Courtesy of the Forest-Area Historical Society. Additional information? email the Society .
ire.
Sometime between 1853 and 1855 fires in the marshes & woods around the town were so thick at noontime that it was necessary to use artificial lights in order to do the work indoors.
.B. Davis.
Mr. S.B. Davis issued the first copy of his paper at Dunkirk, July 1, 1875, called the Dunkirk Standard, and continued the publication of this paper with good success and good patronage until March 1, 1883, when he sold out to Messrs. Owen Bros., who after running the paper on a successful career sold out to J.J. Welty, but subsequently bought it back again and in 1889 sold to J.P. Arnold.
 |
 |
| Dunkirk Past & Present | |
It was edited first by H.H., and then E.S. Arnold with good success. In 1892 the office and all contents were destroyed by fire but the paper was re-established with a better equipped office after a two weeks' delay. On October 1, 1889 it was purchased by the present proprietors Messrs. Kingsbury & Smith, with G.M. Kingsbury editor.
The Standard, established over a quarter of a century ago has been the only paper in Dunkirk. It enjoys a good patronage and has a large list of good subscribers.1
__
1Allen County Democrat, (Lima, Ohio) 2 Aug 1877 from the Dunkirk Standard
ivorce.
--A newly married wife of Lima applied for a divorce on the grounds that her husband wears night shirts buttoned on the back. She was sensible.1
__
1Dunkirk, Past & Present, (Dunkirk, Ohio) 1901.
 |
| Bounce Him Out |
ohn Underwood, 1878.
At Dunkirk Friday night about half-past ten, during a driving snow storm, the engineer of a passing freight train discovered a man lying on the track at that place, but not in time to stop the train, and, he was run over and cut in two. His name John Underwood, and was seen intoxicated during the evening. The Corner’s jury exonerate the railroad company.1
ounce Him Out.
In this newspaper clipping about Mr. Davis, the editor of the Dunkirk Standard, there is an indication that the paper was one page, 7x9 in size, and tended towards yellow journalism.2
__
1Allen County Democrat, Lima, Ohio, January 17, 1878
2ibid, 17 Jan 1878
igar Sales.
Charley Lederman, the main cigar man of this city (Marion), left today for Bellefountaine, Kenton, Forest, Carey, Fostoria and Upper Sandusky, with a full line of samples.1
Which businesses in Forest purchased cigars from Chares Lederman?
__
1The Marion Daily Star (Marion, OH) 17 Dec 1879
arshal William Shuey.
The marshal of Dunkirk was Wm. Shuey. He was shot and killed by three men he stopped on the street about 2 a.m. October 1, 1881. The men robbed him of his money and his gun. They then stole a horse and buggy and made good their escape.1
Murder will Out.
On Thursday last, we understand detectives arrested a young man in Forest, charging him with shooting Edward Shuey, Marshal of Dunkirk, about eighteen months ago.—Detectives have been on the track ever since, and are said to have tracked the murder to the young man’s door on two or three different clues. The young man is engaged in the saloon business in Forest, and is a fine looking fellow, although reckless in his habits. He is now confined in jail in Kenton.—Rumors of all kinds are afloat, and the officials are makeing a desperate effort to keep the matter still.—Young Ludwick, arrested at the time, has turned State’s evidence. The authorities say they have got the right man this time, and have sufficient evidence to convict him.—
Findlay Jeff.2
__
1The Allen County Democrat (Lima, OH) 6 Oct 1881, p.8, c.3.
2ibid, 22 Feb 1883, p.4, c.3.
wnie Owens.
Ownie Owens worked for the Dunkirk Standard.
eorge Gumm.
George Gumm was Dunkirk’s Marshal.
ornet Oil Company.
Cornet Oil Company developed an oil field near Dunkirk in 1889.
eorge Ritter.
George Ritter, age 24, was an individual of German descent, working in the spoke manfacturing business in Dunkirk when he took his own life in Upper Sandusky.
Rev. S.S. Fleming, of North Lewisburg, gave the Review office a call while waiting for a train to go to Mt. Blanchard. Miss Carrie and Lizzie Moore and Miss Zadae Phillips visited friends at Dunkirk and attended the commencement last week. Mrs. Tena Ash was presented with a number of presents on the account of her birthday anniversary recently by her many friends. Phillip Wickiser and wife and Keil Missamore and wife attended the ...1
__
1The Forest Review 27 Apr 1892, p.3, c.4.
.F. Steinman.
J.H. Campbell, H.C. Wikoff, H.D. Lehman, C.H. Kenedy, Dr. L.E. Cook, and Dr. W.J. Crampton called on friends in Dunkirk, Sunday.1
oting Precincts.
Blanchard township has been divided into two voting precincts. The village of Dunkirk will compose one of the new precincts and the balance of the township, the other.2
ersonals.
Mrs. Chas P. Webb, of Indianapokis, Ind., and Mrs. Thos. H. Webb, of Peoria, Ill., visited their husbands parents Mr. and Mrs. N.H. Webb the past week.
J.F. Steinman, J.H. Campbell, H.C. Wikoff, H.D. Lehman, C.H. Kenedy, Dr. L.E. Cook, and Dr. W.J. Crampton called on friends in Dunkirk, Sunday.
