July-August 2007

Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter

Volume 21, Number 4, July – August 2007

MEETINGS

July 16, 2007, Monday, 6:00 p.m.

Note change: Work night at Woodlawn Cemetery, Bartlow Township. Please meet there (corner of Route 65 and Road E) at 6:00 p.m. We’ll record additions.

September 17, 2007, Monday, 7:00 p.m.

Derek Davey will speak on New England research.

October 15, 2007, Monday, 7:00 p.m.

Election of officers and work night.

November 19, 2007, Monday, 6:30 p.m.

First Families Dinner and speaker Mary Scranton on “Traveling Back to the Old Country.”

New Members

#450 David Leimbach and Diane, Senoia, GA 30276-2779

Membership is $10 a per year. Dues are paid the first of each year. Mid-year memberships receive newsletters from the beginning of the calendar year.

About Our Speaker

Derek Davey is a professional genealogist who has been researching his own family since 1974 when he was 13, especially in NW OH and SE Ml. He lectures on topics related to genealogy in OH, Ml and IN as well as computer genealogy, Civil War research and New England research. He can be reached at ddavey9744@netzero.com.

OUR NEWEST PUBLICATIONS …

1880 Henry Co. Census Volumes I (Ridgeville Twp., Freedom Twp., Napoleon Two., Napoleon Village, Henry Co. Infirmary) Vol. II (Liberty Twp. Washington Twp., Harrison twp., Damascus Twp. Richfield Twp., Liberty Center Village, Texas Village, Colton Village) and Vol. Ill (Flatrock Twp., Monroe Twp., Pleasant Twp., Marion Twp, BartlowTwp., Florida Village, Holgate Village, Hamler Village, Deshler Village)~$18 + $2 postage ea.

Also, Henry County Infirmary Register, 1870-1980 -$6. + $1.50 postage. Plus – Deshler Flag Obits 2004-2006 – $ 12 + $2 postage. And – Northwest Signal Obits., 2006 – $18. + $2 postage. Also — Henry County Death Records, 1877-1908 – $12+ $2 postage.

Check Our Website

New additions include Henry County Property Reappraisement Records form 1859, estate records 1937-41, more Chattel Tax Records from 1846,1855,1857,1869, 1872, and 1875. Also find 800 photos from the OSU Extension office with key-word retrievable captions and photos from the 3-vol. Henry Co. History pub. 1976. Links are on the front page.

On the library site (phlibraries.oplin.org) you will find 100 Deshler History photos.

A MEMBER SUGGESTS: the genealogy chat room at
www.rootsweb.com/~genealogylookup/chatroom.html

Queries

WESTRICK, LAUBENTHAL, DIETRICK, DEITRICK, BAUER, SHON
In the Chattel Tax records I found records for Adam Laubenthal, who arrived in Henry Co. before my Laubenthal family (Josef & Katherine, sons Nicholas, Jacob, Anthone & dau. Elizabeth). Could anyone give any additional info on Adam and family? Also researching Westrick, Dietrick/Deitrick, Bauer and Schon families from Hamler, Holgate and New Bavaria.
Submitter: Ken Thompson, St. Louis, MO 63136

RUFFER, BEAR, BAER, HULL
Researching Victor Guy Ruffer, b. German Twp. OH 16 Oct 1895 to Henry B. Ruffer and Lydia Bear (Baer). He m. Halcyon Gertrude HULL 16 Oct. 1920 in . Ridgeville Comers, Henry Co. She was b. 26 July 1896 in Carey, Wyandot Co. and was a teacher in Henry Co. (Tubbs School?). Their son Victor Jack Ruffer ws b. 1921. Would like to confirm school where Mrs. Ruffer taught and the address of their home in Ridgeville Corners (next door to Martha BOSTLEMAN) as well as location of the butcher shop Victor operated. (Photos sent to editor.)
Submitter: Jack Ruffer, Palm desert, CA 92211-5035

STEVENSON, ROWELL, WREN, CRONINGER
Searching for descendants of Samuel and Mertilda Stevenson who lived in Deshler, Henry Co., OH. Their daughters were Nettie, m. Lincoln Rowell, Myrtle who m. Isaac Wren and Arvilda, who m. James Croninger.
Submitter: Barry Murphy, Lambertville, MI 48144

POWELL, ROACH
Searching for parents of Philip Powell and Mary Roach. They were m. 4 July 1871 in Napoleon and lived in Nap. Twp. Hen. Co. Philip b. 16 Sept 1840 in Putnam Co. Mary b. ca. 1852-3 in Henry Co. They later moved to Lucas Co. and d. there. Son Jesse Clyde Powell b. 17 June 1888 in Toledo.
Submitter: Phyllis G. Powell-Welch, Mecosta, MI 49332

