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Union County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

Source:
HISTORY of JEROME TOWNSHIP, UNION COUNTY, OHIO
Curry, W. L. : Columbus, Ohio: Press of the E. T. Miller Co.
1913

SOCIAL GATHERING & SINGING SCHOOL

pp. 30 - 34

     Before the days of the Civil War, the young people residing along Darby Creek and Sugar Run were noted far and near for musical talent, both vocal and instrumental.  Every winter singing schools and literary societies furnished the principal entertainments for all, old and young.
     The entertainments were held in the schoolhouses in the neighborhood and on special occasions, such as concerts or literary exhibitions at the close of the schools, they were held in the old Seceder Church at New California, or one of the churches at Jerome.
     Until about the year 1850, the old square or "buckwheat" notes were used in the music books.  The first singing book that used the round notes was the Carmina Sacra, and the first teacher was a Mr. Maynard.  Then came a Mr. Dixon, Pinney Case, of Jerome,  Mr. Moulton, of Boston, Wm. M. Robinson, of Marysville, Sireno B. Phipps of Columbus, Samuel Robinson of Darby Township, and Nelson Cone.  In later years James Curry, now a Presbyterian minister of Newark, California, taught a few terms.
     After regular terms of the singing schools closed with a day concert in the spring, the teachers would insist that the young people keep up the practice during the spring and summer months.  These practices were held in the evenings and Dan Cone, James Curry, and David G. Robinson were usually the leaders, standing up in front, giving in the key with a turning fork, and beating time.
     There was great rivalry between the choruses of Jerome and Darby townships, and there were many concerts and musical contests.  In the summer of 1860, the singers of Jerome, Darby and Milford Center held an all-day concert in the grove on the farm of Michael Sager at Unionville.  A number of the music teachers were present in the interest of their favorites, and considerable feeling was displayed by the different factions - each chorus claiming the laurels.
     Of soprano and alto singers who were prominent in musical affairs in those days, and still residing in the vicinity, only the names of Amanda McCampbell Comstock, Phebe Curry Williams, Susannah Robinson Mckittrick, Mary Curry Gill, Nancy Bain Curry, and Jennie Taylor Carson are recalled, and of the young men tenor and bass, not one.  The Robinsons, Gowans, Cones, Liggetts, Dodges, Woodburns, McCampbells, Laugheads, Mitcheslls, Gills, Currys, Flecks, Beards and Bucks are al gone, and but few of that generation survive.
     There were few pianos and organs, but violins, flutes, and violin-cellos were the principal musical instruments.  Some of the young people were quite talented, and of the Cone family of seven boys, all were violinists.
     No public dances were held, but when the young people would meet in the evenings, even at the house of a strict Methodist or Presbyterian, they would indulge in a little social dance - a cotillion, swinging eight, Virginia Reel, or French four, with a jig dance by a few of the boys to the old tune of "Money Musk."
     Then there was the apple cuttings, which closed at 9 o'clock sharp, after all the tubs, jars and crocks had been filled with apples, pared, cored and quartered, ready to be strung on cotton cord two or three years long.  This trench was arched over with brick, and at one end a chimney several feet in height was erected.  The brick over the trench was then given a thick coat of clay mortar, smoothed down carefully, and soon dried ready for use by building a fire in the kiln.  Newspapers or a cloth was spread over the kiln to keep the fruit clean when it was put in, and inn this manner apples and peaches were dried for winter use.
     When the apples were all pared and cut at these evening gatherings, the floors without carpets were swept up, refreshments were served, and the evening festivities commenced.  The old plays were "Snap Up," March to Quebec," and many others.   Some of the older persons will recall the old song as the boys and girls would march around the room by couples.
" We're all marching to Quebec
   Where the drums are loudly beating
The Americans have gained the day
   And the British are retreating;
The War's all o'er and we'll turn back
   To the place where first we started,
We'll open the ring and choose a couple in,
   To relieve the broken-hearted."

     When a boy or girl was "out" they were assessed a pawn which was usually a handkerchief or a knife.  to redeem it the penalty was not very severe, sometimes being a mock-marriage to your sweetheart.  Some boy or girl would be blind-folded and the prosecutor would hold the pawn to be redeemed over the head of the judge, saying, "Heavy, heavy hangs over your head."   The judge questioning, "Fine or superfine?" - fine if it is a boy and superfine if a girl; then the penalty was pronounced by the judge.  When the company was congenial both boys and girls were pleased to be assessed some penalty for the pleasure of redeeming.
     There were wood choppings and the young men of the neighborhood would gather at some farmer's home, especially when the father or some of the boys were sick, but frequently just for a visit, chop wood and haul it to the home in long lengths, working al day, and a sufficient amount of wood would be chopped to last for many weeks.  On the same day, the girls would assemble at the house and have a quilting party.  In the evening a great supper would be spread and all would be merry with songs and plays until the "wee small hours."
     Corn huskings were also evenings of amusement and helpfulness among the farmers.  There was always some strife among the boys to see who could find the largest number of red ears, as every red ear found entitled him to kiss his best girl.  It would even be intimated that a girl would quietly pass a red ear to the right boy, or if a boy had any doubts about finding one, he would place an ear of the right color in a convenient pocket before he started to the "husking bee."
     The debating societies furnished entertainment and amusement for many winter evenings at the schoolhouses.  These debates were participated in by many of the old settlers who were well versed in current events and were good historians as well.  In fact, it may well be doubted if the average citizen of today is as well versed in the early history of the Republic as the pioneers of fifty years ago, and these debates were usually quite interesting.
     The best class of farmers usually took two or three weekly newspapers, one of which was a church paper, and it is recalled that the favorite one was, especially among the Presbyterians, "The Watchman of the Valley," published in Cincinnati.  "The Dollar Newspaper," published in Philadelphia, was also a favorite among the farmers, as in addition to all the current news, a continued story by one of the good writers was published, some of which continued for months.
     There were no dailies outside of the cities, and the arrival of the weeklies in the Saturday's mail was hailed with great interest.
     The writings of some of the standard prose writers and poets were in every household, including Shakespeare, Byron, Burns, Shelley, Scott, Young's Night Tohoughts, Josephus, Rollins, and many standard histories.  The Bible and hymn book was always on the stand in the living room, and they were both used every day.

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