Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter

Volume 25, Number 4, July-August 2011

A PUBLICATION OF:

THE HENRY COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
P. O. BOX 231
DESHLER, OHIO 43516
www.henrycountyohiogenealogy.org

The Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter is now published bi-monthly. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any material submittedied The Newsletter is copyright protected, but the Society gives permission for material to be copied for personal research and to other chapter newsletters for their use. Any other use of this material should carry written permission from the Henry County Genealogical Society and acknowledge the source. Annual membership is $10.00 for 1-2 people at the same address.

Meetings will be held quarterly or as announced in the newsletter. Publications for sale are listed on the last page with the newest ones appearing on the first page.

We print all queries that are related to Henry County – membership is not requiredied Send queries to Henry Co. Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 231, Deshler, OH 43516 or to the editor as “Query” at wendypen@wcnet.org. After May 2016, queries may be directed to our website and will appear there.

Officers:

President – Jim Rebar – jamesrebar@roadrunner.com
Vice President – Phyllis LaRue
Treasurer/Membership Chmn. – Lucille Van Scoyoc – elvrrv2c@centurylink.net
Corresponding Secretary – Phyllis LaRue – 409 W. Maple St. Deshler, OH 43516
Recording Secretary and First Families Chmn. – Kathy Bishop – 10-292 Rdied E, Hamler, OH 43524 skbshp@embarq.com
News Reporter – Patricia Marshall – antiquepat@aol.com
Newsletter Editor – Karen Sunderman – wendypen@wcnet.org
Webmaster – Jim Rebar – jamesrebar@roadrunner.com

Meetings

July 18, Monday, 7:00 p.m.

We will visit the local history section of new Putnam County Library building in Ottawa. Enter Ottawa from the north on St. Rt. 109, Turn rt. on Putnam Pkwy. last bldg, before YMCA. Meet in Gen. Rm. For carpools from Deshler and Napoleon call Karen Sunderman, Lucille VanScoyoc or Jim Rebar.

August 2011

No meeting. See you at the Fair!

September 19, 2011, Monday, 7:00 p.m.

We will have a regular business meeting and Ed Peper will be our guest speaker. His topic will be the history of Pleasant Township and Holgate.

New Members

No new members this month.

Membership is $10 per year. Dues are paid the first of each year and newsletters are mailed from that date. Please address correspondence to the website, the editor, or to our P. O. Box. Include your membership # (on address label). All Henry Co. queries are printed free.

Recent Publications…

Henry County Birth Records Vol. II (1877-1882). The cost is $10.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling.

Northwest Signal Obituaries Vol. XXIV (2010), which will cost $22.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling.

On-Going Projects

Several people are working on inputing information on cemetery records. A new project on data from the Common Pleas Court is underway. See page 32 for information on it and ways you can help.

Programs

We’ve been having programs on history and genealogy from each township. If you are from Washington Twp., or know someone who would be willing to speak about that Twp., please contact Jim Rebar or Karen Sunderman.

Last Call

Kathy Bishop is still accepting applications for First Families of Henry County. Contact her at 10-292 Rdied E, Hamler, OH 43524 or skbshp@embarqmail.com.

Civil War Information

Union draft registrations recorded in 1863 are available on Ancestry.com. Contains nearly 350,000 Ohio references for men 20-45. Henry County is District 10.

Queries

No new queries.

Seeking Volunteers – Common Pleas Court Project

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised to discover a computerized index to a set of data you were researching? Remember how much time that saved you? Here’s your opportunity to help other researchers (and perhaps yourself, too) have that experience. We have started entering the Henry County Common Pleas Court Index Books into a computer database. This will enable researchers to search by plaintiff, defendant, date, type of case, etc. This is a large project and we would like volunteers to assist in this effort.

You do not need to travel to the courthouse to help. We will scan the pages of the index and e-mail them to you. We will send you an Excel (spreadsheet) template file. You will read the scans and enter the data into the spreadsheet and e-mail the spreadsheet back to us. We will also provide a complete set of instructions, including examples and shortcuts that you can use. You need to have some type of spreadsheet program on your computer – no other special requirements. You may process many or tew pages as your time allows. For more information contact: Bill Latta at billatta @embarqmail.com or 419-592-4581.

