Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 22, Number 1, January – February 2008
MEETINGS
January 21, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Business meeting and work night.
February 18, 2006, 7:00 p.m.
Video on Ellis Island.
Ideas for future speakers or programs may be sent directly to our Program Director .
NEW MEMBERS
Vickie Roe, Seviervill, TN 37876
Peter Switzer, Great Mills, MD 20634
Membership is $10 a per year. Dues are paid the first of each year. Mid-year memberships receive newsletters from the beginning of the calendar year.
MESSAGE OF HOPE
When sending a query to the editor, please include your membership number, your full name and e-mail address, and your regular mailing address. That saves the editor from e-mailing you at the last minute, begging for information before deadline. In addition, you can always hope that someone out there would not only like to contact you by e-mail, but is willing and able to send you reams of information by regular mail.
We make it easy for you to include your membership number on all correspondence, by the way. Just check the label on your newsletter! (I mention this because I am spending Christmas Eve — after church — sorting through a couple hundred membership slips, attempting to match names and membership numbers. Help me out here!)
Please send us only surnames from Henry County.
WHILE I’M ON MY SOAPBOX…
Henry County Genealogical Society has a small number of local, active members. Only about three of us do look-ups and research. So, while we do search foc specific information if we are provided with names, dates and approximate locations, we cannot possibly do your research for you. When we suggest sources to you, please do not restate the question and send it to us again. We do what we can, but our time is limited. None of us are full-time professional researchers. Thanks!
QUERIES
COMSTOCK, TUBBS, MORRIS
Looking for pictures, esp. William C. Comstock and wife Lois (Cleveland) Comstock. They are buried in Locust Grove Cemetery next to a daughter and son-in-law, William and Hannah (Comstock) Tubbs. William Comstock was Capt. With Co G, 6thh OVI in the Civil War. Also desire info on William Comstock (son), who moved to IL where his wife, lona (Morris) Comstock is buried and then to Iowa.
Russ Miller, Lancaster, OH 43130
HOPKINS
Searching for info on George b. 1801 and Hannah b. 1802 Hopkins and their children: Charles, h. 1830; Frances Caroline b. 1833; Homer P. b. 1838; Seymour S. b. 1839; and George W. b. 1844, d. 1923.
Claudia Penn, Cincinnati, OH 45233
SWITZER, SPANGLER
Looking for Louis Switzer b. 1869 in Malinta, m. Lydia Spangler 6 June 1894.
Peter Switzer, Great Mills, MD 20634
HUBER, RAUSCH
Searching for family roots of Carl (Charles) Huber and daughter Anna Maria (Mary Ann) Huber-Rausch and son Charles (Carl) Huber who all came to Hemy County in the early 1850’s, settling in Monroe Twp. They all left the Kaiserslautem area of Rheinland-Pfalz, Palatinate.
Richard Wiles, Petoskey, MI 49770
OVERMYER (various spellings), HENSEL
Looking for death and burial info for Benjamin Jack Overmyer (var. sp.), who d. in Henry Co. in the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. They lived Liberty Center. Wife Judith (HENSEL).
Carol Kessler, Port Clinton, OH 43452
PITTMAN, GIDLEY
Have info to share on the Levi Pittman family of Henry Co. He was b. 1830, d. 1886 m. 1856 to Susanna Gidley b. 1838 and had ch: Charles, Althea, Elizabeth, Alfred, George, Lucia May, Nora and Sarah. Levi and Susanna both bur. Hockman Cern. My line is Levi Pittman>George Pittman>Myron Pittman>Mary Pittman> Karen Fisher.
Haley Luna, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
We accept any queries relating to Henry County. There is no charge and you do not have to be a member. to submit your query.
