History

Early American Indian Presence 

Credits go to: "The information I used came from the book PLEASANT TOWNSHIP OF CLARK COUNTY OHIO. This book was researched (after 4 years) and written by Mahlon Neer in 1975." JAYNE ALLENDER KNOX 

Shawnee Indians lived in the Pleasant Township area prior to the arrival of white settlers. There was two Shawnee Indian Villages in our area. One was near the western border of Pleasant Township and the other was east of McConkey Road. [About a mile between the two streams] An Indian trail connected the two villages.

Shawnee Indian tribes used to be located in South Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Now, they are located mostly in Oklahoma. The Shawnee, which meant Southerners, were also known as the Shawano, Savannuca, and Savanna [Museums In The Classroom, www.museum.siu.edu, 1999]. This is a modern version of what an American Indian prayer would be like:

Oh Great Spirit,
I pray for myself in order that I may be healed.
Oh Great Spirit,
I pray for my close friend who is sick and needs help.
Oh Great Spirit,
I pray for this world so that all these atomic weapons
And other bad things that we point at each other
Will someday soon all be destroyed.
I pray that adversaries will communicate
And all of the mistrust will be healed.
Oh, Great Spirit,
I pray for its cleansing
And the renewal of our Mother Earth.

[Museums In The Classroom, www.museum.siu.edu, 1999].

The Shawnees speak a form of the Algonquian Indian language and so are related to the Delaware, Miami, and Ottawa Indians. The Shawnees had a special friendship with the Wyandots. They referred to the Wyandot tribe as their "Uncles." Other Indian tribes could be allies one day and enemies the next [www.ohiokids.com, 1999].

In summer the early Shawnee lived in bark-covered houses in villages while the women farmed and the men hunted and in winter they split into small hunting camps. The Shawnee leader Temcumseh, shown at right, lived from March 1768 to October 1813. His name meant "Shooting Star." The Shawnee belonged to patrilineal clans and lineages.

1833 was when the last of the Shawnee tribe was moved west of the Mississippi River. Today they farm, ranch, and do various other work. Some are Protestants, but many adhere to traditional beliefs. In 1990, 750 people, mainly living in the far northeast corner of Oklahoma, claimed to be of Eastern Shawnee descent. Cherokee Shawnee descendants numbered 947. People claiming Absentee Shawnee ancestry, who mostly dwell in central Oklahoma and have a separate tribal government from that of the Eastern and Cherokee Shawnee, numbered 1279. The total number of people who claimed to be of Shawnee descent numbered 6179 [www.funkandwagnells.com, 1999].

The First White Men

The true identity of the first white settler is not known. However, James Smith may have been one of the first white settlers in 1760. At that time, Mr. Smith was a prisoner of the Indians. The first permanent settlers in the township were Joseph Coffey and his family. They arrived in May of 1803 and then other families followed.

In 1805 Archibald McConkey settled onto the western part of the township. Nancy McConkey, Archibald's wife, was once asked if she was afraid of the Indians. She answered that if you treated the Indians as you would want to be treated there was nothing to fear. The Indians were friendly. The young Indians sometimes came to play with the McConkey children. They especially liked Mary the baby.

Henry Dawson and family settled near a spring on Runyan Road. Solomon Scott, Jonathan Hunter and family, William Hendricks, Samuel Lafferty, and George Metsker were also known to settle the area in 1805.

Eight New Families Between 1808 and 1812

Peter Arbogast, Andrew Bumgaedner (My Great Great Grandfather), Andrew Hodge, William Curl, George Jones, Abraham Runyan, George Runyan, and Joseph Runyan.

Fifteen More Settlers In 1820

Fifteen new settlers came to the township in 1820 and settled in the western part it. They included Nathaniel Cartmell, Daniel Wren, Edmond West, Jonathan Jones, W. T. Hunt, George Botkin, Richard Botkin, Charles Botkin, Jeremiah Curl, Absalom Clark, Brazil Harrison, David Waltman, Simon Ropp, Phillip Tunks, and Thomas Tunks.

