An Old Settler in Defiance - Dr. John Evans

 

An Old Settler - Dr. John Evans

This account of the life of Dr. John Evans was found in an 1873 copy of Memories of the Maumee Valley by H. S. Knapp, beginning on page 402+.. These tales are detailed and interesting and written closer to the time of the actual happenings, as compared to some other sources.

 

Dr. John Evans

The family of this gentleman was widely known to the old citizens of the upper Maumee Valley. He had studied his profession under the instruction of the doctors Spencer, of Kentucky, and Rush, of Philadelphia; and commenced practice at Washington, Fayette County, Oho, about the year 1814, and also conducted in separate rooms of the same building, the mercantile and an apothecary store. On the 27th of May, 1818, he married Miss Elizabeth Taylor, of Bainbridge, Ross County, Ohio...

Dr. Evans and family (now consisting of a wife and two daughters) removed to Defiance in February 1823. They started in a large double sleigh, but the snow falling, they were compelled on the second day, to abandon their sleigh and resort to wagons

The family reached Judge Nathan Shirley's, on the Auglaize river, one mile above Defiance, on the last day of February. Their first location was at Camp No. 3, five miles below Defiance, on the north side of the Maumee in a double log cabin; and here, Samuel Carey Evans, their first son was born, April 10th, 1823.

A later double cabin, not John Evans'

During the summer, the doctor build a frame house at Defiance, into which he removed his family in the month of November of that year, He made the first brick and the first lime that was manufactured in Defiance, a part of which he used in the construction of his own house; and the proceeds of the sale of the surplus lime and brick netted an amount that paid the entire cost of his home.

In this same year, Foreman Evans, his brother, also moved to Defiance. The late Judge Pierce Evans (cousin of Dr. John) removed to the head of the rapids of the Maumee and resided there during the year 1822 and into 1823, and then removed to the farm below Defiance, now occupied by his son Rinaldo Evans.

When Dr. Evans reached Defiance, there were no physicians on the river nearer than Fort Wayne above and Maumee below, and his professional visits often extended to the first named place to St. Mary's on the St. Mary's, and to the head of the Maumee rapids.  There being no well-made roads, no bridges over the stream and facilities for ferriage at points remote from each other, it is difficult to convey to the mind of the medical practitioner this day an adequate view of the formidable and often dangerous obstacles that Dr. Evans was compelled to encounter in this distant charge of his professional duties. The first relief from this exhausting toil was afforded by the arrival, at Defiance, of Dr. Jonas Colby, in 1832.

In 1824, Dr. Evans purchased a stock of goods of Hunt & Forsyth, of Maumee City, which were brought up on pirogues. This was the first store of considerable importance that contained goods adapted to the wants of the white settlers, although staple Indian goods (except whiskey) were included in general stock.

When the family removed to Defiance, there were no regular church services; and until the Court House was erected, no suitable house for worship. The Methodists, however, held services at short intervals, sometimes in private homes and, when the weather was favorable, in the adjacent groves. The first Presbyterian clergyman was Rev. Mr. Stone (father of Mrs. Wm. A. Brown, now living at Defiance).

During his residence in Defiance, Dr. Evans possessed more fully the confidence of the Indians than the majority of those who had had dealing with them. He acquired their confidence by professional ministrations, by fairness in trade, and refusing their applications for intoxicating drinks. When the Indian men and women would visit town, and the former obtain liquour of mercenary traders, and become drunken and crazed and their brutal nature aroused, the latter would gather up the tomahawks and knives of their lords, and deposit them about the premises of their friend, Dr. Evan.

On one occasion, the chief, Oquanoza, of Oquanoza's town on the Auglaize, (now Charloe, Paulding County) brought one of his daughters to the doctor to be treated, for some malady which had baffled the skill of the Indian 'medicine man.' She was received into the doctor's household, and in due time, restored to health. As an equivalent for this service, the chief made the doctor a present of an Indian pony."

In 1838, Dr. Evans and family moved in search of better educational facilities for their children, and then resided in Fort Wayne. He kept his store in Defiance for a short while, and then he removed all his stock to his Fort Wayne store in 1840. In that same year, he was called to Defiance on business where he became extremely ill. He decided he needed to get back to Fort Wayne and his family, so he left on horseback and he made it one mile to the Thomas Warren house where his suffering demanded he stop. He stayed there two or three days and sent a message to his family in Fort Wayne. When received, his son, Samuel Carey Evans, came immediately and was astounded at his poor condition. 

