WCGS Meeting - December 2011 and Upcoming January Meeting

WCGS VP Pat Goebel sent me the summary of our December meeting and insight on the next general meeting.  Here's her message:

The Williams County Genealogical Society met in December for their annual Christmas Party. There was plenty of good food, laughter and sharing about experiences researching, progress on their current research, sharing WW2 rations items, progress on First Families future member, introducing ideas for organizing and stories of the past.  One member shared how she took an 1880’s photo album that she received from a first cousin from Arizona and created a copy for herself. She documented information on each person and relationship to other members.  She also added an index.  Another member told the story about of a piece of wood that was found in an old secretary that belonged to his grandfather.  There was writing on the wood that told how the piece was from the wheel of the covered wagon that brought his grandfather’s family from New Jersey through Ohio and on to Indiana where they settled.

The next meeting will be January 9, 2012 in the Harmon Room of the West Annex to the Williams County Public Library, Bryan, OH.  This is the first of two Monday nights at the movies.  This month’s feature is The Orphan Train.  Between 1854 and 1929 the train transported over 150,000 orphaned, abandoned or neglected children to a better life with pioneer families in the Midwest.  Come and learn more of our country’s history.  Cinnamon popcorn will be provided or bring your own. Bring your own beverage.

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, Ohio 43506.

Williams Co, OH Common Pleas Gleanings - 1890 - B G Holland

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Williams County Common Pleas Court, State of Ohio v BG Holland, case number 894; Journal 15 p221/p251 – 20 Mar 1890; p281 – 27 Mar 1890

BG Holland was accused of rape and was held in custody by the sheriff.  He stated he was not guilty and was found indigent so he was represented by Charles C Scott, attorney.  A jury trial commenced and the jury found him guilty on the first count but not on the second count.  On 27 Mar 1890 BG Holland was sentenced to a 20-year prison term at the Ohio State Penitentiary.

Bryan Democrat, 3 April 1890 p5

Almost an Escape

The state prisoners came within a trick or two of winning their freedom.  Sheriff Burgoyne suspected that they were making an effort to escape and laid for them.  Hearing them at work on one of the windows he and Deputy Lash entered the prison and made an examination.  They soon found that the prisoners had sawed off both ends of an upright rod and had begun operations on the transverse bars.  They had also broken off the lever with which the doors are operated, which they used as a pry to facilitate their work.  The tools with which the work was performed could not be found.  After the discovery by the Sheriff such precautions were taken as would preclude further attempts at escape.

Off for the Pen

Sheriff Burgoyne started Tuesday morning with a squad of prisoners sentenced to the pen as follows:

Edward Kellogg, grand larceny, 3 years

Albert Kellogg, grand larceny, 5 years

BG Holland, rape, 20 years

John Fluery, carrying a concealed weapon, Toledo Workhouse, 10 days and until fine and costs are worked out.

I did not initially find BG Holland in the 1880 census, but I reasoned that in 1900 he should still be a prisoner and found him as

1900 Columbus Ward 15, Franklin, Ohio; Roll: T623_1269; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 111.

Burt G Holland 53 (May 1847) NY-NY-NY prisoner, widower, white

Nothing else is currently known.