Defiance County Pioneers - Hal Miller

Photo on www.findagrave submitted by Bill Metz

November 28, 1912

"DIES SUDDENLY

Hal H. Miller, Marshall and Fire Chief

Stricken with Heart Failure While in the Discharge of His Duties at the Jail

Horace H. Miller, city marshal and chief of the local fire department for a number of years, died suddenly at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon, November 20, of heart failure, while in the discharge of his duties at the jail.

During the afternoon,he had been called to quiet a disturbance at the home of William Wallace.  It was necessary to arrest and confine Wallace to assure the peace and safety of members of his family.  This was only accomplished with much difficulty, in which Mr. Miller was forced to exert himself, as Wallace showed fight, flashed a gun and threatened to take his (Miller's) life.

However, after Wallace had been safely incarcerated, Mr. Miller secured Walter Smith to assist him in making repairs at the jail.  The stove pipe needed fixing and a window light replacing.  On the way to the jail, Miller complained of a severe pain in his chest.  Arrived there, he told Smith to take the measurement of the window while he built a fire.  After laying the kindling in the stove,he took a bucket and went after coal.  He had just returned and reached the door of the jail when the fatal stroke fell.

Smith heard the clatter of the coal bucket, but supposed Miller had slipped off the step and fell.  He went to the door and spoke.  Seeing Mr. Miller laying on the ground, motionless, he bent over him and attempted to raise him up.  Receiving no replies to his inquiries, and thinking that something serious had happened,he hastened and secured the assistance of Clyde Maxwell and W. N. Bates.  While one went after Dr. W. H. Cook, the other two did all they could for the stricken man.  Upon the arrival of the physician, he was removed to his home on Cornelia Street.

The stroke, seemingly, had proved instant and fatal, and its victim never regained consciousness and expired a moment after its visitation.  Whether or not the excitement of the arrest and incarceration of Wallace was instrumental in bringing on the attack is mere conjecture.  The word that Mr. Miller, a faithful friend of all, a good citizen, and an exemplary officer had died suddenly soon spread and the people of the town (Hicksville) were cast into sadness and gloom.

Mr. Miller was a man in every sense of the word.  He met and conquered reverses that would have discouraged a less stronger spirit.  His temptations were many and sore, yet he overcame them and the past several years of his life have been lived as only the good and true, noble and big hearted people can live.

The remains lay in state at the late home until Sunday.  The funeral was held at the Presbyterian church at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon and was in charge of the local fire department.  The cortege was accompanied to the church by a large body of people, headed by the Hart Concert Band, a large delegation from the Defiance fire department and county officials, and the entire membership of the local department in uniform.  The services were conducted by Rev. J. N. King, pastor of the deceased, assisted by Reverands P. O.Rhodes, D. F. Harris, and D.G. Hall.  Congressman Ansberry was in attendance at the funeral and spoke feelingly of the close bond of friendship that had existed between himself and the deceased for a number of years.  Mayor E. C. Bear paid a touching tribute to Mr. Miller's record as an official of the town and also of the fire department."

Included in the obituary were the words of Dr. J. W. Lilly who spoke to the funeral crowd as a representative of the fire department.  He noted that Hal Miller was a charter member of the first fire company in Hicksville in 1874 and also a charter member of the Union Hose, Hook and Ladder Company organized in 1890.  He first served as an assistant chief and in 1894 was elected Chief of the Department and re-elected again in 1911. He had 38 years of public service and was loved by the "boys."

"H. H. Miller (Horace H.), son of Abraham and Eliza Miller, was born in Fredericksburg, Wayne county, Ohio, September 12, 1851.  In 1855 he came with his parents to Hicksville, Ohio, where he resided until his death on November 20, 1912, at the age of 61 years, 2 months and 8 days.  He was one of a family of twelve children, six boys and six girls, nine of whom are still living, his father, mother, two brothers and two sisters preceding him to the life beyond.

On October 12, 1871, he was united in marriage to Cynthia Steele, to which union were born eight children, six boys and two girls.  He has left to mourn his loss, three brothers and four sisters, his wife, five sons and two daughters and ten grandchildren, together with a host of relatives and friends.

The remains were accompanied to Forest Home by a large body of people from near and far, and the last sad rites were performed and the soul of a beloved citizen was committed to its Master."

Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville, Ohio - www.findagrave

 Source: Obituaries: Pioneers of Northwest Ohio, Volume 1.  Carma Rowe Estate (Johnson Memorial Library).  No date.  p. 207.

 Copies available at Defiance Public Library and Hicksville and Sherwood branch libraries.

