Defiance Township (part 9 of 11)

Schultz, F. Schulte, J. Martin, A. Martin, A. Dolke, A. Behringer, C. Brede, H. Herdegan, F. Wolfrum, M. Schultz, ete. Its first pastor, J. Deindoerfer, who is still in charge of the congregation, is a member of the German Lutheran Synod of Iowa and other States (Hastern District). Soon after its organization, the congregation purchased three lots on the corner of Clinton and Arabella streets, in front of the Union School Park, for $1,200 ; then erected a small building for the purpose of a parochial school and made preparations for a house of worship. Of this, the corner-stone was laid the summer of 1871, and the edifice, a solid brick building, 36x60 feet, with a spire in front about ninety feet high, was finished and dedicated in February, 1872, costing about $6,000. During the summer of 1873, the congregation built a parsonage near the church. The congregation has lost several of its members by death, but is steadily increasing in numbers, and has now about 140 communicants, and of their families and other about 250 souls.

The society now known as the Defiance County Bible Society, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, was organized in 1831 - fifty-two years ago - when Defiance was a small village, situated along the north and south banks of the Maumee River, from the foot. of Clinton strect east on Front street to Jefferson. There were only two houses at that time west of the canal, and no improvements south of Second street, and the population of the town could not have exceeded 150 persons. The records of the organization of the society are so imperfect that the names of the first officers of the society are lost. The little band of earnest Christian men and women who first formed the society, fifty-two years ago, to spread the Word of God and supply the Scriptures to the destitute pioneers of the northwestern part of the State, appears to have As far as can be learned, there is not one living today to recount to us the scenes of the past, while the little village of Defiance has grown into a city of nearly 7,000 inhabitants, and the surrounding country, which was almost a trackless wilderness, is now filled with happy Christian homes.

Ten years after the first organization in 1841, the society was re-organized and a new constitution adopted. The name of the society was called The Bible Society of Defiance and Vicinity, which included the present counties of Williams, Paulding, Defiance, Henry and part of Putnam. From that time on to the present, the records are full and complete, and the fiftieth anniversary was held in the Presbyterian Church, March 27, 1881. The oflicers of the organization of 1841 were William

Colne W203 Holeate and Tosial Enkiey, Directors. Of the above-named officers, only two, Messrs. Holgate and Traverse, are known to be living at the present time.

Co.. Ohio, with the following officers ; Robert Shirley, President ; John Taylor, Vice President; A. J. Taylor, Secretary ; Levi Taylor, Treasurer and Depositary. Also

Williams Center, Williams Co., Ohio, with the followingnamed gentlemen as officers: Owen Ensign. President ; Jacob Conkey, Vice President; W. O. Ensign, Seeretary ; Payn C. Parker, Treasurer and Depositary.

The first anniversary of the new society was held in the law office of William Seamans, November 15, 1842. Rev. Mr. Briggs, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Rev. KE. RK. Tucker, of the Presbyterian Church, conducted the services, and the reports of the officers in regard to the success and progress of the work were read and approved. From the reports we find that much good work had been accomplished, and many copies of God's Word had been distributed among the poor and destitute settlers of the northwest part of the State. January 26, 1843, was organized the Ladies' Branch Bible Society of Defiance, for the better prosecution of the work of the church. The following ladies were elected officers of the society:

President, Mrs. H. C. Southworth; Vice President, Mrs. K. L. H. West; Secretary, Mrs. K. Holgate; Treasurer, Mrs. A. M. Noble; Depositary, Mrs. A. Colby; Directors and Visitors, Mrs. Adains, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Cheeney, Mrs. Lyman, Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Brubaker.

This organization was very zealous and efficient in its work, visiting all the families in the neighborhood, and supplying all who were destitute of Bibles and Testaments. It was a labor of love, for which our pioneer mothers took a deep interest, as they do in every good work for a higher and better civilization.

For fifty years the men and women of the Defiance Bible Society, in the spirit of their Master, have given freely of their time, influence and money, as well as their earnest prayers, for the spread of His Gospel, and the conversion of men and women from sin to pure and holy thoughts of God and Heaven, a future life. They have sent consolation and joy into the homes of hundreds of families of pioneer settlers, which has doubtand

Testaments, for free distribution and sale among the people within its territory, and has sent to the American sale of books and collections, more than $6,000. At the present time the society is in a most flourishing condition, and expects to make a thorough canvass of the county during the present year, and give a copy of the Scriptures to every family not able to purchase. The present offices are:

The first grounds ever set apart as shown of record for the burial of the dead at Defiance were the two lots marked M and P on the original plat of the town laid out by H. G. Phillips and Benjamin Leavell, in November, 1822. Lot "M" was dedicated by that plat to the Methodists for a church and burying gronnd. And lot "P" to the Presbyterians for the same purpose. There was no organized Methodist or Presbyterian Church at that time at Defiance, and there being no member of a Presbyterian Church then resident of this place to care for its interests, the general public took possession of their ground and devoted the same exclusively to burial purposes. This ground is very handsomely located on the westerly bank of the Auglaize River, a little northerly of the Hopkins street bridge, now almost in the heart of the city.

Among the early burials in this lot, as attested by marble slabs still standing, may be found the names of Nancy, daughter of Robert Shirley, who died March 1, 1823, aged seventeen years; Thomas, son of Joshua Hilton, died 1825, aged fiftoon years; Mary, wife of Thomas Warren, died April 11, 1826, aged

Shirley); Nathaniel B, Adams, died August 9, 1813, aged forty-one years twenty-two days; David 'Travis, died March 8, 1847, aged fifty-five years. In addition to the above may be found the graves of the

As this lot was fast filling up, steps were taken to secure a general burying ground, resulting in the purchase from H. G. Phillips of ten acres for $400, deeded May 14, 1847, to the Defiance Rural Cemetery Association (incorporated 'by special act).

At an election of the Defiance Rural Cemetery Association, held March 8, 1847, the following electors were present: J. W. Phillips, M. P. Bell, A. L. Downs, S. B. Barnum, Eli Rider, William Semans, Jonas Colby, Thomas Warren. Jacob J. Greene, George W. B. Evans, Orlando Evans, William C. Holgate, W. A. Brown and Pierce Evans, William Semans 8. B. Barnum and William C. Holgate each received 13 votes, and William P. Bell and Orlando Evans each received 14 votes for Trustees of the Defiance Rural Cemetery Association. Jonas Colby re. ceived 14 votes for Secretarr and Horace Sessions received J3 for Treasurer.

Pursuant to the above orders, John Wisler, County Surveyor of the county of Defiance, was called and proceeded at once to survey the ground, laying out the lots and fractional lots, avenues, walks, etc.

May 22, 1848 - Board met. Present, William Semans, M. P. Bell, Orlando Evans and William C. Holgate, Trustees. William Semans inthe chair. On motion, William C. Holgate and Jonas Colby were appointed a committee te have general supervision of the grounds, clearing, fencing, arranging shade trees, ete.

The first notice for the sale of lots took place July 1, 1848. December 20, 1848, at a meeting held at the Secretary's office (J. Colby, Secretary), William ©. Holgate, William Semans and George B. Way were appointed as a committee to draft by-laws for the government of the association.

The first burial in the new cemetery was that of Helen D., daughter of Lyman and F. M. Langdon, who died January 13, 1849, aged six years eight months and twenty days The original design of beautifying the grounds was never fully carried out until IS71, when the Association was re-orgainzed by the election of new officers as follows: William ©. Holgate, Peter Kettenring, L. A. Davison, L. E. Myers und K.P. Hooker, Trustees; William ©. Holgate, President; Peter Kettenring, Treasurer; Edwin Phelps, Secretary. In 1875, Messrs. Davison and Myers retiring, their places were filled by Charles P.

Tittle and J. J. Jarvis, and subsequently in March, 1881, the Board as above was continued and John D. Lamb was elected Secretary in place of Edwin Phelps, resigned.

The ladies of Defiance, in 1875 or 1876, organized a society known as the Ladies' Rural Cemetery Association, whose object was the raising of money to beautify and improve the grounds, and in 1878 and 1879 their fund had grown to perhaps $500, a good portion of which had been devoted to the object above specified. These grounds are located about a mile from the center of the city on the banks of the beautiful Auglaize River, and are very tastefully laid out into lots and fractional lots, with fine,spacious avenues and walks, notably among them Central avenue, which is twenty-five feet wide, extending through the center and whole length of the grounds to the banks of the Auglaize. Rural avenue is sixteen feet wide, running along the bank of a ravine, which forms the boundary line of the grounds on the west; and then there are Locust, Eglantine and Cedar walks, which are very pretty and are laid out each of them eight feet wide. The plat is divided into five divisions, " A, B, C, D, E." Division C is a circle situated at the southerly part of the grounds as a public park and is surrounded by Central avenue. Its diameter, inclusive of the circular part of Central avenue, is 170 feet, and this, together with the entire inclosure, is beautifully shaded by the natural forest trees.

The Lot "M" donated to the Methodist organization by H. G. Phillips and Benjamin Leavell, was not considered suitable for a burying ground and the congregation, by and with the consent of the original donors, proceeded to lay it out in building lots, the proceeds of which they were to apply a certain

Rural Cemetery Association, and the balance realized from the sale of said lots was to go to the benefit of the Methodist Episcopal denomination.

