She Has Her Mother's Laugh

She Has Her Mother's Laugh: The Powers, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity

by Carl Zimmer.

This tome is an in-depth look at the history and science of heredity, and genetics, AND genealogy. It is not for the casual DNA enthusiast. 

We have come to believe that our DNA makes us who we are. It determines the color of our eyes and hair and the size of our feet. And it can tell us something about the people we are related to and who we are descended from. That is why millions are spent every year on Ancestry DNA tests.

But...


We carry in our bodies a lot of DNA that doesn't belong to us. Some of it is the DNA of the bacteria and viruses that we are hosts to. Some of these hitchhikers are disease-causing and some are beneficial. Like the bacteria in our stomachs.

But the story of our DNA is much more complex than that.

Did you know that mothers can carry within their bodies cells (and DNA) from the children they have been pregnant with? Scientists have discovered that these cells persist in the woman's body decades after the pregnancy, and can include cells from miscarried and aborted pregnancies.

But stranger still are the cases of mosaics and chimeras. Mosaics+ is where some cells developed differently than most, resulting in "patches" of difference. Chimeras++ are where two embryos get started, like for twins, but they combine together and result in one baby being born. That baby will always carry two sets of DNA.

Also, our DNA can undergo mutations that can be benign or cause catastrophic results.

So when we send in our DNA sample, just which DNA is being tested? And what does all of this mean for the accuracy of DNA tests??

If you want to get a clearer picture of what is going on in the science and theory of DNA in a book not written for scientists, check out  She Has Her Mother's Laugh HERE.

Upcoming GENEALOGY SLAM:

Don't forget to sign up for the Genealogy Slam coming up on November 3rd. We will have 3 learning opportunities, DOOR PRIZES, and REFRESHMENTS! Sign up HERE.

If you want more information on which classes are being offered, check out last week's BLOG.

Remember that this Slam will be held at the Brunswick Library.

Here is some new vocabulary I learned from She Has Her Mother's Laugh:

*In meiosis, when the precursor sperm and egg cells replicate, the DNA splits down the middle and duplicates itself, like in mitosis. In meiosis, after the replication, proteins slice the chromosomes and when the cells repair themselves, some of the DNA  gets exchanged or "reshuffled".
+ Glossary - Mosaics - genetic variation among somatic and germ cells in a single multi-cellular organism
++(Wikipedia - chimaera (chimæra) is a single organism composed of cells with distinct genotypes. In animals, this means an individual derived from two or more zygotes, which can include possessing blood cells of different blood types, subtle variations in form (phenotype) and, if the zygotes were of differing sexes, then even the possession of both female and male sex organs[1] Animal chimeras are produced by the merger of multiple fertilized eggs. Normally, genetic chimerism is not visible on casual inspection; however, it has been detected in the course of proving parentage.[2])

GENEALOGY SLAM!

Medina Library's Genealogy Team will travel to the Brunswick Library on November 3rd to present our 20th Genealogy Slam (previously titled the Genealogy Lock-In). Partnering with the Medina County Genealogical Society, we will be offering the same fun, same learning, and yes, there will be door prizes.

Come learn about these three wonderful genealogy resources:

 Internet Archive presented by Lisa Rienerth. If you haven't been using this site, you have truly been missing out. They are "building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Like a paper library, they provide free access to researchers, historians, scholars, the print disabled, and the general public. Their mission is to provide Universal Access to All Knowledge."

Lauren Kuntzman, Manager of the soon-to-be Family and Local History Center at the Medina Library, will be talking about Geneanet. "Geneanet is a community of more than 3 million members who share their genealogical information for free: more than 6 billion individuals in the family trees, some digitized archival records, some family pictures, some indexes, all available through a powerful search engine, and a blog."

Come explore with me Medina County District Library's newest genealogy database, Fold3. This resource  specializes in U.S military records. With your library card you can get FREE access to this treasure trove.

SIGN UP FOR THE SLAM HERE

Once Upon a Time...

Graphic provided by Steve Czajka.

Your family history should never start with those words! And others should never view your work as a fairy tale or a  fictional story.

But, how do you know if you are doing a good job?

Oftentimes, we do our research almost in a vacuum, with no feedback from friends and family. So if you are making mistakes, how do you know?

