Mount Gilead Lodge, No. 206, was chartered in October, 1851. The following are the original members: W. C. Clark, Jas. W. Stinchcomb, A. K. Dunn, John B. Dumble, Andrew Poe, T. P. Glidden, Israel Hite, J. A. Beebe, and S. T. Cunard. W. C Clark was the first Master, James W. Stinchcomb the first Senior Warden, and A. K. Dunn the first Junior Warden. The charter is signed by !Most Worshipful W. B. Hubbard, Grand Master, and B. F. Smith, Grand Secretary. The first meeting was held January 6, 1851, the lodge having been organized under dispensation at that time, and chartered in October following. The following additional officers were elected : T. P. Glidden, Treasurer; Andrew Poe, Secretary ; John B. Dumble, S. D. ; J. A. Beebe, J. D., and

Israel Hite, Tiler. W. C. Clark, as stated, was the first Master, A. K. Dunn the next, J. W. Stinchcomb the next, and then A. K. Dunn served as Master for eighteen years in succession. The next Master then was J. E. Smith, who served two years, then Allen Levering two years. J. G. Miles is now serving his second year as blaster. The present membership is fortythree, and J. G. Miles is Worshipful Master ; W.

Gilead Chapter, No. 59, Royal Arch Masons, was organized October 16, 1854, with the following charter members : A. J. Smith, J. A. Beebe, W. C. Clark, J. W. Stinchcomb, A. K. Dunn, J.

D. Vore, W. H. McKee, S. xM. Hewett, C. P. Shurr and D. L. Swingley. The original officers were W. C. Clark, High Priest; J.W. Stinchcomb, King ; A. K. Dunn, Scribe. Grand High Priest H. M. Stokes issued the charter, and it was countersigned by J. D. Caldwell, Grand Secretary. The first meeting was held December 7, 1854, and Dr. I. H, Pennock was the first initiate. There are fifty- two members upon the roll, and the following are the present officers : A. K. Dunn, M.-. E.-. High Priest; B. B. McGowen, E.-. King; Allen Levering, E.-. Scribe; W. C. Wilson, Captain of the Host ; W. H. Burns^ Principal Sojourner ; W. W. McCracken, Royal Arch Captain ; G. S. Newhouse, J. R. Miles, C. B. Levering, Grand Masters of the Veils; W. W. McCracken, Treasurer ; W. Smith Irwin, Secretary, and S. W. Preston, Sentinel. A move was made some years ago toward establishing a Council of Royal and Select Masters, and permission obtained, but from some cause the movement was finally abandoned. There are several Knights Templar among the members of the fraternity, but not a sufficient number to establish a commandery. So, at present, a blue lodge and chapter are all the Masonic bodies in Mount Gilead.

Odd Fellowship, the companion in charity and good works of Freemasonry, is represented here by a lodge and encampment. Mount Gilead Lodge, No. 1(59, I. O. 0. F., w:u> instituted October 20, 1850, by William C. Earl, Grand Master of the Order, and Alex. E. Glenn, Grand Secretary. The charter members were William Johnson, Joseph D. Rigour, James R. West, John W. Place and David Smith. The following were the first officers : John W, Place, N. G.; J. D. Rigour, V. G.; Da\'id Smith, Treasurer, and William Robbins, Secretary. The lodge has tifty-six members, and its officers at present are John W. Gallaher, N. G.; John G. Russell, Y. G.; George Jago, R. Secretary ; E. F. Cooper, P. Secretary, and J. G. Miles, Treasurer.

