Judy, Judy, Judy...A Fatal Swing

From the Defiance Democrat - August 23, 1894

"THE BLOW FATAL.

Coroner Westrick Files His Verdict in the Jones Case.

JUDY JEFFERS INCRIMINATED

Doctors Babbitt and Lehman Report That Jones' Brain Was Discolored and Injured - The Grand Jury Comes Next.

Coroner Westrick filed his finding in the inquest upon the body of Frank Jones in the county clerk's office Saturday.  It is a voluminous document but leaves no doubt as to the guilt of Judy Jeffers.

Several witnesses were examined by the coroner, and the testimony shows that Jones was an unoffending party in the whole transaction.  The fight occurred on the night of Dec. 25, in front of a saloon in Sherwood.  Frank, or 'Buzzard' Miller came out of the saloon and struck Jones, who was standing quietly on the sidewalk talking to a friend.  Jones was sober and had not spoken to Miller.

Sherwood 1881

 The blow from Buzzard's fist staggered Jones for a minute and then he struck Miller.  They clinched and went down, Jones on top.  Miller was getting the worst of it and had cried enough when Judy Jeffers came up and with an elm club five feet long and an inch and a half by two and a quarter in thickness, struck Jones a left-handed blow just above the right ear, holding the club in both hands.  The blow stunned Jones.  Jones was 32 years old and lived at Sherwood, and was always of a quiet, unoffending disposition.

Dr. P. M. Lehman testifed that he was called to attend to Jones Jan. 1, 1894, and continued to render professional services until Feb. 1st.  There was a cut across the bridge of Jones' nose, and a finger was injured, but there was no wound or contusion, invisible, on the head.  Jones frequently complained of pain in the right side of his head.

Jones was a healthy, strong man and weighted 175 - 180 pounds previous to his injury.  At the sixteenth day after receiving the blow, he was not able to set up, being confined to his bed.  From then until his death, he constantly grew weaker and complained often of the pain in his head.

Dr. P. M. Lehman and Dr. D. S. Babbitt certified that they had performed an autopsy on the body of Jones on the 10th inst., and had found a portion of the right hemisphere of the cerebrum to be of a purple blue and showing after signs of injury.  A quantity of serum had escaped into the cranial cavity.

After hearing the testimony, Coroner Westrick found that Frank Jones came to his death from the effects of a terrible blow from a club in the hands of Judy Jeffers."

Although most of the time, Judy is a feminine name, in this case, it is a male.  

The Soldiers Relief Commission

Communities have been taking care of the poor, because of laws or through churches or just through the kindness of neighbors, for centuries.  After the Civil War and the deaths of thousands of men, a law was passed to help those widows and children who were left to fend for themselves.  The law evolved over time, but, in general, each county in Ohio had a Soldiers' Relief Commission, consisting of three persons who were appointed by the probate judge.  
 At first, those committee members had to have some connection with the military, such as a veteran or, for women, membership in an auxiliary. Eventually, the law was broadened to included "reputable citizens" and the people they helped could be anyone who really needed assistance. 

The three members of the commission would, in turn, appoint three members in each township or county seat to create a list of probable names of indigent persons.  These persons would have to apply for aid, providing financial information of income, loans, taxes, and other pertinent facts for the consideration of the committee.  Eventually, a list was made and submitted to the township clerk and eventually to the county commissioners for their approval. Payment was made from the county funds.  In case of urgent need, the clerk also had the power to provide for any indigent or neglected persons.  This committee was also delegated the task of providing burial places and stones for indigent soldiers.

On December 2, 1897, the list of persons who were to receive aid appeared in the Defiance Democrat.  Today, this might have been embarrassing, but then again, for the times, maybe it was not at all.

