Third Grade Students at Sherwood - Delaware School - 1948

 THIRD GRADE - SHERWOOD-DELAWARE

First Row, left to right: Kenneth Shininger, Kenneth Perrin, Ernest Dickey, Ann Moats, Karolyn Heyman, Betty Corwin, Marcelle Kintner, James Singer, Marvin Shull

Second Row: Lawrence Delarber, Bernard Connin, Ronald Ripke, Diana Kroeckel, Linda Kline, Shirley Bair, Jack Davis and Larry English

Back Row: Junior Thompson, Gary Engle, Mrs. Grace Rhamy - teacher, Duane Hanna and Clark Campbell

John Stenger Cameron and William Wallace Cameron - G.A.R.,Joseph Rath Post 402, EvansportD

 

W

When fourteen year old John Stenger Cameron lived with his parents in Tiffin Township in 1850, he probably never imagined that he would be called to be a soldier.  Named first after his father and then with his mother's maiden name, John pursued the study of medicine in 1855, at the age of 19, and began practicing by 1858.  Born on January 30, 1836 , he enlisted in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 15, 1861 into Company G, 38th Ohio Regiment.  He eventually worked as a Hospital Steward, probably a gruesome job in those days.

Not to be left behind, John's younger brother, William Wallace Cameron, born 1843, also enlisted into the same unit.  Unfortunately, William met his death in a Lebanon, Kentucky hospital in March of 1862 of disease.

The Defiance Democrat reported on March 15, 1862 that William's father had retrieved his son's body. 

"John Cameron, Esq. returned from Kentucky on Wednesday with the corpse of his son, William Wallace Cameron, of Captain Miller's Company, 38th regiment, who died in Lebanon Hospital on Sunday evening last in the 19th year of his age.  Mr. Cameron reports 1400 sick there and more arriving daily and they fare badly."

William was laid to rest in the Evansport Cemetery, having died on March 9, 1862.  His stone lists several siblings who died young.

Sgt. John S. Cameron wrote home to his father on January 24th, 1863, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  

"Dear Father,

Everything is quiet in camp, and there is nothing to indicate any forward movement soon; all of this department of the army is in the vicinity of Murfreesboro, waiting for supplies to come up. They will arrive more rapidly now as the railroad from Nashville to Louisville is in running order again, and if it can be kept so, supplies will be rapidly forwarded over it, but you have no idea of the amount of provision it takes to supply so large an army.

The Battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River was a hard fought one, and closely contested on both sides; the sacrifice was dearly bought by the sacrifice of many valuable lives; it is said that at one time nothing but the daring charge of Rosecranz at the head of the regular cavalry saved our army from a defeat: that charge turned the fortunes of the day, and scattered the enemy in confusion. Rosecranz has the unbounded confidence of his men and this army would be in another fight under his command almost invincible.

I can learn nothing definite in regard to the loss of either army, but it is very large.  I gave all the particulars of my journey in my letters to Lib (his wife) which I suppose you have seen.  Health is pretty good at present.  The Donaldson, Evans, Straswers boys are well, also Shuter, Snider, Stenger, Dawson, Doll and Capts. Kintigh and Miller.

It is reported here that Burnside has again crossed the river and that fighting is once more going on there; I hope he will be more successful than before.  There is no way to settle this war but by fighting, and the people of the north may as well make up their minds to that at first as at last.  I know the spirit and determination of the South, and we must either recognize them as an independent nation or whip them into submission.  The latter is my doctrine, because if we recognize the right of any state or states to withdraw from the Union at pleasure, we establish a precedent that will in a few years divide our nation into petty governments, and destroy it.

The Union, the whole Union, and nothing but the Union, if it cost one half of all the lives in it is my policy.  Who wants to live to be a member of a divided, broken and dishonored country? If we have not men enough in the field, call for more and if they do not volunteer, conscript them in lieu of death.  

