The Courier THE COURIER C2 BICENTENNIAL MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012 INSIDE R.L. Heminger history columns C3-6 Students imagine life in 1812 E1-3 History stories, 1900-2012 C7-D8 Messages to future Findlay E3-4 Sports standouts D9-12 Readers remember E5-F11 SCHEDULE OF FINDLAY’S BICENTENNIAL EVENTS FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2012 Bicentennial Boogie Bicentennial Community Challenge: Scavanger Hunt 6 p.m. to midnight, Main Street in downtown Findlay 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dorney Plaza SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 2012 Time Capsule Dig Up & Music in the Park 6 p.m., Riverside Park Bicentennial Community Festival 11 a.m. to midnight, Hancock County Fairgrounds THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012 (Flag Day) Inflatable rides, food, beer garden, displays and Bicentennial Community Challenge: music by the Reunion Band Stickball Tournament Findlay Co-ed Bicentennial Volleyball Tournament 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dorney Plaza 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Riverside Park Bicentennial Parade SUNDAY, JUNE 10, 2012 7 p.m., Lincoln Street to West Main Cross Street Bicentennial Community Festival Register online at findlay200.com 11 a.m. to midnight, Hancock County Fairgrounds Fireworks Downtown Inflatable rides, food, beer garden, displays and 10 p.m. (after parade), launched from old Brandman property Little Miss & Little Mr. Bicentennial Pageant Viewable from Blanchard River and downtown Forte Findlay, A Musical Celebration FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2012 7 p.m., University of Findlay’s Koehler Center Featuring area church choirs and Night Jazz Bicentennial Community Challenge: Tri-fecta at the Fairgrounds MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012 (Tug of War, Sack Races & Donkey Races) Bicentennial Communtiy Challenge: Noon to 4 p.m. Ice Cream Sundae Making Contest SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dorney Plaza Bicentennial 5K Run Findlay-Hancock County Public Library 9 a.m., Riverside Park SummerREAD Kick-Off 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Findlay-Hancock County Public Library Brush Company War of 1812 Re-enactments Featuring musician and storyteller Bob Ford, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. music and stories from early Ohio Ceremonial march from Sandusky Street to river, Dorney Plaza and courthouse lawn 23rd Annual Julie Cole Golf Tournament Findlay Country Club Findlay Service League Historical Gala $10 grounds pass available to public 7 p.m. to midnight, Findlay Inn & Conference Center For more info visit bvhealthsystem.org $75 per person, $150 per couple. Tickets available at Arts Partnership TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012 Bicentennial Community Challenge: Super Soaker Duel The Brothers of the Brush 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dorney Plaza Beard Growing Competition A Night at the Museum Register at the Hancock Historical Museum Judging will be held June 30 at 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hancock Historical Museum at the Great Race event in Downtown Findlay! $1 admission - Watch the museum come to life in this family event! Souvenirs are available at the Trading Post in the Hancock Historical Museum, 422 W. Sandusky St. Website: www.findlay200.com • Facebook: facebook.com/findlaybicentennial Email: Christie Ranzau at [email protected] or Tamera Rooney at [email protected] More events all year long including the annual Wheelmen Meet and much more! Dates and events are subject to change and will be updated regularly. THE COURIER MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012 BICENTENNIAL C3 Findlay’s namesake came from distinguished family By R.L. HEMINGER Pennsylvania. He was named Samuel One, William, was to become governor colonel of the Second Ohio Volunteers “Though the brothers did not meet Findlay. A son also was named Samuel, of Pennsylvania in later life and United and served under Gen. William Hull at during their military campaigns, they Some exceedingly interesting informa- who marred Jane Smith. States senator. Two, John and James, Detroit.” were destined to meet in legislative tion with regard to Col. James Findlay, the To this couple were born six sons, one were destined to go to Washington as (The Mercersburg volume does not duties,” says the history. builder of the fort here in the War of 1812 of whom was James, who later in his life members of Congress. Three Findlay sons expand on Col. James Findlay’s military “In 1826, James Findlay was sent to and leader for whom our city is named, is came to Ohio and was the individual who — William, John and James — were all experience beyond the above statement. the