On Aug. 22, 1806, Edward Phelps and his family arrived at the 500 acres he had bought along Alum Creek near Columbus. It had taken them two months to travel from Windsor, Conn. They found the property densely wooded, but the soil was rich and water plentiful, so they set about clearing land and building a cabin.

Other settlers soon followed. The town that grew up there in Blendon Township was eventually named Westerville to honor the Westervelt family. The Westervelts had donated land for a school - the Blendon Young Men's Seminary.

The seminary property was acquired by the United Brethren Church in 1846. The next year, the church opened Otterbein College - named for the church's founder, Philip William Otterbein. The college was unique in that it enrolled both men and women of any race. Thereafter, virtually the whole town of Westerville became involved in the anti-slavery movement.

Rebecca Goodman

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com call (513) 768-83