Thomas R. Carroll - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Born in Ohio in 1842, Thomas Carroll, 8, lived in Evansport in 1850 with his parents:
William Carroll, 37, a pearl ash maker, born in Maryland, and his mother, Sarah, 32, born in New Brunswick, Canada.  He had an older sister, Susan, and two younger brothers, William J. and Edwin E.

According to the History of Defiance County, 1883, this regards Thomas's father, William:
"At the age of ten years he (William), with his two brothers and one sister, were left orphans.  They came to Ohio in 1829, and were bound out (indentured) until of age, having no advantages of schooling.  In 1834, he came to Evansport, Defiance County, and was married to Sarah Evans..."

By 1860, the family had moved to Pulaski in Williams County.  Thomas's father had taken on farming with William (Jr.) serving as his farm hand.  Susan had a job as a domestic and Thomas was a store clerk.  Edwin was still in school.

According to the 1883 country history:
"At the age of eleven, he (Thomas) commenced clerking in the dry goods store of A. W. Boynton at Pulaski.  After two years, he hired out to W. E. Kintigh of Defiance, and with him, moved to Napoleon, Ohio, and continued clerking for him as long as he remained in the business.  He afterward clerked for Imber & Richards, dry goods merchants, for five years."

The history mentioned that he enlisted in the Union Army in 1863, but no other source could be found to confirm that. His obituary mentioned his membership in the 68th OVI in 1863, but that could not be found. The 1890 census and Thomas's pension card both noted that he enlisted May 2, 1864, into the National Guard, eventually known as the 163rd Regiment.  Most Henry County men were in Company G, as was Thomas.  it was a 100 day enlistment and his discharge on both sources said September 10, 1865.  Thomas did report on the 1890 census that he was also a private in Company A, 114th O.V.I. from February 9, 1865 to September 20, 1865.  Perhaps it was a special assignment, but it was not mentioned in the company lists or on the pension card.  A mystery to be solved.

The 163rd was first ordered to Fort Reno near Washington, D.C. and then to the battlefront in Virginia.  Some men were involved in a skirmish on June 15th, while the others built a large portion of Fort Pocahontas.  Soon they were ordered back to Columbus and mustered out in September.

 
Upon his return from the war, he married Miss G. (Glorian) A. Cary in Henry County, Ohio on October 12, 1865.  They had two daughters who died in infancy, and one son, Charles H., born in Napoleon in 1872.   He joined forces with H. E. Cary to open a branch store in Defiance in 1876, of which Thomas would be in charge.

On December 4, 1878, Thomas married his second wife, Anna B. (called Betty) Opdycke, a resident of Pulaski, and the daughter of John and Harriet (nee Baird).

The 1880 census enumerator found the Thomas Carroll family at 265 Holgate Avenue.  Thomas, a grocer, 37, and his wife, Betty, 26, and Charles, his son from his previous marriage, now 7, lived there.  In 1881, Thomas bought out his partner, Cary, and ran the Defiance store himself for two years.  According to the 1883 history, he joined with new partners, C. W. and T. J. Prettyman to form Carroll & Co. in 1883, a predecessor to the Defiance Grocery Company.  He also served as a Defiance City councilman, as well as being a well respected and very successful businessman and a very active member of the G.A.R.

One of his later projects was running a restaurant on Island Park.

Thomas R. Carroll died on July 29, 1900 at the age of 58 years, 6 months and 25 days.  Obituaries and Funeral notes were found in both the Defiance Crescent News on July 30, 1900, and the Defiance Weekly Express on August 2, 1900.

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He was buried in Riverside Cemetery.  His second wife, Betty, lived on until November 4, 1933.

(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!)

