Apr 24

Early Wolf Bounties in Mercer & Van Wert Counties

Wolves have been in the news recently, more specifically, the extinct Dire Wolf. Last year, ancient Dire wolf DNA was used to create three genetically modified wolves that resemble dire wolves. If doing that was a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen. There was a time, here in Ohio, when people were trying to completely rid the state of wolves.

Ohio was once home to many wild animals that are not in our state today, including wolves. In the early 1800s, there were buffalo, elk, bear, panthers, beaver, badgers, otters, wildcats, cougars, porcupines, and wolves. Most of those wild animals died out or left Ohio in the early 1800s. The last buffalo was in Ohio about 1803. But wolves remained in the area longer and were a problem until at least the late 1840s.

As settlers moved into the Ohio area in the early 1800s, wolves became a problem to modernized farming, mainly as a big risk to farm animals.

My Schumm ancestors settled in Van Wert County in 1838 and their early writings mention the danger of wolves. …The first log hut on the Schumm homestead was one story high and had no door, one of the first to be erected in Willshire Township. A fire was kept in the large fireplace all night to keep the wolves away…

Because of their threat to livestock and people, Ohio declared a “War of Extermination” against wolves and bears in 1818 and Bounty Laws were enacted to eradicate wolves. A high bounty was placed on wolf skins. In the beginning, wolf pelts sold for $15 each, about $300 each in today’s currency. By the 1830s, the bounty was much less, a little over $4/pelt.

The planned wolf extermination worked. Most sources today indicate that wolves were fully extinguished from Ohio by 1842, due to these bounty laws and the resulting high number of wolves killed for the reward. These sources state that the last wolf was killed in Ohio in 1842, that by 1842 they were all gone.

That may have been the case in eastern Ohio, but not around here. Much of our area here in western Ohio was still wilderness at that time and there were still wolves here well after 1842. 

Mercer and Van Wert Counties also gave bounties for wolf scalps and one of the last recorded wolf scalps was taken in Van Wert County in 1870.  

In Van Wert County, “…because the early pioneers had to contend with the annoyances and losses caused by large numbers of wolves that infested the wilds of this and the adjoining counties, the commissioners of Van Wert offered a bounty for the scalp of each wolf killed within the county. The killing had to be proved before the clerk of courts and the official records were written in the “Wolf Book,” showing the date and amounts paid…” [1] Wolf scalps brought $4.25/per scalp in this part of the state at that time.

Each person who brought in one or more wolf scalps was required to subscribe to an oath, which was then entered into the official record. Both Van Wert and Mercer Counties used this oath, hand-written by the clerk, for each person who brought in a scalp:

Personally came ___, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that the wolf scalp now produced by him is the scalp of a wolf taken and killed by him within the county of Mercer within twenty days last past; and he verily believes the wolf to have been over six months of age, and that he has not spared the life of any she wolf within his power to kill, so as to increase the breed.

Sutton’s 1882 History gives wolf scalp bounty information for both Van Wert and Mercer Counties. The history gives less information for Van Wert County, just giving the total amount paid for scalps per year, beginning in 1837/$17. The largest amount for scalps was paid in 1839/$124. Only one scalp was turned in in 1860/$4.25. The last recorded year was 1870/$15. There was a total of $1273.37 in bounties for years 1837-1870. [1]  

Van Wert County likely had a Wolf Book that contained more detailed information, like Mercer County did. Mercer County’s 1840-41 Wolf Book named the individuals who turned in the scalps, the date, and the amount paid, which was recorded in Sutton’s 1882 History.

Mercer County, Ohio, Wolf Scalp orders granted for 1840-41:

