The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1948-05-20
Old Dan Tucker

OI0 Ddn i uCkeT
Sweat pouring from their faces,
the scattered groups of men dug,
hewed and chopped diligently be-
tween lunches and wriggles of their
shoulders to alleviate the itch under
the nettle-cloth shirts they wore.
The chops, lunches and wriggles
were outnumbered only by the side
long glances at the great kettle of
savory stew brewing over fire by
the roadside and the laborers' sniffs
of anticipation as whiffs of its
whisky favored goodness drifted
their way.
Though it was early spring, 1908,
the weather was none too warm but
the men had dotted their coats to
give the appearance of working
harder and thus give the settlement a
reputation of industry, diligence and
progress.
Inspection Day
They were grubbing the shrubs
and underbrush off Main Street,
Mount Vernon-putting on the show
for the benefit of a group of settlers
from other parts of Knox County
who that day were inspecting the
town in an effort to determine
whether it or Clinton, a mile and
one-half away, was to be chosen as
the county seat.
Guided by Gilman Bryant, who
had the first and only store in the
little settlement, the committee got
a pretty good impression of Mount
Vernon. With an Industrious citizen
ry, constantly busy like that and SC
interested in their towns progress
the village was bound to go far. Il
apparently would make an excellent
county seat-but first the careful
committee must go over and take
look a Clinton and its advantages
One advantage was population. Gin
ton was the larger town.
AS soon as the committee hat
departed Mount Vernon's diligen'
populace threw down their shovels
and grubbing hoes and made bee
line for the stew kettle. That stew
was we'll spiked with good liquor.
Among the workers were Pete
Coyle, James Craig, Michael Click
Samuel Kratzer, Daniel Tucker
David and William Petigrue ant
Joseph and James Walker, all frs
settlers of the town. Benjamin
Butler remained at his log tavern
northeast corner of Wood and Mail
Streets. ...-
Hurry to Clinton
The tavern keeper knew that onc'
filled with stew, the whole GROVE
would be at his place for more
whisky and he would be ready fo,
them. And they came-that is, al
except Tucker and a few others
who, refreshed from pocket faski
had hurried away through the wild
erness to beat the county seat com
mittee to Clinton.
Clinton, the committee found, wa
quiet, lazy town with nothing a
all going on like the industry the.
had found at Mount Vernon. Beside
that they found another bad featur,
the village appeared infested witt
dirty sweaty drunks.
Some were down on the street an,
others whooped and staggered rowdy
ishly here and there. Some of tn
committeeman thought they had seel
some of them somewhere but coul'
not remember just where. They toe
had had their turn at the stew kettle
Mount Vernon Gets Plum
So, thanks to good showmanshi
and the realistic way Tucker an
his crowd put on their act over /
Clinton, Mount Vernon was made tn
seat of Knox County. Clinton dwind
led away and in few years wa
only a memory.
Mount Vernon then was but thre
years old. The stew kettle was a
institution and on Saturdays whe
settlers knocked off early and cam
to town a few buckets of water; tw
| or three pounds of maple sugar
several ounces of allspice; a poun
of butterand several gallons {
whisky went into it and after it a
had boiled together men gathere
around the kettle and helped then
selves freely. Hunting stories wei
| told, foot races run, wrestlin
matches arranged and usually sever;
: good fights took place.
t Always prominent in such week.
revels were Tucker and, the Other