Defiance Township was organized in 1846. Unlike most of the other townships of Defiance County, it is not a full Congressional Township. Its southern part consists of the northern half of Town 3 north, Range 4 east, being a half of Auglaize Township, Henry County; and this half township included all organization of Defiance County in 1845. The northern portion of Defiance Township, as now constituted, comprises the southern part of Defiance Township, Williams County; which formerly included, besides these, the land which auw comprises Noble.

Immediately opposite the old plat of Defiance, on the north side of the Maumee River, is a level plateau of land, extending some distance back without any apparent variation of grade. Its height above the river is fifty or sixty feet; the bank, before " improvement broke nature's fair outline," gently sloped to the river's edge, and in some places left a narrow bottom of a few rods' width.

This being higher than Defiance, it commands the view, not only of the town, but also of the adjacent farming lands, and, strategically, might be said to command the situation. Tradition has it that the French Post (if, indeed, there ever was really one here) was located on this ground. If such a post existed, its works could not have been of a very permanent or enduring character, for no trace or outline was ever identified. ;

The brow of the hill, and for a few rods back, was cleared and lawn-like as ordinary Indian greens, the clearing, however, could never have been made with a view to cultivation, as the soil is of too hard and forbidding a nature to reward the lazy, careless and primitive culture of the Indian agriculturist. It was, so far back as the knowledge of Americans extends, devoted to trade; and here were located the booths of the traders and peddlers, who dispensed whisky, ammunition and blankets during the fur season, or at the payment of some annuity or gratuity from Government.

One of these, of a more permanent character, located on the site of the tavern building now owned by F. Woluiffer, survived several years, and was the scene of many a drunken row and fight - generally among Indians, though occasionally dare-devil whites mixed in the fray. On the removal of the Indians, all these developments of white men's cupidity disappeared, giving place to trade, less profitable but more useful and creditable to society.

This plateau, or elevated " green," was known, fifty or seventy years ago as "Scalp Level," but why so designated is only left to conjecture. Possibly, this exround was the place of torture, where captives, doomed to death were surrendered to the tender mercies of the boys and squaws for the preliminary gauntlet running and beating, to be followed by the final agony of stake, fagot and fire; or, possibly, a scalping scene, having occurred there under peculiar circumstances, interesting to the mind of the savage or the rude backwoodsman, gave it this uncouth name. That it ever had sueh a designation will probably be opposite the old fort. It has never failed, in the knowledge of present settlers, in producing a crop of very excellent apples. One large branch, however, has of late years been broken off by the storms, which has much marred its proportions - the remainder is yet healthy and prospering.

Before the town was laid out, there were many trees, equally thrifty and not less in size, in this vicinity. Their origin is variously conjectured.

In an early account of Defiance, it is stated by a captive among the Indians, who visited the place in 1790, that there were a few hewed-log houses on the high grounds about where the residences of Willian: Carter and J. P. Ottley now are, surrounded by a stockade, in which resided traders anda British agent - the United States not at that time having enforced their authority over this section. The space between these houses and the Auglaize bank was cleared, and also for some distance to the west, the bank of the Auglaize was lined with apple trees, and the premises looked clean and thrifty, and the view of Blue Jacket's town on the bottom on the north side of the Maumee, and the extensive corn-fields of the Indians on the Lewis and Frazee bottoms, are particularly mentioned.

Thomas Warren, of this vicinity, who came here about fifty years ago, says that these apple trees stood in a row, about fifteen feet from the edge of the bank, and extended from that point up to the bridge, and that they were then in excellent bearing condition. These trees are now all gone, as well as the ground they stood on. bank, from ice, freshets and frosts, hus amounted in

On the Maumee bank, extending from where the canal now empties, up to the residence of T. J. Cole, was another row of similar trees, the most of these stood on the Wasson property. These are also all gone, except one in the rear of Mr. Cole's house. These died from various causes - cattle, cultivation and volunteers. Some of the smaller ones were taken up and removed by the early settlers; Samuel Keppler, another early settler, started his orchard with trees of this kind. On the small bottom on the north side of the Maumee, opposite Defiance, were quite a number some of these were on the towing-path, and others in the way, so that they were cut down or died. The old tree so famous is, perhaps, one of this row; standing further in from the bank, and being private property, it has been saved from the general destruction. The large trees standing on the Krotz, Lewis and other bottoms in this vicinity, are the plant of early squatters and of comparatively recent origin. At the so-called "Orchard Hollow," eight miles up the Maumee, was also quite a number of these old trees, which probably were of like origin and age. They were on the high land on the sonth side, and immediately opposite the old Indian Delaware town on the bottom, now the property of Charles Speaker. It is remarked by Parkman, iu his " Jesuit and Pioneer History," that the missionaries and traders always fixed their stations on high grounds overlooking the Indian towns; and the selection of the high grounds at Defiance and at Orchard Hollow was in accordance with this general rule. None of these trees are yet The fruit of all these trees was better than that of the present socalled natural trees - grew larger and had more agreoable taste. The stocks of the trees were more like those of the forest, higher to the branches, longer in limb than the grafted trees of the present day, which, with this large growth. In those inartificial days, before civilization brought in borers, worms and curculios, trees grew and thrived without hindrance.

Mr. Warren also informs us that on the St. Joseph, about the State line, in the vicinity of a Pottawatomie village, was also a similar orchard, and also another near the Shawnee village at Wapakonetta,

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.In early days, the Indians, before the whites obtained property in the land, guarded carefully these old trees. The fruit they claimed for themselves, and distributed to the remotest sections of their tribes a share. Probably associations of historic interest, of days of large population and greater power, or of kindly regard for the French missionaries by whom they were introduced, gave an extraordinary value to these old trees in the estimation of the untutored sons of the forest..

No trees of similar age are known to have existed on the Maumee below Defiance. It was upon the upper waters of the river that the Indians had their chosen seats, and here those who, from benevolence or trade, sought their acquaintance must come. Of the history of those days--say from 1640 for a hundred years or more - of the self-denying labors of the missionary, of his hardships, successes and failures, searce a vestige remains. These trees are suggestive of his aim to minister to the comfort of the savage, to acquaint him with the benefits of civilization, and to induce in him habits of home life, with ulterior views of spiritual influence. The Indian has gone not only hence, but almost as a race, yielding to the superior power and intellect of the whites; yet, one cannot but think that, had the policy of the French missionary or the Pennsylvania Quaker been generally adhered to, the result would have been far otherwise, and onr national character relieved, in the mind of the philanthropist, of a disgraceful stain.

Recollections Of Pioneer Life In The Maumee Valley Ly Mrs, Ruth Austin

My father, Mr. Robert Shirley, Sr.. moved with his family from Ross County, near Chillicothe, Ohio, to Fort Defiance in the spring of 1881. Our family numbered nine persons, namely, my parents, Mr. Robert Shirley, Sr.,and Mrs. Rachel Shirley, my brothers James, Elias and Robert, my sisters Mary and Nancy, myself (Ruth) and my baby brother Johu Gilbert. My brother Nathan, the eldest of the family, was at this time married and settled in Ross County. At the time of our removal, I was eleven years of age. I have a vivid recollection of the journey, and of the wild appearance of the country, We started for Fort Defiance in March, 1822, and arrived at our destination in April, having been three weeks on the way. The first place we saw Indians was at Wapakonetta. They were Shawnees and partly civilized. Mr. John Johnson was Indian Agent. Through his influence, Government established a blacksmith shop, and a store to supply the Indians, and appointed Mr. Broadex to superintend the work of teaching the Indians agricultral and mechanical pursuits. Some of the Indians lived in log cabins, others in wigwams. The next place of interest was Fort Amanda. I do not remember seeing any remains of the fort. A family by the name of Russell entertained travelers. The next was Fort Jennings - no fort standing here. One family lived here, and were the last white people we saw until we reached Fort Defiance. We were now truly inthe wilderness. On one side was the River Auglaize, on the other a vast, wooded country, with no road, only an Indian trail along the river. It required a man to go ahead with an ax in order to cut away trees that had fallen eut through the brush some distance to get a place to ford the streams tributary to the Auglaize. The weather was unusually fine, so the family did not suffer much inconvenience inecamping out. After we left Fort Jennings, brothers James and Robert took too young to travel with the herd) forward to Fort Defiance, where brother Robert, a lad thirteen years of age, remained to take care of them, and brother James returned to the family, meeting us at the mouth of the Little Auglaize, fifteen miles above Fort Defiance. After assisting us to ford the stream, he left us for Fort Finley, for the purpose of conveying the provisions stored there, to Fort Defiance, for the subsistence of the family. Brother James made the journey through the unbroken wilderness alone, on foot, provided with hiscompass, gun, ammunition, flints and punk, and his blanket. Our parents had great fears that James would fall a prey to wild animals or Indians, but he got safely through, and, purchasing a pirogue, took the provisions down Blanchard's Fork to the Auglaize, and from thence on that river to Fort Defiance. These provisions had been raised the previous summer, with the expectation that the future home of the family would be at Fort Pinley. My father and two other farmers of Ross County, Messrs. Moreland and Beaver, when viewiny the country, had selected Fort Finley as the place of their settlement, and in the spring of 1821 they each sent out a four-horse wagon with plows, ete., seed corn and potatoes, alko a stock of provisions and a Two men were sent with each

Elias took father's team. They cleared and fenced land, and put in corn and potatoes. When the summer's work was done, one man each, with the wagons, returned home, leaving a horse apiece for the three nen remaining. Brother James remained, and brother Elias returned.

