John Stimmel Mires

John Stimmel Mires in 1889 accepted the position of clerk in the G. U. Foncannon drug store in Liberty Center. He studied for the state examination at the Chicago College of Pharmacy, passed the State Board Pharmacy exam in 1894, and was employed in a pharmacy at the corner of King and High, in Columbus. Returning to Liberty Center for a visit home and a short vacation, in 1903, he "helped out" with his brother David's Press, picked up the editor's pen, smelled the printer's ink, and never returned to the drug store.

From 1906, when he began his column entitled simply "Paragraphs," he became one of the most widely-quoted country editors in the United States. He served on the village council, was president of the Board of Education and the Mutual Telephone Company, and served as superintendent of St. John's Sunday School for many years. He was the business manager for the "Indians," first football team in the area.

On June 10, 1909, he married Emme Eugenia Crozier, and the two passed on to their children their desire to learn. They were parents of Hannah Louisa, John Kingsley, and David Wesley.

Louisa is a graduate of Ohio State and has an MA from Bowling Green. She has studied additionally in France and England, and is a teacher at Liberty Center High. She was married to Frederick M. Bonner in 1934, and in 1944 to Cecil S. Strock. Leon Frederick was born in Elkins, 1939, and is married to Suzanne Mary Eckenrode. Their children are Christopher, Kathryn Jean, Lisa Ann, and Michael John. Leon is a driver and trainer of trotters and pacers, racing now mostly in the Detroit-Toledo area. He attended Ohio State following his high school graduation. The Bonners live near Liberty Center.

David Carl Strock married Diane Kay Armbruster, and they are the parents of Sheila and Jeffrey David. David attended Allied Institute of Technology in Chicago, served with the armed forces in Germany, now lives in Napoleon, and is employed by a wholesale distributor.

Cecily Gail is a graduate of BGSU, teaches in Archbold High School, and is married to Jeremy James Rohrs, managing editor of the Farmland News. They live in Archbold.

John Andrew, who married Patricia Ann Kessler, is also engaged in harness racing. He attended BGSU and served with the army in Thailand and in Germany. They have a daughter, Tracy Ann, and live in Liberty Center.

Charlotte Anne, another BGSU graduate, has specialized in learning disabilities, and teaches now at the Noble School, Defiance County. She and her husband, Dudley Bradford Shrider, live in Napoleon with their daughter, Laurel Elaine.

James Sherman, victim of severe birth defects, makes his home at the Columbus State Institute.

JOHN KINGSLEY MIRES married Mary Marguerita Miller, of Cambridge, Ohio, daughter of Clyde and Victoria Miller. John K. is a graduate of Ohio State and holds a Master's from BGSU. He is a journalist and publisher. They have two children: Karen Sue, married to Donald Andres, Bryan, and Craig Alan, a graduate of Ohio Northern, a teacher and coach at Paulding High School. His wife was Marsha Akey, Zanesfield. They live in Defiance, where Marsha, also an ONU graduate, is employed.

DAVID WESLEY MIRES, a graduate of Ohio State's College of Engineering, is a professional engineer and a specialist in tire design for Cooper Tire and Rubber. He is married to the former Rolla Irene McMaster. Their children are Laurie Ann, graduate of Murray College, married to David Enright, Chicago, and mother of Corrinne Aileen; Melissa Amelia, Lucinda Eugenia, and David Sloan Betts. They live in Findlay.

EUGENE PRATT MIRES (18701950) was also a writer and a scholar, a member of the first class to graduate from Liberty Center's fine new two- story school in 1884. He worked for a time on the Press with his brother as assistant editor, and in 1902 was assigned to the Railway Mail service. After 18 years, he was transferred in 1920 to fill Liberty's Route 2.

October 21, 1899, he married Bertha Yarnell (1881-1912) of Napoleon. They had no children, and Bertha died of tuberculosis. On September 27, 1913, Eugene married Leona Conley, (18851952), a teacher in the Liberty Center School, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. O. P. Conley of Eaton, Ohio.

Jacob E. and Mary Mitchell Mohler Children, picture taken in their Harrison Twp. home in 1904. Winfield Mohler (in his Spanish Amer. War uniform), Cora Eisamin, Tilden J. Mohler, Sadie Saul, Ray Mohler, Robert Mohler, Mamie Glick, Will Mohler. All are now in 1975 deceased. Some of their descendants living in the area are: Joy King, Mary Eva Sloan, Alma Brauer, Bernard Mohler, Audra Starkey, Nevah Payment of Toledo. Orland Eisaman, Vilas Eisaman, Leah Packard, Beryl Sickmiller, Ione Detmer, Tillie Starkey, Bertha Spiess, Leola Hefflinger, Geneva Mohler, Paul Mohler, Helen Hollinger, Francis Strayer, Edith Studer, Edras Smith, Daris Mohler (county commissioner) - mostly living in Napoleon or Henry County area.

Submitted by Mrs. Paul Mohler

Their children were Marjorie Sloan (1914-1970), Philip Conley, Gertrude Alice, and Charles Wilson. Marjorie died in Archbold, survived by her husband, Denver Spiess, and one son, Eugene Marden.

Philip, a Navy veteran and graduate of BGSU, is industrial arts teacher at Holgate. His wife is the former Shirley Land, and they have four sons: Brent Leiter, Mark, Joel, and Jeffrey.

Gertrude Alice, now living in Florida, is married to Bernard Overmier, an educator, and has four sons: William, Thomas, Clare, and John.

Charles Wilson is a pharmacist in Wilmington, a graduate of Ohio Northern. He has two children, Charlene and Rob.

ROBERT GIBSON MIRES (1873-1924). Robert Gibson, youngest of the Mires sons, learned the barber trade and owned a shop in Defiance. His wife was Alice Avey. They had no children.

Submitted by Louisa Mires Strock