H.M. Smith, 27 December 1839, $8.50
D. Harner, 10 January 1840, $4.25
A. Worthington, 6 February 1840, $4.25
J.H. Hennybaker, 26 February 1840, $4.25
Thomas Davis, 2 March 1840, $4.25
James Schoonover, 5 March 1840, $4.25
M. Hamar, 9 March, 1840, $4.25
W. Boyer, 10 March 1840, $4.25
Samuel Johns, 6 April 1840, $8.50
D. Freeman, 17 April, 1840, $4.25
Jos. Harmer, 24 April 1840, $4.25
George Hines, 24 December, 1840, $4.25
A.L. Freeman, 25 December 1840, $4.25
Wm. Brecker, 31 December 1840, $8.50
A. Worthington, 25 April 1840, $4.25
Geo. Picktner, 5 May 1840, $4.25
Thos. Dennison, 7 May 1840, $4.25
Thos. Davis, 12 May 1840, $8.50
D. Freeman Jr, 14 May 1840, $4.25
David Lucas, 28 May 1840, $10.00
Jacob Frysinger, 15 June 1840, $4.25
Thos. M. Harris, 10 August 1840, $5.00
H. Gillespie, 23 September 1840, $4.25
Azariah Trout, 8 October 1840, $4.50
Benj. Rupert, 14 November 1840, $4.25
Wm. Harris, 10 January 1841, $4.25
Benj Cox, 1 February 1841, $4.25
Samuel Wheeler, 5 February 1841, $4.25
Thomas Sheve, 6 February 1841, $4.25
David Freeman, 8 February 1841, $4.25
D. Freeman Jr, 26 February 1841, $4.25
James C. Heath, 15 April 1841, $4.25
Geo. Freshower, 19 May 1841, $4.25
John Culver, 25 May 1841, $15.00 (6 wolves)
D. Lucas, 31 May 1841, $14.25
Amos Dixon, 2 June 1841, $12.50
George Harris, 4 June 1841, $25.00
T. Miller, 8 June 1841, $5.00
John Vangundy, 5 July 1841, $4.25
R. Garmar, 18 July, 1841, $4.25
Totaling $253.50 [2]

Perhaps one of your ancestors turned in a wolf scalp.

Wolves were still in this area well beyond 1842. Next week I will list those in Mercer County who turned in wolf scalps in the mid-1840s.

[1] The 1882 History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio, Sutton, p.133.

[2] The 1882 History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio, Sutton, p.331.

Apr 22

Tombstone Tuesday-Ann E. Plants

Ann E. Plants, Duck Creek Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2025 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Ann E. Plants, located in row 6 in the Old Section of Duck Creek Cemetery, Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed.

Ann E.
Dau of
T. & M.
PLANTS
Died
Aug. 24, 1851
Aged
22 days

Ann E. Plants was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 2 August 1851, the first child born to Tobias (1820-1888) and Maria (Neville) (1819-1903) Plants. Ann was born and died between census enumerations and before Ohio recorded births or deaths. Her tombstone is one of the very few records of her life.  

Duck Creek Cemetery, Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

Ann’s parents moved from the Wayne County, Ohio, area to Liberty Township in 1850, the year before Ann was born. Her father Tobias purchased 80 acres of farmland from Albert Cortelyou on 12 September 1850. [1] His property was located on the southeast corner of State Route 49 and Strable Road, land that would eventually become the north end of Chattanooga. 

Tobias Plants was one of the first businessmen in Chattanooga, Ohio, running a general store as early as about 1854. [2] Tobias, living in Liberty Township, gave his occupation as grocer in the 1870 census.

Tobias and Maria had two other children, but only one child lived to adulthood, William Plants (1852-1890). Their son Francis (1856-1864) is also buried in Duck Creek Cemetery and is laid to rest very near his sister Ann. Ann’s tombstone is the smaller of the two.

Ann E. & Francis Plants, Duck Creek Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

Tobias and Maria Plants lived in Liberty Township for thirty years and were enumerated there in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses. Tobias sold his 80 acres in Chatt to Jacob Deitsch on 8 October 1870, [3] and Tobias, Maria, and William moved to Crestline, Ohio, where Tobias worked as a druggist. The three of them remained in Crestline the rest of their lives and all three are buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Crestline.

Tobias Plants died 12 July 1888, age 68 years, [4] his widow, Maria (Neville) Plants, died 3 March 1903, age 84 years, [5] and their son William Plants died 5 December 1890, age 38 years. [6]

[1] Albert Cortelyou to Tobias Plants, Mercer County, Ohio, Deeds Vol. P:48, 12 Sep 1850; Mercer County courthouse.

[2] Mrs. Maria Plants obituary, Crestline Advocate, Crestline, Ohio, 12 Mar 1903, Newspapers.com.

[3] Tobias Plants to Jacob Deitsch, Mercer County, Ohio, Deeds Vol. 16:441, 8 Oct 1870; Mercer County courthouse.

[4] Tobias Plants, Find a Grave memorial no. 100998955; Greenlawn Cemetery, Crestline, Richland County, Ohio; Find a Grave.com.

