May 27

Tombstone Tuesday-Eli D. Plants

Eli D. Plant, Duck Creek Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Eli D. Plants, located in row 12 of Duck Creek Cemetery’s old section, Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Eli D Plant
Died
Nov 7, 1876
Aged
58 yrs, 11 mo, 11 ds

It appears there is some incorrect information inscribed on Eli Plants’ tombstone. The first is the date of Eli’s death. His Mercer County Probate death record indicates that he died on 6 October 1876, at age 58. [1] Several documents from the administration of his estate also indicate that Eli was deceased before 14 October 1876. In fact, his estate sale was on 9 November 1876. [2]

His age at death is also in question. His probate death record shows that he was exactly 58 years old and his tombstone shows he was 58 years, 11 months, and 11 days old. Therefore, Eli D. Plants was born either 6 October 1817, as calculated from his probate death record, or he was born on 25 October 1817, as calculated from his probate death record date and from his age as inscribed on his tombstone.

Plus, his surname was Plants, sometimes spelled Plantz. Not Plant, as inscribed on his tombstone.

I have no proof, but I have a theory that Eli Plants was a relative, perhaps a brother, of Tobias Plants. The same Tobias Plants who lived on the north end of Chatt for 20 years and was an early merchant in Chatt. The Plants surname is not common around here. Both Eli and Tobias came from the Wayne County, Ohio, area and moved to Mercer County about the same time. They lived relatively close to each other in Mercer County for a while and they were about the same age. Maybe eventually some document will prove my theory.  

Eli Plants married Sophia Smalley on 27 December 1838 in Wayne County, Ohio. [3] Sophia Smalley (1816-1871) was the daughter of Isaac (1769-1855) and Priscilla Smalley, [4] who are buried in Ashland County, Ohio.  Sophia was the sister of Richard Smalley (1825-1909), who moved to Mercer County with his family after the Civil War.

Eli and Sophia Plants moved to Mercer County between 1841 and 1844. Their daughter Priscilla’s death certificate indicates she was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1841, and daughter Elizabeth’s death certificate indicates that she was born in Mercer County in 1844.

Sometime during that time period, Eli purchased 40 acres in Section 7 in Recovery Township [5] and he paid personal taxes in Recovery Township in 1849. [6] Eli Plants and his family were enumerated there in 1850: Eli, 32; Sophia, 32; Priscilla A, 8; Eliza J, 6; Rachel, 3; and John, 9 months. Eli was a farmer. [7]

Eli sold his property in Recovery Township and on 25 June 1853 he purchased 40 acres in Liberty Township. He and his family moved to northern Mercer County and much closer to Tobias Plants. Eli’s 40 acres was the SW ¼ of the NE ¼ in Section 5 of Liberty Township, purchased for $100 from Albert Cortelyou. [8] Tobias Plants had also purchased his Liberty Township property from Cortelyou in 1850.

Eli Plants was a Liberty Township Justice of the Peace beginning 17 November 1857, per Sutton’s 1882 Mercer County History. Tobias Plants was a Liberty Township JP in 1860.

The Eli Plants family, as enumerated in 1860 and living in Liberty Township with a Skeels Cross Roads address: Eli D, 41; Sophia, 40; Margaret A, 20; Elizabeth, 15; Rachel A, 12; John, 10; Isaac, 7; and Sofia, 3. Eli reportedly was born in Pennsylvania and the rest of the family was born in Ohio. [9]

Eli Plants sold his 40 acres in Liberty Township to Jacob J. Baker for $875 on 28 February 1866. [10]

Eli then purchased 40 acres in the next township to the north, Black Creek Township, the SE ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 16. [11] Eli was enumerated there with his family in 1870: Eli, 52; Sophia, 53; John, 20; Isaac, 16; Sofia, 14; and Eli, 6. This enumeration indicates all the family members were born in Ohio. [12] The family likely attended Duck Creek Church.

