School District No. 8, Hicksville Twp., Defiance Co., Ohio, 1911

School District No. 5

Hicksville Twp., Defiance Co., O.

Sada E. Bender, Teacher

Pupils

Mildred Brown

Della Shull

Loie Morris

Elsie Brown

Elma Shull

Everett Brown

Lavon Timbrook

Elmer Brown

Charles Brown

William Brown

James Brown

Glen Morris

Crasten Brown

Fay Timbrook

Royal Timbrook

Arden Shull

Guy Shull

Melvin Miller

O. P. Bevington, Supt.

William Timbrook, Sub-Director

School Board

George Sholl, President

George Henning

William Miller

George Batchelor

Henry Bruggeman

Jacob H. Robertson - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

This photo was identified as Jacob Robinson on the old GAR photo from the 1910 era.  But that name led to a dead end until I realized that this was actually John Robertson!  His name was spelled from Robinson to Robterson to Robertson on the censuses of Tiffin Township, Defiance County.  In one of the Virginia censuses including his parents and siblings, three versions of the spelling appeared in one entry.  This made John H. a problem at first!

A visit to the 1890 veterans census was enlightening as his name was crossed off with CONF. written next to it.  Yes, he was a private in Company A, 35th Virginia Cavalry, White's Battalion or White's Rebels.  His service of 42 days found him as a POW at least once briefly.

The Commemorative Biographical Record of Northwestern Ohio, 1899 had this to say about Jacob H. Robertson:

"This gentleman has for almost a quarter of century been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Defiance County.  He is a native of the Old Dominion, born March 3, 1844, in Loudoun County, Virginia, a son of Seth and Christine (Mason) Robertson, the former who is a native of Loudoun County, the latter of Fauquier County, in the same state.  They died in the former county, honored and respected by all who knew them.  By occupation, the father was a miller and millwright."

In 1850, Jacob was enumerated on the census with his parents and siblings: Betsy, 15 (probably Matilda Elizabeth, who later lived with and kept house for Jacob in Ohio), Jane, 13, Mary and Jacob, both 8.  It could be that they were twins.  In this entry, among the family members, both Robertson and Robinson were used as the surname.  Both of Jacob's parents died by 1859, so in 1860, Jacob worked out as a farm laborer for the Ben Brown family at the age of 16.

The Commemorative Record continued:

" The subject of this sketch, who is the youngest in the family of five children, was reared and educated in his native county.  During the Civil War, he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fifth Virginia Battalion of Cavalry, C.S.A. and served three months, being honorably discharged at the end of that time on account of physical disability, as he was seriously wounded during an engagement in Loudoun county. 

 In the War of the Rebellion, Formal Report by the U.S. War Department, Brig. Gen John W. Gray wrote of a battle near Wheatlands, VA on October 22, 1862.  He wrote: 
"Of prisoners, we took 2 officers and 20 men.  Of these, Jacob H. Robertson was so badly wounded that I paroled him."

The Commemorative Record continued: 

"On leaving home at the age of twenty years, Mr. Robertson came to Ohio, and for ten years engaged in farming in Seneca county.  In 1875 he removed to Defiance county and located in Tiffin township, where he bought eighty acres of land, to the cultivation and improvement of which he at once turned his attention.  As his financial resources increased, he added to the original purchase one hundred and twenty acres, and now has one of the best and most highly cultivated farms in the township.

1890 Defiance County Plat Map, Section 24

 The Commemorative Record continued:

"In Seneca county, Mr. Robertson married October 19, 1876, to Miss Minerva Berger, who was born and raised in that county and died March 16, 1881, aged thirty-three years, six months, four days leaving two children: Edgar M., born September 14, 1877, and Howard E., born April 17, 1880.  They lost one son, Worth D. (B for Berger), who died in infancy."

The obituary of Edgar Mayo Robertson revealed that his mother, Minerva, died when he was three years old.  No obituary could be found for her.  So, in 1881, Jacob was left with three year old Edgar and an infant to raise.  Perhaps this was why his unmarried sister, Elizabeth, came to live with the family.  

Defiance Crescent News, September 10, 1937

 In 1900, Elizabeth, Jacob's sister, was identified as a housekeeper in the census.  She was 65 at that time.  Edgar, 22, single, and Howard E., also single, both lived at home.  By 1910, the boys were grown and gone, and Jacob, 65, lived with sister, Matilda E. (Elizabeth?) who was then 75.

Photo from the Commemorative Record

The Commemorative Record continued:

" Mr. Robertson uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Populist party, and takes a commendable interest in political affairs.  As one of the leading and representative citizens of his township, he has been called upon to serve in a number of local positions of honor and trust, the duties of which he most ably performed."

Jacob Robertson died on August 7, 1920 in Defiance County.  He was buried at the Webb Cemetery, which is now called the Noble and Tiffin Cemetery. Buried with him were his sister, Elizabeth, and infant son, Worth Berger.

 

Images are from findagrave.com

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

Washington Township High School - Class of 1944

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL - CLASS OF 1944

TOP ROW, L to R: Burl E. Snorf, Faculty

Rita Hankish, Faculty

Dale O. Sander, Prin.

Richard Gisler, Agri. June Wilsburg, Faculty

Second Row from Top: Robert Mack

Howard Zipfel - V. Pres.

June Hageman - Pres.

Pauline Stratton - Secy-Treas.

