First WCTU Women in Sherwood

 

SHERWOOD'S FIRST WCTU

Women's Christian Temperance Union

First Row, L to R:

Mrs. Hartshorn, Mrs. Koons, Mrs. V. Openlander, Ella Palmer, Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Fields and Miss Prunie Palmer  (Lady on far right unknown)

Standing: L to R: 

Alma Miller, Pearl Potter, Mrs. Byers, Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Pitts, Mrs. McCaskey, and Mrs. Knisely

Sherwood Chronicle, January 2, 1947, pg. 1

"The Women's Christian Temperance Union has exerted significant influence in the community for years, and the above is a picture of the first group ever formed in Sherwood, with the photograph being snapped before the turn of the century, the exact date being unknown, by August Koons, who loaned the picture to the Chronicle.

In late years, the national policy of the WCTU has been of a somewhat restrained nature, but in the years immediately before and after the taking of this picture, it was a militant organization, fighting Demon Rum with every available weapon and striking mighty blows on behalf of women's suffrage.  No other organization played so large a part in promoting national prohibition, and none other is doing more today in advocating temperance.."

An Old Settler - Michael Frease

 

Not Michael Frease

Michael Frease - An Old Settler in Hicksville

Michael Frease, born in Pennsylvania, came to Hicksville in about 1849.  Born on October 27, 1821, he had migrated west to Wayne County, Ohio by June 14, 1845, where he married his wife, Jane Aten. His parents, George Frease, Sr. and Sally (Shaff) Frease were also living there at the time.

Michael and Jane were located in the 1870 Federal Census of Hicksville Township.  Of their three children, only Edward, 14, was still living at home and going to school. 

Michael was a farmer, and a very successful one, having real estate worth $4,000 and a personal estate of $1,544 in 1870.

By 1880, the farm had increased in worth and Frease had livestock, including dairy cows and calves, and he also raised chickens. Seventy-seven acres of his ground was tilled, according to the Agricultural Census, twenty acres were pasture or orchards and twenty were woods.  In 1880 he and Jane were caring for three grandchildren: Cris(?) 4, Anna 2, and Ella Jane 7. It is uncertain whose children these were.  Anna was destined to give her grandfather some trouble. She ran away from home after her grandmother's death.

In January of 1895, the Defiance Daily Crescent ran this report:

"ANNIE FREASE LOCATED.

It is said that Miss Annie Frease who so mysteriously disappeared from the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Frease, in the morning before Christmas, has been located at Bloomville, Ohio, twelve miles south of Tiffin, where it is said she is staying with one, Sarah Jane Rhodegast.  Mrs. Rhodegast had been employed at the Frease home for two months during the illness of the girl, Annie Freese.

On the Saturday before Christmas, the said Sarah Jane left the house in the night, bag and baggage, and it is said that the same young fellow, living in this town, who took her to the depot, also a few evenings later, took Annie Frease to the train. The baggage of both Mrs. Rhodegast and Miss Frease was traced to Tiffin and thence to Bloomville, where it is rumored, the two are staying for no good purposes.

Mrs. Rhodegast was formerly Miss Sarah Jane Detter of Tight Street. She was married to Rhodegast, but parted from him about eighteen months ago."

Anna's grandmother died in 1894, and her grandfather, Michael, in 1899.  His obituary was found in the Marckel Scrapbook which contains undated and unsourced obituaries.

"OBITUARY.

Michael Frease departed this life on the morning of March 11 at 4 o'clock. Mr. Frease was one of the earliest settlers in Defiance County, having come here in 1849.

He was a native of Penn. and was born in Somerset county, that state, Oct. 27, 1821.

His parents were natives of Virginia and Penn.

In the year 1845 and on June 14, Mr. Frease was united in marriage to Jane A. Aten in Wayne county, Ohio. His wife wss the daughter or Robert Aten of Penn. and was born in Northampton county, of that state, on the 16th of October 1824. To them were born five children, but three of the five with the mother have passed over and only two children survive."

Forest Home Cemetery, Michael and Jane Frease, Section 1, with three young children who preceded them in death, Elisha, Alfred and Cornelius

"Mr. Frease had lived a long time. He lived to pass man's allotted three score and ten, and when more than eight years beyond that period, he was overtaken with that disease which has removed so many of the aged ones from us, lagrippe*, and on last Saturday morning, he passed away at the ripe age of 78 years, 5 months and twelve days.

Mr. Frease was a very good man. He was a religious man, and when the pastor of the Church of Christ called on him a few days before his death, he said, 'Well, since you are here, we might as well have a little prayer meeting.' (They) did and Mr. Frease enjoyed the reading of God's word which he had been accustomed to hear for more than three score years.

He was an industrious farmer and good citizen and was very quiet and unassuming, strictly honest and just in his dealings. He was not a great conversationalist, but a man of thought and great deliberation. 

His body was laid away in Forest Home to await the day when our dear Lord will come and 'They who are in their graves shall hear His voice and come forth.'"

