Fulton Township (part 3 of 34)

Geological, meteorological and phenological conditions in Fulton County have been extensively reviewed in former county histories, especially in Thomas Mikesell's work (1905), so that it will be unnecessary here to give space to such records. Details of the destruction caused by the most recent tornado will be found in the chapter devoted to the recording of the history of Swan Creek Township, which suffered so severely from the tornado of 1920.

Enterprising pioneers early saw the advantages that would follow improvements in transportation facilities, and even before the erection of Fulton County its pioneers sought to interest capitalists to support the laying of a railroad through the county. In 1846-47 several supported a project to build a railroad from Cleveland or Norwalk, running westward, and crossing the Maumee River at the foot of the rapids, the intention being eventually to connect with Chicago market. Much work was done, and the abutments of bridge which was to span the

Maumee began to appear, at least on the southern bank, and surveys had already been undertaken in Fulton County, with tbe consequent wide discussion such preparations would prompt among a people which had hitherto been denied railway facilities. However, the corporation was evidently not financially strong, and although much of its stock was taken b}r people of Fulton County, it never carried through the project. Possibly that project, which was known as the Junction Railroad, was abandoned mainly because of the laying of another railway, known as the "Air Line," which was decided upon and carried through with comparatively great rapidity by a much stronger railroad corporation than was that which began the work of laying the Junction Railroad. The coming of the "Air Line" railroad to Fulton County is fully described in the Clinton Township chapter of this work ; and reference is there made to later railroad developments in the county, making it therefore superfluous to review it further here.

Politically, Fulton county in its earliest days, when the principal parties were whig and democratic, was distinctly democratic, the pioneer elections returning only democrats to office. There were however few elective county offices under the old constitution, which placed with the State Legislature the power to appoint county officials other than sheriff and coroner, or to prescribe the mode of filling such offices. It seems that in Fulton County pioneer elections, the elective offices were those of sheriff, auditor, recorder, treasurer, and the three commissioners. The offices of associate judge, clerk of courts, and prosecuting attorney, were appointive. However the new constitution of the state of Ohio came into effect in 1851 under which the offices formerly appointive became elective. Another change was the creation of the office of probate judge, such work under the old order being within the jurisdiction of the common pleas judges. Fulton County does not appear to have elected a coroner until 1864.

The whig party wTas never strong in Fulton county, but a change soon came. James S. Riddle, in his "Short History of Fulton County, Ohio," states that:

"The Democratic Convention the same year (1854) nominated Martin H. Butler, of York, as Auditor; Isaac Springer, of Fulton, as Treasurer; C. D. Smith, of Royalton, as Sheriff; Wm. Dve, of Clinton, as Commissioner. Some were dissatisfied, and a people's convention was called, which nominated M. D. Hibbard, of Dover, as Auditor; Wm. Jewell, as Treasurer; Geo. Taft, of York, as Commissioner; and E. Herrick, as Sheriff. M. D. Hibbard was elected Auditor, and Geo. Taft as Commissioner, the balance of the Democrats were elected by from 25 to 90 votes."

So, the democratic stronghold in Fulton county was undermined, the passing of the whig and the organization of the republican party effecting a distinct change in local politics. Mr. Riddle records that:

"In 1856, the republican party was organized, and elected all their officers, except Auditor A. C. Hough, who was elected to that office, being the only successful candidate on the democratic ticket In

1858, James K. Newcomer was elected Recorder on the democratic ticket. That was the last democrat holding a county office until 1880, when George Gasche was elected Commissioner."

Although, it is not necessary here to give biographical reviews of those prominent and capable citizens who have participated in the administration of the county, biographical reference being made to many in the township chapters, and extensively to some, in the second, the biographical, volume of this current historical work, it would be proper to list here the names of those who undertook county office. Review of the judiciary and legal offices is made in another chapter, which, with the following statistics will complete the list. Congressmen, and state senators are not listed, the districts covering a greater area than that of Fulton county, and those elected consequently being not always men of Fulton county. It may, however, be stated that the following leading citizens of this county have held senatorial office: Dresden W. H. Howard, John A. Wilkins, Joseph H. Brigham, William Geyser. John C. Roriclc.

Carl Allman, four years; Joseph Jewell, two years; S. B. Darby, four years'; R. H. Howard, three years; J. K. Newcomer, three years; W. H. Stevens, Jr., nine years; Richard Taylor, Albert S. Bloomer, Harrison E. Randall, A. M. Lee, George Lee. II. E. Prentiss, Frank W. Zerman, John Theobald, four years; C. L. Reed, four years; and Ralph Robinson, present occupant.

Dates up to 1864 cannot, unfortunately, be given, for the records were destroyed in the gutting by fire of the court house, on July 15th of that year, but James S. Riddle gives the terms in office of the early commissioners as follows : Christ. Watkins, six years and six months;

William Sutton, five years, eight months; Jonathan Barnes, four months; Warren MeCutcheon, three years, four months; Stephen Houghton, six years; E. Masters, three years; Joseph Ely, fifteen years (part of which presumably comes into the record after 1864) ; A. B. Thompson, nine years; A. B. Gunn, six year's; George Taft, three years; Joel Brigham, five years; James Cornell, ten months; William Dye, six months; Henry Jordan, three years; Elias Richardson, six years. Elias Richardson, apparently, entered upon his second term of three years in 1864, and the record from that year is : Joseph Ely, 1865 ;

The destruction of county records in 1864 makes it impossible now to state the years of office of the first three county treasurers. Nathaniel Leggett took office in 1850, being elected, unopposed, at the April election of 1850. He was treasurer for five years, but whether for five successive years is not clear. Isaac Springer succeeded him, and was treasurer for four years. Next, in order of election to the treasureship was Julius March, who served for four years. L. L. Carpenter was in office in 1864, and altogether served four years. The succession since has been: A. B. Canfield, 1866; David Ayers, 1870; Hiram L. Moseley, 1874; Jared M. Longnecker, 1878; Thomas A. Kelley, 1879; James W. Howard, 1881, John B. Schnetzler, 1885; Jacob S. Newcomer, 1889; A. C. Daniels, 1893 ; J. F. Grove, 1897 ; C. E. Guilford, 1901 ; G. W. Howard, 1905; Dorr S. Knight, 1910; G. Scott Roos, 1914; and C F Orth, 1918-20.

To close this chapter, it might be appropriate to give census statistics, as far as there is record. The 1840 figures of course are not of Fulton county, but of eight townships of Lucas county, and probably do not include the figures for those portions of Williams and Henry counties ceded to Fulton county, when the latter was erected in 1850. And the 1920 figures are only those of the "Preliminary Announcement of Population'' issued in June, 1920, by the Bureau of the Census, Washington. However, so far as it is possible to give the statistics, the

Fulton county was not organized until 1850, and was not settled until 1833, anterior to which its inhabitants were of Indian tribes. Yet, Fulton county may claim that its military history began with the Revolutionary war, for at least one of its' ultimate residents saw national service in that portentous struggle which was destined to give the United States a place among nations. Ephraim Pennington, who came with his son, William to Fulton county in 1847, and settled in Chesterfield Township, where he died at the venerable age of ninety years, was a soldier of the Revolution, and as such is entitled to the place of honor in the record of the patriots of Fulton county.

Next, chronologically, come those patriots who offered and gave their services to the nation in the War of 1812. Names listed below are those of veterans of that war who later became residents of Fulton county, and were eventually buried within its borders. There were twenty -two, in all:

Then there were those resolute men, of the actual early settlers in what is now part of Fulton county, who rallied to the call of the state, when it seemed that war with Michigan would result from the boundary dispute in the '30s, but the names of those mobilized men can hardly be brought into this record, for war did not then come, fortunately.

The great test of patriotism came in 1861-65, and in the records of that dark time of civil war Fulton county has a glorious place, giving practically all of its physically-fit man-power to the Union. When it is known that the population of Fulton county in 1861 was only about fourteen thousand, and that during the years of war it sent into the field much more than a thousand men it will be realized how strong was the spirit of patriotism, and how brave the hearts, within the sturdy . frames of the pioneer settlers of Fulton county. During America's part of the World war, 1917-18, Fulton county sent into service about eight hundred men, out of a population of

Space is not here available, unfortunately, to enter as fully as former historical works have into the restating of the deeds of the various military units in which Fulton county men were during the Civil war. It is therefore pleasing to know that complete record has already permanent place in county and national historical works, and that thus the sacrifices and triumphs of the noble men who marched away from Fulton county to emancipate the slave have been placed in proper record for posterity. Briefly reviewing the Civil war period of Fulton county history, it should be stated that, according to former county historians, 2,207 Fulton county men actually entered the service, and that of that number 1,457 men were mustered into the service for three years; 102 men for one year of service, 94 men for six months of service; 216 men for three months; 254 for an enlistment of 100 days; and the remainder for miscellaneous periods in various regiments. Those statistics are taken from the military chapter, written by Maj. Moses R. Brailey, for the "History of Henry and Fulton Counties" (Aldrich, 1888). There probably, however, was some duplication, and the names of some would appear in the rosters of more than one regiment, or unit. Consequently, for the present recording, the list compiled for the purposes of the Fulton County Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial and Monumental Association, by Allen Shadle, commander of the Losure Post, No. 35 (Wauseon) of the Grand Army of the Republic, will be taken. Said list shows the names of only 1,318 men, but it was patiently and painstakingly compiled, with a particular and important object in view, and may be assumed to be the most authentic list extant. It opens with the names of Fulton county men who saw service with the which was recruited in the counties of Defiance, Fulton, and Henry, Paulding and Williams, during the autumn and winter of 1861-62. The regiment commenced to rendezvous at Camp Latty, Napoleon, Ohio, on November 21, 1861. On January 5, 1862, the regiment moved to Camp Chase, where it remained until February 7th, when it was transferred to Fort Donelson, Tennessee, at which station it arrived on the 14th. It took part in the operations there, being assigned to Gen. Charles F. Smith's division. After the surrender, the regiment encamped near Dover until the 15th of March, when it moved to Metal Landing, on the Tennessee, and from there to Crump's Landing, and thence to Pittsburgh Landing, in this time being reduced in numbers, chiefly by sickness, from 1,000 to 300 men. At Pittsburgh Landing it was part of Gen. Lew Wallace's division. It took part in the operations before Corinth, and after the evacuation was stationed at Bolivar, Tennessee. The regiment closed the campaign of 1862 by forming the advance of an expedition which attempted to get into the rear of Vicksburg, by way of Holly Springs and Granada, Mississippi. After the surrender of Holly Springs, the Sixty- Eighth returned to Memphis. During the campaign in Mississippi, the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division

