Jan 03

Tombstone Tuesday–Catharina Heinz

Catharina Heinz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Catharina Heinz, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The gravemarker is inscribed: Catharina, Ehefrau von [wife of] of Christ. Heinz, geb den [born the] 25 June 1828, Gest den [died the] 18 May 1888, Alter [age] 59y, 10m, 23t [days].

I featured the tombstone of Catharina’s husband Christian last week. His marker is next to hers. The spelling of their surname was not consistent in the records. It was spelled Heintz, Heinz, Hines and other ways. The name is even spelled differently on their tombstones. His is spelled Heintz and hers is spelled Heinz.

According to Zion’s records Catharina was the daughter of Philipp and Charlotte (Baus) Oberkircher, born 25 June 1828 in Altstadt, County Homburg, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria. She was baptized and confirmed there and came to America in 1852. She was the wife of Christian Heinz. Catharina died 18 May 1888 after lingering and severe suffering. She was aged 59 years, 10 months and 23 days. Burial was on the 20th.

Christian and Catharina were married in Franklin County, Ohio, on 19 June 1853. (Franklin County Marriages, Vol 6:42). They were living in Hamilton Township, Franklin County, PO Columbus, in 1860 and were enumerated in the census there as ‘Hines”. The value of Christian’s personal property was $600. (1860 US census, Hamilton, Franklin, Ohio, M653_963:223) They had one child that died at a very young age.

Christian Heintz & Catharina Oberkircher marriage record, 19 June 1853, Franklin County, Ohio, Vol 6:42

Lorren Caffee remarked that he remembers Christian Heintz’s large tombstone. He asked if there was any information about what Christian did for a living or the extent of his land holdings. I was glad he asked the question. It prompted me to do more research and I discovered some interesting things.

The Heinz family was a little difficult to locate in census records, probably because of the spelling variations of their name.  I did find their farm on the 1876 and 1888 maps of Blackcreek Township. Christian Heinz was a farmer. His 80 acre farm was the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 17 in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio. His farm was just a few miles north of where I grew up. Rockford West Road borders the north part of what was his property.

The 80 acres to the south of them was owned by A.M. [Andrew] Kallenberger. But I remember the Kallenbergers living on Rockford West Road and the boys getting on the school bus there. That was the north part of the section 17. I decided to take a trip to the courthouse to look up some land deeds.

Christian Heinz bought the NW ¼ of the SE ¼  of Section 17 [40 acres] from Jacob Heller/Holley on 1 October 1862 for $335. (Mercer County Deeds, Vol: 4:374) He purchased the NE ¼ of the SE ¼ [40 acres] from B & I RR Co [Bellefontaine & Indiana Rail Road Company] on 8 January 1865 for $300. According to the deed, B & I RR consolidated with the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh & Cleveland Rail Road Company on 22 December 1864. (Mercer County Deeds, Vol 9:42) Evidently someone had plans for a railroad there. Maybe that was the same train that was supposed to go through Chattanooga at one time.

Christian and Catharina “Heintz”, as enumerated in the 1880 census: Christian, 50, born in Bavaria, works on farm; Catharina, 51, born in Bavaria, keeping house; Rosetta Walker, 14, born in Ohio, servant. (1880 US census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio; Roll 1048:328D, ED 179)

Christian sold his 80 acres to Andrew Eichler on 24 January 1889, about nine months before Christian passed away. Andrew Eichler passed away in 1894 and the land went to Leonard Eichler. Leonard sold the land to Laura Musselman in 1897. Maggie (Rueck) Kallenberger, wife of Mike [son of Andrew] purchased the land in 1910. That is how the Kallenbergers came to own the whole southeast quarter, which includes the land along Rockford West.

Christian Heintz farm (red), Kallenberger farm (yellow), Jacob Miller farm (green), Blackcreek Twp, Mercer County, 1888.

