Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 23, Number 6, November-December 2009
A PUBLICATION OF:
THE HENRY COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
P. O. BOX 231
DESHLER, OHIO 43516
www.henrycountyohiogenealogy.org
The Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter is now published bi-monthly. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any material submitted. The Newsletter is copyright protected, but the Society gives permission for material to be copied for personal research and to other chapter newsletters for their use. Any other use of this material should carry written permission from the Henry County Genealogical Society and acknowledge the source. Annual membership is $10.00 for 1-2 people at the same address.
Meetings will be held quarterly or as announced in the newsletter. Publications for sale are listed on the last page with the newest ones appearing on the first page.
We print all queries that are related to Henry County – membership is not required. Send queries to Henry Co. Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 231, Deshler, OH 43516 or to the editor as “Query” at wendypen@wcnet.org. After May 2016, queries may be directed to our website and will appear there.
Officers:
President – Jim Rebar
Vice President – None elected
Treasurer/Membership Chmn. – Lucille Van Scoyoc
Corresponding Secretary – Phyllis LaRue
Recording Secretary and First Families Chmn. – Kathy Bishop
News Reporter – Clara Ellen Courtney
Newsletter Editor – Karen Sunderman
Webmaster – Jim Rebar
Meetings
November 16, 2009, Monday, 6:30 p.m.
First Families Dinner. Please bring two dishes to pass and table service. Beverages will be provided. Our speakers will be Larry Wanucha and his colleagues who have been excavating the former Toledo State Hospital Cemetery.
December, 2009, No Meeting
Happy Holidays!
January 18, 2010, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Meeting. No program scheduled at this time.
New Members
#477 Jeanne Kalkwarf, Lincoln, CA 95648
Membership is $10 per year. Dues are paid the first of each year and newsletters are mailed from that date. Please address correspondence to the website, the editor, or to our P. O. Box. Include your membership # (on address label). All Henry Co. queries are printed free.
Can You Help?
We still have a long list of projects we would like to work on as a Society. If you can help with some, please volunteer. Please note that you do not need to live in the county in order to accomplish this. There are projects that can be done anywhere by computer.
See the May-June issue of our Newsletter for a list, or e-mail us regarding your area of interest.
From the beginning, we have made a priority of publishing information; buying books, microfilm and other materials for the library; and generally doing all we can to make genealogical information available. We are a small society, though, and we can use some help with the ideas we have.
Many Thanks To…
We are grateful to the librarians at Edwin Wood Memorial Library in Deshler, the depository of our collection. They are continuing to make the library available for our meetings even though they are facing cutbacks in their funding. We appreciate the hours they devote to helping researchers and we especially appreciate the fact that they juggle their work hours to stay open for us. Thanks ladies!
Queries
No queries have been received this time.
We print all queries pertaining to Henry County free for members and non-members.
Surname Listing
The January-February newsletter will again provide a list of surnames our members are researching, along with their corresponding membership number. We do this as a service for our members so that others may pick up on lines or families for research references. If you have not sent your surname list with your membership application for 2009, please send it to the editor at wendypen @wcnet.org before December 15. Please confine your list to Henry County families and a maximum of 16 surnames. Thank you.
Workshop
The Defiance County Chapter of OGS will be having a workshop for new and experienced family historians “Improve Your Research Skills.” It will be held Saturday, Nov. 7,2009 from 9:00 – 12:00 noon. It will be at the St. John United Church of Christ, 950 Webster St., Defiance, OH. There is no charge and it is open to the public. You may contact Cecelia Brown at ccbrowngenealogy @yahoo.com or 419-658-2483.
Gems From the Past (via the internet)
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and they still smelled pretty good by June. However, since they were starting to smell… brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies were bathed. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water!”
From the Henry County Signal…
Dec. 19, 1894 the Henry County Signal published biographical sketches of local businessmen by Guy C. DITTENHAVER. These sketches will be reprinted in this issue and future issues.
MARTIN KNUPP
Mr. KNUPP was bom in Tiffin, Seneca County in 1842. His education was secured from the common school and a two years course at Heidelburg. He chose law as his profession and after admission to the bar formed a partnership with D. I. BROWN, at Ottawa, Putnam County. His worth was such as to be soon recognized and two years after his advent into the county he was honored by being elected prosecuting attorney at eh hands of the county Democracy. After his election he necessarily moved to the county seat and has since remained. During his term he prosecuted successfully a large number of criminal cases and soon gained an enviable reputation. The general verdict at the close of his two terms was that Henry County never had an abler defender of the state’s law.
