Bigamy? George Korn's Trial in Defiance.

 

"WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO DEFIANCE

George C. Korn Must Fact the Charge of Bigamy"

Not George Korn

But before we look at the above story from 1904, let's look back almost ten years, to an early marriage that didn't go well either. From the Defiance Evening News, June 28, 1895:

"The Case of Sylvia Korn vs. George Korn was tried in probate today. Mrs. Korn was granted a divorce for willful absence and wants absolute custody of the children."

George had married Miss Sylvia Olinger, with the consent of her mother, Almeda. They received their license on April 7, 1887, and they married June 16, 1887.

Two children were born to the union, Mattie, 7, and Wosetta, 6. She charged him with gross neglect of duty, failure to provide and willful absence for more than five years, and she won.  But did she remarry him?  More later...:

The Daily Defiance Express, September 4, 1903, indicated that he had been arrested in Defiance:

"George Korn was arrested on Clinton street at 8 o'clock this morning by Constable Weismantle on a charge of non-support preferred in Squire Costello's court by his wife, Sadie Korn.

This is the second time that Korn has been arrested on this charge. The warrant for his arrest has been out for several days. Korn has a minor son, George D.,for whom support the father fails to provide.

In his preliminary hearing this afternoon, Korn pleaded 'not guilty' and was bound over to common pleas court in the sum of $300. Failing to give bond, he was locked up."

He must have been released because the next article indicated he went to Memphis, TN.

Now to the original article from February 1, 1904, which was a very, very busy year for George Korn. The Defiance Express reported with the headline at the top of this story:

"Sheriff John McCarty left for Memphis, Tenn. at 1:33 p.m. today and will bring back Geo. C. Korn, who was indicted by the last grand jury for bigamy. 

Korn was married to Sadie Kyle, in this city, March 13, 1898, Justice C. H. Hunter officiating. A child resulted from this union and once since Korn left his wife, his wife has been arrested for non-support. 

Some two years ago, Korn was married to his cousin, Florence Young,a daughter of Rube Young, a former resident of this city, at Cumberland, Md. He failed to get a divorce. One child resulted from this last marriage.

Korn has signified his willingness to return without a requisition and Sheriff McCarty will go straight through without stopping at Columbus.

We publish an interview with Korn that was sent out by wire from Memphis, Tenn., in which he says his marriage here was a hoax. That is not true. He was legally married here.

Squire Ed Costello has the license issued to Korn at Cumberland, Md. The young man is up against a tough proposition.

A dispatch from Memphis, Tenn., under date of Jan. 30, says:

'We were never really married. There was a sort of ceremony performed by a squire at my request. The squire was drunk, and in reality there was no marriage ceremony performed. If I am married to her, it is a best only a common law union."

Such were the statements made today by George C. Korn, under arrest on the charge of bigamy from behind the bars and exhibited little concern about the ultimate result of his arrest. The police department received a telegram from Sheriff McCarty, of Defiance, Ohio, this morning asking for the arrest of Korn, whose residence is 69 Jefferson Street. He was seated in a room in the company of his wife and baby when the detectives called.

Korn told a romantic story of his relations in Defiance. He said he was never married to the woman at Defiance, who is the cause of his arrest. He said:

'It was on a Sunday afternoon about five years ago that the alleged marriage ceremony was performed. There was a report of a railroad wreck near Defiance that afternoon and a number of people visited the scene. I had known the young lady, Miss Sadie Kyle, in a rather intimate way and I started out to visit with her to visit the wreck.

On the way to the scene was the residence of a magistrate. It was suggested between us that we stop at the Squire's house and be married. We went into the house and found the squire in an intoxicated condition. We asked him to marry us and he consented. We went into the parlor and he picked up some sort of a book, and, reading a form of which neither of us realized the significance, he pronounced us man and wife.

The next day, the Squire came to me and told me that the marriage was in no way legal. He said that I would have to procure a marriage license and come to his office and be married, This was never done.'

About two years ago, according to Korn, he married another lady from Ohio. This time the marriage ceremony was performed in Cumberland, Md.  His bride was Miss Florence Young, with whom he has since lived as husband and by whom he has one child, a young boy. Shortly after this marriage, Korn came to this city and took up residence.

Korn willingly signed the waiver of requisition formalities and will return with the Ohio officer without legal opposition. He will take his wife back with him, so confident is he that the charge of bigamy cannot be sustained against him."

