1816-1916 Cedarville Centennial Souvenir

ship added a good subscdption to the congregation's to purchase one. The bell was -urchased in Cincinnati and was put in place. When it was rung the first time it created a sensation. Everybody stopned work ·and rushed out doors to listen. Farmers at the plow stopped while they heard the rich tones of the new bell in the town. In 1853 the., Covenanters (N. S.) moved their brick church from Massie's Creek Cemeter;v to the villag e and . placed their belL now in use un the church. In 1854 the Methodists dedicated their present brick church, on which they had placed the bell now in use. In 1850 James r Turnbull erected a schoolhouse and placed on it the bell which has been in use ever since. It has been calling the childr en to school for 66 years. Faithful old bell! Its tones are just as clear and strong today as in years ago. We love to hear .them now. The Board of Education should give the dear old bell a home on the new school building. SOLDIERS To the Civil War, Cedarville 'Cowosbiµ sP..o..t_more soldie,rs, accord- ing to population a •. n other townsli.ip iu tb~]!filY_QJ'.. St.a.J;~.L... ~ David Currie was e first~ ~e killed in battle, in West Virginia. It would be interesting to write in full about each com– pany and regiment, but our space is too limited. In 1862 Gen. Kirby Smith was marching through Kentucky to de– stroy Cincinnati. Gov. Todd issued a call to all the militia to grab a gun and rush to Cincinnati on the first train. All the bells in Cedar– ville were rung. Th e excitement was intense, and men from the country came rushing in on every road, and by night a company of 118 men were on the train and the first company from Greene County into Cincinnati. Gen. Kirby Smith heard that a big army of 25,000 soldiers had arrived in the city and he retreated. The report wa~ true, only we were "Squirrel Hunters." We stayed a week and were · discharged. Forty-six years afterwllrds we got a check for $13 from the State of Ohio. ET CETERA At an early date stores were needed. ¥r, Hanna was the first storekeeper. John Nesbit kept a store many years ; John Orr also, at the corner of Main and Chillicothe streets; Espy Mitchell and John Torrence at corner of Main and Xenia Ave.; George Dunlap and Nathan Plowman, where Kerr and Hastings are in business. J. F. Frazier kept store in Ridgway's drug room for 35 years. J. Cal. Barber has kept store in the room that he now occupies 34 years. Robert Bird has built up a large trade, employs six clerks, in a gen– eral store of dry goods, carpets, and groceries. Eight firms supply groceries to the people. Three doctors pill the people; one pulls their teeth; and one stills the moans of suffering animals. There are two undertakers, four hardware stores, two meat merchants, three blacksmith shops, two drug stores, one photographer, and two hotels. The population of Cedarville is 1059. John Paris was first post-master.