The Short Line Railroad is a Mount Gilead enterprise that should be mentioned in this chapter, although it is noticed at some length in the railroad history of the county. The project was authorized by the Legislature of the State, in what is termed the " Enabling Act," by which a vote was taken for a tax of $18,000, an amount that was supposed to be sufficient to build the road. The sum was found insufficient, however, and an additional $3,000 was voted afterward. These sums built the road and made it ready for the rolling stock, which was put on by the Cleveland, Columbus; Cincinnati iNc Indianapolis Railroad, in consideration of a lease given to that road for twenty years by the Board of Trustees (of the

Short Line), of which Mr. J. H. Pollock, of Mount Gilead, is President. The grading of the Short Line was done by M. G. Doty & Co., and about 175 tons of iron were used in laying the track, side tracks, switches, etc., which was bought at $36 per ton, a sum much lower than it could have been bought for six months later. The road was completed and opened for travel on the 1st day of May, 1880, and the first two months it was in operation, the passenger traffic alone amounted to about $500. Its construction has been of incalculable advantage to the town of Mount Gilead and the surrounding country.

In the beginning of the war of the rebellion, the young men of the county laid down their work, shouldered their guns and went forth to battle for the Union and the old flag without delay, and without faltering in their duty to the Government. Their deeds of valor, as well as the sufferings they endured, have been chronicled elsewhere, and in this chapter we can but briefly note some of the good deeds of those whom duty called to stay at home. One of the earliest organizations in the State for furnishing comfort and encouragement to the able-bodied men in the field, and delicacies to the sick, was the " Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society." This society found a ready response among the ladies of Mount Gilead and Morrow County and an organization, in the early part of the war, was effected, which, throughout the long and arduous struggle, was productive of great good. Many a ray of comfort, many a blessing upon the fair ones, and m?inj a prayer for their happiness, pervaded gloomy hospital wards upon the receipt of" good things " from the hands of those "angels of mercy/' furnished through the influence and energy of the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Societies. An auxiliary society was formed in Mount Gilead, with brunches in each township in the county, which joined heartily in those kind ministrations of devoted love and affection that nerved the hearts and upheld the arms of those who were called to bear the brunt of the strife. The ablest orators and the most eloquent pens have sought to pay a fitting tribute to woman for the noble part she bore in the late war. Some have compared her to the angel of pity and forgiveness, and others to the " seraphim bending in awe and rapt devotion over the mercy seat;" but her devotion and self-sacrificing labor of love to her dear ones away at the " post of honor and danger," will insure her, when she arrives upon the other shore, " a crown, bright with many jewels." Her reward here is an inner consciousness of having done her duty.

Volunteers were easily secured for the army, and, as the fresh recruits were hurried away to the front, the town, realizing that many were illy prepared to leave their families, did all in its power to relieve the necessities of those who were left unprovided for. Large sums were subscribed, and disbursed where most needed. The Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad subscribed S10,000 to the diflFerent counties through which the road passes, and Morrow County's portion was divided among the families of soldiers according to their actual wants. But our space will not permit a notice of all the noble acts of the people of the county, and the workings of the Ladies' Aid Society and kindred enterprises for the benefit of the "brave boys in the field; " it would make a volume of itself. "With a few words of the local military companies, we will leave the subject.

The warlike spirit that has descended from the old Revolutionary ancestors of the citizens of Mount Gilead, and which caused them to respond so nobly in times of national peril, is still to be found in the military organizations of the town. jMount Gilead has two military companies, which are composed of the flower of her able-bodied men. " The Old Guard Military Company "is an independent company, and owns its uniforms and arms. Its organization was suggested as early as May, 1878, for the purpose of acting as a kind of escort, or guard of honor, on the national Decoration Day, in decorating with flowers the graves of the county's fallen soldiers. The company was uniformed and re-organized on the 30th of October, 1878, with the following list of commissioned officers, which was furnished us by the Orderly Sergeant, J. B. Gatchell : "W. W. McCracken, Captain ; J.R. McComb, First Lieutenant ; and M. B. Talmadge, Second Lieutenant. Many of the members of the company were soldiers of the late war, and, when the organization of such a company was first thought of, it was designed to have none in it but those who had seen service, from which fact it obtained the name of "The Old Guards." The idea, however, was subsequently abandoned, and others admitted members. From October, 1878, until April, 1880, the " Old Guards" acted as volunteer firemen.