Don Caffee said that his parents, Howard and Caroline (Miller) Caffee, lived in the house on the north 80 acres when they were first married. They married in 1914. Howard and Caroline’s son Vernon was born there in 1915.

Andrew Kallenberger purchased his south 80 acres from William Foreman on 30 August 1864. (Mercer County Deeds, 7:471) The Kallenbergers lived in house on the south 80 acres for many years. After the 1920 tornado destroyed that house Mike and Maggie Kallenberger moved into the house on the north 80.

And that is how the bus came to stop at the house along Rockford West to pick up the Kallenberger boys, Mike and Maggie’s grandchildren. The Kallenbergers had lived in the north house ever since.

My connection to all this: Caroline (Miller) Caffee was the sister of my grandfather Carl Miller. Their parents were Jacob & Christine (Rueck) Miller. Caroline and Carl were half-siblings to Maggie (Rueck) Kallenberger. Maggie was Christine’s daughter, born in Germany.

While in Celina I also stopped at the Mercer County Library to look at the 1880 Agricultural Census. This is what the Christian Heinz farm was like in 1880:

Land: owned 80 acres, 50 acres tilled, 5 acres of meadow, 30 acres of woods.
Value: $2500, including buildings; $150, machinery; $260 livestock.
Farm labor paid in 1879: $150.
Value of all farm products sold in 1879: $450.
Horses: 3
Cattle: 3 milk cows; 8 other, 1 calf dropped, 1 cow purchased, 2 cows sold.
Milk products: 900 gal milk sold in 1879, 300 lb butter made on 1879.
Crops: Hay, 8 acres; Indian corn, 24 acres/700 bushels; oats 4 acres/100 bushels; wheat 11 acres/240 bushels; Irish potatoes ½ acre/ 50 bushels; 1 acre apple orchard, 20 bearing trees/30 bushels.
Forest Products: 30 cords of wood cut in 1879, $30.

Heinz/Heintz was not a common surname in Blackcreek Township. Although Christian and Catharina had no descendants their story lives on.

Dec 30

The 6th Day of Christmas

Candle Nativity, Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Christmas Eve 2011.

Even though all the Christmas services are over and most families have had their Christmas gatherings, it is still the Christmas Season.

These are The Twelve Days of Christmas, the time from Christmas Day until the beginning of Epiphany. It is from 25 December through 5 January. Epiphany Day is 6 January. Today is the Sixth Day of Christmas. From the song The Twelve Days of Christmas: “On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me, six geese a-laying.”

There is a very good article about The Twelve Days of Christmas and how the song  relates to Christianity and the Bible at The Voice.

We had a very busy Christmas weekend. We do not have a pastor at Zion, Chattanooga, right now but we continue to have services. Lay members are stepping up to help with the services. However, things don’t always go smoothly or as planned. Here is how our service went last Saturday evening.

I got the idea for this year’s Christmas Eve service on the Internet. The service involved a lot of candles that made up a “Candle Nativity.” Each candle symbolized a character in the Nativity and each candle was to be lighted as the Nativity story was read and hymns were sung. Jesus was the small white votive candle. The other candle colors: Mary: light blue; Joseph: dark blue; angel Gabriel: gold; angels: yellow; three kings: purple and the shepherds: green. I set up everything on a small table and hoped that the candles wouldn’t fall over and catch the church on fire.

The main participants in the service were as follows: My husband Joe led the service and our son Jeff “volunteered” to light the candle Nativity. Sophia was the acolyte and her dad Lynne read some of the readings. Lynne also makes and prints our bulletins. Kendra was at the piano and I was at the organ. Kendra happens to be the wife of Lynne and the mother of Sophia.

I printed out a detailed script for the main participants. In it I included all of the scripture readings, using the NIV (New International Version) of the Bible. I did not know that Lynne was going to print out all of the scripture readings in the bulletin.  He did not use the NIV version. He used a different version.

