Lyman Langdon's Tavern to Alva Laverge's Pony Farm - Part 1

 In 2020, we published a post on early pioneer, Lyman Langdon and his doings in the county, along with an account of his fiftieth wedding anniversary with wife, Fanny Sanford.  But little was noted of the famous Langdon Tavern, which has since been moved from its home at the intersection of Buckskin Road and State Route 15 and renovated.

From the Crescent-News, January 25, 1960, p. 5:

"Once this house was a famous tavern.  Called the Lyman Langdon Tavern, it was known in Indiana and Northwest Ohio as a respectable place where one might secure lodging and food  It was named for its proprietor.  Lyman Langdon was known for miles around the country for his friendly hospitality.  He had previously kept a hotel in Defiance."

From the History of Defiance County, 1883:

"About 1827 or 1828, Payne C. Parker built at the corner of Front and Clinton Sts., where the furniture store of Hoffman and Geiger now stands for a store and a hotel, in which he carried on business for several years.  Then he rented it to Blackman and Stoddard in 1834 an 1835.  John W. Moore kept it one year.  Lyman Langdon next occupied it in 1836...and ran it for five or six years, and under his administration, it took the name of 'Exchange.' "

From the Crescent-News, 1960, continued:

"This building was destroyed by fire in 1852.  The Exchange had become very popular as a hotel and tavern.  Here had room an boarded engineers, who planned the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal, judges holding court in the vicinity, and Fort Wayne merchants enroute east to secure goods.

While in Defiance, Langdon was elected a trustee of the township and served on the council in 1838.  He was also appointed county judge in the place of Bishop Adams, who had moved to Henry County  Lyman Langdon who had previously owned a farm near Farmer, sold his business to Samuel Rohn and C. I. Trude.  He then bought the farm and the site of his new tavern in 1849 from Addison Goodyear, and moved to the farm.

Noble Township  1890 plat map

In 1849, he formed a partnership in merchandising with Brice Hilton at Brunersburg, and after purchasing an acre of ground on the Ralston place, 'built a house and moved in.'  Later he sold the house to Ralston and his share of the store to Hilton and moved back to his farm, where he built the large home combined with a tavern.

The Lyman Langdon Tavern, built in 1852 at the base of the forks of two popular highways, the Buckskin Road and the Bellefontaine Pike, offered a haven to travelers by foot, horseback, or by stage coach.  Here stopped the mail stage, carrying news, the homeseeker, the peddler, and the business man - either for refreshments or lodging.

1870 quarter, made of  90% silver and can be quite

valuable today.

According to Alva LaVergne, Mr. Langdon charged but 25 cents a night for a bed, the same for a meal, and 35 cents for a man's horse and its two feedings.  It is said that soldiers home on furlough from the Civil War were entertained with dances in the large ballroom on the third floor.  Mr. LaVernge said the house had 23 rooms.  After Mr. Langdon's death in 1900, the place was not used as a hotel, but Alva stated after he purchased it that he sometimes kept roomers.

In 1917, after thinking for many years, 'I'd like to own a place like that,' Mr. Lavergne purchased the 220 acres of the Langdon farm for $25,000.  

'I had always loved the place,' he said, 'even when I was a child  It was then one of the best buildings in the county  Soon after he bought the place he built a large barn and decided to become an auctioneer.  He studied at the Jones School of Auctioneering, Chicago.  After completing the course he tried sales in Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana, and became well-known."

He and his younger son, Paul, who was at home at that time, decided to start a pony ranch.  They bought about 40 ponies and trained them to be ridden.  Then on Sundays, they invited children from the surrounding country to ride free of charge. This they continued for about eight years...

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2

Lyman Langdon, Early Defiance County Pioneer

Lyman Langdon

1809 - 1900

His obituary from the Defiance Weekly Express, August 23, 1900, p. 11:

"NOTABLE PIONEER

Good, Old Man of Noble Township Ends His Race.

Lyman Langdon, one of the most notable pioneers of the Maumee valley, died at his home in Noble Township, at mid-night, Sunday, August 19, 1900.  He was born at South Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York, Sept. 9, 1809, and lacked just twenty days of being 91 years old when he passed away.

At the age of twenty-three years, he was married to Fannie Marie Sanford.  Ten children resulted from that union, those living being Lucia A. Langdon, of Noble township; Mrs. Adeline Bridenbaugh, of Toledo; Emma B. Sheffield, of Noble township; Almira Sisco, of Kansas; and Grace E. Reid, of Van Wert.