Jericho School #8, Hicksville Township

Jericho School District #8

Hicksville Township

(Located on the northeast corner of Jericho and Price Roads)

1923 - 1924

Homer E. Applegate, Teacher

W. E. Manahan, County Superintendant

H. S. Armstrong, District Superintendant

Pupils

Nina Evans

Dallas Whitman

Ruth Fry

Eleanor Evans

Frances Olson

Marietta Banks

Lavon Banks

Robert Olson

Opas Shull

Norman Cottrell

Lucy Shull

Delmar Anderson

Clyde Evans

Paul Evans

The Hayes Obituary Index and the Defiance Connection

Did you know that the Rutherford B. Hayes Library in Fremont hosts an extensive obituary index online for Ohio?  Over fifty libraries contribute to the index by submitting obituaries from their local newspapers, either current papers or older newspapers that survive on microfilm.  Millions of obituaries and death notices have been indexed and are searchable online HERE.


Many volunteers have transcribed obituaries from Defiance's newspapers, and they are slowly being added to the database. The index, itself, has fields for name, age at time of death, place of death, spouse, parents' names, maiden name, and date of death.  Once an obituary has been found in the index, it may be requested from the library.  Instructions will appear on the site for the process of requesting via email or post office.  Each library has its own methods of ordering and cost, if any, and that will appear on the site.

These newspapers have been indexed on the Hayes Obituary Index for Defiance:

Defiance Democrat - 1844 - 1894
Defiance Democrat - 1900 - 1901
Defiance Democrat - 1911 - 1918

Crescent-News - 1903 - 1914
Crescent-News - 1942 - 1945
Crescent-News - 1972, 1974, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1991 - 1994, 1998 - 2002
                  2011 - the present 


The library could definitely use volunteers to help with abstracting obituaries from the newspapers.  This would require using the microfilm to peruse each newspaper and then writing down the pertinent information. We would be happy to give a lesson on how to do this...it's not hard!

Be aware that many "obituaries" are but one line in the paper; sometimes they are even found in the social news.   Long, elaborate obituaries, especially in the earlier years, are an exception. When people were charged for submitting an obituary, it excluded many who could not afford to do that, so not everyone has an obituary.  However, if one can find a good obituary for an ancestor, what a treasure it is!

The Not So Notorious Homer L. Van Meter

When DCGS member, Dan Hasch, read our blog of February 11th, 2015, he wondered about the Homer  Van Meter mentioned as attending school in Sherwood.  Dan knew about the Homer Van Meter who was a sidekick of gangster, John Dillinger.  So who was THIS Homer Van Meter and how or did he relate to the same family?  His research led to the story below:

The story of the Van Meter family began with Perry H. Van Meter, born in Putnam County, Ohio to Elzey S. and Mary Van Meter in Pleasant Township.  Perry's siblings were Isaac C., Mary E., Susannah and Nancy.  Perry, born in 1837, married Anna M. Hollis on January 14, 1858 and they settled in Allen County, Ohio, where they appeared on the 1860 census.

Apparently, the family lived in Indiana for a time because their first child Harriet, was born in Tippecanoe County in 1862.  Perry enlisted in Company D, 189th Infantry, to fight in the Civil War.  He was discharged in August of 1865 and by 1870, the family lived in Carryall Township, Paulding County, Ohio, near Antwerp.  Sometime after 1880, the family moved to Sherwood, Ohio, in Defiance County where Perry either owned or worked at a meat market. His death record listed his occupation as butcher.  He died on April 29, 1888 and was buried in the Sherwood Cemetery.

Perry and Anna had six children, one of which was son, Cary B, who was born in 1870.  While living in Sherwood, Cary met and married Julia Miller, the daughter of Christian and Wilhelmina Miller.  Cary was a brakeman/conductor for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad until he moved to Ft. Wayne later where he worked as a conductor for the Nickle Plate Railroad.  Cary and his wife, Julia, had three children: Harry, Helen and Homer V.  This Homer V. was in the gang with John Dillinger and was killed by police in a gun battle in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1934. He was buried in Lindenwood Cemetery, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Homer V. VanMeter, Dillinger's friend

Cary also had a brother named Homer...Homer L.  Homer L. Van Meter would have been the uncle of Homer V. Van Meter, the gangster. Homer L. born on August 29, 1872, near Antwerp, attended school in Sherwood, but eventually moved to Ft. Wayne where he became a successful real estate agent.  He died on April 23, 1924 and was also buried at Lindenwood Cemetery.

www.findagrave.com   A short biography of Homer L.Van Meter's life may be found there.

