OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 96 Today's Topics: #1 Wyandot County History [Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman <73777.25] #2 Edson Cummins Hill and Mary Ann Mi [jaxdawg@accessclub.com (Mark Rowde] #3 CHARLES McNEAL - WYANDOT COUNTY BI [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #4 THOMAS LANKER - Wyandot County bio [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 04:36:33 -0500 From: Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman Subject: Wyandot County History From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) HISTORY OF OHIO, The American Historical Society, Inc., 192 5 Pages, 460, 451, 452 WYANDOT COUNTY Wyandot County was taken from parts of Marion, Crawford, Hardin and Hancock counties, February 3, 1845. The general surface is level and the soil is fertile throughout. Originally, one-third was prairie land and was covered by the so-called Sandusky plains. Its area is 406 square miles. Its civil townships are: Antrim, Crane, Crawford, Eden, Jackson, Marseilles, Mifflin, Pitt, Richland, Ridge, Salem, sycamore and Tymochtee. Of its population it is seen by the United States census reports that in 1850 it had 11,194 inhabitants; 1860, 15,596; 1870, 18,553; 1880; 22,395; 1890, 21,722; 1900, 21,125; 1910, 20,760; 1920, 19,481; population per square mile is now 48. The Delawares ceded their reservation in this county to the United States, in 1829. The Wyandots ceded theirs in 1842, they being the only Indians left in the state. The Wyandots left for the far west in July, 1843-about 700 souls in all. Hence it will be seen that every foot of soil in Ohio has been fairly bought by treaties from the original possessors. The recent bulletin issued by the agricultural department at Columbus, gives these statistics concerning agriculture and the products known as "staples" in 1923-24; In 1923 there were grown 47,000 acres of corn, producing 1,927,000 bushels; wheat, 31,000 acres, bushels, 527,000; oats, 22,000 acres, bushels, 682,000; barley, 2,530 acres, bushels, 78,430; rye, 380 acres, 6,840 bushels; buckwheat, 16 acres, produced 320 bushels; tons of hay, 35,000; potatoes, 94,050 bushels; horses in county, in 1924, 7,980; cattle, 19,200; dairy cows, 9,050; swine, 42,200; sheep, 60,200; land in farms in 1920, 245,297 acres; average size farm, 93.6 acres. In 1923 Wyandot County produced 386,646 tons of limestone. Its present (1923-24) officials are as follows: Probate Judge-Charles F. Clase; Clerk of the Courts-H.C. Staggs; Sheriff-W.W. Scheidegger; Auditor_Anthony J. Kraus; County Commissioners-D.D. Young, A.J. Frederick and George A. Weininher; Treasurer-Foster L. Finke; Recorder-Raynard C. Boucher; Surveyor-Charles F. Ellis; Coroner-L.W. Naus; County Superintendent of Schools-J.H. Grove; Agricultural Agent-H.R. Brinker. Upper Sandusky, the county seat of Wyandot County, is on the west bank of the Sandusky river, sixty-three miles north of Columbus. It was platted in 1843. The first Methodist Indian mission formed in the Mississippi Valley was the one established here under Rev. James B. Finley; prior to that date the Catholics had a mission among the Indians in this section. John Stewart was first to preach to the Indians and formed the Wyandot Mission Church at Upper Sandusky. Stewart was a mulatto and used an interpreter, Jonathan Pointer, a negro. Indians were converted and two noted Indian ministers lie buried near the old mission church: Between-the-logs, died December, 1826, aged 50 years; Rev. John Stewart, first missionary to the Wyandots died December, 1833, aged 37 years; Sum-mum-de-wat, murdered December, 1845, aged 46 years, buried in Wood County. Upper Sandusky has manufacturing establishments producing carriages, wagons, coffins, steel burial vaults, steam pumps, cigars, gloves and flour. The value of its personal property and real estate for purposes of taxation in 1923 was $5,719,160. Population (1920), 3,708. Charles Dickens in 1842 visited Upper Sandusky, remaining all night at a log cabin inn. He arrived by stage coach from Columbus en route to Buffalo. In his American Notes are found his observations concerning the roads and tavern of the then pioneer county of Wyandot. The big Sycamore trees at Upper Sandusky were supposed to be the largest trees east of the Rocky Mountains, in America. It was but a few miles west of Upper Sandusky, on the trail leading to the Big Spring, Wyandot town, where Colonel Crawford was burned. History says "the Delawares burnt Crawford in satisfaction for the massacre of their people at the Moravian towns on the Muskingum." Other villages in this county are: Nevada, Carey, Kirby, marseilles, Harpster, Wharton and Sycamore. ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 11:56:48 -0500 From: jaxdawg@accessclub.com (Mark Rowden) Subject: Edson Cummins Hill and Mary Ann Miller, Tuscarawas County, Ohio From Kenny Hill's notes on the Hill Family: Edson Cummins Hill was born on October 4, 1858 at Goshen, Ohio and died on February 9, 1933 at Wainwright, Ohio. He married Mary Ann Miller, a daugther of Jacob Mill of Goshen, Ohio. They lived the greater portion of their married life in Lehns' Valley (later Wainwright). Both were of the Moravian faith and were buried in the Sharon Moravian Cemetery. During Ed's younger years at home there was considerable activity in and around Goshen. The Ohio-Erie Canal was in full operation. The railroad was becoming established as a speedier means of transportation with wider access to points "to and from" in marketing. (?sic?) Fishing in the Tuscarawas River was then at its best because the water was still pure and fresh. Canal boats loading at the docks or passing through was always intriguing and interesting. The wooden rail track led from one dock at the Goshen RR bridge site, past the south side of the Ziesburger Indian Cemetery in a westerly direction to a point higher land behind the pipe plant "salt-house", reached by the use of a tressle, then to a small coal mine near the Hill homestead. Over that route coal was conveyed to the dock in small cars pulled by dog teams. Naturally, the boys in their spare time and many of the adults could be found there observing the activities or enjoying the recreation abundantly available. Some of the canal boatmen were men who were formerly in service on the lakes. A few of them were belligerent and hostile. One such character was a Mr. Lee, a large man, who found particular pleasure in attacking the older boys just for the enjoyment of fighting while waiting for his boat to be loaded. He learend that Ed, then 16, was considered the most capable of all the local boys in the art of self-defense. For that reason he singled him out and whipped him on several occasions. Having tired of such unfair attacks, Ed prepared for the next assault. It came soon thereafter. On that try Lee found more than his match and received sufficient persuasion to refrain from any further attacks. At the age of 22, the railway tressles and tracks into the Wainwright and Goshen coal fields were being constructed. He secured employment in there and worked for the coal companies in that field throughout the rest of his worklife. He worked with the construction crews, as timberman, tracklayer and general utility man in and around the mines. He became very proficient and performed his duties with such a degree of confidence and enthusiasm that he seemed to charge the atmosphere like "The Happy Miller" who whistled at his work. He declined a promotion to the Supervisory ranks and preferred to return to the duties of his former jobs. There he enjoyed the fellowship of the other workmen who affectionately nicknamed him "Gorman". That was his favorite chewing tobacco. He was active in aiding the United Mine Workers Union agents to secure the miners of the region as new members. It has always been my experience that fellowship among the coal miners has been more pornounced and sincere than that of any other group of industrial workmen with whom I have had any experience. Aunt Mary carried her share of the burden and sorrows as well as the joys experienced in raising a large family in a mining community. She was a good homemaker and mother and always welcomed visitors to their home. They had a family of five sons and seven daughters: Edson Cummins Jr., Edith, Helen, Curtis Leroy, Bessie, Jacob, Earl, Pearl, Susan, Harry Clever, Ruth, Margaret (Honey) and John J. Mary was a good homemaker and mother and always welcomed visitors to their home. ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 15:42:11, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: CHARLES McNEAL - WYANDOT COUNTY BIO HISTORY OF OHIO, The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925 Volume 5, page 132,133 CHARLES I. McNEAL, who saw active service on the Mexican border and overseas in France with the rank of lieutenant, since his return from abroad has been assistant county engineer of Crawford County. He is a highly qualified man in his profession. Mr. McNeal was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, February 19, 1888, son of James C. and Martha E. (Wise) McNeal. His father was born in Crawford County, in 1853, lived on a farm there until he was twenty, and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until recent years. He married Martha E. Wise, of Lake County, Indiana, and for six years they lived at Crown Point in that county. Since then their home has been at Bucyrus. His father is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge at Nevada, Ohio, and is a democrat, and the mother is a member of the English Luther Church. There are three children: Mervin, a carpenter and contractor; Charles I.; and Ulah, wife of Robert Hennecke, of Omaha, Nebraska. Charles I. McNeal spent his early life on the farm, and acquired a country school education. Farming was his regular work and vocation until he was twenty-three years of age. He then moved to Bucyrus, was employed as a mechanic in a garage, and for three years was connected, with the street paving business. In the meantime he had been serving with a unit of the Ohio National Guard. He accompanied his regiment to the Mexican border June 16, 1916, and remained on duty there until March 23, 1917. During the interval of three months he was employed in the county engineer's office. On July 15, 1917, he joined the colors for service in the World war and on the 