Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 3, Number 3, July – August 1989
MEETINGS
July 17, 1989, Monday, 7:00 pm
At Edwin Wood Library, Deshler, Ohio. Parker Sams, assistant managing editor of the Courier, will speak on “Arm Chair Genealogy.”
August 21, 1989, Monday, 7:00 pm
This will be a work night at a cemetery in Henry County. Please check your local paper for details.
FROM THE TYPEWRITER OF THE TEMPORARY NEWSLETTER EDITOR
We would like to extend a very special thank you to Joanne Kitchen for editing this newsletter for the past two years. She always did a great job and we will miss her contribution of time and talent.
Joanne’s resignation leaves us with a very big vacancy to fill. We need a new editor for the newsletter. A cooperative effort made this issue possible, but we need one person to volunteer and be in charge from month to month. If you are willing to fill this position, contact any HCGS officer or write to us at our mailing address.
QUERIES
HARDY, DURBIN
Would like any information about George W. Hardy and his wife Mary Durbin and their son John Henry Hardy. George W. Hardy died 27 March 1879 in Washington Twp., Henry Co., Ohio. He married Mary Jane Durbin 20 Jan. 1864. John Henry Hardy was born 29 Jan 1875 in Washington Twp., Henry Co., Ohio. The family lived at Texas, Ohio.
–Mrs. Chester (Anne) Hardy, Worth, TX 76114
MAPES, KINNEY
Would appreciate any information about the following people all born in Ohio. Calvin Mapes b. 1830, Eunice (Kinney) Mapes b. 1838, William Mapes b. 1854, Nabada Mapes b. 1857, Rachael Mapes b. 1860.
–Mrs. Schuyler Carey, Lenore, Idaho 83541
SHIVELY, TREECE
Looking for parents of James Shively b. 24 Mar. 1827 probably in Pennsylvania. Listed with Henry Treece in the Hancock Co., Ohio census of 1850. Married Mary Treece in 1849.
–Jane Shively, McClure, OH 43534
BOOKS IN PRINT
One of the current goals of the Henry County Genealogical Society is to publish inscriptions of all known cemeteries in Henry County. In 1988 we published Pleasant Township Cemetery Inscriptions. The second book is now available for sale. It is entitled Marion Township and Monroe Township Cemetery Inscriptions. The cemeteries contained in the book are: Marion Twp., St. Paul’s Catholic, Immanuel Lutheran, and Hope Lutheran. The book is 64 pages long and is available for $8.00 plus $2.00 postage. There is a complete index.
Another book recently completed is Ancestor Charts. It contains ancestor charts of members of HCGS and is 139 pages and has a surname index. It is available for $8.00 plus $2.00 postage.
HENRY COUNTY MARRIAGES, 1849-1850
The following couples received a marriage certificate in Henry County between 23 October 1849 and 30 December 1850. Copied by Ruth Kieffer from courthouse records (Marriage Records, Vol. I)
Dednick Badenhop & Maria Wiechers, 23 October 1849
John Harrison & Sarah Durbin, 25 October 1849
B.S. Loomis & Laura A. Hart, 28 November 1849
Columbus S. Delong & Sarah Ann Musgrove, 29 November 1849
Abram Pratt & Nancy Carter, 8 January 1850
Jared McCarty & Louisa H. Stoors, 30 January 1850
David Carpenter & Martha Ann Karsner, 2 February 1850
William Ludeman & Mariah Hewes, 14 February 1850
Isiah Shock & Sarah Ann Yauger, 14 February 1850
John Shult & Catherine Tressler, 21 March 1850
Robert Fowler & Rebecca Van Fleet, 28 March 1850
George W. Robinson & Catherine Ward, 28 March 1850
James Middleton & Druzella Chaney, 4 Apr 1850
Franklin Ramsdell & Elizabeth Jones, 18 April 1850
Richard R. Walton & Mary Anderson, 24 April 1850
Nelson Crockett & Sarah A. Hoffman, 25 April 1850
Henry Schoulter & Sophia Ludeman, 2 May 1850
Thomas W. Durbin & Lucinda King, 22 May 1850
Guy C. Eastman & Alice Lamphine, 23 May 1850
