Apr 23

Tombstone Tuesday–Henry C. and Rosa A. Becher

Henry C. & Rosa A. Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Henry C. & Rosa A. Becher, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Henry C. and Rosa A. Becher, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

BECHER
Henry C.
1866-1906
Rosa A.
1871-1964

The records of Zion Chatt give the following vital information about Henry and Rosa:

Heinrich Conrad Becher was born to Johannes and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher on 21 April 1866 in Mercer County. He was baptized 19 May 1866, with Conrad and Margaretha Haffner as witnesses. His father was born in Thuisbrun, District Oberfranken, Bavaria, and his mother was born in Bethleham, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Heinrich died of a brain tumor on 27 April 1906, at the age of 40 years and 6 days and was buried on the 29th.  Survivors included 4 brothers, 4 sisters, his father and mother and 3 children.

Rosina Anna Schlenker was born 10 December 1871 in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, to Johannes and Magdalena (Betzel) Schlenker. She was baptized 8 March 1872, with Friedrich Betzel and wife as sponsors. Rosina’s father was born in Schwenningen, Würtemberg, and her mother in Butler County, Ohio. Rosina was confirmed 18 April 1886 and this record gives her date of birth as 11 December.

Magdalena (Betzel) Schlenker w/daughter Rosina Schlenker, son, Johannes Schlenker & son. c1872. Photo courtesy of Dorothy Jean (Leininger) Hellworth.

Magdalena (Betzel) Schlenker w/daughter Rosina Schlenker, a son seated, Johannes Schlenker holding a son, c1872. This house stood in Chatt until 1992, when it was torn down and the Gilliland horse barn was erected.

Heinrich Becher, age 28, and Rosina Schlenker, age 23, were married at Zion’s rectory on 29 March 1894. Witnesses to their marriage were Friedrich Merkle and Emilie Becker.

They had the following children:

Carrie Louise (23 Feb 1898-2 Dec 1988) married Theodore M. Leininger.
Ida Freda (25 May 1901-4 Jan 1933) married William Byers.
Martha Marie (14 Nov 1905-2 Mar 2001) married Troy Woodruff.

Becher home west of Chatt, 1914. L to R: Rosa (Schlenker) Becher, Martha Becher, Freda Becher, Carrie Becher, Anna Maria (Becker) Becher. Photo courtesy of Dorothy Jean (Leininger) Hellworth.

Becher home west of Chatt, 1914. L to R: Rosina “Rosa” (Schlenker) Becher, Martha Becher, Freda Becher, Carrie Becher, Anna Maria (Becker) Becher [Rosina’s mother-in-law, mother of Henry C. Becher].

Obituary:

Rosa Becher Dies Tuesday
Mrs. Rosa Becher, 92, widow of Henry Becher, R. 1, Rockford, died before noon Tuesday in Gibbons Hospital, where she had been admitted Monday following a stroke and a fall at her home.

The Ketcham and Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford has charge of arrangements and friends may call there after 1 p.m. Thursday until noon Friday when the body will be taken to Zion Lutheran Church in Chattanooga to lie in state until the time of the rites.

Mrs. Becher was born December 11, 1871 near Chattanooga and had spent her entire life in that community. Her parents were the late John and Mary Betzel Schlenker, pioneers of that area.

She was married in 1894 and her husband died in 1906. One daughter, Freda, and 11 brothers and sisters have also preceded her in death.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Theodore Leininger, who resided with her mother for the last 45 years, and Mrs. Troy Woodruff, both of R. 1, Rockford. There are five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Frank Spriggs of R.R., Celina.

Mrs. Becher was a life member of Zion Lutheran Church where rites will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The Rev. Arnold Green will officiate and burial will be made in the church cemetery. [1]

Rosa (Schlenker) Becher, 1945. Photo courtesy of Dorothy Jean (Leininger) Hellworth.

Rosina “Rosa” (Schlenker) Becher, 1945.

[1] The Daily Standard, Celina, Ohio, 1 April 1964, p.1.

Old photos courtesy of Dorothy Jean (Leininger) Hellworth.

Apr 19

The Scrapbook

Scrapbook It is interesting to see how the paths of people’s lives cross, through the generations, particularly in a small community.

