Dec 31

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from Karen’s Chatt! Wishing all a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2020.

Dec 27

A Little More Christmas Spirit

Here we are, right in the middle of the 2019 holiday season. Christmas is a now a memory but we still look forward to welcoming in the New Year.

One of my least favorite things during the post-holiday season is taking down all the decorations and putting them away. Besides all that work, once the festive decorations are gone the house looks rather drab. There is just something about the red and green colors, the decorations, and the pretty lights that brighten up the home.

Since I am in no hurry to take down the decorations this year I think I will observe the Twelve Days of Christmas so we will have the chance to enjoy them a little longer.

Below are few photos I took around the house, as we continue on with the spirit of Christmas.

May the spirit of Christmas live in our hearts today and always.

Dec 24

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Karen’s Chatt! Christmas blessings to you and yours.

Dec 20

Old Promotional Items from Chattanooga, Ohio

In the past, Christmas was the time when businesses gave away small handy and useful items to thank their customers as well as to advertise their business. These items often included calendars, notebooks, pencils, pens, and the like. Some businesses still send out promotional items, but it doesn’t seem that as many do today as in years past.

Below are photos of advertising items from some Chatt businesses years ago. These items may very well have been given away at Christmastime.

Yardsticks from Fisher Hardware and Implements. The bottom one is much heavier and is probably the older of the two:

Yardsticks from Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

Yardstick from Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

A fan from Fisher Hardware. This was probably used more in the summer months than at Christmastime:

Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

A 3-D glass Rockwell picture from Bollenbacher’s Grocery:

Picture from Bollenbacher’s Grocery, Chatt, Ohio.

Back of picture from Bollenbacher’s Grocery, Chatt, Ohio.

A 1934 calendar from Johnson’s Garage. This elaborate calendar is made from paper products and is very fragile. There is a “basket” above the calendar:

1934 wall calendar from Johnson’s Garage, Chatt, Ohio.

1934 wall calendar, Johnson’s Garage, Chatt, Ohio.

1934 wall calendar, Johnson’s Garage, Chatt, Ohio.

A fan from Wendel’s Motor Sales. Fans must have been popular:

Wendel’s Motor Sales, Chatt, Ohio.

Wendel’s Motor Sales, Chatt, Ohio.

A Farmer’s Pocket Ledger from Fisher Hardware, 1953-54.

1953-54, Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio

1953-54, Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio

These items bring back some fond memories.

Dec 17

Tombstone Tuesday–George Martin Pflueger

George Martin Pflueger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of George Martin Pflueger, located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

George M.
Sohn von
M & CM Pfleger
Gest
Den 13 Aug 1859
Alter 1 J, 10 M, 11T

George M, son of M & CM Pflueger, died 13 August 1859, aged 1 year, 10 months, and 11 days.

George Martin Pflueger was born 23 September 1857 in Van Wert County, Ohio, to Michael and Maria Catharine (Brandt) Pflueger. He was baptized at home on 12 March 1858 with widow Barbara (Pflueger) Schumm and George Schumm and wife serving as his sponsors. Also baptized on that same day was his sister, Maria Barbara Pflueger, who was born 27 July 1855. Both children had the same sponsors.

Little George Martin Pflueger died 13 August 1859. Zion Schumm’s minister entered the information about his death in the church records along with the following notation: The parents do not belong to the church but the child was baptized by me.

The church records do not give the cause of George Martin’s death or the date of his burial.

Michael and Maria Catharine Pflueger, both German immigrants, married in Holmes County 28 May 1846 and moved to the Schumm area around 1848.

Despite the fact that Zion Schumm’s minister indicates that the parents did not belong to the church in 1859, several of their children were baptized at Zion Schumm over the years. Several family deaths and burials are also recorded there and some family members are buried in Zion’s cemetery. It appears the family probably did join the church at some point.

Wife and mother Maria Catharine (Brandt) Pflueger died 4 April 1882 and is buried in row 9 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery. The names of five of their children are inscribed on Maria Catharine’s tombstone. [1]

The father Michael Pflueger died in 1903 and is buried in Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County. [2]  

Michael and Maria Catharine (Brandt) Pflueger had at least eleven children and at least six of them died young:
Maria Katharina (1848-1848)
Margaretha (1849-1849)
Rosina/Rose Ann (1850-1869)
Abraham (1853-1936), married Elizabeth Hoffman
Maria Barbara (1855-1935), married Jacob/GW Clouse
Georg Martin (1857-1859)
Martin Friedrich (1860-1943), married Sarah M. Burk
Adam Jakob (1862-1919), married Anna Regina Pfeifer
Johann Heinrich (1863-1864)
Andreas Jacob (1866-1867)
Maria Hanna (1871-?)

[1] “Tombstone Tuesday-Maria C. Pflueger,” 14 May 2013; Karen’s Chatt (www.karenmillerbennett.com).

[2] “Tombstone Tuesday—Michael G. Pflueger,” 21 May 2013 and “Tombstone Tuesday—Michael G. Pflueger (revisited),” 6 Nov 2018; Karen’s Chatt (www.karenmillerbennett.com).