Magill Family

I remember when my maternal grandparents (John and Sarah Barlow Magill) used to tell me about their moving to our present home in Damascus Twp., near what is now Grelton in 1865 from Bloomingville, Ohio, in Erie County, having purchased the farm earlier at the insistence of his brother-in-law John Powell and his wife (my grandfather's sister) Esther Magill Powell (who were among the very first settlers) in Napoleon, Ohio. Mr. Magill purchased the farm of 80 acres from a Mr. Patterson; the farm was mostly uncleared. They came by train, but the household goods were brought by wagons. My grandparents stayed with the Powell family until the household goods arrived. This farm has remained in the Magill family, descending from one generation to another.

The John Magills had two children, Ada and Marion. Ada married Charles Burson, a native of Weston, Ohio, who was brought here to take charge of the Dewey Stave Co. factory in 1885 because the former manager left for California. The Clover Leaf Railroad was built through this area in 1881 and Grelton was founded and the Stave Company was established. The factory remained until following Mr. Burson's death in 1894; the company was then moved to Cedar, Michigan.

H. C. Burson, Charles Burson's brother, was the first resident physician in Grelton. Mrs. Ada Burson, following the death of her husband, lived with her little daughter in the present Magill home, which she and her brother inherited. At their deaths it was inherited by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Conn. (Mrs. Conn is the former Edith Burson.) Mr. Conn died in 1973; Mrs. Conn still resides in the former Magill home. Later the farm will be inherited by their son Charles who operates the farm at this time.

They, along with the other people in the settlement, attended church in the old schoolhouse until 1890, when the present Methodist Church was built. Rev. Cost served as the first ordained minister in the new church. Four itinerant ministers served in the old schoolhouse.

The Magill families were active in the history of Grelton, as were many others in this small community. Let us give thought to our forefathers for what we have achieved as a community and owe to them, who amid the humble surroundings of pioneer life, visioned and helped make this a prosperous and happy living center it is today.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Conn had two sons, Charles and one son dying in infancy. Charles married Elvera Heiberg of Malinta, and to this union three children were Izorn, Maurice and twin daughters, Carol and Joyce.

Maurice married Carole Winegardner of Lima and they have four children: Ellen, Sara, Nathan and Susannah. Maurice is superintendent and administrator of the Jonesville, Michigan, Consolidated Schools. He and his wife are both graduates of Ohio State University. Mrs. Conn is a former teacher.

Maurice, also, attended the University of Mexico, and was an exchange student to Spain. Carol Conn married Michael Russell and they have one son, Tobias John. Carol teaches school in McClure, her husband is principal of the Central Schools, in Napoleon, 0. Joyce Conn married John Knape and they have two children, Stephanie and David Jonathan. Joyce teaches in the Liberty Center Schools.

Mrs. Elvera Conn passed away, October 16, 1964. On October 1, 1966, Charles Conn married Marcella Fetter, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Bowerman of Harrison Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bowerman are deceased.

Charles and Marcella have established their home across the road from his mother, Mrs. Edith Conn.

Submitted by Mrs. Frank (Edith) Conn