Joseph Partee - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Joseph Partee was one of a host of Partees in Williams and Defiance County.  Born on May 17, 1844, in Williams County to Lawrence and Rachel (Webb) Partee, Joseph was one of the youngest children in the family.  

He and his older brother, Obadiah, both enlisted in the Civil War.  At just 17, Joseph signed up on April 17, 1861, as a private into Company F, 48th Ohio Infantry, where he served until he transferred into Company E. 83rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  He advanced himself to Corporal, spent 7 months as a prisoner of war from April 1861 - November 1861, and was injured in battle.  Joseph served patriotically until his discharge on May 9, 1866.

When Joseph returned home from the war, he married Rachel L. Cook in Defiance, Ohio, on September 16, 1866.  In 1870, the census enumerator found them in Defiance Township.  Joseph, 26, was farming, and Rachel, 23, was keeping house and caring for two small children - Mary, 3 and Jessie, 1.  With them were James Dellett, 22, an engineman, and Daniel Smith, 8.  The relationships, if any, are unknown.

The family moved into Defiance City on Perry Street by the 1880 census.  Joseph and Rachel had daughters, Mary L., 13; Jessie I., 11 and Milo, son, 8.  Joseph and his next door neighbor, brother George, both worked in the spoke factory.  

Rachel Cook Partee died in July 1899, at about age 52,  Her obituary appeared in the Defiance Daily Crescent on July 29, 1899, page 2.

"DEATH OF MRS. JOS. PARTEE

A Good, True and Kind Woman Passes to Her Reward

Death last evening come to the relief of Mrs. Joseph Partee, who has been a sufferer for the past four years, a part of which time she was perfectly helpless from the effects of paralysis.  Mrs. Partee was a lady of a very generous disposition and was ever ready to assist her neighbors and friends and was greatly beloved by all who knew her and highly esteemed in the community.  She was a kind and affectionate mother and loving wife and her presence will be greatly missed by all who knew her.  The death occurred last evening at 6:30 o'clock at her home in South Defiance.

Deceased was born in Columbiana county, O., near Salem, in 1847 and was therefore 52 years old.  She was two years old when her parents moved to Defiance county where she has since resided.  Her maiden name was Jessie Cook and her parents settled in Washington township.

The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at St. Paul's M.E. church and will be conducted by Rev. A. Edwin A. Smith.  The remains will be interred in Riverside Cemetery."

Joseph remarried to Ella Phillipps Hudson, daughter of George and Ella (Howel) Phillips.  At the time of the marriage, Ella, a widow, was 38 and Joseph was 56.  The bride's residence was Bryan, but the couple married in Defiance on May 16, 1900.  

They settled in at 1143 Emery Street, Defiance, where they were enumerated in the 1900 census.  Joseph and Ella were there with Nellie Knudson (Hudson), 5, step-daughter and Hary W. Knudson, 3, stepson.

Ella was born in Indiana and by 1910, the family had moved back to Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. In the 1910 census, they were found at 2629 Jackson Street.  Joseph, 66, worked in a factory there, while Ella kept house and cared for Floyd Hudson, 18; Neiley (Nellie) Hudson, 16, and Harry W. Hudson, 19 (13).  Ella reported she had had seven children and all seven were living.  

The family could not be found in the 1920 census, but Joseph's second wife, Ella, died in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana, on February 18, 1927.  Hence, it seemed likely that the family remained at their same home as in 1910.

Ella was 68, born on March 8, 1858.  She was buried in Maplewood Cemetery there.

