Nov 28

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Karen’s Chatt!

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish each one of you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. May your home be filled with happiness, joy, and thankfulness as you gather with family and friends today.

Some Thanksgiving fun facts:

Thanksgiving is American’s second-favorite holiday, between Christmas and Halloween.

The first Thanksgiving feast was in 1621 and lasted three days.

There were more Native Americans than colonists at the first Thanksgiving.

For many Native Americans Thanksgiving is known as the National Day of Mourning.

George Washington issued the first presidential proclamation of a Thanksgiving celebration in 1789.

Thanksgiving was held on various dates for many years, but in 1863 Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that it be celebrated on the last Thursday in November. In 1941 the date was fixed as the fourth Thursday in November.

The first Thanksgiving dinner likely included lobster, mussels, venison, and corn porridge, but no potatoes, cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie.

The popular green bean casserole was developed by the Campbell Soup Company.

The Thanksgiving turducken (a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey) originated in New Orleans.

Most Americans believe that leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to pardon a turkey. The bird was intended for his Christmas dinner.

The tradition of cracking a wishbone originated with the ancient Etruscans.

“Jingle Bells” was written for Thanksgiving.

 

Nov 26

Tombstone Tuesday-Hilda (Linn) Bollenbacher

Hilda (Linn) Bollenbacher, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio (2024 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Hilda (Linn) Bollenbacher, located in row 6 of St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The tombstone is inscribed:

1913-1933
Hilda Bollenbacher

Hilda Linn was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 25 June 1913, the youngest child of Henry (1871-1934) and Margaret (Deitsch) Linn (1877-1967) Linn.

The Henry Linn and wife Margaret had a family of nine children. The Henry Linn family in 1920: Henry, 48; Margaret, 42; Edward, 20; Andrew, 19; Valentine, 17; Urban, 15; Paul, 13; William, 11; Eda, 9; and Hilda, 6. Their son John Linn had left home by 1920. [1]

In 1930 Hilda, 16, resided on the home farm with her parents and three of her siblings, Valentine, 27, Urban, 25, and William, 24. [2]

Hilda Linn married Ferdinand Christian Bollenbacher in Mercer County, Ohio, on 14 May 1932. Hilda’s parents gave their consent for her to marry. The couple was married by Rev. Alfred J.A. Wahl. Ferdinand Bollenbacher (1910-1951) was the son of Charles W. Bollenbacher and Mary (Hoffman), also from Liberty Township. [3]

A daughter, Ilene M., was born to Ferdinand and Hilda Bollenbacher on 11 December 1932 in Mercer County.  

Hilda (Linn) Bollenbacher died as a result of blood hemorrhages and spleen problems on 19 April 1933 at University Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She had been a patient there for three weeks and her spleen was removed two days before her death. She 19 years, 9 months, and 24 days old and was buried on the 21st. [4]

From Hilda’s obituary:
Hilda (Linn) Bollenbacher was born in Liberty township 25 June 1913, the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Deitsch) Linn. She was baptized 27 July 1913 by Rev. S. Egger and confirmed in St Paul’s Evangelical Church, Liberty Township, on 10 April 1927 by Rev. A.J. Wahl. She was united in marriage with Ferdinand Bollenbacher 14 May 1932, with Rev. Wahl officiating. Hilda and Ferdinand lived at the home of his parents after their marriage and they had a daughter, Ilene May, born 11 Dec 1932. Hilda was active in the church, a graduate of the First Teachers Training Class in 1930, and she taught Sunday School.

Hilda was survived by her husband, a daughter, her parents, her grandmother, Mrs. John Deitsch Sr; her in-laws, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Bollenbacher; six brothers, Edward Linn, Celina; Andrew Linn, Coldwater; Valentine Linn, Urban Linn, William Linn, Liberty Township; Paul Linn, South Bend, Indiana; a sister Eda Linn, Celina; brother-in-law Richard Bollenbacher; sisters-in-law Mrs. Edwin Bollenbacher, Liberty Township, and Mrs. John D. Bollenbacher, Celina. She was preceded in death by her brother Carl Linn in 1927 and another brother who died in infancy. At her funeral her confirmation class sang the hymn O Jesus, I Have Promised. [5]

It is interesting to note that Rev. Wahl confirmed Hilda and presided over her marriage and burial.

