Another Philip and Elizabeth Witzgall Delph Family Photo

 This family photo, presumably taken on the Delph farm, included spouses and grandchildren.  Jim Delph and I put our heads together to label as accurately as possible.  Even then, we could not identify the grandchildren who seem to make up the first row, sitting on the ground, except for the oldest girl which I am fairly sure is Marie Ordway (Baker).

The photo was estimated to have been taken between 1913-1917

From Left to right, naming the men and the women behind them:

Morris Babcock, Jacob Babcock with Cora Delph Babcock behind him

Clarence "Cooney" Delph with wife, Margaret behind him.

Cecil Delph, unknown woman

Elizabeth Witzgall Delph and behind her Henrietta "Sue" Delph and unknown man

Philip Delph

Ottis "Pat" Delph with wife, Elsie standing behind him

Lemuel "Lem" Ordway with wife, Elizabeth "Bess" Delph Ordway behind him

Mandus "Jerry" Spangler with wife, Julia Delph Spangler behind him.

George Delph with wife, Emma Delph behind him

***If you can help with identification, please chime in in the comments.  Your comments are monitored and probably won't show up for a day or two when approved.

The Immigrant - J. Georg Delp

Georg Delp and Christiana Lautenschlager Delp were the immigrant parents of Philip Delph, my great-great grandfather.  Georg emigrated from Germany in 1834, along with others whose lives would intertwine in Crawford County, Ohio.  During those days, it was advertised to the German people that there was very cheap land in the American West.  In 1834, Andrew Jackson was president, our country was just 58 years old, and Ohio was considered the "West."

Georg Delp came from the village of Klein Bieberau, a small village in Germany, known as a village of weavers.  He and others from his village and other small towns close by made their way to Bremen in northern Germany to board the ship, Lucilla in August 1834.  The ship landed in Baltimore and on September 18th, James Myers, Master of the ship, was required to present a list of "all who have been taken on board the Said Ship at Bremen or at any other foreign port or at Sea and brought into any district of the United States Since her (leaving) the Said Port of Bremen." 

From the ship's passenger list provided by the captain, we know that 102 adults, 17 children from ages 5 - 12,  and 2 children under 5 were transported on that voyage of the Lucilla.

In 1834, Fell's Point in Baltimore was the second most important port for immigration in the United States.  From 1800 up until the Civil War, eighteen shipyards in Baltimore were busy building ships.  The Baltimore brigs were a two masted ship with square rigs on both masts.  The ships were used to carry goods from Maryland, like tobacco and flour, to Europe and on its return, the ships were filled with immigrants.  Accomodations were crowded, but by law each immigrant was required to have a berth 18 inches wide and 6 feet long.  Travelers had to bring their own bedding and food.  It was probably at least a 2 - 3 week trip across the Atlantic, depending on wind and weather. 

It is thought that Georg was born in December 1805, making him about 29 when he made this journey.  I do not know at this point if his future wife Christiana was with the five adults in the Phil. Lautenschlager group on this ship or if she was already in America.

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The red star indicates the location of Klein Biberau, south of Frankfurt and north of Heidelberg in Hessen.



The Old Scrapbook

When my cousin told me that she would let me have a look at an old photo album of Great Grandma Ordway's she had rescued from a pile that was going to be burned, I was so excited.  I really didn't have that many old photos from the Ordways or Delphs, so what good fortune it was to have these pictures.  Some faces were easily recognizeable, but some will never be identified.   Even when we couldn't name the faces, the photographs, themselves, give all of us a peek into what life what like in the early 1900's.   


Great-Great Grandmother's (Elizabeth Delph Ordway) Scrapbook

 

Unfortunately, many unidentified photos



My grandfather, Fritz Ordway, feeding the chickens with his mother, Elizabeth Delph Ordway

My great-grandmother, Lizzie Ordway, doing the laundry.
Do we have it easy or what?

