Feb 09

Wives Without First Names

I am old enough to remember when married women did not use their given names. Years ago, wives referred to themselves, and were referred to by others, with their husband’s given name. It was Mrs. John Doe, not Mrs. Jane Doe.

My mom did that same thing. She did not refer to herself as Mrs. Florence Miller, but she called herself Mrs. Herbert Miller. All married women of that time period did that.

There are plenty of examples of this in older newspapers:

Lima News, 3 Sep 1961

Lima News, 12 May 1971

That was the way things were for many years, even centuries, but that all began to change in the 1970s.

But why? Why did married women use their husband’s given name?  

This custom started in the Middle Ages, with the Law of Coverture, a set of laws that said that a married woman’s identity was “covered” by her husband and her legal rights were governed by her husband. This legal status was called feme covert, literally “covered woman.” Upon marriage the wife gave up her separate and legal identity and her husband had complete legal and economic control over her. Everything she did legally had to be in her husband’s name since she was a non-person under the law.

Because she was not legally a person, she could not own any property, make decisions for her children against her husband’s wishes, sign legal documents, enter into contracts, keep her own salary, or get any education against her husband’s wishes. And she had to use her husband’s given name.

However, there was an advantage for unmarried women, who were called feme sole under the Law of Coverture. An unmarried woman was recognized as an individual person and was able to own property and sign contracts in her own name.

As time went on, the Laws and Doctrine of Coverture slowly went away, beginning with the passing of women’s property acts in the mid-19th century.

All that ultimately determined how society and newspapers referred to women years ago.

Newspapers use stylebooks to govern precisely how to use words. Stylebooks are reference books for writers, editors, and publishers. Stylebooks cover grammar, punctuation, footnotes, words, and just about anything else concerned with writing. Stylebooks evolve with customs and language. My go-to stylebook is The Chicago Manual of Style.

In the early 1960s stylebooks required that Mrs. was never to be used with the Christian name of a woman. A married woman’s name was to be written as Mrs. John Doe, not Mrs. Jane Doe.  

By the late 1960s women could occasionally use their first name without the Miss or Mrs. (e.g. Jane Doe), but Mrs. was to be used when her name was used in conjunction with her husband’s name.

By the 1970’s, stylebooks stated that if the couple was divorced a woman should use her first name with Mrs., e.g. Mrs. Jane Doe. A married woman or a widow should still be referred to by her husband’s Christian name, e.g. Mrs. John Doe.

Finally, by the early 1990s married women were to be referred to by their own first name and surname, e.g. Mrs. Jane Doe or Jane Doe. They did not have to use their husband’s given name.

All this leads up to how to interpret this news article I recently found. It didn’t make sense until I learned the writing style of that time period.

Lima News, 11 June 1947

My first thought was that Mrs. Mary Jane Schumm should not marry someone else if she was already Mrs. Schumm. By today’s standards, it appears that she was married to Mr. Schumm.

But it makes sense for an article written in 1947. According to the stylebooks of the time, Mrs. Mary Jane Schumm was a divorced woman and she married again. At that time a divorced woman used Mrs. and her given name.

All this is just a little something to help interpret what was written years ago.

By the way, I always enjoyed grammar in school.

Sources: The Art of Editing, Floyd K. Baskette & Jack Z. Scissors and “Starting in the ‘70s, married women’s first names were included in Post’s references,” John Kelly, 23 Nov 2019; WashingtonPost.com.

Feb 06

Tombstone Tuesday-Katharina Kable

Katharina Kable, Kessler, aka Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2023 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Katharina Kable, located in row 12 of Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The weathered marker is inscribed:

Katharina
Gestorben
28 May, 1876
Alt 3 Monat
& 18 Tag
Kinder von F & C Kable

Katharina, died 28 May 1876, age 3 months, 18 days. Children of F & C Kable.

This is half of a double tombstone for two young Kable siblings, Katharina and her brother Christian, the children of Frederick and Catharine (Koch) Kable. The two children died 13 days apart. Lambs, carved at the top, are often used on the tombstones of children.

Siblings Christian & Katharine Kable, Kessler/Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2024 photo by Karen)

Katharina Kable was born 10 February 1876, as calculated from her tombstone and according to Mercer County Probate birth records. She was born in Liberty Township, the daughter of Frederick and Catharine (Koch) Kable.  [1]

Katharina’s death is also recorded in Mercer County Probate and that record indicates that she was 1 year and 3 months old when she died. [2]

It appears that her age at death was recorded incorrectly on the probate record but is correct on her tombstone. There can be incorrect information on any record. 

