Charles Goller Had the Flag and The Buckskin Band Played

 In the midst of the Civil War, part of the Democratic party split off and were called Copperheads or Peace Democrats. They opposed the War of the Rebellion and wanted peace made immediately and the war halted.  The women who followed this movement were called Butternuts and often wore pins carved of butternut hulls. When cross-sectioned, these hulls looked like two joined hearts, which was seen as the tie between North and South.   The movement was alive and well in Northwest Ohio.

From the Bryan Democrat, June 24, 1924:

"Charles F. Goller, 84 years young, of Ney, has the large U.S. Flag that was carried at the head of the Washington township delegation and its Buckskin band of fifers and drummers, to the big Vallandigham meeting at Defiance, August 15, 1863, and was one of the most interesting and exciting meetings of the season, the so-called Copperheads being out in full force, and the Butternut girls bravely wearing their brooches or breast-pins made of butternut shells sawed into slices, and each slice had a red, white and blue ribbon interwoven in its openings, and indeed, it made a nice pin."

The rally mentioned was in support of Clement Vallandigham, leader of the Copperheads and candidate for Ohio governor.  He had already served two terms in Congress as an Ohio representative but had been court martialed in 1863 because he was so outspoken in opposition to the war.  He was supposed to be exiled to the Confederate states, but instead went to Canada. Now he wanted to be governor in Ohio and rally the Copperheads.

A side note on the Buckskin Band from the Bryan Press, Nov 15, 1922 -

"This is the story in brief of a little scrap in the summer of 1862, at Ney, then Georgetown, as to whether a certain bass drum should be used in a Buckskin Band to lead a delegation of Farmer Democrats captained by Orley Ford, and a Washington delegation captained by John Campbell to a big Democratic meeting at Defiance where the chief speaker was Congressman C. L. Vallandigham...

Those 'buckskin bands' were what are generally known as fife and drum corps. This bass drum had been paid for by donations and it was naturally understood should be used impartially by each party.

Johnnie, the 10 year old son of John Campbell was the snare drummer, and a good one, ad was always with the band at meetings for recruiting soldiers or anything else the and was called for.  Sad to say, Johnnie was drowned when about 1, with a little brother, Charley.

Well, Grif Hatfield, Republican committee man, a bigger man than Campbell, as everyone remembers Uncle John as small and wiry, swore the drum should not be used at a d... Democratic speech, and other bad words, and said a fight as to who was the best man should settle it.  John was willing and they sailed in and soon Grif was down with John on his wishbone busy putting match pockets on his eyes, pushing his nose one way and then another, and so on, and having a full head of steam, and being a trifle hard of hearing, didn't hear Grif's squeals that he had enough, till finally some of the onlookers told John that Grif said he had enough.

'All right,' said John, getting off Grif. 'I didn't hear him. Now we'll get that drum.

Uncle John (Campbell) lived to the good old age of 76, passing away May 14, 1904.  His children live here - Wesley George and Carrie (Neff)."

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World War I Series - Private Frank Robert Vollmer, Killed in Action

 

FRANK R. VOLLMER

Born in Washington Township on February 1, 1893, to Robert and Anna C. Vollmer, Frank grew up on their farm with his younger brother, Dale.  

In the Federal Census of 1910, he was 17 and worked on the family farm. He registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 at the age of 24. By that time, he had an outside job as a farm laborer on the farm of H F. Burgbacher in Washington Township. He was single, of medium height and build with dark green eyes and dark brown hair.

The Defiance Democrat announced his marriage on May 30, 1918:

"Frank R. Vollmer, son of Robert Vollmer, and Lottie, daughter of John Billow, were married at Bryan, May 14th by Rev. H. Henkleman and will live in the H. F. Burgbacher's tenant home."