The son who came to his father when ill, Samuel Carey Evans

Samuel sent for a Fort Wayne doctor to come and also informed his family of the situation. The doctor and his second daughter, Merica, set out on horseback on the terrible roads. In the meantime, they had moved Dr. Evans to Mrs. Hilton's house for a more comfortable stay. By this time, Dr. Evans faced his quickly ending life and asked to dictate the terms of his will to the doctor.

His will, in part...p.404

"And I hereby appoint my daughter, Merica, and my sons, Carey and Rush, together with Allen Hamilton, Hugh McCullough, and Pierce Evans as my Executors... "and he asks that "his sons carry on the mercantile business  

until all my just debts are paid; after which it is my desire that my beloved wife shall have one-third of all my personal and real estate during her life; and desire that my daughter, Eliza Hill, shall receive nothing more until my other children have received one thousand dollars each.

After which, I wish the balance of my property equally distributed among my children.

And I further desire that my children shall provide for Aley Cumberland (a faithful colored servant of the family) so long as she may live; and it is my special request that my friends, the three last named Executors, will not make any public sale of my property, but permit my sons to sell it at a private sale to the best advantage. Signed, sealed and delivered, this 10th day of August, A.D. 1842."

On the next day, he died - the 11th of August, 1842. He was forty-eight years old. 

"The physician whose skill had prolonged the lives of multitudes was unable to heal himself."

Lindenwood Cemetery, Ft. Wayne, IN

 Dianne Kline, Researcher

News from the Sherwood Chronicle - 1948

 News from The Chronicle, April 1, 1948

• "Don Bayliss Joins Camp of St. Louis Browns   -  Don Bayliss left Sunday evening for Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to join the camp of minor league players under control of the St. Louis Browns.  
  
•     The BGSU Band is to give a concert in the Sherwood-Delaware Auditorium under sponsorship of the Booster Club. Members include William Easterly of Hicksville, Betty Heater of Sherwood, and Alice Jean Eaton of Bryan. Admission  $.75 adults, $.50 children.

• The third annual Mark Township School Carnival of Fun with Rollie Shuler as Chairman was held with the profits to purchase supplies for the classrooms and playgrounds. Who sold the most tickets? Jerry and Joann Stutz who then won $3.00, 2nd place- David Culler, $2.00, Lauren Mast, $1.00, Calvin Renollet - candy.  In the raffle, Loren Dickerhoof won the 200# hog and Murial Blair won the 100# hog. Also, Paul Coy - pressure cooker, Jack Anderson - crocheted chair set.  About $705 was taken in.

•  Twenty Years Ago - The youngest depositor at the Sherwood Savings Bank was Milo Lee Renz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Perry Renz.  Milo was born on March 6, 1928. His grandfather, Mr. C. C. Renz, opened an account for him on March 28, 1928.

"Those were the days..."

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL - PFC Robert L. Wade

 

Private First Class

Robert Lee Wade

Robert Wade was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, lived in Hicksville, Ohio, and then enlisted in Kalamazoo, Michigan!

Born in DeKalb County, Indiana, on March 10, 1922, to Stearl Earl and Delpha Iola (Coburn) Wade, Robert had four siblings: Gerald Calvin, Leone Ruby, Irene Helen and Donald Harry.

In the 1940 Federal Census, they lived at 321 Chicago Avenue, HIcksville, with Delpha's father, Calvin Coburn, who was 85 and widowed. Just the two younger children, Robert L., 18, and Don, 14 were with them.

Robert filled out his draft card in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as he was working at a dairy farm in Niles, Berrien County, Michigan. His grandfather lived past 90, so one could assume his parents stayed in Hicksville to care for him, while Robert found work in Michigan.  Enlisting on December 15, 1942, in Kalamazoo, Robert was inducted into the 184th Infantry, 7th Division. 

The 7th Division was known as the "Hourglass Division", a group that fought from the islands of Alaska to Hawaii. By the time Private Wade was sent overseas, they were in Hawaii undergoing rigorous training for jungle fighting in the heat. Early in 1944, they landed on Kwajalein in the Japanese-held Marshall Islands, where the Japanese lost their first territory in the war.

184th Infantry landing in the Phillipines 1944

"On October 20, 1944, the 7th Division "hit the sand near the town of Dulag and found themselves opposed by one of the crack Japanese divisions - the 16th, perpetrators of the Bataan Death March. Fighting for every foot, the 7th drove inland, and within four days, had captured Dulag, its important airstrip, the San Pablo airfield, and the city of Burauen. Swinging north, (they) plowed through the rice paddies, waist deep mud and monsoon gales to crush Jap resistance and overrun Jap defenses at the key town of Dagami.