Besides constantly learning about proper research techniques (here is ONE opportunity), you want to always follow the Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS). The five essential principles of GPS, as stated on by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, are:

1. Reasonably exhaustive research of all resources available.
2. Complete and accurate source citations so that you, and others, can retrace your work
3. Thorough analysis of information found and correlation.
4. Resolution of conflicting evidence.
5. Soundly written conclusion based on the strongest evidence.

And, if you want to take your research one step further, you apply to a lineage society.

Logos of many lineage societies from the
Lineage Society of America site.

For many years, I mistakenly believed that joining a lineage society was buying bragging rights into an elite group. "I am better than you because my ancestor..." fill in the blanks. And while some groups might have embraced that notion in the past, that is just not true anymore.

Medina County Genealogical Society

Pat Morgan, President of the Medina County Genealogical Society, opened my eyes a few years ago and now I am a member of four lineage societies and plan on joining more.




Some of the really compelling reasons for joining a lineage society are:

1. Honoring your ancestors. They accomplished something that deserves to be recognized. Did they serve in the military? Did they pioneer and settle a new land? Did they survive harsh living conditions? Well done them!
2. It will improve your research. During the process of applying to a society, you must look very critically at the work you have done. Societies apply stringent standards to the applications and knowing that someone else is going to examine your research encourages you to do your best.
3. It will improve your documentation. Your sources for information have to be clearly and concisely stated so that anyone else can track down the source and see it for themselves. "Aunt Rosie told me so", isn't going to cut it.
4. By joining a society, you are certifying the facts of your ancestry. It has reliable resources and has been examined by by experienced genealogists and found to be accurate and true.
5. It is a means of preservation. All lineage societies save the application of successful members for future researchers. Your information isn't just stored on your computer or in your file cabinets.
6. Paying it forward. We have all benefited from either the work of other or their generosity with sharing information. Now you can share it with future researchers.

So, HOW do you join a lineage society?

This Sunday, October 14th, join Pat Morgan and the Medina County Genealogical Society, and Lauren Kunzman, Manager of the (soon-to-be) Family History Center at the Medina Library for their program First Families of Medina. They will explain the application process and standards of proof, and highlight helpful library resources. Your family does not have to be from Medina and you do not have to be applying to the First Families of Medina Society.

Sign up HERE.

What the Medina Library looks like when it is not covered in scaffolding and surrounded by construction equipment.

SOURCES:

Board for the Certification of Genealogists, "Ethics and Standards",  https://bcgcertification.org/ethics-standards/ 

Crow, Amy, Johnson, "Why You Should Consider Applying to a Lineage Society,  https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/why-you-should-consider-applying-to-a-lineage-society/.

French, Brian Britton, "Why Join a Lineage Society?', Lineage Society of America, http://lineagesocietyofamerica.com/why-join-a-lineage-society.html

Coming Full Circle

Hello! I am Lisa, Kathy's co-worker and guest blogger for this week.

I was not born in Medina County. I was born in Lake County, Ohio. My mother was born in Cuyahoga County and her father and grandmother were born in Sandusky County. Yet, I was given a wonderful surprise when I found out I had ancestor's who lived in Medina County before me.

My husband and I moved to Medina County in 1990 and I began doing family research in 1999. I was lucky enough to inherit a box of family heirlooms which included a stack of letters written to my great grandmother (on my mother's side), Sopha RHOADES SOLETHER. One of the letters was written by Sopha's 1st cousin, Ella RHOADES PUMPHREY.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that Sopha's father, my great, great grandfather, Gideon RHOADES lived in Medina County, Ohio, in 1856  and some of his siblings (and possibly him) sang on the steps of Medina's Old Court House during the "Fremont [Presidential] Campaign" in 1856!

But wait...there's more!


Along with the letter, Ella had included an ancestor chart for Sopha's father, grandfather and great grandfather.

This just fueled my desire to find out who lived here, where they lived, what they did and when did they leave?

I was lucky enough to have found a great deal of information on the RHOADES family when they lived in Sandusky County. The R.B. Hayes Library, in Fremont, Ohio, even had a box of photographs in a special collection.

Original photograph kept at the RB Hayes Library, Fremont, Ohio
 in the T.P. Hurd Collection

This is Elias RHOADES, Sr. and his wife Phebe (SAFFORD) RHOADES. These are my great, great, great grandparents.


