Dec 30

Tombstone Tuesday–Maria Helena Heffner

Maria H Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Maria H Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Maria Helena Heffner, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Maria H.
Dau of
F. & A. Heffner
Died Sept 21, 1898
Aged
5m 9d

Maria Helena Heffner was born 12 April 1898 to Fredrick and Anna (Merkle) Heffner. She was baptized by Zion Chatt’s Rev. Carl August Affeld on 1 May 1898, with Lucinda Merkle and George Heffner as her sponsors.

Maria died 21 September 1898, at the age of 5 months and 9 days. Zion Chatt’s death records give her cause of death as summer sickness, which was likely diarrhea caused by spoiled milk. This record indicates that she was survived by her parents and 5 siblings.

Maria’s Mercer County Probate death record indicates she died of typhoid and that she was 6 months and 21 days old. This record does not name her parents but indicates that she was born and died in Liberty Township and that she lived in Chattanooga. [1]

 

[1] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” index and images, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 28 December 2014), Marie Heffner, 21 September 1898; citing Deaths, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, Vol 2, p.309, from FHL microfilm 914954.

Dec 25

Merry Christmas from Karen’s Chatt!

Merry Christmas to you and yours! I hope you enjoy these nostalgic Christmas postcards.

Christmas Girl old

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Old Santa PC

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Dec 23

Tombstone Tuesday–Herbert Heffner

Herbert Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Herbert Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Herbert Heffner, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Feb. 26, 1894
Aug. 13, 1908
HERBERT
HEFFNER

Walter Herbert Heffner was born in the family home in Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 26 February 1894 to Fredrick and Anna (Merkle) Heffner. He was baptized 11 March 1894, with his parents as his sponsors. [1] [2]

He would have been confirmed at Zion in 1909, but an accident took his life a year earlier.

Herbert died 13 August 1908, at the age of 14 years, 5 months and 18 days. He was buried on the 16th. He was survived by his parents and seven siblings.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 December 2014), Walter H. Heffner, 26 February 1894; citing Births, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, Vol. 3, p.85, reference Roll 1 P85 R4, from FHL microfilm 914953.

[2] Birth and baptisms, Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio.

Dec 19

Christmas Memories–Toys

What was under the Christmas tree for a good little girl back in the 1950s?

I believe I can answer that. I still have some of my old toys that I received as Christmas presents over 55 years ago. Yesterday I gathered them together and arranged them around the Christmas trees in our basement.

Karen's Toys from the 50s.

Karen’s toys from the 50s.

The whistling top is one of the first toys I can remember. It is a little rusty now but it still works fine. A chalkboard with the alphabet and numbers was also a gift years ago.

Whistling top, chalkboard, mop & broom toys.

Whistling top, chalkboard, mop & broom toys.

The clucking chicken was a pull toy. I showed it to Chloe a few weeks ago and she didn’t quite know what to make of it. One year I received a set of small metal luggage, shown to the left of the chicken.

Clucking chicken pull toy.

Clucking chicken pull toy.

I received the little metal stove for Christmas when we lived in the house across the road from where I grew up. That would have been before 1959. The stove has an electrical cord and the little oven really worked. It came with tiny cake pans and tiny packages of cake mix. What fun! The little iron sitting on the stove is also electric. I have a little ironing board, too, somewhere… I don’t remember using the iron so I don’t remember if it got very hot.

Toy electric stove.

Toy electric stove.

Can you imagine a small electric stove or an electric iron for a child today? Electricity with sharp metal corners to boot! We have rules and regulations against that sort of thing today. Somehow we survived those dangerous toys of the 50s. I received some other domestic toys, too–a small mop and broom.

In the back of the top photo, standing in my old doll buggy, is Betty the Beautiful Bride. One year I wanted a bride doll more than anything and I received Betty for Christmas. She was truly beautiful in her satin and lace gown. Her box describes the doll as Betty—the Beautiful Bride with the most exquisite bridal gown ever made! Soft all-rubber body; Washable rooted hair. Comb it! Brush it! Curl it! Complete with bridal bouquet, colorful wall plaque, Bing Crosby’s recording “Because.” Unbreakable from head to toe.2 ½ feet tall.

Except for her yellowed gown, Betty looks just like new because I was not allowed to play with her. She was always stored high in my closet, safe in her box.

Betty the Beautiful Bride

Betty the Beautiful Bride

I did play with my Saucy Walker doll, however. She was a walking doll who turned her head as she walked. She still looks good and is dressed in her original dress. I believe she may have had braids at one time–before I decided she would look better in a ponytail.

Saucy Walker doll.

Saucy Walker doll.

One of my very favorite toys was Matt Dillon on his horse. I loved horses when I was a child and I unsaddled and re-saddled that horse over and over. The pair is in good condition and Matt still has his hat and gun, like a good lawman should.

Matt Dillon on his horse.

Matt Dillon on his horse.

Over the years I received several other boy-type toys, which I no longer have. I remember getting a cap gun and holster and a remote control police car.

