Local writers and stories
By: Mark Holtsberry Alva Johnson Abbott, was born August 4, 1892 in Latty, Ohio. The son of Charles and Mary (Gaines) Abbott. Charles was born January 1842 in Kentucky and Mary was born in 1851. The couple was married June 1, 1872 in Paulding. Charles served in the 117th United States Colored Troops between the…
Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker One of my New Years resolutions is to listen to others and acquire more common sense. I am not saying I’m dumb, but sometimes I tend to follow my own thoughts and lots of times it is because I haven’t absorbed or paid attention to what I was…
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America has been intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” – Matt Take a bridge I know bridges are expensive infrastructure projects to get travelers across an obstacle like water or ravines. However, bridges over time become a landmark,…
By: Ron Burt Logan Seavey wins the 55-lap 2023 Chili Bowl Nationals for Midgets. Last week racing fans were focused on Tulsa, January 9-14, for the 37th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. I received emails from readers and messages on my Facebook, Ohio Sports Blitz page excited about this year’s qualifying mains and the…
By: Mark Holtsberry Continued from last week… Joshua C. Barrick was with Company M. 2nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Columbus, Ohio on May 16, 1898, before the Company was sent to Camp George H. Thomas, Chickamauga, Georgia. The Company was stationed there until November 15, 1898, when they were ordered to report to Macon, Georgia…
Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker It is funny that as we reach certain ages, how our idea of “fun” changes. Babies, for example, will start noticing rattles, stuffed animals and toys at an early age. That is fun for them and for parents as well. Then we reach Kindergarten and grade school. Our ideas of…
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America has been intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!” — Matt Handle hurts worse than the head I, like many, grew up with those classic toys like trikes, wagons and bikes. We had a garage and basement filled…
By: Mark Holtsberry Joshua C. Barrick was born in Michigan, January 5, 1860. The son of Jonathan, born 1828, in Ohio and Rachel Jane (Hawkins) Barrick, born April 20, 1849 in Indiana. Now let’s go down the ground hog hole. Rachel’s father, Robert, was a Civil War Veteran from Antwerp, Ohio. He served with Company…
Penny For Your Thoughts by: Nancy Whitaker It seems like I can’t get a break. I thought that after the first frost my allergies would disappear until Spring, but then I was struck by the flu bug. I noticed that on Thursday night, my throat was sore, and by Friday morning I woke up and my voice was so…
“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America has been intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last twenty years overseas!” —Matt Waiting in Line isn’t Easy Waiting in lines is becoming a thing of the past in some ways. I remember the long lines at the Bureau of Motor…
By: Ron Burt January 9-14, 2023, the center of the racing universe is Tulsa, and the 37th Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals for Midgets. Currently the Chili Bowl Nationals has 360 Entries, including 57 A-Feature starters, 82 Rookies, and 5 past Champions from 266 Municipalities across 35 States and 5 countries (USA, Aust., Can., NZ,…
By: James Neuhouser “Come All you rounders if you wannna hear; The story about a brave engineer: Casey Jones was the roller’s name: On a 6-8-wheeler he rode to fame” Casey was an imposing man, 6 ft.4 and built like a linebacker. He couldn’t remember when he wasn’t famous and this would carry out…
By: Mark Holtsberry Three Brothers This tragic story is about three brothers from Carryall Township: Jonathan, Reynolds and George Gordon. The Gordon boys were the sons of George and Lucinda Rachel (Shaw) Gordon. This couple was married in Williams County, October 6, 1839. Both were born in New York, Lucinda in 1823 and George in…