Ferdinand and Hilda (Linn) Bollenbacher had one child:
Ilene M. Bollenbacher (1932-2012), married Leroy W. Limbert

Hilda Linn had the following siblings:
Charles John Linn (1897-1937), married Hulda Bollenbacher
Edward H Linn (1899-1972), married Margaret E Laderman
Andrew Chris “Andy” Linn (1900-1971), married Velma A Douglas
Valentine “Jim” Linn (1903-1985), married Elizabeth K Wendel
Urban P. Linn (1904-1978), never married
Paul Roma Linn Sr (1906-1973), married Helen K Kindig
William P Linn (1908-1993), married Alma Irene Brown
Eda Caroline Linn (1910-1993), married Herbert Schaadt

In 1940, Hilda’s widowed husband Ferdinand and daughter Ilene lived with Ferdinand’s parents in Liberty Township. Ferdinand married Melba Smithley (1921-1990) in Adams County, Indiana, on 14 March 1944. Ferdinand and Melba had a son, Michael Charles Bollenbacher (1949-2009). Ferdinand Bollenbacher died 31 January 1951 and Melba married Leroy G. Overman (1923-2005) in 1953.

[1] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 140, p.5A, dwelling 84, family 87, Henry Linn; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 20, p.4A, dwelling 86, family 86, Henry Linn; Ancestry.com.

[3] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer Marriage Record 14, p.52, Ferdinand Bollenbacher & Hilda Linn, 14 May 1932; Ancestry.com.

[4] Ohio Deaths Records, Hilda Bollenbacher, 19 Apr 1933; FamilySearch.org.

[5] Hilda (Linn) Bollenbacher Find a Grave Memorial no.28261687; Find a Grave.com.

Nov 22

Willshire High School 1944 Senior Class Photo

People can be very kind and thoughtful, going out of their way to share information they randomly find.

Thank you to Jodie, who saw this photo at a thrift store, found that Karen’s Chatt has a connection to Willshire, and forwarded a scan of the photo to me, a photo of the 1944 Willshire High School senior class.

Plus, the names of the class members are hand-written on the back of the photo. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Willshire High School Class of 1944

Back row: Paul Leistner, Ralph Hamrick, Rick Strickler, Bob Carr, Fredrick Schumm.

Middle row: Winifred Davis, Blaine High, Donie Eichar, Gene Bebout, Nancy Schaffner, Vera Dull (sponsor).

Seated: Helen Hileman, Dorothy Carr, Harriet Stetler, Alvera Cully, Margie McBride, Dorothy Miller.

The photographer was Fred B. Smith, School Photos, Blanchard Avenue, Findlay, Ohio.

Written vertically on the left side of the back, probably written by the photographer, is Miss Nancy Jane Schaffner, Senior 1943-1944.

Names written on the back of Willshire 1944 senior class photo.

This was likely Nancy Schaffner’s copy of her senior class photo. She was the last surviving member of the Willshire High School Class of 1944, a class of 16 members. Nancy passed away just a little over a month ago, on 18 October 2024. Somehow the photo made its way to the thrift store.

WWII was still going on in 1944 and many of these young men served in the U.S. armed forces after they graduated.