**LaGrippe - the vintage name for flu or influenza

In looking for the Frease children, Edward J. Frease, was located in St. Joe, Indiana. He was not named on the FindAGrave entry, but his death certificate named Michael Frease and Jane A. Aten as his parents. He died in Newville Township, St. Joe, Indiana on November 19, 1919, of nephritis and heart disease at 84. He, too, was buried in Forest Home Cemetery.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Side Note:

Further research showed that my husband's grandmother purchased the Ed. Frease farm in 1935. She used it for a rental, as the St. Joe News reported that Mr. and Mrs. Pat Hook moved on the former Ed Frease farm recently purchased by Emily Kline.

Spanish - American Soldiers - Privates Charles E. Switzer, Clyde Davis, and Irvin Hatfield

 #18 Charles E. Switzer

#40 Clyde Davis

#41 Irvin Hatfield

Private Charles E. Switzer

The research on Private Charles Switzer took many turns, beginning with the 1880 Federal Census where the family was found on East High Street in Defiance. Enumerated were Fillmore Charles, father and head of the family (later referred to as Phil or Fill), 25, tinner, and his wife, Charlotte (often referred to as Lottie, nee Taggart), 24, with their two children, Charles, 5, and Fanny, 5 months. Charles was born on February 17, 1875.

Charles' father ran a hardware store in Defiance, last located in the Wilhelm block at the corner of Clinton and Fourth Streets. In October, 1897, it was announced that Phil Switzer would move his tin and hardware store to Sherwood, as well as his family. This article appeared in the Defiance Express in February, 1897, when they were still living in Defiance, but now on East Second Street:

"Wednesday evening about 7:30 o'clock, Mr. Phil Switzer was out in the woodshed at his residence, sawing wood, while his wife and son Charles were seated in the sitting room of the house. Suddenly, the outside door was opened and a tall, thin man poorly attired, walked into the room without knocking. The occupants were, of course, greatly surprised, as the man was a perfect stranger to them.

Upon being asked what he wanted, he said he was looking for his sister and thought he would stay all night. Upon this, Charles Switzer, picking up the stove poker, and assuming a dramatic attitude, told the stranger to 'walk out that door as fast as he came in.'

To this the intruder responded, 'guess I will,' turned around and quietly walked out of the house and up East Second Street. Mr. and Mrs. Switzer scarcely know what to make of their unceremonious visitor, but have decided on this opinion, that he was insane or that he came with a view of seeing how the house was arranged, that he might break into the house some night.

They intend to keep a close watch, however, and hereafter, Mrs. Switzer will keep the door locked when her husband is away after dark."

Charles was 22 years old, when he frightened the strange man at the door. The next year, he enlisted into Company M, Sixth Regiment for the Spanish-American War.  He was in the Division Hospital at Camp Poland from October 12 - November 8, 1898, and then had more time on a sick furlough from November 9 - December 8, 1898. But he finally rejoined his group and was mustered out with the others in 1899.

After that, the family was lost for a while - were they in MO, NY, MD - Charles Switzers were everywhere.  But one line in the Defiance Democrat got the research ball rolling again.

August 21, 1906, Defiance Democrat-

"Mrs. Phil Switzer of Los Angeles is the guest at the home of relations in this city." California!

In the 1910 census, Charles' parents lived in the city of Los Angeles, Fillmore, 59, worked as a tinner in a hardware store. Charlotte, 56, was with him in a rented house, but where was Charles? Several Charles E Switzers were married and living in Ohio and were of about the same age, but it could not be ascertained if they were the correct Charles. No marriage record was found, but it is known that in a later census, he declared himself divorced.

Charles was enumerated in a house with his parents in the 1920 census st in Los Angeles. Fillmore, now 71, was still working with sheet metal in a hardware. Lottie did not work, and neither did Charles, now 37.  Charlotte died on September 6, 1924, and Fillmore followed her on September 3, 1925.  Charles was alone.

In 1930, he was a lodger in an apartment building at 8th Street Place in LA. At 55, he was divorced and not working anywhere. He does name himself as a veteran of the Spanish - American War. 

In 1940, he was still in the same apartment complex at West 8th Street Place downtown LA. This time he called himself the head of the household and his roommate, George Luchman, his partner. Charles was 65 and not working, while George, 32, worked as a waiter at a lunch counter 56 hours a week..

By the time 1950 rolled around, or maybe even before that, Charles was admitted to the Brentwood Neuropsychiatric Hospital in LA, run by the Veterans Administration.  For the census, enumerators were not allowed in the rooms of these patients with mental illness, so they based their census records on the records of the hospital. Charles was 77 at the time.

At first, it was thought he was buried in the National Cemetery in Los Angeles, but the dates did not quite match up with this Charles Switzer.

So, at this point, his burial place is unknown. No obituary was located, nor tombstone. 