Henry County Teachers

Monroe Twp.
DIST.	TEACHER	P.O. ADDRESS
1	J. F. Parrit	Malinta
1	Spec. Geo. Myers Prin.	Malinta
1	Celia Pontius	Napoleon
2	A. N. Garster	McClure
3	F. M. Rummell Jr.	Napoleon
4	Kate Hipp	Elery
5	Clara Beal	Elery
6	W. V. Rogers	Malinta
7	H. L. Willard	Hamler
8	Wm. Hipp	Elery
9	Jennie Wescott	Grelton
Henry Geist, Clerk, Malinta
Flatrock Twp.
2	Mary Forester	Holgate
5	Sherm Duckera	Florida
6	Anna Eger	Holgate
7	G. E. Crosman	Napoleon
8	Ruth Rush	Holgate
9	Bruce Doughton	Napoleon
G. A. Leonhart, Clerk, Florida
Richfield Twp.
1	A. J. Love	McClure
2	Jennie Hicks	West Hope
3	Henry Neiling	Custar
4	Sadie Jones	McClure
5	Geo Dubbs	McClure
6	Philena Smith	West Hope
7	D. R. Roberts	West Hope
8	Laura Neible	Napoleon
9	Lola Edwards	Napoleon
Joint Dist.
1	Mary Crawford	Napoleon
1	Annie Wilford	Grelton
2	Ella Simms	Deshler
A. E. Hudson, Clerk, West Hope
Washington Twp.
1	Emory Burton	Ridgeville
2	Ralph Wroght	Liberty Center
3	Corr Ginder	Texas
4	Mary Greiner	Colton
5	John A. Wright	Liberty Center
6	Mary Layhe	Texas
7	Katie Anglemeyer	Texas
8	Louisa Stacy	Colton
9	W. W. Emmel	Colton
10	J. S. Mohler	Colton
W. H. Weirich, Clerk, Colton
Freedom Twp.
1	Ora Bowers	Liberty Center
2	Guy E. Matthews	Liberty Center
3	Ora Clark	Stryker
4	Nellie Tubbs	Ridgeville Corners
5	J. E. Walcott	Napoleon
6	E. P. Mires	Liberty Center
Fred. Gerken, Clerk, Napoleon
Bartlow Twp.
1	J. T. Pickens	Deshler
2	Henrietta Hyslop	Deshler
3	J. F. Meyers	Hamler
4	Anna Huston	Hamler
5	Dora Mcquistan	Deshler
6	F. W. Misamore	Deshler
7	Owen Misamore	Deshler
8	John Welsh	Custar
B. M. Butler, Clerk, Deshler
Napoleon Twp.
1	Emma Keinath	Napoleon
2	M. E. Nofzinger	Ridgeville
3	C. F. Bokerman	Napoleon
4	Kate Buhlert	Napoleon
5	Jean Reynolds	Napoleon
6	Geo. A. Johnson	Napoleon
7	W. B. Hartman	Napoleon
8	Chas. F. Wilson	Napoleon
9	D. G. Durbin	Florida
Theo. Daman, Clerk, Napoleon
Damascus Twp.
NL	Mable Lymangrover	McClure
NL	F. Conway	Liberty Center
NL	A. E. McCurdy	McClure
NL	_____ Conway	McClure
NL	Wm. J. Hitchcock	McClure
NL	R. E. Brown	McClure
NL	Edith Groff	McClure
NL	Lilly Patterson	McClure
NL	Maud Pierce	McClure
NL	Geo. E. Kryder	McClure
R. E. Croninger, Clerk, McClure
Ridgeville Twp.
NL	W. T. Chapman	Ridgeville Corners
NL	M. D. Sand	NL
NL	Chas. Woodburn	NL
NL	C. C. Walcott	NL
NL	Neil Tubbs	NL
NL	Clara Tubbs	NL
NL	Katie Thornton	NL
NL	Arthur Walcott	NL
F. A. Rowe Clerk, NL
Marion Twp.
1	J. W. Saunders	Hamler
2	J. D. Measel	Hamler
3	John Wallen	Belmore
4	G. B. Stevenson	Hamler
5	Eddie Delanoy	Hamler
6	Harry Young	Hamler
7	A. E. Sterrett	Belmore
8	Florence Russell	Malinta
9	D. D. Spangler	New Bavaria
Michael Hayes, Clerk, Hamler
Harrison Twp.
1	Rachel Sloan Grelton
2	Geo Kryder	McClure
2	Myrtie Hollopeter	Grelton
3	Katie Stamm	Napoleon
4	Oto Barnes	Napoleon
5	Daniel Huddle	Napoleon
6	S. S. Nestleroad	Malinta
7	Alpha Riggs	Napoleon
8	C. J. Hartman	Napoleon
I. M. Glick, Clerk, Napoleon

The Signal

On Dec. 19, 1894 the Henry County Signal published biographical sketches of local businessmen by Guy C. DITTENHAVER. These sketches will be reprinted in this issue and future issues. Many were accompanied by drawings or photographs of the businessmen or of the businesses, churches, or other buildings mentioned.