"RECEIVES WORD OF DEATH OF MOTHER

Word has been received by John Hudson, 420 Hoyt Ave. of the death of his mother, Mrs. Ella Partee, of Summitville.  Mrs. Partee is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Roy Dunlap and Mrs. Joe Wisenfraund of Chicago; and Mrs. Sam Barke of Oklahoma; six sons, George and Arzie Hudson of Indianapolis, Harry, Floyd, and Ernest Hudson of Anderson, and John Hudson of Muncie.  Funeral services were held at Sells Brothers chapel in Anderson at 2:30 today.  Burial took place in the East Maplewood Cemetery."     Muncie Evening Press, Muncie, Indiana, February 21, 1927, p. 2

At some point after Ella's death, Joseph moved to Wyandotte, Michigan, to live with his daughter, Jessie Partee McTaggart.  He was enumerated there in the 1930 census with his son-in-law, George McTaggert, head, 61, who owned a home worth $7000, and worked as a superintendent at the Alkali No. 2 factory.  Jessie, 60, his wife; Ethel Miller, 38, single, step-daughter, a teacher and Joseph Partee, 85, father-in-law, makes hoops, Civil War veteran, joined the McTaggerts.

Joseph died in Wyandotte, Michigan on March 18, 1931, and he was brought home to Defiance for burial with Rachel.

His obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent-News on March 19, 1931, on page 1:

"JOSEPH PARTEE TAKEN BY DEATH

The body of Joseph Partee, 86 year old Civil War veteran who died Wednesday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G. D. McTaggart, Wyandotte, Mich., will be brought to Riverside Cemetery Saturday for burial.   The body is expected to arrive at the cemetery at 1 p.m. Saturday when members of the Grand Army of the Republic will conduct services.

Mr. Partee served in the 48th O.V.I. during the Civil War.

He was a native of Defiance and had lived in the vicinity until about 20 years ago.

Besides the daughter, Mrs. McTaggart, he leaves seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Dr. F. M. Swinehart, pastor of the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church here, will be in charge of the services at the grave.

Joseph's son, Milo William Partee, born April 23, 1872, in Defiance County, served in the Spanish American War.  He enlisted on May 16, 1898 and was discharged in May, 1899.  He preceded his father in death on January 25, 1917.

Joseph's daughter, Jessie, married four times - to John Sontchi, Persey Bessey, John Miller and finally, George McTaggert.  Born in 1869, she passed away on January 23, 1962, at the age of 92.  Her sister, Mary, born in 1867, has yet been found in the death records.

(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!)

Harvey Webster Wood and Columbus Edward Kindig - Spanish -American War Veterans From Defiance

 

Both the son of Harvey Wood, "Webb Wood," and his son-in-law for a brief time, Columbus Edward Kindig, "Edward," served in the Spanish American War in Company M, 6th Ohio Regiment, in different capacities and with different endings.  

Webster "Webb" Wood was a Corporal in Company M who enlisted at the age of 20 on July 2, 1898.  He was mustered in at Columbus, Ohio by Captain Charles M. Rockefeller.  

Edward Kindig, on the other hand, once Cora Wood's husband, was a private in the same unit.  Company M was sent by train to Columbus and then to Camp Thomas, Georgia, where the conditions were horrible.  This camp was at the site of the Civil War battle, Chickamauga, and it was overcrowded with poor sanitation and little clean water.  Later the unit was moved to Camp Poland, Tennessee, in August, 1898.

                                           Camp Thomas, Georgia

But it was too late for Private Edward Kindig of Defiance; he had already contracted typhoid fever at the camp in Georgia.  Dead at the age of 28, he was sent home to Defiance on the B & O Railroad. (Coincidentally, his mother was returning home to Defiance from a trip on the very same train and had no idea her son's lifeless body was in another car.) His return was much noted in the newspapers, as shown in this article found in the Defiance Express of August 25, 1898:

"SORROWFUL HOMECOMING

Remains of Corporal Edward C. Kindig Came Home This Afternoon.  

They Were in Charge of Corporal Lem Sapp Who Came Home Sick.

The remains of Corporal Edward C. Kindig, who died at Camp Thomas, Sunday at 5:30 p.m. arrived Tuesday afternoon, B & O train, NW bound in charge of Corporal Lem Sapp.  An immense crowd had already begun to make its way to the depot when the following telegram was made public and added to the general interest taken in the affair:

Special to Daily Express:  Deshler, August 23 - The train bearing Kindig's remains and myself will arrive at depot at %:30.  Inform parents, firemen, meet me, sick.

