The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-04-28
THE HARTLEY DiSTILLeRY.
The True story of It's Success as Money.
and-Drunkard- Making Institution.

|
Tho True story of Its Success as Money.
and-Drunkard-M Making Institution.
Mr.. Hartley was thriving farmer.
He owned good farm. He had six
sons, all of whom, were active and able
to assist him in his labors. He had q
distillery to make whisky. This made
ready market for corn. Whisky was
always in good demand. Almost every
person used whisky sixty years ago. It
was generally regarded as one of the
necessaries of life. It was supposed at
that time that moderate drinking was
right. Drunkenness was despised.
Every person ought to stop drinking
when he had enough. Whisky and
other Intoxicating liquors sold readily.
AS there were no railroads in the coun-
try at that time there was very little
chance to sell corn except at the distill-
cries. Mr.. Hartley's distillery was
success. When he needed extra help,
there were plenty of men near by who
were ready to work for whisky. Then
they neglected their own work. Not
long after that they took their places in
the great army of drunkards Their
families became paupers. Mr.. Hartley
and his family said these men would
have had whisky, and become drunk
ards, if they had not had distilery.
They were not responsible for this ruin.
Mr.. Hartley was taken sick and died.
His widow and sons continued to work
the distillery. 1t brought them money,
and they could work it very we'll.
The fact that many men in the inn
mediate vicinity of the distillery be-
came drunkards attracted considerable
attention. Many persons felt that
something must be done to stop the
progress of intemperance. Meetings
were called, lectures delivered and to-
tai abstinence pledges signed. Much
good was done. Public opinion was
changed Mems eyes were opened.
Total abstinence was gaining ground.
The Hartley distillery suspended oper-
ations. 1t was no longer profitable.
They had kept it running as long as
they could make money.
Roy Axtell was an orphan. He had
no home; but he was strong, and able
to earn his living. There was no rela-
tive to take him home and care for
him. Mr.. Hartley hired him to work.
As he was not fond of books, he had no
anxiety to 60 to school. He was salts
fled with cheap clothing. All his leis-
ure time was spent in the distillery. He
learned to like the company there. The
fun suited his taste. He had no sister
or other friend to care for him and ad-
wise with him, or warn him of his
danger. He was familiar with all the
arguments he heard in the distillery
against signing the pledge. He would
often say: II fought for liberty, and l
have right to drink as much as I
please. l have a right to do Just as
choose" The vulgar and profano
conversation of drinking men was not
repulsive to Roy. He did not care for
religious service. But he thought he
was manly and smart when he drank
with the men.
Roy married girl who was pleased
with his independence and manllness.
They were poor, but they could work
and earn living. By living coarse
and cheap, Roy could have some money
to spend for drink. One day he went
to a village about four miles away.
Night came, but he did not return. His
wife was not surprised, for he often
stayed late. She retired for the night,
with her little boy who was too young
to miss his father. Morning came, but
he did not return. She was now great
ly alarmed. Search was made. and il
was found that he had left the tavern
where he had been drinking, at a late
hour, and started for home on foot and
alone. 1t was dark. He had not gone
far before he came where the road ran
close to the bank Of creek The bank
was steep, nearly perpendicular There
was no fence or railing, but . thick
growth of bushes formed kind of
hedge. There Roy stumbled and fell.
The bushes broke and he was found at
the foot of the bank, thirty feet below.
He had fallen on rock, and probably
never breathed after he struck the rock.
Roy AXtell was victim of the Hartley
distillery. The distillery closed before
he ended his earthly career, but it was
the cause of his ruin. And there were
other victims.
Five of Mr.. Hartley's sons COM
menced business for themselves, with
good prospects of success. Each of
these young men developed very fair
business talents. But each of them
drank excessively, and soon failed.
Their lives were failures. Their wives
and children suffered with them. These
young men were capable of teing use
full in the world. But they became
slaves to their appetite, and brought
sadness to their families. Earl Hart
ley, the other son, never married. He
was very pleasant and agreeable, when
he had not been drinking. He was fair
and honorable in business. He lived
with his mother. While he was yet a
young man, he was taken sick and de-
lirious- He fancied his room was filled
with fiery demons, who had come to
torment him. In his delirium he sprang
from his bed, broke away from his at
tendants, and rushed to- the mill-pond.
plunged in and was drowned. His
sad, broken-heAuted mother said:
"That old distil]sry ruined my boys"
She could not now say. "T They would
have drank all the same If we had not
owned dissillery."
! The Hartley distillery was success
in making dm,nkards. Besides those
who lived near by, no one can estim mate
the number that became drunkands
from using the whisky furnished fDp
hotels, stores and groceries from this
} distillery M. Al,