Pickaway Township (part 1 of 49)

Church

The gold stamped picture on the front cover of this book was of the first Pickaway County Court House built about 1812. The Court House was an octagonal shaped building and stood directly in the center of Circleville. This picture was created from a pen and ink drawing done by Lissa Yaple, a local artist.

The committee feels much sadness as we complete this project of compiling the Pickaway County, Ohio History Book. Much work and many hours of volunteer labor have gone into making this project a success. Little did any of us realize what we were getting into when we started, but what an enjoyable journey it has been. In the last year and half we've gone through times of great stress wondering if we could encourage enough patrons to participate and write stories of their places of business, organizations, clubs, churches, schools and many others. A special thanks goes to them for helping support our efforts. We also say a big thank you to the many families which have submitted family histories. What fun the proofing committee has had reading them and learning who is related to whom, where families came from, and who is still living in Pickaway County, and of the hardships they endured getting to this part of God's country.

So many of the members of the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Society have done wonders for the cause. We wish we could name each and everyone, but someone would surely be left out. To our president and other officers, board of trustees, executive secretary, genealogical librarian and her staff, the proofing committee, our typists, township story writers, and last but not least the wonderful families that have sent in their stories, all deserve a big thank you. A true labor of love has gone into this endeavor. The committee has met people we didn't know, got reacquainted with friends we do know. We learned much about local history and hopefully will leave a piece of the past for future generations to explore in Pickaway County.

In our stories the writers have tried to summarize the events of the 19" century and concentrate more on the developments of the 20" century. Since we are amateurs as well as professionals and served as volunteers, we assume no responsibility for the authenticity of the material used in this book but we did strive to be as accurate and factual as possible.

The committee hopes that past, present and future Pickaway Countians will enjoy this book for many years to come and will continually look through these pages.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including _ photocopying and recording, or by any information | storage and retrieval system, without express written permission of the copyright owners and M.T. Publishing | Company, Inc. :

The materials were compiled and produced using available information; M.T. Publishing Company, Inc.,and the - Pickaway County Historical & Genealogical Societyregret they cannot assume liability for errors or omissions.

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B. Logan's cabin at Old Chillicothe, now Westfall, four miles below Circleville: from. this place a trail led through Grenadier Squaw town, and from thence up the Congo valley, and crossed to the opposite side of the creek, about 1.5 miles from its mouth.

D. Council house, a short distance northeast of the residence of Wm. Renick, Jr. The two parallel lines at this point represent the gauntlet through which prisoners were forced to run, and O the stake:at which they were burnt, which last is on a commanding elevation. F. The camp of Col. Lewis, just south of the residence of Goe. E. The point where Lord Dunmore met with and Wolf. The Logan elm is about a mile north of the site of the

For 10,000 years, Pickaway County, Ohio has been inhabited by many different peoples. At the end of the last ice age, Paleo people hunted mastodons on these plains. For several thousand years thereafter, Archaic tribes hunted and gathered their food here. For at least two millenia the mound-building cults and cultures of the Amerindic Race left their marks on this landscape. These groups - the Adena, Hopewell and Fort Ancient peoples - lived here from c. 1000 B.C. until about the time of the arrival of the first European explorers.

At about the time of Christ, the Hopewell Cult built a large ceremonial earthwork on the present site of Circleville. This consisted of a double wall (in the form of a ring with a moat between) which enclosed an area about eleven hundred feet in diameter. To the east and adjoining the circle was a single-walled square approximately nine hundred feet across. This was probably the site of important Hopewell social or religious rituals and was certainly in use for nearly five hundred years.

When the first explorers began to penetrate the continent, the Shawnees probably lived in this area but they later left and moved south. Pickaway County then became a hunting ground for Eries, Wyandots, Iroquois and other native people. Around 1700, the Shawnee returned to the Scioto Valley, and about 1750, they established their tribal center in Pickaway County, just south of the present site of Circleville.

In 1772 and 1773, several white traders and ; NA a missionaries visited the area, including the Eh ts Rey. David Jones. In October, 1772, one of F; these visitors made the first diagram of the Circleville enclosures. This was published in the January, 1775 issue of the "Royal f American Magazine," in Boston. "$M

In the meantime, the Pickaway Plains had been the center of a major Indian uprising in the summer and fall of 1774. It began in the spring with a series of vicious attacks by both whites and Indians. Most notable was the unwarranted attack on members of a Mingo encampment on Yellow Creek in what is now Jefferson County, Ohio.

The Indian leader of the group, Tah-gah-jute, a Cayuga often know as John Logan, or Logan the Mingo, had always been friendly to the whites but now took his revenge by attacking various isolated settlements. This terror of fire and blood continued for over six months. The uprising is usually known as "Lord Dunmore's War."

A Shawnee army, under the great war chief, Cornstalk, was defeated at Point Pleasant, West Virginia, on October 10, 1774. Immediately afterward, Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, with another legion of Virginians, followed the fleeing Shawnees into the Pickaway Plains and forced Cornstalk to agree to a peace conference.

The Shawnee capital known as Lower Shawnee Town, or Meemkakak, was located on both sides of Scippo Creek near the present junction of Emerson Road and State Route 23. Some earlier conferences were held in the large council-house south of the creek in the portion of the site known as Grenadier Squaw's

Town. It was during one of these parlays that Logan, on returning from one of his raids, asked his friend John Gibson, Dunmore's chief interpreter, to walk out with him. According to legend, they walked down to a wooded area, and under a huge tree, later known as Logan Elm, Logan made his famous speech. Gibson noted down the speech and later recited it before the assembled Indians and whites at Dunmore's encampment, Camp Charlotte near present-day Leistville.

Lord Dunmore's War made the Pickaway Plains more widely known to the Allegheny frontiersmen, and before the end of the eighteenth century, white settlers had begun to pour into the region.

The land west of the Scioto was part of the Virginia Military District. This land could be granted to Virginian soldiers as compensation for their service in the American Revolution. That part of the country was settled primarily by people from Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. The land east of the Scioto was carefully surveyed into townships six miles square. Its settlers came mostly from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New England.

Prominent among them were Bloomfield (later South Bloom- Se field), Westfall, Jefferson, Livingston and Tarlton. A legislative commission found none of them ares "6, earthwork to fulfill that function. mi For the first twenty years of the County's : existence it was a frontier community in «as which farming and hunting predominated. There were also a number of flouring mills and distilleries. With the arrival of the canal in the 1830's, flour and pork could be shipped eA and canal ports like Lockport, Circleville and _ =? Westfall flourished. In the 1850's, the Cincinnati and Muskingum Valley Railroad was built. Towns and stops on or near this new route, like New Holland, Atlanta, Williamsport, Woodlyn and Yellow Bud (Kinderhook) came to life. In the 1870's, the Scioto Valley Railroad opened a north-south shipping route through Duval, Ashville, Hayesville and Elmwood.

New industries also came in the 1870's and *80's. Canning became predominant in both Circleville and Ashville. Most county industries were agriculture-centered until the late 1940's. In the middle of the twentieth century diversified industries came to the county. These included G.E., DuPont, Reynolds Aluminum and several others. New housing and strip malls were soon changing the landscape. By the year 2000, several of these industries were beginning to phase out and change was in the air once more.

What the future may hold, we cannot tell. Pickaway County's ties to Columbus are closer. More and more people who work in Franklin County now live in Pickaway. However, farming is still important and after two hundred years, the county continues to view the future with confidence.

The Ohio legislature created six counties in 1810. One of them was Pickaway. When an appointed commission decided that no existing town was appropriate for a county seat, they suggested a new town be platted and established within a circular pre-historic earthwork on the high eastern bank of the Scioto. The landowner, a veteran of the Revolution, named Jacob Zieger, offered to give the new county one-hundred acres and to sell another fifty at a reasonable price.

Daniel Dresbach was appointed Director of the new town. His job was to hire surveyors and sell off lots. He continued to hold that post until his death in 1850. By September of 1810, Jacob Lutz and his team had completed the survey, a number of lots had been sold and several houses were completed. Circleville was becoming a town.

By 1814, the octagonal courthouse was ready for use; town and county were well under way. For the first 15 years, the town's population was under one thousand. Its houses were mostly of logs and its streets were mud when wet and dust when dry. The town was governed by an elected council, whose president acted as the mayor. One of the early ones was William Thrall, editor of "The Olive Branch," the local newspaper. It was first issued in 1817 and later became "The Herald."

In 1830, the Ohio and Erie Canal reached Circleville and, over the next ten years, the population doubled. The town prospered as the result of the canal and Circleville's first industries, milling and pork packing, developed. Thousands of barrels of salt pork were shipped east and south, and Samuel Rogers, Edson Olds, Douglas Atwater and John Groce made fortunes on the proceeds.

artery of commerce. From 1853, Circleville was on a line from Cincinnati to Zanesville (the C. and M.V.). In the 1870's the Scioto Valley Line was built from Columbus to Portsmouth.

As a side effect of the canal construction the town's businesses moved to West Main Street and, to some, the circular shape of the town seemed passe'. In 1837, the "Circleville Squaring Company" was

20 years the Circle was swept away. In 1837 and '38, the southeast and northwest quarters were squared. In 1849 the northeast quarter followed and, in 1856, W.W. Bierce, who replaced Daniel Dresbach as town "Director," squared the southwest quarter. Looking back on this project, we can see that it was a mistake. At the time it seemed like progress.