 Yours, JSCameron"

John Cameron was promoted to First Lieutenant on July 13, 1864, and once more to Adjutant on April 10, 1865.  He served in both companies D and G of the 38th Ohio.  When he mustered out in 1865, he went home to Tiffin Township to join his family and wife, Elizabeth (Lib) and their two children, Edwin and Nancy. By 1870, John, Jennie and Lydia had joined the family.  He had married Elizabeth before the war on August 26, 1858. 

The 1890 Veteran Census reported that he served in the war 3 years, 11 months and 10 days.  He had suffered a gunshot wound to his head and a shell wound to (unreadable) and his forearm.  He came back to farm and to serve his community as a doctor with his brother, Dr. Robert Bruce Cameron.  He filed for his pension on December 26, 1879.

In reviewing all the businesses of Evansport on August 31, 1882, the Defiance County Express noted that among the professional men in Evansport, "Dr. John S. Cameron, together with Dr. R. B. Cameron, a younger brother, are the principal practitioners and are kept briskly engaged in time of sickness."  John was also an active member of the Masons and was a charter member of the Joseph Rath, G.A.R. Post 402.

Dr. John S. Cameron died on October 9, 1902, at the age of 66, having served his country and community in many, many ways.

Defiance Express, Oct. 10, 1902, page 1 (above)

A slightly different obituary (below) appeared in the Defiance Crescent News on the same day.

"A PIONEER IS CALLED.

Dr. J. S. Cameron of Evansport Dies of Heart Failure

Death Came Suddenly and Causes Sorrow Among Many.  Was Born and Reared in Defiance County.

Defiance people were again shocked this morning when news was received that Dr. John S. Cameron, of Evansport, had died suddenly last evening of heart trouble.

Dr. Cameron was a visitor in Defiance the first part of this week and only yesterday morning was about feeling as well as usual.  Later he became suddenly ill and expired at 10 o'clock last night.  The deceased has been a sufferer of heart trouble for the past ten or twelve years and at times has been seized with sinking spells until he was thought to be dying.  He was one of the pioneer physicians of this county, was widely known and enjoyed the friendship and respect of all.

John Stenger Camron, son of John and Lydia (Stenger) Cameron, was born in Tiffin Township, Defiance couny, on January 30th, 1836, and had he lived until next January would have been sixty-seven years of age.  He lived with his parents in Tiffin Township during his boyhood days.  In 1855 he studied medicine and later began to practice.  In September of 1861, he enlisted to fight for his country, joining at Defiance Co. D, 38th O.V.V.I.  He began his soldier life as an orderly sergeant, was later made hospital steward and finally promoted to adjutant which position he filled until the rebellion was ended.  

Mr. Cameron returned to Defiance county and again resumed the practice of medicine at Evansport.  This life was continued until the very day of his death.

On August 26, 1858, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Snider.  To this union was born seven children, all of whom with their mother, survive.  The children are, in the order of their ages, as follows: Edwin R., of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Ella Ferris, of Denver, Colorado; James of Kansas City, Mo.; John of Evansport; Mrs. Jennie Ray of Denver, Colorado; Donald and Grace, both living at home.

S. M. and J.P Cameron of this city; Dr. R.B. Cameron of Jewell; Mrs. Amos Snider of Evansport; and Mrs. Jennie Stires of Herndown, Kans, are brothers and sisters of the deceased.

Telegrams announcing the death of their father were sent to the children in the West, and pending answers from these, there will be no funeral arrangements made."

John died on a Thursday night and was buried the next Sunday afternoon with services from the M.E. church in Evansport. Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery, Defiance.

Robbery in Sherwood! January, 1921

 

Just another New Year's Eve night at the Stone Hotel in Sherwood...lots of merriment, drinks, camaraderie.  A poker game was going on in the back room with a group of men, some war veterans. Maybe a little money changed hands. All so innocent... until it wasn't.