I discussed using the FAN concept for family history research at a beginning genealogy workshop a few weeks ago. FAN is an acronym for friends, associates and neighbors. You can often add information and maybe even overcome some of those brick walls by looking into the lives of the friends, associates and neighbors of your ancestors.

I know for a fact that talking to friends, associates and neighbors of relatives can provide information about them and about the area in which they lived.

At Catherine Miller’s funeral a few weeks ago I visited with some of her family that I had not seen for some time. It was nice to see them again, even under the sad circumstance of Catherine’s passing. Catherine’s sister Dorothy Jean, who lives just a couple miles away, called me a few days later. She knew that I was interested in people and information from the Chatt area and she mentioned that she had a scrapbook I might like to look at. Dorothy Jean attended Zion Chatt while growing up and she and my dad were in the same class in school.

Always eager to learn more about the people and the area in which I grew up, I jumped at the chance to pay her a visit and take a look at her scrapbook.

About a week later I sat with Dorothy Jean at her kitchen table. She pulled out her high school scrapbook and asked if my dad had one of these. No, I don’t think my dad ever had a high school scrapbook. I never saw it if he did.

Dorothy Jean, Willshire High School Commencement, 1943.

Dorothy Jean, Willshire High School Commencement, 1943.

As she showed me her scrapbook, I noticed some dried flowers, her senior prom invitation, her Willshire High School graduation announcement and the tassel she wore at her graduation, plus a lot of photos and newspaper clippings. I think scrap-booking was and is still today more of a “girl” thing. I doubt that my dad ever took the time to save his high school memories in a scrapbook.

But what a treasure Dorothy Jean has kept. By looking at her scrapbook I was able to get a glimpse back in time at my dad’s high school years. I saw a couple photos of my dad that I had never seen before. It makes me wonder how many photos have been taken by others over the years that include my ancestors, my relatives or even me. There are probably many of these photos that I will never see.

The guys, Willshire High School Class of 1943. Front: Dick Cowan, Herb Miller, Junior Linn, Lewis Allmandinger. Back: G.M. Alspaugh, Ivan Wyer, Carl Ripley, Merlin Miller, Dale Caffee.

The guys, Willshire High School Class of 1943. Front: Dick Cowan, Herb Miller, Junior Linn, Lewis Allmandinger. Back: G.M. Alspaugh, Ivan Wyer, Carl Ripley, Merlin Miller, Dale Caffee.

What is most interesting about Dorothy Jean’s scrapbook and photos is that they connect with my family in several ways. Her family lived near Chatt and attended Zion Lutheran, as did my Miller family. Although she attended the Chatt grade school she later attended Willshire High School and was in the same high school class as my dad, the class of 1943. She rode the school bus from Chatt to the Willshire School with my dad and his siblings. She also went to Willshire High School with some of my Schumm relatives.

The gals, Willshire High School Class of 1943. Norma Jean Carr, Twyla Pifer, Helen Schumm, Doris Painter, Mary Daily, Ellen Schumm. (Dorothy Jean Leininger not shown.)

The gals, Willshire High School Class of 1943. Norma Jean Carr, Twyla Pifer, Helen Schumm, Doris Painter, Mary Daily, Ellen Schumm. (Dorothy Jean Leininger not shown.)

So among the photos she loaned me to scan were photos of close relatives, not-so-close relatives, church members and other area people that I knew or whose names were familiar. Her school photos, as well as many other photos that she shared, were not only of her family and friends and classmates, but also contained images of my relatives and their friends.

Dale Caffee on a bike

Dale Caffee riding a bike.

Dorothy Jean was meticulous with her photos. She labeled every single photo. Every person was identified in every photo. In the order they were standing. Even the old school photos. Wow!

Row 1: ?, Robert Bollenbacher, ?, ?, LaVerne Miller, Hamrick, ?, ?, ?, ?. Middle: ?, Catherine Miller, Dorothy Jean Leininger, ?, Dorothy White, Emilene Miller, Marjorie Pfifer, Catherine Leininger, Dorothy Carr, Helen Miller, Herb Miller, Twyla Pfifer. Back: Carl Ripley, Leland Carr, Laverne Stetler, Bob Myers, fern Bollenbacher, Genevieve Baker, Bill Chapman, ?.

