The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-06-23

with iewels-the yarns Of people like
us. who but for the delving, would
remain in oblivion. 1t is a narrow
road and dim, where almost before
we know it, we who read become
one of the wayside memories.
Miamisburgs first bank was a
literary society-the Washington
Social Library" in 1889. 1t did a
banking business until its fade-out
in 1871. Next came the first real
bank, the private one of II. Groby
& Co, in 1866, now the First Ma
tional Bank. 1t has had but four
presidents: Groby, n. ]. Catrow, I.
V. Lyons and in 1882, Charles F.
Eek.
Eek died from a heart attack
February IS, 1949, at rs. He started
as messenger boy in the bank 81
years ago after deciding that learn
ing the blacksmith trade was too
hard a job. Most of his Is honorary
pallbearers bore family names of
settlers as far back as 18O0's first
decade. The thread between today
| and yesterday is unbroken, once un-
raveled.
Town Anniversaries Important
These town anniversaries are i'm
portant things, to be watched for
and not to let pass unnoticed. Only
through them and their attendant
historical research, now in the future,
will the knowledge that we who
measure off gingham, sweep the
streets or write obits for the weekly
paper be known to have lived.
| Bethel, Clermont County, Ohio, in
194S discovered that it was $50
years old. Little more than 1000
population, the civic, fraternal and
patriotic associations and lay-citizens
staged four-day homecoming last
July which brought more than 10000
persons to town on the final day and
left $4,000 in the town till after
everything had been paid.
Along the furlongs that make the
road to yesterday the old travellers
lost many things and much has been
found--most of them, quaint and
bizarre.
Cincinnati grew up where it is
instead of Is miles down river be-
cause an army officer fell in love
with settlers black-eyed wife. The
pioneer fled with his wife from
North Bend, where the army was
stationed and the town was to be-
The officer followed with his soldiers
and there the town was built.
Refuge for Escaped Slaves
Bethel was founded as an aboli
zionist haven where escaping slaves
! would find a haven to live unmolest
ed Years later, when its "Union'
L public school was built, the schoo
board found there were five Negr,
families living there and spent tw'
weeks trying to devise way tt
keep the children out of the school
They found an excuse.
The first University Of Cincinnati
in 1905, was founded on proceeds o
a lottery in which no drawing eve
was held and all ticket buyers wer
stuck.
The founders of Woodsfeld, Mon
roe County, got the towns frs
streets cleared free by putting a ke,
Of whisky in the main intersection
and inviting everybody in a five
mile radius to come in to the bi,
"doings."
FindIay Was Military Post
Wapakoneta grew slowly out o
an Indian villege. So did Van Wert
Findlay grew out of a block-house
so yards square and ditch in front
used for distribution of militar
supplies and provisions. Delpho
could have had it's centennial fou
/ 4 y Il
so swampy that even the "town'
dogs had chills, fever and ague."
Hooking County could have had
sesqui-centennial last year but di
not know 1.-THE Brians and Pences
first settlers, came there in 179s
They found carved on a huge tre
in a creek-side ravine "This is tn
road to Hell--1782." incidentally
Logan had not yet been laid out.
A lot of dry bones rattle in tn
Ohio closet, too. Later Presiden
William Henry Harrison was sen
fenced to a day in Jail in the 1890
at Cincinnati for street fighting
There was no Jail yet so he spen
his day in "the barroom of Avery
tavern among convivial friends.
Later Governor Robert Lucas was i
Jail in Scioto County in 1910 o
paternity charges. He had stood OF
the sheriff and other officers with
gun until Eliza Glover, appointe
sheriff on his promise to arres
Lucas, served a writ issued by Joh
r. Turner, also appointed for tn
occasion. Lucas went to Jail withou
resistance.
Editors note-Speaking of centen
mails, the Presbyterian Church i
Bluffton is 100 years old this year
The Bethel Presbyterian Church wa