The most famous citizen of Circleville in its first half-century was Caleb Atwater, a Yankee intellectual who was one of the first to write about the prehistoric remains west of the Appalachian Mountains. He served in the legislature, where he wrote and helped pass the first public school law. His writings included the first book-length history of Ohio and an essay on education. He was an important influence on archaeology, education and ecology.

Early Pickaway County had a population of Pennsylvanians, Virginians and New Englanders. The canal brought in German immigrants with their musical and artistic influence. Circleville became a melting pot of various traditions. Politically, the county was a stronghold of Jeffersonian Democracy. The Democratic Party dominated city politics from early days until well into the twentieth century. As state politics, from the Civil War on, was predominantly Republican, very few local politicians found their way into national prominence. Politically, Circleville remained independently eccentric.

After the Civil War, with the decline of the canal, new industries came to the fore. In the early 1870's, Chauncey Sears and his wife, Annie, introduced the first canning factory. From then, well into the early twentieth century, canning dominated local industry. The Smith family founded the "Esmerelda Canning Company." The Win-Orr Company and the cannery established by H.M. Crites were important to the city's economy as were grain elevators and flour milling businesses. The Heffner and Heffner company was one of Circleville's most significant mills from the 1860's until 1930. Others included Maizo and Purina. Eshelman's took over the Heffner company in 1930 and after 50 years, Mana-Pro replaced it.

All of the early industries were associated with agriculture. This included the Portage Strawboard Company established along the canal south of Main Street in the 1880's. Local straw was used to produce boxes and cartons. Under various names, the company continued until almost the end of the twentieth century. For many years it was Container Corporation, then, to its closing, Jefferson Smurffet.

Another important early cash crop was broom corn. Circleville's Edward Smith made a fortune on this commodity. It was shipped by rail all over the country. There were several small broom-making businesses in Circleville. The largest and most important one was the Goeller Broom Factory on Half Avenue, a prosperous business from the 1890's into the 1920's.

By the turn of the twentieth century, Circleville had a population of about seven thousand, many of whom were wealthy farmers, business and professional people. Although the population resisted change, the beginning of the 1890's had seen two major building projects. In 1889 the Greek Revival Courthouse had been

The other project caused the demolition of another Greek Revival structure, the Darst-Ballard House. In its place, on the southwest corner of East Main and Pickaway Streets arose another Romanesque citadel - Memorial Hall. Built by the G.A.R., a Civil War Veterans' group, it was dedicated to the Pickaway Countians killed in that dreadful conflict. The building housed an armory, a library, space for public meetings and a meeting room for veterans.

The twentieth century saw many changes. In 1904, a traction line (an inter-urban electric rail line) connected Chillicothe and Columbus. It ran through downtown Circleville and could carry one to downtown Columbus in 50 minutes. This continued to operate until 1930.

Simultaneously with the development of the traction line came the automobile. The horseless carriage and the electric light did more to change Circleville and the world than any other invention. Electric street lighting came to Circleville in 1883 through the efforts of Dr. Howard Jones and several friends. Soon houses were being lighted with electricity and whole cities began lighting up the night sky.

Early twentieth century Circleville was influenced by the coming of the Pumpkin Show and the development of the Chamber of Commerce. The first Pumpkin Show was celebrated rather quietly in 1903. For the rest of the century this annual festival was the high point of Circleville's year. In 1916, the Circleville Chamber of Commerce was established. The members were local businessmen and their goal was to improve the economy of the city and county. The First World War and the Great Depression hampered efforts in this direction. For fifteen years Mack Parrett led the chamber through good times and bad.

The Depression was hard on local economy, but the farmers and the canneries kept the economy from complete collapse. Financially the city government was in such straits that at

At the end of World War II, changes were taking place in the industry of the county. Local canneries were having difficulty competing with larger companies. Other industries, however, began moving in to take their places. In 1947, the Chamber of Commerce announced that a major industry was considering Circleville as a site. George Foresman and Ludwig Haecker encouraged this choice and by 1948 it was confirmed that G.E. would build a plant in Circleville. Edward Grigg was sent to facilitate the construction and remained as head of the local plant for thirty years.

In the early 1950's, DuPont built a plant south of town and the influx of supervisory staff for the new plant saw construction of new housing north of the downtown area and a dramatic enlargement of the school system. Over the next 15 years Pittsburg Plate and RCA opened plants and the area prospered from its industry.

Certainly the most famous Circlevillian of the first twothirds of the twentieth century was Theodore Friedman, a son of Ben and Polly Friedman, owners of Friedman's Bazaar, popular ladies' readyto-wear store. Under his stage name, Ted Lewis, he became a champion and popularizer of jazz.

The 1990's saw the beginning of decline in many of the local industries that were introduced at the middle of the century. The 'down-sizing' at DuPont, the closing of Jeffrson Smurffet, Mana-Pro and Thompson Electric (formerly RCA) were ominous. Once again the economy is in decline. But Circleville has seen many declines, from the 'panics' of 1819, 1837, 1857, 1873 and 1893 to the Great Depression of the pork packing, tanneries, canneries. Circleville has survived them all - a little city with a great heritage. "A good place to live and raise a family."

Visitors coming North on St. Rt. 23 see the Pumpkin Water Tower and know they are approaching Circleville, the home of the Greatest Free Show on Earth. Always held the 3" Week in Oct. of

Preservation of Pickaway County's rich heritage dates back as far as July 28, 1841 when the Logan Historical Society was organized at the village of Westfall. In 1910 the Monday Club made it their purpose to establish an historical museum. After raising over $50 they turned the monies over to a Centennial Commission as a museum fund. The Commission later disbanded with no provision for a future society. As plans for Pickaway County's approaching Sesquicentennial took shape, the idea of a Historical Society emerged again. In 1959, research and a search for articles of historical significance was begun and our Historical Society was organized. The first task of the Society was to celebrate the county's 150" Anniversary in 1960.

The object of this Society was to bring together people interested in the history of Pickaway County and to discover and collect materials which help to establish or illustrate the history of the area.

In 1966 the Society was given the Clarke-May home on West Union Street. The house was renovated during the Presidency of Rex E. Haecker. A new addition to the rear of the east section of the house provides a meeting place for the Society and local groups.

During the annual meeting of January, 1968, the Second National Bank announced the gift to the Society of a one-third interest in the Marfield Bank Building at 133- 135 West Main Street. It is the last remaining building which stood on the original circle. Remaining interests in the building were deeded to the Society at periodic intervals. Polly Miller and Johnda Davis were instrumental in establishing a genealogical library which was initially situated in the building just east of the offices of the Chamber of Commerce.

In 1985, the Moore House, located at 304 South Court Street, was willed to the Society. The Historical and Genealogical Library is now located at this site. All written historical documents, photographs and the Pickaway County Probate Court archives are preserved at this location.

During the year 2000 the Society acquired some 2-1/2 miles of the Ohio and Erie Canal in Wayne Township. An additional piece of land was acquired in 2003 which allowed room to erect a shelter house for "Canal Park".

Ralph and Charlene Woolever. Ralph was given Emeritius status on the Pickaway County Historical Society Board for serving many years, and for giving so much time to the organization. He is probably the longest serving member on the board. Charlene has always been by his side and has helped by doing research in Genealogical Library, - Some of the volunteers that helped researchers at the Genealogical library. Top, I-r, among other jobs, for many years. They represent many Darlene Weaver, Bob Wilson, Joan Smith, Betty Dawley. Bottom, l-r, Paul Mayberry, other members that have worked very hard for the Pickaway Sue Roan, Sheryl Forte, Carolyn Wiegand.

Above: Pauline Clifton looking at a Friendship coverlet that was on display at the museum. The coverlet has many family names embroidered on it from the Salt Creek Township area.

Darlene Weaver, Chairwoman for the Pickaway Co. Historical Society Genealogy Library. She is a volunteer and works many, many hours at the library.

Left: Ned W. Harden served our Society as Editor of the Picaway Quarterly from 1988 through 1991, contributed his historic photo collection to the Genealogical library and has been an invaluable member for many years.

Impact Bc

In the early part of the 19th Century pioneers were moving into the Pickaway County area. Ohio was a pioneer state. The inhabitants raised everything they needed to live - livestock for meat, wool and hides to make their clothes and shoes; grain to feed the livestock and for flour. They augmented what they raised with game, nuts and berries from the surrounding forests. They needed practically everything they raised.

If there was a surplus, there was no market until the advent of the Ohio Erie Canal, connecting the interior of the state with Lake Erie on the north and access to the eastern states, and with the Ohio River on the south, linking the state to the port of New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico.

When the Erie Canal was completed through the state of New York, far-sighted Ohioans began lobbying for a canal (or canals) connecting Lake Erie to the Ohio River.

By 1825 the Ohio Legislature became convinced of the need for the canal. In February of 1825, enabling legislation to raise money was approved by the state and on July 4 of that year a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Licking Summit near Newark.

By 1831 the canal reached Circleville, linking the tiny frontier community with Lake Erie. By the following year the main canal was completed to Portsmouth on the Ohio River.

Suddenly there was a market. The price of a bushel of grain increased fourfold or more. Livestock no longer had to be driven over the Appalachian Mountains to the eastern markets. Farm animals could be slaughtered in the villages and towns along the canal, packed in barrels of salt and shipped east.

The first steam engine moving on rails was developed in 1827, dooming the canal system to a relative short life. The first railroad came to Pickaway County shortly before the Civil War, and the railroads soon took over the task of moving freight across the country. The Ohio Erie Canal continued operating into the early part of the 20th Century, although by that time it had lost most of its freight to the railroads. By the 1890s, the railroads had reached all 88 counties in the state.

