Garniel (Garn) Middleton

GARNIEL MIDDLETON born the Son of Daniel and Sarah (Hopkins) Middleton on December 30, 1894, in Damascus Township. Garniel never liked his name so he was always known as "Garn". He attended the McClure School. Garn joined his brothers working for the Telephone Company. For a while he worked in the state of New York. Garn also worked in Toledo and Defiance. Garn married Frances (Morse) Killion on September 21, 1914. Frances was the adopted daughter of Joe and Anna (Bost) Killion. When she was five days old her mother died. Her father, (Peter Morse), had five children to take care of. So he put her up for adoption. The Killions were neighbors and had no children. So they adopted her as their very own. As a young girl, she moved to Ney with her mother. Frances' mother remarried James Spurgeon. They owned and operated a general store and gas station on State Route 15, about four miles east of Ney. They did farming too. As years went on James Spurgeon (grandfather) died in 1949. Anna Spurgeon (Grandmother) moved to McClure to live with her daughter and family. When the grandchildren came to visit, they would get mixed up as to which grandmother she was, so they called her "Mimmie". Grandmother loved children. She would sit for hours reading to her grandchildren. Grandmother also told stories and crocheted until she was 93 years old. She died in 1968 at the age of 96. Grandmother and Grandfather are buried at Ney.

As a young couple Garn and Frances lived in Toledo. Garn worked for the Telephone Company. Here in 1916, Garn and Frances' first child, Edyth was born. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Defiance. In 1917, a second child, Charles was born to them. Garn worked for the Northwestern Telephone Company. Garn's brother asked him to help at the saw mill in McClure. So the family moved to McClure. Here third child, Doris was born in 1919. They moved back to Defiance County. At this time, their fourth child, Kathryn was born in 1922. Garn moved to Delta and started to farm. A few years later, a fifth child, Phyllis was born in 1926 to Garn and Frances. They decided to move the family to Ridgeville Corners. Garn rented a farm from Henry Schlueter. The following children were born here: Dick - 1928, Louisie - 1931, Edwin - 1932, George - 1934, James D. - 1937, and Derry - 1941. In 1943, Garn moved his family to a farm near McClure. He rented Dr. Sloans' farm until Garn's brother, Ken asked him to help at the tavern. So they moved to McClure. A few years later he worked for Sylvania Company in Ottawa, Ohio. In 1954, Garn started to work for Clevite Harris (Gould, Inc.). He worked as a set-up man in large block section. Garn retired in 1962. He enjoyed going fishing and having his family around on the holidays. Gam died on May 23, 1967, after a long illness. He is buried at St. Patrick Catholic Church Cemetery. Frances lived in McClure until August 1977; when she decided to move to Napoleon and live with her daughter.'She is a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church.

EDYTH (MIDDLETON) SPURGEON was born in Toledo on February 6, 1916. She married Lewis (Buzz) M. Spurgeon from Walhonding, Ohio in 1933. They lived on a farm near Walhonding. In 1949, they moved to White Cloud, Michigan. Buss worked for the Gerber Company in Fremont, Michigan. They are retired and enjoy living by the lake. Their children are: Roger, Robert and James.

Roger was born on February 4, 1934. He married Betty Tanis. Roger works on construction in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They are presently living at White Cloud, Michigan. Roger likes to sing and play the guitar. He also likes to go hunting and fishing. They have two children: Pamela and Rick. Pamela married Terry Albrecht. They have two children: Danny and Jamie. Rick works in a factory and plays in his band the "Sunrise" on weekends.

Robert was born July 11, 1952. He graduated from White Cloud High School and joined the Marine Corps. He married Mary Ann Millikin. He works in Grand Rapids, Michigan as a mechanic. He lives in White Cloud.

James was born on January 17, 1954. He graduated from White Cloud High School and works for a construction company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

James was married and is divorced. He has one son James. He lives in Fremont, Michigan.