SURNAMES BEING RESEARCHED BY OUR MEMBERS
| MEMBER | NAMES BEING RESEARCHED |
| Mr. Elwood Jones, Grelton, OH 43523-3043 | JONES, SHULER |
| Mr. Robert BARNES, Fenton MI 48430 | CRAWFORD, KING, MAEFKER, MOREY, MARTIN, REDMAN, MOSES |
| Arlene CASTOR, West Jefferson, OH 43162 | SEILER, SPANGLER, MILLER MEISTER |
| Bill LATTA, Napoleon, OH 43545 | ARPS, FOOR, GRIM, LATTA, WOLF, SPANGLER, STORK/STORCH, KINDER |
| Mrs. LaVonne HIPSHER, Fostoria, OH 44830-1842 | BROWNING, HOOVER, FRANKF ATHER, CALDWELL, WEAKS, LOWMASTER |
| Janet WILLIAMS, Fremont, OH 46737 | BAUMAN, BENDER, THORNE, HOY, HILLIS, GRAY, THOMPSON, ROBINSON, MYERS, DAVIS |
| James and Mary RIPKE, McBain, MI 49657 | RIPKE, JUNGMAN/YOUNGMAN, MEYER, GARBER, DICKMANDER, KLEFOTH, DEHNING, GERKEN, ARPS, BARGMAN/BARGMANN, STOPKA, GOBROGGE |
| Sandy FANKHAUSER, Bucyrus, OH 44820 | CLADY, EIS |
| Audrey H. COSPER, Kingsland, GA 31548 | BLAIR, HARMAN/HARMON, MEYER/MEYERS |
| Shirley J. OBERLITNER MAYER, Toledo, OH 43614-2911 | BICKFORDIBIGFORD, FORD, JONES, WALTHERlW ALTERS, STEVENSON, OBERLITNER, HERR |
| Kenneth and Beverly SNYDER, Crossville, TN 38558 | SNYDER, KLEIN, HORNUNG, DERBECKER #267 |
| Arnold MILLER, Napoleon, OH 43545 | MILLER, KRUSE, SCHEELE, BRUNS |
| Bruce McGARVEY, Medford, OR 97504-6308 | McGARVEY, MURPHY, PELTON, KANE, PARRITT, DWYER, LaBAR/LaBARR |
| Debra HOLT, Galesburg, MI 49053 | RICKENBERG, GERKEN, HOYER, GOBROGGE |
| Towna ARIS, Big Rapids, MI 49307 | ARIS/AYERS, SLIGHT/SLEIGHT |
| Carla GALLETTI, Aurora, CO 80014 | DREWES, PRIGGE, BADENHOP, VOIGHT, ELKHOFF, SPILKERT |
| Susannah P. SINARD, Powell, OH 43065 | JONES, BICKFORD, WALTHER/WALTER |
| Leslie C. CALVERT, La Porte, IN 46350 | INMAN, ROSE, WILSON, HIVEL Y, LEWIS, ESTERBROOK, MOORE/MORE |
| Mary C. Strausbaugh, Bowling Green, OH 43402-2813 | VOGEL, BRESSLER |
| Gary L. WILLIAMS, Sarasota, FL 34234-3475 | WILLIAMS, ATKINSON, BONER |
| Audrey HARMAN, Wauseon, OH 43567 | ABBS, INMAN, THRASHER, GASCHE, HARMON, GRA Y #356 ROHRS, BRUBAKER |
| Barbara KLEEBERGER, Cleveland, OH 44120-1477 | ROWLAND, SANDMAN, SCHWIEBERT, VANTASSEL |
| Mark PETERSEN, Archbold, OH 43502 | BINGER/BUNGER, CLDA Y, CLINE, DICKMAN, EIS, FINTEL, GLORE, HAHN, HOFFMAN, PETERSEN, QUELL, THA YER, TIETJE |
| Viola CURDES, Palm Desert, CA 92211 | CONLEY, LANE, SINKEY |
| Jan MOREY, Napoleon, OH 43545 | HEFT, ELLENWOOD, EDGAR, STONEBURNER, WALTERS, SPANGLER, HILL, EDWARDS |
| Mary Catherine CRISLER, Dayton, OH 45440 | DUDING, ROY ALIROEUL, DIBLING, KRIES/CREESE, DIEMER |
| Justin CRAWFIS, Ottawa, OH 45875 | BRINK, BURNER, DIEMER, LaFOUNTAIN, MILLER, WARNIMONT, WEIN |
| Karen SZABO, Swanton, OH 43558 | GLANZ, KONZEN, GEIGER |
| Larry COLWELL, Apache Junction AZ 85219-8352 | ZACHRICH, BOYEE, KNAPP, BORDNER, COLWELL, HIVELY |
| Joanne (RICHOLT) ALLISON, Bryan, OH 43505 | RICHHOLT/RICHOLT/REICHHOLDT, MEYER, BINGER/BUNGER, HARRIS, VonLIENEN, GOLDBRIGGE |
| Carola BROWN, St. Louis, MI 48880-9253 | LIGHTHISER, BATTENFIELD |
| Cheryl CARLSON, Langley, WA 98260-9302 | OBERLITNER, MYRICE, WALTMAN, LA WHEAD/LOWHEAD, BELL, McFADDEN, PORTER, BANKYIBANKEY |
| Gene HILLS, Hudson, FL 34667 | DElL Y, BOCKELMAN, LEADERS, RAUSCH, SHUMAKER, KEEHN, DREHER |
