Talk of a Race Track!

Mid-July of 1897 saw the Chuckery neighborhood atwitter with the thought of a horse racetrack near the village.  It is not known what ever came of this talk, but it should be noted that a racetrack was never built.

Another St. Paul Picnic

June of 1899 saw a large picnic held in the grove behind the German Church in Chuckery (St. Paul).  Germany from Marysville, Hilliards, and Columbus assembled to dine in the woods.  Rev. Kueschle of the Settlement conducted services in the morning while Rev. Bruggerman of Hilliards conducted the afternoon and evening services.  $119.05 was raised in the collections.  A good time was had by all!

The Dellinger Threshing Crew

For many years, various members of the Dellinger (Doellinger) family ran several different threshing machines in and around Chuckery.  In June of 1899 it was announced that Fred Dellinger had finally finished threshing the remainder of his 1898 wheat crop and was ready to assist other members of the community in threshing their wheat.

June Happenings in Chuckery

June of 1885 saw many events in Chuckery.  The community was pleased to announce that corn planting was finished.  Lewis Chapel added Mrs. Ira Fenner and Mrs. Mary Kelsey as new members of the congregation.  But, the Petty family was mourning the loss of their two year old daughter, Blanche.

Emanuel Bishop

From the Marysville Evening Tribune May 26, 1936

BISHOP RITES ON WEDNESDAY

Funeral services for the late Emanuel Bishop will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rausch near Milford Center. Services will be conducted by Rev. E. J. Goedking pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church here and burial will be in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in the German Settlement south of here, in charge of L. H. Miller of Marysville.

Mr. Bishop was born on a farm near Marysville. He was a son of the late George and Lena Gase Bishop, both natives of Germany. He united in marriage with Anna Troestchel in November of 1884. He was a lifelong resident of Union County.

Four daughters, one son, two sisters, and two brothers survive. They are: daughters Mrs. Carrie Rausch, Mrs. Marie Wolff, Mrs. Estelle Reed of Milford Center; Mrs. Clara Moder of Marysville; son John Bishop of Union Township; sisters Mrs. George Blumenschein of near Marysville and Mrs. Carl Fogle of Marion; brothers Philip Bishop of Marysville and George Bishop of Chuckery. One daughter, Mrs. Lottie Moder is deceased. 

Dredging the Little Darby

In the 1920s, the Little Darby Creek was dredged.  The creek was also straightened at this time.  The dredging began near Irwin and continued to the Rosedale-Plain City Road Bridge.  There were two reasons for this dredging: flood control and improved drainage for area farms.  The cables that pulled this dredging machine down the creek are still located in the creek bed.

In recent years, many of the area farms have now routed their tile drainage systems back over to the Big Darby.  The main reason for this switch is that the Big Darby sits at a lower elevation above sea level.  Many farmers would like to see the Little Darby dredged again, but it is unlikely that the OEPA or the EPA will allow this.

A Visitor to the George Bishop Home

In early April of 1885, Mrs. Fred Kleiber was in the Chuckery neighborhood to visit the George Bishop family.

Ohio Wesleyan in Delaware is on Spring Break!

In early April of 1885 it was reported that three Chuckery men were home in the neighborhood after attending OWU (Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio) for the winter session. These men included Layton and Loren Smith and Edward Fairbanks.

A Quarrel in Church

In 1885 it was reported that two men recently quarreled at Lewis Chapel in Chuckery. Upon exchanging unpleasant words inside the church, the men opted to go outside to slug it out. Chuckery residents considered having the men arrested, but decided against that when the men promised to never again behave so poorly while at church.

From Our Neighbors in Milford Center

In 1898 a great flood struck Union County. Milford Center. News reports stated that there was 18 inches of mud in the public vault at the cemetery. Extensive damage was suffered at the Carriage Factory. Total losses in the vicinity of Milford are estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

The community will work hard to recoup the losses from the flood. And, it is hoped that lost stock can be replaced.  Many folks from Chuckery helped relatives to clean up the mess in Milford.

Flooding Closes the Reed Bridge

On March 26, 1904, the Marysville Journal Tribune reported that the Reed Bridge over Big Darby Creek on the London Road was completed flooded. It was closed to traffic.  This was not the first time that the raging waters of the Big Darby would over take the bridge!  Nor was it the last.

John Frederick Loschky

From the Evening Tribune March 23, 1949

RETIRED FARMER TAKEN BY DEATH

Fred Loschky Died Early This Morning; Services Friday

Fred Loschky, 85-year-old retired farmer died this morning at 4:10 o'clock at the home of a nephew, Otto Rausch, of 706 East Fourth Street. Mr. Loschky had suffered a stroke on Monday. A native of Germany, he was born April 28, 1864 and was married on October 29, 1891 to the former Barbara Rausch who died in May of 1910. A member of St. Paul's Lutheran church he lived most of his life in Darby township.

Survivors include three grand-children, and two great-grandchildren. A son and daughter are deceased. Mr. Loschky was the last of a family of fourteen children.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Carl Zehner on Friday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the Lee funeral home and at two o'clock in St. Paul's church. Interment will be in St. John's cemetery in charge of William Lee, funeral director. Friends may call at the funeral home after eight o'clock this evening.

Rest in Peace, Mrs. John McKeever

Mrs. John McKeever passed away near Irwin in early February of 1898. Her body was brought to Lewis Chapel for the funeral. The funeral was held at 2:00 pm on February 11. Condolences are extended to the family.

