The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-06-30
OHIO CENTRAL COLLEGE.
A Reminlscence Of the Days Which
Tried Mems Souls.

| LAApW hhCh y 0NaA"
To THE SUN AND New York HERALD
As Ohio Central College at iberia, Ohio
where Warren G. Harding, Republican
nominee for the Presidency, was a stu
dent from 1879 to 1882, has been called
"a little fresh water college that petered
out of existence about the time ne
finished" word concerning the institu-
ton and It's predecessor, which was
known throughout the land, may be OF
interest
Ohio Central College assumed that
name some fifty years ago. From 1864
to 1868 It fiourlshed as iberia College
and was governed by the Synod OF ths
Free Presbyterian Church Of the Unite
States, The Free Presbyterian Church
was a religious body which separated
from the Presbyterian Church on the
grounds that slave holding is sin and
that all persons who wllfully aid, abet
or assist others in slave holding sin In
SO doing.
The president OF iberia College for
fourteen years was the Rev. George
Gordon, highly esteemed for his plety,
learning and talents. The faculty In
cluded the Rev. Thomas Flnney, who
with the aid Of my grandfather oil
February "a, 1851, organized the Free
Presbyterian Church OF Savannah, Ohio.
Both clergymen mlnistered to that
charge and were often my fathers well
come guests at New London, Ohio, the
railroad station for Savannah. II my
affection for Iberia College should seem
mysterious be It known that Prof
Thomas Flnney. uncompromising foe OF
slavery. carried me, an infant, in his
arms.
President Gordon's opposition TO the
fugitive slave law, which he held to be
unconstitutional, aroused national in
terest. On May 8. 1850, Grandson Mar
tin, a slave, escaped from his master.
Isaac Pollock, at Germantown, KY, and
fed to Iberia, Ohio. On September 20,
1860, Joseph s. Barber a United States
deputy marshal, attempted to arrest
Martin but was himself taken to the
woods by indignant citizens and whipped.
Though Mr.. Gordon did not participate
In the Indictment OF the proceedings he
was charged with having seen some OF
the last blows inflicted without protest.
Ing, and for thus resisting process In
the hands of deputy marshal he was
sentenced November 6, 1861, to be inn
prlsohed six months in the Cuyahoga
county Jail at Cleveland and to pay a
fine of $500 and the costs Of prosecu-
tlon.
When convicted Mr.. Gordon made a
notableaddress to Judge Wilson, his last
words including the following passage:
And now, sir, apart from the defence,
Of the rectltude of my conduct have no
favors 10 crave, no mercy TO implore. !
stand erect in conscious integrity and
manhood. My household has ever been a
home for the fleeing fugitive and shall be
so stlll. II my dwelling be reduced TO
cabif he shall be welcome TO a corner.
All the devils in hell and the slave catch
ers out Of he'll shall not close my door
against him.
The monotony Of Mr.. Gordon's con-
inement at Cleveland was once relieved
by an incident which may be of interest.
Miss Jane Lawson, a member OF the
Savannah church, was then engaged to
be married to the Rev. J. D. Millard
Of Oberlin, and as she desired to have
the cerdNony performed by her pastor,
Mr.. Gordon, the lovers resolved that
the prisoner should tie the knot In the
Cleveland Jail. The plan was approved
by Mr.. Gordon and by Sheriff Craw OF
Cuyahoga county. On the morning OF
December 25, 1861, the Christmas
wedding party. which included Miss
Lawson's father and aunt, boarded the
Bee line train at New London for
Cleveland, and at IL o'clock they were
greeted at the Jail by Sheriff Craw and
wife. Mr.. and Mrs. Gordon, the Rev
]. A. Thome, distinguished anti
slavery reformer, and the Rev. Mr.
Crooks Of Cleveland. Mr., Gordon at
once married the couple, beginning by
saying, "The first marriage was
solemnized in the Garden OF Eden" The
party before leaving paid visit to Mr.
Gordon's cell.
The prisoners fine was never paid.
On April 4, 1852. President Lincoln
pardoned him, petitions for his, release
having reached thes White House from
all parts Of the North. Mr.. Gordon died
in 1868 from disease believed to have
been superinduced by his Imprisonment,
and the Synod of the Free Presbyterian
Church having dissolved with the ex-
tlnction OF negro slavery Iberia College
became Ohio Central College. The
buildings were destroyed by fire in
1894 WILLIAM b. THoM.