Winners of the Crescent-News Diamond Contest - December 29, 1908

It certainly was a race to follow as the women of Defiance County vied for prizes of diamond rings and watches given out by the Crescent-News.  All they had to do was garner votes from family and friends.  Voting ballots appeared in the newspaper every day.  If they wanted extra points, any new subscriptions to the paper gave them that.

Over $500 worth of prizes was offered by the Crescent to the top vote-getters.
The overall winner was Miss Edith Kopp of Defiance with 178,949 votes.  Miss Goldie Rethmel gained 131,000, Miss Tena Wilsberg of Washington Street, Defiance had 127,542 and Miss Della Kyle, Hicksville tallied 169,851. 

Florence Stoll of Second Street, Defiance; Godie Deatrick of Kintner Street; Dessie Lichty of Ney; and Celia Snyder of Evansport completed the winners' list.

Other participants were:

Miss Mabel Daoust, 202 Jackson Street, Defiance
Miss Mabel Elser, Wayne Street, Defiance
Miss Verona Reineke, 828 Wayne Street, Defiance
Miss Lettie Seibel, Perry Street, Defiance

Miss Ora Stripe, RFD 1, Ney
Miss Clara Johns, Sherwood
Miss Madge Reynolds, Ney
Miss Dessie Lichty, Ney

Miss Rose Bequillard, Hicksville
Miss Iva Slough, The Bend
Miss Laverne Hart, Hicksville
Miss Madge Donley, Farmer

Miss Audre Hoover, Sherwood
Miss Charlotte Fronk, RFD 4, Defiance (?)
Miss Mamie Hammond, Jewell
Mrs. Zeigler, Ayersville

Miss Rose McCauley, South Richland
Miss Blanche Cameron, North Richland

The Soldiers Relief Commission

Communities have been taking care of the poor, because of laws or through churches or just through the kindness of neighbors, for centuries.  After the Civil War and the deaths of thousands of men, a law was passed to help those widows and children who were left to fend for themselves.  The law evolved over time, but, in general, each county in Ohio had a Soldiers' Relief Commission, consisting of three persons who were appointed by the probate judge.  
 At first, those committee members had to have some connection with the military, such as a veteran or, for women, membership in an auxiliary. Eventually, the law was broadened to included "reputable citizens" and the people they helped could be anyone who really needed assistance. 

The three members of the commission would, in turn, appoint three members in each township or county seat to create a list of probable names of indigent persons.  These persons would have to apply for aid, providing financial information of income, loans, taxes, and other pertinent facts for the consideration of the committee.  Eventually, a list was made and submitted to the township clerk and eventually to the county commissioners for their approval. Payment was made from the county funds.  In case of urgent need, the clerk also had the power to provide for any indigent or neglected persons.  This committee was also delegated the task of providing burial places and stones for indigent soldiers.

On December 2, 1897, the list of persons who were to receive aid appeared in the Defiance Democrat.  Today, this might have been embarrassing, but then again, for the times, maybe it was not at all.

"SOLDIERS' RELIEF

Allowances From the County Fund Made to Those in Need 

The allowances by the Defiance County Soldiers' Relief commission for the coming five months to May 1st, made last Monday are as follows:

Defiance Township

Mrs. Mary A. Davis, per month..............................................................................$5.00

Mrs. Jeffers............................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. L. A. Malson...................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Jane Hatfield..................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Francis Schneider..........................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. M. C. Stout.....................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Lena Manders................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. Benj. Schupp..................................................................................................  5.00

Mrs. M. Marcelius...................................................................................................  4.00

Mrs. M. E. Hutchins................................................................................................  4.00

Mrs. Geo. Watts......................................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Robt. Kyle.......................................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. John E. Richardson........................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Alanom Grant.................................................................................................  3.00

Hicksville Township

Mrs. Laura Lawson.................................................................................................  $5.00

Mrs. Elizabeth Schooley.........................................................................................   5.00

Mrs. L. G. Cox.........................................................................................................  4.00

Mrs. Emma Attleberger............................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Edward Brooks................................................................................................  3.00

Mrs. Cornelia Hindle................................................................................................  3.00

Highland Township

Mrs. H. D. Parker...................................................................................................... $5.00

Mrs. Augusta Warren................................................................................................  5.00

Noble Township

Mrs. Catheran Heiss.................................................................................................$4.00

 

The Fourth at Ney, Ohio, 1894

From the Defiance Democrat - July 12, 1894

THE FOURTH AT NEY

"Ney did herself proud...she fairly turned herself wrong side out July 4th, celebrating the Declaration of Independence.  The day was pleasant and not too warm and early in the day, the streets were full of people listening to the tuneful lay of the hokey pokey man* until the grand and only get-up-and-snort fantastic parade of improvised hoodoos** traveled about town.  An interesting feature was a party of 52 large and small girls dressed in the national colors, and each carrying a banner representing one of the states and territories.

   (*hokey pokey man =an ice cream vendor) (**those who bring bad luck, practice voodoo)

Wild Jim French

 Then Capt. W. J. French or Wild Jim, the Texas cowboy and saddle king, performed feats of daring and skillful marksmanship with his Winchester rifle, rivaling Buffalo Bill and Dr. Carver in his instantaneous snap shots seemingly without aim, holding the rifle in every conceivable position, shooting with unerring aim objects thrown into the air.  One incident was shooting the ashes from a cigar held in the mouth of his cowboy companion whose name we did not learn.

After dinner, J. H. Hockman, Esq., of Defiance, delivered an able address suitable to the day.  The Ney band and choir furnished excellent music.  

The pony race between J. H. Kyle and Joe Ehlinger was easily won by Kyle.

The bicycle race between Eugene Conkey and Charley Davis resulted in Davis coming out second best.

The fat man's race furnished considerable amusement.  Orley Welker, Wes Kerns, and George Keller did their best, Keller winning, though Welker would have had a better show had the street not been so crowded that he could not pass Kerns and Keller.

A free for all footrace between Albert Motter, Charles Griner, Walter Stailey and Wild Jim's cowboy resulted in the latter's favor.  The race not being satisfactory, on the second trial, the cowboy again easily won. Walt Stailey being second best.

The wheelbarrow race was by Weston Welker, Charles Griner, and Lewis Motter.  Motter fell down and Griner running into him, gave the race to Welker.

The sack (race) was between Arty Doud, Lewis Motter and Walter Stailey and was won first heat by Stailey, second and third were draws, and the fourth was won by Motter.

The pie eating contest between Pete Donley and Ora Coy was won by Donley.

The greased pole was climbed by three or four small boys, the last of which performed some gymnastics upon reaching the top.

The mule race between William Figley and Frank Botterf was very comical, the latter gentleman not being 'in it' at all, in spite of wearing out a telegraph pole upon his noble steed.

The minstrel troupe also gave a sample of their burnt cork talent. 

 After supper, fireworks were indulged in.  Several fancy balloons were sent up, and after a few rockets and pinwheels had been placed on exhibition, sparks ignited the box containing the fireworks which exploded with the noise of a cannon, and people fled from the shooting missiles in all directions.  The display would have been one of the finest ever seen in this part of the country, had not the deplorable accident occurred.

Marshall Bill Donley bossed the proceedings of the day, and, of course, he and everybody else was happy.  So may it always be."