Alien Registration Index – Your Immigrant’s Information

Beginning with WWI, resident aliens who had not been naturalized were required, as a security measure, to register with the U. S. Marshal nearest their place of residence. This took place between November 1917 and April 1918 and again from August 1940 to March 1944. These records listed full name (maiden name for females); current residence and length of residence; place of birth; spouse s name- children’s names, sex and years of birth; parents’ names, birthdates and birthplaces; names, dates of birth, and current residence of siblings; male relatives serving in the military for/agamst us, whether registered for selective draft; previous military or government service; date of immigration, name of vessel and port of arrival; physical description; and more.

WWI registration files are scattered and many no longer exist. Some may be found m state archives. A few may be researched online. WWII registration (AR-2) files are available on microfilm from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and can be obtained through a Genealogy Immigraiton Records Request—begin by requesting a Genealogy Index Search. If the subject of your request was bom less then 100 yrs. before the date of your request, you are generally required to provide proof of death. The cost is $20. for AR-2 forms and an additional $20 for a genealogy index search through the USCIS Genealogy Program and probably will take 3-5 months.

From the Henry County Signal, 2 Feb 1882

Dr. A. H TYLER and Mrs. A. L. CHASE were married last evening at the residence of Mr. William BROWNELL, Rev. M. T. DONAHEY performing the ceremony. The boys gave the happy pair a regular old belling and made [the] night hideous with their horrible noise.

The term for which Jos. H. FISHER was sentenced to jail expired yesterday, but Prosecutor KNUPP will not consent to his being released until he pays his fine and costs.

We learn from L. TROWBRIDGE, Esq., who was present at his death, that Rev. David EDGAR, formerly a minister in the Presbyterian Church at this place, died at Dexter, MI, Feborn 4th,
1882. The remains were taken to Lansingburg, NY, for interment.

Dr. BRINKERHOFF, the great Pile Doctor, will be at the Miller House next Monday.

The Council is putting in two new fire cisterns, one on Scott St. south of the railroadied Mr. born F. COWDRICK has the contract.

The VOCKE Bros, and J. A. WHEELER want all the saw logs, stave bolts, heading, and etc. that the farmers of Henry County can bring them, for which they will pay the highest market price in cash.

Mr. Simon ROLLER, father of Messrs. J. ROLLER & Bro., of this place, whose death we noticed last week, was about 80 years of age, and located in the vicinity of Bloomville when that part of the state was comparatively a wilderness, and by hard work and fair dealing amassed a handsome fortune, which discends [sic] to his children, $40,000 or $50,000 in value to each one.

Marriages

BOHN – OVERMIER – At the residence of the undersigned, in Liberty Center, on Sunday, Feborn 19, 1882, Mr. Uriah L. SOHN and Miss Elllen OVERMIER.—Rev. A. E. BAICHLY HECKLER – KRATZ – At the residence of the bride’s parents, near Napoleon, Feborn 16, 1882, by S. J. GAMERTSFELDER, Mr. Henry HECKLER and Miss Maggie KRATZ, both of Henry Co., OH.

Malinta Items – – Rev. Mr DOWNEY has closed his meeting at the BARNHILL school house. We organized a society of nine good and substantial members with the prospect of more to follow. He is now engaged in the MASDON school house; up to the present there has been 8 conversions and 10 accessions in the United Brethren Church. His congregations are large and the best of order prevails.

I have heard it said by several of our citizens that he has the best method of holding the attention of his audience both old and young of any public speaker they ever saw or heardied His preaching and illustrations are so plain that the most illiterate and unlearned can comprehend his ideas.

From the Henry County Signal, 8 Feb 1882

Mrs. J. O. PALMER, who resides a couple of miles up the river, lost 27 head of sheep last Monday night. The lot in which they were kept overflowed from the canal, and the water coming up to their sides, they froze to death.