Katharina’s brother Christian died 13 days later, on 10 June 1876. They both died from scarlet fever. [2]

There is no baptism record for Katharina Kable at Zion Chatt, although her brother Christian was baptized there.

Katharina Kable had the following siblings:
Jacob Kable (1865-1946)
Christina Kable (1867-1939), married John A. Baumgartner
Frederich Kable (1870-1934), married Mary Ann Wendel
Christian Friedrich Kable (1872-1876)
Johann Heinrich Kable (1877-1957), married Viola L. Baumgartner

[1] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” Mercer County, Vol. 1, 1868-1883, p.170, Catharine Kable, 10 Feb 1876; FamilySearch.org.

[2] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Mercer County, Book 1, 1867-1888, p.86, Catherine Kable, 28 May 1876; FamilySearch.org.

Feb 02

Happy Groundhog Day!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Punxsutawney, PA, postcard, early 2000s.

What will the groundhog predict today? What will groundhog Punxsutawney Phil’s weather forecast be for the next six weeks? Will he see his shadow?

Will there be six more weeks of Winter? Or six weeks until Spring?

Does it really matter? Is there really a difference between those two predictions?

Probably not.

I am writing this on Thursday and by the time you read this on the morning of Friday, February 2nd, we will probably know the ground hog’s prognostication.

This is the way it works. If Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, there will be an early spring.

Punxsutawney, PA, postcard back, early 2000s.

Just how accurate is this groundhog? Phil is accurate about 40% of the time, according to weather experts. Phil predicts six more weeks of Winter weather more often than he predicts an early Spring.

Why February 2nd? The tradition goes back to the Celts in Europe centuries ago, when they celebrated four days this time of year, the midpoint between the Winter solstice and Spring equinox.

In Pennsylvania, groundhog weather-forecasting dates back to German households in the 1840s. German immigrants in the Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, area celebrated the mid-winter holiday in the 1880s by hunting and eating groundhogs and picnicking. The name Punxsutawney is derived from the Native American word meaning “town of sandflies” or “town of mosquitoes.” Today it is the town of groundhogs. 

The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was organized in 1899 and they care for Phil in a special burrow beside the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.  

Punxsutawney, PA, postcard, early 2000s.

Groundhog Day has been an annual tradition in Punxsutawney since 1887, held at Gobblers’ Knob. The Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club plans the ceremony and events each year, as well as caring for and feeding Punxsutawney Phil. The grounds at Gobblers’ Knob open at 3 a.m. and thousands gather to see the early morning event.

Punxsutawney, PA, postcard, early 2000s.

Our son Jeff went to Gobblers’ Knob in the early 2000s to join the Groundhog Day celebration. He said there were a lot of people there having a very good time. And he said it was cold. I asked him to get me a souvenir and he got me several postcards (shown here) and this cute hand-painted pin.

Punxsutawney Phil Groundhog Day pin.

Although some animal lovers think groundhogs are cute, adorable little critters, farmers consider them a detrimental, and even dangerous nuisance. They are a burrowing, destructive animal. They eat soybeans in the field and they dig and burrow deep holes in the ground that can be hazardous for farmers driving farm equipment. They can weaken a building foundation and chew tubing and wires. They also eat garden plants, alfalfa, clover, most garden vegetables, bark, twigs, and seedlings. Their only redeeming characteristic is that they eat grubs, snails, and other insects. They are fair game around here.

Groundhogs are the largest species in the squirrel family, weighing from 6-12 pounds. They live from 3-6 years and their incisors continue to grow throughout their lifetime. They can climb and swim.

Punxsutawney, PA, postcard, early 2000s.

Groundhogs have a shrill, high-pitched whistle and are sometimes called whistle-pigs. They are also called land-beavers or woodchucks.

They hibernate from October until Spring, and that is probably why Punxsutawney Phil looks so grumpy when they take him out of his cage on 2 February. Note that the handler in the fancy suit and top hat always wears very heavy gloves.  

My grandma Schumm really disliked ground hogs on the farm. They burrowed under their barn and in the fields, especially in the area to the back of the farm, by the old railroad track. She wanted them gone and my hubby Joe was more than happy to help with pest control.

It was sunny today, February 1st, and it will probably be sunny tomorrow, Groundhog Day. Since Phil’s forecast won’t make a lot of difference weather-wise, I’ll take another day of sunshine. January was a rather cloudy, foggy month. We can use some more sunshine.

Source of some information: “When is Groundhog Day 2024? What to know about the decades-old winter prediction tradition,” Jana Hayes, The Oklahoman, 1 Feb 2024.

