Mantua – Last summer, Darla Derthick’s father, Jeff, asked her to help out with a family history project. Together, the pair spent many hours over the summer researching family history. They combed through artifacts in relative’s homes, asked countless questions of Darla’s grandparents Phil and Marie Derthick, and pored over documents at the county recorder’s office. The countless hours of research took place in addition to working a summer job on a break from college.
“Young people aren’t typically interested in family history,” the Mantua native acknowledged. She admitted to being a “little bit of a history buff,” but was most interested in the project as a way to spend time bonding with her dad. So when Jeff Derthick asked his daughter to help, she readily agreed.
She noted that her grandparents, Phil and Marie, were a wonderful resource for the project, sharing details about farming and animal husbandry on the farm through the ages, and stories about relatives and what they accomplished on the farm over the years.
She noted that her great aunt Karen, (married to her grandfather’s brother, Alan), had done a lot of work in putting historical materials together to create a genealogy book. Darla and her dad built on that knowledge. The information in the informal family archive includes scrapbooks filled with old photos, newspaper clippings and ledgers of the products and supplies that were bought and sold on the farm. Some of these items are 100+ years old, and in very fragile condition. She explained that historical records could be somewhat confusing with lots of common names repeating throughout generations. She added, “There were lots of Franks and Perleas in the book.”
Unlike many young people, Darla was inspired to learn about her grandfather’s grandfather, Frank Adolphus Derthick. She was proud to note, “I got a better understanding of how Frank Adolphus Derthick worked on new methods and techniques to improve life on the farm.” She noted that through his work at the Ohio State Grange, he helped implement improved farming practices to help farmers be more productive. “From 1900’s to 2019 — I’m proud that my family has continued using these methods to make the farm better,” she marveled. “It means a lot to know that we have come such a long way.”
Inspired in part by her ancestors, Darla explained, “I want to continue to make things better, and to help improve life.” Darla currently attends the University of Akron, where she studies mechanical engineering. She’s pleased to be able to share her family history with future generations. Her advice to people her age is to “be curious to know where you came from; it may help guide in where want to go.”
“What a pleasure it was to help them research the land records to prove that their farm has been in the same family for over 200 years,” beamed Portage County Recorder Lori Calcei. “I would love to help others farms get recognized for this great honor.” She shared that Portage County now has two bi-centennial farms and 12 Century Farms that have been recognized by the state. The other farm to receive this this honor in Portage County is the Moore Farm. Calcei asked that other farming families with a history in the county contact her or stop by the recorder’s office to see if their family farm qualifies for this prestigious honor, as well.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture recognizes the contributions of Ohio’s family farms through the Ohio Historic Family Farms program, which recognizes farms that have remained in the same family for at least 100 years. More than 1,700 farms are registered as century, sesquicentennial or bicentennial farms, with at least two farms represented in each of the state’s 88 counties.
