Independence Dam Rebuilt in 1901

The early construction of Independence Dam was once a pile of rocks over which the water flowed. In February, 1901, Dr. H. W. Myers traveled to Columbus to meet with the State Board of Public Works where it was decided that the dam needed to be upgraded. Dr. Myers learned that $16,000 would be allocated for the project.  Bids were shortly advertised and work was to begin that summer.

(Defiance Weekly Express, February 21, 1901)

(DPLS Ohio Memory Project)

"INDEPENDENCE DAM IS BEING REBUILT

Movement of Boats Along Our Waterways is Noted to Date

On Monday, Dr. H. W. Myers, collector of the port of Defiance, took a representative of the Express down the Maumee River to note the rebuilding of the great dam at Independence, the trip being made behind the doctor's fine trotting mare.

Capt. Allman has charge of the work and is busy with a very large force of men. The water in the Maumee River is low. It is below the surface of the dam, so that anyone can walk across as safely as if on Clinton Street bridge in Defiance.  The workmen commence(d) rebuilding the dam by first tearing away the plank roof.

This discloses what is called 'cribs' or apartments about 8 feet by 11 feet filled with large rock and sand. The cribs are made of very large timbers and these timbers are lined with what is called sheeting in the form of heavy, thick planking. On opening the cribs, it was discovered that this sheeting had about all rotted away, and that water was freely escaping all the while at the bottom of the dam and passing out under the apron.  The old timbers were found to be solid and sound. All that is defective is the sheeting. All the cribs will be opened up and cleaned out and resheeted with a double thickness of sheeting. The cribs will then be filled with crushed limestone in such a manner as to make it impossible for water to get through.

The apron of the dam will be cut down and remodeled and the fish chute will be changed so that fish can get over coming upstream. A fish can go almost straight up for eight or ten feet; it is almost impossible for fish to get across the old fish chute.

The dam, when completed, will be fortified in such a manner that there will be little pressure on it, and the water at Defiance will be seven or eight inches higher all the while, by reason of the repairs now in progress.

The house occupied by water master, Stillman Rose, at the Independence Dam as been overhauled and repainted and looks like a new place

The boat, Legal Tender, cleared for Toledo this morning. She was loaded with wheat

The H.W. Myers brought down bolts for Marshall Monday.

The Columbine and J. W. Wright brought down wood for Andy Ashbacher Monday.

The Coney No 2 passed down Monday with timber for the dam."

(Defiance Daily Express, August 13, 1901, p 4)

 

 

Thomas L. Karr - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

THOMAS L. KARR 

Born in Coshocton County, Ohio, on April 6, 1833, Thomas and his family came to Defiance County sometime after 1870. He was an established farmer in Clark Township, Coshocton County in 1870, with property worth $3500 and personal property of $900. He and his wife, Zipporah (nee Elliott,) had five children together at that time: John M., 12, Guy Eugene, 7, Margaret, 6, Thomas Elliott, 3 and little Melissa, aged 1.

Thomas would have finished a short stint in the Union Army in the Civil War.  He enlisted on May 2, 1864,and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, with his company on September 13, 1864, having served four months in Company H, 143rd Infantry (National Guard.)  He signed up for 100 days and was at Camp Chase the whole time. He listed diarrhea as his disability on the 1890 Veterans Census, which he suffered from while in service.

By 1880, he was firmly settled in Defiance County in the Hicksville area. Thomas farmed with the help of his three oldest sons, John, Eugene and Thomas. The three younger children listed were: Jane, 10; Ray G., 9; and Dora Bell.  The family had one servant, Nancy Carsner, and two young men boarding. 

On August 27, 1891, the Defiance County Republican Express reported that:

"T. L. Karr lost his sight of an eye and is now suffering intensely with stomach troubles. Dr. Slocum is the attending physician."

As the Karrs aged, they sought a home in Defiance City at 137 Main Street, Ward 4, and that was where they were enumerated in the census of 1900. Thomas, 67, and Ziporah, 65, had been married 44 years.  Now he gave his occupation as landlord..  The only child living with them was Dora, 26, then divorced from a first husband.  Later, in June 1901, she would remarry at age 27 to Harris (Harry) C. Weaner.

Thomas L. Karr died on March 13, 1910.  The Defiance Democrat reported his death:

"THOMAS L. CARR

The funeral of Thomas L. Carr who died Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. L. Johnston of Hicksville will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 at the St. Paul's M.E. church. Rev. W. W. Lance, pastor of the church will officiate assisted by Rev. B. W. Slagle.  Interment wlll be in Riverside.

Thomas L. Carr is an old and very well known resident of this part of the county.  He was born at Coshocton, April 6, 1833, and at the time of his death was aged seventy six years, ten months and seventeen days.