Jan 30

Tombstone Tuesday-Christian Kable

Christian Kable, Kessler/Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2024 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Christian Kable, located in row 12 of Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Christian
Gestorben
June 10, 1876
Alt 3 Jahre
6 Mo, 12 Tag
Kinder von F & C Kable

Christian, died 10 June 1876, age 3 years, 6 months, 12 days. Children of F & C Kable.

According to the records at Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Ohio, Christian Kable was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 28 November 1872, the son of Frederick and Catharine (Koch) Kable. Christian was baptized 1 January 1873, with Christian Kesseler his wife serving as his sponsors. 

According to his tombstone Christian Kable died 10 June 1876, age 3 years, 6 months, and 12 days.

A lamb is carved at the top of the tombstone, a common symbol on the gravestone of a young child or infant.

This tombstone is very weathered and nearly impossible to read. Find a Grave.com has a photo of the stone, taken a few years ago, which is more legible.

The tombstone is a double tombstone for two Kable siblings, Christian and his sister Katharine. Next week, Katharine Kable’s tombstone.

Siblings Christian & Katharine Kable, Kessler/Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2024 photo by Karen)

Christian Kable had the following siblings:
Jacob Kable (1865-1946)
Christina Kable (1867-1939), married John A. Baumgartner
Frederich Kable (1870-1934), married Mary Ann Wendel
Katharine Kable (1876-1876) 
Johann Heinrich Kable (1877-1957), married Viola L. Baumgartner

Jan 26

Willshire Neon Sign Shines Once Again

If you lived in or near Willshire about 60-70 years ago you may remember this neon sign.

State Auto Insurance sign (2024 photo)

This beautiful sign once shone brightly in the window of a home-based Willshire business on Green Street, the Hoblet Insurance Agency.

Today it is a predominate feature at the State Auto Insurance Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. 

State Auto sign & plaque, Columbus, OH (2024 photo)

I want to thank Kyle Anderson for sharing the story of this neon sign. Kyle is the son of Rev. Gary Anderson (1945-2013) and his wife Mary Lou. Pastor Gary was Zion Chatt’s minister from 1978-1993. He baptized our son Jeff in 1982 at Zion Chatt.

Kyle is an Assistant Vice President, in Marketing and Communications at State Auto Insurance. Their corporate headquarters is in Columbus, Ohio.

In 2021 one of Kyle’s State Auto colleagues learned that her neighbor had a neon State Auto sign in their attic, and State Auto could have the sign if they were interested. State Auto Insurance was celebrating their 100th anniversary at the time and Kyle was responsible for the centennial activities, so he jumped at the opportunity to obtain the sign.

Then Kyle learned that the sign had once hung in the front window of a home-based agency in Willshire! What a surprise!

State Auto/Kyle received the sign in 2022 and had it completely restored. The Columbus State Auto headquarters building was being renovated at that time and there was no good place to hang the sign right then. But late last year the sign was mounted in a prominent location off the lobby. A few weeks ago they mounted a plaque next to the sign. The plaque details the background and history of the sign:

Inscribed on plaque near neon State Auto sign, Columbus, OH (2024 photo)

According to the 1950 census, Vernon Hoblet, 47, was an insurance salesman in Willshire. Vernon’s wife Wilma C, 45, was the other person in the household. [1]

Prior to 1956 the State Auto sign hung in the window of the Vernon Hoblet home on Green Street. From 1956-1967 it hung in the home of his daughter, Phyllis Bollenbacher. 

This Hoblet Insurance Agency ad was in the 1957 Willow, Willshire School’s yearbook:

Hoblet Insurance Agency, Willshire, 1957 Willow

This ad was in the 1964 Almega, Parkway Local School’s yearbook. Note that their telephone number has changed:

Hoblet Insurance Agency, 1964 Almega

State Automobile Insurance Company was formed in Columbus, Ohio, by Robert Pein in 1921, the first home-office casualty company. Pein wanted a new kind of insurance company with reasonable rates and prompt, fair claim service. State Auto offers insurance in 33 states through approximately 3400 independent agents and agencies.

Neon signs are beautiful and have been around for some time. The first neon signs date back to 1910 and they became popular in the United States in the 1920s through the 1950s.

Thank you, Kyle, for sharing the photos and the story and for preserving a piece of Willshire (and State Auto) history.  

[1] 1950 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert County, Village of Willshire, ED 81-38, sheet 282 (stamped), Vernon Hoblet; Ancestry.com.