So the answer to this complicated problem seemed to be that all former wives needed to confirm a legal divorce from Mr. Korn.

On March 4, 1904, Sadie Korn filed a petition for divorce from George Korn in probate court. Her attorney was E.W. Costello. By April 8, 1904, her divorce had been granted.

Sadie went on to marry Henry Buckman, of Toledo. (May 17, 1905, Defiance Weekly Express)

Even though one divorce had seemingly been granted, Sylvia 

Korn also filed for divorce again on April 8, 1904. T. T. Ansbery was her attorney. This was confusing, as she married William Beard, Jr. in Defiance in 1896, so a remarriage had already taken place.

"SYLVIA KORN TIRED OF THE TIE THAT BINDS.

She alleges the trouble began June 13, 1887, when they were married. They have two children. 

She sets up that he has deserted her and has failed to provide her with the necessaries of life for three years last past and has in that time wholly disregarded his marital duties. She asks for a divorce 

and custody of the children." (Defiance Express, April 8, 1904)

Sylvia married twice more, not using Korn in her name. Her tombstone was carved with Sylvia Osa Olinger Beard Wilson. She was buried in Dekalb County, Indiana in the Waterloo Cemetery.

The one person who could not be definitely tracked into the future was the notorious George C. Korn.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Spanish - American Soldier - Private Louis Corcellious

 

#1 Frank L. Gilmore, #2 George M. Rath, #3 Louis Corcellious

#3  Private Louis Oscar Theodore Corcellious

At the age of 19, on June 23, 1898, Louis Corcellious enlisted into Company M in Defiance where he served until he was mustered out with his company on May 24, 1899. Louis was Defiance born on January 23, 1879, and lived with his parents, (Johann) Peter and Magdalena Catharine Elizabeth (Arnst) Corcellous. 

He had six siblings at home: Mary Catharine, Dora C., John Peter, Magdalena Elizabeth, Josephine and Fred Tilden.

On December 10, 1921, he married Angeline "Anna" Marihugh in Seneca County. This was a first marriage for Louis but a second marriage for Anna, who was the daughter of Henry Marihugh and Julia A. Radle. Her first marriage was to Andrew Jeffers. Louis was about 41 at the time of their marriage, and Anna about the same age. At the time of the marriage, Louis was working as a foreman at the Gray and White Company in Defiance. Also in 1921, his military pension was announced in the paper as $18 a month. Anna had at least one daughter, Nora, who would have been 17 at the time of her 2nd marriage.

Louis suffered an early death at the age of 58 in Defiance, Ohio. His obituary appeared in several Defiance papers in early April 1938. His death date was April 4, 1938:

"WAR VETERAN DIES SUDDENLY

Louis Corcellious, 58, Heart Attack Victim; Rites Wednesday

Louis Corcellious,58, Spanish-American war veteran, died suddenly at 1:15 a.m. today of a heart attack at his home, 226 Jackson Ave. Mr. Corcellious awakened his wife about a half hour before his death complaining of distress near his heart. She helped him into a chair and called a physician. Mr. Corcellious died shortly after the doctor arrived.

He had been suffering with heart trouble for about seven years and had been forced to retire because of his health.

He was born June 24, 1879, in Defiance. He worked in Tiffin for about nine years and in Kansas City for four years. He was employed by the Gray and White Company here for about 17 years as a poultry man, serving about 12 years of that time as foreman.

He was a member of Co. M. during the Spanish-American War. He held membership in the Wayne Camp and in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The body is to be brought home from the Mansfield funeral home late today and taken back there at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Services will be held from the funeral home at 2 p.m. Wednesday with Rev. Rexford G. VanCourt officiating. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery."

"Surviving are the widow, the former Miss Anna Marihugh, a step-daughter, Mrs. Nora Knepp, Toledo; a grandson, Billy Knepp, Toledo; two brothers, Fred and John, Edwardsburg, Michigan; two sisters, Mrs. Lena Lawrence, Kansas City, and Mrs. Josephine Killion, Defiance."

Other articles noted that the veterans conducted ritual military rites for Pvt. Corcellious, including a salute fired by the men of the VFW.  Brad Chaffin played taps and a duet was sung by Mrs. Claude Root and Mrs. Jesse Bates. Pallbearers were all from Company M: Joseph Hasselschwardt, Henry Lewis, Gale Hale, Claude Shuman, Lemuel Sapp, and Charles White.

