Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 5, Number 6, November-December 1991
MEETINGS
November 18, 1991, Monday, 6:30 pm
Potluck supper and recognition of First Families of Henry County. Please bring one hot OR one cold dish and your own table service. Drinks will be provided. A cake honoring First Families members will also be provided. Our guest speaker will be Dianne Gagel. Topic will be “Where Do I Go From Here?”, a discussion of unusual research sources. Program will begin approximately 7:15 if you are unable to attend the dinner.
December 1991
No meeting. Happy Holidays!
The following officers for 1992 were elected at the October meeting:
President – Karen Sunderman
V. President – Phyllis LaRue
Secretary – Kathy Bishop
Treasurer – Lucille Van Scoyoc
Reporter – Clara Ellen Courtney
We still need someone to chair the program committee and help with the newsletter. If you are interested in volunteering for these positions, or in any other capacity, please contact one of the officers.
SURNAMES
If you are a new HCGS member in 1991 and would like to have the names you are searching in our January surname letter, please send them by Dec. 15 to the address given above. If your surnames have already appeared in our surname exchange, but you would like to make additions or corrections, please send them in also.
PUBLICATIONS
The Harrison Twp. Cemetery Inscriptions will be published December 1, 1991. It includes Grelton, Harris (Jones), Hoy (Skunk) and Kruger cemeteries. The cost will be $8.00 plus $2.00 postage.
The Liberty Twp. Cemetery Inscriptions book, which was originally scheduled to be published Dec. 1, will be available shortly after the first of the year. It contains Liberty Chapel, Morrison, Viers, Wright, and Youngs cemeteries. The cost will be $10.00 plus $2.00 postage.
Because we have already had several requests for the Harrison Twp. book we are publishing it in December and will have the Liberty Twp. book ready as soon after that as we are able to do so.
U. S. Patent Deeds and Ohio State Deeds (taken from the Deed Indexes at the Recorder’s Office, Henry County Court House) will also be ready after January 1. This will be Volume I and includes deed records from Bartlow, Damascus, Freedom, Flatrock, Harrison, Liberty and Marion Townships. The cost is $8.00 plus $2.00 postage.
Obituaries Taken from The Deshler Flag, Volume IV, is nearly complete and will be available in January at a cost of $8.00 plus $2.00 postage.
As you can see, those working on publications have been putting in some overtime. Many thanks to these ladies!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to our members who have proved ancestors for First Families of Henry County. They are as follows:
| GOLD (In Henry County by 1870) | ||
| Margaret Louise (Desgranges) Kelley of Findlay, Ohio | ||
| Charles Desgranges | 1869 | |
| Mary Dirr Desgranges | 1862 | |
| Peter Desgranges | 1862 | |
| Christian Desgranges | 1850 | |
| Catherine Desgranges | 1850 | |
| Maurice Lee Weaks of Liberty Center, Ohio | ||
| James P. B. Weaks | 1870 | |
| David A. Weaks | 1870 | |
| Barbara Clark Weaks | 1861 | |
| Norma Lee (May) Eaton of Port Clinton, Ohio | ||
| Mary Moore Hildebrand | 1854 | |
| Casper Henry Hildebrand | 1854 | |
| Sarah Hildebrand May Catell Bowers | 1862 | |
| Isaac Moore | 1849 | |
| Barbara Overmeyer | 1849 | |
| SILVER (in Henry County by 1885) | ||
| Norma Lee (May) Eaton of Port Clinton, Ohio | ||
| Henry May | 1879 | |
Don’t forget the potluck to recognize First Families members on November 18 at 6:30 in the Deshler Edwin Wood Memorial Library.
