Isaac Carey

Isaac Carey's Grave, at Potter Cem. Paulding Co. Ohio

      Isaac Carey settle in Auglaize Township (Paulding Co. Ohio) in 1828 and proceeded to make a home in the wilderness. Isaac was a genial Christian gentleman and his cabin was a preaching place and the home of the preacher well. Isaac entertained travelers who came along and as his home was on the direct route from Defiance to Findlay it happened quite often that a company of movers or traveler would stop there and were always made welcome. As Phelps once remarked. "It was a mighty good place to stay over night." Isaac was a brick and stone mason, and with his brother-in-law, James Hudson built the first brick house in Defiance (Dr. John Evans house) and Paulding and also in Ft. Wayne.
    In matters of education Isaac and some of his neighbors were head of their time. For some years there was no public money witch to hire  teacher and his father-in-law Shadrack Hudson and Col. Nathan Shirtey contributed of their own funds paid and maintained a teacher for their children. This they for some years until there was no further need of a private school. C.B. West was the teacher, and was a very good one too. West afterwards taught school in Defiance.
    The Indians were in the land then and Charloe was then an Indian village, where Ocquanoxy was Chief. When the Indians jouneyed  to Defiance and back they frequently called at Isaac Carey's cabin, they were always well treated. Indians had a sincere respect and friendship for Isaac, and trusted him to that extent when they made their yearly journey to Detroit to receive their annuity that the government paid them. The Indians used to leave their guns, dogs and other valuable in Isaac's care. The Indians dogs, were a nuisance to Isaac for not understanding,  the differs between hogs and wild animals, and. At last Isaac patience gave entirely out and Isaac ,shot one or two of their dogs. Isaac was under anxiety for a while thinking the Indians would retaliate, but his fears proved groundless, for next time the Red Men came their dogs slunk along as though they been whipped and did not even bark. A closer examination showed that they were muzzled by strips of bark tied around their nose and the dogs never molested the dogs again.

William Galbreath Putnam County Pioneer Reminiscences 1878-1887 Pages 28-29

William Galbreath  1794 - 1877

    Born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1794. Settled in Putnam, county Ohio, November 16 1834. Died Sept. 21, 1877. Interred in the Old Cemetery at Ottawa.

    Now about some incidents. I left Fort Findlay with my family, with a team of two horses at the tongue, a yoke of oxen in the middle and a span of horses in the lead. I had to cut a good part of the road though the brush, which took nearly two days before I reached Ottawa. You may guess how the roads were when I tell you that in making a turn the mud was so deep that my lead horses fell down and the off horse fell over him, and when they got up the leader was on the off side. When we land in Ottawa we went into a red man's house and there was not a white family any where about Ottawa at that time. The next morning after I landed, eight or ten Indians came and claimed the house and, in a friendly way, we had some talk over it. Finally they agreed that if I would give them bread and meat I could keep the house. I did so, and they eat like hound dogs. Next day they came back, but as I had brought with me from Findlay a man who was used to their ways, he drove them off. In a few days a man brought to Ottawa three or four barrels of whisky to trade to the Indians for furs. The Indians found out that the whisky was here, and during the night one of them came with a tin bucket to steal the precious article. In his endeavors to get it he let the barrel fall on his bucket, with the bung down, and all the whisky ran out on the ground. Next morning a drove of Indians squaws and pappooses came with little tins to dip up the whisky which was in the horse tracks on the ground. The squaws soon began to get pretty merry and commenced singing. The white man held up his bucket and asked,"Who owns this?" Indian Tom said, "Caw, caw!" and reached  his for the bucket. The white man threw him the bucket. They all got drunk, but I think two or three of the squaws got the biggest share. Not long after this, Sycamore and his squaw, who had a pappoose, got into a quarrel, when he pulled out his knife and cut the child in two. Each one had a half and they settled the quarrel.

                                                              Indian Tom

    Tom was an Indian that would steal, so they concluded to put him out of the way. One evening The Auglaize river was raising very fast, and they took him down in a low bottom and tied his hands and feet to stakes that were driven into the ground, thinking the river would raise over him before morning and drown him. But there was a young squaw who got a hint of it and went down in the night and cut him loose. The next morning the water was three or four feet deep, where Tom had been tied. About noon Tom was seen at some distance peeping from behind a tree. He returned and told the company that he was still alive. Tom finally went west with the Ottawa tribe.

