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Five Generation Keepsake Photo from Sherwood

 Taken in 1948, this photo depicted five generations of the family of little Anna Boroff:

Hattie Breininger, great-great grandmother

    Mrs. Jacob Sprow, great-grandmother

        Mrs Russell Hallard, grandmother

              Mrs. Janet Boroff, mother

                   Anna Boroff, daughter

Sherwood Chronicle April 22, 1948

Clarinda Bailey Williamson French, Proprietress on Danforth Street, Defiance

 

Born Clarinda Bailey on October 10, 1844, to Jesse Ordway Bailey and his wife, Sarah Green, Clarinda was, in the 1850 census, the 6th of eleven children.  The family was poor and, in 1860, reported their real estate as worth $200 and their personal worth at $25.  Clarinda had left the house by the time the 1860 census was taken.  About 16 years old, many agree that she married George Williamson by that time.  No record of a marriage could be found.

The couple was divorced by 1870, and the 1870 census showed her living in Putnam County with the Albert and Nancy Russell family and their three children.  Clarinda had three children, as well, George - 8, Jessie - 4, and Charley, 2.  She married Darius French on May 12, 1873.  They had at least one daughter, Ella, in the next year, but this marriage did not last either and the couple divorced.  A Sheriff's Sale of Property was held to settle the suit of Clarinda against Darius on August 28, 1880.

The Defiance Democrat of May 15, 1879, reported:

"Clarinda French against Darius H. French.  Defendant ordered to pay $4.00 a month for benefit of infant child and child given to plaintiff.  Defendant to have access at 6:00 each Sabbath night."

In the census of 1880, now divorced twice, Clarinda (sometimes called "Clara") settled into a home with three children: George Williamson, 19, who worked on a farm; Charley Williamson, 7; and Ella French, 6.  Clarinda was 38 and reported that she worked as a seamstress.  

In the 1890 Veterans Census, George Williamson was listed at a veteran of Company B, 76th Ohio Infantry.  He served from March 15, 1864, until June 15, 1865.  Above his name was the notation, "Clarinda French, former wife of "

Does that mean she would benefit from his pension someday?  George Williamson was lost after this census, with no clear record of his death, a remarriage, or anything else.

It was about this time that Clarinda's choice of the use of her home began to bring her trouble.  Divorced twice, it was likely that she was quite poor and decided she needed some easy extra income.  It was in 1891 that her name became regularly written about in the newspapers of Defiance.  Early morning raids were held and she was fined quite consistently for running a house of ill fame.  

By March 3, 1892, the Defiance Democrat reported that "The only occupant of the city's free institution (the stone yard) at present is Clarinda French, who has been serving time since the 12th day of last December."  That's 2 1/2 months in the winter in the stoneyard.  Would she learn her lesson?

In March, 1892, a murder occurred in the county infirmary...and the guilty party was named as Charles Brown, illegitimate child of Clarinda French and son of Jonas Brown.  

Defiance Democrat, March 17, 1892

"BROWN THE IMBECILE

HE IS EXAMINED BY PHYSICIANS IN REGARD TO HIS MENTAL CONDITION."

Tuesday Charles Brown, the imbecile and murderer of young Rich (Joseph E. Rich) was brought into Probate Court.

The idiot is a repulsive creature and there is no doubt as to his mental condition.  He has a low forehead and his hair grows nearly down to his eyes.  If he had not such an idiotic expression, he would be considered vicious looking.  Mrs. Clarinda French, his mother, appeared in court.  She says he is the son of Jonas Brown and is twenty four years old.  He is a bastard child.  Mrs. French is a resident of this city.

Brown does not stay at the Infirmary regularly.  Doctors Chapman and Berchtold took the young man into a private room and made an examination of him in regard to his medical condition.  Brown says he is going back to the Infirmary and 'do up' John Bordner.

The certificate of the physicians pronounces him insane, but Judge Baker says it is doubtful whether the keepers of the asylum will receive him as our quota of inmates is now exceeded by five more than the county is entitled to."

As the doctors proclaimed, "A man who will deliberately butcher up a person, as was the case with Rich, is not safe to be at large..."  Charles" fate is unknown.

