An Old Settler in Farmer - Ethan R. Weldon

 

An Old Settler

Ethan R. Weldon

Died at Farmer Center, April 11th, 1883, Ethan R. Weldon, father of H.O. Weldon, of Hicksville, aged sixty-nine years, ten months, and two days.  Mr. Weldon was entitled to be considered an old settler of Defiance county, having been a resident for thirty years.

He was born at Plattsburg, N.Y. June 9th, 1813, where he spent his early life, and where he was married Feb. 14th, 1839, to Harriet E. Spaulding, who survives him.

In 1844, he removed to Herman, N.Y., and in 1853, came to Farmer, in this county where he has since resided. Mr. Weldon was a man whom to know was to respect and esteem. He was a consistently good citizen and exerted a good influence on all about him.

He was never connected with any Christian church, but as a Bible reader, and Bible student, he had very few equals in the common walks of life. He had read the Bible through forty-four times and was as well acquainted with its contents that he was an interesting, and a very successful Bible class teacher.

The estimation in which he was held was well expressed by a neighbor, who knew him well, 'He was an awful good man,' and when, after many years of disability, on account of paralysis, death came and called for him, he was ready to respond, and to trust his future in the hands of Him who doeth all things well."

The Hicksville News, Hicksville, OH, Thursday, April 19, 1883

Farmer Cemetery

Ethan Roberts Weldon
June 9, 1813 - April 11, 1883
Harriet Elizabeth Spaulding Weldon
November 27, 1822 - October 15, 1902

Shall Defiance County be Wet or Dry?

 In 1908, one of the biggest controversies in Defiance County revolved around the sale and intake of liquor. Should saloons exist in the villages of the county?  A big vote would be taken in October, 1908, to decide.

Long ago, the Hicksville folks had voted for "Personal Liberty," meaning that it was for each individual to decide whether to drink or not. It was well known that on Watson Richardson's lawn on the drive into town, a large maple tree drew men each day who stood under the cool shade to drink. Some thought that men could not resist the temptation to drink, so saloons were thriving, but many families were affected by this choice. Wages were bring drunk away and families suffered. 

By 1908, the Women's Christian Temperance Union was thriving, using their influence to convince men to stay away from strong drink.  According to one man's opinion, saloons cannot be reformed nor the habits of men changed, so it was best to take the temptation of drink away totally. But will it hurt the businesses in town and will the loss of the saloon tax have an effect on the economy of the towns?

In Farmer township, saloons were voted out by a huge majority and now no one wanted  them back.  Business was good!  Currently, a petition to oust the saloons was circulating in Hicksville, with a majority thought to support a dry county.  The problem was Mark Township...many went there to drink after it was banned in other areas of the county.  Many citizens of Mark Center apparently did not appreciate being the center of drink in Defiance County.

The Bryan Democrat, Bryan, Ohio, reported on 20 November 1908:

"DEFIANCE COUNTY SALOONS MAY SOON BE IN ONE TOWN, MORE DRY

On Dec 15, two saloons will pass out of existence in Mark Center, Defiance County, as the result of the decision of voters of Mark Township Saturday when at a Beal law local option election, the township voted dry by a majority of 87.  The unofficial figures are: dry 216, wets 129.

Two saloons both located at Mark Center villages are affected.  The saloons are conducted by Chas. Kisabeth and L. E. Ritterman.  They will pass out of existence thirty days from the day of the election.

Because of the result in Mark township, it is now said that a petition for a Beal law election in Sherwood village will be started.  There are two saloons in the village. Sherwood is an incorporated village and, for this reason, the election will simply be a municipal affair and will not include the township.  The drys also assert if Sherwood village votes dry, a petition will be started in Ney village.  If both Sherwood and Ney village vote dry, the saloon business of Defiance county will have been centered in Defiance city.

The voting out of the saloons in Mark township will make a change in the Hicksville situation.  Mark Center is located but a few miles from Hicksville and it has been the custom for many from the dry towns to visit Mark Center at different times during the week.  Hicksville drys assisted the Mark Center drys in the fight to oust the saloons in Mark township."

