Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 25, Number 6, November-December 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 requiredied 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 Rdied 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
November 21, 2011, Monday, 6:00 p.m.
First Families recognition dinner. Bring your own tableware and two dishes to share. Beverages provided. The program will be presented by Jim and Carolyn Rebar. Their presentation is called “Charles E. Reynolds: His Experience at Andersonville Prison, 1864-1865.” Jim and Carolyn now live in the house Reynolds once owned in Napoleon.
December 2011, No Meeting. Happy Holidays!
January 16, 2012, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Video “Faces of America — Our American Stories.”
February 20, 2012, Monday, 7:00 p.m.
Walt Junge will give a photo presentation on Holgate School and other sites and information on restoring photos.
New Members
#499 Judith A. BENSON, Partridge, KS 67566
#500 Cynthia A. CORBETT, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
#501 Peter B. TRAGGORTH, Jr., LaPlata, MD 20646
#502 David G. HERR, Fullerton, CA 92835
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…
Henry County Birth Records Vol. II (1877-1882). The cost is $10.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling.
Northwest Signal Obituaries Vol. XXIV (2010), which will cost $22.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling.
Programs
We are scheduling programs on history and genealogy from each township. If you are from Washington Township, or know someone who would be willing to speak about that Township, please contact Jim Rebar or Karen Sunderman. Other suggestions for programs are always welcome.
TIETJE Family Researchers
If you are researching the Johann Heinrich Tietje family in America, there is information on his children who stayed in Germany and their descendants at www.ellingfamilynews.blogspot.com
Surnames
The next newsletter will contain surnames being researched by our members. If you did not include your names with your membership application, you may send them to the editor at wendypen@wcnet.org before December 12, 2011. Please limit your list to Henry County connections. Thank you!
Queries
No new queries.
From The Henry County Signal, 1 April 1886
From Thompson’s Triumph
Grelton—Her Business, Manufactories, Etc. (cont from last issue)
J. B. WARD
Grelton has two general stores; that of J. B. WARD has a large and flattering trade. He has the trade principally of the Dewey stave Co.’s employees. In this store will be found a large stock of general merchandise from fine dry goods to coarse groceries. From lace and wostered (sic) goods to potatoes and flour. Mr. WARD is a Wood Co. boy, popular and good natured.
MILLINERY STORE
In a tidy little room was noticed a bright display of millinery goods. Here those who do not wish to take the time and expense to go elsewhere, can be supplied with the necessaries of ladies’ wear, and kapp their trade at home. Mrs. WALKER attends to this enterprise. Becoming head-gear and ribbons is what makes a lady look well.
IRONWORK
Grelton has two blacksmith shops, both located near the center of the town, so that the sound of blows coming from the busy workmen became confused in the agitated air. The worthy gentlemen of the forge are Messers Nate ROACH and Jim RICKETS.
RANDALL & HUGHES
In the western part of Grelton is situated the saw- mill and hoop factory of RANDALL & HUGHES. Extensive preparations have been made, and considerable money has been expended by this firm for the work of the coming season. A large new boiler has just been put in, making two, both in fine condition for work. A general saw-mill and lumber business is done. The hoop factory is soon to commence, which will turn out about 60,000 elm hoops per day. From 15 to 20 hands will be employed.
T. B. EMERY
In EMERY’S store you will find a nice and fresh stock of goods of a nature adapted to the trade of a country place, and in all, order and taste will meet your inquisitive eye. the Grelton post office is kept in this store, which makes it a point of interest to all the country around, occasioning visits from the people. Mr. EMERY has a promising trade.
I. O. G. T.
In the WALKER house is found the Walker Hall, where the Good Templars meet every Thursday evening. This lodge was organized on the 7th of last August, and its members in good standing now number nearly 50. At a late meeting 11 members were added in one evening. O. J. ROBERTS, W. C. T.
DIVINE SERVICES
Meeting is held every two weeks in the school house, by the United Brethren society. During the past winter a series of meetings were held in Walker Hall, which resulted in more than 20 conversions. A Union Sabbath School meets in the school house every Sunday forenoon. It is well attended, and kept up winter and summer. S. T. HOLLOPETER, Superintendent.
