James K. Andrews - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Photo taken from Ancestry Public Tree

GAR Photo

James K. Andrews, born January 23, 1847, spent all of his years in Defiance County.  Born to parents, Jeremiah and Electa, he grew up living in Defiance, although his father was a farmer and probably farmed ground nearby.

A month after he turned seventeen, James, sometimes called "Jack," enlisted in Company G, 38th Ohio Infantry.  It was 1864 and the company was sent to meet up with General Sherman in his campaign for Atlanta.  After capturing Atlanta, the 38th went with him into the Carolina campaign where they witnessed the surrender of Confederate general Joe Johnston.





They were then sent for the Grand Review in Washington on May 24, 1865.  The war was over!  Jack and his company boarded the B & O Railroad to travel as far as Parkersburg and then hopped on a steamer up the Ohio River.  They mustered out at Louisville on July 12, 1865.  For James K. Andrews, it was a service of almost 1 1/2 years.

After the war, Jack married Amanda Wiler.  In the 1870 census, they were enumerated as living with her parents, John and Elizabeth.  James, 23, and Amanda, 19, had one child, Franklin, 10 months.  Jack helped with the farming.

The couple went on to have nine children and they farmed many years.  Andrews served faithfully as a deacon of the First Baptist Church and was active in the activities of the Bishop Post.  In 1901, the family lived at 826 Jefferson Street, but in their later years, they moved to 930 Wilhelm Street.

In 1923, a report of their 55th wedding anniversary, also provided a few of his Civil War experiences:

James K. Andrews died on September 28, 1927.  His funeral was held at his home on Wilhelm Street and later at the First Baptist Church with all his grandsons as pallbearers - Gerald, Mylan and Irvin Andrews, Jacob Kinner and Ed. Morris - and his granddaughters as flower carriers - Dorothy, Mildred, Catherine and Thesal Andrews.

Crescent-News, September 28, 1927

Riverside Cemetery - www.findagrave.com

(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!)

Scam Artists on the Loose, John Engel!

From the Defiance Democrat - November 22, 1894

"BOLD, BAD SWINDLERS

John Engel, the Victim of Two Highwaymen

FIVE DOLLARS FOR A RING

Stopped on the Road Home and Bunkoed on a Box Game -

A Slick Pair of Road Agents

John Engel is a well-to-do farmer who resides four miles north of this city.

Friday evening, in company with his wife, he was going home from town and had reached a point on the Holgate pike about one-fourth of a mile south of the Banner school house when he was met by two men, riding in a buggy.  They stopped him and began making enquiries of a trivial nature.

One of them stepped from the buggy and, taking out some small boxes with slide covers, proceeded to explain the beauties and mysteries of a trick.  He placed $40 in one of the boxes, carelessly leaving a corner of one of the bills sticking out.  He shuffled the boxes around for a time and then asked Mr. Engel to pick out the one containing the money.  This was easy to do and the game was repeated several times, Mr. Engel always selecting the right box.

Finally, the trick artist placed a large ring on top of the box containing the money and offered the whole outfit for five dollars. Mr Engel handed over the five and took the ring, but before he could get hold of the box, the swindler placed his hand upon it and refused to give it up.  He then attempted to catch Mr. Engel for ten dollars more on a watch which he placed on the box, but having got all the jewelry he wanted at those prices, the victim declined to invest any further.

 The two swindlers then drove toward the city and Mr. Engel wended his way home, wiser by five dollar's worth of experience. 

 Last Saturday he came to town and related his adventure, with the request that the newspapers publish a description of the robbers in hope that they may be captured, and also as a warning to other farmers to be on the look out for them and all others of their class.  

These men are evidently the same ones who have been operating through this and surrounding counties for some time.  Their plan of operation varies, but in the end they almost invariably get more or less money from each person they go after.  They are bold and do not hesitate to pull a revolver on their victim if he attempts by force to get his plunder they have fleeced him out of.  They are almost generally sharp enough to turn over some worthless piece of jewelry or some other trifle which they can claim they have sold the victim for his money in case they should be arrested for swindling.

