Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 26, Number 4, July-August 2012
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 submitted. 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 required. 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 – Bill Latta – billatta8@gmail.com
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 Rd. E, Hamler, OH 43524 skbshp@embarq.com
News Reporter – Clara Ellen Courtney
Newsletter Editor – Karen Sunderman – wendypen@wcnet.org
Webmaster – Jim Rebar – jamesrebar@roadrunner.com
Meetings
July 16, 2012, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Business meeting and work night.
August 2012 – No Meeting
See you at the County Fair!
September 16, 2012, SUNDAY, 7:30 p.m.
Please note the change in day! We will meet at the Arts and Media Center in Defiance at the corner of Wayne and Third Streets. See “Looking Ahead” below. Carpooling is available. Call Karen Sunderman at 419-278-3751 or email her at the address listed above.
New Members
No new members.
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…
Northwest Signal Obituaries, Vol. XXV (2011). The price is $22.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling.
Note: The price has changed on many of our publications and on shipping due to increased costs.
First Families
It’s time to submit your documentation for First Families of Henry County to Kathy Bishop at the address above. Certificates are presented at the November meeting, so information must be in by August.
Looking Ahead…
Plan to travel with us to Defiance on Sunday, September 16th, to hear a program on “Winchester Camp Three: The Horrible Winter of 1812-13,” as part of the commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the the War of 1812.
Queries
MEYER
Searching for descendants of Henry J. Meyer, a tailor. At age 25 he came to America in 1871, traveling with his brother, Harmon Deitrich Meyer, a farmer, age 38. They purchased 40 acres from Charles WATERS in Flatrock Twp. Harmon cleared the land and farmed, Henry J. worked as a tailor in Napoleon and probably married a woman named Louise. Their father was Deitrich Meyer from Oldenburg, Germany. Harmon was my gr-grandfather.
– Joanne (Richolt) Allison, Bryan, OH 43506
The Rest of the Story
“Searching for photos and information on Catherine [ROOSE] COLE, her husband, Peter D. COLE, daughter, Alta [COLE] BINGLE and the family who lived next door to them in Deshler, OH, John HARMON—who was shot and killed by Peter Cole in 1881—and his wife Sara(h) A. [RODDY] HARMON.”
One never quite knows what will turn up when you begin genealogical or historical research. In response to a query from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the March-April newsletter, the editor began to look for information on the Cole-Harmon families and their tragic story.
The first newspaper headlines read, “A Terrible Tragedy—John Harmon, a Highly Respected Citizen, Shot and Killed by Peter D. Cole. The End of a Family Feud.” Lurid details soon followed, showing that John Harmon and Kate Cole were not such upstanding citizens after all. According to the account Peter Cole gave at his trial in early 1882, he had simply set out just before 7:30 on a warm August evening to bring in his cow which was pastured south of his home. He stopped in the W. T. MARVIN grocery store on East Main Street of Deshler.
As he was leaving, he came face to face with his neighbor and former friend, John Harmon. Bertie Harmon, John’s son, had just handed his father some money and John was reaching to put it in his “pocketbook.” There was never a claim that Cole thought Harmon was armed, but all accounts say that Cole drew a pistol and shot Harmon in the doorway of the store. Harmon ran down the street. Cole fired twice more and hit Harmon at least once, amazingly missing many shoppers on the street. Harmon then ran inside the VOGT store and down the aisle with his attacker following.
Harmon spotted Marshal Burt CLIPPINGER, who was off duty and serving as a salesman. He ran around the dry goods counter and into the Marshal’s arms. That did not deter Cole, who fired again. By now fatally wounded, Harmon reeled to the front of the store and fell.
Cole, not yet satisfied, “discharged his deadly revolver” one more time. Subsequent medical examination showed that Harmon had been killed by two bullets passing through his heart and he also had a wound in his arm. Cole immediately surrendered to Marshal Clippinger and Deputy Sheriff WALTMIRE.