Prayer meetings are held each Sunday afternoon and Thursday evenings.
HOTEL
WALKER Bros. are proprietors of the only public house. They give first-class accommodations, ande are patronized by the factory hands. Here one can get a square meal for 25 cents.
SCHOOL
The school house is a neat little brick. The winter term of four months has just closed; W. HARTMAN, teacher.
E. B. WARD, agent of the T. C. & St. L. railroad.
Two saloons are kept in running order.
No church in the place. No corporation. No officers, squire, constable, etc. There was at one time a Notary Public, but none at present.
No doctor. No drugstore, and no grave-yard.
No livery stable is had in town, but feed for teams can be procured at the hotel barn.
We noticed a ghost of what might have been in the shape of a building intended for a mill, but never reaching that distinction.
Some are going West, but the emigration is not near so large as the immigration.
County Orders Book
The Henry County Genealogical Society has published a book. ( 2 Vols.) of U.S. Patent Deeds and Ohio State Deeds as these transactions were found in the deed records of the Recorder’s Office in the Court House. An old Orders Book was found in the attic of the Court House which lists original purchasers of land in each township. These records do not always agree with the previously published findings, but are being printed here to help researchers find their ancestors or help prove early entry into the county. Other information (section, amount paid) may be available by contacting the newsletter editor.
| Name of Original Purchaser | Township | Sale Date |
| ROWAN, Jno. P. | Ridgeville | Not Given |
| SNYDER, S. (?) Sattler | Ridgeville | Not Given |
| ROWAN, J. P. | Ridgeville | 3 Mar 1855 |
| BAILEY, John | Ridgeville | 3 Mar 1855 |
| WEAVER, John | Ridgeville | 3 Mar 1855 |
| GOTLIEB, Richard (?) | Ridgeville | 3 Mar 1855 |
| BRENNAN, Janies | Freedom | 22 Dec 1855 |
| REYNOLDS, John | Freedom | 22 Dec 1855 |
| TYLER, J. H. | Freedom | 22 Dec 1855 |
| HAYNES, Benjamin | Freedom | 13 June 1857 |
| CAMERON, Jeremiah | Freedom | 13 June 1857 |
| HELLBERG, Henry | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| HELLBERG, Christopher | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| DOVENWILL, Christopher | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| HAGAN (?), A. | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| TYLER, J. H. | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| ROPP, Jacob | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| BUHLARD, Henry | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| HOPKINS, Seth | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| REYNOLDS, John | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| TAYLOR, H. D. | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| SCOFIELD, Jas. E. & SCOTT, R. R. | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| MORRISON, T. S. C. | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| WILLARD, Isaac | Napoleon | 22 Dec 1855 |
| GILSON, Thomas | Napoleon | 11 Apr 1863 |
| OLFKE, Henry | Napoleon | 11 Apr 1863 |
| GILSON, Richard | Napoleon | 11 Apr 1863 |
| FACY, Samuel | Napoleon | 28 Jan 1863 |
| BRUBAKER, Henry | Napoleon | 28 Jan 1863 |
| LOWRY & WATERMAN | Flatrock | 22 Dec 1855 |
| WEAVER, John | Flatrock | 22 Dec 1855 |
| COLE, A. | Flatrock | 22 Dec 1855 |
| BARGOST, James A. | Flatrock | 22 Dec 1855 |
| SCOTT & SCOFIELD | Flatrock | 22 Dec 1855 |
| HARTMAN, Chas. | Flatrock | 22 Dec 1855 |
| SCOTT, Robert R. | Pleasant | 3 Mar 1855 |
| BAUMAN, John | Pleasant | 3 Mar 1855 |
| HORNUNG, Chas. | Pleasant | 3 Mar 1855 |
| FENTER, John | Pleasant | 3 Mar 1855 |