When the 1900 Federal Census was taken, Clarinda French ,55, was at her home at 336 Danforth Street, Defiance, where she gave her occupation as washerwoman.  With her lived her oldest son, George, 38; John Williamson, her nephew; Ottenger Wells, a boarder; Laura Bennett, 22, dressmaker and boarder, and Nettie Bennett, 24, a widow. Newspapers indicated that the business was going strong.

The Defiance Express printed the following article on December 7, 1904:

"TRAPPED DOVES.

Sunday morning officers Shea, Rath, McDonnel and Stock made a raid on Clarinda French's castle for soiled doves down by 'Sulphur Hollow.'  It was not a water haul, and Mrs. French, the proprietress, Ella French and Della Bird were the females bagged.  Two men, giving their names as George Green and George Smith, probably fictitious, were also 'caught in the shuffle'  The feminine portion of those nipped were put in the cooler, but Green and Smith put up ten dollars each for their appearance this morning and forfeited that amount by not showing up.

This morning the females were brought into court.  Mrs. French was charged with keeping a house of prostitution and Ella French and Della Bird had a charge of being inmates of a house of ill fame placed opposite their names.  The French's pled not guilty and their trial is set for Wednesday.

Della Bird, who has figured quite prominently in this section of the state was found guilty and fined ten dollars and costs.  She is now in city prison and will stay until someone puts up for her.  The police are elated over this arrest and it will probably break up a place of bad repute."

Notice that Clarinda now had her daughter, Ella, as one of the workers in her business!

Della Bird (aka Della Ocobock) was notorious in the state as the girlfriend of convicted murderer, Martin Kuhns.  Her testimony sent him back to a second term in the Ohio Penitentiary.  "She was a bad lot," stated one newspaper.  

A page by page search of the newspapers of the time did not lead to a conclusion for the case against Clarinda.

In the Federal Census of 1910, Danforth Street, Defiance - Clarinda French, 65, widow and washerwoman at other homes, lived with her oldest son, George Williamson, single, and 49, a laborer at odd jobs.  It seemed Clarinda's former business was done.  

Clarinda/ Clara died on October 10, 1915, in Defiance at her home at 339 Danforth Street, 3rd Ward.  She was found dead in her bed after complaining of stomach trouble.  The physician concluded that she had a valve disease of the heart. She was 71 years and 7 days old.  No obituary could be found.

George Williamson continued to live in the house until he died quickly on May 23, 1930, of a pulmonary hemorrhage.  

"EX-CITY WORKER IS FOUND DEAD.  GEORGE WILLIAMSON TAKEN IN NIGHT BY HEMORRHAGE AT THIS HOME.

George Williamson, 69, an employee of the city until recently, was found dead shortly afternoon today in his house at 239 Danforth Street where he lived alone.  Coroner Fred W. Watkins pronounced death as due to a hemorrhage after viewing the body.

Fred Hoge, 620 Adams Street, found the body and called Coroner Watkins.  Mr. Hoge was attracted by a light shining through the bedroom window as he passed the place.  He found Williamson's body in bed.

Ben Bailey, Timothy Street, an uncle, was called.  Mr. Williamson was a bachelor and had no near relatives.

Mr. Bailey said Williamson had been suffering from hemorrhages during the last week and that he had tried to get him to go to his home.  Williamson had taken dinner Friday at the Bailey home.

Mr. Hoge said he had been at the house with Williamson about 7 p.m. Friday and that he was all right when he left him.

His mother, Mrs. Clara French, was found dead in the same house nine years ago.  Mrs. S. E. Huffman, 301 Gray Street, who assisted in arrangements for Mr. Williamson this afternoon said she had found Mrs. French's body.  No funeral arrangements had been made this afternoon.  The body was removed to E. W. Hoffman's funeral establishment."

Both Clarinda French and her son, George Williamson, were buried at the Brunersburg Cemetery.  A look in the Tombstone Inscriptions (DCGS book) for that cemetery did not show a tombstone for either.

   

Houses of Ill Fame in Defiance

 

Defiance was not alone in its struggle against the houses of ill fame (i.e. bawdy houses, houses of ill repute) that settled in its neighborhoods.  Early newspapers of the 1880s to the early 1900s mentioned Deshler, Oakwood, Montpelier, Paulding, and others as joining the fight to purify their towns.  But it was hard, even with town ordinances to help.

