Sloan

Isaac Lewis "Lew" Sloan (1866-1943), born in Seneca County, was brought to Henry County as a child by his mother who had been recently widowed. She was Rachael Estella (Blair) Sloan (1846-1914) the daughter of William W. and Margaret (Davidson) Blair. She had been a teacher in Seneca County before her marriage to Isaac Sloan II. When he died of pneumonia shortly after the birth of their son, she followed her parents and other relatives to Damascus Township in Henry County where they had recently settled.

The Blairs, Davidsons, and Sloans were all pioneer families in the Tiffin and McCutcheonville area before coming to Henry County. The Blairs and Davidsons were Irish, settling first in Pennsylvania and coming to Ohio in the early 1830's. The Sloans came to Seneca County from McConnellsberg, Pa. about the same time.

"Lew" was originally named Lewis to honor the memory of his father's brother Lewis Sloan who was one of the Union soldiers who died at Andersonville Prison. When his father died, the name Isaac was added.

He grew up working on farms and in the sawmills in Lucas, Wood and Henry Counties near the schools where his mother taught. He spoke in later years of driving a wagon carrying lumber for the building of the bridge across the Maumee River at Grand Rapids, Ohio. His mother taught in a number of area schools retiring only because of ill health at the age of fifty- two. She was a respected teacher, remembered for her ability to handle the big, rough boys in her classes. The story is told of her courage when an intruder broke into her one-room school. She halted his attempts to rob her by chasing him away with the poker of the wood stove.

The mother and son eventually settled on property south of Grelton, Ohio and there he met and married

Martha Jane Springer (1870-1926).

Martha was the daughter of Phillip H. and Eliza (Wey) Springer, who came originally from the German states of Nassau and Hesse-Cassel. They had lived in Huron and Wood Counties before coming to Damascus Township. Martha was born near Tontogony in Wood County. Her brothers and sisters were: Jacob, born 1864; Earnestine, Mrs. John Sloan, born 1866; Elizabeth, Mrs. Dan Carr, born 1867; Louise, Mrs. Al Blair, born 1869; Henry, born 1873; Minnie, Mrs. Prudden, born 1879; Phillip, born 1876; Jennie, Mrs. Omar Carr, born 1881.

During his years in Grelton, Lew Sloan was a lumber and real estate dealer and later a leading hay and grain dealer. He built and operated the Grelton Elevator Company and was an active citizen, interested in Henry County political and business affairs.

The eight children of Lew and Martha Sloan were:

Loie Belle, Mrs. Bert Snyder, born 1889. She lived in Toledo. Her children are Ruth, Mrs. Marc Picard; Claude Snyder, and Mildren, Mrs. Carlton Lang.

Dovie Mae, Mrs. Fred Smith, born 1891 who lived in Marion, Ohio. Her son is Maynard Smith.

Audrey Gladys, Mrs. C. F. Jones, born 1897. She lived on a farm near Grelton and was active in church and community life. Her children are Meredith, Mrs. Theodore Fritz; Marvelle, Mrs. Warren Walter; and Duane Jones.

Walter Burns Sloan, M.D., born 1893, physician, Toledo, Ohio. Married Beatrice Wiseman Aurand of Malinta. His daughter is Catharine, Mrs. William Eberly.

Arthur Landon "Mike" Sloan, born 1899, a businessman in Bowling Green, Ohio. Married Matilda Armbruster of McClure. His daughter is Kathleen Ann, Mrs. Marvin Wolf.

Pauline, Mrs. Howard Middleton, born 1901, a teacher in McClure and West Hope.

Paul Sloan, born 1901, a teacher of philosophy at the New York State Teachers College, Buffalo, New York. He married Bonnie Keffer of Montpelier. His son is Robert Lewis Sloan.

Virgil N. Sloan, born 1910, Principal of Woodward High School, Toledo, Ohio. He married Mary Eva Mohler of Napoleon. His son is Hal Todd Sloan.

Material prepared by: Catharine Sloan Eberly