Xenia Historical Review - By: Taryn Carlson, VOLP Historian

Submitted: June 25th, 2013
(Edited and formatted by Shelly Moore, VOLP Blogger.)
 

*Click on any photo to enlarge.
 

 

Above: A map of Xenia prior to the tornado...

 

Above: A photo showing the path of destruction from the tornado of 1974; it goes right through Cherry Grove Cemetery - almost completely destroys it.

Above: An article in the newspaper that shows the devastation right after the storm. The mausoleum was carried away. The cemetery records were also lost.

 

 

Above: The underground railroad routes in Ohio. They go right through Xenia.

 

 

Above: A larger scale photo of Ohio's Underground Railroad Trails.

 

 

Above: A map of Xenia that shows the plot of land used for the "Colored Cemetery" - Obviously an old map because they use the term "colored." Our client's home is located on the opposite side of Lower Bellbrook Ave, which is right across the street.

 

Above: A map of the city from 1874; showing Samuel Wilson's land on both sides of Bellbrook Ave. Our client's home sits on the larger plot of this land.

 

It is located in Woodland Cemetery, but his grave site is shared with Rev. James Harper, as you can see on the marker. He was only related to Rev. Harper through the marriage of Samuel's son (Samuel) and James' daughter (Mary) - why they share a grave site, I have no idea...

 

* 

 

Let me start off by saying that it's amazing how things keep coming together when I go to research on certain locations.....I met Walt at the last location and he was more than helpful....and with this investigation, pertinent information was received minutes before I walked into the Greene County Historical Society.....or else the approach I would have taken with this case would have been much different.....

 

 I always like to look into the topography and geology of the land we are investigating as these things can help to fuel paranormal activity. I found out that all of Greene County sits on a lot of limestone. There are also many springs, flowing streams, and artificial wells in Xenia. All things that can help to enhance paranormal activity.

 

 Our clients had mentioned to us that they frequently heard what sounded to be Indian drums late at night. They reported that a lot of times they would be woken up by this noise in the early morning hours. That comes as no surprise to me after doing some research on the Native American tribes that would have roamed that land. Quite honestly, there is so much information on the different tribes in the Greene County area that I could not possibly fit it all in an email. What I can make brief mention of is that the Shawnee tribe was largest and most common tribe to inhabit that area. The Shawnee tribe was known to excel all other tribes in restlessness and hatred for the white man. The Shawnee tribe considered themselves superior to other tribes and they were proud to a fault. Due to all the Native American influence on the Greene County area, it's not surprising that some residual energy from these tribes may still linger where they once claimed the land to be theirs. Especially, when something so precious and spiritual to them, the land, was taken from them in a rather abrupt and forceful manner.

 

 As we did our initial walk through of the Xenia residence, while in the kitchen, Victor had begun to pick up on the presence of what looked to be a priest. Victor told the family this was a good spirit to have around as he saw this man praying for and protecting the home. He also mentioned that he was wearing a long robe or cloak, similar to that of a priest's robe. This is where it gets interesting! A few days after the investigation, minutes before I arrived at the Historical Society, I received a text from Ericka, our case manager, explaining that our client had just been given some information on the previous owner of their land. It was a man by the name of Samuel Wilson. The client wasn't sure if this information would be helpful or not, but let me tell you it most definitely was. Upon entering the Historical Society I told the curator, Cathy, about the email I had just received and gave her the name of this gentleman. I was expecting her to look at me as if this name was of no significance to her, but instead she responded with a quick, "Oh yes. Definitely. I know of him." "Reverend" Samuel Wilson would be the appropriate title. She was able to show me a map of the sprawling farmland that Rev. Wilson had once owned off of Lower Bellbrook Ave, as this is the exact location of our investigation. I told her about Victor seeing a man wearing a priest's robe and Cathy told me, "Well that makes sense actually, because back in those days most ministers wore what is called a Geneva gown." It turns out she was doing some research for a family on a good friend and neighbor of Samuel Wilson's so she was able to provide me with lots of information on him. The more I read about Rev. Samuel Wilson, the more things seemed to piece together. Let me tell you a little bit about Rev. Samuel Wilson and the impact he had on the Xenia area.....