A little more about the members of the Willshire Class of 1944:

Paul S. Leistner (1926-1997), married Barbara Rose White

Ralph W. Hamrick (1926-2019), U.S. Army, WWII; married Kathryn L. Baxter; married Frances L. Dull

Richard LeDoyle Strickler (1926-2006), U.S. Navy, WWII; married Pauline Ila Smith

Robert E. Carr (1926-1992), U.S. Navy, WWII; married Dorothy L. Minx

Fredrick “Fritz” Louis Schumm (1926-1990), U.S. Army, WWII; married Rosemary Ilo Fisher

Winifred Irene Davis (1926-2005), U.S. Air Force; married William C. Stout

Collin Blaine High (1926-1967), U.S. Army, WWII; married Mary B. Bollinger

Donald F. Eichar (1926-2015), U.S. Navy; married Elizabeth L. Skiles

Eugene Harold Bebout (1926-1996), married Carol Carey [1]

Nancy Jane Schaffner (1926-2024), married Gail Tice; married Gerald E. Hildbold

Vera Pearl Dull (sponsor) (1896-1977)

Helen Jean Hileman (1926-2002), married Charles Phillip White

Dorothy L. Carr (1926-2004), married Robert Humbert

Harriet E. Stetler (1926-1969), married Max Noll; married David Martin

Alvera Cully (1926-2013), married Theodore David Eady

Margie R. McBride (1927-2016), married Charles M. Opliger

Dorothy J. Miller (1926-1993), married Charles M. Tussing; married Floyd Ray; married [?] Whitmore

I remember several of the individuals in this class and two of them, Helen Jean Hileman and Dorothy Carr, were members of Zion Lutheran, Chatt.

The photo is also a good example of high school fashion during the war years.

Such a nice photo! Thank you Jodie for sending it to me!

[1] There appears to be a flag staff by his tombstone photo on FindaGrave.com. However, I could find no details of his military service. Perhaps someone knows and will let me know.

Nov 15

Veterans Buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm

A number of U.S. veterans, 30 at least, are buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm. Two served in WWI, fourteen served in WWII, five served during the Korea era, and two served in Vietnam. One served in the Civil War for certain, although there are four Civil War or GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) flagstaffs in the cemetery. The GAR was an organization for Civil War Veterans.    

Most veterans buried at Zion Schumm served in the U.S. Army, but four served in the U.S. Navy, two in the U.S. Marines, and one in the U.S. Air Force. There is one female veteran buried at Zion Schumm.

Pvt. Edgar F. Schumm was killed in action in France during WWII and most likely his tombstone here is what is call a cenotaph, or a monument erected in honor of someone who is buried elsewhere.

Veterans buried at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio:

Eloise E. (Vanderburg) Alspaugh (1923-2003) U.S. Navy, WWII
Ned J. Alspaugh (1920-2003) U.S. Army, WWII
William O. Baker (1933-2009) U.S. Army, Korea
James R. Baxter (1927-1984) U.S. Army, WWII
Edgar J. Dietrich (1915-1996) U.S. Army, WWII
Henry W. Dietrich (1922-2005) U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII
Nicholas Geisler (1832-1912) 20th Reg. OVI, Civil War
Marvin J. Grote (1936-2022) U.S. Army Reserves
Edward T. Gunsett (1891-1973) U.S. Army, WWI
Paul L. Hofmann (1913-1977) U.S. Army, WWII
Vance D. Krick (1941-1998) U.S. Navy, Vietnam
Edward A. McCullough (1931-2022) U.S. Marines, Korea
Tim E. McCullough (1959-2019) U.S. Navy
Eugene F. Merkle (1936-1999) U.S. Army
Terry J. Post (1949-2022) U.S. Army, Vietnam
Paul A. Roehm Jr (1929-1968) U.S. Army, Korea
Donald T. Salway (1927-1993) U.S. Army, WWII
Harold F. Salway (1925-1996) U.S. Navy, WWII
Alfred W. Schott (1927-2011) U.S. Army, WWII
Charles H Schlemmer (1935-2011) U.S. Army
Pvt. Edgar F. Schumm (1914-1944), WWII, died in France
Emanuel H. Schumm (1892-1973) Ohio Prov Guard Co, WWI
Frederick J. Schumm (1933-2015) U.S. Army, Korea
Harold P. Schumm (1921-1988) U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII
Oswald H. Schumm (1902-1987) U.S. Army, WWII
Richard E. Schumm (1922-1990) U.S. Marines, WWII
Roman C. Schumm (1924-1988) U.S. Army, WWII
Palmer L. Schwartz (1928-2010) U.S. Army
Harold W. Schweyer (1928-2014) U.S. Air Force, Korea
Walter E. Thatcher (1934-2021) U.S. Army

