C. E. Maxwell

C. E. Maxwell, Former Clerk, Justice Taken

Funeral to be Wednesday at 2 in Mansfield's Residence

28 Years as Justice and Six as Clerk Ended by Death

Claude E. Maxweil, 65, Defiance’s blind insurance broker who served 28 years as justice of the peace and six years as county clerk of courts, died at 12:45 p.m. today in his apartment in the Diehl building here.

He had been in ill health foil the past two years and bedfast for six months. Death was due to senile myocarditis.

The remains have been taken to the Mansfield funeral home. Services will be there at 2 p.m. Wednesday with Dr. W. A. Rex of the Presbyterian Church in charge. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Born in Hicksville

Mr. Maxwell was elected clerk of courts, Aug. 1, 1921, and served three consecutive terms, leading the Democratic ticket at each election. He was defeated in the primaries in 1926 by D. C. Garman.

Mr. Maxwell was born in Hicksville Jan. 19, 1875. He was the son of Samuel A. and Mary Banister Maxwell.

His blindness was caused by an accident when a lad. He was cutting a strap of leather when the knife slipped. The blade pierced the eyeball, destroying the sight in one eye. He became' totally blind at the age of 33. Mr. Maxwell was graduated! from Hicksville High School and entered Ohio Northern University (then Ohio Normal) at the age of 19. He was graduated in 1893 at the age of 23.

Came Here in 1898

He came to Defiance the same year, opened an insurance business in second floor rooms on Second Street, opposite the court-house. That fall, he was elected justice ot the peace, Defiance Township, and served until 1901. He was re-elected justice effective in January, 1908, and served consecutively 13 years and seven months. During this time, he moved his olfice to quarters over Sherman’s Clothing Store.

Following his election as Clerk of Courts in 1921, he sold his insurance businesses to the firm of Kroll and Marlatt.

Late in 1926 he bought the insurance business of Carl Myers, and opened an office in! the Security Building and Loan Association building. Later, he added the businesses of Dey Ayers and Wilbur McGushin.

In the fall of 1927, he moved to the Diehl building where he had since maintained his office and residence.

Masonic Lodge Member

He was reelected justice of the peace in 1927 and continued to serve consecutive terms until ill health prevented his being a candidate in November of 1939.

Mr. Maxwell was married to Ethel May Holycross, now deceased, on Nov. 24, 1915, but they were separated a short time later.

He was a member of the Tuendawla lodge, F. and A. M., and the Order of Eastern Star. Surviving are three brothers, W. R., who made his home with Mr. Maxwell, Allen G., Maumee, and Carl O., Cleveland; and two sisters, Mrs. Harry Schlosser, Washington Avenue, and Mrs. Ona Stautenberg, Toledo.

Mrs. Mary Aden

Mrs Mary Aden, 92, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Hannah Uberig, in Holgate. Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock. She had been bedfast for two years, due to a fall that resulted in a fractured hip.

Funeral services will be held Saturday in St. John’s Lutheran Church, the Rev. H. C. Siegert officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery, south of Holgate.

Mrs. Aden, nee Fruhling, was born in Germany Nov. 19, 1848, and came to America with her brother in 1882. She lived in Illinois until coming to Holgate in 1912. Her husband, John, died 40 years ago and a son, Hugo, passed away in 1912. Her daughter. Hannah Uberig, and a son John, of Toledo and son Harmon T. of New Bavaria survive. There are three grandchildren.

She was a life member of the Lutheran church, having been a member of the St John's congregation ever since she lived in Holgate. She was a charter member of the Ladies Aid.