Charles W. Cotter was born on a farm near West Unity on August 19, 1913. He graduated from West Unity High School in 1931. He began farming with his father Carl, who hauled milk to the Pet Milk Company in Bryan. He also rented a farm for himself.

Farming was his career, his passion. It was his joy, his hobby and his first love. He was a good steward of the land, a hard worker and a good manager. As a young farmer he joined Farm Bureau. He remained a member for the rest of his life. During the years, Charles was a member of every farm organization in the county; he was a chairman of several.

Charles’s ancestors came to Williams County in the 1800’s. His great grandfather fought in the Civil War. Charles died in January 1999.

Mildred B. Cotter was born on a farm near Waldron, Michigan, on September 7, 1915. She graduated from Waldron High School in 1932. She attended Ypsilanti State Normal College, (now EMU) 1932-33. She taught in one-room country schools, also attending summer school from 1933-1939. Mildred married Charles W. Cotter, a farmer near West Unity on May 20, 1939. Together, they had two children: Jack B. of Oxford, who worked with Shell Chemical, then Dupont, and is now retired; and Jill A. Blocker of Patterson, Georgia, who had a career in civil service as a paralegal with Judge Advocate General of Army, and is now retired. In 1956, Mildred returned to teaching, completing one year at Elmira School, followed by nineteen years in the Millcreek-West Unity Schools (18 years at Alvordton). During these years, she attended summer school at Defiance College, graduating in 1964.

James, son of William and Lottie Hutchinson was born September 18, 1942. He attended elementary through ninth grade at the former Kunkle School and graduated from North Central High School in Pioneer, Ohio in 1960. He furthered his education by receiving his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Defiance College and a Masters in Administration from the University of Toledo. Jim spent 41 years in the field of education serving the Millcreek-West Unity, Montpelier, Williams County, Stryker and Woodmore School Districts and four years as Vice-President of Finance at Northwest State Community College.

During his tenure as Superintendent of the Millcreek-West Unity Schools from 1979-1994 Jim saw a great need for scholarships for Hilltop graduates. In 1994, he spearheaded the formation of the Millcreek-West Unity Area Foundation. Through this foundation, Jim and Jane will continue to support the Mary Gares Suter Scholarship. This scholarship was originally established in 1985 by family and friends in memory of the former Millcreek-West Unity teacher. Mary Gares, the only child of Ed and Myrta Gares, was born near West Unity August 15, 1914. She graduated from West Unity High School, and continued her education at Bowling Green State University. Returning to West Unity, she taught first grade prior to her marriage to G. Richard Suter in 1938. They were the parents of three children, Jack, Jane and Barbara. With all their children attending school, “Mrs. Sutter” returned to the classroom teaching fifth grade and later kindergarten. After twenty seven years of dedicated service, she retired in 1977.

Jane was born September 24, 1941 to G. Richard and Mary Gares Suter. She was born and raised in West Unity and graduated from Hilltop High School in 1959. She went on to attend Ohio Northern University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. In 1965 she married Jim and they chose to live on the farm that was purchased from the United States government by Jane’s great great-grandfather, John Gares in 1834. To them were born three children, Matthew, Sarah (Sally) and Mary (Molly). Matt, Sally and Molly were sixth generation to live on the Gares homestead. The Hutchinson siblings are graduates of Hilltop High School and Miami University. Jim and Jane have four grandchildren: Matt and Joy King Hutchinson are the parents of James Thomas and Marie Ann; Madeline Jane and Benjamin Henry are the children of Molly and Curtis Wyrick.

To honor and pay tribute to Jane’s heritage the Hutchinson’s have chosen the German M.E. Church as the other benefactor of their fund. This church was built in 1869 as a result of a small group of German immigrants who felt the need to worship God in the wilderness. They had first met in the humble log cabin of John and Sarah Gares in 1842. Even though the church has not held weekly services for over one hundred years, it continues to be a sanctuary for weddings, funerals and special services and a memorial to the forefathers of Brady Township, Williams County.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Samuel enlisted in the 100th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was involved in several battles in addition to being taken prisoner for six months. After the Civil War he engaged in farming and carpentry. He married Sarah Jane Oberlin on September 17, 1868. At one time he served as Williams County Sheriff and was superintendent of the Bunker Hill Reformed Church. Their first son, Forest, was born January 2, 1881, and they also had a second son, Ray.