Seventeenth Army Corps, as a unit of which it remained until the close of the war. During its term of service, the regiment was on the "sacred soil" of every rebel state except Florida and Texas. It marched over seven thousand miles, and travelled by railroad and steamboat over six thousand miles. Between 1,900 and 2,000 men belonged to the regiment, and of these ninety per cent were native Americans, the others being German, Irish, or English. The muster out rolls Avere signed on the 10th of July, and the regiment was ordered from Louisville, Kentucky, to Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, for payment and discharge, which Avas accomplished on the 18th of July, 1865. The record of the regiment was a worthy one. The regiment Avas organized in the State of Ohio, at large, in October, November and December, 1861, to serve three years. On the expiration of its term of service, the original members, except veterans, Avere mustered out, and the organization, composed of veterans and recruits, retained in service until July 10, 1865. The list of battles "compiled after careful research, credits this regiment with participation in the following: Thompson's Hill, Mississippi, May 1, 1863; Champion Hills', Mississippi, May 16, 1863 ; siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 18 to July 4, 1863; Clinton and Jackson, Mississippi, February 5, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 9 to 30, 1864; Big Shanty, Georgia, June 15, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, general assault, June 27, 1864; Atlanta, Georgia, (Hood's first sortie) July 24, 1864; siege of Atlanta, Georgia, July 28 to September 2, 1864; Jonesboro, Georgia, August 31 to September 1, 1864; Lovejoy Station, Georgia, September 2 to 6, 1864. As will have been noticed, the Sixty-Eighth Regiment took part in Sherman's famous march to the sea. Many Fulton county men stayed Avith it until the final muster out, but individual service records cannot be here stated. The Fulton county men of the Sixty-Eighth Regiment were:

The majority of these men belonged to Company E. which was commanded by a gallant Fulton county man, Nelson A. Skeels, until he was killed in action, in the battle of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864.

which was recruited from the northern counties of Ohio, for a service of six months. Fulton county contributed one whole company Company IT. The regiment was organized at Camp Cleveland, and recruited to a full regiment in the months of June and July, 1863. At about the time of its organization, the rebel general, John Morgan, was making his northern raid through Indiana into Ohio. The regiment therefore went at once actively into the field, and on arrival of the unit at Zanesville, 200 men, under Lieutenant-Colonel McFarland, were sent to Eagleport, where it was thought Morgan would attempt to cross the Muskingum. The detachment arrived just in time to witness the crossing of the rearguard. Colonel Mc- Farland, by skillful skirmishing detained the enemy, thus helping General Shackleford who was pursuing. The remainder of the Eighty- Sixth were soon on the spot and joined in the pursuit, the rebels eventually being overtaken and captured, near Salineville, Columbiana county. Thus, the Eighty-Sixth, in its "Baptism of Fire" acquitted itself creditably. It did much other useful sendee during that year, particularly at Cumberland Gap, and on the 16th of January, 1864, the time for which the regiment was enlisted having expired, the unit began its march to Ohio, after seven days reaching Nicholsville. It arrived at Cleveland on January 26, 1864, and was mustered out on the 10th of February, of that year. The list gives the following names as those of Fulton county men who saw service with the Eighty-Sixth Regiment of Infantry: in which two regiments, the Forty-Fifth and the Sixty-Seventh, were merged, in the winter of 1861-62. The regiment left Columbus for the front on January 19, 1862, going to West Virginia, where it saw much skirmishing during the next two months. On March 14th, the regiment met the enemy at Winchester and the next day was ordered to reinforce General Taylor's brigade. It sustained fortytwo casualties in the subsequent engagement. For three months thereafter, the regiment was on the march through Virginia, and on June 29th embarked on a steamer and barge for the James River, to reinforce General McClellan. At Harrison's Landing, it campaigned with the Army of the Potomac until McClellan retreated from the Peninsula, when it marched to Suffolk, Virginia. The regiment had by that time been reduced by actual fighting and by sickness to approximately one-third of its normal strength. On April 2, 1863, it landed on Cole's Island, and for seven months thereafter endured the hardships of siege, participating in the charge on Fort Wagner. Then followed an expedition into Florida. The regiment joined General Butler at Bermuda Hundred on May 6, 1864, and on the ninth wTas detached to guard the flank of the Tenth Army Corps, at Chester railroad station. Severe fighting took place there, but the Sixty- Seventh maintained its position, although it lost on May 10th seventy-six officers and men, killed and wounded. Later in that month in one charge the regiment sustained almost as many casualties. On the 16th of August, four companies of the Sixty-Seventh charged the rifle pits at Deep River, and although at the first volley of the rebels one-third of the charging column fell, the rifle pits were captured before the rebels could reload. During 1864 the regiment was under fire 200 times, and lost heavily in killed and wounded during that time. In 1865, the regiment distinguished itself before Petersburg, and led the charge on Fort Gregg and Appomattox Courthouse. The regiment was eventually one of t lie units reviewed at the Grand Re view, at Washington, and was one of the last regiments to be nius tered out, which event did not come until December 12, 1865. Ful ton county men of the Sixty-Seventh Regiment were:

Thirty-Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry which was organized at Camp Latty, Defiance, during the summer and autumn of 1861. Companies I and K were, it is understood, recruited wholly from Fulton county, and other companies had some men of Fulton county. In addition, many recruits for the Thirty- Eighth were secured in Fulton county during the years of war. On September 28, 1861, the regiment was transferred to Camp Dennison, taking cars from there in Cincinnati, thence to Nicholsville, Kentucky, where it camped on October 2, 1861. About the middle of October, the regiment made a forced march of sixty miles to relieve the garrison at Wild Cat, which was successfully effected. The regiment had to endure some very severe winter campaigning in 1861-62, and by the end of January, 1862, not much more than one- third of its original strength were fit for duty, and the mortality was heavy. In March, 1862, the regiment was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, and as a unit of the Army of the Ohio participated in the siege of Corinth. In September, 1862, began the retrograde movement which terminated in the battle at Perrysville, October 8, 1862. Its next important engagement was that at Stone River, in December, after which it went into winter quarters March 13, 1863, when it marched to Triune, Georgia, and in June, with the Army of the Cumberland took active part in the Tullahoma campaign. On August 17th the march to Chattanooga began. The regiment was eventually detailed to guard the supply train of the army, and consequently was not present at the battle of Chickamauga. It was at Mission Ridge however. Soon afterwards, its term having expired, it re-enlisted, and returned home on veteran furlough. It was refitted while at home, and later joined Sherman's forces, participating in much of the Georgia campaign, so famous. After reaching the sea, the regiment marched with Sherman through the Carolinas to Goldsboro, North Carolina, and after the surrender of Johnson, went to Richmond, Virginia, and eventually to Washington, where it took part in the Grand Review. On July 12, 1865 it was mustered out of service, a service of one month short of four years. Moses R. Brailey was captain of Company I, and was promoted to major, on January 28, 1862 ; other Fulton county men among the commissioned officers were: Elisha

Fewlass, first lieutenant; Edward D. A. Williams, captain; John S. Templeton, first lieutenant; Joseph B. Coons, first lieutenant; Thomas W. Wright, second lieutenant; and James McQuillen, second lieutenant. Company Iv was commanded by Reason A. Franks, for three years, when Charles LI. Gorsuc-h took command. Charles L. Allen was promoted to first lieutenant and quartermaster on March 21, 1862, and eventually became adjutant. Among the staff officers of the Thirty -Eighth Regiment was Epaphras L. Barber, who was commissioned in the grade of major on June 10, 1861, but resigned on January 12, 1862. Mr. Sliadle's list of the Fulton county men of the Thirty-Eighth Regiment is as follows:

Elliott, James A. Fewlass, Elisha Fairchilds, David Fashbaugh, John Q. Fashbaugh, Lewis Frederick, John Fashbaugh, John R. Fashbaugh, John Frysinger, Levi Ford, A. B.

