The following is an article written by  Mrs. Celesta Smith

and published in The Gravity Independent in the issues of

May 17, 24, and 31, 1934.

SOME EARLY HISTORY OF GRAVITY

In the following article I have written a few facts

that I have remembered in regard to Gravity's "Early

History" together with other information that I have

received. Hoping that it will be of interest to the

readers of the Gravity Independent, I have given it in

for publication.

The town of Gravity is situated about eight miles

northwest of Bedford. It has grown rapidly both in

population and in business ways. Her business men have

by their sound business methods increased their business

and enlarged their trade. The town was platted in 1881.

The year of the K. & K. R.R. was built through the

county.

The land upon which the town stands was purchased of

a Mr. Eichelberger. S.F. Taylor and Mr. Perkins surveyed

the lots Taylor Bros. sold them. The location for the

new town was first talked of being placed where Ladoga

now stands but it was finally decided to place it

nearer the center of the township so the present

location was decided on.

The new town was named after the Old Gravity Post

Office situated 1 1/2 miles west. It being an old

landmark, having stood there for many years. It was

at this place that Rev. A.E. McKay met with an accident

   that caused him to lose his arm. This misfortune

   resulted from his arm being caught in the belt of a

   threshing machine while at work there.

The town was incorporated in 1883 and T.J. Davis

was the first mayor. Mr. Phalen was the first town

clerk, and also edited the first paper, called the

Gravity Express. Frank Duncan was the first city

   marshall. The members of the first city council were:

   Frank Johnson, Sam Robinson, William Mellinger and

   Howe Penn. The first Postmaster was Frank McColm.

There were no trees in Gravity when the first 4th

of July Celebration was held so a temporary shed was

built up of poles. The top being covered with leafy

branches of trees, which furnished shade for the

occasion. The program included everything necessary

to make the day an enjoyable one. In those days the

"Fourth of July" was eagerly looked forward to. Many

come bringing their dinners and the day was enjoyed

by all.

McColm & Davis put in the first stock of drugs.

The store was built on the site where Horace Beemer's

garage now stands. Dr. and Mrs. McColm lived in the

upper front rooms over this store while T.J. Davis

and family lived in the upper rooms at the back part

of the store. This being their first residence in

Gravity.

The land on which the town of Gravity stands was

originally a cornfield and the stocks had to be cut

and the snow scraped off before the foundation for

the drug store could be laid. Mrs. Charles Martin

(formerly Mrs. Frank (Ida) Taylor nee Ida Davis)

says, that when they knew that the R.R. had been

completed up to within a short distance from the

town, and the builders would soon come in view,

that they eagerly watched for the first sight of

them. I will mention that a Mr. Sullivan was fireman

on the R.R. and was later succeeded by Manley Perdew.

Samuel Sampson was the engineer.

Miles Morris was the first banker, he conducted

business for a number of years and upon retiring he

sold to the Bedford Bank. W.E. Crane was President

of the Gravity Bank, with Charles Bailey cashier.

There was also a Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank

of which L.B. Payne was the President and Claude

Thomas was cashier.

Stouder & Sons general merchandise store was

situated a little north of where the W.F. Johnson

store now stands. They carried a large stock of goods.

The building material was hauled from Bedford and

the family lived in the back part of the store.

Taylor Bros. had a large store of general merchandise.

At Frnk Taylors death S.F. Taylor continued the

business for a long time. The store was then

purchased by J.W. Chitty. Jo Faith had a general

merchandise store on the east side of main street

and continued in business for a number of years. His

residence was the property now owned by Mr. J.P.

Taylor. William Mellinger also kept a store of

general merchandise. His family lived in the back

part of the store. This property was located on

the site where Dr. L.T. Reed now has his residence.

Joel Baldwin's grocery store was south of Horace

Beemer's garage. J.H. Brock purchased Taylor Bros.

grocery store after they started their general

merchandise store. The store was where the Telephone

office is now located. The first child born in

Gravity was his son, Otis Taylor Brock was the name,

Taylor being given in honor of the Taylor Bros. There

were other grocery stores later on. Taylor Bros.

general merchandise store was located somewhere near

where Chamberlins Jewelry store stands or where the

Drug store is located and did a thriving buiness.

Fluke Bros. Hardware store was located about where

Clark and Coy now have their barber shop. Robinson

and Tomplinson's Shoe shop was where F.O. Akin Lumber

Co. now stands. J.H. Penn Drug Store was about where

the Manahan store is now located.

