Erie County OH

Chief Pontiac of the Ottawa’s

Map of Pontiacs War

Following the 1763 peace, English troops occupied former French forts, prompting widespread Indian apprehension of encroachment. Pontiac, the Ottawa chief, emerged as a pivotal leader advocating for resistance. He organized a council of tribes to unite against the English, inspired by a prophetic vision asserting divine support for their fight. Pontiac orchestrated a coordinated attack on English forts, aiming for liberation. Despite initial efforts, including a siege of Detroit, betrayal foiled his plans. Eventually, Pontiac was assassinated, symbolizing the decline of Indian resistance.

Moravian Massacre at Gnadenbrutten

George Rogers Clark

In 1763, Moravian missionaries established missions among the Tuscarawa Indians. Despite maintaining neutrality during the Revolutionary War, they were perceived as threats by both American settlers and British allied Indians. In March 1772, a group of American frontiersmen, led by David Williamson, deceived and massacred 96 Moravian Indians—men, women, and children—at Gnadenbrutten. This brutal act was marked by a lack of empathy among the assailants, highlighting the brutal interactions between white settlers and Native Americans during this period of conflict.

Wyandot Indians

The Wyandot, originally known as Huron, are a Native American tribe belonging to the Iroquoian linguistic family, primarily located in the St. Lawrence Valley and the Ontario region. Historically significant, they interacted with French explorers and missionaries in the early 17th century. Their population diminished following devastating conflicts with the Iroquois in 1648-49, leading to migrations across various regions. They aligned with the British during the War of 1812, ultimately relocating to Kansas and later Oklahoma. The tribe’s legacy includes numerous geographical names and historical accounts of their enduring resilience.

Biographical Sketch of J. W. McCormich

J. W. McCormich, born March 10, 1847, in Sandusky, Ohio, served in the Third Ohio Cavalry during the Civil War. After his discharge in 1865, he moved to Michigan before relocating to Jewell County, Kansas, in 1870, where he homesteaded land that became Burr Oak. McCormich has held various local offices, including Township Clerk, Trustee, and Justice of the Peace, and was appointed postmaster in June 1871. He married Ellen Myers in 1874 and Jessie McCammon in 1878, with whom he had two sons.

Biographical Sketch of Jay N. Clarke

Jay N. Clarke was born on August 19, 1855, in Sandusky, Ohio. After receiving his education in local public schools, he married Pauline Doll in Cleveland in 1876, with whom he had three children. Clarke worked as a machinist and toolmaker before transitioning to sales; he has been a sales agent for The Bethlehem Steel Co. in Cleveland for the past five years. He is also active in local organizations, including the K. of P. Lodge No. 68 and the Criterion of the Cleveland Commercial Travelers Association.

Biographical Sketch of Oliver N. Chamberlain

Oliver N. Chamberlain was an architect born on October 10, 1882, in Portsmouth, Ohio, to Irwin and Mary J. Finy Chamberlain. He received his education in local schools and through a private instructor in Columbus. Chamberlain married Carrie Iona Richards in 1905 and had one child. He gained ten years of experience in practical construction, followed by two years in general contracting in Cleveland, before practicing as an architect for six years. He was also a member of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and enjoyed baseball and bowling.

Biographical Sketch of George Anderson Groot

George Anderson Groot, born on August 3, 1843, in Washington County, New York, was a prominent attorney and Union Army veteran. He attended various educational institutions, graduating with a degree from Hillsdale, Michigan, in 1870. Groot served in the Civil War, participating in 33 battles and achieving the rank of Captain. He was admitted to the bar in 1873 and involved in local politics as a Republican delegate. Throughout his life, he was active in community service, Masonic organizations, and veterans’ affairs.

Biographical Sketch of Harley Brownell Gibbs

Harley Brownell Gibbs, born on March 13, 1849, in Milan, Ohio, began his career in a Chicago grain and commission house at 16. He moved to Cleveland in 1871, working as a bookkeeper and later treasurer for the King Bridge Company. In 1890, he founded the Lake Shore Banking Company, serving as vice president. Gibbs was active in various organizations, including Masonic and social clubs. He married Emma Johnson in 1878, who passed away in 1894.

Biographical Sketch of Ralph W. Squires

Ralph W. Squires, born April 29, 1870, in Columbus, Ohio, moved to Kansas at age nine. His early memories of pioneer life shaped his character. He pursued pharmacy and established a career in the retail drug business. Elected as Shawnee County’s register of deeds in 1914, he garnered more votes than any other candidate and has since excelled in his role. A prominent Mason and member of the Shawnee Golf Club, he married Jennie Griesen in 1894 and has one daughter, Virginia.