In 1904 the last boat came down the Columbus Feeder, entering the main canal at Lockbourne just a few yards north of the Pickaway-Franklin County Line. A major flood of the Scioto River in

In the beginning, the canal brought prosperity to Pickaway County. The villages of Millport, Circleville, and Westfall thrived. There was a lock on the canal immediately south of the village of Millport (now a part of South Bloomingville). Commerce flourished, supporting a pork packing business, a distillery, a brewery and a mill at various times during the life of the canal. Even before the canal closed, the village economy began its decline. It was by-passed by major highways and the railroads and became only a cluster of small homes.

The canal engineers proposed three sites for the canal to cross to the west side of the Scioto River. These were at Keefer's Point, near the mouth of Darby Creek, at Circleville, and at Yellowbud. Circleville's merchants were so anxious for the crossing to be there they put together a fund-raising drive, getting pledges of over $3,500 in a week's time. Ultimately nearly twice that amount was pledged and construction of the aqueduct began July 4, 1828. It was the longest structure (435 feet) on the canal from Portsmouth to Cleveland.

Commerce and industry along the banks of the canal in Circleville included the John Groce and Sons Pork Packing Company, the Ruggles Packing Company, the Cherry Cigar Company, the G.W. Bauder Carriage works, the J.F. Bales Grain Elevator, the A.C. Bell Elevator, the George Roth Tannery, the John McEwing Foundry and Machine shop, Hernnstein's Lumber yard, a cooperage works and an ice house.

The canal brought not only properity to Circleville, it also brought many famous visitors. On Sept. 20, 1836, President Andrew Jackson stopped briefly in Circleville on his way from his plantation, the Hermitage, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Washington, D.C. what was meant to be a rousing welcome for "General" Jackson turned into a tragedy. Four young men were accidentally killed while firing a cannon salute in honor of the president. They were ramming a third charge into the cannon when it exploded. The force of the blast instantly killed three of the men, Joseph Bonser, Silas Ward and Joseph Tanner. The fourth, a man named Johnston, died several hours latter.

In the village of Westfall, the Hoffman Warehouse was the primary early business. There canal boats were loaded with corn and wheat grown in the fertile fields of Wayne Township. The canal left the county at the village of Yellowbud in Ross County.

The canal is long gone from the scene. The railroads are dying out, losing their freighting business to paved highways and huge tractor-trailer trucks as well as to the airlines.

In 1923 another world existed. Basically, people were friendly, helpful and kinder. No one locked their doors as long as one of the family was out and sometimes they were never locked. The Circleville police consisted of three officers who were all walkers. Fresh baked pies sat in windowsills and candles and kerosene lamps still dotted many homes. Man O War had just been retired to stud at the incredible age of 3 years old. Young men accepted the role of provider for their families because of their father's early deaths. Autos were still out of reach for most purses and children obeyed their parents out of respect. And real boys were as adventurous as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

Two such young adventurers lived in Circleville. Young John Haswell, who later became a lawyer, was the son of Haswell who is credited with beginning the Pumpkin Show. He had a dairy farm and when he died in 1922, his eldest son, John, assumed the duties of the head of the house.

Edward E. Smith was a second generation American. His father had come directly from Dublin, Ireland. He owned a canning business and also was a farmer. His son, Robert, was a good friend of John Haswell. Both young men were 17 in 1923 and the adventure of their lives was about to take place.

That summer, John and Bob went halves on the purchase of a canoe that cost them $15. It was a fine canvas canoe from Kennebunkport, Maine. It was a sight to behold with its brass fittings and solid cherry deck. Had the owner not been in dire straits, such a canoe would not have fallen into excited young hands.

As is often the case, great journeys begin with talk and as John and Bob floated around on the Scioto River just west of town, they cooked up the idea of a trip in their wonderful new canoe. The more they talked, the longer the trip became until they set their minds on Cincinnati as a destination. John left his two younger brothers in charge of the cows and the day Bob's parents left town for a two-week vacation, Bob left town with John.

Their sojourn began on August 15, 1923; a day that lived in each man's mind as long as life breathed within him. They carried their canoe to the Scioto River Bridge and started out with food, clothes and money for their trip. The thought of danger never entered their head except the thought that Bob's parents would be home before they were. Although that seemed more of a worry to Bob, because he said his mom always.worried about everything. Their first near brush with terror occurred not far down the Scioto. It was their second day out and they came upon a scoop affair where men were mining the gravel from the river. The men and controls were high up on the bank and the scoop was out on the sand bar. The operator, not seeing the travelers, released the cable line and narrowly missed "Tom and Huck". The conversation of a possible early demise kept them awake and on guard the rest of the day.

Down between Chillicothe and Waverly, they encountered huge rocks in the riverbed. There was no way to safely dodge between them so the boys, who were acquiring their manhood moment by moment, jumped from their canoe to walk in water up to their arm pits to guide the canoe safely between the boulders. Nights found them in their little tent, eating their food supply that needed to be augmented by any Mr. McGregor garden Peter Rabbit and friend were fortunate enough to come across. They slept on the ground in wet clothes with the snakes as night visitors. Every day that first week they paddled through the rain as the river continued to rise.

Coming upon Portsmouth after many days of traveling, they tied up at a canoe club for one dollar. The next morning at 4:00, Bob stood looking at the heavy mist rising up from the Ohio River and saw a canoe coming from the east like an apparition. When its two occupants alighted he found one to be a World War I vet that had been kicked in the head by a mule. The doctor told him to survive, he needed to go out and rough it for a year. He had a young male companion who decided to go with him and their plan was to travel from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania down the Ohio and Mississippi to Gulfport. If their canoe survived they wanted to go along the Florida Coast in the Gulf of Mexico and back up the Atlantic Seashore. They decided that would take about one year. (Seems as though there were other "Tom and Huck's" floating around out there.)

It did not take John and Bob long to figure out that these two were a bit on the shady side after being told the new travelers had no money and had been arrested in Pittsburgh for vagrancy for selling pictures of themselves to make money. However, it did give some measure of security to be traveling on the Ohio River, (now risen considerably because of the rains to the north) with another canoe close by in case of trouble.

The two canoes stopped in Vanceburg and found themselves in a KKK meeting. It was Saturday night and Bob decided he must follow his teachings and find a Catholic Church for Mass the next morning. His good black suit was as soaked as he was but he donned his duds and set out on a train for Marysville. On the way back the conductor announced breakfast and as he rose to go the conductor took one look at him and told him they would bring him coffee. Upon arriving back at the canoe club, John was furious at him for leaving as a larger craft had come along and offered them a ride to Cincinnati. John was ready to jump on ship. The trip to the destination took four days from Portsmouth and the river continued to rise.

They tied up at a canoe club on the Kentucky side of the river for a dollar and went across the bridge to find a place to sleep. Since their traveling companions had no money, they were left out to camp. John and Bob found a room with a bath for $3.50 and although they had been wet most of the last 8 days, warm water was a treat to be sure. That night the river caught up with them and rose 8 more feet. When they tried to get to their canoe, they found the swinging bridges to the docks washed away. The trayelers they had met were long away and had taken the boy's camp stove too. Near to them was the Pennsylvania Rail Road and a welcomed sight she was. "Tom and Huck" had had enough of the rain, snakes and thieves. They loaded their canoe on the railroad in Cincinnati and left there at 1:00 pm for home at a cost of $5.00. They stopped at every station along the way and still got home by 7:00 pm. Their last 100 miles was dry and fast. Bob had beaten his dad home by three days and he STILL had 25 cents.

The First World War must have ignited in young men a desire to conquer the elements. That or the desire to do so is an inborn need. Because there is fear of those around us, you will find very few "Tom and Huck's" out there today. Well, at least ones that take a train 10 miles to the nearest church and back in the middle of a great adventure.

Mr. Robert A. Smith was born March 4, 1906. He passed away in 2003. To those of us who were very privileged to be of acquaintance with him, his passing was one of great loss. His wit, energy and great desire to be educated on any subject at any time were endearing to his friends and family. He delighted in the use of words that were seldom in common conversation. He was passionate about his faith and of a kindly, gentlemanly manner. He never stopped being aware of the society around him and worried about the future of our nation. One of his favorite questions was, "Did you know my wife, Helen?" He continued to the end to miss and love her. He enjoyed his dog and although he would ask if I thought he were too fat, he would over feed him anyway. He never forgot to tip his hat to a lady and open a door for her. And like most of those of his age, who had lived through the depression, you could not visit him without being offered something to eat and drink.

I graduated in 1933 from Monroe High School, Five Points, Ohio. It was the middle of the depression and I didn't have a job and I was worried about my family which included a sister, brother and my parents. My older brother had enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corp and was sent to California.

I enlisted in the Corp in 1933 and was sent to Hocking County near Rockbridge, Ohio. The government furnished everything. We were paid $30 a month of which $25 was sent home to my parents to help them and I got $5 which was more than I was accustomed to.

Our first day there we were introduced to conservation. We made dams from large rocks to keep the good rich soil from washing away. We planted thousands of trees. I learned to be a surveyor and worked at Old Man's Cave and the Rockhouse for three years.

I thank President Franklin D. Roosevelt for starting the CCC. I think it was a wonderful program that helped a lot of young men shape their lives.

