Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter

Volume 2, Number 2, March – April 1988

On April 18, 1988, the scheduled speaker at the Society monthly meeting was Mr. John Golden, who was to speak on Irish Genealogical Research.

On May 16, 1988, the scheduled speaker at the Society monthly meeting was Dr. Sarah Sharpe, who was to speak on oral history.

Editor’s Notes

    Starting with this newsletter, I will be running a series of historical articles on Henry County, Ohio. My main source of information will be from the book, History of Henry and Fulton Counties., edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich, 1888. Because of limited space in the newsletter, I will be printing only the highlights, although the book goes into much detail. If any of you have historical articles on Henry county, please send them to me and I will publish them as space permits. We lost a few members with our 1988 renewal. The reason you chose not to join again is yours, but we will miss you and your input, and we thank you for being with us the past year.

    The February meeting of the Henry Co. Chapter met February 15 at Edwin Wood Library. The chapter currently reported 58 members.
The Publication Committee announced a 50 copy reprint of Wood County Chapter’s McClure History had been completed. The Program Committee had a list of ’88 selections. The Election Procedure Amendment Committee proposed all paid members would be eligible to vote in an election of officers, and outlined procedures for such an election. Others felt only those at the election meeting be allowed to vote.
Members had a discussion about helping those who write for information. Some felt all help possible should be given with questions made known to all members so they might be able to help with possible answers. Others felt it was not necessary to do much research looking for answers and give only basic answers to all letters. Some felt the questions were meant to be put in the newsletters. Nothing definite was decided.
Virginia Guyer of the Elisia Gunn, Sr. Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gave the program. She pointed out although not commonly known, it is pos­sible to gain D.A.R. membership in four different ways: through a civil servant, a member of the military, a signer of the Declaration of Independence or a patriotic service of an ancestor. She showed worksheet forms and told of dues necessary. Guyer also had Patriotic Indexes available for members to examine.
Mary Jo Cunningham, Recording Secretary

GOOD NEWS!

Some of you have been writing to us wanting to know of a paid researcher in the Henry Co., OH area. I am happy to let you know that we have found one! Mrs. Robert (Jane) Yarnell, Napoleon, OH 43545. If interested, let us know, and we will pass your name and number on to her. She will let you know her fees and research available.

SURNAMES

Member William F. Miller, Winchester, Virginia 22601, is interested in the WRIGHT family. He is a descendant of Nathan C. Wright who settled in Liberty Town­ship, Henry Co., Oh. prior to or around 1840. He is also interested in the HELLER and SHEPLER families.

Mrs. Joseph Healey, Cortland, N.Y. 13045: William GILSON, Henry CHILDS, Carl FISCHER, Moses BURKHOLDER, Richard and Hugh GILSON, Christian RUPP, Samuel CRILE, David CHILDS.

Mike and Carolyn Hiser, Leipsic, OH 45856: BISHOP, CASTEEL, HISER

Mrs. Marvel Haley, Deshler, OH 43516: HALEY, RICE, JOY, REED, MORISON, NEWBERY, ARBOGAST, EMAHISER, WILHELM, TEEPLE, CARR.

Mr. Clifford M. Mawer, Deshler, OH 43516: MAWER, AVEY, O’NEAL, McNELLY.

Shirley Lulfs, Swanton, OH 43558: SALSBUREY, BUCK, LULFS, DELVENTHAL.

The Deshler Edwin Wood Memorial Library is located on the northeast corner of SR-18 (Maple St.) and Northeast Ave. 208 Northeast Ave. – Deshler, OH 43516. 419-278-3616. Library hours: Mon.-Tues.-Thur.-Fr . 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Wed. 8:30 am to 8:00 pm. Closed all day Saturday. Mrs. Lucille VanScoyoc is the head Librarian.

Queries

LOWMASTER, BEERY, BERRY, WEAKS
Researching family of Alexander LOWMASTER b. 1814 PA. md. 1841 Crawford Co., OH to Elizabeth BEERY/BERRY b. 1816 Fairfield Co., OH. A son John md. Alice WEAKS 1868 in Henry Co., OH.
—LaVonne Hipsher, Fostoria, OH 44830

BROWNING, HOOVER, FRANKFATHER
Searching information on family of William W. BROWNING b. ca 1835 who married in 1857, Franklin Co., OH Elizabeth Ann Hoover b. 1837, Franklin, Co., OH died 1923 in Henry Co., OH. Elizabeth’s mother md second time a Samuel FRANKFATHER about 1870.
—LaVonne Hipsher, Fostoria, OH 44830

COUNSELMAN, LOWMASTER, CALDWELL
Searching info on the COUNSELMAN, LOWMASTER and CALDWELL families of Henry and Wood counties of Ohio.
—LaVonne Hipsher, Fostoria, OH 44830

