A Drunken Fight Ends Badly in Delaware Bend - June 1911

 

When the enumerator for the Federal Census entered the village of Delaware Bend in 1910, he found the John P. Wagner family with a paid for home and a lively family of five children at home. 

Johan Peter Wagner, a son of German immigrants, and his wife Mary A. Gillium (Guilliaume), of French descent, were 48 and 45 years old, respectively then. Their oldest children, sons Millard and Oddie Orville had moved out.

Left at home in 1910 were Ethel, 18; Mabel, 16;  Clarence, 13, Marybell, 10 and Beatrice, 5. Father John worked as a carpenter on houses, and he and Mary had been married twenty-five years. The Wagners were a well-established family in the area. 

On Wednesday, July 3, 1911, their lives changed forever. The first reports appeared in the paper before the coroner had finished his inquest: 

"VIOLENT DEATH

INFLICTED IN FIGHT NEAR DELAWARE BEND

While returning to Delaware Bend from Sherwood on Monday evening...John Wagner received injuries from which he died on Wednesday evening. Little can be learned of the exact circumstance, but what can be seems to be as follows:

Al Birkmier was at Sherwood with a load of grain and Wagner left town riding on Birkmier's wagon. Some time after this, the latter appeared at The Bend and going to the residence of Rev. Father Thies, told him he had injured Wagner.

Father Thiess got up a relief party and went out along the road and found Wagner with his skull crushed. He never regained consciousness...

Birkmier is now in jail at Defiance but has little to say bearing on the subject and probably won't have until the hearing....'"

(Hicksville Tribune, July 13, 1911)

The above article appeared long after the facts had been ascertained by the coroner and his parade of witnesses that included Carl Fahy, Frank Anderson, Father Thies, Frank Limbaugh, J. P. Eiser, Dr. Reynolds and Dr. Lindersmith, Frank Shindler, and Mrs. Charles Anthony.

Frank Shindler helped set the scene for the tragedy. His testimony was printed in the Defiance Daily Crescent-News on July 11, 1911:

"...on the evening of July 3rd, I (Frank) met Berkmier at Sherwood with a load of sacks; invited me to ride home, got on the wagon, so did Wagner; stopped at Holzer's saloon where Berkmier said he had business and went in, leaving Wagner and myself in the wagon; there were ten or twelve bundles of sacks, some groceries and sugar and some loose lumber, the length of hay racks, in the wagon.

Wagner laid down on the sacks in the rear of the wagon. Berkmier remained in the saloon an hour and I got tired of holding his horses and waiting on him and left the team and walked home along the track. Wagner was lying on the sacks when I left; late in the night I was awakened by Berkmier who came into my house and said, 'Lou, go with me up the road. Jack (John) and I got into a fight; the last time I hit him he was standing up, and he fell off the wagon...he said that Wagner had thrown off his sacks, and that he had caught him as he threw off the last bundle; he then grabbed the sugar when Berkmier said he stopped him."

Berkmier told Shindler that he unhooked the team and both got off the wagon in front of the Anthony house and they had a couple fights. He hooked the wagon back up, but Wagner came at him again, so he hit Wagner so that Wagner fell off the wagon.

Mrs. Charles (Susie) Anthony, who lived two miles west of Delaware Bend, about a one and one-half miles from Sherwood, testified that she was in bed and heard the wagon because her dog barked. She heard someone strike something several times, and heard:

"A man exclaimed, D-- You! You would throw my sacks off the wagon...saw the man walk to the head of the horses and put off the neck yoke, saw this distinctly... that the team was about a hundred feet from the door; that she had a clear, unobstructed view...she heard the rattle of the rings in the neck yoke as he put it back in its place; he then got on the wagon and drove off. "

Susie Anthony didn't know what had happened until the next day when Jake Sailor and Henry Foss of Sherwood came to investigate. Then they saw two pools of blood in the road. Berkmier came to find out what she had heard the night before, but she would not answer his questions,

Dr. Lindersmith was called between 11 and midnight that night to attend to Wagner, finding him lying on the east side of the road, breathing hard. Berkmier showed up and commented that he had to do it.

That was the extent of his explanation at that point.