Eli’s wife Sophia (Smalley) Plants died of congestive chills in Black Creek Township on 13 August 1871, aged 54 years, 11 months, and 13 days. Her calculated date of birth is 31 August 1819 and her parents are named as Isaac and Pricilla Smalley. [13] Sophia has no known tombstone, but she may be buried near her husband in Duck Creek Cemetery.

Widower Eli Plants married widow Sarah Elizabeth (Fisher) Syphers on 28 December 1872 in Adams County, Indiana. [14] Sarah’s first husband, William Syphers, died in 1869.

Eli D. Plants died in Black Creek Township from lung fever on 6 October 1876. [1]

Eli’s second wife Sarah Elizabeth (Fisher) Syphers Plants died 6 April 1903 in Adams County, Indiana, and is buried in Adams County. [15]

Eli D. and Sophia (Smalley) Plants had the following known children:
Margaret Ann, aka Mary Ann (c1840-aft 1876), married (1) Israel Johnson; (2) Charles Finch
Priscilla Ann (c1841-1911), married Martin Bothast
Elizabeth/Eliza Jane (1844-1928), married David E. Sutton
Rachel A. (1847-1925), married (1) William Bair; (2) Ezra Nickerson
John (1849-1931), married Mahala Horn
Isaac (1852-1924) married (1) Nancy A, (2) Alice Agatha Rhodes, (3) Janie Lucille Smith
Sofia E. (1857-1875)
Eli (c1864-?)  

Their youngest child Eli was enumerated with the family in the 1870 census, but he apparently died before his father Eli’s death in 1876. Young Eli was not listed among Eli Sr’s seven heirs named below.

Heirs of Eli D. Plants, according to his estate administration papers:
Isaac Plants, Allen County, Indiana
Elizabeth Sutton, Allen County, Indiana
Priscilla A. Bothast, Jay County, Indiana
Margaret Finch, Michigan
John Plants, Mercer County, Ohio
Rachael Bair, Mercer County, Ohio
Sarah E Plants, widow, Adams County, Indiana [2]

Eli Plants had a rather large administration estate packet, 138 pages of filmed images. The estate was not completely settled until late 1880.

Eli D. Plants, Duck Creek Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

A light from our life is gone,
A voice we love, stilled,
A place vacant in our hearts,
A place never to be filled.

That is the common version of that epitaph verse, but the first line on Eli’s marker is mostly unreadable and looks a little longer.

[1] Mercer County, Ohio, Probate Deaths, Book 1, 1867-1888, p.88, Eli D. Plants, 6 Oct 1876.

[2] Probate Case Files and Indexes 1852-1900, Ohio, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998, Mercer, Case 1811, Administration of estate of Eli D. Plants, deceased; Ancestry.com.  

[3] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Wayne County Marriages 1830-1851, p. 255, Eli Plants & Sophia Smally [sic], 27 Dec 1838; Ancestry.com.

[4] NOTICE, John Smalley Administrator…Petition to Sell Land, The Ashland Union, Ashland, Ohio, 5 March 1856; NewspaperArchive.com.

[5] 1853 Mercer County, Ohio, Plat Map, Recovery Township, NW ¼ of NE ¼, Section 7, Eli D. Plants.

[6] “Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1887,” Recovery, Ohio, Eli Plants, 1849; FamilySearch.org.

[7] 1850 U.S. Census, Recovery, Mercer, Ohio, p.307B, dwelling 312, family 318, Eliz [sic] Plants; Ancestry.com.  

[8] Mercer County, Ohio, Deeds, Book R:548, Albert Cortelyou to Eli D. Plants, 25 Jun 1853.

[9] 1860 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.358, dwelling 1000, family 1005, Eli D Plants; Ancestry.com.

[10] Mercer County, Ohio, Deeds, Book 10:186, Eli D. Plants to Jacob J. Baker, 28 Feb 1866.

[11] 1876 Map, Mercer County, Ohio, Black Creek Township.

[12] 1870 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p. 24B, dwelling & family 85, Eli Plants; Ancestry.com.

