Tiffin in Seneca County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Rezin W. Shawhan & the Seneca County Museum

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 28, 2019

1. Rezin W. Shawhan & the Seneca County Museum Marker

Inscription. The Seneca County Museum is the former home of local businessman Rezin W. Shawhan. Born in 1811, Shawhan arrived in Tiffin in 1832 and opened a store with his brother Lorenzo. The store’s success enabled Rezin to expand his interests into real estate and banking. Upon his death in 1887, his estate was valued in excess of $1 million. Much of it was bequeathed to his second wife, Della Watson Shawhan. He also left bequests to Heidelberg College, the library, and Tiffin’s churches. The Greek Revival-style house, built in 1853, was passed down through the family, ending with Lynn Troxel who, in 1941, donated it to the county for use as a museum. The house is part of the Fort Ball-Railroad Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Erected 2015 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation, Seneca County Historical Society, and The Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 11-74.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection

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series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1811.

Location. 41° 6.961′ N, 83° 10.872′ W. Marker is in Tiffin, Ohio, in Seneca County. It is on Clay Street west of Frost Parkway and the Sandusky River, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tiffin OH 44883, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Judge John W. Schaufelberger House (within shouting distance of this marker); Bicentennial Commemoration of the Northwest Ordinance (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Ball (approx. 0.2 miles away); Seneca County World War II Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Korean War (approx. 0.2 miles away); Seneca County Civil War Monument

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 28, 2019

2. Rezin W. Shawhan & the Seneca County Museum Marker

(approx. 0.2 miles away); Seneca County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); World War I (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tiffin.

Rezin W. Shawhan House & the Seneca County Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, July 28, 2019

3. Rezin W. Shawhan House & the Seneca County Museum

Marker is in profile just to the left of the building’s left edge.

The Seneca County Museum Dedication Tablet and Preservation Award image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 2, 2022

4. The Seneca County Museum Dedication Tablet and Preservation Award

The Seneca County Museum Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 2, 2022

5. The Seneca County Museum Cornerstone

Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 550 times since then and 18 times this year. Last updated on June 2, 2023, by Grant & Mary Ann Fish of Galloway, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 11, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4, 5. submitted on April 8, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.