Mark Township School, District 2 - c. 1918

from the Hicksville News-Tribune, February 7, 1973

Mark Center High School, 1913

Mark Center High School

1913

Front Row, L to R:

Cassie Culler, Norma Huber, Pauline Routsong, Marguerita Wagner, Mabel Elser, John Locke, Lelah Ridenour, Ford Locy, Victor Balser

Back Row:

Edith Reeb, Lois Perry, Blanche Slough, Ruth Lovejoy, Charlotte Gillespie, Flo Conley, Charles Core, Levon Elder

Wilseyville, Farmer Township, Defiance County

In Section 31 of Farmer Township was Wilseyville (here misspelled as Wolsenville,) formerly known as the town of Arrowsmith.  From the plat map of 1866, Defiance County

Miller Arrowsmith, the surveyor of Defiance County and eventually Auditor, came early to Defiance County to survey and purchase large plots of land.  He developed the village of Arrowsmith in about 1842. After the Civil War, the town was eventually renamed Wilseyville by his nephew, William M. Haller.

It has been reported that the town once contained a grist mill, a sawmill, a tanner, a boarding house, a post office, and an oar factory.  In 1961, then Sherriff Don Kehnast took a group on a tour of some of the historical places in the county. The Defiance Crescent-News reported the guide as saying:

"It is known definitely that Miller Arrowsmith was post master there for 15 years.  Mr. and Mrs. Ridenour, who live in a century old house, north on Route 2 near there found and still have letters bearing the postmark of a station of both names.  The letters were stored in the attic of the home where the Ridenour family have lived for at least 75 years."

A Wilseyville correspondent sent regular news items to the Defiance County Express from the late 1870s to 1883.  Known as the Wilseyville Whittlings (compared with the Hicksville Hackings and the Bethel Blubbers!), all kinds of news from the village was reported.
This example was from December 15, 1881:

The Defiance County Express announced on May 24, 1883: "Hereafter the 'Wilseyville Items' will be known as the 'Lost Creek Items,' as the Wilseyville Post Office  'has gone up the spout.'  The end of Wilseyville was at hand.

Mark Township, Public School, 1907

Hilbert School, Farmer Township - 1900-1901

Miss Willeman was really outnumbered during the school year of 1900-1901.  Only four girls in the class of twenty-three!  We're not sure of the location of the Hilbert School.  Maybe someone can help?

 Girls - Rosa Ensign, Equa Kleckner, Elza Landis, Cora Bassett

Boys - Walter Ensign, Charlie Ensign, Willie Ringer, Fordyce Ridenour, Dane Ridenour, Clair Ridenour, Glenn Huber, Harry Hanna, Fay Hanna

Fay Battershell, Earl Battershell, Britt Haller, Floyd Foust, Lloyd Foust, Emmel Attleberger, Harry Landis, Earl Landis, Ora Bassett, Floyd Dale (?)

Crary School, Milford Township

The Crary School was District #8 in Milford Township.  Its exact location is unknown at this time. (Maybe someone knows out there?)

1911

1913

1914

Hickory Grove School #6, Hicksville Township

Hickory Grove District #6

Hicksville Township

(Located at the northeast corner of Jericho and Casebeer-Miller Roads)

1918 - 1919

Elma Bungard, Teacher

Wm. Walker, District Superintendant

W. W. Heater, County Superintendant

School Officers - F. Z. Clark, Charles Volkert, Harry Hofmeister, John Sellars, Donald Batchelor

PUPILS

Harry Ridenour

Irene Volkert

Harold Wagner

Glen Volkert

Leone Shrider

Goff Clark

Ralph Hook

Ralph Keener

Lee Wagner

Chester Clark

Mildred Clark

Alice Bihr

Mervin Applegate

Scudder Clark

Paul Miller

John Hook

Carrie Shrider

Harold Speer

Opal Applegate

Lucille Fell

Helen Wagner

Fern Hook

Gale Smith

Guy Volkert