The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1959-02-19

IN the family Oh MIS-. r lOfeHCe
Wharton FOR many years and we
are indebted to her for the re-
print.
The complete thumb nail
sketch of Summerfield as it ap-
peared back in 1884 is as follows.
In 1917 MIR. Moses Horton with
his family emigrated from Dub
lin, Ireland to America. After
a Journey which occupied just
six months time they arrived at
what is now the site of the town
of Sumlnerfield, then Seneca
Township, Monroe County.
Mr.. Horton entered 400 acres
Oh land stretching across the
divide between Wills Greek and
Duck Creek. He built cabin on
the Duck Creek slope of his
farm and began the work of
subduing the wilderness. At the
time there were still some deer
in the forests, wild turkeys were
plentiful and there was still
to be seen an occasional bear.
There were then in the neighbor-
hood--or arrived within year
DR.. Josiah Craig, Nathaniel
Caple, Thomas Cochran, Hugh
O'Neil, William Calland and
Samuel and James Osborn.
Robert Calland arrived direct
from Scotland in 1919. These
families formed the most of the
settlement that clustered near
the head waters Of the two
creeks that run in opposite dlrec-
tions. Marietta and BarneSVllle
were the towns at that time
where most of the trading for
this county was done. 1t seemed
natural there should be an inter
mediate point on the principal
road connecting these places
where a town might be built up
and secure a part of this trade.
Rev. James RoWnd. who had
settled in GAINESVILLE in 1903
suggested to Mr.. Horton that on
his farm was the place to build
that town. On this idea a town
was laid out in 1897 and named
Surnmerfield, in honor of the
Rev. John Summerfield, a Meth
odist preacher of some celebrity
in those days.
Topography
The site of the town is the
highest land occupied by a town
in Ohio, and it is claimed the
eminence that overlooks the
town from the northwest is as
high as any hill in the State. A
ridge stretches in an eastern
direction from this highest point
between two depressions, which
unite their waters some two
miles east of town, where the
ridge drops abruptly off to a
stream running nearly at right
angles with the ridge and in a
northeastern direction. emptying
its waters into Wills Creek. The
town is built across this ridge
and the heads of these two
ravines or depressions. At the
time of the plotting Of the town,
the Marietta and Barnesville
road passed up on the south
side of the southern ravine,
crossing near its head and pass
ing over the high ground north
east of the town. This was altered
to cross the ridge and raVines
nearly at right angles, thus form
ing the main street of the town.
The other original street runs
nearly east and west following
the top of the ridge, winding
over the hills toward GAINESVILLE
west, and Woodsfield east. These
two streets form a right angle
on the top Of the ridge around
which the town clusters North
west of the town Gladys takes
its rise, running IN a northerly
direction, the high knob that
overlooks the town from the
northwest dividing the waters o1
that stream from the two smaller
ones that run in an easterly
direction. Gladys is also tribu-
tary Of Wills Creek, having it;
mouth several miles below the
streams that rise on the soutl,
side of the same hill. From the
top Of this eminence is TO be
had perhaps the finest view II
Noble county. East, south anc
west the country is spread Out
beneath the spectator in perSpec.
tive. South and west The specta-
tor looks down on the fertile
fields OF Duck Greek Valley
dotted with houses and barns
waving fields Of grain or stack!
of wheat and shocks of corn
The meadows are flecked witt
sheep and cattle, and the strips
of timber that yet remain fringe
the picture with shady green II
summer or melancholy gray il
winter; while far to the south
the village of Fulda glistens il
the sunlight, its fine church
sharply outlined against th'
sky. East the eve rests on th'
dark hills Of Monroe, piled il
endless confusion, gradually fad
ing into indistinctness under ;
background of the blue sky tina
shuts down on the rugged masse
too soon for the admirer of thu
splendid picture. North th'
spectator looks down the vale.
of Gladys, the corrugated side
of its valley sprinkled witt
timber interspersed with cul
tivated fields and green pasture
inclosed with ''worm fences;
the lateral ravines and ridge
meeting and passing each othe
like two many-fingered hand