Defiance County Pioneers - Joseph D. Kerr

JOSEPH D. KERR

1846 - 1902

"Joseph D. Kerr died in the Cook county hospital Friday, December 12, where he was taken.  He fell on the streets of Chicago from the effects of a paralytic stroke on December 3.  He remained in the hospital nine days.  He went to Chicago December 1 to attend the stock show, and intended to leave that city for Toledo either Thursday or Friday.  Saturday his folks here became anxious about him, but it was not until December 8,  they succeeded in finding the place where he was sick.  He was unconscious most of the time after the attack of paralysis.

Ed. Culler and L. E. Griffin went to Chicago the fore part of last week, returning home Thursday evening.  Fillmore Kerr, a brother of the deceased, left for Chicago Friday morning, but before he arrived, Joseph D. had died.  Pneumonia had set in after the paralytic stroke.  Charles Miller, the undertaker, went to Chicago, and brought the remains home Saturday night.

Joseph D. Kerr was born August 2, 1846, in Middletown, Holmes county, Ohio, and with his parents in 1857, came to Hicksville, where he for a time attended the public schools.  Afterwards he attended the normal school at Williams Center for two terms and then taught school in this vicinity for several terms.  The objection of his parents hindered his enlisting during the civil war.

For six years, commencing with 1867, he conducted a flouring mill at Lagrange, Ind.  In 1873, he came to Hicksville, and was the leading spirit in organizing the well-known firm of Kerr Bros. & Co.

In 1883, Mr. Kerr retired from this firm and took a two years' law course in the Union College of Law at Chicago.  On his return to this place in June, 1884, he was elected justice of the peace.  In 1885, he took up the practice of law.  In 1889, he formed a law partnership with James E. Coulter.

In 1857, at the time of the advent of Mr. Kerr, the village contained less than one hundred inhabitants.  The public school had an enrollment from all the territory then included in the district of less than sixty.  Not a single manufacturing plant run by any other power than the hand was in Hicksville. 

About that time, Joseph and Wesley Dowell built a saw mill over on the site of the present Lower-Goller manufacturing plant; subsequently Joseph Kerr, Sr. rented the mill of these founders and Miles Chapman and Joseph D. and his brother Thomas became the working force of the mill and gained his first knowledge of mechanical aid in labor.  Industry was the prominent trait of his character.

From childhood until death, labor was the duty of every hour.  After the burning of the grist mill at Lagrange, Joseph D., Thomas and Filmore Kerr succeeded in getting a shelter shed over an old threshing engine, a bolting saw and a cut off, and the original of the present Kerr Bros. company plant was ready to lay the foundation of wealth without a dollar in addition, save mentality and a willingness to work.  This was the beginning with Joseph D. as the mastermind that built one of the largest handle plants in the world.  While Joseph D. did not remain with the firm of Kerr Bros & Co. through all the years of its growth, yet its breadth and scope of application was covered by the plan mapped out for its future by Joseph D. - a manufacturing institution that has furnished more days labor through all its ramifications than any other labor center in the village.

Mr. Kerr was a believer that a practical education consisted in a trained mentality that could and would furnish to the possessor a support and competence for old age..  While Mr. Kerr did not escape the army of critics with their close-drawn blankets and 'better than you' step.   No family in our village was better provided for.  No more thoughtful, painstaking father and husband.  No young man ever started in life with less.  Willing hands and an honest intention to succeed was his sole capital..." 

*Joseph D. Kerr was the father of Hicksville's long-time physician, Dr. Paul Kerr.  Dr. Kerr's only sibling, Dewitt Kerr, died at a young age and was buried with his parents.  His wife was Flora Culler Kerr.

Source: Obituaries: Pioneers of Northwest Ohio, Volume I.  Carma Rowe Estate, Johnson Memorial Library.  No date. Page 44. 

Copies available at the Defiance Public Library and the Sherwood and Hicksville branches.

Defiance, Ohio! Welcome to the Gorman Minstrel Show!

 

  The Defiance Daily Crescent, October 30, 1905

From 1840 onward until about the late 1940s, ministrel shows were a form of popular entertainment as the troupes traversed from town to town.  Sometimes it was white folks in blackface and sometimes it was black folks in blackface, and yes, sometime it was a mix of the two!