HENDERSON, JACKSON
Where are the families of Alonga, John and James HENDERSON born in Shelby Co., OH to Joseph and Rhoda (JACKSON) HENDERSON and moved to Henry Co., OH in 1865? Were Ada and Flo John’s daughters?
—Clara Ellen Courtney, Deshler, OH 43516

COURTNEY, BAKER, LOVE, STEARNS, SMITH, SHAFER, WININGER
Where are the families of Jacob COURTNEY who married Julia BAKER in Putnam Co., OH Dec. 27, 1874? George COURTNEY who married Fannie LOVE in Putnam Co., OH Feb. 28, 18837 Sarah COURTNEY who married F. M. SMITH in Putnam Co., OH Jan. 31,18847 Elizabeth COURTNEY who married Charles STEARNS, Putnam Co., OH Feb. 6, 1878? Callie COURTNEY who mar­ried Henry T. Shafer in Putnam Co., OH Oct. 10, 1886? Margaret COURTNEY who married Robert WININGER in Putnam Co., OH Dec. 10, 1874?
—Clara Ellen Courtney, Deshler, OH 43516

SMITH, HOFFMAN, HUFFMAN, LISK, HARTER
Seek information on Aaron SMITH and Lavina (HOFFMAN) SMITH, daughter of Henry HOFFMAN/HUFFMAN. Aaron and Lavina md Feb. 10, 1831, Dearborn, Indiana. Had a son Lewis “Karr” SMITH b. July 4, 1836, Ind. d. April 12, 1918 Putnam Co., OH md Elizabeth (LISK) HARTER ca 1866 Putnam Co., Oh
—Connie Petersen, Deshler, OH 43516

THOMPSON, CROW
Seek information on Alpha/Alfred THOMPSON who md Eliza CROW ca 1830’s Putnam Co., OH. Alpha went to California during the gold rush. Eliza died during his absence. Alpha possibly the son of Joseph and Rachel THOMPSON of Columbiana Co., OH. Alpha b. ca 1810. Did he ever return to Ohio and did he ever remarry?
—Connie Petersen, Deshler, OH 43516

CLENDENING, JOLLIFF, CONOWAY, CLEAVES, PARK, BAER, KERSKER, WOODRUFF, STEWART
Seek information on the descendants of William and Lilly (CLENDENING) JOLLIFF who were md in Van Wert Co., OH Dec. 20, 1883 by Rev. W.W. Vance. William d. Jan. 23, 1945, Kenton, Hardin Co., OH. Children: Anna CONOWAY, Mabel CLEAVERS, Robert, Charles, Vasa PARK, Grace BAER, James, Velma KERSKER, Frances WOODRUFF, Arthur, Florence STEWART, Clarence and Cletus. Are most of them living around Allen Co., OH?
—Connie Petersen, Deshler, OH 43516

Send your queries to be published in the newsletter free of charge to the Henry County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 231, Deshler, OH 43516, ATTN: Newsletter Editor.

HISTORY OF HENRY AND FULTON COUNTIES, OHIO
EDITED BY LEWIS CASS ALDRICH – 1888

    At the close of the Revolutionary War of the American colonies with Great Britian in 1784, and for centuries before that time, so tradition has it, the Indian tribes inhabited the valley of the Maumee (Me-aw-mee) and its tributaries, the St. Mary’s on the south, the St. Joseph on the north, the Au Glaize on the south, the Tiffin River or “Bean Creek” on the north and the Turkey Foot (both north and south), and the small streams, such as Beaver Creek, joining the Maumee near Grand Rapids; the Tone-tog-a-nee, near the old Indian Mission, and the Portage near its mouth.