24th of August was sent to Camp Sheridan, Alabama, where he remained ten months,, going there with the rank of second lieutenant and being promoted to first lieutenant. June 15, 1918, his command embarked for France and two in Belgium. He remained overseas until March 18, 1919, arrived in the United States April 1, and was mustered out at Camp Sherman, Ohio, April 13. He then returned to Bucyrus, and resumed his duties as assistant county engineer. September 12, 191, Mr. McNeal married Alma Auck, who graduated from the Bucyrus High School in 1918. She is a member of the Methodist Church and he belongs to the English Lutheran denomination. Lieutenant McNeal is one of the charter members and the present commander of Colonel Crawford Post No. 181, American legion. He is also affiliated with Bucyrus Lodge No. 139, Free and Accepted Masons, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a democrat in politics. ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Sat, 13 Feb 1999 15:42:15, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: THOMAS LANKER - Wyandot County bio HISTORY OF OHIO, The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925 Volume V, page330 THOMAS A. LANKER, chief of police of the City of Lima, is an old and experienced police officer in Ohio, and for a number of years was with the department of Dayton, where he rose from the ranks to second in command of the entire police force. Chief lanker was born June 13, 1878, in Wyandot County, Ohio, next to the youngest of nine children, all living. His father, Rev. M.B. Lanker, who died in 1906, was a minister of the United Brethren Church, and well known in his section of Ohio. Thomas A. Lanker attended grammar schools in Auglaize County, and as a youth learned the butcher's trade. About the time he was twenty years of age he enlisted in the Regular Army, in Company L of the Fourteenth United States Infantry, and had a service record of three years and three months. He was in the Spanish American war, also in the Philippines, and went with the American forces to China during the Boxer rebellion. He participated in the battle of Peking, the fighting leading up to the gages of the Celestial City. He was severely wounded in that engagement. After his wound he was kept in a hospital in China from June to August, was then returned to the hospital relief ship for thirty days, and then transferred to the general hospital at the Presido at San Francisco. After four months there he was granted his honorable discharge, On December 1, 1900. Soon after leaving the army he returned to Ohio, spent a year at home, and on October 6, 1901, married Miss Bessie C. Nuhfer, daughter of Jacob Nuhfer, of Grand Rapids, Ohio. Mr. Lanker and wife had three sons and three daughters, the oldest son being now a clerk in the locomotive works at Lima, while a daughter is a proofreader in the office of the Lima News. The other children are students in high school. After his marriage Mr. Lanker spent two years in the grocery and meat business, and then, having passed a successful examination under civil service rules, was appointed a member of the Dayton Fire Department. He was in the service two years, and having in the meantime taken the examination for the police force he resigned from the fire department and was appointed a patrolman in Dayton. He was with the Dayton Police Department for ten years, was promoted to sergeant, then to lieutenant, and was the second highest officer on the force. While in Dayton he took a course in the new York Police School, and is thoroughly acquainted with metropolitan methods of police management. Soon after his return to Dayton he started a training school, and trained three classes of twenty-four men for police work. He also furnished the plant police protection for the airplane manufacturing interests at Dayton, and had a large amount of extraordinary responsibilities during the World war. After leaving the police department at Dayton Mr. Lanker was financially interested in and on duty at the Overland automobile plant for two years, these duties taking him to Toledo. At the beginning of 1923 he was called from Toledo to become chief of the police department of the City of Lima, beginning his duties on April 1. His Appointment was unprecedented in the municipal history of Lima since it was the first time that the city had gone outside in selection of a chief of police. However, only a short time before Lima had gone under a commission form of government, and the city manager had also been brought from the outside. Chief Lanker has accomplished almost a revolution in the Lima Police Department, especially through his effective discipline and leadership in doing away with the old controversies. Since taking charge he has kept the local police in training and working for greater efficiency all the time. He has also installed a comprehensive and practical criminal record under the Bertillon Fingerprint System, and has an organized traffic squad and has divorced the police telephone from the regular telephone system of the city, installing a modern police signal system. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #96 ******************************************