Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter

Volume 25, Number 2, March-April 2011

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 – Phyllis LaRue
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 – Patricia Marshall – antiquepat@aol.com
Newsletter Editor – Karen Sunderman – wendypen@wcnet.org
Webmaster – Jim Rebar – jamesrebar@roadrunner.com

Meetings

March 21, 2011, Monday, 7:00 p.m.

Carolyn Powell will speak on the history of Marion Township.

April 18, 2011, Monday, 7:00 p.m.

Business meeting and research night.

May 16, 2011, Monday, 7:00 p.m.

Jane Shively will speak on the history of Richfield Township.

New Members

#494 Patty Lee, Clio, MI 48420-1927

#495 Joan Doner, Bowling Green, OH 43402

#496 Angela Behnfeldt, Dayton, OH 45420

#497 Willard P. Ogburn, Newton Center, MA 02459-2360

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. XXIV (2010). The price is $22.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling.

Queries

HOUX, CARPENTER
Searching for info on families of Jacob Houx m. Carrie/Clara Carpenter m. in Henry Co. She was b. 29 Jan 1865 and her father was William Carpenter. Her mother’s name may have been Jane Bonny, bom in OH. Carrie/Clara and Jacob’s children were Bertha, Ella, Kate and William Houx.
-Richard Nusbaum, 4512 17th St., Hobart, IN 46342 nusie2 @hotmaiI.com

The Inevitable Laws of Genealogy

A great-uncle changed his surname because he was teased in school. He moved away, left no address, and was never heard from again.

The only record you find for your great-grandfather is that his property was sold at a sheriff’s sale for insolvency.

The portion of the index you need is continued in the next issue, only the publisher died prior to publication (or the company went out of business, or the library doesn’t have it).

HISTORY OF St. PAUL’S UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH, DESHLER, OH

Ed. Note: Sometimes it’s a good thing that people in the community know I am interested in the early history/genealogy of Deshler. When I went to my polling place to vote in Nov., I was handed a church history, which is annotated for publication here.

Among the first settlers to locate here, were the venerable William PORTER, a local quarterly conference preacher in the United Brethren denomination, Mr. Harvey Van SCOYOC, a worker for The Dayton and Michigan Railroad Co., and Mr. Russel DAVIS, teamster, all having located here about 1861. Later settlers were Mr. John and Cooney VOGT. Mr. John VOGHT was a fanner, postmaster but previously the operator of a grocery store and a saw mill. Later came a family by the name of HOLMES, engaging in the business of dry-goods and footwear. Then came William MITCHELL, who became the first editor of The Deshler Flag and who was chosen as Deshler’s first mayor.

The first religious services ever to be held in Deshler were held in a log school house which stood opposite the William SHEFFIELD blacksmith shop, or across the comer on what is now Water and Steams Streets. [Where the Lytle Lumber Co. was later]. This school house was about 18 feet by 22 feet with one window on each side, and a slab troughed roof. The interior was anything but beautiful, yet it carried the marks of workmanship and the air of pioneer hardihood and craftsmanship, crude rough benches hewn of logs composed the seats upon which from three to four scholars sat. Desks of wide oak timbers served as writing tables. Pegs driven into the logs served as the only cloak room and the teacher’s desk was but a common stand table with two or three text books, chiefly the Reader, Arithmetic, and the Geography, never the less it was here also that men and women were schooled in the fine arts of worship.

It was in this school where the first converts found their way to Christ. The first preacher to conduct such a meeting was the Rev. Dan TUSSING, the father of P. W. TUSSING, a local veterinary (sicX and one of Deshler’s oldest living residents from whom much of the information for this writing is obtained. Assisting in this service were the Rev. Aaron BUTLER, a local preacher of Butler class Oakdale, and William PORTER, above mentioned. During the course of these services about twenty souls found their maker, chiefly timbermen among whom was [sic] several negroes. This revival meeting was really the foundation stone for the formation of the Society of the United Brethren in Christ in Deshler, which later took place under the inspiring and determined efforts of Mrs. William RAMSEY, Mrs. Henry SCHEIB, and Mrs. George MOTTER.

