The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-01-16
BLIND TWADDLES,
Strange Story From Near Car
rOlltOn,
An Entire Family born Totally Blind
Facts brought ont by tho Death IN Church
Of the Last OF m Aihiotod Famiiy''uolor
Told by Touoh-An InduSlrioua People

CARaoLiToS, o., Jan, li,-On the even
ing of Sunday, December w lhe niue
country congregation AZ MoOret0Wn, lhi'
fereon county, this State, who llhd
gathered Ia worahlp God, were shocked W
nnd. al the conclusion Of their service,
thar one OF their congregation had gone
T. worship hlH Maker nearer the throne
"Bllnd Andrew Iwaddlen remained seat
ed In his pew after the benedlelon, aud
his friends aud nelghbora passed down
the aiAlea, With calm smile upon nus
aged face, his large eyes, hlglill9hs 10
more now than they had been during the
three.sc0ro years and four Of hla life,
turned toward thorudepulplt, he bntqulot
OThe Hind Iwaddles,n 10 they are
known In this neighh0rhOOd, were one OF
the most remarkable families W lllH
State, and perhaps Of the United AWleH,
and this was the last one left,
Sixty or seventy years ago illlh family
ATTRACTED ALMORr uNivEHaAL A11l.N-
uON
From phyalclnna and scientific men gen-
orally throughout thcclyllilod world, The
pnrenta-whO have long years ago gone
over 10 the majority had nothing out OF
the common 70 distinguish them from
their nelphhOra, They were simple,
and were seeking 20 make themselves
home by farming, Hut there was born 20
thom large family Of children nine In
all-and Of these the first seven were born
entirely blind, and the last two had hut
partial eyohight,
Scientific mon were utterly NJ q loss 10
account for this phenomenon, Tho falh.
or aud mother had excellent eyohiRht nnd
those Of their children were large, lrowi
"A l..l.a l..aN IlfsHN TFVfs
without optic nerves. lh oil other roapocia
they were bright, healthy aud intelligent
children, The scientific journals and
newspapers of that day had long accounts
aud various theories regarding this, but
why II should have beon no IL yet mya'
terry,
Tho State Of Ohio, by special act Of lta
Legislature, decided 20 the parents Tor the
support OF their children quarter OF
acotion-lOO acres OF the best OF the az
rioultnrnl lands Of Eastern ONO, ana inc
farm IN known 70 this day ~
TnE "nLIND TwADDLEs' sEonoN''
Upon this farm these young men and wo'
mon there were seven boys and two girls
grew up In total darkness, became uso'
ful citizens, married and settled IN tho SUR
rounding community and reared families,
In which no tracO OF blindness IN shown
The blind people all lived the prophots
allotment OF three score years and ten
They were "a llno looking family, ana
when Ii ia considered that their family,
who worO born blind and lived out their
long and useful lives In total darkness,
became successful farmers, mlllcra, dis
tillcra, etc., II must he conceded that they
were remarkable IN moro senses than that
OF being born blind, They were oa able
~ 90 any place upon their farms, or 70
surrounding towns, and perform all their
necessary farm work without attendance
or help, na N they had perfect cycsght
Thoy cut timber IN the woods, made rails,
built fences, plowcd their lands, sowed
aud harvested their crops, ran their griat
mill and dsiillcry, worked oxen 0nd
horses, and In fact learned all that by IN
tuition, which h supposed impossible FOR
people without sight,
MANY ARE THE QUEER sroRiEs
Rcoitcd by old residents Of Lee, London
and Fox townships regarding fcats por-'
formed by this family Their lands were
lntcracctod 10y numerous doop creeks,
which were crossed by foot logs, and these
people would 20 unhcsitotngly anywhere
along the farm paths, crossing the prcco-
rious foot bridges and threading the most
intricate ways uncrringly. They could
namo any tree In the forests by feeling
the bark select the best ones for any de-
sired purpose and "fclln them In the most
convenient manner for working. Out OF
such timber they would make rails ana
build fences whom they desired having
them, better and straightor than many
farmers with eyes,
They could take 10 pieces, repair and
place again In working order any Kind OF
machinery with which they were called
upon TO bc familiar, and two OF thom sue
Ccssfully conducted u louring mill for
the farmers Of tho vicinity for years,
But perhaps the most remarkable as
we'll ns tho best authenticated OF any OF
their requirements was their power OF
telling the colors OF animals by touch.
They were all great lovers OF horses, and
by placing their hands upon the coat OF
horsc they would
INSTANTLY TELL ITS COLOR,
And by feeling its head tell 10 which sex
il belonged. They wore excellent judges
of horsca, and by few slight touches
horc aud there and hearing them walk or
trot, would pronounce Rn infnlliblc opln-
ion ns 10 their merits.
A good many years ago one OF the
"Bllnd TwnddlcsN came TO this country
town on some business. Az that time
famous hostelry was kopt here by James
Patton, yet rcsilcnt ana Iwnuule stop.
pod and utnrtorod himself ana horse at
this tavern His presence at tho hotel
nave rise to II discussion OF his wonderful
powers regarding horses, aud II was agreed
among some OF the parties To test II, Ihc
landlord had a splendid sorre team. OF
which one, however, was "a good deal bet
ter than the other, When Mr. Twnddlc,
who was Kidding brown marc, called FOR
bis horse the stnbleman placed the trap
ninpa upon one OF the landlords sorrcls
md led Il forth. Az Twlddle put his
hnnd upon the animals mock propara-
tory TO mounting he stopped and sNid
'You've made mistake; this Ia not my
horse. i'm riding u brown, and this Is u
sorrol horsc.n
THE HosrLER ApoLoGIzED
And, changing the bridlo and saddle,
brought out the other OF Mr.. Pntton's sor-
r IL.
Twaddln, perhaps, suspected joke, as
hb listened intently as the other horse
was led up, and, going forward, placed
his hand upon tho horses head and said
"This IL another sorrel horse, q single
footer, and much better ono than you
showed me before. But please bring out
my brown mare, as am In n hurry TO
start homo.0
This story, az well as many. others
equally remarkable Us ingtancing the won.
derful intuition OF these people, is well
vouched for
by the death Of Andrew, as we have
noted, the last of tie familyhas vanished
and tho "Blind Twaddle Section Is now
occupied by people with eyes.
-----------------.--------A.
MRS. CALVIN BRIUD