Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1925-09-03
LOCAL PEOPLE TAKE PART
IN MORGAN SOCIETY PROGRAM


/ Mr. j. w. Tannehill, formerly of
McConnelsville and one of the for
mer editors of the Morgan County
Democrat, furnishes this paper with
the following splendid account OF the
recent gathering OF the Morgan
County society, of Columbus, held in
that CITY:
Editor Democrat:-The Morgan
County society, of Columbus, held
the most successful session, in point
Of attendance and interest, in its
history, on Saturday evening, at
Washington park. Over 200 former
citizens Of Morgan county were pres
ent People began assembling about
four O'Clock and after two hours of
social Intercourse, basket picnic
was enjoyed in and around the Shell
ter House.
At seven o'clock, the gathering as
sembled in the large hall in the
Shelter House and were called to or
der by the president, DR.. w. H.
Scott, former president of the o. S.
e., and of the O. e., at Athens. The
aged chairman, who is in his S5th
year, remembers occurrences in Nc
Connelsville back almost to the time
of the Mexican war. No other coun-
ty society in Columbus has ever had
a president of the age, experience
and prominence, of DR.. w. III. Scott.
The exercises were opened with
song led by Major F. M Kahler of
McConnelsyille. The annual cleo
ton of officers was then held. At
torney Carl Erwin was chosen presi-
dent; Mr.. O. P. Lindsay, secretary,
and Prof. l.. E. Coulter, treasurer.
The first speaker introduced was
Prosecuting Attorney G. @. McGon-
agile of McConnelsville, Many pres
ent knew of his ability as a speaker,
but, to most, his splendid readings
from poems written by himself, were
rare treat that none had antici-
pated. He rendered three selections.
The first, poem entitled October"
was a beautiful description of the
marvellous beauty of Morgan county
foliage after the first frost, with all
the attendant splendors of field, hill
side and forest. In his inimitabIe
John Barlecorn,' many were able
to visualize the ponderous parsonage
from Bloom and his famous team.
He closed with 1.-THE Old Vets Ball"
and the Civil war heroes of other
days and few still living were SO
vividly portrayed, that it brought
back pleasant memories to many, of
old friends back home
Captain Irven Travis from McCon-
nelsville was the next speaker. No
one would suspect, to see and con-
verse with him, that we has lived
longer in McConnelsville than any
other citizen of that village. He
knows more local history and river
folklore, from personal experience
and associations with pioneers of
the valley, than any person now liv-
ing. Capt. Travis remembers dis
tinctly the history of the county
seat during the decade preceding the
Civil war. He told of the early
school buildings of McConnelsville
and his recollections of the con-
struction of~practically all the pres
ent churches. After giving the aud
ience some very interesting remi-
niscences of pioneer days, he favored
the assemblage with an imitation of
a Last Day of School, by reciting
several very humorous selections.
Capt. Travis is about the youngest
old man in the Muskingum valley
Mrs. DR.. c.. S. Dye, also from Nc
was the last speaker.
She read a very. comprehensive and
instructive paper she had prepared
on ''The Underground Railroad" It
was especially interesting in giving
an extended account of the exper-
fences of David Putnam of Marietta,
and his associates in Washington
and adjoining counties in rescuing
many negroes from slavery and as
sistng them in their fight to Canada
and liberty. This line of escape led
through western Morgan, and many
slaves passed through the county,
stopping at Chesterhill, Pennsville
Oeavertown and other villages. The
Quakers (Friends) were leaders in
his enterprise. At least 2S5 slaves,
n this way, passed through Morgan
from 1912 until the Civil war. 1t
was no doubt a surprise to many that
scores of thousands of slaves passed
through Ohio to Canada in those
Early days, and that many good
Buckeye citizens devoted much time
n helping these slaves to escape
rom bondage.
The members of the society great
y appreciated this visit of these cit
zens of Morgan, and their addresses
rave the large assemblage an even
ne of real instruction and entertain
nent.