was organized, and Company II was mainly composed of Fulton County men. Epaphras L. Barber, of Wauseon, was the first to sign the enlistment roll, and others followed so quickly that four days later, on April 23, 1861, the company of full strength left for Toledo. E. L. Barber was elected captain; Thomas M. Ward, first lieutenant; and Reason A. Franks, second lieutenant. Upon arrival at Toledo, the Fulton County company was attached to the Fourteenth Infantry, becoming Company H of that regiment. The Fourteenth arrived at Cleveland on April 25th, and two days later was mustered into the Union service, and went into Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, for training. Many of the men of Company H eventually became veterans, and are named in the rosters of other regiments, in which they gave long and valiant sendee to the Union. On May 22nd, the Fourteenth left for Columbus, to be outfitted, and on the following day proceeded to Marietta, at which place other troops had rendezvoused. The regiment did much useful work of pioneer and construction character, and in early June met the Rebel forces at Philippi, Virginia, which the rebels abandoned. The regiment was in constant touch with the enemy during June, and in early July marched to Bealington, on Laurel Hill, where the rebels, under General Garnett, were in considerable force. The place was abandoned by the Confederate forces, and the following Union forces met stubborn resistance at Carrick's Ford. Two hundred and fifty prisoners were taken by the Union army in that engagement. The Fourteenth Regiment returned to Laurel Hill, but shortly afterwards returned to Toledo for disbandment, the term of enlistment having expired. Many of the men afterwards joined other regiments for three years of service; some were somewhat elderly, or had family ties which militated against their wish to give further service. Of the men who saw service with the Fourteenth Regiment, the following are the names of the men accredited to that unit in the list taken as the basis, as before explained : as it was eventually called, much to the disappointment of the men from the Fulton County contingent, who had enlisted on the understanding that the regiment would take the name of the North-Western Sharpshooters, it having been raised in many states, including Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana, The governor of Illinois had the commissioning of officers for that regiment, and consequently was able to exert political influence to give it an Illinois name. It caused much dissatisfaction to the men of Company D, which was composed almost entirely of Fulton County men. And the general dissatisfaction felt by men of other states than Illinois bad some effect upon the early efficiency of the force, which however during the last two years of the war did good service. Company D., when organized, was commanded by Captain E. L. Hayes, with Jacob Hoff mire, first, and Jacob Fashbaugh, second lieutenant. Men of the company whose homes were in FJilton County, and are not named in other rosters, were : was organized in early May of 1864, being raised mainly in Lucas and Fulton counties of Ohio. Fulton County reported with three full companies, but as eleven companies had already reported, one from Fulton County was distributed among the other companies of the regiment, which reported to Gen. C. W. Hill, at Sandusky, and after muster-in, was ordered to Johnson's Island, in Sandusky Bay, to guard rebel prisoners. On June 4, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Washington, D. C., and refitted with standard equipment at Belair. From Washington it proceeded to Bermuda Hundred, and was ordered by General Butler to Point of Rocks, on the Appomattox, where a Confederate attack was threatened. Later, the regiment returned to Bermuda Hundred, and was employed in digging rifle-pits, and in picketing. On June 22, 1864, the brigade had a sharp skirmish with the enemy. On August 11th, the One Hundred and Thirtieth passed down the James River on the steamer "Keyport." At Washington the regiment entrained for Toledo, where eventually it was mustered out. It is on record that 251 men enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Regiment from Fulton County, but only 110 names appear under this regimental caption in the list compiled for the purposes of the Fulton County Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial and Monumental Association. The names are: which was organized at Camp Toledo, near Toledo, in 1862, and was mustered into the United States sendee on September 1, 1862. Company H was formed in Fulton County, and men of the county were in other companies also. The regiment after calling at Cincinnati, camped at Covington, Kentucky, on September 9th, leaving that place on October 8th for Lexington, Kentucky, thence to Danville, at which place it arrived on December 26th.

It was in Kentucky for the greater part of the spring and summer of 1863, but in the latter part of August marched to join the Ninth Corps in Eastern Tennessee. Upon arrival at Knoxville, part of the regiment was detached for sendee in West Virginia, where, on September 4th, the entire detachment was captured by the enemy. The regiment participated in the defense of Knoxville, and saw strenuous service during the winter of 1863-64, in the spring of which year the regiment as part of the Twenty-Third Army Corps, marched from Knoxville, to join Sherman, then at Tunnel Hill, Georgia. It took part in the Atlanta campaign, and was present in almost every battle from Rocky Face Ridge to Atlanta. After the capture of Nashville, the regiment took part in the pursuit of Hood, and was engaged in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. After service with Sherman in North Carolina, the regiment eventually returned to Cleveland, and was mustered out of the service on July 1, 1865. The command of Company H., which was formed in Fulton County was given originally to L. Berry Smith. Subsequent captains were. John H. Palmer, Emmet Losure, and Albert B. Smith. Other officers were not of Fulton County with the exception of John J. Hines. The following list is of Fulton County men who were in the One Hundredth Regiment, mainly in Company H. : which was composed mainly of men of the southwestern counties of Ohio. Most of the Fulton County men were in Company I. The Regiment was ordered to Clarksburg, V . Ya., on August 2i, 1861, to report thereat to General Rosecrans. It was later brigaded with the Ninth and Twenty-Eighth Ohio regiments, afterwards known as the "Bully Dutch Brigade." It saw fighting at Cornifex Ferry in 1861; at Little Sewell Mountain, at Lewisburg, in Northern Virginia, at White Sulphur Springs, in 1862; at Vicksburg, at Seminary Hill Fort, at Jackson, Miss., at Chiekamauga, and at Greyville, in 1863; and in almost all the fighting from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga., in 1864, marching with Sherman through Georgia to the sea, and being in the advance in the charge on Fort McAlister, December 13, 1864. It was mustered out on August 24, 1865, after more than four years of service. The following Fulton County names are those mostly of veterans of that famous regiment- which was raised in Lucas, Wood, Fulton, Sandusky and Defiance counties, in August, 1862. It -was assigned to General Buell's army, and saw service in that year in Kentucky. Six months of 1863 were passed in duties of garrisoning and guarding communications between Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee. In July, the regiment chased Morgan through Kentucky into Ohio, having indirectly a part in the capture of that command of thirty-five hundred men. In August, the regiment was in Kentucky, preparing to march into eastern Tennessee. It was at Louden, Tennessee, from September until November 14th, when it took part in the movement on New Market, to check the Confederate advance from Virginia. It checked General Longstreet's division at Louden Creek, until the arrival of Henshaw's Illinois Battery. Severe fighting took place at Campbell Station, in an endeavor to impede the progress of the enemy until the fortifications around Knoxville could be completed. There was much severe fighting in Tennessee during the winter of 1863, and in 1864 the One Hundred and Eleventh was one of ' those units which formed Sherman's Army in the march to the sea, through Georgia. In November of that year it was again in Tennessee, and assisted in checking General Hood's advance on Nashville. In the subsequent severe fighting before Nashville, the regiment had conspicuous part. It was subsequently engaged in the fighting which led to the capture of Fort Anderson. After the surrender of General Johnson, the regiment was sent to Salisbury, N. C., where it remained on garrison duty until ordered home for muster-out. It arrived at Cleveland, Ohio, July 5, 1865. The One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment is chiefly distinctive in Fulton County annals not because of a large contribution of men to its ranks, but because its principal officers were Fulton County men. The regiment went out in the fall of 1862 under the command of Major M. R. Brailey, and Isaac R. Sherwood was a lieutenant at the time. At the end of the war, both held the brevet rank of brigadiergeneral. On its rosters were the names of : in the ranks of which were many Fulton County men. It was fitted out at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, and mustered into federal service on October 28, 1864. Three days later the regiment proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, where it joined the forces under General Thomas. The regiment therefore had part in the defence of Nashville. It was which was formed at Monroeville, Ohio, in August and September of 1861. In February, 1862, it was in Kentucky; in March it was in Tennessee, and took part in very active campaigning there during that year. Next, the Third Ohio Cavalry was in Alabama, guarding the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. The regiment eventually participated in Sherman's campaign in Georgia, and after the capture of Atlanta, the regiment followed Hood as far as Columbia, Tennessee. It took part in the battle before Nashville, and after Hood's defeat followed his retreat across the Tennessee River into Alabama. It was engaged in the Wilson raid through Alabama and Georgia, and in the battles of

Success Of Plot To Release Confederate Prisoners

Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, and Macon and Griffin, Georgia, It served altogether for nearly four years, and engaged in more raids and fights than any other Ohio cavalry regiment, actually capturing more than five thousand Confederate soldiers. It was mustered out of the Federal sendee on August 14, 1865. Fulton County men in the Third Ohio Cavalrv were :

There were Fulton County men in many other regiments and while no attempt will he made to further state herein regimental records, an endeavor will be made to name the men, and as far as possible state the regiment in which they served. There were fourteen men

Eight men: Dowell, F.; Eckliart, S. A.; Heckman, Geo.; Miller. B. C.; Scott, Leonard; Wise, J. L. ; Zimmerman, Josiah; and Zimmer man, Benj.

With the Fourth Michigan Regiment were three Fulton County men, Peter Landis, M. Richardson, and John Seibold ; with the Eleventh Michigan Regiment were three men, Alex Stout, Robert Sutton, and Harvey Sutton ; and with the Twenty-First Ohio Volunteer Infantry were three men, George Cornell, Daniel Dunham, and Jesse Tracy.

Then there is a miscellaneous list, which includes the names of Fulton County men who served in the United States Navy, as well as of some who served in the Federal Army:

It may be considered that such a contribution out of a population of only about 14,043 (1860 census) wrould represent practically the whole of the adult male strength. As a matter of fact, Fulton County did give to the nation, for service in the Union military or naval forces, practically the whole of its able-bodied young and middle-aged manpower, a glorious record ; and it may be easily realized that home conditions during the years of war were arduous and trying. In addition to heart-pangs for loved ones, who passed their days in almost constant danger, there was the strain of "carrying-on" the home until the return of the men of the family. From many homes went two, three, four, or five strong-minded and whole-hearted patriots, some never to return ; and in their absence the wonien-folk, the young and the feeble, had to live through the period as best they could. There was of course not much development work done during those years; only necessary building was attempted. And the principal citizens sought to direct the attention of the more fortunately circumstanced to matters of relief of those in need of relief and "sympathetic help. There was much privation, but the good-hearted people gathered around those in need, and so the trying winters passed.