The " Levering Guards," or Company E, Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio National Guards, was organized in August, 1878, with A. A. Gardner, Captain ; R. P. Miller, Fu-st Lieutenant ; and William H. Scheetz, Second Lieutenant. This company was originally organized as Company I, of the Twelfth Regiment, but subsequently transferred to the Fourteenth Regiment, when it became Company E, as above designated. The muster rolls show fifty-eight names, with the following commissioned officers: R. P. Miller, Captain; W. H. Scheetz, First Lieutenant ; and D. P. George, Second Lieutenant.

The Old Guard Band is a sort of attache of the Old Guard Military Company, and was organized in August, 1879. Upon its organization, Prof. James Porter, of Gallon, came down and instructed it for about sis weeks. Since that time it has been under the leadership of Mr. Thomas Darby, an accomplished musician. The members (twelve in number) are as follows: Thomas Darby, leader ; Cahdn Cooper, Frank Cooper, Elliott Dumble, William Kinnear, Berwick Barton, Morris Fogle, Carlton Keyser, Roscoe Gallaher, Roy C. . Russell, Sanford Early, and Isaac DeWitt. The town has had several bands previous to this, but none of them have survived any great length of time. The present Old Guard Band is an excellent one, well trained and good "blowers" generally. The town council has recently erected a handsome band stand in the public square, and

The first cemeteries or burying-grounds of Mount Gilead were the old Methodist and Presbyterian Cemeteries, as they were called, and were east, or southeast, of the town. In 18G1, Mount Gilead Cemetery was laid out and incorporated. It comprises an addition of sixteen acres to the old Methodist burying-ground, which is included in the new cemetery. The first burial in this new addition was that of Mrs. Catharine Wieland, and took place on the 27th of August, 1862. The grounds thus devoted to the "loved and lost" of the town are well adapted to the purpose for which they were designed, being somewhat rolling in surface, and abounding in sites which are being nicely improved by the planting of trees and evergreens, and by other artificial means. It is a lovely place, and a stroll amid its flowers and shrubbery is sufficient to inspire such sentiment as is embodied in the following lines :

West Gilead, as it was originally known, was laid oiF by Luther Mozier, July 23, 1851, soon after the completion of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati <fc Indianapolis Railroad. The character of improvements begun in the place, and which render so many small railroad towns somewhat disreputable, disgusted the proprietor of West Gilead, Mr. Mozier, and he succeeded in having the town discontinued, and bought back the lots he had sold, thus restoring the place to its original condition. April 12, 1876, he again laid out a town, which was known and platted as " Gilead Station," but the name of which has recently been changed by the railroad company to " Levering Station." The new town occupies the old site of West Gilead, which is the southeast quarter of Section 35, of the fifth township. The necessity for a town here was partly for the accommodation of Mount Gilead, and partly for the benefit, as a shipping point, of a large scope of country surrounding it. Mr. Mozier gave ground for depot purposes, and was for many years the agent of the railroad. Indeed, with the exception of a short interval, he and his sous have been the agents of the road ever since the establishing of Gilead as a station.

Mr. Mozier built the first house in Gilead, as he owned the land before the town was laid out, and had erected several buildings. The first dry goods store was kept by John Tucker, and the first grocery store by Davenport Rogers. A post office was established in 1877, with I. T. McLain as Postmaster. The present Postmaster is J. S. Tucker. The business of the town may be summed up about as follows : three general .stores ; one hardware and drug store ; two blacksmith-shops ; one saw and planing mill ; one lumber-yard ; one millinery shop and dress-making establishment, and last, but not least, one of the best little hotels in the county, which is kept by that prince of landlords, Seth McCormiek. He has a knack of making one feel at home whether or no, and a genial hospitality that will prompt a man to partake heartily at his well-spread table, even if he is not hungry. The schoolhouse is small and rather uncomfortable, but, as the town has succeeded in getting a special district, it is designed to build a new house during the coming year. There is no church in the place, but most of the citizens worship at Mount Gilead. Occasional preaching is had at the school house, and a union Sunday school maintained throughout the year, and h:\s been cai'ried on without break for the past four years. The average attendance is not far from eighty, and the present Superintendent is A. Tucker.