But MacArthur gave them little rest. He turned them south and told them to eliminate all the enemy from Leyte watershed...  The mission was accomplished under the most adverse weather conditions. The men were pelted by torrential rains, blown down by the winds of typhoon velocity, and had to fight flash floods and swollen rivers and streams.

The 7th finished its chore in the Leyte campaign by landing on Camotes Islands and exterminating all the Japanese on this island group. The 7th moved 105 miles on Leyte, covered 1,950 miles in reconnaissance and killed 16,559 of the enemy." 

(Sons of Liberty Museum narrative)

The battle actually ended on Christmas Day, 1944, yet hard fighting continued after that to finish. PFC Robert Wade died of wounds on December 30, 1944. He was admitted to the field hospital with two hits from a rifle bullet, one on the spinal cord in mid-back and one in the lung. A blood transfusion was given, but he did not survive.

The South-Bend Tribune, August 5, 1945

His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing monument in the Manila Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Philippines. A memorial stone stands in the Alton Cemetery, DeKalb County, Indiana, as well.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

 

 

From the Sherwood Chronicle Dec. 29, 1949

"Uncle Jake Saylor was in the other day to tell us the story of Sherwood's first street lighting system. What reminded him of it was a Christmas card from a relative, which carried the picture of an old-fashioned street light - exactly like the ones here 60 - 65 years ago.

Those lights, Uncle Jake says, sat on steel poles on both sides of what is still Harrison street (in the business district), and they burned kerosene. A chap lit them each evening and turned them off each morning, a job which Mr. Saylor held for about a month.

Later, the town had its own electric light plant, but some years after its inception, it was sold to a private company, and finally the Ohio Power Co. took the village under its spacious wing.

Municipal light plants were never too successful in small towns in this section, although there have been some exceptions, notably Deshler, over in Henry County. But a good many of them gave up the ghost in the years immediately before and after the first World War, and since then, the big power companies have held sway.

And by the way of closing 1949 with a compliment, we would say that Ohio Power takes mightly good care of Sherwood."

Survivor of the Anthony Wayne Explosion, 1850

A shocking incident happened in 1850 involving one man who was on the Anthony Wayne when it sunk. The big question for more than a year was - did Robert Shean survive the sinking or not?  Most friends and family thought him dead.

"THE DEAD ALIVE

Robert Shean, a resident of Middletown in this county, was on board the Anthony Waynne, at the time she blew up on Lake Erie last April. After that dreadful catastrophe, a body was found floating on the Lake, which answered his description and no doubts were entertained but that he had lost his life by the explosion, and that the body which had been found was his.

The body was taken and buried in one of the churchyards of Sandusky City. A large circle of friends, to who he was endeared during life, and who sorely lamented his untimely and dreadful death, raised a subscription among themselves, and erected over his supposed grave a suitable monument to his commemoration.

Judge of their surprise when the actual Robert Shean made his appearance in their midst, a living, moving being, in good health, but covered with scars.  Judge of the welcome which he received when they were really convinced that it was indeed him.  One actually have risen from the dead, could not have received a more heartfelt, joyous welcome.  Others were promptly dispatched to Sandusky City to have the monument removed from the supposed grave.

It appears that when the Anthony Wayne blew up, he was severely scalded, but clinging to a piece of the wreck, he floated up on the Lake until he was taken up by a vessel and carried to Detroit.  He laid under medical treatment at Detroit for a long time, but having at length recovered, he repaired to Sandusky City.

In examining the grave yards, with a view of ascertaining who on board the Anthony Wayne had perished, he read the inscription on the monument which his friends had erected to his memory. His surprise on reading it was a great as theirs was to see him return.  He immediately returned to his friends, for the purpose of assuring them that he was still among the living.  'Truth is stranger than fiction.'"

Rossville Democrat

Reprinted in the Zanesville Courier, November 16, 1850, p. 2,  as well as the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.

Efforts to find out what happened to Robert Shean have been unsuccessful. His last name could be spelled so many different ways, and the times were early in Ohio, so nothing discovered has been conclusive.

One Hundred Years Ago - The New Years Eve Golf Party, 1925

 

The Kettenring Golf Course was a private club in 1925, and it supported a large social club just called the Golf Club. Excitement was high for the big New Year's Eve dance party that year, complete with a live orchestra from Napoleon and a dance contest.

