September-October 2006

Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 20, Number 5, September – October 2006

MEETINGS

September 18, 2006, 7:00 p.m.

Herb Probst will speak on “Swiss Pioneers to Putnam and Allen Counties of Ohio.”

October 16, 2006, 7:00 p.m.

Research and business meeting.

November 20, 2006, 6:30 p.m.

First Families recognition. Carry-in dinner. Beverages and dessert provided. Mr. Lloyd Harnishfeger, Pandora, OH, will speak on Indian artifacts of the Black Swamp region. Bring your own for dating, use, and culture-group information.

OUR NEWEST PUBLICATIONS …

The 1890 Veterans Census, price $14.00 plus $2.00 postage and handling. It includes information on where the veteran lived in 1890 and any disability he incurred while serving. In some cases widows are listed. If you click on the Adobe Acrobat logo at the beginning of this paragraph, you will see a sample page of our publication. It is a wonderful resource for those who have ancestors in Henry County who served in the Armed Forces and were alive in 1890. As you know, very few records from the 1890 census survive today due to a fire.

 

 

A FEW GOOD MEN (AND WOMEN)…

Once again, our on-line queries are meant to answer specific questions, not to do your research for you. The handful of members who work with this service are volunteers. Please be considerate of their time. We do not work by the hour; we ask only for a donation to the society.

CHECK OUT …

The Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is the world’s second largest genealogy library. Its web site is www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy

QUERIES

SPRAGUE, JOY
Researching Henry Sprague (1809-1863), a farmer in Harrison Twp., Henry Co. m. Laura Joy (1816-1860). Their children: Elvira, John, Sarah, William, Benjamin, Thomas, James, Hosea (Stephen), Ann, and maybe others. Henry bur. Kurger Cemetery. Looking for military info for him and sons. (L. Renee (Tatham) Salomone, Boulder, CO 80301)

HENRICKS
I am looking for HENRICKS, KETRING/KETTERING, BATES, VERMETT, and info on the Shawnee Indian Chiefs Cornstalk, Nonhelema “Grenadier Squaw.” William Henricks and wife bur. in the mausoleum in the Napoleon Cemetery s. of the bridge. (Becky Bates Henricks, Clayton, MI 49253)

NORDEN, RICKENBERG, HEBERG
Looking for info on these families: Believe Catharine/Catharina and Henry Norden came to Henry Co. bet. 1864 & 1880—b. possibly Hannover, Ger. Need info on mother & father, immigration and settlement. Son Herman F. Norden b. OH 1884, m. Emma Rickenberg
11 Mar 1909. Need death info for Emma and info on her mother, also poss. Named Emma (HEBERG) m. 2 July 1889 to Fred/Frederick Rickenberg. (Jean Andrews, South Lyon, MI 48178)

SANEHOLTZ, GOTTSCHALK
Seeking info, esp, obits, death, & marriage cert. for family of Frederick Henry Saneholtz b. 23 Mar 1849 Hannover, Ger. D. 27 Oct 1900 in MI, Bur. Napoleon, OH. He m. Wilhelmina Bertha Gottschalk 23 Oct 1876 In Wayne Park, Henry Co. OH. She was b. 16 Jan 1853 in Mechelburg, Ger., d. 23 Apr 1926 Napoleon, OH. Their ch: William Henry, Ida, John Henry, James Fred, Lydia, Fred Charles, Henry August, Edna, Laura & Naomi. Also Caroline (Neuman) Gottschalk b. 1822 E. Prussia d 1890. (Anita Butler Cincinnati, OH 45247)

We accept any queries relating to Henry County. There is no charge and you do not have to be a member. to submit your query.

LAND SALES IN HENRY COUNTY, OHIO (cont.)…

The following is taken from an old book discovered in the attic of the Henry County Courthouse. R=range, T=town, S=section, A=acres, VPA=value per acre. Townships are designated by Range and Town numbers (note: Liberty and Washington changed 1850):
BARTLOW R 3 N—T 8 E	DAMASCUS R 5 N—T 8 E
FLATROCK R 4 N—T 6 E	FREEDOM R 6 N—T 6 E
HARRISON R 5 N—T 7 E	LIBERTY R 5 & 6 N—T 7 E
MARION R 4 N—T 7 E	MONROE R 4 N—T 7 E
NAPOLEON R 5 N—T 6 E	PLEASANT R 3 N—T 6 E
RICHFIELD R 4 N—T 8 E	RIDGEVILLE R 6 N—T 5 E
WASHINGTON R 5 & 6 N—T 8 E

