Jul 29

Earliest Censuses for Mercer County & Willshire Township

In February 1820 the Ohio government authorized the establishment of Mercer County and Van Wert County. Mercer County was organized in 1824 and Van Wert County was organized in 1837. St. Marys Township, now part of Auglaize County, was organized in 1824 as part of Mercer County. Auglaize County was established and organized in 1848 from Mercer and Allen counties. [1]

During this same general time period the village of Willshire was platted by Captain James Riley in 1822. Yes, this year Willshire celebrates its Bicentennial.

I have been looking at the earliest census reports for this area and wondered who the earliest settlers in this area were.

Since neither Van Wert nor Mercer County were organized in 1820, they are not among the 57 Ohio counties searchable in the 1820 census on Ancestry.com. However, 18 persons were enumerated in “Mercer County” in 1820. “Mercer County” was included with Darke County’s 1820 census enumeration. Darke County was established in 1809 and organized in 1817, several years before Mercer County.  

1820 census enumeration of Mercer County, Ohio:
Abitha Lilly
Isiah Dungan
Samuel Dungan
Abner Greene
George Ayers
Jonathan Reeves
Benjamin Roebuck
Solomon Carr
John Roebuck
Samuel Hanson
Rewel Roebuck
James Calison
Elias Bishop
Michael Harner
Edward Gilbert
Calvin Drimeston
Peter Edsale
Anthony Shane [2]

1820 US Census, Mercer County, Ohio.

Column no.3 in the 1820 census asked the number of males age 16-18 and column no.4 asked the number of males age 16-26. Males in the 16-18 age group would also have been listed in the 16-26 age group but were not supposed to be added twice in the final count. Counting all the marks could account for the total number of children not matching your family records or other records. John Roebuck had the only male in the 16-18 age group.

I compared the above 1820 list with the those enumerated in Mercer County’s 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration. This gives me an idea where in Mercer County some of these individuals were living 7 years later, although some may have moved or passed away. Those from the 1820 census who were still in Mercer County in 1827 were all living in Dublin Township. This is not a surprise because Shanesville, the oldest town in Mercer County and now called Rockford, was established in 1820 by Anthony Shane and is in Dublin Township. Note that Anthony Shane was enumerated in Mercer County’s 1820 census.

Mercer county 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration:
Samuel Dungan
Benjamin Roebuck
John Roebuck
Samuel Hanson
Ruel Roebuck
James Calison
Michael Harner
Calvin Dennison [likely the Calvin Drimeston in 1820]

There were 2 others with the same surname but a different given name:
John Lillie [may be from the Abitha Lilly household?]
Timothy Greene [may be from the Abner Greene household?] [3]

You might wonder what a Quadrennial Enumeration is. Per Ohio’s 1802 State Constitution, every 4 years Ohio counties were to take an enumeration of white males over 21 years of age. The censuses were taken for legislative apportionment but were often mistaken as tax lists because tax assessors from each county were in charge of the count. These enumerations were taken from 1803-1911.

Over 1800 Quadrennial Enumerations were taken in Ohio but fewer than 100 survive. Mercer County’s 1827 and 1843 Quadrennial Enumerations have survived and the 1827 is the earliest known to exist for the county. The original documents are housed at the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Library Special Collections and Archives at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. The Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society photocopied and transcribed the 1827 and 1843 lists in 2004.

Next, I compared both above lists with Mercer County’s 1830 census, to see where the same people were living.

Mercer County, 1830 census enumeration:
Isiah Dungan-St. Marys Twp
Benjamin Roebuck-Union Twp
John Roebuck-Dublin Twp
Samuel Hanson-Union Twp
Ruel Roebuck-Dublin Twp
Michael Harner-Union Twp
John Lillie-Dublin Twp
Timothy Green-Dublin Twp

Another interesting thing is that Willshire Township is listed with Mercer County in the 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration. The source I have shows three townships in the 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration: Dublin, St. Marys, and Willshire Township (Van Wert County). I do not know if Willshire Township was originally grouped with Mercer County or if it was added to the publication because of its proximity to Mercer County. At any rate, since Willshire was not organized until 1837 and was not included in the 1830 census, this is one of the earliest lists of inhabitants of Willshire Township:  

Willshire Township, 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration:
John McManas
Abraham Brown
Enoch Lewis
Ronvell Riley
Ansel Blossom
Levi Johnson
David Huber
Peter Bolenbaugh
John Bolenbaugh
Peter Bolenbaugh Senior

Good information from census enumerations.

[1] County Establishment: Until a county was formally organized it remained attached to its parent county or surrounding counties. County Organization: A county did not function as a county until it was organized. It is possible a land-owner never moved, yet various records may show he had different counties of residence.

[2] 1820 U.S. Census, Richland, Darke, Ohio, p.168; Ancestry.com, viewed 28 Jul 2022.