If you have more or different information on this soldier, please comment or email us at defiancegenealogy2002@yahoo.com

Private Clyde Davis

In Clyde's early years, he grew up in Defiance at 605 Clinton Street. In the 1900 Federal Census he lived with his father, Baxter Davis, 58, and his step-mother, Mary (Braker), age 47.  This was Baxter's second marriage; his first was to Elizabeth Zellers who was the mother of Clyde. She died in 1900.

Clyde Eding Davis was born in 1879 and was 21 in this census. His siblings, Edna, 15, and Ethel, 11, were both in school.  At the age of 19, Clyde enlisted in the army, Company M, 6th Regiment on May 12, 1898. He was discharged on May 24, 1899.

In the 1900 Federal Census, Clyde lived with his step-mother, Mary Davis, now 57 and a widow in Toledo. He worked as a fireman at the bottle works.

On August 22, 1916, he married Leona A. Regenold in Lucas County. It was the first marriage for both; she was 30 and he was 37. Leona, the daughter of William A. and Margaret (Lehr) Regenold, lived on Dorr Street. Clyde was then living on Georgia Street in Toledo.  At some point, they must have decided that there was money to be made in the oil fields of Oklahoma.

On the 1918 Draft Registration, Clyde noted his address on Dorr Street in Toledo, but he must have been often away from home. His occupation was listed as an "oil rumper* for a Texas Pipe Line, working in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He named Leona Davis, his wife, as his nearest relative who lived in Payne, OK. 

*A rumper worked on an oil rig, shorting pipe string to fit when they were removing damaged or worn sections of drill pipe or casing.

Eventually, they moved back to Toledo by 1920 where Clyde was a metal worker in an auto plant. Did they move home because Leona was ill?  She died on February 12, 1920 and was buried in the Swan Creek Cemetery, Monclova, Lucas, Ohio.

On December 14, 1923, Clyde married Helen I. Ball. He gave his age as 41 and Helen was 34, the daughter of Fred Hoffman and Mary Schneider Hoffman. It was a second marriage for both Clyde and Helen.   Helen was a Toledo resident, living at 1706 Chestnut Street; she was previously married and divorced from Edward Ball. 

Clyde reported that he was previously married but was now a widow. They lived in Toledo on Dorr Street, and he worked in an auto plant, polishing metal.

Clyde became interested again in being a fireman and by 1930 had a job within Toledo as a stationery fireman in a paper fabrication mill. It was rather short-lived, however, as Clyde passed away on January 11, 1936 of mycarditis. He was buried in Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery, Sylvania, Ohio. His wife ordered a tombstone for him through the military.

 Private Irvin Albert Hatfield

In the 1900 Federal Census, Irvin was just a fifteen year old boy, living in Farmer Township and helping his father on the farm. Born on January 23, 1885, in Bryan, Williams County, Irvin was the son of James Columbus Hatfield and his wife, Martha Elizabeth (Strusaker) Hatfield.

After he signed up in Company M, 6th Regiment O.V.I., he became ill by November, 1898, and spent until December 26, 1898, in the Division Hospital. 

In his youth, Irvin was a well known southpaw pitcher on Defiance City teams. Those he played with on the Defiance Baseball Club included Marry (Harry?) Myers, Ed Franzdorf, Gus Buchholz, and Grover Huth.

Bertha Ball, daughter of Ulrich and Marie (Haubert) Ball, became Irvin's wife on April 28, 1909. Irvin resided in Ney and worked as an engineer, while Bertha was a domestic, also living in Washington Township at that time.

Most of their married life was spent in Hillsdale County, Michigan, near the towns of Cambria and Reading. The couple had two children: Marie Martha, born in 1911, and Donald Leroy, born in 1917. Irvin was listed as a farmer on all the Federal Census records from 1920 until 1940.

On October 29, 1940, Irvin died of a heart attack in Cambria Township, Michigan, where he had lived for twenty-six years.  His obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on the same day:

"IRVIN HATFIELD DIES NEAR HILLSDALE, MICH.

Irvin Hatfield, 57, farmer near Hillsdale, Mich., who formerly was well known in Defiance, died today of a heart attack. He recently visited here in the home of his brother-in-law, Fred B. Steffel.

Mr. Hatfield at various times was employed at the Defiance Machine Works, the Defiance Milling Company, and as a glove cutter at the Boss Mfg. Co.

He was a left hand pitcher for several of the old city baseball teams. He left here about 24 years ago.

Surviving are his wife, the former Bertha Ball of Tiffin township; a daughter, Marie, living in Hillsdale; and a son, Donald, at home. Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Hillsdale."

L

Lakeview Cemetery, Hillsdale, Michigan

An additional obituary which appeared in the Bryan Press noted that he was the second son of his parents. Irvin was born in Pulaski township, and "when 

a lad, the family moved to Washington township where he was a student of The Old Man's School* in school No. 2, winter of 1894-95."

*At one time School #2, corner of Scott and Bend Roads, was known at the Rider/ Ryder School. The name Old Man's School was unknown.