They moved to Guilford Township, Medina County, Ohio around 1836. This is a photo taken in 1848, according to a note one of their daughters attached to it.



I also found a letter written by Elias' mother, Mary RHOADES, in regards to her widow's pension. It is dated 1837 and mentions Elias who is living in Guilford.

Elias is listed in the 1840 and 1850 U.S. Census in Guilford where he was a farmer. By 1860, Elias and Phebe are found listed in the U.S. Census in Clyde, Sandusky, Ohio, where they both died.

"The History of Medina County and Ohio", page 235

Elias' brother, Jesse RHOADES, came to Guilford before him. In "The History of Medina County and Ohio", Jesse is said to have moved to Guilford in 1830 and brought along H.G.Blake. Kathy did a Blog on H.G. Blake about a year ago. Mr. Blake was a very prominent resident in Medina and it's kind of cool that one of my relatives brought him here.


The Medina County land records show Jesse purchasing land in Guilford in the years 1831, 1832 (with his brother-in-law, James Harkness), 1835 & 1837.  I haven't been able to find any land records in connection with Elias, but I have a feeling he might have lived on one of these parcels of land.

According to the ancestral chart drawn up by cousin Ella, Elias and Phebe had 10 children. The oldest, Thomas, died in 1818. The 1850 census shows the couple having 8 children in the household and a possible son listed right below them.

The next child on the chart is Margaret. She married Abijah I. Wright, 18 November 1849 in Medina County. Margaret died in about 1852.



Elias, Jr. is the next child. According the 1850 U.S. Census, Elias, along with his brother Samuel, was a Daguerreotypist. A daguerreotype is an early type of photography. I have to wonder if he or Samuel took the photograph of their parent's that is shown above. By 1860, Elias is a farmer in Green Creek, Sandusky County, Ohio.

Original at RBHayes Library, T.P. Hurd Collection 

Then there is Jesse, most likely named after his uncle. He is not listed with the family in 1850. However, he did marry Lucinda HARRIS, 22 January 1847 in Medina County. I was unable to find him in the 1850 U.S. Census, but he shows up in the 1860 census in Hudson, Lenawee County, Michigan where he is listed as a carpenter.





Samuel is the next child. He was born in New York in 1826. His obituary tells of his life after coming to Ohio and gives us a better idea of the time when Elias RHOADES brought his family to Guilford.

Clyde Democrat, 29 Mar 1900, pg. 1

Gideon is the next child and my great, great grandfather. Gideon was born around 1828 in New York. He is also listed in the 1850 U.S. Census with Elias and is listed as a laborer. He is still living with Elias and Phebe in 1860 in Sandusky County and is now a carpenter. He didn't live with them long, on 12 July 1860 he married my great, great grandmother, Mary McMillen. His obituary, in the Clyde Democrat on 22 August 1901, also states that he came to Medina County in 1836. 

Mary RHOADES is one of those elusive ancestors. According to the chart she was born in 1830 and died in 1864. She is listed in the 1850 census with Elias and Phebe. However, those are the only two records I have been able to find. The chart shows she was married to a FOSTER, but the only RHOADES and FOSTER marriage I can find gives the wrong birth date for Mary and happens six years after her supposed death date. She is not listed with Elias and Phebe in the 1860 census and I have not been able to find her with anyone else or on her own.

RB Hayes Library. T.P. Hurd Collection

This is Phebe RHOADES MORGAN WOLVERTON CARTER. She was born around 1833 in New York. She is listed with Elias and Phebe in the 1850 census in Guilford. Three years later she marries Henry MORGAN on 19 Jan 1853 in Medina County. Phebe then marries Samuel WOLVERTON in 1859 in Sandusky County and then Joseph CARTER in 1866 in the same place.

RB Hayes Library. T.P. Hurd collection

James RHOADES was born around 1835 in New York. He must have been just a baby when the family moved to Guilford. This is cousin Ella's father and one of the "young folk" who sang on the court house steps. In 1860 he is with his parents and is employed as a clerk and by 1870 he has become a minister.

R.B. Hayes Library. T.P. Hurd Collection

Mariah RHOADES was the first of this family to be born in Ohio and most likely in Guilford in 1838. Mariah married Thaddeus Polk (T.P.) HURD in 1869. It is from his collection I was fortunate enough to find and make copies of all these photographs. 