This unique rocket car was designed and self built by Stanley Eakin. The engine, body, even the steering wheel was built from scratch. Stanley spent his spare time for 6 years building this 1,800 pound car. In fact, Stanley built this car on his parent's property located on London Road. His parents were Everett and Elma Eakin.

Because this car was so unique, it took first prize in the World Sports Car Show, Custom Car Division, held at New York Madison Square Gardens in 1954.

As novel in design as it is in engineering, this unique comet is a three-wheeled two-seater, powered by a 60 hp Ford V-8 engine located in the rear with a fin that sweeps up to a height of more than 67 inches, along with 10 tailpipes in the rear. This car can go up to 90 miles per hour. Other unique features includes: the giant air scoops at each side; the front wheel that is suspended on a motorcycle fork with a sheet metal body; the steering wheel that is shaped out of ordinary pieces of steel; and the gear shifting that runs along a shaft running from the stick to the tail end transmission.

In the early 1900's farmers turned the soil with single bottom plows pulled by horses. Today large tractors with two hundred horse power or more pull six to eight bottom plows to turn the soil.

The farmers of the early 1900's cut wheat with binders that cut and tied the wheat and dropped it on the ground and the farmer would stack the sheaves of wheat in the field, putting one sheaf on top to keep it dry. The farmer would then haul it to an area close to a barn and the thrashing machine would come and separate the wheat from the straw, blowing the straw into a large pile and the wheat into a wagon.

Today we have large combines with thirty foot headers that cut and separate the wheat, while blowing the straw on the ground in one operation. The farmer then bales the straw for bedding for his livestock.

In the early 1900's the farmer cut his corn by hand and put it in shocks and tied it with twine string and left it in the field for a short time. Later the farmer would husk the corn by hand, throw it into a wagon and haul it to a corn crib. Today we use that same combine with an eight row header to harvest the corn in one operation. It picks and shells the corn, blowing the husks into the field and the corn into a hopper on the combine. The farmer then moves the grain using large grain hopper trailers or semi trucks to get his corn to market.

In the early 1900's corn yield was about forty to fifty bushels per acre. The present yield is usually over two hundred bushels per acre. Farming has come a long way since the turn of the century by using improved seeds and fertilizers and modern machinery.

The Pherson church was built in the 1920's after the former one burned down. The church was located on State Route 56 across from Westfall High School, Pickaway County. Robert Pherson was the first Sunday School Superintendent. Sherman Downs was also a superintendent.

Mrs. Jemima McLaughlin taught Sunday school there for 55 years and only missed 5 Sundays. She gathered the little ones on little red chairs in a semi-circle and taught them using pictures from the Bible that she put on 4x6 cards. She lived next to the church and died at the age of 92.

The Pherson Store was also located on St. Rt. 56 across from Westfall School. A gas station was on the same property as the school. My father, Charles Stoer, would go to the store on horseback to get his mail once a week. The Pherson church was two doors down on Rt. 56. It was there that my father met my mother, Mary Justus. Things sparked and they were married January 18, 1904. To this union were born eight children: Bernadine Caudy, who died at age 97; Mildred Frederick, who is 98 years old; Loring Stoer, who died at age 72; Curtis Stoer, who died at age 33; Byron Stoer, who died at age 54; Kenneth Stoer, who died at age 87; Mary Louise Lewis, who is 86 years old; and David Stoer, who is 84 years old.

My parents started the Stoer reunion in 1935. We just had the 70" reunion this past summer. Most of the children grew up in Monroe Township and graduated from Monroe School in Five Points, Ohio.

Dr. Vemont D. and Freda J. Kerns purchased property at 143 E. Main Street, Circleville, Ohio on September 18, 1944 from Willard F. and Hazel H. Story.

Dr. Kerns had his office on the right downstairs side of the building which included a large waiting room, two offices, bath, x-ray room, plus one examining room. In 1946 he made three apartments from the remaining part of the building. One was located over the office at 143 _ East Main Street. There were two on the other side (one upstairs and one downstairs) at 145 and 145 _ East Main Street.

Dr. Kerns added four more rooms onto the back of the building in 1954 which were used as his office, drug room, and two more examining rooms.

The people inside the cat hole flew, Some got stuck and some got thru. - Some jumped out the open Some of them cried and sor For all was scared and knew full _, For each had escaped a watery he

Mount Oval is a Pickaway County historic landmark. Since 1832 the Renick-Young-Tolbert house has graced an oval shaped knoll of the Pickaway Plains south of Circleville, Ohio along the old Scioto Trail, now US Route 23. In the Archives of Early American Architecture at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., Mount Oval is recognized among the early homes of Ohio for its unique design, excellent craftsmanship and beauty of detail.

The map of the ancient Shawanoese Towns on the Pickaway Plains made from the survey by P.N. White for Felix Renick shows that the house is located in the site of the old Indian towns. The Council House, Grenadier Squaw Town and Chief Cornstalk's Town were all within a few hundred yards of Mount Oval. Logan's Elm, Camp Charlotte and Camp Lewis were all nearby.

The ground was purchased in 1806 by John Boggs, the patent was signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. William Renick married Jane Boggs, and they built Mount Oval. In 1860 Jacob Ludwig bought the farm and in 1863 gave it to his son, Daniel, for a wedding present. Daniel and his bride, Julia Ann Steely, went to Cincinnati for their wedding trip and bought furniture for Mount Oval which they shipped back to Circleville on the old canal boat. Some of their furniture still remains in the house today.

Due to illness in the family, the Ludwigs moved from Mount Oval in 1882, and the house was lived in by tenant families until 1915 when Miss Elizabeth Ludwig restored the house and later married Bernard Young, and together they continued the restoration.

The design of the house has a strong Palladian influence evident in Villa Capra and other buildings. The design may have come to the Renicks through architectural books such as those by James Gibbs, or by way of Thomas Jefferson who planned to build a garden house on this design for Monticello. The outstanding architecture of the house, as well as its excellent state of preservation, has been noted by I.T. Frary, in his book "Early Homes of Ohio", by Frank Roos of Ohio University, and by many other architects.

The smoke house served as a model for the reconstruction of Adena in Chillicothe, Ohio. According to Frary it 'indicates the influence of Virginia and those designed by Jefferson that shows open diamond pattern in the brickwork.

The drover's room shows the functional aspect of the house. The Renicks were the first to herd cattle from the Scioto Valley to markets on the East coast, 68 heads to Baltimore in 1805. 'Feli IX and ie "CoKes in.No oll, for the purpose.of pe y brought back shoxtho > house is of brickson 'i an attic room over the'cent« a square, with a Maree ce square and twelve feet high. The walls of the central room continue outward defining square rooms in the corner, the dimension of the smaller rooms being ten feet to the sides and a ten foot ceiling. The space between the ten feet square rooms and to the side of the ballroom constitutes porches with Doric columns. On the south and west sides there are four porch columns at each porch - those at the south side are of wood, and stone at the west side.

This severe simple design, strictly Palladian, is totally unexpected for nineteenth century Ohio, much less in 1832. As built, some modifications were made to the basic concept which remains true for the south and west half of the house, as well as the ballroom. Where the porch would have been on the east side we find a room and a hall with the stairs leading to the attic. On the north side, proceeding from the north west corner we find the ten by ten room followed by three rooms, the last two are connected with a ten to eleven foot wide framed opening. To the east and north respectively, the corner rooms at the northwest and southeast corner of the house, the width of the rooms is about fourteen feet.

To the east of the house, in line with the three consecutive rooms, was the free standing kitchen building. To the northeast of the kitchen is a brick smokehouse. The smokehouse is of brick, square in plan, with a hip roof and symmetrical composition. Open diamond pattern brick-work grills replace the need for winders.

A panting of the house, done in the 1930's, shows it with small hip roofs over the corner rooms. Presently the house has one large hip roof. The original covering was shingles, presently it is metal. In 1915 the opening between the kitchen and the house was enclosed.

The woodwork within the house, then mantels, cupboards at their side, the doors and doorways, the stairs all are well executed in cherry and walnut and well preserved. The ornate mantel in the central room is delicately carved in the Adam style.

The updating of the mechanical systems has resulted in the southeast corner room being converted to a bathroom and a half bath being built in the old passage between the house and the kitchen.

When Ohio celebrates its 200" birthday in 2010, Mount Oval will have stood for 178 of those years in the State's development. It is my hope that Mount Oval and other historic homes and buildings will be preserved and honored for their significance during

The famous Circleville Pumpkin Show was born like a phoenix from the ashes. It came about as the aftermath of a festival which was widely touted in the Fall of 1902, but which became a financial fiasco. A young entrepreneur named Clark Doughty talked the Circleville business community into supporting a grand October "Korn Karnival" that year. Fifteen "spectacular" acts were scattered about the downtown streets. People were supposed to buy tickets to go in and view the acts. Crowds flocked in from the countryside. They talked and they ate, but very few tickets were sold. Everyone, including Doughty, lost money.

Mayor George P. Haswell watched the event with interest. He realized that expensive acts weren't necessary to draw a crowd. The next year, he talked some of his West Main Street business cronies into setting up a few modest displays and establishing a free street fair. As the old county fair had ceased to exist a number of years before, this new show quickly took its place. By the time of the County Centennial in 1910, the show had emerged as a full-fledged fair. There were displays of horses, cattle and poultry, as well as fruits, vegetables and baked goods. There were also parades with local bands, school children in costume, buggies, autos and floats. A merry-go-round had been added by 1905 and other rides and events followed. The Pumpkin Show was soon to become "The Greatest Free Show on Earth" and has continued to draw crowds for over one hundred years.

