Columbia defeats demon rum

Columbia, a village just over Lucas County's north line in Marion, had a correspondent in 1879 who signed off as "Jones." And Jones was able to report in his dispatch to The Chariton Patriot dated Dec. 8 that his community's forces of good seemed to have turned back evil --- in the form of beer and whisky. Here's how the report goes.

"Mr. Editor Patriot --- Our village has been cursed with a man from Knoxville who came with a keg of beer and a jug of whiskey, which he called wine, and set up in an old tumbledown building and called his den a saloon. He was met by the M.E. minister on his arrival with a petition signed by about seventy of our citizens, politely requesting him to take his beer &c to where it was wanted more than it was in Columbia, to which he paid no attention. On last Thursday night some person that had the good of the community at heart broke in the front windows of the building, since which he has not been here, and we hope he will stay away."

So in this instance at least, vandalism in what many must have considered a good cause was affirmed.

Jones also reported that "Mrs. H.M. Finch, of Pleasant township, died on the 4th inst.; she was fully prepared for the change; her disease was consumption. She leaves a husband and three children. The family have the sympathy of the entire community."

This was Mary Fannie (Garrett) Finch, first wife of Hiason Milton Finch, whose Dec. 4 death had occurred a few days before her 28th birthday. She is buried in the Columbia Cemetery.

That's a postcard view of Columbia's main street during the late 19th century (above), borrowed from the Facebook page "Moons," a celebration of the family by that name and the old Columbia neighborhood in general.

Two pieces of news reported by Jones would have long-term implications for the village business district. The first, "J.F. Black, having closed out his store, is now settling up his books, prepariatory to a final move for a location somewhere in the West; he has moved his family temporarily to Knoxville. G.W. Stotts, having purchased Mr. Black's stock of goods, is recruiting up his stock and is offering as good selections as can be had in any country store and at low prices."

And the second: "G.W. May begins a three months term of school today in our town."

During 1880, George Washington Stotts would invite George Washington May to form a business partnership and the principal Columbia store operated as Stotts & May until 1886, when Stotts relocated to Woodburn in Clarke County. May continued to operate the business as the May Store, growing it into a major operation that continued well into the 20th century.

Finally, a short item about Columbia's cultural landscape: "Our literary society was reorganized a short time ago with E.W. McCorkle as President and Miss S.O. Prentice, Sect. Question for debate, Resolved, That the Present Temperance movement is and will be a success."

S.O. Prentice was my great-aunt, Sarah Olive Prentiss, who would marry Sam McCorkle two years later and eventually move to Nebraska. I wonder if Aunt Olive was among those applauding the temperance terrorist who had knocked in the saloon's front windows.