Among the pioneers of the town were: Dr. J.T.

McColm, T.J. Davis, J.B. Stouder, Joseph Faith,

Frank and S.F. Taylor, G.L. Brookman and others,

who helped with its advancement. About 1908 L.B.

Payne was mayor, Elmer Brown was clerk, Henry Nott

was marshall, and J.P. Jones was street commissioner.

At that time members of the council were: L.T. Reed,

J.F. Hanna, S.B. Smith, L.G. Blakslee, J.G. Savage

and E.E. Ledgerwood.

Another merchant was R.W. Coan, who came here in

1900. His store was located where Johnson's store is

now. Elmer Chamberlin came to Gravity and engaged in

the Jewelry business in the year 1908. E. Burrows also

one of the early pioneers was engaged in the Harness

business.

James Manahan was at one time postmaster. Scott

Johnson and W.P. Pierson each served in that capacity

for a numer of years, also Sam Robinson was postmaster.

The first doctors were J.T. McColm, J.L. Holland,

Dr Bucholz, Kinney, Anderson, L.T. Reed and O.V. Long.

Dr. V.L. Dunlavy was the Gravity dentist almost from

the time the town was founded. Dr. T.J. Davis was the

Veterinarian. He was here when the town was first

platted and always had all the work he cared to do.

The Wolford Hotel was situated where Ilo Wilson's

Playhouse now stands. Ebenezer Fleming owned a hotel

on or near where Mrs. Vera Eggleston's residence is

located. Later on there were the Veng and Jones Hotels

and others. M.B. Parks kept a boarding house where

Ilo Wilson's residence now stands.

The Gravity cemetery was laid out in 1892. The

first one buried there was Mrs. Carry, the second

was Frank Taylor. The fist undertaker was Mr. Seavey,

followed by L.L. McGregor. Mr. McGregor was proprietor

of a furniture store. He carried a fine stock of

goods and enjoyed a good trade. There was an under-

taking department in connection and he owned a fine

funeral car.

The first Millinery shops were kept by Miss Alice

Peavey, Miss Jennie Brndy (sic), Miss Robinson and

others. The first dressmakers were Mrs. Mary Davis,

Mrs. Julia Sawvel, Mrs. Mary Ellen Dunlavy, Mrs.

Ella Brookman, and others. The first station agent

was Mr. Porter. The first blacksmith shop was run

by Uncle Hane Howard.

Gravity at one time supported more churches than

any other town in the county. The Methodist church

and the Christian church were both being built at

the same time. The Christian church was finished

first and was dedicated in August of the year 1885.

The dedicatory sermon being preached by Rev. J.F.

Lucas. The M.E. Church was finished in December of

the same year and the dedicatory sermon was preached

by Rev. Campbell. The Christian Church was organized

at Cottage Grove Schoolhouse by George Brookman, John

Stouder and others. Rev. W.L. Dunlavy was the first

pastor there and also the first pastor after the

removal to Gravity in 1883. Elder Dunlavy also

served nine years as pastor of the Christian Church

in Gravity. The Presbyterian people were not very

strong numerically, there being about fifty members

but they had one of the neatest church buildings

in the county. (The present Christian Church uses

their building because theirs burned in 1911 and

they moved there in 1914.)

The Baptists had a good church building and an

active working church. It was situated about where

the Albert Parks Gas Station now stands. The Free

Methodists also had an organization of zealous

workers, who carried on all the regular church work.

The Adventists organized a church in 1893 with 40

members. Among the organizers were H. Swander, A.F.

Hopkins and William West.

The first prayer meeting held in Gravity was in

the back part of Souders store. The first Sunday

School was held in the building north of the

Printing Office. George Brookman was the Supt. It

was a Union Sunday School. The M.E. Church services

were held in the temporary school building until

their church was finished.

The first school was taught in the building that

stood on the vacant lot between the Town Hall and

where Raymond Hickabout's garage now stands. The

first teachers were J.C. Aid, John Lemon, Miss Lydia

Stouder, and William Mellinger. Some of the teachers

who taught later were: Misses Lizzie Bennie, Martha

Clark, Luna Johnston, Lizzie Garner, Dora Weaver

and T.F. Armstrong.