Pete Bensing and my great-grandfather,
Lemuel Ordway.  No wedding ring on Lem's finger and he married in 1897.

Great-Great Grandparents, Philip and Elizabeth Witzgall Delph

"The Brick Block"  - the main drag of Malinta.  I think the Delph
store was under the awnings somewhere.

Great Grandpa and Grandma Ordway's house - after the porch and kitchen addition.  Eventually,
I remember that the porch was screened in and it had a wonderful porch swing where we spent hours. 

From Left to Right - Elizabeth Delph Ordway, unknown, Marie Ordway, Lemuel Ordway
Do you suppose this was their new car?  Anyone know the make and model?



Great-Grandpa, Lem Ordway, pumping his water.  Maybe he's pumping bath
water into that tub. They never did have running water in their home. 

Many, many thanks to Mary Seibert for letting me scan some of the photos
in this scrapbook!  I'll post more later.



The Witzgall Family

Just as Philip Delph, my great-great grandfather, came west into Henry County, so did his future wife's family, the Witzgalls.  
 Elizabeth C. Witzgall, my great-great grandmother, was born in Manchester, Summit County, Ohio (just south of Akron) on May 4, 1849, to William Witzgall and Henrietta Smith.  She was their first child.

In the 1850 census, taken on November 13, 1850, Elizabeth was one year old, living with her father, William Witscold, 29, a weaver, and his wife, Henrietta, 27.  Both of Elizabeth’s parents were born in Germany.  Some time in 1853, William moved his family to Monroe Township, Henry County, Ohio, where he purchased land.

On June 25, 1860, the census taker found William and Henrietta Witzgall with a decidedly larger family.  William, now 39 years old, listed himself as a farmer with real estate valued at $1000 and personal property worth $310.  His wife, Henrietta, and oldest child, Elizabeth, 11, were joined by other family members – Caroline, 9; Sarah, 7; Harriett, 5; and little John, 2.

The year 1860 was an important year for William Witzgall; it was the year he was ordained as a minister for the Reformed Church (Lutheran.)  That was the first surprise found when I began my research on my great-great-grandmother.  She was a preacher’s daughter!  Although he called himself a farmer in every census and he was, William Witzgall also served some rural churches in Henry County as an ordained pastor. 

The Historic Manual of the Reformed Church in the U.S. (Joseph Henry Dubbs, Lancaster, PA, 1885, p. 418) lists William in the Necrology (pastors who have died):

“William Witzgall.  b. Voightland, Saxony, 1820.  d. Napoleon, O., June 22, 1870.  Lic., Tiffin Cl., 1859; ord. 1860.  Pastor of churches near Napoleon.”

Henry Harbaugh also honors Elizabeth’s father, my great-great-great-grandfather in his book Fathers of the German Reformed Church in Europe and America, Vol. 4, 1872:

“William Witzgall, 1820 – 1870. 
Mr Witzgall was a native of Voightland, Saxony.  He learned the trade of a weaver, and traveled much in Germany and other countries.  Some years ago he emigrated to this country and settled in the city of New York, where he worked at his trade, as also in several other places.  Finally he removed to Napoleon, Henry County, in the state of Ohio, where he purchased eighty acres of land and commenced farming.

In the year 1859, being constrained by love to his Divine Master, he made application for admission to the Christian ministry, and through the kind interposition of the Rev. C. Bank, he was examined and licensed by the Tiffin Classis, at its meeting in the Second Reformed Church, Tiffin, Ohio.  In the following year, 1860, he was ordained to the office and work of the holy ministry by the same Classis.  He served two small congregations, and for a time three, in the vicinity of his home.   His sphere of usefulness was very limited, yet may he have accomplished much good by a faithful employment, of this single talent entrusted to his care.

We know not what the Lord has in store for us, or what way He employs us so as to accomplish most good through our feeble instrumentality.  Fidelity in the things entrusted to us, is what the Lord requires; and whether we are set over much or little, if faithful, we shall receive the blessed reward.