Frank left his new wife and mustered into the American Expeditionary Forces in Defiance on July 21, 1918.  He began in the 336th Infantry, Company G, 94th Division, and embarked from Hoboken, New Jersey, overseas. He went into the battle on the Meuse-Argonne in France and was killed in action on October 27, 1918.

The Bryan Press announced Frank's memorial service on January 16, 1919:

"Memorial Service.  Memorial service was held Sunday morning at the Immanual Lutheran church, south of Bryan for Frank Robert Vollmer, who fell in battle in France.

Frank Robert Vollmer was born February 1, 1893, the first child of Robert and Anna Vollmer. 

May 14, 1918, he united in marriage with Lottie M. Billow.

Soon after he was called to the oolors. July 22, he left for Camp Sherman where he stayed about four weeks, was transferred to Camp Mills, and after a training of two weeks was sent to France.

From 'Over There' he wrote two letters, the one dated Sept. 27 and the last Oct.15.  Both expressed the hope of victory and a speedy return.  But man proposes, God disposes. A long silence followed, and this silence was sadly interrupted by a message to Mrs. Frank Vollmer, reading as follows:

'Washington, D.C., Jan. 4, 1919

Dear Madam:

Deeply regret to inform you that Private Frank R. Vollmer, Infantry, is officially reported as killed in action October 27.    Harris, Adjutant- General.'

Our young brother attained an age of 25 years, eight months and 26 days.  He leaves to mourn his young wife, his parents, his brother, many friends and our whole Sunday School and congregation.

The deceased young brother was a model Christian and set a good example for all young people he came in contact with.  His memory shall remain a blessing for us all."

The Sherwood Chronicle also reported the memorial service for Frank on January 17, 1919:

"Memorial services were held by Rev. Frederick Henkleman at Emanuel Lutheran church, Sunday, January 5, for Frank R. Vollmer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vollmer.  He was married May 14, 1918 to Lottie Billow, went to camp a few weeks afterwards, and was killed at the front October 27.  He was an exemplary young man."

"Relatives came to attend the memorial service held Sunday morning at a church near Ney for Frank R. Vollmer, a nephew of the former (Mrs. Frank Partee) who was killed in France."

Frank was first buried in an isolated grave on the battlefield near Romagne-sous Montfaucon.  He was disinterred and reburied in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. Mrs. Lottie Vollmer,his wife, Route 1, Ney, was informed of this change on May 13, 1920.

Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Block C, Row 9, Grave 20

In 1929, the U.S. War Department offered to send the mothers of deceased soldiers buried overseas to their soldier's grave, calling it the Mothers' Pilgrimage. Anna requested a pilgrimage trip in 1930, but no evidence could be found whether she took the trip or not.

In Memoriam

Frank R. Vollmer

1893 - 1918

 

Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery - Washington Township, Defiance County, Ohio

This cemetery was formed with the Emanuel Lutheran Church, State Route 15, Ney, when the church was founded. According to the Civilian Conservation Corps survey, it was once called the Ginther Graveyard.  Perhaps it already contained some graves when the church acquired the land.  It sits on the bank of Lick Creek which is at the back of the property.

The CCC survey, probably completed in the 1930s, but undated, noted that Mr. Geo. Garver was the caretaker.  At that time, it was "well wooded with oak and pine trees and was fenced on three sides with an ornamental wire fence" with the front side toward the church open.

The first burial in the graveyard, according to the survey, was Sarah Goller, 1876, a six year old child of the Gollers.  The surveyors, Cecil Cadwallader and Charles Gish, also named these 'important people" buried there:

Geo. Ginther, 1830-1915, a well-to-do and county known farmer

John Weber, 1853 - 1916, widely known farmer

Geo. Goller, a German settler from Whittenberg, who came to this county in 1855, and became one of the first citizens; he died in 1888

On the Goller stone is written his history about coming to America and "by frugal effort, became a foremost citizen of the county."

This information was provided by Arlo Fidder (Fidler?), Route 1, Ney, O.
 