Defiance County Infirmary Residents - 1910

The census enumerator listed the following residents when he visited the infirmary on April 28, 1910:

Glenn L. Leaders, Superintendent, 32 and wife, Sarah, 30, Matron
Their children: Marion R. Leaders, 6, and John E., 4

Charles R. Smith, farm laborer, 26, single
Aschbacher, Charles F., engineer, 52, married
Stelter, Edith M., 20, cook, single

Residents, in alphabetical order: 

Baer, Mary E., 66 widow
Bice, Martha, 20, single
Bower, John, 67, single
Crago, Iven, 48, single

Dercurn, John, 74, single
Dotterer, George, 58, single
Garrity, Martin, 63, widow

Hassemeier, Theresa, 52, married
Hensey, Martin, 78, widow
Hilbert, William, 24, single
Hixon, Lilly, 64, widow
Holt, Charles, 76, single
Hopkins, Edith, 30, single

Kammerer, David, 76, widow
Kaney, Peter, 56, single
Kellogg, James, 41, single
Kunkle, Susie, 65, single

Lemon, John, 35, single
Lewis, Bessie, 46, widow
Moyer, William, 65, widow
Moris, Faye, 28, marrie (3x)
Neddalost, J. 62, single
Nicks, Fred, 85, married (2x)
Onstott, Samuel, 36, single

Reuder, Louie, 58, single
Rumple, Eliza, 59, single
Sawyer, Julie, 41, married (3x)
Schreider, John, 62, married
Schnker, Gertrude, 85, widow
Schooley, Julia, 68, widow
Sewell, Mary, 50, widow
Sines, Ricka, 62, widow
Sinn, Frank, 52, single
Smith, Norman, 83

Walters, Lizzie, 41, single
Webster, Clarence, 9 months old
Webster, Emma, 25, married
White, John, 89, widow
Williams, Thomas, 71, single
Williamson, Viola, 50, single
Wrede, Leo, 39

For a list of Defiance County Home residents in 1920 and 1940 from the censuses, visit our society webpage HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page.

How Cornelia Street in Hicksville Was Named

Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville, OH

Cornelia A. DuFoe Spindler

"OBITUARY.     SPINDLER. 

Cornelia A. DuFoe Spindler was born September 30, 1846, in Branch county, Michigan, and departed this life at the home of her sister, Mrs. Maud H. Bachman in Collinsville, Illinois, March 10, 1811*

 *(Incorrect date - it should be 1911.) 

During her girlhood, the deceased for a number of years was a teacher in the public schools of her native county.  When a young woman, she was united in *marriage with Jacob F. Spindler, for whom she was a helpful wife until his death, nearly a quarter of a century ago.  Soon after their marriage, the deceased and her husband came to Hicksville to make their home and where they remained until the time of his death.

*Michigan marriage records indicated that Jacob F. Spindler, born Lancaster, PA, a carpenter who was 33 years old, married Cornelia A. DuFoe, who was 24, on October 6, 1870, in Coldwater, MI.) 

The deceased, after the death of her husband, continued to live in her home on Cornelia street in this village until about ten years ago.  By the death of her husband, Mrs. Spindler was left with the care of three young sons, Victor H. Spindler; Melvin Spindler, and Clifton Spindler.  The three sons afterward died, leaving their mother alone in the world and in ill health. 

When the deceased and her husband settled here, Hicksville was a small hamlet and the residents were intimately acquainted with each other.  The lot upon which stood the dwelling which she occupied for many years was the first lot sold upon the street upon which it fronted, and in giving the street a name, the late Hon. A. P. Edgerton gave it Mrs. Spindler's Christian name, Cornelia, in her honor, he having been the proprietor of the addition in which her home is located.

Two members of the family of the deceased sacrified their health for the perpetuity and  glory of this nation.  The husband was a brave soldier in the 58th*

regiment O.V.I. and died from the effects of privations endured in Andersonville prison.  One son, Clifton, was a brave soldier in the Spanish-American war and in the Philipine War.  

*Jacob F. Spindler was actually in the 68th Ohio, as many sources agree.  He enlisted at the age of 26 on October 2, 1861.  He was captured on June 15, 1865, at Big Shanty, Georgia and then taken to Andersonville as a POW.  He was one of the lucky ones who survived.  Jacob mustered out on May 15, 1865, and died on December 4, 1886.

The deceased was a sufferer from physical ailments for many years. She was industrious, painstaking, loyal, forgiving and charitable.  Many years ago she united with the First Methodist Episcopal church of Hicksville and continued to be a loyal member until the time of her death.  