So, too, in the case of this humble servant of God.  Preaching in his own simple way to a few small congregations, and maintaining his family by means of his labors on the farm, he did really discharge the duties of a faithful servant in the house of God. 
His sphere of activity in the Master’s cause was a humble one; still, by his quiet and unobtrusive piety, his earnest and devoted spirit, and by his lively faith in his Redeemer, his influence for good was felt, not only in his own family and in his congregations, but also as far as his acquaintance extended.  No one could be in his prescence any length of time without feeling that he was indeed a child of God. 

Long will his memory be gratefully cherished by all who knew him.  Mr. Witzgall died, in the bosom of his family, at Napoleon, Henry County, Ohio, after six days’ severe suffering from pneumonia, June 22d, 1870, in the 50^th year of his age.  His funeral took place on the 24^th of June, on which occasion a sermon was preached by the Rev. H. Wegert.”

The census taker came to the Witzgall door next on June 27, 1870, five days after William had passed away and three days after his burial.  Yet, William, as was customary as he lived within that year, was listed in the census with his family: William 49; Henrietta, 46; Elizabeth, 21; Caroline, 19; Sarah, 17; Henrietta, 15; John, 12; William, 9; and Armela (Amelia, Emma on other sources), 6. 

Suddenly Henrietta Witzgall was left to support seven children on her own.  Four of the children were in school and there were no older sons at that time to help with the farm. 
 

Just a little over six months past her father’s death, my great-great grandmother Elizabeth married Philip Delph on January 30, 1871.  Maybe Philip helped the Witzgall family on their farm, while also trying to clear land for himself.  I never did find Philip Delph on the 1870 census, so it is a question as to where exactly in Henry County he was living and if he was enumerated at all.

By 1880, Henrietta Witzgall, 56, had five children left at home.  Sarah, now 27, was earning money as a seamstress.  Hattie (Harriet/Henrietta), at 25, was keeping house, while the two brothers John, 22, and William, 19, were now old enough to declare their occupations as farmers.  The youngest daughter, called Emma on this census, was 16 and a scholar.  Caroline, the second oldest daughter, had married Elias Shaffer in 1879 and by this time, Elizabeth and Philip already had four children.

Elizabeth Witzgall Delph, my great-great grandmother, lived until just a few months before I was born, so I just missed “meeting” her.  She died on September 3, 1947, at 98 years, 3 months and 29 days, twenty-eight years after her husband, Philip’s death. 

Her mother, Henrietta Smith Witzgall, died on November 26, 1896, at 73 years, 2 months and 1 day, twenty years after her husband, William’s, death. 

                                                Henrietta Schmidt Witzgall, great-great-great grandmother.

Elizabeth’s parents, were buried in the St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Flatrock Township on Road K.  I am assuming that may have been one church where Rev. William Witzgall served during 1860-1870.  In Row 9 lies “William Witzgall, 16 Feb 1821 – 22 June 1870” and in the tradition of the time, when folks were buried as they passed on and not in family groups, Henrietta lies in Row 3.  The stone reads “Henrietta Witzgall  25 Sept 1823 – 26 Nov 1896.”  In the same cemetery is their son, William F. and L. Nette Witzgall (yet to be linked in the family tree.) 

More on Philip Delph's Life




Bruce Robinson (Philip's son-in-law,husband to Henrietta/Sue), Philip Delph,  Henrietta "Sue" Robinson (Philip's dtr.), Philip's granddaughters-Fay Ordway Gunter with her sister Marie Ordway Baker in front of her.  The three boys (Philip's grandsons) piled up are from bottom to top: Phil Ordway, Fred Ordway and Carl Delph.