He is survived by a wife, four sons and two daughters, J. M Carr of Little Rock Arkansas; G. E. Carr and R. G. Carr of Defiance; T. E. Carr and Mrs. H. C. Weaver of Butler, In, and Mrs. W. L. Johnston of Hicksville"

"FUNERAL.  THOMAS L. KARR

The funeral of Thomas L. Karr was held at the St. Paul's Methodist Church, Tuesday afternoon, at 2:00.  Rev. W. W. Lance officiated, assisted by Rev. B. W. Slagle. Interment was at Riverside.

The remains arrived in the city at 1:30 p.m.  via the B. & O. and was met at the depot by a delegation of the local G.A.R. of which the deceased was a member."

The land in the center of this photo belonged to Zipporah Karr - her part being over 700 acres just south west of the city and on the north side of the Auglaize River. Was this the land that Thomas was renting out to someone to farm, as he called himself a landlord? The land does have a residence on it along the river, as well as, the Auglaize Methodist Church.

Land Ownership Map of Defiance County, 1890

At some point, Thomas's wife, Zipporah, moved in with a daughter in Newville, Dekalb County, Indiana, and that was where she passed away in 1927.  The local newspapers reported:

"EARLY RESIDENT DIES AT AGE 92

Death claimed Mrs. Zipporah Karr, one of the early residents of Defiance County, Sunday, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harry Weaner of Newville, Indiana after a few days illness, resulting from the infirmities of age.  Her age was 92 years.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Newville United Brethren Church.  The remains will then be brought to the home of her son, Ray Karr, 830 Perry Street, where friends may view the remains from 12 until 2 o'clock..  Last rites will be held at the son's home at 2:30 p.m. with Rev. R. B. Foster, pastor of the St. Paul's M. E. church officiating.  Interment will be in Riverside cemetery.

Mrs. Karr was born in Coshocton County and came to Defiance County in 1880.  She lived here until 1909, moving then to Newville.  Her husband, T. L. Karr, died 17 years ago this spring, two years after they had moved from Defiance.

She is survived by three sons, Guy E. and Ray G. of Defiance, and Tom E. of Hicksville and two daughters, Mrs. Weaner of Newville and Mrs. W. L. Johnson of Hicksville.  Eighteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren also survive."

The Coshocton Tribune, Coshocton, Ohio, also ran an obituary on March 24, 1927.

 

"MRS. THOS. KARR, FORMER RESIDENT OF COUNTY, DIES

Funeral services for Mrs. Safora Karr, aged 92, former resident of this county who died of infirmities of age at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harry Weiner of Butler, Indiana, were conducted at the home of another daughter, Mrs. Lissie Johnson of Hicksville, Defiance Co., Ohio Wednesday afternoon.

Safora Elliott, who was a sister of the late Harrison Elliott, this city, and the late Mrs. John Q. Endsley of Keene, was born and reared in Clark Tp., this county.  She was the widow of Thomas Karr who died 18 years ago.  The Karrs lived their early married life in Clark Tp., this county and moved to a farm near Defiance 43 years ago.

Mrs. Karr was a member of the Presbyterian church before leaving this county.  After moving to Defiance, she and her husband were instrumental in founding a Methodist congregation and building the church on their farm.  She remained a member of the M.E. church for the remainder of her life.

Five children, 18 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren survive Mrs. Karr.  The children are Guy and Ray Karr of Defiance; Thomas Karr and Lissie Johnson of Hicksville and Mrs. Harry Weiner of Butler, Indiana.  A son, Harry Karr, died several years ago.

Samuel T. Elliott, Route 3, one of the numerous nephews and nieces of this county, attended the funeral."

 

**This research for this post was a spelling challenge as Karr was spelled also as Carr in some documents.  Zipporah was Sophora, Ziporrah, Zip Lora, Tiporah used interchangeably.  

(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!)

Born in Log House - John Barrick

 "JOHN BARRICK TO BE 90 MONDAY

Memories of nearly a century will be recalled by John Barrick as he visits with friends at open house Sunday on the eve of his 90th birthday anniversary.

Barrick, who has spent his entire life in the Sherwood vicinity, recalls life in a log house...horseback rides or long walks to school...25 to 60 cents daily wages for farm labor...coffee at 10 cents a pound...a 1926 model T Ford, the only car he ever owned...truck farming and huckstering that brought him a host of friends throughout the country.

A son of the late Leonard and Elizabeth (Fair) Barrick, he was born Oct. 9, 1871, in a log house about three and a half miles from Sherwood.  He lived within a quarter of a mile radius of the Buckskin Road until 1954.

