Bible Found at Auglaize Village

A very old Bible in the hands of Auglaize Village has interesting pages detailing the births, deaths, and marriages in the Peter and Catharine (Landis) Zellers family.

The Bible pages were contributed through T. Speiser and R. Casler for an appearance on the blog.  Maybe some of you will recognize these names.  

A transcription of those names follows:

BIRTHS

 Peter Zellers.  Born June 21st, 1804

Catharine Landis. Born Sept. 12th, 1809

Mary A. Zellers. Born Aug. 24th, 1830

Sarah A. Zellers.  Born July 25th, 1832 

Joseph Zellers.  Born Nov. 24th, 1835

Catharine Zellers. Born May 10th, 1837

John D. Zellers.  Born Sept. 11, 1840

Peter Zellers. Born April 1st, 1842

Viola Zellers.  Born March 24, 1845

Amanda Zellers.  Born July 2,1847

MARRIAGES

 Peter Zellers Married To

Catharine Landis.  Nov. 5th, 1829.

Mary A. Zellers Married To 

John Partee.  Jan. 14th, 1851

Sarah A. Zellers Married To

Elias Bruner.  Feb. 17th, 1861 

Catharine Zellers Married To

Obediah Partee.  Aug. 25th, 1866

Viola E. Zellers Married To

Francis A. Manchester.  Oct. 21st 1866

DEATHS

Joseph Zellers.  Died Jan. 27th, 1836

John D. Zellers.  Died Jan. 11th, 1840 

 

John Widmer - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Born in Switzerland, John Widmer was the child of immigrants, Jacob and Anna Widmer who arrived in America in 1854.  John, born in October, 1845, was but a child. The family was settled in Defiance by the 1860 Federal Census that revealed Jacob's occupation as a stone mason.  On this census, the surname was spelled Whitmore (not an uncommon mistake) and young John was referred to as Jacob.  A little sister, Maria, aged 7, completed the motherless family.

On January 18, 1864, when he was 18 years old, John enlisted in the reorganized 38th O.V.I, Company D.  The regiment was just mustering out as a three year unit and they were resting on a furlough home. Then some men were reenlisting to fight as a veterans' group; this was the regiment for John.

The group was sent to Ringgold, Georgia, and they were eventually involved in fighting at Jonesboro.  They continued to follow General Sherman into the Carolinas until war's end.  The regiment participated in the Grand Review in Washington and then traveled back to Louisville, Kentucky. where they mustered out on July 12, 1865.

Strangely, John Widmer was also Whitmore on his pension card where that name was called an alias.  Sometimes if a clerk misunderstood a name and misspelled it upon enlistment, the mistake just repeated itself in all the paperwork along the way until corrected.  So the alias name is always mentioned just in case some paperwork missed correction.  John Widmer was also Whitmore on the roster for his regiment that was published at the end of the war.

Upon returning to Defiance, he married Caroline Houck on March 28, 1869.  Children followed, beginning in 1870: John Edward (1870), William Henry (1872), George Charles (1880), Bennie C. (1884), and Mary E. (1880).  Bennie died in 1896 of pneumonia.  His funeral was held at home and then at the St. Johannes Reform Church.

In the years after the war, John established himself in the saloon business.  On March 31, 1878, the Defiance Democrat printed the Defiance Fire Chief's Report for the first three months of that year, and included in that was mention of a catastrophic fire in Widmer's saloon.  It was located in a rented building from Elizabeth Kunz.

"The next fire was November 28h, at about 10 1/2 P.M.  The alarm was sounded when the fire was found to be in the one story frame building of Elizabeth Kunz, on the East side of Clinton street, adjoining the Russell House on the North.  The building was occupied by John Widmer as a saloon.

The Department was promptly on the ground, and although the entire building was in flames when the boys got to work, the adjoining buildings were saved with but slight damage.  The cause of the fire here was supposed to be a defective flue.

The total loss of this fire footed up $1,393 on which insurance was paid of $1,133, as follows: Elizabeth Kunz loss $400, Insurance paid full $400; John Widmer loss on stock &c. $470, insurance paid on same $352; George H. Brown loss on building $383, Insurance paid in full $383; loss on Russell House estimated at $100; and as yet unsettled, as the proprietor claims a heavy loss by the cracking of the north wall.  This building was insured.  For services at this fire the boys are entitled to very great credit."

 In the 1880 census, the Widmer family live on Ralston Road in Noble Township and John 33, worked in a beer bottling works.  He was around for the 1890 Veterans Census, reporting his alias as John Whitman.  No disability was reported for him after two years, five months and eighteen days in the war. 