In 1835, Mr. Langdon came to Ohio, driving through from Cleveland in a wagon and settling in what was then Williams county.  He passed through this city, which was then a town of 150 people.  He found here acquaintances from St. Lawrence county as follows: J. W. Moore, Erskine Perkins, Edwin Phelphs, Wm. A. Brown, Amos Stoddard, and other friends.  He located land with Dr. Oney Rice and Jacob Conley near Farmer Center.  On Sept. 16, 1836, he sold out his possessions in New York and with his wife and one child, drove through to Ohio in a wagon, being accompanied by his wife's brother, Seneca E. Sanford.

He reached this city after being on the road twenty- two days.  On Jan'y 25th, 1837, he rented Payne C. Parker's hotel at Georgetown (now Ney), and it became one of the most notable places in the northwest.  That same year he and Horatio G. Phillips bought four lots on Clinton street, this city, from Gen. John G. Hunt for $3,000, between First and Front streets.

In 1838, he resided in this city and was elected a justice of the peace and was appointed county judge in place of Bishop Adams, who had moved to Henry county.

He kept a tavern here at that time and some of the most notable men of the times and section boarded with him.

Late in 1841, the canal having been completed, he sold his property here to Samuel Rohn and C. I. Trude, and bought the farm in Noble township where he died, of Addison Goodyear and moved there in April, 1842.

After the formation of Defiance county, he, in 1849, went into the merchandising business with Horace Hilton at the north end of the Maumee river bridge, this city.  He purchased an acre of ground where the Joseph Ralston home now stands in North Defiance, and built a house in which he lived and which he afterwards sold to Joseph Ralston.

He sold his interest in the store to Mr. Hilton in 1851 and moved back to his farm in Noble township, where he built in the 1852, the house he died in.  Mr. Langdon also kept a tavern at this place.

Langdon Tavern, built 1852

 

 On Sept. 13, 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Langdon celebrated their golden wedding and received many useful and valuable presents.  The wife has been dead now for many years.

Lyman Langdon was one of nature's noblemen and was one of that heroic band of pioneers that reclaimed the northwest territory.  He was a man of broad views, keep perception, strict integrity and, while frugal and simple in his habits, was the soul of hospitality.  He had a wide acquaintance and his knowledge of the early settlement of the Maumee valley was not exceeded by any living man.

He was a grand, old man and while the news of his death will be received with regret by his friends everywhere, his noble life and deeds will stand as an imperishable monument of his goodness.   May he rest in peace.

The funeral occurred from the Langdon home in Noble township, at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday,  Rev. Jacobs, officating. The remains will be interred in Riverside cemetery."

The Langdon's 50th Anniversary was covered by the Defiance County Express, September 21, 1882, page 5.  A long article, here condensed, described the big party, including many friends and their family, that was held at the Langdon home.

"GOLDEN YEARS.

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARRIED LIFE OF LYMAN AND FANNY LANGDON.

 

"It is not often that it falls to the lot of man and woman to enjoy the bonds of wedded life for fifty years... 

Such an occasion as this took place last Wednesday, September 13th, at the pleasant farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Langdon in Noble township.  It was the fiftieth anniversary of their very happy wedded life.  On that day, they had gathered once more all their children living, five in number and all their grandchildren, seven in number, at the farm hearthstone...

September 13, 1832, Lyman Langdon and Fanny M. Sanford were married at Canton, St. Lawrence county, New York.  In the year 1835, they moved west, and settled in the then very small village of Defiance.  While here, they kept the only tavern in the place on the lot now occupied in the Myer's Opera House.  After residing here until the year 1842, they moved to the farm where they now live.

At that time, all around them was new.  There were no railroads and no canal, and for a long time, Maumee was the point to which grain had to be hauled to find a market.  But hard work tells.  While many have become discouraged in those years of toil, these pioneers of the Maumee valley toiled on, and to-day have the enjoyment in their advancing years, of a home surrounded by pleasant memories, respected and loved by all who knew them.  From a wilderness, they have made a home for their old age...

 

Early in the morning before invited guests began to arrive, the five children - Lucia Langdon, Mrs. Addie Bridenbaugh of Toledo, Mrs. Emma Sheffield of Noble, Mrs. Almira Sisco of Augusta, Kan., and Mrs. Grace Reid, of Toledo - were made a present each of $100 in money by their father and mother.