Her brother, Charles, was also born in Medina County around 1840. Charles died young at the age of 21 in Sandusky County, Ohio. 

Another brother, Henry, who shows up on the 1850 census as being 2 years old, was also born in Medina County. He is not listed on the 1860 census with the RHOADES family and I have been unable to find any information on him. 

Elias, Sr. and Jesse RHOADES were not the only ones from their family to travel to Medina County. Their sister, Irene, married Solomon RHOADES (a possible cousin) and came with Elias' family in 1836. In 1850, they are listed in the census in Guilford surrounded by their children in nearby households. By 1854, Solomon and Irene and all of their children have moved to Outagamie County, Wisconsin where many of their descendants still live.

"Thirteen Wisconsin Families" John R. Rennert

"The History of Medina County and Ohio"

Polly, another sister to Elias & Jesse, married a James HARKNESS and traveled to Guilford Township in 1822. Polly died in 1833 and is buried in the Mound Hill Cemetery in Seville, next to her mother Mary. It seems that Polly was the first of my RHOADES ancestor's to come to Medina County. 

My RHOADES ancestors were here from 1822 to around 1858, almost 40 years. They lived on land that I have walked across and seen sites that I have seen. It may have taken 132 years but this line has come full circle. 

Thank you to Kathy Petras for allowing me to be her guest Blogger!  If there are any RHOADES still here in Medina County that may have some of the same ancestors, leave me a comment! 

Sources:

          Perrin, William Henry, History of Medina County and Ohio, containing a history of the state of Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time...(Chicago, Illinois; J. H., Baskin & Battey, 1881), 235 & 468.

     1840 U.S. Census, Medina County, Ohio, population schedule, Guilford Township, p. 214, line 12, Elias Rhoades; NARA micropublication M704, roll 412. 

   

     1850 U.S. Census, Medina County, Ohio, population schedule, Guilford Township, p. 292, dwelling 292, family 531, Elias Rhoades, Sr. household; NARA micropublication M432. 

     1860 U.S. Census, Lenawee County, Michigan, population schedule, Hudson, ED 150, dwelling 1197, family 1120, Jesse Rhoades household; NARA micropublication M653, roll 551.

     Medina County Record of deeds, 1818-1871; index to deeds 1790-1923, Medina County Recorders Office; volumes F, G, K, M & N; digital images, FamilySearch.org. 

     "Ohio County Marriages, 1789-2013," digital images, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, FamilySearch.org; Ohio County Courthouses. 

   

10 Tips for using "The Ancestor Hunt"

Hello! It's Lauren Kuntzman, again, guest blogging once more for Kathy Petras. For this week's post, I'll be discussing one of my new favorite resources - The Ancestor Hunt!

Why would you want to use The Ancestor Hunt? Well, it has a lot to offer, including links to...

• 26,000+ Newspapers
• 1,700+ Obituaries/Obit Indexes
• 2,000+ Birth/Marriage/Death Record Databases
• 3,800 Yearbooks
• Collections of Historic Photos
• "How To" Articles & Videos

And, it's all free.

Because of its massive collection of newspapers and obituaries, The Ancestor Hunt is now my first stop for tracking down these essential documents. If you're also looking for these sources -- or if you want to find vital records, yearbooks, or old photos -- then you should definitely check out this website, too.

Here's a little bit more about the website and 10 tips for using it: 

Overview

The Ancestor Hunt is created and managed by Kenneth R. Marks. Though I've only discovered recently, the website has existed since around 2010. It reminds me of Cyndi's List, in that it points users to resources located elsewhere on the web.

10 Tips for Using The Ancestor Hunt

1. To find information, The Ancestor Hunt is first organized by resource type, and then by geography. Generally, it's divided by country, then by state/province, and then may get to a city/county level.

2. Speaking of geography... The Ancestor Hunt focuses on the United States and Canada. (Exception: there are a few "world" newspaper links.) 

3. You'll notice that there is a link for "Newspapers" and a link titled "Newspaper Links." "Newspapers" will teach you how to best search historic newspapers. "Newspaper Links," on the other hand, will take you to digitized newspapers. 