Corporal Lem Sapp.

At 3 p.m. the Sons of Veterans, G.A.R. men headed by a platoon of police and the Defiance Military Band marched to the depot, while Private Bert Wisda of Company M, home on furlough, carried the beautiful flag presented to Company M before it left for the war.  At the depot, the remains were taken charge of by undertakers, Blanchard & Son, and were met by the Sons of Veterans and members of G.A.R.  The body was conveyed to the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Kindig, 720 Harrison Street, the procession moving in the order given above.

As soon as the remains were taken from the train, the company flag was placed on the rough box and the procession then moved to the Kindig residence.  The following persons were pall bearers: C. J. Thompson, Ed  Krabach, Carl Schultz, John King, I. C. Osborne and Peter Hendrick.  A beautiful floral cross arms in red, white and blue, presented by the citizens, was carried in the cortege.

Corporal Sapp was very weak and had to be led from the train by friends.  The crowd present was immense.  The friends and citizens have procured many beautiful floral offerings to place on the casket.

The Funeral

The remains of Corporal Edward Kindig were taken to Evansport for interment Wednesday at 10 a.m.  At 9 a.m. a short funeral service was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kindig, the parents, 720 Harrison street, Rev. Ova C. Wright of the Baptist church officiating.  The remains were then escorted to the high bridge in North Defiance by a large number of Sons of Veterans and members of the GAR, headed by the Defiance Military Band.  An escort of Sons of Veterans accompanied the remains to Evansport, and after a short service at that place, the body was lowered to the grave.

There were many beautiful floral offerings, one piece being presented by the Second Ward people and one by citizens generally, both designed by Winterich.  The Daughters of Veterans sent a beautiful spray of roses.  

Mrs. Kindig, who returned from Piqua, rode from the place to Deshler on the same train that bore the remains of her son, but she did not know it until she left the train at Deshler and met Corporal Sapp who was in charge of the body.

Edward C. Kindig was one of the heroes of the war and while it is distressing that the sturdy young man should have been called in the morning of manhood, there were rumors attending his homecoming that only added to the distress of his friends.  It was reported that Kindig had been hurt in a rough and tumble fight and that was the cause of his death.  W. E. King had used the sword on Kindig on the parade ground, and that he had died of blood poison.  Not withstanding these outrageous stories, had been disproved by Lieutenant H. B. Lewis and other members of the company. 

Dr. M. B. Stevens was called on Tuesday evening and made an examination of the remains.  He did not find a mark upon them, and the parents were permitted to see for themselves what Dr. Stevens had told them.  This puts to rest for all time the cruel stories that would have left a cloud upon the hero dead and put a lasting blight upon the living...The sworn statement of the physician at Camp Thomas shows that Corporal Kindig died of enetric fever.

Corporal Webb Wood continued with Company M to Charleston where they departed on the ship, Minnewaska, headed for Cuba, where the unit remained until the next April, 1899.  The war had officially ended on December 10, but the troops stayed to keep the peace and stability of the country.  The Spanish- American War was a short war, 1898-1899, and one where more men were lost to disease than battle.  In his company, Webb lost one officer and 24 enlisted men to disease.

Webb lived in Defiance his entire life, and he worked as a foreman in the tool room of the American Steel Packaging Company.  He married Julia Houck on December 14, 1904, daughter of Gottlieb and Henrietta (Smith) Houck. 

Webb had to register for both the WW I and WWII drafts.  In the first draft, he indicated he was tall and stout, but in the second "old man's " draft of World War II, when he was 64 years old, he elaborated that he was 6'10" tall and 225 pounds!

Webb and Julia lived for quite awhile at the 901 Wilhelm Street address, but by 1940, they had a new home at 906 West Jefferson.  Grace lived with them until her death in 1937. Webb took on a new job as defense instructor in Defiance during the war.