District Number 1				June 7, 1847
Buyer	R	5T	S	Description	A	VPA	Total Value
Ohio, State of	5	6	3	E 1/2 NW + SWNW	114	2.00	348
Ohio, State of	5	6	3	S 1/2 NW fr.	70	2.00	140
Ohio, State of	5	6	2	SENW	40	2.00	80
Ohio, State of	5	6	8	NE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Ohio, State of	5	6	2	SE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Ohio, State of	5	6	8	S 1/2	320	2.00	640
Powell, Jason	5	6	1	NW 1/4	147	2.00	294
Potter, James	5	6	9	SE 1/2	160	2.00	320
Pontius, John	5	6	14	W 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Pontius, John	5	6	15	E 1/2 SE	80	2.00	160
Polner, Barton	5	6	27	N 1/2 SW 1/4	80	2.00	160
Polner, Francis	5	6	27	SESW + SWSE	80	3.00	240
Polner, Dorothy	5	6	27	SESW _ SWSE	40	2.00	80
Polner, Barton	5	6	35	SWNE + SENW	79	6.92+	549
Portor, Jos. M.	5	6	3	NE 1/4	147	2.00	294
Reed, Isaac	5	6	4	SW 1/4 + W 1/2 OF NE	234	2.00	468
Rohn, S. & Chas.	5	6	22	E 1/2 SE + SWSE	120	3.80	456
Rohn, C. & M.	5	6	35	NESW	40	2.00	80
States, Woodward	5	6	7	W fr.	218	2.00	436
States, Woodward	5	6	18	NW fr.	110	2.00	222
Steel, George	5	6	10	W 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Stately, Stephen	5	6	13	NWNW	40	2.00	80
Sharp, J. G.	5	6	33	SWNE	40	2.00	80
Tollerton, Alex.	5	6	9	S 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Tubb, George	5	6	13	N 1/2 SE	80	2.75	220
Tubb, John	5	6	13	S 1/2 SE	80	2.00	160
Tevitt?, William	5	6	28	NW 1/4	160	2.00	320
Townsend, Daniel	5	6	33	E 1/2 SE + NWSE	120	2.00	240
Townsend, Daniel	5	6	34	E 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Taylor, David	5	6	25	NE pt NW 1/4	24	1.00	24
Townsend, H. A.	5	6	34	E 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Trobbs, A. S. & J.	5	6	13	E 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Vaness, Lucia	5	6	11	N 1/2 NE	80	2.40	192
Woseman, Jacob	5	6	9	N 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Wadsworth, James	5	6	14	W 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Wadsworth, James	5	6	17	S 1/2	320	2.00	640
Wadsworth, James	5	6	18	SE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Wadsworth, James	5	6	19	NE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Wadsworth, James	5	6	20	Section	640	2.00	1,280
Wadsworth, James	5	6	21	N 1/2	320	2.00	640
Wadsworth, James	5	6	26	NE 1/4 + W 1/2 SE	560	2.00	1,120
Wadsworth, James	5	6	27	W 1/2 NW + E 1/2 NE	160	2.00	320
Wadsworth, James	5	6	28	E 1/2 + SW 1/4	480	2.00	960
Wadsworth, James	5	6	29	NE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Wadsworth, James	5	6	30	Sec.	553	1.50	830
Wadsworth, James	5	6	31	Sec.	555	1.50	833
Wadsworth, James	5	6	32	W 1/2	320	2.00	640
Wadsworth, James	5	6	35	W 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Walls, Daniel B.	5	6	25	W 1/2 SW	80	4.20	336
Walls, Daniel B.	5	6	26	E 1/2 SE	80	5.80	464
Wadsworth, James	5	6	27	E 1/2 SE	80	2.00	160
Yager, Henry	5	6	1	NE 1/4	147	2.00	294
Yager, Henry	5	6	4	NW 1/4 + W 1/2 SE	229	2.00	448
Yager, Henry	5	6	5	N 1/2	295	2.00	590
District #1, Range 6
