OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 206 *********************************************************************** 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 01 : Issue 206 Today's Topics: #1 Death Certificate: Alex Spurgeon, ["Ralph W. Cokonougher" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Death Certificate: Alex Spurgeon, 1938, Ross Co. Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The following transcript is from the death certificate of Jacob Alexandria Spurgeon on file with the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus, Ohio. "STATE OF OHIO. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS. CERTIFICATE OF DEATH. 66463. 1. PLACE OF DEATH: County - Ross, Township - Buckskin, Registration District No. - 1127, Primary Registration District No. - 5722, File No. - 202, Registered No. - 9. 2. FULL NAME: Jacob Alexandria Spurgeon. (a). Residence No. - Lyndon Ohio R.F.D. # 1. 3. SEX: M. 4. COLOR or RACE: W. 5. SINGLE, MARRIED: Married. 5a. If Married, Widowed, or Divorced Husband of (or) Wife of: Lily Mae Spurgeon. 6. DATE OF BIRTH: June 11, 1856. 7. AGE: 82 years, 5 months, 1 days. 8. OCCUPATION: Trade, profession, or particular kind of work done - Farmer. 12. BIRTHPLACE: Ohio. 13. FATHER: Name - James Spurgeon. 14. FATHER: Birthplace - Ohio. 15. MOTHER: Maiden Name - Sarah Ellen Barfill. 16. MOTHER: Birthplace - Ohio. 17. INFORMANT: Mrs. Lily Spurgeon. Lyndon RFD # 1 Ohio. 18. BURIAL, CREMATION, OR REMOVAL: So. Salem Cemetery. Nov. 14, 1938. 19. FUNERAL FIRM: J.M. Murray Co. 19a. BURIED BY: J.M. Murray. Lic. No. - 681B. 19b. EMBALMED: Thom. Badgly. Lic. No. - 45497. Address - Greenfield. 20. FILED: Nov. 13, 1938. Blanch G. Rizes, Registrar. 21. DATE OF DEATH: Nov. 12, 1938. 22. I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from Jan 1st, 1938 to Nov. 12, 1938. I last saw him alive on Nov 10, 1938, death is said to have occurred on the date stated above at 5:15 a.m. The PRINCIPAL CAUSE OF DEATH and related causes of importance in order of onset were as follows: mitral stenosis. Date of onset: 1938. SIGNED: E. G. Tulleys, M.D. South Salem, O. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE CERTIFICATE IS AN EXACT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE WHICH IS REGISTERED AND PRESERVED IN THE DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. WITNESS MY SIGNATURE AND THE SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT. APR 26, 1976. Signed/ John Ackerman, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 20:22:16 +0000 From: "Ralph W. Cokonougher" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Obit: Harriett Spurgeon, Harriett Benson, & family, 1942, Ross & Pike & Highland Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The following two obituaries are from zeroxed copies of old newspaper clippings. There are no dates or newspaper names on the clippings, but they appear to be from the Greenfield, Ohio newspaper. (1.) "OBITUARY. OBITUARY OF THE BENSON FAMILY. Without a doubt, Friday night, Jan. 9, marked one of Greenfield's most tragic hours. Never has any event or events caused more sympathy or anxiety than was caused by this terrible, un-thought-of catastrophe. After a hard day's work Mrs. Harriet Benson, the widowed mother of eleven children, tucked four school children to bed and then she herself lay down to rest, anticipating another day with all it means for a widowed mother. She lay down and soon fell to sleep for the meals for the morrow were practically prepared and her four youngest children were at home and peacefully sleeping in the little home that she had labored so hard to secure and sustain. But Mrs. Benson didn't go to work the next morning, neither did Luverll, Alice, or John answer to the roll call in school today, for the hand of death was knocking at the door while they were sleeping and entered silently and took four souls to the other land. I shall place an extra rose on the casket of Luverll for she gave her life in trying to rescue the mother she loved. Awakening from sleep with flames leaping all round, she threw Francis through the window, and said "I must go back and get mother," but her strength was exhausted and she gave her life for