Levi Long & Sarah Bortel, 23 May 1850
Daniel Boyles & Sarah Ann Knapp, 23 May 1850
George W. Kunkle & Katherine Mansfield, 6 June 1850
G. P. Crosby & Jane M. Pratt, 12 June 1850
Edward Sheffield & Phebe Brownell, 16 June 1850
Jesse Wright & Lydia C. Doremus, 30 June 1850
Joel Abbott & Lydia Harris, 4 July 1850
Bradford Barlow & Jane Jameson, 6 July 1850
John P. Rowen & Susan S. I. Stout, 7 July 1850
Clark Chapman & Matilda Hardin, 14 July 1850
George Robins & Susan Lightner, 23 July 1850
Franklin Percival & Mary Wells, 4 August 1850
Albert Pover & Netta Polish, 24 August 1850
I. C. Cowdrick & Sarah C. Clapp, 9 September 1850
Peter Ludeman & Mrs. Sophia Ludeman, 2 October 1850
John Freyberger & Elizabeth Bowman, 14 October 1850
Harvey Halsey & Mary Parlin, 13 October 1850
John C. Crosby & Sylvia Harris, 13 October 1850
Harmon Arps & Catherine Ross, 23 October 1850
John A. Worth & Dorothy Elizabeth Tungin, 17 November 1850
William Durbin, Esq. & Rachel Officer, 24 November 1850
G.W. Buckanon & Ann E. Cowdrick, 10 December 1850
David Mohler & Mariah Showner, 19 December 1850
Henry Priggin & Mary Helberg, 22 December 1850
Paul Beck & Sally Ann Mitchel, 26 December 1850
Patrick Hughs & Margaret Merter, 30 December 1850
The following couples applied for a marriage license during the period from April 1847 to the end of 1850, but their minister of justice of the peace did not confirm that the marriage took place:
Ralph Huck & Catherine Wollett, 19 April 1847
Jacob Wulham & Christiana Deyimer, 19 April 1847
Americus M. Spafford & Maria Glass, 26 April 1847
Benjamin A. Crockett & Jane Reid, 27 November 1847
Silas Burrell & Henrietta Bollie, 20 December 1848
Seth Price & Mary Ann Anglus, 15 September 1849
Jacob G. Stevens & Matilda Spring, 5 January 1850
George N. Wolf & Elizabeth Wolf, 1 April 1850
Carlisle Adams & Sebschi Erwin, 21 September 1850
The Northwest, Napoleon, Ohio
12 Jan. 1855
David D. Gilson Estate, Margaret Gilson and Hugh Gilson appointed Adm.
23 Feb. 1855
Guardian Sale – On 24 March 1855, Township of Napoleon, Henry County sold to highest bidder, real estate of John Bigham, minor heir of John Bigham dec’d. One undivided half of NE qtr of SE qtr of section 12, Twp 5, Range 6 also SE qtr of SE qtr of section 12, Twp 5, Range 6, containing each 31 acres. Appraised at $360. Eliza Bigham, guardian of John Bigham.
9 March 1855
James S. Wadsworth vs Charles James Murray to convey to several persons named in petition to be answered 14 of April 1855.
Notice to Non-Residents
Meeting at home of Nelson Crockett, Harrison Twp., 10 April 1855 for establishing a road: Commencing at an angle in the Turkeyfoot Turnpike near the house of the late George W. Hampton, thence north to a Ridge thence in a westward direction through sections 22, 21, 20 and so much of section 19 as to intersect a road leading to Napoleon near the south line of land occupied by Mr. Avery in said township. K.L. Eskeridge
James Durbin appointed Adm. of Pauline Bucklin estate, Texas.
16 March 1855
Henry County Agricultural Society took place Monday the 12th 1nst. President – Julius Kelley, V. President – J. Cook, Treasurer N. Crockett, Secretary – E. Randell, Managers – Thomas Randell, John Cowdrick, Abner Lemert, Julius Van Hyning, A.F. Getchell.
Attachment Notice – Enoch G. Stevenson vs William King and Tolman Fatzinger on 5th day of Feb. 1855 an order of attachment
issued against defendants of their goods, chattels, etc.
M. A. N. Crockett, Plaintiff vs. William King, defendant, attachment against goods, chattels, etc.
Guardian Sale – undivided 1/4 of NE qtr. of SE qtr. and SW qtr. of SE qtr and SW qtr. of NE qtr. of section Number 32, Twp. 6, Range 8E, James Bodle guardian of Sarah J. Bodle and John Bodle.