Newspapers reported that from at least 1891 - 1897, John cut and hauled ice, possibly with several of his sons.  By January 15, 1891, for example, he had put up 125 tons of ice to sell.  According to city directories of the time, he was also running his saloon.
  
In 1892, the Defiance Daily Crescent of October 27, reported a big surprise party held for John Widmer:

"JOHN WAS SURPRISED

Last evening at the home of John Widmer on High Street, North Defiance, was the scene of a lively time.  The occasion being Mr. Widmer's forty seventh birthday.  About 75 of his friends called on him and gave him a very agreeable surprise.  The evening was spent in games and dancing, and an elegant supper was served.  Gessner's orchestra was present and rendered some elegant music for the jolly crowd.  Mr. Widmer was presented with a beautifully engraved cane and an elegant smoking set."

The Widmer family suffered from fire again in 1898 when their house caught fire.  The Defiance Express noted the event on September 15, 1898:

"BAD FIRE

Home of John Widmer Wrecked Tuesday

The fire department was called to the residence of John Widmer, in North Defiance, at 9 a.m. Tuesday and though the boys made a brilliant run and worked hard, the house was badly wrecked and is practically a total loss.  

The fire started from a gasoline stove which exploded.  The spread of the fire was so rapid and the flames so fierce that Mrs. Widmer, who was alone, had to run to the home of a neighbor to turn in the alarm.  Mrs. Widmer's clothing was saved and some of the house hold goods, but the latter were damaged.

The loss on the house is put at from $2,000 to $2,500.  There was $1,000 insurance on the house and $100 on the household goods.  Mr. Widmer's vest was hanging in the bath room.  The vest and $35 in one of the pockets was burned.

Mr. Widmer but recently completed an addition to the house at a cost of $500.  His lost will be quite heavy despite his insurance.  The fire boys did good work, but the run was too long and the fire too far advanced to have done more than they did do."

By 1900, the year of his death, the Widmer family lived at the corner of Van Buren and High Streets, and John, 54, worked as an ice hauler.  Sons William H, 28, worked as a cigar maker and George C., 19, was a day laborer. 
 

Defiance Crescent-News, October 5, 1900

 Many sources conflicted on birth and death dates.  Obituaries and tombstone dates clashed as did grave registration records. 

(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!)

Vacation

Time for a writing break!  The blog and I will be on vacation for about the next month.  Expect us back around the last of August.  
Time to refresh and research!

Gotcha! The Slasher -Smasher is Apprehended

On the evening of December 16, 1934, Eugene Booher was picked up by Chief Karl Weaner and Brad W. Chaffin, wandering coatless on Fifth Street.  He had run away from the home where he lived as a foster child.  He came originally from an orphanage in Detroit.  It wasn't the first time that Eugene had been questioned about the events of summer 1934, but this time, he decided to confess to it all.

 The Crescent-News of December 18, 1934, headlined the capture and confession.

"Last summer's terrorist who stabbed four women, clubbed two others and shot another, today was merely a conscience-stricken 16 year old orphan boy who is glad he made a clean breast of it all.

Weeping one moment and emotionless the next, Eugene Booher, 1102 Perry street, smiles when he thinks it is all over and sheds tears when he wonders 'what will Mom think when she reads it in the paper.'

 He was sent to Columbus for a mental evaluation and then to the state hospital in Lima. While there, he and Herman Groty, 65, a trustee, escaped.  Groty's brother, who worked in the dining room, procured milkman uniforms for the two and they walked out right past the guards.

They were eventually captured about Christmas time near Beavercreek, Ohio.  Booher had frosted feet and was very hungry when found and returned.
His future beyond that is unknown to this writer.

The Defiance "Slasher" - 1934, Victims 6 and 7

In August, 1934, the "slasher" added two more victims: first, Mrs. Ethel Ansley and then Miss Mabel Kronz.

Mrs. Ethel Ansley, 20, was stabbed on August 1 on the Hopkins Street, Auglaize river bridge at about 10 p.m. where she was walking with Miss Edna Reed, 17.  The attacker actually passed the girls and then circled back to stab Mrs. Ansley in the back. The Crescent-News of August 3, 1934, reported:

"Although her back is sore, Mrs. Ansley had practically recovered today at the home of Mrs. Ray Stitsel, 639 Emmett street, where she is employed as a housekeeper.  She came here three weeks ago from Bryan.  Physicians considered her wound minor.  Had the knife blade entered slightly lower and pierced deeper, it would have been a serious wound.  It struck below her right shoulder blade."

**At this point, police connected only this attack and the Rosemary Mansfield attack with the "slasher."  They thought the method of attack differed with the other three attacks, so they weren't convinced that they were looking for just one man.  Then attack number 7 happened.