Now, to fatten the hogs, slanghter and pack them down, and store the corn and potatoes for the winter, was the work of those remaining; then they left all in the care of Mr. Cox's family - the only white resident there. and retnrned to their homes. The horse left for brother James got away and went home. The alarm at home was very great when the horse came withont its rider; all were sure he had been killed until a letter explained.

Having heard much of the Fort Defiance region, brother James went there before coming home, and was so captivated with it that, on his return, he persnaded father to change the location of his future home from Fort Finley to Fort Defiance.

Nothing of interest transpired after brother James left us for Fort Finley, until we came to Okonoksee's village, on the Auglaize, thirteen miles above Fort Defiance, where Charloe now stands. 'These Indians were of the Ottawa nation.called by the whites Tawas.

They were civil, ind manifested a curiosity to see the big horses and the "big wigwams on wheels," ex amining the cover, how it was kept on, and often exclaiming "Ugh! big pashekoksee;" meaning big horses. This was a great day with them, being the

After we left the village, we hastened on as fast as possible, to get out of the reach of the Indians before they began their drunken dance, At noon we halted for rest and dinner, when, to our great discomfiture, we found we were without anything to strike fire, James having heen given all the flints and pow-

Mother had given the little Indian papooses at the villages all the bread we had, and we could not have any dinner, We let the horses rest and eat and then pushed on, hoping to come to an Indian camp, or fire left by them, bat were disappointed. Night came on, and we prepared to spend it the best we could. 'The horses were tied and fed; the feed-box firmly fixed on the tongue of the wagon, and the horses tied on either side of it. The family, supperless and without fires to keep off the wild animals, were arranged as follows: JTather and brother Elias lay under the wagon, mother, the three daughters and baby brother slept in the wagon.

The cow, perceiving danger, got her calf close to the wagon, and then lay close to it on the outer side. 'The wolves howled alarmingly uear, frightening the horses so that our young teamster, brother Elias, needed to be up the most of the sight to keep them from breaking loose.

The next morning we started early, in the hope of finding fire, but were disappointed; so at noon we stopped and unloaded the wagon until we reached the chest and got the flints, when we soon had a fire made, food for our dear mother, who was almost overcome by her fast of thirty hows and her care of her nursing babe, ten months old. After we were all refreshed When the sun by a good dinner, we started on. was getting low, we came to a little stream that was difficult to cross. While looking and planning what to do, an Indian on foot came up the bank. Father made him understand, by motions of the hands, that he wanted to cross.

the trail, where we encamped for the might. The Indian lighted our fire. He was invited to eat supper, * . . ¢ and after he ate he pointed upward, saying " Heap "ae . . . ir . Goo ; bish " (rain); then pointing to the calf said, " Heap anemoose" (wolves). He then took up a brand of

The stream that we had just crossed was 'Three Mile Run, so we were only three miles from the end of our journey, and this was the last night of our joy and the great delight of brother Robert, who had been there several days. My parents were pleased to find Mr. William Preston, a gentleman of intelligence and of pleasing manners, in possession of the fort. He had been there most of the time since the war.

There were two gool log houses in the fort, built for the officers, one of which Mr. Preston's family occupied; in the other, my father's family found nar row but quite comfortable quarters. x

The fort was all standing in good preservation, excepting the barracks on the banks of the Auglaize. The bank here was very steep, and commanded a fine view of the low land on the opposite side of the river. The block-houses, the four large gates with sentinelboxes over them, were good, and the pickets were in good order, and strong enough to be a protection even then. The block-house on the northeast corner of the fort, had a good cellar, that had been used for a magazine during the war. From the cellar an underground way led to the river, by which the soldiers could get water without being seen by the enemy. In the block-honse at the end of the barracks, facing southeast, were two or three iron-bound chests, full of written documents of the war, left by the army oflicers.

In this block-house was a hand mill, with bukr mill stones, that ground quite good meal when the corn was ripe and hard. There was alsoa large grater, like a horseradish grater, on which we could grate corn just out of the milk - this did not make bread, but mush and griddle cakes. This fort was built for the war of 1812, by Gen. Winchester, but This fort (Winchester's) stood on the bank of the Auglaize River, about two hundred yards above the point where Wayne's old Fort Defiance stood. Some of the stumps of the pickets, and some of the embankments of Wayne's old fort (Detiance) were still plainly to be

Very few white people lived in that vicinity at the time of our arrival. Four French families were living in log cabins on the banks of the Maumee, above the point, and three American families on the An elaize, one mile above the fort- - two of these by name of Driver, one a silversmith, the other a shoe-maker. Six miles below Fort Defiance, at Camp Number Three, there lived three American families, namely: Mr. John Perkins', Mr. Montgomery livans', and Mr Hively's. Two of these families had looms, and wove flax and tow linen. Every farme:'s wife took her spinning- wheel with her to the new country. There In 1824, my banks of the Maumee, and was kept by a Frenchman; the other was on the other side of the Maumee and was kept by Mr. Rice. - The latter was quite a store; with everything for the Indians - blankets, bright cotton shawls, beads, ribbons, cloth (such as was worn

The Ottawa Indians brought the most of their trade to Detiance. otter, beaver, raccoon, bear, muskrat, mink, fox and wild cat, also dressed deer skins; and, besides these, beeswax (from the wild honey), ginseng, cranberries and wild gooseberries.

The squaws made beautiful floor mats out of the large rushes which grew on the islands and at the river's edge. others yellow. 'The mats were from one to two yards long and one yard wide.

The Government paid the Miami Indians tlieir annuities at Fort Wayne. The money, all silver, was earried on pack-horses through Defiance. Four or five gentlemen, with the men who drove the packhorses, made up the company. They had to camp out to control his young men better; but their hopes were upon his elder son, a fine young man, who would soon come into the chiefship, and whom every one liked. He died, however, the first summer we lived at the fort.

The Indians were on their way to Detroit to draw their annuities, and, as their custom was, they enall the Indians to collect, when they would together make the journey.

The young chief's horse hroke its hobbles and ran away; he and others ran very fast to catch the horse, and while heated he drank hastily and freely: of what he supposed was river water (he was temperate), but on draining the enp he exclaimed " Ugh! Whisky!" He Jaid down to sleep, and never waked. His corpse was brought over to the fort, and buried just a little way above the fort, on the high bank of the Auglaize, molested in any way. hostility of the Indians were groundless. very few depredations committed by the men on the property of the whites, and when they did, it was when drunk on the whisky sold to them by the traders, Sometimes pigs would be found with arrows in their

At his feet were placed a two-quart pail full of soup, together with a wooden spoon, and his pipe and This was the outfit of the dead chief for his journey to the great hunting-grounds.

The grave was dug so shallow that the corpse was nearly even with the surface of the ground. My brother James hastened and brought some clapboards to lay over the grave before they covered it with earth.

The Indians would not permit more than a slight and flat depth of earth over the grave. Before the graye was closed, Segatchaway, the brother of the old chief, stood over the grave and made a loud and vehement speech, threatening any man, white or Indian, with death who would rob the corpse of its ex-

All this time the young chief's parents sat on the ground, dressed without their ornaments. Ockonoksee's hair hung down upon his shoulders; dust was crossed like a tailor's His wife sat by his side, her head oftentimes bowed to the ground, and, moaning low, she would beat the ground with her hand.

General Wayne, and who was now the heir of the chiefship, kept all the while close to his father, with behavior as dignified. When the ceremonies were over, all the Indians left in great haste for their camp, except Ockonoksee and his wife; they remained, whites, all joined in the pursuit of him all that day, and some of the Indians kept on tothe Indian village on Blanchard Fork, but did not find him. The squaw lived in great agony until the next afternoon, when had arrived, and they were very much excited. They buried her on the bank, near the wigwam where she died, and then moved over to the Defiance side of the river - men, squaws, papooses, horses, dogs, campkettles and all - and camped on the green just below our cabins. Some of the men began to gather wood and brush, and others rails from off father's calf-pasture fence for a great fire, while others hobbled and belled the horses. The squaws, in the meanwhile, were stealthily carrying off armfuls of bows and arrows, tomahawks, knives and guns, to hide them in the

When Ockonoksee saw how nicely his son's grave was protected, he inquired who did it, and, on learn ing it was brother James, he seut for him. Having a mark set up, he selected two young Indians to shoot _at it, and told them whoever, firing once, would hit the mark, should be his adupted son. They eagerly tried, but both missed it. Ockonoksee then bade James to shoot at the mark. James did so and hit it; whereupon Ockonoksee took a roundabout, or sailor's jacket, that belonged to his deceased son, and put it upon James' shoulders, thns investing him with the honor of his son's place.

Ever after this the old chief claimed James as his, and whenever he came to the fort he exercised much anthority over him, and required many favors breed shot his wife. She was an Ottawa squaw. They were on their way to Detroit, and were camping on the other side cf the Maumee, waiting for others while he re-loaded his gun. As she was going down the bank, he shot her in the buck, and then ran to the nearest canoe, crossed over the river below the point, and was soon lost to sight, first in the corn-fields and then in the woods. The few Indians who were there, and my brothers James and Elias, with others of the

When it was quite dark, a squaw came into our yard and motioned us to put out all the lights and keep within the house. She said, "Indian mad at white man because half-white killed squaw." We gratefully acted upon her advice. The green was lighted up with the great fire, and we, being in the dark, could distinctly see every movement of the Indians. Not a squaw nor papoose was to be seen; they were all hidden in the bushes. The war-dance commenced to the time of an instrument that sounded like a negro banjo. They had stripped themselves of all clothing except a piece of broadcloth about the loins. They divided into two parties, dancing different ways and then meeting as would enemies, all the time having the wildest gestures, throwing their arms and springing off the ground and keeping up a shrill war-whoop.