Louis's wife, Anna, lived until January 1959 and was living in Defiance on Jackson Street when she passed away at 79. 

Defiance Crescent News, 19 January 1959, p.2,c.5

"Mrs. Anna M. Corcellious, 79, died Saturday at 8:15 pm. in Defiance City Hospital where she had been a patient since Jan. 5 when she fell in her home, 226 Jackson Ave. and fractured a wrist. Death was attributed to a stroke. She was born near Defiance on Nov. 21, 1879, a daughter of Henry and Julia Marihugh. She was reared here, lived in Toledo a number of years and then returned to Defiance where she had resided for a time. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Andrew B. Jeffers; her second husband, Louis Corcellious, and 11 brothers and sisters.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Fred (Nora) Knopp, and a grandson, William, both of Toledo. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxilliary, and a past president of the Spanish War Veterans Auxilliary. The funeral will be conducted Tuesday at 2 pm. at the Morris - Stick Mortuary by the Rev. Samuel Sedziol, First Baptist minister, burial will be in Riverside cemetery.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Spanish - American Soldier - Private George M. Rath

#1 Frank L. Gilmore, #2 George M. Rath, #3, Louis Corcellious

#2 Private George M. Rath

Born on April 20, 1864, George Michael Rath joined his parents Michael P. and Christina (nee Schopmeier) Rath in Tiffin Township where he lived all this life. With him, he had his siblings: Samuel M., Albert C., Frederick, Charles E, Franklin and Mary. He attended the Tiffin Township School and worked at home on the farm as the eldest son.

In the 1900 Federal Census, he lived with his brother, Samuel, as a boarder and farm worker. He had served in the Spanish-American War by that time, enlisting as a private at the age of 33 in 1898. George was promoted to Corporal in April 1899. He never married.

George M. Rath did not enjoy good health and died around the age of 39.

From the Defiance Daily Crescent, August 14, 1903, on page 1:

"A MILITARY BURIAL GIVEN

COMRADES ATTEND FUNERAL OF GEORGE M. RATH AT EVANSPORT

The funeral of George M. Rath was held at Evansport yesterday and was largely attended. A short service was held at 9:30 a.m. at the house. At 10:30, Rev. Wilson conducted services at the M.E. church.

The Spanish-American soldiers with whom the deceased was a comrade in Company M had charge of the funeral. The pall bearers were soldiers from the organization and were: Carl Schmick, John Neaderhauser, Charles White, Fred Bartels, Christ Krabach, and Charles Mann.

A firing squad composed of J. M. Weismantel in charge, Max Hoover and Will Robinson, fired salutes at the grave, giving the departed comrade a military burial. The soldiers gave a beautiful floral design in the shape of the gates ajar. Robert McCullough had charge of this."

The Defiance Express of August 12, 1903, also noted that the funeral was held at the home of Rath's brother-in-law, Philip Huffman, in Williams County and then at the Evansport Methodist Episcopal Church. He was buried in Evansport Cemetery.

That newspaper also noted: "The deceased was a cousin of W.I. Rathe, J. H. Hockman, and H.F. Toberan and was well known in the city. He was an efficient and conscientious soldier and popular with the members of Company M., with whom he saw service in Cuba in the late war. He lived for many years in Tiffin Township, this county."

Dianne Kline, Researcher

 

An Old Settler in Defiance - Dr. John Evans

 

An Old Settler - Dr. John Evans

This account of the life of Dr. John Evans was found in an 1873 copy of Memories of the Maumee Valley by H. S. Knapp, beginning on page 402+.. These tales are detailed and interesting and written closer to the time of the actual happenings, as compared to some other sources.

 

Dr. John Evans

The family of this gentleman was widely known to the old citizens of the upper Maumee Valley. He had studied his profession under the instruction of the doctors Spencer, of Kentucky, and Rush, of Philadelphia; and commenced practice at Washington, Fayette County, Oho, about the year 1814, and also conducted in separate rooms of the same building, the mercantile and an apothecary store. On the 27th of May, 1818, he married Miss Elizabeth Taylor, of Bainbridge, Ross County, Ohio...