Bertha remained in Hillsdale County, never remarried and lived until the advanced age of 89. Her obituary appeared in the Hillsdale Daily News on February 10, 1975:

"MRS. HATFIELD DIES AT 89

Mrs. Bertha L. Hatfield, 89, of 125 Barr St., Hillsdale, died at her home Sunday evening. She was born in Ney, Ohio, Sept. 29,1885, the daughter of Ulrich and Mary Haurbert Ball. She was a member of the Cambria Thursday Club and the Bridge Club.

Her husband, Irvin, died in 1940. Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Marie Caulkins of Hillsdale; one son, Don L. of Rte. 3, Hillsdale; three sisters, Mrs. Jo Surtman of Toledo, Mrs. Ann Steffel of Defiance, and Mrs. Al Miller of Toledo; one grandchild and six great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Wednesday afternoon at 1 in the Ned M. Towns Funeral Home. Hillsdale. The Rev. James Burns will officiate, and burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery, Hillsdale..."

Lakeview Cemetery, Hillsdale, Michigan

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Related Obituaries:

Bertha's mother, Mrs. Mary Ball.  The Crescent-News, April 1, 1929, page 1.

"MOTHER OF 14, CHILDREN DIES

Rites for Mrs. Ball, 82, mother of 14 children and widow of Ulrich Ball, a former Defiance county commissioner, died at 2 a.m. today at her home, 766 Harrison Avenue, one half hour after she was stricken with a heart attack. She had attended Easter services at St. John Catholic church iwth Father George H. Lang officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

The funeral will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. at St. John Catholic church with Rev. Father George H. Lang officiating. Burial will be made in Riverside Cemetery. Mrs. Ball died on March 25, 1923.

Mrs. Ball was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on June 4, 1846, and came to Defiance shortly after her marriage to Mr. Ball about 60 years ago. The 14 children are:

Frank Ball, Superior, Wis.; Mrs. Adrian Friend, Denver, Colo.; 

Mrs. Frank Leithauser, Amarilla, Texas; Mrs. Christ Diehl, Pigeon, Mich.'

Mrs. Winfield Sewell, Detroit; Mrs. Irvin Hatfield, Reading, Mich.; 

Mrs. Fred Esaias, Mrs. Albert Surtman, Mrs. A. V. Miller, Neil Ball, and Louis Ball, all of Toledo; 

Mrs. Fred Steffel and Miss Ida Ball, both of Defiance; and

Mrs. William Baker, Fort Wayne, Ind.

A brother, Jacob Haubert, Tiffin, and a sister, Mrs. Joseph Moeder, St. Henry, also survive besides 22 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren."

An obituary for Irvin's mother, Mrs. Martha Hatfield. The Crescent-News, January 15, 1924:

"Mrs. Martha Hatfield.

Mrs. Martha Hatfield who has been ill for some time, passed way Thursday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John Rubel with whom she has resided for several years. 

Mrs. Hatfield, who was 71 yrs. 5 mo. and 21 days old, had spent the greater part of her life in this section of the country where she had many dear friends and relatives.

Her children: Irvin Hatfield, Mrs. Harry Bayes, and Mrs. Art Biglow of Cambria, Mich.;  Mrs. Harry O'Brian of Defiance; Mrs. John Ruebel and Wilbur Hatfield of Ney, with their families were in attendance at the funeral which was held at the Church of God in Ney Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Kruse, the U.B. pastor of Moats. Interment was in the Ney Cemetery. The Michigan families returned home Saturday evening."

The Aftermath for Joshua Botkins and Ida Bullock

 

L to R: Jesse Bullock, Arthur Bullock on the lap of his mother, Ida May, and Earl Bullock, who testified in court at age 7

The Aftermath for Joshua Botkins

and Ida, Earl and Jesse Bullocks

In the Defiance Crescent of September 11, 1920, a Second Degree Murder Charge was announced against Botkins. That very day, motions to appeal were filed by his defense team, T. Hamilton and H. Mullholand.

Even before that, the attorneys were trying to get a manslaughter charge (on July 4) based largely on Peter Kintner's conversation with Botkins as they were going on their errand:

Botkins said, "Peter, I gave him a hell of a whipping. May said she thought I killed him, but I said the latter will be up for supper when we get back...I'm getting the boys broke of some dirty habits." Kintner noticed his sweating and nervous disposition, along with a very restless nature. 

The Judge overruled the motion to appeal at that time.  However, the case eventually went to the Court of Appeals anyway, who ruled on January 10, 1921, that the charge of Second Degree Murder would stay, Joshua Botkins was sentenced to a life of hard labor at the Ohio Penitentiary.

Unknown to the Defiance citizenry, Botkins made many threats of suicide that law enforcement did not share publicly. Finally, on February 4, 1921, the day he was to leave for imprisonment in Columbus, he carried out his threat.

The Crescent-News, February 4, 1921, p. 1:

"BOTKINS ATTEMPTS SUICIDE IN CELL OF COUNTY JAIL

After Bragging That He Would Never Go to the Pen Alive, 

Tries to Electrocute Himself, Using Electric Light Cord."

