Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 31, Number 3, Third Quarter 2017
Welcome to the fifth edition of the Henry County Genealogical Society online newsletter. This is also our third issue for the 2017 membership year. In this issue, we’ll feature some interesting articles from old newspapers and share some interesting photos.
William Howard Taft visited Napoleon in 1908. He was sworn in as the 27th President of the U.S. in 1909. He is reliably reported to have stayed overnight in the Heller-Reese house on the northwest corner of Webster and Washington Streets, currently owned by Ben Reece (photo colorized by Jim Rebar)
An Important Message From the Newsletter Editor:
The current editor of the Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter does not live in Henry County. There is virtually no input from county members, so that he has had to rely on old newspapers for content. The newsletter does not contribute any knowledge to our readers that they cannnot easily find on the Internet. Unless someone in Henry County steps forward and offers to write this newsletter, this issue will be the next-to-last one.
Normally, our last issue of the year contains a request that members pay their dues for the coming year. If there is no newsletter, it is unfair to ask members to pay dues for essentially no return for their money. These issues will be discussed at our last meeting of the year, which is our annual dinner to honor our First Families of Henry County. If nobody steps forward to take on the newsletter, we will decide at the meeting how we are going to operate as a society in the future.
Officers:
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 – 10-292Rd. E, Hamler, OH 43524, skbshp@embarqmail.com
News Reporter – Patricia Marshall – antiquepat@aol.com
Newsletter Editor and Webmaster – Jim Rebar – jamesrebar@roadrunner.com
Upcoming Meetings:
The Henry County Genealogical Society holds four meetings a year: in March, May, September, and November. Unless otherwise indicated here, the first three meetings will always be at the Deshler Public Library on the third Monday of the month, and will begin at 7:00 pm. The fourth meeting is always our First Families dinner, and will be held at a restaurant in or near the county beginning at 6:30 pm.
November 20, 2017 – Our annual dinner in honor of our newest First Families of Henry County. We will meet at the Log Cabin Tavern on T464 Co Rd 3, Liberty Center, OH 43532, at 6:30 pm. If you would like to join us, please email Jim Rebar at jamesrebar@gmail.com or call him at (419) 906-5026. We held our dinner here last year and were so impressed with the food and service, that we decided to take advantage of their hospitality again this year.
2017 First Families of Henry County
Speaking of First Families, this year we will be honoring the following:
Robyn Saul Mosher, 4331 Gratiot Ave., Fort Gratiot, MI 48059, rlmosher@gmail.com, had the following ancestors approved:
| Patience P. Spiegle | 1860 | Gold |
| John Thomas West, Sr. | 1860 | Gold |
Kay Clady Baldwin, 15386 Dononey Rd., Defiance, OH 43512, baldwin@ayersvilletelco.com, had the following ancestors approved:
| Johannas Ricker | 1860 | Gold |
| Johann Michael Rettig | 1860 | Gold |
| Elizabeth Ricker Stephans/Stevens | 1860 | Gold |
| Johann Peter Ricker | 1860 | Gold |
| Caroline Catherine Stevens | 1863 | Gold |
| Jacob Clady | 1879 | Silver |
A Note to Our Members
In this age of computers and digital publications, we will continue to send our newsletter by postal mail to all our members who want to have the document in their hands. Whether our members are unable or unwilling to get the newsletter by email, we will honor your wishes. In return, this editor hopes that you will consider sending us information that would be of interest to our members.
Newest Publications:
Northwest Signal Obituaries, 2016. The price is $22.00 plus $3.00 for shipping and handling.
Website Additions
We have a new, though fairly small at 645 records, database on our website of the military veterans who were living in Henry County as of Spring 1895. This information was compiled by the county Assessor’s Office, and lists the veteran, his rank, his unit, and the township he was living in. It was published over serveral months in 1895 in the Democratic Northwest newspaper.
