Myrtle?!?!

This is a baptism certificate for the daughter of Gustav Leutz & Maria "Warsha". Let's review for a moment here. Gustav Leutz and Mary Theresa Washa were married June 11, 1881 in Ottawa County, Ohio. They had five children:

• Oscar N. Leutz, born March 22, 1882.
• Myrtle R., born November 18, 1883.
• Lorenz, born December 18, 1887.
• Leon, born November 6, 1890.
• Berlin L., born December 1, 1893.

Just to be sure, I double checked and in the 1900 & 1910 census Mary is listed as the mother of five children with four of them living. (Lorenz died in 1889.) Therefore it would stand to reason that all of the children are listed. So, who is this baptism record for? Well, they only had one daughter and so this baptism record is for . . . . Martha Rebecca? According to the record Martha Rebecca was born on November 18, 1883 in Oak Harbor to the spouses Gustav Leutz and Maria Warsha and was baptized at the Evangelical St. Paul's Church in Oak Harbor on June 8, 1884. (Although when I looked through the records of the Evangelical St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Oak Harbor there is no record of this baptism.) My guess is Myrtle is actually a nickname for Martha but I had never even heard it implied that Myrtle wasn't her given name, have you?

Timeframe: Since it is dated I am going to go out on a limb and say 1884.

Where It Fits: Martha Rebecca is the daughter of Gustav Leutz & Mary Theresa Washa. Obviously she is the sister of Oscar, Lorenz, Leon & Berlin. Martha is the wife of Peter Madison and the mother of Bethel. I believe the sponsors, Carl & Louise Leutz, are the siblings of Gustav Leutz. Gustav has a brother Charles that was in the area and Carl was a very common nickname/translation of Charles. Gustav and Charles also had a sister, Louise. Louise was born in Oak Harbor and I don't believe she was married until late 1884 - early 1885 making her still a Leutz.

Scholar program to honor surgeon

I know it has been a long time since I have posted so I am hoping to get back into the routine. Please feel free to "nag" me a little if I start slacking off again.

My aunt was lovely enough to give me a copy of this article in Indiana back in August at Woody & Brenda's wedding. Sadly I have just now gotten around to sharing it but better late than never so without further ado and with a giant thank you to De Ila . . .

Scholar program to honor surgeon

Scientist will study skeletal disorders

By Liv Osby

STAFF WRITER

The Greenwood Genetic Center is launching a new scholar program to honor the late Dr. Leslis C. Meyer, a Greenville orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Meyer Center for Special Children.

The program was kicked off by the center's board of directors at the Poinsett Club on Thursday with $150,000 in gifts from Meyer's friends.

"Through his many scientific publications and training of several generations of orthopedic scientists, Les Meyer's devotion to scholarship was evident," said Dr. Roger Stevenson, director of the center.

"The Leslie C. Meyer Senior Genetics Scholar position is created as an extension of Dr. Meyer's scholarly pursuits as an international authority on the genetics of skeletal disorders," he said. "The major focus of the scholar's work will be to develop strategies to prevent and cure disabling genetic disorders of the skeleton."

Meyer, who joined the genetic center's Board of Directors in 1995, died in October.

The Meyer Scholar will be a scientist with broad experience in skeletal genetics and will be in residence at the center for a portion of each year offering consultations, teaching and research into skeletal disorders with a focus on treatment. He also will participate in clinics at the Shriner's Hospital, where Meyer was chief of staff.

The Greenwood Genetic Center that provides clinical genetic services and testing, develops education programs and materials, and conducts research in medical genetics.

This was taken from page 2B of The Greenville News; Friday, July 30, 2010.

Where It Fits: Dr. Leslie Meyer was the husband of De Ila Rudes.

**UPDATE** Mr. & Mrs. Hopfinger & Miss Alta

UPDATE: Attention all Christiansen/Johannsen relatives. This update is for you. As you can tell by the post below this image was found among the belongings of Mary Caroline Leutz-Rudes and has been identified as a relative of the same. Upon further research and some e-mails back and forth with Diane Bennett we have confirmed that the girl in this picture is Alta Hopfinger, the Alta Hopfinger that married Neils Christiansen Schmidt a.k.a. Nelson Smith. Neils/Nelson is the son of Carl Schmidt & Augusta Johanna Ketelsen. Augusta is the daughter of Johann Ketelsen & Anna Marie Christiansen. Anna Marie Christiansen is the sister of Marie, therefore Anna is the aunt of Julius & August Johannsen. Augusta & Julius would have been cousins so Alta married the 1st cousin once removed of Julius Johannsen. Obviously mom and dad are not the first branches of the Hopfinger's & Christiansen's to cross paths.