Julia Houck Wood died in December, 1954, of a sudden hemorrhage.  Her obituary appeared in the Christmas Eve edition of the Crescent-News. On February 17, 1956, Webb married again to Ada Elizabeth Galloway who was the director of nurses at Defiance Hospital.  Elizabeth, as she was called, was nineteen years younger than Webb, and after his retirement that same year, they moved to her hometown of St. Mary's, Ohio.

They were married but five years until Webb's death in 1961.

"H. WEBSTER WOOD

Remains of Harvey Webster "Webb" Wood, 83, a Defiance native and former city councilman were brought here for burial in the Riverside Cemetery Tuesday afternoon.

Burial followed services in St. Mary's, where he died Saturday after a lingering illness dating to May 22, 1959.  The services were held in the Sittler and Stein funeral home Tuesday afternoon with the Rev. Kenneth Burris, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, St. Mary's, officiating.

A son of Harvey and Sarah White Wood, he was born in Defiance on November 17, 1877, and died Saturday in his home, 111 Nagel Steet.

He was a Spanish-American War veteran and former foreman and supervisor in the Defiance Tool and Die Co. plant.  He served several years on city council, resigning Friday, Jan. 2, 1942.  He had been reelected to council from the first ward the preceding November and his resignation at a special meeting came as a surprise.

He gave his duties as instructor in defense classes as the Defiance High School as the reason for his resignation...

Wood and his wife, the former Ada Elizabeth Galloway moved to her home in St. Marys in 1956, following his retirement.  She is his only survivor.

He was a member of the Defiance Presbyterian Church, Omega Lodge, No. 564, Free and Accepted Masons; Ensawocsa chapter No. 89, Royal Arch Masons, Oc-co-nox-ee 55 R and S.M., Defiance Commandery Knights Templar andValley of Toledo Consistory."

Webb was buried in Riverside with his first wife, Julia.  Elizabeth is buried in Elm Grove Cemetery in St. Mary's, Ohio, when she died in May, 1980.

Adminstrator Note - All comments are moderated, so it make take a day or two for your comment to appear on the post.  We welcome comments and additional information on all posts.

Harvey Wood - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Harvey Wood, actually William Harvey Wood, was born in 1840, which meant he was at a prime age to fight when the Civil War came along.  He enlisted into the 25th Ohio Infantry, Company A, on October 6, 1864, and he served a one year term, mustering out on October 6, 1865.  He did suffer some kind of infirmity, but the handwriting could not be read on the 1890 Veterans' Census to determine its nature.  

Harvey joined his company and regiment in Fort Pulaski, Georgia in October, 1864.  From there, the company attached to the 3rd Separate Brigade and headed to South Carolina where they led an expedition against the Charleston and Savannah railroads, hoping to keep supplies out of the hands of the Confederates. One of their most important battles was the Battle of Honey Hill where the regiment had 150 men wounded or killed.  Harvey would have taken part in the occupation of Charleston toward the end of the war.

After he returned from the war, he married the 15 or 16 year old Sarah E. White on July 4, 1869.  In the 1870 Federal Census, they lived in Pleasant Township, Henry County, near New Bavaria.  Harvey, 28, worked as a farmer with a personal estate of $300.  Sarah was then 17, and they had Cora, 5 months old.  

By 1880, they had moved to 435 Court Street in Defiance where Harvey had a job as a laborer.  He, Sarah, 27, and Cora, 11, had welcomed a new brother, Harvey Webster, called "Webb," 2.

The daughter, Cora Wood, age 20, married Columbus Edward Kindig, age 19, on June 7, 1890.  The marriage did not go well, as in October, 1895, Edward (as he was known) filed for divorce.  The Defiance Evening News reported on October 29, 1895, on page 5:

"WANTS A DIVORCE

Edward Kindig Becomes Weary of the Tie that Binds.