Retiring from the office he formed a partnership with W. W. STEVENSON which lasted until 1888, when Mr. STEVENSON moved to Marion, IN. Their practice was a large one and Mr. KNUPP continued the business alone down to the present day. In 1892 he was a formidable candidate for the appointment of United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. The appointment was his not only by reason of location but also his own prestige in the party, but the uncertainty in politics played its hand and much to the disappointment of nearly every attorney in Northwestern Ohio, he failed to secure the office. Socially, Mr. KNUPP and his family have high position, his family consisting of his estimable wife and two daughters. Misses Fanny and Georgia.
JUDSON R. LINTHICUM
He is the junior member of the Henry County bar, is a son of L. J. LINTHICUM and is a native of Henry County, having been bom in Liberty Township, October 25, 1867. By nature he is a hustler and worker whether on the farm or as a student. Early in life he selected law as his future work, and shaped his course of study for that end. Hence, it is that we see him early in life delving deeply in works of history, philosophy and mathematics. His education has been clearly the result of individual effort. Learning what could be learned by attending country schools, he came to the Napoleon high school where he took a two year course. He then taught school a year and took a two year normal course. Entering college at Ann Arbor he went through the law department, completing the prescribed course in two years and was admitted to practice law in all the courts of Michigan and Ohio. The means of securing this thorough education were secured by his pedagogic efforts between times of attending school and college, having taught five terms in all, his first term being in Liberty Township while barely in his 17th year. At Ann Arbor he distinguished himself as a student and holds a letter of recommendation that entitles him to a seat way up to the front as such.
After being admitted he spent some time at clerical work in the law office of D. E. THOMAS, a leading Toledo attorney, thereby gaining much practical knowledge. He has now been located in Napoleon about a year and is building up a practice. Besides the law he has an abstract and loan office, doing business for the Union Central; also Wauseon Building, Loan and Saving Association. His office is with B. J. LONG, the insurance agent.
From The Deshler Flag, 18 Dec 1908
HE WAS MUSTERED OUT – Peter McQUISTION Has Answered the Final Roll Call
Our community was sorely grieved last Thursday afternoon when the word became known that Peter McQUISTION, a respected citizen, had died very suddenly at his home, west of town. He had been ailing with heart trouble for a time but his friends did not think the end was so near, as he was on the street here just a day or two before his death.
Peter McQUISTION was bom August 5th, 1848, near Cardington, Ohio, and departed this life Dec. 10th, 1908, aged 60 years, 4 months and 2 days. The deceased was the son of Johnathan and Mary McQUISTION. At the age of 16 years he enlisted in the Civil War and served one year. Since 1883 he has resided in Deshler or vicinity. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Mary E. SHERMAN, who, with eight children, five grandchildren, together with many relatives and friends survive to mourn his departure.
JOHN JAMISON – Has a Sinking Spell Tuesday Morning and Had a Close Call
Tuesday morning Mr. John JAMISON, of Findlay, who is here visiting his daughter, Mrs. Sig WITHAM, took a sinking spell at BRIDENRICKER’S blacksmith shop and fell over backwards, striking the back of his head on the cement floor, cutting quite large hole clear through the scalp. He was taken to Dr. SNABLE’S office and given proper medical attention, and he is able to be around again.
OLD MAN HURT—VanHORN Hit By a Train Tuesday and Badly Injured
Tuesday afternoon while walking along the C. H. & D. tracks north of Main Street, Eli VanHORN, an old and highly respected farmer living east of town, was hit by a freight train as it was taking the siding, and the old gentleman was hurled quite a distance. Fortunately no bones were broken, but he was shaken considerably. ‘Twas a close call.
MAY LOCATE IN DESHLER
Harry PALMER, of Holgate, was in town Wednesday and favored this office with a substantial call. He tells us that he has formed a partnership with Mr. WOOLEY of that place, and will engage in blacksmithing, and will manufacture a grain wagon box that is a dandy. It is something every farmer should have. He tells us that they may locate in Deshler. Come on, Harry.