The body was taken to the Wagner house where Dr. Reynolds was also called. They tried to operate on the head wound, but found the skull fractured. They determined that the wound could not have been caused by a fall, but rather by a pommeling by a blunt instrument, in this case the heavy neck yoke.

On July 20, the Coroner's findings appeared in the Defiance Daily Crescent News on page 1:

"Coroner E. E. K. Chapman has filed his findings in the Berkmier case. His findings are that John Wagner came to his death through violence at the hands of Albert Berkmier, of his own admission, producing a fracture of the temporal and parietal bones of the left side of the skull with accompanying and resulting compression and complication and injury to the brain so as to produce death.

The act was committed the night of July third on the road between Sherwood and the Bend. Death resulted in forty-one hours."

Albert Berkmier, Delaware Bend, was indicted for first-degree murder by the grand jury, but pled guilty to manslaughter which was allowed by the court. The penalty was one to twenty years in the penitentiary. Albert was sentenced to the full twenty years in the Ohio Penitentiary.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Spanish - American Soldiers - Private Haddie M. Warren

 

#7 Corporal Herman F. Bartells and #8 Private Haddie M. Warren

Private Haddix ("Haddie") M. Warren

Private Warren was given the name Haddix at birth, the maiden name of his paternal grandmother. His nickname, "Haddie," was used by many. Born in Defiance to parents, Isaac Nathan and Mary Ellen (Gooden) Warren sometime in 1875, he grew up with an older sister, Darcy D. Two other siblings died in early childhood. 

When he was 23, he enlisted into Company M on July 2, 1898, and was placed in the fourth squad, with Harry Vanhorn as his leader. He became sick that first winter and was discharged with a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability on January 8, 1899.

Then he became lost...

With no census records since 1880 in Defiance, no obituary or place of burial found anywhere, and no mentions in the newspapers, we were left with only two pieces of information.

1. Christiana Rakestraw, a Hicksville resident, named Haddie Warren in her will as next of kin, a grandnephew. Unfortunately, no one knew where he was either in 1906.

2. In 1913, at the age of 39, he was admitted to the Home for Disabled Soldiers in Leavenworth, Kansas. He was specifically identified as a Spanish-American War veteran from Defiance, Ohio.

His disabilities included lumbago (lower back pain), enteritis (an inflammation of the small intestine/stomach/colon), and chronic bronchitis. He was admitted on April 1, 1913.

His prior residence was listed as Kansas City, Missouri at admittance, with his sister, Daisy Hogan of North Baltimore, Ohio, as contact. Haddie was described as a single man, 5'9 1/2 feet tall with a ruddy complexion and brown hair and eyes. He was discharged about four months later on September 8, 1913.

From that day, no trace has been found for him in any state and all national cemeteries have been checked. If you have information to add, please email defiancegenealogy2002@yahoo.com.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Spanish - American War Soldiers - Corporal Herman F. Bartels

 

# 7 Corporal Herman Frederich Wilhelm Bartels

Corporal Herman F. Bartels was a well-liked member of Company M, 6th O.V.I.  He enlisted as a private at the age of 22, and by November 7, 1898, had been promoted to Corporal. He was a tailor by trade, and the men generally described him as the "happy tailor."

"Herman Bartels, the practical tailor of the company, is much sought for service as we have received our uniforms, to sew the officer's stripes and lengthen and shorten the private's trousers." (Defiance Express, July 7, 1898)

"Herman Bartels, our happy tailor, is always looking for trouble and is one of us who takes things too easy to get sick." (Camp Chat, Defiance Daily Crescent, September 22, 1898)

"Herman Bartels, our happy tailor, is improving his leisure time in reading the high class literature of our regiment. So far, he has completed 'The Life of Jesse James,' Diamond Dick Jr. 'series, and is now reading the adventures of Frank Merriwell.  (Defiance Daily Crescent, October 6, 1898)

Herman was born in Defiance on January 23 1876, to Christian Wilhelm F. Bartels and Marie/ Mary S. Rieckhof. A note on a public tree (chickylava) on Ancestry noted that he was raised by the Schwable family of Defiance after he left home at 12. His father was very abusive toward him and he was forced to leave. He learned the tailoring trade at a very young age. 

