Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 4, Number 5, September-October 1990
MEETINGS
September 17, 1990, Monday, 7:00 pm
Ed Peper from Napoleon will join us. The topic will be Civil War units from Henry County.
October 16, 1990, Tuesday, 7:00 pm
Jana Broglin, district vice president of OGS, will speak on the subject of membership recruitment. Note date change of this meeting.
Exciting things are happening these days at HCGS. Fourteen applications were approved for First Families of Henry County. We are very proud of the accomplishments of these members. A list of members and their ancestors begins on page 45.
In August a dedicated group of workers went to Hockman Cemetery near McClure and read tombstones until darkness and mosquitoes drove them away. Some of these same workers are busy compiling and indexing the Napoleon Twp. book planned for publication in December.
We also have a new book for sale. Entitled Obituaries, it is a volume of complete obituaries abstracted from the Deshler Flag for the years 1897-1905. Cost is $8.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling. An interesting evenings reading!
At our October meeting we will have election of officers. A ballot is included for those unable to attend the meeting.
With so many interesting things going on we hope to see you at one of our meetings.
QUERIES
PRICE, NEWTON, TILLIA, WESEY, TILLEY
Am trying to find information on the children of Isaac J. Price and Susan (Newton) Price . Children were: Joseph M. b. 1867, d. 1 AUG 1947, m. Ada Tillia, lived Delta, OH had children Mrs. Warren Raker and son Earl; Sarah A. b. 1860; John A. b. 1863, d. 1896, buried Swanton Cem.; Mary E. b. 3 JUL 1870, m. Arthur Wesey; Rachel b. 1872; Ester E. b. 14 SEP 1873, m. Francis Tilley; Julia b. 1.878.
–Mrs. Kay Miller, Republic, OH 44867
HAYES, WELSH
Seek death date/grave site of Julia (Hayes) Welsh, w/o John Welsh. John buried Sacred Heart. They res. Marion Twp., later Holgate. Julia seems to disappear after John’s death in 1889. In 1901 her dau. sold house in Holgate.
Also seek info on Patrick Welsh. In 1860 Census he is 14 yrs. old, res. with John and Julia Welsh. This is only info. Who was he? No one in family has ever heard of him.
–Ellen M. Rowe, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
BRINKMAN, CHAMPION, BESHURES, KARSNER
Need date & place of death of Frederick Brinkman b. 29 Jun 1838 Bucyrus, Crawford Co., OH. Also wife Mary Ann (Champion) Brinkman b. 13 May 1847 Bucyrus, d/o George & Sarah Ann (Beshures) Champion. Also need death date and place of George & Sarah. George b. 1818 in PA, Sarah unknown. Also need info on George Christopher Brinkman b. 27 Jul 1876, Miller City, Putnam Co., OH. Who was his first wife? George listed as widower on marriage cert., Dec. 1904, Spokane, WA.
Looking for marriage date and husband’s name of Salida Jane Brinkman b. JUN 1879, Putnam Co., OH.
Also info for Benjamin F. Champion b. 1849 OH m. Hellen J. Karsner on 15 MAR 1874 Henry Co., OH. Did they live in Henry Co? Who were her parents? Were there siblings? Who was Jenny Champion?
–Dian Crego Miller, Chattaroy, WA 99003
HISTORY OF LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, 1888
(abstracted from History of Henry and Fulton Counties, Ohio, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich)
This is one of the best, one of the earliest settled and first improved townships in the county. It possesses more intrinsic historic interest than any of the thirteen. In the government survey it is known as township six, north of range seven, east. This territory was reduced by the detachment of the two northern tiers of sections in the formation of Fulton county. It was, however, increased by the annexation of sections one, two, three, four, five and six, and the most of seven and half of eight, nine and twelve, and a small slice off the northern part of ten and eleven of township five in the same range (Harrison) at the time the Maumee River was made the dividing line between the townships.