Joel Brigham, one of the commissioners of the county m 1861, had very active part in the relief work, and in the duties entrusted to county officials by the state over the eventful period. Governor Tod appointed him a member of the military commitee of the ninth district, which corresponds approximately to the present Congressional district, Mr. Brigham was also treasurer of the Fulton County Military Relief Committee, and among the many inventories of articles sent to the men in the field by that committee are some interesting entries. Among the records are the following entries, in 1861: Capt. M. R. Brailey, Capt. R. A. Franks, and their comrades of the 38th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 200 pairs socks, 57 undershirts, 350 pounds dried fruit, etc.; Capt. E. L. Hayes, 175 pounds dried fruit, 225 pairs socks, 37 quilts, blankets, etc. ' Each township had its military committee, and an invoice of articles bought and sent November 11, 1861, totals to $900.75. A letter from Richard Mott, of Toledq, to Mr. Joel Brigham, dated October 16, 1861, asks him to hold up Fulton County donations until further orders, and closes with a tribute to Mr. Brigham for his services, stating: "The account of your trip to the 38th Regiment in Kentucky .... is truly interesting. The handsome return of money from the men in the field brought home by you is encouraging, and it is highly creditable to the character and thrift of our volunteers." Mr. Brigham on that trip was entrusted by the soldiers with $5,000, which they wished their families at home to have. The women of Fulton County were particularly active; they formed a Soldiers Aid Society, in Wauseon, in October, 1861. The members met weekly, unless there was an urgent call, in which case they would meet oftener. They labored throughout the county, and the work done embraced the preparation of lint and bandages, the making of shirts and drawers, sheets, pillows, pads for the wounded, and much knitting of socks, mittens; also the drying of fruit and the making of pickles, jellies, and such-like eatables. Many boxes, containing some of the most of the articles above-mentioned were sent into the field, the ladies in one instance meeting specially, and at short notice, to prepare a box, which Col. E. L. Hayes would be able to distribute to Union soldiers at Libby prison. In this connection one of the prisoners later Avrote a Fulton County friend:

"The angels of mercy generally hover over the needy, oppressed, and unfortunate. They came near us, through the Soldiers Ladies Aid Society, of Wauseon, who had made up a small box of underclothing, and sent it to the prisoners from Wauseon at Libby Prison, through Major Hayes. It was the only parcel sent to Union prisoners the ever reached its destination. Major Hayes was permitted, under a guard, to deliver it to us."

Fund was published in the Northwestern Republican. And the work of caring for the soldiers in the field, and of the needy families at home, continued until the end. .,A AT

On December 5, 1864, the Fulton County Relief Committee, Naaman Merrill. Octavius Waters, Joel Brigham, Oliver B. Verity, and D. W. H. Floward issued an appeal "to the Benevolent and Patriotic Citizens of Fulton County." to make a special effort, stating that:

"The cold chilling winds of winter are again upon us; our brave soldiers are in the field defending our hearthstones, and all that is dear , now is the time to show our love of country by deeds, not by words. The families of our soldiers need supplies for winter - everything you have to spare, such as wood, meat, potatoes, turnips, cabbage, flour, meal, clothing, fruit, money, etc., will be thankfully received. ... .Remember our brave sons. Many are in their graves, others in hospitals, others crippled and wounded, and at home their families are all well worthy of your contributions and acceptance, not as charity but as your bounden duty .... Now is the hour to redeem our oft tendered pledge, that the families of our soldiers should be provided for

"The following named persons have been appointed as committees in the several townships to attend to said business, and make necessary arrangements, to wit: Amboy, David Duncan, ch'm, S. Johnson, S.

The records of some of the townships show that considerable sums were received by the Relief Committees during the winter of 1864. For instance, Swan Creek Township Fund, 1864-65 records subscriptions of $200 each by John McLaughlin, Jonathan Hoag, and Jacob Koos, and a very lengthy list of substantial subscriptions ranging down to. $25.

There was, of course, much political strife during the years of war. The Democrats who were for compromise with the Confederates were designated "Copperheads" and "traitors;" and Democrats thought quite as hardly of Union men. An 1863 issue of the "Northwestern Republican" had an editorial beginning: "Copperheads say our soldiers have all turned abolitionists, and this is because they refuse to vote for those in the North who are in sympathy with the rebels . .1 admit our soldiers are abolitionists ; that they are in favor of abolishing treason . . Is it any wonder that our boys in the army are down on the convicted traitor, Vallandigham? Is it any wonder that they declare that Jeff

Davis is more deserving of their vote than Vallandigham? Jeff Davis is a brave traitor. . . . A soldier voting for Vallandigham, who boasts that he never voted them a man or a dollar, would be like a Christian

The election of October 13, 1863, in Fulton County, gave Brough 1778 votes for governor, against 824 cast for Vallandigham. The Union paper, the "Northwestern Republican," recorded the voting thus: "Glorious Fulton! The Cops Skinned Alive!! Dead 'Snaiks' at a Discount!!! As usual we have met the enemy and they are ours. Never before did the Democracy meet with so withering a rebuke as was dealt out to them by the Loyal sons of our gallant Little Fulton on Tuesday last." German Township, which cast 125 votes for the "Canadian," and only 115 for Brough, was eventually "redeemed" by the vote of the soldiers.

In the following spring came the staggering news of the assassination of President Lincoln. It affected the whole-souled pioneers of Fulton County as keenly as it did the people of other parts of the country. .T. W. Roseborough wrote to the Wauseon "Republican" from Burlington, 0., on April 17, 1865:

Abraham Lincoln This will be the verdict of posterity. Abraham Lincoln, the man whom, above all others, his countrymen trusted and loved, is dead As fell our blessed Saviour, so hast thou, great man, fallen, by the hands of murderers Sleep in peace, the greatest of freedom's living or dead champions - thy name and thy fame are immortal."

And when at last the war was at an end, and party feelings were less keen, the general spirit throughout the home county was one of relief, and of joyous anticipation of the final return home of the "boys, ' of the war-hardened veterans, and of those stalwarts who had rallied to the Union during the decisive later years of war. The spirit is well shown in a poem, composed by Carrie Hibbard, of Spring ITill, Dover Township, on July 2, 1865, "in honor of the boys in blue." Her interests were centered in the Sixty-Seventh Regiment; but she penned the sentiments of all loyal and expectant hearts in the county at that moment ; and the poem is here reproduced to honor all the

They are coming from the Southland, to the tread of martial drum ; They are marching from their campfires, - loyal, brave, and true they come;

For those whom God commissioned, we have little need of tears Their footprints shall be stardust, through a thousand thousand years And the banners o'er those battlements are never drenched with tears.

The comradeship and loyalty one to another, while in bodily danger in the field has happily been sustained and strengthened since through the medium of the organizations of the Grand Army of the Republic. The first post organized by former soldiers, in Fulton County was known as Post No. 106, 10th Ohio District, Grand Army of the Republic. It was formed on March 18, 1867, and in September of that year its name was changed to Camp Slceels, No. 106. Some irregularity, however, in its organization brought about its disbandment in 1869, and no other post was organized in Wauseon for more than ten years, Losure Post, No. 35, coming into being on June 16, 1880. The service records of members of that post showed that M. T. Palmer had served sixty months in the army in war time. Others of long service were : Charles Cornell, 48 months ; Elias Wiley, 48 months ; Albert Bloomer, 43 months; Harrison Highshew 37 months; Geo. Guilford, 36 months; L. D. Bayes, 35 months; and A. R. Hill, 26 months. Charles Cornell was one of those most active effecting the organization of the first post, that of 1867 ; and the charter members of the second, the Losure Post, No. 35, were: A. S. Bloomer, W. C. Kelley, M. T. Palmer, A. R. Hill, A. B. Smith, E. S. Callendar, PI.

H Williams, E. T. Wilcox, H. E. Randall, W. C. Scott, Campbell Bayes, James C. Kin?, Wm. McClaren, R. B. McLaren, Festus Funk, Andrew J. Gorsuch, Judson Jones, Enoch Neville, George Cage, Elliott Bayes, Elias Willey, E. I. Root, Henry J. Harrington, James Gray, I. H. Matthews, Marion Losure, C. B. Lyon, A. B. Clark and John Close. At fullest strength, the Losure Post had three hundred members. Today, its surviving comrades number fifty-two, the strongest post of five in Fulton County. There were originally eleven Grand Army of the Republic posts in Fulton County, but the sweep of time brought an inexorable weakening of posts, bv death, until one after another merged with stronger organizations, leaving five in existence at present. The surviving comrades of Losure Post ^Wauseon), No. 35, Grand Army of the Republic, on Decoration Day of 1920, were: H. T.

Those of Stout Post Grand Army of the Republic, of Fayette on that date were: C. L. Allen, J. W. Binns, Samuel Bear, Frank Bilding, Henry Coleman, Joseph Harrison, Lorenzo Gamber, S. A. Jones, Aaron Kuney, Theo. Sebring, Jacob Reynolds, H. M. Rice, Peter Landis, Eli Thompson, John D. Vine, William Wright, Wm. Westfall, and Frank Woolace.

Those surviving comrades of Quiggle Post, No. 289 (Swanton), of Grand Army of the Republic on Decoration Day, 1920, were: William Palmer, Abram Huftile, D. M. Alton, L. G. Marsh, Geo. Conklin,

Those of Baxer Post, No. 238 (Lyons), which was organized in 1882 with eighteen charter members, were, on Decoration Day, 1920: Fred A. Slater, Augustus Noble, A. C. Daniel, original charter members and Wayne Carpenter, Chas. Blaine, Wm. Thornton, L. B. Champlain, Mel Ilinkle, James Kellogg, and F. A. Moses, ten in all.

May they have still many more years of comfortable life, honored and respected by their fellow-townsmen, and by the people of the county in general, and saved from all care or financial worries by the provident hand of "Uncle Sam," who in the recently increased pension has again declared the nation's indebtedness to the soldiers of 1861-65, and its determination that some of the debt shall be repaid. All cannot be, but those stalwart patriots seek not the luxuries and artificialities of modern life. As a matter of fact, most of them have done independently-well in civil life, and have been useful productive citizens.