Biography of Jeremiah Hampton Squires

Jeremiah Hampton Squires, born September 11, 1842, in Southampton, New York, became a notable resident of Topeka after relocating there thirty-seven years ago. A Civil War veteran, he enlisted in 1862 and endured significant battles, including Vicksburg, and survived the brutal Andersonville Prison. Post-war, he married Virginia Elizabeth Schimp in 1867 and initially worked in carpentry before moving to Kansas in 1879. Squires engaged in farming and later served three terms on the Topeka Board of Education and four as city clerk. He remained active in community organizations and was a devoted Methodist.

Biographical Sketch of George P. Hart

George P. Hart, born on May 30, 1858, in Sandusky, Ohio, was a grain and coal dealer. He received his education in Sandusky and married Debra M. Wilcox on August 11, 1881, with whom he had three children: Bertha L., Ernest G., and Bella. Hart began his business career in 1881 as a cattle dealer and transitioned to grain and coal by 1901 when he moved to Cleveland. He was also a 32nd-degree Mason.

Biographical Sketch of Hermon A. Kelley

Hermon A. Kelley was born on May 15, 1859, in Kelleys Island, Ohio. The son of Alfred Stow and Hannah Farr Kelley, he earned degrees from Buchtel College, Harvard Law School, and Goettingen University. He married Florence Alice Kendall in Cleveland on September 3, 1889, and had three children. Kelley practiced law with the firm of Hoyt, Dustin, Kelley, McKeehan Andrews and served as the first assistant corporation counsel for Cleveland. He was also a trustee at Buchtel College and the Cleveland Museum of Art, and a member of several clubs.

Biographical Sketch of Herman B. Van Tress

Herman B. Van Tress, born on October 8, 1865, in Ohio, was a dentist trained at The Ohio College of Dental Surgery, earning his D.D.S. in 1891. He married Eva D. Gordon in 1894 and had two daughters, Bessie and Gladys. After moving to Cleveland in 1897, he became involved in several dental societies. He also spent time in Los Angeles shortly after his marriage. In addition to dentistry, Van Tress enjoyed amateur photography, billiards, and reading.

Biographical Sketch of Oscar Textor

Oscar Textor, born March 10, 1860, in Sandusky, Ohio, was a chemist educated at the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. He served as a chemistry instructor for two years. Textor married Minnie A. Dunbar in Cleveland on June 3, 1886, and they had one son, born October 26, 1888. He was an active member of the American Chemical Society and the American Institute of Mining Engineers.

Biographical Sketch of George F. Tomlinson

George F. Tomlinson, born on December 1, 1867, in Sandusky, Ohio, was the son of Charles and Hannah Musson Tomlinson. He graduated from Medina High School in 1885. Tomlinson married Anna Van Driel in Cleveland on June 14, 1894, and they had three children. He began his career with the C. C. C. S. L. R. R. in 1886 and transferred to the L. S. M. S. R. R. in 1891, eventually becoming the auditor of disbursements in 1909. His interests included automobiling and baseball.

Biographical Sketch of Charles Shadrack Reed

Charles Shadrack Reed, born on September 17, 1862, in North Fairfield, Ohio, was a lawyer and prominent public official. After attending Oberlin College and the University of Michigan Law School, he practiced law in Kansas before becoming the prosecuting attorney of Wilson County. Reed served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Ohio from 1899 to 1911. After resigning, he settled in Cleveland, forming a law partnership. He was married to Nellie B. Baughman and had five children.

Biographical Sketch of Adam William Kuechle

Adam William Kuechle was born on August 3, 1873, in Sandusky, Ohio. He was the son of Adam and Otilda Kilcher Kuechle and educated in local public schools and a business college. Kuechle married Mable Rose Miller in 1904 and had two daughters. His career began in 1893 as a private secretary and progressed to various leadership roles, including treasurer of the Hollenden Hotel Co. and director of multiple companies. He was active in Freemasonry and enjoyed fishing.

Biography of Dennis Joseph Sheedy

Dennis Joseph Sheedy, born October 14, 1874, in Portland, Connecticut, emerged as a prominent attorney in Fredonia, Kansas, after graduating from the University of Kansas Law School in 1906. Renowned for his expertise in civil and criminal law, he maintained a successful practice and served as city attorney. A member of the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen of America, Sheedy was also active in the National Guard and participated in the Spanish-American War. He married Josephine Millar in 1909, and they had one son, Joseph.

Cooke, Susan Brewster – Obituary

Mrs. Susan E. Cooke, a prominent Kittitas Valley pioneer, passed away at 89 on March 11, 1921, following a prolonged decline. Born in 1832 in New York, she crossed the plains in 1851 and settled in Oregon before moving to Kittitas Valley in 1870. A direct descendant of Pilgrim William Brewster, Mrs. Cooke was orphaned young but embodied the pioneer spirit throughout her life. She leaves behind six children and numerous descendants. Funeral services will take place at her residence on Cooke Creek.