[3] 1827 and 1843 Quadrennial Enumeration of Adult White Males of Mercer County, Ohio, The Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, 2004, self-published.

Jul 26

Tombstone Tuesday-Knights of the Maccabees

In addition to the various symbols and artwork engraved on tombstones, fraternal organization symbols are also often seen on grave markers.

Fraternal societies have been popular for decades. These societies have an organized structure, have a function or provide a service, and members usually meet in a lodge or hall. Most societies also have a logo/symbol and a motto. The logo and/or motto are often engraved on a member’s tombstone.

Today, the logo for Knights of the Maccabees. I have only seen one or two of these inscriptions on a tombstone.

Knights of the Maccabees symbol on tombstone, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio.

The Knights of the Maccabees symbol, inscribed on the above tombstone, has the letters K O T M superimposed over a tent.

The Knights of the Maccabees is an insurance and benevolent society, founded in 1878 in Ontario, Canada. They confer three degrees: Protection, Friendship, and Loyalty. Their meetinghouse was called a tent.  

Knights of the Maccabees symbol on tombstone, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Van Wert County, Ohio

The Knights of the Maccabees was a pass-the-hat organization. When a member of the society died each member was assessed ten cents and the money was given to the widow.

The name was changed to the Maccabees in 1914 and it became more like an insurance company. The organization had over 300,000 members at one time but their membership declined severely during the Great Depression. There are few members today.

The name of the society is Biblical and refers to a Jewish tribe about 200 BC, lead by Judas Maccabeau. He eventually secured the state of Judea and instructed his soldiers to set aside a portion of their spoils for the widows and orphans of their comrades.  

Jul 22

Gallman Road Bridge

I am old enough to remember some of the old iron truss bridges that crossed many rivers and creeks in the area years ago. Most, if not all of those bridges, are gone now. We took them for granted back then but take notice if we see one today.

Back in 2008 Joe and I were at Newark, Licking County Ohio, staying at the Cherry Valley Lodge & Conference Center, where I was attending a dental conference.

Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark, Ohio, 2008

Behind the lodge we noticed a nice, wooded area with a paved nature trail. It was the T.J. Evans Trail, a 14-mile paved trail that includes the small towns from Newark to Johnstown, the villages of Newark, Granville, Alexandria, and Johnstown.

We decided to take a little walk there (not the whole 14 miles) and soon noticed a nice iron truss bridge that spanned Raccoon Creek.

Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

We walked onto the bridge and noticed a plaque.  

Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

We were more than a little surprised to read that the bridge had originally been located in Mercer County! It was the Gallman Road bridge that once spanned the St. Marys River east of Mendon. Joe remembers this bridge quite well.

Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

In 2001 the iron overhead truss bridge on Gallman Road was scheduled for demolition and the Mercer County Engineer and Commissioners made it available to the Thomas J. Evans Foundation of Licking County, Ohio. The Evans Foundation, a private trust fund, has developed trails along abandoned railways in Licking County. They also relocate historic structures such as the Gallman bridge to these trails. The foundation dismantled the bridge and took it to Licking County, where preservationists restored it to its original condition. The structure was rebuilt over Raccoon Creek in 2002.

View of Raccoon Creek from Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

The Gallman Road bridge was built in 1887 by the Columbia Bridge Works, Dayton, Ohio, founded by D.H. Morrison. According to the plaque this bridge is a through truss design, referred to as a “Whipple” or “Pratt” double intersecting bridge.

Gallman bridge, erected in 1887, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

Most of Mercer County’s iron bridges were constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The longer bridges were covered by iron beam roofs for stability and were called overhead-through truss bridges.

Gallman bridge, TJ Evans Trail, Newark, Ohio, 2008.

As historic and interesting as these old iron bridges are, they are not practical for modern times. They were usually narrow, one-lane bridges, not designed for heavy traffic. Some had a 5-ton limit, not sturdy enough for today’s trucks that can weigh over 3 times that much empty. These old bridges eventually developed structural problems and became unsafe.

Many iron truss bridges had to be scrapped because of their poor condition but the Gallman bridge met the conditions and historical requirements for this project.

This historic bridge lives on to be enjoyed by future generations.

What a great piece of Mercer County history!  

Jul 19

Tombstone Tuesday-Georg J Brenner

Georg J Brenner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Georg J. Brenner, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Georg J. Brenner
Geboren
Oct. 11, 1797
Gestorben
Feb. 23, 1879
[Alter 82 Y, 4 M, 12 D]

This tombstone appears to be broken and I am relying on some additional information read on the stone in 1992, as recorded in Volume 5, Van Wert County, Ohio, Cemetery Inscriptions, by the Van Wert County Chapter OGS.

Georg Johann Brenner was born 11 October 1797 in Michelbach, Wuerttemberg, the son of Johann Leonhard & Eva Rosina Brenner. He was baptized the same day he was born and christened as Johann Georg Brenner. [1] The records of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, give this same information and also indicates that he came to America in 1832.

