Maple Street, Luckey: the PSEI research file

231 Maple Street

Luckey, Ohio

43443

Research by PSEI Research Specialists

A Brief History of Wood County and Luckey Township:

Wood County was organized on February 12, 1820, when the legislature carved 14 counties from the lands purchased from the Wyandot, Seneca, Delaware, Shawnee, Potawatomi, Ottawa, and Chippewa tribes as a result of the Lower Maumee Treaty of September 28, 1817. In May 1822, the Commissioner's designated Perrysburg as the first County Seat. It remained so until 1868 when the Seat of Justice was moved to Bowling Green

The County lines were the same as now, except that the northern boundary extended to Michigan. In 1835, Wood County was dismembered when Lucas County was formed and the Maumee River became its northern boundary.

Wood County was named for Colonel Eleazor D. Wood, a graduate of West Point, a gallant soldier, and the engineer who planned Fort Meigs.

The Village of Luckey, Ohio is located in Wood County and is the only incorporated village in Troy Township. Luckey was surveyed in 1820 by Charles Roberts, according to an account in “Centennial Year In Luckey, Ohio,” a 116 page book published in 1981 for Luckey’s centennial observance, and “settlement is said to have begun in 1833.” The settlers were not identified.

In 1880 Isaac Krotzer’s purchased 80 acres for $2,800, those 80 acres are in Section 28 of Troy Township, exactly where Luckey is today, although the town has expanded considerably since 1880. It now occupies about one square mile.

According to Centennial Year, “it was Captain James B. Luckey, possible Civil War soldier, who lent his name to the Village of Luckey. Some say that the village was first known as Luckeyville and later shortened to Luckey.” Captain Luckey is said to have come in 1879 to where Luckey would be, bought 180 acres of forest land and built a sawmill, including a factory for the manufacture of barrel staves. He was a member of a firm called Luckey, Reed and Ames, and the trio came from Elmore. However, there is no recorded date as to when naming took place; it was probably at the time Krotzer surveyed the future town in 1881. There is no other reference to James B. Luckey.

Photos taken from The Luckey Historical Society,

http://luckeyhistoricalsociety.org/

Circa:1920’s

A Brief History of Wood County and Luckey Township (continued):

Interestingly, the Historical Record of Wood County, Ohio, published in 1896, makes no mention of Captain Luckey, but rather makes reference to a George Luckey who was appointed postmaster when the post office was established in January of 1881. It is recorded in the Centennial Year, that “it was necessary (for Krotzer) to convince potential investors that his vision (for Luckey) was practical and profitable.” By the end of January he had commitments from three investors to locate in Luckey. By March, according to a story in the Wood County Sentinel Krotzer “had already sold the majority of lots to actual settlers.”

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.69 square miles, all land. As of the census of 2010, there were 1,012 people, 383 households, and 283 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,466.7 inhabitants per square mile. There were 405 housing units at an average density of 587.0 per square mile.. The racial makeup of the village was 97.6% White, 0.2% African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

Photos taken from The Luckey Historical Society,

http://luckeyhistoricalsociety.org/

Circa:1920’s

History of 231 Maple Street:

Parcel ID# U71612280103018000

Lot #79

This 1196 square foot single family home was built in the Krotzers Addition of Luckey Township 1969 by a Gerald and Geraldine Lucas. Between 1970 and 1975, is was owned by four different names:

• Gerald and Geraldine Lucas 9/20/1968 - 7/23/1971
• Roger E. and Judith A. flora 7/23/1971 - 3/28/1975
• Jerry M. & Cheryl A. Kunz 3/28/1975 - 7/2/1992
• Douglas C. & Michele F. Sorenson 7/2/1992 - current

Prior to that is was farmland originally owned by Edward and Annie Myers and purchased from Bierly and Hayman in 1896. Later, in 1898 they sold a portion of the land that included lot #79 to Mary E. and David Snyder.

According to online resources there have been no deaths associated with the house or the land that the house resides on.

