OLENTANGY

April 3, 2008

by Carole Wilhelm

It is appropriate that an Ohio historical marker commemorating Nathan Carpenter -- who established the first settlement in what would become Delaware County -- will be dedicated during the county's bicentennial year.

Nathan Carpenter was born in 1757 in Rehoboth, Mass., and served in the Revolutionary War with the Connecticut militia. He married and moved to New York State for six years before buying land in the Ohio Territory in 1800.

The historical marker will be on the grounds of the Liberty Presbyterian Church at state Route 315 and Home Road. This is land Carpenter would have paddled by as his small group arrived in the spring of 1801 and settled along the east bank of the Olentangy River just north of the site. Carpenter is buried on the land, known as Marycrest Farm. Many of his descendants are buried in the Liberty Church cemetery, among them, his grandson, also named Nathan.

The church had such significance in the early settlement of our county that it is also being recognized on the marker. It was 1810 that Elders Thomas Cellar, Josiah McKinnie and Leonard Monroe formed the first religious society in Liberty Township. Cellar provided the land for the church and cemetery in 1820, and soon a schoolhouse was constructed.

As we move through life in the 21st century, with million-dollar homes in our city and township, healthy folks living to be 100, high-tech equipment in our homes and businesses, and churches with 1,000 members, consider some of these facts from 200 years ago:

Carpenter bought 520 acres for $1,500. His first cabin "was rudely chinked with split sticks and covered with bark, but without floor or chimney. Flat stones were set up against the logs to make a safe place to build a fire."

Carpenter died at age 56 when he fell from a horse not interested in following the trail along the river in the darkness of night.

Carpenter built the first mill in Liberty Township in 1804. Run by water power, it served the community in two ways. It ground grain for meal and also was a sawmill, providing lumber for the families arriving from the northeast. People in upstate New York were enthusiastic about coming to the Ohio Territory with its "delightful climate and inexhaustible wealth."

It appears from research done by E.G. Taggart that there were nine original members of Old Liberty Church. For 10 years, members met in homes during the winter and in the woods during the summer.

A history written by Harriet Frye cites a document dated 1824 which indicated 15 people pledged from 50 cents to $2 for construction of the first building. George and John Cellar enclosed the frame of the building for $70.

It may surprise you that the person responsible for securing this historical marker, Richard Converse, lives in South Carolina. Converse has committed many of his retirement hours to researching local history. His work led to the dedication of two other markers.

One, "The Union Land Company and the Case Family," is at Highbanks Metro Park, and the other, "Anson Williams and The Village of Williamsville," is in Orange Township. Although Converse grew up in Columbus, the Ohio Historical Society says it is unprecedented to have approved three historical markers researched by someone living outside the state.

This dedication will include comments from Kim Cellar, a descendant of Thomas Cellar. In addition, the Rev. David Redding and the Rev. John Hart, past and present pastors of Liberty Presbyterian Church, will speak. Judith Brozek of Liberty Township, a preservationist and writer, and David Betz, president of the Powell Liberty-Historical Society, will participate.

The dedication will be held on Saturday, May 3, at 10:30 a.m. by the old chapel in the church yard. The community is invited to attend and learn much more about the earliest settlers and settlement.

Carole Wilhelm is a member of the Powell-Liberty Historical Society.

(04/07/2008)