“While in Ohio, I purchased a farm in Seville, Medina County. It consisted of 130 acres of good land. I built a house upon it designed especially for our comfort. The ceilings have a height of fourteen feet, the doors are eight and one half feet in height. The furniture was all built to order and to see our guests make use of it recalls most forcibly the good Dean Swift’s traveler in the land of Brobdingnag.”
Martin van Buren Bates
Before becoming the Giants of Seville, Captain Martin van Buren Bates (the Confederate Giant) and Canadian Anna Haining Swan were married in the presence of Queen Victoria. The Queen kindly supplied the 100 yards of satin required for Anna’s wedding gown, as well as gold watches proportional to the 7 foot 9 inch groom and his 7 foot 6 inch bride. The couple, who met while employed by a traveling circus, eventually left London and settled in picturesque Seville.
The boisterous Captain Bates was recently profiled in The Plain Dealer article, Seville, A Giant Village which highlights many fantastic reasons to visit this charming Ohio village.
An especially enjoyable way to experience this giant village is through a visit to the weekly local market. The Wild Leek produce, seasonings, teas and jams are available at the Seville Farm Market, 9am – 12pm Saturdays through September 29, 2018, in Maria Stanhope Park.
We hope to see you there!