STARTED TO MASON SCHOOL

There were few roads in those days and most of the land was covered with timber.  As a boy, he road horseback or walked.  At the age of six, he started to school at the Mason School, now a shed on the Vernon Sprow farm.  He recalls that his first teacher was Bertie Spindler.  He attended that school through the eighth grade.

His youth was spent working for the few farmers in that area for 25 cents to 50 cents a day.  He remembers that Sherwood had only two frame buildings in those days.  One was a small grocery store, where coffee sold for 10 cents a pound.  There were no streets, just a dirt or mud path, depending on the weather.

He and the late Sarah J. Parker were married in the early spring of 1897.  They started housekeeping in their own log house, which he and his father had built from timber cut on his small farm.  He had purchased the land from an uncle, the Rev. John Kintner.

One daughter, Mrs. Fay (Florence) Ridenour, Bryan, was born to this union.  She is a cook and helper at Lamar's Restaurant.  Two grandchildren, Mrs. Sarabelle Gambler, Sherwood, and Doyle Ridenour, Williams Center, and 10 great-grandchildren complete the family circle.

Barrick tilled the soil on his own farm with horses and old-fashioned tools most of his life.  He also farmed for many years for the late Chancey Shong.  When he left the farm, he bought the home and seven and a half acres of his parents.

He was a well-known truck farmer, selling strawberries, raspberries, and other home-grown fruits and vegetables to homes in Sherwood and vicinity.

WIFE DIED IN 1954

His wife was an invalid for about eight years prior to her death Aug. 27, 1954.  He did all the housework weekdays, and his daughter came on weekends to help him.  

Following his wife's death, Barrick lived for a few months with the daughter in Bryan, moving Feb. 23, 1955, to the home of the granddaughter, Mrs. Gambler.  He enjoys fairly good health and needs glasses only to read.  Although a little hard of hearing, he enjoys TV and reads the paper daily.  Barrick also enjoys a daily walk and playing with great-grandchildren.

Two years ago, he was stricken with skin cancer, but recovered from the ordeal very well.

He has a sister, Mrs. Daisy C. Wimcompleck, 109 Summit Street, Defiance. Another sister, Mrs. Emma Sanders, Bryan, and a brother, David Barrick, Ney, also are deceased.

The family invites all friends, young and old, to attend the open house at the Gambler home, first house back of the Ford garage in Sherwood, and wish John a 'Happy Birthday' Sunday."

Defiance Crescent News, October 5, 1961, p. 8   

John Barrick died on July 10, 1962, and was buried

in the Sherwood Cemetery.

Is OTTO SCHLIESSER in Your Family Tree?

 

Identification on photo - Otto Schliesser, buried in Lutheran Cemetery,  Ridge Road, WW I, died of flu

The Bryan - Defiance Road, Route 15

 "HISTORIAN RECALLS BRYAN - DEFIANCE ROAD

"How many of the Press readers know that the Defiance - Bryan road was not always what is now State Route 15?

The first road made after Bryan was located in 1840 and made county seat of Williams County, ran to the lower Langdon corner northwest of Brunersburg, then north on Evansport road to Bean Creek where Rural Chapel was built in the '50s, then running west along the river through Larry Partee land, over Mud Creek, then on through Justice and Kibble lands, over Kibble Run (small streams were called runs, later made county ditches), then through the Figley woods, over the hill across Lick Creek as a good fording place, on through the Cameron lands, over Prairie Creek, and on to Bryan.

Later, the road ran on Bellefontaine Pike to Ney and then up the present road, and that road was a corduroy and something like a pontoon, as it swayed in travel, so wet and marshy for years, logs pinned together by planks and wooden pine.

  

When two teams met, it was natural for one to get off into the mud and go back after passing.  For years, the plunk-plunk sound of the corduroy could be felt and fairly heard after the road was built up and later graveled.  

The Old Man well remembers the open space in the Figley woods where the first road was made in the early '40s and how the timber gradually grew up and filled the empty place.

UG. Figley"

Bryan Press, Bryan, Ohio, May 27, 1943, p. 8

Is JOSEPHINE DIETRICH in Your Family Tree?

 

Information on photo:

Josephine Dietrich, April 27, 1902, parents Frank and Lena (Tena?) Oelfke, Napoleon Twp.

Laura LaCost Maugel, Revered Citizen of Farmer, Ohio

 

Laura Maugel was an "influencer" in Farmer Township, Defiance County, before the word was ever known.

Not only were she and her husband pioneers in the township, but after his early death, she continued to be active in her community and loved by many.

Born in 1841 and married to Alexander Ely Maugel in 1869, the couple established an 80 acre farm in Section 8 of Farmer Township.  It was located about 2 miles northwest of Farmer Center. 

