Smyrna times., 1890-02-05

Harvested their Crops and Per-
formed other Manual Labor.
1.-THE Blind Twaddles" as they were
known in the neighborhOod of Moores-
town. o., were one of the most remark
able families Of the state, and perhaps
of the United States, and Andrew, who
died during divine service on the Sun
day after last Christmas, was the last
one left. Sixty or seventy years this
family attracted almost universal at
tentiOn from physicians and scientific
men generally throughout the civilized
world. The parents, who have long
ago gone over to the majority, had
nothing out of the common to distin-
guish them from their neighbors. They
were simple, homely, healthy couple,
who had married and were seeking to
make themselves a home by farming.
But there were born to them 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 men are utterly at
loss to account for this phenomenon.
The father and mother had excellent
eyesight, and the eyes of their chill
dren were large, brown and bright, but
sightless. 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 ac-
counts and various theories regarding
this, but why it should have been so is
! yet mystery.
The State of Ohio, by a special act
of its Legislature, decided to the par
ents for the support of their children a
| quarter of section (160 acres) of the
best Of the agricultural lands of East
ern Ohio, and the farm is known to
this day as the blind Twaddle Sec
tion." Upon this farm the young
men and women-there were seven
boys and two girls-grew up in total
darkness, became useful citizens, mar
ried, and settled in the surrounding
community, and reared families in
which there was no trace of blindness
shown. The blind people all lived the
prophets allotment of three score and
t n. They were a fne-lOoking family
and when it is considered that these
people, who were born blind and lived
out their long and useful lives in total
darkness, became successful farmers
millers, distillers, ETC., it must be con-
ceded that they were remarkable in
more senses than that of being blind
They were as able to go any place
upon their farms or to the surround.
ing towns and perform all their neces-
sary farm work without attendance Of
help as if they had perfect eyesight
They cut timber in the woods, made
rails, built fences, ploughed thei
lands, sOwed and harvested their crops
ran their grist mill and a distillery,
worked oxen and horses, and, IN fact
learned all of that by intuition which
is supposed impossible for people with
out sight. Many are the queer storie
recited by old residents of Lee, Londol
and Fox townships, regarding feat
performed by this family. Their land
were intersected by numerous deeI
creeks, which were crossed by foot
logs, and these people would go unhes
itatiDgly anywhere along these farm
paths, crossing the precarious foo
bridges and treading the most intri
cate ways unerringly.
They could name any tree in tn
forests by feeling of the bark, selee
the best ones for any desired purpos
and fell them in the most cOnvenier
manner for working. Out of sue
timber they would make rails an
build fences when they desired, hav
ing them better and straighter tha
many farmers with eyes They coul,
take to pieces, repair and replaC
again ia working order any kind
machinery with which they were cal
ed upon to be familiar. and two
them successfully conducted a hou
ing mill for the farmers of the viciuit
for years.
But perhaps the most remarkable, {
well as the best authenticated of the
requirements, was the power of telliu
the color of animals by touch. The
were all great lovers OF horses and b
placing their hands upon the coat of
horse they would instantly tell Il
color, and by feeling its head tell
which sex it belonged. They wei
excellent judges Of horses and by a fe
slight touches here and there and hea
ing it walk or trOt would pronounr
an infallible opinion as to its merits.
A good many years ago one of 9
"Blind Twaddles" came to Moore
town on some business. At that tin
q famous hostelry was kept there
James Patton, yet a resident, al
Twaddles stopped and quartered hir
self and horse at his tavern. His prC
ence at the hotel gave rise to a discu
sion of his wonderful power regardil
horses, and it was agreed among Sol
of the parties to test it, The landlC
had a splendid sorrel team, of viii
one, however, was a good deal bett
than the other. When Mr.. Twadd
who was riding brown mare, call
for his horse the stablemau placed
. trappings upon one of the sOrrels a
n led it forth. AS Twaddle put his hal
| upon the animals neck preparatory
mounting he stopped and said "You
made a mistake; this is not my hor
I'm riding a brown and this is a sor
; horse" The hostler apologized al
changing the bride and sadd
brought OGt the other of Mr.. PattoI
sorrels. Twaddle, perhaps suspect
st a Joke, as he listened intently as
Pa. other horse was led up, went forwa
/, placed his hand upon the horses hC
and said at once This is another {
.ek. rel horse, a 'single-fOoter,' and M
lay, better one than you showed me befc
But please bring out my brown ms
ants as am in a hurry to start home"
for This story, as many others equa
remarkable as instan cling the won
ness full intuition of these people, is v
elsdi vouched for. By the death of AndI
the last Of the family has vanished,
the blind Twaddle section" is /
men occupied by people with eyes.
hing -.-..s--