Options for resources are listed in the main menu. 
"Newspapers Links" will take you to the list of 26,000+ newspapers available online.

4. Some of the resource lists are a little long, so I recommend using the Find command on your web browser (Control+F for PCs or Command+F for Macs) and search for keywords.  By the way, your city or county make great keywords!

5. Most of the "Obituaries" category resources are indexes, however there are notes if the links include clippings or transcriptions. 

Here's a screencap of some of the Ohio Obituary/
Obituary Index links.  Some links include clippings and transcripts.

6. With the birth, marriage, and death (BMD) record links, many point to databases on FamilySearch or local library's webpages. Church records may be included, too. 

7. When using the "Photos" section, some links will include information about restrictions on rights for usage.  

8. Make sure you read the end of the lists as special collections, miscellaneous resources, and other information may be included there. 

Make sure you read the end of the resource lists, which may contain
miscellaneous collections, like this list of Ohio BMD Links.  

9. The "Yearbooks" are just for the United States, and are organized alphabetically by the name of the city, not the name of the school.

10. Be aware that the information on the site is periodically updated.  Until an update happens, however, some links may be dead and brand new resources might not yet be included. Following the Blog is a great way to learn about updates.



To get you started hunting for your ancestors, here are links to all of the Ohio resources on The Ancestor Hunt:

• Ohio Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Ohio Obituaries and Obituary Index Links
• Ohio Birth, Marriage, and Death (BMD) Record Links
• Ohio Online Historical Photos Research
• Free Ohio High School and College Yearbooks Online

Happy Searching!

An Introduction: MCDL's Family History & Learning Center

Hello! My name is Lauren Kuntzman and I am guest blogging for Kathy Petras this week. I am new to MCDL and am the manager of the Family History & Learning Center. For my first blog post here, I thought I'd introduce myself and share some details about what you can expect from the Family History & Learning Center!

When it comes to genealogists, the first question everyone wants to know is how you got started. So, here's my genealogy "origin story..."

I've been researching my family history for nearly 20 years now. My mother and I always wanted to learn about our family's roots, and when FamilySearch came online in May 1999 it gave us the push to get started. 

I can tell you the exact moment I got "hooked" on genealogy: I was standing in Stark County District Library's genealogy department (back when it was on the first floor, surrounded by windows) with the sunlight streaming in, on a hot summer day, looking through a transcription of Columbiana County, Ohio on the 1860 Federal Census. In reviewing the household of John and Sidney Ruff (my 4th great-grandparents), I noticed an 73-year old woman named Nancy Woolf residing with them. I remember pointing Nancy out to my mother, and speculating that Nancy was Sidney's mother -- a fact which additional research later proved to be correct. 

1860 U.S. Federal Census, Knox Twp., Columbiana County, Ohio
Household of John Ruff.  Sidney (Woolf) Ruff and her mother Nancy were some of the
earliest genealogy "discoveries" I made -- and one of the reasons I got "hooked" on genealogy!

It was that moment -- the moment of re-discovering forgotten ancestors and adding a generation to my family tree -- that got me hooked and I've felt a special connection to Sidney and Nancy as they were the first ancestors I "found." Since that time, there have been many other discoveries, and I've come to specialize in researching in the Midwestern USA and France, tracking criminal ancestors, and using historic newspapers.

It was my love of genealogy that prompted me to become a librarian and, before coming to MCDL I worked as a intern and a substitute librarian at Stark County District Library, then as a Local & Family History Librarian at St. Joseph County Public Library (Indiana). Prior to obtaining my library science degree, I also earned an M.A. in Art History & Museum Studies, and was the Education & Technology Manager at the Canton Museum of Art for about a decade. In that job, I planned art classes, led museum tours, and developed partnerships with local teachers and artists -- among many other responsibilities! I like to think my past has made me a good match for MCDL's Family History & Learning Center, with my experiences in museums and libraries, and my love of genealogy, creativity, and teaching.

But that's enough about me... let me tell you a little bit about MCDL's upcoming Family History & Learning Center! Plans for the Center are nearly finalized and we hope construction will start in early 2019. When completed the Family History & Learning Center will include a digitization lab (where you can scan and preserve photos, slides, and home movies), a genealogy reading room (much like the current Franklin Sylvester room), and a makerspace (including all sorts of supplies to express your creativity), plus additional meeting and study rooms. We have Virginia Wheeler Martin (1928-2016) and her generosity to thank for making the Center possible. 