For the first forty years of its existence, it was operated by the Pickaway County Agricultural Society. It was recognized by the State of Ohio has a county fair and was therefore entitled to a state subsidy. The show was canceled one year during World War I and was reduced to a junior fair in 1943 and 44 because of the Second World War. This explains why, although it has been in existence for 102 years, the 2005 celebration will be the 99" Pumpkin Show.

In 1945, the County Agricultural Society abandoned the Pumpkin Show and established a county fair at its newly purchased fair grounds out on the eastern edge of town. The Pumpkin Show was in danger of being disbanded. Local interest in its survival was strong, however, and several community leaders, headed by county treasurer, Robert G. Colville and business man, Mack Parrett, banded together to establish "Circleville Pumpkin Show, Inc."

The Show went through many changes over the years. Exotic dancers were popular for a few seasons. High wire acts and flagpole sitters had their hour upon the stage and then were seen no more. A very early event was the "Baby Parade" and contest. Every kind of vehicle, from wicker perambulators to strollers and little red wagons have been seen in this perennial favorite.

In 1933, Lucile Heise became the first "Miss Pumpkin Show." Thus was established an annual contest, and later a "Little Miss Pumpkin Show" was added. After the Second World War, a "Queen's Float" began appearing and the "Miss" and "Little Miss," along with their courts, still lead the parade from an elegant float.

Floats play an important part in every parade. For a number of years the creations of the Marvin Thompsons and of Carl Manson were hits in every show. General Electric has usually created its own float and it has often been a winner.

Since 1945, the carnival atmosphere has dominated the Show - with more and more rides and games. There are also larger artsand-crafts and fruit-and-flower exhibits, and great numbers of food booths - many of them operated by local clubs, school groups and churches. For a number of county churches, the Pumpkin Show booth provides a significant part of their annual budget.

Many local business and professional people volunteer their time during Pumpkin Show week. Announcing, organizing and supervising parades are just three of the many jobs these people do. Among those who have played important roles in the Show during the last half of the twentieth century were the two Neds - Ned Harden and Ned Dresbach. Ned Harden traveled the country advertising the Show. He may still be seen now and then, in his orange coat, surveying the Show from his golf cart.

Around the middle of the century and beyond, several military bands from Washington D.C. gave special performances at the Pumpkin Show. This happened through the efforts of James Dunton, a Circleville native, who, for a number of years, was the public affairs officer to the Secretary of Defense. Many Pickaway Countians still fondly recall these performances.

For nearly fifty years, one of the highlights of the Show was the appearance of native son, Theodore Friedman, better known as Ted Lewis. Ted did much to make jazz respectable and popular in the conservative mid-western states. He rode in many a Pumpkin Show parade, waving his battered top-hat and calling out, "Is Everybody Happy?" to the cheering crowds.

One of the most amazing changes in the Show has been the dramatic increase in the size of the winning pumpkins. In the early days, a fifty-pound pumpkin was considered large. By the 1950's, 200-pound examples were impressive. Last year (2004), Dr. Robert Liggett's prize pumpkin weighted in at 1353 pounds!

The Pumpkin Show has a national reputation. Every year or so, reporters and cameramen from various TV channels, from the New York Times, National Geographic, and various foreign magazines show up in the crowds to do stories about this curious American phenomenon. Two-or-three-hundredthousand people from many states and several foreign countries may visit during the four days of the Show. Various festival queens also visit.

To honor George Haswell, the festival's founder, Circleville's mayor is always the president of the Board of Trustees of Pumpkin Show, Inc. It is basically an honorary post. The activities of the organization are overseen by the vice president, the secretary and the treasurer. The list of the present officers of the Show is as follows: Mayor Jean Droste, president; Barry Keller, vice president; Dorcas Smalley, treasurer; and Hugh Dresbach, secretary.

Circle City Dairy parade float and milk trucks at the Pumpkin show diring the mid 1930s. Gleaming milk cans are visible both on the side and above the cab of the head milk truck (far left). Ward Robinson as owner of the dairy near the corner of Mound and Pickaway Streets. The float featured milk cans on each corner, with a stork "delivering" a baby in a cradle is on top of the design. A ribbon is attached to the milk can on the right front corner facing the float. A winner, perhaps?

Last Living Civil War Veterans of the Groce Post, G.A. R. No. 156. Picture taken around 1934. By March 6, 1935, only 4 veterans remained. Back row, Far left: George Washington Trimmer, Vice-Commander, was the last surviving Civil War Veteran in Circleville.

Peter Defenbaugh was born 27 August 1808, in Tarlton, Ohio. He was the son of Daniel Dieffenbach and Hannah Culp. To the union nine children were born and Stephen was the fourth child. When at home Peter was a cabinetmaker and undertaker.

As Peter was growing up he never seemed to like to stay around home very much. He was always finding some way to be away from the house. This love of wandering stayed with him throughout his life and led to him fighting in two wars; the Mexican War Co. E 4th Ohio Inf. 15 May 1847 to July 1848.

At the age of 53 when the Civil War broke out in 1861 Peter could not resist the temptation of fighting in another war. He enlisted in the Ist Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery and was assigned to Battery K Ist O.V. Inf. 17 June 1863 to 25 Feb. 1864.

Peter survived the Civil War and returned to Ohio but the discovery of gold in California was too much of an attraction for him to stay home very long. He loaded up his horse and headed west to strike it rich in the California gold fields. Like so many thousand others, Peter did not strike it rich, but he did get to see the West and have another great adventure! He died in Tarlton, Ohio on 19 May 1865.

Stephen Defenbaugh was born 29 August 1838, in Tarlton, Pickaway Co., Ohio, the son of Peter Defenbaugh and Catherine Thomas. Stephen enlisted on 17 April 1861, in Co. G, 2nd Infantry Regiment Ohio; discharged at Columbus on 31 July 1861; enlisted at Tarlton on 13 December 1861, in Co. I, 58th Infantry Regiment Ohio, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant; wounded at Chickasaw Bayou; promoted to Ist Lieutenant and adjutant on 1 Janaury 1864; mustered as adjutant, 58th Infantry Regiment Ohio, at Vicksburg, Mississippi on 15 April 1864; discharged at Camp Chase, on 14 January 1865.

The 58th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment was exceedingly active throughout 1862 and 1863. 1 January 1863, disembarked from steamer Planet and embarked on steamer Polar 2 January 1863. arriving near post of Arkansas on 9 January 1863. Disembarked 10 January, and took part in reducing the rebel fort post of Arkansas on 11 January 1863. Embarked on steamer Polar Star on 13 Janaury, arriving at Youngspoint, Louisiana on 22 January. After disembarking was ordered in the advance opposite Warington, below Vicksburg, Mississippi, being on scouts duty. Captured the rebel steamer Desoto on 23 January, while landing to take a supply of fuel. On the 6th of February was detached by Major General Grant for services on the U.S. gunboats comprising the Mississippi squadron. Under command of Acting Rear Admiral David D. Porter and assigned to the following gunboats: Benton; Carondolet, Louisville; Cincinnati; Dekalb; Pittsburg; Mound City; Linden; and Signal and remained in Naval service to | August 1863. The members of this command participated in every action the above-named boats were active in. Once relieved from the Naval service, they were attached to the Ist Brigade Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee detached doing provost duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Regular navy men scorned service on these river boats, so General Grant was forced to commandeer men from the army to man the gunboats, hence the detachment of Company I, 58th Ohio Infantry and others to the Naval service, which must have seemed strange indeeed to our inland country boys. They gave a good account of themselves, as much credit is given to the activities of these boats and their crews in bringing about the fall of Vicksburg.

After the war, Stephen married Mahala Pontius in 1866, and they had three children. For employment he returned to his father's (Peter) a funeral parlor in Tarlton, Ohio. Stephen died in 1919, in Tarlton, Ohio.

Y Of Cue

Forrest Short was born June 24, 1894 in Ross County to Barbara Metzger and Cary Short. He served in the Army in World War I in the Calvary. A major requested that Forrest be his mounted orderly because he knew Forrest was known as a good rider, and the major needed help with his horse. He was in the Army in the United States and France.

Forrest's father, Cary Short, sold horses exclusively to the United States Army during World War I. Nearly five thousand horses were sold to the government overseas.

When Forrest was a teenager, he went into the service to help care for the horses. When the Army learned he was not 18, he was sent home. Forrest enlisted in the Army when he became 18. His basic training was at Camp Sherman in Chillicothe, Ohio. Forrest was in France when the war was declared over.

World War II changed the lives of Pickaway Countians forever. Parents were turning over their children to the local draft board in record numbers. In many instances, as many as three or four served from the same family. Many never completed their high school education before entering the service of their country. A white star was placed in the homes window for each member of the family in the service. They boarded the bus at the Courthouse for their trip to Fort Hayes or some other inductee camp. They were then transferred to their basic training camp. After that, their destinations were unknown to them until they were well on their way.

Tearful memories are recalled by survivors of the war, many relating to home. One soldier said he would never forget the look on his fathers face as he boarded the bus with his twin brother, to leave for camp. Mothers were fearful of what news the mail would bring. A strange car in the neighborhood or a telegram caused their hearts to stop. The radio became an all important tool to receive news of the war. Letters from home never told the sons about neighbors who had been killed. Morale of the soldiers was a high priority.

