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…
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 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…
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: Mark Holtsberry Morris Homer Spriggs is the highest ranking naval officer to come from Paulding County. He was born April 18, 1892, in Paulding, Ohio, the son of Frank and Margaret (Petty) Spriggs. Frank Spriggs was born in Noble County in 1863 and studied law in his brother’s law office in Caldwell, Ohio. He…
By: Mark Holtsberry …
By: Mark Holtsberry Dr. Aaron Fenton Burson This story is about an Oakwood boy who made good of himself. Aaron was born in Oakwood, Ohio January 1.8, 1885. His parents were, Dr. Harrison S. and Sarah Elizabeth (Harmon) Burson. (As a side note, Harrison was a Civil War Veteran, serving with Company A. 21st Ohio…
By: Mark Holtsberry Andrew Schilb- Jemina Margaret (Gray) Schilb This story cannot be told without talking about both the husband and wife. I always wanted to know a little history behind the Schilb Funeral home. Stan and I, never really got to talk about this subject, so here I am, again, on my own. Andrew…
The Paulding County Carnegie Library will host a book signing by local author and historian, Mark Holtsberry on June 13th at 6:00 p.m. Mr. Holtsberry work is entitled, Paulding County in the Great War and documents exclusively World War I soldiers from Paulding County. The author will discuss his research and the interesting history and…
It’s been over 10 years of long hard work trying to dig up the past. Some may say that is not good but Mark Holtsberry thinks otherwise. You see, Mark is in love with history. With his occupation at one time being a history teacher, he understands the amount of work and time that it…
Several months ago after the election, County Commissioner Mark Holtsberry made it his project to see a fallen heroes memorial placed into the Paulding County Courthouse. He worked with the other Commissioners and especially the Veteran’s Service Office and within a couple of months, the reality of the memorial commenced. Jonathan Lichty, Veterans Service Officer…
