Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 24, Number 2, March-April 2010
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 15, 2010, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Arnold Miller will join us for a round table discussion on the history of Monroe Township and Elery.
April 19, 2010, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Business meeting and research night.
May 17, 2010, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
The history of Napoleon Township will be the topic for the evening with Russell Patterson as our speaker.
New Members
#485 James W. Kronberg, Whitehouse, OH 43571
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.
New Publications
We have now published Deshler Flag Obituaries Vol. XXIII (2007-2009), which is priced at $12.00 and Northwest Signal Obituaries Vol. XXIII (2009) — formerly advertised as two books priced as one, but we were able to staple it into one big book, which will cost $22.00. Each of these will also have a $2.00 charge for tax and postage.
First Families Deadline
The deadline for application for First Families of Henry County is June 15. See our website for guidelines or write Kathy Bishop, 10-292 Co. Road E, Hamler, OH 43524.
OGS Lending Library
OGS has a lending library for OGS members which offers 3,500 titles. The catalog is now on their website at www.ogs.org. The cost is $3.00 per order and $5.00 for shipping with payment by cash, check or credit card; loan period is 3 wks.; two titles per order. Request a lending library order from 713 S. Main St., Mansfield, OH 44907-1644, (419) 756-7294, or www. ogs. org/research/lending.php.
Queries
PARSONS
Searching for info on Aaron/Arrington and Mahala/Haley Parsons who lived in Harrison Twp ca. 1861. Aaron/Arrington d. sometime before 1863 and Mahala/Haley d. ca. 1870. I believe they were living with their son Lemuel Parsons and had a grown granddaughter named Christina ca. late 1860’s or 1870. Mahala was b. 1803 in VA and was a Native American. It is possible Aaron/Arrington d. before arriving in the area in 1861 from Pickaway Co. OH.
Submitter: David E. Mason, Maumee, OH 43537
McCLURE, KING, HETTESHIMER, BYERS
Researching the McClure/King family of Napoleon. William Grover McClure (1884-1955) m. Blanche King (1887-1957). They owned an appliance store in Napoleon. William descends from John M. McClure who settled McClure, OH. Blanche had a sister whose name was Grace King. William Grover McClure had a son, William Weldon McClure, whose daughter is Mary Ann McClure. Would like more info on these families. Also searching Hetteshimer and Byers families in Napoleon, Liberty Twp. and McClure. Thank you.
Submitter: Jennifer Kistler, Chicago, IL 60657
Raised in Corn City?
There is now a facebook site for those raised in or interested in Deshler, OH. Go to CornCityKIDS.com and join in the discussion and reminiscences. Tell how you used to read comic books in the Baughman Barbershop or help figure out when the first brick school was erected. You’ll find plenty of company and get a chance to share in memories of “The Good Old Days.” A reunion is being planned for August, so log on to get the details.
From THE DESHLER FLAG, January 29,1897
This issue of The Deshler Flag was devoted to a review of the history of Deshler and a promotion of the businesses. Free land along the railroad was being offered to anyone willing to locate a manufacturing plant in the town.
“The town is supplied with two large and well equipped elevators which furnish a ready market for farm products, while we have several dealers who will take care of the stock market.”
W. S. GEHRETT
Mr. GEHRETT is a native of this county, being bom near Napoleon, the county seat. He located here about five years ago and engaged in the drug business. Being a registered pharmacist he has given the public the best of satisfaction in his line, and bears the reputation of having one of the bet kept drug houses in Northwestern Ohio. He carries a full line of all the “decoctions” known to medical science; his patent medicine and sundry departments contain all the latest and best remedies and appliances; his stationeiy and school book supply is always of the best, while he ranks as a leader in wall paper and wall decorations.
W. H. PAGE & CO.
Dealers in dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. is a new firm her but they have come to the front in a business way that bespeaks for them an enviable reputation. This firm started here a year ago this month and have built up a remarkable trade.
