A Walk Through History: Learn about the history of Westerville, Ohio. This newsletter was created by the Westerville Library’s Local History Center.

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War of 1812 Drummer Boy: Gideon Hart
Gideon Hart was born in Hartford County, Connecticut, in
July 1795. His father Dr. John Hart was in the Continen-
tal Army during the Revolutionary War. Gideon followed
in his father’s footsteps and served in the War of 1812.
Because he was only a teenager he was a drummer boy
with a Connecticut regiment.
Drummers served in all our early conflicts–the Revolu-
tionary War, frontier battles, and the War of 1812. Later
they served in the Mexican War and the Civil War. These
young soldiers played a vital role, as they served as the
primary means of communication between officers and
men. They were responsible for memorizing up to 40 beats to communicate to the soldiers they
were marching into battle with. The drum and fife called troops to arms, signaled changes in strat-
egy, and provided the cadence for marching.
Although army drummers were usually young adult males, some young boys were trained to take
their place—even starting as young as eight years old. Some of the boys were carried on the shoul-
ders of fellow soldiers, protected and endeared by their older companions. These young drummers
were not intentionally put near dangerous areas of battles, but it wasn’t rare for them to receive
injury as they marched with the troops to fight.
Gideon Hart came to Westerville shortly after the War of 1812 and settled on land that was grant-
ed his mother as the widow of a Revolutionary War soldier. His home built in 1820 still stands on
Hempstead Road.
Gideon moved 650 miles from Hartford
County to Westerville.Gideon Hart’s home on 7328 S. Hempstead Rd.
THE WESTERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
LOCAL HISTORY RESOURCE CENTER NEWSLETTER
Spring 2013
A Walk Through Westerville History
The War of 1812 in Westerville
In 1812, throughout the small villages and farm communities of Ohio, tension was high as
residents feared attack by the British and the Native American tribes who were their allies.
In Westerville, husbands and sons were called to serve in the militia. Among the very earliest
families to settle Blendon Township were the Griswold and Phelps families. When the local mi-
litia was formed, Abram Phelps was the colonel and Edward Jr. was the captain. Isaac Griswold
served also.
During the conflict between the Ohio settlers and the Native Americans in 1808, the local
pioneers sent their women and children to the log cabin of Edward Phelps Sr. for shelter, be-
cause it was considered the strongest and best constructed of the log homes in the area. But
by 1812, it was decided that a new place of protection must be constructed. The settlers got
together and built a log fort where Pioneer Cemetery is today. This was where the women and
children went when the men left to serve in the militia. The door was built to withstand attack
so was very heavy and required multiple people to latch it into place.
The militia men had to
provide a lot of their
own equipment and
ammunition. During
the conflict the settlers
melted pewter pieces
that they had brought
with them when they
migrated to Ohio. They
poured the molten
pewter into molds in
order to make bullets
to use in their mus-
kets.

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Timeline of the War of 1812
Jan . 1812
U.S. declares war on
Great Britain because
they are stopping U.S.
ships and taking sailors
off and forcing them to
serve in their navy
July 1812
U.S. General Hull
enters Canada- first of
three attempts of the
U.S. forces to invade
Canada. All failed.
April 1813
U.S. forces capture city of
York in Canada (present-
day Toronto) and burn it to
the ground
May 1813
Sept. 1813
Oct. 1813
Aug. 1814
Sept. 1814
Jan . 1815
Feb. 1815
Siege of Ohio’s Ft.
Meigs by the British
Capt. Perry defeats
British in the naval
Battle of Lake Erie
Native American
warrior Tecumseh
killed in battle in
Canada
British burn
Washington D. C.
Battle of Baltimore-
Frances Scott Key
writes the Star-Span-
gled Banner because
the U.S. flag continues
to fly during the fight at
Ft. McHenry
The Battle of New
Orleans- Andrew
Jackson defeats the
British
President Madison
declares war over as
the Treaty of Ghent
is ratified ending the
conflict

3. Spring local History Programs
The Local History Center is offering free guided walking tours of
historic Uptown Westerville for elementary school classes. The
walk takes approximately 90 minutes, making a loop through old
Westerville. Students will be treated to stories of the founders of
the community, residents who participated in the Underground
Railroad, and information about homes and businesses. The
Anti-Saloon Museum and local history displays at the Westerville
Public Library are part of the tour.
To schedule a tour, contact Beth Weinhardt at 259-5028 or at
bweinhar@westervillelibrary.org
Walking Tours
Westerville History
The Local History Center is scheduling programs for spring.
Let us bring history to your classroom. We will share stories
about the early pioneers of Westerville, show old photos of the
town, and talk about the growth of and change in the com-
munity with special emphasis on a transportation timeline.
Classroom programs can be scheduled by contacting Beth
Weinhardt at 259-5028.
Become a fan of “Westerville History” to
see weekly posts, old photographs and
upcoming events in the Westerville Local
History community.
Activities
Vocabulary from Reading
musket: a muzzle-loading shoulder gun with a long barrel
pewter: any of mixture of tin with small amounts of other
metals (especially lead)
militia: civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular
army
Do you know the lyrics to our National Anthem? Test your knowledge below by filling in the miss-
ing words.
Oh, say, can you ____, by the ______ early light,
What so _______we ______at the twilight’s last _______?
Whose broad _____ and bright _____ through the
perilous _______,
O’er the ________ we watched, were so ________
streaming?
And the rockets’ ____ _____, the ______ bursting in air,
Gave _____ through the night that our
_____ was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled ________ yet ______
O’er the land of the ______ and the home of the _____?
If you had to go to the log
fort like the pioneers during
the war and could bring only
three things, what would you
choose?
1.
2.
3.
Oh,say,canyousee,bythedawn'searlylight,
Whatsoproudlywehail'datthetwilight'slastgleaming?
Whosebroadstripesandbrightstars,thro'theperilousfight,
O'ertherampartswewatch'd,weresogallantlystreaming?
Andtherockets'redglare,thebombsburstinginair,
Gaveproofthro'thenightthatourflagwasstillthere.
Osay,doesthatstar-spangledbanneryetwave
O'erthelandofthefreeandthehomeofthebrave?
Answer Key
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