In 1893 efforts were made toward the formation of a class. Twenty-five or 30 years had elapsed since the first revival meeting. A few of the converts had moved away or passed on, but several families who were staunch United Brethren at heart, attended the Methodist or Lutheran Churches, still longing for a church of their own. In the Spring of 1893, Mrs. (Elpha) William RAMSEY called on one of her friends, Mrs. Henry SCHEIB, and it so happened that Mrs. Geo. MOTTER was present at the SCHEIB home. The conversation turned to talk of spiritual things and Mrs. RAMSEY stated, “I see no reason why we cannot have a United Brethren Church right here in Deshler. There are enough U.B. people in town to start a class if we all pray and work together.” Mrs. MOTTER answered, “I believe so too, but seven or eight persons are hardly enough to begin with, and how would we go about to start it? Mrs. RAMSEY’s response was, “Well Jesus only had twelve disciples, and behold what we have today; I know several persons who are U. B. and I know a U. B. minister, who would come and help us organize and who would preach for us and I intend to speak to all parties concerned.”

A letter was sent to Rev. Robert TRASK, who replied that he would come and organize the
believers into a class and preach until the next fall. Charter members of that class were: Mr. George MOTTER, Mrs. Almeda MOTTER, Mrs. Catherine TUSSING, Mrs. Ella HUGHES, Mr. CRONINGER, Mrs. Henry SCHIEB, and Mrs. William RAMSEY. Rev. C. FILLMAN served the class from 1894 – 1896. Sunday School classes were established, but were poorly organized until the fall of 1894 when professor Geo. GARWOOD, a high school teacher, was elected Sunday School Superintendent In December 1894 Rev. FILLMAN conducted a revival meeting which produced more than 100 converts and about 85 souls were added to the church.

The Lutheran Church still provided a place of worship. Standing where the Lutheran church now stands, it was a small frame church with carpetless floors, a seating capacity of about 100, two small coal stoves furnishing the heat, and without any lamps. Services were held by the Lutherans only once a month in the morning. The small U. B. group rented the church for $3 per month. Mr. William RAMSEY served as janitor without pay. About six months after the class was organized a beautiful organ was purchased for $125.

In 1896 permission was granted by the conference to build a new church on the site which had already been purchased for $500. The Ladies aid society through the influence of Mrs. RAMSEY and under the President, Mrs, Porter DAVIS, had helped to defray the expense of the new church building, which was about $5,000. It was finished in 1900, but not dedicated until 1906 when the amount was completely paid off.

From The Deshler Flag, January 29,1897

This issue of the Deshler Flag was devoted to a review of the history of Deshler and promotion of the businesses.

Dr. T. M. GEHRETT
who is the oldest practitioner in the place, is one of the foremost citizens and enjoys an extensive practice, extending many miles. He is more than a physician—a skilled surgeon, ranking among the best in the state, and his services are sought after from all parts of the adjacent territory. The doctor is also the physician for the C., H. & D. and B. & O. railroad companies, which position he has held for years, besides being the resident member of the board of pension examiners. He is a jolly good fellow to meet, and while he has the nerve to cut and slash, he is kind hearted and pleasant with all.

C. F. DAVIS
contractor and builder, and proprietor of the Deshler planning mill, is a man who is doing good work in his line. Mr. Davis owns a good factory, carries a full line of building material, and is prepared at all times to furnish estimates for the erection of buildings from a true mechanical standpoint. He has buildings about here that stand as advertisements for his work, and it is needless for us to add that he never fails to give satisfaction. If you contemplate building or improving your property this spring, we would advise you to consult Mr. Davis first, as he is prepared to put up a residence on the Chicago plan—build it today and let you live in it tomorrow—and when it is completed you can rest assured that he has given you the worth of your money.

T. J. EDWARDS
has the best business location in town. He conducts a first-class lunch room and bar, and makes it a point to have good, faithful attendants in each department. Jeff is known all over this country, and when the boys come to town they feel as though they have forgotten a very important duty if they fail to give him a call. His lunch counter is supplied with all the delicacies of the season, and served in a manner to appease the most delicate appetite. Jeff wants to see you.

H. L. HOUSE
dealer in agricultural implements, probably sells more goods than any other dealer in this line. He handles all kinds of implements, buggies, wagons, wind pumps, etc., and can sell you anything from a device pin to a thresher and engine. Mr. House has also found it necessary to enlarge his quarters to accommodate his increasing trade, and is just completing an elegant two-story brick building, 50 x 110 feet, on Main Street, in connection with HOUSE, HEFLINGER & Co. When he gets into his new quarters he will have the finest agricultural store in northwestern Ohio. Mr. House is a safe man to deal with, as you will find him reliable in all things.