1940 Bus from Chatt to Willshire School. Front: ?, Robert Bollenbacher, ?, ?, LaVerne Miller, Hamrick, ?, ?, Trolus Frank, Kenneth Miller. Middle: ?, Catherine Miller, Dorothy Jean Leininger, ?, Dorothy White, Emilene Miller, Marjorie Pifer, Catherine Leininger, Dorothy Carr, Helen Miller, Herb Miller, Twyla Pifer. Back: Carl Ripley, Leland Carr, Laverne Stetler, Bob Myers, Fern Bollenbacher, Genevieve Baker, Bill Chapman, ?.

Today photos are readily visible and easy to share on Facebook and other media, but how many old photos are tucked away in scrapbooks or boxes in attics and closets, never to be seen by those outside the family.

Thank you Dorothy Jean for sharing your scrapbook and photos!

 

Apr 16

Tombstone Tuesday–Helen Jean White

Helen Jean White, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Helen Jean White, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Helen Jean White, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. There is a photo memorial of Helen Jean and her husband Philip on the reverse side of the memorial. The marker is located next to her mother’s and is inscribed:

WHITE
Helen Jean
Jan. 20, 1926
Mar. 30, 2002

 Charles Philip
Aug. 30, 1924

 Married Aug. 5, 1944

Reverse side of White marker. (2011 photo by Karen)

Reverse side of White marker. (2011 photo by Karen)

Helen Jean (Hileman) White’s obituary, as printed in her funeral bulletin:

Helen Jean White will be remembered as a woman with a natural smile that was evidence of her strong faith in her Lord. In the last few months of her life she demonstrated that faith as she courageously dealt with the trauma of breast cancer.

Helen Jean was born on January 22, 1926, in Glenmore, to Orville and Louise (Becher) Hileman. She had two brothers, Waldo Hileman, now deceased, and Orville Edwin Hileman, of Dundas, Ontario, Canada.

Helen Jean was baptized into the Christian faith on January 26, 1926, by Pastor J.E. Albrecht. Her sponsor was Walter Becher. Church records reveal that her mother was buried on the same day that Helen Jean was baptized. She confirmed her faith on May 12, 1940. The pastor was Carl Yahl.

Helen Jean was a life-long member of Zion, serving her church in many ways. She was its treasurer for several years and was a regular attender of all worship services.

Helen Jean married Charles Phillip White on August 5, 1944. They had three children: Margaret Jean, who died as an infant; Charles Elmer White of Willshire who married Ruth; Martha David of Colon, Michigan. They also had five grandchildren.

Helen Jean and her husband owned and operated White Engine Service outside Willshire. Helen Jean was a life member of the Austin-Bantam Automobile Club, which she served for fifteen years as treasurer.

Helen Jean was a low key person who always had time for everyone from her grandchildren to salesmen who stopped at their shop. Her strong faith was quickly evident in the way she conducted herself. In the shop was a sign which ask all who were there not to use inappropriate language. She was a fixture every Sunday morning sitting on the left side near the organ. Undergoing chemotherapy had no effect on her spontaneous smile or her positive attitude. Her family meant everything to her. Her love for them was unconditional, just as God loved her unconditionally, something she came to realize even more with her cancer. Those who knew Helen Jean will miss her very much. The Lord gave Helen Jean 76 year, 2 months, and 8 days of life on this earth before granting her a final healing.

Rev. John J. Moffett presided at Helen Jean’s funeral.

Helen Jean is the young girl to the left in the confirmation photo below. My dad was also in Zion’s 1940 confirmation class. Left to right: Helen Jean Hileman, Rev. Carl Yahl, Dorothy Carr. Back: Herbert Miller, Robert Eley, Murlin Miller, Howard Dale Caffee, Fred Betzel, Joseph Bollenbacher, Carl Ripley and Dale Schott.

1940 Confirmation Class, Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga.

1940 Confirmation Class, Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga.

I knew Helen Jean most of my life. She and Philip lived about a mile from my Miller grandparents, where I spent my summers as a child. We also attended church with the Whites.

