History of Getaway, Ohio

Even Now Almost from Outside, Settlement was Established on Government Tract in 1820 by Two Virginia Pioneers

History of Getaway, Ohio By R. C. Hall, Ph. D. – About five miles up Symmes Creek from its mouth is situated the village commonly known as Getaway. Unincorporated, and therefore legally but a community of Union Township, it had an interesting history and one of sufficient importance to deserve recording and preserving. It is a village in which several descendants of pioneers still dwell, one of whom, Mrs. W. H. Waldeck has been kind enough to go to a great deal of trouble in collecting many facts for us regarding this historic old place.

The history of Getaway really begins in 1820, when Thomas Templeton came from Virginia and together with Samuel Huff purchased a large tract of land from the government. As this region lay just west of the Ohio Company’s Purchase and quite a distance east of the Symmes Purchase, it formed a part of the so-called Congress Lands which were sold to purchasers by the government under rules and regulations laid down directly by the Congress.

But purchasers had to go to the State Capitol, which was then situated at Chillicothe in order to secure their grants. It required two days for Messers. Templeton and Huff to make this journey on horseback over roads that were little more than Indian trails. However, the grant, written on sheepskin and signed by President Monroe, on the date of October 8, 1824, was finally secured and remains in good condition to this day.

Small Hamlet Grew

Thomas Templeton established his home on his grant and lived there for many years. His Son, Creed Templeton, Sr. was born there and lived to be over 100 years old, while the latter’s son James Templeton still lives in the vicinity. Armour Templeton Roscoe Templeton Mrs. John Ellis, John Templeton, Creed Templeton Jr., and Mrs. R. V. Cox, descendants of the original pioneer Thomas Templeton, as well as others of his descendants still live in, or about Getaway.

Other settlers soon came to the vicinity, among them Bennett Earles. He was better known as “Uncle” Bennett and was the father of Mrs. A. H. Keeney, M. B. Keeny, and other descendants still living there.

Thus, there soon grew up a small hamlet in the neighborhood of the home of Thomas Templeton and became known as Unionville. This was quite an appropriate name too, since the settlement showed signs of becoming the chief community settlement of Union township, especially if we except [accept] the settlements along the Ohio River.

But a new turn in the affairs of this community took place about 1835 when Francis Russell migrated to the neighborhood. He had married Miss Lois Morrison of Quaker Bottom. He had immigrated with his parents from Virginia, in about 1821, and was now eventually looking for a suitable place to establish a home for himself and his bride. He also secured the land grant from the government and, as it is said, he also made a horseback trip to Chillicothe to secure title to his land. In 1857, it appears that no [not] much road building had taken place in Southern Ohio during the intervening years since the immigration of Mr. Templeton.

Post Office Established

The Russell lands included many acres and a part of what is now Getaway. In fact, the first home stood in the northwestern part of the present village and the house is still standing and is occupied at present by his grandson, Frank Waldeck,

Mr. Russell sold tracts of his land to James Langdon, George Betts, J. C. Snyder, and Al. Crawford, Dr. J. S. Henry, James Hamilton, the Baptist church, and others. Thus, it will be seen that Mr. Russell laid the foundation for a real community of settlers. And, in fact, settlers were now becoming so numerous that they were beginning to demand conveniences usually associated with urban communities. Mr. Russell himself did much to supply these needs. He established a store, a blacksmith shop, a tan yard, a grist mill, and other business enterprises, while even a Post Office was secured for the community and named Russell’s Place with Mr. Russell as Postmaster.

As mail for the citizen of Unionville now had to be addressed to Russell’s Place if sent to the nearest post office, it was natural for people to begin calling the village by the newer name. So, Russell’s Place gradually supplemented the earlier name of Unionville.

Mr. Russell became one of the wealthiest men in Union Township. One of his daughters, Mrs. Sally Tomlinson, is now living in Ironton, Ohio. Another daughter, Emmeline, married, James Waldeck. Their son, Mr. W. H. Waldeck now operates a General Store at Getaway.

Mr. Waldeck, by the way, was named for the celebrated Confederate General Wade Hampton, as his parents had moved to Hamilton City, Kentucky, soon after the Civil War and, of course, found the name of Hampton especially cherished there.

Stricken by Plague

A daughter of James Waldeck, Mrs. Maude Waldeck Gerlach also resides at Getaway, while another daughter, Mrs. M. B. Keeney lives near there.

Francis Russell came from Virginia, where he was born in 1814, and being the founder of Russell’s place, shares the honor of founding the modern, getaway with Thomas Templeton, the founder of the union deal. Mr. Russell falls victim to the terrible plague of Asiatic Cholera, which swept the country in 1866. He was stricken while on a business trip to Ironton, [Ohio].