                                                         Pedan And The Dutchman

    Pedan came to my house and called; "Big man, big man. Man lost in the bush!" pointing toward Plum creek. "We tried to fetch him to Ottawa---he no come, he stagger and fall, he soon go dead, he no white man, he dutchman." So I sent word to the Catholic Priest and he sought and found him.

                                                      Tom Slighted And How He Retaliated.

    One night I heard the Indians coming, and being in bed I got up. They rode up and yelled, "Big man, whisky!" I went to the road and they had a porcupine skin full of whisky. They drew out a bottleful by means of a spile. The chief took the bottle and came up to me. Pointing towards me, he said "You good man, me good man, he good man, he good man," pointing to all the circle, with the exception of Tom, and drank, and in like manner each drank, repeating the chief's words and leaving out Tom. I pretended to drink to all, including Tom; whereupon Tom came up and took the bottle and said to me, "You good man, me good man," and drank slighting the rest of the company. Tom was charged with being a thief. On account of this they treated him so.

                                                          Jim Hound.

    One day I said to Jim Hound: "Who was your Captain in the war?"  " Harrison" he replied. Whereupon a Chief standing near by spoke up saying; "Jim you lie, Proctor your Captain!" Jim hung his head.

Harrison Street Ghost Defiance Democrat 14 Aug. 1902

    Upper Harrison Street (Defiance Ohio) was treated to what was supposed was a genuine ghost scare. Just as the street car was approaching the ward building two girls, whose names were withheld because they could not be blamed getting frightened, asked Motorman Chas. Weisenburger for protection.

    Weisenburger was amused for a moment but as soon as he obtained a look at the white specter his hair stood on end and the street car was in danger of being deserted. A white form about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighting about 200 to 210 pounds was seen in the distance, walking stealthy along the street.

    The ghostly prowler turned the corner in front of Looker's saloon and ran against Lewis Looker, standing in front. Looker for a second, was ready to sail skyward, but on second though drew his arm back intending to put his supernatural highness to sleep in a hurry, thinking the mustache was a burgler mask. Luckily for the ghost he was recognized just then and a accident averted.

    The strange figure in white proved to be a resident of Harrison street with a heavy cold and intended combining the cool air treatment with a glass of schnapps for relief. He was dress only in his night dress, not even having any covering on his feet which exploined his appearance and stealthy walk

Evansport Beast Defiance Democrat 17 May 1917

Gray  Eagle

    For sometime young lambs, pigs and chickens have been disappearing.
    Hunters armed with rifles and shotguns took to the fields as the toll of farm animals increased.
    Mothers feared that their young children would be carried away by the beast or beasts. Families that gathered around the fire side in the evening speculated as to what was carrying away their possessions. The magnitude of the mysterious animal was increased each time the story was repeated as was the wildness and ferocity of the beast that was preying on their neighborhood

    Clem Snider son of J.C.Snider who resides on a farm a half mile south of Evansport, heard a commotion among a flock of lambs. Grabbing his trusty shotgun, darted out of the house. Clem saw a big bird take wing and fly away upon his approach. Snider shot and brought down the bird, which proved to be a gray eagle.It measured 7 feet across the wings.

Pearl Found In The Maumee River Defiance Crescent News Sept. 10, 1921

    Adam Rose, State Dam lock tender, received $200 for a 41 grain pearl he took from a claim from the Maumee River near the State Dam.
    The large gem has one blemish or would have drawn a much larger sum, people interested in the find stated.
    Fred Stever sent the stone to the Cleveland Bank, which it was sold.

    In connection with his other duties as caretaker of the locks. Rose has been engaged in claim fishing for shells. This has grown to be considerable industry, in the river shallows here.

Ghost Of Buckland Lock Defiance Democrat 17 July 1902 Probate Judge James Donovan

Buckland locks  Henry County Ohio

    Nestled in a clump of trees almost on the boundary line between Lucas and Henry Counties (Ohio), is a famous landmark of the Miami & Erie Canal. Called Buckland lock, and about this spot there is a strange tale of mystery, which has gathered a series of the strangest happening ever recorded in the history of the canal, which is told like this.