The Flag, Oct. 14,1920 – Will Spend Month in Maine Woods
Dr. T. M. GEHRETT and Dr. P. W. TUSSING will leave Saturday for the Maine woods for their annual hunting trip. Two other faces, those of A. A. McFADDEN and Frank FIRMAN, are taking on an expression of regret as the day for the departure of the hunters draws near, but well, they’ll get some satisfaction out of tramping through the woods [reminiscing later] with them at the BROWN & MONTHAVEN garage. Dr. HICKEY, of Leipsic, and Dr. EARP, of Holgate, will also be members of the party.
The Henry County Signal
Dec. 19, 1894 the Henry County Signal published biographical sketches of local businessmen by Guy C. DITTENHAVER. These sketches will be reprinted in this issue and future issues.
WM. W. CAMPBELL
Socially and intellectually, there is no one who stands higher in the community than Attorney CAMPBELL. He comes from the Green Mountain region, having been bom in Windsor Co., VT, April 2, 1853. He received a good common school education in his native county, and afterwards entered Goddard Seminary, a preparatory school at Barr, VT. From there he entered Tuff s College at Bedford, but left during his senior year. Leaving college he took up the study of law and was admitted to practice in 1879.
In 1881, he came to Napoleon and formed a partnership with Hiram VAN CAMPEN. Both attorneys were young, bright, and possessors of those qualifications that bring friends their way; hence, their practice grew rapidly.
The partnership continued 11 years when Mr. VAN CAMPEN moved to Toledo, necessitating a dissolution. Mr. CAMPBELL assumed control of the firm’s entire business. In connection with his law practice Mr. CAMPBELL does a very large business in abstract work. Politically he is a republican and very popular. He was the nominee on the Republican ticket for prosecuting attorney and was elected by a plurality of 116. He assumes his duties the coming January.
JUDGE J. M. SHEETS
Our present common pleas judge is eminently qualified to meet not only the dignity but legal learning, the requirements of his high position. Although not yet a year on the bench, these qualifications have been demonstrated to the satisfaction of all habitues of the court room and to the general public.
The Judge was bom Mary 26, 1854, in Pleasant Township, Putnam County. The steps from a farm hand to his present exalted station are. While at work on the farm he attended common school, teaching betimes. In 1876 he entered Baldwin College and took a thorough classical course, in which he especially distinguished himself in mathematics. Graduating in ’79 he entered the Ann Arbor school of law and in 1881 received his diploma.
He at once located in Ottawa, Putnam County, Ohio, forming a partnership with C. J. SWAN which continued until the latter moved to Toledo. Shortly thereafter the partnership of the firm of SHEETS & OGAN was formed and so great was its success there was no other firm in Northwestern Ohio outside of Toledo that did a larger legal business. The partnership was dissolved last spring, Mr. SHEETS ascending the bench, his predecessor. Judge Wm . H. HANDY, changing places with him, and a new firm was organized under the firm name of HANDY & OGAN, who continue the practice of law at Ottawa.
If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.
– George Bernard Shaw
History of the Town of Napoleon, 1888
Abstracted from History of the Maumee River Basin, by Chas. Slocum 1905
After the treaty of 1820 when the Indian title to northwestern Ohio was extinguished, adventurous pioneers began to make their appearance, some settling on the fertile soil adjacent to the Maumee and others passing along farther seeking homes.
When the commissioners appointed by the legislature to decided to locate the county seat it at Napoleon, the place had already attained local prominence as a back-woods hamlet. There were several log cabins in close proximity which made it a favorite rendezvous of the few scattered settlers for several miles around. Among the first to purchase property in the village were: John GLASS (stone mason), John MANN (blacksmith/ gunsmith), “Gen.” Henry LEONARD, Alexander CRAIG (sheriff, judge, recorder), John POWELL (merchant), Hazael STRONG (auditor, clerk of courts), James MAGILL, and James B. STEEDMAN (canal contractor/ legislator), who married Miranda STILES.
It is uncertain whether the first building erected in town was a log dwelling of Mr. HUSTON or Mr. ANDREW. A little later George STOUT constructed a similar edifice which was opened to the traveling public and in which was also held the first court. An addition was subsequently built to be used as a court house.