When Herman came back from the Army, he was employed by the railroad as a fireman. In 1900, he lived as a single man in Lavina Stump's boarding house in Canton, Stark County; he was 23. However, by the 1910 census, he had moved to Massillon in the same county, where he lived with his wife Della and son, Clarence, age 8. He married Della Maybelle Watkins, the daughter of William and Ann (Richardson) Watkins on September 19, 1900, in Carroll County when he was 24 and she was 21. It was the first marriage for both. Clarence was born in 1904. 

It took a while to discover, but the final conclusion was that Della and  Herman divorced sometime between late 1910 and 1914. In 1922, Della remarried to George H. Williams in Ontario, Canada. George has been living in Ontario for at least fifteen days before this wedding to establish residency. She was from Cleveland. Why did they go to Canada to marry?  Here is their wedding certificate: 

(Click to enlarge.)_

Some strange things were noticed on this document. The bride was now going by Mrs. Della Watkins, calling herself a widow and using her maiden name. Someone had mistakenly written in Wm. Bartels, her former husband using one of his middle names, Wilhelm, as her father, although Ann Richardson as her mother is correct. Why the deceit?  Della died in Bedford County, PA in 1930 at the age of 51.  

In the meantime, on November 11, 1914, Herman, 37, married his second wife, Beatrice Williams, aged 20 in Dillonvale, Jefferson County. The marriage certificate verified his birth in Defiance and his occupation as a Railroader. Beatrice was the daughter of Thomas and Johanna (Ulrich) Williams.

By the Federal Census of 1920, Herman and Beatrice owned a home in Dillonvale, Jefferson County, Ohio, and Herman was a railroad engineer. They also had two sons: William F. - 3 and Howard W., 1.

Herman Bartels with sons, William Elisha and Howard Walter (Ancestry)

Even though Herman was 42, he was required to register for the World War I draft in 1918 in Jefferson County. He described himself there as tall, of medium build, with gray eyes and brown hair.

At some point, the family moved to 238 Plymouth Street in Toledo, Ohio, where they were enumerated on the 1940 census. Herman, 64, was still working 50 hours a week as a railroad engineer with a total salary of $3,000 a year. Beatrice was home with her adult sons, William, now 23, and Howard, 21. Herman was almost ready to retire.

Captioned "Bea and Herm"  (Ancestry)

,
Herman died on May 1, 1954, at the age of 78, and he was buried in Toledo Memorial Park, Sylvania, Ohio.  His obituary appeared in the Toledo Blade on that same day"

"HERMAN F. BARTELS

Herman F. Bartels, 78, of 238 Plymouth St., died today in St. Charles Hospital after a 9 month illness.

Born in Defiance, Mr. Bartels lived in Toledo 30 years. He was an engineer for the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad 44 years, retiring in 1941.

A veteran of the Spanish-American War, he was a member of the Veterans Railroad Organization, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Smithfield Lodge, F & AM, Smithfield, Ohio

Surviving are his wife Beatrice U.; sons Clarence - Bedford, William E. - Phoenix, Ariz. and Howard W., - Toledo; six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Services will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the Eggleston Meinert Mortuary. Burial will be in the mortuary. The body will be in the mortuary after noon tomorrow.

Twelve years later, Beatrice died on March 9, 1966, while living in the Toledo area. Also in the Toledo Blade:

"BEATRICE BARTELS

Mrs. Beatrice U. Bartels, 70, died today in the home of her son, Howard W. Bartels, 5859 Summit St., Sylvania.

Born in Dillonvale, O., Mrs. Bartels lived in the Toledo area since 1924. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

Also surviving are her son, William E., of San Francisco, and three grandchildren.

The body will be in the Reeb Mortuary, Sylvana, after 7 o'clock tonight. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday in the mortuary, with burial in Toledo Memorial Park."

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Delilah Hanna Ridenour and Her Husband, Elias Ridenour

 

"RIDENOUR

DELILAH, daughter of Henry and Mary Hanna, was born March 13, 1849 and died April 26, 1909, aged 60 years, 1 month and 13 days.

She was the youngest of eight children, all of whom have preceded her to the life beyond, except two sisters, one in Kansas and one in Bryan, Ohio.