"150 MAKE MERRY AT GOLF CLUB AS NEW YEAR DAWNS."

One hundred and fifty people attended the delightful New Year's Eve dancing party at the Kettenring Golf club Wednesday night. Whistle dances and circles provided much merriment and in an elimination dance, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Rothenburger won the favors.

At midnight, paper hats and whistles were distributed. Shepard's orchestra of Napoleon played for the dancing from 9 till 1.

The guests included: 

Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Kettenring, 

Mr. and Mrs. C.C, Hoffman, 

Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Sutphen, and 

Mrs. T. T. Shaw, 

Mr. and Mrs. August A. W. Martin, 

Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Clark, 

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Shelly,

Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Albertus, 

Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Watson, 

Dr. and Mrs. N. A. Cunningham,

Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Seither, 

Mr. and Mrs. Victor L. Mansfield, 

Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Daoust, 

Mr. and Mrs. Titus B. Johnson, 

Dr. and Mrs. G. W. Huffman and Mr. and Mrs. Scott Hoyt.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Smith,

Mr. and Mrs. Fred A. Bokop,

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Kruse,

Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Deatrick, 

Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Robertson,

Mr. and Mrs. Claud Winn,

Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Bronson,

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leon Jones, 

Mr. and Mrs. William Ensign,

Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Campion,

Mr. and Mrs. Coy Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Don Roach,

Mr. and Mrs. J. R Brondes, Dr. W. S. Powell,

Miss Elizabeth Powell, Mrs. S. F. Shelly,

Mrs. Clara Bokop Bell, Mrs. Bessie Squire Wallace,

Mrs. Maude Daenitz, Miss Grace Whitaker

The top three dances of 1925 were the Charleston, the fox trot, and the Texas Tommy, which would come to be known as the Lindy Hop. For a look at the Charleston, follow the link:

https://youtu.be/oZzMytbrOn4  

Misses Elizabeth Seither, Dorothy Shaw, Alice Fauster, Dorothy Vandenbrock,

Elizabeth Shelly, Helene Harley, Virginia Harley, Lillian Bronson, Ruth Minsel,

Dolly Gest, Helen Weisenburger, Mary Bronson, Betty Beard, Lillian Deindorfer,

Christine Burdick, Bernice Burden, Elizabeth Bokop, Helen Clark, Katherny Hammer, Marion Ruess, Bessie Daoust, Doris Daenitz, Betty Shaw Katherine Jones

Dr. L. A. Sherry, Frank W. Papenhagen, 

Gerald Openlander, John Fauster, Paul Duerk,

James Sherman, John Cameron, Gerald Miller, 

Robert Weisenburger, William Latchaw,

Richard Diehl, Orla Gruner, Edward Schultz,

Carl Spriggs, Charles Jones, Paul Smith,

William Rex, Eward Willey, John Tate,

Frederick Bokop and Richard Bronson."

The Crescent-News, Jan. 2, 1925, p. 5

What were the top songs in 1925?

"Sweet Georgia Brown"

"Tea for Two"

"St. Louis Blues"

"If You Know Susie Like I Know Susie"

"Yes, Sir, That's My Baby"

"I'll See You in My Dreams"

"Charleston"

The conclusion of the article named all of the out of town guests who attended, numbering about forty.

(I wonder if dance cards were used since they were very popular for the time period.

Fire Hits Sherwood in July, 1887

"DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

SHERWOOD A VICTIM OF THE ANGRY FLAMES

ALMOST THE ENTIRE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE TOWN LAYED WASTE IN TWO SHORT HOURS

Word reached Defiance Sunday afternoon that Sherwood, a village west of us twelve miles in this county has been almost consumed by fire.

On Monday morning, a representative of the Express (Defiance Express) went to the scene of the conflagration and gleaned full particulars of the fire.

It originated in a barn at the rear of G.F. Brenner's dry goods store and is supposed to have caught from a stub of a cigar that some careless person had thrown down. When first discovered, the flames were well under headway. The town turned out en masse with buckets to save the building, but were unable to do so. 

A brisk breeze was blowing from the northwest, the barn stood on a street running east and west and on the side of the block from the direction of the wind. The flames spread to a ware room* east of the barn and from that to a dwelling, both owned by John C. Miller. The dwelling was valued at $800, and insured for $500 in Glens Falls. The ware room was not insured. A renter lived in the house and succeeded saving his goods.