You can find this newest database at:
http://www.henrycountyohiogenealogy.org/vets1895/vets.php
Our next most recent addition to the databases on our website is the Deshler Flag Obituary Index, 1897-2015. You can find it at:
http://www.henrycountyohiogenealogy.org/FlagObits/obits.php
Since our last newsletter, we’ve added 1981-1991 to this index so that it is complete from 1981 through 2015 with regards to the date of birth, the date of death, and the full names of the mother and father. If any of this information is lacking in the obituary, in many cases it is added from other sources. This work is being done entirely by two volunteers, Janet Blake and Mary Ellen Smith. Mary Ellen has even included the full obituaries for 1981, 1987, 1990, and 1991, which goes way above and beyond what we ask of our volunteers.
This is an ongoing project that will take years to complete. If any of you would like to help Janet and Mary Ellen, email me at jamesrebar@gmail.com for instructions. All it takes is access to a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. You would be given access to a PDF version of one of our Deshler Flag obituary books and a blank spreadsheet, and you could start adding data right away.
Thanks to volunteer Julie Moriyama, the Youngs Cemetery obituary database is very nearly complete. Because of Julie’s hard work and persistence, the database is now up to 1,400 obituaries. It is complete through 2008. When completed, it will stop at 2010. You can find the Youngs Cemetery at:
http://www.henrycountyohiogenealogy.org/Youngs_Obits/obits.php
Just for the record, the spelling of Youngs Cemetery is correct. You grammarians out there probably wonder where the apostrophe went. That is a very good question. If anyone has an explanation, please send it our way.
The searchable index to obituaries published in the Northwest Signal is still stuck where it was when our last newsletter was published. While it not difficult to do, your editor simply does not currently have time to add more records. This is an index for obituaries that have been published by the Genealogical Society in book form. As of this writing, the database contains more than 17,600 records and covers the years from 1966 through 1974 and 1996 through 2015. Due to the sheer volume of records, there is still not much information on date of birth, date of death, and parents’ names, but we hope to add this information in the coming months.
You can find the Northwest Signal obituary index at:
http://www.henrycountyohiogenealogy.org/NWSObits/obits.php
The Napoleon Public Library has a huge collection of Northwest Signal obituaries that have not been catalogued yet, and, time permitting, they will be gradually added to the online index.
The Society’s president, Bill Latta, and the newsletter editor, Jim Rebar, continue working on databasing Democratic Northwest obituaries from the 1880s and 1890s. There are more than 2600 obituaries in the database. Bill has completed 1893-1897, and they will be added to the database as soon as possible. As items of interest show up, we try to get them into the newsletter, and that means they will also eventually make it to the website. Now you know why articles from certain years are featured. By the way, the stories have to be unusual or contain a lot of names to make the cut.
You can find the early obituaries at:
http://www.henrycountyohiogenealogy.org/EarlyObits/obits.php
Query
There are no queries in this newsletter.
From our News Sources
Democratic Northwest, August 22, 1895, p. 1, col. 3
[A point of pride for Indiana and Henry County. – Ed.]
FLORIDA AND THE OLD VETERANS
The survivors of the 68th O. V. V. I. met in reunion at Florida on Thursday last. Most of the boys responded to the hospitality of the citizens of Florida, and the day being pleasant had a royal good time. Col. Wells, the old commander of the regiment, of Toledo, was present and enjoyed himself with the boys.
The 68th organized in the State of Ohio at large in October, November and December, 1861. Mustered out July 10, 1865. Participated in the following battles: Thompson’s Hill, Miss., May 1, 1863. Raymond, Miss., May 12, 1863. Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863. Champion Hills, Miss., May 16, 1803. Vicksburg, Miss., May 18 to July 4, 1863. Clinton and Jackson, Miss., Feb. 5, 1864. Big Shanty, Ga.. June 15, 1864. Kenesaw Mountain, Ga , June 27, 1864. Nickajack Creek, Ga., July 25, 1864. Atlanta, Ga., and Jonesboro, July 28 to Sept. 2, 1864. Lovejoy Station, Ga., Sept. 2-6, 1864. Loss during service, 292 men.
It is claimed that E. E. Kessler, of Richmond, Ind., was the youngest private soldier in the war. He was born June 10, 1849, and enlisted in Company B, Sixty-eight Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, at Napoleon, Ohio, in September, 1861, at the age of less than 13 years. In June, 1865, at the age of 16 years, he was mustered out, having served for three years and nine months as a private soldier. Some enlisted at an early age as drummer boys, but none, it is said, carried a musket at an earlier age than Mr. Kessler. He declared his age 18 in order to get into the service.