[5] Maria Plants, Find a Grave memorial no. 100998934; Greenlawn Cemetery, Crestline, Richland County, Ohio; Find a Grave.com.

[6] William A. Plants, Find a Grave memorial no. 100998965; Greenlawn Cemetery, Crestline, Richland County, Ohio; Find a Grave.com.

Apr 18

Easter 2025

Today is Good Friday and in three days we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, on Easter Sunday.

The date of Easter varies from year to year and the date is determined by the full moon.

The simplest explanation for when Easter Sunday occurs is that it is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of Spring. The first day of Spring may vary on the calendar, but for the purpose of determining Easter, the Church considers 21 March as the Spring equinox.

Beyond that simplistic explanation, you can get into the Lenten Moon, the Paschal Full Moon, and mathematical approximations following the Metonic Cycle. All that is much more complicated than I care to try to understand.

Easter seems rather late this year. I remember many Easter Sundays when we had a little snow on the ground. I hope that is not the case this year, although this cool spring has extended the blooms of our spring flowers.

Next year Easter Sunday will be 5 April 2026 and the following year on 28 March 2027.

Today, as we contemplate Good Friday, we look forward to a glorious Easter Sunday.

A lot can happen in three days.

He is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!  

Happy Easter, everyone!

Apr 15

Tombstone Tuesday-Jacob J. & Caroline (Bollenbacher) Baker

Jacob J & Caroline (Bollenbacher) Baker, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio (2018 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Jacob J. and Caroline (Bollenbacher) Baker, located in row 1 of St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

BAKER
Caroline
1842-1914
Jacob J.
1840-1889

“Jacob” John Baker was born in Shelby County, Ohio, on 17 April 1840, the third child born to Johann Becker (1808-1888) and Barbara Catharina (Wiedmann) (1812-1894). Jacob’s parents were both born in Germany. The names Baker and Becker were often used interchangeably in older records and some branches of the family changed the spelling from Becker to Baker.

Jacob’s father Johann Becker immigrated to America in 1833 and married Barbara Catharina Wiedmann in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in 1836, according to church records. Their two oldest children were born in Pennsylvania before the family moved to near Piqua in Shelby County, where their other children were born. They had at least seven children, six living to adulthood. The family moved to Mercer County, Ohio, in October 1853.

In 1860 Johann and Barbara Becker resided in Black Creek Township with their six children, including their son Jacob: John, 50; Barbara, 48; John P, 21; Jacob, 19; Louisa, 16; Catharine, 15; William, 11; and Henry, 9. [1]

Their son, today’s subject, Jacob Baker married Caroline Bullenbaugh in Mercer County, Ohio, on 18 June 1863. [2] That was the spelling of both their surnames on their marriage license. Bullenbaugh is another name that changed over the years and morphed into Bollenbacher.

Caroline was the daughter of John George Bollenbacher (1800-1889) and Maria Elisabeth “Henrietta” (Alt) (1805-1900), both German immigrants.

Caroline Bollenbacher was born in Bavaria on 1 June 1842 and came to America with her parents, arriving in New York on 7 May 1852. The family, as listed on the passenger list: George 48; Henrietta, 47; Catharine, 19; Jacob, 14; Adam, 9; Caroline, 7; and Carl, 5. [3]

By 1860 the George Bollenbacher family was settled in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, and had a Skeels Post Office: George Bollenbacher, 60; Henrietta, 55; Jacob, 22; Adam, 20; Caroline, 18; and Charles, 14. [4]

Their daughter Caroline married Jacob Baker three years later, in 1863. They resided with their children in Liberty Township in 1870: Jacob Baker, 29; Caroline, 28; Charles, 6; Anna, 4; Lewis, 3; and Caroline, 10 months. Jacob’s occupation was farmer. [5]

By 1880, Jacob, 39, and Caroline Baker had eight children, ranging from age 2 to 16 years: Charles, Anna, Louis, Caroline, Mary, Lydia, Jacob, and Henry. Jacob’s occupation was farming. [6]

Jacob Baker had a large farm about a mile east of Chatt on Tama Road. By 1876, Jacob was also the proprietor of a sawmill in Chatt, [7] in partnership with Adam Bollenbacher and William Gehm. Jacob accidentally lost his life at the sawmill on 6 June 1889, when he stopped the big circular saw to make a repair or to change a part. Someone inadvertently threw the belt, starting up the saw again, and Baker’s body was cut in two by the saw. He was only 49 years old. [8]