G. F Brenner's dry goods store stood next on the west and was fired by the burning barn, and from the storeroom, his residence caught fire. The storeroom contained a stock of dry goods and groceries, all of which, together with his household goods, were saved, or nearly all. The buildings were valued at $1,600, insured for $1,000.  Goods in the store were insured for $4,500.  The loss above what goods were saved, and including the building, is estimated to at $2,000, all of which will be fully satisfied by the insurance company.

Next to Brenner's residence were the buildings of Sam. Miller, a saloon and a residence. On the back of the lot, and adjacent to the barn of Brenner in which the fire originated, was the barn of Miller's. They were all an easy prey to the flames. The stock of goods in the saloon and the household goods were all saved, but considerably damaged.

Two barrels of whiskey were stored away and went up in flames. Sixty bushels of wheat and some stoves and machinery that were in the barn were destroyed. There were six hogs in a pen in one corner of the barn, four of which were let out. Two were burned to death. On the residence and saloon building there was an insurance of $1,850 each, in the Royal.*   There was no insurance on the goods. The barn was insured for $150.

Adjacent to Miller's was a residence building, a storeroom, a wood shed, ice house, and barn, belonging to C. J. Chenevert, of Defiance. The storeroom was empty but was soon to have been occupied by a stock of groceries. All of these buildings, valued by Mr. Chenevert, at $2000, were consumed. Insurance for $1200.

Sherwood after the fire - 1887

Next to these buildings was the store room of Orlando Coffin, occupied by E. Miller with a stock of groceries, valued at $2,500. They were all removed and entailed a loss of $500. Insured for $1800. The $500 loss will be paid in full. The buildings including a millinery store room, occupied by Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Kyle with a stock of millinery goods which they saved, were insured.  They were valued at $1500.

There were fifteen buildings in all burned, valued at $25,000.  It is altogether the largest fire in proportion to the size of the town that has been in thse parts for many a day.  There was only one dry goods store left in the town and no grocery store.  It was with the most strenuous efforts thata the fire was kept from spreading to adjacent dwellings.

The dry goods store of Jacob Staadecker was barely kept from burning.  The following buildings across the street were more or less damaged:

The hotel, two dwellings, post office, drug store, with Odd Fellows hall above and hardware store.

The fire broke out about 1 o'clock, and in less than two hours, the buildings were in ashes.

W. E. Doud, of Defiance, and his father-in-law, Mr. Haveland, had purchased the stock of groceries of E. Miller ad would have taken possession of them the 1st of August. They will at once put in a general stock of boots and shoes and groceries.

Another view of Sherwood, after the fire

The businesses left on the north side of the railroad is the drug store of E. J. Potter, hardware store of H.E. Huffman, harness shop of Geo. W. Renz, barber shop of Harry Rock, agricultural store of John Core, and dry goods store of Jacob Staadecker.  The post office is located in the drug store of Mr. Potter.  It is believed that buildings will be erected on the ruins and business to some extent resumed.  It may be some time, though, as much business will center in one block. The citizens are talking of organizing a hook and ladder company for protection in the future.

A telephone message was sent to the Defiance fire department to take an engine up and for the hook and ladders. A B & O train was held in readiness at Sherwood to come after them, but on account of no water supply there for an engine, it was not deemed advisable to go.  Chief Rourke held everything in readiness for the train, and if it had been sent, would have taken a full force to have downed the fire.  Had they sent the engine for the hooks, even, the fire could have been checked before doing so much damage."

Defiance Express, July 14, 1887

Photos courtesy of Dan Hasch

Old Account Book of the Norway Store, Williams Center and Farmer, 1863

 

The Home of Clyde and Gertrude Norway in Farmer, probably the early 1920s.

From The Bryan Press,  Bryan, Ohio, 4 February 1932:

"Norway's 1863 Book Oldest Yet Reported

Clyde Norway, of Farmer Center, has brought to the Press office another old account book to be entered in the contest.

It is the cash book begun by his father, John Norway, when he opened a general store in Williams Center, Nov 2, 1863.  Some time between 1863 and 1869, John Norway moved his store, which he had started in partnership with a brother-in-law, Mills, to Farmer and the store has been located there in possession of the Norway family ever since

Clyde evidently has the winning entry in the contest with his 1863 book, but says his grandfather was in business at Farmer previous to 1863 and that if anyone shows up with an older book, he will dig into the attic and see what he can find.