H. H. FRENCH (new to be used after June 07)

Napoleon has four insurance men and among these HIRAM H. FRENCH holds a position in the front rank. Mr. FRENCH is a native of Utica, Licking County, where he lived but two years, his parents moving to Putnam County where they resided seven years. In 1861, they located in Napoleon Township, Henry County, just outside the corporation of Napoleon. His mother, MARY A. FRENCH, died in 1863, and his father, WM. S. FRENCH, survived her until July of this year.

Hiram was educated in the common schools and worked on the farm between terms until 21 years old, when he moved to Napoleon and entered into the real estate and insurance business.

In 1873, September 9 , he was married to HARRIET CARTER BIGLEY, the result of this union being one daughter, MABLE H.

The companies MR. FRENCH represents are ten in number, every one of which is an old line company and has never been known to do otherwise than to adjust losses promptly and satisfactorily. As testimony of MR. FRENCH’S worth and good work let it be said that the companies with which he started are still worked by him, and doing for them a good business. Socially he is a general favorite and is a prominent member of two leading orders. His office is situated in the VOCKE BLOCK.

W. G. COOVER

Since the close of the war W. G. COOVER has been one of our successful business men. At this time he came to Napoleon and secured an interest in the hardware store of H. C GROSCHNER and in the HELLER dry goods stone. The style of the firm name was S. M. & W. L. HLLER & Co., the company consisting of W. G. COOVER and RUSSELL HELLER, and this was the first business that occupied the store now occupied by SHOEMAKER BROTHERS.

Eventually Col. HUSSONG, now of Fostoria, bought out the interest of W. L. HELLER & Co., and shortly afterward Mr. COOVER disposed of his interest in the GROSCHNER hardware and with W. L. & RUSSEL HELLER, they purchased a hardware stock of C. M. SMITH kept in a frame building on the comer next to DIEMER’S butcher shop.

This business was retained about one year when the firm negotiated for the hardware store of ULRICH BROS., then kept where VANDENBROEK now has his clothing store. The C. M. SMITH stock was consolidated with this and they held forth there for a couple of years. From there they removed to the HELLER block on Washington St., and transacted business under the name of HELLER & COOVER until nine years ago when a dissolution of partnership took place, the HELLERS retaining the store and Mr. COOVER leasing the SHERMAN block and launching in the same business for himself where we find him today, hale, hearty and doing a thriving business.
Politically, Mr. COOVER is a republican but this did not prevent his election as school director in a democratic corporation, which office he is now serving on his second term, with credit to himself and our institutions of learning.

E. C. HAGUE

Napoleon’s first electrician and dealer in electrical supplies is Edward C. HAGUE, a young man who has been raised in Napoleon and who has ever borne a reputation for good habits, skill and an energetic worker. He is 23 years of age, having been bom in Napoleon, Nov. 22nd, 1871. He went to school and after entering the high school, learned the machinist trade from Chas. BEARD. His experience has been secured in car shops in Findlay and Topeka working in the latter place 2 1/2 years. Coming east he located in Toledo, entering the employ of BISSEL & DODGE where he learned die electrical business. The firm for which he works is one of the largest in the state, their patronage extending to other large cities. It will thus be seen Photo by G. W. Gardner & Son that Mr. HAGUE’S experience has been such to give him a thorough knowledge of his business, and he is just the man our citizens are looking for. He deals in all kinds of electrical supplies, chandeliers, bells, shades etc., etc., and wires houses. He is the authorized agent of BISSEL & DODGE, and the purchaser has a most elaborate stock from which to select. For samples of his work see Vandenbrock’s which is a beautiful display and the first to be put in.