She grew to womanhood at the old homestead on Prairie Creek, Washington township, Defiance county, Ohio.

She was educated in the common schools and was married to Elias Ridenour, March 21, 1868. In the same year, she and her husband went to Illinois, where they remained five years and then returned to Ohio, locating on the farm in Mark township, where they lived until her death. She was baptized in 1873 and ever afterwards tried to live, as she believed she should.

She was the mother of six children, one of whom died in infancy, the others, with her husband ,were at her side when the end came. Besides her immediate family, she leaves five grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

The funeral services on Wednesday afternoon were very largely attended expressive of the high regard in which she was held in the community. The services at the house and the burial services at the Lost Creek Cemetery were conducted by Rev. F. C. Lake, of Hicksville."

from Pioneers of the Northwest, a book of obituaries from the Hicksville area, available in all DPL libraries. The Hicksville Tribune, May 5, 1909.

Elias Ridenour, Delilah's spouse, was well known in Defiance County as he served two terms as the Infirmary Director and was involved in countless other positions in the county. Elias was also a son of George and Catharine Ridenour, a pioneer couple in Defiance County. 

Both Elias and his younger brother, Isaac, enlisted in the Civil War. A former blog post discussed Isaac's troubles with the pension board. 

Elias also had his problems concerning his military service. The Defiance County Republican Express featured this in the edition of October 11, 1890:

"A LETTER.

THAT EXPLAINS ITSELF

The copy of the following letter can be seen by calling at this office. It fully explains the merit that the war department put on an able Democratic candidate's war record:

6838 B.A.G.O.(E.B.) 87.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, APRIL 3, 1888

Mr. Elias Ridenour, Mark Center, Defiance County, Ohio:

Sir: Referred to your application for an original discharge as of Co. F 48, Ohio Vols.

I have the honor to inform you that the plain facts appear to be that after a few month's service only, you, pleading sickness, were sent from the fields at Shiloh on or about April 29th, 1862, to a general hospital, but that instead of going there, you went to your home and never returned, though your command remained in service throughout the war.

Your assertion that the surgeon of St. Lions' hospital advised you to 'take a salt water trip to Cal.' is probably as foundationless as your claim that you were in service almost three years.

There is no merit whatever in your case and the application is denied. Very respectfully your ablest servant,

Tho. Schwan,

Asst. Adgt. General"

Delilah and Elias Ridenour had one child who died at seven months in 1892, and five children who survived. 

Charles E. Ridenour (died 1949)

Nellie May Ridenour CASE (died 1924)

Sadie Bell Ridenour STOTLER (died 1937)

Elsie E. Ridenour HUSTON (died 1964)

Mary C. Ridenour SHARP (died 1982)

Elias died in 1919 at the age of 80, and he is buried with Delilah in Lost Creek Cemetery.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Spanish - American Soldiers - Private Robert L. McCullough

 

# 4 - Private E.A. Schultz,  # 5 - Private J. Hildendorf,* and
# 6 -Private Robert L. McCullough    


#6 Private Robert Lattimore McCullough

Born in Defiance on July 6, 1876, to William A. and Emma (Booth) McCullough, Robert stayed busy before enlisting by searching for employment. In 1893, he traveled to Chicago looking for a job and in 1895, he was up in Saginaw, Michigan looking. In the winter of 1896-1897, he stayed in Alexandria, Louisiana working, returning home on June 1.

He enlisted when he was 24 into Company M, 6th Ohio Regiment, for the Spanish - American War. However, he was discharged on April 6, 1898, on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability issued at the Santa Clara, Cuba Headquarters and sent home.

Robert L. was rather outspoken in his youth which caused a bit of trouble.

The Defiance Daily Crescent reported on October 29, 1898:

"POLITICS

Cause Unpleasantness Between an Editor and a Soldier

All kinds of rumors were afloat on the street this morning, concerning an affair that occurred last evening between Editor Thompson and Private Robert McCullough of Company M, 6th O.V.I., who leaves for Camp Poland, his furlough having expired.

The trouble between the editor and the soldier was caused by Mr. Thompson's paper, The Republican, attacking Private McCullough and accusing him of making statements which he (McCullough) claims to have no connection with.