| Marilyn and Wayne DREIER, Hilliard, OH 43206-1363 | WOLF, ARPS, ROSEBROCK |
| Richard WILES, Petosky, MI 49770 | HUBER |
| Sandra C. KONZEN, Marblehead, OH 43440 | KONZEN, BINGER |
| Phyllis G. POWELL-WELCH, Mecosta, MI 49332 | POWELL, ROACH, LAKE, McCRACKEN |
| Jon and Kristen ANDERSEN, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 | BARINGER, JURASEK, ROHRS, TOMECEK |
| Nina A. STIRLEN, Fremont, IN 46737 | LONG, MYERS, SONAFRANK |
| Catherine L. Crawford, Mount Holly, NJ 08060 | CRAWFORD, LYNCH, HARTLEY, BARTON, KELLY, ENGEL, THOMPSON, STARTZMAN, WOLFE |
| Ken and Debra J. KLEM, Toledo, OH 43606-4123 | KISTNER, VanTASSEL, HAAS, KRITZER, LAUDERMANILONDERMAN/ LOWDERMAN, THORTON, MOORE, JONES, LATHAM, CONVERSE |
| Claudia PENN, Cincinnati, OH 45223 | HOPKINS |
| Clair LAWRENCE, Cincinnati, OH 45243 | HOPKINS |
| Julie MORIYAMA, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254-2257 | SIMMONS, BABCOCK, ROSE, WEBB, SMITH |
| Carolyn STILWELL, Liberty Center, OH 43532 | CHRISTY, CHRISTIE, BOWLES, HEFT, MOHLER, HASHBARGER, OVERMIRE, PENNEL |
| Sharon K. SCOTT, White Lake, MI 48386 | FOX, MEASELIMEASLE, WESNER |
| Mary Alice AUSTERMILLER BETLEY, Temperance, MI 48182 | AUSTERMILLER, JONES, REIMUND, MYERS, KINNEY, SCHMIDT/SMITH, EAL YIEL Y, DITTMERIDETMER, DAUBER, WEIDLER, WAGNERIW AGONER, SCOTT, HARMANIHARMON, CLEMENGER, LEECH, LEIDY, COWDREY, VEILESIKILE |
| Larry and Robin DESGRANGES, Napoleon, OH 43545 | DESGRANGES/DECKROSH, LEADERSILUDERS, HUBER, RAUSCH, SNYDER, FLETCHER, MILLS, LANCE, SHAFFER |
| Ronda PODHOLA, Trenton, MI 48183 | MYLES, BROWN, HOFFER, JOHNS, BOYER |
| David and Diane LEIMBACH, Senoia, GA 30276-2779 | SCOFIELD |
| Leila JAYSON, Chester Gap, VA 22823 | PACKARD, PAINTER, BEAM, EISAMAN, MOHLER, GLICK, MITCHELL, ANDREWS, CROCKETT, PALMER, JAYSON, LUBOLD, MATTES, SHEETZ, LEIPHAM, LENKER |
| Byron E. FISHER, Palmyra, MI 49268 | MYERS, JONES, RUSSELL, ROWLAND, FISHER |
| Vickie ROE, Sevierville, TN 37876-4943 | ROE, JOHNSON, LOOMIS |
| Peter SWITZER, Great Mills, MD 20634-2154 | SWITZER. SPANGLER |
DOLLARHIDE’S GENEALOGY RULES by William Dollarhide
When visiting a funeral home, wear old clothes, no make-up, and look like you have about a week to live. The funeral director will give you anything you ask for if he thinks you may be a customer soon.
A Social Security form SS-5 is better than a birth certificate because few people had anything to do with the information on their own birth certificate.
The application for a death certificate you want insists that you provide the maiden name of the deceased’s mother, which is exactly what you don’t know and is the reason you are trying to get the death certificate in the first place.
If you call Social Security and ask where to write for a birth certificate, tell them it is for yourself. They won’t help you if you say you want one for your gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-grandfather who died in 1642.
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
The Henry County Signal
Dec. 19, 1894 the Henry County Signal published biographical sketches of local businessmen by Guy C. DITTENHA VER. These sketches will be reprinted in this issue and future issues.
