Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-06-18
NO. 12.
Union Village Shakers.

--eN-- -
THE Dayton Gazstte has very interesting
raticle giving the history, manners senti-
ments, &c, of the singular sect called Sha-
kers. The following sketch Of one Of their
fourishing settlements win be read with much
interest,"
The Society at Union Village, Warren
county. Ohio, is worthy of particular note. It
is one Of the largest Shaker Societies in the
world. It~was founded in the year 1906. It
now numbers near 500 persons and owns up
wards Of 1000 acres Of land, in one body.
The soil is remarkably fertile, and the surface
and scenery beautifully diversified, and the
locality remarkably healthy. The Society
here is divided into four different families"
located in different parts Of their domsin.
The largest family numbers near 200 persons,
and is called the Centre, it being the res:-
dence Of their Elder and EIdress and where
their church is located The dwelling" as
it is called, where this family eats and sleeps,
is an immense brick structure. four stories
high: It fronts So feet, and Is lO8 feet deep;
it is divided into dining, sleeping and kitchen
rooms In the large cellar underneath is
kept the milk, and the butter and cheese ap-
paratus. Their butter is ehurned and cheese
made by horse power; their bread is also
kneaded in the same way. Their bread is
certainly the best we ever tasted. Intact the
dinner they generously prepared for our party,
was one Of the most palatable we ever enjoy
ed The fine fruit and other seasonabls
dslicacies with which our table was loaded,
were such as princes might feed upon aad be
glad. They live upon plenty Of the very best
Of everything that is good and healthy. They
cultivate none but the best Of fruits Of which
they sell large quantities.
They hvae the finest stock we ever saw.
Their cattle are altogether incompatible.
Some of their COWS give daily, from SIX to
eight gallons of the richest milk. Such cows
they readily sell at from $3.50 to $500 Caly-
es, from two to four months old, they sell at
from $50 to 500. They hage an animal that
weighs nearly 5000 pounds They have a
botanical garden of about twelve acres, in
which they cultivate all the medicinal plants
and herbs Of this climate, which they gather
and remove to the chemical and medical la
boratory, where they are dried and prepared
in the form of extracts, powders, &c, ready
for market. These medicines are the purest
and best Of the kind that csn be had. The
celebrated ''Shaker Sarsaparina" Is manufaet-
ured here and affords the principal source Of
their revenue. Their mechanical shops are
kept in the neatest order and their work is
done, in the most systematic style.
They excel in the manufactured Of carpets,
woodward, leather: blankets, and various
kinds of trinkets and fancy articles. We
were shown some silk handkerchiefs which
were made by them from silk of their own
production, which were quite equal to the
European silk
Their seed garden is also note worthy
They annually put up and sell about I4OO
boxes of garden seed, each box containing
200 packages Of seeds.
They have now in their domain about 5000
head of sheep, 500 cattle, 100 horses, count
less numbers Of poultry, but no hogs or dogs
the former being to them unclean, and the
latter useless yelpers. All their buildings,
shops, stables, &c, &c, are built of the best
materials; and in fact every thing about them
is done Just as it should be done. A visit to
their village will well repay along ride. They
are exceedingly hospitable and aHable, and
those who visit them viii never regret the
time or trouble