Dr. Evans and family (now consisting of a wife and two daughters) removed to Defiance in February 1823. They started in a large double sleigh, but the snow falling, they were compelled on the second day, to abandon their sleigh and resort to wagons

The family reached Judge Nathan Shirley's, on the Auglaize river, one mile above Defiance, on the last day of February. Their first location was at Camp No. 3, five miles below Defiance, on the north side of the Maumee in a double log cabin; and here, Samuel Carey Evans, their first son was born, April 10th, 1823.

A later double cabin, not John Evans'

During the summer, the doctor build a frame house at Defiance, into which he removed his family in the month of November of that year, He made the first brick and the first lime that was manufactured in Defiance, a part of which he used in the construction of his own house; and the proceeds of the sale of the surplus lime and brick netted an amount that paid the entire cost of his home.

In this same year, Foreman Evans, his brother, also moved to Defiance. The late Judge Pierce Evans (cousin of Dr. John) removed to the head of the rapids of the Maumee and resided there during the year 1822 and into 1823, and then removed to the farm below Defiance, now occupied by his son Rinaldo Evans.

When Dr. Evans reached Defiance, there were no physicians on the river nearer than Fort Wayne above and Maumee below, and his professional visits often extended to the first named place to St. Mary's on the St. Mary's, and to the head of the Maumee rapids.  There being no well-made roads, no bridges over the stream and facilities for ferriage at points remote from each other, it is difficult to convey to the mind of the medical practitioner this day an adequate view of the formidable and often dangerous obstacles that Dr. Evans was compelled to encounter in this distant charge of his professional duties. The first relief from this exhausting toil was afforded by the arrival, at Defiance, of Dr. Jonas Colby, in 1832.

In 1824, Dr. Evans purchased a stock of goods of Hunt & Forsyth, of Maumee City, which were brought up on pirogues. This was the first store of considerable importance that contained goods adapted to the wants of the white settlers, although staple Indian goods (except whiskey) were included in general stock.

When the family removed to Defiance, there were no regular church services; and until the Court House was erected, no suitable house for worship. The Methodists, however, held services at short intervals, sometimes in private homes and, when the weather was favorable, in the adjacent groves. The first Presbyterian clergyman was Rev. Mr. Stone (father of Mrs. Wm. A. Brown, now living at Defiance).

During his residence in Defiance, Dr. Evans possessed more fully the confidence of the Indians than the majority of those who had had dealing with them. He acquired their confidence by professional ministrations, by fairness in trade, and refusing their applications for intoxicating drinks. When the Indian men and women would visit town, and the former obtain liquour of mercenary traders, and become drunken and crazed and their brutal nature aroused, the latter would gather up the tomahawks and knives of their lords, and deposit them about the premises of their friend, Dr. Evan.

On one occasion, the chief, Oquanoza, of Oquanoza's town on the Auglaize, (now Charloe, Paulding County) brought one of his daughters to the doctor to be treated, for some malady which had baffled the skill of the Indian 'medicine man.' She was received into the doctor's household, and in due time, restored to health. As an equivalent for this service, the chief made the doctor a present of an Indian pony."

In 1838, Dr. Evans and family moved in search of better educational facilities for their children, and then resided in Fort Wayne. He kept his store in Defiance for a short while, and then he removed all his stock to his Fort Wayne store in 1840. In that same year, he was called to Defiance on business where he became extremely ill. He decided he needed to get back to Fort Wayne and his family, so he left on horseback and he made it one mile to the Thomas Warren house where his suffering demanded he stop. He stayed there two or three days and sent a message to his family in Fort Wayne. When received, his son, Samuel Carey Evans, came immediately and was astounded at his poor condition. 

The son who came to his father when ill, Samuel Carey Evans

Samuel sent for a Fort Wayne doctor to come and also informed his family of the situation. The doctor and his second daughter, Merica, set out on horseback on the terrible roads. In the meantime, they had moved Dr. Evans to Mrs. Hilton's house for a more comfortable stay. By this time, Dr. Evans faced his quickly ending life and asked to dictate the terms of his will to the doctor.

His will, in part...p.404

"And I hereby appoint my daughter, Merica, and my sons, Carey and Rush, together with Allen Hamilton, Hugh McCullough, and Pierce Evans as my Executors... "and he asks that "his sons carry on the mercantile business  

until all my just debts are paid; after which it is my desire that my beloved wife shall have one-third of all my personal and real estate during her life; and desire that my daughter, Eliza Hill, shall receive nothing more until my other children have received one thousand dollars each.

After which, I wish the balance of my property equally distributed among my children.