 

When Philip Delph was taken in by his aunt and uncle, Philip and Catherine Lautenslager Heckler around 1853 or before, after the death of both of his parents, the Hecklers already had a son named Philip.  (They had also named a previous son Philip, but he died in infancy.) They called this second son "Peter" although really he was Philip Heckler, Jr.  The history says that Philip Delph also took on the Heckler name for awhile, probably until the real Philip Heckler needed to go by his legal name or it became too confusing for all concerned!  The Philip Heckler Sr. family already had nine children, so what was one more little boy?

It always helps me to create a timeline for my ancestor to make sure things are logical and to get a sense of the history of that person.  Luckily, quite a bit of documentation exists for the events in Philip Delph's life.

1832 - The Delphs, Hecklers and Lautenslagers emigrated from Germany to America.  (More on that later.)

June 17, 1845/1846 - Philip Delph was born to Johann Georg Delp and Christiana Lautenslager.  I have never found an actual birth record.  The censuses indicated he was born in Ohio.

May 4, 1849 - Elizabeth Witzgall was born.  (Future wife of Philip)

1850 - The census for that year indicated that Philip at age 4 was living with his parents and four siblings (Elizabeth, Margaret, Caroline, George) in Jackson Township, Crawford County, Ohio. The census taker visited the family on August 8, 1850,

August 29, 1850 -Philip's mother, Christiana, died at 42 years, 2 months. 

October 20, 1851 - Philip's father, Johann Georg died at 45 years, 10 months, 8 days.

September 1853 - Guardianship papers were filed for the children.  No doubt they were already placed in the homes of the family, but this move appointed Peter Ludwig as guardian to watch over their affairs. Philip was 8 years old.

1860 - Philip, at 15, was living with his aunt and uncle, Philip and Catherine Heckler Sr. in Crawford County.

1861 - Philip Heckler Sr. purchased land and moved to Henry County, bringing Philip Delph to Monroe Township. The Civil War was beginning.

1869 - 1870 - Philip Delph bought land to clear and farm in Monroe Township, Henry County, OH.  I was unable to locate Philip in the 1870 census, even though it only seemed logical that he would be working on his land in Monroe Township.

January 30, 1871 - Philip Delph married Elizabeth Witzgall, daughter of William and Henrietta (Smith) Witzgall. 

November 17, 1871 - Their first child, a daughter was born.  They named her Cora, but she was known as "Corrie."

September 11, 1873 - It's a second daughter who was named Julia or Juliana, but known as "Julie."

March 21, 1876 - It's a son!  Otis William, known as "Pat"

November 18, 1878 - My great-grandmother was born - Elizabeth Margaret Caroline, named after her three aunts, Philip's sisters.

June 4, 1880 - The census taker visited the Delph farm and made his notes: Philip Delp, a farmer, 34 years old and living with wife Elizibeth, 31, who was keeping house with children: Cora, 8; Julia, 6; Ottas, 4 and Elizibeth, 1 and George, 30, Philip's brother.

February 1881 - Another daughter, Henrietta was born, known as "Sue."

April 2, 1883 - Son George Roland was born. 

September 6, 1885 - Son Clarence Philip was born.

1888 - Orville D. Delph was born.  Sadly, Orville died in 1900 at the age of 11 or 12.  He is buried with his parents in Hoy Cemetery.

July 12, 1894 - Cecil Benjamin Delph was born, the final child for Elizabeth and Philip.  Elizabeth was 45 years old.

April 22, 1919 -  Philip Delph died at the age of 73 years, 10 months and 5 days. His death certificate indicated he died of organic heart disease. The math shows his birthdate to be June 17, 1845, but 1846 was put on the tombstone. Elizabeth, his wife, also did not know the names of Philip's parents to report.
Did they never discuss his history?  Maybe not.  He was very young when he lost his parents.

September 3, 1947 - Elizabeth C. Witzgall Delph died, having lived to the age of 98 years, 3 months and 29 days and having given birth to at least 9 children. Her birthplace on the death certificate was listed as Manchester, Ohio. Cause of death? Cerebral apoplexy (stroke). 

