J. W. Van Scoyoc

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Van Scoyoc and their ten children moved from near a little town, Lucas, in Mercer Co., Ohio, to Bartlow Township in October of 1852. The Bartlow family for whom the township was named came in 1850, the two Russell families in 1853, followed by the Facklers and Trubys. These families all located in the southeast corner of the township. In the spring of 1855 on April 1st, Bartlow Township was organized and had its first election. This was held near the area where Deshler now stands.

The sons of the Van Scoyoc family worked on the line of the C.H.D. Railroad, clearing the right of way in 1853 and 1854. Due to a lack of funds work was suspended until 1858-59. The roadbed was completed and the track was put down in the spring of 1859. They began to lay the track south from Toledo and north from Lima. They met in Ottawa and on the 28th day of August, 1859, the first passenger trains went over this track. The trains met and passed where Deshler now stands. The first spur was here. It was long enough to hold an engine and four coaches. Harvey Van Scoyoc, one of the sons of J. W. fired the first boiler at the age of 28.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Van Scoyoc were: James, Isaac, Jonathan, Walter, Harvey, John, Rachel, Mary Ann, and Hannah. Several of the boys served their country in the Civil War. Jonathan was one of the few survivors on the ship Usultana which exploded enroute to Cairo, Ill. After his discharge he married Margaret Kelley and they moved by covered wagon with two children to Luray, Kansas. He was the 3rd homesteader in Russell Co., Kansas, and his log cabin has been restored in the Luray City Park.

James Van Scoyoc, his wife and two children traveled by covered wagon to Sacramento Valley, California. It took them from April 11, 1883, to October 27, 1883, to complete the journey. He has left a handwritten log of this journey describing in detail the people, countryside, and hardships. If this log were stretched out, it would measure 64 ft. long. Alva Van Scoyoc has the original log as well as the Civil War letters.

Isaac Van Scoyoc also bought property in Luray, Kansas. But he sold it to the railroad and purchased the Van Scoyoc homeplace in Bartlow Township. A fourth generation Van Scoyoc, Howard, now owns the homeplace. Isaac Van Scoyoc's family all remained in Bartlow Township. His children were: John, Emmett, Perry, Charles, Malinda Van Scoyoc Tussing, Cora Van Scoyoc Boyer, and Blanche Van Scoyoc Butler. Mrs. Butler is the only living member. John's children are Alva Deshler, Martha Leatherman, Ashland, Ohio. Emmett's children Homer and Florence live in Bartlow Township. Perry's children are Mrs. Edna Stauffer, Continental and Isaac, Saline, Mich. Charles' children are Howard and Robert, Deshler, Jean, McComb, and Ruth, Elkart, Indiana. Perry Tussing, Deshler is the son of Malinda. Cora's children are Carl, Dallas, Texas; John, Salamanca, New York; James, Green Springs; Dessie Pas, Deshler. Blanche's children are Clara, Grace, and Louise of Deshler, Bernice, Milford, Ind., Ethel, Toledo, and Charles, Atlanta, Georgia.

Mary Ann married William Waltman and lived across the county line in Wood Co. They had one daughter Edith. Rachel married A. Galbreath and moved to California. Hannah married John Russell and lived near the home place.

Mrs. J. W. Van Scoyoc or Granny as she was called rode horseback all hours of the day and night administering to the ills of the community. She cured the ills with herbs and teas. She also rode horseback to Belmore in Putnam Co. to get letters from her sons in the Civil War.

Submitted by Mrs. Alva Van Scoyoc