Baker’s body was reportedly the first in the community to be embalmed by Chattanooga’s undertaker John Allmandinger, and he was reportedly the first to be taken to the church and cemetery in the new black, horse-drawn hearse. [9]

Jacob J Baker, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio (2018 photo by Karen)

The accuracy of the accident’s location varied in some newspaper accounts:

Jacob Baker, a wealthy farmer from Chattanooga, Mercer County, fell on a sbear [sic] [saber?] and was instantly killed. —Xenia Democrat News, Xenia, Greene, Ohio, 15 Jun 1889; MyHeritage.com.

Jacob Baker, of Mercer County, while standing near a large circular saw watching a man run the trucks toward him, on Thursday of last week, fell against the saw and was killed. –The Sidney Journal, Sidney, Shelby, Ohio, 14 Jun 1889; MyHeritage.com.

Jacob Baker of New Haven, O. [sic], was cut in two by a circular saw. –The Miamisburg Bulletin, Montgomery, Ohio, 21 Jun 1889; MyHeritage.com.

Jacob Baker, near New Bremen, O., fell against a circular saw and was cut in two.—The Evening Bulletin, Maysville, Mason, Kentucky, 15 Jun 1889; MyHeritage.com.

Jacob’s tragic death left his widow Caroline with nine children under the age of 20, the youngest under 3 years of age, and three older children, a total of twelve children.

In 1900, widow Caroline Baker resided with six of her children: Caroline Baker, 38; Jacob, 24, son; Henry, 22, son; Dewalt, 20, son; Hulda, 17, daughter; Fredona, 16, daughter; and Amelia, 13, daughter. She reported that all twelve of her children were living. [10]

In 1910 widow Caroline Baker lived with her daughter Lydia (Baker) Rothhaar and her family: George Rothhaar, 43; Lydia Rothhaar, 37; Raymond Rothhaar, 15; Clifford Rothhaar, 11; Ralph Rothhaar, 7; and Caroline Baker, 67, mother-in-law. Caroline reported that all twelve of her children were living. [11]

Caroline (Bollenbacher) Baker died at the home of her daughter Mary Stuckey, near Chatt, on 21 January 1914.

Mrs. Caroline Baker, a pioneer woman of the county, aged 71, died suddenly Wednesday evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Stuckey, near Chattanooga. Death resulted from heart trouble, though she had been in ill health since early fall.

The deceased is survived by seven daughters—Mesdames Wm. Rothaar, of Dayton; Geo. Rothaar, near Chattanooga; Wm. Garmen, of Van Wert; Albert Garmen, of Chattanooga; Caroline Stuckey, of Berne, Ind.; Mike Linn and Fred Stuckey, near Chattanooga-and four sons, Jacob, Lewis, Henry, and DeWalt.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 10 o’clock at St. Paul’s Evangelical Church, with Rev. Samuel Egger in charge. [12]

Caroline (Bollenbacher) Baker, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio (2018 photo by Karen)

Jacob and Caroline (Bollenbacher) Baker had the following children:
Charles William Baker (1864-1950), married Catharine Bauer
Anna H. Baker (1865-1940), married William H. Rothhaar
Lewis G. Baker (1867-1957), married Mary Koch
Caroline Christine Baker (1869-1953), married Christian E. Stucky
Mary Baker (1871-1963), married Fred Stuckey
Lydia P. Baker (1873-1941), married George F. Rothhaar
Jacob Adam Baker (1875-1960), married Kathryn Linn
Henry Christian Baker (1877-1956), married Margaret Koch
Theobald A. Baker [aka Dewalt] (1880-1961), married Clara M. Anselman  Dewalt????
Hulda L. Baker (1882-1976), married Albert Oscar Germann
Fredona Dorthea Baker (1884-1964), married William Frederick Germann
Amelia Magdalena Baker (1886-1976), married Michael Linn

[1] 1860 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p.88, dwelling 623, family 628, John Bachar [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[2] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer Marriages 1861-1887, p.45, John Jacob Baker & Caroline Bullenbaugh, 18 Jun 1863; Ancestry.com.

[3] New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957, George Bollenbacher, 7 May 1852; Ancestry.com.