"SHERWOOD HOLDUP NEW YEAR MORNING

Poker Joint Revealed and $150 Made Away With at Point of Gun

When eleven men in a poker game were held up in the Stone Hotel about one o'clock New Year's morning and robbed of nearly $150 which lay in a pot on the table, all Sherwood thought the incident a joke.

But today when Levi D. Keegan, proprietor of the Stone Hotel in Sherwood, was called to Defiance and faced the possibility of being bound over to the grand jury on a charge of maintaining a gambling resort, the whole affair took a more serious turn.

Meanwhile, nothing has been heard of Walter Whisant, the eighteen year old orphan boy who made his home in Sherwood for the last year and a half, and whom the players openly assert was the masked bandit who threw open the door of the room in which they were enjoying their New Year's party, and got away with the money while he covered them with a gun.

No action had been taken with Keegan at a late hour this afternoon, although he was in town at the request of the county officers, awaiting arraignment.  It is underst0od he would be charged with keeping a gambling resort on the strength of his admission to ex-Sheriff Stailey in Sherwood Saturday afternoon, that a poker game had been in progress when the holdup occurred. In view of this admission, it was thought that he could do little else but enter a plea of guilty.  No subpoenas have been issued for the other men who were in the game, but it is understood that a number of prominent Sherwood citizens were ready to file complaints against the Stone Hotel.

One version of the holdup has it that 

several members of the party were anxious not to let any of the details leak out, but some of the party got away before the others and finally the matter was dropped.  The results have been that nobody has hesitated to tell the whole thing.  

Three members of the party were veterans of the Spanish war, and four others had faced dangers with the American Army overseas, but they were mighty quick throwing up their hands and lining up against the wall when an 18 year old youth thrust the muzzle of a .22 caliber target rifle in their faces.  And when he beat a hasty retreat with the pile which one of them was hoping to carry away with a good hand, these late war veterans were apparently too dazed with the whole transaction to even give chase.

It is said that Levi D. Keegan did spend a large part of the following days searching through Paulding County for young Whisant without success...Keegan said, 'Nothing has been heard from the lad and that the boy was running yet.'

He lived with the J. H. Parent family for a couple months and they think he learned to play cards at the Stone House.  'The boy came to Sherwood after the day's work was done and spent evenings with a gang of habitual poker players who are said to have held forth at the Stone House nearly every night.  He seldom won anything and, as a rule, lost his entire pay envelope with the result that his room and board often went unpaid at the Parent home.

Thanksgiving night, according to the story told at the Parent home, young Whisant won $50 from the table at the Stone Hotel an then started for his boarding place which is the last house near the north corporation line of the village.  As he was passing the cemetery, he was overtaken by an automobile and asked if he didn't want to ride the rest of the way home.

As soon as he had climbed into the machine, he was forced to drink from a bottle.  He remembered having driven out of town in the machine, and then his mind went blank until he awakened at 2 o'clock the next afternoon in a haymow in the barn on Harry M. Millan's place at Delaware Bend.  He found himself partly covered in hay.  His $50 was gone.

On returning home, he is said to have been sick for several days which he said was caused by the forced drink."

Well, Keegan didn't believe that Whisant was ever robbed and felt the kid always had plenty of money.  He also said that Whisant was easily recognized even though he wore a mask, as his clothes and voice gave him away.  He also carried the same gun that he used for hunting that belonged to his landlord; they used it for rabbit hunting.   

The room where the poker game was held was back a middle hallway of the hotel, 10 feet square with a large table and chairs.  And old dresser held a partial box of cigars, and on top, a half pint of whiskey and a bottle of heavy, red liquor that Keegan said was cough syrup. (Hmmm...)

Whisant was from North Carolina and was called the Tar Heel by Keegan.  Just 18, he knew the gambling had been going on for some time and was, by no means, a one time event.

Later in January, the judge in Common Pleas Court heard the case.  Levi Keegan pled guilty to conducting a poker game and was fined $182.