On the early stones, information is often engraved in German or even a mix of German and English.  (gest - died and alter - aged, den - on) Some of the earliest burials here are listed below:

Goller, Mary Strahle: Born Feb. 27, 1830 at Wittenburgh, Germany.  Married to George Goller Jan. 3, 1850; Died Nov. 3, 1850; Aged 76y 8m 29d

            George - Born Wuertenburg, Germany, came to America in 1830, to Washington Twp 1855; died Jan. 12, 1908, aged 80y 2m 18d

Fieldner

Rosa, died May 9, 1882, aged 22y, 4m 23d, Dtr of C & R. Fieldner

Otto, died Apr 22, 1883, aged 75y 27d

Rosina C., died Oct. 3, 1910, aged 82y 9m 20d

Uffer

Christiana, Mutter: Frau Christ Uffer, Gest 3 Dec 1879, Alter 71j 3m 17t

Bergman

Herman, son of C & W Bergman Gest den 6  Sept 1, 1879, Alter 10m

Vollmer

Louisa, Frau des J. G. Vollmer, Gest Den 2 March 1889, Alter 58y 2m 1 t

Jacob George, Gest Den 26 July 1829 in Bruken, Den 22 October 1883, Alter 54 2m 26t

This is just a sampling; the cemetery's tombstones were last read in 1999 and published by the Defiance County Genealogical Society.  A copy may be purchased from the website or a copy of the Washington Twp. Cemetery Tombstone readings should be in all the Defiance Public Libraries.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Washington Township, Defiance County, Ohio

 As one travels north of Ney on Route 15 just past Beerbower Road, on the left, a cemetery will come into view.  Once a church sat there, founded by early immigrant settlers in about 1864.  According to a history of the church, the founders of this congregation were:

O. Fieldner - J. C. Vollmer - J. G. Vollmer - Jacob Goller - John Goller, Sr. - G. Goller - J. Armbruster - J. G. Renz - John Goller - J. Spieth - F. Straehle - J. Schmidt -A. Haase - G. Straehle - G. Guenther - C. Schwarzbek - F. Wilhelm - C. Dreher and F. Ihmelmann

 

On photo: Ev. Luth. Immanuels Kirche - Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Ney, Ohio

This church building was erected here in 1875 by Chr. Bergman, contractor, for $1,500, with the dedication on December 5, 1875.  In 1879, the congregation joined the Evangelical Synod.  In 1912, the church was remodeled with a new addition added, along with some stained glass windows.

Parishioners of the church in about 1902, with photo from the collection of John and Luella Weller.

Row 1 (l to r): John Billow, Ferman Haase, Fay Moog, Elmer Schwartzbek, Carl Schwarzbek, Dale Vollmer, Esther Bruner, Alma Haase Weller, Lydia Vollmer Billow, William Weller, Ernest Smith

Row 2: Court Schwarzbek, Julius Moog, Frank Vollmer, William Vollmer, Amand Weber?, Harry Billow, Otis Moog, Laura Wilhelm, Emma Fieldner Goller, Florence Vollmer Moog, Ida Haase Harmon, Martha Kaltenback Fieldner, Frieda Smith Mulligan

Row 3: Gusta Moog Vollmer, Wilhelmina Bergman, Charles Smith, Carl Fieldner, George Vollmer, Willie Billow, Tillie Vollmer, Emma Bruner?, Stella Haase, ? , Rosa Bergman, Martha Koeppe, ?Burgbacher, Rose Fieldner Goller, Ethel Harmon Fieldner, Grandma Vollmer, Grandpa Vollmer, Rev. Frederick Hinkleman