    At the time of the first American settlement in 1796, and until the last remnant was removed in 1838, there were a few scattered families gathered up and removed in 1842 or 1843. The Indian occupants of the valley proper were the Ot-ta-was.
In 1808 or 1810, with the commencement of the white settlements proper, the Indian village near the mouth of the Maumee was the Ottawa village of Mis-sis-sa­nog (Turkey Town), whose principal chief was Scha-no. It had a population in 1810 of about six hundred inhabitants. The next village of importance was twenty miles up the river, called Me-nish-sha-nog (Island Town) located mainly on a large island called Indian Island, upon which a French trader had many years previously planted an orchard that furnished a never-failing crop of apples. They also owned a large tract of rich land on the left bank of the river, extending some twelve miles above. The population of this tribe was not far from one thousand souls. This village was governed by two chiefs, O-to-saw and Na-wash, and in later years, previous to their removal west, by Ot-to-kee and Wau-se-on.
A Presbyterian mission was established in 1820 or 1821 by Rev. Isaac Von Tassel, and conducted as a school for the young Indians, until their final removal to their new homes, west of the Missouri River, in 1838.
The more important of the villages of the valley proper was the Ottawa village of Ap-a-to-wau-jo-win, or Half-Way, which was located at the head of the “Grand Rapids”, and near the noted Council Elm. Here, too, was located the band of Tien­jo-i-no, the noted peace-chief, and colleague of Little Turtle in the great council held previous to the battle of Fallen Timbers. It had a population of from six hun­dred to 800 hundred in 1820, but had diminished by disease and debauchery, incident to intoxication, to about half that number in 1838, the time of their final removal west.
There were also several small settlements of the Ottawas on the high poplar sugar ridges along the banks of the Maumee within the limits of Henry County. A noted and favorite camping place, once of much historic interest, was “Girty’s Point” situated above Napoleon on the left bank of the Maumee, where the headquarters of the noted renegade white man, Simon Girty was held. Simon Girty was a blood­thirsty renegade white man, who deserted his own people and joined the savages, and urged them to acts of inhuman barbarity to avenge an imaginary wrong. Except for preserving historic truths, his cruel treatment of Colonel Crawford while burning at the stake, and the bloodshed of innocent women and children, should never have been put upon the historic page.
In the year 1830, according to the census, the county of Henry had 260 persons; in 1840, two thousand five hundred and three; in 1850, three thousand four hundred and thirty four; in 1860, eight thousand nine hundred and one; in 1870, fourteen thousand and twenty eight; in 1880, twenty thousand five hundred and eighty five. From these facts it is fair to assume that in the year 1820 there was not to exceed a dozen families within the borders of the county, and probably not more than fifty or sixty white inhabitants. Although Henry County was formed, and only formed, in the year 1820, there were not then living therein enough people to organize a township, and it was not until three years later, 1823, that the whole county was populated enough to be formed into one township, called Damascus. The county, it is true, was given an existence at the time named, and while conveyances of the land may have recognized such an existence, the residents knew no county boundaries beyond their own warrant or deed; they were residents of the whole Maumee Valley, and as much will be mentioned so far as their names can be ascertained.
It is possible that in the following record, the names of some may be inadvertently omitted, as the names, as obtained, are somewhat incomplete, still it will serve to show who were a large majority of the residents of the valley prior to the year 1825.
The list was prepared by a person now past the allotted “three score and ten” years of life, and will be found substantially authentic so far as given. It is to commence at Defiance and record the names as the people were found on going down the river, and is as follows: Pierce Evans and family, Indian fur trader; Dr. Johathan F. Evans, physician and surgeon; Colonel Evans, on the Au Glaize; Allen Browher, father and brother, farmer and trader; _____ Brubecker, farmer; James Laughlin, Indian jewelry manufacturer and ricer boatman; the “Snook Boys”, two brothers, farmers and pirogue (rice boatmen).
Flat Rock: Down the river four miles, old Uncle Hively, Pennsylvania Dutch farmer; Adam Kepler, on the south side of the river, also Penn. farmer. There were a few other settlers near this point who names cannot be recalled.
The next settlement was at or near Damascus, below the present village of Napoleon; John Patrick and wife, farmer and Indian trader; “Sammy” and David Bow­ers, brothers, on the south side, both farmers; Elisha Scribner, father and fam­ily, farmer; Charles Bucklin and father, “Squire” Bucklin, farmers; Samuel Vance and wife, farmers and Indian fur traders, brother to ex-Governor Vance, of Ohio; Richard Gunn and family, farmer; Carver Gunn and family, farmer; Osman Gunn and family, farmer; Judge Cory, the largest farmer in the valley; David DeLong and sons, Jeff and Nicky.
Grand Rapids: Uncle Peter Manore, Frenchman, farmer, he built the first saw­mill on the river; his son, Frank, now or recently living on the old homestead, a part of the Indian grant of one and one-half sections at the head of the Grand Rapids, was born in 1812, at the foot of the rapids, where Maumee City is now.
On the south side of the river, at this place, was settled Thomas Howard and his sons, Robert A. and Richard M. W. and their families, as also was William Pratt and family, son of Captain Pratt, of Fort Meigs, all farmers.
A few miles below this, at Raccoon Rapids, was John Morgan, an old Rocky Mount­ain hunter and trapper, and his “man Friday” Bob Ryan, a farmer.
A short distance further down, on what afterwards was known as the Hedges (grandfather of Judge David Commager) farm was a squatter, by the name of Adam Teel, farmer, and still further down the river near the mouth of Tone-tog-o-nee Creek and opposite the “Indian Island”, was erected and in full operation, the Presbyterian Indian Mission, under the general management of Rev. Isaac Van Tassell, assisted by Revs. Coe and Sackett, with their families, and the Misses Riggs and Brewster; Day­ton Riley (brother of William Riley, of African slavery fame, who after his release and return to America, built the first mill to crack corn, on the St. Mary’s River, near the line of the Toledo, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad, near the present village of Wilshire, Van Wert Co., Oh.) This Dayton Riley was a very good carpen­ter, and performed much work for the Indian Mission people, but loved the woods so well that most of his time was spent in hunting and trapping for the fur-bearing animals.