The Civil War section of this chapter ought rightly to contain some information regarding the work of the Woman's Relief Corps. Auxiliary organizations of the Grand Army of the Republic were established at most of the county posts, and contributed much to the usefulness of the posts. The first organization was formed in Denver, Colorado, in 1883, and the first to be established in Fulton County was the Woman's Relief Corps, No. 20, of Wauseon. That came into existence in February, 1884, with a charter membership of thirty-two, but with a strength soon afterwards, and for many years, of more than one hundred. During the first seven years, they received and expended in Fulton County and other parts of the state, $962. The relief work, outside of money, cannot well be estimated, as in the early years it consisted of a call and gathering of the Corps for a day's work for a destitute family, or a needy sister; of clothing gathered and remodeled; of visits to the sick ; and in many other ways doing such work as one would expect of an earnest band of Christian women, devoted to the interests of the Grand Army, to humanity, and to the nation. All the Relief Corps units of the county were imbued with like spirit, and were equally effective. The first president of the Wauseon body was Mrs. Mary C. Eager.

Fulton County's good record of service, and of fitness to serve, during the Spanish-American War, grew out of the functioning of a semi-military town guard, the Wauseon Columbian Guards, which organization was mustered into the state service on January 21, 1893, becoming Company G, of the Sixteenth Ohio National Guards, which regiment underwent strenuous training during the next few years; and months before the outbreak of war, a sifting process had been pursued, the authorities generally feeling that war was more than possible. Companies were not only steadily recruited, but saw many eliminations as well. Men of family, to whom war service would entail hardships either upon themselves, or their dependents, were given an opportunity honorably to separate themselves from the service. The ranks were searched for men who might have difficulty in qualifying under U. S. Army standards, and recruits were given much more searching examination than at any time since the regiment had been formed. Therefore, long before the declaration of war with Spain, the Sixteenth was filled with selected men, who could be counted upon to give a good account of themselves, whatever might be demanded of their organization. With the blowing up of the U. S. S. Maine, on the night of February 14, 1898, while lying peaceably in Havana Harbor, war became inevitable. In April came the call to the Ohio National Guard, and on the 25th, the Sixth Ohio National Guard under which designation the former Sixteenth Regiment then was, organized at Toledo, amid scenes of great excitement. Regarding Fulton County's part, the local paper of April 29, 1898, stated :

"Captain Weir, of Co. G, received orders from Colonel McMaken, of the 16th Regiment, Sunday morning, to get his company together, and be ready to leave at an hour's notice. The Losure Post Drum Corps was called out and messages sent into the country to inform the members of the Company to report at the Armory and by eleven o'clock the Armory presented a very busy appearance. This gave impetus to enlisting, and before Sunday evening fully forty new men were taken into the company, and made soldiers of Uncle Sam. Although the company was ready to leave Sunday afternoon, no. orders came until Tuesday morning, the boys in the meantime remaining about the Armory. . . .When the order came early Tuesday morning, the greatest enthusiasm prevailed among the men, and they were escorted to the depot by hundreds of people, with the music of fife and drum. The feminine portion of the crowd shed tears. . . .while the men all had an

"Wauseon had not witnessed such an excited scene since the Civil War as that which attended the departure of Company G for the war. Amid cheers, and cries of farewell, and tears and waving of handkerchiefs and laughter, and cries of advice, the train that bore the militiamen rolled away from the Lake Shore Depot, on Tuesday morning, taking with it the blessings and 'God-speed' of the whole town. It seemed that everyone was there. The crowd packed the platform from end to end, and overflowed onto the lawn, and even covered the freight car roofs on the siding. It was a bright day of clear sky and sun, and if there were many tears shed, there was no gloom but unbounded enthusiasm, and hope.... An hour before train time, the fire bell was rung to let everyone know that the company was to assemble. . . . Friends had already begun to assemble at the armory, and at the depot. . . .The crowds increased and then the veterans of Losure Post came marching up the street, carrying Old Glory and stepping hearts and every friend of every man in blue were there. It was a time when the women, and even the men were not ashamed of tears, and many were seen choking back the sobs, as they shook hands, or kissed their loved ones good bye. . . .Captain Weir ordered the march across to the depot. . . .Slowly the train started and the crowd surged around and behind it, and cheered and cheered again. Handkerchiefs were waved, last shoutings of farewell were mingled with the scattering reports of a salute, fired by the boys from the rear platform of the last car, as it rolled on, faster and faster, to the east, carrying with it seventy-five of the best youth of Fulton county."

On the following Friday, the regiment, which came to be known as the Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, left for Columbus, going into Camp Bushnell, the hastily prepared rendezvous for Ohio's troops, at that place. The accommodation was very crude, and much hardship had to be endured by the men during those early days. On the 16th of May, the Sixth Regiment was mustered into the United States service, and on the 17th left Columbus for Chattanooga, which place was reached by noon of the next day. Toward evening, the regiment moved to Rossville, Ga., and early the following morning, in heavy marching order hiked to Camp Geo. H. Thomas, at Chickamauga Park. From its entrance into Chickamauga, the Sixth was brigaded with the 158th Indiana, and the 1st West Virginia, the three regiments constituting the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, the brigade commander being Brigadier General Wm. J. McKee. On August 27, 1898, the regiment left Chickamauga, en route for Knoxville, Tenn., and became a part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps. The regiment was destined to remain at Camp Poland, Knoxville, Tenn., until December, and when eventually on December 29, 1898, it reached Charleston, S. C., and embarked on the U. S. A. T. "Minnewaska," bound for Cienfuegos, Cuba, it was an organization much changed from that which left Toledo, in the previous April. The regiment had been depleted much by sickness, typhoid, dysentery, measles, and other scourges, but those who sailed were fit and strong and Veil drilled and disciplined soldiers, capable of doing well in any emergency. Cienfuegos Harbour was entered on the afternoon of January 4, 1899, and on the following morning, the Sixth Regiment debarked. The regiment remained in Cuba until April 22, 1899, doing garrison duty, and on that date sailed for Savannah, and after an irksome period of detention in camp near that city and some feting at Augusta, the Ohio regiment left for home, having been mustered out of the service on May 24th, at Camp McKenzie, near Augusta, Georgia. As to the casualties while in Federal service, many men were discharged because of sickness, but Company G was fortunate in having to record only four deaths: Frank C. Ritenhous, of Tedrow, who died on November 26,

1898 ; Ellis Terry Kunkle, who died on December 30, 1898; Samuel Williams, of Delta, who died on May 24, 1898; and W. B. Whitehorn, of Archbold, who died on September 7, 1898. The commissioned Fulton County men who were members of Company G. were : John A. Weir; Frank Outcalt, Melvin W. McConkey, and George W. Cunningham, first lieutenants. Frank Outcalt and Melvin G. McConkey both resigned, while the regiment was still in training camp. Still, they did valuable and appreciated work in the early organization of the company. -

The Fulton County men who were members of Company G. Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, when mustered into the federal sei'vice, at Columbus, in May, 1898, were:

Upp, Jocelyn Verity, James L. Wilson, Geo. C. Wade, Jesse AVibert, C. A. AVinchell, F. A. Warner, A. F. AVilliams, Harry E. Williams, Leland S. Whittaker, H. M. Wallace, A. E. AATlliams, Samuel Whitehorn, W. B. AA^alker, Harvey S. Weir, John A. Ziegler, Bert Zoll, Earl

AAdien the men of Company G returned to Wauseon, there was a great and joyous demonstration, '"a fitting testimonial to their patriotism, valor, and humanitarism." Stores were closed, and the men from Cuba sat down to a sumptious banquet at the Armory. The people of Fulton County fulfilled the promises made by the poet who wrote :

The sacrifices of the men who saw national service during the Spanish War were great. In the camps, their comfort was not catered to in such an elaborate manner as the soldiers of the next great war were destined to experience. Their rations were not on the elaborate standard set for units of the World War; and the sanitary arrangements were poor. Consequently there was much sickness, and a grievious death roll in the training camps. Furthermore, the soldiers were not paid within fifty per centum of the scale of the United States Army of 1917 ; and there was little home relief. So that the nation is particularly indebted to those patriots who rallied so eagerly to the flag after the sinking of the Maine.

Like the veterans of the Civil War, those of the Spanish- American War have their fraternal organization. There is one post of the Spanish- War veterans in Fulton County. It centers in Wauseon, and Fred Croninger is present commander ; but it is understood, its membership now only numbers thirteen.

There was a remarkable difference in expression, or in the extent of expression, when the news went through the country that the nation was in a "State of War" with Germany. When war was declared against Spain, in 1898, the newspapers could not be "held down" to reasonable headlines; when it dawned upon the Press, in April, 1917, that war between Germany and the United States was actually a present state, that war had been actually existent between the two nations for some time, because of the disregard by Germany of the rights of neutrals, which disregard became intolerable by her murderous and indiscriminate submarine policy, the newspaper captions seemed to reflect the general opinion of the momentous state into which the nation had been drawn. Yet the stupendous possibilities thrust upon the people of this free land by a militaristic power, which had no place in its theories for the uncontrollable dictates of honor and sentiment, and therefore could not conceive it possible that any nation would place her honor before material interests, were too great and serious to find expression readily in words . The time had come for action. There were no startling newspaper headlines. Almost without exception the Fulton County papers of the first week of April, 1917, held comment on the state of war down to less than one column of space. It seemed as though a grim determination had taken hold of all classes in the nation to dispense with all "fireworks," and "clear decks tor action. ihe Y auseon "Republican" of April 6, 1917, stated:

"The Senate, Wednesday night, passed the resolution declaring state of war exists between the United States and Germany. The vote was 82 to 6. . . .The government is now engaged in gigantic military problems now confronting the nation. All classes and conditions among the American people must bear their full share ol war-burdens. There are to be no favored classes, and no discrimination between the rich and poor.

"The decision of the government in favor of universal military service, it was officially stated, will discourage and prevent the raising of regiments as in former times. . . .It is thought the volunteer system has received its death blow and the nation will soon have 500,000 men under arms."

That was the only comment made upon an undertaking which might take the blood and life of hundreds of thousands ol the nation's young men ; the end of which conflict some experts had estimated might be years distant; yet, it was appropriate comment; grim, deliberate, business-like, - like the national administration had become, and like the people, in all phases of war activity, were destined to become.

