Dora Deters

In 1874, the trains were just beginning to run on the B&O. The country was rich in timber and a stave factory was built by a gentleman named Lee, with a nucleus of about six families. On July 10, Honorable William D. Hill and his wife, Augusta, of Defiance, plotted the village and named it Hamler, in honor of John Hamler, who was the first settler in Marion Township.

It was first called Belton, before being plotted by Hill. It was at this time in 1874 that my mother's family, Mr. and Mrs. John Poley, and their children: Frank, John, Anna (my mother), Maggie, Mary, Katie, and Charley, moved here to get work at the stave factory. There was no church here at that time and the Catholics had to drive to New Bavaria with horse and wagon.

My mother married Edgar F. King at Fremont on Sept. 24, 1888. His mother worked hard to raise her six children by herself, as she was a widow. She would gather ashes from the neighbors and put it in barrels, pour water over it and make lye, selling it to the people to make soap.

Edgar and Anna had six children: Edith, Dora, Clifford, Leo, Eunice, and Mildred. Clifford enlisted in the Navy during World War I. He was sent overseas but before his ship reached the war zone, peace was declared and he returned home.

On August 11, 1910, I (Dora) married George Deters whose parents came to Hamler from New Cleveland. They owned a farm north of Hamler and attended St. Paul's Catholic Church also.

After 25 years of working at the saw mill, my father retired and he and my mother bought a small grocery store. After a few years, they purchased the Meyer Holtz Variety Store, moving there. My mother died Oct. 7, 1927, and my father lived until Jan. 3, 1958.

My husband and I are the parents of three children: Miriam, John, and Donald. In 1918, my husband's sister died, so we took one of their children, Aaron Connors, to live with us until he married Florence Walker 19 years later.

Miriam, who married Frank Hoffman, died while giving birth.

John married May Burgel of Holgate and they have four children: John II, Gary, Danny, and Cindy. They reside in Ottawa.

Donald married Madge Rowland of Springfield and they live in Minster with three daughters and a son, Christopher, Donna, Elizabeth, and Susan.

My husband died June 13, 1948. I will reach my 83rd birthday on Sept. 24. I remain a faithful member of St. Paul's Catholic Church.

Submitted by Dora Deters

TONY DELVENTHAL