Adams, Demas	6	6	8	SW + N 1/2 SE + NESE	280	2.00	560
Adams, Demas	6	6	20	NW 1/4	160	2.00	320
Austen, Nathan	6	6	18	NE + NESE	200	2.50	500
Beebe, A. & H.	6	6	19	W pt. SW fr.	44	2.00	88
Butler & Parsons	6	6	22	NE + E 1/2 SE	240	2.00	480
Butler & Parsons	6	6	13	W 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Bucklin, Chas.	6	6	3	SW 1/4	160	2.75	440
Blackburn, I.? or J.	6	6	31	SESE	40	2.00	80
Blackburn, I.? or J.	6	6	39	NENE	40	2.00	80
Blackburn, I.? A.	6	6	1	NE + E 1/2 SW	241	2.00	482
Bowers, Geo.	6	6	29	SWSE	40	2.00	80
Baker, John	6	6	1	E 1/2 NW	80	4.07	326
Boalt & Blackwell	6	6	13	SW	80	2.00	160
Basley, Geo. H	6	6	13	NW 1/4	160	2.00	320
Beaver, Mathias	6	6	14	W 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Basley, Geo. H.	6	6	2	N pt. NE	84	2.00	168
Bucklin, Chas.	6	6	4	N 1/2 SW	78	2.00	156
Cameron, Chas.	6	6	36	NESE	40	2.50	100
Clark, Gilbert	6	6	36	SESE	40	2.50	100
Casrig/Craig ?, Alex.	6	6	17	NE 1/4	160	2.65	424
Curliss, Hector	6	6	23	NE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Crayton, Jacob	6	6	29	W 1/2 NE	80	2.00	160
Colchesser, Dan’l	6	6	31	NE 1/4 + NESE	200	2.00	400
Colchesser, Dan’l	6	6	32	E 1/2 SW + SWSW	120	2.00	334 ?
Colchesser, Dan’l	6	6	32	NW + NWSW	200	2.25	450
Cristian, Saml.	6	6	32	SE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Castell, Shadwick	6	6	27	E 1/2 NE	80	2.00	160
Cock, Jonathan	6	6	25	E 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Cock, Jonathan	6	6	19	E 1/2 SW	80	2.00	160
Crandale, S.	6	6	7	W 1/2 NW + W 1/2 SW	97	2.00	194
Ditto, Solomon	6	6	10	E 1/2 SW	80	2.06	325
Ditto, John	6	6	10	SE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Darling, James	6	6	29	E 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Darling, James	6	6	22	W 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Eckhart, Saml.	6	6	11	W 1/2 NW	80	4.00	320
Eckhart, Saml.	6	6	2	Corner S 1/2 SW 1/4	4	8.00	32
Eckhart, Lewis	6	6	1	W 1/2 SW	80	4.20	336
Elliot, William	6	6	2	W pt SE 1/4	52	3.00	156
Eshelman, _	6	6	6	E 1/2 NE	74	2.00	148
Frahitz, Durius	6	6	25	W 1/2 SE	80	2.00	160
Frahitz, Durius	6	6	25	E 1/2 SE	80	2.00	160
Fellows, Stephen	6	6	29	SW 1/4	160	2.00	320
Funck, Jacob	6	6	2	N 1/2 NW	79	3.25	200
Gallneth, Henry	6	6	30	SE + S 1/2 NE	240	2.00	480
Harris, John	6	6	27	NW 1/4	160	2.00	320
Harris, John	6	6	28	SE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Holler, Benjamin	6	6	28	E 1/2 NW	80	2.90	232
Harmon, John	6	6	22	E pt SW + NWSE	100	3.00	300
Halsey, Jarvey	6	6	18	E 1/2 NW fr.	80	2.30	184
Juman?, John	6	6	19	NENE	40	2.50	100
Juman?, Johnathan	6	6	4	SENW	40	1.25	50
Johnson, J. N.	6	6	3	NE + E 1/2 NW	234	2.00	468
Keazer, Jacob	6	6	18	SESE	40	5.25	210
Keak, Godfrey	6	6	28	N 1/2 NW	80	2.00	160
Keak, Godfrey	6	6	29	NENE	40	2.00	80
Kishler,T. (or F.?)	6	6	13	SE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Knappe, S. R.	6	6	11	W 1/2 SE	80	2.00	160
Knappe, Saml. Sen.?	6	6	1	E 1/2 SE	80	5.50	440
Kingsby, Ford	6	6	23	NE 1/4	160	2.00	320
Kline, Harmon	6	6	28	NE 1/4	160	3.50	560