The part of section twelve taken from Harrison, and section seven of Washington (originally Damascus) constituted what was known to the pioneers as Prairie du Masque, having been so named by the early French adventurers, traders or religious enthusiasts, who were attracted to the valley of the Maumee, ambitious of conquest, for greed of gain, or desire for religious proselytism. This was a camping ground for the army of General Wayne on his march to the battle of Fallen Timbers.
Upon this division of land, thus designated as Prairie du Masque, and long before the division of the northwestern territory into counties, much less townships, the white man had dared to penetrate. He invaded the wilderness which then enshrouded the county of Henry and the outposts of which were guarded by the most savage of the Indian tribes, and settled there. The names of the representatives of the white man as can now be ascertained, were John Butler, David and John Delong, Charles Gunn, George Chilson, David Bucklin and Samuel Vance. These brave men located on the prairie in 1814, and Elisha and Edwin Scribner came in 1818. These early settlers are, alas, all dead. The ashes of some of them rest in obscurely marked and almost forgotten graves along the banks of the Maumee. The last survivor of these pioneers was Edwin Scribner, who died during the present (1887) year, at the residence of his son-in-law in Napoleon.
At a date so early that its date cannot now be determined with certainty, but surely no later than 1820, Samuel Vance, already mentioned, erected on section twelve, a double log house, called it a tavern and suspended a sign announcing “accommodation for man and beast.” The cellar of this primitive tavern still remains on the banks of the Maumee, close to the “Old Orchard” — the first planted in the county — near the town of Damascus. The brick for this cellar were boated from Toledo (so at present named) on pirogues. At that time this was the only house between Defiance and the Rapids, where Peter Manor then lived. A short time afterwards Joseph Cowdrick, whose sons are now residents of Napoleon, built a small house on the river below Vance’s, but subsequently removed further up the river about half way between Damascus and Napoleon, where Joseph Rogers now lives.
In 1826, on the 17th of November, John Patrick, the father of George, who still resides on the old place, settled on the river three miles east of napoleon. He purchased the land of one Cornelius Thompson, who obtained it from the government on land scrip issued to him for services under Wayne in his Indian campaigns. Mr. Patrick erected a large house at this place, and also opened a house of public entertainment, and which subsequently became the main “tavern,” as they were called in those days, between Defiance and Toledo during the days of canal navigation and packet travel, which began in 1843 and remained brisk until the construction of the Wabash Railroad.
Long before work on the canal had commenced Edwin Scribner, already referred to, erected a “thunder gust” saw-mill on Dry Creek, and this was the first saw-mill in the county. After the completion of the canal, Burlin & Taylor started a mill at Damascus, and the mill has ever since been retained and is still one of the principle stationary ones in the county. Burlin & Taylor also opened a general store, the first in the county, and managed the tavern which had been established by Vance. A town was laid out at this point, but if ever platted the plat was destroyed in the fire of 1847. In 1859, however, under direction of the auditor, the assessor made a plat of the lots in section twelve (Damascus), which was recorded on the 5th of December of that year. By this it is learned that there were in all seventeen lots — fifteen of which are on the north of the canal and two on the south. In early days this was the most promising business point on the canal within the county of Henry, and was ambitious enough to rival Napoleon for the county seat. The inability of the canal to compete with the railroads and retain the carrying trade, has ruined Damascus as a town and converted it into a magnificent farm.
In those early days, to use pioneer language, “it was pretty rough sledding.” When John Patrick came to the river in 1866, the nearest mill was at Waterville, a distance of twenty-five miles, and the settlers were often compelled to go to Brunersburg, on Beam Creek, in what is now Defiance county, and not infrequently to Monroe, in Michigan, taking along an ax and log chain to clear out the Indian trail, the only road to travel.