[13] Mercer County, Ohio, Probate Deaths, Book 1, 1867-1888, p.30, Sophia Plants, 13 Aug 1871.

[14] Indiana, U.S Marriage, 1810-2001, Adams County, Eli Deplants [sic] & Sarah E Syphers, 28 Dec 1872; Ancestry.com.

[15] Sarah Elizabeth (Fisher) Syphers Plants, Memorial no. 282589448, Pleasant Dale Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana; Find a Grave.com.

May 23

Memorial Day 2025

Memorial Day traditionally marks the beginning of summer, although the weather this year doesn’t feel much like summer yet. Despite the cool, rainy spring, Monday is Memorial Day, usually a holiday weekend devoted to family gatherings, cook-outs, camping, and graduation parties.

However, the true purpose of Memorial Day is much more–to honor and remember those who served and those who sacrificed their lives for our country.   

Elm Grove Cem, St. Marys, Auglaize Co, OH (2013 photo by Karen)

Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day and dates back to right after the Civil War. The day was created as a way to remember and honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed in battle.

In 1868, 30 May was officially proclaimed as the day to decorate Civil War graves. After WWI Memorial Day was extended to honor Americans who died in all wars. Today, although the focus is on military graves, many Americans use this holiday as a time to decorate any grave site, whether the deceased served in the military or not.

Memorial Day was declared a U.S. federal holiday in 1971 and is now observed the last Monday in May.

The entire month of May is Military Appreciation Month, with several specific military holidays: Loyalty Day (1 May), VE Day (8 May), Military Spouse Appreciation Day (12 May/Friday before Mother’s Day), Armed Forces Day (20 May), and Memorial Day (30 May). 

Proper flag etiquette on Memorial Day: The American flag should be flown at half-staff until noon and then raised to full-staff. During a parade there may be several participants with a flag and it is appropriate to salute only the first flag as it passes by. As the first flag passes everyone should show respect by standing at attention with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should give their appropriate formal salute.

To my knowledge, I have three ancestors who died while serving in the Civil War:

Hallot Bryan (1831-1863), Private, Co E, 89th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, the brother of my 3rd great-grandfather John Bryan. Hallot is buried in Memphis National Cemetery.

Hallot Bryan, Memphis National Cemetery. (2014 submitted photo)

Daniel Schumm (1840-1863), Corporal, 52nd OVI, first cousin 3 times removed. Burial place unknown.

John Schumm (1843-1864), Corporal, Co. A, 60th OVI, first cousin 3 times removed. Burial unknown unknown.

We usually spend some time at local cemeteries on Memorial Day, taking time to observe the U.S. flags, flower memorials, and other patriotic memorials, and to reflect on the sacrifices made by our veterans for our freedom.  

The National Moment of Remembrance resolution, passed, in December 2000, asks all Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time and reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, to remember and honor the lives of those who served.

Let us never forget the sacrifices made by our veterans.

 

 

May 16

Chattanooga School Photo, circa 1913

Below is a wonderful photo of the Chattanooga, Ohio, School, circa 1913, compliments of Doug Roebuck. Best of all, most of the children in the photo are identified.

Chattanooga School School No. 3 was located in Section 8 of Liberty Township, Mercer County, on the southeast corner of State Route 49 and Schaadt Road. It was built before 1876.

During the local oil boom in the late 1800s, a second school house was built next to the first schoolhouse to house the additional pupils. There were four grades in each building. The north building was a little smaller and there was a pump between the two buildings. 

Going by the birth dates of the younger children in the photo, who were probably in the first grade, the photo was likely taken about 1913-14. First graders were about 6 years old and the eighth graders in the back would have been about 14 years old.  

Chatt School, c1913

Front row: Ray Smith, Floyd Bader, Dorsey Gries, Gerald Baber, Victor Baker, Orval Gibbons, Leo Slusser, ____, Glen Schott, Harold Hoffmann, ___ Baber, Vic Andrews, Floyd Bauer.