HISTORY OF MCCLURE, 1888
(abstracted from History of Henry and Fulton Counties, Ohio, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich)
This, the only village in the township, was laid out and platted into town lots by John McClure, and entered of record in the office of the recorder of Henry County, April 15, 1880, and is situated “in the northeast part of the northeast quarter of section twenty-eight,” on the line of the Delphos and Toledo (narrow gauge) Railroad. The original plat was 711 feet square and was divided into twenty-eight lots, including the depot grounds. On the 7th day of February, 1881, Mr. McClure added an addition of thirty-two lots on the south of the town, increasing the number of lots to sixty. April 7, 1881, David Foltz platted an addition of six lots to the east side of the town, and August 26, 1881, added another addition of four lots on the south of the town. October 19, 1881, J. G. Markley’s addition of twenty-four lots was added to the north of the town. Sept. 23, 1881, Mr. McClure added his second addition of twenty-six lots on the west of his first addition. Sept. 5, 1882, Ammond Smith platted an addition of five lots to the west of McClure’s second addition. April 10, 1885, J. G. Markley added a second addition of sixteen lots on the west of his first addition.
The village was incorporated in 1886, and the plat admitted to record on the 10th day of August of that year.
The first substantial building erected in the village was in 1880, on lot fifteen on the original plat, by Thomas W. Durbin, who for a number of years had been merchandising at Texas, in Washington township. The building is a two-story frame, one hundred and thirty feet deep, and twenty-two feet wide. A general mercantile business is carried on by the “Durbin” boys” — Dickinson, Charles and Clark, sons of the proprietor. The same year Andrew Johnson erected a commodious hotel; the year following the Rowland brothers put up an elevator and also a store-room; following were the Counselman brothers with still another store; then came the stave factory, planing mill, etc. The town at present contains a population of five hundred, has a post, express and telegraph office, one church, a large two-story school-house, three general stores, one drug store, a hardware store, saw-mill, stave factory, planing-mill, and the various mechanical artisans. Gas and oil have lately been struck, mains and pipes have been laid, and the town is now heated and lighted by the natural vapor.
HISTORY OF DESHLER
This is the only town in the township. It was named in recognition of John G. Deshler, the large land owner already referred to, but was laid out and platted by Frederick H. Short for himself and as trustees for a syndicate composed of Daniel McLane, Stephen S. L’Hommedieu, William Beckett, William E. Boven, Theodore Stanwood, John W. Hartwell, and John G. Deshler. The plat was recorded August 23, 1873. It is located in the southeast corner of section twenty-three, and the southwest corner of section twenty-four. It consists of two hundred lots, twenty out lots, and two public squares. North, Plum, Elm, Maple, Main, Mulberry, and Walnut streets, and five alleys run east and west; Wood, Vine, Park, East, Lind streets, Keyser avenue and four alleys run north and south.
On the 8th of February, 1875, Silas D. Stearnes, Justus Stearnes, and Josiah H. Stearnes platted an addition in the north side of the southwest quarter of section twenty-four, east of the D. & M. Railroad, and on both sides of the B. & O. Railway. North, Plum, Elm, Maple, Main and Mulberry streets were continued and Short street added, running east; East and Lind streets were continued, and Ash and Oak added, running north; Water, Holmes, and Bartlow streets and four alleys run southeast, and Stearnes avenue, Pine, Beach, Sycamore, and Butternut streets, with five alleys, run northwest. One square is dedicated to the public.
On the 18th of September, 1875 Short, for himself and as trustee, as already mentioned, added an addition to the village embracing eighteen of the out lots in the original plat, the part of the northeast quarter of section twenty-three not before platted, eighty acres in the northwest quarter of section twenty-three, fifteen and a half acres in the southwest quarter of section twenty-three, thirty-five acres in the southeast quarter of the same section, forty-nine acres in the southeast quarter, and seven acres in the southwest quarter of section fourteen. The addition was on both sides of the B. & O. Railway. It continued North, Plum, Elm, Maple, Main, and Mulberry streets, with the alleys on the north side of the railway, and continued Walnut, and added South, Buckeye, Marion, and Harrison, running east and west, on the south of the railway. It also continued Keyser avenue, Park, Vine, and Wood streets, and alleys, and added Washington, Chestnut, and Deshler streets, running north and south.
The incorporation of the village was perfected on the 30th day of April, 1876. It has now a population of about fourteen hundred, maintains a fire department, is grading and improving streets, sidewalks, etc. It has a fine $5,000 brick school building, and an excellent graded school is taught nine months of the year. A Methodist Episcopal brick church, a Roman Catholic frame church, and a Free Methodist frame church furnish sufficient place for worship. The Deshler Flag, a five column quarto weekly journal, is published here.
