Henry County Genealogical Society Newsletter
Volume 4, Number 2, March-April 1990

MEETINGS

March 19, 1990, Monday, 7:00 pm

Show and Tell at Edwin Wood Library, Deshler, Ohio. Bring items, ideas, or anecdotes you think others might enjoy.

April 16, 1990, Monday, 7:00 pm

We will meet behind the Henry County courthouse to begin a tour of the Clerk of Courts office with Betty Huddle, Clerk.

    The February meeting of the HCGS featured Ed McVicker as the speaker. Mr. McVicker, of the Family History Center, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, explained the use of the International Genealogical Index (IGI). The Family History Center is located in Toledo on Eastgate Avenue between Airport Highway and Glendale Avenue. Hours are Monday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Wednesday and Thursday 6:30 pm - l0:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am - l:00 pm.

    Just a reminder that applications for First Families of Henry County are due no later than April 30.

NEW AT THE LIBRARY

Books:

    Rosebrock Family History

Microfilm:

    Oakdale United Methodist Church 1854-1989
    Excelsior House Hotel Register June 20, 1988-April 1, 1890 Deshler, OH
    Military History of Ohio 1885 (Henry Co. only)
    Paulding Co. Atlas & Directory 1906
    New Historical Atlas of Delaware Co. 1875
    Atlas of Defiance Co. 1890
    Historical Atlas of the World  Illus. 1875
    Obituary Scrapbook 1911-1941 Deshler, OH
    Obituary Scrapbook 1917-1941 Deshler, OH

QUERIES

HOOVER, BROWNING, LOWMASTER, MAHLER
    Researching family of Amelia Hoover who came to Henry Co. about 1864 with children: Ann (Browning and two sons), Martha and Samuel. Ann's first son: John Isaac m. Allice Lillian Lowmaster in 1885; second son Peter Kissinger m. Harriet Mahler in 1884.
--LaVonne E. Hipsher, Fostoria, OH 44830

CUNNINGHAM
    Trying to locate Floyd Cunningham (still believed to be living) and the burial of his parents, Harry and Ellie Cunningham, somewhere in Henry Co. in the Napoleon or Florida area. (Checked ancestor charts, cemetery inscriptions books and county histories.--Cor. Sec.)
--Ellen T. Essig, Middleton, OH 45042

NOLAN
    Would like assistance in locating photo of the Grand Army of the Republic section in the Glenwood Cemetery at Napoleon. The photo would be for the time period 1884-1925 or later. Looking for burial site of Francis Ludlow Nolan, a Civil War vet who died 29 Feb 1884.
--Mrs. Bonnie Capper, Saginaw, MI 48603

SCHNEIDER
Looking for anyone doing research on the Poley or Martin Schneider families. (Sent article from Henry Co. books I and II.--Cor. Sec.)
--Madge Warner, Marietta, GA 30066

OKULEY
Researching the following surnames, especially Valentine and Catherine Okuley. Also ROOF, NORROT, SEIFERS, BOUVIER, BAUHAUS, RACLOT and MATHIEU. Any help would be appreciated.
--Jeanette Gray, Ann Arbor, MI .48103

LIKE, RAHRIG, RIHRIG
    Researching the surnames Like and Rahrig/Rihrig.
--Neil Cassidy, Owen Sound, ONT, CANADA N4K 2X2

BUCHANAN, McWHORTER
    Researching family of William Buchanan b. ca. 1739, NJ. William captured by Indians, age 7, escaped age 14. Lived in Essex Co., NJ where he married Mary McWhorter. Removed to Steuben Co., NY with son Michael. One son, Thomas Buchanan settled Huron Co., OH. Sons of Thomas, Orlin and Matthew of Liberty Twp., Henry Co. Need any info on descendants.
--Nancy Brigham Gibson (dec'd), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274

CHAMBERLIN, KELLOGG
    Researching family of Josiah Chamberlin of Westmoreland, NH, Stockbridge and Barnard, VT. Son, Orson Chamberlin d. Henry Co., OH. Orson and wife, Philena Kellogg, buried Morrison Cem., Liberty Twp. Need info on descendants.
--Nancy Brigham Gibson (dec'd), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274

MALLOW, WOODWARD
    Seeking descendants of Clara Woodward Mallow, daughter and Catherine (Yaney) Woodward. Wife of George Mallow. Died Henry Co ca. 1950.
--Nancy Brigham Gibson (dec'd), Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90274

DID YOU KNOW?