From the Newsletter Editor

I was sent a clipping from a newspaper (unidentified!) which may be of interest to our readers: Q: While researching my ancestry, I found a reference that a distant relative of mine once owned a “zygocephalum ” of land in the late 1700’s. I have looked for a definition of this term in my dictionary, but can’t find one. Can you help?
A: In America’s early days, settlers and farmers in many parts of the country had no surefire way to determine where their property ended and a neighbor’s began, because a standard method to measure real estate hadn’t yet been adopted. So, they resorted to a measuring system that had been used for centuries in the countryside of Merry Olde England—the “zygocephalum,” defined as “the area of land a yoke of oxen could plow in one day.” This wasn’t exactly the most accurate way to establish property rights, perhaps because some oxen moved faster than others (and some farmers worked harder than their neighbors). So, the zygocephalum eventually gave way to a system of “metes and bounds,” which uses a property’s physical features to determine its boundaries. -Editor.

Land Sales in Henry County, Ohio, 1847 (cont.)

The following is taken from an old book discovered in the attic of the Henry County Courthouse. R=range, T=town, S=section, A=acres, VPA=value per acre. Townships are designated by Range and Town numbers (note: Liberty & Wash. changed 1850):

BARTLOW	R 3 N – T 8 E	DAMASCUS	R 5 N – T 8 E
FLATROCK	R 4 N – T 6 E	FREEDOM	R 6 N – T 6 E
HARRISON	R 5 N – T 7 E	LIBERTY	R 5 & 6 N – T 7 E
MARION	R 4 N – T 7 E	MONROE	R 4 N – T 7 E
NAPOLEON	R 5 N – T 6 E	PLEASANT	R 3 N – T 6 E
RICHFIELD	R 4 N – T 8 E	RIDGEVILLE	R 6 N – T 5 E
WASHINGTON	R 5 & 6 N – T 8 E

NOTE: R 6N, T 4E later became Springfield Towhship, Williams County

Note: No village/town location is given in the following listing, District #2.

Owner	Nr. of Lot	Total Value
Newill, Robt.	14 House	225
Newill, Robt	10	100
Patterson, G. W.	1	75
Patterson, J. S. (L.?)	4	15
Patterson, J. S.?	35	15
Patterson, J. S.?	20	45
Stout, Cristain	40	20
Stout, Cristain	41 House	500
Stout, Adam	17 House	180
Scofield, Andrew	24	25
Unknown	3	13
Unknown	7	15
Unknown	8	20
Unknown	9 Ware House	170
Unknown	12	1
Sapp, S.	18 House	285
Vincent, John	53	100
Vincent, John	45	25
Rohn, Samuel	5	135
Unknown	32	10
Unknown	33	8
Unknown	36	10
New Addition
Cook & Goodyear	1	35
Cook & Goodyear	3	25
Cook & Goodyear	5	25
Cook & Goodyear	7	30
Cook & Goodyear	2	25
Cook & Goodyear	4	25
Cook & Goodyear	6	25
Cook & Goodyear	8	40
New Addition
Harley, David	1 Saw & Grist Mill	1,353
Hurley, David	2	2