From its early settlement, the Getaway community was prominent in southern Ohio, as a religious center. Itinerant preachers of such denominations as the Methodists and Baptists almost always were attracted to such communities and these together with the United Brethren became the leading denominations of the settlement. After each had acquired some following, steps were taken to perfect an organization and erect a church building.

Thus, Harmony Baptist Church was established in 1857. Its first pastor was the Reverend James Kelly so prominent in Baptist circles throughout much of Lawrence County in the early days. For several years he acted as pastor of this church, coming to the monthly meetings on horseback from his home below Ironton and remaining with his flock from Saturday until the following Monday. Another of the early Harmony pastors was the Reverend Elijah Langdon.

During the winter, these pastors held revivals to which great crowds flocked on horseback, in sleds or sleighs, as the weather and circumstances dictated, but come they did. Many came, no doubt, for the thrill and excitement of it, for its novelty, or to have a place to go with a sweetheart or lover, or friend. Yet, no doubt, great good was accomplished as men and women, boys and girls were made to see the folly of sin and the advantage as advantages of righteousness.

Old Tabor Church Built

The Methodists built what was known as Old Tabor church on a hill to the west of the main settlement, but they maintain a campground at the Simmons place above the village. Of course, the Methodists had their revival meetings, but their camp meetings appear to have attracted the most attention in this community. For weeks during this summer, they encamped here and many of their most gifted preachers aroused their hearers by vivid portrayal of the terrors of the lost and the blessings of the saved in the world to come.

Of course, the Camp Meeting was also a great place for the gathering of others with a more worldly interest at heart, at least in part. Boys and girls sometimes utilized the time to fish in Symmes Creek while older boys and girls enjoyed each other’s company under the giant shade trees or in buggies riding about the neighborhood.

Oddly enough the two men who may be considered the founders of the village – Thomas Templeton and Francis Russell – appear to have been of the United Brethren persuasion. Moreover, they had by 1875, they had become perhaps the wealthiest and most influential members of that set in Southern Ohio. And they felt that there should be a special place of worship in the neighborhood for United Brethren and their adherents.

Accordingly, in that year, they had, at their own expense, a church building erected, at a cost, it said of $300. This building was named “Templeton Chapel”. Its first pastor was Jonah Frownfeller, one is said to have come there from Crown City, Ohio. He has been described as a fiery German and if hearers were terrified by the pictures of torment painted by the Baptist and Methodist ministers, they found small comfort in the preaching of Fronfeller, who appears to have had a technique all his own when it came to painting such word pictures.

Methodist Bought Chapel

These schools of Getaway, like those of most of the older places in Ohio, were, at first, subscription schools, i.e., a certain number of parents formed a sort of organization and each subscribed a certain amount of money to pay a teacher and defray the few other expenses than necessary for the holding of a school for a few months during the winter. Sometimes several terms were held during the year. Among the early teachers at Getaway were Alex Thacker, James Ross, and Frank Pritchard. So far as know all these teachers and their pupils have passed away. Of course, schools and teachers following those early ones were too numerous to mention in this sketch.

In 1898 a school was established here that deserves special mention. That was when the modern idea of professional training for teachers was just beginning to gain a foothold in Southern Ohio and many progressive teachers felt the Normal Schools would prove the solution to the problem of securing properly trained teachers for the young folks.

Accordingly, a Normal School was taught at Getaway by Oscar Neff and W. A. Russell. It proved to be so successful that it was continued the following year by W. A. Russell and Roscoe Wiseman, the enrollment reaching “the high-water mark,” so to speak, of over 100 students. Because of some large apple trees which stood in the schoolyard, it became known as” Orchard Academy”. After several years, however, due to changes in the requirements of teachers, the establishment of normal courses at colleges, the better means of communication, etc., the local normals disappeared, and with them went “Orchard Academy”. Some of these same conditions prevented the establishment of modern high schools in such small villages as Getaway, so the people there had to be content with merely a grade school.

Cemetery Established

It is Reverend Thacker’s daughter, Mrs. W. H. Waldeck who so kindly supplied many of the facts and verified others contained in this sketch. And it is Mr. Waldeck who operates the general store at Getaway to which we have referred. Their daughters, Josephine and Elizabeth are following in their mother’s footsteps as teachers, the formal in Huntington Business College, while the latter is a junior in Marshall College preparing for a teaching profession.

Samuel Langdon’s tombstone photo was taken by Carl Murdock.