others. Harriet, daughter of Alexander and Lillie Spurgeon was born in Pike county, Ohio, May 18, 1892 and departed this life Jan. 9, 1942. In 1909 she married Charles Benson who preceded her in death March 14, 1941. Eleven children were born to this union and until the time of this tragedy all were living: Rosa Clouser, Ethel Calvin, Goldie Wilson, Iva Manns, Cecil, Harley, Artie, and Francis survive. Besides her children she leaves her mother, a brother, Lafe Spurgeon of Humbolt, three sisters, Mrs. Cora Huffman of Fruitdale, Mrs. Rena Ryan of Cynthiana, and Mrs. Nora Hester of South Salem. Also nine grandchildren are left behind. Mrs. Benson was honest and upright, a splendid mother, a good neighbor, and true to the trusts that were hers. Luveril Lorn, daughter of Mr., Mrs. Chas. Benson was born at South Salem May 11, 1928, and died while attempting to rescue her mother and sisters and brother from their burning home. She was 13 yrs. 7 mo. and 28 da. old. She was a very beautiful girl and well liked by all. She attended the South Salem public schools and enrolled in the Greenfield schools three years ago when the family moved to their Greenfield residence. She was in the first year of high school. Alice Josephine, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benson was born at South Salem May 19, 1931 and was fatally burned Jan. 9, 1942. She was 11 yrs. 7 mo. and 20 days old. She attended Greenfield school. John Henry was also born at South Salem. He was the baby of the family, being born May 27, 1935. He was 6 yrs. 7 mo. and 12 da. old. The little fellow was just a beginner in school. He is now safe in the arms of Jesus where houses never burn and sorrow can never come." (2.) "MOTHER, CHILDREN DIE IN FLAMES. TRAPPED IN SMALL FRAME HOUSE IN HIGGINSVILLE FRIDAY NIGHT. FOURTH CHILD ESCAPES BY SMASHING WINDOW GLASS; FIRE BELIEVED TO HAVE SPREAD FOLLOWING EXPLOSION. Funeral services were conducted this afternoon for Mrs. Harriett Benson, 48, and her three children who were burned to death when fire swept their small home in Higginsville, Friday night. Rev. Franklin Norris read the funeral in United Brethren church this afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment was made in Greenfield cemetery by R.B. Walker. The dead children: Alice Josephine, 12; Luverll, 14, and John, 7. From a maze of theories as to the cause of the fire, Chief Dean Irwin of the Greenfield Fire Department has substantiated the opinion he expressed Friday night that an explosion sprayed the house with flames which spread so rapidly that Mrs. Benson and three children were hopelessly trapped before neighbors were even aware of the blaze. ONE GIRL ESCAPES. Another daughter, Frances, 12, smashed glass from a window to crawl through to safety. She was found in the rear yard of the home by her brother-in-law, Charles Clouser, who lives about 100 feet north of the Benson place. Her night clothing had been partially burned from her body and she suffered severely from shock and from exposure in the near-zero temperature. As nearly as can be ascertained, the fire broke out about 10:15 o'clock just about the time the Louis-Baer championship fight broadcast started. SAW HOUSE CAVE IN. According to Clouser, he and Charles Watts, whose home is directly across the street west of the Benson property, and 'several other neighbors had just turned on the radio to listen to the fight. The Missus (Mrs. Clouser) and the young ones had gone to bed. The first we knew of the fire was when Mose Watts (son of Charles Watts) came rushing over hollering: 'My God, the house is on fire!' ' I didn't know whether he meant ours or theirs. When I opened the door and looked out, the second floor (of the Benson house) was just caving in. 'We all ran out and one of the boys (Clouser didn't identify him) tried to get in the kitchen door but was forced back by the fire. 'There just wasn't anything anyone could do then. Harry Willett, whose home is across a field southeast of the Benson place, told The Times that 'I was awakened by screaming and hollering. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw the light shining through my window and said to my wife: 'That's a big fire, and I told her to get the children up and dress them. Willett said he could not believe that the fire had started from defective wiring, a theory expressed by Clouser, because 'Mrs. Benson bought all new wiring and I installed it. There was nothing wrong with that'. EXPLOSION REPORTED. Fire Chief Irwin told The Times at the scene Friday night that 'neighbors report having heard an explosion,' and pointed out in support of that contention that most of the window glass in the house had been blown outward. The small one and one-half story residence was constructed of lumber and lined with cardboard which probably accounted for the fast spread of the flames. The north side of the house was partioned into two bedrooms. One body was removed from the northwest room, the other three, including Mrs. Benson's, from the northeast room. Frances is believed to have been sleeping in the northwest room. A heating stove in the southeast room was crumpled as though it might have exploded. The kitchen range remained intact. Higginsville lacks a water system and Greenfield firemen refilled the 200-gallon auxiliary tank on the small pumper three times at the hydrant at the junction of Lyndon ave. with Seventh st. more than a half mile distant. They saved a smaller house just a few feet north of the Benson home, and as the fire burned down sprayed the debris until the bodies could be removed. Sheriff Cleo Shaffer and Dr. W. M. Hoyt, Highland county coroner, were summoned from Hillsboro and supervised removal of the bodies by firemen. The sheriff and coroner assigned the bodies to the R. B. Walker Funeral Home. BURNED LIKE TINDER. The entire house burned to the ground within an estimated 30 minutes. The reflection from the fire could be seen for a considerable distance and attracted many residents from Greenfield and rural areas. Fans returning from the basketball game at Hillsboro saw the fire from a distance of several miles. One supposition as to the origin of the fires, voiced by many of the spectators was that it had started from an overheated stove. However, surviving members of the family declared that their mother was always careful to see that the stove fire had died out before retiring. A son, Harley, 19, said that a jug containing some coal oil had stood near the heating stove but firemen expressed doubt that it could have become hot enough to explode. Some neighbors said that the Bensons had obtained some slack coal and thought it might have caused the explosion. Because of the complete destruction of the house and virtually all of the contents, it is likely that exact origin of the blaze will never be determined. Two other sons, Cecil, 21, and Artie, 13, in addition to Harley, said they used kindling wood most of the time as cooking and heating fuel. None of the three older boys was at home when the fire broke out. Charles Clouser told The Times that after he had found Frances in the rear yard of the Benson place, he took her to his home and then she and Mrs. Clouser and the Clouser children went to the B. & O. tracks a short distance from the Clouser home and sat together there. It had previously been reported that Frances was found wandering along the tracks. CLOTHING OBTAINED. Frances was brought to a physician's office and treated for a glass puncture in her hand. Albert F. Strueve of Clouser & Co., who was called by the Clousers, contacted Hy Tennenbaum and they obtained clothing for the girl at United Department Store, later taking her back to the Clouser home. Frances was unable to give a coherent account of how she escaped from the house. Mrs. Benson was the widow of Charles H. Benson who died at the age of 70 last March 14. The family moved to Higginsville from Pricer's Ridge about four years ago, and the father and the boys built the home that burned about two years ago. Mrs. Benson's birth date was May 5, 1893. Alice Josephine was born May 19, 1931; Luverll, May 11, 1927, and John, the youngest child in the family, May 27, 1935. Frances will be 13 next Feb. 27. In addition to the three sons and daughter Frances, four other daughters of the family survive. Mrs. Charles Clouser, Mrs. Bryan Calvin and Mrs. Goldie Wilson, all of Higginsville, and Mrs. Iva Manns of Springfield. Higginsville residents today asked The Times to express that community's thanks to Greenfield firemen, to Strueve and Walker, and to Rev. Franklin Norris. Within an hour Saturday, Rev. Norris collected more than $27 needed to pay for burial lots in Greenfield cemetery. He said he 'passed the hat' in downtown Greenfield." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 20:28:18 +0000 From: "Ralph W. Cokonougher" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Death certificate: Lilly Spurgeon, Lilly Levy, 1951, Ross & Pike & Franklin Co. Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The following is the death certificate of Lillie Spurgeon on file with the Ohio Department of Health in Columbus, Ohio. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS. CERTIFICATE OF DEATH. Reg. Dist. No.: 392. Primary Reg. Dist. No.: 8187. State File No. - 08761. Registrar's No.: 660. 1. Place of Death: a. County - Franklin, b. City - Columbus, d. Full name of Hospital or Institution - St. Francis Hosp. 2. Usual Residence: a. State - Ohio, b. County - Ross, c. City - Bainbridge Ohio, d. Street Address - Rt. # 1. 3. Name of Deceased: Lillie Spurgeon. 4. Date of Death: Month - 2, Day - 10, Year - 51. 5. Sex: Female. 6. Color or Race: White. 7. Married, Never Married, Widowed, Divorced: Married. 8. Date of Birth: July 19, 1877. 9. Age: 73 Years, 6 Months, 21 Days. 10a. Usual Occupation: Housewife. 10b. Kind of business or industry: Home. 11. Birthplace: Pike Co., Ohio. 12. Citizen of what country: U.S.A. 13. Father's name: John Levy. 14. Mother's maiden name: not known. 15. Was deceased ever in U.S. Armed Forces: No. 16. Social Security No.: No. 17. Informant's signature: Signed/ Mr. Lafe Spurgeon. 18. Cause of death: Disease or condition directly leading to death - Pulmonary Embolis, antecedent causes - Fract. right hip. 19a. Date of operation: 1-29-51. 19b. Major findings of operation: Fract. right hip. 20. Autopsy: No. 21a. Accident, suicide, homicide: Accident. 21b. Place of injury: At home. 21d. Time of injury: 1-23-51. 22e. Injury occurred: Not while at work. 21f. How did injury occur?: Pt. fell. 22. I hereby certify that I attended the deceased from 1-23,1951, to 2-10, 1951, and that death occurred at 2:20 A.M.. from the causes and on the date stated above. 23a. Signature: (signature illegible), M.D. 23b. Address: St. Francis Hosp. 23c. Date signed: 2-10-51. 24a. Burial, Cremation, Removal: Burial. 24b. Date: Feb. 14, 1951. 24c. Name of Cemetery or Crematory: South Salem Cemetery. 24d. Location: So. Salem, Ohio. Name of Embalmer: Thomas R. Badgely, Lic. No. 4549A. Date Rec'd. by local Reg.: 2-13-51. Registrar's Signature: Signed/ Leo Cridil. 25. Funeral director's signature: Ralph. L. Clyburn, Lic. No. 3557. I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE CERTIFICATE IS AN EXACT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE WHICH IS REGISTERED AND PRESERVED IN THE DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. WITNESS MY SIGNATURE AND THE SEAL OF THE DEPARTMENT. JOHN H. ACKERMAN, M.D., DIRECTOR OF HEALTH. APR 26, 1976. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 20:31:52 +0000 From: "Ralph W. Cokonougher" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Obit: Herbert Hollar, 1976, Highland & Montgomery Co. Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The following obituary is from an old newspaper clipping. The name of the newspaper is not given. Somebody has handwritten the date of 2 Jan. 1976 on the clipping. "HOLLAR. Herbert Hollar, 68, of Dayton, formerly of Greenfield, died Wednesday night. He was a retired employe of the National Cash Register Co. Survivors include his wife, the former Foresta Caraway, four sons, Bobby, Donnie and Ronnie (twins), and Larry, all of Dayton, a brother, John Hollar, Lyndon Rt. 1, and two sisters, Mrs. Georgia Stout, Greenfield, and Mrs. Bessie Carman, Centerfield. Visiting hours will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Tobias Funeral Home, Dayton. Service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Morris Chapel in Blue Creek followed by burial in Blue Creek Cemetery." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #5 Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 20:35:07 +0000 From: "Ralph W. Cokonougher" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Obit: Una Kelley, Una Siders, 1984, Highland Co. Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The following obituary is from an old newspaper clipping. The name of the newspaper is not shown, but somebody has handwritten the year 1984 on the clipping. "FUNERALS. UNA ANN KELLEY. GREENFIELD, Ohio - Mrs. Una Ann Kelley, 90, of 10463 N. Union Road, Hillsboro, died at 12:55 a.m. Sunday in Oakland Nursing Home, Hillsboro. She was born March 7, 1895, in Highland County to George and Idella Swisshelm Siders. She was a member of Mayhill Church of Christ, and operator of Kelley's Dairy Nook near Rocky Fork Lake for 12 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis N. Kelley, May 30, 1966, and a brother. Surviving is a son, William R. Kelley, of Hillsboro; and two grandchildren. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Murray Funeral Home with Danny Dodds, minister of the Greenfield Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Tranquility Cemetery, at Seaman, Ohio. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday after 4 p.m." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #6 Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 20:43:50 +0000 From: "Ralph W. Cokonougher" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Obit: Stephanie Abshear, Stephanie Massey, 2001, Highland & Montgomery Co Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The following obituary is from the Tuesday, 30 Oct. 2001, Hillsboro, Ohio "Times-Gazette", page 2, column 1: "OBITUARIES. STEPHANIE SUE MASSEY ABSHEAR. 1943-2001. Stephanie Sue Massey Abshear, 58, of Greenfield, formerly of Dayton, died at 11:38 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, 2001 at Greenfield Area Medical Center. She was born Sept. 5, 1943 in Greenfield, the daughter of the late Francis Oscar and Nona (McComas) Massey. She was a retired employee of the City of Dayton. She was a 1961 graduate of Lewis County High School, Vanceburg, Ky., and Miami-Jacobs Business College in Dayton. She is survived by two brothers, Frank William (Charlene) Massey, of Dayton, and Norman (Laura) Massey, of Circleville; step sister, Patricia (James) Reeves, of Greenfield; step brother, David L. Ellis, Jr., of Greenfield; two nieces, Tara L. Massey and Tonya Massey Feit; one nephew, David Michael Massey; step nephews, David Reeves, Tim Fryer and Richard Ellis; step nieces, Donna and Wendy Ellis; step great nieces, Rachel Staats Woods and Bethany Sparkman; and step great nephew, Andrew R. Staats. She was preceded in death by cousins, Carol Massey Pollard and Jeanette Massey and by a step nephew, Joe Staats. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001 at the Greenfield First Baptist Church with the Rev. Mark Click officiating. Cremation will follow. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Anderson-Strueve Funeral Home in Greenfield. Memorial contributions are suggested in Stevie's honor to your local animal shelter." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #7 Date: Thu, 08 Nov 2001 20:47:33 +0000 From: "Ralph W. Cokonougher" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: Subject: Obit: Blanche Hilliard, Blanche Morgan, 2001, Highland Co. Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed The following obituary is from the Tuesday, 30 Oct. 2001, Hillsboro, Ohio "Times-Gazette" newspaper, page 2, column 1: "BLANCHE R. HILLIARD. 1902-2001. Blanche R. Hilliard, 99, life long resident of Hillsboro, died Sept. 2, 2001 at Harborside Health Care in Palm Harbor, Fla. She was born in Highland County and was an employee with Litt Bros. Department Store for 30 years. She was preceded in death by husband, Ellsworth 'Bud' Morgan and Lyman Hilliard and grandson, Kenneth Hull. She is survived by daughter, Elizabeth Hull, of Dunedin, Fla.; stepson, Robert Hilliard, of Syracuse, N.Y.; granddaughter, Constance Bennett, of Port Richey, Fla.; three great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and several nieces. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 in the Hillsboro Cemetery." _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V01 Issue #206 *******************************************