Defiance Post Office Employees of 1920

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column: "A Backward Glance."  This article appeared in the paper on  Thursday, September 12, 1963.  Although the photo is unclear, the information included in Mr. Tuttle's remarks is quite interesting.  Note the mail delivery vehicles lined up behind the workers.

"Time makes many changes.  Most of the men in this picture, taken in front of the Defiance Post Office in 1920, have passed to the Great Beyond.  The picture, loaned by Lowell Folk, Ayersville, is of the rural mail carriers and a few other employees of the Defiance Post Office at that time.

They are: From left, Gale E. Hale, substitute; Albert Anderson, route 7; Edward Schessler, route 6; Harry Fribley, route 1; Clem Stonebraker, route 5; Bert Easley, route 6; Walker Morris, route 10; Herman W. Spangler, postmaster; William Rasor, route 3; Frank Smith, route 11; John W. Folk, substitute; Walter Spangler, city 4; George Smith, route 12; August Emmert, special; Frank Folk, route 2; Wesley Lloyd, route 9; Louis Packer, mail messenger; and Isaac Deveaux, route 4."

Jericho School, Hicksville Township - 1911

The Jericho School was District #8 in Hicksville Township and was located at the intersection of Tim Betts and Cicero Roads in Section 25.

Residents of the Defiance County Children's Home, 1900

The census enumerator visited the Children's Home in Tiffin Township on June 14, 1900.  Adam Hall, 59, was the superintendent at the time, while his wife, Elizabeth, 55, served as matron.  They had six children, but only two were living with them at the time - Jennie M., 24, who served as seamstress, and Roy B, 17, who was still in school.

Other employees were Emma Lloyd, 40, governess; Mary M. Griteman, 31, cook; and Jennette Moninger, 25, laundress. 

The children enumerated on that day were in the Home because they were either orphaned or their parent/parents could not afford to care for them.

(Alphabetically listed with the age.)

Cameron, Olliver - 6
Garber, Nellie C. - 6
Gordon, Frank - 7

Helem, James F - 3
Helem, Pearl E. - 6
King, Israel J. - 6 (?)
Klink, Charley - 11

Marker, John W. - 7
Morris, Jacob - 13
Morse, Cora B. - 10
Morse, Dwight - 5
Morse, Maggie M. - 12
Morse, Roy C. - 7
Morse, Zelolie - 14

Newman, Irvin - 9
Patton, Frank - 8
Ricketts, Fletcher - 12

Sawyer Harry - 4
Smith, Goldie M. - 4
Smith, Henry A. - 2
Steel, Charles T. - 7 (?)
Steel, Essie E. - 12
Steel, Geneva C. - 9
Steel, Jesse S. - 6
Swan, Elmer - 4
Swan, Erna - 6

Vinegar, Myrtle N. - 10
Vinegar, Nellie - 13

Wakelt, Mason D. - 7
Wentz, Earl - 6
Williams, Jenkey - 9
Willson, Charles - 4 or 5

 *On the Defiance Public Library Website are several interviews that speak to experiences at the Children's Home, although they occur later than 1900.
Link to oral histories.

Love School, Defiance Township

 Some Love School children from 1932 - 1933:
Row 1 - Victor Wells, Gerald Wells, Mae Relyea, Wilma Love, Reba Relyea, Wilma Schreber
Row 2 - Edsel Hahn, Tommy Love, Forest Love, Don Morris, Lora Mae Chilicult

Apparently, the Love School closed in 1940 or 1941 and the people of the area were not happy about it, forcing a reopening.

Defiance Crescent News, September 24, 1941

"LOVE SCHOOL OPENED AGAIN

Re-opening of the Love school in Defiance township was revealed today by County Supt. Paul H. Underhill.

Mrs. Kathryn Davis Bindbeutel of route 6, Defiance, has been employed as teacher.

Opening of the Love school followed protests by parents of pupils in that area who refused to send their children to school during the first week.

Defiance township originally had eight schools, three on the west side of the Auglaize river and five on the east side.  This number was cut to four, two on each side, by order of the state department of education.  This resulted in more than 30 pupils being housed in each of the schools east of the river.

With the Love school again open, enrollment in the three schools east of the river is about 24 pupils each, Supt. Underhill said."