And I further desire that my children shall provide for Aley Cumberland (a faithful colored servant of the family) so long as she may live; and it is my special request that my friends, the three last named Executors, will not make any public sale of my property, but permit my sons to sell it at a private sale to the best advantage. Signed, sealed and delivered, this 10th day of August, A.D. 1842."

On the next day, he died - the 11th of August, 1842. He was forty-eight years old. 

"The physician whose skill had prolonged the lives of multitudes was unable to heal himself."

Lindenwood Cemetery, Ft. Wayne, IN

 Dianne Kline, Researcher

Spanish American Soldiers - Private Frank A. Gilmore, Musician

 

#1 Frank A. Gilmore, Musician

# 1  Frank A. Gilmore, Musician

Frank Gilmore enlisted at 37 to join the 6th Regiment as a musician for the company. At enrollment, he gave Defiance as his residence. Born in Edgerton, Ohio, to William R. (called Robert) and Margaret Ellen (Myser) Gilmore on March 5, 1861, he was already married by the time he joined the Army in 1898.

On April 14, 1881, he wed Mary McCool, the daughter of Robert and Hannah (Dolly) McCool. Frank was 27 and Mary just 19. After his term in the war, they moved to Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, where he owned a grain elevator. They had one daughter, Florence. In the Federal Census of 1900, they were enumerated with Frank working in the manufacturing of lumber. Mary's sister, Rosamond, single and unemployed, lived with them.

Rosamond died three years later, in 1903.

In 1911, Frank's mother, Margaret, died. She and her husband were early settlers of Williams County. Her obituary appeared in the Angola Herald on September 27, 1911: 

"Death of Mrs. Gilmore

Mrs. Margaret Ellen Myser Gilmore, widow of the late Robert Gilmore, and mother of Frank and Otis Gilmore, died Saturday morning, Sept. 23, at the home of the latter, 500 south Superior Street, after an illness of about two weeks. Her age was 71 years, 1 month, 12 days.

Mrs. Gilmore and husband were among the early settlers of Williams county, Ohio and Steuben county, having settled in Richland Township (IN) in the woods, when the nearest neighbor was two miles away. She was born in Stark county, Ohio August 11, 1840. The funeral took place at 9:00 a.m. Monday from the home, after which the remains were taken to the Farmer cemetery, near Edgerton, Ohio, for burial beside her deceased husband and other family relatives."

In 1906, the Gilmore brothers had a narrow escape in a car accident near Pleasant Lake, Indiana. The Steuben Republican reported on Feb. 10, 1926:

"AUTO CRASHED INTO LOAD LOGS.

Otis Gilmore Narrowly Escaped Terrible Death

Now Recovering From Severe Injury in Which Blood Loss Weakened Him Greatly.

Frank and Otis Gilmore had a very narrow escape from death in an automobile accident Saturday evening. They were driving towards Angola, just south of Pleasant Lake, shortly after 5 o'clock when the Dodge coupe driven by Frank Gilmore crashed into a load of logs standing on the east side of the road. Otis Gilmore who was on the east side of the car, saw the crash coming the leaned over toward his brother, and engaged the full impact of the blow of the log which crashed through the windshield and struck him on the side of the neck. He was badly bruised up, and the machine was put out of commission.

Mrs. Evangeline Fischer, county treasurer, was returning to Pleasant Lake and loaned her automobile to the Gilmores, and Frank rushed home with his brother, and a physician was summoned. After they reached home, an artery in the neck gave way, and the injured man bled profusely, and was considerably weakened by the loss of blood. He is recovering now, and it is thought he will have no permanent result from the injury.

The evening was dark and misty, and they were traveling at a low rate of speed to avoid collision, and the accident came as a sudden blow."

Frank's wife, Mary, died suddenly in November 1934. Her obituary in the Angola Herald, November 9, 1934, described the situation:

"Mary McCool Died Suddenly at Home of a Heart Ailment

Mrs. Frank Gilmore, 65, died at her home on West Maumee street Friday evening after an illness of less than two hours. Heart ailment was stated as the cause of death by Dr. Swatusie, who was called as soon as her illness became serious. With Mrs. Gilmore was her husband and her near neighbors, Professor and Mrs. W.A. Fox.