Jokes, dancing, singing, and buffoonery all added to the enjoyment.  The Gorman minstrel show was one of the most well-known in the United States.  Reviews from newspapers all over the United States praised the show which had come to Defiance since at least 1890..  

The Defiance Daily Crescent promoted it this way:

"Good Singing and Dancing

Gorman Minstrels Always Noted for That.

The singing and dancing part of the Gorman's Minstrel program is indeed a happy part, teeming with all that is new in popular songs, and bristling with all that is unique and coming in dancing.  

The 'End Men' known as the funny part of the troupe of minstrels are simply bubbling over with side splitting jokes and 'misunderstandings.'  They are especially prepared with parodies on the latest topical songs of the day, which are always expected and looked forward to with intense interest in a Minstrel performance and our people can rest assured that in Gorman's Minstrels, every expectation will be more than fully realized.

The Minstrels will be seen on our streets at noon, and in open air concert at 7:00 in the evening in front of the Opera House.  Monday, Nov. 2nd."

Minstrel Show Blackface Comedy - Bing video

James McKellip - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

James McKellip

Born about 1847 in Noble Township to parents, David and Mary Anne McKellip, James was their second child.  His father, born in Vermont, was a farmer, and his mother kept house and raised at least five children.

When he was 18, he decided to enlist in Company F of the 198th Regiment, Ohio Infantry.  This unit was formed in February, 1865, at Camp Chase and James enlisted on February 7 for a one year term.  

However, the war was just about over, and the group never deployed anywhere before the Confederacy surrendered.

The whole unit mustered out on May 8, 1865.

But, James was a veteran and a part of the Bishop Post of the G.A.R.

Pension card for James McKellips

James came home and lived with his parents again, and that's where he was found in the 1870 census of Defiance.  James, 23, was there with his brother, Andrew and sisters, Mariam and Elizabeth, and parents, David and Mary Anne.

Three marriages were a part of James' life.  He first married Julia/Mary? Dixon on February 9, 1871, but they divorced, and, he married Lucinda Frazee on February 8, 1875. Another divorce.  His last marriage was to Emma McKellips, and it was quite a scandal for the times because Emma was the wife of James' brother, Andrew.

This notice appeared in the Defiance Express on April 14, 1898, p. 14:

"Andrew McKellips has filed a petition in probate court for divorce from Emma A. McKellips.  He alleges adultery, sets forth in the petition that the defendant has confessed that two of her children are the offspring of his brother, James McKellip.  Hill and Baker for the plaintiff."

After the divorce was completed, a marriage license was recorded for Emma McKellips, 44, housekeeper and daughter of Erastus Alma and Julia Eseltine, to James McKellips.  The license reported that she had been previously married and divorced and the two were not near kin or second cousins.  They were married on January 10, 1899.  The license apparently made history as it was the first in Defiance following a new law.

In the Defiance Daily Express, January 11, 1899, p. 3: 

"THE FIRST

JAMES MCKELLIP TACKLES THE NEW LICENSE LAW

James McKellip was the first to secure a marriage license under the new law in this county.  The records show that he is 52 years old and that he was born in this county and that he has been twice divorced.  He is a son of David McKellip.

The maiden name of the bride elect was Emma Alma.  She is 44 years old and was born in Seneca county, New York.  She had been married to Andrew McKellip, a brother of James, but secured a divorce from him last summer.  James McKellip has a guardian, Hon. J. F. Deatrick and his consent was given to the marriage.  The application shows that the couple expect to be married by Rev. Rhodes, of East Defiance.  It took Mr. Kellip, his guardian and attorney a good part of the afternoon Tuesday to figure out the records." 

Why James had a guardian is a question not answered. He had been in trouble with the law before.  In May of 1897, he had been locked in jail by the Marshall for being intoxicated and disorderly.  Whether this was a one time event or habitual is a question that will be answered later.

In January, 1902, he had a job sawing logs on the Butler farm, run by J. J. Osborn.  Unfortunately, he had an accident while on the job.