 

Rev. Samuel Wilson was born May 5, 1806, in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania. Rev. Wilson graduated from Jefferson College in 1824 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the United Presbyterian Theological Seminary at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. Upon his graduation from the Seminary, he was licensed to preach in August of 1829, and was ordained by the Miami Presbytery in 1831. He located in Xenia, and became pastor of the Associate Church, and conducted an active pastorate there for nearly a quarter of a century. In 1832, he married Miss Mary Cunningham of Xenia, and she gave birth to nine children. He resigned from the church in 1855 in order to devote his time and attention to the work of teaching Hebrew and theology in the Xenia Theological Seminary. In 1877, he resigned from the Seminary due to the infirmities of age. Rev. Samuel Wilson passed away in 1887, and his wife Mary followed soon after in 1889. What's important to note is that Rev. Wilson was huge in the abolitionist movement in Xenia. He was known as one of the first abolitionists and one of the first people to speak out against slavery in the Xenia area. In fact, the first abolitionist meeting in Xenia was held at Rev. Wilson's home on East Market St (which is now the Assembly of God church). Apparently, Rev. Wilson had originally organized the meeting to be held at the Associate Church in Xenia. Upon learning this information, the church's deacons stated they had not given permission for the church to be used for such a meeting and would not allow it to be held at the church. So, Rev. Wilson held the meeting on his front lawn! It was said that the meeting was well attended and peaceful. Rev. Wilson was in no way ashamed of what he believed in and began to preach his anti-slavery doctrines from the pulpit. As a result, he drove away many influential members of the church. However, this did not discourage Rev. Wilson from openly voicing his anti-slavery beliefs. It is also known that Rev. Wilson's second home on East Market Street is one of many sites identified as part of the Underground Railroad which ran right through Xenia. So how does all this tie into some of the claims from our clients?

 

It's important to know that we investigated two houses for this family. The family had reported activity going back and forth between the houses with the youngest child of three having the most experiences. A few days before we had arrived the youngest child had reported that she had a new mama now. "I have a black mama and she wants me to call her 'Mama.'" Finding it odd, the family was certain to tell us about this when we arrived for our initial walk through. Upon entering the second house, Victor looked across the street and noticed a cemetery. It was the Cherry Grove Cemetery. After doing some research on the cemetery I was able to find out that it was originally a colored burial site. It was chartered in 1864 so that persons of color might have a cemetery in their neighborhood about one and a half miles west of the city. A devastating tornado swept through Xenia on April 3, 1974 and almost destroyed the cemetery. Trees and shrubbery were uprooted, the mausoleum was left in ruins, gravestones were toppled off their foundations - broken and scattered throughout the cemetery and some records were lost. Through the heroic effort of trustees and lot owners, much of the cemetery has been restored although there still remains evidence of havoc from the tornado. The trees are gone and nine feet of the west side (Section A) was converted into half lots. Lot D21, formerly the mausoleum, is now a storage shed. If there is one thing I have noticed when investigating the paranormal, it's not to mess with someones final resting spot. Although this was not someone being disrespectful and playing some dumb prank in a cemetery, but instead a natural disaster, someones final place of rest was disturbed and some destroyed in a very violent way. This is definitely something that can stir up paranormal activity.

 

Victor had reported during his walk that he did see spirits coming over from the cemetery on a regular basis. He also mentioned that it seems as if they arrive at the same time every night, almost as if it is planned. The family confirmed this and reported that activity was always the strongest during the hours of 1AM-4AM. This is how I begin to piece it all together.....see if you agree with me. We have learned that Reverend Samuel Wilson was an honorable and courageous man. He was big in the abolitionist movement and was a conductor in the Underground Railroad. It's said that some slaves are buried in the Cherry Grove Cemetery across the street, so doesn't it make sense that they would be drawn toward the man who at one point in time in his life risked it all to help fleeing slaves reach their ultimate goal of freedom? It's known that the Underground Railroad was a intricately detailed operation. It had to be, in order for it to be so successful. It's also known that most of the fleeing took place at night. I've read once that tools, placed on the ground near trees and bushes on one's property, facing a specific direction, were actually used as arrows or directional devices. Very sneaky! Certainly no one would think twice about some tools laying in one's property....Everyone had tools back then! Could it be that these spirits are used to being active in the early hours of the morning and that's why this family is experiencing the most activity during this time? I believe there is some connection between the significant and daring role played by a man of such high integrity, and those who sought his help in their journey to a life of freedom....perhaps one that can even withstand the obstacle of death.
 

-Taryn Carlson, VOLP Historian