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PIX #1 - This two-seater buggy was made by Guy Kehrwecker for Clark Gable.

PIX #2 - This residence on Eighth Street in Upper Sandusky, once the resi- dence of the George Beery family, is now the town's museum.

PIX #3 - Guy Kehrwecker

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Today's column is again made up of Reader Feedback from the recent series about the CHV&T Railroad. There's still more to come next week from an accumulation. Hope you enjoy!)

The April 26 Potluck about the CHV&T train trip to Marion and Prospect brought an interesting response and more information from McMurray & Fisher Sulky Co.

Charles E. "Chuck" Williams, 1112 Stoner Rd., suggested I see his wife, Esther, since her father, Guy Kehrwecker, worked for Houghton & McMurray Co., a successor to the original company.

Following his suggestion I eventually visited Kehrwecker, now a resident at Edgewood Manor Nursing Home. I later telephoned Houghton Sulky Co. to verify if the company is still in operation.

It is always interesting and heartening to learn that a company starting back in the 1800's is still making the same products even though the name has been changed several times.

STARTED AT SULKY FACTORY IN 1943

When Kehrwecker started to work at the buggy and sulky factory in 1943, the original name had already become Houghton & McMurra. Prior to that he worked at Huber Manufacturing Co., makers of traction engines and threshing ma- chines, another Marion company named and illustrated in the April 26 article.

In my telephone conversation with Mark Bauer at Houghton Sulky I learned that they are still very active in producing all of the items they ever made. These include harness buggies, vicerois, top buggies, showcarts, wood wheel carts and training carts...the complete sulky line.

Unlike the mass-produced products in many factories today, Houghton's pro- ducts take days to make with skilled labor, just as they did many years ago. A variety of woods are used including oak, poplar, ash and hickory. All of these require cutting, shaping, planing and assembly. A blacksmith shop is also required for preparing metal parts. Then there is final finishing in the paint shop.

Houghton is still at 185 N. State St. where it has been for many years. Kehrwecker told me that one day he was out in front of the factory when an elderly man with a walking cane came along. He told Kehrwecker that he went to Sunday school and church in the building when he was a boy. It was a Methodist church then, built for that purpose, with thick stone walls.

MADE BUGGY FOR CLARK GABLE

Kehrwecker retired from the sulky business in 1964, but later they asked him if he would come back and work 2-3 hours a day on a very special order for a two-seater show buggy, shown in the accompanying photo. He went back to work.

Who do you think the buggy was for? It was made for Clark Gable, the movie actor. It was the last buggy Kehrwecker worked on.

They still remember Kehrwecker at Houghton Sulky, I was told in my telephone conversation with Mark Bauer.

The next time you go to the county or state fair and watch the horse races, you may think about the sulkies being made in Marion.

ARTICLE BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES

When I put together the third article about Marion and Prospect along the railroad, I didn't remember that Bob Baumgartner once lived in Prospect. When he asked what I had been writing about lately. I showed the visitors the railroad articles. Boy became enthused to see the pictures and read a- bout the railroad. He had worked for the railroad for 41 years. He was born in Prospect and had spent his early life there.

Photos of theUnion Milling Co. and Miller Jones Co. were shown in that arti- cle. Bob remembered both of them. He said both mills were adjacent to the CHV&T tracks, one on each side.

The Remembrancer, from whichdata was extracted for the articles, showed the school house in Prospect where Bob received his early education. Later a new school was built beside the old one where he finished.

Bob's father ran a milk route in Prospect and also worked at the Army Depot in Marion. He said the family home still stands in Prospect. His father is deceased and his mother resides in a Delaware nursing home. Bob has fond memories of his early lifethere.

BOB WORKED ALL C&O RR LINE

I knew Bob had worked for the C&O Railroad but I didn't know where he had been stationed. When I asked it turned out to be almost everywhere north of Columbus: Powell, Hyatts, Powell, Carey, Delaware, Marion, Upper Sandusky, Harpster, Morral, Fostoria, Risingsun, Pemberville, Bradner and the Millard Avenue docks in Toledo.

The Baumgartners were also interested in the second article about Upper Sandusky. Noticing a photo in The Remembrancer of the Beery residence they said it is now that town's museum having been donated by the descendants of that family. It is located on Eighth Street. George W. Beery was the treasurer for the Company, one of Upper Sandusky's thriving factories back then. It was shown and mentioned in the article.

Since the old Beery house is identified in this article it is also illus- trated with the photo from The Remembrancer.