In the Baptist cemetery lies also the bodies of Samuel Langdon and his wife, their graves being covered with cut stone carved by Peter Gerlach, a pioneer stone cutter who immigrated to the neighborhood from Pennsylvania. Mr. Langdon helped build the first log mill in the vicinity and passed away in 1861, followed by his wife in 1864.

The United Brethren also established a cemetery at Getaway but, like their church building, it later became the Methodist Cemetery. The remains of a number of the community’s pioneers, soldiers of the Civil War, and other leading citizens of the village and surrounding country, lie in these cemeteries.

Name Explained

We began this sketch as a history of Getaway and during this narrative, so far, we have used that name several times, although as we have stated, the village in question was first called Unionville and then Russell’s place. In recent years, however, it has been generally known as Getaway.

The story of it receiving this unique name is interesting. It seems that a stranger riding into the village one day, in, or about the year 1870, stop to chat with the Reverend Elijah Thacker who was building a fence along the road. The stranger probably was not very favorably impressed with the place and asked, in derision, “What is the name of this CITY?” Whereupon, the Reverend Thacker exclaimed in somewhat the same vein, “Getaway!”

The stranger took the reply good-naturedly but defended himself by saying that he thought such a title appropriate for this name of the place and so after this story was told to others a few times, the name begin to actually be applied to the village. And so, Getaway it became and has remained ever since.

In spite of the fact that Getaway has remained a small village and was, until the building of modern highways, almost isolated from the rest of the world, especially in winter, it has played an important part in the religious, educational, and political life of the township and county in which it is located. Yes, it may truly be said that it has played an important part in the history of the state and nation. For it has given liberally of its substance during at least three great crises in the country’s history, and it, is of course because such small communities were willing to do even MORE than their share that the nation has always weathered such storms so nobly.

Supplied Soldiers

It was in 1860 that Getaway was first called upon for military sacrifice. (We shall refer to the village by that name throughout the remainder of this narrative). In 1861, Captain Mackinallay kindly came from Ironton to muster troops for the cause of the Union.

Merchants deserted their stores, farmers left their fields, workmen turned from their shops, and ordinary business was suspended, as men and women took up the grim business of preparing for war. John Funston, of Getaway, became the drill master of the local company of soldiers being rapidly formed. Among the dozen men from the little village who volunteered were: Joshua Kite, Michael Keeny, A. P. Russell, Goldin Markin, Kimball Keeny, George Thacker, Harvey Thacker, and John Brammer.

For weeks the hills and dales about Getaway resounded to the strains of martial music, the tramp of marching feet, and the calls of the 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 with 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, who was first Lieutenant of this company. Captain Russell’s wife’s remains lie in the old United Brethren, now the Methodist, cemetery at Getaway.

Note from Martha: There is a George W. Thacker that was a CW Veteran buried at Harmony Cemetery at Getaway, Ohio. But he died in 1922 at the age of 80 years old. His tombstone was taken by the late Ernie Wright, you can view his photo on findagrave.com

Reverend Thacker Served

Nor were the brave boys who joined the army at Getaway the only ones at that place who saw service during the great conflict. Among those others was the Reverend Elijah 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 the married soldiers.

He is said to have sometimes had 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 intrusted [entrusted] became properly disbursed.

Before the war was over, Getaway was almost drained of its manpower, 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 in order 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 do 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 been discontinued only in recent years since the dwindling ranks of the” old soldiers” have given the opportunity to turn such celebrations into lines for which they originally were not meant and general interest in them lessened.

Corporal Neal Died

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, has passed away at Samar, Philippine Islands. He was the brother of Dr. W. E. Neal of Huntington, West Virginia, and his remains rest in the Methodist cemetery at Getaway.

Finally, during the World War, Getaway furnished men, with money, and materials for the cause of patriotism.  Getaway has never been the size 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 well be to point out that perhaps the reason Getaway lead 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 road skirting the northern edge of the village. During the 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 1866 the county took over the job and built what is known as the Getaway Pike.

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

Hope for Good Road

Roads continued very poorly until 1892 when the county built what was called a hard road through this region. This kind of hard road was built on a rock bed with a covering of slag and gravel. It was kind of quite an improvement, so far as the mud was concerned, but nothing to speak of from the standing of beauty or smoothness. Recently, this state has taken over this route and it is hoped that before long Getaway will secure a modern thoroughfare, which will repay, in part at least, for her years of isolation and apparent neglect.