There is also a machine shop and foundry. One of the most extensive stave factories in northwestern Ohio is owned and operated by Mr. A. W. Lee. A large saw-mill, owned by Messrs. Ball and Smith, has a capacity of 35,000 feet per day, and turns out annually 2,000,000 feet of sycamore lumber, used entirely for tobacco boxes, besides a large amount of ash, oak, and hickory for domestic and shipping purposes. Heidelbach Brothers are manufacturing tobacco boxes, and deal in lumber, sash, doors, etc, on an extensive scale. Mitchell & Widdner are the proprietors of the Deshler brick and tile works, an industry which is assuming large proportions. Through the enterprise of Mr. Mace Baer, a large brick block has been erected within the last two years. The citizens are energetic and enterprising.
HENRY COUNTY SOLDIER’S DISCHARGE RECORDS VOL. 1
These records were taken from Vol. 1 Soldier’s Discharge Records at the Recorder’s Office, Henry County Court House. The initials OVI refer to Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Some additional information may appear in the courthouse records such as who the company commander was and where the soldier was discharged. In the attestations accompanying the records it is not always clear whether the soldier resides in a town or township; for example, Napoleon. Records copied by Karen Sunderman.
ATTENBERGER, Conrad. Private, Co. J, 68th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 16 Dec 1861 – discharged 19 Dec 1864. Born: Baden, Germany. At discharge age 26, height 5’9″, light complexion, dark eyes, dark hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. No Henry Co. address.
ADAMS, Samuel L. Private, Co. commanded by Capt. Crockett, 68th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 19 Oct 1861 – discharged 21 Oct 1862. Lived Napoleon, 1866.
ALEXANDER, William L. Private, Co. J. 7th Reg. Ohio Veteran Reserve Corps Vols. Enrolled 19 Aug 1861 – discharged 10 Sept 1864. Born: Michigan. At discharge age 19, height 5’7″, light complexion, blue eyes, auburn hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Liberty Center, 1866.
ARMSTRONG, Montcalm B. Private, Co. B, 100th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 1 Sept 1862 – discharged 20 June 1865. Lived Napoleon, 1866.
ALEXANDER, Chas. H. Private, Co. C 128th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 24 June 1862 – discharged 5 June 1865. Born: Dutches, NY. At discharge age 48, 5’10”, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair. Occupation before enrollment – cooper. No Henry Co. address.
ATTENBERGER, Jacob. Sergeant, Co. B 38th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 11 Dec 1863 – discharged 12 July 1865. Born: Baden, Germany. At discharge age 37, 5’9″, dark complexion, dark eyes, black hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Napoleon, 1867.
ANDRICKS, Henry. Private, Co. D 14th Reg. Ohio Foot Vols. Enrolled 15 Oct 1862 – discharged 9 June 1864. Discharged because of gunshot wound received in action at Chickamauga 19 Sept 1864. Not fit for Vet. Res. Corps. Born: Tiffin, Ohio. At discharge age 22, 5’8″, light complexion, gray eyes, brown hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Henry Co. 1870.
BAUER, Conrad. Private, Co. B 100th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 7 Aug 1862 – discharged 18 Feb 1865. Discharged due to chronic bronchitts (sic). Born: Germany. At discharge age 30, 5’7″, fair complexion, hazel eyes, light hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Pleasant Twp., 1865.
BORDNER, Philip. Private, Co. B 100th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 1 Sept 1862 – discharged 20 June 1865. Born: Stark Co., Ohio. At discharge age 33, 5’10:, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Florida, Ohio, 1865.
BORDNER, Pitney. Private, Co. B 100th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 1 Sept 1862 – discharged 20 June 1865. Born: Crawford Co., Ohio. At discharge age 28, 5’8″, light complexion, blue eyes, dark hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Florida, Ohio, 1865.