Krotzer’s Addition:

On May 2, 1864, Isaac W. Krotzer enlisted in the infantry in support of the Civil War. He was discharged on September 4, 1864. He attained the rank of Corporal in the Ohio Infantry Company H 169 Reg. Isaac married Mary A. Tubbs born about 1842 in November of 1863. Mary and Isaac had two children; Amos Krotzer born about 1867 and Leah born about 1870. Isaac died a young man of 46 years on January 24th of 1889. His wife filed for his military pension Aug. 1, 1889.

On July 28, 1880 Isaac Washington Krotzer purchased 80 acres of land that is now the town of Luckey. As Isaac W. Krotzer stood on the land that is now Luckey, he envisioned a town set on the ridge between the tributary of the Toussaint River and the Atlantic and Lake Erie Railroad. It would be a town dependent for its income on the rich limestone deposits beneath it and the fertile farmland and timber surrounding it.

Krotzer’s Addition (continued):

While Krotzer believed in the commercial future of Luckey it was necessary to convince potential investors that his vision was practical and profitable. Evidently, he was very successful for by the

end of January 1812, he had commitments from three business concerns to locate in Luckey. Besides his adventures in land development, Krotzer owned the Krotzer Limestone Quarry on the south side of Locust Street. The kiln connected with this quarry was located on the corner of

* Main Street and Maple. Krotzer’s dream soon became a reality and before his death he was able to see a thriving community with many homes, churches and businesses.

*This was located near 213 Maple Street

Cemeteries, Dates, Obituaries, Memorials, and more:

Restlawn Memorial Park:

Restlawn Memorial Park is located at 3665 Genoa Rd, Perrysburg, OH 43551, which is 4.51 miles from 213 Maple Street. This cemetery ran and operated by Bronze Stone Group, and is one of 28 cemeteries across Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois.

Names Associated with Residence:

Edward Myres 1852-1928 Annie Myres 1853-1904 David Snyder 1873-1941 Mary Snyder 1880-1965 Gerald Lucas 1934-2013 Geraldine Lucas -alive

Roger E. Flora -alive, currently resides in CA Judith A. Flora -alive, currently resides in CA Jerry M. Kunz 1963-1998 Cheryl A. Kunz 1964-2012 Douglas Sorenson -alive Michele Sorenson -alive

Obituaries:

Edward H. Myres: July 28, 1852 - January 30, 1928

“E. H. Myers, senior member of the firm of Myers Brothers, his partner being J. A. Myers, established business in Luckey in 1883. Their first store was located on their present site, and was a building 22 x 35', where they carried a stock of general merchandise; but a year later they added to it a room 22 x 60' in which they placed a stock of hardware and farming implements. That building, however, was destroyed by fire in July, 1893 but the following fall they directed their present two-story brick block, which has a 44 foot frontage and is 60 feet deep. There they have a full and complete line of hardware and general merchandise, and the upper story is used for a store room. Their stock is well selected and their courteous, kindly treatment of customers has gained them a liberal patronage. In 1852, the birth of our subject occurred in Sandusky County, Ohio, and he is the son of C. H. and Dora(Deidmyer) Myers, natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. On coming to the New World they first located in Buffalo, New York, but in 1852 removed to Sandusky County, where the father followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1857. His wife later married Frank Rolfes, with whom she came to Troy Township, Wood County, where she passed away in 1893. By her first marriage she became the mother of six children: C. H., Who resides on a farm near Elmore, Ohio; Mrs. Schroder, of Pemberville, Ohio; Mrs. L. Rolfes, of Troy Township; E. H., of this sketch; J. A., who is in partnership with our subject; and W. F., who also makes his home in Luckey. The district schools afforded our subject his educational advantages, and at an early age he entered a grocery store at Elmore, Ohio, where he was employed for a time. For two years he also worked at the carpenter's trade in that place, and in 1861 came to Wood County. At Pemberville, he was first employed in the store of a Mister Rosinger, later with A. Froney & Schroder, and then worked for Mister Froney until coming to Luckey. In Troy Township, Mister Myers led to the marriage altar miss Anna Rolf, a daughter of John Rolf, now deceased , and their wedding was celebrated in 1873. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter – Bertha. They are members of the Lutheran Church, and hold an honorable place in the estimation of their fellow citizens. The political support of Mister Myers is given to the Democratic Party, and for seven years he efficiently served as Township clerk. Both in business circles and in private life he is honored and esteemed for his upright character.” -Biographical Record of Wood County, Beers 1897