Edward C. Kindig has become tired of the tie that binds, and has begun suit in probate court against his wife, Cora, for divorce.

He alleges that they were married in this city, June 7, 1889, and have no children.  He has always conducted himself towards her as a dutiful husband, but notwithstanding this fact, she has for a long time been an inmate of a house of ill fame, and is now known as a public prostitute on the streets.  He prays for an absolute divorce.  Enos & Johnson are his attorneys."

No other information could be found on Cora, searched with her maiden name or married name.  It is known that she died in February, 1898, only because her family put a thank you in the newspaper for those who gave condolences upon their daughter, Cora's, death.  No obituary could be located in any state for her.

In 1900, the family was enumerated without Cora at 816 Perry Street.  Harvey, 60, was a day laborer and owned his home free and clear.  Sarah was 45, and she reported she had two children and two living. However, the children listed were Webb H., 22, day laborer, and Grace, 15, at school.  Was Cora completely disowned and not reported as a child born to Sarah? 

Son, Webb, and the Sherriff accompanied Sarah Wood to the Toledo State Hospital where she remained until her death in 1937.

Webster married Julia Houck, daughter of Gottlieb and Henrietta (Smith) Houck, on December 14, 1904.  He was a toolmaker, 27, and Julia was 26.  So, just Grace, 19, and Harvey were left in their home.  Neither Webb nor Harvey nor Grace could be found in the 1910 census.  However, it is known they were in Defiance as Harvey was injured at work that year, as the Defiance Crescent-News reported on May 19, 1910:

"Harvey Wood, an employee of the American Steel Packaging Company, sustained severe burns to his left hand.  Wood was working with his hand immersed in naptha, and got too close to an open light causing the fluid to explode."

Grace Gladys Wood remained single and cared for her father until his death on October 17, 1917, at the age of 77.

Grace then went to live with her brother, Webb, and his wife, Julia.  She was enumerated with them on the census of 1930.  She was employed as a saleslady in the Uhlman store which was once in Defiance, until her death on February 27, 1937, at the age of 47..

Grace's mother, Sarah White Wood, also died in 1937, in December at the Toledo State Hospital.  The Crescent-News ran her obituary on December 21, 1937, on the front page.

"MRS. SARAH WOOD, LONG ILL, EXPIRES IN TOLEDO, AGED 84

Mrs. Sarah E. Wood, 84, widow of Harvey W. Wood, died in Toledo Hospital at 11:55 p.m. Sunday, following an illness of many years.

The body was brought to Smith Brothers funeral home here where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday with Rev. H. W. Shepfer in charge.  Interment will be in Riverside cemetery.

Mrs. Wood was born in Defiance county, March 25, 1853, and spent the major portion of her life in Defiance and vicinity.  She was married to Mr. Wood in 1868.  Her husband died in 1917.

Surviving are a son, H. W. Wood, 706 Clinton street.  A daughter, Grace, preceded her in death."

Harvey Webster Wood was left - more on him next time.

Adminstrator Note - All comments are moderated, so it make take a day or two for your comment to appear on the post.  We welcome comments and additional information on all posts.

(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!)

Surnames Wi - Z: Birth Records Located in Defiance County, But Births Actually Occurred Elsewhere

These are as found in the Birth Records of Defiance County or other files, originals located at the Records Center in Defiance, or as indexed by the Defiance County Genealogical Society and published as a book, available for ordering on our website.  

The DCGS index book notes the actual location of the record.  Births were usually recorded in a log book, but sometimes appeared in other files.  Remember that these are transcriptions and errors in spelling/numbers could appear.  It is always best to check the original record.