    Boatman passing the spot after dark one night, were startled by weird groans near the tow path, as though someone was in great agony. Instead of growing fainter as they advance, the groans increase, seeming almost at the water's edge. As the locks were approached. Suddenly  from the water a ghostly appeared. Its outline growing plain, as the boat pauses near the locks, showing it to be that of an elderly man. His beard of an unusual length and eerie whiteness. The clothes are of the pattern of the ordinary working man. The man delays an instant at the sluice gate. Then throw it open for the boat to pass. So natural has been the whole operation. The crew of the boat did not known that there was no lock tender at Buckland's lock. They would have supposed that the old man was the lock keeper. He has often hailed, but there has never been an answer from him. His duty done, he walks away, vanishing in the darkness. But as the boat continues its course to pass through the locks. The crew see to their shock that the gates are closed. Although they could have sworn, that the old man had thrown the gates open, the moment before. At the next lock the ghostly figure is a again seen. This time he makes a friendly motion to the crew with his hands. Here as before the same experience is taking place. It is not until the locks is left behind that the ghost disappears for good.

Fifth Street Canal Bridge, Defiance Ohio DLP Bronson Photo

    Landlord Kirtley of the Crosby House, gave a startling exhibition of diving at the Fifth Street Canal bridge, when he took a header from his buggy into the murky waters of the Miami & Erie canal and those who witnessed the leap say the genial hotel man performed the feat as graceful as a frightened bull frog.
    Mr. Kirtley started with Gemmie Lucas, one of his boarders for a pleasure drive. They drove into the canal bridge without observing that a boat was about to pass through. The horse reached the landing when the boat struck the bridge, and horse, buggy and went into the water.
    Mr. Kirtly jump into the canal and thus avoided having the animal or vehicle land on him. Mr. Lucas did not fare as badly as the landlord, for he succeeded in getting on a log which serves as a guard to boats and only got one leg into the mud.

    The horse and buggy were recovered and escaped without injury.

    While the accident might have proven serious there was some very amusing features connected with it. Mr. Kirtley and Mr.Lucas took their misfortune good nature and enjoyed a laugh over the predicament they were placed in.

                 Defiance Crescent News       7 July 1900

Fifth Street Canal Bridge, Defiance, Ohio

                                                                                                                                                     

Booh! Ghost in the Defiance County Jail Daily Crescent 14 April 1911

    Is the Defiance County Jail haunted?
    Some of the prisoner who have been confined to the jail claim that its haunted, stories were told of the visit of a tall man, wearing a broad hat and carrying a cane with which he taps the floor. The ghost went so far as to boost one prisoner out of the hammock, so it is said and other claim to have awakened and seen Mr. Ghost prowling around.

    Sheriff says he know nothing of the Ghost and has not even heard its moaning and shrieking but several prisoners who were confine to the jail claim that Mr. Ghost is there alright and has a high old time of it every night

Terror Of Rebel Attack On Train

John and Mary Scheuermann Defiance County History 1976 Page 547

    John Scheuermann who was the first of the Scheuermann family to settle in Defiance, Ohio, was born in 1833 at Waiback in Hesse Darmstdt, Germany. When he came to the United States he settle in Cincinati, Ohio, where he was a brewer by trade.

    During the Civil War, he fought with the Union Army, Company K, 9th Reg. O.V.I. At Chattanooga, he was wounded and lay for four days, while first one side and then the other would take the territory. By the time the Union troops took the territory and rescued him the wound was so badly infected that the leg had to be amputated. He, also, fought in the battle of Chickamauga. John entered the service May 28, 1861, and was discharged July 14, 1864. He automatically became an American citizen as a result of this service to the Union.
    After the war, he returned to Cincinnati, There the brewery, for which he had worked, gave a benefit dance for him, it being impossible for him to return to his old job.
    At this dance, he met Maria or Mary (as she was later called) Sandkeueller who had been born May 1, 1843, at Hanover, Germany. She had come to the United States with 19 other girls in 1863. After nine weeks on the ocean in a sailing vessel, the girls landed at Baltimore. In route from there to Cincinnati, the the train was raided by Confederate soldiers, who upset and wrecked the locomotive, set fire to the coaches and fired volleys of bullets into the wreckage killing many of the passengers. In fact eight or nine of the girls were never heard from again. They lost all of their belonging.
    Rescued by Union soldiers, who had heard the shots, the passengers were bivouaced in a nearby forest, guarded by Union Troops. The next morning they sent on to Cincinnati where Maria Sandkeueller found work as a housemaid.
    On July 20,1866, John Scheuermann and Maria Sandkeueller were married in Hamilton County, Ohio.

