Michael Blue Family

Michael Blue, was born in Pennsylvania. (Estimate his birth date to have been October 1, 1784) Died February 7, 1875, age 90 years, 4 months, and 6 days. He married Nancy Chaney, a native of Virginia, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. She died May 26, 1873, age 88 years, 7 months, and 16 days. (Estimate her birth date to have been October 10, 1784.) Michael Blue then moved to Fairfield County, Ohio. He served in the War of 1812. Children of Michael and Nancy were: Amy (don't know when married or whether the eldest); Rebecca - 1811-1869, married 1829 to James Dewese; Michael - 1813; James - 1821; Morgan - 18241899; Jesse - 1830.

Morgan Blue

Mary Magdelania Blue, wife of Morgan Blue

The Michael Blue family was in Miami County, Ohio, in 1824. Michael and Nancy Chaney Blue, had a son, Morgan Blue, born August 1, 1824, Miami County, Ohio, died April 23, 1899, Henry County, Ohio. He was married Jan. 1, 1844, to Mary Magdelania Thompson, born Sept. 14, 1823. A son was born, Eugene Blue. Morgan sold his lands at Troy, Ohio, and they moved from Miami County to Shelby County near Sidney.
They moved to the wilderness of Henry County in November or December, 1861, cutting their way through woods for three miles into Henry County, Marion Twp. There they lived in a log cabin twenty-two feet square, completely surrounded by a swamp and inhabited by a large number of porcupines.

Morgan Blue was a man of great industry and with the assistance of his children, he effected a marvelous transformation in that part of the country which he occupied. An extensive system of drainage made it one of the garden spots of Ohio. He improved his land and added to his possessions until his 900 acres became the finest land in the state. Both attended the primitive Baptist Church of which she was a member.

Morgan Blue was a Democrat. He twice served as land appraiser for Henry County and for a number of years was a trustee of Marion Twp.

The old log cabin that was on the Blue farm land is gone now, but it stood for many years, long after the Blue Homestead was built in 1888.

The Black Swamp in northwestern Ohio was covered with woods in the early days and was usually so wet that one would have to step or jump from log to log when walking through the woods.

All the family had "ague" or fever and chills as it was also called, but little Hattie had it the worst.

Children of Morgan and Mary Magdelania Thompson Blue were: W. Thompson Blue (Wilson); Porter Z. Blue (Zilorie); Lorraine Blue; Mary Blue; Belle Blue; Rebecca Jane Blue; V. Dorsey Blue (Volner); Eugene Cortez Blue; Maggie E. Blue; Hattie Blue; Morgan Leondus Blue.

When there were crops ready to be harvested, all the Blue sons would get together and work at the Blue homestead. They would then go to one another's farms and trade work. Rebecca (she was always "Becky" to everyone) would chuckle in her old age and speak of remembering how the Blue brothers would sit at meals discussing something or other and get into a real good argument and argue until one would think they were going to fight. But then the men would get up from the table and go back to work together, peaceably.

Morgan Blue and wife in large pictures. Front row: Thompson, (small picture) Mary Volner, Dorsey, Belle, Maggie E.; back row: Porter Z., Eugene C., Lorraine, Hattie, Maggie, and Leondus. This is the home they helped their father Morgan build and grew up in.

The Morgan Blue home built in 1888 is standing yet as of Dec., 1958. It is an outstanding farm. Oliver Blue and his wife (second wife, Bernice Abby) did live there and kept it and the yard in excellent condition. Oliver and Bernice are both deceased now. Great Grandmother's big kitchen with the range and big wood bob and the long table she sat at so often is changed into a modern kitchen now. The bathroom and oil furnace have been added. Otherwise the partitions are the same. Oliver and Bernice have furnished the house beautifully and with furniture in keeping with it. Oliver has lived on this farm since 1904. In 1955, the Centennial farm committee of Henry County found the farm qualified and it received the certificate of award as being one hundred years in the same family, Morgan Blue having purchased it March 9, 1855. It has been stated that twelve children were born to Mary and Morgan, six boys and six girls, one son having died in infancy.