At his trial on charges of first and second degree murder and manslaughter. Cole freely described his reason for shooting Harmon. The morning of the incident, Kate Cole had confessed to her husband numerous details of a 2-year affair with John Harmon. They included the initial seduction by Harmon, many clandestine meetings, Kate’s abortion of Harmon’s baby, and Kate’s refusal to sleep at her husband’s home while ostensibly caring for Sara Harmon during a period of confinement or illness.
Cole had become suspicious of his wife and former friend and had confronted Harmon months earlier. Then he began to carry a weapon with him at all times. After his wife confirmed his suspicions that day, he took the first opportunity to shoot the man he felt had wronged him. Cole’s testimony swayed the jury and they found him guilty only of manslaughter. The judge, in obvious disagreement, stated: “To say that the virtue of women requires protection by the use of the revolver, is an insult to the pure and virtuous wives and mothers of our land. Virtue is its own best protection.” He sentenced Cole to 15 years of hard labor in prison, noting that he could have imposed 20 years instead.
Following the sensational trial, over 10,000 people petitioned the Governor, who eventually pardoned the “poor, disconsolate, heart-broken husband, whose domestic peace had been ruthlessly crushed by the insidious machinations of a professed friend [who led] a poor wife to wrong.” The press obviously catered to public opinion.
Kate, the disgraced wife, moved to Tiffin, OH, and eventually found work as a cook on the Great Lakes schooner M. F. Merrick. Her life took one more tragic turn in May of 1889 when the 138-foot shallow-draft ship was struck in the fog of Lake Huron by the cargo steamer Rufus P. Ranney, nearly twice its size and carrying a heavy load of iron ore. A 12-foot hole was punched in the Merrick. It sank quickly and five of the seven crewmen were lost, including Kate.
More than 120 years later a group of Saginaw high school students working on a project began ship hunting using modern pinging SONAR technology in the Thunder Bay area and discovered the wreck. Now the NOAA is searching for information on Peter and Kate Cole, their daughter, Alta, who married George BINGLE and moved to Colorado, and John and Sara Harmon and family.
Little information has been obtained concerning the Harmon family. John Harmon had been proprietor a local livery stable and owned several properties. He had also served as Marshall for two years and was a Commissioner and Constable. Sara evidently raised their five “bright, intelligent” children, as they were described in the newspaper, and did not remarry after his death.
Sara was buried beside John in the Gilson (Union Chapel) Cemetery in Napoleon Twp., Henry County. He was 41 years old when he was killed. Sara(h) died in 1935 at the age of 92.
A son, ironically named Romeo, is buried with them having died at the age of one in 1872. Anyone with further information is urged to contact Karen Sunderman at 419-278-3751 or wendvpen@wenet.org. All information will be forwarded to the NOAA.
Ken Thompson Translations for German Scrapbooks at Library
Several years ago a three-volume set of family scrapbooks was donated to our society. The items were cut from at least one German-language newspaper from this area, but not dated or otherwise identified. It is possible that some of the articles came from Der Defiance Herold (1895-1920) and included items regarding families in western Henry County and in townships transferred to Defiance County. Ken Thompson is attempting to translate the items for us. An index will be printed as each is finished.