No doubt many men are victimized who never mention it to escape being made the laughing stock of their neighbors.  It is truly unaccountable how people will continue to be bunkoed in the manner after the repeated warnings they get of such sharks through the newspapers.  Hardly a week passes but accounts of such transactions are published and yet it seems the only way to convince some men that they can never win anything out of another man's game is by dearly bought experience.

Mr. Engel describes the men as being of medium size and wearing black, stiff hats.  The older one is aged about fifty with heavy mustache and chin whiskers streaked with gray.  The younger one looks to be about thirty, with mustache.  They drove a black horse hitched to a top buggy.

All officers should be constantly on the lookout for them and arrest them on sight.

Mr. Engel says he has traveled considerable, was in the army, and has seen a good deal of sharp practice, but never was caught up before.  He is very desirous that all readers of this paper should be notified of the character of these swindlers so they they may steer clear of them and have nothing to do with any of their kind."

Martin Perkey - G.A.R., Bishop Post

Postmaster, Council Member, Minister, Army Chaplain, Judge, Farmer, Dry Goods Store Owner

Born in Pennsylvania in January, 1819, to Christopher and Elizabeth Perkey, Martin Perkey farmed in Williams County, Ohio, in the 1850 census. He had obtained 40 acres through the Homestead Act on March 16, 1837, and eventually added to that amount.

Martin Perkey married Catherine Gaudern in Williams County on March 12, 1843.  The couple settled on a farm in Florence Township where the enumerator found them in 1850. Martin, 30, and Catherine, 24, had two daughters, Eugenia (Eugenia Ellen), 5, and Abigail, 3.  
Martin served as a postmaster in Williams County for awhile. In the mid-1850s, Martin obtained a license as a minister in the Methodist church. 

On December 24, 1861, he patriotically enlisted into the 68th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army, where he served in both companies F and S as an Army chaplain.  His service, documented in his obituary below, lasted until his resignation for health reasons on September 17,1862.  He was 45 when he enlisted.


The Perkey family remained in Williams County for at least twenty more years.  Martin returned to farming after the war, but he eventually turned to the ministry. By 1870, he and Catherine lived in Pioneer, Williams County, Ohio. The census noted that Martin, 50, and Catherine, 46, lived on real estate valued at $1600 with personal effects valued at $2500.  He was a retail dry goods merchant.

In 1880, the couple lived at a hotel in Bryan, Ohio.  By this time, Martin, at 61, had become a probate judge.  His two daughters were married with families.  Eugenia Ellen married Ezra Hilton, and Abigail married Edmund Lewis.  

Finally, in the 1900 census, the Perkeys lived in Defiance, at 656 Holgate Avenue. with their grandson, Henry Lewis, 30, his wife, Daisy, 24, and son, Harry B., 2.  Grandfather Martin Perkey was 81 years old by this time and Grandmother Catherine was 74.  The household had a servant, Emma Roehrs, 18.

On May 8, 1903, Martin Perkey passed away.  Elaborate, detailed obituaries were printed in almost all the Defiance papers of the day.

"A NOTABLE PIONEER CALLED BY DEATH
Was One of the Best Known Men in Northwestern Ohio.

Judge Martin Perkey died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. N. Lewis, on Holgate Avenue, shortly after 2 p.m. Friday.  He and Mrs. Perkey had been visiting at the Lewis home for several days.  Friday morning he had some trouble with his heart and Dr. W. S. Lowell was called to attend him.  Dr. Powell discovered that Judge Perkey was in bad shape and warned his friends that he might pass away at any time.  

At noon Mr. Perkey ate some dinner but after two o'clock, there was a recurrence of his trouble and at about 2:30, he said to Dr. Lewis, 'I fear I will have to let go,' and sinking back on the pillow, the life of the pioneer closed like a benediction.