Died, at his residence in Lucas County, on the morning of January 18, 1883, Benjamin A. CROCKETT, aged 72 years. Mr. CROCKETT was well known to many of the people of Henry County 30 or 35 years ago. He came to Ohio from the state of Maine, his native state, about 50 years ago, when northwestern Ohio was very new. He was a school teacher by profession.
Dr. HELLER , of Grand Rapids, formerly of this place, met with quite an accident while attending the funeral of Mr. Benj. CROCKETT last week. His conveyance upset down a steep embankment, and he was thrown out and considerably injuredied

68th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

From The Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohioin the War of the Rebellion 1861-1866, Vol. V.

The 68th was organized in Nov. and Dec. 1861 at Camp Latty, Napoleon, OH and mustered out July 10, 1865 at Louisville, KY. Due to the huge amount of information, only the soldier’s name, his company, rank, age and pertinent information such as being wounded or killed is included here. Note that being detached to a colored regiment does not mean that a soldier was black. Colored regiments had white officers.

Company G Privates (overlooked in a previous newsletter)

MOORE, William Died 3 July 1864 at Atlanta, GA	36	MILLER, David Disch. 8 Nov 1862 at La Grange, TN on Surg. Cert,	44
MILLER, Frederick Died 8 Mar 1862 at St. Louis, MO	24	MILLER, Henry Died 20 Nov 1861 in Henry Co., OH	22
MILLER, George (Died) 15 Sept. 1863 at Vicksburg, MS	20	MORRIS, Solon Died 15 Sept 1863 at Vicksburg, MS	18
NORR1CK, Samuel Died 8 Dec 1862 at St. Louis, MO	39	OSMOND, John Disch.20 Dec 1864 at Camp Dennison, OH Surg. Cert.	24
PYLE, Ephraim	21	PORTER, Edmund R	18
PORTER, Joseph	42	PORTER, John F. Disch. 3 Nov 1862 Columbus, OH Surg. Cert.	21
PALMER, James Died 18 Mar 1862 at St. Louis, MO	20	PAGE, James born Disch. 28 June 1867 Camp Chase, OH	20
PAGE, Nathaniel Wounded 16 May 1863, Champion Hills, MS	36	RASHLEY, Solomon Died 31 Jan 1865 at Jeffersonville, IN	23
REMO, John	28	REMO, Frederick	29
ROSEY, Joseph	25	RICHARDSON, Myron	21
ROUB, Michael	21	RHODES, William Died 12 Sept. 1864 at Marietta, GA	18
ROGERS, Lewis Died 8 Oct 1862 at Bolivar, TN	23	ROGERS, John Died 5 Oct 1863 at Vicksburg, MS	20
ROGERS, Elmer	18	RANDALL, Leonard A. On muster roll, never reportedOct 1863 at Vicksburg, MS	32
ROSSE, Joseph	25	STOUTSENBERGER, Daniel R.	27
SHAFFER, William	24	SHAFFER, Henry born	34
SHAFFER, Henry	23	STILWELL, William H.	18
SHELHART, William Disch. 3 May 1865 Columbus, OH Surg. Cert.	23	SHELHART, Christian Died 29 July 1864 at Marietta, GA of wounds received in action	30
SHELHART, Daniel	28	SPENCER, Allen H. Disch. 12 Aug 1864 Cleveland, OH Surg. Cert.	43
SPENCER, Daniel	19	SPENCER, William H. Disch. 26 June 1862 Columbus, OH Surg. Cert.	22
SNIDER, Jacob Captured 13 Nov 1864 at Kingston, GA Disch. 26 June 1863 Columbus, OH Surg.	31	SNIDER, Thomas C. Disch. 24 Sept 1862 Cincinnati, OH Surg. Cert.	20
SLOAN, Joseph born Disch. 16 July 1863 Cincinnati, OH Surg. Cert	32	SCOTT, Caleb Disch. 10 Dec 1864 Chattanooga, TN Surg. Cert.	18
THORP, James R.	20	THOMPSON, David Disch. 2 Nov 1864 Cleveland, OH Surg. Cert.	41
TAYLOR, Allen Disch. 30 July 1862 Columbus, OH Surg. Cert.	20	THOMAS, Roger W. Disch. 23 June 1862 Columbus, OH Surg. Cert.	27
TREMAIN, Andrew I. Disch. 12 July 1862 Columbus, OH Surg. Cert.	21	TERRILL, Charles On muster roll; never reported	18
UTTER, Joseph Died 21 May 1864 at St. Louis, MO	44	VANARSDALEN, William Died 10 June 1864 at Madison, IN	33
VANARSDALEN, Cornelius	34	WYRICK, Michael	28

