Getaway Ohio History Part Four

Editor’s Note – This is the fourth in a series of articles concerning the early days of Getaway, Ohio, in Union township. The series, which will be concluded next Sunday, was prepared by R. C. Hall, Ph. D., of Proctorville, Ohio.

Ironton Evening Tribune, December 11, 1938

By: R. C. Hall

For weeks the hills and dales about Getaway resounded to the strains of martial music, the tramp of marching feet, and the calls of patriotic oratory. But when the boys assembled at the old Baptist Grove to march away to meet the foe, excitement gave way to the gloom, thrills to sadness, and there was not a little weeping and lamentation, although no weakening of the patriotic ardor which sustained even the timidest soul in that trying hour.

And then, within a few months, the reality of war was brought even more forcefully home to the people of Getaway when news of the death of young George W. THACKER.

This brave youth had, but a short time before, run away from home to join the Union Army, and like a hero of Waterloo, he rushed to meet the foe and “fighting foremost fell” at the Battle of Bull Run.

His remains were brought back and laid to rest in the old Baptist cemetery where they rest today besides those of his wife. A. P. RUSSELL, father of Mr. B. W. RUSSELL of Chesapeake, Ohio, and M. W. RUSSELL of Chicago, Illinois, was first Lieutenant of this company.

The remains of Captain RUSSELL and his wife lie in the old United Brethren, now the Methodist Cemetery at Getaway. Headstone Photo of George W. Thacker was taken by Ernie Wright and is available on findagrave.com

Nor were the brave boys who joined the army at Getaway the only ones in that place which saw service during the great conflict. Among these was the Rev. Elisha THACKER, who joined in Kentucky and became Chaplain of the 45th Kentucky Volunteers.

He later became a delegate to bring home funds to wives of married soldiers. He is said to have sometimes as high as several hundred dollars in his saddlebags, and when forced to spend the night among strangers, he would toss the saddlebags carelessly in a corner as though they contained nothing of value. In this way, he avoided drawing attention to the money and never lost a dollar, all the funds with which he was entrusted being properly distributed.

Before the war, Getaway was almost drained of its manpower, with only those unfit for military service being left at home with the women and children. The latter did the best they could to keep the home fires burning, and even in times of great excitement, such as during Morgan’s Raid, the women ran bullets, prepared defenses, and in other ways took up actual military work to protect their homes and loved ones from the invader. Fortunately, the raiders passed the northward and Getaway was spared actual warfare.

It was a great day at Getaway as elsewhere throughout the North, when the great conflict was over, and the “Boys came marching home,” saddened only by the memory of those who did not return. Soon the Grand Army of the Republic was organized and numbered among its members many of the veterans of Getaway.

Great celebrations were held for years on patriotic holidays with flying flags, martial music, and thrilling oratory. These gatherings have only been discontinued in recent years since the dwindling ranks of the old soldier have given the opportunity to turn such celebrations into lines for which they were not originally meant, and general interest in them has lessened.

During the Spanish-American War, Getaway again came to the front to offer her manhood on the altar of freedom, so to speak. Corporal Leonard B. Neal was one of the casualties of that war, having passed away at Samar, Philippine Islands. He was a brother of Dr. W. E. Neal of Huntington, W. Va., and his remains rest in the Methodist cemetery at Getaway.

Finally, during the World War, Getaway furnished men, money, and materials for the cause of patriotism.

Getaway, Ohio, in Lawrence County, Ohio, has never been the site of any “big business,” as we generally use that term today, although a number of local industries have flourished there from time to time.

But before mentioning these, it may be well to point out that perhaps the reason Getaway led such a secluded existence for so many years was poor means of communication. Up until the Civil War, the only line of communication connecting it with the outside world was a so-called road skirting the northern edge of the village.

During winter, this road was abandoned by all but the few who almost had to travel it. The township apparently was unable to provide anything better, so in 1868, the County took over the job and built what was known as the Getaway Pike, although it was but a slight improvement, especially in winter.

A particularly bad spot known as “Bud (sic Mud) Bridge” near the west end of the village rendered this road practically impassible in winter. The Mud bridge was simply a fill across a low place and built up on the sides with logs and filled in with logs, dirt, etc., which, in bad weather, naturally became a sad mixture of mud and debris.