Hans Thrane

The home of Hans and Mary Ellen Thrane was built by James Durbin in 1852, when Texas, Ohio, was first plotted out. It was one of 18 houses at that time. The Court records of Henry County show the house had a tax value of $164.00; also that it has had 20 owners. Many owned it only 4 to five years.

Mary Ellen Patton Thrane as a youth went to this home many times. It was owned by John and Henritta Murrin. The Murrin family moved to Texas from Toledo, Ohio. They bought the house in 1934, and lived there nine years. Mr. Murrin worked on the tugs on the Great Lakes. They had a family of five sons: Jack, William, James, Jerry, and Robert. They moved to Chicago, where Mr. Murrin's work was.

Mary Ellen Patton married Leland Soles of Colton, Ohio, and after a few years they bought the house from Mr. Murrin in 1943. They had a family of three children: Lila Lee, Lawrence L., and Sharon K. Soles. Leland Soles passed away on June 21, 1951.

Mary Ellen Soles then married Hans C. Thrane of Kolding, Denmark, in 1953. Hans came to the United States while he was a sailor. He sailed for 23 years under Danish, English, Swedish, Norwegian, and American flags. He became an American citizen in 1947 after World War II. Hans and Mary Ellen brought up her three children in this house. In 1954 they raised the house, and put a basement under it. They also remodeled it inside, and put new siding on it. The large timbers under it were found to be hewed out. They used wooden pegs instead of nails. Mary Ellen has lived there for 32 years; the longest anyone has ever owned it.

The three children went to Liberty Center High School and all graduated from there.

As a child I (Mary Ellen) have lived in this area. I attended Colton, Heath, and Texas Schools before the country schools were closed. We then went to Liberty Center High School.

I have seen many changes here in Texas, Ohio, but it has not grown any, for as old as it is. I remember the moving of the I.O.O.F. hall from the canal bank to its present site. Also when the canal bed was filled in and Route #24 was built. Another thing that will always be on my mind is the Texas Club. This was a Club held in the Old Texas School House. They had round and square dancing there every Saturday night. There would be a pot luck supper at 11:30. The whole family attended it even the small children. Everyone had a great time in those days, but that was before T.V. of now 1975.

Mary and John W. Thorn with children, John, George, Dorcus, Eva

Mr. and Mrs. Hans Thrane

I have been told many an interesting story about the ferry that crossed the river here at Texas, the barrel factory, the hotel, health resort; they started but never became anything. Also how they used to bring mail by mule back from Colton, Ohio, to Texas. There was only a path on the east side of Bad Creek, no road.

As a child, I remember my father Homer Patton telling us children about "Spookie Hollow." I think this was passed down from family to family.

Lots of history has come to pass in this area. The first bricks for the Henry County Court House were made in Texas, Ohio, and taken to Napoleon, Ohio, by canal boat. It is a beautiful site to look up or down the Maumee from its banks here in Texas, Ohio.

Submitted by Mary Ellen Thrane