BALL, Joseph—widower obit vol. 1. Pg. 14
BAUER, Peter—husband of___BAUER obit vol. 1 pg. 16
BOCK, Fred.—residing in Tampa, FL obit vol. 1 pg. 16
BONN, Georg F.—husband of Anna [SCHLEMBACH] obit vol. 1 pg. 15
BRANDT Grandmother Maria—[Mary TIEDE] widow of Christoph BRANDT obit vol. 1 pg. 12
BRECKLER, Katharine[LUTZ]—wife of Henry C. BRECKLER obit vol. 1 pg. 16
BRUBAKER, John -wife survives(second marriage) obit vol. 1 pg. 10
BUSER, Barbara—widow of I. H. BUSER obit vol. 1 pg. 13
CONKLE, Priscilla—w/oE. H. CONKLE obit vol. 1 pg. 10
DAVIS, Bruce—son of A. B. DAVIS age 22 died in California. Obit vol. 1. Pg. 14
DRACKET, Ivy Marie—daughter of John D. DRACKET, age 1 obit vol. 1 pg. 16
ENGEL, Franz C.—husband of Magdalene [Eis] obit vol. 1 pg. 10
GROSELLE, Frank Xavier – son of Joeph and Sophia, husband of Elisabeth [KIESEWETTER] obit vol.1 pg.10
GROSSMANN, Mrs. Christ [Barbara Elisabeth WOLFRUM]—wife of Christ GROSSMANN obit vol. 1 pg. 15
HEIMLICHER, Heinrich -widower of Elisabeth [ROHL] obit vol. 1 pg. 14
HILL, Maria—daughter of Hermann J. MEYER and w/o_obit vol. 1 pg. 13
HOHENBERGER, Friedrich—husband of Minnie J. [ESTENIEAR/EITENIER], age 26 obit vol. 1 pg. 15
HUTH, Emma(SPIETH)—w/o Lorenz HUTH obit vol. 1, pg. 11
KIESS, Pastor F. A.—installation vol. 1 pg.16
LINABRINK, Dorothea—w/o Jacob LINABRINK obit vol.l pg. 11
LOCHNER, Pastor Daniel—left a widow and 9 children obit vol. 1. Pg. 12
MANG, Samuel—widower of Margaret “Maggie” MENG obit vol. 1. pg. 14
MARSHALL, John—husband of___[HALL] obit vol. 1 pg. 13
McGAFFICK, Mrs. Mary Ann—obit vol. 1 pg. 16
MULLER, Mrs. Caspar—daughter of Christoph and Sophia MEYER, w/o_vol. 1 pg. 13
MYERS, Jacob—1st wife___WELLMANN d. 1848, 2nd wife Harriet_also died. Obit vol. 1 pg. 14
NELSON, ANNA—w/o Frank NELSON obit vol. 1 pg. 13
NICKLE, William McCurdy—div. 1st wife, 2nd wife living, d. at home of M. E. ORCUTT obit vol. 1 pg. 17
NOLAN BROTHERS—acquired grocery business owned by I. M. BOWEN Vo. 1 pg. 16 POVENMIRE, Ollie[HILESHORN]—wife of postmaster John POVENMIRE obit vol. 1 pg. 13
ROHRIG, Wilhelm—son of Michael ROHRIG killed in sawmill accident obit vol. 1 pg. 13 ROSSMANN/ROSZMANN/RUSZMANN, George—widower, obit vol. 1 pg. 15
SCHAEFER [SCHAFER], Michael—husband of___obit vol. 1. Pg. 12
SHOCK, Mrs. Daniel [Ida Jane HULL]—wife of Daniel SHOCK obit vol.l pg. 17
SLOCUM, Bertha—age 14 lived at the children’s Home. Obit vol. 1 pg.17
SMITH, Anthony son of John P. and Franciska SCHMIDT husband of [HELFRICK] obit vol. 1 pg. 11
THEISS, Guillaume—widower of Mary [SIDENDEN] obit vol. 1 pg. 14
TUTTLE, Andrew—husband of Elisabeth [LANG] died in Chicago. Obit vol. 1 pg 15
WAGNER, Katharine [PROTSCHING]—w/o Johann B. WAGNER obit vol. 1 pg. 11
WEISS, Anna—widow obit vol. 1 pg. 16
Record of Allowances From Soldiers’ Relief Fund, 1888
Some regiments are given and a few companies, but most entries carry no designation. Amounts paid vary, usually from $4 to $20 and are paid to a township clerk for distribution. As names were added through the year, they were added to this list.
