Andrew Bostater - Celebration and History, 1882

 

The family of Andrew Bostater is one of the earliest families in the area.  The Defiance County Express reported on the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Andrew Bostater and Harriet Cameron Bostater on January 5, 1882.  After the party, the unnamed reporter wrote a short history of the family.

"GOLDEN WEDDING

Fifty Years of Married Life Celebrated by a Worthy Couple.

The following interesting account of the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bostater, of Washington township, we take from advance proof sheets of the Bryan Press.

Tuesday, Dec. 20th 1881 was the occasion of a very happy reunion of the children and a few other of the near relatives of Andrew Bostater and Mrs. Harriet Cameron Bostater, at their residence in Washington township, Defiance county, O., that being the 50th anniversary of their marriage.

But for the absence of one son and his family, the joy and felicity of the meeting would have been perfect.  Mr. George Bostater, of Lincoln, Neb., found his business relations such that he could not leave home, consequently, his parents, brothers, and sisters were much disappointed in not having the pleasure of meeting one of their number whom they have not seen for nearly ten years.

The guests present were three sons, A. J. Frank and John Bostater and wives and children of the two former; Mrs. Della Bucklew, husband and five children; Mrs. Harriet Ewer, husband and one child; their daughter, Alice, not being present; Mrs. Nanny Ury, husband and one child, and the unmarried daughter, Ella. Besides these, there were present, S. P. Cameron, only living brother of Mrs. B.; Mr.and Mrs. P. S. Gleason, of Bryan, Mrs. G. being youngest sister of Mr.B.; Mrs. Louisa Cameron and Mr. Wm. Strailey.

Guests arrived about 11 a.m., and after greetings, Mr.and Mrs. Gleason, in behalf of the children, presented to each of the parents a very fine upholstered chair, and then, the host and hostess, seated in their new chairs, the oldest son, in behalf of all the children, presented to his father an elegant gold headed cane, and Miss Ella, in behalf of all presented to her mother a beautiful solid gold pin.

The presentation of the above gifts were accompanied with a few affectionate and appropriate remarks.  In addition to the above joint gifts, many individual gifts were presented, such as Ottomans, slippers, and spectacle cases, gold thimble, gold coins China cups and saucers, gold scarf pins and especially a find gift framed portrait of our late lamented President, James A. Garfield.

After the presentations and a few moments spent in social converse, the children arranged themselves in order of their ages, each with his or her family grouped together in a semi-circle in front of the parents, and then, after a few remarks by the oldest, directing the parents' attention to the fruits of the happy union, fifty years ago, each child and grandchild passed by and kissed the beloved aged couple.  Then the eldest daughter escorted the father and the son, the mother, to the head of a sumptuously laden table, the guests following, and all partook of a bountiful repast.

After dinner the parents called their sons and daughters together and handed them each a package containing $50. Then Mrs. Ury took her place at the instrument and they all joined in singing the good old hymn... Then they were led in prayer by the beloved mother, after which 'Home, Sweet Home' was sung...

Perhaps a short sketch of the lives of two of the oldest and earliest pioneers of the Maumee Valley would not be without interest to those who read the above.

Andrew Bostater was born in Washington country, Maryland, on January 30, 1804.

Harriet Cameron, eldest daughter of Mordecai Cameron, (a connection of Honorable Simon Cameron of Pennsylvania), was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, on November 15, 1810.

They were married at the bride's residence on Apple Creek, about eight miles southeast from Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio, on December 20, 1831.  They took up their abode in Wooster and resided there about six years.  Mr. B following his trade of carpenter and joiner.  At the expiration of that time, they converted their accumulated effects of those six years of energetic and constant labor into cash, two yoke of oxen, wagon, two cows and other necessities of the pioneer, and taking their three little boys, Milton, Andrew and Marion, and accompanied by Mr. B.'s youngest and Mrs. B.'s eldest brother, they made their (way) through the Black Swamp and arrived, after many hardships, at the site of their present home on Lick Creek, Washington township, Defiance county, in the fall of 1837, forty four years ago.

There, by strict economy and indefatigable industry, they carved out, in the dense forest, the home where now they can spend their remaining days in ease and plenty.  The courage, perseverance, and indomitable energy of those early pioneers, who hewed out for themselves and children, homes in the dense forests of Defiance, Williams and adjoining counties, are characteristics as grand and nobleas the same traits in the heroes who stormed Sebastopol or captured Vicksburg."

A Guest.

The Oldest Settler - William Donley, 1895

It is always a special pleasure to read a first person account of an ancestor's life.  In this letter to the editor, William Donley, at 55 years old, looked back at his life as one of the first people to settle in the wilds of Defiance County.  The article appeared in the Defiance Express on December 20, 1895; William would live but six more years.

"THE OLDEST SETTLER.

That Honor Now Claimed by Wm. Donley of Washington Township.

I was thinking today what a wonderful change has taken place in Defiance county in the past fifty-five years.  It also occurred to me while I was considering the question that I am now the oldest settler in Washington township.  

My father, John, better known as Jack Donley, came to Defiance county in 1837.  He was born in Virginia in 1804 and come to Ohio with his parents some time in 1815.  They settled at Raccoon Hill, Athens county, where I was born Dec. 11, 1833.

In my boyhood days, bears, wolves and deers were plenty in Washington township, the wolves making the night hideous with their howling.  Indians were almost as numerous as birds are now-a-days and as treacherous as any of the name could have been.  If they wanted anything to eat, there was only one way to get rid of them and that was to feed them.

My father frequently killed a deer or bear before breakfast.  Meat and Johnny cakes were the main staff of life and in that particular the neighbors all fared alike.  You bet they enjoyed it, too.

