The Garman School, Defiance Township

GARMAN SCHOOL

Defiance Township

Section 10

Intersection of Walnut Grove and Watson Road

Velma Shuler, Teacher 1932-33

County Superintendent - M. E. Brandon

Defiance Township Board of Directors - L. C. Rieckhoff, Earl Dreher, Herman Link, Roy Williamson, R. A. Shuler

Pupils

Edith Carpenter

Dorthy Conkright

Doris Jean Cromly

Janice Rieckhoff

Glenna Mae Osborn

Phyllis Rieckhoff

Bernice March

Mable Conkright

Mary Royer

Alfred Conkright

Virgil Sponsler

Charles Cromly

Karl Conkright

Lawrence Carpenter

Garman Rieckhoff

Amos Mulligan

Robert Cooper

Ervin Kershner

Lavere March

 

 

**Occasionally, on this blog, we will post vintage school photos or school programs that we collected during a one room school project begun in 1976.  Often the photos are not well labeled, so we always welcome further information on any photographs.  Please comment if you can help in identification or by sending additional information on photos!

Defiance County Pioneer - Peter Kuhn

"DEMISE OF PETER KUHN

One of the Prominent Manufacturers and Business Men.

Brief Review of His Life's Business Experience and a Biographical Sketch of an Event in Career

Peter Kuhn died at his home on Second street Sunday evening at six o'clock, after a severe illness of three months.

The funeral service was held at St. Paul's M. E. church Wednesday at 10 a.m., Dr. A. Edwin Smith officiating.  The remains were laid to rest at Riverside.

Find a Grave

Peter Kuhn was born in Tiffin township, Defiance county, July 11, 1847.  He was the son of Christopher and Mary Borer Kuhn and was one of six children,the others being Barbara, Anne Kuhn - Kellermier, Henry, John and Christopher C. Kuhn.

Mr. Kuhn spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm and received such education as the common schools then afforded.  He was married to Miss Sarah G. McCauley, March 13th, 1873.  After his marriage, he engaged in farming for a time and later, in 1875, moved to this city where he engaged in the lumber business.  Two years later, he associated with his brother, C. C. Kuhn and J. B. Ulrich.

They then purchased the old saw mill on Perry street between First and Second streets and immediately built a large planing mill, and box factory, began business upon an extensive scale.  After three years, Mr. Ulrich sold his interest to Peter and C.C. Kuhn, who continued the business under the firm name of Kuhn Bros.  Under their management, the business was very successful.  The business was greatly enlarged and gave employment to a large number of men.  For fifteen years, the business continued under this management and the firm was one of the best known and most reliable in the city.

Defiance City Directory 1877 - 1878

In 1887, C.C. Kuhn disposed of his interest and Peter Kuhn became the sole proprietor.  He conducted the business for several years, and by his great business ability, made it one  of the leading enterprises of the city.  During this period of his business career, Mr. Kuhn gave evidence of unusual ability as a financier, and was prominent in various leading transactions.

It was largely due to this fact that he was involved in so many enterprises of a speculative character that financial reverses came and nearly destroyed the work of years.  The financial stringency a few years since, bore heavily upon some of his enterprises referred to, and their collapse involved the main business to such an extent that Mr. Kuhn was force to make an assignment.

The business was reorganized in 1895, C.C. Kuhn again entering into a partnership and the business was continued under the management of Peter Kuhn.  It is more than probable that it would have surmounted the pecuniary difficulties and regained his former position in business had not his failing health accompanied his other troubles.

During the past three years, Mr. Kuhn has been subject to frequently recurring attacks of sickness of increasing violence, which baffled the skill of his attending physicians.  

Mr. Kuhn early united with the church, becoming a member of Salem Evangelical church at the age of 14.  Upon changing his residence to this city, he united with St. Paul's M. E. church and has been a prominent and faithful member since, being one of the trustees of the church for many years.  He was also a member of the Masonic bodies, having reached the degree of Knight Templar and was a member of the Royal Arcanium.

Mr. Kuhn leaves a highly respected family, consisting of a widow and four children, three daughters and one son, respectively in the order of their age, Lura, Orval, Hattie and Nellie, two older children, Nora and William, having been deceased for some time..."

Defiance Democrat - February 2, 1889

Page From the Past - Brunersburg

This article first appeared in the Defiance Crescent News on Wednesday, January 18, 1922, and then was reprinted in the society's newsletter, Yesteryears Trails in 1988.  It was written by J. F. Dowe.

"WHEN BRUNERSBURG, BIGGER THAN DEFIANCE, HAD THREE SALOONS AND FOUR HOTELS.

The things I am going to tell you are what I have heard old settlers tell about and what I have seen.