But it was not to be...

Old Account Book of the Norway Store, Williams Center and Farmer, 1863

 

The Home of Clyde and Gertrude Norway in Farmer, probably the early 1920s.

From The Bryan Press,  Bryan, Ohio, 4 February 1932:

"Norway's 1863 Book Oldest Yet Reported

Clyde Norway, of Farmer Center, has brought to the Press office another old account book to be entered in the contest.

It is the cash book begun by his father, John Norway, when he opened a general store in Williams Center, Nov 2, 1863.  Some time between 1863 and 1869, John Norway moved his store, which he had started in partnership with a brother-in-law, Mills, to Farmer and the store has been located there in possession of the Norway family ever since

Clyde evidently has the winning entry in the contest with his 1863 book, but says his grandfather was in business at Farmer previous to 1863 and that if anyone shows up with an older book, he will dig into the attic and see what he can find.

Among the unusual entries in the 1863 book is one of five dressed wild turkeys, bought of Isiah Johnson for five cents a pound.  Clover seed sold to James Lane for 11 1/2 cents per pound.  Elias Tharp purchased sugar at 15 cents a pound and coffee at 40 cents a pound.  A muskrat skin brought 10 cents. Wood was $1 per cord. Muslin was 35 cents per yard.  Eggs were 10 cents per dozen.  Dressed ducks and chickens sold for 5 cents per pound.  The book bears a note of sale to James Wines for candle molds and two pairs of coffin hinges

Among the familiar names in the Norway book are O. E. Ensign, P. Castor, James Gardner, William Lane, J. Dillman, T. C. Biglow, William Griswold, Jacob Rager, Phillip Stohl, Ed Eager and others who have descendants living around Williams and Farmer Centers today."

Assuming this photo was taken in 1946, the year Farmer won the Ohio Class B Basketball state championship.  

The Aloha, 1923, advertisements

Any information on this record book from the Norway store?  Please share, if you do!

"

The Rice House in Farmer, Ohio - Dr. Oney Sr., Hiram, and Clark Rice

From the History of Defiance County, Ohio, 1883:

 

"Along with his parents, Oney Rice came with his wife to Defiance County in 1836. Dr. Oney Rice and family settled on Section 21, Farmer Township. The doctor built a log cabin, in which he and his family lived. 

The settlers Edward Lacost, John Rice, Spencer Hopkins, Harrison Conkey, all came and helped raise the cabin. It was of split logs for the upper and lower floor, made of basswood logs and window frames and sashes bought in Defiance, the door was made of pine boxes. 

The doctor had a large practice which he continued until July 1848 when he died at the age of 51. Mr. Oney Rice served as Justice of the Peace and was appointed the first Postmaster at Farmer Center August 31, 1843; was also a Commissioner of the county and one of the founders of the Universalist Church in this township. Was a man greatly respected and esteemed by all who knew him."

"Who remembers that the Rice house at Farmer, that burned down about March 11, 1920, was the oldest house in the township at the time?'It was built from 1842 to 1845 by Oney Rice, who died in 1848, and after his passing, it was occupied by his son, Hiram Rice, who passed in 1905 and since that it was used by his son, Clark Rice, three generations of Rices in one house.

Of the antique furniture lost in the fire was a corded walnut bedstead worth over $100, a bed more than 80 years old, used in the house for 75 years.

Of the 80-year-old things saved were a bureau, rocking chair stand and the sole survivor of a set of dining chairs. Another rare article burned was an old-style spinning wheel.

Wonder if the Rice family yet have these things mentioned and possibly some overlooked in our note-booking?"

Bryan Press, November 18, 1926

The Arrowsmith Grist Mill at Lost Creek and the Haller Relationship

 

"Who remembers that the Arrowsmith grist mill, north and a little west of the crossing at Lost Creek, was part of logs, the oldest part and after it was abandoned, was used as a sort of blacksmith shop?  