JOHN GRIBBELL
enjoys the distinction, we believe, of being the oldest business man in town; that is, he has been identified with the town the longest. He was railroad agent here when this was but a small station, and has watched the growth of Deshler with a great deal of satisfaction. Becoming tired of the railroad business he branched out in the hardware and stove store, and by strict attention to business has one of the best stores of its kind, prepared to compete in quality and price with opposition hardware merchants in all the large towns. Uncle John, as we call him, is assisted in the store by his two sons, Bert and Bruce, who have practically relieved him of business cares in his old days, and it can be truly said that he has placed his business in good hands, for the boys seem determined to keep up the excellent reputation that their father has established for the store. Call and see them when in want of anything in their line.

Dr. J. H. LATHROP
bears the reputation of being an excellent physician and surgeon and his practice covers a vast territory. He is the second oldest doctor in the place, and has few superiors. Dr. Lathrop is one of our leading citizens and has a host of friends in the community He is a prominent member of the city school board and holds the position of treasurer of that body. To get acquainted with him is to like him.

HENRY COUNTY FACTS: Naomi was a hamlet on the Henry-Fulton County line about one mile north of Gerald and 1/2 mile west of St. Rt. 108. It was begun about 1895 with the incoming railroad and was named after the daughter of one of the railroad owners.

68th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
From The Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohioin the War of the Rebellion 1861-1866, Vol. V.

The 68th was organized in Nov. and Dec. 1861 at Camp Latty, Napoleon, OH and mustered out July 10, 1865 at Louisville, KY. Due to the huge amount of information, only the soldier’s name, his company, rank, age and pertinent information such as being wounded or killed is included here. Note that being detached to a colored regiment does not mean that a soldier was black. Colored regiments had white officers.

Company H Privates

Mustered in Dec. 13, 1861 at Camp Latty, Napoleon, O., by James J. VORHES, Captain; Thomas QUIGLEY, 1st Lieut., and John DWYER, 2nd Lieut 68th O. V. I. Mustered out July 10, 1865 at Louisville, KY by Cyrus M. ROBERTS, Captain 78th O. V. I.

HUTCHESON, William Disch. 19 June 1862 Camp Chase, OH Surg. Cert.	19	HUMPHREY, Calvin	19
HERBERT, Peter L	41	HATFIELD, Jacob	19
HATFIELD, Jacob	—	HANEY, John Killed 12 Aug 1864 near Atlanta, GA	22
IRVIN, Rufus	18	JOHNSTON, Peter	18
JAY, Michael	18	JONES, William R.	19
KESLER, Samuel Died 7 Nov 1862 Jackson, TN	20	KELLEN, Henry Disch. 17 July 1862 Columbus, OH on Surg. Cert	31
KOONKLE, Albert Z.	18	KINSLEY, John	27
LASHLEY, David T.	29	LEVINE, Louis	28
LAMB, Harrison H. Disch. 28 Oct 1865 at Gen. Hosp., Cleveland, OH	18	LAMB, George	19
LONG, George	23	LONG, Adam Disch. 22 Jan 1862 Camp Latty, OH on Surg. Cert.	18
LONG, Peter	27	LONG, Daniel	34
MAHER, James	27	MURRAY, George Disch. 1861 by civil authority, re-enlisted 1864	17
MASON, John	39	McKERNAN, John	36
McKEEVER, Alexander	39	McCONEGHY, Alexander Disch. 9 May 1862 at Shiloh, TN on Surg. Cert.	18
MOLDONER, John Died 7 Apr 1862 at Providence, OH	40	MOWEN, John	21
MARKS, James M. Disch. 17 Oct 1862 at Bolivar, TN on Surg. Cert.	17	MACKLIN, Benjamin	17
MACATEE, Samuel	25	NORTH, John Killed 22 July 1864 battle of Atlanta, GA	22
PETERS, Harris	30	PUGH, Daniel Disch. 8 May 1862 at Shiloh, TN on Surg. Cert.	17
PORTRAGE, Leonard Died 5 July 1862 at Camp Bolivar, TN	21	PITSON, Stephen Disch. — 1861 by civil authority	18
PERRY, Amos Disch. 23 Dec 1862 at Columbus, OH on Surg. Cert.	35	PARRISH, William Disch — 1861 by civil authority	18
ROACH, Henry Disch. 20 June 1862 at Camp Chase, OH on Suig. Cert.	42	REAMS, Noah	21
RICHMOND, Thomas	31	RAGAN, Thomas Disch. 17 Oct 1862 atBolivat, TN on Surg. Cert.	44
RYAN, John Disch. 6 Oct 1862 at Columbux, OH on Surg. Cert.	18	RAKER, Oliver	23
RALL, Jacob Disch. 17 Oct 1862 at Bolivar, TN on Surg. Cert.	43	ROSE, James A.	19
SHIVELY, Albert Wounded 19 Aug 1864 in action near Atlanta, GA	31	SHEPARD, Robert P.	24
SHEPARD, Benjamin C. Wounded 12 May 1863 in battle of Raymond, MS Killed 22 July 1864 in battle of Atlanta, GA	23	STEEL, Francis S. Killed 22 July 1864 in battle of Atlanta, GA	21
SHAFFNER Martin	23	SABINE, Thomas H. Disch. 17 Oct 1862 at Bolivar, TN on Surg. Cert.	18
SHIELDS, John Disch. 8 Sept 1862 at Columbus, OH on Surg. Cert.	18	SHELLEY, Singleton	23
TURK, Welcome P., Musician	16	TOTTEN, Jackson	23
TEETS, Charles Died 7 Apr 1862 at St, Louis, MO	19	WILLIER David	41
WAGGONER, Frederick Killed 10 Feb 1864 in action near Morton, MS	23	WILSON, John I.	28
WARD, James Disch. 30 July 1862 at Cincinnati, OH on Surg. Cert.	23	YOUNG, William H. Died 17 Oct 1864 in Gen. Hosp. at Marietta, GA	18