They looked frightful with their faces painted in red streaks on one side and on the other black, and feathers of different colors in their hair. We were thoroughly alarmed; even brother James, ow brave pioneer, sat quietly in the house. The war-dance kept up till the great fire had burned down to a mass of coals; then they began to seream and beat upon their camp-kettles, making the dogs howl. We could see the squaws and papooses among them now, and in the height of the yelling and pounding we heard the distressed squeals of a pig and soonsmelled appease their wrath." They cooked, ate and slept. The next morning they were astir early and preparing for a start, and were sober and very quiet. Father walked out among them and called the attention of some of the Indians to the pigs in the pen and holding up three fingers made them understand that there were three pigs last night and only two this

"Wawhaugh! waugh! that whoever took them was not good. were six months old and of fine breed. The Indians were not commonly thievish. They did not steal from each other and very rarely from the whites; and in that thinly settled country, where warriors to restrain them in their violent demonstrations toward the whites, and the whites thought he did not care to. He was intoxicated almost all the | time, and every year he became worse and worse. His his children were now dead except two daughters; one of them was married to a brave, noble Indian, and their little son was the last direct heir to the chiefship.

his mother's lap, killing him also. The indignation against him was very great. The chiefs of the other villages came to Okonoksee's village to try him for the crime.

that he must die. An Indian brought the word to Defiance that he was to be beheaded the next day. Messrs. Preston, Warren and Kepler, with my brothers and some others, went up to the village to see, as they supposed, the last of the old chief. When they got there the Indian men were formed in a circle with the condemned man sitting on the ground in the midst, wife by his side. The Indians made room for the whites to join the circle. The chiefs were in council in a wigwam set apart for that purpose. After a time the chiefs came out, and walked up to the condemned chief. One of them made a speech; then they all walked around him, Having done this, the oldest chief, with some words, laid one hand on Okonoksee's head and the other hand on his' mouth; chiefs in turn said and did the same. The words were evidently the reprieve from the sentence of the |

- Indian, a distant relative of the old chief, into the circle. They put on him a wampum belt and some silver ornaments, and with other ceremonies, whick I have forgotten, they installed him chief. Every one, both Indians and whites, were dissatistied with " George." the new chief.

The Indians neither loved nor feared him. There was little difference in Okonoksee's lofty bearing after he was deposed, but he did not boast so much about floors made of puncheons. The trees were felled and sawed into proper lengths, split into puncheons, dressed off with a broadax and adze, placed evenly on the sleepers, driven closely together and firmly wedged. My brother James loved to work in wood, and my father had taken a good supply of tools to Defiance. This double-cabin, with a large entry between, was our home for several years. Here we entertained

We had at this time neither church nor minister, nor schools; we had no physician, no roads, no car riages and no mills. We had not a post office even, but had to use Piqua or Fort Meigs (Maumee City) post office, and the mail carrier who carried the mail from Piqua via St. Marys, Fort Wayne and Fort Defiance to Fort Meigs, would mail our letters for us, and when he took letters out for us he paid the postage and we refunded him.

fered many deprivations in that new country neighbors hastened to each other's help in sickness or trouble of any kind and were ready to Jend a helping hand in putting up their cabins, ete., ete. Besides our good neighbors, we every week met men of refinement and polite manners passing through to Fort Wayne. My father was a farmer. He cultivated part of the bottom land on the other side of the Auglaize River, It was very productive aud yielded fine corps of corn, potatoes, melons, ete.

The land was not yet surveyed. I think the contract was given that year to Capt. James Riley. I remember when he came to the fort; he was entertained at our house. Svon after that the surveying was commenced. The surveyors suffered greatly while at their work from the mosquitoes and gnats. The surveyors came frequently to Defiance for a rest.

We were at Fort Defiance nearly a year before there was a religious meeting of any kind held. The first was held by a Presbyteriay minister, who was passing through; and put up at Preston's. My mother invited him to preach in our house, and she sent word around to all the people to come, and they came, French and all. .

It was « year and a half after that before we heard another sermon. The second was preached by Rey. Solomon Manear, from Ross County, a young

Shane's apple tree. The tree was full of apples. allowed to play under it. It gave a fine shade. trunk was short and thick, the top large and spreading. wigwam where Shane was born stood near there, and on that day his father planted this tree, and when he was a little boy, the Indian boys when mad at him

Having no mills, father had to send to Swan Creek (now Toledo). for flour and salt also. These were hauled to the head of the Maumee Rapids and from there brought in pirogues. It was hard work, both in low and high water - in low water they often had to get into the water ard push and pull the pirogue over the riffles.

In the early years of our pioneer life, death visited our family and took from us our lovely sister Nancy, seventeen years of age. She died of the tions of a pioneer life were most keenly felt - no religious services to comfort and console, and not even a beautiful coffin in which to lay one of the loveliest of earth's fair flowers away. Nothing but the trees of the forest were available for this, and Messrs. James Partce and John Plummer, members of Mr. Perkins' family, came and made the coffin out of puncheons of a black walnut tree. They planed and waxed the wood; they had to use nails instead of screws.

Our little settlement did not increase in numbers until after the land came into market. The land office was at Piqua. Messrs. Phillips and Leavel purchased the site of Detiance, and laid out the town. Mr. John Perkins bought land on the Tiffin River, where Brunersburg now stands. This stream was called by the Indians Bean River, but the surveyors named it in honor of the first Governor of Ohio. Mr. Perkins built a grist and saw mil] on this river.

People now came and settled permanently, and frame buildings with brick chimneys took the place of log cabins with sticks and clay chimneys.

Previous to this, the people had to go to Fort Meigs ily and moved into an old trading house, and opened school in an old blacksmith shop that stood near | | City). Mr. Rice claimed the apples, but the scholars were | The |

The first officers were: Circuit Judge - Lane, of New York; Associate Judges, Robert Shirley, Sr., John Perkins and Pierce Evans; Sheriff, William Preston; Clerk of the Court, Dr. Jobn Evans.

Wo were still without religious services and a house of worship, and Brother Nathan applied to the Ohio Conference of the Metholist Episcopal Church, and in 1827 Rev. Elias Pattee Defiance Mission. Rev. Pattee soon gathered the men together with their axes and teams, and logs were cut, hewed and hanled to a Jot presented by the proprietors of the town plat, and a church erected. It was a simple structure - walls, windows, roof and floor - but no chimney. In this we worshiped when the weather was warm; when cold we held our meetings in private houses. When the brick court house was built, our meetings were held there, our society having outgrown the small accommodations

My father bought land on the opposite side of the Auglaize liver, one mile from Defiance, improved it and moved his family there. My brothor Nathan settled five miles up the Auglaize; brother Elias, three miles; brother Robert on game stream uear

Brother Nathan sowed wheat largely, and when his grain was to be cut (they used sickles), he proposed to his harvesters to pay them an extra shilling a day instead of providing them (as had been the eustom) with whisky, as he wasa man of temperance principles. Of the twenty men, only one preferred the whisky, and he was dismissed. ;

Or my father's family, brother Robert and myself. My sister Mary married Mr. Thomas Warren, of Defiance, and died in a little less than a year afterward. I married Rey. James B. Austin, of the Ohio Confereuce of the Methodist Episcopal Church; at the time of his death, in 1857, he was a member: of the Cincinnati Conference. Brother John died while a young man and

Pioneer Recollections Of Philip Shirley

PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS OF PHILIP SHIRLEY. We give below an article, dated February 26, 1883, from that worthy old pioneer, Philip Shirley, Dupont, Putnam Co., Ohio: avoid mosyuitoes. It was a show to immigrants, consisting of Indian men and women and children nearly all naked up to ten or twelve years old, more than a hundred horses and more than a hundred dogs, all in a state of active enjoyment.

Oue mile south of Detiance, I saw the first herd of deer, some nine in umber, bounding by our emigrant train, apparently not much frightened, and seen and remarked by nearly every one.

On the Ist of April, 1825, we arrived in Fort Defiance, some moving into the Fort, some moving down on the Maumee River. My father moved into grandfather's (Robert Shirley, Jr.) house, double log (cabins), for a few days; then on his grandfather's farm, later known as the Frazee farm, one mile south of De.

miles south of Defiance, now known as the Town Newton farm, into his new double log cabin, which was good enough, and used for a dwelling, tavern, church. and Justice's office when my father was elected Justice of the Peace.

County, March 1, 1825, with sixteen other families, among whom were the Tittles, Hammons and other families, and when a wagon would stop all would stop and help repair it, and it was on one of these occasions that I saw two Indians for the first time in full costume. There were several four-horse teams, roads around bad places and fallen trees, which made a great distance of unbroken road. At the mouth of the Blanchard River, Thomas McClish had lately settled, who was the last white settler until we arrived near Defiance. we were met by several pirogues that carried part of our loads and assisted in crossing Little Auglaize, Blue Creek, Flatrock and Six-Mile Greeks. We passed Occonoxee's Indian town some twelve or fifteen miles south of Fort Defiance, which contained some 300 Ottawa Indians, who had a long line of small hewed-log houses, some fifty or more in number, and other canvas or elm-bark wigwams for dwellings, and a few sleeping places fixed some fifteen or twenty feet above ground on four posts set in the ground to day of October, 1849. My father was married to Mrs. Ann P. Hankins abort 1852; then sold his farm and bought and made a farm at old Milldam, four miles south of Defiance; then sold and moved to Junction, being one of the proprietors of that town, where he died in 1872, after an active life of over forty-seven years, holding the office of County Commissioner in Williams Couuty and acting as Colonel of the militia for a number of years. After Paulding County was organized he served as Justice of the Peace, and was an accepted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as class leader and doing other church duties, and being a member for over fifty years, having belonged, together with my mother, to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ross County.

| They having raised seven boys and six girls, five of whom are still living, myself in Dupont, Putnam At the Little Auglaize, at Fort Brown,

County; C. D. Shirley, in Clark's Hill, Tippecanoe Jounty, Ind.; John W. Shirley, in Paulding County; Stephen M. Shirley, in Defiance County, and Nancy M. Dils, in Defiance.

