PRESS RELEASES

PRESS RELEASE

Wauseon Is Full of Activities on May 12 with Wauseon’s Amazing Race, Civil War Reenactment & Historical Afternoon Tea!

WAUSEON—The Wauseon Downtown Association will be kicking off the summer season with Wauseon’s Amazing Race!  On Saturday, May 12, everyone is invited to Depot Park to participate in this fun and informative game.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at the old Depot Building, and the scavenger hunt wraps up there at 11:00 a.m.  Wauseon’s Amazing Race is being held in conjunction with the Fulton County Historical Society’s Civil War Encampment at the Fulton County Historical Museum.  Both the Civil War Encampment and Wauseon’s Amazing Race are free and open to the public.

Wauseon’s Amazing Race is a walking scavenger hunt of local historical sites and downtown merchants.  It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the city of Wauseon.  You walk from clue to clue…taking pictures of the “item” you’re hunting, so plan on wearing your walking shoes. 

Teams can be made up of up to five people, and teams with children must include at least one person 21 or older.  Bring a digital camera or camera phone, so you can participate in this photo scavenger hunt.  Plan on being back at Depot Park with your photos at 11:00 a.m. for tallying and prizes.  Team prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third places. 

To commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, the Fulton County Historical Society will be sponsoring a Civil War Reenactment at the Fulton County Historical Museum on Saturday, May 12 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Re-live the Civil War at the Fulton County Historical Museum.

In addition to the Civil War Encampment, the Fulton County Historical Society will be sponsoring Afternoon Tea and Story-Telling Performances.  Throughout the afternoon for just $10 a person, enjoy tea and period-era stories out on the museum’s long front porch.  The authentic English Afternoon Tea will include scones, finger sandwiches, desserts, hot tea, and lemonade.  Performances are available for groups of 2-8 people with seating every 20 minutes from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Besides the Afternoon Tea and the civil war reenactment, visit the 1862 Hell on the Homefront Exhibit at the Fulton County Historical Museum.  The exhibit is not a glorification of war, or particular battles, but shows visitors the viewpoints of Fulton County citizens, both on the battle field, and those left behind at home. The museum’s extensive collection of Civil War era artifacts will be the centerpiece of this commemoration, including the epaulettes of Col. Ephraeus Lord Barber, the Tiffany & Co. Presentation sword of Col. Edwin Hayes, a surrender flag from the Cumberland Gap, and a civil war veteran’s snare drum.

For more information on the Civil War Reenactment, call the Fulton County Historical Society at 419-337-7922 or email Museum@fultoncountyhs.org.  For more information on Wauseon’s Amazing Race, call the Wauseon Public Library at 419-335-6626 or email amy.murphy@oplin.org.

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Wauseon Author to appear for Civil War Exhibit Opening

February 22, 2012

Wauseon native, Jeffrey Spieles, is an elementary school teacher who is not content just to teach history. He has written a stirring novel set during the Civil War— bringing the dangers and conflicts of the time compellingly alive for young readers.

Jeff, 35, the son of Jim and Dolores Spieles of Wauseon is a 1994 graduate of Wauseon High School where he participated in cross country, track, and National Honor Society. Spieles earned a degree in education from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University. He now teaches fifth grade in Englewood, Ohio. Jeff has been awarded Educator of the Year in his school district, and nominated for Ohio Teacher of the Year. “Writing has been a hobby of mine since I was a child. Now as a teacher, I have found storytelling to be a powerful way of engaging students.”

In Sherman’s Path, published by Royal Fireworks Press of New York, is his first novel. The novel tells the story of 12-year-old orphan, Henry Atkinson, who lives in Georgia during the time of Union General William T Sherman’s devastating March to the Sea, from Atlanta to Savannah. After deserting his post in the Confederate army, Henry seeks protection from a plantation owner. He is sent directly into Sherman’s March to the Sea. Through it all, Henry develops a relationship with a remaining slave family— challenging his previously held beliefs about slaves.

Local residents will have the chance to meet Jeff and purchase copies of his book on Saturday, March 10 between 2 and 4pm at the Fulton County Museum at 229 Monroe Street, in downtown Wauseon. Sponsored by the Wauseon Public Library and the Fulton County Historical Society., the reception and book signing will include the exhibit opening of the museum’s 1862 version of “Hell & Homefront : Civil War Through Fulton County Eyes.”

The Fulton County Museum is located at 229 Monroe Street, just north 1/2 block of State Route 2 (Elm Street) at North Park in downtown Wauseon, OH. The museum also houses a collection of Fulton County artifacts that include race car legend, Barney Oldfield's Wauseon baby cradel and a research archives. The museum hours are Tuesday and Thursdays from 10am - 4pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2pm beginning March 10. For more information, see the society's website: www.fultoncountyhs.org or call the museum at (419)337-7922.