When the soldier and editor met, a few words were exchanged, when bystanders interfered. The whole affair grows out of the bitter political fight now being waged."

The war with Spain was the first U.S. engagement with a foreign nation in times of modern warfare, and it split the nation. Some felt that Spain was oppressing Cuba and that we ought to intervene to protect U.S. interests there. Others felt that this butting in could begin a series of costly wars; we should mind our own business. This may have been the source of the argument between McCullough and Thompson.

On November 1, 1898, the Defiance Daily Express continued their complaint against the newspapers, including their own, for criticizing McCullough and the soldiers of Co. M.

"Robert McCullough , whom the EXPRESS has maligned outrageously is a Republican. Nevertheless, he has done nothing for which he deserves the abuse and vilification the Boss has bestowed upon him.

We are through with Mr.  McCullough. Whatever may be the result of his actions, it is not for any one here to determined. He is in the military service and amendable to military laws. The facts of his being a Republican can make no difference. A. Republican who commits a wrongful act is to be censured equally with a Democrat who has done wrong."

On June 20, 1899, Robert married Gertrude White of Defiance, when he was 22 and working as a clerk in a furniture store. Gertrude, 19, housekeeper, was the daughter of Defiance residents, Daniel and Hattie (McRoe/Roe) White.  

In the 1910 Federal Census, the family was listed in Toledo, Ohio. Robert, 34, worked as a salesman in a department store, His parents were both born in French Canada. He and Gertrude, 30, had been married ten years and had one son, Jack M., 8

In September 1918, Robert was eligible for the World War I draft at age 42, and he registered but he did not serve. His full name, including his middle name, appeared on the pension, and he lived at 854 Colburn Street in Toledo. At that point, he worked at the Willys Overland Company, possibly assembling war vehicles. He described himself as of medium height with a stout build, blue eyes and light hair.

,

The family moved to a ward of Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan, sometime between the above draft application and the 1920 Federal Census. Robert worked as a floor manager at a department store and eighteen-year-old Jack was a salesman in a department store. They stayed in Michigan after that, moving to Monroe County by 1940.

On April 24, 1947, Gertrude Mabel White McCullough died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 67. She died in Mercy Hospital, Monroe, Michigan. after being a patient for eight hours. Although the death certificate indicated a burial in Toledo, she was actually buried in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.

At the point when Robert's health failed, he moved in with his son, Jack. It was about seven years later that Robert passed away on November 16, 1954.

This obituary appeared in the Toledo Blade, on the day of his death:

"ROBERT L. MCCULLOUGH

Robert L. McCullough, formerly of Prescott St., died today in Newport, Mich. at the home of a son, Jack, with whom he had lived for about seven years. Mr. McCullough lived in Newport about 11 years since moving from Toledo.

Born in Defiance, O., Mr. McCullough lived in Toledo 40 years. For 18 years, he managed the ladies' coats alterations department of Lasalle and Koch's. He also was a salesman in the hat department of the B. R. Baker Co., three years, retiring about 11 years ago.

Mr. McCullough was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Calumet Lodge F & AM, and was a member of the United States Spanish War Veterans, Defiance.

Surviving also are sisters, Mrs. Bertha Beardsley, Mrs. Etta Schlosser, Mrs. Helen Steele, and Mrs. May Ellerman, all of Toledo; brother George, Detroit. 

The Rev. Arthur W. Hargate, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, will conduct services Friday at 11 a.m. in the Walter Mortuary. Burial will be in Old Riverside Cemetery, Defiance."

Old Riverside Cemetery

Dianne Kline, Researcher

*No proof could be found that Private Hildendorf left with Company M. He was in the photo that preceded their departure, but not in the company lists after that. Hence, no profile will be written for him.

Spanish American Soldiers - Private Edward A. Schultz

 

#4 Private Edward Adam Schultz

An Old Settler in Defiance County - Samuel Kepler

 

An Old Settler in Defiance County -

Samuel Kepler

Born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, on March 3, 1793, to Benjamin and Marian Kepler, Samuel Kepler was one of the earliest settlers, along with his parents, in the Northwest Territory, and eventually, Ohio. 