Elsie Hopkins, Nettie Lavery, Stacy Steeves,

O.F. Mellinger, Wen Goff, Ed Whitmap, Lena Nellinger,

Artie Ving, Ida Greeley, Daisy Lewellin, and Chas.

Palmer were pupils, who graduated from the tenth

grade course in 1904. Francis Mellinger winning the

scholorship from the first graduating class. W.W.

Palmer was Superintendent and Dr. W.H. Cash, principal.

A school district was organized in 1883 and a

two room building was erected at a cost of $2,000

and in 1900 a four room building costing $5,000.

This building was too small to accomodate the

increased number of pupils so the board was again

called upon to furnish more room. At that time from

the County Superintendent, we learn that there were

143 pupils enrolled in school. They had an apparatus

valued at $500 and had 327 volumes in their library.

That year they paid $1,980 to the teachers. The

curriculum of study in the Gravity schools embraced

but ten grades until the 1904 when two more grades

were added.

There were three Rural Mail routes out of Gravity.

Route 1, Albert Dugan; Route 2, Henry Johnson; Route

3, A.O. Shank.

Gravity had quite a number of Fraternal Orders.

The Masons were a strong organization having an

Eastern Star lodge in connection. The Odd Fellows

had about 50 with a Lodge of Daughters of Rebecca

in connection. The Knights of Pythias probably came

second among the lodges in point of numbers. There

was an organization of Rathbone Sisters in connection.

The Woodman had a strong active working camp in

Gravity, as they had in nearly every town in the

county. Their uniformed drill team of Foresters

excited the admiration of all observers. They had an

active sister lodge of Royal Neighbors. Then they

organized a Yeoman Lodge which had a good membership

from the time it was established. Last but not least

are the G.A.R. Post of the Ladies Relief Corps.

There were quite a number of the heroes of 1861-65

living in and near Gravity at that time. The old

veterans of the Civil War were always faithful in

attendance at the lodge meetings. That fellowship

meant much more to him than lodge fellowship does to

the man of later generations. He saw his comrades

fast dropping from the ranks and knew that it could

last but a brief time. The Gravity Post held regular

sessions and the members kept up their Post work

with enthusiasm. The ladies of the Relief Corps

lacked none of the vim of the veterans of the G.A.R.

of which their order is a branch.

Some of the pioneer business men are mentioned

in the beginning of the chapter, and in 1908, Sam

Taylor, one of the first business was still in

business and looked to be good for years yet to come.

He conducted one of the three general stores. J.W.

Chitty, Stewart & Hanna, were proprietors of the

other two stores and carried a large and complete

stock of up-to-date goods and the proprietors were

men of business ability. G. Poston & Son carried

a stock of hardware, also a stock of groceries. B.F.

Chandler and his son, F.M. Chandler, were proprietors

of the lumber yard. They carried a complete line of

lumber, hardware, and also paints and oils. They had

also put in a plant for the manufacture of cement

blocks. In fact everything in the building line. The

firm's name was Chandler Lumber Co. which had been

in business since the early 90's. I might further

add that during his first residence in Gravity, F.M.

was first elected to the office of Mayor, when 22

years of age.

Two livery barns found business in Gravity. There

were two barber shops. Savage & Clark were the

proprietors of one and Richard Johnson the other.

The Clarinda Butter and Egg Company had a station

at Gravity, where they bought eggs, poultry and

cream.

Elmer Brown was Justice of the Peace for the

township of Washington, and he was also a Notary

Public. He also looked after collections and

insurance. There were two Real Estate firms, Lewis

Seymour and Ledgerwood, constituted one firm, and

Menogher & Stover the other. J.S. Francis had been

Editor of the Gravity Independent for some time and

was keeping the paper up to the high standard

attained by his predecessor, Stafford. Others also

edited the "Gravity Express" at different times

in the period of the town's "Early History." The

names were R.T. Burrell, Townsend, McColm, and Fleury.

There were two restaurants, one conducted by Joseph

Wisecup, the other by Ledgerwood.

Gravity had no resident attorney at that time.

Artz & Dennis had practiced law in the period of the

town's early history but they had both left Gravity

long ago. R.T. Burwell at one time practiced law here,

but he removed to Bedford, and became a partner of

L.T. McColm.

There were two practicing physicians in Gravity,

Dr. L.T. Reed and Dr. O.V. Long. Dr. Long was for

several years a partner of Dr. J.T. McColm. Both had

a good practice. Dr. L.T. Reed is still the town's

successful practicing physician.