Company K

Mustered in 14 Demember at Camp Latty, Napoleon, OH, by James H. LONG, 1st Lieutenant, 68th O.V.I. Mustered out 10 July 1865 at Louisville, KY, by Cyrus M. Roberts, Captain, 7th O.V.I.

EVANS, Elwin J. Wounded 16 May 1863 in battle of Champion Hills, MS Resigned 9 Aug 1863	Capt.	37	DORSHIMER, Jacob A.	Capt.	21
LONG, James H.	Capt.	23	WOLF, Jacob	1st Lieut	23
ADAMS, Samuel	1st Lieut	21	LESNET, Francis Killed 22 July 1864 in battle of Atlanta, GA	1st Sgt.	26
COSGRO, James F.	2nd Lieut.	24	FUSSLEMAN, Warren	Sgt.	21
BRAKEMAN, Francis P.	1st Sgt.	18	HARKER, John Wounded 16 May 1863 battle of Champion Hills, MS	Sgt.	21
BROWN, George W.	Sgt.	21	HUNTER, Henderson J. Sgt. 38
MANLY, William J.	Sgt.	18	LESNET, Milton	Cpl	24
KENT, Edwin S.	Cpl.	23	SHORTHELL, Thomas	Cpl	18
AYERS, James L.	Cpl	18	LOCKHART, Isaiah Mustered in as Isaiah LOCUAD Wounded 16 May 1863 battle of Champion Hills, MS	Cpl	22
LINDERSMITH, George W. Wounded 16 May 1863 battle of Champion Hills, MS	Cpl	18	THOMAS, Edmond	Cpl	21
BROWN, Jonas	Cpl	37	OGLE, Elisha M. Wounded and captured 22 July 1864 battle of Champion Hills, MS	Cpl	22
SANFORD, Mankin	Cpl	22

Privates, Company K

ANDERSON, Llewelyn Died 19 Feb 1864 at Vicksburg, MS	18	ALGIER, Jackson Disch. 5 May 1862 at St. Louis, MO on Surg. Cert.	27
BALLARD, William H. Absent, sick 5 Jan 1865 no further record	21	BADGER, James F. Wounded 16 May 1863 battle of Champion Hills, MS	20
BADGER, William	22	BECHTOL, Ezra E. On muster roll; no further record	45
BECHTOL, Ezra E. Disch, 10 Apr 1865 wounds received ___, in action	21	BUNTING, Levi	18
BEATTY, James H. Transferred to Co. D	18	BEATTY, James H. Died July 6, 1862 at Cincinnati, OH	18
BAKER, Samuel Disch. 12 July 1862 Camp Chase, OH Surg. Cert.	37	BAKER, Isaac Disch. 22 May 1862 at Mound City, IL order of War Dept.	45
BALES, Charles	20	BATES, William died Disch. 18 June 1862 at Camp Chase, OH Surg. Cert.	18
BOWER, John Died 24 June 1862 in hosp. Bolivar, TN	20	BROWN, James F. Disch. 1 Feb 1863 Memphis, TN on Surg. Cert.	18
BLAKE, James	17	BOOR, Michael Died 20 May 1862 Camp Monterey, TN	18
BEARD, W. H. Wounded 16 May 1863 battle of Champion Hills, MS	21	BEARD, Luman	27
CLIPPINGER Geo. W.	19	CLIPPINGER, Peter	18
CLIPPINGER, John H. Killed 15 June 1864 in action near Big Shanty, GA	21	CLIPPINGER, John W. Died 15 June 1864 at Kenesaw Mt., GA of wounds	19
CONKLIN, James	42	COX, John W.	18
CHASE, Myron	19	CHASE, Edwin Died 8 Oct 1864 hosp. Nashville, TN of wounds	19
COATS, Noise	18	CRUMMEL, Samuel F.	18