Other early settlers of the town were Frederick LORD, William D. BARRY, Amos ADNREWS, S. BOWERS, John AMOUR, Benjamin COFFIN, James CAIN, John CRIST, John WARNOX, John TAYLOR, D. L CORY, David CROSS, L N. EVANS, A. DAUGHINBAUGH, Daniel ENGLISH, Forman EVANS, David EDWARDS, Abel RAWSON, R. W. SHAWN, E. LATHROP, _ PHILLIPS, John GLASGOW, Hezekiah HUBBELL, Solomon LATHROP, J. S. RWIN, G. R. LEWIS, F. KOOM, William DODD, James G. HALEY, Andrew PEAM, L. L. PATRICK, John RAFFERTY, William and Edward SHEFFIELD, Jacob SHOTT, B. P. SMITH and Michael SHERMAN.
The site of the original plat of Napoleon includes parts of the tracts of land owned by Horatio PHILLIPS, Benjamin LEAVELL and Elnathan CORY, who laid out the town in 1834, but purchasers of lots were few until the place was selected for the county seat in 1837. In 1853 there was an attempt to change the name to Henry, but opposition was led by Augustin PILLIOD, a Frenchman and prominent citizen. The name stood.
Early industries included a flour mill run by John REITER and later Josiah ROLLER and another erected by Augustin PILLIOD and later operated by John H. VOCKE and his sons, Harmon H., Clement, Bernard and John. Also, saw mills operated by John POWELL, Hazael STRONG, WELSTED & HALTER, RICHARDS & EMERY, EMERY & MARTEL, George SIFOUL, SAYGERS & IMBER, and Andrew J. SAYGERS. The Napoleon Brewery was established in 1862 by_KOPP, who sold to
John HERBOLSHEIMER and later to Ferdinand ROESSING, then to J. W. TIETJEN.
The Napoleon Woolen Mill was established in 1863 by Jacob AUGENSTEIN, who partnered with H. B. LAUTZENHEISER and Samuel BIGGER. The carriage industry began with the MILLER and SHAFF carriage works, both founded in 1870. A planning mill was built in 1864 by John THEISEN and William SHEPARD. The Napoleon Foundry was built about 1858 by T. J. CLAY and shortly sold to A. B. SCRIBNER. R. M. BEDAU subsequently purchased a half interest. MYERHOLTZ & Bro. began the manufacture of brick and drain tile in 1869.
From HISTORY OF THE MAUMEE RIVER BASIN, by Charles Slocum, 1905
William NELSON, a well-known druggist and the postmaster at McClure, OH, was bom in Delta, OH, Oct. 7, 1873, and is the son of N. C. and Mary C. (NEIST) NELSON, natives of Denmark who came to the United States about 1871, locating in Delta. The father was a glazier by trade and in 1874 moved to Toledo, where he remained until his death, which occurred about 1903. The mother still makes her home in Toledo. They were the parents of 8 children, Anna, Patyia, Frederick, C. F., William, Nellie, Otto and Christian.
William NELSON was educated in the common schools, graduating in the Toledo high school in 1890. He then entered the wholesale drug house of WEST & TRUAX at Toledo, but about a year later entered the retail drug store of John KRUMMS, with whom he remained 1 lA yrs., being then a year in the same business for C. E. SPADE. In 1893 he came to McClure to manage the McClure drug store, then owned by J. SHELLER, with whom he remained 3 yrs. In 1896 he opened his present drug store, a well-stocked and tastily arranged store and has met with a very gratifying success. He handles general drugs, paints, oils, wall paper, etc.
In 1894 Mr. NELSON married Miss Bertha C. BALLMER, who was bom in 1874 in Richfield Twp., the daughter of Jacob J. and Barbara (MAIRES) BALLMER, natives of PA, the father being now deceased, his widow making her home with the subject and his wife. Mr. and Mrs. NELSON have 5 children, Harold, Waldo, Helen (deceased) Everett and Maynard. Politically Mr. Nelson is a Republican and is a member of the town council. In 1901 he was appointed postmaster at McClure, being the present incumbent of that position. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modem Woodmen of America, while religiously the family are members of the Lutheran church, of which Mr. NELSON is secretary.