COMPANY I

Mustered in Dec 13, 1861 at Camp Latty, Napoleon, O., by Hiram H, Poe, Capt.; Ira M. Kelsey, 1st Lieut., and Lewis Dubbs, 2nd Lieut. 68th O. V. I. Mustered out July 10,1865 at Louisville, KY by Cyrus M. Roberts, Capt., 78th O.V.I.

Poe, Hiram	Capt., —	TRAVIS, John D	Capt., 21
KELSEY, Ira M.	1st Lieut., 31	HOY, Joseph	1st Lieut., 27
DUBBS, Lewis	2nd Lieut., —	HENDERSON, J. Hunter	2nd Lieut., 38
FAST, Henry H.	1st Sgt., 26	CAMPBELL, Enoch	1st Sgt., 23 ?
CREGO, James	Sgt., 33	BRIM, James I.	Sgt., 20
POWERS, James F.	Sgt., 19	KELLOGG, Thomas H. Died 3 Oct 1864 at Woodville, OH	Sgt., 19
PATTERSON, William	Cpl., 28	DELVENTHALL, Gottlieb	Cpl., 19
EMCH, John Wounded 12 May 1863 battle of Raymond, MS	Cpl., 18	PATTERSON, Lloyd T. Trans. 1st MS Colored Heavy Artillery 3 Jan 1864	Cpl., 23
SCOTT, John M. Wounded 16 May 1863 battle of Champion Hills, MS Killed 5 Sept 1864 In action at Lovejoy Station, GA	Cpl., 20	HARPLE, Joseph A.	Cpl., 26
PATTERSON, Thomas	Cpl., 21	GREGG, Joseph O. Disch. 14 July 1862 at Columbus, OH on Surg. Cert.	Cpl., 21
Privates in Company I
ALLENBERGER, Conrad	26	BALLARD, Phillip	44
BALLARD, Allen W.	19	BULLARD, Henry	18
BURGOMASTER, Michael	23	BOYER, Jeremiah Died 14 July 1864 in hosp. Rome, GA	29
BAKER, Alfred Disch. 3 Jan 1862 by civil authority	18	BUCKLIN, Osman	30
BAILLEUX, Jacob Disch. 3 Apr 1862 at Crump’s Landing, TN on Surg. Cert.	32	BOILES, Dickerson Wounded 16 May 1863 battle of Champion Hills, MS	25
BARBER, James M.	27	BARR, Robert H.	23
BILLINGS, Haman	41	BINKLEY, Amos Died 21 Apr 1862 on hosp. transport “City of Louisiana” on Mississippi River	22

History of Liberty Township 1888

Abstracted from History of Henry and Fulton Counties, OH, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich and other references