"TWO MEN ARE INJURED

LOG ROLLS ON FEET OF WORKMEN ON BUTLER FARM SOUTH OF TOWN

An accident in which two people had their feet severely mashed, occurred late last evening on the Butler farm south of the city.

James McKellips and a young son of Henry Gherke both living near the place where the accident occurred, were the victims.  They were employed by J. J. Osborn of this city as helpers with his log sawing machine.

Yesterday the men were buzzing wood on the lower end of the Butler farm.  At the time the accident occurred, a heavy log was being cut in two.  As the saw cut the last fiber which held it together, the two heavy pieces fell and struck both men.  McKellip had the bones in his foot crushed.  Whether they were broken is not known, as immediately after the accident, he was taken to his home in a buggy.

The boy's injuries were not as serious, but will keep him limping for a few days to come..."

 (Defiance Crescent News, January 24, 1902, p. 8)

His obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on April 5, 1917:

 

 James McKellip's records show that he was admitted to the hospital at the Sandusky Soldiers' Home on February 21, 1917, with a general disability.  He would have been 62.  His listed next of kin was Ellen McKellip, his daughter, who lived in Defiance.  He was receiving $18 a month in pension money, and he could not read or write. James was brought to Defiance for burial in Soldiers' Circle at Riverside Cemetery.

And Emma?  Emma petitioned to divorce James in August, 1909, as reported in the August 21, 1909, Daily Crescent News.  The grounds?  Habitual drunkeness. But was the divorce finalized?  In July, 1902, he transferred a partial lot 34 to her for $1 and love and affection.  Love - it's complicated!

 Emma lived on until 1939, passing away at the age of 83.  James was named as her husband in the obituary, but not as her next of kin in the Sandusky records...

*This was a lesson in researching as one could not count on the spelling of this surname at all...McKellip, McKellips, McKellep, McKelleps, McKellipes, and so on!

Try every possible spelling.

(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!)

Hicksville High School Graduations - 1886 and 1890

 

Old Hicksville High School, but all grades were there

Our favorite Michigan flea market hunter, Mr. Doss, sent us two graduation programs from Hicksville High School, 1886 and 1890.

The class of 1886 consisted of four students, listed by the Hicksville News:

Ada I. Platter, Angie Wright, Lura E. Hamilton and M. L. Wesner

It was only the fourth annual commencement for the school, held in the Pettit Opera House, now the Huber Opera House.  In 1895, the Pettit Opera House was destroyed by fire, then rebuilt and converted into a hotel.  Eventually, through many uses and owners, it became the Huber Opera House.

In 1890, the class size had increased to five: 

Ada A. Conrad, Samuel A. Jordan, Curtis A. Overholt, Eva A. Nicholls and Minnie A. Ridenour.  In this year, the graduation was held at the Presbyterian Church on  a Thursday evening.

Finlay Strong, Early Defiance County Settler, Lawyer, Surveyor, and Civil War Soldier

 By now, his tombstone in Old Riverside Cemetery in Defiance is probably crumbled or sunken into the ground, but back in the 1970s, enough was still there to read - Finlay Strong, Mrs. A., and Miss ?   Not much and no dates were there or at least readable at that time.  The stone would have been old, as Finlay died on September 29, 1870 and his wife before him.  But he packed his life full of service to his community and nation.

When only one line appeared in the Defiance Democrat stating that Finlay Strong had died, someone protested that a life such as Finlay's should have been better represented with a full obituary...and so the complainant provided one.  His letter follows with addition information added along the way.

Defiance Democrat, October 8, 1870

"In Memoriam.

Mr. Greene

In your paper of last week was an announcement of the death of Mr. Finlay Strong

As Mr. Strong has been, for many years, a prominent citizen of our place, I have thought that his death demanded something more than a passing notice.  By giving a place in your columns to the following brief memoir, you will gratify a large circle of the friends and acquaintances o the deceased.

Mr. Strong was born in Onondaga, New York, on the 6th of December, 1810, and consequently would have been 60 years of age in a few months from his death.  He was the eldest in a family of six children and the first of the number to be called away.  His father still lives in Syracuse in his 90th year.