The poker players - Charles Welker, Dale Welker,

Charles Heller and Charles Brown of Sherwood, Mike Kline, Vernon Randall and Clarence Cole of Mark Center, and Curtis Speaker of Farmer - pled guilty and were fined $10 each with costs, totally about 40.

It could not be found that our thief, Whisant, was ever

found."

Christmas Vacation and Meeting Schedule

 

JUST A REMINDER THAT THE DEFIANCE COUNTY

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY WILL NOT MEET IN

DECEMBER AND JANUARY.

MEETINGS WILL RESUME IN FEBRUARY.

THE BLOG WILL ALSO BE VACATIONING UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.

Mark Eagles Edge Out Farmer Tigers - Tournament 1948

 "MARK BEATS FARMER, 51-50, IN CLIMAX OF EXCITING COUNTY TOURNEY

The Mark Eagles lived up to their pre-season notices last Friday night then they defeated the Farmer Tigers, 51-50, in a double overtime to win the consolation bracket of the county tournament.

The Blue and White, brought to the peak for this one, after a stunning first round defeat at the hands of Jewell, won the hard way - by withstanding the loss of their star, Junior Kline, early in the fourth quarter on fouls; by closing a five point gap in the final minutes when it seemed that all was lost; and then by slugging it out with the desperate Tigers in a point crazy regulation overtime that saw 22 tallies - 11 by each side - swished through the nets in three minutes.

It was a thrilling, highly satisfying victory for the Mark rooters and Coach Claron Walters, capping a session that saw the Eagles hot and cold by turns, and rarely really finding themselves.  They played their best game when it counted most, however, and now all hands are happy.

For the Farmer contingent and Coach Ollie Zedaker, this loss was a heartbreaker, coming as it did on top of the overtime defeat in the championship bracket at the hands of Ayersville  They had few excuses, however, for in both contests, they enjoyed comfortable leads in the late minutes, only to get nipped at the wire.

This was one of the best of recent tournaments - an affair of surprises and thrills galore  However, patronage fell off somewhat, being considerably less than last year, and there was plenty of room the final round for what turned out to be the best-played game of the entire event.

Individually, Mark's Junior Kline looked the best of the lot throughout the tournament, while Curly Lilly and Willard Kammeyer, of Farmer, Ted Shreves of Ayersville, Hellemn and Bergman of Ney, Keith Kinzer of Mark and one or two others performed consistently well...

Mark held a three point margin over Farmer throughout most of the first half, with the Tigers pulling up to 19-17 at intermission.  The county league champs took the lead, 30 - 27, in the third quarter, and when Kline left the game in the early minutes of the last canto, the Farmer advantage was 6 points.  The jig seemed up for Mark, but the Walters boys, paced by Kinzer, kept pecking away, and it was tied at 38 all when the game ended.

The overtime was a frantic nightmare with both clubs playing almost perfect under terrific tension. Kinzer popped home the first 5 of Mark's 11 points, but Bob Gotschall answered with three beautiful long shots to keep Farmer moving, and the count was tied at 49 when the extra period ended.

Leland Anderson, who had replaced Kline, was the hero of the 'sudden death' overtime, breaking free from the pivot position to score after Curly Lilly had given Farmer the lead with a charity toss.  Big Andy really drove for his bucket, moving past two Tiger defenders - and that was it.

The Geer brothers, Lloyd and Ralph, worked the tournament and did (in the eyes of the observer) a bang-up job  There were some debatable calls, of course, but all in all, it as high class officiating

Mark and Ayersville will represent the county at the Leipsic district, and both should do reasonably well."

The Sherwood Chronicle, 26 February, 1948

Let's Go Dancing at Sunset Gardens

 In September of 1928, a dance pavilion was constructed on the Hicksville-Defiance Pike (State Route 18 today), to be known as the Sunset Gardens.  The location was about 2 1/2 miles east of Sherwood and the man behind the idea was Charles W. Seibert.