In January, 1889, Defiance passed an Ordinance to "Suppress Houses of Ill Fame."  It stated that those who kept a house of prostitution in the city would be fined $10 - $50 and court costs.  But, whoever visited such a place of ill fame should be fined $50 and costs. Later on a punishment of work in the stone yard was added as a deterrent.  Newspapers stated that the men often gave fictitious names and paid their fines quickly.

Where were these houses of ill repute?  Throughout Defiance, it seemed.  

The town's newspapers kept the citizens up to date:

"A midnight raid was made last evening by Officers Ross, Seibert and Hummer on the house of ill fame conducted by Pearl Gardiner known as the 'bad lands,' located near the street tracks in East Defiance, resulted in the arresting of three fallen women, Pearl Gardiner, Louisa Bennett and Nettie Bennett."

A house on Perry Street, "a few doors below Second Street" was often mentioned with the proprietresses, Emma Hartman and Ida Dennies.  A house on Perry Street, commonly called the "shot tower," was run by Mary Taylor with her employees, Ola Kelley and Hazel Dean.  It was rare that a particular address was given, except for the colored house of ill fame located at 539 Holgate Avenue.  After all, that might seem like advertising their locations.

In North Defiance, a mention of a house at the foot of Clinton Street was well-known.  On May 25, 1891, the Defiance Daily Crescent reported this:

" SOILED DOVES

AN ALLEGED HOUSE OF ILL FAME IN NORTH DEFIANCE PULLED BY THE OFFICERS

TWO VISITORS PLEAD GUILTY

For some time the officers have had their weather optics on a house in North Defiance which is inhabited by Clarinda French.  The officials became pretty well satisfied that the conduct of the house was such as to warrant their making a raid upon it, accordingly Sunday morning about 2 o'clock, nearly the entire police force descended on the place, capturing the females, Clarinda French, Fannie Fraser and Laura Williams.

It appears the ladies had some visitors at this unreasonable hour, for a search unearthed Andrew and Joseph Williamson, who were ostensibiy spending the night there.  The men were taken in tow by the officers and placed in the city cooler to stay until this morning when they appeared before the mayor and pled guilty to visiting a house of ill fame.  They were fined five dollars and the costs for which they secured.

The females were not taken into custody as they gave bail for their appearance at court.  Mrs. French is charged with keeping a house of ill fame and the other two with being inmates of a house of ill fame.  Their trial has been postponed until Thursday at 1 p.m. It is understood they will employ a lawyer and fight the case."

In the subsequent case, Clarinda was found guilty "of conducting a disreputable house," and she was fined $20 and the costs, the whole amounting to $47.65.  Since there was no ordinance at the time relating to those who were inmates in the house, the other two women were released.  It was thought that the city would remedy that oversight.  In a later case, the inmates were fined $5 and sent to the stone yard to work off that amount.

Connections with these houses could often become the reason given for divorce.  On December 9, 1904, Philip Stork filed for divorce based on his wife's involvement in a house of ill fame.  As reported in the Defiance Weekly Express:

"A petition has been filed in the probate court by Philip Stork praying for a divorce from Elizabeth Stork.  Plaintiff says that they were married in December 1885 and that a result of this union, three children were born, now aged 18, 16 and 14 years.

He alleges that since 1896, defendant has continuously kept a house of ill fame in the city of Defiance and has kept company and consorted with lewd and immoral men and women.  That prior to that time, she was guilty of gross neglect of duty and refused and neglected to take care of their house and home and refused to properly perform her household duties..."

Many were outraged by the existence of these places in their cities.  Marriages were broken, women were cast aside from their families or disowned by husbands, men were shamed.  Writers to the papers protested the "protection" these houses seemed to have. When would it end?

Next - a look at the life of Clarinda French, notorious proprietress of one of the houses in Defiance.

Lewis Neill - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Lewis Neill was born in Jefferson, Fairfax County, Virginia, on March 16, 1821.  According to one of his obituaries, he married young, and he and his wife had two children die in infancy, and then she died several years into the marriage.

He eventually wandered to Illinois where he took up farming, and he was enumerated there in the 1860 census:

Irving Halsey, 23, farmer, real estate worth $7,000 and Jane E. Halsey, 23, and Louis Neill, 34, born Virginia.