Mr. Arrowsmith was a good millwright and understood all about grinding, dressing buhrs, etc.  Repairs were generally done to the water wheel and the tools were an inch auger, an ax and a handsaw.  The water wheel was one of his own invention, that is the one used was built according to his own ideas.

An old ax was much used at picking or chopping or whatever it was called in dressing the buhrs, and fit them for running nicely.  

John F. Haller usually helped in the repairs, though he was not a millwright.  This was the mill called 'the turkey trap,' on account of a flock of wild ones going in and taking possession and not knowing how to get out."

Bryan Press, Thursday, November 18, 1926

👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥

"Who remembers that there is a close connection between the Arrowsmith and Haller families of early Farmer? We gather that Ezekiel Arrowsmith was born near Baltimore 1770, went to Kentucky when 23 and married Elizabeth Kenton, niece of the noted Simon Kenton, moved near Urbana, Ohio and died in 1849, his wife dying at 90.

His son, Miller Arrowsmith, one of ten children, came to Defiance County in 1833, locating first near Defiance and was chosen Deputy County Surveyor by John Perkins, shortly moved to Lost Creek where he had a grist mill, was county auditor and held other important offices.

Sarah Arrowsmith, his sister, married William Haller, son of John Haller, and after her death in 1837, he married her sister, Jane.  A son, John F., taught school in the early days and farmed southwest of Farmer.

John Haller, father of William, located at Brunersburg and had a tannery and farmed.  Jesse, son of John, married Cassandra, sister of Miller Arrowsmith and located in 1831 in Brunersburg, and in 1837, came to Farmer, the trip taking four or five days as the way was swampy; brush had to be cleared to make a road, trees had to be whacked out of the way, too.

When they moved from Champaign County, the few household goods were hauled in a sort of wagon to the Auglaize River and then shipped to Defiance in a pirogue, a large tree trunk burned and dug out into a boat and was run by a pole pushed in the water when the bottom of the stream was 'near,' and when deep, paddles were used.

The family rode horseback and fording streams, sometimes high from freshets, and landed safely. How does that compare with moving now-a-days with a motor truck about the size of a pioneer's cabin?  People these days do not know and do not want to know what those sturdy old pioneers did."

Bryan Press, September 9, 1926, page 2

Civil War Pensioners in Defiance County - 1884 - Outlying Towns and Villages

                Pensioners - Farmer, Mark Center, Ney, Sherwood, The Bend, 

Wilseyville, Jewell, Evansport, Cicero

            "PENSIONERS

A List of Wounded and Disabled Soldiers in Defiance County

Below is a list of persons in Defiance County who were on the pension list of the United States, January 1, 1884, together with their injuries and the amounts they received."

The Defiance County Express, January 17, 1884, pg. 16

FARMER

Brown, Mary, widow, $8.00

Martin, Reuben, survivor, 1812, $8.00

Hosack, Uriah W., wounded in right shoulder, $4.00

Sweet, Harry, wounded in left shoulder, $8.00

Cory, Edwin, wounded in left humerus, $18.00

Houck, Benjamin F., wound in left arm, $18.00

Mavis, Abraham J., wounded in left side, $3.00

Rice, Hiram F., wounded in buttocks, $4.00

McConkey, Andrew P., varicose veins, $8.00

Kimmel, Rinaldo, hypertrophy, $6.00  (enlargement of organ, such as the heart)

MARK CENTER

Rohn Charlotte O., widow, $8.00

Wolf, Mary, widow 1812, $8.00

Horn, James W., loss part of finger, $2.00

Hagen, Paul, wound in left arm, ?