After the completion of the canal, and the commencement of navigation on its muddy waters, the settlers along it banks began to multiply with geometrical progression, and in 1847, the earliest preserved duplicate discloses the fact that there were residing on the territory which at present is embraced within the limits of Liberty township, sixty-six persons who paid tax on personal property. Among these contributors to the public revenues who resided on the sections detached from Harrison, were General Ezra S. Dodd, whose ashes repose in the Damascus grave-yard; Joseph Cowdrick, already referred to; Samuel Bowers, dead and buried on the farm he cut and cultivated from the wilderness; and George Bowers, who is still living and rejoicing in great-grandchildren; Judge Meekison, a banker at Napoleon, being the father of the latest addition. Prominent among those who resided in the other part of, or rather the original township, may be named: Alonzo, Lorenzo, Solomon, James H., and a large family of Babcocks, most of whom are still living; George Chroninger, one of the jolliest old men, surrounded by a happy family, who still lives in the township, having by his industry, frugal habits and honest dealings, acquired a competency which will certainly protect him from the charity of the infirmary director; Hosea Harrison, Rensselaer, and several others of the Hudson family, whose names have become interwoven into the official history and progress of Henry county; John and several others of the Knapp family, still prominent in the township; and John M. Meek, a brother-in-law of Judge Cory, who came to the county at a very early period, was prominent in local government, and whose only remaining descendant by his first marriage is the wife of Judge J. M. Haag, of Napoleon; the Redfield family; Samuel H. Steedman, who was the first colonel of the Sixty-eighth O. V. Infantry; James B. Steedman, subsequently the hero of Chickamauga, and whose monument is now the chief ornament of the city of Toledo; John Wright, sr., John Wright, jr., and Nathan Wright; Ward Woodward, now of Liberty Center, Samuel Winters, and George Crawford, at one time county commissioner and prominent in local politics, whose children still reside in the vicinity.
The duplicate of 1847 shows the township charged with eighteen thousand four hundred and forty-two acres of land, valued at $38,764.95. The township had a population of 1,119 in 1860; 1,766 in 1870 and 1,946 in 1880.
Outside of the town of Liberty Center, there are eight school-houses, most of them brick, and all well appointed, with school maintained for at least half the year. The Christian Union has a church edifice in section thirty-two and also in section fifteen, and the United Brethren have a chapel in section fifteen.
The main and several branches of Turkey Foot Creek (north of the Maumee) and Dry Creek, afford the township very good natural drainage, and artificial surface and underground ditches have contributed to make this perhaps the best farming township in the county; and which, together with good roads, give to it as a body, an average value greater than that possessed by any other farming land in northwestern Ohio.
The construction of the Wabash Railway did much to develop the township and hasten its improvement. While it destroyed the plant of the towns along the canal, it converted the wilderness along its track into many flourishing villages.
FIRST FAMILIES OF HENRY COUNTY, OHIO
At the November meeting of the Henry County Genealogical Society, the First Families of Henry County will be awarded their certificates. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a potluck. Members are asked to bring one hot dish, one cold dish and their own table service, drinks will be furnished. There will be a program following the potluck.