John Bernard Burns

From the Marysville Tribune January 16, 1938

JOHN BURNS WAS CALLED

WELL-KNOWN BUSINESSMAN AND RETIRED FARMER DIED SATURDAY MORNING

John B. Burns, aged 81, well-known retired business man and farmer, died at 4 a. m. Saturday at the home of his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Knotts on the Marion Road. He died of complications after an illness of several years. He was bedfast only one day.

Mr. Burns resided in Chestnut Street until the death of his wife, the former Lena Scheiderer Burns, about a year ago. Then he went to live with Mr. Knotts. Mr. Burns was a native of Union County and spent his entire life in the county. He was born June 18, 1857 to Emanuel and Anna Bishop Burns, natives of Pennsylvania and of Germany, respectively. He united in marriage with Lena Scheiderer on April 15, 1882. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. Mr. Burns operated a brickyard for a number of years and also farmed before moving to this city.

Surviving children are Mrs. Arthur Knotts, of the Marion Road and Mrs. Esther Chumbley of Toledo. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, a brother, Gottlieb Burns of Milford Center, and three sisters, Mrs. Richard Dasher, Mrs. Ed Weidman and Mrs. John Auer all of Marysville.

Funeral services on Tuesday afterernoon at 2 o'clock at the Knotts residence on the Marion Road and at Trinity Lutheran Church at 2:30 o'clock with Rev. E. J. Koedeking officiating. Interment in Oakdale Cemetery in charge of Funeral Director L. H. Miller.

Mrs. Renner Visits her Sons

In the first week of October of 1899, Mrs. George Renner from the Settlement was in Chuckery.  She was in the neighborhood to visit her sons, Casper and Fred.  Casper and Fred farmed on the Post Road.

Walter Bigelow is Injured!

Often times it is hard to picture the hardships that faced our Chuckery ancestors.  Before 1900, most farming was done by hand.  Crops were harvested using horses.  And, the crops were typically dried in the fields before being stored for the winter.  In early September of 1896, Walter Bigelow was working in his corn field.  He was binding corn stalks in to shocks when a stalk broke free and gashed his eye.  He completely lost sight in the eye as a result of this injury.

An Accident in Chuckery

In May of 1890, Mr. Howard Bidwell was involved in a potentially life threatening accident.  A metal shaft broke on his buggy.  The broken shaft irritated the horse, causing the horse to to kick and run.  Mr. Bidwell was thrown from the buggy and landed on his head.  Fortunately, Mr. Bidwell survived the fall.  And, the horse was caught about a mile away.  The only thing broke on the buggy was the shaft.

St. Paul Cemetery Fence

At the April 6, 1930 Voters' Meeting of the St. Paul Congregation it was decided that the church trustees should repair the fence around the cemetery. Volunteers were asked for.

Daniel Streng

From the Evening Tribune March 31, 1942

DANIEL STRENG DIED MONDAY

WELL-KNOWN DARBY TOWNSHIP FARMER PASSED AWAY AFTER LONG ILLNESS FUNERAL SERVICES THURSDAY

Daniel Streng, 76, died at his home in Darby township a 9:45 o'clock Monday morning following an illness of 18 months. Mr. Streng was born in Darby township September 20, 1865, being a son of Lewis and Rosa Miller Streng, natives of Germany. He was married October 2, 1892, to Rosa Schepper, whose death occurred six months ago. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Chuckery and a prominent farmer of Darby township.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Emma Wolff of Milford Center Route 1 and. Miss Edith Streng, at home; a brother, George Streng of Marysville Route 5, and a sister, Mrs. Adam Rausch of Plain City. Four sisters and two brothers are deceased.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the residence and at 2 o'clock at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with the Rev. C. J. Wachholz, officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul's Lutheran in charge of R. G. Reed, Milford Center funeral director.

Albert Gaulke

From the Marysville Evening Tribune March 15, 1940

Milford Center News

Albert Gaulke of near Chuckery passed away Monday at Grant Hospital where he was a patient. He was 77 years of age and was a prominent farmer of Union township.
From the Marysville Evening Tribune March 11, 1940



ALBERT GAULKE DIED MONDAY

WELL-KNOWN FARMER SUCCUMBED IN HOSPITAL WAS ST. PAUL’S CHURCH CHARTER MEMBER

Albert Gaulke, aged 77, well-known farmer of Milford Center Rt. 1, died in Grant Hospital in Columbus yesterday afternoon at 2:45 o’clock of complications after an illness of about a week, during which time he was in the hospital.

He was born on July 29, 1862 in Germany. He married Barbara Nicol on April 19, 1894, and she died some 23 years ago. Mr. Gaulke was a charter member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Chuckery and was active in all the work of the church.

Surviving children include Ernest Gaulke of Marysville, Mrs. August Nicol and Mrs. Luther Dellinger of Plain City, Walter Gaulke of Milford Center, August Gaulke of Newark, Emil Gaulke of Ludell, Kansas, and Mrs. Otto Nicol of Saxonburg, Penn. One daughter is deceased. Fourteen grandchildren are living. Mr. Gaulke was the last surviving member of his family.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the house and at 2 o’clock at the St. Paul Church with Rev C. J. Waccholz officiating. Burial will made in the St. Paul Cemetery in charge of L. H. Miller, head funeral director.