Among the unusual entries in the 1863 book is one of five dressed wild turkeys, bought of Isiah Johnson for five cents a pound.  Clover seed sold to James Lane for 11 1/2 cents per pound.  Elias Tharp purchased sugar at 15 cents a pound and coffee at 40 cents a pound.  A muskrat skin brought 10 cents. Wood was $1 per cord. Muslin was 35 cents per yard.  Eggs were 10 cents per dozen.  Dressed ducks and chickens sold for 5 cents per pound.  The book bears a note of sale to James Wines for candle molds and two pairs of coffin hinges

Among the familiar names in the Norway book are O. E. Ensign, P. Castor, James Gardner, William Lane, J. Dillman, T. C. Biglow, William Griswold, Jacob Rager, Phillip Stohl, Ed Eager and others who have descendants living around Williams and Farmer Centers today."

Assuming this photo was taken in 1946, the year Farmer won the Ohio Class B Basketball state championship.  

The Aloha, 1923, advertisements

Any information on this record book from the Norway store?  Please share, if you do!

"

The Rice House in Farmer, Ohio - Dr. Oney Sr., Hiram, and Clark Rice

From the History of Defiance County, Ohio, 1883:

 

"Along with his parents, Oney Rice came with his wife to Defiance County in 1836. Dr. Oney Rice and family settled on Section 21, Farmer Township. The doctor built a log cabin, in which he and his family lived. 

The settlers Edward Lacost, John Rice, Spencer Hopkins, Harrison Conkey, all came and helped raise the cabin. It was of split logs for the upper and lower floor, made of basswood logs and window frames and sashes bought in Defiance, the door was made of pine boxes. 

The doctor had a large practice which he continued until July 1848 when he died at the age of 51. Mr. Oney Rice served as Justice of the Peace and was appointed the first Postmaster at Farmer Center August 31, 1843; was also a Commissioner of the county and one of the founders of the Universalist Church in this township. Was a man greatly respected and esteemed by all who knew him."

"Who remembers that the Rice house at Farmer, that burned down about March 11, 1920, was the oldest house in the township at the time?'It was built from 1842 to 1845 by Oney Rice, who died in 1848, and after his passing, it was occupied by his son, Hiram Rice, who passed in 1905 and since that it was used by his son, Clark Rice, three generations of Rices in one house.

Of the antique furniture lost in the fire was a corded walnut bedstead worth over $100, a bed more than 80 years old, used in the house for 75 years.

Of the 80-year-old things saved were a bureau, rocking chair stand and the sole survivor of a set of dining chairs. Another rare article burned was an old-style spinning wheel.

Wonder if the Rice family yet have these things mentioned and possibly some overlooked in our note-booking?"

Bryan Press, November 18, 1926

The Arrowsmith Grist Mill at Lost Creek and the Haller Relationship

 

"Who remembers that the Arrowsmith grist mill, north and a little west of the crossing at Lost Creek, was part of logs, the oldest part and after it was abandoned, was used as a sort of blacksmith shop?  

Mr. Arrowsmith was a good millwright and understood all about grinding, dressing buhrs, etc.  Repairs were generally done to the water wheel and the tools were an inch auger, an ax and a handsaw.  The water wheel was one of his own invention, that is the one used was built according to his own ideas.

An old ax was much used at picking or chopping or whatever it was called in dressing the buhrs, and fit them for running nicely.  

John F. Haller usually helped in the repairs, though he was not a millwright.  This was the mill called 'the turkey trap,' on account of a flock of wild ones going in and taking possession and not knowing how to get out."

Bryan Press, Thursday, November 18, 1926

👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥👥

"Who remembers that there is a close connection between the Arrowsmith and Haller families of early Farmer? We gather that Ezekiel Arrowsmith was born near Baltimore 1770, went to Kentucky when 23 and married Elizabeth Kenton, niece of the noted Simon Kenton, moved near Urbana, Ohio and died in 1849, his wife dying at 90.

His son, Miller Arrowsmith, one of ten children, came to Defiance County in 1833, locating first near Defiance and was chosen Deputy County Surveyor by John Perkins, shortly moved to Lost Creek where he had a grist mill, was county auditor and held other important offices.

Sarah Arrowsmith, his sister, married William Haller, son of John Haller, and after her death in 1837, he married her sister, Jane.  A son, John F., taught school in the early days and farmed southwest of Farmer.

John Haller, father of William, located at Brunersburg and had a tannery and farmed.  Jesse, son of John, married Cassandra, sister of Miller Arrowsmith and located in 1831 in Brunersburg, and in 1837, came to Farmer, the trip taking four or five days as the way was swampy; brush had to be cleared to make a road, trees had to be whacked out of the way, too.