Everyone contributed to the war effort. Women took mens jobs to supply ammunition and other items necessary to keep us in the fight. Victory gardens were planted. Scrap drives produced needed materials and mountains of discarded iron, paper, and other items were collected. Tinfoil from cigarette packs and chewing gum, rubber products, and keys were also collected. There were air raid practices. All openings in the home where light could escape were covered. Air Raid Wardens inspected their assigned neighborhood and were quick to point out any exposed areas of the house.

Quarter stamps were available at the post office and they were purchased as people could afford them. They were then pasted into their savings books and eventually turned in to buy Victory Bonds.

Death of a soldier devastated families. Stress on the parents and siblings changed them forever. They dealt with it and carried on, but they always remembered those shot down, missing in action, or lost for any reason.

Many went back to school after serving in the armed forces. One such soldier said he was twenty-one when he graduated from Wayne High School. He attended classes with giggly kids and felt like he was forty. Having faced so much, communication with teenagers was very difficult.

Many lost family members while they were serving their country. Grandmothers service was missed, Grandpa died when they were overseas. Christmas boxes, received with such anticipation, were often taken by the Germans. Precious mail was also intercepted.

World War II veterans do not feel as though they were owed something for their service. Many are just beginning to tell their stories and to apply for any benefits. They are grateful to those who remember their service and who take time to talk with them about it.

I was 14 when we moved to the suburb of Wheatridge, where was rationed too, and in hot weather, gummy ersatz tires we raised chickens and grew a Victory garden. (Ilearned that you left black streaks on the pavement. After we'd ice-skated never name an animal that youll eventually eat!). We saved grease in the mountains 30 miles away, Dad saved gas by coastand bacon fat in a rather smelly canister on the stove for the war ing downhill 20 miles. Farmer friends who received extra effort. Pennies were made of zinc because copper was needed for gasoline with which to run their tractors told us that it went the war. Meat, sugar, and gasoline were rationed. Motherlearned down suspiciously fast whenever their teenager drove into to cook with honey, but she never got used to it in tea. Rubber town to pick up a date.

As WWII progressed our troops got sulfa, a powder that could be put on wounds in order to stop infection. Near the end of the war the wonder drug penicillin made its appearance. Readers Digest told about a marvelous new fabric made of coal, air, and water that the Air Force used in parachutes. It was called nylon.

your nylons would last longer if you washed and dried them after each use and then sealed them up in a Mason jar. So many memories. Yet, when someone asks me, Where were you on V-J Day? I dont remember!

In June of 1950, the North Koreans invaded South Korea. President Truman sent a taskforce of soldiers from the 24" Infantry Division into Pusan, and U.S. Ambassador, Warren Austin, at the United Nations, moved for action against the North Koreans.

Since the Russians were boycotting the U.N. at the time, the U.N. voted to support the South Koreans. Soldiers from many nations participated, but the United States provided the majority of the troops.

A number of soldiers from Pickaway County served in this Police Action. Before it ended, on July 27, 1953, thousand of American soldiers had died. The following men from Pickaway County perished: Donald R. Brown, U.S. Marine Corps; Robert L. Hill, U.S. Army; Dr. Burt N. Coers and M. Jean Sharret, U.S. Navy.

In spite of its importance in the effort to limit Communist aggression, it is little remembered today. We wish to honor the sacrifice of those who served in the nearly Forgotten War.

Capt. William J. Barthelmas was the Pickaway County's first fatality in Vietnam. The son of Mr. & Mrs. William J. Barthelmas, Sr. of Circleville. He piloted an F-195 Thunderchief fighter -bomber. Captain Barthelmas graduated from Circleville High School in 1954 and from Ohio State University in 1958, with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. After earning his wings as a pilot he served in Turkey, Japan, Okinawa, Korea, and two tours in Vietnam. This was to be his last overseas assignment.

Pumpkin Show

" y) a. at we. " : "4 i : Republic F-105 Thunderchief. The Thunderchief first saw action in August 1 964 whe deployed to Vietnam. It is on display at AMVETS post 2256 in Circleville, OH. Capt. J. Barthelmas was killed in action while flyng a bomber such as the one pictured,

Although, he spent 8 years in Indiana, he grew up in Circleville. He embraced everything he did with tremendous vigor and enthusiasm. He was captain of the Circleville High School football team and the basketball team his senior year. He was awarded the Golden Scholar from the Ohio Basketball Coaches Association. He received the Columbus Dispatch Scholar Athlete Scholarship. He received the James T. Shea Memorial Scholarship Award from the Knights of Columbus. He was the recipient of the Mid State League Hall of Fame Award which is presented to the best student-athlete in the league. He was sports editor of the school newspaper, a senior class officer, Key Club officer and Valedictorian of the Class of 1991 graduating with a 4.0 gpa. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He received appointments to both the United States Military Academy and the Air Force Academy.

Upon graduation from Circleville High School, Warren accepted his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. At the Academy, Warren became interested in Sky Diving and was accepted as a member of the Wings of Blue, the Air Force Academy's competitive sky diving team. This is where he obtained the nickname, "Jerky". During his three years sky diving for the Academy, the teams won many championships and participated in numerous competitions and demonstrations. He had about 1500 jumps by the time he died. He absolutely loved sky diving. It, however, took a second place to flying once he began his training. He was accepted to the Euro NATO flight training program at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas upon graduating from the Academy. He excelled during his training and upon receiving his wings, he was assigned to F 16 Viper training at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona. From there he was assigned to Misawa AFB in Japan to the 14th Fighter Squadron

Fightin' Samurai. He participated in Operation SOUTHERN WATCH IN 1999 and 2000 protecting the "no fly zone" over southern Iraq. As a four-ship flight lead, he had over 850 flight hours on the F-16 and T-38 with over 70 combat sorties. Posthumously he received two medals for outstanding performance from the Air Force.

In 1997 Warren married the former Nancy Peters of Monticello, Indiana. They were a devoted couple and ideally suited to the life they chose. Warren's life was tragically cut short on November 13, 2000 by a F-16 accident over the Sea of Japan.

I think that his best friend, Capt. Rich Murray said it all when he wrote for the Air Force Academy magazine, "Checkpoints": "Warren was the small town hero who was living his dream defending foreign shores with his beautiful wife by his side. He was the life of the party, the heart of the squadron, and the soul of a team, a loving husband, a grateful son, a proud brother and my best friend."

Jeffrey Dean was born and raised in Circleville, Ohio.Graduated from Circleville High School in Class of 1989.Received Bachelor's degree from the United Stated Military Academy at West Point. Graduated from the Wright State Medical School, Dayton, Ohio.President of his class in medical school for two years; gave the graduation address at commencement.

Internship at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas in Orthopedic Surgery.Board certified in Orthopedic Surgery. Currently serving in the United States Army Heidelberg, Germany

Son of Gary and Mary Jane Dean, of Circleville.Married to the former Jasmin Khair, San Antonio, Texas.In September, 2005 Dean served in Sharm el Shiek in the Sinai Peninsula, in Bosnia, and expects to be assigned to Afghanistan in late 2005.

Major Bart Elsea was born February 12, 1964 to Thomas and Frances Elsea. He graduated from Circleville High School in 1982. Then went on to receive a BA Degree in Aviation from The Ohio State University. He enlisted into the Air National Guards at Zanesville, Ohio 1982-1990, and in 1990 was commissioned as an officer. Then 1992 graduated from pilot training and worded for the Tennessee ANG and flew c-130's, and is currently working for Youngstown AFR Base full time flying C-130 H2's.

Junior Officer of the Quarter (received it three times), Junior Officer of the Year (received it two times), Operations Plans Officer of the Year for the following: 10th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, 22nd Air Force, and Air Force Reserve Command. Awards and Decorations also include: Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with one device, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with three devices, Combat Readiness Medal with four devices, Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Medal with two devices, National Defense Service Medal with one device, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal with two devices, Humanitarian Service Medal, Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border with one device, AF Longevity Service with 5 devices, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with 1 M Device with two devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (Rifle), and AF Training Ribbon. PLEASE NOTE:

Devin Andrew Braun was born 9 September 1970 in Sandusky, OH (Erie County) to Paul and Marilyn Braun. He is the third of four children. CPT Braun graduated from St. Mary's Central Catholic High School in 1988.

In December 1988 he enlisted in the United States Army and graduated from initial training at Fort Knox, KY as a 19D Cavalry Scout in April 1989. Braun served an additional three years in the Regular Army at Ft. Carson, CO in the 2-7" Cavalry Squadron, 4" Infantry Division. He was honorably discharged as a CPL in January 1992.

In April 1994, while attending The Ohio State University, Braun enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard. He served as a traditional part-time national guardsman until June 1996, when he began working on active duty status in the Counter-Drug Program.

Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant (2LT) in August 1998. Braun was assigned to CO C, 1-148 Infantry Battalion, Delaware, OH and attended the Infantry Officers Basic Course.

In November 1999, Braun became the active duty Training Officer for the 2-107" Cavalry Squadron headquartered in Kettering, OH and transferred to the Armor Branch. He attended the Tank Commander's Certification Course (Gowen Field, ID) and the Armor Captains Career Course (Ft. Knox, KY). His most recently completed professional education is the Combined Arms and Services Staff School (CAS3), Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

In early 2000, Braun moved from Columbus, OH to Circleville, OH where he currently resides. On 9 September 2000, Braun was wed to Stacy Ann Leist-Braun of Stoutsville, OH. They now have two children, Jude (Jul 03) and Owen (Oct 04)

From May 2004 through March 2005, CPT Braun mobilized and deployed to Kosovo (Republic of Serbia) as part of the NATO led peacekeeping force in this civil war torn Balkans region. During this period, CPT Braun served as the S3 (Plans, Operations, and Training Officer) for Task Force Lancer.