John and Mary Scheuermann's home today

    Three years laters, 1869, they came to Defiance. They came by rail to Ft. Wayne, Indiana and then down the Wabash and Erie Canal. Their goods were shipped by way of the canal. They left behind their first born child, Fred, buried in Cincinnati.
    Mr, Scheuermann had used the money from the benefit dance to learn the cigar trade. Hearing from relatives, named Weber near Holgate, that there was need of a cigar maker in Defiance they decided to settle here. For 37 years he operated a cigar factory on the lawn of the Clinton Street home. The front room of the home served as a candy store, where the school children could buy penny candy. This home is now "Rob Brown Studio",
    John died January 12, 1906, age 72 years, 2 months, 2 days.
    At the time of Mrs. Scheuermann's death, she was the oldest resident of Defiance being almost 101 years old. She was born May 1, 1843-died April 13, 1944. She had lived in Defiance 75 years.

John Scheuermann

Mary  (Sandkeueller) Scheuermann

Canal Bridge Miami & Erie Canal Defiance Ohio

Canal Bridge  West Third Street, downtown, Defiance

Canal & Locks Defiance Ohio

Cokundiawthah Mohawk War Chief

    After Harmar;s defeat (Fort Wayne Indiana)  and loss of Mohawk War Chief, and husband of Cooh-coo-cheeh with his family, consisting of his wife, three sons, and a daughter, had removed from the St. Lawrence and settled at the Shawnee village a mile below the mouth of the Auglaize River. In the victory of the Indians over a part of the army of Harmar under Hardin and Wyllys, in October, 1790, in a furious charge made against the regulars, while in the act of tomahawking a soldier he received a mortal wound from a bayonet, and dying on his way home was buried on the bank of the Maumee river about twenty miles from the battle ground.

    Cooh-coo-cheeh at the feast of the dead, with pious affection removed the remains of her late husband from their first resting place, interred them only a few rods above her dwelling, near to the war path, so that not only she might enjoy the happiness of conversing with him, but that his own spirit might be refreshed from viewing the warriors as they crossed the Maumee river on their war expeditions, until having ended his probation and being prepared for his journey, he should travel to the final abode of good spirit in the land far west, abounding with game, and enjoy all those several delights which in the mind of an Indian constitute heaven. Buried in a sitting posture facingthe waest, by his side had been placed his rifle, tomahawk, knife, banket, moccasins, and everything necessary for a hunter and a warrior; and his friends had, besides, thrown many little articles as presents into his grave, at the head of which they placed a post about four feet high, painted red and having near its top, rudely carved, the image of a face; while below was marked the number of scalps he had taken in battle, scalps of all colors, of hair of all lengths, which on some great occasions might be seen streaming in the wind, suspended from a high pole bending over his grave, i (O.M. Spencer) once counted nineteen, torn from the heads of my unfortunate countrymen.

The Indian Captivity Of O.M. Spencer  Page 82-83-84









 

Civil Story Defiance County History (1976) Page 488

    A company of Union soldiers (124th OVI CoD) were in camp in the south, I believe it was in Georgia. It was terribly hot and dry, and hardly any available water near by. The men were near to dehydration; they were really suffering for lack of water. Finally someone proposed that they would form a circle and would pray for water. Furthermore, they vowed to keep on praying even if they died doing it. In fact, several did die. However, they kept on praying for quite some time, when suddenly a spring of water bubbled up in the center of the circle! How they rejoiced, and drank, and thanked GOD! A miracle! Pvt. Frederick Martch (124th O.V.I  Co. D) To his Grandson Blake Myers

A Strange Case Defiance Democrat 19 Jan 1893

    W.P Wilson was a farmer living in Delaware township. He has been married twice, the second time to Ella Thomas, daughter of John Thomas of the same township.

