By: Mark Holtsberry Orin Webster Donat Orin was born September 6, 1874 in Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio. He was the son of George W. and Celeste May (Hartzog) Donat. Orin was the oldest of seven children. His father, George, was born in Ohio, his mother was born in Willshire, Van Wert County, Ohio.…
By: Mark Holtsberry Dr. Ella Thompson Fast Dr. Ella Thompson Fast was one of, if not thee, first woman doctor in Paulding County. She was born March 10, 1871 in Ohio. She was one of eight children born to William and Nancy (Clemens) Thompson. Both her parents were born in Ohio. While she was young,…
By: Mark Holtsberry Henry Jackson Donnell Henry lived to the ripe old of 98, earning him the distinction of being Paulding County’s oldest veteran, let’s look at his life’s story. Henry was born October 27, 1900, in Antwerp, Ohio. The son of Oscar Eugene and Barbara Manilla (Boyd) Reed, those who knew her best called…
By: Jane Nice Paulding County Bicentennial Committee Part 2 of 2 PAULDING – After the charred and mutilated remains of Ashby and Elsie Good were located in a pile of burned brush near their home three and one half miles northwest of Paulding on November 5, 1894, suspicion immediately fell on Charles Hart. Some of…
By: Jane Nice, Paulding County Bicentennial Committee Part 1 of 2 PAULDING –On Sunday morning, November 4, 1894, siblings Wilson “Ashby” Good, age 8, and his sister Elsie, age 5, went outside to play near their house three and one half miles northwest of the village of Paulding. Their mother, who was homebound with a…
By: Jane Nice Paulding County Bicentennial Committee Part of a series PAULDING – We are currently inundated with information about our presidential candidates from many forms of media, but more than a hundred years ago those running for office had almost exclusively two means of bringing their platforms and their presence to the public: through…
Live Oak Historic Graveyard Tour took place this past Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2020. It was a windy & cloudy fall day – just perfect for strolling through a graveyard! This is the tour’s 3rd year spotlighting various historical figures of the county of Paulding that are resting in Live Oak Cemetery on Emerald Rd.…
Recently, a book was uncovered of the Paulding County Treasurer from 1893. It was found at George Clemens’ Treasure Island Flea Market on September 19 by Bryce Steiner, Publisher of the West Bend News. A conversation came up between Barry Hook and Bryce Steiner about an old county book he had run across. Bryce had…
By: Melinda Krick, Paulding County Bicentennial Committee Part 2 of 2 This article originally was written for Visions Volume 6, published by the Paulding County Progress in 2005. Some entries have been updated. PAULDING – There’s a history behind every name of every township, waterway, town, school and landmark. Here are more Paulding County place…
By: Melinda Krick Paulding County Bicentennial Committee Part 1 of 2 This article originally was written for Visions Volume 6, published by the Paulding County Progress in 2005. Some entries have been updated. PAULDING – Emerald Road. Antwerp. Benton Township. Auglaize River. We hear and see dozens of familiar place names every day around Paulding…
By: Jane Nice, Paulding County Bicentennial Committee Part 2 of 2 PAULDING – In the early 1900s the movement to educate and enlighten agricultural communities in the Midwest was largely led by women’s groups. Clubs like the Ladies Literary Society in Paulding started fledgling libraries in their towns, and then beat the drum to establish…
Mark Holtsberry has worked tirelessly over the years to collect data on veterans in Paulding County. He has books that he has written to commemorate and recognize those who sacrificed everything for their county. A few years ago Mark put up the board in the courthouse that is next to the entry deputy’s desk. It…
By: Kim Sutton, Paulding County Bicentennial Committee Part 2 of 2 PAULDING – This continues the narrative of Loyd Phillips, an escaped slave, and his journey to Paulding County in search of his father, Abraham. It is based on an oral narrative by Loyd Phillips. It is believed that the narrative was relayed to, and…