Attachment Notice – George Lukenbell vs J. C. McCracken, Flatrock Twp. (J. C. McGracken, non-resident of Henry Co.)
Notice – all persons hereby notified not to purchase a certain note of hand given by Shipman Lozer and payable to A. White or bearer, I think sometime in 1852 and calling for about $28. Also an order for _____ payable in goods by Smith and Durbin. The said note and order have been lost by me and their payment has been stopped. Daniel Yarnell
All persons indebted to Henry and Hartley are requested to call and settle their accounts. Jacob J. Hartley is authorized to receive moneys and settle accounts. He lives about 1/4 mile west of Sam’l Bon, in the house formerly occupied by Amasa B. Andrews, Harrison.
The Northwest, Napoleon, Ohio
30 March 1855
Petition for Divorce – Adanirum J. Story vs Theresa Story, on 1 day of March 1855 filed, has been willfully absent more than three years and has been guilty of adultery.
Ann Murphy and Louis Filiere appointed Administrators of Edward Murphy estate.
William A. Choate appointed Adm. of Thomas Choate estate.
Cyrus Howard appointed adm. of Emanuel Barnhart estate.
6 April 1855
Attachment Notice – A.S. Constantine vs Geo. Petrie and Co. 31 day March 1855, Washington Twp.
John Lampheir appointed adm. of Henry Lamphier estate.
4 May 1855
A parish was organized in Napoleon, Monday the 16th inst. in connection with the Episcopal Church in Ohio to be known as St. Johns Church, Napoleon by adopting Articles of Association and choosing a vestry and two wardens. A.H. Tyler, Sec.
A. Stout appointed Adm. Jacob Barnhart estate, Florida.
Married on the 4th ult. Mr. Washington Cline and Miss Loving Thornbury all of Florida this county by J.E. Scofield, Esq.
Died in Defiance, Thursday morning last after a lingering illness Dr. William C. Porter, aged 35 years.
Died Adams Twp., Defiance on Saturday last, Rev. William Stowe, aged 80 years.
Died on the 24th inst. in Toledo Caleb F. Abbott, Esq. aged 40 years.
Died at his residence in West Unity on the 18th inst. John Rings aged about 50 years, one of the earlier settlers of Williams County, was a Justice of the Peace, County commissioner, County Treasurer, copied in part.
Isaiah W. Van Pelt appointed Adm. of Van Van Pelt estate.
11 May 1855
Married at Lancaster, OH on Tuesday evening, Hon. John G. Breslin Treasurer of the State and Miss Anna Borland of that place, dau. of Charles Borland.
18 May 1855
Sheriff’s Sale – Property of Jacob Hartley and William Henry at the suit of Secor, Brian and Co.
1 June 1855
Married – Mr. Peter Cooper of Ogle County, Ill. to Miss Mary E. Serrick of Napoleon at the residence of Mr. Ulsh on Wednesday evening last by T. S. C. Morrison, Esq.
8 June 1855
Gibbons Parry appointed Adm. of Lyman Back estate.
The letter reprinted below is the fifth in a series of letters written by a Henry County man, Andrew Altman, to his father, John Altman, during the Civil War. Other letters have been printed in early HCGS Newsletters. Used with the permission Of James Jones.
Febuary the 18 1862
My Dear father I take my pencil in hand to let you know that i are well at present and hope that when these few lines comes to hand they may find you in the same health. we are in ten a sea Dover (Dover, Tennessee-ED.) to camp now and there were a hard battle fought here. our men took about two or three thousand prisners. they fought 3 days along. we were insight all the time and the Canon ball came torde us and some of the boys dug it out of the ground. we capturd a bout 60 Canons. there is Dead men laying a Round here yet over the Ground. i dont think that this can last long acording to the de struction in the Country towns are destitute. I like it very wel here. if is a nice country. the trees are a geting green here.
the fort that we took there are a bout 400 achers in side of it, horses shot down, lots of them. Clothes, Stacks of them. i have a plenty of my own yet. it is warm here as Summer is there good wether here. we live well but no money yet in, nor i cant tell when we will get it. wel we will get it all on a pile. it will do us some good to atke care of it. the 58 charged bayonets on them and you ought
to a seen them run over the Bres works. they went like Deer.