WI

Wichner, Anna Augusta (F. W. Wichner & Alen Faylor) b. Henry Twp., Wood Co., O -

6 September 1899

Wiler, Mary Lucile (John B. Wiler & Rose A. Harrell) b. Hancock Co., O. - 8 May 1904

Wiler, Merril (George Wiler & Myrtle Dunlap) b. Findlay, Hancock Co., O. -

26 September 1893

Wiler, Ralph Hilton (R. H. & Mildred E. Carpenter) b. Pleasant Twp., Henry Co., O. -

19 April 1907

Willard, Blanche (G. D. Willard & Maggie Bates) b. Salem, Columbiana Co., O. -

29 July 1890

Williamson, Sarah ( Jerry Williamson & Sarah Sith) b. Emerald, Paulding Co., O. -

20 June 1893

Williamson, Ray (Geo. Williamson & Mary Karns) b. Auglaize Twp., Paulding Co., O. -

8 February 1893

Willock, Elizabeth (Curtis Willock & Mary Stevenson) b. Oakmont, Allegheny Co, Penn

-20 January 1904

Wilson, Robert Everette (Otto Everette Wilson & Blanche Gains Kibler) b. Pike Co., O.

- 25 December 1896

Wilson, Victoria (James Wilson & Sarah) b. St. Joseph, Williams Co., O. - 

26 Sept 1869

Wood, Marie (John M. Wood & Mabel Curtis) b. Portage, Wood Co., O. -12 Apr. 1901

Woodruff, Anna (E. S. Woodruff & Libbie Dixon) b. Wood Co., O. -12 August 1893

Woolford, Forest Edward (Charles E. Woolford & Ida M. Hootman) b. Elkhart, Indiana - 18 January 1893

Wycoff, Donald Raymond (George Wycoff & Flora Price) b. Richland Co., O. -

10 May 1903

Y

Yearling, Ralph Edward (C. C. Yearling & Idith Bartia) b. Emerald, Paulding Co., O. -

4 December 1907

Young, John (John Young & Eva ) b. Michigan - 12 May 1875

Z

Zeigler, Bertha Maud (Abraham Zeigler & Mary Ann Trout) b. Williams Co., O. -

11 September 1902

Zimmerman, Annie (Martin Zimmerman & Mary Pettmer) b. Perry, Putnam Co., O. -

29June 1907

The Gypsy Camps in Defiance

 

The first gypsy camps mentioned in the available Defiance newspapers were here in the 1890s.  At that time, the wanderers were camping on the fort grounds, and people from town visited the camp as entertainment.

The Daily Defiance Crescent reported on August 6, 1892:

"The gypsy camp at the fort ground last evening at the fort ground was an attractive one... The costumes of the gypsies were elaborate and were becoming to the wearers.  

Refreshments were daintily served by the young ladies of the Epworth League.  This evening another opportunity is presented to those who desire to visit the camp...You will do well to spend this evening with the gypsies."

In 1894, it was learned that the gypsies would walk through the town selling baskets, horse trading, and telling fortunes in their eye-catching garments.  BUT, in 1898, the overall reputation of the gypsies took a plunge in the city. If anything went missing, it seemed the suspicion fell on the gypsy camp, when they were here.

October 13, 1898, The Defiance Democrat:

"HARNESS STOLEN - NOBLE TOWNSHIP FARMER VICTIM OF PILFERERS WHO ARE UNKNOWN.

Sheldon E. Sanford, of Noble Township, had a set of double work harness stolen Monday evening.  The thieves did not wait for the conventional midnight hour, but got in their work while the family was at supper, entering the barn and getting away without attracting any attention.  Suspicion was directed toward some gypsies who are encamped above Brunersburg, and Mr. Sanford, along with Sheriff Eiser searched the camp yesterday but could find no traces of the missing harness."

July 12, 1899  Defiance Daily Crescent - 

"A DIRTY LOT.  GYPSIES ORDERED TO LEAVE THE CITY.  A camp of Russian gypsies pitched their tents in North Defiance yesterday and the greasy, filthy specimens of humanity scattered to all parts of the city telling fortunes and begging.  Health officer Chapman visited the camp last evening to inspect its sanitary condition, which he found very bad.  Marshall Hull served notice on the gypsies that they must leave the city, so this morning, they pulled stakes and left for other fields."

