Arizona weekly citizen., 1890-07-26
TIE BLIND TWADDLE,
AN OHIO FAMILY OF NINE, NONE
 OF WHOM COULD SEE.


 Brings Out the Story.
 "Blind Andrew Twaddle" remained seated in his pew after the benediction, and his friends and neighbors passed down the aisles. With a calm smile upon his aged face, his large eyes sight less TO more now than they had been during the three score years and four of his life, and turned toward the rude pull pit, he sat quiet and still in death.
 ''The Blind Twaddles," as they were
 known in this neighborhood, was one of the most remarkable families of this state, and perhaps of the United States. and this was the last one left. Sixty or seventy years ago this family attracted almost universal attention from physi- cians and scientific men generally throughout the civilized world. The parents, who have long years ago gone over to the majority, had nothing out of the common to distinguish them from their neighbors.
 But there were born to them a large family of children, nine in all, and of these the first seven were born entirely blind and the last two had but partial eyesight. Scientific man were utterly at a loss to account for this phenomenon. The father and mother had excellent eyesight, and the eyes of their children were large brown and bright, but sight less. They were without optic nerves. In all other respects they were bright, healthy and intelligent children. The scientific journals and newspapers of that day had long accounts and various theories regarding this, but why it should have been so Is yet mystery.
 The state of Ohio, by a special act of it's legislature. deeded to the parents for the support of their children a quarter of a section Q60 acres) of the best of the az ricultural lands of eastern Ohio, and the farm Is known to this day as the 'Blind Twaddles sectiOn." Upon this farm the young men and women-there were
 even boys and two girls-grew up in total darkness, became useful citizens, married and settled in the surrounding community, and reared families in which no trace of blindness is shown. The blind people all lived the prophets allot- ment of threescore and ten. They were fine looking family, and when it is con- sidered that these people, who were born blind and lived out their long and useful lives in total darkness, became success ful farmers, millers, distillers, etc., it must be conceded that they were re- marLable in more senses than that of be- ing blind.
 They were as able to go to any place upon their farms or to surrounding towns and perform all their necessary farm work without attendance or help, as if they had perfect eyesight They cut timber in the woods, made rails, built fences, plowed their lands, sowed and harvested their crops, ran their griss mill and distillery, worked oxen and horses, and, in fact, learned all of that by intuition which is supposed impossi- bic for people without sight. Many are the queer storie- recited by old residents of Lee, London and Fox townships re- garding feats performed by this family. Their lands were intersected by numer- ous deep creeks, which were crossed by foot logs, and these people would go un- hesitatingly anywhere along these farm paths, crossing tho precarious foot bridges and treading the most intricate ways unerringly.
 They could name any tree in the for estS by feeling of the bark, select the best ones for any designed purpose, and fell them in the most convenient man. ner for working. Out of such timber they would make rails and build fences when they desired, having them better | and straighter than many farmers with | eyes. They could take to pieces, repair and place again in working order any | kind of machinery with which they | were called upon to be familiar, and two l of them successfully conducted four ing mill for the farmers of the vicinity | for years.
 But perhaps the most remarkable as we'll as the best authenticated of their | was the power of telling | the colOrs of animals by touch. They | we're all great lovers of horses. and by placing their hands upon the coat of a horse they would instantly tell its color, and by feeling its head tell to which sex t belonged. They were excellent judges ,f horses, and by few slight touches lere and there, and hearing 1t walk or rot, would pronounce an infaJible opin- on as to its merits.
 A good many years ago one of the Blind Twaddles" came to this country own on some business. At tbat time amOus hostciry was kept here by James Patton, yet a resident, and Twaddles topped and quartered himself and horse t his tavern. His presence at the hotel ave rise to discussion of bis wonder ul powers regarding horses, and it was greed among some of the parties to test |. The landlord had splendid sorreI cam, . which one, however, was good eal better than the other. When Mir who was riding brown mare. alled for his horse. the stableman placed he trappinSs upon one of the sCrrels and ed 1t forth. As Twaddle put his hand pon the animals neck preparatory to mounting, he topped and said: You V. laGe a mistake; this is not my horse"
 The hCstler apolOgized and, chaag:l,.. he bridle and saddle, brought Ous l.. ther Of Nir. PattOn's sOrrels. FW&dJ., crha"s sue pecting joke, as he listnb,., ltentiy as the other horse was led u. rent forward, placed his hand ulon L.. orse head and said at once: .'Iiis mother sOrrel horse, a single fpoj,l nd much better one than v.u s!iu.. ie before. But please bsiH% out i, rown nlarr, as am ill q l';=-v to SI. one" This story, as well as nsany "lh ! lueay remarkable as ipstduc:;:- 'OnderfUi iG.;Iition of these p.cpi. ell vCu, hyG for. By tIc 'lv.iIh sw tbc iAst of the fami ' i;!S t,,rsi-;. nd t..a RIind Twaddle Secticn" k ii. ' coupled hr people with eytS.- Car ,u % lCSH St !slui. G.tf.i i.o-T-t,.s. {
 Notice-Annual Meeting. (