Students from Four County school interior design department under the direction of instructor Kathy Delagrange, volunteered to re-decorate the museum’s reading room this winter, which included this wall quote from society founder and president, Dresden Howard. The museum will be open for visitors for the first time, on Saturday, March 10th, 2012 from 10am to 4pm. Regular Spring Hours will be: Tues. & Thursdays from 10-4 and Saturdays, from 10-2. The museum is located at 229 Monroe Street, across from North Park in downtown Wauseon, OH. Visit their web site: www.fultoncountyhs.org or call the museum at (419)337-7922 for more information.
 

The Museum was featured during the news on December 9, 2010, on WTOL Channel 11, Toledo.

The Fulton County Museum features 14 rooms showcasing permanent exhibits, including a rare Jacob Werry Blanket Chest and the infant cradle of race car driver Barney Oldfield, and changing displays dating from about 1820-1960. The museum and archives research room is located at 229 Monroe Street in downtown Wauseon, OH, 2 blocks west of N. Fulton St. on State Route 2 (Elm St), then one half block north on Monroe. Through Labor Day, the museum will be open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10am – 4pm, and Saturdays from 10am – 2pm. For more information, call (419)337-7922 or visit the museum web site, at www.fultoncountyhs.org.

Dear Mr. Swearingen,

Thank you for taking the time to express your support for House Bill 75, to allow taxpayers to contribute a portion of their income tax refunds to the Ohio Historical Society.

I am, and will continue to be, a supporter of history education in the state of Ohio.  I am also a co-sponsor of the Senate version of the legislation, Senate Bill 60.  HB 75 is currently awaiting a Senate floor vote, and if the bill comes to the floor for consideration, I will be sure to continue my support. 

Once again, thank you for contacting my office.  Please contact me again if I can be of assistance with this issue or any other matter. 

Sincerely,

Steve Buehrer                                                              

State Senator

Note:

The Ohio Historical Society plans to use the proposed revenues to create a competitive matching grants program for local history-related organizations like the Fulton County Historical Society. With a competitive matching grants program, the Ohio Historical Society would be able to match locally-raised private funds with a statewide pool of private funds to help fund preservation projects. This proposal would cost the state nothing and would make it easy for citizens to voluntarily direct private donations to the Ohio Historical Society.

Currently, taxpayer check-off programs exist for wildlife conservation, nature preserves,

scenic rivers and the protection of endangered species. Permitting a tax check-off to be

directed to the protection of our state’s history is consistent with what the state now

appropriately encourages.

On December 17th 2009, House Bill 75 overwhelmingly passed the House by a 95-1

bipartisan vote. House Bill 75 is now being considered in the Senate Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee, chaired by Sen. Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville).

9/23/2010

From Ohio Historical Society - http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/enews/0910a.shtml

Sesquicentennial Update

 
CIVIL WAR MUSTER ROLLS
IMPORTANT ADDITION
TO OHS ARCHIVES 

 

With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War coming up, curators and archivists around the country are busy preparing related collections for display and for use by researchers. Recently, the Ohio Historical Society acquired 534 pay and muster rolls for Ohio troops during that conflict. 

Important Military Documents 
One hundred fifty of the rolls are for individuals, mostly officers, and the other 384 are company pay and muster rolls for various Ohio artillery, cavalry and infantry regiments. Also included are muster or pay rolls for the regimental bands, regimental field and staff rolls, hospital rolls and recruiting detachment rolls. Because each company or battery usually had about 100 men at full strength, the rolls contain the names of more than 38,550 men. 

"This is without a doubt a very important acquisition for the people of Ohio and it's just in time for the Civil War sesquicentennial commemoration," says archivist John Haas, Ohio Historical Society manuscripts curator and a Civil War historian. "It's a truly amazing collection of previously unseen Civil War name rolls for Ohio troops, which are now available to the public at the society's Archives/Library on the third floor of the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus." 

The collection consists of a lot of rolls for Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) regiments, including the 6th, 7th, 19th, 30th, 38th, 41st, 52nd, 68th, 78th, 96th, 113th and 124th. These represent units raised from all over the state of Ohio. It also has an assortment of rolls from the 10th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, the 1st Light Artillery Regiment, Batteries B and C and rolls for the 9th, 17th and 19th Independent Light Artillery Batteries. The rolls cover units raised in April 1861 and go to late 1864. 

Where Did They Come From? 
The Ohio Historical Society acquired the rolls from a private collector. It is believed that they originated in the War Department's Paymaster's Department, as almost all of them have a paymaster stamp or written notation on them. 

