Guyer Family

The great-grandfather of Hezekiah Gramling emigrated from Holland in the mid-1700's, settling in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. John Gramling, Hezekiah's grandfather, was born in Wayne County, Pennsylvania about the close of the 18th century. He lived to be eighty years old, raising eight children, one of which was Hezekiah's father, John Gramling, Jr., born in Wayne County, Pennsylvania in 1819. John, Jr. came west to Wayne County, Ohio, in 1845 when he was about twenty-five years old. From Wayne County, John went to Logansport, Indiana. He sold out there and came to Henry County, Ohio, worked on the canal. He invested in the 160 acres now owned and occupied by his descendants, in Washington Township of Henry County. He cleared farm land from its wilderness condition. Using the timbers cleared from the land, he erected a comfortable home and two barns. Hezekiah was born on this homestead farm in 1863. He died in 1932. When he was four years of age, a new home was constructed which is still being lived in by his descendants today.

Hezekiah married in 1885, Anna Hoffman who was born in Hagestown, Maryland, in 1868. Her parents lived to be 85 years old. Anna died in 1932.

The house which had been built when Hezekiah was four years old witnessed the birth of his two daughters, Ethel, born 1890, died 1974, and Leota born 1899, died 1947. The house was enlarged with an addition of four rooms when Ethel was four years old. In 1925, the house had stucco put on, and the front porch enclosed.

Leota married Charles Houts and they had six children and lived in a house across the creek on County Road U.

Ethel married, in 1917, Howard C. Guyer. Howard was born in 1891, and died in 1965. His grandparents were William Stacy, 1835-1876, and Martha Pearce, 1837-1912, who were both born in Camelford, England, and married in 1857. They immediately set sail for the United States after their marriage. After seven days and three days, they landed in Sandusky County, Ohio. They came to Henry County in 1863, and settled one-half mile east of Colton in Washington Township. They had five children, the youngest being Louisa Stacy, born in 1868, died in 1948. Louisa married in 1891, Jay Sherman Guyer, who was born in 1865, and died in 1942. Jay's parents were Joseph, 1821-1895, and Elizabeth Swarm, born 1828-1902, who were married in 1851. Joseph came from Pennsylvania and Elizabeth came from Center County, Pennsylvania. Louisa and Jay became the parents of Howard Clayton and Floyd Leroy Guyer. Floyd was born in 1897, and died in the 1970's.

Howard Guyer graduated from Liberty Center High School and attended Defiance College. He taught school and farmed. Howard and Ethel lived in the huge house near Colton, Ohio, with her parents. In their lifetime, they claimed "Century Farm" honors in 1953 for the farm. They enjoyed their later years by taking care of their six grandchildren, spending the winters in Bradenton, Florida, and maintaining the cottage built at Devil's Lake, Michigan, in 1932, by Hezekiah. A son, Robert Gramling Guyer, was born on July 20, 1919, in the house near Colton.

Robert G. Guyer attended grade school at Colton, then graduated from Liberty Center High School in 1937. He married Thelma Marie Yarnell in 1940. She was born in 1919, the youngest child of nine children born to Ida and Daniel B. Yarnell. He farmed and ran the coal yard in Napoleon, and died in 1933. Thelma's grandmother, Wilhelminia B. Gottschalk, 1853-1926, was born in Mekelburg, Germany, coming to America in 1876 with her mother and three brothers. Thelma's grandfather, Frederick H. Saneholtz, 1849-1900, was born in Hanover, Germany, coming to America in 1860 with his mother and sister. He and Wilhelmina were married on October 23, 1876, and settled near Wayne Park, in Napoleon Township. Thelma's mother, the second of ten children was born in 1879 near Wayne Park. She died in 1959.

Robert and Thelma lived their early married years on the homestead farm near Colton, farming and raising chickens. Children born in the horn- stead house were Robert Howard born November 12, 1941; Elizabeth Louise born May 15, 1943; and Barbara Sue born November 30, 1944. Born in the hospital were Carol Ann born September 6, 1946; Rebecca Ruth born October 30, 1944; and Steven Michael born September 2, 1953. When Betty was four years old, the old house near Colton was expanded by an addition of a kitchen, bath and bedroom on the north end. In 1953, the family moved to their present home on Route 24, one-quarter mile east of State Route 109. They raised chickens, gathered eggs, and farmed at Colton and in 1970, a new interest of antiques emerged. The Turkeyfoot Flea Shop now occupies the barns that once houses thousands of chickens.

Robert H. Guyer and Ruth Ann Osborn were married on November 30, 1963. The house near Colton received new occupants, having been occupied previously by Howard and Ethel in the summer months only. Howard died in November, 1965. Ethel lived her remaining years in her childhood home. She spent many hours mending and reading to her great-grandchildren, Gregory Robert, born October 6, 1964; Anne Marie born April 7, 1967; and Bethany Lynne born November 7, 1968. Ethel passed away in August, 1973.

Barbara married, in 1965, James Shambarger. They are the parents of Michael James, born February 18, 1967, and Lori Elizabeth born March 15, 1969. James and Barbara built a new house not far from her parents on Route 24.

Betty married J. Harold Mattlin in June, 1966. Their children are John, born July 21, 1970, and Jason, born June 5, 1974. They also built a home near her parents, next to the pond.

Becky married Charles Cleneay in 1974, and they live in Denver, Colorado.

Carol married Stephen Asher, in 1969, and they live in Sherman Oaks, California, after being married, and living in the Phillipines for a short time. They have one daughter, BrieAnna Elise, born May 21, 1977. Stephen is living at home.

Robert and Ruth purchased the homestead house with 4.76 acres in December, 1974. The home was remodeled, and Marcia Susan Guyer was born in 1974. She was born on April 15, 1974.

The large front porch was taken off, green aluminum siding replacing the stucco, and new windows and insulation helped the old house to face many more years and much higher fuel bills. An old, combination wood and ice house was torn down in 1976. Also, that year, the old summer kitchen which was the original house built for John Gramling, Jr., in 1845, was torn down. In 1977, the cherry wainescoating was refinished in the living room, paneling put on several other rooms, and in 1978 we are still not quite finished. But, hopefully, the old house will last many more years.

Submitted by: Ruth Guyer