The subject of this notice was a graduate of Union College, then under the Presidency of the celebrated Dr. Nott. Among his classmates were the two brothers, Clarke, who has since distinguished themselves in the literary world, and with whom he has for years maintained a friendly correspondence.  Mr. Strong was a good classical scholar, and a man of fine literary tastes.  His library, though small, contained some of the choice productions of modern authors."

Finlay was the son of Oliver Ripley Strong and Margaret McLaren.  After his graduation from Union College, he headed to Cuyahoga County where he was listed in many tax records of the time.  At some point before landing in Defiance, he married his wife, Eunice, and they had three daughters, Louisa, Mary and Jannet.

"By profession, he was a lawyer, having studied for the bar in Syracuse.  He practiced law a short time in Cleveland, but concluding to come further west, he moved to Defiance in 1847, where he has since resided until the time of his death.  Here he speedily gained the confidence of the people, and was chose County Surveyor, and afterwards was elected Auditor which office he held for four years.  Subsequently, he consented to take charge of the Union Schools of this place, and occupied the position of Superintendent for two terms.

When the 111th Reg. Ohio Volunteers was formed, he was chosen Quarter Master, and went with that regiment to the field but finding the service too hard for a man of his age, he resigned after a service of 5 months."

Finlay was 51 when he enlisted into the 111th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company S, on August 13, 1862, as a First Lieutenant, soon chosen as Quarter Master. According to a history of the 111th by Thurston in 1894, their trek was not an easy one, mostly in Kentucky at the beginning.  In September, they were in Louisville, October brought Shelbyville and Frankfort. 

 On October 4th, they were on a march to Crab Orchard, Kentucky, at the base of the Cumberland Mountains where they "dogged the rebel rear guard out of the state.  From there we marched to Bowling Green, Kentucky.  We will always remember those cheerless marches, barren of results so far as we could see or know, the clouds of suffocating dust, the pitiless summer sun, the intolerable thirst which drove us to fill our canteens at horse ponds polluted by dead and dying mules."

"Then came on winter camp life, with nothing between us and the frost and snow except the sheet of canvas.  Men were packed into tents 'like sardines in a tin,' sleeping upon the ground.  Epidemics raged through the camp.  The graveyard threatened to become more popular than the camp itself; and when spring came, over 200 men out of the original 1,000 had died or been discharged because of physical disability.  Never in the history of the regiment was the mortality as great in the same length of time."

So Finlay Strong, as one of the older soldiers, was discharged from service on a surgeon's certificate of disability. One can only imagine his condition when he made his way home to Defiance.

"For the last seven years of his life, Mr. Strong occupied the position of Mail Agent on the Eastern Division of the Toledo and Wabash Road, shortly after leaving the Road, hewas attacked by the disease that ended his life on the 29th day of September, 1870.

Mr. Strong was a man of mild temperament, and gentle and unassuming in his manners.  He was a Christian in faith, whose life gave evidence of the sincerity of his profession.  A member of the Presbyterian church of this place, in which he held the office of Ruling Elder.  He was an early and earnest friend of the temperance cause. A consistent man in all the walks of life.  A loving husband and father, a kind neighbor, and a good citizen.

Sustained in his sickness by an unfaltering trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, he passed away in the full assurance of that 'crown immortal,' which our Savior has promised to those who are faithful to the end."

Finlay wrote his will on July 2, 1870, before his death in September.  The will was short and to the point. Probated on October 3, 1870, he simply left all he had to his surviving daughters, Mary Strong and Janet Strong.  The will suggested that his wife, Eunice, and daughter, Louisa, had preceded him in death.  However, Eunice's short death notice appeared in the Defiance Democrat on November 30, 1872, page 3 : 

"Died - On Friday, November 22, Mrs. Eunice A., a widow of the late Finlay Strong, aged 52."

So she may have been ill in mind or body at the time of her husband's death, and the remaining daughters were to care for her.  Perhaps there are other speculations, too.

Broken Promises - Walters and Weihn

 "CALLIE WEIHN TELLS HOW LENHART WALTERS

POPPED THE QUESTION.

