Joseph Henry Bishop

Joseph Henry Bishop "known as Josie" was born in Crawford County on September 14, 1859, the sixth child of Joseph and Eliza Cole Bishop. He moved with the family to Putnam County in 1864 and in 1865 moved to Henry County and located on the Ridge Road on a farm he later owned in Marion Township.

On September 12, 1889, he married Nancy Alice Casteel, a school teacher from Putnam County. Joseph and his sons were champion corn growers. His corn took local prizes in state and county fairs and his exhibit was awarded a gold prize at the Omaha Exhibition in 1899. The boys were successively prize winners in the boys corn crop contest and had a chance to see the capital of the United States and enlarge their vision of the true value and meaning of agriculture by trips granted them as prizes to Washington D.C. where they attended the King Corn Convention as delegates. One of his sons obtained the yield of 119 bushels per acre. These boy corn growers were objects of special interest in the national city and had many favors shown them, usually being received by the President. One of Mr. Bishop's sons was a successful contestant in 1913; another came along with the prize exhibit in 1914, while the third son was a prize winner for 1916.

Josie and Nancy's first child Minnie was born in November, 1890. She graduated from Deshler High School and taught school for five years before she married Harry H. Townsend in 1915.

Orlo Emmet, born in December, 1892, was the corn contest winner in 1913. He married Shella Hoskins in September, 1916. She passed away in May, 1917, so in August, 1917, he answered his country's call and served till the end of the war and then enlisted in the Army of Occupation in Germany and was discharged in August, 1919. In 1921 he married Pearl Wenner and they had two children. Paul lives in Gloversville, New York, and has two children, Bob and Janice. Margaret Spalding lives in Erie, Pa. and has two sons, Jim and John. Orlo farmed until health failed him caused by gas from the war and was sent to Veterans Hospital where he spent three years trying to regain his health.

In June, 1926, he returned home to spend the remaining time with his family. He passed away in March, 1927.

Ina Elizabeth, born in December, 1894, married Alfred Warren of Putnam County in November, 1914. They now reside in Lima, Ohio, and are the parents of three children: Serge, with Ashland Oil Co., lives in Canton, Ohio, and has six children, Barbara, Ruth, Carol, William, Robert and Tom; Evelyn Smith has two children, Nancy and Jay, and she works for Armature Works of Lima; Kenneth lives near Rawson and works with International Harvester. He has four children, Cheryl, James, Cathy, and Carolyn.

Amos, born in November, 1896, married Lillian Rader in December, 1917. He was the corn contest winner in 1914. They had four children: Erma Parker in Deshler, having four children, Dennis, Roger, Carolyn, and Marolyn; Merle from Hamler and owner of Bishop's Abattoir and Locker married Betty Rike and they have four children Judy, Peggy, Jerry, and Debbie; Joe was killed in World War II; Gene lives near McComb and has five children, Nancy, Karen, Linda, Janet and Steven; Amos passed away in 1970.

Wiley was born September 7, 1898, and was the corn contest winner in 1916. He married Leola Fruchey in December, 1924. They have six children: Richard lives near Hamler; and Robert married Judy Seiber and they live in Hoytville; Patricia married Roy Hampshire, and they are living in Auburn, Indiana, and have two children Steven and Kay Ann; James farms near Hamler; and Marven married Louise Martin, and they live in Van Buren with their four children, Mark, Michael, Sandra, and Stacy; Melvin married Margaret Meyer and has one son, Stanley. They live in Hamler.

Homer, born in March, 1902, married Hilda Koppenhofer in December, 1926. They moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1930. They are both deceased but leave two children. Donald lives in Kansas City, Kansas, and has two daughters, Allison and Elizabeth. Carmon Malmanger teaches school in Seattle, Washington and has four children, Robin, John, Nancy and Dan.

Nancy Bishop passed away in 1918 and Josie married Alice Murry in 1924. Josie passed away in 1931 at the age of 72.

Submitted by John Hayes