Congratulations to the First Families of Henry County, Ohio!
| Chester Hardy — Fort Worth, TX — #1 Gold and #1 Silver | |
| Mary Jane Durbin Hardy | 1843 |
| George M. Hardy | 1860 |
| John Henry Hardy | 1875 |
| Gertrude Norcross — Fort Myers, FL — # 2 Gold | |
| Mary Cozens Norcross | 1812 |
| Aaron G. Norcross | 1850 |
| Rachel Harrod Norcross | 1859 |
| William C. Norcross | 1859 |
| Sherman B. Norcross | 1866 |
| Linda Timpe — Toledo, OH — # 3 Gold | |
| John Henry Martin Timpe | 1849 |
| Mary Ann Spangler Timpe | 1854 |
| Jesse Spangler | 1863 |
| Elizabeth Walters Spangler | 1863 |
| Robert Barnes — Fenton, MI — # 4 Gold and #2 Silver | |
| Caleb Morey | 1833 |
| Sarah Hicks Morey | 1833 |
| Jay Danford Morey | 1833 |
| Beddy Redman | 1852 |
| Suzannah Redman Morey | 1851 |
| John M. King | 1850 |
| George W. Morey | 1857 |
| Mary Ellen King Maerker | 1865 |
| John Andrew King | 1865 |
| Rosannah Beatty King | 1865 |
| Elton T. Martin | 1863 |
| Dorcas Crawford Martin | 1863 |
| Elizabeth J. Martin Morey | 1863 |
| Elizabeth Moses Crawford Knapp | 1864 |
| Wilson Martin | 1865 |
| Dilla Pringle Martin | 1865 |
| Dr. Aldred E. H. Maerker | 1876 |
| Ray E. Morey | 1883 |
| Grace E. Maerker Morey | 1884 |
| Diana Meyer — Ottawa, Ohio — # 5 Gold | |
| Michael Oedy | 1870 |
| Valentine Oedy | 1870 |
| Maria Mary Niedage Oedy | 1870 |
| Betty Jeanne Teague — Machiasport, ME — # 6 Gold and #3 Silver | |
| John Wesley Kinder | 1866 |
| Barney Fasnaugh(t) | 1850 |
| George C. Wescott | 1865 |
| Idabelle Wescott | 1867 |
| Maria Jane Ballard | 1861 |
| Mary R. Fasnaught Allen | 1880 |
| Dr. Phillip Ballard | 1861 |
| Jane Moudy Van Bragt — Birmingham, MI #7 Gold and # 4 Silver | |
| Mary Elizabeth McCann Harrison | 1859 |
| Charles Meigs Harrison | 1867 |
| Amelia Caroline Groll Harrison | 1875 |
| Simon Johannes Groll | 1860 |
| Margarethe Friederike Eckert Groll | 1860 |
| David Matthew McCann | 1852 |
| Eugene Beauharnais Harrison | 1855 |
| Phillip Jacob Yetter | 1850 |
| Amy Bell McCann | 1855 |
| Maria Dorothea (Mary) Herman Yetter | 1850 |
| Mary Catherine Yetter Groll | 1867 |
| John Conrad Groll | 1867 |
| Thelma Rothgeb — Grand Rapids, OH — # 8 Gold | |
| Truman Rigg | 1845 |
| Jacqueline Sautter — Grelton, OH — # 9 Gold and # 5 Silver | |
| Anna Wolf Pope | 1873 |
| Sarah Croninger Pope | 1869 |
| Francis Marion Pope | 1869 |
| Anna Cornilius | 1866 |
| John Henry Herman Wolf | 1866 |
| Hattie Hollopeter | 1871 |
| Olive Craig Hollopeter | 1866 |
| Albert Howe | 1860 |
| Silas Hollopeter | 1860 |
| Ellen M. Rowe — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — # 10 Gold and # 6 Silver | |
| Peter Joseph Welsh | 1878 |
| John M. Welsh | 1860 |
| Julia Hayes Welsh | 1860 |
| Ellen Welsh Costello | —- |
| Wayne Collier — Sandusky, OH — # 11 Gold | |
| Delilah Rowland Collier | 1844 |
| Orpha Collier Davies | 1866 |
| Isaac Collier | 1866 |
| James Collier | 1863 |
| Alice Barr Collier | 1858 |
| Phyllis M. Leech — Lima, OH — # 12 Gold | |
| Paul Renollett | 1839 |
| Marie Elizabeth Oden Renollett | 1848 |
| Daniel Renollett | 1848 |
| Clara Ellen Courtney — Deshler, OH — # 13 Gold and # 7 Silver | |
| Charles Jasper Coldren | 1874 |
| Amelia Jacobs Coldren | 1874 |
| Albert Coldren | 1874 |
| Anthony Miller | 1883 |
| Joseph B. Henderson | 1870 |
| Rhoda Jackson Henderson | 1870 |
| Adolphus Joshua Lazenby | 1860 |
| Elizabeth Catherine Henderson Lazenby | 1865 |
| Robert Lazenby | 1860 |
| Anna Wright Lzanby | 1860 |
| Clara Belle Lazenby Coldren | 1871 |
| Ellen Brink Miller | 1885 |
| Lucille Beck Bordoli, McComb, OH — #14 Gold | |
| Augustus Mitchell | 1847 |
| Eliza Jane Mitchell | 1847 |
| Elias Mitchell | 1847 |
DID YOU KNOW?