At one time, the 'Burg' had a greater population than Defiance.  The people had to come out here to vote.  That was before 1845 when this part of the county belonged to Williams County.

At one time, the Burg had four hotels and all had plenty to do.  They had large barns nearby as a place to keep horses.  In those days, the travelers came on foot or on horseback.  At times, the hotels were so crowded that the travelers had to sleep on straw ticks on the floor.  Most of these people seeking lodging were looking for homesteads or places where they could buy cheap land.  They all wanted land near some river or ravine.

I think Uncle Brice Hilton and his parents came to this country in 1822.  And a few years later, he purchased a good part of the business in the Burg.  Well do I remember when he had two tanneries, shoe shops, saw mill and grist mill and owned a good scope of land near the Burg.

There was a dam across the river -  one end a saw mill and on the other end a grist mill.  That was one of the fine dams in this country.  It was built long before the dam at Independence on the Maumee river.

I saw the grist mill and two of the hotels burn down and the other two hotels torn down.  The last hotel was owned and run by John Kniseley. 

In those days the Burg had all kinds of business except a bank.  But we had three saloons where you could deposit.

Benjamin Hilton and Daniel Bruner ran a dry goods store and a general store.  They also bought grain and did a good business.  They had to haul their grain to Defiance and load it on a canal boat and ship to Toledo.

This is when the Burg began to lose business.  They could pay more for grain in Defiance.  You remember the John Tuttle warehouse on the bank of the Maumee.  It was known for miles around.

A few years later came the Wabash railroad which put Defiance on the map, and it looks like it is there to stay.

Just a few words about our bridges.  There have been five bridges across the river at the Burg.  The first one was about 50 rods north of our present bridge.  It was built early in 1800, one which I never saw.  It was built by labor and money donations mostly.  In those days, the bridge was not more than 12 feet from low water.  We did not have such high water nor did the water run so swift.  In fact, the river would be a month rising and falling.

The second bridge was built while this section yet belonged to Williams county.  It was constructed of white and bur oak, three-span, with wooden bents.  The spot where the west abutment now stands was near the center of the river.

The third bridge was built right after the Civil War, probably about 1865 or '66.  It was a two-span bridge, set on wooden piers and wooden abutments.  The center pier was a wooden box filled with stone and dirt.  The framework of this bridge was pine, with two pieces 12 x 14 inches, well bolted and dovetailed together.  The siding was made of inch boards 10 feet long.

The year 1884 saw the building of the fourth bridge - a steel structure with 200 foot span.  It was erected by the Youngstown bridge company under the direction of Martin Struble, Levi Colby and Michael Gorman, commissioners and T. S. Knight, surveyor.  This was the bridge which the storm tore down on March 28, 1920, when a large part of the Burg was also destroyed.

The present bridge was built in the fall of 1920 by a Lima company - a three arch concrete affair which looks as if it would stand longer than all the rest combined.  The same abutments were used as on the former bridge." 

Brothers Quarrel in Tiffin Township

From the Defiance Democrat - August 23, 1894

"BROTHERS QUARREL.

Results in the Death of Albert Allen.

LAFAYETTE ALLEN IN JAIL.

Sad Occurence in Tiffin Township at a Brick Yard 

Owned by the Allens and Millers.

Albert Allen lay cold in death at the residence of his brother, Lafayette, in Tiffin township Thursday.

Lafayette, his brother, is in the county jail to await the finding of an inquest being held by Coroner Westrick.  Lafayette Allen is perhaps directly or indirectly the cause of Albert's death, although there are circumstances connected with the affair tending to show that Lafayette acted in self-defense, being threatened by his brother.

A representative of the DEM. visited the scene of the tragedy last Thursday, which is a tile yard in Tiffin township, about one mile west of the Banner school house.  The tile mill is not a very elaborate affair. It is owned by John and Lafayette Allen and George and Henry Miller.  The mill is located on the Miller farm.

John and Lafayette live a short distance from the mill, as both are married and have quite large families. Albert Allen, a brother aged 45, works for the firm.  He is at present, unmarried but has been married twice, and has a son sixteen years old. Albert has been boarding with Lafayette.  It is said he had an ungovernable temper and when in a rage, was almost insane.

An eyewitness to the occurence that led to the death of Albert, Louis Emmons, tells the following story:
About ten o'clock yesterday the force of the tile mill, the Allen boys, himself and Henry Miller, was engaged in putting tile in a kiln to prepare it for burning.  Lafayette was on top of the kiln, placing the brick and tile in position.  Albert Allen was wheeling tile from the shed, a short distance, and tossing them to Lafayette to place.  The latter called to Albert to bring him some six-inch tile and a dispute arose in regard to the work, which became quite animated.  The size of the tile to be placed seemed to be the question in dispute.

