Wheeling Gaunt was born a slave in 1812 on a Kentucky tobacco plantation. By shining shoes and selling apples in his spare time, he earned enough money by 1849 to buy his freedom. He then bought and freed his wife Amanda and a man named Nick, possibly their son. Mr. Gaunt's prosperity and generosity benefit us to this day; his will deeded nine acres of land to the town, now Gaunt Park, and set up the "Widow's Poor Fund" to distribute flour to local widows at Christmas time. The village later added sugar to the gift and the tradition continues today..