CHARLES MIDDLETON was born on June 20, 1917. He attended Ridgeville School and graduated from the American School Chicago Air College. Charles was drafted in the Army during World War II. He served in the infantry in the Pacific and European Forces. Returned home in 1945. Charles furthered his education by attending the Industrial Training Institute of Chicago, majoring in Aircraft and Precision Instruction. He graduated on August 30, 1946. He married Mary Johnson on June 26, 1948. Charles worked at Snyder Chevrolet Company until 1951. He went back to school at Hobart Trade School and graduated in April 20, 1951. Charles started his own business in 1951, known as Chuck's Welding Service. He has been in business for twenty- seven years. His hobbies are metal sculpturing and painting. They are members of St. Augustine Catholic Church. They live at 402 E. Main St., Napoleon. Their children are: Patricia Ann and Teresa Ann.

Patricia Ann was born July 4, 1954. She graduated from Napoleon High School in 1972. She married Dave Gilliland (b. Feb. 2, 1954) on September 21, 1973. They have one daughter Dawn (b. Sept. 19, 1975). In 1977, they moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Teresa Ann was born March 13, 1957. She went to Napoleon High School. She married James Burk. She has a daughter Kathleen Jo (b. June 6, 1977).

DORIS (MIDDLETON) VERBEKE was born October 10, 1919 in McClure. She attended Ridgeville School. Doris married Frank Verbeke on July 3, 1939. Frank served in the Army during World War II. He works at the France Stone Quarry in Waterville. Doris and Frank enjoy fishing in Canada on their vacations. They live in McClure. They have one son Frank Jr.

Frank Jr. was born March 6, 1940 in McClure. He graduated from McClure High School in 1958. He is a carpenter. Frank married Gloria Spangler on October 7, 1961. They live in McClure. They have two children: Tina and Edwin. Tina is in the eighth grade at Napoleon Central School and plays in the band. Edwin is in the seventh grade at

Napoleon Central School and enjoys playing football and wrestling.

KATHRYN (MIDDLETON) ALLEN was born February 25, 1922. She graduated from Ridgeville High School in 1941. She did housework in Toledo and worked at G.C. Murphy Company. Kathryn married Franklin Allen on February 25, 1948. During World War II, Frank was stationed at Pearl Harbor. In 1953, they moved to the Shunk Tile grounds. Frank works as a machinist at Gould, Inc. In 1967, they moved to Napoleon. They didn't have any children, but they have many nieces and nephews that stayed with them on and off. Charles Whitman in particular. They live at 324 Carey, Napoleon.

PHYLLIS (MIDDLETON) GILLILAND was born October 21, 1926. She attended the Ridgeville School and graduated from McClure High School in 1944. Phyllis married Maurice Gilliland. They have three children: Linda, Maurice Lee and Garnalee. Maurice works at Gould, Inc. as a large silent block operator. They live in Napoleon.

Linda was born October 17, 1947. She works at Sylvania Company in Ottawa, Ohio. Linda married Tim Craig. She has one son, Byron Allen. They live near Ottawa, Ohio.

Maurice Lee was born April 4, 1955. He went to Napoleon High School. Maurice Lee married Debra Davis on June 18, 1973. He joined the Army and is stationed at Fort Campbell. They have a daughter Brandi Leigh.

Garnalee was born June 7, 1958. She graduated from Napoleon High School in 1976. Garnalee works at Campbell Soup Co. She married Jeffery Conroy in 1976. Jeffery works for Automatic Feed Co. They live in Napoleon.

DICK MIDDLETON was born September 22, 1928. He went to Ridgeville School. In 1951, Dick joined the Army. He served in Korea during the conflict and was wounded. Dick married Virginia Wilson (divorced). Dick also served in Vietnam for two tours of duty. He retired from the Army in 1973. Dick has a daughter Susan.

LOUISE (MIDDLETON) RUTKOWSKI was born on January 6, 1931. She attended the Ridgeville and McClure Schools. Louise married James Whitman. James died in an automobile accident. They had a son Charles. Louise remarried Harold (Jake) Wagner. Louise and Jake had three children: Cheryl, Michael, and David. Jake died in 1972. Louise married Gene Rutkowski and now lives in Toledo.

Charles Whitman was born on January 31, 1949. He graduated from McClure High School in 1967. Charles works at Gould, Inc. on clean-up. He married Janet Reimund on August 8, 1970. They live near McCLure. They have a son, Jamie (b. January 11, 1972).

Cheryl (Wagner) Dielman was born April 2, 1952. She graduated from Napoleon High School in 1969. Cheryl married John Dielman on January 30, 1971. They live at Bryan, Ohio. They have three children: Christine, Bradford and Jason.