_ father bought and donated to the Methodist Kpiscopal Church a town lot, on which the neighbors and minister, Rey, Pattee, built a h ewed-log church, near where the present brick church now stands. About the

Phebe Hudson, settled on their farm, four miles south of Defiance, now known as the Shots farm, once while Uncle Elias and Aunt Phebe were eating their breakfast, in came a large, rough looking old Indian who said he was buckata (hungry, and pointing down his throat. Uncle told aunt to give him some victuals on a plate (which was good treatment for Indian beggars) and generally well received, but on this occasion the Indian appeared angry and asked to eat at the table which uncle denied him. He ate his meal, appearing to be angry, and left in an unthankful manner. About three weeks afterward, Uncle Elias Shirley was attending a public sale of James Hudson's property, preparatory to moving to Fort Wayne to work at the brick mason trade, and about 11 o'clock, he noticed that same old Indian and a young Indian looking on at the sale and observed the usual mean countenance of the old Indian. The two Indians soon left and went up to Elias Shirley's house, finding his wife and child alone. The old Indian ordered the woman to get the two Indians something to eat and to put it on the table. He ordered what to get, and watched her closely while she got it, and the tea and sugar from the bureau drawer, ete. When the meal was got agreeably to order, the two Indians sat down to eat, the old Indian ordering her to get whatever was needed. The young Indian got up from the table first and started out of the house, and when he got to the door, and beckoned the woman to him and told her to make her escape for the old Indian intended to kill her, and the young Indian went up the road. ' The old Indian finished his meal and went to the window and leoked up and down the road, apparently to see if any one was passing, and while so doing the woman took the child and ran toward the river, thinking to wade across the river to Abraham Hudson's farm, but the old Indian overtook her at the river, after running a quarter of a mile. He drew his butcher knife and drove her back to the house and set a chair in the middle of the floor and made her sit down in it, and told her if she got up he would kill her He then took hold of the child and tried to take it from her. But she was resolved So they pulled till she thought it was badly hurt. He finally let go of the child and commenced dancing around her. He soon went to the window again to watch the road. She went out of the house in another direction and got behind a large sugar tree, and feared the child would ery. She saw the old Indian come out of the house and look all around, and then he ran toward the river as before, and she took to the woods and went down the river two or three miles to where the sale was. They were still selling, and she, knowing her safety, and not icine nna the eRe stood in nike thicket of bushes near by quite awhile, until the sale closed, when she appeared and told her story, when her husband, Elias Shirley, took his gun, mounted a horse and rode for his house, followed by his brothers Nathan, James and Robert and many neighbors, and when they reached the house they found it knee deep in feathers, two feather beds having been ripped open and emptied on the floor. A few gallons of lard had been poured over the feathers. The chairs had been thrown on the fire in the fire-place, and then thrown on the feathers. Medicine bottles were all broken The bureau had been robbed of its contents, sugar, tea, etc., a large iron kettle had been chopped down to the bottom with Shirley's ax, and all was quiet. Some forty neighbors went in pursuit next day, rationed for an Indian hunt. They went to Occonoxee's village, but the Indian had gone to the woods to hunt. They ate their dinner at the village and while there some men drew a figure of an Indian on one of their doors with a big heart, and several of the men shot the heart full of holes. The men divided into companies of ten men each and separated, and went up Flatrock Creek, Blue Creek and Little Auglaize River, with orders not to shoot a gun until the Indian was found and then they were to shoot signal guns until they all got together. One company found the two Indians at their camp on I latrock Creek, and signaled all together. When Nathan Shirley and Elias Shirley and their company came up to the Indians, the old Indian's head was all white with feathers, and Elias Shirley begged for a gun to shoot the old Indian, but Nathan and others refused to give him a gun, and they had the old Indian lodged in jail at Defiance, where he was con.

fined for some time for trial. The young Indian was allowed to goat large, as being only a coward in bad company. The chiefs of the Ottawa nations were called together by their agent and a settlement made by paying Elias Shirley $100, it being a low estimate of the property destroyed without any con pensation for damages. The Indians said this Indian was a bad man and often abused their families and caused them much trouble. They said they were sorry that Shirley was prevented from shooting the Indian, and the Indian was released from prison with orders never to be seen in that neighborhood, and if he ever came back Shirley was permitted to shoot him. Elias Shirley said he met him once afterward in Detiance, but when they recognized each other the Indian dodged away and he never saw him again. The next summer, when Nathan Shirley and some hands were clearing on his new farm preparatory to moving, and Segatchaway (Oc-co-nox and ae 'ies TAatane Oe. CO-noOx-ee sent: to Nathan Shirley: "You are Colonel Shirley, and I am Oc-co-nox-ee, chief; your men shoot Indian on wigwam door, Indian no like it." Shirley seeing the situation, said: Come to the house; and Shirley took a piece of charcoal and drew a large picture on a board of a white man having a bat on, and a large heart, and said, " Indian, you shoot at it. Several of the Indians took aim and shot through the heart. Then Oc-co-nox-ee shook hands with Shirley and said, " good friends," and the Indians went away well sat isfied.

Poke-shaw, a Pottawatomie Indian, married Occo-nox-ee's sister, a lady who had been married to a French gentleman by the name of Lumbar, who had a farm at Delaware town on the Manmee River. They had two children, a boy and a girl, and then parted, he keeping the boy Peter, and she taking the girl, who made a fine Indian lady or squaw, while Peter Lumbar sold dry goods to the Indians and whites. There were several children in the Pokeshaw family, and Poke-shaw was buried on Six-mile Creek, and his widow and her brothers, Oc-co nox-ee and Se-gatch-a-way, went to the far West.

There was a Christian Delaware Indian by the name of Caleb Lewis, who was married to a Muncie Squaw, and they had two children, Was-keel-no, a boy, and Chola, a girl. Caleb Lewis would attend church whenever he could, and work in the harvest field. He appeared quarter white, and would call his danghter Chola, my wife, which made us very shy of each other. One Sabbath, my brothers and myself were taking observations down where abont five Indian families were camped in summer wigwams made of elm hark on posts and poles at the river side. We had a good time. Mrs. Caleb Lewis took down fiom off the bark roof the breast bone of a turkey, with considerable amount of flesh on it and completely covered with fly blows, apparently a pint or more blows. I watched the cook and saw breast and all put into the kettle without the loss of a fly blow, and thickened with flour and cooked and poured into a wooden bowl surrounded by wooden spoons. Lewis invited us boys to eat dinner,

James W. Riley, of St. Marys, once told Caleb Lewis that in the next world he would be a horse and he would ride him there. Caleb Lewis told Riley that in the next world he would be a snake and he would beat him on the head with a elub, ete.

Mrs, Julia A. Kiser was born of American parents May 24, 1815, in Paint 'Township, Ross Co., Ohio., near Chillicothe, and immigrated to this county in the fall of 1834. Tho father's name was Jehu P. Downs, «a native of Maryland. He followed the trade of shoemaker for some years, but being possessed of a venturesome spirit, he went to sea before the mast; unfortunately for him, the vessel was seized by the English and the crew thrown into a London prison; part of the crew took the oath of allegiance to British Government «and were immediately placed upon a man of war; he and his comrade, being good Americans, refused to take the oath. They languished in prison nine long months; the authorities at last becoming tired of keeping them, released them by kicking them out destitute of money, clothes or friends; the comrade disappearing, leaving him to fight the battle of life alone, he sought and found work in a cobbler's stall, until he obtained money to buy clothes, meantime watching an opportunity of escape, which soon oceurred by the death of a sailor, and he secured his berth on board a vessel, following the sea seven years before his return to his native land. He afterward enlisted as a soldier in the war of 1812, came home on furlough in 1813, and was married to Elizabeth Vandervort, of Virginia. He served until the close of the war. During his wanderings as a soldier, he visited Ft. Defiance, and being highly pleased with the appearance of the country, was never satisfied until he located here in the fall of 1834, where he remained until his death, which occurred August, 1866, aged ninety-three. They had three children - Julia A., Oliver P (who died September 8, 1830) and Angus L., who learned the saddler_business, which he followed successfully for many years, He married Sophia C. Graper, a native of Hanover, Germany, in 1843. He was very fond of hunting and fishing, and had many interesting adventures incident to frontier life. ISo7. After the death of Jehu P. Downs, his widow married Thomas Warren, who was alsu one of the pioneers of the country. She died May, 1878, at the age of eighty-five years. Mr. Downs and family came to this place from Palestine, Pickaway Co., Ohio, situated about twenty miles from Circleville, moving the whole way by wagon, the trip other towns; between the latter place and the mouth of the Little Auglaize, the roads were almost impassable, the teams stalling as often as four times a day, making it necessary for them to unload and wade out goods. Upon their arrival cae they could find no unoccupied rooms, and were compelled to take shelter in an old French cabin, dingy with age and smoke, situated on the lands where the upper ends of East Defiance now stands. The first visit Mrs. Kiser made, at a distance from this place, after locating here, was the whole journey on horseback, a distance of more than three hundred miles, passing in the route through Maumee, Findlay, Upper Sandusky, Fre: mont, Mansfield, Wooster, New Philadelphia, Sandyville, Harrison and a numberof smaller towns and villages.

swamp, where the mud and water was midside to a common horse, compelling the riders to sit with their feet drawn up on the saddle to keep them dry. They stopped at Ottaway on Sunday, July 3, for dinner, at a house of private entertainment. The proprietor at first refused his guests anything to eat, or to provide anything for their horses; but finally gave them some bread without butter, tea without sugar and onions without salt, also sent his man to the field a half mile away for green oats to feed their horses, declar- some time previous to their marriage), Mary, the second daughter, has in her possession the old clock which grandfather Downs brought to this county. It is a tall coffin-shaped affair, after the old Dutch style,

'and a great curiosity in these days of style and novelty. Mrs. Kiser resides with her son John H. at the old homestead at the corner of Wayne and First streets. Is in the enjoyment of good health, having lived to witness the progress of Defiance from an al. most howling wilderness to a city of 7,000 inhabitants.