| FENTER, Peter | Pleasant | 3 Mar 1855 |
| HARLEY, David | Pleasant | 3 Mar 1855 |
| GRIM, Peter | Pleasant | 4 May 1861 |
| HORNUNG, Chas. | Pleasant | 4 May 1861 |
| MANGUS, Peter | Pleasant | 4 May 1861 |
| WATSON, W. C. | Marion | 3 Mar 1855 |
| MYRICE, Thomas | Marion | forfeited unsold 9 Oct 1861 |
| DAVID, Harley (or David HARLEY?) | Marion | 3 Mar 1855 |
| NUTTER, Richard H. | Marion | 3 Mar 1855 |
| NUTTER, Geo. W. | Marion | 3 Mar 1855 |
| DUNLAP, Wm. G. | Marion | 3 Mar 1855 |
| STEVISON, Joseph | Marion | 3 Mar 1855 |
| List of Forfeited School Lands Resold | ||
| FISHER, Rufolph | Marion | 9 Oct 1861 |
| RUSSELL, James N. | Marion | 9 Oct 1861 |
| BARNES, John | Marion | 9 Oct 1861 |
| FOXLEY and STANHOPE | Harrison | 22 Dec 1855 |
| KILLPATRICK, David | Harrison | 22 Dec 1855 |
| SNYDER, Abraham | Harrison | 22 Dec 1855 |
| REYNOLDS, John | Harrison | 22 Dec 1855 |
| GRAHAM, James H. | Harrison | 22 Dec 1855 |
| RUSSELE (?), John W. | Harrison | 22 Dec 1855 |
| GILLETTE, J. A. | Harrison | 4 May 1861 |
| COOK, Casus M. C. (McCOOK?) | Harrison | 4 May 1861 |
| McWilliams, chas. | Monroe | 22 Dec 1855 |
| GRAHAM, James H. | Monroe | 22 Dec 1855 |
| REYNOLDS, John | Monroe | 22 Dec 1855 |
| HUDSON | Monroe | 22 Dec 1855 |
| WADDAMS, William W. | Monroe | 22 Dec 1855 |
| VAN FLEET, H. H. | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| MTTCHELE (?), Augustus C. | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| PONTIUS, Wm. | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| BAKER, Samuel | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| PRICE, Isaac | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| NEFF, Michael | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| HALE, Reuben | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| WARREN, H. S. | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| VALENTINE, Geo. | Liberty | 22 Dec 1855 |
| COURTNEY, James (notation: “out”) | Washington | 22 Dec 1855 |
| RIDER, Jno. P. (notation “BIDEN”) | Washington | 22 Dec 1855 |
| DAVIS, John | Washington | 15 Jan 1858 |
| DOUGLAS, John | Washington | 15 Jan 1858 |
| GORDON, Daniel | Washington | 15 Jan 1858 |
| EVANS, Edward | Washington | 15 Jan 1858 |
| DAVIS, John | Washington | 28 Jan 1863 |
History of Richfield Township
Abstracted from Henry County, Ohio, published by the Henry County Historical Society and other references.
Richfield Twp was one of the five originally organized in the tenitory in what is now Henry County. It was organized as early as 1837, but subsequent destruction of land records in the court house fires leaves us with no information on the exact land it contained. It was separated from Bartlow Twp. in 1854.
A fragment of remaining tax duplicate from 1837 shows the east half of section one was in the name of DewaJd MACKLIN. Chattel property was owned in that year by Angel ARNOLD, Peter HE WIT, Joseph MACKLIN, John MASON, David MURDOCK, William PIPER, John ROWLAND, Jacob SOWERS and John STURGEON. Silas and Robert ROWLAND came in 1839.
In 1845 there were two log schools, but by 1880 the township had been divided into eight school districts. The one-room schools were Bremer, West Hope, Sloan, Roberts, Parker, Shull, Ballmer, Laramore, and Wenner.
At that time, one church existed, which was a United Brethren. The comer of section six, where the Clover Leaf Railroad passed through, held the village of Grellton, laid out by Peter BRILLHART in 1881. It was platted into twelve lots, four alleys, and four acres for stave factory grounds. The Dewey Stave Co. ran a stave mill near Grelton. Prior to 1881, Eli CLAY and Anthony MILLFORD operated small saw mills.