Finally Albert said to Lafayette, "Come down here and I'll give you a G_D_ licking!"
Lafayette declined to come down as Albert was on the ground.  Then Albert threw a brick at Lafayette which barely missed his head.  Lafayette dodged it.  John Allen, who was near, remonstrated with Albert, when he said to John, "I'll go up and give him a d_d good licking and knock the h_ out of him."  

Lafayette then told Albert he did not wish any trouble and warned him to keep down.  Albert, it appears, was in a passion he could not control, and he started to climb up the side of the kiln, which he found somewhat difficult.  When he drew near to Lafayette, the latter had what is known as a dry brick in his hand, one not burned.  He raised it in both hands and struck Albert on the back of the head; the latter fell backward and struck his right temple on the side of the kiln.  In falling, he jarred some of the bricks loose and seven or eight struck him.  They must have hit him on the back of the head.




Albert fell, but soon arose and placed his hand to his head, when he said, "G_d_you, as soon as I get on my feet again, I'll whip h_ out of you."  Then Albert went into the shed used for drying tile and brick and laid down.  The brothers did not think his injuries were serious.  The men continued to pass in and out of the shed, loading their trucks with dried tile and brick to put in the kiln.

At noon they went to dinner, but Albert did not accompany them.  When they returned from dinner, they found Albert in the shed unconscious.  They thought at first he was asleep.  About two o'clock John said to Lafayette, "I believe Al is hurt worse than we think."

Albert was then taken to Lafayette's house.  Mrs. Lafayette Allen details what happened then.  She says Albert laid in a stuper unconscious until he died.  Dr. Westrick was summoned and arrived some time in the afternoon.  She says his pulse ran high and a frothy substance came from his mouth, which afterward became bloody.  He died about 9:30.  

Mrs. Allen said herself and her husband gave him the best care possible.  She says Albert had a bad temper and was always trying to involve Lafayette in a quarrel. The dead man was much stronger and larger than his brother, and weighed 215 pounds.  Lafayette is almost crazy over the unfortunate affair.  When the DEM. man was there Thursday morning, John and Lafayette had come to town to purchase a casket.  

The eye-witnesses to the affair besides Lafayette were John Allen, Louis Emmons and Henry Miller, and they all tell the same story.  Mrs. Allen is a daughter of John Myers of Highland township and Lafayette has quite a family of children.  The formerly resided near Ayersville.  

It is the opinion of many that Albert's death resulted from internal injuries he received by the fall of the brick which fell on him.  Coroner Westrick is investigating the matter.  Himself and Dr. Stevens holding a post mortem examination on the body last Thursday.  The investigation is being held at Allen's house. Those who saw the affair as well as those who know of anything that will throw any light on the matter will be called upon to give evidence in the unfortunate occurence.

Lafayette came to town this forenoon and when he heard that an investigation was to be instituted, he gave himself up voluntarily and went to jail.  He was visited by a DEM. man in the afternoon.  He talked freely of the affair and expressed much regret.  He says he held the brick in his hand when he struck Albert's hand which he had placed on his head to avoid the blow and struck him purely in self defense as he could not get away from his brother, and he wished to avoid an encounter if possible, as he did not court trouble.  Mr. Allen says his brother has repeatedly threatened to do him bodily harm and tried to assault him one day last week.  His brother, John, tried to pacify Albert Wednesday, but could do nothing with him.

Mr. Allen says he is forty years old and has three children and ...and seems to think he should be held blameless in the matter.  
The funeral of the dead man was held at Ayersville last Friday at one o'clock at the Baptist church.  Rev. Doll having charge of the services."

First Communion at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (St. Mary's) - 1898

"FIRST COMMUNION

List of the Class Which Will be Enrolled at St. Marys.

The following children of the parochial schools of Our Lady of Perpetual Help church have passed their examinations in the catechism under their pastor,

 R. V. M. P. Kinkead, and last Sunday received their first Holy Communion. 

It is a solemn and beautiful spectacle when half a hundred young people in one body, thus take a stand for God and are numbered among his earthly children. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, so lately decorated and re-opened to the public, was filled last Sunday with her church members and Protestant friends of the large class, to witness these solemn, beautiful, first communion services in the new church.

 Boys:

Harry Adams, Ralph W. Baker, John H. Beatty, Alvin G. Blanchard, Wm. P. Bohannon, Lawrence A. Boon, Ralph W. Brady, Joseph A. Brown, Frank J. Cantlon, Stephen P. Deveaux, Charles Dupont, Joseph H. Eckert, Ambrose Gase, Thomas E. Gorman, Victor J. Haller, Joseph Imber, Alonzo Imber, Hector D. Maranda, Wm. T. Nolan, Jeremiah Quinlan, John Rowe, Fred Wagner, Chas. E. Weigerding, Peter J. Weikinger, Carl A. Westrick, Wm. J. Wilhelm.

