The story of Wheeling Gaunt, an Ohioan who rose from slavery to successful community benefactor
Shared By Frances McGee-Cromartie, retired judge and community volunteer, co-chair of the Under-Told Stories Committee
Wheeling Gaunt
I’d like to tell the story of Wheeling Gaunt, a man who was born approximately two hundred years ago and left a legacy of generosity that is still felt today. The story takes place in Yellow Springs, a rural town located in Southwest Ohio in Greene County and provides a lesson of how caring for others can create a positive ripple effect.
The main character is a man named Wheeling Gaunt who lived a remarkable life before he settled in Ohio around the 1860’s.
Childhood and early life
Wheeling Gaunt began his life in Carrollton, Kentucky circa 1815. His father was an attorney named John Gaunt, his mother was an unnamed woman held in bondage by his father. Wheeling Gaunt’s status as the son of his bondsman may have given him privileges not given to others in similar circumstances. Records show that young Guant took advantage of the opportunities that he was given and as a result was able to move ahead.
In addition to the work he had to do as an enslaved person, Gaunt was permitted to take on extra work and keep the money he was paid. His jobs included picking apples and shining shoes. Guant’s industry and understanding of business practices allowed him to purchase his freedom upon the death of his father/owner in 1845. The records from the next fifteen years show Gaunt continued to work hard and save his money. With his proceeds, Gaunt purchased the freedom of his wife Amanda whom he married it 1839 and that of a young man named Nick whom others have identified as a family friend or his son. Records also show that Gaunt bought and sold real estate in downtown Carrollton, Kentucky.
The move to Ohio
The Gaunts lived in Carrollton Kentucky until the 1860’s when he sold his properties and moved to Yellow Springs, Ohio. Some authors have speculated that this decision was the result of current events of the day including the prospect of dissolution of the Union. Other troubling current events included the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dred Scott case, the enactment of the Fugitive Slave law, the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue and/or John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry. Other authors have opined that the Gaunts decided to make Greene County their future home upon learning of the chartering of Wilberforce College, an institution dedicated to educating free people of color; while others argue that Gaunt was drawn to the area by the preaching style of the Reverend Daniel Payne, the President of Wilberforce. Gaunt and his wife, Amanda, first appeared in Ohio tax records in 1864.
“It’s not what you have, but what you share.”
The Gaunts found acceptance in Yellow Springs, a rural village whose Quaker influence of tolerance toward others is present today. As they set down roots, Wheeling Gaunt used his business sense to build his fortune and help others. His personal motto, “It’s not what you have, but what you share,” along with his actual acts of generosity within the Yellow Springs community led to his success in his newfound home.
Gaunt continued to buy and sell real estate throughout Yellow Springs; often helping other families establish a home and move ahead. On one occasion, Gaunt purchased a home situated on a prime location near the center of the village that he later sold to a family for the sum of one dollar. Much later, members of this family recounted to reporters the impact of this largesse upon their lives. The gift they noted had, indeed, been beneficial to their family’s stability and ability to move ahead.
Through acts of generosity and benevolence, Gaunt became a wealthy man. In an era where the average day laborer made approximately $500 a year, Wheeling Gaunt had access to twenty times that amount. Though listed as a day laborer on the 1870 census, Gaunt listed his net worth as $10,000: holding $4,000 in cash and $6,000 in real estate.
A final act of generosity
In 1884, as his life was winding down, Wheeling Gaunt began disposing of his material possessions. To Wilberforce College and Payne Theological Seminary nearby, he donated a house and $5,000.
His wife Amanda died in 1889 and Gaunt was remarried thereafter. Gaunt himself died in May 1894. It was stated that the church where his funeral was held was filled to capacity; attended by Black and White residents alike.
Gaunt left a will with many specific bequests. To his second wife, Elizabeth, he left $7,000.00. Bequests were also made to Wilberforce College and to the Village of Yellow Springs where he deeded 9-1/2 acres of land upon which wheat was grown. The proceeds from the sale of crops on this land were to be used to support “poor, worthy widows.”
The first distribution was made in the fall of 1894 where 23 widows each received three sacks of flour totaling approximately 75 pounds; it has been said that this bequest permitted the recipients to bake enough bread for a year.
The legacy of generosity continues
Through the years, the Village has continued this tradition; Christmas of 2024 marked the 131st distribution of flour to Greene County widows. However, to align with the changing tastes of its residents and acknowledging the fact that fewer families make their own bread each week, the gift is now 10 pounds of sugar and 10 pounds of flour.
Wheeling Gaunt now being recognized and honored
In recent years, the residents of Yellow Springs have sought to honor the generosity of this humble man who began his life enslaved and ended it a wealthy, yet beloved member of his community.
Should you wish to visit Yellow Springs and pay tribute to this remarkable man, you will find traces of him throughout the town. The land that was bequeathed to Yellow Springs has been turned into a park named after Wheeling Gaunt. You will even find a life-sized statue of him on Route 68 leading into the town.
At the dedication of Gaunt Park in 2021, Ohio’s first lady, Mrs. Fran DeWine made a surprise appearance. During her brief remarks, Mrs. DeWine noted that her own grandmother was a recipient of Mr. Gaunt’s bequest and described the impact that donation had upon her family and other area families.
Final thoughts
While we have no control over the way our lives begin, it is possible to control the way we handle the events that come our way. Thanks to the generosity and caring of a humble self-made man, the lives of countless individuals in Ohio were sustained and improved. The story of Wheeling Gaunt is under-told no more.
Things you can do
- If you would like to tell us about an experience that you had where you received an unexpected gift, please go to MemoryFox and tell us your story.
- Do something unexpected for someone else and relate that story at Memory Fox.
- Send a letter to your State Representative or Senator. Ask him or her to sponsor a bill that would make December 1st of each year Wheeling Gaunt Day, where people would do acts of kindness to others.
Frances McGee-Cromartie is a retired judge from Dayton, Ohio, an active community volunteer and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is the Co-Chair of America 250-Ohio’s Under-Told Stories Committee.