    Wilson's mother was a widow, and before Wilson's marriage with Etta Thomas her father had married Wilson's mother.

    Wilson's mother died and Thomas married Wilson's aunt, Lucinda Kibble.

    Wilson's aunt being Thomas' wife, is now not only Wilson's aunt, but also his mother-in-law. To Wilson's wife she is aunt by marriage and stepmother.

    Thomas is Wilson's father-in-law, step-father and uncle by marriage.

     Wilson is the father of several children and person so disposed can figure out what relation they are to the other branches of the family.

    Wilson's case is an interesting one and he is at a loss to know what relation he is to himself. He came to this office and told us his story as given in this article.

Jonathan Chapman " AKA Johnny Appleseed" Repesentative Citizens Of Paulding County 1902 Page 39-41

    The eccentric "Johnny Appleseed" was born in Massachusette in 26 Sept. 1774. His real name was Jonathan Chapman, but from the fact that he always carried a load of apple seeds with him he derived the nickname of "Johnny Appleseed." He was a harmless old man, whose hobby was to travel from place to place along streams in the wilderness, and plant apple seeds. He traveled throughout Ohio, and even as far west as Illinois. The first orchard he planted in Ohio was on the farm of Isaac Stodden, in Licking County. He died in Allen County, Indiana, near Fort Wayne, 10 March 1845. Several of the first settlers of Paulding county remember of having seen him. Judge David Carey had an article regarding him in the Oakwood Sentinel, of 6 August, 1891, of which the following is an extract:

    "He lived for others solely, so far as I remember him,denying himself all the comforts of life, unless it was the comfort of knowing that he was doing great and lasting good. He seemed proof against peril and empowered with ubiquity. The Indians considered him crazy, fed and warmed him, but never molested him as he traveled through their lands and up down streams; I may not be able to relate much that is new or old in regards to Johnny. When I was quite young, four or five years old. I remember he stayed at my father's house (Isaac Carey), clothed in rags, and shoes bound on his feet by strings to hold them on his feet and the piece of shoes from parting company.
    He seemed as happy as a lark, and I might as well say here that he was full of exhortation and good words, a good supply of religious tracts that he distributed with a liberal hand in every cabin where they could read. Johnny was a follower and believer in Emanuel Swedenborg, and a member of the New Jerusalem church. Johnny, I remember, was not a believer in fire and brimstone combined and burning forever; for he said that he though that the worst part of hell would not be worse than smokey house and scolding women.But Johnny was a bachelor, and that may account for a part of that fling at the scolding women. My father, on one occasion, ask Johnny why he never married; he turned the subject by saying that in the world to come he should have a wife. He would not wear good clothes. My father at one time made him a present of a pair of shoes about as good as new, expecting he would put them on ; but no; he packed them in his bundle of valuable and packed them on,saying they were too good to wear, but they would make a fine present for some needy person. Johnny not only peddled apple seeds, but catnip, pennyroyal and hoarhound, and in that way these streams in the early day had these useful herbs. Johnny, if crazy, and I do not think he was, knew where to place his nurseries at the head of streams, and then, with a canoe loaded with apple trees, float down stream with a light pot or a tin pail on his head, stopping at the cabins and giving out seeds and selling, or pretending to sell, trees, as I think he but seldom, if ever, got much value for the same."

Isaac Carey's cabin, Paulding County,Ohio

                                                                                               Judge David Carey      1891

Col Richard Seibel

Last Of The Pioneers Of Defiance Daily Crescent News 4-10-1910

    Reason Wells was born in the city of Zanesville, Ohio, May 22 1821, and while a mere boy, his father removed with his family to Defiance in 1832, believing, as did many another at the time, that the completion the Miami and Erie Canal, then being agitated in the General Assembly, would cause the wilderness just beyond the Black Swamp to brighten and bloom and prove a region of exceeding richness and that Defiance, the town located at the junction of the Maumee and Auglaize Rivers. Which at this early day was the only town in the valley of the "Miami of the Lake," between Perrysburg and Maumee City and the city of Fort Wayne, Ind.