Horn, Thomas A., wound in right forearm, $4.00

Critchfield, Lyman, R., varicose veins, $8.00

Wineland, David, varicose veins, $6.00

Fitzgerald, Eleanor, widow, $8.00

NEY

Stinger, John, widow, $10.00

Bostater, Abram, amputed left leg, $6.00

Lichty, Joseph, disease of the eyes, $6.00

SHERWOOD

Reyff, Eusebuis, wound in left shoulder, $6.00

Rock, Henry Sr., wound in left arm, $6.00

Bloom, Samuel L. , chronic rheumatism, $6.00

THE BEND

Wagner, John, wound in face, loss of eye, $8.00

Anderson, James, disease of the liver, $6.30

WILSEYVILLE

Hatter, William M., wound in right arm, $18.00

JEWELL

Palmer, William H., wound in head and chronic diarrhea, $8.00

EVANSPORT

Allen, Louisa, widow, $8.00

Sullinger, Sarah, widow 1812, $8.00

Holopeter, Gideon W., wound in right shoulder, $5.00

Nagel, Christopher, wound in left shoulder, $6.00

Cameron, John S, wound in right thigh, $1.00

CICERO

Cornell, Charles, injury to abdomen, $2.00

The Womanless Wedding, 1957

Photo not from the Farmer show

Photo not from the Farmer show

 The show was sponsored by the Farmer School and one could get a ticket for .25 or if a child, just .15.

North vs South in Farmer, Ohio, 1914! Catch Those Varmits!

Farmer's citizens gathered in front of the grange hall where the feast was served.  On the right was the Post Office.

This article was written by Madge Cunningham and submitted to one of the local papers:

"A BIG NEW YEARS BANQUET

Losers in Unique Contest in Farmer Township Set 'Em Up to the Winners

If ever an affair of this sort deserved capital letters, this is it!  Therefore, I do not hesitate to name it an Unqualified Success.

I refer to the Banquet given on New Year's day by the Honorable Losers of the South Side to the Honored Winners of the North Side in the Farmer twp. Rat Killing Contest, which ended December 24, after about 5 weeks pretty continuous hunting.

Following are figures for both sides:

North Side                    South Side

2,696            rats           2,741

4,636            mice          3,387

2,913           sparrows   2,705

9                   hawks             3

-                   crows               2

25,890        points         23,279

Although, there were killed 5,437 rats, 8023 mice, 5,618 sparrows, 12 hawks, and 2 crows, which ought to count a good many points for the farmers and others who benefited.

About 10:30 the crowd began to collect from all directions but long before this, the fires had been started and water carried so that all might be in readiness for cooks and baskets.  And when they came!  Words are weak things to use in describing such an outlay of edibles.  Nothing like it had ever been seen or even imagined by most of us.  Besides everything of the best in a super abundance from out of the farms, there was served by agile, white aproned men and boys, 15 gallons of oysters, 1000 buns and 5 lbs. of most excellent coffees.

A humorous photo set up with a large knife and fork and a huge platter for a plate, filled with food and a jumbo coffee cup.  This winner planned to eat well!

 A register was made of all who sat down at the loaded tables and there were found upon actual count to have been a total of 530 fed upon this occasion between the hours of 12 and 3 p.m.  One continuous performance and a lot of fun mixed in for seasoning.

We of the South Side wish especially to thank our friends on the North Side for the well filled baskets brought by most of them, also Messrs. W. S. Tomlinson, P. W. Burns, R. E. Foote, G. W. Richardson, C. J. Kittredge, O. A. Rice and six other gentlemen, names unknown, for their liberal cash donations, totaling $13.60...

Indeed we can only end as we begun by saying we had a Big Day in Farmer!

M.B. C."

Farmer citizens enjoying their feast in the top room of the Grange.

Lost Creek School Records of Farmer Township - 1842-1858

Some of the oldest documents from the townships are the old school records held by the trustees or whoever was in charge of the township at the time.  Some were thrown out long ago, and some languished in barns or basements and were ruined, but the records of Jesse Haller, first clerk of the Lost Creek school district survived.  The old book, itself, cost him 50 cents and was inscribed "Champaign, Ohio, March 4, 1837" and then "Williams County, 1837."

The first meeting was advertised by Jesse Haller, district clerk, on August 25, 1834.  After that, a gap occurs in the record until September, 1842, when citizens met at the home of Isaac Wartenbee's and elected Jesse Haller (3 year term), Miller Arrowsmith(2 year term) and Isaac Wartenbee (1 year term as school directors with Jesse Haller to serve again as district clerk.