In 1861, Illinois began rounding up troops for the War of the Rebellion, and Lewis responded. He enlisted, at the age of 40, into the 32nd Illinois Infantry, Company K, as a First Sergeant.  The enlistment information for that state included a physical description of Lewis, noting that he was 6' 4 3/4, with brown hair and blue eyes, a fair complexion, and he was a single farmer.  He mustered in at Camp Butler, Illinois, on December 31, 1861.

The Battle of Shiloh began the morning of April 6, 1862, when the Confederates held a surprise attack out of the woods near Shiloh church against U.S. Grant's Union forces.  It was one of the largest, bloodiest battles of the war, neither party willing to retreat or surrender. Twenty thousand men were killed or wounded, and Lewis Neill was one of them.

General William T. Sherman, who was wounded in the hand and had three horses shot from under him at Shiloh, wrote a letter to his wife, describing the scene:

"The scenes on this field would have cured anybody of war.  Mangled bodies, dead, dying,in every conceivable shape, without heads, legs, and horses.  I think we have buried 2,000 since the fight, our own and the enemy and the wounded fill horses, tents, steamboats, and every conceivable place..."

Wounded on April 6, 1862, it was finally decided that Lewis could not go back to the war, and he was discharged on August 1, 1862.  

He came to Defiance about 1864, and married Miss Ellen M. Greer on February 25, 1865.  They had one son, Lewis Greer Neill, born on March 18, 1866, and sadly, the child's mother died the next month in April 1866.  Her brief obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on April 28, 1866, on page 2:

"Died - On Tuesday night last, Mrs. Ellen E., wife of Lewis Neill, Esq. and daughter of the late Judge Greer, aged 22 years."

Left with a one month old infant to raise, Lewis turned to Ellen's mother, Louisa, then a widow.  The 1870 census named Louisa Greer, 60, keeping house, and living with her were Lewis Neill, 49, Recorder, born Virginia, and little Lewis G., 4, as well as Mary Porter, 58, boarding, and Eunice Robinson, 40.  A later census will tell us that Mary and Eunice were sisters to Louisa.  So the child was well cared for by a grandmother and two aunts.

Lewis Neill was a Recorder in Defiance, as well as a Justice of the Peace in Defiance Township.  He completed the enumeration of schools in the county for many years. In 1876, he posted this note in the Defiance Democrat on January 27:

"TO THE PUBLIC- My second term of office (as County Recorder) having expied, I find myself without employment, except the little surplus office work granted me by the new Recorder; and as I can only get a living by pen, I have decided to see what I can do in the writing of Deeds, Mortgages, Leases, Mechanic's Liens, Contracts, Wills, &c.  For all patronage extended to me, I shall be thankful; ;and strive to give satisfaction.  I shall be happy to see my friends at all time in the County Recorder's office where I will serve them.  LEWIS NEILL"

Hence, in the 1880 census, Lewis (Louis) gave his occupation as a copyist, someone employed to make copies of legal documents.  He still lived with his mother-in-law, Louisa Greer, 75, at 459 Wayne Street and the two aunts, Mary Porter, now 73, and N. Robinson, 71. Lewis G., 14, was also with them.  

Mrs. Louisa Greer died in September, 1894, and through her obituary, we find more history of the family.  In the Defiance Daily Crescent, September 10, 1894, page 3:

"MRS. LOUISA GREER.

Born October 17, 1804.  Died September 9, 1894, aged 89 years, 10 months, and 22 days.

Louisa Robinson was born near Brattleboro, Vt., in 1804 where she spent her early youth.  In 1836, she came to Defiance with her uncle, Curtis Holgate, father of the late Wm. C. Holgate with whose family she resided until 1843 when she was married to James Greer, Associate Judge, the wedding occuring on the 29th day of May, 1843.

To Mr. and Mrs. Greer was born but one daughter, Ellen M. Greer, who was one of the most beautiful of women, and who became the wife of our townsman, Lewis Neil in 1865.  Lewis G. Neil was born to them in 1866 and in the same year Mrs. Neil died, since that time Mrs. Greer has made a home for Mr. Neil and his son, Lewis.

Gentle and retiring in manner, she has spent her life within her home, ministering to the happiness and comfort of others.  As a neighbor and friend, she was ever kind and considerate, helpful in sickness and ready to do all she could for those who needed assistance.  She has been active and energetic until within the last few weeks when she was compelled to give up the active performance of the duties of her household and be ministered unto instead of ministering.  