Row 4: Dorothea Vollmer, Christian Vollmer, Lisetta Vollmer, Clara Burgbacher, Herman Burgbacher, Emanuel Vollmer, Theodore Schwarzbek, William Koeppe, Louisa Vollmer, William Bergman, Stella Goller, Oscar Bergman, Carrie Burgbacher, Own Burgbacher, Bertha Koeppe Goller, Gottlieb (John) Weller, Hulda Vollmer Koeppe, Leo Bergman, Sophia Weller, Selina Weller Lampl, Oney Goller, Amelia Smith Elser, Emma Moog, Otto Koeppe, Anna Vollmer, Albert Haase Jr. , John Bergman, Clara Vollmer, Otto Fieldner, Sherm Bruner, Ernest Vollmer, Wilma Vollmer    

In the 1930s, this church and St. Paul Lutheran in Bryan merged with Trinity Lutheran Church in Bryan.  Eventually, in 1947, the Emanuel church building was purchased and moved to Williams Center.

                                                   Bryan Press, December 10, 1947

The church was officially formed in 1864, and birth and baptismal records are available from 1865-1931; marriage records from 1879, confirmation records fro 1869 on to 1931.  Records may be at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bryan, but BGSU has also microfilmed all the records.

This church also had its own burying grounds behind and eventually to the sides of the church building.  Next blog - the cemetery at Emmanuel.

Thank you for all the research contributions, Deb Dietrich Conley.

Pleasant Point School - Washington Township 1897 - 1908

The Pleasant Point School was the District #9 school in Washington Township, located at the northeast corner of Blosser Road and U.S. Route 127.

Pleasant Point School, circa 1897    No identifications.

 

A poor copy, it might look better on the newspaper itself.

Pleasant Point School, c. 1900, Perry Struble - Teacher

Pleasant Point School, c 1902

Front Row, L to R: __, __, __, Dolly Breno, __, __, Lottie Goller, __, __, Bessie Spahr
Middle Row, L to R: Lloyd Shong, Floyd Shong, __, Wynter Goller, __, __, Chalmer Spahr, Florence Kintner, Earl Shong
Back Row, L to R: Teacher - Grace Haines, Howard Goller, Ammon Weber, Olan Shong, __, __, Hazel Spitler, Delta Mock, Celia Kuszmaul

Pleasant Point School, c. 1908

Bottow Row, extreme left - Walter Stotler
Middle Row of standing students, 1st and 3rd from left - Floyd and Lloyd Shong

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Ney Cemetery, Washington Township

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written on the original W.P.A. reports, with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.

For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html)

Ney Cemetery

1. Name of cemetery:  Ney Cemetery

2. Location, how reached:

This cemetery is located at the northwest outskirts of the Village of Ney in Washington Township, Defiance County.  (It) is on the east side of state route #15, which goes to Bryan, Ohio.

3. Name and address of caretaker:  George Garver, Ney, Ohio

Ney Cemetery at www.findagrave.com

4. General description, size, appearance, denomination, fencing, etc.:

There are ten acres in Ney Cemetery.  It is fenced with an ornamental iron fence, (and) is well shaded with numerous pine trees as well as maple and oak.  It also has much evergreen shrubbery throughout the grounds.  The cemetery is laid out in lots.  It has two gateways and two stone driveways.  It is well kept and the trees and shrubbery trimmed; however, it is not so beautiful or stately as the Farmer Center Cemetery.  The village of Ney and the trustees of Washington Township keep the cemetery up.  It has, however, many fine markers of marble and granite.

5. Name and date of first burial recorded:

The cemetery was started in 1865.  Several graves were made that year, an Artline child, John Welker, and Chas. Dean, all in July of that year.

George W. Erlston, died Sept. 1865, at www.findagrave.com

 6. Names of important persons buried there; for what noted:

Charles Doud, Ney businessman and farmer, who was killed this spring, is perhaps the best known.

Geo. W. Ury, 1814 - 1895, one of the pioneer Urys who settled this district in 1845, is also buried here, as are the Garvers, Motters, and Pollocks, all well to do farmers and early settlers.

  

         

George Washington Ury at www.findagrave.com

This is not the first graveyard in Washington Township.  Many of the old timers are buried elsewhere, several of them at Farmer Center, six miles to the west.

