I’m co-authoring a paper on the early drilling in Grand Lake, Ohio (also known as Grand Reservoir, Grand Lake St. Marys, Lake Mercer, etc.).  First overwater drilling there appears to be in 1891 and probably in the floodwater area.

I have several postcards in my collection showing scenes of the drilling near and in the lake.  Looking for more.   Please contact me.  More on the history when the paper comes out in early 2018.