PERKEY - Judge Martin Perkey was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1819, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. S. Lewis on Holgate Avenue, this city, May 8, 1903, aged 84 years, 3 months and 19 days.

When Mr. Perkey was six months old, his parents moved to Perry county, Ohio, and after two years, moved near the town of Lancaster, Fairfield county.
In 1827 the family left Fairfield county and moved to Seneca county, young Perkey being but eight years of age at that time.  The father died in Seneca county and at the age of fourteen years, the boy was thrown upon his own resources and compelled to shift for himself.

He worked at odd jobs until he reached the age of twenty-one years.  When he left Seneca county and located in Williams county, where, with his savings, he was able to enter and clear 140 acres of land.  

In 1823 (1843), he was married to Catherine Gawdern of Williams county.  The young couple went to housekeeping in a primitive way - in a log cabin and used furniture built by Mr. Perkey himself.  Two daughters resulted from this union: Mrs. Dr. E. N. Lewis, of Holgate avenue, and Mrs. Ezra Hilton, of North Defiance.

Mr. Perkey was appointed one of the first postmasters in Williams county, being made postmaster at Spring Lake, by President Tyler.

In 1854, Judge Perkey was received into the North Ohio M. E. conference.  He served various appointments until 1861 when he was elected chaplain of the 68th O.V.I. and went to the front.  He was in the siege at Ft. Donaldson and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing.  Shortly after that, his health became bad and he resigned and came home. Owing to bad health, he was forced to retire from the service as a minister and he became a superanuate (a retiree).

For thirty years after his return home from the war, Mr. Perkey was in the mercantile business in Pioneer.  In 1878 he was elected probate judge of Williams county and served nine years.  At the close of his third term, he moved to this city and resided up to the day of his death.

Although living in retirement, Judge Perkey was in 1892 induced to accept the Democratic nomination for councilman and was returned from the Fourth Ward by a handsome majority.

The wife and two daughters survive Judge Perkey.  The funeral will occur from the Lewis home on Holgate ave. at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dr. E. D. Whitlock of St. Paul M. E. church and Dr. P. P. Pope, of Van Wert, officiating.  Bishop Post, of which the deceased was an honored member, will have charge of the funeral. The remains will be interred in Riverside Cemetery.

The friends have had many messages of condolence today, one letter in particular being from Chas. A. Bowersox, of Bryan.  Judge Perkey was honored by all our people.  He and his excellent wife celebrated their sixtieth anniversary of their marriage on March 12 of this present year"

Riverside Cemetery

 
Perhaps a more dramatic obituary here, in part:

"THE PASSING OF HON. MARTIN PERKEY

Venerable Gentleman Known to all Lived a Life of Much Usefulness

The sands of time have flowed their course through the sifting aperture, and at last measured the life of the Honorable Judge Martin Perkey.  Yesterday the living spirit in the being of man is today a memory to its form of cold, unrelenting death.

Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. E. N. Lewis, occurred the demise of Judge Perkey, shortly after 2 o'clock.  Although not entirely unexpected, it was a shock, and the news was a painful surprise to the citizens and friends of the deceased in Defiance.  His end was seemingly without pain.  Even unto the last hour, he was up and around, enjoying the sweet restful sunshine of spring, and the wholesome budding time of the year.

Judge Perkey, with his venerable wife, had spent the winter with his daughter, Mrs. Ezra Hilton, in North Defiance.  Last Monday they came over to the home of their other daughter, Mrs. E.N. Lewis, on Holgate Avenue for a short visit.  At that time he was ailing, but as he had not been in the best of health for some years past, it was not thought that the results would be fatal.  During the winter he suffered an attack of the grip, and from that time on, he seemed to fail rapidly.  However, the same kindly spirit, that brotherly love and endearing nature which was his from birth, was always apparent, and for that reason alone, the family entertained no thought that the end was near.  That at that time the cruel reaper had begun its journey through the soul to cut down the aged blossom, which has for these many long years retained the fragrance with which God endowed it.