Henry County Genealogical Society will be inducting 14 members into First Families of Henry County at our November meeting.
Everton Publishers will hold a workshop at Wauseon, Ohio. For more information contact the Fulton Co. Chapter OGS at P.O. Box 337, Swanton, Oil 43558.
Ohio Genealogical Society state convention will be held April 26-28, 1991 at the Hilton Hotel on the campus of Medical College of Ohio in Toledo, Ohio.
The Michigan Chapter-OGS published its first newsletter with the July 1990 issue. One of the newest OGS chapters, MCOGS received their charter on April 28, 1990 at the OGS convention. HCGS will exchange newsletters with MCOGS and place the newsletter in our collection at the Edwin Wood Library, Deshler. For more information about MCOGS contact Susan Mitchell, Pres. MCOGS, Westland. MI 48185
“Cook” books – The Library of Congress actually “cooks” any book they suspect contain silverfish, lice or cockroaches. Using dangerous and costly chemicals to keep their collection free from insects was impractical so, instead, they place a book in a microwave oven and “cook” it for 60 seconds on a warm or low setting. The heat kills the insects and any eggs. If you pick up a suspect book you may wish to use this method. Be sure there are no paper clips or staples hidden between the pages.
–Mercer Co. Monitor July-Sept ’90 and others
If you wish to be informed on the laws concerning Public Records access in Ohio, a FREE copy of the March 1990 Revised Edition is available by writing, to the following address and requesting : 01110 PUBLIC INFORMATION LAWS, March 1990. Address: Anthony J. Celebreeze, Jr. Ohio Attorney General, Rhoades Office Tower, 30 E. Broad St.-15th floor, Columbus, OH 43266-0410. Get your copy and have it with you when you are researching in Ohio. Public records ARE PUBLIC!
–Washington Co. newsletter June ’90
1890 Census of U.S. Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War
(continued from the last newsletter)
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
| Name | Rank | Comp. | Reg. or Vessel | Date Enlist | Date Discharge | Length Service | Disability |
| Showman, Robert W. | pr | D | 14 OH Inf | 18 Aug 61 | 12 Sep 64 | 3y 24d | |
| Sutz, Marcella, widow of Sutz, Francis M. | 2nd Lt | B, D | 195 OH Inf | 8 Feb 65 | 31 Oct 65 | ||
| Rhorer, Seonidas | pr | I | 1 MD Inf | 12 Sep 61 | 1 Oct 64 | 3y 19d | |
| Coler, Jeremiah | pr | A | 67 OH Inf | 8 Mar 64 | 20 May 65 | 1y 1m 12d | left arm disabled |
| Hoot, Noah | pr | A | 67 OH Inf | 8 Mar 64 | 7 Dec 65 | 1y 8m 29d | shot thru left wrist |
| Edwards, Emily, widow of Edwards, Alexander | pr | F | 14 OH Inf | 21 Apr 61 | 13 Aug 61 | 3m 22d | |
| Smith, Sairra, widow of Smith, Samuel S. | pr | A | 192 OH Inf | 1 Mar 65 | 1 Sep 65 | 6m | |
| Eversole, Nathaniel | pr | C | 72 OH Inf | 17 Oct 61 | 14 Dec 64 | 3y 1m 21d | |
| Bowers, Jeremiah | pr | C | 100 OH Inf | 9 Aug 62 | 20 Jun 65 | 2y 8m 11d | |
| Blair, John | pr | K | 49 OH Inf | 26 Sep 61 | 10 Apr 63 | ||
| Barlow, Thomas | pr | G | 145 OH NG | 2 May 64 | 24 Aug 64 | 3m 22d | |