He was in Ohio by the time of the War of 1812. We know because he had on record four different recruitments out of Delaware County, Ohio. The militia (all men between 16 and 45) were mostly defending against Indian raids and assisting with support and supplies. His last terms were with Captain Ichabod Plum from May 4 - May 27, 1813, and July 26 - August 18, 1813.  According to records, the company served along both the Ohio and Auglaize Rivers. 

Samuel married Rachel McGinnis of Hancock County, Ohio in Findlay Township, Wood County.  They had come to the Maumee Valley in 1824.

After he died, this was published in The Findlay Jeffersonian on Dec. 27, 1872, reprinted from the Napoleon Northwest.  His death brought up 

"early times in Hancock county."

"Mr. Kepler was one of the oldest pioneers of the Maumee Valley, having settled at the same point he died in about 1822. On Dec. 2, 1824, he married Rachel, daughter of Robert McGinnis, who then resided on the Blanchard, six miles below Findlay.

The following account of the marriage is given in his own words: 'At that time the territory now comprising Hancock, Putnam, Paulding, Defiance, Williams, Lucas, Henry and Wood were all included in Wood County, with the county seat at Maumee City. I sent for my license by mail, to Robert Forsythe, Clerk of the Court. Not knowing me, he refused to grant it, so that my future father-in-law had to go 45 miles to procure it. We were married by Wilson Vance, Esq., being the first couple married in Hancock County.

After making a canoe, which took five or six days, my wife packed her little outfit of household goods into it, and we literally paddled our own canoe to where I now live."

They paddled their canoe to the confluence of the Blanchard and Auglaize and then downstream to the Maumee. From there they went to their new home on the south bank of the Maumee, four miles below Fort Defiance, where they arrived after three days journey. They built a house there and reared a family of eight children, two sons and eight daughters. They lived there for fifty years, until Samuel's death.

The census of 1850, Richland Township, Defiance County, named Samuel, 57, farmer, real estate value $8225 (a great amount for 1850) and Rachel, 46, his wife. Their first child, Nancy Poe Kepler (Case) was gone by that time. In the household were Mary Ann and Betsy (Elizabeth) Ann, 24; Robert, 18, and Josiah, 16, both farming; Rachel, 11; Sarah, 9; Lucy,6, and hired help, James Carpenter.

By the census in 1860, his real estate value had gone up to $10,000 and his personal estate to $6,000. Only Sarah, Lucy and Josiah were at home. But her father, Robert McGinnis, 83, had moved in with them, along with two laborers, Benjamin F. Winery and Henry Bakin. They also had a servant, Amanda Ward.  Josiah had $100 worth of real estate and an $1100 personal estate.**

Unbelievably, by 1870, Samuel, at 77, had $23,000 worth of land and a personal estate of $5,000. Rachel, at 66, still had Sarah, 29, helping her, along with Minerva McCauley, a domestic servant.  Sadly, on December 10, 1872, Samuel Kepler passed away.  

His obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on December 21, 1872:

Samuel Kepler was born in Bedford county, in the town of Bedford, Penn. on the 3d day of March, 1793, and died December 10, 1872, aged 79y 9months and 7 days. 

At an early day, his father sold out and moved West, settling in Ohio, on the Sobota River in Franklin county where he bought quite a large tract of land in and around where Columbus now stands.

In a short time after his arrival, he took sick and died; their goods swept away, where they were stowed, by a flood; their stock sickened and died and one calamity befell them after another until they became poor. Then they removed to Delaware county, Ohio. Notwithstanding all their afflictions, the widow and her helpless children struggled on and enduring all the hardships of an early pioneer's life.

The deceased staid and cared for his mother and family until he seen them comfortably situated. At the age of 28, he left the parental roof to do for himself. Penniless, he startedout to battle with the world.

In 1821, he came to the Maumee Valley and entered a small tract of land four miles east of Fort Defiance. December 1, 1827 (1824) he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel McKinnis of Hancock county, Ohio, being the first white couple ever married in that county. In two weeks after their marriage, they moved to their new home; there being a scattering of whites and the wild Indians of the forest their only neighbors. Through trials and hardships, they have shared each others joys and sorrows for forty-nine years.