The first settlers in Washington township were Zacharial Huet, George Huet, James Huet, Jesse Donley, Hugh Donley, Andrew Bostater, H. Skeen, James Skeen, Gideon Skeen, Peter Doud and Wm. Donley, Sr.

There were but five houses on what is now known as the Bellefontaine road in those days.  One at Brunersburg, two in Washington, one at Williams Center, occupied by Mr. Dilman and one at the St. Joe river, owned by old man Parker.  It is called the Lang place now, but was known as Denmark.  Very strangely there is but one house at that point at this day.

My parents raised ten children, six boys and four girls, all of whom are dead but Malinda Hutton, of Kansas, and the writer.  My father died in Illinois in January 1866, and my mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth McKee, at Ney, this township in 1875.

Wm. Donley

(We wish to say in this connection that Mr. Donley is one of the liveliest old settlers that we know of in this neck of woods.  He is a blacksmith by trade and lives in the town of Ney.  He was in the army during the war and is now one of the leading, hardworking Republicans in Washington township.  He buried his youngest child, an infant some two weeks old, about two month ago.  Bill is grey and grizzley, but has vim enough to last twenty-five years.  We hope he will and then some.)

www.findagrave.com - Ney Cemetery

Defiance County Pioneers - George W. and Amanda Meek Ury

This report of a fiftieth wedding anniversary gives the reader a history of the George Ury family, as well as a look at a teacher's life in the early years of the county.
Shortly after this appeared in the paper, George Ury died at the age of 74.  How wonderful that he could enjoy this gathering of his whole family!

 "A GOLDEN WEDDING

"Wednesday, October 30, 1895, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Ury, of Washington township, passed the fiftieth milestone of their wedded life and the occasion was fittingly celebrated.  The day was a perfect one and the children and grandchildren gathered at the old home to spend the day together.

Mr. Ury was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, July 9, 1821, and began teaching school when nineteen years old.  He married Miss Amanda M. Meek who was born in the same county, Aug. 3, 1826.  He came to Washington township and purchased the farm of eighty acres where they now reside.

Mr. Ury, with his young wife, came to Washington township, Nov. 1, 1847, and became a permanent settler, teaching school during the winter and farming during the summer months.  The first winter after he came to this township, he taught the winter term of three months for thirteen dollars per month, boarding himself.  Of the thirty-nine dollars thus earned, eighteen was paid in cash, being the amount of public money for the district, the remainder in produce.  In all, Mr. Ury taught thirty-five terms of school.  He held the position of County School Examiner for eight years, and although he has not been actively engaged in school work for twenty years, he still has a warm interest in the educational progress of the county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Ury were born eleven children, seven of whom are living: E. W. Ury of Defiance; G. D. Ury of Findlay; F. O. Ury and Mrs. O. B. Partee, Bryan; Mrs. Wm. Hall and Mrs. M. Gurwell of Tiffin township and Mrs. Irvin Chappins who resides at the old home.  

There are twenty-two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  All of the children were present at the celebration except E. W. Ury who is sick.  The day was a very happy one and long to be remembered.

After all had arrived and family greetings and congratulations to this bride and groom of fifty years were over, an elaborate dinner was served which was no small feast of the day's pleasure.  Valuable presents were received, among which were two souvenir spoons in gold from I. G. Ury, of California, the only brother of Mr. Ury now living.

Speedily the day passed by and amid good wishes for many happy returns of the day to Mr. and Mrs. Ury, the company bid them good night."

Defiance Democrat - October 17, 1895 

Ney Cemetery - www.findagrave.com

Although part of this article was used in the newspaper anniversary report, the complete text in the 1883 Defiance County history book adds even more to the tale of the George and Amanda Melvina Meek Ury family. 

"George W. Ury was born in Fairfield. County, Ohio, July 9, 1821, and October 30, 1845, married Amanda M. Meek, who was born in the same county August 3, 1826. Their children are Laura A., Sarah J. (deceased), Angeline P., Elbridge W., George D., Freeman O., Franklin P. (deceased), Mina M. '(deceased), Hattie, John H. (deceased), and Alice M. 

Mr. Ury's paternal grandfather was born in Germany. His father, Christian Ury, was born in Maryland, in 1770, and married Catherine Stripe, a native of Pennsylvania. Their children were Jacob, Samuel, David, John, William, Lewis L., Isaac G., Nancy A., George W., the subject of this sketch, and Catherine.  Isaac now resides in Davenport, Iowa; Catherine, at Fort Scott, Kan.; Nancy (Phillips) in Tiffin Township. Lewis L. was a soldier in the late war; was killed near Fort Scott, Kan., by a bushwhacker, in 1865. Christian and Catherine (Stripe) Ury both died in Fairfield County, the former March 27, 1837, the latter in April, 1851.  Mrs. George W. Ury's parents, Jacob and Sarah (Smith) Meek, also both died in Fairfield County. 

The subject of this sketch came to Washington Township a single man, and purchased eighty acres of land; he then returned to Fairfield County, married and returned to Washington Township, November 1, 1847, and became a permanent settler. His brother, John was also an early settler, and died in this county. George W. began teaching at the age of nineteen years, and has taught thirty-five terms. The first winter after he came to this township, he taught the winter term of three months for $13 per month, boarding himself. Of the $39 thus earned, $18 was paid in cash, being the amount of public money for the district, the balance in produce. Andrew Bostater paid him in corn, John Donley in potatoes and cabbage, and H. H. Hannah furnished him with meat, these three being the principal contributors. 

Mr. Ury is now a well-to-do farmer and has passed his threescore years. He has never sued nor been sued, a record which is truly worthy of emulation. He held for eight years the honorable position of County School Examiner, and being a pioneer teacher, has always taken a warm interest in the educational progress of the county."