Still More Settlers

Early settlers in the eastern part of the township near what is now the Nation Chapel area were Samuel West, Henry Curl, Otho Arbogast, David Runyan, William Neer, Lemuel Davisson, Nicolas McCauley, and Amos Neer.

Formal Communities Are Established

When the white men first came here, large trees covered much of the township. From these, the homes of the settlers were built. Clark County was formed in 1817 from parts of Champaign, Madison and Green Counties. In 1820 the population of Clark County was 9,553. Pleasant Township was surveyed and it's boundaries established in June 1818. In March 1819 the western boundary was moved one mile east of the present boundary.

Valuable Springs

There are more than 15 springs west, south and east of Catawba. The strongest spring in the area is the Dawson Spring. It is located on the West Side of Runyan Road. (It still runs today.) The next strongest spring is the Hunter Spring. It is located on the East Side of South Champaign Street, within the Catawba corporation limits.

These were used as a water supply for early settlers. Many were piped into a trough into a springhouse. The springhouse was used for a variety of uses. They were used to cool milk, food and meat. The springs were used to water livestock, supply water to the creeks that helped furnish power for the grist mills, saw mills, carding machines, tanneries and distilleries.

Cemeteries

McConkey Cemetery was the first permanent cemetery in the area. The first person to be buried there was the six month 2 old son of Archibald McConkey in January 1807. It was 3 years before the next person was buried in 1810. Vernon Cemetery was the second cemetery, and Asbury the third. Other cemeteries are Thompson, Pleasant Hill, Botkin, Ropp, and Nation Chapel.

Early Schools

Log cabins were built in different locations in the township to be used as schools between the years of 1810 and 1872. Around 1872 9 brick school rooms were built by Thomas Wingate at a total cost of $18,700.

These early schools were 1) Vernon, 2) Asbury, 9) Botkin, 3) Catawba, 4) McConkey, 5) Pleasant Chapel, 6) Pleasant Hill, ??) Nation Chapel, and ??) Oak Grove. Some of these one-room schools are still standing today.

Vernon School, located across the road from the Vernon cemetery, is not being used at this time. Pleasant Hill School, located on the south side of Old Columbus Road and McConkey Road, is being used to store grain and hay. McConkey School, located at the corner of McConkey Road and Broadgauge Road, is used as a residence now. Early in the twentieth century the brick structure at Botkin School was taken down and a one-room frame building was put up. Later a second frame room was added. This building still stands today at the corner of St. Rt. 54 and Jones Road, and is used as a residence now. It was last used as a school in 1947.

Catawba School was located at the eastern limits of the village. After school was discontinued there, it was used as a residence, then for storage. Sometime in the twentieth century it was taken down.

The entrance to each of these brick school buildings was in the center of the side that faced the road. A few feet above the door was a stone which was recessed into the wall. The stone was inscribed with the name of the school, district and number, and the date.

MCCONKEY SCHOOL HOUSE

Pleasant Township

Sub. District # 4

1875

During the end of the Nineteenth century, a two-story school building was built on the north side of North Street, just east of where North Street and School Street meet. Part of this building was taken down and a two-room brick school, on the ground floor was added to the older room. It is used as an apartment building today.

In 1922 a building was constructed on South Persimmon Street in Catawba. It was used as a high school. At about the same time Pleasant View School was built on the corner of Lundy Lane and Collins-Arbogast Road. This school and the school on North Street in Catawba were both used for elementary students. They were closed in 1952.

In the fall of 1952 the high school students from three townships attended a new building, Northeaster High School. At this time all the elementary students were to go to the #3 Catawba school. The Catawba Elementary School was used until the fall of 1984 when it closed down. It is now known as the Catawba Community Center, where there is now a restaurant, the Elderly United, Chief of Police, a library and the village offices. The Pleasant View School is in the process of being remodeled to be a residence.

Churches

Vernon Catawba was established in September 1825. The Methodist Society purchased 1 acre of land to build a church. It was a frame building, and it had 51 members at the time. This is now the Vernon Cemetery.