I have not got a letter from you yet, i dont See why. i Rote you three. iwill Rite every Chance i have. we came 500 milds on water, Ohio River, tenase R., Cumberlen R.
I have Seen more than ever, horses and mules by the thousand. if you want a span of mules come and capture them. dat Stedman that Drumen has capturd a horse he Rides.
One of the Canon capturd ways 1495 pounds, Riffled to at that trees 18 inches through. a Canon ball has went plum through it. Oh the Saplens Shot and the ground tore up allover.
I are in a hury, i have some things to tend to. i have not told half of the battle Story. wait till i come home and i can talk to you a week about it. that is all at Preasant So good by. Send me a letter if you Pleas. Direct it to the 68 R Co D in the O V U S A in the Care of Capt Crockett
From Andrew Altman to John Altman
Good By.
Isaac i are a doing well here. i are not home Sick. Who could bee, i dont know. i have a Secesh Coat anyhow.
At the June meeting of the Henry County Genealogical Society the First Families committee presented Requirements for Membership and Rules of Evidence for approval by the general membership. Those present at the meeting accepted the papers presented. If you are interested in becoming a member of First Families of Henry County please read the following rules carefully and submit proper papers to the committee. There will be no First Families program for 1989. The deadline for 1990 will be April 1990 with recognition given at the November meeting in 1990.
FIRST FAMILIES OF HENRY COUNTY, OHIO
OBJECTIVES OF THE FIRST FAMILIES OF HENRY COUNTY
The prime objectives of The First Families of Henry County are to identify and honor the memory of the earliest pioneers of Henry County and to show the proved pioneer’s lasting mark on the county they helped develop, by honoring their descendents.
The research and work necessary to discovering the pioneers and their descendents is intended to foster and encourage increasing interest in the people who contributed in any way – great or small – to establishing the County of Henry, and in Henry County customs, culture, genealogy and history.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE FIRST FAMILIES OF HENRY COUNTY
Only members of the Henry County Genealogical Society may apply for membership in The First Families of Henry County (FFH). Applicants in the First Families of Henry County must complete an FFH application form, showing their Henry County pioneer ancestor(s), listing their own descent from these pioneer ancestor(s), and proving their descent and the pioneer ancestor(s) settlement in what is now the County of Henry, before the appropriate date(s) (see below).
The First Families of Henry County application MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY CLEAR, READABLE COPIES OF ALL documents necessary to: (1) Prove the pioneer’s settlement(s) in Henry County BEFORE December 31, 1870, to be considered as a Gold member and/or BEFORE December 31, 1885, to be considered as a Silver member; (2) prove EACH step of descent from the pioneer(s) to the applying Henry County Genealogical Society member. PROOF MAY NOT BE OMITTED FOR ANY STEP. These document copies MUST be either: (1) copymachine, photostat, photo of the original document; or (2) exact, typed, or hand-printed copies of the original document, certified as “TRUE COPIES” by a courthouse official, genealogical librarian, or other official, with the certifier’s signature and title. All proof documents must show their source. REFERENCE ALONE TO A DOCUMENT IS NOT ENOUGH.
Original applications for membership in the First Families of Henry County MUST be accompanied by a $10.00 application fee, which covers as many pioneer ancestors who settled in Henry County before the appropriate date, as the applicant can PROVE, either at the time of his original application, or later.
All applications must be in by April 30, of the current year for review by the committee.
When further proof is requested, the application shall remain inactive until the requested further proof is filed with the FFH Committee to reactivate the application.
The final step in the FFH application, is presentation by the FFH Committee to the Henry County Genealogical Society’s current President for acceptance and signature. The awards will be given out at the November meeting if the application is approved and accepted.
MAIL CORRESPONDENCE, DOCUMENTATION TO:
Henry County Genealogical Society
Attn: First Families of Henry County
208 North East Ave.
Deshler, Ohio 43516
THE FIRST FAMILIES OF HENRY COUNTY, OHIO
RULES OF EVIDENCE
The rules of evidence applying to membership in The First Families of Henry County, are listed below and on the next page. These rules are the standards by which ALL First Families of Henry County proof is judged.
BASIC RULES OF EVIDENCE
1. Primary or collateral evidence from vital statistics, courthouse or other government records, church or school records, etc., are considered usually to be beyond a doubt, and excellent proof.