CPT Braun is currently the Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Troop (HHT), 2-107" Cavalry Squadron, 38" Infantry Division. In September 2005, Braun deployed with his Troop to Southern Louisiana to conduct humanitarian aid and relief operations following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In March of 1833, a territory named Circleville Township was formed in Pickaway County, Ohio. This township was situated between Washington Township (located east of Circleville) and the Scioto River. It was approximately two to three miles wide and six miles long from north to south. At that time, the newly formed territory had 2,000 inhabitants.

Land that laid next to the Scioto River was subject to flooding. However, much of the land was fertile and productive in growing crops such as corn, small grains, wheat, and grass (for pasture). For export, cattle and hogs were raised. This township produced a substantial amount of corn, oats, wheat and hay for the City of Circleville Market.

In 1830, Circleville Township consisted of 15 square miles. In 1840, there were 2,972 inhabitants, with the average of 198 inhabitants per square mile. In 1843, there were 8,927 acres valued at $118,184.00, with the average value per acre being $13.25. Also in 1843, records indicated 392 horses, 801 cattle, 35 carriages subject to taxation and valued at $2,038. The value of township lots was $279,980. Total property valuation was $469,679, and total tax generated from property valuation was $5,985.

The first brick house in Pickaway County was built in 1809 by Daniel Ludwig. He and his family started for Ohio in 1806 with the intention of opening a mercantile store, which was his purpose for erecting the large brick building. This dwelling was located on the southeast corner of Circleville Township. Rex Haecker, a Circleville resident and a Ludwig descendant, conveyed to me that the large brick building was hit by lightning on one side and never repaired.

In 1891, the old brick structure was torn down by David S. Ludwig, the grandson of Daniel Ludwig. A frame dwelling was built which was considered one of the most beautiful homes in Pickaway County. It was built 2bout a quarter of a mile from the Kingston Turnpike in the center of what was called the "Garden Spot of Ohio."

In 1807, when Daniel Ludwig returned from Berks County, Pennsylvania, he noticed a new grave in the corner of a field on his farm. One of his sons had passed away while he was gone. Within two year, two more sons died and that became the beginning of the old Ludwig burial ground.

Originally, the site started out as about one-third of an acre, and is now 10 acres. The Hitler or the Ludwig family would give people land for burial. Hence, the land set aside for a burial place became known as the Hitler-Ludwig Cemetery.

Rex Haecker conveyed to me that in 1889, the cemetery was chartered as a non-profit cemetery by the state of Ohio under the name Hitler-Ludwig Cemetery.

When Rex Haecker's beloved mother died in the early 1960's, the family gave additional land to the cemetery. His oldest brother wanted a carillon (bell tower) in her memory. The two of them traveled to Cincinnati and were given a price. Later a painting was given to them depicting how the carillon would look. Originally, the carillon set on the family lot, but the cemetery board felt they would have better access to it if it set where it is now. Mr. Haecker's brother never lived to see the actual bell tower.

Mr. Haecker's sister, Margaret Wilmine Haecker, who died on February 12, 2003 at the age of 93, wanted a fountain in the cemetery. The fountain was made in Alabama. When hauling it to Ohio, they had to get the approval from the sheriff's department of each state they traveled through because of its size. The hedge around the outside of the fountain is Canadian boxwood. At present, a new lighting system is being designed to illuminate the fountain and the flagpole. Originally, the lighting was down in the fountain, and now it will be on the ground.

In 2000, Larry Wills with D & L Development, took an option on the Crites Farm, located at U.S. 23 and Crites Road. The purpose of the option was to construct a super Wal-Mart store with additional outlots and a strip mall adjacent to the Wal-Mart store. The intention was to annex the 166 acres into the city for needed water and sewer services.

After circulating a petition to surrounding land owners, it was found that the majority of the owners did not want to be annexed into the city. The Circleville Township trustees were very active in trying to keep the land in the township. Wills applied to the County Commissioners for annexation of the land. At the hearing for the annexation, Wills withdrew the petition because of resistance from neighbors and the township.

As the process of trying to get the development started, Wills formed a partnership with the Don M. Casto Organization. At that time, Casto was responsible for all of the Wal-Mart stores in the Columbus area. The developers still wanted to pursue the city for utilities. The township proposed a joint venture with the city, and a joint economic development (JED) was proposed. The township had prepared a JED plan. The city hired an attorney to review and counter propose points they felt were necessary. Paul Lukeman from Casto assisted in the negotiation. His primary challenge was to convince the mayor. City Council finally approved an agreement. The mayor had nine days to sign the agreement, not sign, or veto it. He chose not to sign it. Council did not try to override his decision.

being a consumer owned water company, also had the ability to furnish sewer and committed to supply services. Not having sufficient pressure lines to supply a fire sprinkler system, a water tower needed to be constructed. A steel tank would need to be periodically cleaned to remove rust and repainted on the inside, however, a glass lined tank would never need to be taken out of service for this maintenance. Therefore, a glass tank was constructed on the site.

To service this area, a traffic study by the Ohio Department of Transportation indicated that the Crites Road and U.S. 23 intersection was a high accident intersection, and needed to be closed. Therefore, a new intersection needed to be designed. This intersection extended Court Street into the Crites farm and connected with Sperry Drive on the west side of U.S. 23. Crites Road was moved south and intersected with Court Street. This new road provided entrance directly into the Super Wal-Mart shopping center, with traffic stacking room allowing much better traffic flow. The construction cost of this road was in excess of $1 million, of which $970,000 was funded with tax incremental financing through the sale of bonds to be retired with the proceeds of the additional real estate taxes generated by additional valuation of property.

The new Wal-Mart Super Store opened to the public on May 25, 2005. It has over 200,000 square feet. The additional shops and restaurants will employ more than 450 people. This addition to Circleville Township not only increased property values, but it helped to employ persons in the area.

By 1810, with the organization of Pickaway County, Darby Township was established. In its 'Hay Day,' farming was the primary industry but also included two grocery stores, a hardware store, the IOOF lodge, three churches, post office, two blacksmiths, one physician and one public school. In 1884 the C.C.&M. Railroad established Derby as a fast growing village.

The year 2005 now finds the township has become an extension of Columbus with only one grocery store (Bubba's Corner), one grain elevator (Champaign Landmark Inc.) and no public school. The public school is now the Westfall Local School District located on Pherson Pike in Muhlenberg Township. However, agriculture is still the primary source of revenue.

As a leader in designing and manufacturing lower limb prosthetic components, Ohio Willow Wood is dedicated to providing the best prosthetic solutions possible for amputees throughout

Dissatisfied with the poor quality and ill-fitting prostheses of that period, William carved his own from willow wood from his own farm. To help others he set up a manufacturing plant in Mt. Sterling, Ohio. William's sons, Edwin and John joined him at the plant in the late 1940's.

Edwin's knowledge of prosthetics coupled with John's business skill lead to the co-development of the first semi-finished, lower extremity, above knee prosthesis in the United States that incorporated interchangeable parts. Since that time, Ohio Willow Wood has remained an innovative industry leader in design, manufacturing, and distribution of prosthetic products.

It is a vision of Ohio Willow Wood to become the world's leader in "leveling the playing field" between physically unchallenged people and all people who find themselves challenged due to limb loss or limb dysfunction.

A total of eighteen (18) acres of farmland was removed from agricultural use for the construction of the 480 MW Combustion Turbine Peaking station. Consisting of six (6) 80 MW general electric frame 7 - EA simple cycle combustion turbine generators.

Selection of the site was determined by the 345 KV Electric Transmission Line and a natural gas pipe line (fuel supply) where they cross. (Backup fuel is No. 2 fuel oil stored in a 1.4 milliongallon tank).

Power flow upstream of the station as proposed, increases power flow from 581 MVA to 909 MVA, 87% of the lines normal rating. Down stream flow decreases by approximately 150 MVA.

The turbine units are enclosed in an insulated enclosure to reduce operational noise. Sound levels at the closest resident (1,200 ft), as proposed is 63.5 decibels with all six units operating simultaneously. No significant impact on the existing environmentally sensitive habitats has incurred.

Running at full capacity on fuel oil (backup fuel) requires 780 galls of water per minute. A large diameter well in the limestone aquifer (approximately 250 feet deep) can produce up to 500 gallons per minute, additional de-mineralized water stored in a 950,000-gallon tank.

DP&L provided electric service to approximately 490,000 retail customers in 24 counties in 1998, a 6,000 square mile area in West Central Ohio.

James D. and Marveen Fortney opened the Marine Mart and Marine Mart Trailer Sales in 1956 on U.S. Route 62 between Derby and Harrisburg on the corner of Ballah Road. They sold mainly Airstream Travel Trailers, Crestling Boats, Evinrude Boats, Drawrite Hitches, hardware and supplies.

The 10 acre lake at the store location was used to demonstrate their boats and equipment. They hosted many Wally Byam (the founder of Airstream) Caravan Clubs to rallys at their lake beginning in 1959.

Mrs. Albert (Ruth) Fields worked with them in the business until they retired in 1975. John Looney, George Wolfe and Darvin Conley, all of Darby Township, all good mechanics, worked in the service department.