| BABCOCK, Mrs. Sally Ann (widow) | Monroe | Napoleon |
| BARNES, Andrew (later Mrs.) | Liberty | LIberty Center |
| BELLINGER, Mrs. (widow) | Washington | Texas |
| BROWN, Nathan D. | Bartlow | Bartlow |
| BUMP, Catherine (widow) | Harrison | Harrison |
| DAVIS, J.(Jno.) B. | Damascus | McClure |
| DENNIS, David | by C. E. REYNOLDS | Damascus |
| DEVORE, Margaret (widow) | Bartlow | Deshler |
| DRUMMOND, Lin | Bartlow | Bartlow |
| EDWARDS, Mary (widow) | Napoleon | Napoleon Twp. |
| FORD, George | Napoleon | Napoleon |
| FRANKFATHER, Mrs. Sarah (widow) | Monroe | Monroe |
| GREEN, Mrs. Eliza (widow) | Harrison | Harrison |
| HACKETT, Laura | Liberty | Liberty |
| HENDERSON, W. C. | Liberty | Liberty |
| HITCHCOCK, Jno. J. | Damascus | McClure |
| HOWE, Chas. | Bartlow | Deshler |
| HUTCHINS, Mary E. (wife) | Napoleon | Napoleon |
| KETTERAL, A. S. | Washington | Washington |
| KINDER, Abram | Richfield | Grelton |
| LANE, Geo. | Richfield | Richfield |
| LONG, Mrs. Wm. (widow) | Washington | Texas |
| LOVE, Reuben | Washington | Colton |
| MARCH, Margaret | Freedom | Freedom |
| MITCHELL, Mrs. Elizabeth (widow) | Napoleon | Napoleon |
| MYRICE, Mrs. Barbara (widow) | Bartlow | Bartlow |
| NEWELL, Js. (Joseph) | Ridgeville | Ridgeville Corners |
| PAYSON, Jennie (widow) | Napoleon | Napoleon |
| PHILLIPS, Ann E. | Damascus | Damascus |
| PRANH/PRANTO?, Mrs. Helen (widow) | Liberty | Liberty Center |
| ROBSON, David | Richfield | Richfield |
| SHOWERS, A. J. | Bartlow | Grelton |
| SIFORD, Joseph | Flatrock | Florida |
| STOUT, Mary A. (wife of Isaac) | Napoleon | Napoleon |
| TAYLOR, Levi | Napoleon | Napoleon |
| TAYLOR, Mary Jane (widow) | Napoleon | Napoleon |
| TITUS, Mary L. (widow) | Damascus | Damascus |
| TUTTLE, Wm. | Liberty | Liberty |
| Van WAGONER, Mrs. A. E. (widow) | Liberty | Napoleon |
| WADE, Susan (widow) | Richfield | Richfield |
| WEAVER, Wm. (minor) | Richfield | Richfield |
Record of Allowances From Soldiers’ Relief Fund, 1888
Some regiments are given and a few companies, but most entries carry no designation. Amounts paid vary, usually from $4 to $20 and are paid to a township clerk for distribution. As names were added through the year, they were added to this list.