D. A. COLLINS – Michael COLLINS was one of the pioneers of Marion Twp., Henry County coming here in 1857, when the country was practically a wilderness. He bought 52 acres of land in Section 13, paying $2.25 per acre, and it is now valued at $125 per acre. Michael COLLINS was a native of county Limerick, Ireland, and came to America about the time he attained his majority. He worked for a time on farms in Canada and then came to Ohio and worked on the construction of the Pittsburg Railroad in Crawford Co.
From there he came to Henry County and spent the balance of his life here, dying in 1889 at the age of 64 years. The mother, who was bom in county Limerick, Ireland, came to this country in 1850 and is still living, being in her 80th year. These parents were members of the Catholic church and were the parents of: the following children: John, Mary, Bridget, Stephen, Ella, Maggie, Edward and D. A. D. A. COLLINS was born on the old homestead in Marion Twp. on November 21, 1872 and has always lived there. He and his older brother secured the homestead farm, buying the interests of the other heirs, and later he bought his brother’s interest. He has since added 50 acres, making a present total of 187 acres.
In 1879 Mr. COLLINS married Miss Theresa DETERS, who was bom in Putnam County, OH, the daughter of Frank and Mary DETERS, and they have four children: Paul, Edward, Maurice and Mildred. The family are members of the Catholic church. In 1899 Mr. COLLINS was elected trustee of Marion Twp. and has held the office continuously since. He evinces at all times a deep interest in the welfare of the community and is well liked by all who know him.
First Families of Henry County, 2009
Congratulations to the new First Families members who have proven ancestors for First Families of Henry County. Gold = in Henry County before 31 Dec 1870. Silver = in Henry County before 31 Dec 1885.
| Steven Laurer of Waterville, OH, has proven the following: | |||
| Henry Brinkman | 1864 | Gold | |
| William Demland | 1860 | Gold | |
| Peter Fender | 1861 | Gold | |
| Peter Horning | 1837 | Gold | |
| George N. Wolf | 1850 | Gold | |
| Michael Rettig | 1854 | Gold | |
| Ruth Marie Walker Koons of Toledo, OH has proven the following: | |||
| Erhart Rieger | 1865 | Gold | |
| Francois Geigher Rieger | 1865 | Gold | |
| Mary Frances Rieger | 1865 | Gold | |
| Mary Alice Betley of Temperance, MI has proven the following: | |||
| Conrad F. Austermiller | 1854 | Gold | |
| Catherine Wagner Austermiller | 1854 | Gold | |
| Peter Reimund | 1856 | Gold | |
| Margaret Smith Reimund | 1856 | Gold | |
| Henry Dawber, Sr. | 1856 | Gold | |
| MaryElizabeth Weidler Dawber | 1868 | Gold | |
| William T. Kinney | 1850 | Gold | |
| Jerusha Leech Kinney | 1850 | Gold | |
| William Wesley Jones | 1860 | Gold | |
| Katherine Kinney Jones | 1850 | Gold | |
| Zail Elsworth Jones | 1865 | Gold | |
Land, Town Lots and Chattel Returned Delinquent
By the Treasurer of Henry County January 11, 1853
More information on the taxes owed is in the book, but not included here These were early settlers or landowners in these townships
All in Napoleon
| Owner’s Name | Lot Number | Value |
| ARMOUR, J. G. | 70 | $105. |
| COFFIN, D. D. | 17 | 67. |
| DAWSON, Samuel | 20 | 34. |
| GLASS, John | 12 | 49. |
| HALY, James | 45 | 78. |
| IRWIN, James S. | 88 | 97. |
| MAGILE, James | 92 | 307. |
| STOUT, Geo. | 25 | 157. |
| LIMPG(?), Henry | 10 | 73. |
| LIMPG(?), Henry | 13 | 26. |
| LIMPG(?), Henry | 9 | 53. |
| WORRICK, John | 31 | 74. |
| New Addition Block | 1 | |
| PHILLIPS & STAFFORD | 10 | 100. |
| CHATTELS | ||
| BRAY, Giddings | $230. | |
| DAVIS, Samuel | 210. | |
| FREKA, Frederick | 60. | |
| NEWELL, L. | 5. | |
| WAITE, John H. | 314. | |
| LAYLOC(?), H. D. | 132. |