She died very peacefully at her home on Wayne Street yesterday afternoon at half past one o'clock.  The funeral service will occur from her late home tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock, Rev. B. W. Slagle officiating."

(Her mother was Eunice Holgate. When William C. Holgate died, he left Louisa $500, as noted in his will.)

In April, 1895, Lewis Neill wrote his will, naming his son, Lewis G., as lone executor and inheritor of all property.  He asked that appraisals and all other usual methods of probate be waived, trusting his son to pay any debts.

Lewis lived on until January 27, 1899, when he died at age 78, leaving his son, Lewis G., who never married. 

 From the Defiance Daily Crescent, January 27, 1899, page 6:

"A TRUE GENTLEMAN

THE DEATH OF LEWIS NEILL CLOSES A WELL SPENT LIFE

Lewis Neill Sr. passed to his reward last night at his home on Wayne street, his death occurring about 12 o'clock.  In the demise of Mr. Neill there passes from our midst one of the best known citizens and a long and well spent life of 78 years is closed.

Mr. Neill was a typical southern gentleman, tall, of commanding appearance and able address.  He was highly cultured and a deep reader of current events and took much pleasure in social chat concerning the occurrences of the day.  Those who have known him longest are his truest friends as it was by constant acquaintances with him that his noble traits were brought out.

The subject of this obituary was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, near Harpers

Ferry, March 16, 1821.  While quite young, he was married to Miss Taylor of near his home, and of this union was born two children, both of whom died in infancy and his wife's demise occurred a few years after the marriage.

Mr. Neill's first business venture was to open a dry goods store in Virginia, which he conducted but a few years, when on account of having given credit too freely, he failed in 1854 and shortly afterwards went to Springfield, O. where he engaged in office work for lawyers until 1858 when he went to southern Illinois and followed the occupation of a country school teacher until 1861, when he enlisted n the Union army in an Illinois regiment and served faithfully until he was wounded at the first attack on Shiloh, by being shot in the left arm.  This necessitated his being mustered out of service and he received an honorable discharge.

While at Springfield, he became acquainted with Hon. W. D. Hill who was practicing law at that place, and it was perhaps on Mr. Hill's suggestion that Mr. Neill came to Defiance.  After leaving the army, he returned to Springfield and in conversations with Mr. Hill, who stated he was going to Defiance, Mr. Neill said he believed he would go there also.

Mr. Neill started on foot and walked to Troy, O., from there he worked his way on a canal boat to Defiance.  For a few years after his arrival here, Mr. Neill done various odd jobs at clerical work until 1867, when he was elected justice of the peace, and served two terms, at the conclusion of which he was elected county recorder and filled the office for two years.  While serving as justice of the peace, he married to Miss Nellie Greer, daughter of Judge Greer, of this city.  The union brought one son, Lewis G. Neill, who survived his father, his mother having died while he was a small child.

Mr. Neill, for a number of years, was school enumerator and in this capacity, made a wide circle of acquaintances throughout the city.

Mr. Neill was a member of Bishop Post. No.22 G. A. R. which organization will attend the funeral in a body.

The funeral services will be conducted at the late home of the deceased Sunday afternoon, at 2:30 o'clock.  Rev. B. W. Slagle will officiate.  The remains will be interred in Riverside Cemetery."  

A second obituary, published in the Defiance Democrat in February, 1899, added this information:

"He was a lineal descendant on the mother's side of Gavin Hamilton, of Scotland, the patron of Burns, the Scottish poet, and on the father's side of Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyron, the unyielding Irish patriot, who battled so long against the armies of the British crown and his father's name was Lewis Neill.  
His father was a large land owner and slave holder, and lived in an old fashioned brick country home. The family was widely and favorably known...

Mr. Neill was a thorough gentleman in every respect, who never indulged in profanity and declined to listen to a vulgar story should one be suggested in his presence..."

James and Louisa Greer, Lewis E. Neill and Lewis G. Neill were all buried in Lot 20, Section A of Old Riverside Cemetery.  Ellen Greer Neill is not listed among those in that lot, and her grave could not be found.  But only Lewis G. has a marker still standing.

                               Lewis Greer Neill

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!)