It is national history, known well to all, how the United States raised its citizen army; how it overcame the almost, and some thought quite, unsurmountabie difficulties of transportation through submarine infested waters; and how, in 1918, when the last great German drive seemed likely to reach Paris, the American troops barred the way in such numbers, and with such freshness and irresistible will to conquer, that it brought to the German authorities and people the irrefutable realization that the end was near; that their dream of world domination would not be consummated in fact. A glorious chapter in United States history, in World history in fact, is that of America's part in the World War; and the more than two hundred thousand casualties sustained bv the American forces during the about six months of severe fighting in which the United States had decisive part proved to the world that America did not shrink from the direst and most grim realities of war. The American "doughboys" went out to fight; left their native land in the dead of night, without the blare of trumpets or the thrill of drum-beat ; without even a touch of relieving color in their dress - not even a bright button. All was drab. They crossed the dark ocean, living in life-jackets, with the ever-present possibility of an "Abandon ship" call, and a plunge into the cold all-devouring sea, they were hustled secretly from place to place, in a, mostly, damp, dreary, drizzly, drab country; moved silently and in darkness, one by one, into a front-line trench, with its mud, its rats, its stenches of decomposing matter, often human ; yet, through it all, there was a brightness that could not, would not, be dimmed - the spirit of the American boys, who would not be downhearted, who could not be subdued. That spirit won the war. A haughty Prussian major was captured by American troops, and when asked what he thought of the doughboy's fighting qualities, threw up his hands, at the thought of it - at the appalling impossibility of fighting against them: "Doughboys? Americans?

Impossible!" he exclaimed, "We can't fight against them. They fight by no book of tactics - and I have but two eyes. Americans?" again he threw up his hands. "They're everywhere. They just bob up like rabbits, from nowhere, - and, - and, it's all over."

It was so. The vast spaces of this continent, the freedom of life, the illimitable resources of the country, all have had part in building into -he character of the average American citizen an initiative, self-reliance, and bouyancy, that sent him irresistibly forward. It may be well presumed that there were quite a few Fulton County boys who helped to bewilder the Germans, from Chateau Thierry to Metz. Fulton County men took part in every major battle in which the American Expeditionary Forces were present, from Chateau Thierry on to the end of hostilities on November 11, 1918, when they were before Metz, after having passed through the withering struggle of the Argonne. It is not possible to single out regiments, or companies, for unlike former wars this war was conducted by nations, not by armies, and that general spirit ran through the military administration. A man was placed in the niche that best fitted him, or at least an endeavor was made so to do. Localities did not count, and, with the exception of the National Guard troops, regiments were made up of men of many states. The adoption of Selective Service cut away local lines, and while it generally happened that a division could to some extent be localized, it was in reality because of its organization in a particular state, at a cantonment to which were ordered, because of transportation limitations, the men called into service from that district. It is probable, however, that the majority of Fulton county's contribution to the American army was absorbed by the Thirty-Seventh, Forty-Second, Eighty-Third, Eighty- Fourth, Eighty-Fifth, and Eighty-Sixth divisions, although local men were to be found in the earlier divisions, down to the First, and Third. It has been somewhat difficult to compile a comprehensive list of those Fulton County men who served, for the reason that no authentic official records have yet been issued. The War and Navy Departments, at Washington, now have such lists in process of compilation, but years may elapse before compilation has been completed, and the record published. There will, probably, be some names of ex-service men omitted from the following list, for the records of the local Draft Board would not represent all who served, many having volunteered before the operation of the Selective Service system. Some had gone into the regular army or National Guard units; some had enlisted in the naval forces; while some, indeed, much to their credit, had gone into Canada to enlist in the Canadian, or British forces in the dark, dark, days, long before this nation had become involved in the worldchanging cataclysm. However, the list printed below will probably be the most complete yet compiled. It has been based upon that prepared by the state headquarters of the American Legion, and made available for the purpose of this historical work through the courtesy of Dr. W. H. Maddox, of Wauseon, county chairman of the American Legion committee; and many names have been added to the Legion list. Therefore it is here presented as a current contribution to county history, and as a tribute to the cheerful and self-sacrificing national service given by so many stalwart stout-hearted young men of Fulton County - men who are worthy successors of the pioneers of the county and of its veterans of other wars. The list begins with :

Grime, Herschel Grime, Lawrence W. Grime, Lawrence P. Griffith, John A. Griffin, Cecil 0. Green, Audley A. Graham, Ross G. Greisinger, Chauncey

Graf, Lloyd Grodi, Israel A. Guilford, Ralph P. Gunter, Troy A. Gunter, Lester C. Gunn, Floyd Gunn, Willard A. Gunsaullus, Francis E. Gype, Otto C.

It is not possible to state who was the first Fulton County boy to enter the service, and the credit should be given to those who left peaceful homes and prosperous country to go into the vortex of war, as volunteers, in the Canadian or British armies. The first Wauseon man to qualify for entry to one of the United States officers' training camps was Otis Johnson, on May 4, 1917. Some, during April, May, or June, of 1917, drifted away, almost unnoticed, to enlist at Toledo, and other places in the Army or Navy, but on June 5th came the registra- tion of all male citizens, declarants, and alien residents, between the ages of twenty-one and thirty one years, so that the Selective Service system might take the place of indiscriminate recruitment of volunteers. The first detachment to leave Fulton county, for service in the new National Army, consisted of seven men, Robert J. Bissonette, Albert L. Frey, OttoE. Funkhouser, Fern D. Harrison, Paul Ii. Hemsoth, Frank H. Miller, and Carl F. Schroder. They left, for Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, on September 6, 1917. This detachment was followed by a second, of fifty-seven men, on September 19th, and a third detachment, of forty-eight men, on October 3, 1917. Although their subsequent movements because of military exigency and the need for secrecy as to troop movements, were somewhat drab, the "send-off" given them by their home-folk was worthy of the county, and of their subsequent battle records. The people of the county gathered in thousands at Wauseon, on the days of departure of the detachments. The "Democratic Expositor," of September 21, 1917, stated that "about 2,500 to 3,000 people turned out Wednesday morning, to bid 'God speed' to the boys who are going into training, to defend human rights and civilized liberty. There were among the boys those who were sad, because they knew that either at home, or in the crowd, was mother with an all-hut -broken heart. So the occasion was not the most cheerful one, although the boys bore up bravely." Two weeks later, "about 3,000 people assembled in Wauseon, Wednesday morning, October 3rd," stated the same paper, "to see Fulton County's third contingent go forth ... .Everybody was here, from far and near, throughout the countv. The Old V eterans' Fife and Drum Corps, the Boy Scouts Bugle Corps, the Archbold Band, and the Swanton Band were all present, and helped to swell the patriotism within the hearts of all." There was not an extravagant voicing of effusive and fulsome words, but the hand-grips that returned those of the boys were expressive of the feelings that in many cases made words impossible. And, as a whole, the boys left cheerfully. As the war proceeded and detachment after detachment left Fulton County, the gathering of those who longed to give the departing boys, a last hand-shake seemed to increase with each departure. On May 29, 1918, when a detachment left for Camp Taylor, one of the local newspapers reported that "more than eight thousand people gathered at Wauseon to extend greetings to the departing boys" adding that "it was a sad great day when our boys marched away; sad because of the vacant places in the homes, great because of the manhood, bravery and patriotism of the people, and these sons of ours, who are ready to fight, and die if need be, that Old Glory might continue to stand as the banner of liberty, justice and equality; great because of the womanhood, which gave us these sons, and, in the name of America, bade them go. . . .for Humanity's sake."

And when, having passed through the vortex, having had more than one glimpse of the hell war is, and of the extra-ordinary heinousness of this war, with its poison gases, its high explosives, and its almostsubterranean life, the boys returned home, in twos and threes, or small groups at best, the citizens named a day upon which they would formally welcome the heroes back to the home-fold. October 1, 1919, was the day decided upon, and then "hundreds of soldiers, sailors and marines of all wars, their wives, sweethearts, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters and friends, were the guests of the county in this vicinity and town folks of \\ auscon stilted the "W auseon Republican. "It was a day of rejoicing and' good fellowship. About 500 service men were registered, and their guests swelled the number to nearly 800 who were given a magnificent dinner by men and women of this community." Continuing the paper reported :

"The farmers brought in chickens, and- the very best that the soil could produce of the things that were good to eat, while the town folks joined in supplying pies, cakes, bread, etc., and the business men raised and spent about $1,100 for supplies and entertainment. Nothing was left undone to add to the pleasure of the day. So, let it rain. What do we care, so long as all went merry as a marriage bell, when our boys and their friends were having a good time. The tree attractions were of high character. The Arclibold, Defiance, and Boy Scout bands kept the air filled with good music, while the Merry-go-round contributed its share to the entertainment. It was a great community meeting, the farmer folks joining with the town folks in the celebration."

Some of the boys who went away in 1917, or 1918, did not gather for the 1919 celebration. They could not attend, excepting in spirit. They had made had had their names entered in national annals among those of other patriots who had laid down their lives in defence of their country. Fulton County's list is an honorable and honored one, and well might the grief of those mothers who bore such valiant sons be tempered by the pride they must feel in realizing 'that their offsprings have place upon the greatest, the supreme Roll of Honor of this great nation. Those Fulton County patriots who were killed in action, who died of wounds, or from other causes, in France, or who succumbed to the hardships or rigorous military training in this country, were :

Colonel D. W. H. Howard, of Winameg. He died of pneumonia, at Camp Pike, Little Rock, Ark., on January 14, 1918. Probably the first to make the supreme sacrifice on the battlefields of France was McKinley Robinson. Regarding some of Fulton County's heroes who were killed, or who died in the sendee, there is much biographical material available, while of others there is little or no information, unfortunately. In consequence, it will be impossible to give them the notice here that their service merits.

