Early Findlay settler getting new gravestone

FINDLAY — A new gravestone honoring Squire William Carlin, one of the first settlers in Findlay, will be dedicated at noon on May 30 in Maple Grove Cemetery. It replaces a headstone and smaller markers that deteriorated over the years and became unreadable, while no stone was ever placed for Squire and his second wife, said William "Bill" Carlin, a great-great-great-grandson of the pioneer. Descendants will gather at the gravesite to dedicate the new marker with a brief program. Bill's niece, Heather (Carlin) Kensinger, a current Findlay City Council member, will speak. The public is invited to attend. His burial plot is located in Block B, Lot 174. "My dad, same name as me. He was William Carlin. He was the mayor here from '58 to '64," said Bill. The elder Carlin's father was Rawson King Carlin. And his father was William L. Carlin, who built the large house that stands at the corner of South Main and Third streets. He was an attorney and businessman and had served as mayor of Findlay and a state senator. William L.'s father, Dr. William D. Carlin, was a surgeon and doctor in Findlay. He also served as surgeon of the 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. However, he died in 1862 on the steamer Omaha at the mouth of the Yazoo River near Milliken's Bend, Louisiana due to congestive fever (malaria). And his father was Squire, Bill said. Squire was born in upstate New York on Christmas Day 1801. When he was 5, the family moved to an area at the mouth of the Huron River. They were the second white family to locate in Huron but only remained a year. The also lived near Monroe, Michigan and Maumee. After the surrender of General William Hull in 1812, the family moved southward along Hull's Trail to Urbana, traveling through what would become Findlay. Squire later told of visiting Fort Findlay on the route. "Eventually he came down to Findlay. He had passed through with his dad one time earlier, and he remembered it," said Bill. "So when he had to move from the north because of Indian stuff, they came down here and settled." Squire and his wife, Sarah Anne (Woolcott) Carlin, moved to Findlay in 1826. Squire was 25 years old. Shortly after arriving, Squire purchased the first lot sold and erected a log structure at the corner of South Main and West Front streets which became the first general store in the settlement as well as the family home. His brother, Parlee, followed two years later and joined Squire in business. Together they ran the store which was known as S. and P. Carlin Mercantile, said Bill. During the 1830s, the brothers opened a grist and sawmill along the north bank of the Blanchard River. Squire was also committed to public service, Bill said. From 1831-49, he was Findlay's third postmaster and served as Hancock County Treasurer from 1831-39. A decade later, Squire joined a group of Findlay men headed to California for the gold rush. "They made a trip out there, trying to make their fortune," said Bill. "I don't know what happened with most of the others, but Squire, when he came back about 2½, 3 years later, he had hit it pretty big." Bill said he stopped in New Orleans to exchange his gold for cash. When Squire returned to Findlay in 1851, he started in land speculation because he had money. "He kind of died without it all, but he used it," Bill said. Squire sold the store in 1852 but continued to operate the mills. He also invested in railroad development, although the venture ultimately failed. Bill said he never expressed regret for placing his resources into the future of the community. In 1854, the Carlin brothers helped establish Citizens Bank. Family life was central to Squire's story, said Bill. Squire and Sarah had 10 children, although only three lived to maturity. Sarah passed away in 1850 while Squire was in California. Squire erected a large headstone in her memory, along with smaller stones for two of their sons buried nearby. Over time, those markers deteriorated. His second wife, Delia P. (Briggs) Gardner Carlin, was a twice-widowed school teacher. They had three children. Bill said he is only aware of one who survived to adulthood. In his later years, Squire held the distinction of being the oldest continuous resident living in the community. He died on Nov. 29, 1892 at the age of 90, following a fall. "Everybody knew him. Everybody respected him, and they thought he was a nice guy," Bill said. Delia remained in Findlay, living until 1907. No gravestone was ever placed in the cemetery for the couple. Descendants of the Carlin family chose to restore and properly commemorate their legacy by commissioning a new headstone honoring those buried together. "There's five people buried there, and I didn't want to leave anybody out," Bill explained. "So there's his wife, Sarah, two children that were buried there, John Elliot and Squire Benton, then Delia and Squire." All five names are on the headstone, he said, and "A Findlay Founding Father" is engraved at the top. "He was quite an important person in the history of Findlay, and with that in mind I went first and talked to the mayor a couple of years ago. I want to make this as big a deal as I can," said Bill, who turns 80 two prior to the dedication. "This is very special thing for the family."