The first settlers arrived in August of 1806. Others soon joined them, including the Westervelt brothers in 1816 from New York State. By 1838 there were about 900 people in Blendon Township. Land was donated by the Westervelt family for a new school, called the Blendon Young Men's Seminary. In 1840, when a village name was needed for a post office, the townspeople called it "Westerville" in honor of the Westervelt's generosity.
in 1846 the Blendon Seminary land and two small buildings were acquired by the United Brethren Church, and Otterbein University (now Otterbein College) was opened in 1847. The new school, named after the church founder, enrolled men and women regardless of race and put Westerville in the emerging anti-slavery movement. Bishop William Hanby was an active participant in the underground railroad and Westerville was an important stop.
In 1853 a plank road was constructed from Columbus to Westerville with a toll of 10 cents. The village was incorporated in 1858 and later that year a law was passed that banned the use or sale of "fermented spirits," marking the beginning of Westerville's history in the temperance movement.
This was replaced in the 1890's by an electric street car system linking Westerville to Columbus down the middle of State Street. In 1890 the headquarters of the Anti-Saloon League was moved from Washington D.C. to Westerville.
As the national headquarters of the Anti-Saloon League, Westerville became known as the "Dry Capital of the World." It was the smallest town in the U.S. with a first class post office, due to the large volume of printing and promotional material produced by the league.
Continued: World Wars and beyond