Gerald Lucas: January 22, 1934 - December 17, 2013

Gerald "Jerry" Lucas, age 79, of Luckey, OH passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, OH. He was born on January 22, 1934 in Latcha, OH to Merlin and Ruth (Christiansen) Lucas. On September 29, 1956 he married Geraldine Schmeltz in St. Rose Catholic Church, Perrysburg and she survives. Jerry was a supervisor for Sprint Telephone Company, Stony Ridge, OH for many years. He was one of the founding persons and member of Blessed John XXIII, Perrysburg, OH, usher for Saturday Mass and served on the luncheon committee. His other memberships included: Coachman Camping Club, Moose Lodge #846, Tiffin, volunteer fireman for Troy Twp. Fire Dept., organizer of the Luckey Fall Festival where he was in charge of the flea market for many years, former Luckey Councilman and served on the committee of Zoning Appeals for Luckey. In his spare time he enjoyed camping and built 13 homes in Luckey. Jerry served his country proudly while enlisted in the United States Army and was the first person from NWO who served during the Korean War era to go on the Honor Flight. Surviving Jerry is his loving wife of 57 years: Gerry, children: Kathy (Barney) Pemberton of Toledo, Mike (Susan) Lucas of Fishers, IN, grandson: Alex Lucas, brothers: Tom (Donna) Lucas of Luckey, Bill (Carrol) Lucas of Woodville and Larry (Alice) Lucas of Gibsonburg. He was preceded in death by his parents: Merlin and Ruth Lucas and mother and father-in-law: Vernon and Ivadell Schmeltz. Family and friends will be received on Sunday, December 22, 2013 from 2-4 & 6-8 PM from the Marsh Funeral Home, 110 Main Street, Luckey, OH. A Funeral Mass will be conducted on Monday, December 23, 2013 at 10 AM at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Community, 24250 Dixie Highway, Perrysburg, OH with additional visitation from 9-10 AM. Officiating will be Father Herb Weber. Interment will be in Troy Twp. Cemetery, Luckey, OH. A bereavement luncheon will be served at the church immediately following the cemetery committal services. Considerations for memorial contributions are to: Blessed John XXIII -Building Fund.

Cheryl Kunz: June 6,1963 - June 3, 2012

Cheryl Ann Kunz, 65, of Chillicothe, died unexpectedly in her home at 12:01am June 3, 2012.She was born June 6, 1946, in Keokuk, Iowa, to the late Herbert and Thelma Meeker Stice. On September 6, 1964, she married Jerry Kunz, Sr., who preceded her in death on May 25, 1998.

She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Janna (Ric) McRoberts, of Washington C.H., Cristy Stanley, of Columbus, and Tracey (Philip) Prentice, Mason, OH; her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Jerry (Leslie) Kunz, Jr., Chillicothe; grandchildren, Paige and Jaycie McRoberts, Abby and Tanner Kunz, Jonathan, Joshua and Ashley Prentice; and her sister, Sandy Sinotte, Kalamazoo, MI. In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Larry Stice.

A memorial service in her honor will be held at 4:30pm Saturday, June 9, at the Community United Methodist Church, 7047 S.R. 180, Kingston, OH 45644

Train Accidents Near Residence:

June 29, 2011:

A CSX freight train struck and killed a pedestrian walking along railroad tracks about dusk (8:45 P.M.) Wednesday evening between Middleton Pike Road and Devil’s Hole Road near State Route 582 in Wood County, OH.

Neither CSX authorities nor Wood County Coroner Douglas Hess were available for comment to the news media regarding the circumstances of the tragedy. Wood County Sheriff’s officers were conducting the on-site investigation.

PSEI Research Specialists:

Andrea Batteas

Jonathan Batteas

Nicole Jankowski

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