A snapshot of Jinny, c. 1951.

Virginia Wheeler Martin -- better known as "Jinny" -- grew up in Medina, before completing a BFA in painting and illustration from Miami University. She then became a stewardess for American Airlines (the first from Medina!) and, in 1954, married Capt. Barney Martin, U.S.N. (Ret.). Jinny and Barney traveled the world during Barney's naval service, eventually settling in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. But throughout her travels, Jinny maintained a strong connection to her roots in Medina County, and spent decades researching her family history. It was her love of genealogy that led to the development of MCDL's Family History & Learning Center. 

In addition to providing funding, Jinny also 

donated her personal

A unique item in Jinny's personal collection:
a postcard-sized watercolor by John Hickling.

collection of genealogy resources and research to MCDL. As we prepare for the Center, it has been my job to sort through and organize all of these materials. The collection has included hundreds of books, hundreds of photographs and negatives, dozens of research binders, and a few more "unique" artifacts. 

One of the most fascinating items that I've come across so far, has been with a postcard-sized watercolor painted by John Hickling. The inscription on back is what makes this item so charming: it was created by John for his brother Jesse, on the occasion of his birthday. I'm not yet sure how the Hicklings relate to Jinny, but I'm certain there's a familial connection there somewhere!

Back of the postcard, revealing that the watercolor was a gift from John, to his brother Jesse.  

Jinny's collection of resources will be available for research purposes once the Family History & Learning Center opens. It is my hope that the Center will help visitors discover and preserve their family's stories, while giving people the opportunity to express their own stories creatively.

Hopefully, that gives you a better idea about what to expect from the new MCDL Family History & Learning Center! I'm looking forward to meeting all of you, and helping you discover your family's stories.

In the meantime, since you now know a little bit about me, it's your turn to help me get to know you. Comment below and share your genealogy "origin story." How/why did you start researching your ancestors, and what's kept you coming back to it? What was the moment you got "hooked" on genealogy? 

A big thank you to Kathy for having me guest blog for her this week! 

-Lauren Kuntzman

New Columbus Settlement

Working with old newspaper microfilm, you come across the names of long forgotten places, like Risely, Ohio, which was, at one time, due west of the Village of Medina. Or Leroy, now known as Westfield Center.  Or Marysville, which was once part of Liverpool Township.

So I was surprised when I came across the name of an area of Medina County that I didn't recognize: the New Columbus Settlement.

I forget where I first stumbled across it, but I made a note to investigate it "when I have some spare time."

Well, I don't know that I will ever "have the spare time", but I did come across the note, and decided NOW was the time.

This is what is said in The History of Medina County and Ohio that was published in 1881:

Excerpt from the 1881 History of Medina, page 572. The "few years later"
refers to shortly after 1821, a date mentioned in the previous paragraph.

This information was repeated verbatim on pages 2-3 of The History of Chatham Township Medina County, Ohio Chatham Centiseptiquinarian 1818-1993 and Joann King repeats the story on page 51 of her Medina County Coming of Age 1810-1910 (2016), adding their "happy-go-easy style" must have "unnerved their neighbors of solid Massachusetts stock".

But the information was misquoted in the 1968 Chatham Sesquicentennial 1818-1968:

The text  reprinted from the 1881 History of Medina County has some serious typos!
What is "boppy-go-easy" style? Sounds like something a bunny rabbit would do!

So, just who were these people that the history spoke of so disparagingly? The oldest map that the Medina Library owns is dated 1857. There is no trace of "New Columbus" in Chatham Township. As the authors foretold, no other trace of the settlement can be found in other sources.

Excerpt of the northwest corner of Chatham Township from the 1857 Map of Medina County.
The dark border on the left shows the boundary with Spencer Township to the west.

When the place named cannot be traced, then we look at the individuals who are listed:

1. William Foltz 
2. Orrin Parmeter
3. Phineas Davis 
4. Truman Davis 
5. Isaac Vandeventer

1.William Foltz is not listed anywhere else in the 1881 History of Medina County, nor in any of the Chatham Township histories. His name does not show up in the Medina County Land Records of the period, nor in the 1810, 1820 or 1830 census records for either Medina County, Ohio, or the State of Virginia. So he is not easily traced.
Note: the name was searched using Foltz and Fultz.  Also, there is a Wm. FULKS in the 1840 Census for Chatham Township. Same man? Possibly.