Mr. Jim Fortney, one of eight children, was born in Lumberport, West Virginia. His family moved to Ohio when he was seven years old. His parents were Ray and Mamie Fortney. Mr. Jim Fortney died January 12, 2003. Jim and Marveen had two children, Byron D. born 12-18-1942 and died 6-18-1982, and Kay Vylee,

Until the building was completed the meetings were held on the second floor or Mr. Mitchells Meat Shop on the corner of Oak Street and London Road.

1.0.0.F. organized the first fish fry in September 1914. Services were provided to the township community through troubled times and illness also showing high regard and loyalty of their members.*

The thriving township has now changed and sadly The Derby Lodge 770 Hall was sold 4-5-2005. The meetings are currently being held at the Darby Township Hall.

"Necumsia Siotati" - the little river through the great deer fields - flows swiftly over limestone and shale across southwestern Pickaway County. Deercreek Township is a deep alluvial plain surrounding the narrow valley where Deer Creek cuts into the bare bedrock of a buried ridge-top. The visible geography is the exact reverse of the geology beneath, Consequently, numerous springs arise through rock strata from deep mineral deposits. The largest bed of round shale concretions in Ohio, a geological oddity, form the bottom of the creek-bed in Williamsport, the top of a deep seam of giant stones.

The frontier Deercreek settlement was part of pre-statehood Ross County. Modern Shawnee in Clark County claim their ancestors from here lived in scattered log cabins, along with Pennsylvania gunsmiths, in the 1770's in settlements called Pickaweekee on the west bank and Bluejacketstown on the east bank of Deer Creek. In early times the so-called "chalybeate springs" of the Williams Town settlement drew travelers among the grist and sawmills and "sin" was a concern. Three religious camp-meetings attracted over 2000 souls each, led first by Rey. Barton Stone at Williams Town (now Williamsport) in 1800, followed twice by Methodist Bishop Francis

After settlement, the Williamsport First Addition was soon platted east of Water Street (the trail). The Turnpike (now US 22) came later in about 1830. The community exported timber, wheat and livestock and even printed

At the beginning of the 20" century the seven-year-old, twostory Williamsport High School had burned. Grammar School was conducted in the Town Hall and High School in the Grange Hall the following year. A grand new structure rose from the ashes with marble window sills, tin ceilings and spacious classrooms. The building had a limestone base floor and two stories of brick with a slate roof and front towers enclosing an arched entrance - a castle for learning. The building was doubled in size in 1915, including an auditorium and stage as the school district expanded into adjacent townships. From 1901-1964 Williamsport High School graduated 814 scholars.

The "round rocks", concretions imbedded in shale, at top or a ridge of such stones intefral to the shale strata hundred of feet deep, largest such exposed geology in Ohio.'

The village grew southward with residential additions. A new Farmers National Bank & Masonic Building was erected in 1902. Milling consolidated to the Hess Mill on Bluff Street. The village installed its first utility, natural gas lines, about 1910 and had gas street lights. Williamsport now retains the only village owned gas system in Ohio. The "Williamsport News", published weekly by the Tipton family was a voice for progress from 1889-1879. (See further discussion of "The News" and other businesses below).

In 1918 several ladies of the community, due to an interest in foreign missions, formed the Sorosis Club. The first President was Esta Tipton. The organization supported the troops at Camp Sherman and has contributed to the Red Cross, TB Society, MS, Cancer Society, Heart Fund and many other community and county-wide causes.

After World War I, the wooden two-story Town Hall & Opera House on Water Street burned and was replaced on Green Street by the US Army "Pavilion" from Camp Sherman (Chillicothe) and was used for the new sport of basketball. The remodeled Pavilion is now the Township House/Fire and EMS House. The Christian Church burned with the Town Hall and was rebuilt and later joined the Church of Christ in Christian Union denomination. A Pilgrim Holiness Church was built at the south point which continues today as the Williamsport Community Church. The 1890 Methodist Church, third on the site, was enlarged in 1962. The Knight of Pythias Lodge built the Castle Movie Theater; the building has been the Post Office for the past 50 years. Alongside the Pennsylvania Rail Station at Woodlyn, the Hunsicker and (Betts) Heffner Elevators exported grain for decades.

The mechanization of agriculture brought gasoline (later diesel) tractors. The Dunlap company, dealing in Massey Harris/Ferguson equipment had a regional clientele of farmers for over forty years and also managed several large diversified grain and livestock operations from the Williamsport office. During this time the Dunlap Company was the largest employer in the vicinity.

The return of the veterans from World War II and Korea invigorated the town. The Johnson-Miner American Legion Post 618 bought the former Methodist Parish House and has supported veterans affairs and the community. Heber Lodge #501 F. & A.M. and Eastern Star remain active after 130 years.

The Williamsport & Deercreek Fire Department was formed which serves over 100 square miles of the county. The public water system was built.

In 1950 the school added a new gymnasium still in use today on the Community Square. The Wright Lumber Company served contractors and residents for about fifty years and pioneered in the design of roof trusses and also developed the Wright subdivision. The Valone & Yamarick Construction Company was based west of the village for decades and built the Deer Creek Acres subdivision.

Deercreek Auto Parts has for over fifty years specialized in the mass merchandising of late-model auto salvage parts and provides support to the Fire Department. In mid-century the state replaced the iron bridge returning the sulphur spring to its natural outlet and later rebuilt and widened U.S. 22 across the township.

The 1960's brought the Westfall Local School system and the construction of Deer Creek Dam. The 1959 flood of the Scioto Valley identified Deer Creek, north of Williamsport, as a critical site for flood control.

clean the Ohio River as more water flows down Deer Creek than is used annually by Columbus. Each spring the village hosts the Deercreek Dam Days Festival as a community homecoming event. Founders of Dam Days included two businesses, Bush Tool & Die and Thompson Floats.

Then came the year 1980. In twenty minutes on the Saturday afternoon of July 12", the upper-air jet-stream current descended and raked western Pickaway County with hail on sustained winds exceeding 90 m.p.h. The "Circleville Herald" recorded crop loss estimates at over $15 million for a 150 square mile area surrounding Williamsport. As mounds of hail stones melted it was instant autumn for miles around - a wholly denuded landscape with collapsed barns. Though the community was galvanized in its response, record high interest rates on businesses were a follow-up disaster. The wholesale conversion of employment to long-distance community began in earnest a decade ahead of other farming townships. (See further discussion of 1980 below).

Williamsport has built a sanitary sewer system, rebuilt the gas system and relocated the well-field to the Big Darby aquifer in the middle of the county to prepare for future growth. The Fire Department has continually updated and, the Williamsport & Deercreek Emergency Squad has also saved lives and promoted the health of the community. The Cook family built Don's Groceries, the Oesterle family developed the corner gas station and grocery that is now Pettit's Marathon & IGA. The new Hamburger Inn and Subway restaurants each serve a large menu of sandwiches. The Metzger Insurance family handsomely rebuilt their office on Mill Street. Yipe Stripes/Road Show details race cars and Rigsby's Garage re-tunes all others.

In 2001, 400 acres were added to town as the Barnes family developed the Crown Hill Golf Club on the spacious rolling and wooded land west of the creek. Recreation has resumed as a major business along Deer Creek as it was 200 years before when the sulphur spring first drew the travelers to log hotels among the deer fields.

The first newspaper in Williamsport was printed by hand set type in 1886 and was called the "Rip Saw" (the first addition was the "Rag Baby"). Editors changed and so did the size of the paper. It became the "Williamsport News" in 1889 with the ownership of Tom H. Tipton, son of the Civil War Dr. T.C. Tipton. With the death of Tom H. Tipton, the paper was taken over by his son, Fred L. Tipton, his wife Esta, and his mother and brother-in-law, David Metzger. New linotype and typesetting equipment was purchased in the 1930's and Earl Anderson joined the staff. Fred Tipton was also the Pickaway County Auditor. After his death in 1955, the "News" as it was called in the shop, was continued by Esta Tipton and son, Tom "Andy" Anderson, with help from Bob Mills.

The "News" was the only paper produced on the west side of the Scioto River in Pickaway County and so it was rich in local news that covered the many small communities in the western townships. The Tipton family printed the paper for 87 years, sending it free to any service man from the community. On Wednesdays, copies of the paper went to former residents all over the United States. Mr. Anderson, who had set by hand large type headlines and ads, ran the presses producing sale bills, programs and political material, retired in 1975 after 40 years. Mr. Mills took over until 1979. The weekly melting of the previous lead for the linotype, to create a next edition, and other outmoded equipment made it impossible to reach deadlines. Originals of "The News" for all years were saved and the entire collection was placed on microfilm. Copies of it exist at the Ohio Historical Society, Columbus and in Circleville at the Pickaway County Historical and Genealogical Society where the originals are also preserved.

Besides the Tipton's, other noted business people of the 1900's in Williamsport include White Campbell, President of the Farmers National Bank for decades. W.D. Heiskell, Sr. the Realtor. Dr. Sheets delivered hundreds of babies. Clarence Harmount, actor, could recite all the lines from Uncle Tom's Cabin at age 80; their family's troop toured Ohio annually from Williamsport. Clark Hunsicker had an elevator and feed mill at Woodlyn. Russ Howard and Gene Alkire were long-time mailmen. Norman Leist, mechanic, and Harry Keller, welder, were a team. Ansel Whitesed was an iceman and butcher. William Hurley was a honey man. Archie Rawlinson and Ray & Rose Horch owned grocery stores across the street from each other.