Isaac D. Everett, Sandusky Merchant

Isaac D. Everett was born in 1830 to Adam and Mary (Wolverton) Everett. In 1862, he married Lavinia Nettleton, who was fondly known as Fanny. He was the brother in law of Leonard B. Johnson, the owner of Johnson’s Island at the time. 

In the 1867 Sandusky City Directory, Mr. Everett was in a partnership with Andrew Zerbe and E. and F. Nicolai in a dry goods business on Water Street between Columbus Avenue and Jackson Street.

By 1876, Isaac and his son had their own store on Columbus Avenue. They sold china, glass and queensware, which was a cream-colored earthenware.

An advertisement which appeared in the April 16, 1890 issue of the Sandusky Register announced the opening of a new store, run by Isaac D. Everett and his son Lu. The store sold groceries, fruits, and candies, and was located at 234 Columbus Avenue.

On the day of the grand opening, the Everetts provided coffee and a light lunch to all who stopped in. The ad stated that “We do not care whether you spend any money or not.” In 1892, I.D. Everett and Son moved to 226 Columbus Avenue. By the time of the 1900 U.S. Census, I.D. Everett had retired, and he was living with his daughter Nellie Nason in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. I.D. Everett passed away on October 30, 1907 at the home of his daughter Mrs. Nason, who by then had moved to Chicago, Illinois. Burial was in the family lot at Sandusky’s Oakland Cemetery

Commodore Denig Post, American Legion

In the summer of 1920, a silk flag was presented to the Perry Post, No. 83, American Legion, by Mrs. Herbert Farrell. The ceremony took place in the garden of Mr. and Mrs. Farrell at 414 Wayne Street. Pictured from left to right are: Lieut. Commander August Wilhelm, C.H. Richardson, Wesley Till, Norbert Hemmerlein, Lester Tebbutt, Earl Krueger, Post Commander, Norman Gagen, Mrs. Herbert Farrell, Lieut. Claud Zerbe, Lieut. Chester Teasel, Carl Ziegler, Russell Hetrick, and Commodore Robert G. Denig. By 1927 the name of Sandusky’s American Legion Post was changed to the Commodore Denig Post, No. 83.

Commodore Robert G. Denig had a long and successful naval career. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1873. Commodore Denig participated in a military expedition in Mexico in the 1870s, and later served in the Spanish American War. During World War I, Commodore Denig was an inspector of naval war materials. You can read a brief biography of Commodore Robert G. Denig, along with the biographies of several other World War I veterans, in the Erie County Edition, Honor Roll of Ohio, 1917-1918, housed at the Sandusky Library. Inquire at the Reference Services desk for more information.

The First Female Jury in Erie County

On August 26, 1920, an important ‘first’ quietly took place at the Erie County Courthouse in Sandusky. Early that morning, the ratification of the nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was certified. That Amendment read in part “The right of citizens in the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. “ On August 18, 1920, Tennessee was the thirty-sixth state to ratify the nineteenth amendment. Ohio had ratified the amendment on June 16, 1919.

On the morning of August 26, 1920, at the Erie County Courthouse, Judge Roy Williams was to conduct the trial of Pennok Jeffries vs. the Pennsylvania Railroad, for an automobile accident that occurred in 1919, when a train car struck Jeffries’ automobile.

Ten men were summoned to serve on the jury, but nine offered excuses as to why they couldn’t serve. Having heard that the 19th amendment had been ratified, Judge Williams said “I decided to impanel a woman jury. Twelve women were summoned. Twelve women responded and twelve women served.”

The women were sworn in, the cases were stated, and cross examinations were made. When the statements were concluded, the judge gave the women of the jury their instructions and they retired to the jury room. They made their decision in four minutes and shortly returned to their seats in the jury box. They decided for the plaintiff, who was awarded $1500.

After the trial was over, the judge congratulated the women for their service on the jury. Each of the twelve women were paid two dollars for serving on the jury. This was the first all female jury in Erie County, and one of the earliest in the United States.

The women of the jury included Katherine H. Biller, Mary R. Boehmer, Sarah Cooke Sloane, Alice K. Hertlein, Alice D. Mack, Anna Sutton, Emma Broadbent, Sallie W.D. Neill, Mabel. L. Magill, Sarah C. Scott, Henrietta Zerbe, Bertrha Mitchell. The three men in the photo are Roy Williams, George Beis and Claude Minor.

This historic event was commemorated with an Ohio historical marker erected during Ohio’s 2003 Bicentennial. The marker is located near the north entrance of the Erie County Courthouse where the photograph of the women of the jury was taken.