On August 24, Mabel Kronz was stabbed in an alley near the Mansfield Funeral Home, and that was the last attack of that summer.  By that time " a steam powered wildcat whistle was set up at the Defiance Milk Products company plant to be blown as a signal for the man-hunters to assemble."  The attacks on women stopped, but the city still was bothered by someone who was constantly breaking windows.  

As it turned out, one man was responsible for it all. 

The Defiance "Slasher" - Victim 5

A fifth attack crossed the line with the citizens of Defiance.  Not only were some vigilante groups formed, but organizations jumped into the search for this bold attacker after a fifth incident near the library.  The Crescent-News reported on June 13, 1934:

"Determined that the Defiance eluder-stabber might be caught, members of the American Legion and Lions Club today entered the hunt for the slender, dark-haired youth who Tuesday afternoon on Fort Street slashed Miss Rosemary Mansfield, daughter of attorney and Mrs. Victor Mansfield...

Miss Mansfield was recovering today at the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Mansfield, 425 Holgate Avenue.  Four stitches were required to close the wound which was over her right shoulder.  The victim's father arrived early today from Louisville, Ky. where he is an attorney for the federal land bank...

Spurred by public indignation that swept the community after the bold attack, all local law enforcement agencies, aided by a large number of volunteer workers, spent the entire night in rounding up any suspicious characters.  Eleven of those were held in the city jail.  Ten were released as impossible suspects, while the eleventh, from whom a large knife was taken, was detained for further investigation. A twelfth suspect who was picked up today was released after he had been saved by witnesses.

ATTACKED AT 3:30 P.M.

 The attack occurred at 3:30 Tuesday afternoon on Fort Street, as Miss Mansfield, in company with her sister, Kathleen, 15, and Miss Julia Rex, 16, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Rex, approached the Carnegie Public Library.  The trio were about half-way between the alley and Jefferson Avenue on the walk that passes the Leo Tustison residence when their assailant approached.  The slasher was described as a slender youth with dark hair combed pompadour.  He wore a blue work shirt with dark trousers.  After kniving the girl, the assailant continued east on the Fort Street sidewalk with a peculiar running gait, described as a lope.  The stabber turned south on the sidewalk on the west side of Jefferson Avenue to the attorney, R. H. Sutphen, corner and turned west on First Street."

**None of the girls saw the attacker's face, but they thought they could recognize him from his gait.  Mrs. C. S. May, 112 Jefferson Avenue, saw the man run onto First St. and Herman Steffel, a delivery wagon driver, also confirmed the descriptions given.  

"Meanwhile Miss Rosemary and her two companions ran screaming in the porch of the Leo O. Tustison home.  Getting no immediate response, they hurried to the Ralph W. Peters home near there.  Mrs. Peters, attracted by the screaming, had just reached the front door.  She took them inside.  Then she drove the victim to a physician office and returned to take the other two girls to their home."

**A crowd gathered, all talking of the girl's safety.  Police and volunteers began the search, especially focusing on garages and vacant buildings, but could find no trace of the attacker.
Miss Mansfield felt that should could identify the attacker, if found.

The Defiance "Slasher" - 1934, Victim 4

Another June 1st attack doubled police efforts to find the assailant or assailants "who have terrorized the city."  The Crescent-News of June 2, 1934, splashed news of the fourth attack on the front page.

"Mrs. Henry Hasch, 61, 1137 Emery Street, was the latest victim.  She was hit on the head with some blunt instrument as she answered a rap at her back door Friday night about 9 o'clock.

Mrs. Hasch last night received a half inch gash in her scalp above and somewhat in front of her left ear.  She was stunned for a few seconds during which her assailant ran through the side yard and across Emery street.  Then she ran screaming to the sidewalk.  Dale Rosendaul, who lives the next house south, had just driven into the garage.  He took Mrs. Hasch to a physician and notified police.  Severity of the blow was attested by the large lump on Mrs. Hasch's head.  She suffered from shock, but today was reported recovering...

Mrs. Hasch is the widow of the late Henry Hasch, who died last March.  She has lived alone in the Emery street house ever since, except for the time she has spent with relatives.  She had just returned Sunday from a week with relatives in Toledo.

Last night she visited Riverside Cemetery during the early evening.  After her return home, she had locked the barn at the rear of her lot and had been in the house only a few minutes when she heard a knock at the front door.  Approaching the door, she saw a fairly well dressed man with light shirt, dark trousers and long black hair.  She opened the screen and without a word, he hit her.

Whether the attacker used a broom handle found near by or a rock or a blackjack could not be determined.  No footprints could be found in the garden which extends from close to the house to the barn."


Police were still not convinced that they were dealing with the same attacker because there were some discrepancies in the description.  However, many citizens believed that a "demented" man was at large, preying upon women.