"SOLDIERS' RELIEF

Allowances From the County Fund Made to Those in Need 

The allowances by the Defiance County Soldiers' Relief commission for the coming five months to May 1st, made last Monday are as follows:

Defiance Township

Mrs. Mary A. Davis, per month..............................................................................$5.00

Mrs. Jeffers............................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. L. A. Malson...................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Jane Hatfield..................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Francis Schneider..........................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. M. C. Stout.....................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Lena Manders................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Benj. Schupp..................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. M. Marcelius...................................................................................................  4.00

Mrs. M. E. Hutchins................................................................................................  4.00

Mrs. Geo. Watts......................................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Robt. Kyle.......................................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. John E. Richardson........................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Alanom Grant.................................................................................................  3.00

Hicksville Township

Mrs. Laura Lawson.................................................................................................  $5.00

Mrs. Elizabeth Schooley.........................................................................................   5.00

Mrs. L. G. Cox.........................................................................................................  4.00

Mrs. Emma Attleberger............................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Edward Brooks................................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Cornelia Hindle................................................................................................  3.00

Highland Township

Mrs. H. D. Parker...................................................................................................... $5.00

Mrs. Augusta Warren................................................................................................  5.00

Noble Township

Mrs. Catheran Heiss.................................................................................................$4.00

 

Lipp School, Defiance County, Ohio - 1893 - 1894

This list was abstracted from a souvenir booklet from Lipp School, possibly located in Delaware Township.  The information was provided by member, R. Bayes, whose grandparents lived in the area, and her father Roy "Bayse" attended this school.

LIPP SCHOOL

Winter 1893 - 1894

Meg A. Kleinhenn, Teacher

Henry Lipp, Director

Boys

Roy Bayse
Fred Slough
Henry Fair
Forest Peoples
John Stitsel
John Lipp
George Stitsel
Edgar Flickinger
Wilber Davis
Chester Flickinger
Chauncy Kleinhen
Tom Grogg
John Peoples
Chauncy Grogg
Roy Lang
Allen Pontions
Clearance Pontions
Walter Davis
Willie Koch  


Girls
Kate Grogg
Eda Koch
Bertha Slough
Minnie Grogg
Clara Koch
Kate Slough
Iva Peoples
Anna Lipp
Alice Stitsel
Emma Lipp
Nellie Koch
Viola Fair
Nina Fair
Daisy Boterf
Rebecca Fair
Alta Davis

The "Dirty Shirts" of Farmer High School - 1946

The Farmer High School Boys Basketball team of 1946 made local history, at least, when they won the Class B State Championship that year.  In their four years together, this team of 33 boys won 100 games and lost 4.  Known affectionately as the "Dirty Shirts," but really the Farmer Tigers, they gave Defiance County reason to crow about their accomplishments.
On the 40th anniversary of the win, the Bryan Times ran a recap of that championship game.

From The Bryan Times -  June 5, 1986

"...The state tourney was played in Springfield that year as St. John Arena in Columbus was still in the future.  
On Friday, the Tigers tamed Bradford by a score of 57 - 29 and could have probably reached 65 points had not coach Ollie Zedaker brought in subs off the bench in the second half.  The Bradford team had defeated the 1945 champs, Northridge, the week before and the southwestern Railroaders were heavily favored, but the Tigers were not awed as they drove Bradford batty with a devastating fast break.  

Farmer jumped to a 10 point lead at the start of the game and were never headed after that.  Bradford had won 26 of the 28 games they had played as they had held their foes to an average of 28 points per game before they met their match with the Tigers.  Leighton Fritz paced Farmer with 19 points.

Then the Tigers met Worthington on Saturday for the championship and proved a good little team can beat a bigger team as they scored a 36 - 32 victory.  The game was close as Worthington led five times and Farmer nine times.  Farmer led 10-8 after one period, but trailed 17-14 with 10 seconds to play in the half.  However, the Tigers scored four points in those 10 seconds to lead 18-17 at the half.  

The game was nip and tuck in the third period with Farmer leading 30-26 as the final stanza opened.  They refused to give up the lead and became the champions of the 580 Class B teams in the state.

Fritz was not as hot in his shooting as in the win over Bradford, but was able to make some fine passes to Ed Lord who tallied 17 of the 36 points.  

After the game the Farmer team was presented the trophy with each player getting a gold basketball.  Fritz, Lord and Bob Beerbower were named to the AP all tourney team.  