Democratic Northwest, August 6, 1896, p. 1, col. 3:
A few weeks ago there was introduced in the trade something new in the candy line known as the “all-day sucker.” One of these “suckers” consists of a block of candy attached to a small stick of wood. They are hard as stone and can only be dissolved by the process known as sucking, hence their name, “all-day suckers,” from the length of time it takes to eat away with one. During the process the victim has the appearance of having an aggravated case of the mumps. Since their introduction they have become highly popular and an enormous demand for them created. Several children in different places have taken violently sick after contending for several hours with one of them. The candy is highly colored, and it is believed the ingredients are not pure. Some dealers have quit selling them because of the bad effect they have had on the children. The State Dairy and Food commission has begun an investigation, and if they are found impure the sale of the “all-day suckers” will be stopped.
[Ed: This appeared to be a serious news piece, not a tongue in cheek article.]
Democratic Northwest, May 30, 1895, p. 1, col. 3:
Conductor Gage, of the Wabash “bob-tail” took on a passenger at Colton the other day who had quite a curiosity in his possession. The passenger was Moses Jackson, an old and well known farmer living near Liberty Center. He had with him a land turtle, or terrapin that was picked up on the old Groff farm near that place. On its shell was inscribed the following: “Phillip T. Groff and A. Snyder, 1851.” Mr. Jackson was taking the turtle to the home of Mr. Groff, who is now an old man, to see if he could give any account of the affair. Mr. Groff is a brother of Judge Groff, who served as Land Commissioner under President; Harrison. Mr. Snyder, whose name is inscribed on the shell of the turtle, died before the war and if it transpires that the names were cut on the shell m the year named above, Mr. Land turtle is one of the pioneers of the Maumee valley himself. Because the turtle was found on the old Groff farm and because A. Snyder has been dead so many years, leads Mr. Jackson to believe that the names were put on the shell, as noted, in 1851. Reprinted from the Defiance Express.
Democratic Northwest, May 30, 1895, p. 4, col. 3:
On Friday evening, May 31st the second annual commencement of the Holgate high school will take place. The class consists of six boys and one girl. They are Chas. Fast, Chas. Burk, Fred Voight, Will Hayman, Alvin Buchenberg, Frank Laubenthai and Gyp Fisher.
Democratic Northwest, May 14, 1896, p. 5, col. 1:
New Bavaria, May 12th
The schools in South Ridge special district closed last Friday. Every body that is interested in the school can speak with pride of the good success had by their able teachers The Primary department, which is the most important division in a school, was taught by P. P. Spangler The Intermediate class which requires the same care as the Primary was taught with great skill by Miss Mary Matchett. The High class which continues the work done in the Primary and Intermediate rooms was taught by Jos. F. Kinstle, who is also superintendent of the school. The teachers had prepared a programme with the scholars which was carried out to perfection last Friday evening, before an audience of four hundred people. The following was the programme:
Opening Chorus:
Song of Welcome – All the Schools. Music: J. F. Kinstle, Mary Thome
Concert Recitation: Little Housekeepers: Lizzie Thome, Anna Spangler, Clara Laubenthal, Frances Westrick, Maggie Schwab, Agnes Klear, Tillie Okuly.
Dialogue: Whose Turn? Willie Mess, John Smith, Joseph Mess.
Drill Song: Flower Song: Lizzie Thome, Agatha Spangler, Addie Wilsberg, Frances Dietrich. Katie Elzhinger, Bertha Dietrich, Nora Schwab, Nora Laubenthal.
Dialogue: The Very Bad Boy – Arthur Swary: Ella Mangas.
Song: Papa’s Boy and Girl: John Thome, Luzetta Schwab.
Recitation: Who Is Speaking: Barbara Wagner.
Dialogue: Illustrated Story: Allie Giesege, Clara Keeterle.
Music: J. F. Kinstle, Mary Thome.
Song Drill: Leap Frog John: John Siefert. Jos. Mess, Willie Mess, Albert Giesege, Clarence Keeterle, Arthur Swary, Agnes Klear, Anna Spangler, Frances Westrick, Clara Laubenthal, Tillie Okuly, Maggie Schwab.