Since it is known that all the children but Lon was born before the family came to Henry County in 1861, and Hattie was born Oct. 15, 1861, it is evident that the family came to Henry County in November or December of that year. At that time, the boys' ages were 15%, 14, 5, and 31 years and the girls' ages were 13, 12, 10, 8, and 2 years and a newly born daughter of a few weeks old. Mary Thompson Blue was a brave pioneer woman to go with her husband and large family of young children into the wilderness. A newspaper clipping tells of the party given to Morgan and Mary Oct. 24, 1897, when nearly 200 friends surprised them at their home. Morgan and Mary had been married nearly 54 years at the time of this surprise party. Then conservation apparently included recollection of the earlier days, for the clipping says that "This farm was once swamps and brambles where now are fruit orchards and green fields. Bear and wolf were hunted on this same farm."

Eugene C. Blue, born April 15, 1859, died April 10, 1936. Married Sadie Madesta Spangler born February 14, 1861, died in 1948 at the age of 87 years. They had two sons. John William's birthdate is not known, but he died Feb. 3, 1957, and married Gertrude Leonhart of Leipsic, Ohio, and they lived near Leipsic, Ohio. They had no children. The other son Franklin Cortez Blue, born Jan. 23, 1891, died Dec. 12, 1949. He married Lucy Anderson from Jersey, Ohio, Licking County, on Nov. 10, 1908. To them were born three children: Riley Franklin, Perry Eugene, and Edna Lucille.

Riley Franklin, born August 31, 1909, died May 26, 1967. He married Miriam Potts of Belmore, Ohio. They had one daughter Lois Jean. Miriam then divorced him and he married Arleta Roddy of Holgate, Ohio. They had one daughter Betty Lou.

Perry Eugene, born December 17, 1912, died Mar. 25, 1968, and married Helen Willier, Mar. 15, 1912, died Mar. 29, 1968, from Deshler, Ohio; and they had 5 children: Richard, (killed in an auto accident at the age of 20), Robert, Jerry, James, and Marrianne.

Mr. and Mrs. Franklin C. Blue

Edna Lucille, born June 13, 1920, married Elmer Bishop and to them were born six children: David Lee Bishop, Hamler, Ohio; Ronald Bishop, Romulus, Michigan; Mrs. Don (Vicki Jo) Gray, Napoleon, Ohio; Elmer Jr. Bishop, Apple Creek, Ohio; Mrs. Sam (Rebecca Sue) Shanks, Napoleon, Ohio; and Ricky Lynn, now attending Interstate Technical School at Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

David Lee, born Dec. 31, 1938, married Eva Andonian and they have three children, Jeff, Roger, and Kathy Jo.

They reside on the old Samuel R. Hashberger farm, south and west of Hamler on the Ridge Road. He recently purchased 1/2 of the Franklin C. Blue 120 acre farm, 1 mile south, 2 miles east of Hamlin, Ohio.

Ronald Gene born Sept. 14, 1940, married Diane Vogelgesang from Lima, Ohio, and they reside in Romulus, Michigan. He has worked for North Central Airlines for 16 years. They have no children as yet.

Vicki Jo, born March 28, 1944, married Donald Gray, and reside east of Napoleon, Ohio. They have three children, Tammy Jo, Barbara Ann, and Douglas.

Elmer Junior, born August 31, 1946, lives at Apple Creek, Ohio. He never married.

Rebecca Sue, born May 22, 1952, married Sammy Jo Shanks. They live in Napoleon, Ohio, and have one son, Jasen.

Ricky Lynn, born July 14, 1957, resided at home until his attending school at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, upon graduation.

Edna Lucille Bishop and Elmer Bishop were divorced in 1959 and she was married in 1965 to Julian Mansfield Grant of Napoleon, Ohio, where they presently reside. I am Edna Lucille (Blue) Grant and the author of this article.