by Sharon Myers

This is the first in a series of columns that the Cuyahoga Falls News-Press will publish featuring local veterans who served in the War of 1812.

The year 2012 is the bicentennial of the War of 1812.

There are more than 350 veterans of the War of 1812 buried in Summit County. War was declared on June 18, 1812, and Ohio was only nine years old and right in the thick of things. We were underpopulated and had experienced many attacks by hostile Indians each year leading up to the war. This was the first war fought in Ohio, and it was the war that finally ended the American Revolution and our ongoing battle with Great Britain.

The William Wetmore Chapter Daughters of the War of 1812 plans to feature a local veteran throughout the bicentennial year in the hopes of drawing attention to these forgotten heroes. We would like to recall the courage and the sacrifice of the early citizens and soldiers of our county during the war.

George Darrow was born Oct. 9, 1778, in New York and died Nov. 23, 1859. He married Olive Gaylord. They had 12 children.

George was asked to provide beef, flannel, etc. to the militia in Cleveland by General Wadsworth. When the troops came back to Portage County, he furnished the same. They then went to Huron, and George was asked to collect horses, oxen and wagons for the march. He provided pasture for the horses of the Kentucky troops.

After Perry's victory and prisoners were brought to Cleveland, he was asked to provide beef for them. He served in the militia as a quartermaster and a paymaster until 1813. He directed an accounting of the services rendered and supplies promised in the amount of $1,600 to General Wadsworth. He said that it was many years before these claims were settled, so long that many of the parties had become weary of the red tape.

He was Major of the Odd Battalion, Ohio Militia consisting of John Cochran of Cuyahoga Falls, Jonathan Metcalf of Hudson, James Robinson of Cuyahoga Falls, Josiah Starr of Stow, Moses Thompson of Hudson and Joseph Darrow of Stow. He is buried in Maple Lawn.

A book on all of Summit County's War of 1812 veterans will be presented to Summit County's historical societies in the summer. Contact Sharon Myers, President William Wetmore Chapter Daughters of 1812, at 330-794-5099.