The Defiance County, Ohio, Genealogical Society
P.O. BOX 7006, Defiance, OH 43512-7006

Send your Defiance County related queries to Cindy Heisler at jetj@bright.net. I can not answer them or provide a look up service but the queries will be posted here for others researching this area to see.

IMPORTANT: In the subject line of your E-mail put, "Defiance County Query".

**The more specific the query the better result you will get. **

Becky Peconge, bpeconge@hotmail.com, Jan. 13, 2006 - STEVENS/STRUERRS/STOERRS

Looking for information and/or descendants of a Myrtia Stevens (or possibly Struerrs or Stoerrs) I believe she was born 1880's and probably passed fairly young, maybe 20's. I believe she lived in Defiance County and possibly Hicksville.

Keith Sawyer, krsmle@frontiernet.net,, Jan. 23, 2006 - LETHERERS, SAWYER

My G,G, Grandfather and Grandmother were on a farm in Defiance Co., Defiance Twp, Dist. 2 in 1910 on the Ottawa Pike (Rt.15) South of Defiance. Edgar was the head of the household in 1910 at age 63. David Letherers (Wife Nora Sawyer), his son-in-law was head of the household in 1920, but Edgar and Mary were still living there with David and Nora. I am trying to find the address for the farm , if possible. Edgar's obituary says that the farm was on the Ottawa Pike.

Gene H. Russell, orly@saber.net, Feb. 23, 2006 - DeVITT

I am editor of a historical journal here in the Sacramento Valley. A manuscript has come in that has me wondering if any one in Defiance can assist or provide a clue to who an individual is?? Here is the quote from an obituary: "John Albert "Jack" Devitt's mother died when he was a child and he was raised with a sister in up state New York. His sister preceded him in death and left three sons surviving her in Defiance, Ohio." From the 1930 US Federal census, I believe I have found John A. Devitt living in Buffalo, NY with parents and a sister Marion E. Devitt (age 14, born about 1916). Parents are listed as Albert B. Devitt and Kathlyn Devitt. The manuscript is about John Devitt (16 February 1914 -- 27 April 2005) but I would like to learn of his sister's married name as a cross reference to the 1930 census information. I know this is a "long shot" but thought I would see if the "Defiance Experts" had any clues on this mother of three sons who were living in Defiance, OH. -Gene H. Russell, Ed.D. Editor, Wagon Wheels Colusi County Historical Society www.colusi.org

Tim Tonjes, timtonjes@aol.com, TONJES, SCRANTON, MILLER, LANTOW, LOWER

Looking for these last names: Tonjes, Scranton, Miller, Lantow, and Lower.

Steve Herman, hermans@fuse.net, Feb. 27, 2006 - KOBY

I have made some sizeable finds with cold letters to Kobys' in William and Seneca Counties. Willing to share.

Cecelia Brown, ccbrowngenealogy@yahoo.com, March 7, 2006 - AURADA

Aurada, John and Anna lived in Defiance County Adams Twp. Would like to contact anyone who is interested in the Aurada surname.

Bob, boblin@bright.net, March 10 2006 - PAINTER, KINGERY

Seeking info on the family of Robert Painter and wife Nancy Kingery both born about 1831. Many counties are represented as these family members moved from Highland County, Hardin County, Allen County, and Defiance County, OH.

Bob, boblin@bright.net, April 10, 2006 - WAGNER/WAGONER

Seeking parentage of George WAGNER born about 1823 in OH per most census records. Married in Defiance. Name also seen as WAGONER. Died in 1906 in Defiance County. Buried in Ice Cemetery on the Defiance/Paulding county line. Info on parentage and lineage greatly appreciated.

Cindy Schroeder, Graberschr@aol.com, April 23, 2006 - STRONG, ABELL

I am looking for Finley and Eunice Strong (died 1870 and 1872). The deed was for Louisa in NOV 1863. Her name on the 1860 census was Louisa Strong, but I don't believe she was their daughter and she may have really had a different last name. I am also looking for Benjamin and Mary Abell, but they may have been buried in Indiana. In some family papers I have a copy of a cemetery deed dated 1863 for Defiance Rural Cemetery. Might you be able to tell where this cemetery is located?

Linda, lindahoetger@iglide.net, May 10, 2006 - DUNKELBARGER, JUSTUS, COY

DEFIANCE COUNTY OHIO - Old Evansport Cemetery

I would like to use the information from the site about this Cemetery there is information about my missing family members. I am still building my family and I am learning more and more everyday. But there are still many missing pieces.

Carleen Bergman, cbergman@ori.net , May 16, 2006 - GOCK, MINSEL, FLICKINGER, WILLIES

I'm looking for information on a Charles Gock born around 1856.. He married Eliza(beth) Minsel and had 11 children.. One was my grandmother Clara..

