Gypsies in Adams Township - 1894

From the Defiance Democrat - November 1, 1894

In the social column...

"ADAMS.

A. Pessefal has a fine brick cellar completed.

The Coressel Bros., J. P., Al and Jake, allowed their fine black mustaches to succumb to one of the whithering frosts of last week.

John Walk and sister, Mrs. Sophia McNamara of The Bend were guests of Mrs. Henry Co, Henry Coressel Sunday last.

Several natives of the Transylvanian Alps passed through here last Sunday accompanied by a number of bears.  They were very dirty and begging was their profession.

The nomadic "gypsies" were usually from Romania or surrounding areas and were greeted with skepticism by the locals.

The appearance of the Catholic cemetery on the Ridge was improved by the construction of a new fence and a general cleaning up of the grounds.  The work was done last Monday.  The members of the congregation turning out en masse.

On October 20th, Ferd Mikus (Mekus) was up before Squire Sheets to answer to a charge of assault and battery preferred by John Moser.  It seems that on sundry occasions Moser had assumed pugnacious attitudes toward the defendant and even plainly intimated that he 'lied' about certain things, whereupon Ferd, consulting his manhood, literally 'mopped the earth' with said Moser.  Hence his appearance before justice.  Ferd pleaded guilty to the charge and paid a fine of five dollars and costs, amounting to ten dollars in all.

Next Tuesday is election.  It is expected that every voter in Adams township will be out as the question of 'relief' for P. J. Schwartzel, treasurer who was caught in the wreck of the defunct Savings bank, is to be voted upon."

Francis Ferdinand Mekus of Adams Township

From the Marckel Scrapbook...

"PLAYED CARDS, ENJOYS FESTIVITIES, ON HIS

ONE HUNDREDTH BIRTHDAY

Here is Francis Ferdinand Mekus, the man whose formula for living 100 years has drawn the attention and interest of people throughout the country.

 His instructions are: walk lots, eat less, play pinocle.  In other words, he has proved that proper exercise, temperate habits and wholesome pastimes are requisites of good health and long life."

 "Playing cards with his middle-aged sons and enjoying the festivities provided by 50 members of his family who gathered to celebrate Francis Ferdinand Mekus today, flung a challenge at Old Age, as he entered upon his 101st year.  

A century old today!

That distinction which comes to few inhabitants of this planet brought scores of neighbors and friends to the home of the pioneer, Adams township resident, where they joined a company of 50 relatives in wishing him the best returns of the day.

Says Mass of Front Porch

At 11 o'clock through special authority granted by Bishop Schrembs, Rev. Fr. G. Schmitz of St. Michael's Ridge church said mass on the front porch of the Mekus home, in an impressive service unique in the annals of this county. The entire veranda had been beautifully decorated with flowers, and the places of honor were held by the eleven children of Mr. Mekus, all of whom were present: 

Mrs. Mary Vernie, Toledo

Sister Fabiola, Lafayette, Ind.

Mrs. John Clemens, Defiance

Ferd Mekus, Jewell

Christ Mekus, Defiance, Rt. 4

John Mekus, Defiance, Rt. 3

Andrew Mekus, Defiance, Rt. 4

Frank Mekus, Defiance, Rt. 4

Henry Mekus,Defiance, Rt. 4

Mrs. John Coressel, Jewell, Rt. 2

Miss Josephine Mekus, Defiance, Rt. 4

Mass servers at the unusual religious service on the veranda of the house were four grandsons: Bernard Coressel, Hubert Mekus, Francis Mekus and Victor Mekus.

Following mass, dinner was served in the front yard under a big canvas which had been put up for the occasion, more than 50 members of the family partaking of the bountiful feast.  Besides his 11 children, Mr. Mekus has 28 grandchildren, and three great- grandchildren.

Born in Westphalia

Born in Westphalia, Germany in 1821, and coming to America in 1870, Mr. Mekus has seen a half century in each land.  He was already nine years old at the time King Charles was expelled from Brunswick, and was nearly grown to manhood when Frederick William III died in 1840, and was succeeded by his son as King of Prussia.  He saw the revolutionary movements of 1848, the construction of the German empire, the elevation of Wilhelm I to the throne, and the beginning of the Franco-Prussian war.

Then he came to America just as the seceded states were being restored to their full rights in the union, and witnessed the commercial and industrial development of the nation which led up to the opening of the present century.

Sees Changes in Country

Today, however, recalls to a great degree the changes he has witnessed in Defiance county in the past 50 years since he first took up his residence on 80 acres of woodland now owned by Henry Coressel, along the ridge in Adams township.  About a year later he moved to the farm on which he lives with his son, Andrew, and daughter, Josephine.

Most of the land around him was forest, and his sturdy physique was responsible for clearing many acres of the land which surrounds the present home.

Mr. Mekus was married Nov. 6, 1860, to Mary Ellert.  When they came to America ten years later, they brought with them six of the children who were among the celebrants at today's festivities.  The five younger children were born in Adams township.  Mrs. Mekus died in 1902.

Pinochle has been Mr. Mekus's favorite pastime for many years.  He has always said he would play pinochle on his 100th birthday.  

And he did."