The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1954-09-09
Odd Fellows To Observe tooth Anniversary

Samuel Chapman was carpen-
ter and brother-in-law to J. c..
Schofield He was reared south
of Dexter City and his father
was a nephew Of the celebrated
Johnny Appleseed' whose
monument was erected recently
near Ogles Inn, south Of Dexter
City His wife was an aunt of
the late d. r. King. He remov-
ed to Missouri about 1860 and
lived to ripe old age of 95 years
when he died in 1915 He was the
last member of the original
officers of Olive Lodge.
r. E. Smithson was a carpen-
ter from Olive township.
David McGarry was a farmer
from Olive township, who own
ed a farm near Coffee's Knob
at the head of Kellar's Run.
Johnny McGarry, one of the
employees Of the Ohio Fuel Gas
Co. at the time gas was first
piped to Caldwell, was his son.
Don Reed, one Of our present
members is his great grandson.
John Headley was a shoemak-
er in Olive. He was the first
member initiated in Olive
Lodge.
Thomas Hammer was a farm
er from Jackson township.
Wesley Thurlo gives occupa-
ton as Trader" He lived in
Olive He was a son of Silas
Thurlo who founded Olive
John Graham was a farmer
from Olive township
These We're the first officers
of Olive Lodge No 259.
In order to illustrate the diff
ferent conditions existing in
1854 and the present day I am
going to give some data on the
following facts
The minutes of the first meet
ing were written with a goose
quill pen and the room was
lighted with candles. In fact, the
first oil lamps were not purchas-
ed until 1869.
Franklin Pierce was president
and a Border War was going on
in Kansas over a question of
The Underground Rail-
road had two stations close to
Olive. One was at the farm of
Dennis Gibbs, Sr, on the farm
now occupied by Orang HoWiler. |
The cellar of this dwelling
which still stands has held many
an escaped slave on his way to |
and freedom
The other station was run by |
one Of the Harris family on Mid
die Fork of Duck Creek.
Two members of the Lodge
were the ones who took slaves
to Batesville which was the next
station
At this date the telegraph and
use of rubber were ten years
old.
The sewing machine was eight
years old The first Atlantic
Gable was not laid for four years
after this date
The population of Noble
county in 1860 which was the
first census of the county was
greater than today being 20,751.
But the population of the United
States IN 1850 was 23,00O,000.
There was not a reaper NOW
ing machine or corn planter in
Olive township and only 5000
miles of railroad in the entire
IT. S.
During the time that Lodge
met in Olive, their hall was in
second story of the Olive school
building. They held the same un-
der a lease given by Directors Of
Olive school to J. c. Schofield
and James Dudley, who in turn
leased to the Lodge.
The Lodge remained in Olive
until 1861 when they removed
to Caldwell.
During their stay in Olive, the
Lodge initiated 65 members and
took in six on cards which to-
gether with the SIX charter mem
bers make Il total of seventy
seven.
Among the most prominent
who joined at Olive
We're the following. j. c. Tnton, |
South Olive; Jabez Belford, of
Sarahsville; d. S. Gibbs, Olive
township; +. c. Dudley, Sarahs-
vile; J F. Capell, Sarahsville:
Easton w Daniels, Sharon VIM.
G. Okey Sarahsville John M. |
Summerfield: Wnbert |
feters, Olive; William Glidden,
Olive; B. b. Waller, Caldwell |
and Christian Shafer, Caldwell. |
Belford, Gibbs, Dudley and |
Okey were all lawyers, well
known at this time and later.