Farmer closed the school on Friday and three busloads of students and scores of fans in autos made the pilgrimage to Wittenberg College for the state meet.  The school reopened on Monday for all but the players.  On Sunday afternoon, the team was welcomed back to Farmer as they were met two miles from town by the fire department and taken to the auditorium for their welcome back.  Most of the people were sleepy after driving most of the night to get back from Springfield to do their chores, but sleep was the furthest thing from the minds of most of the fans who welcomed home the conquering heroes..."

Other factoids from the article...

Farmer was the first Northwestern Ohio team to win the state title. 

In 1926, Ney H. S., coached by Edgar Bergman, went to the state semi-finals.

Mark Center H.S. was runner up to the Waterloo Wonders in 1934. 

The only loss Farmer had in 1946 was to Edgerton and they later defeated them in a rematch, 61-23.

Leighton Fritz scored 1533 points in four years, which was  the all-time Defiance County record.

Farmer High School no longer exists, but Worthington has grown considerably. 

Bigelow School, Farmer Township - 1921 - 1924

The Bigelow School was located in Farmer Township, 2 miles north and 2 miles west of Farmer in Section 5, at the corner of Scott and Ridenour Roads.  It was known as District #3.

 1921 - 1922

1922- 1923

Front Row - Francis Severence, Lavon Kimpel, Russell Heisler, Merl Ridenour

Second Row - Teacher, Lulu Loomis, Berniece Severence, Beatrice Vollmer, Ivan Kimpel, Roger Kimpel, Melvin Kimpel

Back Row - Trevor Mavis, Marguerite Ridenour, Martin Vollmer, Pauline Ridenour, Adrian Vollmer, Frances Heisler, Marjory Kimpel

 1924

The Plans of the Five Old Maids

Following in the footsteps of the liberated women of their day, a group of Defiance girls decided that they would never marry.  Their plan for their future was interesting, and now I wonder if they kept to their pact...

"ANTI-MARRIAGE AGREEMENT

Novel Compact Entered Into By Five Defiance Maidens.

 This agreement made and entered into this 18th day of August A.D. 1894, by and between Annette Slough, Eva Blair, Albene Daoust, Hattie Blair and Mollie Kiser, all residents of Defiance County, of Defiance, and the state of Ohio, and all being of lawful age and in sound mind, witnesseth:

That said parties, realizing the cares and responsibilities of married women, and that men of today have degenerated into mere popinjays (a vain or conceited person, pretentious and prone to idle chatter), and further realizing that our chances are mighty slim, have colluded together as follows:

That in consideration of the promises and agreements hereinafter provided, the said Slough, Blair, Daoust, Blair and Kisor, mutually agree between themselves that they will not, neither will any of them, marry any man, boy or widower, that they will forever , as long as the breath of life exists within them, eschew society of all men, whether single or married, that they will not, neither will any one of them, become engaged to any man, widow or bachelor, that they and each and all of them, promise and agree among themselves and with each other, to live and die in single blessedness. 

The contract then proceeds to say that in the year 1900, they will buy the Blout property, now occupied by O. D. Loveridge, or if not this property, some other suitable place, build an 'Old Maid's Hall,' and live together in peace and harmony.

It is further agreed that if said parties or any of them shall fail or neglect to comply with the terms of this agreement, and do marry any male, whether situated in this county or state aforesaid, or any place on this mundane sphere, that said party or parties breaking this contract, shall pay to said remaining party or parties the sum of 25 dollars, to be used by said remaining parties for mourning and habillments (clothing) of woe, and that if said parties all marry, the one last breaking the agreement shall, with the $25 penalty, buy and erect a tombstone dedicated to the buried hopes of 'Five Old Maids.' 

We do hereby jointly and severally in the name of Susan B. Anthony, Belva Lockwood, Mrs. Lease, Frances Willard and Lady Somerset, bind ourselves to this agreement.

Witness our hands the day and year aforesaid.  

Signed, Mollie Kiser, Hattie Blair, Nettie Slough, Eva M. Blair, Berna Daoust. 

In Duplicate. "

Defiance Democrat - October 12, 1898 

So, did they all never marry?  Perhaps a reader will know something about that.  And what property did they have an eye on for their Old Maid's Hall?  Oh, how I would love to know how it all played out.

Figley School, District #4, Tiffin Township - 1936 and 1937

1936

1937