The day he was to go to the pen, he made his attempt and not one person witnessed it, although he was on a close watch. He stood in a pail of water beneath the light then, unscrewing the light bulb, reached up with his hands to touch the wires. He was stopped but needed meds for the electric shock. 

That afternoon, he was taken to the train station by Sheriff Charles Zeschke and his deputy, F. Lester Hays, with the estimation of arriving in Columbus about 9 that evening.

After ten years, Botkins sought parole and it was declined. He tried again in 1933 but was doomed again to serve out his life term.

After the Botkins conviction, Mrs. Bullock returned home to her grandfather's farm near Buckland, Ohio. Her other sons had been housed in the Children's Home, and it was unclear whether she was allowed to take them with her.

Joshua Botkins was buried as a prisoner in the State Old Insane and Penal Cemetery in Columbus. 

Dianne Kline, Researcher

The "Child Corrected" Trial - The Killing of Arthur Bullocks

 

The Killing of Arthur Bullocks

A Child Corrected

Exhibit A - The "Tug" from a horse's harness

Joshua Botkins, a native of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, then of the Spencerville community, moved to Defiance County to take up farming. He was a fifty-year-old bachelor.

\

\

He hired Mrs. Ida May Bullocks, a widow with three young boys, as his housekeeper. Her husband had died, having been struck by a train. She had been offered a farm by her grandfather, if she would stay and care for him until his death. However, she became infatuated with Joshua Botkins and left her grandfather's home for him. On July 8th, Botkins beat her youngest child, Arthur Gerald Bullocks, to his death at only three years old. He claimed he was just correcting the child.

The community was in an uproar over his defense, and the Grand Jury indicted him for murder. Ida, who did not intervene, also saw charges, and both were jailed. The children were sent to the Defiance County Children's Home.

Here's the story, as told by The Crescent-News, Defiance, on September 2 -3, 1920:

On September 2, 1920, the twelve jury men were chosen for the Botkins murder trial. They were: Allen Countryman, Fred Sudholz, H. A. Bell, L. R. Forsythe, H. E. McCord, J. D. Hall, Henry Schubert, S.E. Greek, Wm. Engle, C. J. Devore, Peter Walter and Phillp Kisabeth. They were to go first to the Botkins farm to view the scene of the crime.

It was expected that the oldest brother, Earl Bullock, 7, would testify as he was an eyewitness. Earl told Mr. Kintner, a neighbor, of his brother's serious condition. The physicians were called from Kintner's home, and Kintner was with Botkins when he was picked up by authorities on the Clinton Street bridge.

September 3, page 1 (summarized):

"'CORRECTED CHILD' SAYS DEFENSE FOR BOTKINS; TESTIMONY BEING HEARD"

Earl Warren Bullock, aged 7, eyewitness of the alleged murder of Arthur Gerald Bullock by Joshua Botkins will hardly be called to the witness stand this week. It is thought that his testimony will go far toward determining the prisoner's fate.

At 3 today, only the second witness had been called. The first two were Drs. G. W. Huffman and Fred W. Watkins.  Coroner E.E.K. Chapman was also expected to take the stand along with the neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kintner, Erva Kintner and Ethel Farquahson.

This morning..."members of the jury saw a word picture of sturdy men, working on the road in front of the Botkins home in Noble township, the storm that interfered with their manual labor, consequently the substitution of another possible task. Joshua Botkins was one of those working, along with others.  That was the day of the fatal beating, July 8, 1920."

 The courtroom was packed and the walls were lined with spectators. John W. Winn, attorney, presented the State's case, entering a first degree murder indictment against Joshua Botkins. Attorney Thomas B. Hamilton stated for the Defense that Botkins had no intent to kill but was just administering a corrective punishment.

Hamilton stated, 'He did whip the child, ... but in the capacity of a father in an effort to correct as any mother does with children of that age.' He continued that the degree of punishment was unrealized ... Whatever he did, carried with it at no time the purpose to kill...  Botkins was fond of the child, good to it, took it to shows and picnics, took it with him wherever he went.

After the beating, he took the child to the pantry with the care of a father, washed it and bathed it...  Evidence will show that the child talked after Botkins left on errands the housekeeper had asked him to perform in the city."

The Defense stated that the punishment was given about noon and the child was still alive at 5:00. 

The witnesses then began to appear, beginning with the physicians.

The first witness was Dr. G.W. Huffman:

"The child was dead when I first saw it between 4 and 5. The death was a result of abnormal fluids around the heart and spinal cords. 

By the measurement of the wounds, marks of stitches, shape of bruises, compared to those of the three ply, vicious heavy weapon, displayed as Exhibit A by the prosecution"... it was this heavier strap used instead of the lighter strap Botkins claimed to have used."

The doctor added that the weapon was sufficient to kill. "I doubt the child's ability to talk after receiving such wounds."

In the meantime, Mrs. Bullocks was bailed out of jail by three former neighbors of hers from Lima. They paid the $1000 due and she returned to the Botkins farm.