The first building for the Asbury Church was built in 1824. In 1872 a brick building was also erected. This church closed in 1931. In 1932 the building was leased to the Pleasant Township Community Club for 10 years. During an electrical storm on July 9, 1965 the building was struck by lightning and burned. A stone mason was hired to erect a memorial using stone from the old foundation. The bell from the church was hung under the flat top of the stone memorial. A cross designed by Millard Allender (My Father) adorns the top. A Memorial Service was held at the site of the former church on May 30, 1969.

There are no known dates for the Pleasant Chapel church. It was first a double log cabin and then later a brick church. It was located on Pleasant Chapel Road on a knoll just north of Broadgauge Road. It stood about 35 feet from the road. It closed in 1924 (My Mother Gwyneth Ritchie Allender went to this church as a girl.)

The Methodist Protestant Church is now the Baptist Church in Catawba. It was built in 1851 and was used until 1957. At that time it united with the Methodist Episcopal and became the United Methodist Church. The building was used as a Grange Hall until a few years ago when it became The Baptist Church.

The first building for the Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1876 and used until it was condemned in Sept 1919. A new church was built on the site and dedicated Feb. 26, 1922, and is still in use today. It is the United Methodist Church in Catawba.

The Nation Chapel Church started out as a log cabin called Wesley Chapel East. In 1859 a frame church was built in which they changed the name to Nation Chapel. In 1887 parishioners built a larger church and it was dedicated on Fob 15, 1888. Shortly after 1921, Mrs. Violet Hunter organized what became the Little Country Church in Catawba. The building was originally the Catawba Creamery Co. This building has been remodeled many times and today it is still The Country Church of Catawba (This is where I attend church).

The Pleasant Community Church of God was built in 1961 and 1962. It was dedicated in 1963 and is in use today. It is located on the corner of State Route 54 and Tarbutton Rd.

Mills

William Hunter built a grist mill in 1819 located at the corner of Vernon Asbury Road and Neer Road on Buck Creek. The land is owned by La Mar Micklein 1996.

Nathaniel Cartmell built a grist mill in 1822. It was located where Neer Road crosses Buck Creek. It is now the Nathan Tullis farm in 1996.

A grist mill was built on Runyan Road on the left turn, in about 1820. This was called Willow Brook Mill. It was last used in 1895. In 1946 it was taken down for safety reasons.

Willow Brook Mill was built between State Route 54 and Runyan Short Road on the north side of Runyan Road. George Baldwin operated Willow Brook Mill for a time. In the late 19th century, Milton Runyan operated this mill. It was last used in 1895. Afterwards, it was used for grain and hay storage. It was passed down from generation to generation to Charles Runyan (son of Milton) and Cariton Runyan (grandson of Milton). It was taken down in 1946 for safety reasons.

A Saw Mill, Carding Machine, and Mill for grinding only corn was located on the west side of Runyan Rd. on the property of George Dawson. Power to operate these machines was supplied by a powerful spring on the property. In 1996 there is a fairly new barn on the lot behind where the spring is located.

The Catawba Creamery Company

The Catawba Creamery Co. was formed in 1899. Six men purchased a part of Lot ff26 of the Dawson and Marsh survey of Catawba from Newton S. Conway for $150.00. It was transferred and recorded Aug. 1, 1899. The part of land purchased was a long narrow strip 185' long by 353' wide.

There were large vats used to put milk into to ferment for cheese. Butter was also made there. On the north side of the building was a raised porch high enough so cans of milk could be unloaded from spring wagons or buggies. It is not known how long this building was used for milk processing, but it was sold to 1. B. Wingate in December of 1900 and he operated it himself for a time. In the next 20 years it was used a creamery, a resident and a pool room. IN December 1921 it was purchased by T. Milton Hunter. Since that time it has been used as a church THE COUNTRY CHURCH.

One Factory

A mattress factory was located south of Catawba on the East Side of St. Rt. 54 and on the north side of the creek. It is said that a depression in the ground and a faint trace of the mill-race where it had been is still visible. These marks can be seen from State Route 54 coming out of Catawba on the East Side of the creek.

