John Miller
Photo provided by John Miller.
Franklin Dye, whose ancestors were acquainted with the Smith family, is shown in 2000 at one of the few markers found on the grounds of the Smith Cemetery.
The Mid-Ohio Valley has the history of the underground railroad threading through its past and the Matamoras area is no exception. A small ex-slave family was to be found on Dye Ridge with the last surviving member, Mary Smith, passing away on Dec. 16, 1920.
The Smiths were accounted for in the 1850 census of Jolly Township which is now a part of Grandview Township. Alexander, age 26, was the oldest of the males. Priscilla, age 43, was likely his mother. There was also Hannah, 22, Michael, 21, and Jane, 17. Emily, Daniel, and William were children under the age of 16. Those older than Emily were listed in the census as being born in Virginia. According to history passed down from the neighbors the family had separated from the underground railroad at Stafford, Ohio choosing not to tra
John Miller
Photo provided by Carol Gay.
Operator Mabel Eddy is in charge of her switchboard at âCentral.â
“Hello, Sarah? This is Barney Fife. Get Sheriff Taylor for me.”
This greeting sounds familiar on television but not necessarily for today’s communication standards. In the early days however this was as modern as the times allowed. “Central” was the hub of keeping the lines of communication open. That was where all calls were “put through” as the phrase went.
In Matamoras during the time period of 1926 to 1936, Sophia and Nancy Way were the operators assigned at “Central” and they had no days off for vacation with someone always there 24 hours a day. Other operators over the years included their sister, Josephine Barnhart, plus Lucy Cochran, Helen Taylor, Nellie Fisher, Beryl Hubbard, Leatha Smith, Olga Marsh, Lucy Huffman, Edna Beaver, Ada Machetanz, and Delia Busche. And depending on which older citizens of town you ask, the various locations o
Feb 13, 2021
Photo provided.
Sarah Lowery Leithâs tombstone in Center Valley Cemetery proclaims her first capture by natives in 1763 and her marriage to John Leith in 1779 as the first recorded white marriage in the original Northwest Territory. She was buried here over 220 years ago.
In last week’s article I mentioned John and Sarah Leith as neighbors to John Burris. This couple’s story is one which reveals how wild and woolly situations could become on the frontier. Their adventures before finally settling in the Matamoras area are indeed things that develop into legend.
We start with the story of John’s future wife, Sarah Lowery. Born circa 1760 at Big Cove in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, she was captured by natives at the age of three during Pontiac’s War. Shortly thereafter three of her sisters were carried away as well.
John Miller
Shown here are Mabel Eddy and Arlye Stahl Miracle engaging in a snowball fight on the grounds of the old Matamoras School on Broadway. (Photo provided by Carol Gay)
Winter officially arrives this coming Tuesday. It was a thrilling time over one hundred years ago despite the fact that no one had central heating. But no matter there was ice skating, sleigh riding, sled riding, ice fishing, oyster suppers, fudge and popcorn ball making, and hot chocolate to warm any bones suffering from the cold.
At the mouth of Mill Creek about one mile up State Route 7 was a favorite spot for skaters of all ages. And generally, with the river flow unpredictable, Barbara’s Run would overflow into the fields on the border of the northeast side of town. When that area froze solid all enthusiasts of ice skating flocked to the site. And predictably along the edges of such attractions would be built the huge, high bonfires to warm the chill of the season and to be the site of hotdog roastin