Their family consisted of two sons and six daughters, all of whom they raised to woman and manhood. The youngest son poured out his life blood upon his country's altar in our late war.**  By the hand of Providence, the rest of children were permitted to follow his remains to their last resting place. He (Samuel) died of pneumonia. Though sick but a few days, he suffered much. A short time before he breathed his last, he became calm and peaceful. His last words were prayer, and I trust, fell asleep in the arms of Jesus."

An obituary from the Northwest Signal, December 19, 1872, added these details, revealing his character:

"When he came to the Maumee Valley, it was a howling wilderness; his strong arms and trenchant axe broke the dense forest and let in the sun, transforming it into fertile fields, fruitful orchards, and comfortable improvements.

He was a faithful and loving husband and a kind and exemplary father, leaving a number of affectionate children and a bereaved widow to mourn his loss. Noted for industry and frugality, tender of heart as a woman, easily moved to tears at the distresses of others, compassionate and charitable, he sent none hungry or empty away. 

He wrote his own epitaph in works, not words. and like a ripened sheaf, has been gathered home."

                        Rachel and Samuel are buried together.

His Graves Registration card from the military for his service in the War of 1812 provided for an upright stone in Hires Cemetery, Richland Township, Defiance County.

After Samuel's death, Rachel applied for a widow's pension. It has not been determined if she received it.

Rachel lived until 1880; her obituary appeared in the Defiance County Express on March 11, 1880:

"ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF THE VALLEY PASS AWAY

Rachel, wife of the late Samuel Kepler, was born Butler County, Pa. May 14th, 1804, and died of dropsy (edema) at her residence near Defiance, February 25th, 1880, aged 75 years, 9 months, and 11 days.

When the deceased was about five years old, her father, Robert McKinnis, with his family moved to Ross county, O. and after remaining there some ten years, in 1820 they moved on the Blanchard, four miles below Ft. Findlay, in what is now Hancock county, but at the time with a number of other counties, was called Wood county, with the county seat at Maumee City.

In the 22nd year of her age, she was married to Samuel Kepler, Dec. 2d, 1824...at the residence of her parents...

In the year 1845, she united with the Presbyterian Church, of which she was ever an exemplary member, always ready and willing to lend a hand in time of need.

It will be a source of comfort to her many friends, both in Defiance and Hancock counties, to know that through all her illness, which lasted seven months, she suffered but little. She was perfectly resigned to the will of the Lord, and on the evening of the 25th, sweetly fell asleep in Jesus.

Funeral services on the 27th, conducted by Rev. Slagle, of Defiance, assisted by Rev. Morrison of Ayersville...also a very fitting eulogy by Dr. Parry of Florida. The large funeral showed how highly she was respected by all who knew her near and far."

**Sidenote on Josiah Kepler, the youngest son

Josiah enlisted in the Civil War and was killed in Lovejoy, Clayton, Georgia, on September 6, 1864. He was a First Sergeant, Company E, 111th Infantry, and he was buried in Marietta National Cemetery in Marietta, Georgia. A funeral was held at home for him at Independence Church, as reported by the Defiance Democrat, October 29, 1864.

His Commander was Lt. Col. Isaac R. Sherwood, who wrote this report:

"- On September 1, moved out a daybreak, marching east, struck Macon railroad, after marching two and a half miles; destroyed track at Red Oak Station and moved south along railroad to within two and a half miles of Jonesborough where the One hundred and eleventh Ohio went out a mile in advance on reconnaissance; returned to brigade and went into position at dark.

On September 2, marched by a circuitous route about ten miles and reached point near Lovejoy's Station and went into position on left of Fourth Corps. At dark we were under fire somewhat, as Fourth Corps were engaged with enemy as we went into position.

On September 3, we changed position, retiring our left and building a line of works. Remained in this position (being considerably exposed to shell and musketry) until 9 p.m. of September 5, when we moved out, marching all night and going into camp two and a half miles from Jonesborough on the morning of the6th.

Left this camp 11 a.m. on 7th and marched to within seven miles of Decatur, where we camped for the night. 

My casualties are: Killed: Josiah M. Kepler, first sgt. Co. E, on Sept 6."

 

Dianne Kline, Researcher