When they moved from Champaign County, the few household goods were hauled in a sort of wagon to the Auglaize River and then shipped to Defiance in a pirogue, a large tree trunk burned and dug out into a boat and was run by a pole pushed in the water when the bottom of the stream was 'near,' and when deep, paddles were used.

The family rode horseback and fording streams, sometimes high from freshets, and landed safely. How does that compare with moving now-a-days with a motor truck about the size of a pioneer's cabin?  People these days do not know and do not want to know what those sturdy old pioneers did."

Bryan Press, September 9, 1926, page 2

Civil War Vet and Rural Mail Carrier in Mark Township - Curtis Sylvander Elder

 The Hicksville Tribune, January 2, 1908, p. 8:

"This post card was received by the R.F.D. News in Chicago, Illinois -

Mark Center: - We are in receipt of a souvenir post card, showing the portrait of C. S. Elder, the only carrier of Mark Center.  Mr. Elder is standing by his mail wagon and intelligent looking horse, and in the wagon stands his little daughter, Ruth, a charming child of five years of age.

Mr. Elder is a veteran of the civil war, enlisted in 1863 at 17 years of age and rode with Sherman to the sea in Kilpatrick's famous cavalry division.  Mr. Elder has been carrying mail since February 15, 1905."

This photo is a part of the Mary G. Smith Photo Collection and was provided by Dianne Grimm.

Curtis Elder's little girl, Ruth, was 5 at the time of photo, dating it to about 1913, and her father was 68.  She was the youngest of eleven children through two different wives.

Born in Pennsylvania on November 19, 1845, Curtis came to Ohio with his family and settled in Seneca County, Ohio.  In the Federal Census of 1860, he lived with his widowed mother, Eliza, and five siblings.  His mother, widow of Achor Elder, was only 39, and she was left with real estate worth $2150; Curtis was 15 at the time.  Just two years later he would enlist for the Union side.

Curtis enlisted on November 5, 1863 into the 9th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Company K at the age of 17. He was all over the south with the Cavalry and often in some large battles, including the Battle for Atlanta.  He rode with Hugh Jackson Kirkpatrick who advanced to a brevet general by the end of the war.  However, Kirkpatrick was not always respected by his soldiers.  Kirkpatrick was a man who took risks with his soldiers, using battle tactics that put them in danger.  Discharged on July 25, 1865, Curtis made his way back to Seneca County, Ohio.

He married Tena (Dinah) Stahl on 23 September 1869 there and the couple had five children: Estella E., Ollie E., Charley, Earl and Lillian.  Tena died on the Elder homestead in Seneca County on March 10, 1881. (Another source gave the death date as 8 March 1882). She was buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Jackson Twp., Seneca County. In 1881 - 1882, some of the Elder family, including the widower, Curtis, and his children made their way to Mark Township, Defiance County, Ohio. 

A second marriage to Emma Jane Crawford occurred on January 21, 1883.  Emma was significantly younger than Curtis by about 15 - 16 years.  They added to their family: Carrie, Clyde, Glenn, Rodney, Levon, Thelma, and Ruth (born 1903). In 1888, Curtis purchased his own farm - 80 acres in Sections 14 and 15, Mark Township.  The Federal Census enumerator found him and his family there in 1900 - 1920. 

He was a farmer, but at some point he became the rural mail carrier, the one and only in Mark Township.  His brother, Clyde, known for his store in Mark Center, was his substitute, both having passed the civil service exam necessary. One newspaper described him as Mark Center's genial and obliging mail carrier,  a "jolly" man.

Photo is from the Mary G. Smith Photo Collection and was provided by Dianne Grimm.

Curtis Sylvander Elder died at his home in Mark Township on October 31, 1923. The Defiance Crescent-News reported on November 6, 1923 on page 5:

"Curtis S. Elder.  The funeral of Curtis S. Elder of Mark Center, who died suddenly Wednesday, was held Saturday afternoon at 1:30 at the house, and at 2 p.m. at the M.E. church in Mark Center with Dr. J. F. Olive officiating, assisted by Rev. Arthur, Rev. Colgan and Rev. Hurtig.

Pall bearers were the four sons: Clyde, Glen, Dale and Levon Elder and grandsons, Harry Brubaker and Noah Hull. 

Flower bearers were Class No. 8 of the Mark Center Sunday School which Mr. Elder taught for several years.  Interment was in Sherwood Cemetery."

Curtis' wife, Emma, lived twenty more years, passing away on October 11, 1943. 

