In 1818 four Massachusetts Yankees began their 600 mile hike to the wilderness that was to become Wellington, Ohio.

By the 1840's a thriving carriage making industry had taken root. By the time the railroad came through town in 1850 the growth and prosperity of the Village was assured. In 1855 Wellington Township was incorporated as a Village.

Wellington played a pivotal part in an event that contributed to the Civil War: September 1858, a runaway slave named John Price was seized by United States Marshall Lowe in Oberlin Ohio with plans to return him south by the first train in Wellington.

Plans were thwarted however, by a large crowd at the American House Hotel in Wellington. The people involved were indicted by the United States Grand Jury for violation of the "Fugitive Law". Ohio had clearly taken a stand against slavery!

"Cheese Empire of the Nation" became Wellington's infamous title during the four decades surrounding 1880.

With more than 40 cheese factories in the area, population more than doubled.

The Holstein was Queen and cheese was King!

The Town Hall was constructed in 1885 using a unique mix of Byzantine, Greek, Gothic, and Spanish architectural features.

The Opera House as well as the offices of Village Government were housed here.

The nineteenth Century provided Wellington with it's share of prominent citizens.

Two of these include Archibald M. Willard, creator of America's famous patriotic painting seen to the right and Myron T. Herrick, international statesman and governor of Ohio.