The State presented its case first by reading the murder indictment, and then going over the facts of the case as he saw them.

He stated that the 50 year old bachelor, Joshua Botkins, had moved to Defiance County from Auglaize County in March of 1920, buying what was known as the Overly farm in Noble Twp. Botkins had already asked Mrs. Bullock to come along as his housekeeper with her three boys, Earl - 7, Jesse - 5, and Arthur Gerald - 3

He described the house and farm layout in detail; Botkins neighbor across the road was Peter Kintner. Both men were working on the public road until a shower interrupted them at noon. The two men decided to go to a neighboring farm to get some buckwheat seed. Botkins called for Earl to get the horses ready for the trip.

At some point, Botkins learned that Arthur had accidentally answered a call of nature. (He had dirtied his pants.) Mrs. Bullock was hanging out clothes in the back. Earl, looking for Botkins, saw him through the pantry window holding up a young, naked Arthur by the feet and beating him with a tug in a brutal way.

"He not only beat him with the tug, but doused him in the tub which was then full with water" said Winn. "If the child was not dead when Earl saw the beating through the window, he was no doubt unconscious from the beating. This tug...was brought from the barn by the defendant to be used for the purpose of beating this child and his brothers. 

Joshua Botkins'photo in The Crescent-News on February 4, 1921

Earl ran for help to Kintners and brought back Ethel Farquahson (Mrs. Kintner's daughter) and Mrs. Kintner. Botkins had left on his errand for buckwheat. The Defiance-Crescent, September 3, 1920.

"Ethel raised the lids of his eyes and found them glassy in death. Then she took the child in her arms, carried it to the rear porch and there made further examination but found that life was gone."

She called two neighbors who were still at the barn and sent them for a doctor, using their automobile. Dr. Huffman verified the child's death. Authorities were notified and Botkins and Mr.Kintner were located on the Clinton Street bridge, returning from their buckwheat seed errand. Botkins was taken into custody.

The prosecutor stated: "When taken into custody by the Sheriff, the defendant admitted that he had punished the child but claimed to have used a lighter strap and that the punishment was not severe. But the punishment WAS severe. It was so severe that it blotted out the life of Arthur Gerald Bullock. It was so severe that the tender, quivering flesh of this baby boy was cut, bruised and torn and mangled...  he (Botkins) passed through the city of Defiance with every opportunity to call medical assistance, but none was called...."

The Prosecutor closed by claiming the premediated intentions of Botkins, who purposely had the tug ready for beatings, who was known for his terrible temper, and who assaulted a helpless child, calling it discipline. It was Murder, he concluded.

Ida Bullocks, Arthur's mother, was subpoenaed by the Prosecution, but was not called to the stand. She had defended Botkins for some days, but as the shock wore off from her child's death, she became less and less supportive.

NOW THE JURY WAS OUT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE VERDICT WAS?  

Comment below.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Spanish - American Soldiers - Frank B. Gorman, Wilson Sylvester Motter, and Charles Tiller

 

#15 Corp. Frank B. Gorman, #16 Pvt. Wilson Motter, # 17 Charles Tiller

Corporal Francis Bernard Gorman

The son of Martin B. and Catherine Agnes (Zook) Gorman, Frank, as he was known, was born on September 1, 1877, in Defiance.  He lived with his parents and a host of siblings until he enlisted in Company M, 6th Ohio for the Spanish-American War at the age of 23.  He began as a Sergeant, but a reduction in rank took place on November 3, 1878, and then he was appointed Corporal on April 1, 1899, mustering out with his regiment.

He married Daisy Catherine Carpenter, the daughter of William and Harriet (Chase) Carpenter on December 24, 1900.  The Defiance Weekly Express of December 27 reported:

"On Monday evening Frank B. Gorman and Miss D. Catherine Carpenter, both of this city, were married at *Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, the pastor, Rev. Doherty, officiating.

The groom is a son of M.B. Gorman, the well-known grocer of Perry Street, and the bride a daughter of Mrs. William Carpenter. Both of the young people are well known in this city and have a large circle of friends to wish them a long and happy married life."

(St. Mary's Catholic Church)

That, sadly, was not to be. The newlyweds moved into the residence of Daisy's mother, the widow, Mrs. William Carpenter. Mrs. Carpenter was planning to go to another daughter's house in New York to stay for a few weeks, giving the newlyweds a brief time alone.

Frank opened an agency of the Holmes Hand Steamer Laundry of Toledo to serve as a livelihood for the family in 1902. He was a salesman for the company.

Their only child, a daughter named Frances Harriet Gorman, was born on January 6, 1905, in Defiance.  But sometime after that, the couple divorced.

In January 1909, Daisy and Frances returned from a three-month visit to Boston, Massachusetts, home of her deceased father's family.