I received the pink doll cradle from my great-aunt Clara (Miller) Reef. Clara was my grandpa Miller’s sister and she lived down the road from us.

Cradle from great-aunt Clara.

Cradle from great-aunt Clara.

Grandma Schumm gave me the Monopoly game one year and the Bird Fun game was a gift from my parents. Bird Fun was a game I could play by myself. The idea was to put the correct bird head on the correct bird body. The names of all the birds were included, too. I enjoyed the simple game and I learned my birds from it. Perhaps that game sparked my interest in birds, which I still have today.

Bird Fun game.

Bird Fun game.

I ventured up to the attic to get a photo of my old doll house and barn. I still have most of the plastic furniture that came with the doll house. At one time I had a lot of animals and fencing to go with the barn, but those are long gone.

Metal doll house and barn.

Metal doll house and barn.

I probably have a few more old toys stashed around here. I know my old Viewmaster-type stereo viewer is still around here. Maybe it is stored away with my little ironing board.

Those were the good old days, with classic toys, where you could use your imagination.

After Christmas I’ll put my toys away again.

Dec 16

Tombstone Tuesday–Fred & Anna (Merkle) Heffner

Fred & Anna Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Fred & Anna Heffner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Fred and Anna (Merkle) Heffner, located in row 1 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

HEFFNER
Fred Heffner
1861-1918
Anna His Wife
1867-1935

Fredrick Heffner was born in Liberty Township on 19 February 1861, according to Zion Chatt’s records. He was the son of George and Sophia (Martin) Heffner. There is no record of his baptism at Zion Chatt but he was confirmed there on 14 April 1875 by Rev. Karl Christian Adam Jr.

Fredrick married Anna Merkle on 1 October 1885 at Zion Chatt.

Anna Merkle was born 13 December 1867 in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Lucinda (Kantner) Merkle.

In 1900 Fredrick and Anna’s family consisted of Fredrick, 38; Anna, 28; Rudolph, 14; Ebert, 12; Emma, 10; Herbert, 6; Oscar, 4; and Roman, 10 months. Fredrick was employed as a saloon keeper. [1]

In 1910 Fredrick, 49, still worked as a bartender in a saloon and their household consisted of his wife Anna, 42, and five of their children: Albert, 22; Oscar, 13; Roman, 11; Marguerite, 8; and Vernon, 4. Anna had given birth to 9 children and 7 were still living. Two of the children, Rudolph and Emma, had married by this time. Emma lived next door with her husband Jacob Bauer and their daughter Mildred. [2]

Fredrick Heffner died of a heart condition on 26 April 1918 at the age of 57 years, 9 months, and 7 days. He was buried on the 28th.

In 1920 widow Anna Heffner still resided in Liberty Township and lived with her two sons Roman, 20, and Vernon, 14. Anna, 52, was not employed but Roman worked in a store. [3]

Anna, 62, was living with son Roman in Liberty Township in 1930. Roman, 30, was a grocery merchant. [4]

Anna (Merkle) Heffner died of pneumonia in Chattanooga on 26 June 1935 at the age of 67 years, 6 months, and 13 days. She was buried on the 28th. [5]

Fred Heffner family. Front: Marguerite, Fredrick, Vernon, Anna, Emma. Back: Roman, Rudolph, Herbert, Albert, Oscar.

Fred Heffner family. Front: Marguerite, Fredrick, Vernon, Anna, Emma. Back: Roman, Rudolph, Herbert, Albert, Oscar.       Photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck.

Fred and Anna Heffner had the following children:

George “Rudolph” (1886-1957), married Nellie Deyo
Albert Conrad (1888-1945), married Ethel Olson
Emma Elizabeth (1890-1938), married Jacob A. Bauer
Walter Herbert (1894-1908)
Friedrich Oscar “Brownie” (1896-1956), married Lillian Kinkley; married Dorothy Evelyn Patton
Maria Helena (1898-1898)
Roman Edward (1899-1937), married Cecile Hoblet
Verla Margaret (1902-1970), married William Curtis Roebuck
Vernon Hugo “Cy” (1905-1987), married Camella Bury

Vernon, Fred, Margaret, Anna (Merkle) Heffner, c1913, in Chattanooga. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck)

Vernon, Fred, Margaret, Anna (Merkle) Heffner, c1913, in Chattanooga. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck)

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.10A, dwelling 183, family 188, Fr Heffner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 December 2014); from FHL microfilm 1241304, from NARA microfilm T623, roll. 1304.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119, p.17A, dwelling 374, family 825, Tudrieck Heffner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 December 2014); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 140, p.3A, dwelling 44, family 44, Anna Heffuer; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 December 2014); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 20, p.10B, dwelling 254, family 254, Mrs. Anna Heffner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 December 2014); from FHL microfilm 2341584, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 1850.

[5] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,: index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 14 December 2014), Anna Heffner, 26 June 1935; citing Liberty Township, Mercer, Ohio, reference fn 38780; FHL microfilm 2022521.