Mrs. Sophia Downs, widow of Angus L. Downs, and daughter of Henry C. and Elizabeth Graper, was born in Hanover, Germany, November 27, 1819, and immigrated to America with her parents, arriving at She was mar- expecting fresh supplies by wagon hourly, which, owing to the condition of the roads, was several days behind. fare, and the assurance of the host of fresh supplies ina few days, started on their journey. In 1838, Mrs. Kiser, then Julia A. Downs, was married to John HI. Kiser, of Wayne County, Ohio Mr. Kiser was born in Jefferson County, Ohio. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania; his grandparents of German descent. He was one of a large family of children, now all dead, save one who resides in Noble County, Ind. In July, he moved to this place, bringing with hima large stock of goods, his being the first saddle and harness shop in the county. He afterward entered into the mereantile business; was also Treasurer of Defiance County, and held offices of trust on the eanal, He took the census of Defiance County in 1860; died March 19, 1861. They had five children John H., born May 16, 1839, resides in Detiance County, Onto married Mary E. Bridenbangh July 21, 1870, has three children living, Victoria A.,

Ashton July 20,1865, has two children, resides in Defiance; James L., egpn February 16, 1847, died August 25, 1855; Callie E., born April 6, 1849, marvied §. H. Cave February 7, 1874. has one child, resides in Terrace, Utah. Victoria and Callie were 6ngaged in mission teaching among the Mormon's (for

1819, and removed with his parents to Defiance Coun. ty in the fall of 1834; of the children who are living, Emory W. graduated in medicine at Cincinnati, Ohio, March 1, 1873, and commenced his profession the same year, and was married to Nellie M. Thrall, Oc tober 8, 1873. To them were born three children - Thaddeus A. and Charles F. and Mabel Clara. Ella CG. Downs married an attorney, A. J. Mitchell, of Mansfield, Ohio. Caroline E. Downs married a phy. sician, Dr. James M. Colliers, March, 1877, and now resides and practices his profession in Plymouth, Mich. Alice M. Downs married Fletcher E. Morris, of Manstield, Ohio, December 12, 1878, at which place she now resides.

The grandfather of the family, Jehu P. Downs, was a native of Maryland, and his mother a Virginian lady. He was in the war of 1812, and subsequently was a frontier ranger.

Mrs. Hannah McFarlan was born February 13, 1810,in Washington Township, Columbia Co., Penn., and was the fourth child of a family of twelve children, three boys and nine girls, of Edmund Herin and Rhoda (Young) Herin. The children all grew up, were married and raised families, except the third child, who died in infancy. Mr. Herin was born in the State of New Jersey May 25, 1772, and died in Defiance County, Ohio, in September, 1838. His wife, Rhoda, was born November 20517 13) imewren:- ton, N. J., at which place they were married. Mr. Herin moved from Trenton, N. J., to the forks of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. From being a cooper by trade, went to work in the salt works in that county, making barrels for shipping purposes; from thore he moved to Licking County, Ohio, and bought a farin near the little town of Nashport. In June, 1834, while living at this place, it was visited with a severe frost, cutting down everything - corn, potatoes, etc., freezing the loaves on the trees so they all became crisped, and doing great damage to the fruit and vegetables genorally. In 1834, Mr. Herin came to Defiance County. The subject of this sketch (his daughter) was married at the age of sixteen, February, 1826, to Tarlton McFarlan, of Muskingum County, Ohio, by whom she had the following children, viz.: James (deceased), Edmund (deceased), Martha (deceased), Theodosia, married to Rollin C. Fisher, who is a resident of Defiance, Sarah J., who resided at Findlay, Obio, and William (deceased). Mr. McFarlan arrived in this county with his wife and four children in February, 1835. There was only an Indian trail leading through the black swamp at that time, through which they came. My. McFarlan and his brother had to cut a road for the team, while Mrs. McFarlan carried a babe of four months, and a of thirteen summers. The sugar maple of the forest afforded them their sugar, but for six weeks they had no bread except corn pounded in a mortar, and sifted, from which they made their Johnny-cake. Flour was $16 per barrel, pork $20 per barrel; groceries and goods were shipped by pirogues and flat-boats to this place. Pioneers were often lost in the woods in coming to this place. Two men, who came through were without food except two small biscuits each; when they arrived at her house they were so famished they begged her to give them some raw venison to satisfy their craving appetites until she could hastily prepare a meal for them. Mr. McFarlan died March 10, 1841. In September, 1846, Mrs. MeFarlan was married to her present husband Isaac Hoover, by whom she had one child - Kate E., born February 17,1848. Mrs, McFarlan has passed her threescore years and ten, and has witnessed the many changes of Defiance County tor about a half century past - having seen the forest give way to fine cultivated farms, the log cabin to fine residences and the town of Defiance from a few pioneer families to a city of about 7,000, and now, with implicit confidence in her able for the energy, decision und promptness with which he performed all his duties, both official and private. He was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he was a strong supporter. He removed to Miami County, and while serving as Clerk of the Court of that county died, October 2, 1863.

Frederick F. Steveus was born in Fairtield County. Ohio, February 26, 1814. In 1825, he removed with his mother to Putnam County, and two years later became a resident of Defiance. He hired out to Judge Robert Shirley at $4 per month, to work on the farm, $1.25 being deducted per month for washing and mending. The next season he worked for Pierce Evans, six months for $6 per month, and in the fall engaged to clerk for Foreman Evans six months for $25. Hespent his winters in Mr. Evans' store until he was of age, except one year when he worked for Moses Rice, an early Indian trader. Mr. Stevens married Elizabeth Oliver July 13, 1836. She was the daughter of John Oliver (for whom he was clerking at this time) and niece of Oliver Spencer, who was a captive boy with the Indians at Defiance. By this marriage Mr. Stevens had six children, three sons and three daughters. His wife died in 1851, and he reunited in marriage with Susan Forest, by whom he has had nine children. Mr. Stevens was engaged in mercantile pursuits and other business enterprises until 1874, when he removed to Seneca County. He is there dealing in live stock, and although nearly seventy years of age retains the vigor and activity of his youth.

children were Michael, Sabina, Bernard, Mary. Margaret and Catharine. Three of them are dead - Bernard, Sabina and Mary. is now living in Defiance. Mrs. George W. Lowery is living at San Jose, Cal. Michael, the subject of this sketch, who resides in Defiance, immigrated to America in 1846, being forty-five days on the passage. The vessel ran onto a reef and sprung aleak. A heavy swell of the sea finally relieved the vessel from this position, and a pilot boat came along and towed the vessel into Quebec.

Mr. Gorman went first to Montreal, then tu Toronto,then took steamboat across to the States, then by rail to Buffalo (the cars being drawn by horses); from there took steamboat for Cleveland, and from there went to Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio. Remained there five months, then went to Beaver Falls, on the Monongahela; then to Wheeling, and from there to Cairo, Ill.; then went steamboating as deck hand, retracing his steps in a measure, in his pocket. He began work for Edwin Phelps at $1 a day. He was married to Sophia Hoverstadt, of this place, September 11, 1851, by whom he had ten children - Bernard J., Michael P. (deceased), Patrick W. (deceased), Theresa S., Anna C. (deceased), and one not named died in infancy. Mr. Gorman about this time commenced the grocery and provision business at the lower lock on the canal, and nearly opposite the Russell House. Continued the business there about seven years, in partnership with his brother Bernard, 'to whom he sold out and who carried on the business for two or three years, and then, on account of ill health, was obliged to give it up. Bernard traveled about in search of sume climate in which to regain his health. Went to Michigan up in the pinery, from there to Germany; remained there about three months; then returned to Cleveland to try the water cure, but finding no relief for his complaint (asthma) was induced to go to Colorado, for which place he started out May 6, arriving at Denver in a few days (growing rapidly worse), at which place he died May 24, 1872. Michael bought a farm and farmed for about two years, then sold out and returned to the grocery and provision business, entering pretty largely into speculation in pork and beef, in the winter of 1858- 59, which speculation resulted in a loss of $17,000, in the winter of 1864-65, which nearly broke him up financially. But Mr. Gorman was not the man to sit down and brood over losses, but buckled on the armor again for business, and to-day is doing a very thriving grocery and provision business with his eldest sun, Bernard, on the corner of Fifth and Clinton streets, believing that where a man loses his money is the place to find it again. Mr. sixty-fourth year and is robust and healthy, and enjoys all the comforts of life and has a beautiful family residence on South Jefferson street. | Mrs. Gorman's parents - Bernard and Elizabeth (Stertiman) Hoverstadt, immigrated from Germany, Minster, Province of Westphalia, to this country in 1835. They had four children, viz.: Sophia M., Elizabeth, Bernard Henry and Hermann Jokn, the two latter being twins. Mr. Gorman was elected Commissioner of Defiance County in the fall of 1882, and is now serving in that capacity.