National House of Representatives to be found in a historical work published built the fort here. The father died at the in Congress at one time. Only one other He was the commander of one of four regi- at Washington and remained there until at Mercersburg, Pa., with regard to that age of 35. The half-dozen sons were all time in the history of the United States ments which made up Gen. Hull’s army 1833. Thus Mercersburg has the remark- community’s background. born in Mercersburg. A farm in the area has this record been duplicated. in the War of 1812, and which marched able record of having three brothers from is still known as the Findlay farm, the his- James, according to the Mercersburg through this area in the spring of 1812 one of her families in the United States A copy of the publication was made torical work says. historical work, “had western fever and en route to Detroit to engage the British available to the writer by Mr. and Mrs. H. After the father’s death, the farm was went in 1793 to Cincinnati, then a frontier forces.) Congress at one time, a record that has Forney Hamilton, whose daughter, Mrs. divided among the six sons and some of fort.” The volume goes on to say that the been duplicated but once in the nation’s Joan Rockwell, resides there now (1968). them lived for some years on sections “In 1798,” the volume continues, “he oldest Findlay brother, John, who had history.” There is a chapter in the volume enti- of the estate “before they were called to became a member of the Legislative Coun- remained in the home area of Franklin The reference in the forgoing para- tled “The Findlay Family” written by a wider fields of public service,” the histori- cil for the Ohio territory, identifying him- County in Pennsylvania, was a colonel in graph to the three brothers includes Findlay family descendant, Sara Findlay cal record says. self with Mr. Jefferson’s party. He became the Pennsylvania volunteer regiment that William, the former governor of Penn- Rice. The six sons were John, William, prominent and filled various offices, civil marched to the defense of Baltimore in the sylvania, who was in the United States The Findlay family history is traced James, Jonathan, Samuel and Robert. and military, until 1824. In the second war War of 1812 and was elected to Congress Senate while his two brothers were in the to the grandfather of James Findlay in James was born in 1775. with Great Britain he was commissioned from a Pennsylvania district. lower house. First settler: Benjamin Cox These articles on Findlay area history were fi rst published in The Republican-Courier between By R.L. HEMINGER Jacob and William Moreland Jackson Township and struck a came from Ross County in 1821 vein of gas while digging a water 1959 and 1974 by R.L. Heminger, publisher and The first permanent settler in to settle here. They built a cabin well. This is reputed to have been both Findlay and Hancock County on the north bank of the river. Wil- the first gas discovered in Han- editor of the newspaper. was Benjamin H. Cox. He was a liam was elected overseer of the cock County and was one of the Heminger also was a community leader and an native of Virginia. He came to poor in 1824. reasons Dr. Oesterlen felt it might Ohio early in the new century, set- John Simpson also came here prove profitable to drill for gas on area historian. He published a book, “Across the tling first in Greene County, then from Ross County in 1821 with his a big scale locally. in Logan County. He served as a son John. The father was killed by Robert Bonham Sr., a native Years in Findlay and Hancock County,” in 1965. scout in the armies of General Hull a falling tree limb two years later. of Pennsylvania, came to Findlay More Heminger articles from the “Historical and General Harrison. John Gardner and family in 1830. He died in 1875 when 83 At the close of the War of 1812, arrived in 1822 and settled on years old. Highlights” series may be found at http:// Mr. Cox, who had lost the sight what is now the site of Maple Daniel Andreck, John Bishop, of one eye, came to Fort Findlay. Grove Cemetery. He was later John Harritt, Benoni Culp and thecourier.com/templates/opinion/historical/ He had often visited the fort on elected one of the town’s fence Jacob Feller were 1831 arrivals. the Blanchard River and in 1815 viewers. The latter was a native of Penn- historical.asp. brought his family here and took Isaac Johnson and his family sylvania. He was married to Miss possession of a story and a half came in 1827. John Boyd also was Mary Powell, of Fairfield County, hewed-log house which had been an 1827 arrival, as was John Jones, and they had a large family con- erected by a sutler (one who sells who was elected constable of the sisting of seven sons and five provisions) of the garrison, during town soon after his arrival.