USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Groveport > History of Madison Township, including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio > Part 22
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A local option election was held in Winchester on Saturday, June 15, 1887; the result was 135 votes "dry" and 47 votes "wet." Another local option elec- tion was held on April 26, 1895, when 78 votes were cast in favor of local option and 117 against. On 21 H. M. T.
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April 1, 1895, the voters outside of Groveport and Winchester voted on township local option, when the following vote was cast: For local option, Winches- ter precinct, 109; Groveport precinct, 178; total for township local option, 287; against, Winchester pre- cinct, 34; Groveport precinct, 84; total against, 118.
The Groveport council passed prohibitory ordi- nances in October, 1887, and in the spring of 1895. l'he first of these was soon after repealed, and the la :- ter soon became non-effective.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
FRANKLIN ACADEMY OF MUSIC.
"Music is well said to be the speech of Angels." - CARLYLE.
During the winter of 1869-1870, Prof. C. B. Hunt conducted a singing school in the M. E. Church at Winchester; recognizing the prevailing desire for a musical education - it is said that one could not be out of the sound of a piano or organ anywhere in town - he interested Prof. A. N. Johnson, who was author of "The True Choir" and other singing books, and the president of Allegheny, N. Y., Academy of Music, of which Prof. Hunt was a graduate. The result was the Franklin Academy of Music, organized April 2d, 1870. Prof. A. N. Johnson was elected president, Rev. James Heffly secretary and treasurer, and Prof. C. B. Hunt principal, each having one-third interest. About May Ist, 1870, two pianos and two organs arrived. The hall over the Bergstresser store- room was occupied as a recitation room and the res- idence now occupied by Mrs. Selby on Waterloo street was used for practice rooms; later the Bergstresser residence on West Waterloo street was occupied for practice.
Prof. Hunt conducted the teaching assisted by occa- sional visits from Prof. Johnson until the fall of 1870 when Miss Pantha Walcott, of Corning, N. Y., was secured as an instructor; she boarded with Mrs.
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Mitchell Allen, who lived on lot No. 17, South High street. She had only been here a day or two until she took sick with typhoid fever and about two weeks later died; the school was dismissed and in a body accompanied the remains to the depot. Her father arrived a few days before her death and took her re- mains back to their home in New York. Prof. Abra- ham Brown was then employed and with Prof. Hunt conducted the school until the fall of 1871 when they both resigned and went to Xenia, Ohio, all the stu- dents remaining here except Miss Katie Short. Dr. A. Starr, James H. Sumerville and Rev. James Heffly then arranged to continue the school and secured Prof. Milton P. Suter and Mrs. Anderson as teachers ; this arrangement continued for about a year when Prof. Suter and Mrs. Anderson removed to Pataskala, O., and conducted a school there. Recitals were held every Wednesday evening. Tickets were given to the students, admitting their friends, enough to fill the hall usually attending on these occasions.
The following is a list of the students as far as they can be recalled after a lapse of nearly thirty years : Mary Speaks, Linna Somerville, Clara Cater, Ella Whitehurst, Ella Vought, Sarah Brunner, Jennie . Allen, Ella Helpman, Hannah Courtright, Lizzie Courtright, Mary Courtright, Zula Bright, Amanda Schoch, Laura Dildine, Ella Blake, Ollie Hesser, Bet- tie Decker, Blanch Bergstresser, Flora Triplett, Hulda Whitehead, Maggie Long, Mattie Carlisle, Flora Hunt, Gertie Gierhart, Susie Smith, Sadie Thayer, Ida Speaks, Emma Doval, Jennie French, Lou Carnes, Mollie Wilkins, Miss - Collins, Katie Stevenson, Mellie Whetzel, Alice Baugher, Abigail Gayman, Jen- nie Wheeler, Ollie Myers, Ada Myers, Miss - Ire-
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land, Hattie Rodahaber, Jennie Doval, Emma Cousin, America Showalter, Victoria Campbell and John Eh- renhart, David Saum, Samuel Wilson, Oliver L. Bott, David Fry, Henry Blackwood, Mr. - Compton, Mr. - Richardson.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
JOHN S. RAREY.