PIONEER SKETCHES (from Henry County Signal 2 Sept 1886)

by Rev. N. B. C. Love

[Ed. Note: Rev. Love was a Methodist Pastor in Deshler, OH. Later he pastored the Old (Indian) Mission Church in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co., OH.]

Early Recollections of James E. Scofield, A Pioneer of the Maumee Valley

The lands being out of market within five miles of the river during the period of 1832 to about 1842, retarded the settlement of this country very materially. The digging of the canal occupied about 14 years. The east and up to Providence was finished two years before the balance, to enable contractors to get stone for the locks from the east by lake or otherwise, as also from the west by the Wabash River. Do not know what distance. Boats came through from the west to the foot of the rapids one mile east of Florida in the fall of 1842 where a dam was thrown across the canal. The boats from the east there met by coming up the canal to Providence, then up the river to this dam, then exchanging freight by hauling with teams which made Florida a stirring place for a time.

A few boats from the Erie canal was hauled over from the Maumee River into the canal at this place in the fall of 1842, and some wintered at Girty’s Island and some in the canal at Florida, making a lively place for the winter of 1842-43. In the Spring of 1843 the dam was removed and hauled away for embankments, culverts in creeks, & etc., making employment for from fifty to one hundred men for each section, many of whom had families. This caused many shanties, as they called them, to be built, making quite a village on some of the sections.

On what was called the bluff, one and a half miles east of Florida, was one of these villages, on the work of B. BARKER, Lyman BACK, brother of William BACK, now a citizen of this township, who died in Florida in 1850 of cholera, being superintendent. I think I may be safe in saying this village site in the woods contained three hundred men, women and children. The work of Col. S. H. STEEDMAN, superintended by Gen. J. B. STEEDMAN, at Sargeant’s Island near the BARNES farm contained as many as that of the BARKER work and so all along the line. This made a good market for all kinds of produce, and enough could not be produced in the Maumee Valley; much had to be imported.

Many incidents might be related which happened while digging the canal if time and space would permit. I will relate one: Daniel SWIFT kept a whisky and tobacco shop just east of the BARKER section of work, and a Mr. RYAN on the section east of the STEEDMAN work together with several others came up for a general drunk. After drinking to excess they got into a general fight with SWIFT who left, to save his life, for the residence of Amos COLE then Justice of the Peace, for protestion. RYAN, being swifter on foot, overhauled him on the ice while crossing the river, struck him with a gun, inflicting a wound from which he died in a few days. The friends of SWIFT caught him, took him before Justice COLE, who bound him over to Court.

During the hearing excitement ran high, threats being made by his friends to rescue him on his way to Napoleon. The constable, by advice of the Justice, called on a few assistants, myself being one of the number. We were armed with rifles and shot guns, mounted on horses with the prisoner strapped fast, started at dark for Napoleon on the south bank of the river with only a trail and scarcely that part of the way, to avoid meeting his friends on the canal section and delivered our prisoner safely. This was my first and only experience in military affairs when business was meant or required. The prisoner had his trial and was sentenced to the penitentiary for life if my recollection is not at fault, but do not recollect whatever became of him since.

In the Fall of 1843 I made a few trips on the canal as driver, having no experience of boating, being quite young. In the spring of 1844 I purchased a half interest in a boat and run it myself three seasons, but without any marked success. In 1846 I was elected County Surveyor, was re-elected in 1849 serving two terms and made only one official survey during the time, this being a (tax?) title purchased by Dr. L. L. PATRICK near the old hewed-log jail south of the canal and east of the street running south by the CRAIG hotel. This neither the Doctor nor the Commissioners would pay for without compulsion and this was never resorted to.

During this time I became acquainted with many of the early settlers of Henry County, some of whom are yet living and many are dead or moved away. Jay D. MOREY, of Liberty township, was born within three miles of my birth place in Delaware County, New York. His parents came from there a short time after we did, therefore I have been acquainted with him from his birth and never knew any thing against him except his democracy, and do not take that to heart as I was a democrat until the nomination of James BUCHANNAN in 1856. I do not have to answer for the sin of voting tor him and presume Mr. MOREY does. Do not now recollect the name of his father, but knew him well. About my first survey was forty acres for Jay, it being part of the farm where he now resides. If I remember right he chopped, fenced and cleared ready for the plow, ten acres of land for a near neighbor for the land. I learn from fiends and indeed from himself, that he is well fixed but I am ashamed to say have not been to his residence since he became a man of family. Jay, why is it so? You have never seen my place in or out of the woods.

I surveyed lands then for Liness REDFIELD, Harrison HUDSON, __BABCOCK, Samuel and George KNAPP, and others that I do not remember their names. I surveyed lands in Washington township for Michael CONNOLLY, father of ex-Commissioner CONNOLLY, David EDWARDS, and others. Also on the south side of the river, for Mathew REID, a Commissioner for many years, his brother Thomas REID and others. At this time Bela M. BENNETT, who was afterwards Sheriff of Henry County, and Jonas PRATT were among the early settlers. I believe the last four are now deceased.