Philip Delph was a farmer all his life.  His love for his family is evident in the photos that have survived.  My mother once told me that he insisted on speaking German in the family and was pretty stubborn about it.  How precious his family must have been to him after growing up without his biological parents and away from his brother and sisters. 



Hoy Cemetery near Malinta, Ohio



I welcome comments on this blog topic or help in furthering the research.  All blog comments are moderated, so it may be a few days before it is actually posted.  Inappropriate or unrelated comments will be deleted.





Great-Great Grandfather, Philip Delph

Philip Delph, father to Elizabeth “Lizzie” Delph Ordway and my great-great grandfather, was born about 1845-46 in Ohio.  His parents, Johann George Delp and Christiana Lautenslager, were immigrants to America from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, who settled in Crawford County, Ohio.  Philip was the fourth of five children. 

In the 1850 census, Philip, aged 4, was living with his father, George Delp,  45; his mother, Christiana, 43; and older sisters, Elizabeth, 13; Margaret, 11; and Caroline, 5; and his younger brother, George, 2.  Living with them was Charles Frank, age 15, probably a farm hand.  They lived in Jackson Township, Crawford County.  (The name Delph is sometimes spelled Delp or Delf in the old records.)

Sadly, both of Philip’s parents died at a rather young age, leaving the five children under the guardianship of Peter Ludwig, as appointed by the court.  Guardianship records in Crawford County noted that Margaret Delp, about 14 years, Philip Delph, aged about 8 years, Caroline Delp, about 10 years, and George Delp, aged about 5 years had Mr. Ludwig watching out for their well-being.  Elizabeth, the oldest sister, at about 16, must have been considered independent.  To find out what happened to these children, we can look at the 1860 census.

The 1860 census revealed that the two sisters, Margaret, 20, and Caroline, 18, were living with their older sister, Elizabeth, now married to John Weaver, in Crestline, Jackson Township, Crawford County.  Elizabeth had two small children at that time, George and Andrew.  Philip was sent to live with the Philip Heckler family.  At 15, he was with Philip Heckler and his wife, Catherine, also in Crestline.  Catherine (Lautenslager) was the sister of Philip’s mother, Christiana, making the Hecklers an aunt and uncle to Philip.

Where was little George sent?  That is still a mystery in 1860, but by 1870 George was found living with his appointed guardian, Peter Ludwig (spelled Ludwick in the 1870 census) and his family in Mansfield in neighboring Richland County.

The Hecklers, Philip's new family, were a prosperous family, both in Crawford County and later on, in Henry County.  The History of Northwest Ohio (Nevin O. Winter, ed., Lewis Publishing, 1917, pp. 1751-2):

“Philip Heckler Sr. was born in Germany about 1800.  He married there Catherine Lautenslager and it was not longer after their marriage that they set sail for the New World.  About a year after the family arrived in Vernon Township of Crawford County, a son was born to Philip Heckler and wife.  This birth occurred November 11, 1834, and thus was ushered into the world of activity and experience Philip Heckler Jr., who for many years has been one of the prominent farmers of Monroe Township in Henry County…In 1861 (Philip Jr) came with his father to Henry County.  Here Philip Heckler Sr. bought 120 acres of wild land in Sections 10 and 15 Monroe Township.  On this farm about 1880 Philip Heckler Sr. passed away, having lived a strong and resourceful life in America…

The story goes on to say that the junior Philip built a splendid home and acquired 560 more acres of “high class land” and became among the very well-to-do people of the county.

Philip Delph “was born in Crawford County and his wife in Summit County, Ohio and both are now about seventy years of age.  The paternal grandparents came from Wurtemberg, Germany and the maternal grandparents were also German people.  The Delphs on coming to America located in Crawford County, Ohio, while the Witzteells (Witzgalls) were settlers in Summit County.