Dialogue: Lunatic: Joseph Wilhelm, Peter Dietrick, John Siefert.Music: Mary Thome.
Valedictory: Ida Miller.
Music – Clayton’s Grand March: J. F. Kinstle, Mary Thome.
Dialogue – Sweet Family: Ella Schwab, Hermina Schwab, Annie Thome, Frances Thome, Katie Siefert, Ida Miller, Katie Weaver, Lizzie Thome.
After the above program was carried out, a short address was given by Prof. J. F. Kinstle, thanking the audience for the great interest they took in the labor of their schools, after which all went home well pleased. The occasion will long be remembered by all that were present. By One Present.
Democratic Northwest, January 28, 1897, p. 8, col. 4:
The Napoleon Northwest wants the Napoleon court house lighted by electricity. The days for coal oil for a building of its structure is certainly not up to date. Wauseon Expositor. Let the courthouse be wired at once.
Same issue, same page and column:
Lawyers are discussing earnestly the difference between kleptomania and stealing. It is very easy to decide. Whea a rich person takes things that belong to other people, it is kleptomania; when a poor person does the same it is plain stealing. [Some things never change – Ed.]
On Sunday a merry sleighing party, made up of young folks of Napoleon, paid a visit to the hospitable home of Wm. Heitman in Okolona. The evening was pleasantly spent with games, sport and a sumptuous repast. The party was made up of Henry Rohrs, Gust Elfers, Paul Fisher, Chas. Reiser, R. Theek, Henry Meyers, Misses Mannie Rohrs, Amy Stockman, Mary Meyers, Alvena Theek, Hannah Kolbe, Minnie Rohrs, Mayme Rohrs, Helen Eggers and Emma Keinath.
Democratic Northwest, 15 April 1897, pg. 1, col. 2
The newly elected personal property assessors met at the county Auditor’s office Monday last, for the purpose of receiving instructions and necessary blanks. The following are the names of the assessors, with their post office address:
| Ridgeville | John Wendt, Ridgeville Corners |
| Freedom | D. Gebers, Napoleon |
| Napoleon | Alex Rafferty, Napoleon |
| Flatrock | W. P. Frantz, Holgate |
| Pleasant New Bavaria, | George Keeterle, New Bavaria |
| Pleasant, Holgate | Wm. Ritz, Holgate |
| Marion, North | Nicholas Jackman, Hamler |
| Marion, South | J. B. Ritz, Gallup |
| Monroe | Peter Dietrick, Malinta |
| Harrison | A. J. Starkey, Napoleon |
| Liberty, East | B. F. Ovemire, Liberty Center |
| Liberty, West | Peter Schall, Liberty Center. |
| Washington | J. Brailey, Colton, |
| Damascus | W. F. C. Kinney. McClure |
| Richfield | Frank Hatcher, West Hope |
| Bartlow | Branson Rouch, Deshler |
Democratic Northwest, May 14, 1896, p. 8, col. 3
NOT TRUE
The women of Napoleon, Ohio, have adopted a new plan for blowing the foam off the beer glasses in that city. They will use dynamite. Chicago Times-Herald.
The women of Napoleon have adopted no such thing or ever thought of it. The above item is but another proof of the unreliability of much which appears in the daily press. We venture the prediction that one-third of the news (?) contained in the average daily newspaper is sensational, has no foundation in fact, or is outrageously overdrawn.
[Ed: Apparently “fake news” is not a new or recent phenomenon.]
Democratic Northwest, October 22, 1896, p. 8, col. 5:
Mrs. Elizabeth Hanna was very agreeably surprised at the old homestead in Damascus township last Wednesday, the occasion being her 72nd birthday anniversary. She was the recipient of many useful and costly presents. One of the pleasant features was the dinner prepared by the masterly hand of Mrs. E. A. Hanna. Those present were: W. J. McLain and wife of Toledo, E. Guyer and wife of Weston. F. S. Burwell. wife and son of Wood county, Mrs. J. C. McLain of Damascus township, Mrs. Libbie Cromer and son of Weston, Mrs. Herman McLain and son of Damascus township, Mrs. Anna Thorley and children of Weston, E. A. McLain his and children of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Dora Houston of Weston, Jas. W. Hanna, wife and children of Napoleon. E. A. Hanna. wife and daughter of Damascus township, W. A. Hanna, wife and daughter of and David Foltz, wife and daughter of McClure. A pleasant time was had and all join in wishing Mrs. Hanna many happy returns of the occasion.