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

The outstanding marker in this cemetery is the new, modern, heavy Italian marble monument on the Chas. Doud lot erected to Chas. Doud after his untimely death last spring.  It is placed on a built up lot and at each side are urns of the same material as the large marker.  There are three markers of this description in Defiance County, one in Riverside Cemetery at Defiance one at Farmer Center, and one here.

Charles Edward Doud at www.findagrave.com

8. Unusual epitaphs:  None

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?

The cemetery is used today.  Recently, some land was bought to be sold in lots.  Many of the markers already placed haven't the death date inscribed yet.  

C. Callawader and C. Gish, Reporters

Consultant: Mrs. D. L. Barrick, Ney, Ohio  

(The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.)

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - Lintz Cemetery, Washington Township

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written on the original W.P.A. reports, with a few punctuation and/or spelling changes for readability.  The surveys were probably done around 1936.

For more up to date information on the cemeteries, check out this chart on our website:
 http://defiancecountygenealogy.org/cemeteries.html)

Lintz Cemetery

1. Name of Cemetery: The Lintz Cemetery, Washington Township

2. Location:

One mile directly west of Ney, Ohio, in section #20, Washington Township.  One half mile south of state route #249, and on the Old Bellefountaine pike, out of Ney.  To reach this place from the main street of Ney, Ohio, which is route #15, turn west on the macadam at the city service gas station and go one mile along an angling road.  The grave yard is to the right of this road going out of Ney.

3. Caretaker: Mr. Geo. Garver, Ney, Ohio and the Washington Twp. Trustees.

Photo from www.findagrave.com

4. Description:

A pretty little graveyard containing about an acre of ground, setting on a hill and fenced in with a good ornamental wire fence.  It is well kept, all but the trees which need trimming and the rotten and dead limbs sawed off.  The grass is kept mowed and the graves and markers are in good shape.  

It is undenominational and was the original Ney graveyard before the one in the village of Ney was taken over by the town.  It gets its name from the people who formerly owned the land on which it stands.  It is quite well known in and around Ney.  The trees are mostly all pine and cedar. 

5. First Burial:

The oldest marked grave is that of William Keller who died in 1849, but I am told there are older graves in the place which are unmarked today.  About 1838 is thedate given as the original plotting of the graveyard. 

6. Important persons:

Charles Gardner at www.findagrave.com

Chas., Henry and John Gardner, three brothers of importance in and around Ney, are the chief persons.  These brothers were well to do farmers and also business men in Ney up to ten years ago.  All three have died in the last ten years at ages in the 80s.

Others are the Thomases and Gollers, important farm people.  This family of Gollers is a distant relative of Merle Goller, prominent attorney of Defiance, Ohio.  The direct descendants of this family still live one mile to the north of this graveyard on route #249.

7. Markers:

There is a unique marker in this graveyard over the grave of Prudence Kimmel.  It is a whole bronze open coffin covering the whole grave, and has flowers planted in the open top.  At the head is a stone rising a foot above this coffin ... grave covering, and on this is her name and birth and death dates.  It is very well kept.

Prudence Kimmel at www.findagrave.com

There are also several very nice, large granite markers here and some very old ones.

8. Epitaphs:  None unique, unusual or original

9. This graveyard is still kept up and used.  Several open lots are still to be had.

Cecil Cadwallader and Chas. Gish

Authority: Mrs. Chas. Walker, Route #1, Ney, Ohio 

(The Works Progress Administration was formed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in reaction to the Great Depression as a means of employing Americans and stimulating the economy.  Established in 1935, one of the projects of the W.P.A. was to conduct Historical Records Surveys, one of which included finding information on cemeteries and the graves of veterans.  The W.P.A. was disbanded in 1943, but the historical information provided on these surveys continue to be of interest and are, thankfully, preserved.)