"We surmise that when the Office of the Paymaster General moved to a new building in Washington, D.C., many years ago," Haas explains, "thousands of Civil War pay and muster rolls somehow eventually ended up in private hands." 

What Can Be Learned? 
According to Haas, the collection is in good condition and contains a wealth of information not previously known. For instance, the rolls provide a history of each company by giving the names of the sick, absent, wounded or killed and sometimes those who deserted. 

As an example, Company F of the 41st OVI listed more than 30 men as sick in quarters or in hospital, 11 wounded and five dead - two killed at the Battle of Shiloh and three dead from disease. It lists the various promotions or temporary duty detachments out of the total of about 100 officers and men in the unit. The roll was taken April 30, 1862, on the Shiloh battlefield. This is just one of many stories that can be told from these rolls of Ohio Civil War soldiers. 

"The rolls also tell a story of each soldier's participation and offer a written snapshot of their life, or death, in the Civil War," Haas says. "In many cases you can follow a company for several months at a stretch and find out what happened to each individual." 

Other interesting tidbits about the collection: pay rolls include soldiers' signatures because they had to sign the roll in order to get paid; individual officer rolls often contain names of servants, who in most cases were black, listed as "Negro," with their names and a basic physical description; and paymaster names were listed as most of the rolls originated with the Paymaster Department. 

This new collection, combined with the muster-in and -out rolls from the Ohio Adjutant General on microfilm in the archives, provides researchers with a rich and robust resource on the state's military history during the Civil War. Both historians and genealogists can use these rolls to find out information. 

The Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library on the third floor of the Ohio Historical Center at I-71 and 17th Avenue in Columbus is open Thursdays 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information about the muster rolls, contact reference@ohiohistory.org.

09/16/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7/14/2010

Updated 7/21/2010

visit the museum web site, at www.fultoncountyhs.org.

7/14/2010

History of the 100th Regiment Infantry

Organized in July and August, 1862, under Colonel John C. Groom, it served in Kentucky until September, 1863, when it marched to East Tennessee. On the 4th of September a detachment of the Regiment, two hundred and forty strong, was captured by the enemy and sent to Richmond. The Regiment participated in the defense of Knoxville, and in the spring of 1864 marched with the 23d Corps, joined Sherman's Atlanta campaign, and was engaged in almost every battle from Rocky Face Ridge to Atlanta. In an assault upon Atlanta, August 6th, it lost one hundred and three men. It joined in the pursuit of Hood and was at the battles of Franklin and Nashville, afterwards moving into North Carolina. The Regiment was mustered out July 1, 1865.

From Dyer's Compendium

100th Regiment Infantry. Organized at Toledo, Ohio, July to September, 1862. Ordered to Cincinnati, Ohio, September 8, thence to Covington, Ky., and duty there till October 8. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to October, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of Kentucky, to January, 1863. District of Central Kentucky, Dept. Ohio, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, Army Ohio, to July, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of North Carolina, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.--Ordered to Lexington, Ky., October 8, 1862, thence to Richmond, Ky., December 1, and to Danville, Ky., December 26. To Frankfort, Ky., January 3, 1863. Duty at various points in Central Kentucky till August. Expedition to Monticello and operations in Southeastern Kentucky April 26-May 12. Burnside's Campaign in East Tennessee August 16-October 17. Telford Station and Limestone September 8. (240 men captured at Telford Station while guarding railroad.) Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5. Pursuit to Blain's Cross Roads. Duty at Blain's Cross Roads till April, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Face Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Cartersville May 20. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Muddy Creek June 17. Noyes Creek June 19. Cheyney's Farm June 22. Near Marietta June 23. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Duty at Decatur till October 4. Pursuit of Hood into Northern Alabama October 4-26. Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. At Clifton, Tenn., till January 16, 1865. Movement to Washington, D.C., thence to Federal Point, N. C., January 16-February 9. Fort Anderson February 18-19. Town Creek February 19-20. Capture of Wilmington February 22, Campaign of the Carolinas March-April. Advance on Goldsboro, N. C, March 6-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 21. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Near Raleigh April 13. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. Duty at Greensboro, N. C. till June. Mustered out June 20, and discharged at Cleveland. Ohio, July 1, 1865. Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 90 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 6 Officers and 268 Enlisted men by disease. Total 317.

Companies by County

Company A Wood County
Company B Henry County
Company C Williams County
Company D Defiance County
Company E Lucas County
Company F Lucas County
Company G Ottawa County
Company H Fulton County
Company I Antwerp, Paulding County
Company K Sandusky County

County listing from Steve Ward's Buckeyes All Part V Revised.

Thanks to Dr. Richard A. Sauers for the initial research and indexing of the National Tribune articles.

