Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 19, Number 5, September – October 2005
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 – Maurice Weaks
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
September 19, 2005, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Work night and business meeting.
October 17, 2005 – Monday, 7:00 p.m.
“Hymnology,” the history of hymns by Nathan Weaks. Election of Officers.
LIBRARY ACCESSIONS…
Two books have been added to our collection at the Deshler Edwin Wood Memorial Library. They are: Buenger Family History, revised by Ester Oberhaus, and Outline – Descendants of Cornelis Aertsen VanSchaick, 1610-2005, by Lucille VanScoyoc.
NOW ONLINE…
There is now an index to the Estate Records in the Henry County courthouse on our website. Also look for chattel tax records, mortality records, marriage records, and veterans records plus the 1830 census on the site.
WE ARE PUBLISHING…
We have had inquiries regarding the 1900 Henry County Census. Vol. IV should be ready soon. It will include Pleasant, Marion and Flatrock Townships. Because it is not finished and we do not know the publishing cost, it is not yet priced.
We appreciate all the time Steve Badenhop spends producing these books for us. Watch our internet site for further information. We hope Steve can have this completed by the next newsletter, but he is a busy college student. No pressure, Steve!
NOTABLE QUOTE …
Carolyn Hart, a mystery writer, wasn’t specifically referring to genealogy when she wrote this in Death of the Party, but she should have been:
“The fascinating and touching truth about … faces glimpsed in yellowed photographs was that once all of them had been alive . . .. Each had felt a heartbeat and the gurgle of laughter and the heat of passion and the sting of tears. . . .(S)napshots were a reminder that what is present will always and inevitably one day be past and what is past was once as real and vigorous and exciting as the present.”
QUERIES
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.
DON’T FORGET
Saturday, Oct. 1, the OGS will hold its inaugural Fall Seminar featuring Cyndi Howell (Cyndi’s list), speaking on using the internet for genealogical reserch. The seminar will be held from 9-4:30 at the James W. Kehoe Center for Advanced Learning, North Central State College (Shelby Campus), 175 Mansfield Ave., Shelby, OH. Map and directions are available on the internet at http://attc.ncstatecollege.edu/drivingdirections.htm.
Three topics will be covered: “Googling for Grandma,” “Internet Communications Depot,” and “Planting Your Family Tree Online.” Fee for members of OGS is $25. and non-members $30. More info is available at ogs@ogs.org or 419-756-7294.
The first West Central Ohio Genealogical Workshop will be held October 22, 2005 at St. Marys Theater in St. Marys, OH. Dr. George K. Schweitzer will conduct three seminars: “Rivers to Trails to Roads to Canals to Trains (migration),” “Researching in Burned-Out Counties,” and “Civil War Genealogy.”
Registration begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m. There is free parking. Preregistration (due by Oct. 15) is $30. Registration that day is $35. Lunch is included. Send registration to: West Central Ohio Genalogical Workshop, P. 0. Box 298, St. Marys, OH 45885.
From FAMILY TREE MAGAZINE 2003 – 101 Best Genealogical Websites
www.rootsweb.com/Hfuller/internet.html. This list covers other ways to plug into your rools such as mailing lists, newsgroups, telnet and gopher Technologies that predate the www sites.
www.genealogytoday.com. Resources and how-to information are categorized for those just getting started, who have been researching for years and are interested in recent generations, those who have traced the family back multiple generations, and advanced genealogists.
Old German Alphabet
 |
Click on the PDF logo on the left to see a file that shows all the letters of the old German script alphabet. The first form of the letter is the more common form used. The others possibly were used in various parts of the Germanic speaking countries. This is an illustration of how difficult transcription can be. |
Sheep Claim Records 1892-1893 (Continued from last month’s newsletter)
These claims were made when sheep were destroyed or injured by dogs, paid from dog license fees.
