George Hooker - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Most sources agree that George Hooker was born on August 11, 1846, in Maumee City, Ohio.  He was enumerated with his parents in Lucas County in both 1860 and 1870 along with his siblings, Charles Edward and Elizabeth.  His father was a brick mason and by 1870, George and his brother were working in the same occupation.
In the 1870 census, his mother, called Eliza, was 58 and noted to be insane.  Sister Elizabeth was "keeping house."  

In July, 1863, George was listed in the Civil War Draft Registration in Springfield Township, Lucas County.  But George had already enlisted and was serving in the 1st Ohio Artillery. His pension card added that he was in Battery H of the Light Artillery.

He was just 17 when he enlisted on August 5, 1862, for three years.  He served mainly in Virginia and Pennsylvania, with presence at Winchester, Fredricksburg, and Chancellorsville, Virginia, and the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.  A monument stands to the Ohio 1st Light Artillery, Company H, called the Huntington Battery, at one end of the National Cemetery in Gettysburg.

This battery consisted of 123 men and 6 ordnance rifles who fought valiantly at Gettysburg on July 2nd and 3rd, 1863.  They took part in 12 general engagements, including the siege of Petersburg later, according to the official record.  At Gettysburg, 2 were killed, 1 mortally wounded and 4 wounded.  

In the 1890 Veterans Census, George reported that he suffered a disability because a gun fell on him and smashed his back and foot.  No mention is made where the incident occurred nor the nature of the gun.  Despite this, George mustered out with his unit on June 14, 1865 at Cleveland, Ohio.

On March 15, 1870, Sarah Elizabeth Smith became the wife of George Hooker.  They settled on the Brunersburg Road by the 1880 census.  George worked as a plasterer, and he and Sarah Elizabeth had two sons, Charles E. (Edward) and George L.  (Leroy). 

It would appear that the George Hooker family lived in the Defiance area for about fifteen or twenty years.  Like many of the G.A.R. men, George was involved in the Defiance community.  He served as a fireman and was financial secretary for the group in 1877.  In 1882, he ran for assessor of Defiance Township and lost to E.H. Gleason, but he was appointed delegate to the Republican City Convention that year, representing the 3rd ward.  That same year, he ran for Sheriff and lost to J. Sheffield.  M. J. Rourke defeated him when he ran for Defiance Township constable in both 1885 and 1887.

He kept his military years close by participating in a number of events related to them.

Defiance Democrat, February 10, 1876

 

Defiance County Express, April 2, 1885

Sometime between 1887 and 1890, George and Elizabeth moved to Seattle, Kings County, Washington.  It was there that he was enumerated on the 1890 Veterans Census.  He lived on Seventeenth Avenue in Seattle in the 1900 census, along with his wife, his son, Charles E., 29, a druggist, and Charles' wife, Catherine.  George reported that he worked as a brick mason at the age of 51.  In 1910, George had the job of department assessor for the city of Seattle and they had their own home at 14th Cor. S.

The last census that George appeared in was in 1920, in Los Angeles, California. He was living as a roomer with Martha Mallery and her daughter and son-in-law. His other son, Leroy, lived in California, so the move there was understandable.  But where was Sarah? She was in Los Angeles, too - a roomer at a different place on West 7th Street.  68 years old and born in Indiana - that's her.  What was happening?

George Hooker died on May 7, 1923, at the age of 76 in Glendale California. He iwas buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery there.  No obituary could be located for either George or Sarah Elizabeth, called Bessie, who died in 1928.

www.findagrave.com

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)

W. P. A. Cemetery Survey - St. Stephens Catholic Cemetery, Delaware Bend

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.

In this series, some of the general surveys of Defiance County cemeteries will be shared, transcribed as written 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

The Delaware Bend Catholic Cemetery

 of the St. Stephen's Holy Roman Catholic Church Parish

1. Name of Cemetery:

The Delaware Bend Catholic Cemetery of the St. Stephens Holy Roman Catholic Church Parish

2. Location; how reached:

On the hill across the road from St. Stephens Catholic Church, and along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at the Delaware Bend crossing in the Village of Delaware Bend, which is eight miles from the city of Defiance, west along the Maumee River.  State highway #18 is one mile to the north and U.S. #24 one mile to the south.

3. Name and address of caretaker:

Members of the St. Stephens Parish of Delaware Township, the Rev. Father Paul Bissell is the pastor and supervisor.  His address is Delaware Bend, Defiance County, the Parish of St. Stephen's Catholic Parish.

www.findagrave.comwww.findagrave.com

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

This is a well kept up, modern graveyard, fenced with ornamental wire and has an iron metal gateway.  It is laid out in lots and in all compromises about three acres.  It is interwoven with gravel paths, and is surrounded with shrubbery and dotted with a few trees which are now quite large.  It is well drained.  