D. WILSON
The senior dry goods man in Napoleon is David Wilson. He is the veteran merchant, being 64 years of age, yet is as active and readily keeps apace the younger ones. His store is one ofthe old landmarks having been erected in 1866. But improvements have been made from time to time as styles in architecture changed, and now he can claim one of the most modem structures in town. Prominently situated on Perry Street, the large glass composing the front of the building shows off the elegant displays therein to a good advantage and his displays are certainly cynosures the year around. The public has got in the habit of seeing something new and fascinating in Mr. WILSON’S windows, and it expects it. He handles a very complete stock and sells at a close margin. His lines are: dry goods on first floor; clothing, carpets, cloaks, ladies wraps, boots and shoes on second. The coterie of assistants is obliging and understand to a fault how to attend to the patronage’s wants. At present they are: Miss Kate H WILSON, book-keeper and assistant manager; J. F. WILSON, Elgar ERNST, Rudolph THEEK and Miss Mary ROSTETTER.
D. WILSON was born in Ayreshire, Scotland, Oct. 12, 1830. He received a good common school education and while still comparatively young went to Glasgow and learned the hardware trade. When 18 years old he came to this country and located in Providence, Lucas County. He first clerked for S. G. ROACH in a general supply store, remaining in such capacity four years when he bought out a half interest. Mary 18, 1853 he married Miss Eliza GOOD. The following year the store was moved to Texas, Henry County, and there operated until 1857, during which time Mr. WILSON was postmaster. He had also been assistant postmaster at Providence.
In 1857 he sold out and came to Napoleon where he founded the business at whose head he still is. For many years his brother, John WILSON, was partner and the dissolution took place a couple of years ago, since which time the firm name has been simply plain “D. WILSON.”
The proprietor from the beginning of his business career has seen as much diversification in “times”-good, bad and indifferent-as any man in Henry County. There is no business as susceptible to administration changes as that of dry goods. Mr. WILSON has passed through a great many, and, let it be said, successfully.
He is a prominent member of the M. E. Church-has been so for decades and has the reputation for doing much hard work, soliciting etc., besides contributing generously to the church and needy. He has four children, Kathrine H., Mayme A., Sue L. and John Francis, all of whom are accomplished and prominent in our highest social circle.
FORT WAYNE LIBRARY
One of the best genealogical resources for this area is the Genealogical Center of the Fort Wayne Library, Fort Wayne, IN. About a year ago they opened a new facility with an exceptional family history section. Some of the features you may enjoy are a cafe, expanded computer labs, building-wide wireless connectivity, and amazing amounts of printed materials on browsing shelves.
There are 39 Internet terminals and seven additional “catalog only” computers. An HP Digital Sender 9200C provides genealogists with the opportunity to e-mail scanned page images to their personal accounts–or to other researchers with whom they are collaborating. An array of new ST-200 Digital Imaging Systems provide users of the Center’s vast microtext collection with the ability to print images they have selected, save those images to a jump-drive or memory stick, or burn the images to a CD-ROM. Even better, all genealogy and local history materials are on open, browsing shelves for ready access by researchers.
They also offer genealogy and family history programs (check on-line at http://www.genealogycenter.org/Home.aspx or call 260-421-1225) to learn about those activities.
The library is located at 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne on the block bordered on the south by Washington Blvd., the west by Ewing St., the north by Webster St., and the east by the Library Plaza. To get directions from your location, visit MapQuest or Google Maps.
Underground parking can be accessed off of Wayne St. Other library parking lots are at Washington and Webster, and Wayne and Webster. Hourly parking is $1 per hr. with a $7 maximum. ALPC card holders may use their cards to validate the parking ticket in the Great Hall of the Library. Out of county residents may purchase a subscription card with proof of identification and residence. The current fee for an Individual Subscription Card is $65.
Public lots are located at the corner of Ewing and Wayne Streets ($1 each for the first two half-hours. $1 per hr. after, with a $4 per day maximum) and the comer of Jefferson Blvd. and Harrison St. ($3 per day). Street (metered) parking on Ewing and Wayne Streets-you plug the meters 8 am – 5 pm weekdays only. It is free to park on the street after 5 pm and on weekends.
Visitor center/Grand Wayne Center garage at Washington and Clinton Streets. This is the Hilton Hotel parking lot that also serves as a day parking garage. For hourly parking, 7 am – 11 pm, charges are.50 for the first 45 min., then $1 per hour. There is a flat $2 fee between 5 pm and 11 pm.
If you have a general question about our collection, or are interested in the Research Center, please telephone the library and speak to a librarian who will be glad to answer your general questions or send you a research center form. Our telephone number is 260-421-1225. If you’d like to e-mail a general information question about the department, please e-mail: Genealogy@ACPL.lnfo.
To subscribe to the newsletter Genealogy Gems, go to the website: http://www.FriendsofAllenCounty.org. Scroll toward the bottom of the first screen where it says, “Enter Your Email Address to Subscribe to Genealogy Gems.” Enter your e-mail address in the yellow box and click on “Subscribe. ” You will be notified with a confirmation e-mail.