Kendra and I played some pre-service Christmas duets. I lost my pianist at the end of Coventry Carol. All sound from the piano ceased as I turned to the last page. The arrangement is not difficult at all and Kendra was not likely to get lost in that song. Luckily I had the major part on the last page and finished the song as a solo.

Karen, Christmas Eve 2011

Later I found out what had happened. Kendra did not have that particular book with her and she copied the music from my book before the service. But she forgot to copy the last page of the song! Another point to add for a successful duet performance: Make sure both musicians have all the pages to the music! All in all it was not our best performance. Kendra and I agreed afterward that we had peaked the week before at our concert.

Before the service began Sophia lit the candles and all of the candles in the Advent Wreath except the Christ Candle. The Advent Wreath was supposed to be lit later in the service, after a prayer. That was not a big deal. Joe just adjusted the prayer from “tonight we light” to “tonight we lit.”

Then the time came to light the large white Christ Candle that was in the middle of the Advent Wreath. Joe thought that Jeff was supposed come forward to light it. Remember: Jeff was to light the candle Nativity on the little table later in the service. This led to a Bennett power struggle up front. From in front of the altar Joe was motioning for Jeff to come forward. At the organ I was waving Jeff back to his pew and telling him “not now”. This went on, back and forth, for several long moments until I got Jeff to sit down again and gave Joe “the look”. I then motioned for Sophia to light the Christ Candle. We sang some Christmas hymns.

Meanwhile, back at the altar, Joe discovered that he was missing the center section of his bulletin. He was frantically trying to find his place while trying to read smoothly and keep the service going all at the same time. He had to switch over and read from the script I had given him. But he had a hard time finding his place because the scripture verses were not the same. Remember, Lynne used a different version of the Bible for the bulletin.

Up in front Joe was really sweating it. Literally. They had a spotlight shining on the large beautiful Nativity that was off to the side of the altar. The same spotlight was also shining on Joe. Add to this the fact that the church was warmer than usual that evening.

Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Christmas 2011

After the offering was our candle-light service. The church lights were dimmed and everyone was to hold a candle while singing Silent Night. The Song of Simeon was to be read by the congregation while the ushers took lighted candles to each pew. The Song of Simeon never happened. Joe overlooked it while shuffling through all the papers he was holding. I didn’t have the heart to wave at him from the organ and remind him of the prayer. We continued on.

Jeff had neglected to pick up a candle to hold during Silent Night and he made us aware of that at the last minute. Thank you, Kevin, for giving Jeff your candle.

We finally came to the end of the service. Despite everything, it was a very nice service. The scripture readings and hymns were perfect for Christmas Eve. The church was beautiful with all the candles. Most of the congregation probably didn’t realize how much we were struggling to make it all happen. Afterward I wasn’t quite sure how to take Farrel’s comment, “I have never seen a service like that before.”

I guess I will take it as a complement.

I want to thank everyone that helped in any way with our Christmas Eve service.

We stopped at the Mercer County Courthouse this week and it was beautifully decorated for Christmas.

Decorations around the Bicentennial Bell, Mercer County Courthouse, Christmas 2011.

 

Mercer County Courthouse, Christmas 2011

 

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

 

Dec 27

Tombstone Tuesday–Christian Heintz

This is the tombstone of Christian Heintz, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The gravestone is inscribed: HEINTZ, Christian Heintz, Died Sept. 1, 1889, aged 59 Y [years], 8 M [months], 21 D [days].

Christian’s death and burial record as it was recorded in Zion’s church records: Christ Heinz, born 10 December 1829 in Hamburg Germany, died of diphtheria on 1 September 1889 in Celina, Ohio. He was buried in Chattanooga, Ohio, on 3 September.  Rev. Christ Reichert, Evangelical  Lutheran Pastor here.

