The J. Sebastian Royal Family

For more than 75 years J. Sebastian (Sep) Royal had been a resident of Pleasant Township, Royal Addition, Henry County, Ohio, and during this time he devoted himself to the field of agriculture, as a grain farmer and the raising of livestock. Mr. Royal and his family were well-known for the raising of registered Shorthorn cattle, showing them at various shows and fairs in the area and where they were awarded many prizes. Their career in the cattle business ended when the herd contacted tuberculosis and were destroyed. He is one of those who has seen the county developed from its primitive condition to a territory noted throughout the state for the fertility and the productiveness of its farms. He has helped to bring about developments of this area while winning personal success of his chosen field of endeavor and has also aided his community to grow, advance and better itself. He served on the school board, the Holgate Farmer's Bank, Pleasant Bend Elevator, the New Bavaria Telephone Company, the Cattlemen's Association, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, New Bavaria, and its organizations.

Mr. Royal came of Roman Catholic ancestry and of people of the agricultural class. His father, Sebastian Royal, was of German ancestry and came to the United States at the age of 12 years. In 1840 he purchased Government land with the deed signed by President Polk which he cleared for his home and farm land in Pleasant Township. He married Barbara Noirot and six children were born to them - Sons: John and Adam, who later left the home place, married and moved to Indiana; daughters: Christine (Sherer), Carolina (Burher), who both married and moved in to Defiance, Mary (Faber) and Margaret (Okuley) who remained in Henry County after they married. Following the death of his wife, Barbara, he married her sister, Theresa Noirot, who also preceded him in death.

Sebastian and his family made their home on the same farm where his grandson, Paul, now lives 135 years later. He first built a wood frame house then he later built a two story brick house which consisted of 8 large rooms. In later years his son, J. Sebastian, added four more rooms to the brick house.

On November 9, 1893, the farm was sold to the youngest son, J. Sebastian, with the first owner remaining in a part of the house.

J. Sebastian married Bridget Elizabeth Ensman, daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Seabold, Ensman on May 25, 1899.

At the age of 18 years, Frederick Ensman came to the United States by himself from Alsace Lorraine for the purpose of avoiding the draft into the army. Until the time that his parents also came to the U.S. he lived with an uncle, George Riesser, later marrying Elizabeth Seabold of near Elyria, Ohio.

Born of this marriage were George, Bridget (Royal), Margaret (Wilhelm), William, Emile, Anne (Frehse), Isabelle (Hoffman), Rozella (Priest), Frederick, Kathryn (Wortman), Louise (Wise) and Elizabeth, who died of a strepthroat at the age of 9 years.

The family of Frederick and Elizabeth Ensman lived on a farm 4 miles southeast of New Bavaria before moving to Putman County, 2 miles east of State Route 108 on County Road X. There they built a two story log house with 2 rooms upstairs and 2 rooms downstairs. Later Mr. Ensman built a large 9 room frame home at the same location. This home was moved several years later to its present location and is owned by the Virgil Gerschutz family.

Mr. Ensman came from the Alsace Lorraine Province and usually spoke French.

Thirteen children were born to J. Sebastian and Bridget Royal. They were: Bernard S., April 16, 1900; Wilfred F., September 2, 1901; Margaret, May 6, 1903; Francis S., November 6, 1905; Cecelia, May 4, 1908; Joseph J., March 25, 1910; Martha (Dossat), February 23, 1912; Elizabeth M. (Sister Elizabeth), April 12, 1914; and infant, November 1, 1916; Mary Katherine, March 1, 1918; William Paul, June 6, 1919; James Robert, June 12, 1921; and Paul Mathias, March 3, 1925.

J. Sebastian and Bridget Royal shared many joys as well as several tragedies during their married life. Of the 13 children born to them, 6 preceded them in death. Francis and Cecelia were killed in an automobile and train accident along with 3 other teen-age children while returning to their homes from high school in Holgate. Joseph was smothered in an oats bin on the family farm. Also preceding them in death were Wilferd, Mary and an infant.