Blacksmiths

Cornelius Palmer built the first blacksmith shop somewhere west of Catawba while Miller Williamson built the first blacksmith shop in Catawba. His second one was in Pleasant Township. John Lellis opened a blacksmith shop on the northeast corner of School St. and Pleasant St. in Catawba. The shop was torn down during the 1920's. The location is where Bud Addis Jr. lives in 1996.

Dan Buzzard opened a blacksmith shop across the street from where Leilis' shop had been, and continued it until his death near the middle of the twentieth century.

Eli West operated a blacksmith shop at the northwest corner of W. Pleasant St. and Persimmon St. around the same time Dan Buzzard’s was in operation.

Automobile Garages

Times were changing and Automobiles were increasing and tractors replaced draft horses, brought the increasing need of engine repair shops. Two garages were built in Catawba. Forrest M. Tavenner owned a garage located on Champaign St. south of the Township Building. It is where the Pleasant Township Garage is in 1996.

The Wright Garage was located just west of Eli West's blacksmith shop, on W. Pleasant St. In 1996, Larry Burr owned this building.

Manufacturing

The Catawba Manufacturing was built somewhere in the mid twentieth century, 1950's It made small parts to other companies. Luke Adams was the owner, in 1996 it stands beside the Baptist Church on Persimmon Street in behind the first house after you pass the Church going south.

Millinery Shops

In the late 1800's 2 Millinery Shops were in Catawba. They were operated by Mrs. Charles McConkey (Mrs. Minerva) and Mrs. George L. Wingate (Mrs. Anna). Their location is unknown.

Barbers

People who owned Barber Shops in Catawba are Sylvester Cartmell, Bart Burgess, Clarence Tingley, Mr. Cain, Henry Miller, Jay Adams, William Ashing, Forrest M. Tavenner, Roy Mahar, George Hall, George Leapheart, and William Reedy.

Homesteads And Significant Properties

Jonathan Hunter And The Hunter Homestead

Jonathan Hunter and his wife Nancy Ann Chance were married and lived in Loudoun County Virginia. He sold his farm in 1804 and moved to Ohio. They were the fourth white family to move into the area. They lived the remainder of their lives in Pleasant Township. Jonathan and his son William built a cabin for school purposes and it was used for church services as well. It was called Mount Vernon and was located across the road west of Vernon Cemetery.

Jonathan Hunter and his wife are both buried on the hillside where they lived. It is the property of Nathan Tullis in 1996. They had eleven children and all were born in Loudoun County, Virginia. William Hunter, the oldest son of Jonathan married Blanche Hendricks in 1808. He built the first Grist mill on Buck Creek and he also built a saw mill around 1820. They had 9 children. Lemuel Hunter, William's son was born in 1814 and in 1838 he married Nancy Marsh.

The village of Catawba was laid out in 1835 and 1836 by Cass and Marsh. Israel Marsh and George Dawson, originally owned the land upon which it stands. Israel Marsh was the Father of Nancy.

The Hunter Homestead is on the West Side of South Champaign Street in Catawba (Large brick double home at the edge of town). Israel Marsh built the 4 room brick home in 1824. When Lemuel Hunter married Nancy in 1838 they continued to live with her parents. But as Lemuel and Nancy's children started to be born, the 4 room house became to small. Sometime between 1838 and 1841 Lemuel added 4 more rooms to the home. Eli Hunter was born to Lemuel and Nancy in 1847. Eli Hunter married Lucinda Jane McClintock in 1876 and lived in the house he was born in.

In 1897 Eli added 5 more rooms to the house making it a total of 13 rooms. He also installed a furnace in the basement for central heating. He put in an inside bathroom also. A large lead tank was put in the attic to collect and store rain water from the roof. With the force of gravity, this supplied water to the toilet, the bath tub, and the sinks in the bathroom and kitchen. Drinking water was pumped into the house by a hydraulic ram from the spring located across the road.