NOTE: R 6N, T 3E Later became Pulaski Twp., Williams Co.
DIST. # 2	R	T	S	Description	A	VPA	Total Value
Boly, Theobold	6	3	29	SE 1/4 of SE1/4	40	3.97	159.
Chandler, A. M.	6	3	17	W fr. NE SW	25	1.25	31.
Clear, Francis	6	3	25	E 1/2 NW	80	2.90	232.
Derr, George	6	3	17	E pt. SE 1/4	35	2.94	103.
Delnow?, Jacob	6	3	25	NE 1/4	160	1.25	200.
Drake, F. E.	6	3	2	SW 1/4	160	1.25	200.
Drake, F. E.	6	3	1	S 1/2	320	1.25	400.
Gemer, George	6	3	21	NW SE	40	2.25	90.
Deckhart, J.	6	3	26	E 1/2 NE	80	2.27	182.
Dessgranges, Christian	6	3	26	W 1/2 NE	80	2.18	175.
Eding, Jared	6	3	21	SW SW	40	3.13	125.
Edmondson, Osborn (name – crossed out, but entry stands – possibly J. Eding purchase)
	6	3	28	N pt. NW NW	20	2.50	50.
Edmondson, Osborn	6	3	21	N 1/2 W 1/2 SW 1/4	40	1.25	50.
Edmondson, Osborn	6	3	17	S 1/2 SW 1/4	80	1.25	100.
Eckberger, John	6	3	15	W 1/2 NW 1/4	80	12.50	100.
Freyberger, John	6	3	22	SW NE	40	3.00	120.
Freyberger, John	6	3	22	SE 1/4	160	1.25’200.
Freyberger, John	6	3	21	E l/2 SW	80	2.00	160.
Gotner, Andrew	6	3	21	NE NW	40	2.75	110.
Graham, L. F.	6	3	19	NE 1/2	160	1.25	200.
Gibson & Duncan	6	3	10	E 1/2	320	1.25	400.
Glickle, Elisabeth (crossed out, but entry made-possibly Gibson & Duncan purchase)
	6	3	11	W 1/2	320	1.25	400.
NOTE: R 6N, T 3E Later became Pulaski Twp., Williams Co.
Glickle, Elisabeth	6	3	17	NW SW	40	1.50	60.
Grimer?, Peter	6	3	21	NW NW	40	3.30	132.
Hine, Sheldon	6	3	20	N 1/2 NE	80	1.25	100.
Hingleman, Peter	6	3	17	E pt W 1/2 SW	30	1.25	37.
Henderson, Joseph	6	3	17	NE 1/4	160	1.25	200.
Henderson, Joseph	6	3	9	S 1/2 + NE 1/4	480	1.25	600.
Henderson, Joseph	6	3	10	NW 1/4	160	1.25	200.
Henderson, Joseph	6	3	3	S l/2	320	1.25	400.
Henderson, Joseph	6	3	2	N 1/2	318	1.25	397.
Henderson, Joseph	6	3	1	N 1/2	318	1.25	397
Halfield, Traize?	6	3	19	SE 1/4 (Double entry)
Halfield, Traize?	6	3	20	SW 1/4	160	1.25	200
Halfield, Traize?	6	3	29	NW 1/4	160	1.25	200
Halfield, Traize?	6	3	30	E 1/2 SE 1/4	80	1.50	120
Halfield, Traize?	6	3	30	NE 1/4	160	1.50	240
Halfield, Traize?	6	3	29	W 1/2 SW	80	1.50	120
Hveg?, Phillip	6	3	21	S 1/4 NE 1/4	80	1.25	100
Hofricter, John	6	3	17	W pt W 1/2 NW	50	3.00	150
Heldrick, J. C.	6	3	28	SW NW	40	2.75	110.
Homing, Peter	6	3	22	E 1/2 SW + W 1/2 SE	160	2.45	392.
Heinelspeck?, C.	6	3	21	NW NE + NE NE	80	1.60	128.
Kalther, Henry	6	3	17	W pt. SE	50	1.25	62.
Ketring, Adam	6	3	21	SW NW	40	1.90	70.
Kamp, Sylvester	6	3	26	NE SW	40	2.10	84.
Kessler, Francis	6	3	33	NW NW	40	2.00	80.
Leonard, Henry	6	3	18	S 1/2 NE + N 1/2 SE	160	2.25	180.
Mills, David	6	3	18	S 1/2 SW	75	1.25	93.
Lisle, Frederick	6	3	18	N 1/2 NE	80	2.25	180.
Menger?, Casper	6	3	22	E 1/2 NW	80	2.20	176.
Mauk, Fredrick	6	3	23	W 1/2 SW	80	2.05	164.
Mauk, Fredrick	6	3	22	E 1/2 SE	80	2.40	192.
Maple, J. S.	6	3	19	SW 1/4	157	1.25	196.
Maple, John	6	3	19	SE 1/4	160	1.25	200.
Neler?, George	6	3	17	W pt. E 1/2 + E pt E 1/2 SE 1/4	350	2.20	770.
Neler? & Dirr?	6	3	17	E 1/2 NW of NW SW	15	1.70	25.
Neler & Dirr	6	3	17	W pt E 1/2 of E 1/2 of E 1/2 of SE 1/4	15	1.70	25.
Neler? & Dirr	6	3	17	E pt W 1/2 of W 1/2 of E 1/2 of SE 1/4	10	1.70	17.
Ohio, State of	6	3	2	SE 1/4	160	1.25	200.
Parris, John	6	3	20	E 1/2 NW	80	1.25	100
Renolett, Paul	6	3	22	W 1/2 SW	80	2.20	176.
Perts, John	6	3	29	E 1/2 NE	80	2.60	208.
Perts, John	6	3	28	S pt. NW NW	20	1.50	30.
Rucob, F.	6	3	28	SW SW	40	1.75	110.
Sprigge, Elias	6	3	10	SW 1/4	160	1.25	200.
Schlesshler, J. J.	6	3	29	W 1/2 SE (Wolf)	—	—	—
Scoochlaugh?, H.	6	3	26	NW NW	40	2.50	100
Sherwood, John	6	3	20	S 1/2 NE	80	1.25	100
Sherwood, T.	6	3	19	NW 1/4	154	1.25	192
Sherwood, John	6	3	20	SE 1/4	160	1.25	200