    Ohio census records from the Federal government begin in 1820 and are available through 1910.
    Census records are opened after they are 70 years old.
    The 1920 census release may be delayed because of lack of funds.
    All Ohio census records for 1890 were destroyed by fire. But don't give up. Try mortality records, veterans pension rolls, and Veterans census of 1890.
    Census records are broken down by county, township and town. Some enumerators even listed street names in town and cities.

HISTORY OF FLATROCK TOWNSHIP, 1888
(Abstracted from History of Henry and Fulton Counties, Ohio, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich)

    Elijah Gunn, in about 1826, settled in Flatrock Township on what is known in history as "Girty's Point," which contains a large extent of as fertile land as is in the state. The Gunn tract is now owned by his heirs who reside thereon. Much of this rich and highly productive land, which gently rises back from the river at this historic point, and including Girty's Island, is owned by different parties, among whom are Leroy Wait, Anthony Shultz's heirs, and Henry Boesling. All these farms are under excellent cultivation, having good buildings, rendering them very valuable farming lands. In 1833 Girty's Island was a dense forest with an undergrowth of whortleberry, wild grapes, buckeye, and other growth indigenous to the rich soil. On some of the small islands surrounding it, grew great quantities of wild onions. The smaller islands have disappeared. The larger portion of the main island, containing about thirty acres, has been somewhat diminished from its original size by ice and wash. About one-half is now under cultivation. This island is yet the favorite resort of pleasure seekers for recreation.
    Flatrock Township was organized on the 23rd day of May, 1835. The records show the election of its first officers of that date. The book shows ten votes poled. On June 22, 1835 the trustees met and divided the township into school districts. Number three included Pleasant township and Marion and Monroe, if they had any inhabitants. The records do not show when these townships were detached, neither do they show how Richland and Flatrock were together. The first state and county election was held October 13, 1835.
    In 1833 there was no post-office nearer than Defiance, but one was established in about 1834, called McClean, after John McClean, the post-master general. Jared Scofield and Isaac. P. Whipple, his brother-in-law, were both candidates for postmaster, which was amicably settled between them, and Isaac P. Whipple became the appointee, this being the first post-office in the township, and perhaps the first one in the territory of Henry County. Mail was received about once each month, carried on horseback, by John Omens, as near as can be ascertained. This post-office was situated about one mile east of the present town of Florida.
    The Maumee River flows through the township in a northeasterly direction. The river enters the township at the western edge of section 18 and exits through the northeast quarter of section 2. A portion of the Miami and Erie Canal follows the Maumee River on the north side of the river. Completed in 1843 the canal fell into total disuse by 1900, it's demise hastened by the iron horse. The Wabash road went into operation about 1852. It passed about two miles north of Florida. About twelve or fourteen years later the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was finished, passing the town on the south.
    Many relics of warfare have been plowed up on the farms adjoining the river, such as sabers, gun barrels and bullets; also Indian relics such as rings, brooches, buckles, tomahawks, pipes, stone hammers and arrow heads of flint. At that time (1833) the Indians were more numerous than the whites, but perfectly civil. They had camps near Girty's Island on the south bank of the stream, and came each year and burned bones at the graves of their deceased friends. The old forest farms of Judges Wait and Cole, on the south bank of the river opposite and west of this island, are now in the possession of heirs and purchasers, but in a good state of cultivation, now having but little woodlands as compared with their state fifty years ago. No pen picture can make the reader realize the change from then to the present. Among the enterprising residents might be named Henry L. Weaver, Ernest Weaver, Joseph Lowry, John A. Andrew, John Brinkman, William Goldenstar, Isaac Karsner, Dr. Gibbons Parry, Christian Stout, James E. Scofield, John Brubaker and David Brubaker. All of these owned and lived on their farms between 1833 and 1850, except Ernest Weaver, John Brinkman and William Goldenstar, the latter two having bought improved farms.
    The reader will see that the growth of this county has been rapid when he considers that only three road districts existed at the commencement, and the territory comprised four original surveyed townships -- Flatrock, Pleasant, Marion and Monroe. Each now has its own road districts, and good farms along their roads; but formerly it was a wilderness, the haunt of wolves, bear, deer, wild turkeys and frogs. No pen picture can make the reader realize the change that this region has undergone. In all this territory were only a few inhabitants, and they settled along the river in the original survey (Flatrock Township), within a distance of about three miles, and the land they tilled would not equal a section (640 acres) territory. Flatrock township, six miles square, contains eleven road districts and good roads. Flatrock is one of the best "cleared up" townships in the county, containing more of the "old" farms, perhaps, than any other section.

