JOHN GISLER

John and Mary Ellen Gisler moved from Pickaway County in 1875 and bought 80 acres in Henry County on the south side of the Maumee River, across from Girty's Island and joining Cole Cemetery on the west side. They had three children: Myrtle, born in 1870; Marion, Nov. 24, 1872; and John Wesley, Dec. 16, 1875.

Wesley lived on this farm until his death May 5, 1951, and was buried in Cole Cemetery, where he had dug many graves during his lifetime. This had been Indian Territory and the shovel sometimes exposed Indian bones, trinkets, cloth, arrow heads, tomahawks and, once, a copper kettle.

Wesley recalled talking to an old man named Shuman, who told the following: "Anthony Wayne's men shot at the Indians on Girty's Island from the south bank of the Maumee, drove them off the island to the north bank and northeast to Fallen Timbers, where many were killed as they again tried to cross the river. The Indians shoved a cannon into the Maumee as they left Girty's Island." It has never been found. Many lead bullets, however, exposed by the torrents, were found on the island after the 1913 flood.

Wesley, aged 24, married Emma Throm May 14, 1900. She came from Germany with her parents in 1882. Her parents were John and Eva (Hair) Throm and they settled west of Holgate in Pleasant Township. Wesley and Emma had five children: Donald, Napoleon; Richard and Dallas, Defiance; Ralph, Lakeworth, Fla., and Evelyn Funkhouser, Napoleon. Emma, at this writing, lives in Napoleon and is 96 years old.

Submitted by Evelyn Funkhouser