When she died at the age of 96 on March 5, 1937, Madge Cunningham, President of the Lew Bowker chapter of the Women's Relief Corp wrote a tribute to her.  Laura was a charter member of the then diminishing group who served as the auxillary for the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mrs. Cunningham wrote:

"TRIBUTE TO AN OLD FRIEND

Mrs. Laura V. Maugel was a charter member of the Lew Bowker Women's Relief Corps, organized in January 1891, and its first president.  Since that she has filled the offices of secretary, treasurer and chaplain, the last being her position at the time of her demise on March 4, at the fine old age of 95 years and six months.  The last meeting she attended was at the home of Mrs. Alice Wilder in October, 1934, when the Corps was inspected by Mrs. Ida Fee of HIcksville and a fine visit was had with her.

Her tales of pioneer days in Farmer Township were filled with interest, as she was born in a log cabin on the farm where she ended her days and had resided ever since, except 15 years after her marriage to Alexander Maugel in November 1869.

Mr. Maugel had fought throughout the Civil War, and it left him with an ailment from which he never recovered and from which he died in 1894, after which Mrs. Maugel remained with her son, Roy, on the home farm to which they had returned some time before.

This old lady was a believer in all things good, having been reared in the Universalist faith, and always held to that belief, although she attended all churches when able to do so. She was active in the Corps and social affairs, a fine neighbor, a loyal friend, and 'Aunt Loll' to many families.

There having been about six families to settle this township in the beginning, of course, they intermarried and descendants were related to all in some manner. She always enjoyed family gatherings and soldiers' reunions, conventions of her beloved Relief Corps, and until the past two years, the latter order met with her at her home or in some other member's home to celebrate her birthday on September 24, which she enjoyed so much, and was always pleased to see her friends up to the last days. Her place can never be filled and her death means that of old Lew Bowker corps, as well, as it leaves but five members and no meetings are held.

Her first schooling was in a log school house, standing where the cemetery grounds now occupy several acres, and she crossed the woods to get there. Once while taking water to her father out in the woods, she met a large animal which she thought to be a 'big doggie' but on description, her father concluded it had been a wolf, so he allowed no more water carrying by her without her brothers along.

She always considered her life to have been a happy one, saddened only when her friends or members of her family were taken by death, and has often said that she never knew any hard times, as there was always plenty to eat, warm clothes and firewood.

She was born one year after her family came here from New York, so never knew any other life and hers grew better as the years moved on. She kept young with her grandchildren and her four great-grandchildren and was as happy over the advent of the fifth as the other grandparents and the mother and father.

Her greatest sorrow was the loss of a granddaughter in her early teens, a shock from which she never recovered, until a great-granddaughter, bearing the same name came to take her place.

There is nothing more to add than that we will miss her."

**Roy had a daughter, Doris, who died in 1915 at about 14.

The Bryan Press reported on her 90th birthday

party on October 1, 1931, on page 1:

"MRS. LAURA MAUGEL'S 90TH BIRTHDAY NOTED AT 

HOME OF GRANDSON

Mrs. Laura V. Maugel's 90th birthday was observed Wednesday when old friends and neighbors met at the home of her only grandson, Donald Maugel, near Edgerton in her honor.

Daughter of Edward and Laura Hopkins, she was born on the farm where she has lived since, excepting 15 years of her early married life when she lived near Logan.  She was married to Alexander Maugel in 1869, her uncle, Charles Barney, justice of the peace performing the ceremony.  One daughter died early in life and their son, Roy, lives with her at her farm northwest of Farmer.  Mr Maugel died in 1891.

Mrs. Maugel was a charter member of Lew Bowker W.R.C. and its first president when organized in January 1891.  Her husband's death left her with a son about 16 to run the farm.  She has been in excellent health until the past six months, and her mind is as clear as a bell, and not only does she tell of old times, but keeps up her interest in the present.  It's a pleasure to talk with her on any line of interest.  She has been and still is a great reader of good books and takes a broad view of all matters, religiously or politically.

Among the guests present were her cousin, Celestio Maxwell of Chicago Mr and Mrs. Emory Potts, cousins of Edgerton, Mrs. Susan Crossland, Mrs. Hattie Rogers of Edgerton, and Mrs. Ida Rice of Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Tomlinson, Mrs. Effie Roan, Della Conkey, Mrs. Ella Hastings, Mr. and Mrs. V. E. Cunningham, Mrs. Roy Maugel, Mrs. Donald Maugel and children.

The Corps will hold a meeting in a short time with an invalid member, Mrs. Ruth Lloyd.  A potluck dinner will be served at noon and at which Mrs. Maugel confidently expects to attend."

Laura Volera LaCost Maugel

d. 5 March 1937

Farmer Cemetery

Is BILL SCHLIESSER in Your Family Tree?

 

Only name is on the back of photo