The Press., 1899-08-24
an OHIO
GOICONDN


Mingo county people were aghast
when they learned that Gracious Ma
euire had obtained an option on the
Frobisher farm, for the story of the
pride and fall of Peter Frobisher was
still fresh in their minds. Only year
before the old dry goods merchant be-
gan to build what he called "the finest
residence in southern Ohio. A storm
of Indignation had swept over the
county W hen it was announced that the
house W ould be erected upon an Indian
mound. There are all kinds of uncan-
nv legends connected with the earth
works scattered by prehistoric race
throughout sc uthern Ohio.
Not man in Valley City could be
hired to dig the cellar, and Frobisher
had to send to Rand Run for some of
the Poles. They had no scruples. for
the reason that the legends of the
mound builders were to them sealed
books. The laborer5 dug down eight
feet to a pocket Of white sand, in which
they found a human skull, various
strange looking implements, an altar
of sun dried bricks and tablet. shap-
ed like the sounding board of a bass
viol and covered with hieroglyphics.
The news of the discovery spread all
over the countryside. The farmers
after dark avoided the road which
passed the desecrated Indian mound.
The masons and the carpenters employ
ed in building the house went away half
an hour earlier than customary to keep
from being on unhallowed ground after
sunset
All this amused Gracious Mcguire.
He could have rifled 100 Indian mounds
and felt no tremor of the nerves. His
life had been the road of the rough. He
had been found "a years before in a
basket at the railroad crossing. Around
his neck were chain of gold and a
locket, which were promptly confiscat'
ed by the trackW alker who discovered
him. The Presbyterian minister, re-
minded by this action of the historic
remark of Cornelia the mother of the
Gracchi, named the founding Gracious.
Maguire was the name of the last man
who was killed at the crossing.
Gracious Maguire was reared in the
Mingo County Cri hans home. At the
age of ] 4 he was taken Tito Peter Fro
bisher's dry goods store as AN errand boy.
He had taste for learning, saved his
money, and with the aid of Frobishe1
made his way through college. He was
in Valley City teaching school in order
to get funds to carry him through a
course of medicine.
int in
the things which were found in the an
cient landmark, Win, h he called d sac
ri6cial mound. He even read d paper
upon the subject before the State Arche-
illogical society. in which he said that
the finding Of the tablet amply demon
strated that the mound builders had a
written language. I he symbols upon
the Ia blet consisted of an oar, war
club and a rude altar, which he trans
lated to mean that vengeance would
fall upon the lLan who disturbed the
ancient sacl iGce. The rendering aston
ished Peter rubiaher d little. He was
still further s.rtlise by d remarkable
lhenonrLun w hich he noticed shortly
before the house was completed.
A Lilac ., nn had been noticed from
time to time upon d spring back Of the
old homestead. Mcguire and Flobishel
were standing by this spring one day
when the young man lighted cigar
| and tossed away the burning match
There was a slight explosion. A blue
flame rested over the water for a mo-
ment and disappeared. Frobisher paled
at the sight.
do you believe it he exclaimed
do you think that this place is cursed
by Injun spirits?''
"Nonsense replied Mcguire. "Co1n.
to think Of it. l remember that | wa!
cleaning an old coat down here with
benzine. You will have to see more
than that before you can believe all THU
old wonan's talk about the mound
builders.
The new dwelling. when completed
fulfilled the 1ondest hopes of the Fro
bishers. 1t could be seen for miles ovel
the country. At night. when tbs lamp
in the front ball were lighted. gleam
Of yellow, red and cobalt shone through
the colored glass on either side of tn
great front door. At the suggestion O
Gracious Mcguire the new house wa
christened "Moundmere. on accoun
! of its site and because it was not fal
away from II horse pond.
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