**Charles Siebert is in the back row of this family photo.  He is the young man in the center with his hair parted in the middle.

Charles William Seibert was born on September 4, 1884, in Hicksville, Ohio, to George J. and Charlotte (Miller) Seibert who operated a boarding house or hotel there.  Charles married Gertrude Wilson on June 1, 1907, with whom he had two children: Helen, born in 1909, and Robert Miller Seibert, born in 1911.  The family lived with his parents in Hicksville at the time of the 1910 census and they were in the theatrical trade, trying to work in vaudeville.

Sometime after the birth of Robert, the second child, Charles and Gertrude divorced and Charles headed for the U.S. Navy and New York City.  Gertrude stayed in Hicksville with his parents.  Always interested in the field of entertainment, Charles lived at the dance hall while it was constructed and in the 1930 census was listed as the manager of an amusement park.

The front page of the Defiance Crescent-News on July 31, 1928:

Once opened in early 1929, the dance hall proved to be a very popular spot for drinking and dancing . Soon it began to bring in bands from all around.  In 1929, WOWO, Ft. Wayne, broadcast music from Sunset Gardens.

Occasionally, trouble ensued among the customers. One newspaper report in 1929 reported drunkenness charges against Bernard, Virgil and William Carpenter, brothers. They all were charged $5 on the charge. Bernard declared that he was not drunk or involved in any way, but he paid just to end the matter.

In August,1930,tragedy struck when the dance hall caught fire and was completely destroyed. The Defiance Crescent-News reported on August 16, 1930 on page 1:

"FLAMES RAZE SUNSET GARDENS.

SCHEUERMAN SUMMONS FIRE MARSHALL'S DEPUTY, SUSPECTING INCENDIARISM IN $12,000 BLAZE

Suspecting an incendiary, Fire Chief John Scheuerman has summoned Deputy State Marshall C. O. Figgins, West Unity, to come this afternoon to investigate fire which at 2 a.m. today razed Sunset Gardens, a dance hall on the Hicksville-Defiance Pike, two and half miles east of Sherwood.

Owner Charles Siebert, reached by telephone at the Wellington Hotel restaurant, Napoleon, where he is employed as a cook, estimated the value of the destroyed building between $12,000 and $15,000. Insurance totaling $5,000 is carried in two companies. Representatives of these companies here conferred with Chief Scheuerman before Deputy Figgins was summoned.

More than a year ago, an attempt to burn the dance hall failed. Following a investigation at that time, the case was presented to a Defiance county grand jury which returned an arson indictment against Robert Sanders, Delaware Bend, who kept his cattle near the pavilion. For want of evidence, Prosecutor Jay R. Pollock later nolled this bill. He said today he did not think Sanders had anything to do with the former attempt to fire the place.

The investigation last year was the result of a $25 blaze.  There was indications that oil had been sprinkled about the building and lighted, but that the fire had smothered since the building was closed and no air could reach the flames.

Firemen Harvey Hughes, Francis Beadel, and Rolla Dunn of the Defiance department took the small chemical truck to the hall this morning after an alarm was sent here from Sherwood.  They said they were unable to learn any cause for the flames which were widespread by the time they arrived.

The Sherwood department was already on the job. Firemen devoted their time to checking spread of the flames through the dry grass and protecting buildings on the David Fair farm across the Hicksville-Defiance Pike. Only a motor connected with the Delto-light system was saved.

Mrs. Marie Miller who lives near by, notified the Sherwood department and spread the alarm. Defiance firemen said they talked to Carl Kuhn, Hicksville milk truck drier. Kuhn, according to the Defiance men, had driven past the dance hall a few minutes before the alarm was spread and saw nothing wrong. When about a mile and half up the road, he happened to look back, he said, and one end of the structure was enveloped in flames.  