John Tuttle. Prominent among the names worthy of honorable mention is that of John Tuttle, a native of Warren County, Ohio, who was born August 16, 1819, and emigrated to Defiance in September, 1833. He had the misfortune to lose his parents almost in his infancy, and was thrown upon the world to seek a home among strangers. finding a shelter in any of the few cabins that were here at that time, the Stoner family. with whom young Tuttle migrated, were obliged to procure a cabin on the Kepler farm, four miles down the river. Here young Tuttle found employment with Mr. Kepler in husking corn and digging potatoes, receiving for a day's waves one bushel of either corn or potatoes. He soon gained the confidence and friendship of his employer, who was a kind and companionable man, and a practical hunter, and young Tuttle was soon invited to join him in his night sports of coon hunting, and immediately made a joint partner in the coon trade generally. This partnership, or sort of co-operative industry, proved a good thing for both parties in the end. Coons were plenty and their pelts in demand at fair prices, and by the time winter set in they had, by aid of dog and gun, procured over one hundred pelts. The income from this source, small though it was, rendered important service to the Kepler family that season, for before the winter set in Mr. K. was taken sick, and but for the money derived from the sale of those furs (carried a long distance to market by ycung Tuttle), the family must have suffered greatly through the winter. the season of 1834, the village of Brunersburg was laid out, and with the prospect of plenty of work the Kepler family, together with young Tuttle, were induced to move to that place. Mr. Tuttle in bis younger days worked for whomsoever would furnish him honorable employment, not refusing at times barely board and clothes. He speaks of working much for his old friend Brice Hilton, and greatly enjoying the society of his family. In the spring of 1836, young Tuttle entered the grocery store of a Mr. Williams from New York State, as clerk, a situation he obtained, by the by, only on condition of good and sufficient recommendation from good and responsible parties. Here he continued about a year, when he purchased the stock and trade of his employer and started business for himself. In 1844, he sold out, came to Defiance and entered the store of Pieree Evans & Sons as clerk, Mr. Evans being at that time the oldest pioneer in the country. In the following fall, Mr. Tuttle, with what means he had of his own and with some belp from his friend I:Xvans, started a store on the north side of the Maumee, in what was then called Williams Town, now known as North Defiance, from which

The children by this marriage were Cornelia, Avaro, Ellen, Lanra B. and Mary. Andrew served through the war of the rebellion. In the fall of 1540, erected a large warehouse near the north end of the Maumee bridge at a cost of $4,000, and with a floor space of over half an acre. Here Mr. Tuttle still may be found at all business hours ready to grasp the hand of any old Mr. 'l'uttle has ever been characterized as a liberal man, went smiling from his door," and from his benevolent impulses, perhaps, he readily fell into the credit system of doing business, so prevalent in early times, not haying the face, as he expresses it, to turn a customer away empty-handed for want of means wherewith to settle his bills. A great many men have times been severely crippled in his business, but never to the extent of a failure, nor to the creditors' loss of a single dollar, and though old in business he sustains an tnimpaired credit, with a competence to make life glide smoothly on. In politics, he, from the beginning, was a Whig, and gave his first vote for Gen. Harrison in 1840. He also voted for Fremont, believing yet if Fremont had been elected the war of the rebellion wonld have been averted. ever, as he avers, he had been a voter in Jackson's his time, he worked in Toledo and in Ft. Wayne. In the spring of 1856, he returned to Defiance and leased the foundry then owned by Seaman & Stevens, which was situated upon the grounds on which the present build ing now stands, known as the Defiance Machine Works, where he commenced business with a cash capital of $125, and for the first six months employed but two men. Mr. Kettenring married Miss Frances Kahlo, of this place (Defiance), October 25, 1856, by whom he had cight children, five of whom are now living, three boys and two girls. In 1858, he sold out his interest in the foundry to Strong Brothers & Oreutt. Six months thereafter, he bought a fourth interest in this firm, and in 1860 Strong Brothers bought ont Oreutt, and the firm was changed to Strong & Co. In

Mr. Tuttle has at times held important oftices of trust; was at one time Deputy Postmaster in Brunersburg, and also at Defiance under his old friend Evans, and was elected the second Treasurer of Defiance County. Mr. Tuttle, though somewhat advanced in years, has lost. but little of the vigor and vivacity of his younger days, neither has he forgotten the sports of his youth. To-day the rod and gun are as mnch cherished as in

In 1869, William Lanster was connected with the Kottenring, Strong & Lauster. In 1872, they were chartered as a stock company according to the laws of Ohio, and known as the Defiance Machine Works, for the manufacture of wood working machinery, engines, boilers, shafting, pulleys, hangers, plows, ete., together with all kinds of castings and also to doa general jobbing business,

Peter Kettenring was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 10, 1835, and the same year his parents, Adam and Charlotte (Allspach) Kettenring, immigrated to America, and in 1888 settled on a farm in Henry County, Ohio, twelve miles southeast of Defiance. 'Tio them were born thirteen children; but three of this large family are now living, viz., Peter, for one of his years, having passed through hardship, toil and privation, incident to pioneer life. At that time there were no roads except Icdian trails, and but one house between Defiance and one Mr. Hoffrichter, a distance of ten miles, and that was Henry Brechbill's, at Ayersville. Mr. members his father going to mill at Kvansport, a distance of twenty-four miles, not with a team but with the grain on his back, following Indian trails and footpaths. In the spring of 1844, he came to Defiance, which has been his home most of the time since. In the spring of 1850, he engaged himself to Messrs. Kimball & Frank, of this place, as an apprentice to jearn the molding trade. Having served

These works are steadily increasing in business year by year, as will appear by comparing 1856, when two men were employed, with the present, 1582, now giving employment to about one hundred and twenty-five men. Mr Ketteuring was chosen President of this company at the time of the charter in 1875, and has been reelected annually ever since.

William Lewis, Jr., was born Mareh 31, 1812, in Frederickstown, Md.; immigrated with his parents, Wilham and Ellen (Hooper) Lewis, to Lancaster, Ohio, in 1822. They had ten children - Thomas, James, Kveline, Charlotte, Wilham, Abraham, Nancy, Charles and Susan. 'The second child died in infaney and was not named. Mrs. Lewis died at Lancaster in Mareh, A. D. 1827. Mr. Lewis moved from Lancaster to Defiance in A. D. 18382, and was again married to Elizabeth Hively, of Defiance County, in June, A. D. 1832, by whom had four children - Re.

beeca, Ann, Jonathan and Ellen; these are all living in and around Defiance. Of the first family of children, only two are living - William, Jr. (the subject of this sketch), and Charlotte, who married Thomas Applegate, of Fairtield County, Ohio, and who is still living in that county. William, Jr., after arriving at Defianco, worked four years for Dr. John Evans, for the first three months receiving $25. But his wages were increased, and the last year he received $25 per month. His next job was clearing up a farm of 151 acres for Isaac Hull, in Section 24, on the south side of the Maumee River, for which he received $8 per acre. This farm he also rented during the time of clearing. This was in 1835, when Mr. Lewis, with ax and saw on his shoulder, marched into the woods to a log cabin where he kept bachelor's hall and cleared up the farm; this being accomplished, he rented it for a time and then bought it. He also cleared up a portion of the John Hollister farm, in same section, which joined him on the west and extended to the Auglaize, which he afterward purchased. This gave hima farm of 240 acres, bounded by the Maumee River on the north and by the Auglaize on the west. On the 3d day of June, 1858, Mr. Lewis was married to Ann Caroline Davis and settled down on this farm; to them were born nine children- - Abraham L., William (deceased), John W., Mary (deceased), Frank, Cornelia, Emma, Hattie and Andrew J. William enlisted September 20, 1861, in the Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; died at Columbia, Ky., November 20, 1861. John enlisted in the Sixty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Oetober 8, 1861, and in the Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry November 8, 1862, and went through till the close of the war and was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn. August 16, 1865, having passed through many battles. At Selma, Ala., April 5, 1865, he was wounded in three different places, a ball passing through his wrist. another through his right arm near the elbow, and a third throngh his left leg, crippling him badly; the right arm is nearly helpless. October 3, 1878, he married Ettie Meanor, of Defiance. They have one child - E. Lewis, who was born January 1, 1880. Mrs. Lewis was born in Alliance, Ohio, December 6, 1857, her parents moved to Lima, Ohio, She lived there about seventeen years and then came to Defiance with

She came to this county with her parents, Walter and Dorcas (Lewis) Davis, in the fall of 1532, from Frederickstown, Md., where both she and her parents were born. Mr. Lewis married his present wife Klizabeth Logan, October 24, 1808. In July, 1873, he sold his farm to W. GC. Hutchinson and the three Frost brothers, viz.: J.H., J. B. and J. F., who at once proceeded to lay it out in town lots and gave it the name of East Defiance. Mr. Lewis has been quite an extensive dealer in stock, and at an early day was acquainted with all parties living between Defiance and Maumee City, Ft. Wayne, Findlay and Woapakonetta. The Lewis family came to this place by way of Findlay, and had to leave their wagons and