Row 2: Hugo Kuhn, Carol Andrews, Walter Becher, Herb Huhn, Maynard Slusser, Clar Kuhn, Harold Bauer, Roscoe Kuhn, Clarence Fickert, Basil Felver, Odas Becker, Luther Heffner.

Row 3: Mildred Leininger, Wilbur Kuhn, Rosan Hoffman, ___ ___, Dewey Kuhn, Vernon Heffner, Walter Martin, Murl Smith, Leslie Becher, Vernon Gibbons, Gary Kessler, Lloyd Kuhn, Tony Slusser.

Row 4: Mabel Fickert, Martha Smith, Louelle Martin, Erna Leininger, Marie Reisen, Bertha Becker, Brace Hoffman, Lucille Bollenbacher Branstetter, Evelyn Duff, Bertha Kuhn. 

Row 5: Goldie Koch Stetler, Inez Leininger Zeringer, Matilda Becher, Bertha Morehead, Lenore Reisen, Vivian Gibbons Carr, Clista Baker Fahncke, Lucille Hoffman, Elnora Weiman, Lucille Becher, Louise Becher, Edith Kuhn, Leah Schott, Martha Becher.

Row 6: Teacher Grace Lane, Mabel Fickert, Freda Becher, Elaora Reisen, Barbara Reisen, Leah Leininger, Marguerite Heffner, Lucy Slusser, Vera Michael, Maria Becher, Clara Hoffman, Edith Fickert.

Back Row: Rosan Becher, Dewey Gibbons, Roman “Pate” Heffner, Teacher Howard Michael.

What a large number of students!

Perhaps some of these students were your relatives or maybe you knew some of them. I remember some of them.

I was told that this old building was one of those Chattanooga Schools.

Former Chattanooga School

The Chattanooga School closed in 1939 and the students were bussed to Willshire.

May 09

Where Were the Wolves In Mercer County?

Wolves were a serious problem for pioneer settlers in this part of the country before 1850, a threat to livestock and people. As a result, Ohio declared a “War of Extermination” against wolves in 1818 and created Bounty Laws to eradicate the wolves.

Ohio’s planned wolf extermination worked. Although sources today indicate that the wolves were fully extinguished from Ohio by 1842, Mercer County, Ohio, paid bounties for wolf scalps through 1847.

Wolf Orders, Mercer County, Ohio, 1844-1847

Mercer County’s wolf bounties were recorded in a small handwritten book entitled Wolf Orders (years 1844-1847). Last week I listed the Mercer County men who turned in wolf scalps for a bounty during those years, at $4.25 for the first scalp. Hunters were paid less than that for each additional scalp brought in at the same time.

Where in Mercer County were those wolves living in the mid-1840s? The hunters were likely slaying wolves on their own property, so I reasoned that knowing where the hunters lived would be a good indication of where the wolves lived.

I found that most of the individuals listed in the Wolf Scalp book (1844-1847) were enumerated in the 1850 census, living in Mercer or Auglaize County. Auglaize County was formed from Mercer County in 1848, so a couple wolf-hunters lived in what is now Auglaize County, in Salem and Wayne Townships, townships that were still part of Mercer County at the time the wolf scalp bounties were recorded.

A couple individuals were enumerated in the 1843 Quadrennial Enumeration of Adult White Males in Mercer County. At least two men died before the 1850 census and there are a couple men I could not locate in the records and could not determine where they lived.

In my findings below, I include the ages of the men, as shown in the 1850 census, where they were living, and where I found the information. I included birth/death years for those who died before 1850.