 

At about 3 o'clock, when the guests were assembled, Rev. N. Crary of Hicksville, offered a prayer...and h noted that the host and hostess, who were set in the midst of their friends in the same, old 'split bottom chairs in which they had sat over fifty years ago to do their courting, and it was observed by many of the guests that for an old lady, Mrs. Langdon did look quite pert and that Langdon did still cast 'sheep eyes' at her.  

 

At the close of Mr. Crary's remarks, Mr. Langdon followed, recounting the important events in his life - spoke of the ups and downs - and of the many happy days, he had passed with the friends present, only regretting that his home had not been large enough to have all of his friends present...  Following him, others spoke of the many pleasant days that they had enjoyed...Then the time was spent in hand-shaking, until it was announced that refreshments...were ready...

 

At about six o'clock, the guests began to take their departure, all wishing the happy couple 'long life and happiness.' Among the guests, we noted the following:

Albert Langdon and wife, of St. Lawrence County, NY

Truman Barnes and wife of St. Lawrence County, NY

Ezra Leonard, wife and daughter of Danville, Ill.

E. Lord and wife of Fulton County, O.

Dr. S. W. Goodrick and wife of Wood County

Miss Ella Russell of Huron County, O.

Rev. N. Crary and wife of Hicksville

Mrs. Harriet Hopkins and daughter, Hiram Rice and wife, Aaron Rice, Mrs. Eliza Hill, and Mrs. Liddia Rice of Farmer township
Edwin Phelps of Granville, O.
S. Cameron and wife and J. Y. Garwell and wife, and J. O. Wisler and wife of Tiffin township.
Chester Blinn and wife and Mr. Beatty and wife of Stryker, O.
Mrs. C. A. Duffee of Toledo
Capt. John Partee and wife, Wesley Sanford and wife, Miss Nettie Sanford, Sheldon Sanford and Miss Jessie Sanford, Frank Goddard and wife, Miss Emma Lehman, D. Bruner and wife, John A. Sheffield and Henry Langdon and wife, and Lucia Langdon of Noble township
Jesse Chapman and wife of Milford township
Jos. Ralston and wife, John H. Kiser and wife, C. P. Tittle and wife, Miss Mary Tittle, K. C. Carley and wife, W. G. Blynmyer and wife, Mrs. William A. Brown, Mrs. John Kiser, Mrs. Jesse Colby, Willis D. Colby, Mrs. Mary Lyman, and S. F. Cheney and wife of Defiance"

Among the gifts presented by friends from abroad were:

- gold headed cane by Albert Langdon Ira Heston and Nelson Sanford

-pair gold, bowed spectacles for each from their children

-five dollar gold piece by Truman Barnes and wife

-silver mounted salt dish by Mr. and Mrs. Sanford

-Cravon picture (gilt frame) of Mr. and Mrs. Langdon from Mr. and Mrs. Leonard of Danville, Ill.

(crayon picture)

-pair ruby gold-lined goblets supposed to be from J. Ralston and wife

 

 

 

 

 

Many, very many more tokens of esteem and regard would have been given, but guests were informed by this invitation that no presents were expected, and they all knew what that meant.  

One of the pleasant arrivals of the occasion...was a letter from friends in Illinois - Lyman and Fanny Langdon."

 

 

 

 

 

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Riverside Cemetery, Defiance, PART 1

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written on the original W.P.A. reports, with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.

For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html)

Riverside Cemetery

1. Name of cemetery:  Riverside Cemetery

2. Location, how reached:

     On east side of state route #111, at southern limits of city of Defiance, Ohio, and on the bank of the Auglaize River.  Easily accessible by auto from all parts of the city.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

     John Sherry, 916 Wilhelm Street, Defiance, Ohio

Riverside Cemetery at www.findagrave.com

4. General description, size, appearance, etc.:

Riverside Cemetery is situated on the high bank of the Auglaize River at the southern limits of the city of Defiance, Ohio, and across the road from the old Miami and Erie Canal.  It was laid out officially as a burial ground in the year 1848; however, eleven years before that time, it was used as a graveyard by the Langdons as a sort of private burying plot.  The old plot is directly on the river's bank and in the burial grounds on the north side of the ravine, which this first plot from the new graveyard established in about the year 1862 as a Catholic graveyard.