From the Henry County Signal, 25 January 1883, Death Notice

CRAIG ~ On Sunday, Jan. 21, 1883, Judge Alexander CRAIG, aged 81 years and 8 months.
The most of our citizens were startled last Monday morning on hearing that Judge CRAIG had died on the previous day. Very few, except those who noticed the item in the Signal last week that he was lying quite ill at his residence on Perry Street, knew that he was even sick, save a few of his old and devoted personal friends. He has evidently been failing for the past two or three months, but it was only some ten days previous to his death that he confined himself to the house, and only four or five days before that even that it became evident that he was nearing the end of a long and eventful life.

Judge CRAIG was born in Washington County, PA, on the 3rd of May, 1801, where he lived until 1822 when he moved to Lexington, Richland County, this state. He remained there but a short time, about a year, when he went to Millersburg, Holmes County. He stayed there until the Spring of 1815 when he came to Napoleon, May 17th, at which time there were just eleven inhabitants in Napoleon, who resided in two double log cabins. One of these was owned by George STOUT, father of Joseph A. and John G. STOUT, with whom he made arrangements to occupy a part of his dwelling until he could put up one of his own, which he completed and moved into on the 10th of July of the same year he came to Napoleon.

On the 3rd of April, 1828, about seven years previous to his arrival in Napoleon, Judge CRAIG married Miss Susan NEELY at Millersburg, who was born on the 27th of December, 1806, and who died about one year ago. They had four children by their marriage—one son and three daughters.

Judge CRAIG filled several important official positions in Henry County with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people. He was one of the Associate Judges seven years. Recorder six years, and Post Master and Sheriff four years—making seventeen years of official life, without a blot on his honesty or integrity during the whole time.

Just forty-eight years ago the coming Spring when Judge CRAIG came here, Napoleon, as stated above, had only eleven inhabitants all told, and all of Henry county comparatively a wilderness. Now Napoleon has at least three thousand five hundred population, with a population in the county of about twenty-five thousand! When we view Napoleon today with its magnificent county buildings, its fine business blocks, its splendid school building, its churches, its mills, its manufactories, its banks, and its private dwellings, and the prosperous villages and almost innumerable farms throughout the county, the wonderful contrast between them and the present can be more fully realizedied It falls to the lot of but few of us to witness such great changes as Judge CRAIG lived to see, in all of which he either took an active part or a lively interest. He was always liberal with his means to the needy, visited the sick, and sympathized with the misfortunes of his fellow man. In religion. Judge CRAIG was a Universalist…. [Rev. Donahey officiated the services and burial was in Forest Hill Cemetery.]

History of Texas, Washington Township and its Citizens

Abstracted from Henry County, OH published by the Henry County Historical Society and other references.

Most of the history of the town of Texas was told in the Washington Twp. History in the last issue. Research on early Texas families revealed the following:

William BELLINGER was born at Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio in 1825. He moved to Texas, Ohio, in 1866 where he operated a ferry. He often ferried as many as one hundred vehicles and teams across the Maumee River in one day.

James DURBIN was the engineer on the canal through Texas and Napoleon in the 1840’s. He laid out the lots for Texas in 1845 and built a house for himself there. He married Sarah FISK and had two children, Rodney C. and Eva Comstock DURBIN. Rodney was born in Perrysburg, but moved to Napoleon where he married Mary DITTENHAVER and became a railway mail clerk. Eva never married but graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan and became a teacher of ancient history in the Engleswood High School in Chicago.

“Little Ireland” was the name given to a part of Washington Township. Families in this section were: The CONNOLLYS, DOUGHERTYS, McNERNYS, CONWAYS, DONOVANS, LEAHYS, O’HEARNS, HARTNETTS, and DONNOLLEYS.

