Local writers and stories
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” – Matt BEING LOCKED TO YOUR CAR I was sweating, scared, and dumbfounded as to what I should do next. My finger was locked in the door of our 1974 Chevy…
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” – Matt Under and Over Dressed I remember growing up with full length parka style winter coats with fake fuzzy fur around the edge of the hood to keep my face…
Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker When we were young kids, one thing we used to do was sit around at night and tell scary stories. The stories were usually about creepy monsters grabbing children. Of course we all made up stories trying to scare maybe a friend as well as each other to…
6/27/1924 — 1/13/21 This issue of West Bend News marks nearly one year since our beloved Stan Jordan passed through those “pearly gates”. We still miss his office banter, his jolly chuckle, and his fierce devotion to family, to Antwerp and to Paulding County. Sit back and reminisce with us a few of Stan’s articles…
By: Mark Holtsberry Riley Finley Ennis (part 2) After Pearl Harbor was bombed, the United States Army was looking to keep current educated officers. Riley was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel February of 1942, by December 11, 1942, he was promoted to Colonel. Military records are unclear as to his placement with high command. I sense…
Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker When I think of apples, apple cider, apple pie and apple dumplings come to mind. Who can resist the smell and taste of a fresh baked apple dumpling or the all-American favorite, apple pie? We always think that the apple was the fruit that Eve used to trick…
By: Mark Holtsberry When we see names of people who served in the military, we assume that they served in one war. Well, here is the story of a man from Paulding County, who served in three wars, and here is his story. Riley Finley Ennis was born April 23, 1897 in Paulding, Ohio. The…
By: Mark Holtsberry Paul Philander Gusler was born June 29, 1895 near Grover Hill, Ohio. He was the son of Simon Allen and Catherine Eunice (Gilbert) Gusler. By 1900 Simon, Catherine along with 8 children, were living in Latty, Ohio. Simon was a farmer who made sure that Paul received an education. Paul was schooled…
By:Caroline Longardner The Society of Mayflower Descendants of the State of Ohio – the Toledo Colony met on Sat. Nov. 13 for the Annual Compact Day meeting and Luncheon at OhioLiving Swan Creek Retirement Center in Toledo, Ohio. Fellowship was at 11:30 and the traditional Thanksgiving meal was at 12 and the speaker spoke at…
By: Mark Holtsberry William Arthur Henry Dempsey was born August 6, 1892 in Van Wert, Ohio. He was a member of the “Moxley family”, but William was adopted and raised by Willis H. and Mary Belle Dempsey (I’m not clear of the year William was adopted). Willis H. Dempsey was born in 1849, his wife…
Rudolph is 82 By: Nancy Whitaker After the last cookie is eaten, the last gift opened and then it is time to take down Christmas decorations for another year. We won’t be singing those carols for another year, but the tunes and words to them will linger on just as they have for centuries. One Christmas song that…
By: Mark Holtsberry Israel Brobeck, Civil War Veteran, was born January 20, 1830 in Frederick County, Ohio. He was the son of Henry Brobeck (1808- 1899) and Mahala (Hottel) Brobeck (1810- 1847). As child raised on the farm, Israel learned at a very young age, the meaning of work. By 1850, Israel was on his…
By: Nancy Whitaker One certain meat product I had forgotten about was good old canned Spam. I posed the question on social media about Spam and I was surprised how much people like it. Spam always came in a square-like can with a key. You had to take the key and hook it onto a…