In many respects the career of John S. Rarey, the famous horse-tamer - as a horse-trainer he never had a superior and probably never had an equal - is un- paralleled in history. He was the youngest of eleven children, a brother of Wm. H. Rarey who laid out the town of Rareys-port and was born December 6th, 1827, in the old log tavern kept by his father, Adam Rarey, just east of Groveport. When he was but a youth of eight or nine years his skill in horsemanship already attracted attention. On his twelfth birthday his father presented him a pony and so wonderful were the feats and antics which he trained it to per- form that his reputation soon extended beyond his neighborhood. He was educated in the district school of his day. In 1850, in company with some of his neighbors, he went to Cincinnati to attend the first Ohio State Fair. At the time a man by the name of Ovid was giving lessons in horse-training across the river in Covington. Rarey went over and took a les- son and bought a book. Returning home he studied his book and put its teaching into practice with the result that a horse kicked him and broke his leg. In 1855, in company with Captain Atkinson, an old steam- boat man, he went to Texas and set up as a horse- tamer. He was not successful in a financial sense, and was looking about for another place when he be- came acquainted with an English gentleman who was
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JOHN S. RAREY AND CRUISER.
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much impressed with his powers and skill and advised him to go to England. Rarey had no money to speak of, but returned to Columbus where he gave public exhibitions. He then wrote and had printed a little book of instructions for the use of his pupils; he charged (10) ten dollars for a lesson, which included a book. Several of these small manuals are yet in the hands of those who attended Rarey's lessons, in this township, but in every instance the owners declined to loan them for inspection, saying "We agreed not to show them to any one."
In 1856 or 1857 he procured letters of introduction from Governor Chase to the governor general of Canada, whither he went. His remarkable power soon attracted attention and secured him letters to the army officers of Great Britain. Among them Sir Richard Airy, the lieutenant general of the English army. The way was at once opened to visit Prince Albert's farm, near Windsor Castle, where Colonel and Lady May Hood received him. Soon an exhibition before Queen Victoria and many other royal spectators fol- lowed. His popularity now became world-wide and his exhibitions were attended by crowds of every class, especially by the ladies of the nobility and gentry. The social attentions which he received were among the greatest rewards ever bestowed upon a benefactor. "Not only the good and great vied with each other in doing him honor but also the active members of the different humane societies of London took an active in- terest in his fortunes and success."
His skill was so wonderful that many were skep- tical and accused him of using drugs or "occult arts." Guy Carlton, Earl of Dorchester, owned a blooded stallion, foaled in 1852, named Cruiser ; his breeding-
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dam, Little Red Rover, sire, Venison-and early work gave promise of a possible derby winner. In 1856 Lord Dorchester sold a half interest in him to the Radcliffe Stud Company for fifteen thousand ($15,- 000) dollars. Cruiser was a dark bay, nearly sixteen hands high, with black legs, main and tail, with a symmetrical form, and possessing a combination of the best blood in England.
Cruiser had a very bad temper, and it became dan- gerous for any one to enter his stall except at the risk of his life ; people said he was crazy. Lord Dorchester thinking to put Mr. Rarey's skill to a crucial test, challenged him to manage Cruiser, saying, "Cruiser, I think, would be the right horse in the right place to try Mr. Rarey's skill; if he can ride Cruiser to Lon- don as a hack, I guarantee him immortality and enough money to make a British bank director's mouth water." Mr. Rarey, in relating this climax in his career, is quoted-by the Brighton Gazette of Thurs- day, September 22d; 1859 as saying, "A little over a year ago "Cruiser" was the most vicious horse I ever saw in my life. He had been kept for more than three years in an enclosed box of brick, the door being of solid oak plank. When any one opened the door he would rush forward to strike or kick him. No one dared to go into his box. I will tell you what happened at my first interview with him. I believe there is some cause for everything a horse does; he acts ac- cording to the impressions of his mind. I can myself approach any horse by taking time; not that I have any mesmeric conjuring power, nothing of that kind can tame a horse. The horse has intelligence and affection, which we can cultivate so as to make him kind and gentle. When I first approached Cruiser,
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I threw open the door and walked in. He was aston- ished at seeing this, and more so at my exhibiting no fear. Lord Dorchester, his owner, fearful for my safety, advised me to go no farther, but I had too much faith in my principles to recede. At this time he had on his head a large muzzle, lined inside and out with iron. He had to wear this for three years, and till it had almost worn a hole in his head. He has never had it on his head since that time, and he has never tried to bite me since he has been without it. I did not try to hurt him but to establish confidence between us. I don't bring Cruiser here to show as a tamed horse, and to do all manner of tricks, only to show what a gentle creature he has now become, and that instead of rushing at you to strike you, he will even give you his foot at command, and is perfectly docile. Mr. Rarey then asked Cruiser for his foot and it was given him." In three hours Lord Dorches- ter was able to mount Cruiser and Rarey became his owner and rode him to London, and his fortune was made. Possibly the most marked compliment Mr. Rarey received was from Queen Victoria (the Queen's death is announced by the daily papers, January 22, 1901, and just while this sketch of Mr. Rarey's life is being compiled), it is one that should be fully appreciated by our readers, for it was the "royal hostess of the most magnificent and august assemblage ever called together to celebrate a wedding," complimenting Mr. Rarey with the acknowledgment that of all the re- courses of England to amuse and entertain so select a company his exhibitions were deemed the most worthy. Her Majesty sent Mr. Rarey an invitation to give an exhibition of his skill in the riding school of
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Buckingham Palace, on the evening before the mar- riage of the Princess Royal.