More about the Civil War in Ohio.

Copyright © 1995 Larry Stevens

Last updated July 4 2006

6/22/2010

Decorated Blanket Chest

By Jacob Werrey (7/20/1838 – 8/30/1893)

German Township, Fulton County, Ohio

January 23, 1890

Acquisition made possible through the Lowell Yoder Family Foundation, 2010

This Signed piece of poplar construction, with original decorative grain painted finish, and green feet and moldings is further decorated on the front with a pot of flowers and initialed "S. S. 1890" (presumed purchaser of chest) in two colors of Bronzing powder.

Wes Cowan, founder and owner of Cowan’s Auctions, Inc. and star of PBS televisions series “History Detectives” writes,

“In Ohio, painted blanket chests primarily were made in the northern part of the state. Most were made by unknown craftsmen, though Mennonite Jacob Werrey was an exception.

Mr. Lowell Yoder, left, with chest and society president, Carl Buehrer, right

The Peter “Werry” family first shows up in an 1840 German Township census, indicating Peter as a farmer with a wife and 4 children. In 1850, Peter recorded his birthplace as Germany, and Catherine’s as Switzerland -- implying that they were part of the Lauber Hill Mennonite Community that began in the county. After their father’s death in 1859, the unmarried Werrey children helped farm their mother, Catherine’s farm. After her death in 1874, Jacob is shown in the 1880 census living with a Hochstetler family in Elkhart, IN., and in 1888, a county atlas shows a very tiny lot east of the village of Burlington being owned by Jacob alone, presumably the carpentry shop where this piece was made. Werrey died of “paralysis” 7 days after collapsing while painting a house with his helper. Cowan continues concerning Werrey’s work,

“Werrey's chest production seems to have taken place between 1863 and his death. His furniture was painstakingly crafted in the Germanic tradition and is in every aspect equal to examples of similar heritage from other regions. Using various shades of red and ochre paint, his "grained" designs are acknowledged by collectors to be some of the most masterful of the Midwestern makers.”

Approximately twenty pieces of Werry-made furniture survive. Werrey`s earliest chests often had simpler painted decoration, while his later work, was much bolder and more elaborate. His stenciling also became fancier, as he incorporated a vase with flowers and wheat, typically flanked by initials, and with the date underneath. Most of his pieces are blanket chests (or miniature blanket chests) with heavy moldings and turned feet; of these blanket chests, green painted moldings and feet seem to have remained standard throughout his career. Other case type furniture by Werrey is exceedingly rare, with purportedly six surviving examples known to exist in museums and private collections.

One Werrey chest appeared in the 1984 “Made in Ohio” exhibition at the Columbus Museum of Art.

Blanket Chest, Jacob Werrey, 1890

2010.10 Acquisition Made Possible through the Lowell Yoder Foundation

The Werrey Blanket Chest is currently on display in the exhibit, “Fulton County Treasures” along with the baby cradle of race car driver, Barney Oldfield, several presidential signature documents, and other unique items from around the county. The Museum features 14 rooms showcasing permanent exhibits and changing displays dating from about 1820-1960.  The museum and archives research room is located at 229 Monroe Street in downtown Wauseon, OH, 2 blocks west of N. Fulton St. on State Route 2 (Elm St), then one half block north on Monroe. Through Labor Day, the museum is open on Tuesdays from 1 – 7pm, Wednesday through Friday from 10am – 4pm, and on Saturdays from 10am – 2pm. For more information, call (419)337-7922 or visit the museum web site, at www.fultoncountyhs.org.

6/29/2010

Sauder Village’s Museum building now contains a newly re-installed exhibit entitled, “Expressions of Grief” centered on its horse-drawn funeral hearse. The Fulton County Museum has contributed several funeral related objects for the display, including a commemorative pocket watch chain made from human hair, a photograph of the carriage used for the funeral of Fulton County native and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Joel Brigham, and a G.A.R. ribbon worn by a Civil War veteran during grave-side services.

The Sauder Village Museum contains over 1,000 different artifacts ranging from carriages, automobiles, household appliances, farm equipment, glassware and toys. Permanent exhibits located within the building include, “Erie Sauder: A Man Who Made a Difference”, and “Natives and Newcomers” featuring what remains of the Winameg Council Oak Tree.

The museum building will also house a special weekend, entitled, “Preserving our Memories” on Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24, (saudervillage.org/Creativity/events.asp#Memories ) featuring a display by our organization.
 

The Museum is open now through October 31, 2010.

Hours:

June 1 - September 6, 2010
Tuesday thru Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m.

September 7 - October 31, 2010
Tuesday - Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Closed Mondays (except holidays)

Area Civil War Legacy Revealed

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