Mary A. O’HEARN was born in 1863 and died in 1918. She married John LEAHY Jr., born 1860 and died 1895. Both were born in Washington Township and taught school. Mary was the daughter of Edward O’HEARN, born 1820, died 1870, and Catherine QUIGLEY, born 1838, died 1921. Catherine’s second marriage was to Man MANNICK. John’s parents were John LEAHY Sr., born 1830 and Mary HARNETT born 1843, died 1891.

Michael CONNOLLY, Sr., was born 1797 in Galway, Ireland and died 9 Mar 1875 in Washington Township. In 1825 he married Mrs. Ellen DUFFY, born 1796, died 15 Jan 1868. Their sons were: Michael, Jr.; Paul; William J.; and James. Michael and Ellen came to America in 1827 to Green Co. In 1835 they moved to New York City and in 1837 to Wood Co. Michael became a boss over a gang of men building the canal and Ellen cooked for them. In 1841 Michael purchased a farm in Washington (then Myo) Township and was one of the first 11 voters.

Michael CONNOLLY, Jr. was born in Galway, Ireland 22 April 1827 and in 1848 married Anna LAVELLE of Mount Morris, New York. She died in 1849. He then married Ellen CARROLL, daughter of Danial CARROLL, of Lucas Co. in 1850. He also purchased land in Myo Township in 1846 and helped boat the stone for the culverts and locks on the canal.

Their children were William J., Frank P., Theresa, Edward, Eugene, Charles, and Nellie. Ellen died in1882 and Michael, Jr. died on 20 Jan 1911.

William SMITH born 15 March 1846 in Cambridge, England, came to America in 1867 and married Mattie M. COOPER on 17 Oct 1875. She was born 1850 in Lincolnshire, England, daughter of Robert and Martha LEAVER COOPER. Their children were: Martha Louise, Mary Alma, Lizzie Myrtle. They moved to Colton in 1887. William’s brother. Jack and his wife, Jennie, and brother Thomas and wife Caroline are buried in Mohler Cemetery.

Ephriam HYTER (1810-1895) and Charity DURBIN HYTER (1810-1868) came from the Westminster, Maryland area in the early 1840’s and settled south of Colton. He was the son of Jacob and Margaret HYTER (born 1784 in Maryland) who came to Seneca County at that time. Margaret was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah DURBIN and sister of James, an the canal engineer who laid out the village of Texas.

Land, Town Lots and Chattel Returned Deliquent

By the Treasurer of Henry County, January 11, 1853

More information on the taxes owed is in the book, but not included here. These were early settlers or landowners in these townships.

All in Texas, Washington Township.

Owner’s Name	Lot number	Value ($)
DURBIN & SHEFFIELD	26	24.00
DURBIN & SHEFFIELD	27	18.00
DURBIN & SHEFFIELD	32	15.00
DURBIN & SHEFFIELD	33	18.00
DURBIN & SHEFFIELD	108	13.00
DURBIN & SHEFFIELD	109	13.00
DURBIN & SHEFFIELD	51 S 1/2	7.00
DURBUN, James	44	18.00
DURBUN, James	64 House	139.00
DURBUN, James	65	18.00
DURBUN, James	42	43.00
DURBUN, James	43	14.00
DODD, L. H.	66	288.00
LOOMIS, B. H.	55 S 1/2	132.00
OH, State of	54 S 1/2 House 140 6 ft. E side	307.00
SAVAGE, George	Information removed
PARNSON, Eurah	23	524.00
Chattels	Value ($)
CONOLY, Peter	52.00
DODD, Susan	99.00
EVANS, Jerimiah	100.00
FISK, Geo. W.	460.00
HASSELHORN (?), Geo.	215.00
O. L. Ins. & Trust Co.	4,050.00
DURBIN & FISK (taxes of 1851 abated)	—
ROACH & BLAIR	1,500.00
SMITH & RUSSELL (taxes of 1851 abated)	—