As you can see, the view of the gypsy encampments changed significantly.  What was once entertaining and acceptable, had now become repugnant to the city people.  Not only were the gypsies blamed for robberies, but it was also rumored that they stole children.

On September 21,1899, the Hicksville Enquirer (reprinted in the Defiance Democrat of Sept. 28)reported that the child of Mrs. H. Carr, "formerly Mrs. Ferguson, who parted from her husband about a year and a half ago, was stolen while at play.  The mother missed its presence, and on going to call the little one, no response came.  Then a search was commenced and nearly every house in town has been thoroughly examined.  The father was in town a week ago.   It is feared by some that gypsies who have been camping near the town, have the child, as part of the camp that left today, and every effort is being made to find them."  No conclusion to this story could be found.

A similar blame on the gypsies was made in September, 1906, when Bessie Speck, a 16 year old, living at 1124 Perry Street, was punished by her mother for her lying ways. The girl told her mother that she would just go kill herself, but instead Bessie ran away.

"Later she was seen following a gypsy wagon, and after that, there is no trace of her.  Fearing that she may have been carried out her threat, or that she had been taken away by the gypsies, the parents and friends instituted a very thorough inquiry."  Bessie was found later in Continental - not a victim of the gypsies.

It evolved until law enforcement actively tried to keep the gypsies moving on out of Defiance.  In September, 1907, a band of seven or eight families camped in the grove across from the Francis Street bridge in south Defiance.  They had been feeding themselves through garden filching, hen coop visiting and sometimes begging.  Chief of Police Hubbard and Sheriff Kopp paid a visit and moved them out while leaving a stern warning not to return.

May, 17,1911. The Defiance Democrat.

"GYPSIES HAD SCRAP, RIG FOR SECURITY.

But for the timely intervention of Constable J. P. Eiser, Joe Davis would probably have been carved up by a couple gypsies on Fifth Street early Thursday evening."

Joe Davis had a disagreement with a group of gypsy men and the result was that Joe was beaten soundly, and in the end was facing a knife and a razor just as Eiser arrived on the scene.

The aggressors were taken before Judge Lamb the next morning, having left their horse and rig after the fight as security to their return.

As they waited for the gypsies to arrive at court, a man from Kentucky came and said that they had "borrowed" the rig from him to haul away some junk and it was not returned.  The gypsies, who were "camping near the Ruehle place in East Defiance" never did show.

As late as 1941, the visits of the gypsies continued, only now they were driving cars. In the Crescent-News, May 22, 1941, page 1:

"SECOND ROBBERY BY GYPSIES BRING APPEAL TO PUBLIC BY BRIDENBAUGH

After gypsies staged a second robbery this spring in Defiance county and made a clean getaway, Sheriff John K. Bridenbaugh today issued an appeal to the public to cooperate with his department in apprehending offenders.

Latest victim was Leslie Mills, 83, Hicksville, who was robbed Monday noon of about $50, including his old age pension money.  Although Mr. Mills was unable to get the license number of the car driven by the gypsies, or its description, Sheriff Bridenbaugh, Marshall Robert Lower, Night Marshall D. M. Driver and Mayor M. H. Bevington, the last three of Hicksville, visited the gypsy camp near Angola, Ind., and also went into Michigan looking for the offenders.  Mr. Mills accompanied the officers but was unable to identify anyone at the camp.  He was cutting weeds when the women snatched his purse...

Another robbery attributed to gypsies occurred about a month ago near Delaware Bend, when an aged man lost about $67, Sheriff Bridenbaugh said.  The gypsy women, he said, asked the victim to put water in the radiator of their car.  While he was doing so, one of the women pushed him while another grabbed his pocket book, officers were told."

Eventually, the visits to Defiance stopped and all could rest easy again.

Adminstrator Note - All comments are moderated, so it make take a day or two for your comment to appear on the post.  We welcome comments and additional information on all posts.