Living members of the family today are Martha (Dossat) Toledo; Sister Elizabeth, Glandorf; William P., Michigan; James Robert, Indiana; and Paul, on the home place.

Descendents of the family of J. Sebastian and Bridget also includes the children of Martha and Sidney Dossat - Ronald, Ramon, Rosalie, Barbara, Bonnie, Rick, Russel and Randy. They have 15 grandchildren. Martha was a graduate of the old St. John's Catholic Commercial School, Defiance, and as a senior from the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic High School, Ottawa. After moving to Toledo she was an employee of the Willys-Overland Company in the office.

Margaret and Roy Burkhart, both deceased, were the parents of two sons, Earl and Donald, and a daughter, Elizabeth, who was killed in a streetcar accident in Toledo on her 20th birthday. There are 10 grandchildren.

At the age of 12 years, Sister Elizabeth Royal lived with an aunt in Defiance and attended the St. Mary's Catholic High School as a freshman student and during her sophomore year she attended the high school in Ottawa. At age 14, Sister Elizabeth entered the religious order of the Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton, O., and in 1978 she will mark her Golden Jubilee with that order. She has now completed 43 years in the teaching profession and is presently employed in the Glandorf school system.

William Royal married Vera Okuley on August 6, 1938, and they are the parents of 12 children and 15 grandchildren. William served with the U.S. Army during World War II, including service in the South Pacific and he is presently employed in a paper mill at Vicksburg, Mich.

Their children include: Dennis, Diane, Elaine, David, Christine, Victoria, Donald, Kathryn, Steven, Julie, Mark, and Amy.

James Robert Royal married Donelda Kunesh on June 12, 1939. Born to them were twin sons, Robert and Roger, Roberta, Lee, Rosita and LeAnn. There are also 10 grandchildren, including twin girls.

Paul Mathias, youngest child of J. Sebastian and Bridget, married Lela Ruth Butler of Defiance County, 0., on October 5, 1943. She was the only daughter of Mable (Holley) and Perry Butler. Paul's wife, who was a member of the United Brethern Church, Defiance, became a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, which has been the faith followed by all descendents of the Royal families.

They have a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Royal, whom they adopted when she was 6 weeks old. Mary Elizabeth was a student of the Sacred Heart Catholic School, New Bavaria, for the first eight grades. She attended high school at the St. Joseph's Academy, which was operated by the Sisters of St. Domonic at Adrian, Mich. Following her high school graduation she attended Defiance College for one year then transferred to the Sienna Hights College, which is also on the campus of the Sisters of St. Domonic, Adrian, Mich. While in college she participated in all music programs and was also a member of the Croswell Opera House Summer Theater, Adrian.

Paul enlisted with the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and served in the South Pacific on an ammunition ship. He attended the one-room Warniment School for the first eight grades. While in Holgate High School he was active in the 4-H Clubs and the Future Farmers of America. He has held memberships in the Defiance Fish and Game Club, the Miller City Sportsman Club, the American Legion, the Eagles Dodge, Ottawa, the Elks Club, Defiance, Henry County Farm Bureau, and was a charter member and a life time member of the Raymond Diemer V.F.W. Post, New Bavaria. A charter member of the New Bavaria Volunteer Fire Department where he has also held office. He is a life-time member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, New Bavaria, and has held office in its Holy Name Society, also the V.F.W. Paul has served on the board of directors of the Buckeye Sugar Growers Assoc., Ottawa, the Tomato Growers Association, and the Henry County Farm Bureau.

Ruth Royal spent many years in church and community activities. She has held offices in the Sacred Heart Rosary Altar Society, the Defiance Deanery and the Toledo Diocesan Councils of Catholic Women, the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and was also a charter member of the Henry County Cancer Society and served on its board for many years. She also served on the board of the Henry County Bloodmobile.

Ruth was educated in the Defiance Public Schools for the first eight grades and graduated from Ayersville High School. She is also a graduate of the Miami School of Business, Dayton, and attended Defiance College. During World War II she was employed at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton.

Submitted by the Family