| Monroe Township (cont.) | ||
| John WELLS | Elbert PACKARD | D. A. BAUMGARDNER |
| Noah LONG | L. RETTIG | C. DECKO |
| Theodore TAYLOR | John W. FRENCH | no witness listed |
| Henry BOESLING | H. MEYER | L. RETTIG |
| Henry EBERLE | George KOPENHOFER | N. (?) A. RETTIG |
| M. M. SEILER | Wm. KRATZ | C. AUSTERMILLER |
| Henry EBERLE | John EBERLE | Charles EBERLE |
| Henry GERKE | C. HERGE | C. HEMSOTH |
| Napoleon Township | ||
| Wm. THRAPP | C SONNENBERG | John WATTE |
| Fred FISHER | Wm. MUKER | Joseph SHOMAKER |
| Christ HELBERG | H. HELBERG | F. SCHUTTE |
| J. C. WEIBLE | Wm THRAPP | John WAIT |
| Frank OBERHOUSE | Wm. BUSHOP | F. MEYER |
| Boston GILSON | Henry H. WITTENBERG | H. WITTENBERG |
| B. ?. TANNER | Henry VAJEN | W. S. MYERS |
| M.I. SIDLINGER | G. O. LONG | Wm. FRENCH |
| Mary J.SHUMAKER | B. W. TANER | Thomas SINGLE |
| Christ DACKENHAUSE | Fred HOLERS | Fred PLASSMAN |
| P. J. HUCHINS | Fred HOLERS | D. D GILLSON |
| A.IMBER | S. H. SHELT | Gustave SCHULTS & H. F. TOLAND |
| George IMBROCK | Wm. REINKE | James H. SNYDER |
| Joseph SHOEMAKER | F. A. WOODARD | S. SEEFER & J C. DAVIS |
| H. BOCKELMAN | Charles ROTHMAN | Henry VON DAILEN |
| Charles F. CLAY, Admr. | Peter ROBISON | Henry HARMON |
| Henry BOCKELMAN | C.ROTHMAN | Henry VON DEILEN |
| Frank SHASTEEN | H. BUCKELMAN | Henry VON DEILEN & D. McPHERSON |
| Charles BOCKERMAN | H. D. SCHULTZ | Gilbert DAVIS |
| Harman BOCKELMAN | Wm. DIERY | D. GILSON |
| Harman BOCKELMAN | Henry SANDMAN | Henry SONTON |
| H. H. BOCKELMAN | Wm. DIERY | H. SANDMANN |
| Pleasant Township | ||
| George KESTERLEE (?) | Lambert WILSBERG | Theadore DUWELIN |
| SHELLY and BROTHER | O. H. CREAGER | H. MYER |
| M. J. DIETRICK | W. N. (A.?) ZIEROLF | L. WITZBERG |
| Theadore DUWELINS | G. KETERLE | J. KLEAR |
| SHELLY and BROTHER | Henry MEYERS | Joseph THOME |
| Frank KLEAR | Jacob KLEAR Jr. | John ROMES Jr. |
| George KEETERLE | L. LILSBERG | J. KLEAR |
| Alphonsus KEIBEL | Jacob KLEAR | George KEETERLE |
| Mathias SHONDALL | Jacob SWARY | Jacob KLEAR |
| Catharine DIETRICK | Jacob KLEAR | George KEETERLE |
| Theadore DUWELINS | George KEETERLE | Jacob KLEAR |
| Nicholas WERNIMONT | Joseph WERNIMONT | George HESSELSWARTZ |
| Jacob KLINGSHIM | E. CATON | Joseph WERNIMONT |
| C. A. DECKER | Frank KLEAR | John HEINL |
| Frances WENZINGER | John ROYAL | John DARINGER |
| Richfield Township | ||
| A DUNNAGAN | C. Z. THURSTON | A. OLLNDOFF |
| Nancy V. TALMAGE | L. H SHEELY | J. H LASHAWAY |
| F. O. FRETTER | C. G. THURSTON | August OLLENDORF |
| S. S. WEAVER | C. G. THURSTON | August OLLENDORF |
| Abner HITT | J. ROBERTS | J. W. FECKEL |
| George WHITEHEAD | John SWISHER | Nelson BONNER |
| S. D. CRONINGER | Nelson BONNER | Mathias HICKS |
| George WHITEHEAD | L. D. CRONINGER | Nelson BONNER |
| W. E. MEYERS et al | Wm. CUNNINGHAM | Henry HERR |
| W. E MEYERS et al | Wm. CUNNINGHAM | Henry CARROLL |
| A. B. BLANK | W. T. CHENEY | Henry SPANGLER |
| Ridgeville Township | ||
| Joseph NEWELL | Ed SHIMERS | Henry HUNER |
| Sam GEHRING | J. MEISTER | C. F. SHULTZ |
| Ed SHIMMERS | Philip ROWE | H. BARGMAN |
| Theadore BENECKE | Ed SHIMMER | H. BARGMAN |
| Jacob KLECK | John BECK | John RUPP |
| Joseph NEWELL | T. F. BENECKE | H. BARGMAN |