In the Federal Census of 1910, Frank lived in a hotel in Detroit as a boarder. Working as an assembler at an automobile company, he described himself as 34 and single.  At the same time, Daisy was enumerated in Defiance at her mother's home on Jackson St. The records read that Daisy was 30 years old and divorced. Her mother, Harriet Carpenter, was 61, and with them were Daisy's sister, Bessie, 19, and little Frances, age 5.  Daisy had her own millinery shop, and Bessie was also working to support the family. 

Frank filled out his World War I draft registration at age 42 on September 12, 1918. He was marked as physically disabled at that time, with his mother, Catherine Gorman, as his nearest relative and the home on Jackson Avenue as his residence. 

Death followed shortly after on August 28, 1919. The death certificate listed the cause of death as a lung disease that could have been pneumonia. He was single and a retired machinist.

An obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on August 28, 1919:

"Frank B. Gorman died Thursday night at Mercy Hospital at Toledo. The remains will be brought to Defiance this evening and taken to the home of his mother, Mrs. M. B. Gorman on Jackson Avenue. The funeral will be held from St. Mary's Catholic Church Monday morning at 9 o'clock. 

Deceased was a Spanish-American War veteran, having served in Company M which was organized in Defiance."

Frank was buried in Riverside Cemetery on August 30, 1919.

Daisy went on to remarry John C. Price in Wayne County, Michigan, when she was 33.  John, 31, was a musician, and Daisy was still a milliner. Together they had a son, Hayden J.  They moved to Riverside, California where they lived at least thirty years or more. 

John died in 1963, while Daisy lived to be 100 years old, passing away in 1980. They are buried together in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Orange County, California.

Private Wilson Sylvester Motter

Private Wilson Sylvester Motter was a private in the 6th Regiment OVI, Company M and was mustered out with his company. A Defiance resident, he was the son of E

Aftmanuel and Elizabeth (Wirock/ Weirauch) Motter of Adams Township.

er coming home from his service in Cuba, he married Lizzie Ramos/ Ramus, the daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Myers) Ramus. Wilson, 22, was a farmer in Adams Township, and Lizzie, 21, was also from Adams Township. The wedding on March 22, 1900, was performed by Squire C. H. Hunter. 

On February 3, 1903, a daughter, Lavina Ann Motter, was born in Henry County.

In 1904, the Defiance Daily Crescent-News reported that

"Wilson Motter of Jewell, a farmer and member of Company M, has been granted a pension of $6 a month and back money to the amount of $357. George Killey secured the pension for him." 

Killey was a local attorney.

The next evidence of the family's whereabouts was found in 1918 when Wilson filled out his World War I draft card in Toledo on September 12. At that time, his residence was at 237 Pinewood Avenue. He was 40 years old and he was co-owner of a secondhand furniture store on Monroe Street called Ward & Motter.

In the 1920 Federal Census, Wilson named himself as an Interior Decorator, owning his own business. The family had moved to Woodlawn Avenue by this time. Lavina, at 16, worked as a bookkeeper at a glove factory. Perhaps it was there that she met Edward A. Becket, her future husband. They were married on July 18, 1925, in Adrian, Michigan.

Wilson dubbed himself a house painter by the 1930 census. At 52, he and Elizabeth owned their own home. Lavina was gone, but they had taken in a boarder, Charles Jackson, 46, from Norway. Something was brewing with Wilson, however, and on April 4, 1931, he went missing. 

In mid-April 1931, it was discovered that he had drowned in the Maumee River. The story appeared in the Henry County Signal, Napoleon, Ohio on April 23, 1931, on the front page:

"FORMER RESIDENT DROWNS IN TOLEDO

Funeral services for Wilson S. Motter, 53, of 1527 Woodland avenue, Toledo, whose body was found in the Maumee River near the Ash-Consaul street bridge in that city Saturday, were held in the home Tuesday morning at 8:30 and at St. Teresa's church at 9.

Motter was formerly a resident of Napoleon. He had been missing from his home since April 4 and officers had been asked to aid in a search for the missing man.  Members of his family were of the belief that he had come to Napoleon to visit his brother, William. He also had relatives in Defiance and Ft. Wayne, but the missing man failed to visit their homes.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Motter; a daughter, Mrs. Edward A.  Beckett; a sister, Mrs. Suzanne Tubbs, Defiance; and brothers, Charles of Fort Wayne, Ind., and William of this city."

A coroner's inquest was made and the conclusion was "Drowned." One paper said the result was accidental, but the rest of the story is lost.

Elizabeth Motter lived on until August, 1972, in Toledo. She never remarried and lived until the age of 93. She and Wilson were buried together in Calvary Cemetery, Toledo.

"ELIZABETH MOTTER

Mrs. Elizabeth M. Motter, 93, of 2740 120th Street, died Sunday in her home. She was the widow of Wilson S. Motter. Surviving are her daughter, Mrs. Lavina Beckett, and sisters, Mrs. Rose Ellff and Mrs. Frances Bales.

The body will be in the Jasin Mortuary tonight after seven. Services will be Wednesday at 1:30 in St. John's Catholic Church.