Dan went on to do a more extensive study of the Van Meter family, linking it to the Walter John Miller family of Sherwood and the Duerk family of Defiance, through marriage to two Miller daughters.  Stories have been written of Homer Van Meter and John Dillinger visiting Defiance, but this story by Jack Palmer, the late columnist for the Defiance Crescent-News, told the story well:
JOHN DILLINGER VISITED.

Defiance County Pioneers - Joseph S. Bunnel

JOSEPH S. BUNNEL

1830 - 1908

Thursday, May 7, 1908

" SUDDEN DEATH.  
Of Joseph S. Bunnel - Paralysis the Cause - The Oldest Resident of Hicksville.

Saturday morning our city was shocked to learn that Joseph S. Bunnel, the oldest resident of Hicksville, had died at his home on East High street at about 10:30 o'clock Friday night.  Mr. Bunnel had not been in robust health for some time but had been able to be about the house, walk down town, and attend to his chores.

Friday evening he had been to the barn to feed the chickens and on his return complained of feeling badly and went to bed.  It was soon discovered he had had a severe paralytic stroke and Dr. Cook was called.  He found the patient unconscious and unable to take any medicine.  He remained in that condition until 10:30 when he passed peacefully away.

Mr. Bunnel was one of the old landmarks of Hicksville, having come to this village in 1839.  He was a man of considerable means, honorable in all his dealings, industrious, faultless in character, and an honor to the village in which he has spent almost his entire life.  Deceased was 78 years of age."

Source: Obituaries: Pioneers of Northwest Ohio, Volume 1.  Carma Rowe Estate (Johnson Memorial Library).  No date.  p. 207.

 Copies available at Defiance Public Library and Hicksville and Sherwood branch libraries.

St. John Catholic Church and St. Mary Catholic Church, Defiance, Ohio

From the Defiance Democrat, July 26, 1894...an article describing the beautiful churches and cemeteries of Defiance, Ohio

ST. JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH

The first Catholic services were held in Defiance in 1844 at the private residence of Timothy Fitzpatrick, when Father Rappe held mass and preached.  In 1850, Defiance was made the center of its mission district.  In the interval between 1844 and 1850, various pastors visited Defiance.  Father Folfere, who now took charge, was the first residing pastor and remained here for two years.

In 1845, a frame church was built and was called the St. John's Catholic church.  In 1852, the Fathers of the Most Precious Blood, from Minster, Auglaize county, took charge of the mission.  The Sisters of their order also came at that time to conduct a school.

In 1855, Father Westerholt became pastor and remained until June 1850 (error).  In 1858, a new brick church was built.  The old church was moved to the lot where it now stands and serves as a school house.  Father Hoeffel succeeded Father Westerholt.  In 1869, the congregation became so large that an assistant was necessary and Father Maloney shared the labors of Father Hoeffel. 

In 1870, the church was completed and the sanctuary and upper parts of the walls were ornamented with beautiful stucco work.  Handsome pews were placed in the church, a good bell was bought, as was also the fine pipe organ, which cost $1,000.  In 1869, Father Viers took charge of the congregation until 1878 when he was succeeded by Father Young.  Father Gloden is the present pastor.

The members of the St. John's Catholic church are now erected a new church. The new church is to be a magnificent edifice, very elegant in all its appointments.  The principal societies of the church are:

St. Bonifacius Mutual Aid society, Catholic Knights of Ohio, Christian Mothers' society, Young Ladies Sodality, The Dramatic Club.

St. John Catholic Church - Ohio Memory project

In 1873 the St. John's Catholic church, being no longer large enough to accommodate its congregation, it was decided to divide the church into a German and English speaking congregation. A new church was therefore built and was complete in 1876.  It stood on the corner of Jefferson and Arabella streets.  The new church was a handsome one. It had handsome pews, beautiful stained glass windows, the walls were beautifully frescoed and hung with the pictures of saints.  The cost of the church of $30,000.  In 1892, a handsome spire was erected at a cost of $3200.  Rev. P. P. Mazuret was appointed pastor in 1875. On the 4th of January, Rev. Father M. P. Kinkead succeeded Rev. Mazuret and is pastor at the present time.

In 1893 a new pipe organ was purchased for $2,500.  There are about 200 families in attendance at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church at the present time.  The principal societies and the average membership are: The Catholic Knights of Ohio and the Catholic Knights of America with about forty-eight members.  The Married Ladies' Society with a membership of about fifty.  Infant Jesus Sodality for children, about eighty members.  Ladies' Aid society about forty members.

The St. Mary's Catholic school was built in 1885 and is a good brick building. It was placed under the charge of the Dominican Sisters.  There are about 200 children in attendance at the present time." 

St Mary Catholic church - postcard circa 1910

 

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."