Among the spectators were Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort, the Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales - now King Edward VII. - Prince Alfred Prince Frederick William of Prussia, Prince Freder- ick Charles of Prussia, Prince Albert of Prussia, Prince Frederick Albert of Prussia, Prince Adalbert of Prus- sia, Prince Hohenzollern. Sigmaringen, the Duke of Brabant, the Count of Flanders, Prince William of Baden, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimer, the Prince Julius of Holstein Glücksburg and many other distin- guished visitors, as also the Duke of Wellington, Major Gen. Sir Richard Airy, Lord Alfred Paget, Col. Hood, Major Groves crown equerry, and others.
The horse submitted to Mr. Rarey on this occasion was a powerful cream-colored horse of state, owned by her majesty, and one that had from his vicious na- ture been discarded as too dangerous for use. The queen herself, with her own hands, applauded his skill. He received an invitation to witness the wedding, and a favorable place to witness the ceremony was as- signed him at St. James Palace.
Queen Victoria frequently caressed and stroked Cruiser with her own hands.
Naturalists had always contended that a zebra could not be tamed, so it remained for Mr. Rarey to demonstrate the error of this position. It took him four hours to give one its first lesson, after which he mounted and rode it around the ring. Mr. Rarey gave exhibitions before the crowned heads of Sweden and Prussia, where he met Baron Von Humbolt. He tamed a wild horse that the Cossacks had presented to the Emperor and Empress of Russia, much to their as-
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tonishment. He tamed Stafford - a noted French stallion, and almost as vicious as Cruiser - in the pres- ence of the Emperor and Empress of France.
Mr. Rarey was presented with many medals and diplomas, which are now in the possession of Miss Lowe, whose mother was a niece of Mr. Rarey. Among the most beautiful of these mementoes is a port- folio presented by the Duchess of Sutherland, the back of velvet, mounted in gold and the front of solid gold inlaid with richly and artistically embossed panels of bronze, accompanied by an elegant inkstand, etc. At one of his exhibitions before the royalty at Stockholm, the royal family from excitement and admiration all rose to their feet, and at the conclusion his highness the King of Sweden presented him a medal of a pe- culiar social distinction, conferring upon the wearer especial privileges in visiting the royal palaces, being one of the most coveted and gratifying notices that can. be received by a Swede.
From a financial point of view, Mr. Rarey's suc- cess was also phenomenal. His subscription price for one of his lessons in London was fifty-two ($52.50) and a half dollars, with the understanding that no in- struction would be given until the class should number five hundred; this number was soon gained, and by the time these were instructed his list of subscribers. numbered more than two thousand. It is estimated that he made a quarter of a million dollars during his four years' stay abroad, one hundred thousand ($100,- 000) of which he brought home.