My earliest memories of Helen Jean revolve around church. She would pick me up at the Miller farm and take me, along with her two children Martha and Charles, to Zion Chatt’s summer Bible School. She would drive us to Chatt in what I thought was the coolest car, a Pontiac Woody station wagon. For me it was like riding a small bus to Chatt. Back then Helen Jean taught Sunday School and Bible School at Zion.

Helen Jean Hileman, 1943.

Helen Jean Hileman, 1943.

In later years, when I was Zion’s organist, Helen Jean always sat in the pew behind us, which was in the section directly behind the organ. I would always go to church early on Sunday morning, before Sunday School, to run through the music and hymns. Helen Jean would usually come early, too, and sit there and listen to me practice. One of her favorite organ preludes was Blessed Assurance. Often she would be there to listen as Kendra and I practiced our piano/organ duets. Helen Jean was our biggest fan and Kendra and I played a final tribute to her at her funeral, playing some of her favorite piano/organ duets.

Helen Jean also liked family history research and was a member of the Mercer County Chapter OGS. When I became interested in genealogy she encouraged me to translate and print a book of Zion Chatt’s old church records. After all, her ancestors were the Bechers, one of the first families of Zion Chatt.

Over the years the Whites serviced our lawnmowers and they always enjoyed showing and talking about their Bantam cars.

Helen Jean was a fine Christian woman and a good friend and I still miss seeing her in the pew behind us at church and talking with her.

 

Apr 12

Shave and a Haircut…Two Bits

 

Old Chattanooga Barbershop (2013 photo by Karen)

Old Chattanooga Barbershop (2013 photo by Karen)

If you look closely through the trees and the undergrowth, into this woods on Schaadt Road near Chattanooga, Ohio, you can barely see an old frame building. You can see it when the trees are bare but it will be nearly hidden by the middle of summer. This old structure used to be the Chattanooga barbershop.

It is hard to say how old this frame building is or when it was moved into the woods. It was once located north of Fisher’s Hardware, between the homes of Luther & Gladys Fisher and Carl & Marcella Schroeder, on the west side of State Route 49.

Some people think it was moved to the woods by WWII. It was evidently moved to serve a new purpose–as a family dwelling. In the 1950s the old barbershop was home to Ester Baker and her family. It was painted white back then, but all the paint has worn off, exposing the bare wood.

This was the second building that I know of that was moved out of town once its original purpose had ended. Zion’s old frame church was moved to the north end of Chatt when the brick church was built in 1917. The frame church was then used as a garage for many years but is no longer standing.

I checked the 1916 Farm Journal Directory of Mercer County but there were no Chattanooga barbershops listed in it. However, in that same directory William Koch of Liberty Township gave his occupation as a barber. [1] William Koch was enumerated as a barber in the 1920 census, too. He was 57 years old and born in Germany. [2] Darrel Wilson gave his occupation as barber when enumerated in the 1930 census. He was age 26 and born in Ohio. [3] Perhaps they worked in this frame barbershop in Chatt.

Some people recall other barbers that were employed at the little barbershop. Among them were Jacob Duff, Carl Schroeder, Howard Caffee, Frank Mikesell and Hershel White.

Carl Schroeder is probably the best known Chattanooga barber. Carl was also a school teacher at the larger of the two Chatt schools. The large school was for grades 4-8.

Howard Caffee, one of the Chattanooga barbers.

Howard Caffee, one of the Chattanooga barbers.

Howard Caffee got his barber credentials and license by passing a test in Indianapolis. Reliable sources say that he learned to cut hair by practicing on the neighborhood kids.

Carl Miller family, front: Herb, Anna Lou, Kenny, Vernie. Back: Carl, Gertrude, Ruth, Helen, Kate, Em.

Carl Miller family, front: Herb, Anna Lou, Kenny, Vernie. Back: Carl, Gertrude, Ruth, Helen, Kate, Em.

Even though Howard learned to barber on the neighbor kids he was not responsible for the nearby Miller boys’ uneven haircuts. The Miller boys had their own resident barber—their father, my grandfather, Carl Miller. I have it on good authority that he pulled hair and made the whole hair-cutting process rather painful. I can understand why if he used the old pair of rusty trimming scissors we found in the barn last summer.

