Wordless Wednesday: Oakland Cemetery

Sentimental Sunday: Milan, Ohio Baseball Team in 1909

This digital picture was taken of an enlargement of a 1909 post card of the Milan baseball team on display at Daniel J. Frederick Architect, on the square in Milan, Ohio. An employee allowed me to snap a shot of both the front and back of the picture. Here is a listing of the men in the picture:

Elmer Smith, the player on the far right of the front row, went on to play for the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and the Cincinnati Reds. He was named to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and is known for being the first player to hit a grand slam home run in a World Series Game. Elmer Smith died on August 3, 1984. If you are ever in the square in Milan, Ohio, stop in at Daniel J. Frederick Architect, to view this and several other interesting historic postcards!

Darling Monument at Oakland Cemetery

This lovely obelisk in the North Ridge section of Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery honors the memory of Joseph Mills Darling, his wife Abbie, and their daughter Rosella. According to Grant Gregory's  book ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF HENRY GREGORY (Gregory, 1938), Joseph Mills Darling was born in New Haven, Ohio to Joseph Darling and Zaphira (Dana) Darling, on September 2, 1822. He was a carpenter, and later became a prosperous contractor in Sandusky, Ohio. In 1845, Joseph Mills Darling married Abbie/Abby Lurana Gregory, the daughter of George and Polly (Waring) Gregory. Joseph Mills Darling died on August 11, 1874, at the age of 51 years, 11 months, and 9 days. Abbie Darling, who had been born in 1824, died on March 31, 1902, at the age of 78.

The daughter of Joseph M. and Abbie Darling, Rosella Z. Darling, died on August 15, 1846, at the age of 5 months and 10 days of age.

To read more about the families of Joseph M. and Abbie (Gregory) Darling, see the book ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF HENRY GREGORY, available full-text at Heritage Quest.

William J. Rasey, 1885-1962

William J. Rasey was a longtime legislative representative for the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. Mr. Rasey was born on February 25, 1885 in Ashtabula, Ohio. In 1903 he became a brakeman for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, which later became part of the New York Central Railroad. In 1904, Mr. Rasey was transferred to Toledo, Ohio, and in 1905 he moved to Sandusky, Ohio. In 1905, William J. Rasey joined the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. By 1922, Mr. Rasey served as chairman and state representative of the state legislative committee of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. At his retirement in 1956, William J. Rasey was the oldest man in service to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen in his capacity in the U.S. or Canada. He attended every session of the Ohio legislature in Columbus from 1918 to 1956. He had 52 years with the railroad, and he was one of the oldest railroad passenger conductors at the time of his retirement. On August 8, 1962, William J. Rasey died following a lengthy illness. He was buried next to his first wife, Bernice, at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. An obituary for William J. Rasey appeared in the August 9, 1962 issue of the Sandusky Register.

B. F. Hough of the U.S. Signal Service

Benjamin F. Hough's Civil War Pension file indicates that he served in Companies I and H of the 98th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as well as in the United States Signal Corps. Benjamin F. Hough served as the first Observer Sergeant of the Oswego, New York Weather Bureau, having been appointed to that position by the U.S. Army's Signal Corps. By the 1890's, Mr. Hough was the official observer at the weather station in Sandusky, Ohio.

On August 5, 1895, Benjamin F. Hough died as a result of heart disease. Obituaries for Mr. Hough were carried in the August 6, 7, and 8, 1895 issues of the Sandusky Register. One obituary for B. F. Hough stated, "The services were simple and impressive and the burial following was private. A Christian gentleman, a devoted husband and father and an officer to whom duty was law, such was Sergeant Hough." Pallbearers for Sergeant Hough were John J. Molter, William H. Herbert, Josh Davis, Capt. A. M. Anderson, Judge L. H. Goodwin and J. D. Warner. Charles J. Krupp was in charge of the funeral, which was held at the Hough residence on Columbus Avenue. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery.

Fort Stephenson Bicentennial Celebration

The Bicentennial of the Battle of Fort Stephenson in the War of 1812 is being celebrated August 2-4, 2013 in Fremont, Ohio. Under the leadership of George Croghan, the Americans were successful in holding off the British troops. The Battle took place at Fort Stephenson, now Fremont, Ohio, on August 2, 1813. A Battle re-enactment will take place on Saturday and Sunday of the Bicentennial Celebration weekend. To read more about the Battle of Fort Stephenson, and the War of 1812 in Ohio, see this online War of 1812: Commemorative Edition, which is a joint project of the Fremont News Messenger and the Port Clinton News Herald. Event which are taking place this weekend include: live music,church services, and many re-enactors on the celebration grounds, adjacent to the Sandusky County Courthouse.

Daniel Larkins, 1859-1880

Daniel Larkins was the oldest child of Patrick and Bridget (Ryan) Larkins. He was born in Sandusky, Ohio, and was baptized at Holy Angels Church by Rev. Alexis Caron. Daniel's baptismal sponsors were Patrick Ryan and Johanna Larkins. The baptismal record below is a part of the collection of Catholic parish records from the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, accessible online at Family Search.

In the 1880 U.S. Census, Daniel was age 21, and still resided at home with his parents Patrick and Bridget Larkins, and his six younger siblings. His occupation was stated as laborer. On Sunday evening, August 1, 1880, Daniel Larkins and an acquaintance, John Leitch, went to the Germania House. Daniel Larkins started to drink, and as he was not accustomed to drinking, the liquor affected him adversely. About four o'clock in the morning on Monday, the body of Daniel Larkins was found on the sidewalk in front of the Germania House. Young Mr. Larkins had a severe wound to the back of his head. John Leitch was sound alseep at the time of the fall of Mr. Larkins, and it is supposed that Larkins probably fell out of the window while leaning out to vomit. An article in the August 3, 1880 issue of the Sandusky Register stated, in part: "Larkins is spoken of by all who knew him as a quiet, sober and industrious young man. Sunday night was the first night that he ever stayed away from home with letting his parents know where he was. It is clearly evident that he got into bad company."

An inquest was held following the death of Daniel Larkins. It was determined that there was no foul play, and that Daniel Larkins fell to his death accidentally. Daniel Larkins was buried in the Larkins family lot at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. His four youngest sibilings ranged in age from 3 to 11. It must have been a difficult task indeed for Patrick and Bridget Larkins to explain to the little ones that big brother Daniel would never be coming home again. Daniel's grave marker is between that of his mother Bridget, and his nephew Edwin Larkins.