Siebert, in discussing the fire over the telephone from Napoleon, expressed the theory that possibly persons camping near to sleep there, had set the place afire. It was recalled that several months ago, Siebert, while sleeping in the dance hall, was aroused by intruders who fled when he opened fire on them. Campers are known to have been in that vicinity on Friday...

Siebert constructed the pavilion in September of 1928 and conducted dances and served dinners there during fall, winter, and spring months each year. The place was closed for the summer and changes had been made with a view to reopening in the fall."

Charles died in Hicksville on November 21, 1939 of cancer. He is buried in Forest Home Cemetery in Hicksville, Ohio.

👉 Many thanks to Dan Hasch who provided all this information on Sunset Gardens and Charles W. Seibert.

Are there any photos of Sunset Gardens out there??/

Richard Knight - Long Time Farmer, Ohio, Resident

 A native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Richard Knight came to Farmer, Ohio, early and settled in for at least fifty years.  He was a farmer, but he also served as postmaster one year, sold insurance, sat on the board of a bank and the county infirmary, and contributed to the draining of the swampland in the area.  

He was a family man, married to his wife, the former Harriet Firestone for their lifetimes. Three daughters blessed their marriage: Eliza Jane, Eleanor (Foot), and Eugenia May (Haymaker). 

His obituary detailed his life and accomplishments, and appeared in the Hicksville Tribune on June 3, 1909, p. 1.

"KNIGHT

Richard Knight was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 26, 1816, and died at Farmer, Ohio, May 28, 1909, aged 93 years, 5 months and 9 days.  The funeral was held at Farmer on Sunday, May 30th at 10:00 a.m.

In childhood, he removed with his parents to Wayne County, Ohio, and in 1839 was there married to Harriet Firestone.  For 70 years this couple lived together, Mrs. Knight passing away on March 28, just two months  prior to the death of her husband.

In early manhood, Mr. Knight united with the Baptist church and maintained his church relations as long as a society of that denomination was maintained in his community.

Mr. Knight was a member of Fountain City Lodge F & A.M. at Bryan and that lodge had charge of the funeral.  At the time of his death, he was the oldest member of that lodge.

Mr. Knight removed to Defiance County in 1850 to farm in Section 8 of Farmer Township, removing some years later to Farmer Center, where he resided the rest of his life.  Two children survive: Mrs. Ella F. Foot of Farmer and Mrs. K. V. Haymaker of Defiance.

Very few men are vouchsafed such length of years as was given to Richard Knight, and it is also true that very few men accomplish as much of good to the community in which they lived as he did.  In the early pioneer days when he settled in this country, life was a strenuous affair and in the work of reclaiming the land from the wilderness and developing its resources, he bore a man's part.

For many years, he was engaged in the lumber business, conducting saw mills in various points in the western part of the county.  He was also a carpenter and builder, and much of his work in that line is still in use.

It may not be generally known that the first official surveys of this county designated a large portion of Mark Township as 'Irreclaimable Swamp Land.'  When the first efforts were made to drain 'The Marsh,' as it was called, Richard Knight was one of the contractors who did the work of constructing the first of the big ditches through that land, where today are located some of the finest farms of the county.

Deceased was one of the organizers of the Farmer Township Mutual Protection Association which has become a very popular company among the farmers of this county, and is probably carrying more farm risks than any three companies doing business in the county.  He was for many years the president of this company.

He was also for many years a director of the Farmers' Banking Company of Bryan, which has since been reorganized as The Farmers National Bank.

In politics, he was a democrat of the old school, and for many years was one of the wheel horses of the party.  He was never an office seeker, though he was elected as a director of the first Board of Infirmary Directors, that being the only office which he ever held.  For more than forty years he attended every Democratic Convention in this county and enjoyed a very wide acquaintance among the workers of the party, to which he gave allegiance.  

It is men like Richard Knight that makes our country truly great, and he will long be remembered as an upright man, a good citizen, and a true and faithful friend."