Northwood is a small,
unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
crossroads village
In Colonial American history, a crossroads village is a settlement that was situated where two or more roads would intersect. The owners of farmland along a frequently traveled trail, path, or road, often paralleling a water route, would plan a ...
in northern
Logan County Logan County is the name of ten current counties and one former county in the United States:
* Logan County, Arkansas
* Logan County, Colorado
* Logan County, Idaho (1889–1895)
* Logan County, Illinois
* Logan County, Kansas
* Logan County, ...
,
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, United States. It lies along the line between
Richland Township and
McArthur Township, approximately two miles south of the
village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...
of
Belle Center and near the South Fork of the
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River (also called the Miami River) (Shawnee: ''Msimiyamithiipi'') is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accesse ...
. Northwood was founded in the early 19th century, during the early years of settlement in Logan County. Its primary significance lies in its being the original site of
Geneva College.
Geneva College
During the 1830s, the Rev. J. B. Johnston, pastor of the Miami
Reformed Presbyterian Church in Northwood, began teaching a small
classical school in his study. Friends and relatives, noticing the popularity of his classes, began to suggest the opening of a small
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...
in the area. Eventually, Geneva Hall was opened in the spring of 1848, partially under the oversight of the Lakes
Presbytery of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Despite its initial popularity, the school soon failed for lack of money and support. At the end of the
Civil War
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
, Geneva was reopened as a school for
freedmen
A freedman or freedwoman is a formerly enslaved person who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, enslaved people were freed by manumission (granted freedom by their captor-owners), emancipation (granted freedom a ...
and soon began to educate whites as well. The community received a post office on November 24, 1868.
During the 1870s, its name was changed from Geneva ''Hall'' to Geneva ''College'', and the college became significant enough that the town's name was changed to "West Geneva". Although the college flourished, it moved to
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,005 at the 2020 census. Located 31 miles (50 km) northwest of Pittsburgh, the city lies along the Beaver River, six miles (9 km) north of its c ...
in 1880, largely because of Northwood's lack of a railroad and because of greater financial possibilities there.
Other schools
During the Geneva years, Northwood also hosted two other educational institutions. As Geneva was founded as a men's school, Rev. Johnston founded a similar Female Seminary in 1851. Furthermore, the
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary operated in Northwood for a short time.
History of the Seminary
Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Accessed 2007-07-24.
Other history
Because of the strongly abolitionist
Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people.
The British ...
beliefs of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and because of small cave
A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...
s in the woods and fields nearby, Northwood was a center for the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. ...
.
After 1880, Northwood declined. While Northwood was never a large town, the departure of the College removed the village's significance, and "West Geneva" reverted to the old name of Northwood. Its post office closed on June 6, 1901, and local residents received Belle Center addresses.quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their envi ...
and asphalt
Asphalt, also known as bitumen (, ), is a sticky, black, highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It may be found in natural deposits or may be a refined product, and is classed as a pitch. Before the 20th century, the term a ...
plant.
Notable natives
* Clarence E. Macartney, prominent Presbyterian preacher and author
References
External links
Detailed Logan County map
{{authority control
Unincorporated communities in Ohio
Unincorporated communities in Logan County, Ohio
Populated places on the Underground Railroad