Michael Wagner was born May 9, 1954. He graduated from Napoleon High School in 1972. Michael served in the Army in Korea. He married Chang Ae Kim (b. July 27, 1954) on March 12, 1976. They live in Napoleon. He works at Fiber Glass in Defiance, Ohio.

David Wagner was born January 2, 1957. He attended Napoleon High School. David married Sue Heiman on June 25, 1977. They live in Napoleon. He works at Campbells Soup Co. in Napoleon, Ohio.

EDWIN MIDDLETON was born November 18, 1932. He attended Ridgeville and McClure Schools. On January 6, 1951, Edwin and Bernadine Ehlers married. Edwin works for S.E. Johnson Company in Maumee. Bernadine works at the Hoffman Produce in McClure. Edwin is a member of McClure Village Council and the McClure Volunteer Fire Department. They live in McClure. They have three sons: Thomas, Timothy and William.

Thomas was born May 27, 1952. He graduated from Napoleon High School in 1970. Thomas attended and graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1974. He married Trinda Snyder on August 27, 1971. Thomas works at Campbells Soup Co. and also is a substitute teacher in Napoleon Schools. They live in Napoleon and have a daughter Tammy.

Timothy was born November 8, 1954. He graduated from Napoleon High School in 1973. Timothy works for C.F. Gerken Company in Napoleon. He married Debra Shidler on February 27, 1976. They live in Napoleon and have a daughter Jennifer.

William was born January 21, 1963. He is a Freshman at Napoleon High School. William enjoys playing baseball and basketball.

GEORGE MIDDLETON was born February 22, 1934. He attended Ridgeville and McClure Schools. George married Marilyn Jo Good on October 15, 1952. They managed the KOA Campgrounds at North Baltimore, Ohio. He also works at the Maumee Stone Quarry. They live at the campgrounds. They have two daughters: Becky and Merry.

Becky was born December 28, 1954. She graduated from Anthony Wayne High School in 1973. She is a beautician in Toledo. Becky married Brian Woods on September 7, 1973. Brian works at the American Shipyard in Toledo. They live near Grand Rapids.

Merry was born November 14, 1956. She graduated from the Anthony Wayne High School in 1975. Merry works for Pizza Hut in Toledo.

JAMES DANIEL (DAN) MIDDLETON was born January 16, 1937 at Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. He was named after his grandfathers. When he was six years old the family moved to McClure. He attended McClure High School. In 1954 he started to work at Clevite Harris (Gould, Inc.). Dan joined the Army in 1956, and was stationed in France. He returned home in 1957 and has worked at Gould, Inc., as a tool crib attendant, for twenty- three years. Dan married Betty Jane Michaelis on June 6, 1959. They are members of the Emanuel Lutheran Church and also the church custodians. They live three miles west of Napoleon on County Road 17. Dan and Betty have three children: Mark, Daniel Scott, and Lori Ann.

Mark was born April 9, 1960 in Napoleon, Ohio. He is a senior at Napoleon High School and will graduate in May 1978. He plans to attend Bowling Green State University majoring in biological sciences. Mark is a member of Napoleon High School Band, TV Quiz Team, Junior Achievement, Emanuel Bell Choir and Luther League.

Daniel Scott was born on October 22, 1962 in Napoleon, Ohio. He is a freshman at the Napoleon High School. He is a member of 4-H Club, Junior Leadership, swim team and mixed choir. He enjoys drawing nice paintings and arts and crafts.

Lori Ann was born January 2, 1969, in Defiance, Ohio. She is a third grader of the C.D. Brillhart School. She enjoys reading books and music.

DERRY LEE MIDDLETON was born February 11, 1941 at Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. He attended and graduated from McClure High School in 1961. Derry operated a Sinclair Gas Station in Napoleon. He also worked for the Ramus Company. He married Janice Johnson on May 29, 1964. Derry now works for the Marathon Oil Company in Detroit, and is the district representative. Janice is organist for the St. Thomas Lutheran Church. They live at 33759 Cornelissen Drive, Sterling Heights, Michigan. They are members of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Derry and Janice have two children: Cara Janelle, and Gregory. Cara Janelle was born November 25, 1970 and is in the second grade. Gregory was born October 4, 1972 and is in kindergarten.

Submitted by: Mrs. James D. Middleton