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Pix #1 - Students at Amsden two-room School in 1919: Front Row, left to right: Hazel Shaw, Marie Reeder, Bell Reeder, Florence Trumbo, Lucille Aumaugher, Iva Copsey, Myron Huff, Willard Radcliff, Second Row: Everett Clinker, Harold Fell, Lester Clinker, Reuben Reeder, Leland Sour, Ethel Thompson, Zenith Nederhouser, Doris Aumaguher. Top Row: Zera Craun, Alta Harding, Ida Mowery, Miss Alma Myers, teacher, Mone Copsey, Zenith Mowery, Harold Thompson, Elmer Shaw, Homer Wyant.

Pix #2 - The Lakota Junior High School building located in Amsden, serves the total Lakota School District, covering areas in Seneca, Wood and Sandusky counties.

At our family reunion today, my cousin from Amsden brought the Fostoria papers, dated July 5, July 12, and August 16. You see, I feel deep ties with that little town. My mother was born and raised there, and my grandfather's house was the big house on the hill across from the depot. He was George Aumaugher. My sisters and I spent a lot of time with our grandmother and grandfather.

The above opening of a long letter I received from Ray L. Remusat, residing at 542 Myers St., Toledo. That family reunion was Aug. 19 and on that same day he sat down and wrote the letter, which I am sure will interest many readers. Mr. Remusat is part of the Aumaugher and Stahl families. Members of the latter are still living in this area.

RECALLS SAWMILL & BLACKSMITH SHOP

I remember he (Mr. Aumaugher) took my cousin and I to the sawmill to watch them cut the logs. (The photo of the mills was in one of my articles). The mill, as I remember was at the end of and to the right on North St. We would also walk to the blacksmith's shop and watch him work. The Blacksmith was located across the street from the mill, or grain elevator, he said.

Grandfather also took care of the church. Sometimes he would let my cousin and I ring the bell on Sunday morning. Sometimes on Saturday we would ride the interurban (electric car) to Fremont to shop.

When I was one and a half years old, I got my finger cut off in the cream separator. Grandad had the cover off the gears to oil them, and I stuck my hand in the wrong place, as most kids do at that age. They sold milk, butter, and eggs to the people in town.

AS KIDS WENT TO MEET ALL TRAINS

While visiting there every time a train would come us kids would run down to the depot to watch it. My father was a conductor for the New York Central at that time. I am an engineer for Conrail now, but started out with the New York Central.

I don't remember any hotels in Amsden, but I do remember some school teachers renting rooms at the Aumaugher home. the school house picture on the July 5 article my mother, aunts and uncles all went to school there. Many of the names listed in the article ring a bell with me. Mother spoke a lot of the people around Amsden. there are very few Aumaughers around anymore. The names on the public school souvenir (in July 12 article) are very familiar A.J. Stahl is a relative and J.L. Feasel was my great-uncle.

GENEALOGY OF STAHL FAMILY IN AMERICA

I have a book of genealogy of the Stahl family in America. My great-grand- mother was a Stahl. My grandfather and granmother are buried at the Old Zion Lutheran Cemetery. It seems like two thirds of the people in that cemetery are relatives. Also a lot of relatives are in Fountain Cemetery. I have been told that at one time half of the population in Jackson Township were related.

Back in the late 30's and early 40's my cousin and I would ride our bicycles from Toledo to our uncle's farm, J.L. Feasel, on Co. Rd.#3, just outside Amsden, to join the threshing gang. We would spend a month or so going from farm to farm. A man named John Strowman, I believe, had the threshing rig.

I would like a copy of all of the articles...they struck a nerve.

Mr. Remusat apologized...if this letter bored you too much. Little did he realize that his letter interested me very much as I am sure it will the readers of this column.

Since receiving the earlier letter from Ray Remusat, another arrived along with several very fine, old photos which are bound to interest readers. They will be published either during the series of articles about Amsden or at a later date depending on available space.

AMSDEN SCHOOL NOW JUNIOR HIGH FOR WHOLE DISTRICT

A history of Amsden would not be complete without an update on the school, its facilities, philosophy, program and staff.

In 1922 the first centralized school was built in Amsden to accommodate pupils in grades one through 12. When the Lakota High School was built north of Amsden a few miles, the school in Amsden discontinued instruction of grades nine through 12.

A shift in teaching philosophy, current geography and pupil population has resulted in the school in Amsden now becoming Lakota Junior High School to serve grades seven and eight for the total Lakota School District. To fit that new arrangement, the school building in Amsden has been expanded and updates from its original structure.

