Introduction | Biographical Sketch | Scope and Content | Series Description | Inventory

Introduction

The Solomon Kuder Collection consists of approximately .5 linear ft. of original correspondence, legal papers, financial records, and maps, documenting life in Northwest Ohio during the first half of the 19th century through to the early 20th century.

The collection was acquired by donation with the cooperation of Arthur Loy, Albuquerque, NM, in July 1990. This register was prepared by Marilyn Levinson, Curator of Manuscripts, Center for Archival Collections, October 1991. No restrictions exist on the use of this collection.

Biographical Sketch

Solomon Kuder (born Sept 4, 1790-died August 15, 1873) was one of the early pioneers of Wood County, farming near Tontogany. A veteran of the War of 1812, Kuder first settled in Tiffin, Ohio, Seneca County, where he engaged in milling, moving to Wood County in 1836. Married in 1816 to Catherine Row, Kuder had a family of 15 children. His youngest child, Caroline, married Edward Ketchum, a carpenter in Tontogany, in 1876. Their daughter, Orra, married Caleb H. Opperman in 1884. Another of Solomon's daughters, Martha, cared for her parents in their old age; in turn, she was cared for by her niece Orra.

Caleb North (1789-1875) was the maternal grandfather of Caleb H. Opperman. He came to Ohio in 1829, settling in Washington Township, Wood County. In addition to farming, he also worked as a tanner. Two of his ledger books are included with this collection.

Scope and Content

The Solomon Kuder Collection consists primarily of personal, legal and financial papers of an early settler of Wood County, Ohio, dating from 1819 through 1918.

The largest portion of the collection documents, through property records, the acquisition by Kuder of land in Northwest Ohio. An early printed map of the Piqua Land District (cataloged separately from the collection due to size) shows the divisions of Ohio circa 1819. The three land patents to Kuder, signed by Andrew Jackson, are dated 1830 and 1836, making him one of the early settlers in the area. Receipts for taxes paid on property in Seneca County from 1827-1835, and Wood County, 1836-1897 give a continuous view of the location and size of Kuder's real estate holdings.

A small number of items in the collection refers to Kuder's service during the War of 1812. Other than the land patents, most are routine inquiries about pension matters. However, an invitation for a reunion in 1872 in Monroe, Michigan is of interest due to the name of George Custer as a member of the invitation committee.

The inclusion of the account books of Caleb North in this collection illustrates something of the economic life on the Ohio frontier. After his move to Washington Township, Wood County, in 1829, some of the names appearing in the ledgers include those of Kuder, Opperman, Ketchum, Vantasel, and Minton, reflecting the work done by North as a tanner and shoemaker in the local community.

Series Description

CORRESPONDENCE

CORRESPONDENCE - PENSION
1850-1871
Arranged chronologically
Miscellaneous correspondence relating to pension for service during the War of 1812.

CORRESPONDENCE - MISCELLANEOUS
1872
Invitation for Reunion of Veterans of the War of 1812 in Monroe, Michigan. Note that Gen. G.A. Custer was on the Committee on Invitations.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
1884-1916
Arranged chronologically
Agreement (1884) with the Washington Township School District for the lease of land for School "A" (Kuder School), and the release from the agreement in 1916; agreement (1901) between Martha H. Kuder and her niece Orra Opperman, to provide for her care.

DEEDS
1830-1874
Arranged chronologically
Deeds and conveyances for property, primarily parcels in Wood County, Ohio. Includes two hand-drawn maps.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS

LAND PATENTS
1830, 1836
Arranged chronologically
Land Office certificates out of the General Land Office in Tiffin (1830) and Wapakoneta (1836) for land in Perrysburg and Wood County.

LEASES
1888-1893
Arranged chronologically
Gas and oil leases of Martha H. Kuder. Papers prepared by Edward Beverstock, her nephew.

POWERS OF ATTORNEY
1857, 1867
Transfers of power of attorney from Aaron Lovett to John Lovett (Solomon Kuder's brother-in-law), and Samuel North to Caleb North.

FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

PROPERTY TAX RECEIPTS
1827-1897
Arranged chronologically
Receipts for taxes paid on property in Seneca County from 1827-1835, and Wood County, 1836-1873, by Solomon Kuder, and by Martha H. Kuder, 1874-1897.

ACCOUNT BOOKS
1819-1866
Arranged chronologically
Account ledgers of Caleb North, a tanner. North's grandson married Kuder's granddaughter.

MAPS, CHARTS, DIAGRAMS, ETC.

MAPS
1819-1844
Arranged chronologically
Printed map of the Piqua Land District, and a hand-drawn map of Napoleon, Ohio, circa 1844. Both encapsulated. Piqua map cataloged separately due to size.

PRINTED MATERIALS

CERTIFICATES
1918
Capital stock certificate of the Mykrantz Company, in the name of Caroline E. Myers.

Inventory

Box 1

1. Correspondence - Pension, etc., 1850-1871
2. Correspondence - Reunion, 1872
3. Articles of agreement, 1884-1916
4. Deeds, 1830-1874
5. Leases, 1888-1893
6. Power of Attorney, 1857, 1867
7. Property tax receipts, 1827-1897
8. Capital stock certificate, 1918

Box 2 (Oversize)

1. Daybook or ledger - Caleb North, 1819-1845
2. Daybook or ledger - Caleb North, 1841-1866
3. Land patents, 1830, 1836
4. Map of Napoleon, Ohio, 1844

Removals - Cataloged separately

1. Map of the Piqua Land District (MAP 21-51), c.1819
2. Toledo Blade, Feb 19, 1883
3. Tiffin Gazette (partial issue), Sept 18, 1839
4. Old Soldier's Advocate (Cleveland), Oct-Dec 1861 (3 issues)

Manuscripts by Subject | Family Collections