THE DESHLER LAND CO.
Composed of Cincinnati capitalists, with Mr. Florian GIAUQUE, of Glendale, manager, has probably done more to improve and build up Deshler and the surrounding country than any other enterprise. This firm, at one time, owned a large tract of land here, besides considerable town property. For years they have been improving this land, leasing it out to tenants or selling it to them on long time, taking their pay from the crops. Many of our farmers who have well improved farms, and citizens with comfortable homes, can thank the Deshler Land Co. for their possessions.
The company has erected a number of business rooms and have certainly contributed their share in building up the town. We find Mr. GIAUQUE a very clever and accommodating gentleman, always willing to accede to anything within reason for the comfort and benefit of his tenants and hesitates at nothing that will add to the advancement of the town.
HOUSE, HEFLINGER & CO.
This firm is engaged in the general mercantile business and have an establishment second to none. Their large room is filled from front to rear, besides enough goods are stored away in a room upstairs for that purpose to almost open up a similar establishment. So pretentious has their business become that they found it necessary to procure larger quarters, and now have completed a magnificent brick building 50×110 feet at the comer of Main Street and Keyser Avenue. This firm is also the owners of our electric light plant, an enterprise that forms an important part in making up our business interests.
Hon. D. D. DONOVAN
Mayor of Deshler, is also one of our leading attorneys. Mr. DONOVAN has been identified with Deshler since a small boy, and twice represented this county in the state legislature and served two terms in congress. While at Washington Mr. DONOVAN took up the study of law and at the end of his term graduated from the law school in that city. He then returned to Deshler and at once took up his chosen profession, and has a very remunerative practice. Last spring Mr. DONOVAN was elected mayor and has made himself very popular with the people by the bold and fearless manner in which he deals out justice[in mayor’s court], and for the close attention and interest taken in city matters. He has exhibited wonderful ability as an attorney, a politician, and has proven himself a wide-awake, public-spirited, enterprising citizen.
REDDERSEN & WIEDENROTH
Cater to the wants of the public by conducting a meat market that would be an honor to any city. They make a special effort to keep on sale nothing but the choicest of meat, and the surroundings of their market are such as to be an invitation for customers to call again. They are also buyers and shippers of all kinds of livestock and poultry, and pay the highest price the market affords. Their place is on West Main Street.
J. C. H. ELDER
Attorney at law and real estate dealer is well deserving of special mention. Mr. ELDER located here several years ago, and has the honor of establishing the first bank in the town, which he successfully conducted until last October, when he sold it to the present owners. Since then he has given his attention to his law practice, being a practitioner of long standing, and being one of the best read attorneys in this part of the state. He also has a large real estate interest here, which demands a good share of his time, buying and selling and acting as agent for outside parties.
RANGLER & DUNN
Are the oldest meat market men in the city, having been identified with the place so long that their firm name has become familiar far and near as being hustlers in this branch of trade, and have one of the neatest and best meat markets in this part of the state. Their business is conducted in a systematic manner, and they are gentlemen with whom it is a pleasure to do business. From a small beginning they have advanced, until today they rank among our solid men, and can be relied upon as responsible and careful butchers. They make a special effort to procure the best stock for their retail trade.
BANK OF DESHLER
This institution is the pride of the town, and is one that is not only appreciated by all, but has proven itself to be of untold benefit to our merchants and the public. It is owned and controlled by Messrs. A. W. LEE and M. R. BROOKS, who purchased the establishment last October, and by passing into their hands the bank has been wonderfully strengthened in a financial way. The bank is located in its own building and is supplied with one of the latest and best time-lock safes, and a large deposit vault for books and papers, which makes it doubly safe for depositors. Both proprietors are old and well-known citizens and businessmen of Deshler.
