Spencer Baird Newberry

Spencer Baird Newberry was the son of geologist John Strong Newberry. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 11, 1857. Spencer B. Newberry graduated from the School of Mines at Columbia University in 1878. After studying in Europe, he returned to the United States, and earned a Doctor of Philosophy at Columbia University.He became a professor of chemistry at Cornell University.

In 1892, Spencer B. Newberry, along with his brothers Arthur St. John and William Newberry, organized the Sandusky Portland Cement Company at Bay Bridge, Ohio, due to the rich deposits of marl and clay in this area. The discovery of these raw ingredients necessary for the manufacturing portland cement were discovered by John Strong Newberry during his geological survey of Ohio. Later, the Sandusky Portland Cement Company became known as the Medusa Portland Cement Company.


The first wife of Spencer B. Newberry was Clara White Newberry, daughter of former ambassador Andrew White.The 1900 U.S. Census for Erie County, Ohio lists Spencer and Clara Newberry as living in Bay Bridge with their sons Andrew and Arthur in 1900. Spencer and Clara divorced in 1901. Mr. Newberry then married Helena Printy.

Spencer B. Newberry was issued several patents. Below is a portion of Patent Number 927,585, issued in 1909 for fire brick lining, accessed at Google Patents.


















On November 28, 1922, Spencer B. Newberry passed away. He is buried in the Newberry family lot at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

Benjamin E. Deeley

This weathered stone at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery honors the memory of Civil War Veteran Benjamin E. Deeley. According to HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE, by Harriet Taylor Upton, Benjamin Deeley was born in Sandusky on August 31, 1841, to Edmond and Dora Kinney Deeley. Banjamin helped his father in the local fishing industry, and he was also a carpenter by trade. In 1861, Benjamin Deeley enlisted in Company E of the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months' service. In 1862, Benjamin re-enlisted, this time in Company G of the 123rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Twice during his years of service during the Civil War, Benjamin Deeley was held prisoner. After the war was over, Benjamin worked for the railroad in Sandusky, building railroad cars. In politics, Mr. Deeley was a Republican. He was also an active member of the G.A.R. During Sandusky's Memorial Day services of 1911, Benjamin Deeley was chairman of the decorating committee.

On June 8, 1866, Benjamin E. Deeley married Jane Steen, a daughter of Charles and Lorenda Stevens Sexton Steen. The family residence was 619 Perry Street in Sandusky. Benjamin E. Deeley passed away on November 26, 1925. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery with his wife, Jane Steen Deeley, who died in 1908. An obituary for Benjamin Deeley is found in the 1925 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK, in the genealogical section of the Sandusky Library. Benjamin Deeley was survived by Dr. William Steen Deeley and Dr. B. C. Deeley, both of Mount Vernon, Ohio; Mrs. E. W. House of Cleveland; and Mary and Sarah Deeley, both of Sandusky. Benjamin Deeley had another son who was a physician in Mount Vernon. Dr. Stanton E. Deeley died in 1923.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay!

Follett House Museum is Ready for Christmas

The Follett House Museum is the former home of early Sandusky resident, Oran Follett and his family. Mr. Follett was active in the publishing business. He was also connected with early Ohio Railroads and was active in politics as well.

The theme for the 2010 holiday season at the Follett House is "Peace on Earth."























Beautiful decorations adorn the home's several rooms.























Mr. Follett's portrait appears below.























Mrs. Eliza Follett was kind hearted. She was active in charity work throughout her life.



















Puck and Punch were connected with former Sandusky businesses. Their home is now in the basement of the Follett House Museum.


















Many portraits of early Sandusky residents can be seen at the Follett House Museum.



















The "Toy Room" is always popular with youngsters.
























You can take a free tour of the Follett House Museum. Call the Sandusky Library at 419-625-3834 for more information. Oran and Eliza Follett's former home provides us with a wonderful look at Sandusky in days gone by.

Mr. and Mrs. Oran Follett are buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Jay C. Smith, Civil War Veteran

Jay C. Smith was born in 1844 to Samuel H. and Rachel Mack Smith. In June of 1863, Jay C. Smith enlisted in Company M of the Ohio Heavy Artillery during the War Between the States. He served under Capt. Henry Bly, who was the father of journalist Nellie Bly. Jay was honorably discharged from military service in 1865, and he returned to his home in Margaretta Township of Erie County, where he ran the family farm, which consisted of 400 acres. He had a superior stock of cattle, and for over twenty-five years, he provided milk to the Ohio Soldiers Home in Sandusky.

Jay C. Smith married Alice Sewell of Louisiana.They had three children. Following the death of his first wife, Jay married May O. Palmer, and they also had three children. Hewson Peeke in his STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, available full text on Heritage Quest, wrote about Jay C. Smith: "The members of Mr. Smith's family are typical representatives of the best American citizenship, who do credit to their upbringing, and are respected and esteemed wherever they reside."

On May 4, 1929, Jay C. Smith passed away. He is buried in the Castalia Cemetery, where a flag and GAR symbol still mark his grave. A biographical sketch of Samuel H. Smith, Jay's father, is found online.

Love of Genealogy

When my niece was working on her family history for a 4-H project, she said to me, “My friends say that genealogy should be the study of genies!” At a state genealogy conference, my co-worker and I heard someone say she heard there were several people attending a gynecology conference! Then, this week a library patron asked for the geology study room.

Whatever it is called, I know that I love to do genealogy research, which according to the 2010 edition of the Random House dictionary is: a record or account of the ancestry and descent of a person, family, group, etc.
(I accessed this information at Dictionary.com.)

Treasure Chest Thursday: Emma and Steve Orshoski's Family in 1929

My second cousin from Nevada recently sent me several pictures that had been in a box in her mother's closet. The pictures originally belonged to her grandmother. Included in the pictures were this one of Emma (Yeager) and Steve Orshoski, and their first three children, Alberta, Paul, and baby Wayne, from about 1929.

Steve Orshoski was a longtime employee of the Medusa Cement Factory in Bay Bridge. Steve and Emma celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Bay Bridge in 1951. Until this lovely surprise made its way to my mailbox, I had never seen a photo of my father, Paul R. Orshoski, Sr., at such a young age. God bless Debbie and the box in her mother's closet!