This is one of the earliest townships in the county to be settled however, its physical characteristics have changed. The two northern tiers of sections were given to Fulton County while several other sections were annexed from Harrison Twp. The part of Sec. 12 taken from Harrison, and Sec. 7 from Washington Twp. (originally Damascus) constituted what was known to the pioneers as Prairie du Masque. The name was given by the early French who traveled die valley of the Maumee River. This spot was also used by the army of Gen. Anthony WAYNE as a campground on their way to the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

Early settlers were John BUTLER, David and JohnDeLONG, Charles GUNN, George CHILSON, David BUCKLIN and Samuel VANCE. These brave men located on the prairie in 1814 and Elisha and Edwin SCHRIBNER came in 1818. Before 1820 Samuel VANCE erected a double log house, called it a tavern and suspended a sign announcing “accommodation for man and beast” The remains of this tavern, an old orchard, and the town of Damascus are near the north end of what is now known as the Damascus bridge. Bricks for the cellar of the tavern were floated upriver from Toledo on pirogues. At that time it was the only house between Defiance and the Rapids—where Peter Manor lived then.

A short time after 1820, Joseph COWDRICK built a small house on the river below VANCE’S, but later moved Anther upriver between Damascus and Napoleon. In 1826, John PATRICK, the father of George, settled on the river three miles east of Napoleon. He purchased the land from Cornelius THOMPSON, who obtained it from the government for his services under Gen. WWYNE in his Indian campaigns. Mr. PATRICK erected a large house at this place, and also opened a house of public entertainment, which became the main tavern between Defiance and Toledo during the days of canal navigation and packet travel, which began in 1843 and continued until the construction of the Wabash Railroad.

Long before work on the canal began, Edwin SCRIBNER erected the first sawmill in the county on Dry Creek. Later BURLIN & TAYLOR started a mill and a general store at Damascus. The town of Damascus was laid out at this time, but the earliest known plat is from 1859, showing 15 lots north of the canal and two on the south. The town rivaled Napoleon for the county seat, but the railroads ended its prosperity.

During the canal days, the number of settlers in Damascus Twp. grew quickly.
By 1847 taxpayers included Gen. Ezra S. DODD; Joseph COWDRICK; Samuel BOWERS; George BOWERS; Judge MEEKISON; Alonzo, Lorenzo, Solomon, and James H. BABCOCK; George CHRONINGER; Hosea Harrison HUDSON and Rensselaer HUDSON; John KNAPP; John M. MEEK; the REDFIELD family; Samuel H. and James B. STEEDMAN; John WRIGHT, Sr.; John WRIGHT Jr.; Nathan WRIGHT; Ward WOODWARD; Samuel WINTERS; and George CRAWFORD.
In 1863 Alpheas BUCHANAN established a trading post and platted lots in what is now the town of Liberty Center. Calvin C. YOUNG, E. T. COON, G. P. PARRISH, George PARRISH, Ward WOODWARD, and Daniel EHRGOOD each added lots to the town between 1868 and 1882.

Land, Town Lots and Chattel Returned Deliquent

By the Treasurer of Henry County January 11, 1853

More information on the taxes owed is in the book, but not included here. These were early settlers or landowners in these townships.

All in Liberty Township

Owner’s Name	Sec. and Description	Acres
BAKER, S. & E.	Sec. 19 SE NE	40 A.
BAKER, S.&E.	Sec. 19 NE cor. NW SE	12 14 A.
BOALT, C. L.	Sec. 15 N 1/2 SE	80 A.
INGRAHAM, A. & G.	Sec. 21 E 1/2 SE	80 A.
INGRAHAM, A. & G.	Sec. 21 W 1/2 SE	80 A.
KLINE, Henry	Sec. 14 W 1/2 W 1/2 SE	40 A.
KNAPP, John	Sec. 29 NW SW	40 A.
LASTER, John	Sec. 26 NE SW	40 A.
NOGGLE, Sol	Sec. 19 S 1/2 SE	80 A.
OH, State of	Sec. 17 W 1/2 NW & NE NW	120 A.
	Sec. 26 NW NW	40 A.
PARKER, Omer	Sec. 6 NW SW fr	38 A.
SHELLENBARGER, A.	Sec. 30 SW fr NW	38 A.
TAYLOR & BURLIN	Sec. 12 N fr W 14	Saw Mill
Chattels
BUCHANAN, D. W.	Value $153.
INGRAHAM, Mason	87.
KNAPP, S. J.	220.
LISTE, William	4,545.
SESNICK, John	202.
LOW, H. N.	184.