Marvin Crites

Third Row from Top: Burton Carver

Norma Jean Timmerman

Kenneth Beattie

Mary Schriner

Calvin Bergman

Pauline Karlstadt

Bottow Row: Joe VanWagner

Howard Anderson

Elaine Smith

Ned Mack

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Methodist and Presbyterian Cemetery, Defiance

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 punc
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)

Methodist and Presbyterian Cemetery

(Defunct Cemetery, now referred to just as the Presbyterian Cemetery) 

1. Name: Methodist and Presbyterian Cemetery

2. Location: 

On the western bank of the Auglaize River near the Hopkins Street Bridge, just three blocks south of Ohio 15, 18, and 281.

3. Caretaker: Trustees of the Presbyterian Church

4. Description: 

It consists of ten acres of ground on the high bank of the river.  This graveyard was the first plotted in the county.  It is not a well kept cemetery and overgrown with weeds.

5. First burial:  Daughter of Robert Shirley, 1823

6. Important persons:

This cemetery is said to be the resting place of Captain Logan, a famous Indian who joined the American forces under General Harrison and was later killed near Turkey Foot Creek.

7. Unusual markers:  None.

8. Unusual epitaphs:  None

9. This cemetery is not used for new burials.

Harold Pugh, Editor

Mr. Al. Young, R. R. #4, Defiance, Ohio

 (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.)

 

Dickey School - 1908

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column, "A Backward Glance."

This undated article featured the students and teachers of the Dickey School, located two miles east of Sherwood, in 1908.  The photo was submitted by Rev. E. H. Joost and the students were identified.

"Front row (left ot right) are Alvin Miller, Bracie Sponseller, Fred Kline, Roscoe Etchie, Roy Saylor, Ernest Joost, Vernie Sponseller, Clarence Kuhl, Purl Schliesser, Ola Fraker, and Alwine Miller.

Back row (left to right) Pearl Sponseller, Hazel Goshia, Gertrude Limbaugh, Rose Etchie, Emmett A. Clingermann (teacher), Ruth Saylor, Grover Kline, Charles Kuhl, and William Saylor."

George J. Solly - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Born in Kent, England, on October 15, 1847, George Solly (Solley) immigrated to the United States in 1856, as he reported to the census, or 1857, the date on the ship, the John Bright, list.  He came with his parents, John and Mary, and sister, Jane. The family settled in New York where they were enumerated on the 1860 and 1870 censuses.

When George was only 17, he enlisted in Company I, 61st Regiment, New York Infantry. The muster rolls of New York indicated his enlistment was on October 8, 1864.  This would have been right before his birthday on October 15, so by the time he reached the company in Virginia, he probably would have been of age.  

New York Civil War Muster Roll for the 61st Infantry

 The above copy of the New York muster roll named George and gave a detailed description of the teenager who was 5 foot, 3.5 inches with gray eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion.  But the biggest surprise was his occupation - brewer!  At 17.  

George caught up with his company in Virginia and engaged in some battles there, most notably Petersburg and the pursuit to Appomatox where Lee finally surrendered in April, 1865. The 61st then marched to Washington, D.C. before the mustering out on July 14, 1865.

 
By 1869, George, 22, had married Julia, a New York born girl of about 17, and they were enumerated in the 1870 census in Victor, Ontario County, NY.  They lived with the Milo Webster family and worked for them.  George was a farm laborer and Julia, a domestic servant.  At some point before 1875, Julia died, and George remarried to Rachel Frederick in Paulding County, Ohio. 

In 1880, George (Sollely) and Rachel were settled in Auglaize Township in Paulding County.  At that time, George was 29 and farming, along with helping to raise two young sons - Alfred 2, and Richard, 5 months.  It was 1900 before the census person found the family in Defiance, but they could have moved there much sooner. George could not be located on the 1890 Veterans Census which would have helped determine his residence.

Newspapers indicated that he had been a storekeeper and a rural postman in the past.  In 1888, one paper noted that "George Solley has thawed out and is "on the warpath" selling the Triumph steam washer."  So although listed as a farmer, he also had some side jobs.

 In 1900, George and Rachel had all four of their children at home.  Richard, 20 and divorced, worked as a day laborer, while John, 18, was a printer.  Mary, 11, and Mamie, 9, were at school.  Where was Alfred?  Rachel reported on this census that she had four children and all four were living.  On this census, George listed no occupation at the age of 53.  Was he ill?

On September 26, 1905, George was admitted to the Old Soldiers Home in Sandusky, Ohio.  The records revealed that George had a myriad of health problems, the most serious related to his heart. His next of kin was noted to be Rachel Solly, born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on September 26, 1843.  At someone's request, he was discharged on August 14, 1906. It appeared he had a second stay there later, discharged on July 14, 1921. 

In 1910, he and Rachel lived alone in Defiance Township, still with farming as an occupation, but the 1920 census indicated they had moved to Defiance.  By the time of Rachel's death in January, 1924, the couple lived at 1056 Grove Street.  The Crescent News published Rachel's obituary on January 3, 1924.

George, 83, left alone, moved in as a lodger with Mary C. Wilder, 45, a widow and her two daughters, Florence and Lucille.  This is where the census taker found him in 1930.  George lived until June 3, 1934, age almost 87.  His death certificate indicated he died of a cerebral hemorrhage and arteriosclerosis.  His daughter, Mary McKellips, of 1012 Sunday Street was the informant.  The veteran soldier was buried with his wife in Riverside Cemetery.

Crescent News, June 8, 1934

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

Ney - Washington Township School - 1920 and 1924

District #5, the Ney - Washington Township School, had a Primary section.  This photo is thought to be from about 1920.  All of these students had one teacher.

None identified.

These are the high school students from the Ney - Washington Township School, District #5, in Ney from about 1924.

Bottom Row, 2nd from Right: Edgar Bergman
Top Row, Extreme Right: Clifford Koeppe?

If you could help with any identification, please comment!