Edward F. Lindenberger was born near Olive Green, Deiaware Co., Ohio, April 21, 1818. His parents removed to Rhode Island with him when he was quite small. He started in life to earn his own living at the age of twelve years, when he left his home and came to New York State with the intention of studying medicine, but circumstances not his fault changed his resolution, as also the resolution to study law under Judge Brown, of Marion County, Ohio, to whom he afterward resorted. He came to Defiance about 1836, at the age of eighteen, and commenced clerking for Dr. Evans, in the same house where L. EK. Myers' residence is now. He often related the trades he had with the Indians, camping out but ignorant simplicity. They could only count ten, and every pile of ten skins must be settled and paid for before any further bargains could be made. Soon after his arrival in Defiance, he was taken into partnership, and two or three years after removed to Ft. Wayne with Dr. Evans, who also moved his store. He was married to Miss Mary M. Hull December 25, 1842, after which he moved to Evansport and engaged in the hotel business, but was burnt out there in February, 1849, and came to Defiance the same year. His first wife died April 3, 1862. He was married to Mrs. Maria Dunning, his present widow, November 5, 1863, He retired from business in 1872, after having been in the dry goods trade thirty-six years. He did not live long after his retirement, but died October 5, 1875. Two children remain of his first marriage - Cassius, born in 1846, and Liiiian, born in 1850, the latter the wife of Charles J. Chenevert, all residents of Defiance.

G. M. \eisenburger was born in the village of Mortria, on the banks of the River Rhine, in France, July 4, 1822, and immigrated to America with his parents, Matthias W. and Josephine Weisenburger, in the spring of 1830, and settled in Hanover, Columbia Co. | Ohio. Thence they moved to Seneca County, Ohio and settled on what was called Wolf Creek in 1883, where they died - Mrs. Weisenburger, in 1536, aged 1816, aged They had a family of ten children - Frank J., Margaret, Andrew, George M., Frances, Joseph, Mary Josephine, Mary Magdalene, John B. and Elizabeth, four now living - Margaret, in Cary,

Wyandot Co., Ohio; George M., John B., grocery and provision merchant of Defiance; and Joseph, in Seueca County, Ohio. George M. Weisenburger, the subject of this sketch, came to Defiance in 1888, and worked on the construction of the canal for about two years, then returned to Seneea County and was em- ployed to help run the route for the first railroad of Northern Ohio, known as the Mad River Railroad, after which he returned to Defiance and started a provision store in the fall of 1843, on the canal, back of Lock No. 4, where he continued business for a number of years; was married September 23, 1846, to Miss Barbara Rickard, of Ft. Jennings, Putnam Co., Ohio. Of this marriage thirteen children were born - George M., Jr., Joseph M., William A., John Edward, John P., Frank H., Frank J. (deceased), Frances Ellen, Leanie M., Caroline, Mary Josephine (deceased), Mary Elizabeth, (deceased), and Anna (deceased). In 1857, Mr. W. went into the dry goods business for two or three years, on Clinton street, where Schultz & Son's brick grocery building now stands. After this, he engaged in boating and lumbering business for a number of years, avd in 1808- 59 was superintendent of the division from Independence to the State line of Indiana, distance some thirty-two miles. Of ate years and at the present time, Mr. W. is engaged on the public works of the city, grading streets, laying sidewalks, building bridges, ete., etc. At the time Mr. Weisenburger came to this town in 1838, it was pretty much a wilderness. There were two stores, one grocery and bakery, and a saddler's shop. The stores were kept by Pierce Evans & Son, Benjamin Brubacher and C. L. Noble - all were located near the old fort grounds. The parents of Mr. Weisenburger were born, the father in Mortria, in France, about twelve miles below Strasbourg; the mother in Baden, Germany. Francis J. Weisenburger, eldest son of Matthias W. and Josephine Weisenburger, was born in Germany December 28, 1817; immigrated to America with his parents A. D. 1830, settling first in Columbiana County, Ohio, afterward moving to Tiffin in Seneca County, Ohio, where he became acquainted with Miss Mary E. Smith,who was born in Germany February 9, 1821. Her father, Conrad Spnith, immigrated to this country in 1833, and settled at Tiffin also, At the time the canal was being built through Defiance in 1838, Mr. Weisenburger concluded Defiance would be a good point in which to settle down for life. came to Defiance in 1838, and on the 25th of July of the same year were united in marriage by Rev. William B. Stow. Mr. W. first found employment here as a day laborer on the canal, then started a grocery and bakery, and finally went into the dry goods busi ness, and continued in the same till his death, which occurred February 13, 1860. Thirteen children were

E. Mr. W. is a harness-maker by trade, and is carrying on that business. Josephine married Joseph 5. Haller. Frances married Frederick F. Shoner. Mary C. married Henry T. Connoven. John S. married Ellen Miller; Henry F. is unmarried.

Michael Hoeffel, Jr., was born September 235 18538, in Lorraine, France. His parents, Michael and Mary E (Schoeffer) Hoeffel, were the parents of five children- - Mary Magdalene, Charles Leo, Michael, Jr., Casper and Joseph Isadore; all are living in this State, except Casper, who resides in Colorado. His father came to this country in December, 1867, and died on what is known as North Ridge, in this county, September, 1868, aged fifty-two years. His mother died in the old country February 2, 1862, aged about thirty-eight years. Michael, Jr., learned the boot and shoe making with Henry Bittner, of Defianee, and is now doing business for himself; in connection with his shop is running a boot and shoe store. He was married February 16, 1882, to Mrs. Mary Connoven, formerly Mary C. Weisenburger, danghter of Francis J. and Mary E. Weisenburger, all of Defiance.

Isaac Corwin was born October 3, 1824, in Washington County, Penn. His great-grandfather, William Corwin, and two brothers, Benjamin and Moses, immigrated to this country from Ireland about 1770. William settled in Washington County, Penn.; Benjamin in New Jersey, and Moses in West Virginia or Kentucky. His grandfather, William, Jr., was born in Washington County, Penn., and his father, Ephraim, at the same place, Apri] 3, 1798. He was married to Margaret Sharp, of the same county, in 1822. Then had ten children, seven boys and three girls; two died in infancy; eight grew up and were married One has since deceased - William, who died in December, 1876. Mr. Corwin (Ephraim) left Pennsyvania in November, 1827, for Ohio, came to what was then Knox County (now Morrow) and died there in December, 1877. Isaac learned the blacksmithing with his father, and remained at home until he was eighteen; then went to Newark, Ohio, to work at his trade, and from there to Mt. Vornon, and worked there about a year; then returned to Williamsport, Morrow County, and started u shop, and at that town was married, February 4, 1845, to Miss Maria Smart, by whom he had a family of eleven children, six boys and five girls, six of whom are living - Zeliett, Erasmus D., Frank P., Alice M., Fred H. and Mary. Mr. Corwin continued the blacksmith business at Williamsport until October, 1850, when ho left for Defiance. After arriving here, he expended his all in a cook stove, a barrel the pike at Fremont, staying that night at a farm house on the pike. Next day came to Perrysburg and crossed the Maumee at that place, and followed up the river about ten miles and stayed all night with Richard Fancher (generally known as Dick); next day arrived at Independence, stayed over night at the hotel kept by George Thompson, and arrived next day at Defiance, October 5. 1850, making the unustial good time of about forty miles a day, the roads being dry. October 15, 1850, Mr. Corwin formed a copartnership with John Yocum in the blacksmith business, on the northside of the Maumee. In about six months they dissolved, 'and Mr. Corwin then built the shops now occupied and owned by Peter Dickman, and carried on the blacksmith and carriage-making business till 1861; then sold out and bought a small farm about a mile from town, and farmed about two years; then, in 1863, commenced dealing in horses, cattle, hogs and sheep; followed the business about four years; then John Kiser joined him, dealing in horses only. Mrs. Corwin died March 7, 1868, and about a year thereafter Mr. Corwin took up his trade again and married for his second wife Martha L. Southworth, December 21, 1869. By this marriage had two children (boys); the eldest is dead; Charles I. is living. Mr. Corwin rented an old shop of James Hudson, situated on the grounds where Corwin & Kiser's fine brick shop now stands, carrying on the business alone from March 14, 1870, to April 19, 1880. In 1872,he boneht Hudson out, and in 1873 built the present brick shop, ata cost of $2,700. In 1875, built an addition to the brick, ata cost of $1,250. In 1876, added to it again, at a cost of $1,400. Value of lot, $200. April 19, 1880, formed a copartnership with John H. Kiser in the blacksmithing and carriage-making business, also in the livery business. Then raised the shop to a three story building, at an additional cost of $2,000; then bought the adjoining

Second street and fitted np for the livery, ata further cost of $3,300; total cost, $12,650. They are doing quite an extensive blacksmith and carriage business, turning out from a heavy lumber wagon to a fancy top buggy, and eutters the finest of the season. 'The Corwin family have been famous as blacksmiths. The grandfather, William, and his three boys, Ephraim, and his six boys, and the subject of this sketch (Isaac) and three sons were all blacksmiths by trade. My. Carwin built his present residence in 1861, situated on the hill north side of the Maumee (North Defiance), commanding a fine view of the whole town as also up and down the Maumee and Auglaize Livers, and the old fort grounds - Defiance and Winchester.