He returned home in 1861, at the age of thirty- three years, a rich man with an international reputation. He brought Cruiser and other fine specimens of horses and shetland ponies with him. A stable was built
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especially for Cruiser ; it stood in the northeast corner of the lawn as long as Cruiser lived, and later was re- moved to the rear of the house where it stood until recently. Few persons if any ever entered it except Rarey himself. Cruiser was put in the stud and many of his colts were scattered about the neighborhood. Many of these colts inherited their sire's vicious dis- position and he soon became unpopular as a sire. For several seasons Mr. Rarey toured the United States with Chushing's circus and menagerie, attracting great crowds to 'his exhibitions. In all his travels "Prince," a very small Shetland pony, accompanied him. Mr. Rarey had also trained a team of elks which he fre- quently drove in the neighborhood and to Columbus. In 1863 Mr. Rarey built an elegant home - Rarey's mansion - for his mother, on the site of the old tav- ern, at an expenditure of some twenty thousand ($20,- 000) dollars; just across the road he laid out a park where the shetland ponies roamed at will.
"In the flush of youth and favor and fortune" John S. Rarey died at Cleveland, Ohio, October 4, 1866, aged 38 years 8 months and 28 days. His body lies buried in the Groveport cemetery. Shortly before his death he said: "If I could only get back once more to the old farm and put my arms round my dear horse's neck I believe I should get well."
Mr. Rarey is described as "possessing none of the qualities of the gigantic gladiator or the appalling brute force and physical courage with which we are want to picture the horse tamer, but on the contrary he was delicately made, light-haired, self-possessed, good hu- mored," and everywhere admired for his gentlemanly manners and quiet bearing, being especially a great favorite of the ladies.
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Mr. Rarey's will made ample provision for Cruis- er's care and comfort. It specified that "Cruiser is not to be used for any other purpose than as a stallion nor for any other purposes of exhibition by any one at any time or place, but is to be kept and remain on the farm where he now is and within the enclosure and stable now occupied by him, or similar ones, as long as he lives; he must be well taken care of and never sold. And I direct that said charge and incumbrance is to be perpetual and run with said farm, whoever may be the owner, so long as Cruiser shall live."
The farm fell into the hands of strangers and Cruiser's old-time viciousness again returned, for nine years no one ever ventured to enter the enclosure with him. He died July 4, 1875.
Mr. Rarey's system was very simple. Its princi- ples were "kindness, patience, firmness." The plans laid down in his manual are based on three fundamntal principles, as stated by himself. "First-That the horse is so constituted by nature that he will not offer resistance to any demand made of him which he fully comprehends, if made in a way consistent with the laws of his nature.
"Second-That he has no consciousness of his. strength beyond his experience, and can be handled ac- cording to our will without force.
"Third-That we can, in compliance with the laws of his nature, by which he examines all things new to him, take any object, however frightful, around, over or on him, that does not inflict pain, without causing him to fear."
He used a surcingle and two small straps. With- one he fastened up the near fore foot of the horse, leav-
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ing him the use of only three feet, which prevented him from running or kicking; the other strap he fixed to the ankle of the off fore foot, passing it under the girth-band; with this he could draw up the other fore foot. After a slight struggle the horse would come down on his knees. It was right at this point that Mr. Rarey used to ask his auditors to remain perfectly quiet, saying "That then all that was wanted was to treat the horse as a child, showing him that resist- ance was useless, then treat him softly and as gently as possible." It is said that a very slight touch will throw a horse on his side when in this position. The horse was controlled so easily and gradually and without violence that he readily yielded to his mas- ter and yet recognized him as a friend. It may be added that while Mr. Rarey in all his work practiced the principles of his manual which he taught to others, yet no one ever succeeded with it as he did. Others lacked Rarey's genius.
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CHAPTER XXV.
CHURCHES.
"Where dusky savage wooed his dusky mate, And through the forest rang his battle cry, Now stands the arched and temple halls of state, And. gilded steeples pointing to the sky."
Nothing speaks the high regard for civilization, order and intelligence as the prosperity of the church in a community. Among the early settlers were rep- resented almost all the different denominations of the older states, and after a log cabin was erected it was not long until an effort was made to hunt up church people of a kindred denomination with a view to hold- ing services. Often the ministers of the Gospel were among the first to brave the perils and hardships of the unbroken forests. For many years meetings were held at the residences and barns with now and then a campmeeting. The following is a list of the church organizations of the township with their history, more or less complete, owing somewhat to the interest taken by members of the several churches in furnishing data, etc.
Some Old Hymns.