| Charles P. GRISIER | J. RUPP | J. BECK |
| C. S. SHORT | John BUEHRER | Christ LUGBILL |
| C. H DITTMER | Christ ROHRS | F. OTTE |
| Jay FAUVER | W. VENNESS | S. HOLMES |
| B. S. WHELLER | G. F. SHADFORD | G. A. ROLLIN |
| W. F. JOHNSON | D. A. FAVER | R. S. WHEELER |
| D. A. FAUVER | W. JOHNSON | H. SECHRIST |
| Samuel BECK | D. CAMRON | I. PETERS |
| John N. NOFSlNGER | John F. SHULTZ | Joel NOFSINGER |
| Conrad SIGG | Christ LANTZ | Peter SHORT |
| L. W. ROGERS | J. W. HARPER | S. W. ROLLIN |
| Washington Township | ||
| Charies H. DAUM | Wm. BEMUS | E. MINICK |
| Newton BROWN | John BEGGENS | James BIGGINS |
| Edward DONNELLY | James BIGGINS | John BEGGENS |
| Howard DAVIS | J. W. DAVIS | J. G.TURNER |
| Wm. BEMUS | Charles DAUM | Edward MINICK |
| Joseph WEGSCHEIDER | John LAYHE | Wm. BEMUS |
| M. HOFFMAN | E. EICHER | C. P. HOFFMAN |
| Victor CLATY | John BRAILEY | Wm HORETS |
| John BIGGINS | Ed DONNOLLY | James STARK |
| Hezekiah GRAMBLING | A. S. BARLOW | O. (Q?) THOMPSON |
| Robert M. SHOWMAN | C. L. COURTRIGHT | U. BORTEL |
| Victor CLATY | D. W. HORETZ | H. E. REACH |
| Joseph WESTHOVEN | John HYTER | John CHURCH Jr. |
| H. E.ROACH | Alvin ROACH | James STARK |
| A. H. MATTIN | Alvin ROACH | J. STARK |
| William ROGGE | L. T. ROHRER | C. W. GRANER |
| Harmon SHOEMAKER | James STARK | George KIGAR |
| Victor CLATY | John BRAILEY | Daniel W. HOUTS |
| Frank WEIRICH | Jas. STARK | R. A. STARK |
PIONEER SKETCHES (from the Henry County Signal 18 Feb 1886)
by Rev. N. B. C. Love
[Ed. Note: Rev. Love was a Methodist Pastor in Deshler, OH. Later he pastored the Old (Indian) Mission Church in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co., OH.]WILLIAM MOORE
The bravery, endurance and muscular power of many of the pioneers were truly marvelous. Fenimore Cooper’s imasinary frontiersmen do not surpass in these particulars the real early settlers of Northwestern Ohio. Of one of these noblemen we have never heard anything outside of Spencer’s narrative of his stay amons the Indians in 1790. William Moore was held a prisoner at Shawneetown, near Defiance. He had been captured on the Ohio after a heroic fight. When brought to the town he was required to run the gauntlet. He was a stout, sinewy, muscular man, six feet two inches high. He combined the qualities of boatman and hunter. A practiced marksman, who at fity steps off hand often drove the center. He exceeded (in) jumping and wrestling. He indeed was as lawless as the Indians, but was good humored and obliging. When angered he was furious as a wild beast.
When ready to run the gauntlet Moore was stripped to his waist and his wrists tied together. Starting a short distance outside of the Indians, he bounded along with such speed as to astonish all, and they did him little injury. Towards the end of the gauntlet some tried to stop him by getting in his way but he struck, kicked and butted so vigorously they were glad to let him pass. He reached the end amid the applause of warriors. After that he was considered a brave man. At the summer feast of green corn, Moore was compelled to wrestle with a champion by the name of WALKER, whom he defeated to the infinite delight of White Loon, Walker’s competitor.