Mrs. Gilmore had been in good health, never having complained of sickness or discomfort. During the day she went with her husband to their Lake James cottage to attend to some work, and then returned about 4:30 o'clock. She said she felt tired and laid down, and then complained of some distress in the chest. Mr. Gilmore soon thereafter called the physician who recognized the gravity of the condition, and administered stimulants without response. She gradually sank away without much apparent suffering.

The day previous, Mrs. Gilmore had spent with her daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McKenzie at Middlebury, Indiana, and all enjoyed the occasion without any suspicious of impending sorrow. Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie came at once after the news reached them of her serious illness and later of her death. There are no other members of the immediate family.

Mrs. Gilmore was the daughter of Robert McCool and was born in Otsego Township. There are surviving brothers, John and Jay, and her sister, Mrs. Sarah Dirrim. She was married to Frank Gilmore on April 14, 1888 and to them was born one child, now Mrs. Gordon McKenzie. Mr.and Mrs. Gilmore have lived in Angola for the past thirty years.

The funeral was held from the late home on Monday afternoon...with the burial in Circle Hill Cemetery.

The deceased was held in high esteem by the neighborhood and by all who know her for her many kindly deeds."

Sometime around 1936 Frank moved in with his daughter and family in Middlebury, Indiana, where he was enumerated in the Federal Census of 1940. His son-in-law was a merchant who had his own general store, where Frank had worked earlier, daughter Florence was a homemaker, and one grandson, Gordon, age 9, was still home. Grandfather Frank died that same year on August 10, 1940,. at the age of 79.

The Angola Herald reported his death on Friday, August 16, 1940 on page 1:

"Frank Gilmore Died Saturday

Frank Gilmore passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McKenzie in Middlebury last Saturday, following a stroke of apoplexy. Mr. Gilmore had been in failing health since June 1939 when he had a very critical attack of illness. His body was brought to the Klink Funeral Home where funeral services were held Monday forenoon...and burial was in Circle Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Gilmore was born in Edgerton, Ohio, March 5, 1881, and was seventy-nine years old last March... Mr. Gilmore grew to manhood on a farm near Hamilton (IN) near Richland township. He was a charter member of the K. of P. lodge of Hamilton, and since moving to Angola, was active in the different Masonic bodies and kept his Master Mason degrees active until his death.

Upon his coming to Angola, he engaged in the timber and piling business, continuing for many years, and for a time, was associated with F. E. Jackson in the Angola Nursery Company.  He was a member of the board of directors of the Angola State Bank since it was chartered in 1929.

Mr. Gilmore was held in high esteem by all of his acquaintances with a very good reputation built on integrity and friendliness, and his departure is mourned by a great many friends.

Strangely, his participation in music was never again mentioned.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

 

Storms, Floods, Swift Currents, and Tragedy in the Spring of 1905 - Cornelius Schriner

 

The last few weeks have given us all a crash course in remembering what spring weather can be. Impetuous, strong, and surprising. Of course, that's nothing new in history.

In the spring of 1905, Cornelius and Mary Hart Schriner lived in Tiffin Township. One day in mid-May, they travelled to Defiance for some reason and decided to take a different way home than usual because of high water The path would lead them to the Keller Bridge over Mud Creek, crossing the bridge on the Bellefontaine road. They left the city about 4:00 p.m.,and when they reached the bridge near the Children's Home, they found the road underwater. Afraid to cross with their horses and buggy, they turned around and went to another bridge 3/4 mile west.

"SWEPT AWAY IN SWOLLEN STREAM

Cornelius Schriner Drowned in Mud Creek.

Mrs. Schriner Narrowly Escaped.

...the water flowed swiftly over the road here also, but being acquainted with the formation of the embankment, they decided to risk it. Several of the neighbors, when they saw that Mr. and Mrs. Schriner intended to go over the stream swept road, followed them to the water's edge, fearing that they might have difficulty in getting safely across.

As they neared the bridge, the swift current swept the buggy from the embankment. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schriner quickly jumped out of the buggy and attempted to get on the back of the horses, but in so doing, Mr. Schriner was kicked by one of the frightened and struggling animals, and he fell into the water and was carried into the stream, never once appearing above the water.

The horse broke away from the buggy and it was seized  by the current and whirled away.

Theresa Mary Hart Schriner

Mrs. Schriner, when in the grasp of the current, seized hold of a bush which was near. There was no way of reaching the woman and rescuing her from the perilous condition, except with a boat, and the nearest was at the infirmary, nearly a mile away.