[4] 1860 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p. 359, dwelling 1015, family 1020, Geo Bulenbaught [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[5] 1870 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.150A, dwelling 128, family 115, Jacob Baker; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.472D, dwelling 30, family 31, Jacob Baker; Ancestry.com.

[7] Mercer County, Ohio, Combined 1888 and 1900 Atlases and 1876 Map of Mercer County, Ohio, 1999, Mercer County Chapter OGS, p. 11 & 17.

[8] History of Mercer County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Scranton, 1907, p. 407.

[9] “Ohio’s Chattanooga: An Oil Town Of Yesterday,” The Daily Standard, Celina, Ohio, 28 Apr 1977.

[10] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p. 12, dwelling 220, family 226, Caroline Baker; Ancestry.com.  

[11] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119; dwelling 338, family 298, George Rothharr [sic]; Ancestry.com.  

[12] Caroline Bollenbacher Baker obituary, Find a Grave,com, Memorial no. 22502740, St. Paul UCC Cemetery.

Apr 11

Say Cheeeese

When you look at old photos, do you ever wonder why no one smiled. Everyone looked so serious. Yes, times were hard back then, but having a photo taken by a professional photographer was probably a big event to most people. People would dress in their Sunday best, but no one smiled. Not even the children.

I always thought it was probably because people had bad teeth and didn’t want to smile. There is likely some truth to that and that could be part of the reason.  

But after doing some reading, that is probably not the main reason people did not smile for the camera years ago.

 

Decades before photography, portraits and pictures were hand painted and the individuals in those paintings rarely smiled either. Having a portrait painted was a serious event that required a serious expression.

People with broad smiles were often portrayed by artists as fools, drunkards, buffoons, imps, or even as mad or lewd. Smiling could look silly, or worse, so it became the custom not to smile. The Mona Lisa barely had a grin.

That idea was carried over when photography was developed.  Mark Twain said, “A photograph is a most important document, and there is nothing more damning to go down to posterity than a silly, foolish smile caught and fixed forever.”

No one would want that.

Since people were used to seeing a serious face in painted portraits, not smiling for photographs was normal, too. Plus, they did not want to be considered as having any of those undesirable traits.

It wasn’t until the 1920s-1930s that people started to smile when having their photograph taken. Eventually smiling became the norm.

Here are some non-smiling, serious-looking individuals from my family photo collection.

Front: William Reid, Gertrude (Brewster) Miller, Mary Ann (Cotterell) Headington. Back: Pearl (Reid) Brewster, Elvira (Headington) Reid. c1898

Maggie (Rueck) Kallenberger (1875-1962) & Maria Regina Miller (1884-1905)

Front: Clara (1866-1942, m. Joe Gunsett) , Mollie (1883-1955, m. Theodore Hofmann), Henry (1867-1952, m. Louise Maria Schumm); Back:Hanna (1868-1958, m. Peter Scare), Lizzie (1870-1951, m. John Scaer), Sophie (1871-1927, m. Herman Gunsett), Emma (1874-1963, m. Burton Balyeat)

Jonas Huey (1836-?), B/o Hannah (Huey) Bryan, s/o Isaac & Mary (Whiteman) Huey. Photo courtesy of E James.

Schinnerer/Scaer Unknown

William “Riley” Bryan (1854-1893). S/o John & Hannah (Huey) Bryan. Photo courtesy of E James.

John & Hannah (Huey) Bryan, Emily, Peter, Mary, Hallet, Alta, William, Byantha.

Is it just me, or do the women look more stern than the men?

Emily (Bryan) Reid (1856-1940)

Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm, (1861-1921) w/o Louis J Schumm, d/o Louis Breuninger

Maria Barbara (Pflueger) Schumm (1820-1908)

My great-grandparents did not even smile for their wedding photo. A handshake instead of a kiss.

John Scaer & Elizabeth Schinnerer (15 April 1894)

Even children looked serious.

Byantha (Bryan) Saxman children. Photo courtesy of E James.

Willie Scaer (1897-1906) & Hilda M Scaer (1895-1997) c/o John & Lizzie (Schinnerer) Scaer

Even without a smile, this is one of my best-looking ancestors:

Louis Breuninger (1819-1890). Phillips Photography, LaFayette, Indiana.

It would be many years after these photos were taken that photographers would encourage their subjects to “Say Cheeeese.”