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

ter. The explosion had come that
shall echo down the ages-Sum-
merfield threw off its coat, SO
to speak, and never put it on
nor stopped to take breath till
the struggle ended at the famous
apple tree in 1865. John NJ.
Rownd, Charles Hare, Steven
Wilson, the Philpots, the elder
Horizons and other leading citi-
zens took in hand the home
work, while the younger men
flocked to the ranks, hot for the
fray. It was no easy task to or
ganize companies, furnish relief
for women and children left
without support or protection.
These things were done and
well done by the older men who
remained at home, while the
younger men saw to it that the
draft officers never visited the
town or crossed the borders of
the township. Company |,
Twenty-fifth Ohio, was the first
organized in the town, while the
Forty-second and Ninety-second
took up most of the remainder.
Still there were some left to
enlist in other regiments. A COM
pany went out in the 100 days
service. In short but few re-
manned at home. Marion Town
ship blood stained many of the
battlefieldS of the war. The fig
ures that tell the number of those
who went are beggarly index
to the real enthusiasm of the
times.
The short column of broken
heroes who still move slowly
in our midst attestS what they
all suffered, while the proud
way in which they lift their
heads when the subject is men
toned shows they are not yet
prepared to be ashamed of their
part in the struggle, and would
go over it again if necessary.
Those not in the army were not
wanting in nerve or patriotism.
When Morgan raided Ohio there
was but one man left in the
town; his heart was in the fight,
but the aged limbs of William
Philpot would not carry him to
it. That tells the whole story,
and yet one should mention the
officers even in a sketch, as a
sort of pointer to the number of
men who fought with them
VI, 1 L. IL, -, n
tain John Brown, whom the
writer saw the last time at
Chicamauga mortally wounded,
is it proved, seated with his back
against a large pine tree, very
pale, but full of pluck, cheering
on those who passed him moving
to the front. Then there are Cap
tain Mosely, Captain Rodecker,
Captain Wheeler, Captain Allen,
Lieut., Rownd, Lieut.. VIM. Will
son and Lieut. Robt. Wilson, all
distinguished above the men in
ranks by their position, but they
themselves would say not super
ior in all that constitutes sold
ier to any equal number of
names selected at rank from the
list of privates.
About 1855 the town headed
the movement for a macadamized
road to the countyline, near
Spencer Station. The road was
built under law levying a tax
on real estate for four miles on
each side of the proposed line
of the road.
These taxes pressed hard on
the small property owners. Soon
two of the three leading mer-
chants failed; the town lost its
| trade; tobacco ceased to furnish
employment to the many fami-
lies who had almost lived from
working in the packing houses
All these things combined to give
the town a very hard squeeze
and it felt it. Some years elapsed
before the people could adjust
themselves to the changes sc
suddenly forced upon them.
About 1879 the revival began
New houses were built, old ones
were painted; trade began to re.
turn. New stores were opened
Old customers began to frequen,
the town and bring their trade
and cash with them, till now g
considerable section of Monroe
and Noble counties came to Sum
merfield to trade. 1t may be ar
empty boast, but it is said the
town does as much or more busi.
ness than any town in the county
| The next important demand
made on the resources of the
town was the building of the
railroad. In this emergency she
was equal to the demands made
on her. Men of property sub.
scribed literally, and men o.
no property gave still more liber
ally in proportion to their means
The result was the town raised its
assessment sooner than any point
between Woodsfield and Zanes
vile while J. T. Dew, P. Leuel.
len, George Farley and Others
spent months riding over the
county soliciting subscription:
and securing rights of way.
| At last, August 1883, saw the
work accomplished, and with j
the town began a new life. The