I have found census records of her (Clara) living in Defiance in 1910 with a "Willies" family... She was born in Wisconsin... She named my father Charles but I'm not sure why since rumor has it Charles Gock left Eliza in 1907 with 11 children and was never heard from again.. In 1910 Eliza is found on a census record in Wisconsin listed as married and Head of Household.. Anything you can offer would be great....

Eliza(beth) Minsel was the daughter of Adam Minsel and Elizabeth Flickinger married in Defiance in 1898

Kim, scottskim58@yahoo.com, June 1, 2006 - SANDERS, WOODCOX/WOODCOCK

My line is Alexander Sanders and Susan Woodcox/Woodcock.

Larry Johnson, johnsba@hotmail.com, July 24, 2006 - MILLER, LINE, WEAVER

I am interested in finding the ancestors of Phillip Miller (b.Apr. 10, 1840; married Francis Line; died Mar. 14, 1912). He lived in Coshocton County as well as Defiance County. He died and is bured in Coshocton County. I believe his father may have been Abraham Miller and mother Elizabeth Weaver. Records off internet show that Phillip Miller is indeed a son of Abraham (b. 10-1-1801; died Nov. 9, 1847) - I just want to make sure this is the same PHillip Miller I am looking for. It would also be interesting to know what took Phillip to COshocton County to live. Thank for any help.

Toni Callan, tonicallan@yahoo.com, July 29, 2006 - DREHER, FREESE/FRIES, SPANGLER, SMITH

Specifically, in my own research, I have gotten as far as:

* John A. DREHER (b. Aug 1849 in Ohio) and his wife Sarah FREESE [or Fries] (b. Jan 1848 in Ohio). They lived their married life in Ney, Ohio.

* David SPANGLER (b. 6 Mar 1838 in Ohio). He married Sarah Elizabeth SMITH and they lived in Williams County, Ohio.

* Frank SPIETH (b. Mar 1885 in Ohio). He fathered a child with Sarah Ernestine DREHER (daughter of John A. and Sarah FRIES above) and his father was Henry Spieth (b. Jan 1858 in Ohio).

Any additional information I could get from them on these family lines would be appreciated.

Frank Durham, fdurham@magiclink.com, August 7, 2006 - DURHAM, WRIGHT, SINDAL

My gggrandfather James Durham settled in Defiance County in 1840 and was there until his death in 1884.His first wife Zelindah (Wright) and daughter Druzilla and son Daniel (wife Christina Sindal also) are buried in Defiance County. My web site is durhamfamilyhistory.com

Loretta Dunham, Lorettadunham@aol.com, Oct. 8, 2006 - NOLAN, FUNK, BURNFIELD, BUCKMASTER

I am interested in finding out where Samuel Nolan died and is buried. He is mentioned in the 1883 Defiance Co history as the father of Alsey Nolan Funk (wife of Henry Funk).

Samuel's wife was Rebecca Burnfield. She died in 1847 and is buried in Wolfe-Sproat Cemetery near Lima in Allen County. Samuel and Rebecca had several other children who were mentioned in Samuel's will. His will was probated in 1854 in Allen County, but I can't locate him in the 1850 census. Their children were: John Nolan born about 1824, Alsey Nolan Funk born Feb 1826, Jacob Nolan born about 1830, Martha Nolan born about 1834, Sarah Nolan Buckmaster born Aug 1831, and Henry Nolan born about 1842 (Martha and Henry were living with Henry & Alsey Funk in 1850 in Defiance).

Pat Breno, pmbreno@yahoo.com, Nov. 4, 2006 - ZENZ, BLESER, FOSS, ZIMMERMAN, BRENO

I have a photocopy that was sent to me by a relative who cannot remember the source. It looks like biographical information from a county history--done recently as it mentions death dates of 1988. Does anyone know the possible title of a history/biographical book of Defiance or Henry County done in the late 1980s? The entry is Zenz, Peter and Katherine (Bleser) F591. The entry immediately above it is for Zeller Family F590 submitted by Terry J. Foss. I'd like to be able to cite a source for the information in the Peter Zenz article--which includs a photo of his family taken around 1938. Following the Zenz article is one for Zimmerman, Jane and Ed. Peter Zenz was the son of Jacob Zenz and Christena Breno, born March 8, 1875 near New Bavaria, Ohio.

Send your Defiance County related queries to DCGS at defiancegenealogy2002@yahoo.com   I can not answer them or provide a look up service but the queries will be posted here for others researching this area to see.

IMPORTANT:  In the subject line of your E-mail put, "Defiance County Query".

**The more specific the query the better results you will get. **