Charles C. Agsten, of Delta, son of John E. Agsten, was in the army in the earliest days of the war. He was a member of Company A, of the Twenty-Eighth Infantry; and was buried in France.

August Becker, "a kind and loving boy," only son of Mr. and Mrs. August Becker, Sr., of Dover Township, died of pneumonia, following influenza, at Camp Sherman, Ohio, on October 9, 1918, aged 21 years. He was buried at Norwalk, Ohio. "He was a farmer lad, and had spent his life with his parents, aiding them in their farm work."

William Nicholas Bixler, son of S. H. and Lizzie Bixler, was born near Swanton, in 1890. Entering the service in 1918, he had infantry training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, and was subsequently transferred to an Artillery unit, at Camp Custer, Michigan. He had received overseas equipment and expected to sail overseas shortly, when he was stricken with influenza, which developed into pneumonia, from which he died on October 19, 1918, at Camp Custer. He was buried in Centreville Cemetery, Swanton.

Clayton 0. Buehrer, son of Mrs. Conrad Ziegler, by her first marriage, was well-known and much respected in Archbold. He was mortally wounded in action in France.

Ignatius Camp, of Swanton, was probably the first in the County to die while in the service of his country in this war. He died of spinal meningitis at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio, on November 11, 1917. Two of his brothers went to the camp immediately, and returned with his 'body, and funeral services were held at St. Richard's Roman Catholic Church, Swanton, "the village flag flying at half-mast in his honor." He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Camp, formerly of, near, Sandusky, but since 1915 of Swanton.

Edward Lane Cook was a patriot who left home and wife voluntarily to fight for his country. He crossed the seas, and his body lies in consecrated ground in France.

Clifton Curtis, of the well-known pioneer Swanton family, also lies "somewhere in France;" paying with his life some of the debt this country owed to Lafayette.

Vern Dickerson, son of James and Hattie Dickerson, of near Wauseon, died at the Base Hospital, Camp Sherman, Ohio, on October 9, 1918. Influenza was the cause. Vern was a worthy son; a young man "of upright life and exemplary habits." He was buried in Wauseon Cemetery.

William E. Durant, son of Elizabeth and Elisha Durant, and husband of Opal May Emmerling, of Wauseon, went into service in August, 1918. and at the time of his death, October 15, 1918, was a member of Headquarters Company, Sixty-Seventh Field Artillery, at Camp Knox, West Point, Ky. He was buried in Wauseon Cemetery.

Lawrence D. Elmwood was in one of the most dangerous and glorious arms of the sendee. He was a member of Company A., of the Fourth Auto Air Craft Battalion.

Clifford Elton, of Delta, and of a well-known family long resident in Fulton County, died while in Vancouver Barracks, Washington, an American camp. Ilis body was brought home, and interred eventually in Raker Cemetery.

Leo E. Flory, "one of the Wauseon boys who, from the moment that the United States declared war on Germany was anxious to get into the service," died of pneumonia, at Camp Jackson, South Carolina, October 24, 1918. He volunteered for sendee five times, but each time was rejected. He passed the sixth examination however, and left for camp happy. Lie was the son of Bert and Mary Flory; was a popular student of Wauseon schooLs, and as a youth belonged to the Boy Scout troop. His remains were placed in the Catholic Cemetery, north of Archbold.

H. Gardner, son of Mrs. Alice Gardner, of Delta, was a member of Company E., One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Infantry, one of the regiments early sent to France. His body lies in sacred ground in that country.

Ross Graham, a promising young mechanical engineer, for nine years connected with the Pilliod Company, at Swanton, died of spinal meningitis in France. He held a commission, in the grade of lieutenant, and "was a fine young man in every respect." He married, in 1914, Maybelle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frogley, of Swanton.

Clifford Gibbs, of Wauseon, son of Jay W. Gibbs, was reported "Missing in action" in France, and bis father eventually received the Memorial Certificate sent from France by the French Government, for presentation to him.

IIomer Carl ILine, son of C. B. and Mary I. IJine, and grandson of M. N. Worley, of Clinton Township, died at Base Hospital, Camp Sherman, Ohio, October 7, 1918, aged 21 years. "He died as a soldier on duty, faithful to his country." He was "universally liked" in V auseon. Tie was buried in Wauseon Cemetery, mourned by his wife, Elizabeth Shelt, of Napoleon, by his mother, Mrs. Irving Eck, of Wauseon, and bv very many friends .

Walter M. LIoward, of the pioneer Fulton County family, and the first Wauseon boy to succumb to the rigors of military training, had very many friends in Wauseon, and throughout the county.

George Hoover, son of J. E. Hoover, of Archbold, was one of those who helped with his body, to block the road to Paris. He was killed in action in France, and the French Government Memorial Certificate was eventually tendered to his father.

James Hurd, of Fayette, was another of those who sought to stem the tide; to stop the onward rush of the Germans toward World domination. He was killed in the attempt. .

Arthur E. Knight, of Wauseon, died in France of wounds received in action. His wife proudly treasures the French Government Memorial Certificate. . .

Earl Kaulkins, of Fayette, died in service of his country. He was buried in Franklin Cemtery, mourned by his wife, Nellie, and many friends.

Clyde Keller, an upstanding popular boy of Wauseon, was only ninteen years old when he died at Ohio State University, in October, 1918. He had enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps, and in due course would have entered the major branch of the United States Army. He was buried in Wauseon Cemetery mourned by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Keller, and by his innumerable friends in Wauseon.

Clarence C. Lauber, of one of the earliest German Township families, was killed in action in France, where his body now lies. His brother, Christian S. Lauber was presented the French Certificate, to commemorate his brother's service to the French nation.

Ray Mastin, son of John Mastin, of Fayette, died on French soil, where he was buried. His father holds the French Government Memorial Certificate.

Elmer A. Michael, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael, of S wanton, was a member of 62nd Infantry, and was early in the service. His body lies in France, his mother, Rebecca, duly being presented with the French Government certificate written in his honor.

Herbert C. Murbach, son of Jacob R. Murbach, of Swan ton, died of wounds received in action in France. He belonged to the One Hundred and First Infantry.

Lloyd Nofziger, was in the Air Service student corps and died in Washington, D. C. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Nofziger, of Pettisville.

Arthur D. Richardson, son of Clark Richardson, of Lyons, was in Company I, of the Ninth Infantry, which saw some of the hardest fighting in France. He was first reported' "Missing in Action," but subsequently found to have been killed in battle. His father holds the French Government Memorial Certificate.

McKinley Robinson, a lad scarcely eighteen years old, was one of the first Fulton County boys to volunteer. He enlisted at Toledo, Ohio, on May 12, 1917, and was assigned to the Twelfth Ambulance Company, which was one of the first American units to cross the ocean. He was serving with the 1st Division when mortally wounded by shell fire, dying on August 3, 1918. He was the son of Wallace and Jennie Robinson, the former a veteran of the Civil War. A "large concourse of people" gathered in Monumental Park, W auseon, on Sunday after noon, September 2, 1918, when memorial services in liis honor and memory were held.

Moses Rupp, of Archbold, and of the German Township family of that name, died of pneumonia at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio. He was a steady young farmer, well-liked and respected and his parents, Mr. and Mrs Moses Rupp, of Burlington, were tendered sympathy from many quarters. lie was buried at Lauber Hill Cemetery.

Albert Schwy.x, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Schwyn, was born on the farm, three miles north of Swanton, on March 12, 1895. After very brief training at Camp Jackson, he was sent to France and was killed in action there, on October 30. 1918, eleven days before the close of hostilities.

Walter Sharp, only child of' Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Sharp, of Wauseon, died of pneumonia at sea, on September 29, 1918, while en route to France. He was a member of Company 5, Auto Repair Corps. His body was brought back to America, and ultimately interred in Wauseon Cemetery.

Walter D. Siceels, was a member of Company D., 308th Machine Gun Battalion, and his body now lies in France. His father is Alfred Skeels, of Wauseon.

Odell Stratton, of Swanton, or as he entered in official records Perry Odell Stratton, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Stratton, former resident' of South Swanton. Odell enlisted in August, 1917, in the Thirteenth Machine Gun Battalion, and was stationed at Camp Houston, San Antonio, Texas, where^he died in February, 1918, of pneumonia. His body was brought to Swanton, and interred in Centreville Cemetery. Odell was the second of his family to die in the service, his brother, Cecil, having enlisted during the Spanish war, and eventually met his death in Manila.

Henry Steinbrecker, of Wauseon, was in Company C., of the Sixty-Fourth Infantry, and with that regiment went to France, where his body now lies buried. His wife, Rosa, received from the French Government, eventually a memorial certificate written in his honor and memory.

Albert A. Weckesser, son of John IT. Weckesser, of Archbold, and German Township, was missing in action in France, according to the first report. Later he was reported to have died of wounds. An acknowledgment and appreciation came, ultimately, from the French Government to his father, the French Memorial Certificate commemorating fullest possible service by a stout-hearted patriot.

Frank \Y right, who died at the Great Lakes Training Station, of the United States Navy, on September 29, 1918, had a somewhat unusual military career. He had enlisted in the early days of the war, had attended training camp, and had secured a commission. Later, physical disabilities brought about his discharge from the United States Army; whereupon, he enlisted in the Navy, and was undergoing a

Her soldier sons did not of course represent Fulton County's only contribution to the nation, for the purposes of the nation, in the prosecution of the war. In this World \\ ar, conducted as it was, literally by nations, not by armies only, much essential, and essentially patriotic work was possible of accomplishment by people of all ages. Within two or three weeks of the declaration of a state of war, the Ohio Council of National Defense was formed, its purpose, in particular, being to endeavor to systemize crop work, so that every possible acre ol agricultural land might be cultivated, to yield abnormal quantities of foodstuffs, to stave off the threatened world famine. On April 27, 1917, the Wauseon "Republican" made public the names of the Fulton County men appointed, as Township Food and Crop Commissioners. They were: Amboy, Fred Broadbeck; Chesterfield, W. E. Patterson; Clinton, Harmon Gasche; Dover, J. L. Verity; Fulton, 0. 0. Walters; German, Lan. J. W vse; Gorham, L. E. Connell ; Pike, W. B. McClarren ; Royal ton, Albert Edgar; Swan Creek, Dell Gill; and York, E. G. Dailey; with C. II. Waid, special agent.'

