Near Kossuth in Auglaize County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Bloody Bridge

Photographed by Craig Doda, May 18, 2019

1. Bloody Bridge Marker

Inscription. During the canal years of the 1850's a rivalry grew between Bill Jones and Jack Billings for the love of Minnie Warren. This became hatred by Bill because Minnie chose Jack. On a fall night in 1854, returning from a party, Minnie and Jack were surprised on the bridge by Bill, armed with an axe. With one swing, Bill severed Jack's head. Seeing this, Minnie screamed and fell into a watery grave. Bill disappeared, and when a skeleton was found years later in a nearby well, people asked was it suicide or justice.

Erected 1976 by Auglaize County Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the The Miami & Erie Canal series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 40° 37.081′ N, 84° 21.162′ W. Marker is near Kossuth, Ohio, in Auglaize County. It is at the intersection of Ohio Route 66 and County Route 182, on the left when traveling south on Ohio Route 66. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Spencerville OH 45887, 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Six Mile Creek Aqueduct / The Miami & Erie Canal (approx.

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0.6 miles away); Walnut Grove Church Bell (approx. 1.3 miles away); Lock 14 (approx. 1½ miles away); Lock 14 on the Miami and Erie Canal (approx. 1½ miles away); Broadwell Mill (approx. 2½ miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away); Noble Township Community Park (approx. 2.9 miles away); St. Patrick Catholic Church (approx. 3 miles away).

Additional keywords. Bloody Bridge

Photographed by Michael Baker, November 18, 2014

2. Bloody Bridge Marker

This is a photo of the marker prior to restoration.

Photographed by Michael Baker, November 18, 2014

3. Bloody Bridge Marker

Photographed by Michael Baker, November 18, 2014

4. Bloody Bridge Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2015, by Michael Baker of Lima, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,568 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 19, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 7, 2015, by Michael Baker of Lima, Ohio. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.