This is where the wolves were probably found and killed in Mercer County between 1844-1847:

Black Creek Township
Daniel W. Harper, 34, (1843 Quad); I don’t know where he was in 1850, but he eventually moved to Iowa
Joseph Harper, (1792-1848), (1843 Quad), died before 1850 census; bur. Duck Creek Cemetery
James C. Heath, 41, (1850 Census)
Thomas Shue/Shoe, 37, (1850 Census)

Butler Township
William Freeman, (1843 Quad) [not sure this is the correct person]

Center Township
Levi A Kizer, 39, (1850 Census)
John Keizer/Kizer, 48, (1850 Census); occupation was “hunter” in the 1850 census
William Bice, 61, (1850 Census)

Dublin Township
John Dysert, 39, (1850 Census)
William Johnson/Johnston, 42, (1850 Census) [I believe this is the correct person]  
Jacob Eicher, 35, (1850 Census)
Elihu Compton, 37, (1850 Census)
Amos Hines, 41, (1850 Census)
Samuel Shaffer, 39, (1850 Census)
William Buck, 21, (1850 Census)

Franklin Township
Robert Muter, 28, (1850 Census)
William Balenger, (1803-1848), (1843 Quad), died before 1850 census; bur. Botkins Cem, Montezuma

Hopewell Township
Alfred Lincoln, age 72, (1850 Census)
Abraham Newland, 50, (1850 Census)

Jefferson Township
Amasa Knowlton, 34 (1843 Quad), [moved to St. Joseph Co. IN by 1850]
Uriah Mead, 29, (1850 Census)

Liberty Township
Jacob Davis, [cannot locate him in 1850 census; one Jacob Davis (1824-1899) is buried in Liberty Chapel Cemetery, but I am not sure this is the correct person]

Salem Township [now in Auglaize County]
Thomas Hussey, 49, (1850 Census)

Union Township
John Anderson, 41, (1850 Census)
Robert Adams, 30 (1840: Union Twp; 1850: Salem Twp, Auglaize County)

Washington Township
George Byerly, 26, (1850 Census)

Wayne Township [now in Auglaize County]
William Cox, 52, (1850 Census)

There are three men I could not locate in the 1840 or 1850 census in this area or in the 1843 Quadrennial Enumeration of Adult White Males in Mercer County:

William Stephenson: a William M. Stephenson (1828-1897) is buried in North Grove Cemetery, Celina, but I do not know where he lived; one William M. Stephenson was enumerated in Hopewell Township in 1880
John Culver: he turned in wolf scalps early 1840s, per the Sutton’s 1882 History, but I do not know where he lived
Ira Bacon; I found nothing about him

It appears that most of Mercer County’s wolves were coming out of Northern Mercer County, most from Dublin Township, with Black Creek in second place.

May 06

Tombstone Tuesday, Francis M. Plants

Francis Plants, Duck Creek Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

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

Francis M.
Son of
T. & M. Plants
Died
March 2, 1864
Aged
7 ys, 3ms, 2ds

Francis Marion Plants was born in Mercer County, Ohio, 29 Nov 1856, the third child born to Tobias (1820-1888) and Maria (Neville) (1819-1903) Plants.

In 1850 Francis’ parents moved from the Wayne County, Ohio, area to Liberty Township, Mercer County. His father Tobias purchased 80 acres of farmland from Albert Cortelyou on 12 September 1850 [1], the southeast corner of State Route 49 and Strable Road. That property would eventually become the north end of Chattanooga.

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

Francis Plants, enumerated as Marion F. Plants, age 5, was enumerated with his parents and his brother William in the 1860 census in Liberty Township: Tobias Plants, 41; Maria, 42; William, 7; and Marion F, 5. The family had a Skeels Post Office. [3]

Francis Plants died 2 March 1864. He was buried in Duck Creek Cemetery, near his sister Ann M. who had died in 1851. [4]

Ann M. & Francis M. Plants, tombstones of siblings, Duck Creek Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

Tobias and Maria Plants’ son William (1852-1890) was the only one of their three children who lived to adulthood.

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, [5] and Tobias, Maria, and William moved eastward, 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, [6] and his widow, Maria (Neville) Plants, died 3 March 1903, age 84 years. [7] Their son William Plants died 5 December 1890, age 38 years. [8]

[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] 1860 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p.359, dwelling 1007, family 1012, Tobias Plants; Ancestry.com.

[4] Ann E. Plants, Find a Grave memorial no. 26808905, Duck Creek Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio; Find a Grave.com.

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

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

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

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