This picture is labeled as "Mr & Mrs Mike Hopfinger" "Mrs. Rose Tilton" "Mrs Caroline Fritsches brother" and last but not least "Miss Alta -Mrs Nelson Smith". While there are a lot of names they are all for the same people. They just made sure there was no mistaking the family.

Timeframe: C.P. Haas a.k.a. Charles P. Haas operated a studio in Fremont, Ohio between 1886 & 1913. 1888 to 1899 he operated on Front Street but there is no address on this card so we have to stick with 1886 - 1913. Alta was born December, 1880 or there abouts and they added another child to the family in November of 1891. Since the youngest child isn't in the picture we can assume it was taken between 1886 & 1891. If you look at Rose her bodice extends below the waist; she has a high with low stand collar; tight sleeves & a draped overskirt that is apron like in shape. That narrows the field to 1883-1889. That would make Alta somewhere between 3 & 9. I am guessing closer to the nine then the three.

Where It Fits: Michael Hopfinger is the brother of Caroline Hopfinger-Fritsche. Caroline & Michael are two of the nine children born to Charles Hopfinger & Friederika Richardson. Michael married Rosella Tilton, the daughter of Levi Tilton. Michael and Rosella had two daughters, Elta/Alta & Laura. Elta/Alta married Nelson Smith. Nelson Smith a.k.a. Neils Schmidt is the son of Carl Schmidt & Augusta Ketelsen. Augusta is the daughter of John Ketelsen & Anna Christiansen.

Ottawa County gun experts mostly happy with concealed carry

For those of you that are not local or just didn't see it, Richard & Terrence Rudes were recently interviewed for the Port Clinton News Herald. Sadly Richard wasn't mentioned but Terry made the front page.

Ottawa County gun experts mostly happy with concealed carry

By James Proffitt

PORT CLINTON --Attorney Terrence Rudes sometimes defends people who commit crimes with guns. Other times, he teaches people how to use and conceal them.

"I've taught concealed-carry classes since 2006," Rudes said. Although he's glad Ohio passed the law that allows citizens to carry guns, he does have issues with it.

"It's the only constitutional right that requires a permit," he said. "It would be like telling someone they have to get a permit to write newspaper articles."

Ottawa County Sheriff Bob Bratton said he had issues about the law when the Ohio legislature passed it in 2004.

"I had concerns at first," Bratton said, "but since then we've had no issues."

According to Bratton, the state's sheriffs, who are responsible for issuing permits, were ill-prepared for the onslaught of paperwork the new law required them to complete.

In 2004, Ottawa County issued 391 permits. Sandusky County issued 187.

But seven years later, Bratton said the process has gone well and he supports the law.

"I've always been big on the second amendment," he said. "I think you should have the right to have guns."

In 2009 Ottawa and Sandusky counties issued 333 and 473 permits, respectively. The counties also renewed a total of 136 permits.

Although many Ohio law enforcement officials made their reservations about Ohioans carrying concealed guns known, most concerns never panned out.

"We've had no problems that I can speak of," Bratton said. "We've never had to go after a card."

Bratton said if a concealed-carry permit holder is arrested for domestic violence or certain other qualifying offenses, they must turn in their permit and weapons.

"They always come in," he said.

In 2009 Ottawa County denied, revoked or suspended a total of 23 permits, and Sandusky County seven.

But retired Ottawa County Common Pleas Court Judge Paul Moon said he thought in 2004 and still thinks it's a terrible idea.

"People shouldn't be carrying around weapons on their person or in their cars," he said.

Moon said during his time on the bench, he didn't have any concealed-carry permit-related cases in his courtroom. Bruce Winters, current common pleas court judge, said he's had just one, and that involved a man who obtained a permit without taking the required 12 hours training.

Dale Ottney, owner of Ottney's Guns in Fremont, said he thinks everyone should carry a weapon.

"A lot of people worry about being broken into and not being able to defend themselves," he said. "And when Obama was elected a whole lot of people came in."

Ottney said many Americans fear that government will curtail second amendment rights.

Both men and women come in, said Ottney.

"A lot of guys come in and buy for their women," he said. "I think I've had three or four couples come in together."

Ottney said 9-mm and .40 caliber are the most popular choices for customers buying guns for concealed carry.

According to Rudes, of the 142 people who have completed his concealed carry courses, 31 were female.

"We get a lot of women that come through," Bratton said. "Not that they're going to carry, but they always have the option."

Since 2004, Ohio sheriff's have issued more than 200,000 concealed-carry permits to its citizens, with more than 56,700 in 2009.

He even managed to have a picture and everything. The original can be found at: http://www.portclintonnewsherald.com/article/20101012/NEWS01/10120305