The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1946-12-23
n History OF Redwood

wheat, 90 cents; Az pounds lard,
48 cents; six pounds pork, 81 cents;
two bushels corn, rs cents; one ak,
ST.; six lights of glass, rs cents;
pair shoes, A cents; four element
ary spoilers, SO cents; IL chickens,
81 cents.
John Woods, born in Shippens-
burg, Pa, in 1899, arrived at Rich
wood in July, 1888 and purchased
112 acres just north of the origin
al plat. He was a tailor and follow
ed this trade besides attending to
his farming interests.
John Garner, an old Baptist
minester, arrived in 1888, and
preached at times but did not sur
vive long. In 1884 Christian Goul,
Nathan Richardson, Adam Burge,
William Price, John T. Evans and
Henry Sayer located in the will
age.
The village did not grow very
rapidly, in its infancy, as by 1910
it only had about 20 families.
During that year it is known that
the following were residents:
David Houk, wagon maker;
Sterrett Irwin, carpenter; Hugh
Thompson, farmer, who died
soon after; L. H. Hastings, J. B.
Haynes, who came in 1910 from
/ Virginia, an earnest abolitioniSt
and dealer in real estate; Samuel
jenkins, a laborer; William Sir
Ipliss; William Price, who came
later and operated a grist mill
here; DR.. Brookins; Ziba Fisher
a farmer who had been in the In
ldian service under General An
thony Wayne, who died at the ad-
vanced age of 101 years. There
were possibly a half dozen others
in the village in some role or an
lother.
The first store was opened in
Fleetwood by Burdick & Gallo
way, in August, 1888, in a log
building. Hezekiah Burdick was
ia local Methodist Episcopal min
lister and had farmed southeast
Iof Marysville, on Millcreek Johr
Galloway was born at the SciotC
Isalt works in Jackson county in
1902, where his father was en-
lgaged in making salt. He hao
lmade and lost a fortune before
looming to Fleetwood, where the
lstock of goods owned by him ano
his partner were all Grated from
Marysville in wagon. This store
was not a success and did no
thrive very long.
: The second mercantile venture
twas that of Cyprian Lee anc
MAINS Wasson. They brought then
Istock in 1885 and the management
of the store was left to L. H. Has.
tings. About a year later it was
Isold to Henry Swartz and DR.
Brookins. In 1910 the only store
in the village was that conducted
by Mr. Hastings. No other mar
had so much mercantile exper-
ience in Redwood as did L. H
Hastings, who was thus engaged
in the place for more than DC
lyears. He died in Redwood in
1882.
| Merchandising was then a hard
proposition to solve. Money was
lscarce and produce hard to get tc
market and brought a very low
price on the market. Eggs were
usually quoted at 3 cents dozen
Nearly every family kept COW
and made butter. However, these
articles were given to the dealer
in exchange for goods and then
sent by travelling wagons to mar
kets at Columbus and other far
away places. The money scarcity
made credit almost necessary and
this broke up many a worthy
merchant. Coon and deer skins,
maple sugar, pork, honey and sad
dies of venison were the most
current articles of exchange. Ven
ison sold from so to rs cents a
saddle and these were packed and
taken to Columbus. Many times
a merchant lost even by these op-
erationS.
Redwood was incorporated by
County Commissioners William
Porter, William F. Fulton and
Nelson Cone on March 6, 1855
through a petition signed by 40
citizens who named B. F. McMill-
and, j. w. B. Haynes and H. O.. S.
f, Heisand to act as agents in the
premises. This step was taken on
account of the proposed building
of the Atlantic & Great Western
railroad. This road was not con-
structed as they thought it would
be, so the corporation matter did
not progress very fast. For num-
Der of years no mayor was elect