BATTENFIELD, Samuel R. Private, Co. D 14th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 18 Aug 1861 – discharged 22 Aug 1864. Discharged due to a gunshot wound in battle. Born: Seneca Co., Ohio. At discharge age 21, 5′ 9 1/2″, dark complexion, black eyes, dark hair. Occupation before enrollment – carpenter. Lived Napoleon, 1865.
BRECHEISEN, Lewis. Private, Co. F 68th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 6 Sept 1862 – discharged 29 May 1865. Born: Germany. At discharge age 18, 5′ 7 1/2″, light complexion, brown eyes, red hair. Occupation before enrollment – laborer. Lived Flat Rock, (sic) 1865.
BODENMILLER, Joseph. Also BOTENMILLER. Private, Co. E 111 Reg. OVI. Enrolled 10 Aug 1862 – discharged 27 June 1865. Born: Germany. At discharge age 24, 5’8″, light complexion, blue eyes, light hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived
Marion Two., 1865.
ALSO: Private, Co. K 21st OVM. Enrolled 24 Apr 1861 – discharged 12 Aug 1861. Re-enlisted.
BURNHOUR, John. Corporal, Co. B 38th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 21 Nov 1863 – discharged 12 July 1865. Born: Canada. At discharge age 24, 6’1″, light complexion, black eyes auburn hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. No Henry Co. address.
BIGGET, John. Private, 2nd Co. 85 Reg. Ohio Veteran Reserves. Enrolled 29 Feb (1862?) – discharged 19 Sept 1865. Wounded at Petersburg 17 June 1864. Lived Texas, Ohio, 1865.
BLYTHE, Henry. Private, Co. B 67th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 1 Nov 1864 – discharged 2 Nov 1865. Born (Butler?) Co., Ohio. At discharge age 35, 5’11”, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. No Henry Co. address.
BORDNER, Jesse. Also Jessie in records. Private, Co. B 184 Reg. OVI. Enrolled 21 Jan 1865 – discharged 20 Sept 1865. Born: Stark Co., Ohio. At discharge age 44, 5’6″, light complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Flat Rock (sic), 1865.
BATES, John E. Corporal, Co. B 100th Reg. OVI. Enrolled 1 Sept 1862 – discharged 20 June 1865. Born: Ross Co., Ohio. At discharge age 31, 6’2″, fair complexion, brown eyes, dark hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Napoleon, 1865.
BUCHELE, John B. Also BOOCKLEY. Private, 117th Co. 1st Bat. Vet. Res. Corps Vols. Enrolled 10 Nov 1862 – discharged 1 June 1865. Discharged with certificate of disability. Born: Whiturg (?), Germany. At discharge age 44, 5′ 10 1/2″, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair. Occupation before enrollment – farmer. Lived Liberty Center, 1866.
QUERIES
HARTS/ HARTZ, FRANKFORTER
I have a picture of an old School House with students lined up outside that I found among treasures of my deceased Grandparents, Conrad Harts (Hartz) and Eliza Frankforter. Above the door it reads “CHARTER OAK SCHOOL HOUSE, DIST. #3, TOWNSHIP #15. Was it in Henry County? Can anyone identify? Would like more info on the above Conrad Harts (Hartz) and children: Mary, Martha, Catherine, Frances Ellen, Franklin and Ima who resided Henry County 1860.
–Patricia Cole, Torrington, WY 82240-15511
SUTTER, BURKE
Looking for info on Agnes (Sutter) Burke who resided in Holgate in 1890s. She died in Holgate 10 Mar 1897 age 34 or 37. Buried in Cleveland with husband, B. Burke, who apparently preceded her in death. Interested in identity of survivors and any other pertinent info.
–Victor A. Sutter, Columbus, OH 43229
STRAYER, FOOR, DAUBER, ROSS, KEELER, BARNES, CHRISTIE
Seek contacts Abraham Lincoln Strayer b. 22 Aug 1861 Washington Twp. Henry Co. m. Emma Mae Foor b. 15 Nov 1883 Malinta. Emma was dau. of Alvin Sylvanius and Margaret Eliz. (Dauber) Foor. Alvin and Maggie’s ch: Emma; Grover Cleveland (1885) m. Addie M.; Amanda (1887) m. Floyd Keeler; Effie Dollie (1890) m. Fred Barnes; Daisy Spray (1892) m. Floyd Ross; Hazel (1900-1901); Joy Marie (1903) m. Irving Christie and Fredrick Alvin (1905-1935) was married, wife unknown.