The North West Newspaper, Napoleon, Ohio

28 Jan. 1853
E. Barnhart appointed Adm. of Henry Bordner Estate.

18 Jan. 1853
James Durbin appointed Adm. of Thomas Lonargon.

11 Feb. 1853
David M. McCrackin vs. Matilda McCrackin, petition for divorce filed 10 Feb. 1853 in Court of Common Pleas. Willful absence and gross neglect of duty.

Josiah Austin appointed Adm. for John Williman’s estate.

11 March 1853
Died in Ridgeville, this county, 6th inst. of typhoid fever after an illness of eleven days. Mr. Barton Palmer, aged 55 years. The deceased was one of the pioneers of this county having removed from New York state in the year 1837, left wife, 5 sons, 1 daughter and aged parents.

Rezin W. Shawhan vs. Balthus Hafling – Directed from Court of Common Pleas of Seneca Co. OH to sell real estate at Courthouse, Napoleon, Henry County, OH, 11 April 1853, SW Qtr., section 34, Twp. 4, Range 8E. Taken in execution as the property of Balthus Hafling at the suit of Rezin W. Shawhan.

William Martin appointed Adm. of Lewis Bortel, late of Henry County, dec’d.

17 May 1854
By order of County Commissioners of Henry Co. I will offer at public sale at this office on Monday, 5 day of June next at 1 o’clock, the keeping (including board lodging and washing) of James Donaho, a county pauper, for one year from said day. Mr. Donaho enjoys good health but is blind. He can perform considerable labor for the person who may keep him. The pay for his keeping will be in cash, payable’ quarterly.
Signed/E. Sheffield, Co. Auditor

Attachment Notice on 10 May 1854 by J. Armstrong, Justice of Peace of Napoleon Twp., Henry Co. OH against chattels, goods, credit, moneys and effects of Wolfin Fox a non-resident of said County for the sum of $53.14 balance due account for board, etc.
signed/John Cunningham

By virtue of an order of sale issued by the Probate Court of Morrow Co. OH. I will offer at public sale at the Courthouse in Morrow Co. OH, 17th day of June next at 2 o’clock following real estate belonging to the estate of Benjamin Gilbert, dec’d to wit: the north west qtr of Sect. 13, North of Range 7E, Twp. 3, containing 160 acres subject to dower of the widow. Terms of sale one half cash in hand, and balance in one year secured by mortgage.
Signed/John Beebe Adm.

Attachment Notice issued by James Armstrong, Justice of Peace Napoleon Twp. against credits, good, chattels and effects of George Markley Sen’r non-resident of County for debt of $25 due me from said Markley.
Signed/Joseph A. Stout

(5-generation ancestor chart of Mary Jane Bishop Shively, McClure, Ohio 43534)

FAMILY REUNION TIME

Is your family planning a reunion for this summer or fall? If so, let me know all of the details and I will put it in the May – June newsletter, which will be in the mail by May 6, 1988.

NEW RESEARCH MATERIAL AT THE LIBRARY

How to Publish Your Genealogy, by L. J. McGrady
Seneca County Cemetery Records, Seneca Co., OH
Family Tree of Albert Edward Yackee
Marriages of Some American Residents, Volumes 6 and 7, Yates Publishing Company
Descendant Chart of Nathan C. Wright, by William F. Miller

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HENRY CO. OHIO LIBRARIES

Deshler Edwin Wood Memorial Library – 208 North East Ave. – Deshler, OH 43516
Florida Public Library – North Hill – Florida, OH 43545
Hamler Library – First Street – Hamler, OH 43524
Holgate Community Library – 130 North Wilhelm – Holgate, OH 43527
Liberty Center Public Library – East Street – Liberty Center, OH 43532
Malinta-Grelton Branch Library – Henry Street – Malinta, OH 43535
McClure Community Library – Haley Street – McClure, OH 43534
Napoleon Public Library – 310 West Clinton – Napoleon, OH 43545

FOR SALE

History of McClure, Henry Co., OH, $2:00 + $1:00 postage

Michael Wahl, Wallingford, PA 19086, is looking for a private cemetery in Henry Co., Oh, for the LEONHARTS. Has any one heard of it or know where it is?

Funeral Notice
Died, Thursday, March sixth, nineteen hundred and twenty-four [1924], at five a. m., John Calvin Camp, aged 74 years and 27 days. Funeral will be held Saturday, March eighth, at ten-thirty a. m. from the Methodist Church, Rev. O. F. Jones of Assumption officiating, assisted by Rev. N. C. Griffin. Interment in Morrisonville Cemetery.