| Smith, Franklin W. | pr | D | 68 OH Inf | 11 Nov 61 | 19 Dec 64 | 3y 1m 8d | loss of teeth |
| Garner, George W. | sarg | F | 144 OH Inf | 2 May 64 | 24 Aug 64 | 3m 22d | |
| Sharp, Joseph E. | pr | B | 10 OH Cav | 12 Oct 62 | 11 Aug 65 | 2y 9m 28d | |
| Matthews, Albert G. | musician | B | 144 OH NG | 2 May 64 | 31 Aug 64 | 3m 29d | |
| Gallagher, Japheth | pr | A | 192 OH Inf | 1 Mar 64 | 1 Sep 65 | 6m | |
| Emahiser, Peter | pr | K | 122 OH Inf | 13 Jul 64 | 29 May 65 | 10m 17d | loss of left eye |
| Weirich, Franklin | pr | B | 64 OH Inf | 8 Mar 65 | 3 Jan 66 | 9m 25d | |
| Hiser, Jacob | pr | 9 | sharp shooters | 28 Jan 64 | 3 Sep 65 | 1y 7m 5d | left hand shot off |
| Orrne, Wilson S. | corp | K | 49 OH Inf | 5 Sep 61 | 5 Jun 65 | 3y 9m | left leg disabled |
| Hanchett, Charles H. | pr | G | 17 MI Inf | 14 Jul 62 | 5 Jun 65 | 2y 11m 21d | left hand crippled |
| Overmier, Samuel | pr | D | 14 OH Inf | 18 Oct 62 | 11 Jul 65 | 2y 8m 23d | left arm disabled |
| Houts, Daniel | pr | A | 192 OH Inf | 1 Mar 65 | 1 Sep 65 | 6m | |
| Hyter | pr | A | 192 OH Inf | 1 Mar 65 | 1 Sep 65 | 6m | |
| Biggins, John | pr | 9 | sharp shooters | 28 Jan 64 | 28 Oct 65 | left hand shot off | |
| Daugherty, Bridget, widow of Daugherty, James | pr | K | 183 OH Inf | 28 Jan 65 | 26 Sep 65 | 7m 28d | |
| Johnston, Peter | pr | H | 68 OH Inf | 13 Oct 61 | 15 Oct 64 | 3y | loss of hearing |
| Song, Adam | pr | K | 185 OH Inf | 22 Jan 65 | 26 Sep 65 | 8m 4d | |
| White, John | pr | D | 14 OH Inf | 29 Dec 63 | 11 Jul 65 | 1y 6m 12d | |
| Wood, Joel | pr | G | 117 IL Inf | 12 Aug 62 | 15 Oct 64 | dates unsure | |
| Brown, Newton | pr | H | 68 OH Inf | 28 Oct 61 | 27 Oct 64 | 3y | |
| Bean, William H. | pr | E | 102 PA Inf | 18 Mar 65 | 28 Jun 65 | 3m 10d | |
| Morran, William | pr | H | 21 OH Inf | 2 Sep 61 | 19 Sep 64 | 3y 16d | |
| Roach, Alvin | pr | B | 184 OH Inf | 20 Jun 65 | 20 Sep 65 | 8m | |
| Harris, Amanda, widown of Harris, Wyatt | pr | K | 67 OH Inf | 1 Nov 64 | 7 Dec 65 | 9m 26d |
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
(The following is included in the electronic version of the newsletter for historical purposes.)
According to Article XI of the Henry County Genealogical Society by-laws, all members of HCGS are entitled to vote for the officers of the Society.
Below is the official ballot for the election of officers for 1991.
If you have a joint membership, there will be two ballots included with your newsletter. You may bring the ballot to the October meeting, or mail it to:
Henry County Genealogical Society
208 North East Ave.
Deshler, OH 43516
Please vote for only one person per office or write in a candidate of your choice.
The ballots will he opened and counted at the election of officers during the October 16, 1990 meeting.
–THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT – Karen Sunderman
VICE PRESIDENT –
SECRETARY – Kathy Bishop
TREASURER – Lucille Van Scoyoc
NEWS REPORTER – Clara Ellen Courtney
Your ballot must be received by October 16, 1990 to be counted. Please put the word BALLOT in the lower left hand corner of your envelope.