| BABCOCK, Sally Ann | Monroe |
| BILLINGER, Mrs. | Washington |
| BOILLET, Isaac | Damascus |
| BROCKHORN, Fred | Freedom |
| BROWN, Martha D. (Mrs. Nathan?) | Bartlow |
| BUMP, Catharine | Harrison |
| BURKETT, Joseph | Richfield |
| BURNS, Mrs. Andrew | Liberty Twp. |
| CLINTON, William | Richfield |
| CRONINGER, Calvin | Bartlow |
| DAVIS, Jno. B. | Damascus |
| DENNIS, Daniel | Damascus |
| DEVORE, Margaret | Bartlow |
| DURBIN, Presley | Freedom |
| EASTMAN, Mrs. (discontinued) | Napoleon |
| EDWARDS, Mary (scratched out, added again) | Napoleon |
| FRANKFATHER, Sarah | Harrison |
| GAMINA, Ross | Richfield |
| GEHRETT, Peter | Freedom |
| GRAY, Mrs. Nelson | Richfield |
| GREEN, Elizabeth | Napoleon |
| GREEN, Samuel P. | Bartlow |
| HACKETT, Laura | Liberty Twp. |
| HARRIS, Mrs. Wyatt | Washington |
| HEATER, Mary A. (transferred to Napoleon) | Richfield |
| HENDERSON, W. C. or E. (to be distributed by M. WEAKLEY) | Liberty Twp. |
| HENDERSON, Wm. W. | Liberty Twp. |
| HENRY, Wm. A. | Marion |
| HITCHCOCK, John J. | Damascus |
| HOWE, Chas. (later dropped) | Bartlow |
| HUTCHINS, Mary E. | Napoleon |
| KETTERELL, A. S. | Washington |
| KINDER, Abram (later dropped) | Richfield |
| LANE, George | Richfield |
| LONG, Adam | Washington |
| LONG, Mrs. Wm. (change to Napoleon later) | Washington |
| LOVE, Reuben | Washington |
| MARCH, Margaret | Freedom |
| MEYERS, Geo. | Marion |
| MITCHELL, Elizabeth | Napoleon |
| MYRICE, Mrs. Barbara | Bartlow |
| MYRICE, Mrs. Barbara | Bartlow |
| NEWELL, Joseph | Ridgeville |
| PAYSON, Jennie | Napoleon |
| PHILLIPS, Ann E. | Damascus |
| PLASSMAN, Fred’k | Napoleon |
| PRANTO, Helen | Liberty Twp. |
| RICHMOND, Thos. | Damascus |
| ROBjNSON, Daniel | Richfield |
| SCHNELL, Viola | Bartlow |
| SHOWERS, A. J. | Bartlow |
| SOHN, Cyntha A. | Napoleon |
| STEVENS, Samuel | Napoleon |
| STOUT, Mary A. | Napoleon |
| SWEENEY, Samuel L. | Holgate |
| TAYLOR, MaryJ. | Napoleon |
| TITUS, Mary L. | Damascus |
| TUTTLE, Wm. | Liberty Twp. |
| VanWAGONOR, Mrs. A. E. | Liberty Twp. |
| VanZANDT, Mary E. | Richfield |
| WADE, Susan A.(crossed out, moved away, then added) | Richfield |
| WEAVER, Wm. (minor-to be disbursed by Samuel MAUER, later Sam’l WEAVER) | Richfield |
| WHITE, Luther | Napoleon |
| WINTERBERY, Fred | Napoleon |
In the last issue there was a posting from the Henry County Signal 7 Oct 1886 entitled “DAVISVILLE GLEANINGS.” I noted: “This hamlet is unknown to me and was not included in the Ghost Towns of Henry Co. book. If anyone knows exactly where it was located in Napoleon Twp., please write. The SHULTY and BOCKERMAN families lived across the road from each other in Sections 7 and 8 on Co. Rd. 18 between Roads Q and R, according to the 1880 census, and two DAVIS families also lived nearby. At the present time this is near St. Paul Lutheran Church [Q1 & 17] and there is a collection of houses centered around Rd. R &17. Thanks to Bill Latta for researching this at the courthouse—editor.”
One of our members, Lucille (Panning) Sunderman, responded with some interesting information. “I never heard of there being a community by that name either. The one room schoolhouse that was on the comer of Rd. 18 and R was known as the Davis School prior to 1940 era when the one room schools closed. The school is still standing and has been turned into a nice home by Kevin GERKEN. It was featured in the one room schools video put together by BGTV. I remember my elders saying that a Davis had owned farmland in that area, therefore the school name.