It looks like Grandpa Miller used the bowl-cut technique to cut hair. But apparently he had trouble getting the bangs even. My uncle (the boy to the far right with uneven bangs) said that when his grandson saw the above photo he asked if everyone in the family had been Amish at one time. Note that my dad was wearing a hat.

Shave and a haircut—two bits. This phrase is usually recognized as a 7-note musical riff used as a humorous song ending which was also used on the old TV show, The Beverly Hillbillies.

Shave and a haircut—two bits. Twenty-five cents may have indeed paid for a visit to the Chattanooga Barbershop several decades ago.

 

 

[1] The Farm Journal Illustrated Directory of Mercer County Ohio (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Wilmer Atkinson Company, 1916), 102.

[2] 1920 U.S. census, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 140, p. 1A, dwelling 3, family 3, William Koch; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 April 2013); from National Archives microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[3] 1930 U.S. census, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 20, p. 2A, dwelling 33, family 33, Darrel Wilson; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 April 2013); from National Archives microfilm

Apr 09

Tombstone Tuesday–Louise W. Hileman

Louise W. Hileman, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Louise W. Hileman, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Louise W. Hileman, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

 LOUISE W.
HILEMAN
1904-1926

According to Zion Chatt’s records, Louisa Wilhelmina Becher was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 11 May 1904, the daughter of Johann F. and Friedericke (Mamber) Becher. She was baptized 12 June 1904, with Louisa Laesch and Wilhelmina Volz as sponsors. Louise was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 27 May 1917 by Rev. W.F.H. Heuer. Her confirmation verse was Ephesians 4:5.

Zion Lutheran Chatt 1917 Confirmation Class. Louise Becher: front row, middle. [1]

Zion Lutheran Chatt 1917 Confirmation Class. Louise Becher: front row, middle. [1]

Louise Becher married Orville L. Hileman on 4 October 1922 at Zion. He was 21 years old and from Van Wert County. She was 18 years of age and from Mercer County. Witnesses to the marriage were Walter Becher and Alma Wall. Orville and Louise lived in or near Ohio City after their marriage.

On 8 September 1924 Louise and her brother Walter Becher were sponsors at the baptism of their niece Wilma Grace Becher, daughter of Albert and Mary (Meriman) [Merinar] Becher.

Louise died in Van Wert County on 23 January 1926 at the age of 21 years, 8 months and 12 days. According to the church records she died of blood poisoning, but according to her death certificate she died of postpartum eclampsia the day after the birth her daughter Helen Jean. [2] Louise was buried on 26 January, the same day her baby daughter Helen Jean was baptized. Survivors included her parents, her husband, her one day old daughter, and six brothers. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Jacob E. Albrecht. Helen Jean was raised by her grandmother Friedericke (Mamber) Becher.

Louise Hileman death certificate, Van Wert, Ohio. 1926.

Louise Hileman death certificate, Van Wert, Ohio. 1926.

Back in the early decades of 1900 Zion had a pump organ and someone would have to run the bellows to make the organ work. That job usually fell to young boys from the congregation. The access opening to the bellows was small and it was easier for a young person to squeeze through it. Louise (Becher) Hileman used to play the organ for services at Zion and her brothers would pump the bellows for her. One Sunday she tried to play the organ after the sermon but no sound came out because her brother had fallen asleep by the bellows.

 

[1] 1917 Zion Lutheran Chattanooga confirmation photo, left to right. Front: Luetta Baker, Lucile Becher, ?, Louise Becher, ?, Matilda Becher, Anna Ruth McGough. Middle: Clarence Kuhn, Walter Becher, ?, Charles Andrews. Back: ?, ?, Rev. Heuer, ?, Vera Heffner. Others in class, unidentified in photo: Frieda Louisa Hoehammer, Harold Roman Bender, Ralph Huffman, Lee Kuhn, Florence Kuhn, Clara Linn.

[2] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X6ZJ-VXJ : accessed 08 Apr 2013), Louise Whilime Hileman, 23 January 1926; citing Willshire Twp., Van Wert, Ohio, Regis. Dist. no. 1297, Primary Regis. Dist. no. 5993, File no. 79,