Eli changed the lighting from coal oil lamps to an acetylene generator in the basement, and piped the gas for lighting throughout the house. The homestead is located on the brow of the overlooking the 600 acre farm in the fertile valley below. It was the first really modern home in the area.

Cecil Hunter purchased the property on both sides of the road where the Catawba School now stands and remodeled the home which is now the Gayle Locke home. Cecil is the son of Eli and Lucinda Hunter and he married Grace Davis in 1908. Cecil and Grace were active in the church and helped build the now United Methodist Church in 1922. Grace loved to read and write poetry and when the new church was built she wrote a history of the Catawba Methodist Episcopal Church, and a copy was sealed in the corner stone of the church.

World War II caused a disappointing turning point in the lives of Cecil and Grace Hunter. At that time 2 of their three sons had already left home. Robert and Donald both moved to Cleveland. Donald was drafted into the Army, and Alvin the youngest at home, went into the Air Force. Because he didn't have help to run the farm, he was forced to sell his beloved farm.

The entire farm with 2 large homesteads, and 2 tenant houses was later purchased by Gayle Locke and is still owned by his family. Gayle Locke became one of Ohio's largest and most successful farmers and cattle buyers in this area.

The Martin Building

The Martin Building stood along Champaign Street facing Pleasant Street. Between 1856 and 1858 this property was owned by Joseph D Creamer. Newton S. Conway owned it from 1858 to 1861. In the next six years this property changed owners twice, to a Curl and Ellsworth. After two years William Curl became the owner. In 1867 Thomas Martin became the owner, and owned it for 37 years.

The Martin Building was used as a store and the council rented the upstairs for a meeting place, until it needed repair so bad that the council told the Martin's they were contacting the Fire Marshal. So, in 1904 they sold the property to Mrs. Belinda Rust. Mrs. Rust sold it to Forrest M. Tavenner.

Mr. Tavenner already owned property next to the Martin building and built his home there. Arnold Ballard lives in this house in 1996. After he took over, he made the part of the building on N. Champaign Street a duplex residence.

Over the past 70 years many people have used it as a barber shop, grocery store, pool room, doctor’s office and a residence.

Public Works and Organizations

Catawba was surveyed in January 7, 1838 and plated. It was incorporated June 6, 1868. A petition signed by 47 men had been presented to the County Commissioners requesting the incorporating of the village.

Post Office

In 1833 a post office was established. Newburg was suggested as a name, but Buckcreek was chosen as the name. When the village was incorporated the name of Catawba was chosen.

It is a known fact that the mail was delivered by passenger train in later years to Catawba Station, on State Route 4 less than a mile south of State Route 54. For some time there were two deliveries each day and then only one a day later on. From Catawba Station, the mail was brought to Catawba by a horse drawn vehicle. This was continued well into the twentieth century, with the automobile later being used as conveyance.

Catawba-Pleasant Township Fire Department

In August 1900, a Howe Fire Engine was purchased at the cost of $675.00. It had a 300' discharge hose and 15' of suction hose. A fire committee was to be organized. On March 29, 1948 a meeting was held to form the Catawba - Pleasant Township Fire Department. A volunteer fire department was formed at this meeting. Cariton (Tim) Runyan was appointed Fire Chief and Foster Ballard and Clyde Tingley were Assistant Fire Chiefs. In April 1948 they advertised bids for a fire truck and a Chevrolet Midship pumper was purchased for $8,641.00.

In 1956 the township voters voted to build a firehouse, and it was built in 1958 at a cost of $7,000. The interior painting, the firemen paid for lighting, and heating. In 1974 the firemen added a brick front, and the Ladies Auxiliary added the electric sign the same year.

In 1957 an emergency ambulance service was organized. A 1947 Ford ambulance was purchased at a cost of $750.00 paid for by the Firemen and the Auxiliary.

Utilities and Other Public Works

Cement side walks were first poured in Catawba in 1906. Electricity was brought to Catawba in 1914. The Independent Telephone Company came in Catawba in May of 1901.