“The ‘collection of houses’ along Rd. R and 17 are of a later vintage. I grew up in that area and walked past that intersection for 12 weeks every summer between 1932 and 1936 for my religious education at St. Paul’s Church. In those days the R & 17 intersection was farmland and a woods. Around 1945, my girl friend and her husband built the first house along Rd. 17 in the woods formerly on her grandparents land in an area that now has become quite heavily populated. The houses continue north all the way to what was known as Bostelman’s Corners, site of the two saloons referred to in the article.” Note: Bostelman’s Corners is listed as a settlement in “Ghost Towns of Henry County.”
Land, Town Lots and Chattel Returned Delinquent
By the Treasurer of Henry County January January 10, 1854, Delinquent 1853. More information on the taxes owed is in the book, but not included here. These were early settlers or landowners in these townships.
| Owner’s Name | Owner’s Name |
| Town of Napoleon | |
| GLASS, John PATRICK, L. L. TAYLOR, James PHILIPS, J. D. |
NEELY, Jonathan PHILIPS & STAFFORD YARNELL, Daniel |
| Chattels | |
| CROUSE, Thos. CAMES(?), Saml. MAYERS(?), Christopher STROHL, Isaac FORD, Geo. W. |
CUNNINGHAM, John HOMAN, H. Saml. O. Ins. & Ill. Telegraph Co. SPADE, Geo. |
| Town of Florida | |
| BOWEN, Wm. HEATH, Joseph NEYE, Mary Ann COOK, Jonathan |
HARLEY, David HEATH, Saml. NEYE, Jonas |
| Chattels | |
| AUSTIN, Joseph GROSS, M. LARY, Wm. SMITH, Lander |
CRAGO(?), J. H. GLORE, John PHILIPS, H. C. STREETER, O. J. |
| Pleasant Township | |
| BURGER, H. R. ECKMANN, M. M. FOX, Jacob FRASE, John GILLINGHAM, J. E. McCARTY, W. PATTERSON, Thos. SCHULLER, Jacob WILHELM, John |
DANICH, Lewis W. ELLIOTT, Nathan FOX, John A. FISHER, Soloman McCANSLAND, J. A. MOATS, Wm. SMITH, Michael STITTS, J. |
| Chattels | |
| MAPLE, J. P. | DIETRICK, Martin |
| Marion Township | |
| BEEVIS(?), Josiah CRAIN, I.(J.?) M. DUNHAM, Thos. HAMLER, Samuel NEWPORT, Jesse (?) HATFIELD, Go. D. KELLEY, Stephen MEEKER, D. F. SHAFFER, Abm. WITHERSON, Jas. |
CRAIN, A. J. DOWNS, Janun HAMLER, A. HALLESTON, A. HENRY, J. G. KESKPATRICK, J. KELLEY, Abm. RYAL, John SNYDER, John |
| Monroe Township | |
| DUNKLE, Geo. ANGES, Allen ALLEN, Shellman BETSON, Lewis FRY, John GILSON, S. G. HOY, David JOHNSON, S. (?) MORROW, Jas. O’DELL, Thos. PATTERSON, Thos. B. RUHL, A. A. SPURGEON, Henry THOMPSON, M. WITZALE, W. & L. |
DUNKLE, Andrew ASHBERRY, C. BLOUGH, John CORLETT, A. GETY, Lazareth HATCH, Chas. HILL, David LENNOX, John MOREHEAD, J. NEWPORT, J. D. ROOT, David SORNICK (?)/SOMICK, D. D. SHAFFER, A. WORTS, Danl. |
| Chattels | |
| BECKFORD, Daniel | |
| Harrison Township | |
| ANDREWS, John BROWN, Mary D. CLARK, Herman PACKAN, Alonzo STURGESS, E. WELLS, Thos. |
BOALT, C. L. BASHTOCK, Peter PATRICK, L. L. SHELL, S. A. WADSWORTH, John WEST, C. L. |
| Chattels | |
| LAWRENCE, B. W. | |