Georg Johann Brenner married Elisabeth Herzog in Van Wert County on 14 January 1840, married by Jacob Harper JP. [2]

Georg Johann and Elisabeth (Herzog) Brenner had one son, Johann Gottfried Brenner, born in Willshire Township 11 July 1845, according to Zion Schumm’s records.

The Georg Johann Brenner family lived in the Willshire/Schumm area in 1850. Their household in 1850: John Brenner, 51, Germany; Elisabeth Brenner, 46, PA; Gottfried Brenner, 5, Ohio; and Cyrus Reed, 8, Ohio. [3]

According to Zion Schumm’s records, Cyrus Reid was the foster son of John Brenner. Cyrus Reid died 6 May 1857, at the age of 15 years, 10 months, and 2 days, after getting chilled and developing pneumonia. He is buried in row 5 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery.   

The Georg Johann Brenner family in 1860: John Brenner, 62, Wuerttemberg; Elisabeth, 55, PA; Godfrey, 16, OH; and Catharine Airman, 10, OH. The 10-year-old was likely Catharine Ehrman/Ehrenman, perhaps another foster child. John Brenner was a farmer. [4]

The Georg Johann Brenner family in 1870, living with their son John Gottfried Brenner and his wife of 3 years, Mary (Kreiselmeyer) Brenner: John Brenner, 73; Elizabeth, 65; JC Brenner, 25; and Mary Brenner, 21. [5]

Georg Johann’s wife Elisabeth (Herzog) Brenner died of palsy in Willshire Township on 6 May 1875, at the age of 70 years, 2 months, and 1 day. She is buried in row 8 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery. [6]

Georg Johann Brenner died of old age in Van Wert County on 23 February 1879, at the age of 82 years, 5 months, and 12 days. [7] According to Zion Schumm’s records he died following “a painful illness” at the age of 82 years, 4 months, and 12 days. He was buried on the 25th.

Two days later, on 25 February 1879, his son Johann Gottfried Brenner died of lung fever, aged 33 years, 8 months, and 14 days. [8] According to Zion Schumm’s records he died of pneumonia and was 33 years, 8 months, and 8 days old.

Child of Georg Johann & Elisabeth (Herzog) Brenner:
Johann Gottfired (1845-1879), married Ktharina Maria Margaretha Kreiselmeyer

[1] Wuerttemberg, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-198, an Der Heide u Michelbach, Heiraten,Tote & Taufen, 1600-1882, Johann Georg Brenners, 11 Oct 1797; Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Jul 2022.   

[2] “Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958,” Van Wert Marriages, image 25, John Brenner & Elizabeth Harzogg, 14 Jan 1840; FamilySearch.org (https://www.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5QF-47?i=24&cc=1614804 : viewed 6 Sep 2021).

[3] 1850 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, dwelling 354, family 373, John Brenner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Sep 2021.

[4] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, dwelling 1073, family 1067, John Bauner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Sep 2021.

[5] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED, dwelling 101, family 102, JC Brenner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Sep 2021.

[6]“Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Van Wert County, Vol. 1, p.102-3, Elisabeth Brenner, 6 May 1875; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6725-YC?i=224&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6NJ-J4D : viewed 6 Sep 2021).

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Van Wert County, Vol. 1, p.144, John Brenner, 23 Feb 1879; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6725-VD?i=245&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6NJ-2JS : viewed 18 Jul 2022).

[8] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Van Wert County, Vol. 1, p.144, John G Brenner, 25 Feb 1879; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6725-VD?i=245&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6NJ-2JS : viewed 18 Jul 2022).

Jul 15

More Local News Items from 1917 (part 4)

I continue with some more news clippings from The Celina Democrat, a newspaper published from 1895-1921. A few of those years are available on the Library of Congress.com website. Here is more local news from 1917.

There were two Bollenbacher obituaries that year, the first was that of Catherine Elizabeth Bollenbacher:

Catherine Elizabeth Bollenbacher obituary, 11 May 1917, The Celina Democrat.

The second that of Carrie Bollenbacher:

Carrie Bollenbacher obituary, The Celina Democrat, 5 Oct 1917.

A rather unique injury in Celina:

Injury, The Celina Democrat, 12 Jan 1917.

Teachers in Liberty, Blackcreek, and Dublin Townships and in Rockford. I assume these are teachers in the one-room schools, at least in the rural areas.

The Celina Democrat, 16 Nov 1917

I did a double-take when I saw there was a teacher named Miriam Fetters. Miriam Fetters is a friend of mine, but not this person. The one I know was not yet born in 1917.  

And lastly, local communities participated in a big flag-raising event at Rockford. It was interesting to read that the Chattanooga, Willshire, Rockford, and Blackcreek bands participated.

Rockford Flag Raising, The Celina Democrat, 20 Jul 1917