Grelton, as it is now known, is in four townships. It is named after Aleander GRELLE. At one time it had a hardware, a train depot, a hotel, a church, an elevator, restaurants, a phone company, a blacksmith, and later a gas station. A Knights of Pythias Lodge hall was also located there.
Amos SMITH came from PA before the Civil War and bought 40 acres in section 16 of Richfield Twp. His wife Mary BAKER SMITH remarried Charles McCANDLESS after Amos SMITH died in 1855. The southeast comer of section 16 held a post office, which was named West Hope, and a country store. Though it later contained a saloon and several homes, it was never platted. The hamlet has been known as Richfield Center (1839-1919), West Hope (ca. 1923), and Westhope. David FLOWERS ran the first store in the village from about 1875 to 1887. A Mr. WARNER and later Harry ANDRIX also had stores there.
David SMITH, son of Amos and Mary, purchased the WARNER store, where he started a hardware and handled farm implements, wagons, buggies and other merchandise. About 1908 he took August SPRINGHORN as a partner. The ANDRIX store was bought by BRYANT & ROWLAND.
Michael DILSAVER had a log cabin at one comer of West Hope. The family subsisted on dried venison. His son Amos, bom in 1858, acquired the land upon the death of his father and farmed it Homer E. ROWLAND owned the general store in 1917 and his brother-in-law, Edward RODGERS, had a tile mill at roads H and Rt. 65.
Westhope U.B. Church became Westhope Bible Church. There was once a church at Laramore, Bethany Christian Union church at Rd. 2 & M, and St. John Lutheran Church, which sits in the comer of Richfield Twp. Cemeteries include Peace Lutheran Church cemetery, Laramore (Richfield), and Angel cemetery.
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 landowners in these townships.
| BLACKMAN, John | Sec. 25 SW NW | 40 A. |
| HEURST & PATTERSON | Sec. 12 E 1/4 SE | 80 A. |
| HOMAR, H. | Sec. 13 S 14 NW | 80 A. |
| LEWIS, Moses | Sec. 25 W 1/2 SE & E 72 NW | 160 A. |
| MACKLIN, David | Sec. 1 SE pt NE 1/3 | 135 A. |
| MOHLER, John | Sec. 12 NW SW | 40 A. |
| MOSEY, John | Sec. 22 NE 1/4 | 160 A. |
| NEWTON, Geo. F. | Sec. 11 N pt NE | 80 A |
| OH, State of | Sec. 25 N 1/2 SW & S 1/2 SE | 160 A. |
| OH, State of | Sec. 27 S 1/2 SW | 80 A. |
| OH, State of | Sec. 13 SW 1/4 | 160 A. |
| OH, State of | Sec. 10 NE 1/4 | 160 A. |
| STENPEN (?), John | Sec. 12 S 1/2 NW & W 1/2 NE | 160 A. |
| STENPEN (?), M. R. | Sec. 12 N 1/2 NW | 80 A. |
| THOMPSON, J. S. | Sec. l NW cor NE l/3 | 25 A. |
| WILLIAMS. James | Sec. 29 SE 1/4 | 160 A. |
| BEUBONT, J. J. | Sec. 9 SW 1/3 | 160 A. |
| BEATTY, Samuel | Sec. 32 SE 1/4 | 160 A |
| BEATTY, Samuel | Sec. 33 E 1/2 NE & E 1/2 SE | 160 A. |
| BISHOP, Joseph | Sec. 3 SW 1/4 | 160 A. |
| CRABB, Geo. A. | Sec. 9 S pt NE | 83 A. |
| CRAMBAUGH, Samuel | Sec. 32 NE 1/4 | 160 A |
| DAVISON(?), Hamilton | Sec. 24 SW 1/4 | 160 A. |
| DARISON(?), Hamilton | Sec. 24 W 1/2 NE & E 1/2 NW | 160 A. |
| DALRIPLE, Isa | Sec. 31 S 1/2 SW | 80 A. |
| EVERITT, G. C. | Sec. 32 SW 1/4 | 160 A. |
| GILBERT, B. W. | Sec. 9 W l/2 SE | 80 A. |
| GALBRAITH, John | Sec. 36 SW SW | 40 A. |
| HYSLOP, George | Sec. 10 W 1/2 | 320 A. |
| HYSLOP, George | Sec. 10 W 1/2 NE | 80 A. |
| HYSLOP, George | Sec. 11 N 1/4 & SE 1/4 | 320 A. |
| HYSLOP, George | Sec. 3 SE 1/4 | 160 A. |
| Myers, Susan | Sec. 26 NE 1/4 | 160 A. |
| MURPHY, John | Sec. 32 NW 1/4 | 160 A. |