This morning the case of Caroline Weihn vs. Lenhart Walters was brought before Judge Sutphen.  The case is an interesting one, as it is a suit for $5,000, alleged breach of promise.  The principals live just north of Mark Center, Mr. Walter living with his father on an 80 acre farm owned by the latter, while Miss Weihn is the daughter of poor but respected people, living near Mark Center.  The plaintiff was represented by Messrs. Harris & Cameron and Newbegin, while J. E. Coulter acted as the defendant's attorney.

Miss Weihn was the first witness.  Her testimony was of little importance until it reached the point where, as she alleges, Walters popped the question.  In speaking of his visits to her, she said that he asked her on the 20th of November and the 4th of December.  The testimony was as follows:

Q. What did he say on the 20th?

A. He ask me to be his wife.

Q. I am asking you to give his language.  Now what did he say?  Just repeat his language.

A. He wanted to know what about us getting married.

Q. Were those the words he used?

A. Yes, sir.

On the 4th of December, she alleges he asked her again and gives his exact words as follows.

Q. What did he say to you at that time - the exact words?

A. He ask me to be his wife and he would take me up home for a long year and get me a pair of rubber boots to wear out in the mud.

Mrs. Weihn followed, testifying that her daughter had informed her that the proposal had been made and that in anticipation of the even, she purchased a $10 feather bed, six quilts, valued at $6, $2 worth of glassware, two pillows for $4, a $5 bedstead and a $9 set of dishes.

J. W. Weihn and Jacob Weihn, brothers of the plaintiff and Jacob Kisbet followed and closed for the plaintiff.  Lenhart Walters and Lewis Carey were examined for the defense and court adjourned.  Walters denined ever proposing and contradicted all of Miss Weihn's statements.  Carey's testimony was not of much importance.  The defense will probably finish the examination of its witness this afternoon and the arguments will be heard tomorrow."

(Defiance Daily Express, October 30, 1888, p. 4)

The next day, October 31, 1888, the Defiance Daily Express printed the conclusion of this case.

"SHE RECEIVES DAMAGES.

The witnesses examined in the Weihn - Walters breach of promise suit yesterday were John Heirs, John Walters, the defendant's brother, Nicholas Walters, the father, and Jacob Stradeker. 

John Walters testified that the plaintiff's brother came to his (Walter's) residence and asked why the defendant did not keep his promise. Walters told Mr. Weihn that if she was going to marry Lenhart, she was making a big mistake as he loved her more.

Mr. Newbegin opened the argument for the plaintiff.  Mr. Coulter conducted the case for the defendant and Cameron closed for the plaintiff.  The jury was out half an hour and returned a verdict of $150 damages for the plaintiff.  A CRESCENT reporter this morning saw the ring which Walters gave Miss Weihn.  It is a thin band of nickle worth probably a quarter."

Membership, 2022! Defiance County Genealogical Society

 

What a year it was! Most of us went into a sort of hibernation, trying to avoid getting sick.  Our DCGS meetings stopped, and we just stayed away from each other.  Even though we are supposedly not done with Covid totally, we are going to get going this year!  

DCGS plans to resume our meetings on October 25, 2021, for a celebration of First Families.  We will meet at our usual venue, the St. John United Church of Christ, parking in the parking lot next to the Defiance College gym.  The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m, with masks and social distancing recommended.

We meet on the 4th Monday of each month except for August and December.

On Monday, November 22, Cara Bolley will join us from the Defiance Public Library to show us how the MakerSpace can be of use to genealogists.  She is bringing some equipment and will show us how it all works. 

Last year, we did not collect dues, but this year we are starting anew.  We encourage new members or returning members to join us this year for 2022.  

Dues are $15 or individuals and $18 for families.  In addition, if you would like your newsletters mailed through the USPS (as opposed to emailed), we would ask you to add $5 to your dues to cover printing and postage.

An application for membership is posted here for printing in Word or .pdf -

http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/join.html

Please send to DCGS, PO Box 7006, Defiance, OH 43512.

We are always looking for folks who would like to serve as officers or who would take on a project.  Please note if you are interested on your application!