Editing Wellington, Ohio (section)

==History==
The rights to naming the village were given as a reward for how much road could be contracted to build. The original winner of the contest picked the name “Charlemont,” to near universal disdain. The rights to name the town then went to William Welling, who chose the name “Wellington,” either after himself or the Duke of Wellington.

Wellington was incorporated as a village in 1855.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA876 | title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States | publisher=Routledge | date=May 13, 2013 | access-date=November 30, 2013 | author=Hellmann, Paul T. | pages=876| isbn=978-1135948597 }}</ref>

In 1858, the former American House Hotel (later torn down and replaced by Herrick Memorial Library) was the site of the [[Oberlin-Wellington Rescue]]. A group of men, both white and black and many from [[Oberlin, Ohio|Oberlin]], swarmed the hotel to rescue runaway slave John Price.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} He was being held by a US Marshal and his men, who intended to return him to his master in [[Kentucky]].{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

The abolitionists transported Price out of town en route to the [[Underground Railroad]] and helped convey him to Canada. Thirty-seven men were indicted, but only two, [[Simeon M. Bushnell]] and [[Charles Henry Langston]], were tried in federal court for interfering with the marshal in carrying out the [[Fugitive Slave Law]].{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} After Langston's eloquent speech about slavery and discrimination, the judge gave them light sentences. The events and trial received national attention, and kept the issue of slavery at the forefront of debate.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

[[Archibald M. Willard]], painter of the patriotic ''Spirit of '76'' painting, lived in Wellington during the 19th century. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery on the outskirts of the village. The Spirit of '76 Museum,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thespiritof76museum.org/|title=The Spirit of '76 Museum|website=The Spirit of '76 Museum}}</ref> also located in Wellington, is dedicated to Willard and the history of Wellington. The original drum and fife used as models in the painting are also on display.

On [[New Year's Day]], 1951, two eleven-year-old boys, Gerald Kordelsky and William Flood, accidentally drowned in an abandoned well at Chismar Farm in Wellington.<ref>"Two Elyria Boys Drown In Abandoned Well." ''Toledo Blade'', January 1. 1951. p 19 Web. March 22. 2014</ref>

In 2010, Wellington was named the "Best Old House Neighborhood" for the state of Ohio by ''This Old House Magazine'' in their annual feature article.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thisoldhouse.com/21017799/best-old-house-neighborhoods-2010-the-midwest|title=Best Old House Neighborhoods 2010: the Midwest|first=This Old|last=House|date=February 10, 2010|website=This Old House}}</ref>