| OH, State of | Sec. 23 S 1/2 NE & SE NW & NE SW | 160 A. |
| OH, State of | Sec. 20 E 12 NW & W 1/2 NE | 160 A. |
| RICKETT, Ezra | Sec. 36 NE 1/4 | 160 A. |
| STUCKENBRUCK, F. & W. | Sec. 9 N pt NE | 77 A. |
| SPURLING, David | Sec. 36 N 1/2 SW | 80 A. |
| VAN SCOYK, J. H. | Sec. 36 SE SW | 40 A. |
| Chattels | ||
| STUYROW(?), Robert | Value $70. | |
Also listed in this book are delinquent taxes for the State of OH—no owner’s names— from 1844 in Richland, Highland and Adams Twps. (later Defiance Co.) and 1849 in Ridgeville and Freedom Twps. (later Fulton Co.) plus the towns of Independence and Richland.
From The Deshler Flag, 14 June 1901
A PIONEER RETIRED—The Nace Drug Store Passes Into The Hands of Felix Smith
After over twenty-five years in active drug business in Deshler, Dr. [J. W.] NACE will, in a few days, retire to private life, having sold his building and drug stock to Felix SMITH, who will take possession as soon as the stock is invoiced. Dr. NACE is one of three left who were in business here twenty-five years ago, the other two being Mr. A. A. SUBER and Mr. Hiram COLE, and has seen Deshler grow from a country cross road to the beautiful, hustling and busy little city that it is today. It is no wonder than that Mr. NACE regrets so much that the state of his health has compelled him to retire from active business. So far as we have been able to learn the doctor has not made known his future movements and we are not in a position to state what he will do, but as he has retired to make room for younger and more active blood. The Flag extends to him its best wishes for himself and wife and hope that by the change he will regain his health and live long enough to see Deshler become a city of the first-class.
Mr. SMITH needs no introduction to our people. He is a Deshler boy, pure and simple, having clerked for Mr. W. S. GEHRETT a number of years, attended medical school at Ada, and was granted a certificate of pharmacy by the state board of examiners at its last session in Columbus three or four weeks ago, which entitles him to compound drugs and fill prescriptions, manage and operate a drug store. Felix has gained this high rank by hard work, close attention to business, depending on his own energy and ability to carry him through, and can be truly called a self-made young man.
NEWS YOU CAN USE …
Ken Thompson is willing to translate documents written in Latin or German. Contact him at kth0mpsn@yahoo.com
First Families of Henry County 2011
Congratulations to the new First Families members who have proven ancestors for First Families of Henry County. Gold = in Henry County before 31 Dec 1870. Silver = in Henry County before 31 Dec 1885.
Glenda SMITH, Toledo, OH 43612 has proved the following:
James Hiram HURD , 1862, Gold
Sherman C. HURD, 1862, Gold
Shirley MAYER, Toledo, OH 43614-2911 has proved:
Rebecca STEVENSON MYERS, 1882, Silver
David OBERLITNER, 1870, Gold
Jacob OBERLITNER, 1870, Gold
Frances HERR, 1870, Gold
Donations
“Our Heritage Unraveled As their Lives Entwined,” by Julia Leininger and Fred Henry Panning, has been donated by Tom and JoEllen St. Aubin with thanks to the Henry County Genealogical Society, Lucille Sunderman and Russell Patterson for their help over the last 20 years.
A monetary donation was accepted from the German Heritage Society. President James Rebar spoke at their October meeting about how to start family research and how to use their records and our publications in finding information.