2. Orrin Parmeter - all the same sources were searched and and Orrin was not found. A Civil War veteran with the name Orris Parmeter  is listed in the 1890 Census for Portage County, Wisconsin. But a man settling in Medina in the 1820's would be too old to serve in the Civil War. There were other Parmeter's listed in some of the sources.

So, two of the five men listed cannot be traced. Maybe they were "boppy-go-easy".

But that is not the case for the other three men.

3. Phineas Davis is presented in the best light in the sketch from the 1881 History. He "put up a little 'pocket' grist mill, to which he shortly added a distillery." But that is not all the History has to say about Phineas. He is mentioned 6 different times on the section on Spencer, not Chatham, Township:

     a."In the fall of 1823, Phineas Davis and family came and occupied the unused house  of Rising", p. 556.

     b. "Each man had his particular mark*, which was recorded thus: May 4, 1832, Phineas Davis made returns of his ear-mark for cattle, hogs and sheep (viz) 'a crop on the left ear and a slit in the right.'" p.559.

     c. "On another occasion, Phineas Davis and his daughter were coming through the forests... It grew very dark, and they became lost...they listened to the howl of the gathering wolves.", p. 560.

     d. "Phineas Davis kept an accommodation for travelers, not exactly a tavern, at the River Corners, at an early date.

     e. Phineas Davis built the first grist-mill in Spencer in 1825. It was a log mill, run by water-power, and the bolter was run by hand. The mill-stones were made from hard bowlders (sic), the building being logs, and two stories high, and, when grinding, it shook as though it had the palsy. The water power of this mill was destroyed when Spencer built his dam, which was a few hundred rods below.", p 561.

     f. The first literary society was organized at the river mills. They came according to appointment to the schoolhouse, but forgot to bring candles, and adjourned to the house of Phineas Davis...", pp.568-569.

In The History of Spencer Township and Village, Phineas Davis is described as "the township's second settler"  and he "was an active man."

That doesn't sound "happy-go-easy" style to me!? That seems quite industrious. But there's more...

Phineas is found in the 1820 Census in Wayne County, the 1830 Census in Lorain County,  and the 1840 Census in Chatham, Medina County. He disappears after that. It is possible that he died in 1845. There is a Findagrave listing for  Phineas Davis who was born in 1790 and died in 1845 in Champaign County (west of Columbus.) The ages given in the census records would agree with this tombstone.

Tombstone for Phineas Davis in Champaign County, Ohio. The dates, 1794-1845
 make him the right age to be Spencer Township's Phineas Davis.

AND... he is listed among the War of 1812 soldiers on Fold3 as part of the New York Militia! So he is not even from Virginia!

4. Truman Davis might be related to Phineas or he might not. The records are not as plentiful on him. But the Land Records of Medina County do show him buying and selling land in the 1830's.

5. Isaac Vandeventer has even more surprises for us. He is in the 1810 Census in Dansville, New York. But by the 1820 Census he is in Wayne County Ohio, as was Phineas Davis. After that, it becomes difficult to find him because of misspellings of his name. In the 1830 Census he is Lorain County, under Vanderventer and by the 1840 Census, he is under Vardeventer in Medina County. He hasn't been located in the 1850 census. but by the 1860 census he is Chatham, Medina County under "B" Vanderventer. He died in 1860 and is listed in the Mortality Census schedule as "J" Vandervander. He appears in Terry and Marcia Hart's Veterans Buried in Medina County, Ohio. Volume 2, War of 1812 book. He is buried in Chatham Cemetery and served in the New York Militia!

Isaac Vandeventer's tombstone from Findagrave.

And take a closer look at that 1857 Map of Medina County:

J.A. Davis could  be a descendant of either Truman or Phineas Davis. But take a look at the name to the left of the vertical line - I. Vanderventer!

So now we have a hint of where New Columbus might have been. And we can dispel part of the myth:

We now know that at least 3 of the men mentioned were from New York and several of them were quite
hardworking and productive!

Mystery debunked!

* A mark was a way of branding farm animals so that the owners could be identified.