Girls:

Mary M. Becker, Anna Buhrn, Mary M. Cantlon, Winnie B. Daoust, Marie Mabel Evans, Irene M. Gallagher, Regina Gaffney, Harrietta Grant, Regina Grossell, Ellen Hoschak, Mary Hutter, Gertrude R. Kesselmyer, Clara Krotz, Jenny Krummell, Jenny McCann, Nellie C. Meek, Angela O. Norman, Grace O'Conner, Mary E. Riley, Margaret Sheets, Anna Shindler, Loretta St. Amant, Sophia St. Amant, Annetta E. Steinberger, Agnes M. Wahl. 

Defiance Democrat - May 19, 1898 

Bible Records from the Anna and John Bauman family

Not the actual Bible

A Holy Bible was donated to the Defiance County Historical Society by Les and Betty Duerk Nelson.  

The original owner of the Bible was Anna Dickerhof Bauman, presented to her by John C. Bauman on September 5, 1882, Akron, Ohio.

The names listed here from the Bible were first reprinted in the DCGS newsletter, Yesteryear's Trails, in 1983, Vol. II, No. 1. (Spelling original to the document.)

"This certifies that John C. Bauman and Anna D. Hagemann were solemly united by me in the Holy bond of Matrimony at Akron, Summit Co., O., on the twenty sixth day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and eighty one, conformably to the Ordinance of God, and the Laws of the state.  In Presence of Christ & Eva Bauman, Wm. & Louisa Hageman.
Signed Wm. Lothmann, Pastor, Luth. Ch.

MARRIAGES -
John C. Baumann and Anna Dickerhof Hageman were united in holy wedlock Oct. 26th 1881, 8 P.M. in Akron, O., at the residence of Wm. Hageman, 119 N. Walnut St., in the presence of relatives.  By Rev. William Lothmann.

BIRTHS -
John C. Baumann, born Aug. the 20th, 1855, at Akron, O.
Anna Dickerhof Hageman Bauman, born July 9th, 1855, at Akron O.,
         119 Walnut St.
Father Christoph Baumann, July 4th, 1832
Mother Eva Baumann, Apr. 27th, 1829

Kate Baumann Schoeninger, Nov. 16th, 1853
John C. Baumann, Aug. 20th, 1855
Mary Baumann Klink, Nov. 30th, 1856
Rose Baumann Felten, March 5th, 1862
Wm. Baumann, Sept. 3rd, 1868
Wm. F. L. Hagemann, Apr. 6, 1860
Louisa Hagemann, Sept. 15, 1857
Mary Hagemann, Jan. 29, 1863
Adolph Hagemann, Oct. 3, 1866
Emma Hagemann, July 15, 1872

DEATHS -
Father Christopher Bauman, May 15, 1904, Age 70 yrs.
Mother Eva Baumann, Dec. 13, 1909.  Age 80 yrs.
Mother Louise Hageman, Jan. 20, 1906. Age 70 yrs.
Father William Hageman, Sept. 7, 1907.  Age 79 yrs.
Louisa Hagemann, Sept. ?  Age 4 yrs.
Emma Hageman, Sept. ?  Age 4 yrs.
Mary C. Hagemann, Sept 14, 1922.  Age 59 yrs.
Katherine Shoeniger, Nov. 10, 1922

Red Beets and Rattlesnakes in Mark Township

"BIG SUGAR BEETS.

Something Concerning the Mark Township Soil Which Produced Them.

The two large beets on exhibition in the window of Harley's clothing store were grown on the farm of Elias Ridenour in Mark township.  These beets attained an unusual size, the smaller weighing forty-one and the larger forty-seven pounds, and are a sample of what Mark township soil and agriculturalists can do.

A few years ago, the 'marsh' was one of the most forsaken regions in this part of the country, but now it is the garden spot of the county.  A great deal of patience and hard work have been necessary to bring about this transformation, and among those who have been most instrumental in doing so is Mr. Ridenour, who has lived on the farm he now occupies for nearly a quarter of a century.

The marsh was formerly thickly inhabited by rattlesnakes, and the old residents tell some most incredible tales about them.  

Mr. Ridenour relates that the first time he cut his hay, the mower mangled so many rattlers that the buzzards were attracted to the place in large numbers.

Also that the snakes were accustomed to take possession of the schoolhouse to the great dismay of teacher and pupils.

Mr. Ridenour has a wide acquaintance and is very popular wherever known.  He is a genial host, and takes delight in extoling the many excellent qualities of the 'marsh' and always has a fund of humorous stories.

He was for several terms one of our most efficient Infirmary Directors."

Defiance Democrat - December 1, 1898