In 1915 Forest married Belle Swaney and they lived on the homestead while Forest’s parents moved to West Unity and became members of the Presbyterian Church. Although Forest was a progressive farmer he preferred to describe himself as a pitchfork-shovel and hoe farmer. Spring work began on the Wineland farm when the sugarbush was opened and the gallons of golden maple syrup were processed and sold. During the summer months he raised corn, wheat, soybeans, and tomatoes. Forest was a sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing and he and his wife made many trips to Indiana and northern Michigan. After 26 years of marriage, his wife died in 1941.

On February 6, 1943, Forest married Isabelle Croninger, the eldest daughter of David and Clara (Burkholder) Croninger, who was born on December 20, 1898. When two years old, Isabelle contracted polio leaving her crippled in one foot. Unable to compete at play with her classmates, she excelled as a student. After graduation from high school she enrolled at Tri-State University at Angola, Indiana, and graduated from their department of Business Education in 1920. She accepted a position in Fort Wayne but due to illness was forced to return to her parents’ home. When able to resume work, she was employed at the West Unity Post Office until resigning to accept a position with the West Unity Banking Company. Isabelle was active in the West Unity Presbyterian Church and Brady Grange.

Forest and Isabelle lived on the Wineland homestead until Forest retired from farming and they moved to her home in West unity. They continued to manage the farm and in 1965 the Williams County Historical Society presented them with a Centennial Certificate award recognizing the fact that the farm had been in the Wineland family since 1854.

For the last 24 years the Wineland’s spent the winter months in Port Richey, Florida, where Forest enjoyed fishing, shuffleboard and playing euchre with his friends. Forest died at the age of 95 on December 9, 1976, and Isabelle died August 8, 1987.

The Winelands left no descendants and it was because of their belief in the future of farming and education that they have generously contributed a part of their estate to be administered through the Bryan Area Foundation to not only perpetuate their memory but at the same time benefit deserving students and worthy projects in the community of West Unity and Williams County.

Mick and Linda settled in West Unity in 1972. Mick started his career as a health and physical education teacher at Hilltop High School where he eventually served as high school principal for eighteen years. Linda was fond of children and teaching was her calling. Linda worked at Bryan City Schools for over thirty years where she taught art, music, kindergarten (transition), first grade, and reading. Linda was beloved by her students and always went the extra mile to guide and support them.

Mick and Linda raised their three children, Erik Belcher of Napoleon, Ohio, Kristin Parker of Glencoe, Illinois, and Brooke Belcher of Evanston, Illinois, in West Unity. All three kids graduated from Hilltop High School where they participated in numerous sporting activities. Erik and Brooke both held school point records for basketball and Kristin and Brooke were members of the state championship volleyball team.

With guidance and support from their parents, Erik, Kristin, and Brooke all received doctorate degrees. Erik graduated from Adrian College and received his Doctorate degree in education from the University of Findlay. Kristin graduated from The Ohio State University and received her juris doctorate from Northwestern University School of Law. Brooke graduated from Bowling Green State University and received her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Linda Belcher passed away unexpectedly on Monday, November 7, 2022, at age 74. Linda was a ray of sunshine and everyone who knew her loved her. She welcomed everyone with her beautiful smile, kind heart, and giving nature. She was a loving mother, not only to her children but also to their friends and to her many current and former students. She was known to spend late nights typing science fair papers for anyone who needed help, give her students rides home from school, and to dole out delicious treats. Linda always offered words of encouragement and support and she was a fixture at her children’s high school and college sporting events. Linda deeply valued education and encouraged anyone who would listen to get a post-secondary degree. Linda was the most loving grandmother to all eight of her grandchildren and they adored her. This scholarship pays tribute to Linda, the value she put on higher education, and the legacy of love and light that she left behind.