The deceased leaves surviving her: one brother, John DuFoe of Union City, Michigan, and one sister, Mrs. Maud E. Bachman of Collinsville, Illinois.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. C. Shaw from the First Methodist Episcopal church of Hicksville last Friday afternoon and interment was made in Forest Home Cemetery."

Forest Home Cemetery, Hicksville, Ohio  (www.findagrave.com)

 

Albert Born Farnsworth - A Pioneer of Milford Township

Albert Born Farnsworth

"Farnsworth.

Albert Farnsworth was born in Boston, Mass., March 14, 1830, and when about five years old, the family moved to New York City where they resided about three years.

They then moved to Brookfield, now Massilon, Stark County, Ohio.  After residing in Brookfield until a boy of eleven years, his parents moved by wagon in the year of 1841 to the old homestead in Milford township, Defiance county, where he was reared to manhood.

There were in all twelve brothers and sisters to share the pleasures of his boyhood days.  He learned the carpenter's trade in early manhood and labored and toiled, helping  wrest Defiance county from its native wilderness and fit it for habitation.  Few, if any, contributed more than did Mr. Farnsworth.  It is meet that for the arduous and important labor he has performed he should receive his due credit. 

Upon the home farm in Milford township, he resided until his marriage, August 30, 1854, to Miss Eliza Martin, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of Reuben and Thankful (Bolton) Martin, who in 1853, removed from Portage county, Ohio, to Milford township, this county.

Five children were born of this union: Newell A., Emma, wife of Frank Place, Warren A., Effie, wife of C. E. Warner, and Charles H.  The mother departed this life December 21, 1894, in Hicksville.

October 8, 1896, Mr. Farnsworth was again married.  His second union being with Mrs. Catherine (Tracht) Hilbert, a daughter of Peter Tracht and a widow of Isaac Hilbert, who departed this life October 10 1917.*

(*printing error)

During the Civil War, deceased manifested his patriotism by enlisting in August, 1862, in Company F, 111th O.V.I. for three years, and was made a non-commissioned officer.  After one year's service, he was placed in detached duty in the Engineer Corps. He participated in the Battle of Murfreesboro, in the siege of Knoxville, as well as in several skirmishes, and when his term of service had expired, he was honorably discharged.

 

His experience was a remarkable one, he having been providentially saved from guerrilla bullets and rope while serving as Recruiting Officer in East Tennessee, in the organizing of colored troops; also in a successful rescue of three comrades from a watery grave, taking them from a wreck in a frail skiff in Holston River, while it was at high water mark and covered with rapidly floating ice.

While living in Milford township, he held the offices of trustee and clerk, but never cared for political honors.

At the age of twelve years, he was converted to God, and as there was no church in that vicinity at that time,  he did not unite with any congregation until he was twenty-one, and lived a true and consistent Christian life for sixty-seven years.  He was a member of the U. B. church and has served as class leader and superintendent of Sunday School for ten successive years, and took an active part until his sickness prevented his attending services.

He departed this life July 28, 1918, at his residence on North Main street. aged 88 years, 4 months and 14 days.  As an honored pioneer, highly respected citizen, and devoted Christian, his memory is worth of being perpetuated.  May his mantle fall upon others.  Funeral services were held from the U.B. church, conducted by Rev. J. W. Lilly, assisted by Rev. Hendrickson.  Interment in Forest Home Cemetery."

Hicksville Tribune, August 15, 1918

For more information on Albert Farnsworth, visit

 https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=29977193

 

Garman School, Defiance Township, District #3 - 1906

The Garman School, District #3, was located in Defiance Township at the intersection of Walnut Grove and Watson Roads, in Section 10.

This photo was dated October 23, 1906, and the names were labeled to correspond with the numbers written on the pupils in the photo.

1 - Teacher, June (Knight) Degler
2 - Ruth Carpenter Leever
3 -Winona Garman Boehm
4 - Vida Garman Rieckhoff
5 - John A. Garman
6 - Nelson Rose
7 - Ralph Rose
8 - Gale Keller
9 - Mervin Hall