CORRECTION

    On page 22, Row 16, Grave 5 of the Marion and Monroe Twp. Cemetery Inscription book the death date for Maud I. MACK should be 1939.

    If at any time anyone finds an error in any of our cemetery books we will gladly print a correction in the newsletter.

OBITUARY COMMITTEE REPORT

    The obituary notebooks started in 1987 are now complete to the end of 1989. The books include those obituaries 1987, 1988, and 1989. They were taken from the Northwest Signal, which is a county paper published in Napoleon and covers the Henry County area. Each obituary included in the book is dated with the date they appeared in the paper. If you would like a copy of any page please send a SASE and $.50 to cover the cost of copying to the HCGS.

CEMETERIES IN HENRY COUNTY

The map of Henry County on the left shows the approximate location of the cemeteries in the county. Click on it to see a full-sized version (about 135K) that you can print off. The cemeteries in Pleasant, Marion, Monroe, Bartlow, and Richfield Townships have been recorded and published. Flatrock Township has been recorded and will be the next publication. It is our goal to record and publish the remaining cemeteries by townships at six month intervals within the next few years.

Pleasant Township:
1. Sacred Heart Catholic Rd. Y
2. Emanuel's United Church of Christ Rd. Y
3. Pleasant Township (Old) Rd. Y
4. Pleasant Township (New) Rd. 16C
5. Groll Rd. 16C
6. St. Peter's Lutheran Rd. 16C
7. St. John's Rd. 16C 8. St. Mary's Catholic Rd. 16C

Marion Township:
9. Marion Township Rd. Y
10. St. Paul's Catholic Rd. F

Bartlow Township:
11. Woodlawn Rd. E
12. St. John's Lutheran Rt. 65 & Rd. G

Richfield Township:
13. Richfield Township (Laremore) Rd. J
14. Angel Rd. 1 (Private)
15. Peace Lutheran Church Rd. G

Monroe Township:
16. Hope Lutheran Church Rd. 10 & Rt. 18
17. Immanuel Lutheran Church Rt. 109 & Rd. H

Flatrock Township:
18. St. John's Church Rd. J
19. St. Paul Lutheran Rd. K
20. Cole Rd. Z
21. Brinkman Rd. 18
22. Parry Family Rd. 19 (Private)
23. Gunn Rt. 424
24. Huston Family Rd. 16
25. Florida Village Rd. 17C

Napoleon Township:
26. Bremer Rds. P & 18
27. Zion Rd. Q
28. St. Paul Rd. Q
29. Gilson (Union Chapel) Rt. 6
30. County Home Rd. 15
31. St. Augustine's Catholic Rt. 108
32. Glenwood Glenwood Ave. Napoleon
33. Brey Rd. 17C

Harrison Township:
34. Forest Hill Rt. 110
35. Grelton Rd. 7
36. Hoy (Shunk) Rt. 109 & Rd. 03
37. Kruger Rt. 110
38. Harris (Jones) Rd. 7

Damascus Township:
39. Hockman Rd. 04
40. North U. B. Rt. 65 Rd. 4 & P
41. Olive Branch Rd. 5A
57. Weimer Rd. Q (Private)

Washington Township:
42. Texas Rd. 4A
43. Heath and Colton Rd. V
44. Mohler and Union Rd. U4
45. Showman Rt. 24 (Private)

Liberty Township:
46. Youngs Rt. 109
47. Wright Rd. T
48. Morrison Rd. T
49. Liberty Chapel Rds. V & 9C
50. Viers Rd. 8

Freedom Township:
51. Freedom (Kline) Rd. X
52. St. John Lutheran Rd. 16

Ridgeville Township:
53. Locust Grove Rd. X
54. St. Peter Lutheran Rd. X
55. St. Johns Church Rt. 6
56. Zion Church Rd. X

CIVIL WAR VETERANS IN HENRY COUNTY, 1890

In 1989 the Edwin Wood Library purchased a roll of film entitled "1890 Census of U. S. Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War." The following is a sample of the information found in this veterans census. This information is valuable to the researcher trying to place an ancestor in Henry county in the 1890s as well as showing service to the Union during the Civil War. Underlined letters were unclear as to exact spelling. Enlistment and Discharge dates are written as 65 instead of 1865 to save space. Other abbreviations are commonly used abbreviations. The post office for a group of names will appear before the list of veterans.

DESHLER