The people of Gillead (Grand Rapids) were not strangers at this time. D. W. H. HOWARD, known as Dres, an active young trader, resided there; also George LASKEY and his brother S. H. (if then born). George lived with his sister for some time, Mrs. Hiram SCOVILL, a hotel keeper at Florida. James DURBIN petitioned for a road running south from Texas, to where myself as surveyor and the viewers could not tell only from the petition. We started in the morning south through the woods, following section lines until night overtook us in a swamp that in many places it became necessary to keep on logs to keep out of the water.

David HOCKMAN, his brother and their families had just settled along this line, and we made our way back at dark where we remained over night with one or both the brothers. In the morning we returned to Texas and reported to Mr. DURBIN how far we had been and how we found things and that we did not believe the necessity for a road existed beyong the point examined.

Four years ago for the first time since I visited McClure and from the rich, fertile farms of the HOCKMANS, Mr. PHILPOTT, John GARSTER and others, I realized that time and energy works wonders. McClure must be in the swamp alluded to and for some distance south, as it is on the line and just south of the HOCKMAN farms where we entered the swamp. I surveyed lands for ROWLAND, PALMER and others on Beaver Creek east of this and on the Wood County line.

About 1841 or 1842, a murder was committed within the boundary of Henry county near where Hamler is now located on the head waters of Turkeyfoot or Beaver Creek, the victims being an Indian preacher, his wife and son or daughter, the object being about $80 in money and a few furs and perhaps an Indian pony or two. The suspicion rested on a Mr. John ELLSWORTH, James LYONS a young man, and a boy, do not remember his name, of Wood County. ELLSWORTH and the boy were arrested. LYONS made good his escape, and if I remember correctly was never captured, although a reward was offered by the Commissioners. The boy was soon discharged being too young to realize the enormity of the crime and being led on by his elders.

ELSWORTH was held for trial some time, indeed so long that the feeling greatly diminished and circumstances more or less forgotten, he was cleared although it was morally believed necessary but LYONS being the real criminal. During this trial I was deputized to serve some suppoenas in Wood County on the part of the defendant, and I rode thro’ some of the prairie marshes on a fair sized horse, the grass being as high as my head while sitting on the horse. I have not seen those marshes since, but am well informed that they are now the garden spot of Ohio, or any other place for that matter. So much again for pluck and energy.

Early after opening the canal and the land in market again, a settlement was commenced in our (Rat Rock) township. Among the first on the branch of Turkeyfoot Creek, was Tobias KNIPP and George SCHNEIDER, but was soon followed by others off the creek, among which was Jacob HARRING, Henry FRUND, George BORTZ, Michael and Adam RETTIG, John KNIPP, Henry EBERLY, John LEIFER, James K. BROWN, (now of Harrison Township) and others. Many of the names have slipped my memory. At the time I surveyed them, their lands were a wilderness and swamp. You now take a drive through this settlement and you will again be convinced what pluck and energy will do.

Eighteen hundred and forty brought our fellow townsman Dr. Isaac KARSNER, Dr. G. PARRY, David HARLEY, (now of Ottowa, Kansas), Andrew RUNDEL, Dr. G. W. PATTERSON, James L. PATTERSON, Robert NEWELL-a blacksmith that has not been excelled in our place, although we have had many good ones. Mr. NEWELL died some years ago with delirium tremers. He used to tell his companions, myself among the rest, that years after we would be laid in the grave, he would lonely be looking about for his old companions among men. This I speak of to admonish your readers that intoxicants will destroy the most robust and useful citizens as well as the weakly.

In my last communication you made me say $250 per acre; it should be $2.50, double that five miles from the river. Also, Patrick G. GOON should be GOOD. The first election was taken from the first books opened in the township and not from recollection, except the place of holding [the election?] and hat [used?] for ballot box.

Henry County Signal, 20 April 1882

COMMON PLEAS COURT – The next term of the Common Pleas Court for Henry County will convene in Napoleon on Monday, May 8th, 1882. Mr. Samuel FACY, the accommodating Deputy Clerk of the Court has favored us with the following list of jurors:

Grand Jury

John H. POULSON, G.W. WARMER, C.D. WINNER, C. K. WOODWARD, John SECHRIST, William SAUER, Alfred PARKER, Isaiah BALES, Eli GEHRETT, Thomas LINGEL, Philip C. SCHWAB, John SLEE, J. H. ZOLLARS, William THRAPP, and Henry MISNER.

Petit Jury

Mason VARNER, Peter PUNCHES, Jacob REIRICK, A. M. WILLARD, Harmon WOLF, John HUDSON, N. LAUBENTHALL, Tayler WINNER, C. C. YOUNG, Peter KLEAR, Samuel KING, and John MacGARVEY