The time came for Spencer’s redemption by his friends. An agent came from Detroit for him. He arrived in the evening. The next morning he would leave his adopted mother. The intelligence of his departure was received by her with the expression, “Hu! ence!” That evening she was very serious, but conversing freely, asking a great many questions about the boy’s parents and other ancestors, the present residence of his parents and their rank in society.
She spoke of the first landing of the pale faces and their big canoes with great white wings, of their growth and progress westward, of the repeated defeats of the Indians, and the almost extinction of her tribe, and the certain fate that awaited the Indian race. She thought that fo some reason the Great Spirit was angry with them. Soon, she said, we shall all sleep in the ground and there would be none to commune at their graves.
Here her countenance kindled with animation and she gave a most glowing description of the beautiful hunting grounds-the ever-enduring abode of the good Indians. She said it was far beyond the western ocean and larger than the continent of America. There, she said, are no extremes of heat and cold, wet or drouth; none were sick; none became old or infirm. Pointing to some large poplars five or six feet thick and sixty feet without a limb, she said the trees in that country are twenty times larger and grow as high as the stars. Vegetables grew to enormous size; trees loaded with richest fruits; the ground clothed in perpetual verdure and the flowers always bloomed; the springs abundant and clear; the rivers deep and transparent, abounding with fish. In short, there was all that could charm and gratify the senses, and it was the exclusive home of the Indian.
She, the next morning, was moved to tears, and said as they parted if he ever became a man he must come and see her, she took both his boyish hands in hers and with both hers pressed them, bidding him a final farewell. Her grand daughter sobbed aloud as he bade her good bye. Was this Indian woman far from the portal of Christianity? Was she not a true patriot and a noble soul?
In 1794 the successful and brilliant campaign of Wayne occurred. Their towns near the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee were captured and their forces completely beaten at the battle of the Fallen Timbers near the foot of the rapids. The Indians sued for peace and it was granted, and most of the Northwestern Ohio was open and safe for settlers. The Indians were doomed. Their cruelty in treating prisoners, in shooting and scalping innocent victims, women and children, justified the government in executing severe measures for the overthrow of their power and in sending them to reservations/ and finally removing them west of the Mississippi. Nothing extenuating can be said for the frauds ever practiced upon them by Indian agents.
GERMAN LUTHERAN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION
In the year 2001 a group of people, descendants of German families that emigrated from Germany to Northwest Ohio in the mid 19th century, met to see if enough interest could be generated to organize a group to preserve our German heritage. It was decided to call the group the Lutheran German Heritage Association.
This does not mean that membership is limited to Lutherans. The name was chosen because the majority of the early Northwest Ohio immigrants came from Northern Germany which had been decreed by the government to adhere to Evangelical Lutheranism.
The aim is to chronicle the Germanic traditions, one of which is religious convictions, carried on through the generations. In order to achieve this goal, contact is being made with churches throughout the area that were organized as German speaking congregations. These congregations are being encouraged to have their early German church records translated while there are still a few in the area who have the capability of doing this.
The churchs’ burial records have proven to be a good source for researchers. Germans have been noted throughout the ages as being good record keepers. Very often these records contain the precise place of birth of the German immigrant. This is one of the greatest obstacles of any genealogist who wishes to research across the “Pond.”
An Exhibit/Archives is located in the meeting room of the Lutheran Social Services Building at T-793 State Route 66 (comer ofRt. 34), Archbold, OH 43502. A member of our organization is available every Tuesday forenoon (except December) from 9 to 12 to acquaint the public with what is available.
We are collecting copies of Church documents and Directories, written and oral histories of area families, microfilm copies of area German newspapers as well as some of the early books that were used in the German-speaking church, school and home. We also have research tools for the genealogist such as “how to” books, family trees, dictionaries and other memorablia. For further information you may contact Lucille Sunderman at sundermn@bright.net. (Note there is no “a” in the address.)
—submitted by Lucille Sunderman