Fred Gerlach, aged 14, living east of Kenton wsa suddenly killed by lightning Saturday afternoon at about 5 o'clock, while upstairs preparing to go to a neighboring social.
Dry wood at $2.50 per cord at W.W. Moler’s wood yard. Delivered to any part of town.3
Blanchard township has been divided into two voting precincts. The village of Dunkirk will compose one of the new precincts and the balance of the township, the other.
Mr. F.E. Holtcamp, late editor of the Milford Center Ohioan stopped off here Saturday while on his way to Elmore, O. and spent Sunday with E(dwin). N. Howe and family.
The Mayor and council have moved their office to the room over Gilson’s.4
__
1Forest Review, Forest, Ohio, c1894.
2ibid, 11 Oct 1894.
3ibid, c1894.
4ibid, 11 Oct 1894.
 |
| George Jameson, Attorney |
eorge Jameson, 1901.
This small article ran in the Lima Times Democrat on November 1, 1901 indicates that there is a book of poetry by George Jameson which has images in it of his home in Dunkirk.
uy Kingsbury.
Guy Kingsbury, the editor of the Dunkirk Standard, was injured in a train wreck in January, 1903.
Dago Mafia Planned a New Labor Movement.
Dunkirk, O., May 27.--A plot formulated by an Italian mafia secret society to do away with objectionable bosses and foremen in the large manfacturing industries through the country has been discovered, and as a result every Italian employed by a number of manufacturing concerns here has been summarily dismissed. The discharge of the men was caused by advices received from officials of a large plant at Easton, Pa., where the murder of the superintendent by members of the organization was only prevented by information given by a friendly Italian who was aware of the plot.
The eastern officals are said to have communicated with every big concern in this country employing Italians, informing them of the existence of the band as branches are believed to exist in all the larger cities. This information led the officials of the large plant here to investigate a murderous attack which was made upon an American workman a short time ago, and they are said to have unearthed enough evidence to warrant the discharge of every Italian employed by them. The Italians are much excited and trouble is feared.1
__
1The Daily Review (Decatur, IL) 27 May 1903, p.1.
.R. Miller.
Dr. D.R. Miller was one of the doctors serving the town of Dunkirk in 1908.
ohn B. Bowland.
Prof. John B. Bowland was a school teacher in 1909.
.F. Bowers.
H.F. Bowers purchased a drug store in town in 1913.
illiam Dirmeyer.
William Dirmeyer (17 Sep 1856-8 Apr 1931), age 73, operated a grist mill in Dunkirk prior to 1916.
elos D. Weber.
Delos D. Weber was with the 364th Infantry in 1917 during WWI.1
__
1With the 364th Infantry in America, France, and Belgium, Bryant Wilson & Lamar Tooze (Knickerbocker Press:New York) 1919, p. 230.
r. Hendrick.
Two Hendrick’s had homes in Dunkirk in 1920.
hautaugua.
Dunkirk held a Chautaugua August 18-22, 1921 on the school grounds.
fefferle Jewelry.
W.R. Pfefferle ran a Jewelry, Optical, & Music shop in Dunkirk and Kenton in 1921.
rance Stone Co.
The France Stone Co. was isssued an injunction restraining them from operation except on week days between the hours of 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and 60 days for converting a steam locomotive into either electric or oil. They must have been creating quite a ruckus!
man McCann.
Oman McCann operated a grocery in 1928.
elephone Lines.
Dunkirk was connected to Lima, Findlay, and Ada by telephone in August, 1933.
rank Curran, Jr.
Frank Curran, Jr. was appointed the manager of the Kroger store in March, 1934.1 The former manager, Elmer Snider, became the owner of the Clover Farm store in Forest after purchasing it from Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Hissong. Before becoming the Forest manager he had been the manager of the Milford Center Kroger2 store.
rank & Lowell Hess.
In June Frank and Lowell Hess went to Cleveland for a visit.3 There was a, George Franklin Hess, who was a farmer and painter, born to William and Mary (Owarnour) Hess, both of Germany, who lived in Dunkirk. He was born August 23, 1873 and died September 1, 1943, but he may not be the same Frank. There is no record of a Lowell Hess in Dunkirk.
illiam Nelson Day.
William N. Day, Jr. was the fire chief of Dunkirk in 1934. Born in Indiana on March 19, 1888, he died San Antonio hospital, Kenton, Ohio on March 9, 1952, just short of his 64th birthday. He never married. At the time of his death he was a retired telegraph operator with the Pennsylvania railroad. He is buried in Dunkirk cemetery.
His mother was Helen (Piatt) Day, the daughter of Alonzo Piatt and Dorothy (Fox) Piatt, both of Germany. Helen (b. 21 Jan 1850, NY) died on December 18, 1918 in Dunkirk. She was buried in Dunkirk cemetery. His father, William Day (b. Apr 1850, MI), was a teamster in Dunkirk. His grand-father, a cooper, was R.E. Day (b. 8 Apr 1820, NY) who lived to be 94 years old (d. 27 Apr 1914, OH). His great-great-grandpartents were Horatio E. Day of Connecticut and Hannah (Tolls) Day of Massachusetts.
__
1The Lima News (Lima, OH) 18 Mar 1934
2The Marion Star (Marion, OH) 16 Mar 1932
3The Lima News (Lima, OH) 10 Jun 1934.