Social And Charitable Organizations

The Catawba Council Number 167 of the Junior Order United America Mechanics

The Catawba Council Number 167 of the Junior Order United America Mechanics was organized on August 9, 1902 and had 23 charter members. These men have all passed on, the last being Kemp Coffey, who died in 1950. At the time they met on the second floor of the building at 26 East Pleasant St. Fire destroyed this building on June 5, 1910. All possessions were destroyed except the Charter which was saved by Charles (Chan) Demory (a great uncle of my husband James Adkins).

Over the years, they held their meetings over the Hotel, over the store and then in 1953 they bought the IOOF building. A brick 2 story building on the west side of Champaign St. north of the square. The building still exists today.

IOOF The Independent Order of Odd Fellows

The Catawba Lodge #349 was instituted, July 13, 1859 with 16 charter members. Although the lodge never had a large membership, it survived through the years until 1937.

In 1874 they constructed a 2 story building made of brick on the West Side of Champaign St. north of the square. On December 5, 1952 Catawba Lodge #349 merged with South Vienna Lodge #345 where they still meet today.

The Catawba Highland Council of Daughters of America #314 D of A's

It was started on May 26, 1930 at the Catawba High School. Over the years the council has given numerous flags and Bibles to the schools of Pleasant Township.

The Twentieth Century Literary Club

The Twentieth Century Literary Club was organized in 1901 with 17 charter members. The purpose of this club was to promote social and literary culture.

The Philea Club

The Philea Club was formed by a group of young women for the purpose of hospitable entertainment, and to be better acquainted and sharing life's experiences.

Grange #1379

Grange #1379 was chartered April 8, 1891 with 34 charter members. This organization did not last long, it closed in 1899.

"The Farmers' Institute"

The Farmers' Institute, held annually at the High School, was a big local event, as it was all over Ohio in the early days. Its main purpose was for the farmers to learn the latest on all sorts of farro subjects, but it generated a host of side events to attract the interest of as many people as possible.

In the month before, there would be poster making competition at different school levels, and prizes and recognition for the winners at the Institute. The three Pleasant Township grade schools paraded their kids to the front to sing songs for opening ceremonies each day. Coached by our music teacher, Mr. Forrest Tavenner, they sang the same chorus numbers year after year because they extolled farm life. One lively song of which I remember the tune better than the words was "The Farmer Feeds Than All". There were five or six verses, but all I can remember right now is "The craftsman fashions wondrous things, The soldier rides in pomp and pride, But the busy fanner feeds them all."

There were also solos and quartets, but I didn't sing in any of them. I was pretty much of a "leaner" - I could sing pretty well if there was a good singer standing next to me. Farm women brought in all kinds of canned fruit and vegetables for judging, and there were cake and pie baking prizes. One year Joe Coffee and I bought the prize white cake for seventy five cents from the winner Violet Hunter, wife of Milt Hunter. We took it out behind the school building and without benefit of knife, fork, plates, napkins or manners, broke it in big chunks and wolfed it down, then took a mini-bath in the boys' toilet room to get the icing off.

The speakers stayed over night in local homes, and I'm happy to say ours was a frequent one. Looking back, the speakers at Catawba were not big name ones but they were a window to the outside, isolated as we were off any main highway in horse and. buggy and Model T days before the advent of radio. We didn't even get our Sunday newspaper from Springfield until Monday's mail was delivered. (Old joke - "He who laughs last, gets his Sunday comic section on Monday". I remember that from the old Pathfinder magazine which came every week.

One speaker told us about raising soybeans - not for the sale of beans for oil, but for use as hay which seemed to be a more urgent need. We started raising them for hay that next summer. They seemed real coarse compared to other hay, but cows and sheep loved it, and ate stems and all.

The farmers, the wives and the kids all loved the Fanners' Institute. It's too bad it didn't continue.

Dad always entered some draft horses and colts in the Homecoming horse show, and we have newspaper clippings with his picture in the winner's circle. Dick Welch and I won a wheelbarrow race one time.