About 1860, there was much agitation regarding a railroad and from then on until recent years, the people of Getaway were excited from time to time by reports that it was certainly coming. There were some real reasons to support such a belief, too. First, there were the coalfields of Jackson County to the north, which needed an outlet to the south.

And second, actually, surveys were made, and leases were signed. It would appear certain that something would have been done about it during the period of prosperity following the Civil War, but apparently, the people with the “big money” were attracted to other ventures and the proposed railroad was almost forgotten until the early part of the 20th century. And in 1907 and 1908 when prospectors entered the Getaway community and began leasing land to drill for oil and gas, it appeared more likely than ever before, that a railroad would be built through the village.

Some of the more optimistic citizens, it appears, could almost visualize a depot near the hill north of the village, and hear in their minds the whistle of the locomotive reverberating over the surrounding hills and dales. But like many other dreams it turned out to be just that and Getaway had to continue to depend upon the local highway for travel and trade.

Wooden Bridge Still Stands

In 1878, Getaway was favored a little by the county commissioners when they decided to build a bridge over Symmes creek to connect the main highway with the Rankin’s Creek road. The bridge, one of the old-fashioned covered wooden structures still stands and is an interesting reminder of those days. Its construction was quite a job at that time.

The abutments were built under the direction of Contractors John Bruce and Ivy Kelley. James Templeton saw to the unloading of the material shipped in the old steamer Lizzie Bay and put off at the Rockwood landing. John Dowling, the father of Mrs. Fred Winters of Chesapeake, was then a boy and cooked mess for the men employed on this undertaking.

Getaway has always been a residential rural village rather than the center of any large business or industry. However, during its long history, there have been a number of local industries that would serve the immediate community and without which the people would doubtless have found it difficult to get along. Of course, in the early days, the mill, of which we have already spoken, was perhaps the most important. Next, perhaps ranked the store, and later the post office.

At one time there was also a fine Shoemaker named Kegley who operated a shoe shop there. After the death of his wife, he was remarried, this time, to Mrs. Arbaugh. They had three children – Alex, Cinda, and Sophie. Cinda will be remembered by many people of Quaker Bottom as she made her home for many years with Mrs. Julia Eaton near Beulah.

James McCorkle also operated a shoe shop a Getaway about the Civil War period. A man named Drew, sometimes called Negro Drew and “Old Drew,” appears to have been the first blacksmith at Getaway. His methods were very crude, however, and he was followed by Black John Gerlack, one of a number of German immigrants who settled there soon after this Civil War.

He was quite an expert but moved to West Virginia and was succeeded by another German John Weppler. Then, J. M. Burns, or “Milt “as he was commonly known, operated a blacksmith shop for a time, and although a popular character, poor eyesight, and love of liquor rendered his work none of the best.

Lacked Physicians

In the early days, there were no physicians in Getaway except a few so-called “root doctors,” who visited the place with roots, herbs, etc. But when it was thought necessary to seek the services of a professional, some would go to Burlington, 16 miles away for “Old Doc Hall,” as a well-known physician there was called.

However, Dr. Shell Cross finally established himself at Getaway as probably the first resident physician, and, about 1857, Dr. Meers, father of Mrs. Mayme Robinson of Chesapeake, was located at Getaway. Thereafter a number of physicians, at various periods, served the people of the village and the surrounding country. Most prominent among them, perhaps, were Dr. J. S. Henry and Dr. A. C. Burns.

Mr. J. C. Schnider [sic] of Chesapeake appears to be the only certified undertaker who ever resided in Getaway. He began work of that nature there in 1905 but was removed to Chesapeake in 1929. However, the Reverend Elijah Thacker made some caskets there in connection with a furniture store that he operated during the Civil War period.

Although, as we have seen, Getaway has been a somewhat secluded village during most of its past history, it has not entirely escaped the unpleasantness of a rough and lawless element, which is practically always at least in some evidence in large places. At different times, two licensed saloons were operated there but, to the credit of the people of Getaway, it is said that both finally just died out, and as the saying goes, for lack of business.

Many other interesting things might be told about the little village of Getaway, but limited space forbids it at this time. Whole sketches might be written on the history of the churches, the schools, interesting persons, and families that have been or are associated with this community. Perhaps at some other time, we shall discuss some of these.

Again, we wish to thank Mrs. W. H. Waldeck and those who assisted her in collecting many of the facts of local Getaway history that she placed at our disposal and which are unavailable from any other source.

Herald Advertiser 24 July 1938 Note: This article was typed verbatim, except in several places where I marked through a word and inserted the correct word in brackets [ ]. In the spelling of Mr. Frownfeller is spelled two different ways in this article: Fronfeller and Frownfeller.