    At the time of the arrival of the Wells family in Defiance the town was located in Auglaize township, in Williams county, Ohio, Defiance county not being organized for a number of years after. In the entire township at this time there were but fifty-seven taxpayers and of this number thirty-five lived in the village of Defiance all of whom are long since dead.
    At this time the entire tract of land on which now stands the Harley&Whitaker (122-124 Clinton street) store, extending from First street to the river (Maumee) and from Clinton street west as far as Perry street, was a large orchard and in the center of the plot was an old tumble down log house said to be haunted. Mr. Wells told the writer of this that when he came to Defiance the business of the town was all done on Jefferson street and the first store he remembered was one kept by Isaac Hull, on the north east corner of Front and Jefferson. He afterwards sold it to a man by the name of Benjamin Brubaker. A part of this old store building was used in the residence of Lake Erie Myers. On the corner of Front and Jefferson, the northwest corner, on the river side of Front street, was a building, in which a man by the name of Kirk kept store and in the basement, fronting the river, was a grocery kept by Edwin Phelps and William A Brown. On the opposite corner, the south-west corner, was a hotel kept by a Mr. Waterhouse and it was called "The Waterhouse," afterward "The Washington" and still later, "The Pavillion." Next to this hotel on the south was Foreman Evans, Evans store, and next south Amos Evans store and on the corner, where now stands Richard Sutphen's home,(cor. First and Jefferson) a man by the name of John R Wilson kept a tailor shop, on the opposite corner where now stands the Shelly home (202 Jefferson) which was built by Dave Oliver a large two story frame building for William Seamans to be used as a printing office. Next south of the printing office was Dr. John Evans home and office, and in this same building John Kiser, the grandfather of Mollie Daoust; was married to John Downs' daughter. Two germans Hoffrichter and Ort had a bakery next.
    Diagonally across the street lived old Peter Bridenbaugh and on the corner where now lives Charles Behringer (301 Third street) lived a man by the name of Walter Davis, the first fiddler I ever saw. In 1832 and until 1840 a man by the name of Straight ran a ferry from the foot of Jefferson street and in 1840 a man by the name of Tower built the first bridge across the Maumee at Clinton street; it was a toll bridge and Adam Wilhelm was the first toll keeper. Between 1836 and 1840 new stores were opened one by the Case brothers on the southeast corner of Wayne and Front streets; next east of this store came Francis Weisenberger, with a grocery and bakery, next east came John Kniss with his residence and shoe shop, about where Wesley Rout (415 Front street) now lives; almost directly across from the Kniss building was a blacksmith shop run by a man by the name of Beerup.
    In 1836 occurred the greatest flood (1910) Defiance ever experienced the water was so high the traders and Indians tied their pirogues and canoes to the trees of Clinton street where now stands the Harley and Whitaker store (corner of First and Clinton streets). This same spring Defiance experienced its hardest times and the father of Mr. Wells and a man by the name of Mason started for Maumee, the nearest grist mill to buy some corn and flour. They went in a pirogue and were gone six weeks returning with a few bushels of corn which they paid $2.50 per bushel and barrel of flour, all they could get for which they paid $16.50.
    Johnny cakes, bran pones, and hominy, with mush and milk for side dishes, and for constituted the diet for all, rich and poor alike, and now and then some fried mush, fried on boards, or flat stones, for we did not have stoves when he came to Defiance. It was a wealthy family that could boast of a "Dutch Oven" a frying pan or "spider," for these comprised  about all the kitchen and cooking utensils. The cooking was done in the fireplace and the owner could afford it an iron crane was attached to the side of the fireplace and arranged to swing out to hang on the kettle and swing back over the fire, but when this could not be afforded forked sticks were stuck up one at each end of the fire place and in the forks was laid another stick and on this the pots and kettles would be hung over  the fire.    

    Horse racing, running and jumping, wrestling pitching horse shoes, shooting at mark,driving the nail and snuffing the candle were the sports of the men and boys and dancing that of both sexes. We though nothing of walking six to ten miles and even further to attend a wedding or a dance, a frolic, we used to call it.