It has around two hundred graves and numerous fine and stately grave stones, most of them the modern Roman, heavy granite type of white, gray and red granite. Most of them are surmounted with crosses; the crucifix sets in the center of the cemetery.  The cemetery is holy, consecrated ground and only thos of Catholic faith can be buried in it.

It is a sister graveyard of the Delaware Township Catholic graveyard on U.S. #24, described earlier as "Old Delaware Township Catholic Graveyard."  Some of the graves in this cemetery were moved here from the older graveyard on U.S. #24

5. Name and date of first burial recorded:

This graveyard was started in 1880, the same time as the church of St. Stephen; however, the oldest grave stone is that of James McNamara, 1868, but his body was moved here later.

Photo from www.findagrave.com

6. Names of important persons buried there:

The Wonderlys are the most important people, Levi Wonderly at one time being sheriff of Defiance County.

Photo from www.findagrave.com    No stone found for Levi Wonderly.

7. Markers of unusual appearance:

There are thirty or more magnificent markers, but of the modern type, none of the unique or unusual.  The highest is that on the McNamara lot which is of the pedestal and obelisk type, surmounted by a cross.

8. Unusual epitaphs:

None

9. Is cemetery used for new burials?  Yes.

C. Cadwallader and C. Gish, Reporters

Rev. Paul Bissell, Delaware Bend 

Jacob L. Bishop - A Civil War Soldiers from Hicksville

"BISHOP.

Jacob Luallen Bishop was born Nov. 2, 1843, in Logan county, Ohio, and died March 8, 1919, at the old homestead near Fountain Chapel, between Hicksville and Antwerp, Ohio, aged 75 years, 4 mos., 6 days.

Nov. 1, 1866, he was united in marriage with Emma Rilla Stuart of his native county.  To this union was born one child who died in infancy.

When the Civil War came, he entered the service in Co. C, 17th Regt. I.V.I. (Indiana Volunteer Infantry) and served three years.  He was a member of the W. H. Doering G.A.R. Post at Antwerp and of the Odd Fellows Lodge at the same place.

When the Rev. R. W. Munson was pastor of the church at Fountain Chapel, he was converted to Christ and united with the church in which he became very active.  He was public spirited responding quickly to any appeal of general interest.  His neighbors who survive him will ever remember him as a good comrade in the community life as he had been in the military life of the nation.

He leaves to mourn his going away, the companion of his life, bereft and lonely, (Emma Rilla Stuart,) one brother J. W. Bishop of Greenfield, New Mexico, an adopted daughter, Mrs. O. C. Diehl of South Bend, Ind., a grandson, Wilbur I. Diehl of Gardner, Mass. and a circle of faithful friends who will feel with the immediate family that they have sustained a heavy loss for today and who shall hope with them to be resigned to his fellowship in the long tomorrow."

An obituary from the Tribune, HIcksville, Ohio, March 20, 1919

More information at www.findagrave.com

Washington Township High School - Class of 1943

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1943

TOP ROW, L TO R: Richard Gisler, Faculty

Rita Hankish, Faculty

Dale O. Sander, Principal

Dudley Ebersole, Faculty

June Wilsberg, Faculty

Mary Bauders

Second Row from Top: John Crites, President

Clair Baker - V.Pres.

Calvin Ester - Treas.

Anita Chase - Secy.

Joan Garber

Rose Hammersmith

Ned Garver

Third Row from Top: Madonna Schindler

Frank Sims

Helen Mack

Norville Boland

Betty Temmerman

Harry Miller

Letha Hellemn

Bottom Row: Seldon Schad

Mary Koeppe

James Mack

Ruth Ruder

Raymond Van Wagner

From the Marckel Scrapbook - Francis M. Smith and Catharine (Martin) Carpenter

 From the Marckel Scrapbook...

“FRANCIS M. SMITH

Francis M. Smith was born Nov. 5^th, 1844, and departed this life Sept. 4, 1911.  Aged 66 years, - months and 29 days.  He was born in Kerkersville, Licking Co., O. and moved with his parents to Defiance county, O. when he was 12 years old.

Mr. Smith always lived on the farm purchased by his father, buying a portion of the old homestead after his father’s death.  He enlisted in the 48^th Ohio in October 1861 under Captain Moats and was honorably mustered out of service May 1866.  In the service he had many narrow escapes, at the battle of Shiloah six pieces of shell hitting one of his ears.

He was married to Miss Mary E. English Nov. 26, 1868.  To this union were born four children, two sons and two daughters, the daughters and one son having preceded their father to the world beyond.  Leeland J. of Moats, O. being the only living child.  Besides this son, he leaves a wife, one brother, Wm. Smith of Ney, and one sister, Mrs. Lucy Johnson of Sherwood, and many relatives and friends to mourn their loss. 