From a Napoleon newspaper, April 7, 1932 (contributed by Arnold Miller):
[The] senior editor tells me that back in 1890, Washington street in front of the office was being admired as the best paved street in Napoleon. The pavement was built of cobblestones, however, with deep gutters along the curbstones.
Every Saturday merchants and their clerks appeared with hoe and broom to clear the gutter and sweep refuse into heaps in the center of the street where it was loaded upon a wagon and hauled away.
In summer, after a busy Saturday night, families who lived in “flats” along Washington street were forced to keep their windows closed all Sunday morning to avoid being driven from home by the unpleasantly aromatic breezes frisking down the street.
All that Is gone (music by flutes and violins) and advancing civilization has turned its attack upon human ears with the blatting of horns, the racing of motors, and the grinding of gears. Next, no doubt. It will be the thud of airplane landing gear striking the runways atop downtown buildings.
Democratic Northwest, April 29, 1897, pg. 1, col. 5:
There are nine members of the class of 1897 which will graduate from the Napoleon Union Schools next month. The names of the members are Misses Leona Denlar, Edna Balsley, Hattie Keinath, Rozzie McBain, and Messrs. Fred Leist, Jay Clewell, John Haly, Harlow Palmer and Reuben Nyswander. The commencement exercises will be held Thursday evening, May 27th.
Follow-Up From Last Issue
You’ll recall that we ran photos in the last newsletter of the “Chinese Barn” outside Deshler, and of Archie Swartz, one of its builders. As a follow-on to that we offer the following on one of the other builders of the barn.
This is from Gene Saumer, who is building a model of the barn:
My maternal great-grandfather, W. Emory Wallace, and his son-in-law, Archie Swartz, were carpenters who helped build the (Chinese) barn. Emory Wallace kept a notebook to record workers’ names and hours worked. Besides his own, the names of Archie Swartz, S. Belliville, Mr. Hyslop and Mr. Buck were recorded. I believe Mr. Buck was Emory’s son-in-law and Mr. Belliville was his brother-in-law.
My mother’s parents, Evelyn Wallace and Archie Swartz, were both born in Deshler. Her paternal grandparents, Aaron and Sarah Swartz are buried in Woodlawn Cemetery near there. Sometime after 1910, Emory and Martha Wallace and children moved to North Dakota and settled. My mother, Bernadetter Swartz, their 10th child, was borm in Bismark. Archie and Evelyn Swartz then moved to Duluth, MN in the 1920’s and then to Brimson, MN. The photo below is of Archie and Evelyn Swartz with their 1st child.
For more information on the Wallace Family, Search the internet for Anneke Jantz Bogardus. You will find some very interesting stories.
Gene’s niece, who originally contacted the newsletter editor many years ago and continues to stay in contact would like to be the contact person on the query/article. Her name is Kelly Pelto, 3359 Silanpaa Rd., Makinen, MN 55763-8033. Her email is: peltofamily@frontier.com
From Henry County’s History…
This month’s bonus photo is from Henry County, Ohio, Volume Two, A Collection of Historical Sketches and Family Histories Compiled by Members and Friends of The Henry County Historical Society. Dallas, TX, Taylor Publishing Co., 1972. The photo was taken in front of the The D.T. and I. Yard Office in 1911. First man on the left, Jack Downey; first man on right, Bill Lockard; second man on right, Bill Young.
The entire article is available at the Henry County Historical Society website at: http://henrycountyhistory.org/DTandI.html
The Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter is published quarterly. 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 other chapter newsletters. Annual membership is $10.00 (one or two people at the same address). Meetings will be held four times per year as posted in the newsletter. We post all queries that are related to Henry County-membership is not required. Send queries to Henry County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 231, Deshler, OH 43516, or to jamesrebar@gmail.com or post online.