This beautiful, well kept cemetery in the whole, is divided into three separate parts.  The first part, as before stated, is on the north side of the ravine, the Catholic holy ground across the ravine and to the east of it,  and the part now called the New Cemetery comprises all the rest of the available space.  The whole acreage is 68 acres, twelve in the old part and the other fifty-six in the new.

In the old part are three privately owned vaults, owned respectively by Holgates, Lattys and Wells-Houghton.  These vaults are built of sandstone and marble.  

The whole cemetery is laid out in lots, each individual buying his own, while the city of Defiance keeps them up.  The Catholic burial ground is Holy and Consecrated by the Bishop of the Toledo, Ohio, diocese.  And there is in the new part what is known as Soldiers' Field, a plot of ground kept up by the G.A.R., Bishop Post of Defiance, Ohio.  Outside of these the rest of the cemetery is owned individually by persons purchasing lots in the cemetery.  One small part in the old cemetery is still owned by the city for burial of those too poor to purchase lots.

The whole grounds are interwoven with crushed stone drives and the lots terraced up from these drives.  The cemetery is heavily wooded with oak, pine, cedar and elm trees, also hundreds of imported evergreen bushes and shrubbery is placed throughout the grounds.  The ravine that cuts these two parts of the cemetery in half is called Culvert Run and is crossed by a small, rustic foot bridge.  The whole of the cemetery is enclosed by an iron ornamental fence.

There are two entrances to the cemetery, one to the old part, another to the new.  This latter is a beautiful gateway.  As one drives in one, to the left is a beautiful lily pond and fountain, placed in front of one of the most classic, unique, and picturesque chapels to be found.  It is Gothic in style and made of rough, varigated hewn stone with high pointed stained glass, Gothic windows and a pointed roof, all surrounded by evergreen shrubbery.  To the left of the driveway as one enters the gate is a magnificient new mausoleum built in 1927 at a cost of $28,000.00.  It is built of smooth cut, Bedford stone, is thirty feet high with a Spanish type roof and regular tomb style.  The inside is Italian marble.  This building is also surrounded by evergreen shrubbery.

This cemetery is watered with city water - hydrants are placed in the corner of every section for the use of the public.  In the new part of the cemetery is a rest house in center of the grounds.  Riverside Cemetery is by far the largest burial ground in Defiance County, but not the oldest.    

Persons of all denominations are buried in this cemetery including several of Jewish faith.  However, in the Catholic Consecrated Holy ground, only those who died with the last sacrament are buried.  One plot, or rather, one section is reserved for those of Catholic faith but who at the time for their death were not prepared.  The Catholic church also holds a plot of ground open for those who have committed suicide.  This is on unconsecrated ground; however, there are only five graves in it.

A lot of the graves in the graveyard, especially in the old, were moved here from the old Kahlo Cemetery on the east side across the river from the present cemetery, others from the old Methodist and Presbyterian Graveyards which use to be where the Presbyterian Church now stands on Washington Street.  Those in the Catholic graveyard whose markers date back before 1863 or about were taken up and moved from the old Catholic cemetery on the Maumee River bank near the Defiance Municipal Waterworks on U.S. #24 west of town.

Tombstones and markers in both parts of the cemetery are of all sizes and descriptions, ranging from the magnificent new and modern Romanistic and Grecian types on down to the old Mosiac marble slabs that were used a hundred years ago.   

5. Name and date of first burial recorded:

This graveyard was opened in 1848, however, before that time, it was used by the Langdon family as a burial ground.  The first grave in the cemetery is that of Mary Langdon, two year old daughter of Lyman and Fannie Langdon, pioneer settlers of Defiance County, who built and ran Langdon Tavern, the old house, six miles northwest of Defiance, Ohio.  This house still stands and this Mary Langdon died in this house in the year 1837.  Her youngest sister, a Mrs. Grace Langdon Reid, was buried in the new part of this same cemetery July 16th of this year, 1936, being ninety years apart. 

The next grave is that of Helen Langdon, died in 1848.  From this date on, the graveyard has seen an interment at least every month.

The new Catholic Cemetery was started in 1862, and consecrated in 1871.  The Protestant graveyard was taken over by the city of Defiance in 1871 and the new part plotted and laid out for use in about 1900.  

To be continued...

(The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.)