Private Charles Tiller

Charles Tiller's parents, George Henry and Jane (Beale) Tiller were from Dorset, England; however, Charles was born in Albion, Indiana, on November 21, 1877.  He had a slow start in Company M, 6th Regiment after he enlisted at age 20. He was on sick leave in the division hospital from September 16 - October 14th, 1898, and again from October 15 - November 14, and then extended to December 14. After he mustered out, he was the lamp man of the P.G.& E. Co. Later, he worked in Defiance as a lineman for the telephone company.

Charles married Gertrude Agnes Zeigler, the daughter of Michael Sr. and Philomena "Phoebe" (Hahn) Zeigler on December 18, 1900, in Defiance.

The Crescent News printed on December 19, 1900:

"BRIDE AND GROOM HONORED.

Mr. and Mrs. James Ellsworth entertained a number of friends last evening at their cozy home on Kintner street, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tiller, who were married last evening. Those who enjoyed their hospitality were Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Watts and daughter, Mildred, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schmunk and son, Paul, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Garber and son, Francis, Misses Alice Sapp, Mary Wickman, Kate Myers, Annie Clemons, Tillie Kalk, Anna Balske and Myrtle Baker.  Messrs. John Hohenberger, Charley Barnhart, Reinhart Franzdorf and Thomas Dohoney.

Delicious refreshments were served during the evening. Cards and games were played, while Charley Barnhart entertained the company with music on the phonograph.

 The couple had eight children: Raymond, Edwin "Ted', Margaret (Zuelke), Francis Michael, Cpl. George Washington, Imelda (Bohland), Helen (McNutt) and little Mildred who was born and died in 1913.

"DEATH OF LITTLE MILDRED TILLER

Mildred, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tiller, died yesterday noon, about 12:30, aged 6 months and 21 days. The child at the time was at the home of her grandmother, Mrs. Michael Zeigler, on Kintner Street, where the family had been staying while their furniture was being moved from one house to another.

The funeral wlll occur Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the English Catholic Church, Rev. Father Doherty officiating. The remains will be interred in Riverside Cemetery."

Crescent-News, March 15, 1902

The family had a financial tragedy in the spring of 1907.

"An alarm of fire was sent in about 9:15 Saturday night and the department responded promptly, making a two mile run in good time. The fire was in the barn of Charles Tiller, on Squires Avenue, just over the corporation line, and was used as a hen house by Mr. Tiller.

Employees of the Diamond Glass Works had a stream on the blaze when the department arrived, and the latter added two sections of hose to that of the Glass Co 

The fire had obtained such headway that the building was totally destroyed and about 250 chickens burned. The loss is estimated at $300."

Defiance Weekly Express, May 17, 1907

In 1918, the family moved to Toledo City. Charles took a job as an electrician for the Champion Spark Plug company, perhaps this was a war job for World War I.  He spent twenty-five years working there, and before that, he worked at the Northwestern Telephone Company in Defiance 18 -20 years.

The Tillers celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December 1950 with a family dinner, followed by an open house. Charles died on November 1, 1964, of arteriosclerosis, according to his death certificate.

His obituary was available from the Toledo Blade, Sunday, November 1, 1964:

"CHARLES TILLER

Charles E. Tiller, a Spanish-American War veteran, died today in St. Vincent Hospital after a three-week illness. He was 86 and lived at 1735 Eileen Rd.

Born in Albion, Ind., Mr. Tiller came to Toledo 46 years ago.  He served with Company M, 6th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a member of Egbert Camp, United Spanish War veterans.

Mr. Tiller was employed 25 years as an electrician at the Champion Spark Plug Co., retiring in 1943. He also was a member of Little Flower Church and its Holy Name Society.

Surviving are his wife, Gertrude; sons, Raymond, Edwin, Francis, and George; daughters, Mrs. Margaret Zuelke, Mrs. Imelda Bohland, and Mrs. Helen McNutt, all of Toledo; 24 grandchildren, and 39 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Little Flower Church with burial in Calvary Cemetery. The Rosary will be recited. Monday at 8:30 p.m. by the Little Flower Holy Name Society in the Neville Mortuary."

Gertrude Tiller lived on until the age of 94, passing away on June 22, 1976.  Her obituary appeared in the Toledo Blade of Wednesday, June 23, 1976.

"GERTRUDE TILLER

Mrs. Gertrude A. Tiller, 94, formerly of the 1700 block of Eileen Road, died Tuesday in the Royal Crest Rest Home, Ottawa, Ohio, where she had been living three years.

Mrs. Tiller was the widow of Charles Tiller. Surviving are her sons, Raymond, Edwin, Francis, and George; daughters, Mrs. Imelda Bohland and Mrs. Helen McNutt; sister Mrs. Margaret Serrick and brother, Ray Zeigler.

Services will be in the Little Flower Church.  The Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Friday in the Neville Mortuary, Dorr Street, where the body will be after 3 p.m. Thursday."

Dianne Kline, Researcher

F