He was a member of the M. E. church at Moats and tried to live a devoted Christian life and through a protracted illness of many years, he was an example of patience and quiet endurance worthy of example of his many friends.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. A. D. Miller of…”

CATHARINE ELIZABETH (MARTIN) CARPENTER

“Catharine Elizabeth Martin was born in Pennsylvania August 5^th, 1824.  At the age of one year, she, with her parents, moved to Cumberland, Maryland, and from there to Coschocton Co., O.   March 5^th, 1842, she was united in marriage to Charles Carpenter, they then moved to Defiance County.  Coming as pioneers, they then moved to Williams county near Evansport, purchasing a farm, clearing the land, and building a house which they enjoyed the greater part of their life.   Three sons and one daughter came to bless their home.  Husband, two sons and daughter having preceded to the better land.  Her husband departed this life November 7^th, 1888.

She united with the Evangelical church between thirty and forty years ago and has lived a Christian life since, on account of ill health, she has not attended church for a number of years.  She enjoyed reading her bible daily until a very short time before she died.  She was a great sufferer but bore her suffering with patience, anxiously awaiting the summons calling her home.

She was highly respected by everyone and in her younger days was always found where there was sickness or death.  She departed this life at the home of her son, J. F., in Tiffin township, April 25^th, 1912, aged 87 years, 8 months and 20 days, leaving to mourn her loss one son and wife, eight grand children, four great grandchildren and a host of friends and neighbors.

The funeral was held Sunday from the U. B. church at Evansport conducted by Rev. William Jark.  Interment taking place in the Evansport cemetery.”

(J. F. – John F. Carpenter)

Henry F. Hopkins - Civil War Soldier Buried in Farmer Cemetery

He died so young.

Henry Hopkins was just a boy when the census enumerator found him in Farmer Township in 1860.  Living with his parents, S. and Harriet, and siblings, Truman, 18; Mary, 16; and Herman, 11, Henry's age was given as 14.  Truman was born in New York, but all the other children were Ohio born.

Enlistment records showed that Henry enlisted into the 111th Ohio Infantry, Company F on August 18, 1862, and it was a three year enlistment.  He was approximately 17 at the time.

This is not Henry Hopkins.  This young soldier is unidentified.

His unit was organized at Camp Toledo and by September, they were marched to Louisville, Kentucky.  They chased Bragg around Kentucky, but at some point, Henry became ill.  So ill, that he was transported back across the Ohio River to the military hospital set up at New Albany, Indiana.  New Albany was a strategic spot for the Union, with hospitals set up and supply depots.  The fairground there was turned into Camp Noble for training troops.

The records indicated that Henry died in the hospital on December 15, 1862, of pneumonia at the age of 17 years, 3 months and 2 days.  His body was taken back to his home and he was buried in Farmer Cemetery.

In the late summer of 1902, Company F held a reunion and Henry was remembered among his fellow soldiers.  

Defiance Democrat - September 4, 1902

North vs South in Farmer, Ohio, 1914! Catch Those Varmits!

Farmer's citizens gathered in front of the grange hall where the feast was served.  On the right was the Post Office.

This article was written by Madge Cunningham and submitted to one of the local papers:

"A BIG NEW YEARS BANQUET

Losers in Unique Contest in Farmer Township Set 'Em Up to the Winners

If ever an affair of this sort deserved capital letters, this is it!  Therefore, I do not hesitate to name it an Unqualified Success.

I refer to the Banquet given on New Year's day by the Honorable Losers of the South Side to the Honored Winners of the North Side in the Farmer twp. Rat Killing Contest, which ended December 24, after about 5 weeks pretty continuous hunting.

Following are figures for both sides:

North Side                    South Side

2,696            rats           2,741

4,636            mice          3,387

2,913           sparrows   2,705

9                   hawks             3

-                   crows               2

25,890        points         23,279

Although, there were killed 5,437 rats, 8023 mice, 5,618 sparrows, 12 hawks, and 2 crows, which ought to count a good many points for the farmers and others who benefited.

About 10:30 the crowd began to collect from all directions but long before this, the fires had been started and water carried so that all might be in readiness for cooks and baskets.  And when they came!  Words are weak things to use in describing such an outlay of edibles.  Nothing like it had ever been seen or even imagined by most of us.  Besides everything of the best in a super abundance from out of the farms, there was served by agile, white aproned men and boys, 15 gallons of oysters, 1000 buns and 5 lbs. of most excellent coffees.

A humorous photo set up with a large knife and fork and a huge platter for a plate, filled with food and a jumbo coffee cup.  This winner planned to eat well!

 A register was made of all who sat down at the loaded tables and there were found upon actual count to have been a total of 530 fed upon this occasion between the hours of 12 and 3 p.m.  One continuous performance and a lot of fun mixed in for seasoning.

We of the South Side wish especially to thank our friends on the North Side for the well filled baskets brought by most of them, also Messrs. W. S. Tomlinson, P. W. Burns, R. E. Foote, G. W. Richardson, C. J. Kittredge, O. A. Rice and six other gentlemen, names unknown, for their liberal cash donations, totaling $13.60...

Indeed we can only end as we begun by saying we had a Big Day in Farmer!

M.B. C."

Farmer citizens enjoying their feast in the top room of the Grange.