 On December 10, 1842,another public meeting was held and a site was chosen for the building of a school in the district in Section 32.  The school house was to be built of round logs, 16 x 18 feet long, covered with boards, with a hewed puncheon floor, "as agreed upon by a majority of the district."

At this point, Farmer Township was still a part of Williams County.
"June 26, 1843 - The directors of school district #4 in Farmer Twp., Williams county, Ohio, report that there have been taught in this district 8 weeks and 3 days common school by a female teacher whose term of hire will expire when she has taught these months.  The average number of scholars attending said school was nearly seven.  The wage agreed upon to pay said teacher was $1.12 and 1/2 cents a week. The branches taught were reading, writing and spelling.  There have been built in the district within the last year one school house not yet finished, built by the liberality of the inhabitants.  (Signed) Jesse Haller, District Clerk and Treasurer." 

Here are the highlights from subsequent years:
1843 - "Agree to pay Oliver T. Evans $30.00 for teaching school for 3 months, Sundays and every other Saturday excepted, six hours a day, commencing on Jan. 4, 1844, and is to be boarded and lodged by the inhabitants.  Each inhabitant to bear his equal ratio of boarding and lodging Evans in proportion to the scholars he sends to said school"  

1844 - April 12 - Mercy Crarey was hired to teach at $1.25 a week.  In September of that year, a tax of $2.50 per 80 acres was levied so that another school house could be built in Section 30.

"Dec 5, 1845 - Resolved that a tax be levied to purchase a lot of ground also for purpose of erecting a school house in Dist #4 Farmer Twp. Williams Co.
The board met at Miller Arrowsmith's and agreed to purchas of Abram Bercaw a lot of ground on which to erect a school house.  Mr. Bercaw gave deed for the sum of 75 ct. "

In 1845, these teachers were hired - J. L. Haller, Marisa Hulbert, James Drunker, Lucy M. Hulbert and in 1846, M. Arrowsmith.

On September 17, 1847, the board decided to make seats and writing tables, purchase a stove and raise a tax of $20 for a library.  Daniel Cheney was employed to teach 3 months in the quarter for $40.00.  In April of that year, each inhabitant of the district was instructed to deliver one cord of stove wood to the school by the first day of the commencement of school.  

Teaching in 1850 was Minnie Hulbert and in 1851, Warren Lazell, now to teach four months of school.

Once again, a gap occurred in the record until April 9th, 1860, when one school was to be taught by A. Waltz and the second school by Oscar Palmer, and later by Lydia Loving and G. D. Ensign.

An interesting directive in 1865 was that "School children should not be permitted to make a playground out of the graveyard." 

In 1866, a vote was taken to build a new school and it passed 11 - 0.  At that point, bids were being taken on a yearly supply of wood and F. Walden won the bid at 85 cents per cord.  Six cord was ordered. 

The last entry in the book was in April, 1870 - "Miller Arrowsmith elected director, 10 cords of wood, $1.37 1/2 per.

Who knows how many other old treasures of the townships have survived?  If you have something of historical interest, think about having it preserved, transcribed, photographed or in some way kept for future generations.  Contact our society for more information.

Some Early Postmasters in the Small Towns of Defiance County

In the early days before rural free delivery, mail could be picked up at a designated local store or a home in a particular village.  The postmasters were appointed, and in this list below, surprisingly, one will find quite a few women listed. 
Many of the small villages no longer exist, but may be found on the old plat maps.