"EMMA ELDER, 80, TAKEN BY DEATH.  

MARK CENTER WOMAN DIES AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS ILLLNESS.

Mark Center, Oct. 11 - Mrs. Emma Elder, 80, widow of Curtis Elder, who died in 1923, passed away this morning at her home here, following an illness of several months due to infirmities of age.

The body was removed to the Perkins and Reeb funeral home in Hicksville, and will be returned to the residence at noon on Tuesday.  Burial will be made in Sherwood cemetery following services which will be arranged later.

Mrs. Elder was born and reared in Mark township and was a member of the Methodist Church.

She leaves six children: Mrs. Carrie Heater, South Ridge, Mass.; Clyde and Lavon Elder, both of Mark Center; Glen Elder, Hicksville; Mrs. Thelma Conley, Inglewood, Calif.; and Mrs Ruth Decker, Sherwood; three step daughters, Mrs. Lillian Hull, of Kendallville, Ind.; Mrs. Stella Brubaker, West Mill Grove, Ohio, and Mrs. Ollie Frazer, Paulding; a sister, Mrs. Ella Deardorf, Hicksville; 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A son, Dale Elder of Defiance preceded her in death last January."

Note - For those researching the Elder family more in death, here are two sources:

1. In the archives of Bowling Green State University, a file on Sarah V. Elder, born 1840, sister to Curtis, letters, photocopies, transcripts from the Civil War and later, 1854 - 1896 archived.  Sarah married Joshua Dicken who served in the Civil War.

2. The Historical Record of the Elder Famiy by Lillian Elder Hull, daughter of Curtis. It can be found in its entirety online.

Bounty Land, Bureaucracy and Badly Patronized - War of 1812 Veterans and the Settlement of Defiance County - Part 1

 

Ohio in 1814

WELCOME TO OUR GUEST BLOGGER -

MIKE KONIECZNY

(Mike has used the Bureau of Land Management Records of Defiance County to study bounty lands given to veteran soldiers of Defiance County.)

It seems everyone knows a Vietnam veteran who is still angry at this country's treatment of his cohort in the wake of their tours of duty.  To have done their patriotic duty, fighting an unpopular war, only to come home and be disrespected in the press and on the streets was as infuriating to them as it was confusing.  One hundred and eighty years ago, the veterans of the War of 1812 felt much the same.

Whether they looked behind their times of service to the veterans of the Revolution or forward to the veterans of the Mexican War, 1812 veterans frustratingly saw a country doling out perquisites of bounty land warrants and military pensions in a manner denied and delayed to them.  Interestingly, historians cite many reasons for this discrepancy, but always return to a reoccurring thread in our country's history: Americans love and reward winners; "place" and "show" are afterthoughts.  In both the Revolution and Mexican Wars, America won great land empires.  In contrast, the best we could do in the War of 1812 was to negotiate a return to the "status quo ante bellum."   This was codified in the 1814 Treaty of Ghent which officially ended that war.  Let's face it, Americans hate ties - a big reason soccer has never captured the national psyche.

In February, 2022, I was alerted to the power of the Bureau of Land Management Patent Deed Database.  This database is available on the internet and, in it, the BLM lists every patent deed awarded in the country's history.  Patent deeds record land passing from the federal government to an individual and are tracked at the federal level.  Thereafter, all other types of deeds tracking the transfer of property are recorded locally.

Within the BLM database exists a designator for land deeds awarded to 18th and 19th century veterans for their wartime service.  In an age when the U.S. government was land rich and cash poor, awards of land for military service were the G.I. Bill of the time and served as a thank you from a grateful nation.  In total, these awards were consequential; indeed, all land awarded to veterans up through the American Civil Wa amounted to a land mass the size of the state of Oregon.  Using this database designator, I found it a small matter to download all records of deeds for military service.

Using this database, I was certain that it would be easy to prove that Military Bounty Lands were a major catalyst in the development of Defiance County.  My hypothesis was based on two vectors:

*The first was that during the War of 1812, a noticeable percentage of military aged Kentucky men tromped up and down the Maumee River and were aware of the agricultural potential of the Black Swamp - especially around the Defiance area.

*And the second was that Defiance County was bisected by a major water course; indeed the Maumee River basin is the largest watershed in all the Great Lakes.

Combined, the two vectors would certainly explain why War of 1812 veterans came flocking back to Defiance County to exercise their Bounty Land Warrants.  What I found was considerably more complicated...

More on Part 2