Philip Delph was still a child when his parents died.  He was then taken into the home of Philip Heckler, and for a number of years bore the Heckler name.  Philip Heckler died a number of years ago when quite an old man.  When sixteen years of age, Philip Delph was brought to Monroe Township, in Henry County by the Heckler family, and from that time on has steered his own independent course in the world.  He began working by the day, afterwards by the month, and when between twenty-four and twenty-five years of age was able to make his first purchase of land.  This was a tract of forty acres of completely wild land, and after his marriage he started out to make a living there.  He had a small house, and for a number of years most of his time was consumed in clearing up the land and in erecting buildings and other equipment required for his business.  He still lives on the old homestead.  He was married to Miss Witzcell at her home in Monroe Township.  Both Philip and Mrs. Delph are active members of the Lutheran Church and in politics he is a democrat.  Philip Delph as two widowed sisters, Mrs. Margaret Weaver of Crestline, Ohio, and Mrs. Callie Porter of Portland, Oregon.

The children of Philip Delph and wife are:

Cora, who married Jacob Babcock ofMonroe Township and they have two foster children, Martin and Chester.

Julia married M.M. Spangler of Malinta.

Otto (Ottis) W. is the next in age.

Elizabeth married Lem Ordway and lives in Malinta, their children being Fay,

Philip, Frederick K. and Marie.

Henrietta is the wife of Bruce Robinson, a farmer in Rudolph, in Wood County, Ohio.

George R. is partner in the store with his brother Otis, married Emma Schultz, and they have two children, Carl and James.

Clarence P. is a farmer in Henry County and married Ella Bailey, who by a former marriage has a son, Morris Bailey.

Cecil B. lives at home and clerks in the store of his brothers during the summer and is a member of the class of 1918 in Wittenberg College."

To be continued…

Philip Richard Ordway

Named after his two grandfathers, Philip Delph and Richard Ordway, Philip Richard Ordway was the oldest son of Lemuel and Elizabeth Ordway.  He was born in Monroe Township, Henry County on 28 November, 1899.

On September 13, 1918, Philip completed his World War I draft registration.  At the time, he was farming for or with his father.  He described himself as of average height and build, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He was not called to serve in the military.
At the age of 24, Philip married Bonnie Glick, age 23.
The 1930 Federal Census shows Philip living on Henry Street in Malinta with his wife, Bonnie and daughter, Lois, 2 1/2.  (Later, in 1937, another daughter, Phyllis, was born.)  Phil's occupation is listed as Silo Manufacturing.
Sadly, in 1947, when the girls were young, their mother, Bonnie, died of influenza.
Later, Phil remarried to Freda M. Symons Mohler who died in 1989.  Phil died in 1990.  He celebrated his 90th birthday BIG with a hot air balloon ride.

My great-uncle Phil died on 25 June 1990. 
His obituary:
"Philip Ordway
Napoleon - Philip R. Ordway, 90, died at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Henry County Hospital.
He was born Nov. 28, 1899, in Malinta, the son of Lemuel and Elizabeth (Delph) Ordway.  He married Bonnie Glick, who preceded him in death.  In 1947, he married Freda Symons, who also preceded him in death.  A retired employee of the Malinta Silo Co., he was a member of Sharon United Methodist Church and a 37 year member of Oddfellows Lodge 260.  He was a Harrison Township trustee for 12 years and was a former trustee of Malinta United Methodist Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Duane (Lois) Saul of Liberty Center, and Mrs. Thomas (Phyllis) Spieth, Napoleon; a sister, Mrs. Charles (Marie) Baker, Liberty Center; seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.
Services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in Sharon United Methodist Church with Rev. Roger Reese officiating.  Burial will follow in Hoy Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at Walker Mortuary.  Oddfellows Lodge will hold a memorial service Wednesday at 8 p.m.  Memorials may be made to Sharon United Methodist Church."