Some men rushed down, and they had to fight against the mile of current until they could reach Mrs. Schriner, who was almost exhausted from clinging to her frail support.

The horses managed to keep above the water until their harness was cut and they swam to shore.

Search for the body of Mr. Schriner was commenced immediately, but it was not until Saturday afternoon that it was discovered. The condition of Mrs. Schriner is as well as could be expected, considering the terrible ordeal through which she passed.

Cornelius Schriner

Mr. Schriner was a man of about 40 years of age, and his widow is left with eight children, the eldest of whom is but fifteen.... Mr. Schriner was a well known farmer, but the sudden and unwarned manner of his death, and the large family of children left to the care of the mother, makes it even more regrettable."

His body was found within sight of his own home, near the residence of Frank Stamm the next afternoon. The Martin Undertaking Wagon was called and the body taken back to his late residence. Apparently, his horse had stepped in some barbed wire, struggled and pulled him down and pinned him. As he fell down into the water, the horse had also kicked him. Searchers used grappling hooks at the scene all night, dragging the bottom of the creek.

Mrs. Schriner had held on to the bush for almost an hour before she had the strength to pull herself completely out of the water, according to a different source.

Mr. Schriner was a staunch Democrat, and the day before had announced himself as a candidate for infirmary director at the upcoming vote. The bridge had not been covered with water, but their buggy went off on some fill that had been added to the embankment.

His obituary appeared in the Defiance Weekly Express on May 19, 1905: 

"The funeral of Cornelius Schriner who was drowned while trying to cross the submerged road leading to the bridge over Mud Creek Friday afternoon, was held at the Mud Creek Catholic Church, Rev Espen officiating. The services were largely attended. The interment took place in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Marysdale Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Ney, Ohio

What happened to Mary Schriner? In the 1910 Federal Census, she is listed in Tiffin Township as a widow and the head of the household, now 42 years old and a farmer. Her oldest son, Victor, 20, also was listed as a farmer. Her other children were Mollie, 19, and Antoinette, 17, both listed as servants.

Following were Karl, 15; Catharine, 13; Loisie, 12; Alphonso, 10, and Marie, 5 (born the year of her father's death).

In her later years as her health declined, Mary moved to Flint, Michigan, to live with her one of her daughters. She never remarried. Her obituary in 1936:

"MRS. SCHRINER TAKEN IN FLINT

Former Defiance Resident Dies at 70; Rites Tuesday at Marysdale

Mrs. Mary T. Schriner, 70, former Defiance resident, died Friday at 9:30 p.m. at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Albert Babinger, Flint, Mic., where she had been bedfast for the past two years with diabetes and complications.

The body is to be brought Sunday to the home of another daughter, Mrs. William Ball, one mile southwest of the Marysdale Catholic Church in Washington Township. Services will be held at the Marysdale Church at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday with Rev. Robert Knoepfle of Delaware Bend officiating. Burial will be in Marysdale Cemetery.

Mrs. Schriner, only child of Anthony and Magdolin Heart, was born in Tiffin township, Aug. 20, 1866. She was married to Cornelius Schriner on May 14, 1887, and continued to live on the farm where she was born after the death of her husband in 1904. (1905) She came to Defiance about 15 years ago and made her home at 613 Ravine Avenue until eight years ago when failing health caused her to make her home with her children.

She is survived by eight children: Mrs. Babinger, Mrs. Ball, Victor Schriner, Tiffin Township, Mrs. Charles H. Reynolds, Toledo, Mrs. George Motter, Washington Township, Alva Schriner, Flint, Mich., Carl Schriner, 417 1/2 Clinton Street, and Mrs. Ray Kunesh, Richland Township; and 11 grandchildren, William, John, Cornelius, Tommas, Mary Catharine, and James D. Schriner, Charles J. Reynolds, Donald and Mary Lou Babinger, and Reynold and Eileen Kunesh. 

Marysdale Altar Society, of which Mrs. Schriner was a lifelong member, will meet Monday at the Ball home to say the Rosary."

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Mr. Schriner was a man of about 40 years of age, and his widow is left with eight children, the eldest of whom is but fifteen. The accident is a parallel of the one which happened at the English bridge a year ago when two young men lost their lives in a similar manner.

Mr. Schriner was a well-known and respected farmer, but the sudden and unwarned manner of his death, and the large family of children left to the care of the mother, makes it even more regrettable.