With an environment such as we have it is impos- sible to appreciate the burdens, necessities, loneliness, and dependency which formed the web and woof of the pioneer's forest life. Much less is it possible to (385)
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enter into the thrill and inspiration that came from singing together the hymns and melodies familiar to them; to do so one must have had their common ex- perience and have heard the sturdy pioneer preacher's exhortations and sermons as they did. Perhaps the best idea we can form of how they were moved is when we meet together and sing our old songs. Few had hymn books, therefore the necessity for "lining" the hymns; this necessity, however, only existed when a new hymn was used for everybody soon committed them. The following stanzas, among many others, were familiar to the pioneers and reveal something of the burden of the pioneer preacher's exhortations-A great "battle field" with heroic "soldiers of the cross," bearing "great burdens" and "terrible tribulations,"
A "lake of fire" to be shun, "Canaan's happy land" to be won.
"Dearest Jesus, we are here, To be in Thy word instructed; Guide our hearts, O Thou who'rt near, Let our minds hence be conducted, And from earth be elevated; Where we wish to be translated."
"By fear was Peter taken, When he denied his Lord, But soon his conscience check'd him, And he went out and cried. Christ's penetrating eye he felt,
He wept and prayed for mercy, And Christ did heal his smart."
"He that confides in his Creator, Depending on Him all his days, Shall be preserv'd in fire and water,
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And saved from grief a thousand ways. He that makes God his stand and stay, Builds not on sand that glides away."
"Farewell, dear friends, I must be gone, I have no home or stay with you; I'll take my staff and travel on, Till I a better world do view. Farewell, farewell, farewell, My loving friends, farewell."
"O Thou in whose presence My soul takes delight, On whom in affliction I call; My comfort by day, And my song in the night, My hope, my salvation, my all."
"Ye weary, heavey-laden souls, Who are oppressed sore, Ye trav'lers through the wilderness, To Canaan's peaceful shore; Through chilling winds and beating rain, The waters deep and cold, And enemies surrounding you Take courage and be bold."
"Oh when shall I see Jesus, And dwell with Him above, To drink the flowing fountains Of everlasting love? When shall I be delivered From this vain world of sin, And with my blessed Jesus, Drink endless pleasures in?"
"'Tis sure that awful time will come, When Christ, the Lord of Glory, Shall from his throne give men their doom, And change what's transitory ; Who then will venture to retire, When all's to be consumed by fire, As Peter has declared." 22 H MT
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"Ah, lovely appearance of death! No sight upon earth is so fair, Not all the gay pageants that breathe, Can with a dead body compare."
"Why should we mourn departing friends, Or shake at death's alarms !
"Tis but the voice that Jesus sends To call them to His arms."
"Come, my soul, and let us try, For a little season,
Every burden to lay by ; Come, and let us reason. What is this that casts you down? Who are those that grieve you? Speak, and let the worst be known, Speaking may relieve you."
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"The wondrous love of Jesus, From doubts and fears it frees us, With pitying eyes He sees us, A toiling here below; Through tribulation driven, We'll force our way to heaven; Through consolation given, Rejoicing, on we'll go."
Hopewell Methodist Episcopal Church.
The writer of the historical sketch of Hopewell Church in Williams' History of Franklin and Pick- away Counties must have personally secured the very interesting and romantic details he relates from Thomas Groom, son of the pioneer, who was then still living. As the story goes, Ezekiel Groom and family came from Virginia in 1804 and settled where Miss Kate Decker now lives. After erecting his prim- itive log cabin it is said Mr. Groom started out. as was the custom of those days, in search of kindred church
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members. Going about nine miles south, he found a settler by the name of Bishop, who had also been a member of the Methodist Church in Virginia. The next morning, which was the Sabbath, they set out together for the old Indian village of Toby Town, near the present site of Royalton, where they had heard there were Methodists living. When near the place they met two men, Broad Cole and Jeremiah Williams, who told them that they were then on their way to classmeeting. Mr. Groom wishing to attend the meet- ings regularly, concluded to find a nearer route than he had taken on his first trip which was some eighteen miles, so in company with a neighbor, William Bush, they went to an Indian camp in the neighborhood and inquired the nearest way of an Indian, whose name was Billy Wyandotte. The Indian held up his eight fingers, signifying eight miles. Mr. Bush and the Indian then took their guns and Mr. Groom his axe, and blazing the trees as they went, thus marking out a path.
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