–Shelly Hallard-Beckham, Rossford, OH 43460
DAUBER, WEIDLER, GEIST, AUSTERMILLER, FOOR, DEITRICH
Seek Dauber and related families who lived Monroe Twp. Children of Henry and Mary Eliz. (Weidler) Dauber: Mary b. 1845 m. Henry Geist; Henry b. 1848 m. Elizabeth; Caroline b. 1852 m. Frederick Austermiller; David b. 1855; Mary Jane b. 1.856; Martin b. 1858; Emma b. 1860 m. Alvin Foor; Margaret b. 1861 m. Alvin Foor (his 2nd mar.); Amanda b. 1864 m. George Deitrich; Susannah.
–Shelly Hallard-Beckham, 113 Windsor, Rossford, OH 43460
BULLER
Want info regarding Arthur Severe Buller, wife Margaret, lived Henry Co. about 1880 until their deaths, 1905 and 1887, respectively. Any other marriages for Arthur Severe Buller?
–Miss June Buller, Chicago, IL 60614
GEESON, GEESIN, HAZEN
Want info regarding Charles Frederick Geeson (Geesin) and/or wife, Hannah Hazen Geeson, lived Deshler, Henry Co., about 1880 until their deaths, 1921 and 1917, respectively.
–Miss June Buller, Chicago, IL 60614
ATTENTION LOCAL MEMBERS!
Even though we have had some excellent speakers scheduled for our meetings in the past year, attendance has been light. Please drop us a postcard if you have suggestions for changing the meeting date, time or let us know your reasons for non-attendance. We would like more members to be active!
From The Deshler Flag, January 15, 1897:
Professor Hiatt was on the sick list Tuesday and had to discontinue his school temporarily.
Squire Brown has his J. P. (Justice of the Peace) office now located at Hotel Central.
Mr. H. J. Smith, the west-side baker, has quit business and moved back to North Baltimore. We are sorry to learn that Hugh could not make it win, but perhaps three bakerys (sic) is too many for a town this size.
Mr. S. W. Stevenson received word last week to go to Caledonia, OH to look after the wants of his daughter, Mrs. Daniel Henry, who had been deserted by her husband. Mr. Stevenson did the proper thing by bringing Ella and the baby home.
Died, at the home of her mother, Mrs. Henry Mohr, (of Deshler), Tuesday morning, of consumption, Miss Minnie Schnell, aged 23 yrs. 4 mo. and 18 days.
J. C. Pugh had exchanged his Ottawa property for the West Park grist mills at Findlay.
The old Baer bank room is being remodeled for the Fleck boys, the merchant tailors.
Mrs. I. W. Wren and little son, Gale, of Lima, are visiting her father, S. W. Stevenson, and family.
Mrs. S. A. Sites, of McComb, visited her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Conn, and her son, Harvey.
Mrs. L. B. Smith, of Findlay, is attending her sister, Mrs. George Young, who has been quite poorly the past few weeks.
NICKNAMES
We have all seen lists of nicknames to help us with identification of offspring in censuses, wills, etc. Here are a few offbeat ones to add to your lists (Cliff Mawer provided us with this information published in the Geneagram May, 1989):
Christopher – Kit
Douglas – Duggie
Philip – Pip
Walter – Wat
Conrad – Cort, Curt
Jacob – Jack, Cob
Thomas – Tam, Massey
Nicholas – Cole, Claus
Robert – Hob, Bert, Rab
Columbus – Lum
Amelia – Amy
Bridget – Birdie
Deborah – Dee
Bendicta – Dixie
Dorothy – Dolly
Gregoria – Greer
Margaret – Gretchen, Rita, Megan
Agnes – Neysa
Alice – Elsa
Jane – Netta, Jeanie
Veronica – Ronnie, Freny, Frany