The following information is also in Zion’s records: Christian Heintz was the son of Friederich Heintz and his wife Elisabetha, born Bach. Christian was born 10 December 1829 in Erbach, County Hamburg, Rhein–Bavaria. He was baptized there and raised in the Roman Catholic Church.  However on 17 October 1863 he was confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was received as a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mercer County, Ohio. Christian traveled to this land in the year 1852 and married Catharina Oberkircher in June of the same year. She was the daughter of Philipp and Charlotte Oberkircher, born Baus.  Catharina was born 25 June 1828 in Altstadt, County Homburg, Rhein–Bavaria. She was baptized and confirmed there. She traveled to this land in 1852. Both spouses lived a few years near Columbus, Ohio, and then moved to this neighborhood.

They had one known child, Catharina, born 12 August 1852. She died in the same year.

His wife’s tombstone is next to his.

 

Dec 23

Christmas Memories–Music

Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Christmas 2011

Christmas is the season for beautiful music and music is a big part of my life. I play both the piano and organ and I have been the organist at Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, for nearly 46 years now. We have a beautiful church with very good acoustics.

The Christmas Eve service is particularly beautiful at Zion. The church lights are dimmed while the congregation sings Silent Night by candlelight. Each member holds their own small candle.

We used to go Christmas caroling when I was in Luther League, back in the 1960s. Caroling was a lot of fun. We visited shut-ins at their homes and in nursing homes. One of the stops was at the home of Vic and Chloe Bollenbacher. They lived on the Ohio/Indiana State Line.

There were usually several carloads of carolers and sometimes we went on some very cold and snowy evenings. We once parked along the side of a road and I stepped out of the car into a ditch full of snow.

Most folks invited us into their homes to sing. We had some good singers in our group. Among them were Susie Brandt, Karen Westerberg, Diane Humbert, Kirby Stetler, and Tim Green. We sang 4-part harmony and we sounded pretty good. I usually sang alto. Afterward we were often rewarded with delicious home-baked cookies. When we were finished caroling we usually went back to the church where there were more cookies and hot chocolate.

I made my musical debut was when I was about 3 or 4 years old. My church musical career did not start as an organist or pianist, but as a vocalist. I sang a song for a New Year’s Eve service in our church basement. I remember being scared to sing but my neighbor Cindy had put a beautiful pink and blue teddy bear on top of the piano. I kept looking at that little bear as I sang. Afterword Cindy gave me the teddy bear. I named the bear “Smiley” and I kept him for many years, until he wore out.

I eventually worked my way up and became the organist at Zion. The position of church organist means job security. I have yet to know of anyone wanting to take over my job. I have heard that the heavenly rewards are good, too.

Karen at Zion's organ, 1993

Kendra Miller, our church pianist, and I enjoy playing piano/organ duets. I don’t remember when Kendra and I started playing duets together but we have played together long enough that we seem to be of one musical mind. It often just takes a glance to convey what we are thinking.

Kendra & Karen, Christmas Concert 1995

Last Sunday evening we gave a Christmas concert at Zion. Kendra and I performed several concerts in the 1990s, but none since. Originally our concerts featured only piano and organ duets. This year’s program featured our duets as well as piano and organ solos, vocal numbers and readings. One number consisted of two pianos and the organ. A good number of people attended and everything went quite well. It was a great way to celebrate the birth of Jesus and feel the Christmas spirit.

To perform our duets we strive to achieve several things:

Playing the same song at the same time.

Both playing at the same tempo.

Beginning an arrangement at a reasonable tempo. Some songs seem to accelerate as we play. There is one beautiful Christmas song that we played once but will probably never play again. We refer to it as “The Train Wreck Song”. That song somehow picks up momentum and by the end of the song we are speeding along, but not playing in unison. It has a way of going out of control. Just like runaway train.

Beginning and ending a song at the same time. However, things occasionally go awry in the middle. There are just some songs that you don’t want to get “lost” in. This has happened a couple of times and it gives me panicky feeling every time. It can be very difficult to get back together again. The “lost” one has to find the right measure and join the song again. He Shall Feed His Flock and The Hallelujah Chorus seem to be the worst offenders. It must be something about Handel’s music!