Today all pupils in grades one though six are taught in three elementary schools located in bradner, Lakota West; Risinsun, Lakota Central; and Burgoon, Lakota East.

HANDBOOK OUTLINES PUPIL-SCHOOL RELATIONS

Looking through the Lakota Junior High School Student Handbook reveals what goes on inside the building shown with today's article. The handbook explains what is expected of students, and all of the advantages available through courses of study and extra-curricular activities.

It has been a long time since I was a student so the handbook was helpful. It seems to me that it is an excellent idea to set the stage properly for parents, teachers and pupil relations.

The opening paragraph in the book's forward stated "This handbook is presented to the students of the Lakota Local School District and their parents in an effort to provide for a body of understanding between home and school". That section ends with, "It is the goal of the Board, the Administration and all members of the staff to make the educational experience in Lakota Schools meaningful and rewarding.

The handbook covers every conceivable subject or situation involving students while they are being bused and during the periods in the school building, guiding and counseling, hazing, library, lunch programs, restrooms, medicine and sick room, student council, study hall rules, truancy, behavior, tobacco, narcotics and alcohol, and much more.

The student handbook provides strong evidence that Lakots Junior High School is well organized to provide quality education in an atmosphere suitable for learning conforming to the varied learning abilities of the students.

BOYS, GIRLS HAVE FULL SPORTS PROGRAMS

Jeffrey Szabo, principal of Lakots Junior High School, assisted me in accumulating data for this article.

Szabo explained that the school's 270 students, both boys and girls, have the opportunity to participate in a full program of sports including football, basketball, volleyball, track, cross country running and wrestling.

All seventh-graders get one half year of cooking and serving industrial arts and woodworking. Eighth-graders take their choice of one of those subjects for a full year.

Students also have a science club meeting once each month.

WEDGE FAMILY WERE AMSDENITES

Gene Wedge, 1241 Madison Rd., telephoned to chat about the Amsden series, which stirred a lot of memories for him when his parents lived in that village.

His father was Joe, whom I knew. But I never knew that they lived in Amsden. The family came to this area from southern Ohio. Charles Ash, father of Earl and Carmen, helped Joe Wedge get started in farming in the Amsden area.

Gene recalls that the family lived in a house directly across from the house where Ethel (Reese) Ash lives today. But the house is no longer there. It is all farm land now.

Wedge also recalls that Charles Ash sponsored a corn husking contest in one of his fields and his father Jow was the champion husker. The trophy for his skill is still in Gene's possession.

I should have known that the Wedges lived in Amsden before the series got so far along. Gene remembers much about his life there.

Many readers will recall Bonnie as a part of the Wedge family before marriage. She now resides in Augusta, Ga.

ABOUT EARL ASH'S GENEROSITY

I had known about Earl Ash's public spirit and generosity, but one reader of the Amsden series told me how it affected their family when she was a girl.

She said back then her father was having a difficult time with finances and keeping his family fed and clothed. "One winter", she said, "all of us kids needed shows, and my father didn't have money to buy them. Earl Ash heard about our predicament and bought shoes for all us kids.

Later when the father had money to repay Ash refused it sying he wanted to do the good deed and did not want to be repaid.

VETS HOME STORY ACCLAIMED "BEST"

Readers will recall the two-part article about the Ohio Veteran's Home in Sandusky in Potluck a few weeks ago.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stoneberger visited the home recently and were told by Col. John Weeks, the administrator, that it was the best article that had ever been written about the institutuion.

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PIX #1 - Sketch of Col. Crawford which appears in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Memories.

PIX #2 - Monument tells story of Col. Crawford.

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: The six-part series about the CHV&T railroad prohibited the use of much Reader Feedback from the readers. Today's column is all feed- back as it will be next week. Sorry for the delay in presenting this part of Potluck).

PRES. ROOSEVELT'S VISIT TO FOSTORIA

Soon after The Review Times was printed and delivered March 22, Mrs. John Solether, 514 Van Buren St., telephoned to talk about Roosevelt's visit here.

She said Roosevelt came to Fostoria and appeared in front of The Times build- ing in 1911. She said she remembers that event very well, although she was only 8 years old and in the third grade.

According to Mrs. Solether, he came to Fostoria on the LE&W railroad and the train layed-over until he had delivered his address. She recalls that it was in the fall of the year.

The Kaubisch Memorial Public Library is attempting to establish the date of his visit here through the Toledo library. If and when the information be- comes available it will be provided in this column.