The war was only a few days old when the Wauseon Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution, oh April 6, 1917, "voted to cooperate with the National Red Cross organziation" stating that "an effort is being made to secure a registry of women, who are ready to volunteer their services in time of emergency." A month later some active citizens began to pave the wray for a campaign for funds in aid of the War Work Council of the Young Men's Christian Association, a temporary executive committee being appointed, with the followingnamed men as officers, C. P. Griser, chairman ; J. M. Longnecker, vice chairman: F. TL Reighard. secretary; and W. TT. Edgar, treasurer. On July 9. 1917, the Fulton County Chapter of the Red Cross was organized, and branches organized at Metamora, Archbold, Swan ton, Delta, and Fayette, the establishment of Lyons and Winameg branches following within a week, or two, all other parts of the county coming directly under the jurisdiction of the County Chapter. Eventually there were Red Cross Auxiliary organizations formed at Tedrow, Ambrose, West Barre, Northwest York, Pettisville, and Ottokee. Meanwhile committees had been appointed to undertake the exhaustive work of bringing the Selective Service system into operation in the county. And soon came the necessitv to organize the territory for the purpose of the stupendous national loans that would become necessary, as the national administration proceeded with its extraordinary and comprehensive war plans.

The home record of Fulton county during the period of national stress is one of distinct honor. It was marred by one or two regrettable incidents but, generally, the county was whole-heartedly loyal, and almost unanimous for the continuance of the war until victory had been won. As the loan campaigns proceeded, it was found that some did not measure up to the standard expected of them, and a Wauseon newspaper of May. 1918, carried an announcement, by Government representatives in Fulton county, that "a review of allotment and fin- ancial ability of certain small subscribers to Liberty Loan" had made it necessary for them to "certify" names to the Federal Authorities, "to be placed on the Yellow Roll." In the course of a flag raising at Fayette, on April 13, 1918, it was announced that the teaching of German having been discontinued in the public schools, the books would be burned. "All the German text books were gathered and burned, on the public square" at Fayette, "signifying that henceforth America must be for Americans." Another ' instance of the temper of the people during that momentous time was contained in certain proceedings at the Court House, at Wauseon, on June 1, 1918, when, at a public hearing, the League of American Patriots decided to place a certain man, who had said: "Damn the Red Cross" on the

"Un-American" list. When the man stated that he had offered the Executive Committee a contribution of five dollars, and a further one dollar monthly, the League decided that it could not be "a collecting agency," neither could it be "a whitewash society," averring that "it must stand for true Americanism, if it is to be of any good to the country," also that it could be "no respector of persons, but that after the names of rich or poor, high or low, who are not honestly and faithfully serving their country, in whatever capacity they are able to serve it, it must write the words: Un-American." However, there must have been an almost unanimously loyal populace in Fulton county during the years of war, for little has been published regarding denouncement proceedings by the League of American Patriots in Fulton county. The subscriptions to the various war funds demonstrate that the people, as a whole, were prepared to give "till it hurt." To the five Liberty Loans, the people of Fulton county contributed $3,575,200, that sum being represented in the 16,122 subscriptions filed. They contributed $69,811.07 to the Fulton County War Chest Fund; they bought $800,000 of War Savings Stamps; and went "well into five figures in Red Cross support." What the actual contribution to the Red Cross organization was cannot be ascertained, so much of the contribution being in kind - in the labor of love, for, and in remembrance of, the home boys who were in the field, and stood possibly in need of sweaters, helmets, mittens, and the like. Of these the home folk who labored, and gave, mention can here only be made of a few. As Judge Wolf, county chairman of the Red Cross in Fulton County, in reviewing Red Cross activities over the years 1917-18, stated:

"Hundreds of workers all over the county practically abandoned all their other duties, and gave unsparingly of their time to help win the war, and it is to be regretted that within the confines of this brief history the names of these workers and the valuable work performed by them, cannot be set forth in detail, but their reward shall be the knowledge and consciousness of duty well performed."

The statement applies to workers in all phases of war activity. The workers for the Liberty Loan campaigns were like "busy bees - in swarms," but mention here can only be made to a few of the chief executives. Wayne B. Harris, of the First National Bank, Wauseon, was the capable chairman of the Liberty Loan Committee, and the following were members of the Executive Committee: C. L. Mathews, chairman; F. H. Reighard, C. P. Grisier, R. S. Campbell, C. D. Perry, M. L. Allstetter, speakers; A. B. Eby, director of Publicity. Members of the Publicity Committee, of which A. B. Eby was chairman, were Emil Weber, W. W. Caddell, and Chas. Prichard. Then there were town and township committees, speakers, canvassers, and supervisors, in such numbers that it would not be possible to here name them. The report covering the Second Liberty Loan campaign, October, 1917, made reference to good assistance rendered by the Boy Scout organization and the Betsy Ross Girls, of Wauseon. ' The Boy Scouts secured one hundred and thirty subscriptions, amounting to $36,350, and the Betsy Ross Girls fifty-six subscriptions totaling to $14,700. Among the Boy Scout workers were Charles Cole, Donald Grisier, Rolland Maddox, Louis Jodrv, Niel McIntosh, Donald Porter, Lowell Perry, and John Outcalt. The Betsy Ross Girls were Dorothy Waldron, Helen Fink. Ruth Ziegler, and Eugenia Harrison. Embodied in the County Chairman's report of the Fourth Liberty Loan campaign was the following statement :

"One of the notable features of this campaign was the co-operation by the conscientious objectors. The members of the Reformed Meni ionite and the Defenseless Mennonite churches contributed to the Third Liberty Loan, and at the beginning of this campaign they again asked their share. This amount was raised by solicitation by the members of the church. The Amish Mennonites, who did not accept this plan in time for the third loan were asked to raise an amount of money equal to five and one-half per cent of their assessed valuation, and this was done, satisactorily to the Committee. The amount of money contributed by the Amish Church was $98,200 ; the Reformed Mennonites, $1,650; and the Defenseless Mennonites, $2,600. The valuation of the members of the conscientious objectors religion in German Township represents, approximately, one-third of the valuation of the township." The tax valuation of German Township, in 1918, was a little more than five million dollars.

The Fulton County War Chest Association was under the chairmanship of Judge Fred H. Wolf, with M. E. Read, treasurer, and L. H. Deyo, secretary. Members of the Executive Committee were:

IT. M. Jay, Wm. Mohr, Chas. A. ITayes, Jacob Ehrat, D. B. Simpson, Jay C. Burr, D. S. Knight, Geo. K. Russell, Sam Berkebile, Frank Dielman. Geo. R. Ackerman, L. E. Connell, R. N. Belding, N. F. Carmon. Jacob Mossing, IT. H. Tredway, H. F. Dimke, AY. IT. Standish. and D. C. DeGroat.

The War Savings Committee of Fulton County was, in 1917, under the chairmanship of Professor C. D. Perry, when strenuous work was undertaken and successfully accomplished. In 1918 R. S. Campbell was the county chairman, and Florence H. Bennett, woman's chairman. The Executive Committee, for the greater part of the time, was constituted as follows: C. L. Mathews, F. H. Reighard, C. P. Grisier, C. D. Perry, W. B. Harris, Emil Weber, and W. E. Disbrow.

The chief executives of the Fulton County chapter of the American Red Cross were, in addition to Judge Fred H. Wolf, its chairman: Mrs. W. T. Campbell, vice chairman; Davis B. Johnson, secretary There have been two treasurers, O. C. Standish eventually resigning

If newspaper headlines were "conspicuous by their absence" from local papers when America went to war, they were certainly conspicuously present in the second week of November, 1918, after the signing of the Armistice, on November 11th. The front-page captions in themselves took up the space of almost a column, of the Wauseon "Republican," of November 15, 1918. Reporting local happenings of the great day when the Armistice was signed, tire "Republican" stated:

"Joining with the rest of the nation in celebrating the ending of the war, the people of Fulton county set apart Monday as a great holiday. Business was suspended in every town commencing as early as nine o'clock in Metamora, and by noon every place of business in the county was closed.

"The people were wild with enthusiasm and patriotic ardor. Flags were unfurled to the breeze, and 'Old Glory' meant more than it had for half a century.

"Every town in the county held its celebration and jollification, and every road in the country lead to the nearest town that the rural population might have a part in fittingly observing the day. Country folks and town folks were all wild with enthusiasm. Bands played, cannons boomed, guns roared, and every conceivable noise was resorted to, to given vent to the pent-up enthusiasm.

During 1920, the organization of American Legion posts in Fulton county was actively pursued. Dr. William H. Maddox was appointed chairman of the American Legion Committee in Fulton county, and his work, in association with that of other energetic ex-service men, has resulted in the formation of six posts in the county. They are: The John Dale Post, No. 143, Fayette, the commander of which is Dr. Ralph Reynolds, and the adjutant, F. E. Stevens; the Robinson-Gibbs Post, No. 265, of Wauseon, Dr. C. F. Hartman, commander, and Ernest Gorsuch, adjutant; the B-L-W (or Buehrer-Lauber-Weckesser) Post, No. 311, Archbold, with Dr. C. F. Murbach, commander, and C. H. Hoffmire, adjutant; the Agsten-Elton-Eckhart Post, No. 373, of Delta, the commander of which is Dr. A. M. Wilkins; the Swanton Post, Dr. L. C. Cosgrove, commander; and the Pettisville Post, No. 1445, Pettisville. The (Swanton jand Pettisville Posts are still more or less in the formative stage, and full data concerning them cannot yet be recorded.