Nicholas Geisler served in the Civil War, Co. G of the 20th OVI, and his flag staff is cast with American War Veteran, 1861-1865. The other three GAR flagstaffs are somewhat of a mystery, although there are connections to the Civil War. One GAR flagstaff is by the tombstone of George Martin Schumm (1812-1871), whose son John Schumm (1843-1864) died at Salisbury, North Carolina, during the Civil War. The second is by the tombstone that marks the graves of three members of the Rodes family, but it appears that all three men died before the Civil War began. Neither Schumm nor the Rodes men would have been GAR members. The third GAR flagstaff is by the tombstone of Johann Buechner (1828-1896). Johann Buechner, per the CW Draft Registrations, Willshire Township, June 1863, age 35, born in Germany, “drafted last fall, has a substitute in service.” He was not listed in the 1890 Veterans Schedule. It appears that he probably did not serve in the Civil War himself but got a substitute to serve in his place.

I tried to include all the veterans buried there. Please let me know if I have omitted anyone from this list.

We remember and honor all the sacrifices these veterans made for us and for our country.

Nov 12

Tombstone Tuesday-Wreaths Across America

The day after Veterans Day is a good day to mention Wreaths Across America, a non-profit organization that organizes volunteers who place wreaths on veterans’ tombstones on a specified day in December.

This year National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, 14 December 2024. On that day, volunteers will gather at more than 4,000 participating locations across the country to remember and honor our nation’s heroes, one wreath at a time.

Arlington National Cemetery, 2010, Flickr [1]

The mission of Wreaths across America is threefold: Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.

Remember: Sponsor a veteran’s wreath in honor of or in memory of a loved one who served in our armed forces. Or sponsor a wreath and allow Wreaths across America to designate a recipient among the millions of veterans who rest in honored glory.

Honor: Volunteer with Wreaths across America as they honor our veterans throughout the year. Opportunities include laying wreaths locally, leading a sponsorship group, or coordinating a ceremony location.

Teach: Invite friends, family, coworkers, and organizations to join Wreaths across America as they strive to honor every veteran, helping to support and spread the word of their mission.

You can volunteer several ways: sponsor a wreath, volunteer, partner with Wreaths across America on National Wreaths across America Day, or sponsor a specific cemetery or Local Sponsorship Group.

There are several ways to sponsor a wreath or any number of wreaths:

Pair a Wreath: Pair a sponsored wreath with a gift wreath which is delivered to your home or to a loved-one or friend.

In Honor and Memory Of: Sponsor wreaths in honor of living veterans or in memory of those who have passed, with the option to include email or mailed gift cards. [2]

Wreaths Across America also has merchandise and gear for sale on their website, so you can show support, spread information about the organization, and for gift giving.  

Their live balsam wreaths come from the Worcester Wreath Company, a family farm in Maine that is also a proud sponsor of Wreaths across America. The wreaths are made in Maine and each comes with a red velvet ribbon. 

I usually purchase their Pair a Wreath. I receive a wreath for myself and Wreaths Across America designates a recipient for the other wreath I purchase, my sponsored wreath.

Herbert & Florence (Schumm) Miller, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio (2022 photo by Karen)

I ordered my Wreaths Across America wreath pair last week. I will place my wreath at my parents’ gravestone, in honor of my dad, a WWII veteran. The wreath I sponsored will be placed at a tombstone somewhere on National Wreaths Across America Day.   

What a special way to honor our nation’s veterans and decorate a gravesite with a beautiful Christmas wreath as well. 

[1] Flickr photo, taken 11 Dec 2010, uploaded 14 Dec 2010, https://www.flickr.com/photos/walmartcorporate/with/5262055852/ , Creative Commons License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/# .

[2] Their website: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/