2. Secondary evidence, such as census records, newspaper clippings, old letters, Bible records, county histories, published biographies or other family records CONTEMPORARY TO THE FACTS REPORTED, are considered almost as authentic. Title page and copyright page are a MUST when appropriate.
3. Circumstantial evidence, implied facts, or hearsay are NOT considered proof, unless backed up by primary or secondary evidence.
4. Oral, written, or published family traditions are often wrong, and are NOT accepted as proof.
SPECIFIC RULES OF EVIDENCE
5. Printed or manuscript genealogies; genealogical records; or genealogical compilations; family group sheets; ancestral or descendant charts; family reunion records; or like records, including unsupported information from a professional or amateur genealogist, are NOT considered as proof. This includes any of these types of records printed in any genealogical, historical or other type of publication.
6. Lineage papers, accepted or unaccepted, from other patriotic or hereditary societies, by themselves are NOT considered as proof. The document copies which were used to prove the lineage MIGHT be considered proof for FFH if they follow these Rules of Evidence.
7. Material authored by the applicant, or a member of his family CANNOT be considered as proof.
8. Documents used as proof must, either by themselves, or in conjunction with other acceptable documents, ACTUALLY STATE THE FACT TO BE PROVED. If the document merely implies the fact, it is NOT considered proof. An example is the expression “Heirs” or “Heirs-at-Law” used in some estates. This indicated different things in different states, and at different times, and is not necessarily a proof of direct descent. If these statements are to be used as proof of direct descent, the applicant must include with his application a copy of the inheritance law of the state, showing that, at the year the proving document was dated, it was proof of direct descent “in the blood line”, and must also include proof that the testator HAD NO WILL, and HAD AT LEAST ONE CHILD. Ohio’s laws of inheritance have changed many times through its history, and what was true during one period, may not have been true at another. Other examples of implied evidence which are NOT acceptable as proof, are:
A. Census records which show the name of the head of the family only, with “numbers” by age grouping to represent the other residents in the household. These unnamed persons are NOT proved as children or wife of the family head, nor as residents, no matter how well they match other records. Next-door or close neighbors on a census or tax record are NOT proved as related merely by their closeness on the census or tax records, or by similarity of names.
B. A father is NOT proved as being in the area just because his child was born there. The birth proves only that the mother was certainly there on the birth date!
C. Blood descent is NOT NECESSARILY proved by owning the same land as an earlier owner by the same name, whether the land was received by inheritance or by purchase.
9. Documents written or printed in a foreign language must be accompanied by a translation into English, and the translation certified as a “True Translation” by the translator, who must not be the applicant, nor a member of his family.
10. The ancestor(s) proved in Henry County before the appropriate date MUST be in direct line back from the paternal or maternal ancestors of the applicant. “Collateral descent” as sometimes used recently in other hereditary organizations is not descent at all, but relationship to a brother, sister or even cousin of a direct ancestor and is not an allowed line for The First Families of Henry County.
11. All proof documents MUST INDICATE THEIR SOURCE. Bible records, diaries and other book proofs must be submitted with their title page, showing the publication date and OWNER or WRITER’S NAME. Newspaper clippings must be identified by the name of the newspaper.
12. Typed, hand-written or printed copies of original documents, to be considered as proof, MUST BE CERTIFIED AS A “TRUE COPY” by a COURTHOUSE OR OTHER OFFICIAL, NOTARY PUBLIC, LIBRARIAN, ETC. An applicant or member of his family CANNOT CERTIFY HIS OWN COPIES AS TRUE! If copy machine or photo copies of an original document show changes or corrections to the original document, those changes must be verified and signed as “True Copies” by the same type of unbiased official.
13. If more than two ancestral lines are to be submitted, an ancestral chart must be included to show the inter-connected relationships, and ease the burden of the reviewer, trying to puzzle it out.
14. Photographs of tombstones usually prove only birth and death dates. However, sometimes relationships are shown and are usually considered good proof. Printed compilations of cemetery inscriptions are usually accepted as proof, unless it is obvious or known that the compiler has added information which doesn’t appear on the tombstone.
PLEASE REMEMBER, A STATEMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY TRUE JUST BECAUSE IT’S IN PRINT
THIS APPLICATION, INFORMATION, AND ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS AND DATA BECOME THE PROPERTY OF THE HENRY COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
