Conveying Convoy

Around 200 years ago, the area where the village of Convoy now stands was nothing but swampland. The property located near the edge of the Black Swamp began to be purchased in the late 1830s. Transient settlers began to arrive and depart shortly thereafter. One of those early visitors were Mr. and Mrs. John Morse who walked from Defiance to build a log house along Ridge Rd. It was Mrs. Morse who gave the township it's name, borrowing from her hometown of Tully, New York.

The first permanent settler was Robert Nesbit. Sent to Ohio by the Pennsylvania Railroad, he built a log cabin in the woods in 1848. Eight years later Nesbit and James Pettit laid out the town which Nesbit named Convoy after his hometown in Ireland, Conmhagh (Convoy). These are the only two towns in the world with this name.

Businesses began to appear, spurred on by the presence of the railroad. Acre after acre of swampland was drained and much forest was cleared to discover prime farm ground beneath. The area was also known for its wild animals. In 1886, a railroad was purchased by George Marsh, G. M. Salzgaber, and L. H. Wise which brought passengers from Van Wert toward the Indiana state line, hoping to see the thick woods and the wild animals.

Convoy itself was incorporated in 1874 with 400 residents led by Mayor A. B. Penny. Lumber was the first real industry of the area. By 1872 there was a stave factory and a hoopmill nearby. But it was the rich farm ground that soon took over. A milling center and associated shops were soon the center of activity.

Two large fires devastated the village in the early part of the 1900s. In August 1900, the south side of the business district was completely destroyed. Residents armed with large blankets and pick poles tried to prevent the blaze from spreading to even more of the structures. The first Convoy fire department rose from the ashes of that disaster.

However in 1906, the north side businesses burned for several days before the blaze was extinguished. These fires caused the replacement of the mostly-wooden storefronts by block buildings.

The first school in the area was located about a half-mile west of town. The first teacher, D. R. Bonnewitz, taught students in all eight grades. The first high school graduates were awarded diplomas from Convoy High School in 1887. An eight-room schoolhouse was built on E. Tully St. in 1918. By 1921, Convoy and Tully Schools merged to form what was then the largest school in Van Wert County. Nine more rooms were added to the building in 1923 and Convoy-Tully School opened that fall with 145 students. Students from Union High School were also arrived in 1952. In 1960 Convoy-Union consolidated with Wren to form Crestview Local Schools.

The village continued to make improvements over the years. A sewage system was installed in the 1930s and a water system was added in 1943. A wastewater treatment facility was built, and streets and sidewalks were continually improved. The latest set of improvements included reconstruction of E. Tully St., then W. Tully and the downtown area which concluded this year.

Edgewood Park, on the village's north side was dedicated in 1980. The park grew out of the Convoy Centennial Celebration of 1974. Proceeds from the event provided seed money for the park. In 1975, 22 acres of land were purchased and work began. The name was chosen by contest with Brian Duncan coming up with the winner. The first ball game at Edgewood Park took place in 1979.

Businesses have continued to flourish in Convoy. Hall Lumber Company, U. S. Bank, and others have been a part of Convoy life for many years. Convoy Care Center was opened in 1983. Even today, new businesses like Baked Nostalgia, Yard Sale Time, and The Secret Garden make Convoy a wonderful place to live.