Karen & Kendra, 1995

Having the piano and organ in tune with each other. Duets sound best when they are. The temperature in the organ chamber is important because it affects the pitch of the organ. Our pipes are in a little room with an outside wall.  At Zion the piano and organ will be in tune as long at the temperature in the chamber is around 70 degrees. That is why the chamber door is left open in the winter, to bring warm air to the pipes.  And that is why we don’t play duets in the summer.

This has been a look at some of the behind the scenes worries of an organist and pianist.

Joy To the World, The Lord Has Come!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

 

 

Dec 20

Tombstone Tuesday–Emil F. & Myrtle E. Brandt

This is the tombstone of Emil and Myrtle Brandt, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed BRANDT, Myrtle E., 1906-1981; Emil F., 1900-1954.

Their obituaries:

Countian Dies Assisting with Church Service—Emil F. Brandt, 55, of two miles south of Willshire in Blackcreek Township, died following a heart attack while assisting with communion Sunday at the Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga. His death occurred shortly before noon.

A farmer, Mr. Brandt was a native of Blackcreek Township, born May 1, 1900, the son of Louis J. and Marie L. Schultz Brandt. On January 26, 1930, he married the former Myrtle Pierstorff, who still survives.

Also surviving are a brother, Lewis of Wapakoneta; a sister, Mrs. Stanton Daily of Willshire; two half-brothers, Carl Brandt of Fargo, ND and the Rev. Frank Brandt of Oak Harbor, O.; and a half-sister, Mrs. Mary Altenbernd of Wolverton, Minn.

Funeral services will be held at the residence at 2 p.m. Wednesday, and at 2:30 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church at Chattanooga, with the Rev. Waldo Byers officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the Zwick Funeral Home at Decatur, Ind., after 7 this evening. The body will be removed to the residence where friends may call after 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and until the time of the services Wednesday. (The Daily Standard, 20 Dec 1954:1)

According to the church records at Zion, Chattanooga, Emil Friedrich Brandt was baptized on 3 June 1900. The sponsors were Friedrich Kuhn Jr. and Maria Kuhn. He was confirmed on 30 May 1915 by Rev. W.F.H. Heuer. Emil and Myrtle were married at Zion, Chattanooga. Witnesses at their wedding were Victor and Erma Pierstorff.

Brandt Rites Set Tuesday—Mrs. Myrtle Brandt, 75, 1013 Hawthorne St., Celina, died at 1:40 a.m. today at Joint Township Hospital, St. Marys.

She was born Dec 28, 1906, in Hopewell Township, the daughter of Le Roy and Catherin (Hoenie) Pierstorff. On Jan. 26, 1930 she was married to Emil F. Brandt, who died Dec. 18, 1854.

Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Beulah Pierstorff, Rockford, and Mrs. Ruth Pierstorff, Wapakoneta; plus a number of nieces and nephews. Three brothers and one sister are deceased.

Mrs. Brandt retired in 1972 from the Mercer County Auto Club where she had been employed 16 years. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, and a member of its women of the Church.

Funeral series will be held Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Zion Church with the Rev. Gary Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Monday at W.H. Dick and Sons Funeral Home, Celina. The body will be taken to the church at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to lie in state until the hour of cervices

WH Dick and Sons Funeral Home, Celina, had charge of arrangements. (The Daily Standard, 14 Mar 1981:3)

Brandt Rites Held—Funeral services for Mrs. Myrtle Brandt, 75, 1013 Hawthorne St., Celina, who died Saturday at Joint Township Hospital, St. Marys, were conduced Tuesday afternoon at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga. The Rev. Gary Anderson officiated and Mrs. Gary Anderson presided at the organ. There was congregational singing.

Pall bearers to the church cemetery were Tom and Hubert [sic] Brandt, Otto Jaeger, Robert Casey and Harold and Ron Stetler. (The Daily Standard, 18 Mar 1981:3)