Postmasters and Date of Appointment from the original book of the Appointments of U. S. Postmasters:

Adams Ridge
John Conn - Sept. 24, 1869
John Curtland - June 6, 1881
John Davison - Oct. 31, 1881
John L. Davison - Nov. 28, 1881
Albert Rowe - June 23, 1884
Philip Schwartzel - Aug. 4, 1885

Ayersville
Eneas F. Palmer - Nov. 20, 1871
Jonathan M. Viets - Aug. 2, 1876
Nathan A. Boutell - Oct. 7. 1879
Mrs. Rachel Boutell - (date unreadable)
Alfred C. Henry - Aug. 23, 1889

Brunersburgh
Charles F. Clemmons - Oct. 9, 1869 
Wm. W. Warren - Mar. 31, 1874
Chas. F. Clemmons - Mar 24, 1875
Daniel Bruner - Dec. 15, 1879

Cicero
John F. Culler - Sept. 22, 1870
George W. Dickerhoof - May 22, 1885
Rudolph J. Battershell - May 14, 1886
Miss Rosa Miller - Nov. 11, 1886
John F. Haller - Nov. 30, 1889
William Battershell - July 3, 1890

Evansport
John Cameron - Oct. 30, 1865
Robt. B. Cameron - Sept. 6, 1875
Alvara Cameron - June 1881
Henry F. Toberon - June 1885
Asa Toberon Jan. 7, 1886
Thomas E. Snider - Jan. 23, 1888
Frederick Speiser - Apr. 4, 1888
Enoch B. Mapes - Aug. 23, 1889 

Farmer 
John Norway - Apr. 10, 1866
Emory E. Martin - Aug. 21, 1885
Mrs. Belle Bowker - May 21, 1889

Hicksville
Mrs. Julia C. Donafin - Feb. 16, 1870, reappointed in 1883
Jacob Wesner - July 3, 1886
John Berger - Aug. 7, 1890

Milo
George W. Chapman - Feb. 23, 1866
John D. Pearson - Aug 23, 1880
Post office closed on Feb. 5, 1884.  Mail to Farmer.

Ney
David E. Welker - Mar 8, 1870

Philip Crago  - Dec. 11, 1877
Philip M. Crago - Dec. 31, 1877
Jacob Warner - Apr. 28, 1885
John Paxton - July 22, 1889

Wilseyville
William McCaller - Feb. 20, 1869
Bella B. Beebee - Aug 12, 1874
Mrs. Elizabeth Osmun - Sept. 30, 1875
Wm. M. Haller - June 6, 1876
Closed Apr. 16, 1883.  Mail to Cicero.

Sherwood
Johnson Miller - Oct. 24, 1874
Geo. Rock - Feb. 4, 1876
M. H. Robertson - Jan. 15, 1884
William W. Heuff - Dec. 8, 1885
John Rock - June 17, 1889
T. Maud Boor - May 15, 1891

White City
Saul D. Snyder - July 6, 1875
Jos. Howard - Feb. 24, 1876
Closed July 5, 1876.

Mark Center
Mrs. Marietta Kyle - July 6, 1875
Saul D. Snyder - Feb. 24, 1871
Josiah Kyle - Sept. 1876
Reinhart F. Hecht - Nov. 15, 1878
Miss Matilda Knight - Apr. 9, 1885
Mrs. Matilda Clapper - Apr. 14, 1886
Julia S. Long - Dec. 14, 1887
Ida Rice - June 3, 1890

Jewell
Simon P. Seiple - Jan. 26, 1876
Welcome G. Mason - Oct. 13, 1879
Joseph Otte - Apr 1, 1881
Edward H. Trowbridge - Nov. 20, 1882
Andrew M. Haight - Jan. 15, 1884
Conrad Moore - June 18, 1885
Charles G. Shasteen - Aug. 23, 1889

Delaware Bend
Daniel Haynes - May 21, 1877
Wallace D. Haynes - Aug. 28, 1877
Mail to The Bend - Oct. 8, 1878

The Bend
Wallace D. Haynes - Oct. 8, 1872
James Haynes - Jan 17, 1881
John Breno - Apr. 27, 1881
James Anderson - July 18, 1889
John Breno - Mar. 4, 1891

Ashwood
Frederick Harmening - Apr. 7, 1879

Moats
Wm. F. Moats - Oct. 11, 1889

Nebo
Geo. W. Speakman - Mar. 3, 1890