The OES visited Tinker's Cave on April 27, 2002. After hiking down a very steep hill, we arrived to the "cave," which was actually a large rock-shelter that was carved by an ancient creek beneath the overhanging rocks. Since its formation thousands of years ago, many animals and humans have taken shelter under the rock roof. It was said that the cave was large enough to hold two dozen horses, which was exactly what Seth (or Shep) Tinker used it for. Living in the are prior to the Civil War, the cave's namesake decided to use the cave as a large stable of horses. The only thing wrong was the horses weren't his.

In the 1850s, Tinker began "borrowing" unattended horses and took them to the cave. He kept the horses hidden, letting them graze in a nearby field until he herded them to the horse auctions 175 miles north in Sandusky. On his way back, Tinker "borrowed" horses in northern Ohio to sell them to farmers in the southern counties, mostly in the Athens and Hocking regions. When the Civil War broke out, Tinker's legacy varied. The first version stated that he was a good Union Soldier during the war and didn't even think about stealing any horses. The other said that Tinker continued his business and profited from the war by rounding up loose horses and selling them to both Union and Confederate troops. General John Morgan, who's southern Rebels raided Ohio, was said to have outfitted his men with horses from Tinker's herd.

After the Civil War ended, Tinker continued his Sandusky route and stole horses for a few more years. He once fooled Dr. James Dew, the great grandfather of a former Nelsonville mayor, by placing a white cloth over the nose of a horse he had just stole from the doctor. Dr. Dew gave chase and when he approached Tinker, he asked if he saw an all black horse with a rider go by. Tinker said yes and pointed him to a direction, then went himself the opposite way with the doctor's horse. Tinker disappeared soon afterwards. Some say that an angry horse owner may have caught Tinker in the act of stealing horses, killing and burying him. Others say that Tinker was found to have helped the Morgan's Raiders during the Civil War and was hang from a tree near the cave, convicted of treason. Legend has it that if you go to Tinker's Cave at night, you can hear the sounds of horses in the cave and sometimes you can even see Tinker himself. Thanks to Shannon and Rodney for taking us to Tinker's Cave.