LETTERS FROM RISDON FAMILIES

Two messages were received from David B. Risdon, Hartford, Conn. The first one called attention to several errors in spelling of names, but there were complimentary remarks too.

"I am especially pleased to know that the name Risdon is still to be seen on the historical plaque in Risdon Square.

"Your four articles are most commendable and no doubt of great interest to Fostoria citizens who like to read about local history."

His second letter called attention to a serious error in the headline of the last article: "I was just filing away the copies of your articles and sud- denly noticed the headline, "The Daughters Of Joseph Risdon Sr.'

"I paused, and thought: 'Just who is Joseph Risdon Sr.?' There is only one Joseph Risdon among all the male descendents of Josiah Risdon."

The headline should have read Josiah instead of Joseph.

Edna Risdon Neary, residing at Plano, Texas, wrote: "I was so thrilled to get the clippings. Am working on copies of my mother's family. When I get them done you will be hearing from me. I have a letter William Rumple wrote his wife from Iowa. He died of cholera the night he returned home. Also have an interesting articleabout wolves chasing the Rosenberger sled. Thanks again, so pleased."

The Rosenbergers were a local family that followed David Risdon to Iowa.

HAS TREASURES OF FOSTER FAMILY

Alverda Myers, residing on Ohio 23 north, telephoned me as soon as she read the Potluck article about "the other Fosters" on April 5. Visiting in her home later, I was surprised at the information and photos she had.

Mrs. Myers' grandmother's sister was Lydia Swope, who was married to Abraham Foster, both of whom wrementioned in the April 5 article. In fact, Mrs. Myers has a photograph of Abraham and Lydia, which she thinks may have been their wedding picture. She also has photos of Ella and Ora, twin daughters of Abraham and Lydia.

1813 CHRISTENING CERTIFICATE

Rebecca Hampshire, daughter of Barney and Margaret Hampshire, was married to Daniel Swope, great-grandfather of Alverda Myers. In Mrs. Myers' possession is a large framed certificate of the birth and christening of Rebecca on June 3, 1813, in Morgan County, Ohio. As I admiringly looked at the beauti- ful certificate I was impressed with the importance of the birth and the christening of children back then. I then thought about lives by the mil- lions that are snuffed out today by abortions.

Jonas Foster married Elizabeth Stahl and they had daughters, Louisa and Dora, for which Mrs. Myers also has pictures.

Another piece of memorabilia which she has which interested me was a certifi- cate from the American Bible Society, New York. It was issued to Daniel Swope through the Fostoria branch of that organization dated March 20, 1865, signed by E.W. Clark, agent. It was alsosigned by R.L. Caples and M.W. Plain. The award to Swope was for his donation of $5. My special interest in the ABS award rose out of many years of membership in it too.

MYERS RECALLS MUCH ABOUT HV

Blake Myers, 116 N. Union St., telephoned to reminisce about the old "Hocking Valley," as he called it.

First he asked if I had ever seen the monument near the village of Crawford erected in memory of Colonel Crawford who was burned at the stake by Indians in 1782. I told him I saw it many years ago.

The story about Col. Crawford and his inhumane demise at the hands of the Indians is told in a booklet printed for Grace Emahiser, 145 Rock St. The account is the only eye-witness report written by Dr. John Knight taken from the Pennsylvania Archives.

Mrs. Emahiser, a descendent of the Crawford family, has written a book about the family and a copy is on file at Kaubisch Memorial Public Library. The Upper Sandusky Wyandot County Pictorial Memories also contains information about Col. Crawford. It can be found at the library too.

Several years ago consideration was given to moving the Crawford monument to a more suitable location. Many of the colonel's descendents opposed to the move and it is still on the same spot where it was placed in 1877.

MYERS WORKED FOR C&O

Back in the early 1920's when the C&O (another name under which the Chessie System operated) was laying double tracks, Blake Myers, then a young man, was working for that railroad.

When work was being done in the Crawford vicinity Myers mentioned the Colonel Crawford monument to one of the railroad bosses who knew nothing about it. He asked Myers to take him to it. Blake did take him to the monument and told him the story about it.

Myers also recalls another event from that time when he worked for the C&O. A number of aliens worked as section hands and they liked to talk to Myers to improve their ability to speak English. One of them was a young Mexican who was instantly killed by a train when they were working.

The young man's body was held at the morgue in Carey for considerable time until his parents could be located in Mexico. When finally discovered, Myers said that they learned the young man's father was high in politics in his country.