HISTORY OF FLORIDA 1888
Abstracted from Henry County History, Vol. II Henry Co. Historical Society and other references
Wm. BOWEN built a double log cabin known at “Hunter’s Inn” on the north bank of the Maumee River in 1831, thus beginning the first village in Henry County. It may have been known as McLean at first, but soon became known as Florida. BOWEN platted it in 1834, about the time the post office moved there from the original site to the east.
Though a candidate for county seat, it was beaten out by Napoleon. The original plat was filed in Williams Co, a fortunate fact since the courthouse in Napoleon burned in 1847 and records were lost.
The first permanent merchants were Adam STOUT, Lyman BACK, Jared McCARTY, followed soon after by Emanuel BARNHART, Isaac KARSNER, Dr. Robert K. SCOTT, Captain Washington BOWEN, Dr. Henry L. WEAVER, and James E. SCOFIELD. The completion of the Miami-Erie Canal in 1842 caused Florida to thrive.
It supported 16 saloons, a grist mill, slaughter house, hoop mill, ashery, two hotels, and other businesses.
Irish and French immigrants who came to work on the canal stayed to homestead the area. Many canal workers are buried in the Florida and Independence cemeteries.
The town declined when the railroads by-passed it, running to the north and south just 12 years later.
The town’s first hotel was erected about 1840 by Joseph BREWERwith Hiram STOBEL, Dr. Gibbons PARRY and Wm. GOLDENSTAR as subsequent proprietors. Another hotel was built by Christian STOAT, then run by J. S. McCRACKEN, George HOPKINS, and purchased by John DANCER, who used it as his own home.
Wm. BOWEN donated land for a Methodist church and a school. The frame building later became the town hall and jail. A United Brethren church was built in 1874 and a German Lutheran Church in 1875. There was also a Reformed Church.
A wooden bridge was built over the Maumee River in 1875. The first plank sidewalks were built on High Street in 1890. The town pump could be found at the comer of High and Henry Streets, along with a tin cup and watering trough.
John HUSTON was one of the early saloon keepers. By 1890 John W. LONG ran a general store and grain business, George A. LEONHART had a general store, M. V. BRUBAKER ran a meat market and general store. DURBIN and JONES had a hardware and implement dealership, William THOMPSON was a blacksmith, F. B. LEONHARDT was a wagon maker, Wentzel KISTLER ran the saloon. Dr. S. E. MELLER was the physician and surgeon, Mrs. John SHUPE ran a boarding house and hotel, T. B. MILLER was engaged in timbering, Henry HARMS was a shoemaker, J. M. RASMUS ran a shoe shop, M. J. BARR had a saw and planing mill, and M. McGLONE was a harness maker.
Near Florida, or perhaps under the present town, was a settlement called Snaketown (Captain Snake’s Town), with the first historical reference made in 1789 by John TANNER. The Shawnee chief, Captain SNAKE occupied this site from ca. 1786 to August of 1794, just before Anthony WAYNE marched through the area and ordered the town burned. Early settlers found many relics and traces of the previous occupation.
LAND, TOWN LOTS AND CHATTEL RETURNED DELINQUENT
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 land owners in these townships.
All in: Florida, Flatrock Twp.
Owner’s Name, Lot Number, Value
BOWEN, William, 36, $11
BOWEN, William, 70, $8
BOWEN, William, 71, $8
BOWEN, William, 72, $8
GROSTHNER, Jacob, 25, $105
PATTERSON, J. L., 4, $16
STOUT, Christian, 40, $21
STOUT, Christian, 41 House, $525
UNKNOWN, 3, $14
COOK & GOODYEAR, Cook & Goodyear Addition 7, $26
BACK, Lyman, Cook’s Addition 2, $440
COOK, Jonathan, Cook’s Addition 4, $40
COOK, Jonathan, Cook’s Addition 8, $40
COOK & GOODYEAR, Cook & Goodyear Addition 5, $26
Chattels
EGLER, John, Value $690.
HEATH, Joseph, Value 157.
OLD TIME TALES
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.