As usual yesterday morning, Judge Perkey was up and around.  His disposition was not changed in the least and although not feeling the best, his condition would not warrant the belief that afore the day had done, the last act would have been passed.  Later in the morning he suffered with pains in the region ofhis heart.  The attack came on violently and Dr. W. S. Powell was summoned. After dinner, the pain became worse and he lingered in a comatose condition until death relieved him.  The wandering spirit was released and ascended to the tabernacle of love and rest in the more purer regions above.  Twenty-five years ago, the deceased suffered an attack of paralysis.  Since then he has had more frequent attacks with his heart.

Judge Perkey was a man possessing more than human kindness.  His conception of life was broad.  He loved the free air which all mankind breathes.  He loved to live, and lived to love.  His existence alone was one sybolic of forgiveness, kindness and gentle heartedness.  As he grew older, he seemed to take in the whole world. Everybody was loved by him and he in return loved life so dearly..."

(Here his life history was repeated).

In conclusion,
"The judge had a commanding figure which added grace and dignity to his bearing.  He was a member of the G.A.R. and a Master Mason.  The members of the former will turn out at the funeral which will occur Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. from the Lewis residence on Holgate ave.  Rev. E. D. Whitlock, assisted by Dr. Pope, of VanWert, a warm personal friend of the deceased, will conduct the service.  The remains will be interred in Riverside Cemetery."

 

(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!)










 





















(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!)

A Mighty Postwoman

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds" has long been associated with the American postman.

"FEMININE MAIL CARRIER CIRCLES GLOBE 6 TIMES ON DEFIANCE MUDROADS"

When Miss Pearl Nihart unloads empty mail sacks at the Edgerton post office on Jan. 15, 1926, she will have circled the globe six times and gone 15,000 miles on the seventh lap around the planet without once getting off the mud roads of Milford township. 

Pearl is not pictured here.

She is the Mohammed who has moved a mountain of letters, papers, and mail order catalogues to 100 families in the past 22 years.

With the assistance of several horses and five automobiles, the bones of four of which have rusted in some junk yard, Miss Nihart has covered the 25 and 18 miles on her route 6,000 times.  Only three-quarters of a mile of her daily journey is over improved roads.

"I have the worst road and the best people served by the Edgerton post office," Miss Nihart said recently in recounting her experiences as a rural carrier."

"Folks shook their heads when I drove one of my father's horses over a new route for the first time on Jan. 15, 1903.  The next Monday a blizzard swept over northwestern Ohio. I would have given everything I had if I could have resigned on the spot.  But I knew it would be spring before I could be relieved.  I've been carrying mail ever since." 

Horse and sleigh carried the mail.

 "My first automobile had but one cylinder and it coughed its way over the route for several years.  Since then I have worn out three cars.  In the winter I still have to use horses and sometimes I walk over part of my route."

I like to work in summer.  The winters, I dread.  It seems as though one can't get thawed out from Saturday night to Monday morning when the round of bucking snowdrifts or bouncing over frozen ruts begins again."

"Folks often dash out to their boxes to ask if I think they can get through the drifts to town, not stopping to think that I've just come over the road.  I couldn't do it if my people did not make an extra effort to keep the mail road open.  Perhaps, that's because I'm a woman."

Edgerton post office has the reputation in northwestern Ohio of delivering mail on the rural routes when the weather gets so bad that neighboring towns abandon attempts to reach the country folks.  Perhaps, that is because there is a woman and three men carrying mail out of Edgerton, and the woman has failed but twice in 22 years to cover her route.






Once, in March 1913, when a large part of Ohio was under water and the rest of the state expected to be at any minute.  Miss Nihart did not leave the post office.

During the blizzard of 1917, she and the other rural carriers at Edgerton drove out over the first part of their routes till the cold forced them back.  They came to the post office, thawed out, and tackled the other end of the routes, going as far as their numbed fingers would guide their cars or horses.

The Defiance Crescent-News, Defiance, Ohio, December 14, 1925, page 1