J[ohn] Adam Minsel died an easy death Friday morning about a quarter to 4 in the residence of his son-in-law Karl A. Walter, No. 214 East Main street, after a short illness.
Although he had been feeble for a few years, he could always get up and around, until a stroke hit a few weeks ago. From then on he visibly weakened, until Friday morning the final release came.
Johann Adam Minsel was born on the 24th of March 1836 in Heilgersdorf in the Kingdom of Bavaria and came to this country as a 14 year old boy, and shortly thereafter came to Defiance, where he remained resident until his departure. He learned here shoemaking and practiced this trade for many years; for a time he also ran a shoe store in a building that he himself built, that currently is in use by A. B. DeKay. He was county Treasurer for two terms and occupied besides many other positions of trust, among them the treasurer of the school Board of our city. During the Civil War he belonged to the 14th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His wife Elisabeth, a born Flickinger, preceded him in death on the 8th of March 1904.
The passing of their father is mourned by H. Peter Minsel in Detroit, August M. Minsel of here, Julius Minsel and Mrs. Elise Gock in Milwaukee, Mrs. Klara Walter of here, Oskar and Henry Minsel in San Francisco, Miss Anna Minsel in Toledo and Mrs. Nettie Ward in Buffalo. Additionally, his descendancy includes 15 grandchildren.
The mortal remains were brought Sunday afternoon under the direction of Pastor F. A. Kiess from the former residence and the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church to the grave. The members of the Bishop Post of the Grand Army followed the coffin of their comrade to the grave.
[death: 06 Jan 1911 Defiance, Defiance Co., Ohio]
George A. Heatley
George A. Heatley, a citizen known and respected throughout all of Defiance county, died on Monday evening between four and five o'clock in his residence on Washington Street after a many month illness from a nervous disorder, to which there were many complications. He was born on the 5th of July 1853 in the city of Defiance, and therefore is almost 58 years old and and has spent the entire time of his earthly pilgrimage in our county. surviving him are his widow, sons Bartlett and Gerald and two sisters. The burial took place Wednesday afternoon of this week from the former residence to the Riverside Cemetery. Pastor Kuhn from Toledo officiated at the burial.
[death: 05 Jun 1911 Defiance, Defiance Co., Ohio] [burial: 07 Jun 1911] [parents: James B. Heatley, Rebecca Garman]
Johann Heinrich Foss
Johann Heinrich Foss, who belonged among the most well known German citizens in Defiance county, died quietly in his sleep on Saturday morning about 8 o'clock after a lengthy battle with the all-conquering Death, from a complicated illness, in his residence 646 Wayne Street.
Born on the 6th of February 1840 in Muhlau in the Duchy of Saxony-Weimar, he came as a 12 year old boy with his parents to this country and settled almost immediately in the still wild area of Highland Township, where he grew to manhood. when in 1861 the land of his adoption needed courageous men to prevent its breakup, he enlisted in Co. B of the 68th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the war and served faithfully until the conclusion of peace and his honorable discharge.
Soon after his 25 April 1867 marriage to Miss Anna Maria Sauer from the South Ridge, he moved to Defiance and remained there resident, until the hour of his death struck. For twenty-one years he was in business with the late Christian Harley and his successor and had such a clientele, as no one we've seen since. When the writer of these lines came to Defiance 40 years ago, Henry Foss, as everyone commonly knew him was the most successful merchant among all the businesspeople locally: since his exit from the Harley business, he has followed various occupation branches, and also for a time ran a farm in Paulding county. His life in the last [few] years was a constant wasting away, which was also clear to see for him. Surviving him are his widow and foster-son Donald Abell, who cared for him with faithfulness and self-sacrifice until his last breath; also his brother Adam Foss in Highland Township. With them, countless friends mourn his death. He was a faithful member of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran congregation and belonged to the Bishop Post of the Grand Army. Wednesday afternoon his mortal remains, after Pastor F. A. Kiess holds a funeral service at 1:30 in the former residence and 2 o'clock in the Church, will be brought to the grave site in the Riverside Cemetery.
Among the notes left behind by him, we found this small verse directed to his deeply sorrowing widow:
When I finally in my grave Have slept for many years, Then shall this little verse to you Still be a remembrance of me.
May this dear friend rest quietly from all the pain and misery of these times!
[birth: 06 Feb 1840 Germany] [death: 05 Feb 1911 Defiance, Defiance Co., Ohio] [burial: 08 Feb 1911]