Lemonade was a big seller. We made it in a wooden barrel, used lots of real lemons and a lot of sugar. When we emptied out the barrel when Homecoming was over, there was an inch of sugar covering the bottom. One year my good friend Carroll Runyan didn't show up at the stand, as expected. We learned later that he and Gwen Rosser had left town and had got married.

The Lodge held an annual "Three B’s" banquet (beans, buns and bologna), attended from far and wide by members, former members and families - humorous speeches and always a lot of fun.

On hot nights after Lodge some guys would send downstairs to Polly Groves' Ice Cream Parlor for a half pint of ice cream. Some liked raw oysters and in season would send to Titus' grocery store across the street for a half pint each. (I often wondered how they came by the money) They ate them just as they came from the little wire-handled buckets - no salt or crackers. They would dip them from the box to mouth with a matchstick sharpened for the purpose. Toothpicks were a second choice, but really were too flimsy.

Sometimes, some fellows would bring eggs from home which they fried in butter on top of the pot belly stove in the Lodge hall. That lodge filled a huge depression gap for us, and I have always had fond memories of it.

"Knights of the Golden Eagle Lodge"

Both Grandpa Hunter and Dad had joined the Eagle Lodge many years before, and upon becoming age 18 Don and I followed, making us the only three generation family in the Lodge. Each of us "went through the chairs" and had the honor of serving as "Noble Chief", the presiding officer of the Lodge.

It was a semi-religious, medieval sort of honor code organization, with members sworn to secrecy although there weren't any real secrets that I ever heard of. Initiation of new members was referred to as "riding the goat".

There was a guard at the door who required a password if you came in late to the meeting, a ritual of "opening and closing the meeting" with marching in knightly uniforms, sword carrying and saluting, and courtly language declarations, questions and responses by officers and members, all memorized. Dues were $4.40 a year, we met every Friday evening first for Rook or Euchre card games, then the formal opening and meeting, and after the final "Good of the Order" conroents adjourned for more card games and socializing.

Sometimes there were roughhouse games. One was where the fellows were organized in teams of two - one carrying the other on his shoulders. The game was to bump the other fellow off, and the last one up was the winner. It was a great depression-day outlet when there was so little money and spirits were low.

The Lodge sponsored for quite a few years the Pleasant Township Homecoming, held in our woods just up the hill from the Hunter spring. One important committee was crudely, yet aptly, named for the function it performed - the construction of two "facilities" away from the picnic area. The facilities were indeed primitive, but the clientele of those days was very accustomed to that type and didn't complain.

There would be speeches, music, games and contests with prizes. One time there was a hot-air balloon ascension. The balloon was filled with smoke and hot air from a wood fire the balloonist built not far from the refreshment stand, and got bigger and bigger. The balloonist sat on a board fastened to the balloon with ropes, pulled a release rope and the balloon took off like a shot up through the trees with the guy hanging on for dear life. We all stood watching while he sailed higher and higher, then suddenly fell off the board, opened his parachute, and came down in a thistle patch in our pasture down by the creek. The balloon turned over and came down nearby.

Another time there was an ox roast - lots of hoopla about how good it was going to be, but the piece I got was more wood ashes than beef. Still another time they held a raffle for a 1929 Ford roadster, won by Wib Tucker, a local garage man, who had said all along he was going to win, and did. And knowing Wib, I'm very sure there wasn't any funny business about it, either. Wib loved the Indianapolis Speedway races and attended several times, taking some fellows with him the day before, and sleeping under the car at night.

Ending

For many years Catawba has been the business center of the township. At various times in the past it has had, two to three general stores, two blacksmith shops, three doctors, a Millinery shop, a telephone exchange, harness shops, shoe and bootmakers shop factory, a creamery and cheese factory, and Ice Cream parlor, a pool room, a Hotel, woodworking shop, drug store, barber's shop, garages, an automobile agency, a post office with 2 deliveries, 2 to 3 churches, fraternal organizations, and a farmers organization called the Grange.

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