Aug 18

Postmarked Willshire, 1911, from D.W.H.

Regular readers know that I enjoy trying to figure out and learn a little about the writers and recipients of old post cards from this area.

Today, an interesting old postcard with an April 1911 Willshire postmark, an Easter postcard with a cross and Easter lilies.

1911 postcard, postmarked 1911 Willshire, Ohio, from D.W.H.

The front of the postcard is a typical holiday postcard for that time period. However, the back is rather unusual because the message and address are typed out. Nearly every postcard I have seen from that time is handwritten.

Postmarked April 1911, Willshire, from D.W.H.

The message:

April 11, 1911
Dear Friend:
They are there.
That makes fence staks [sic]
Ho. Ho. Ho.
How this for you
It looks good to me.
Good. By.
D,W,H,
pleasant-Mills
Ind,

Mr. Leo Karl.
796 kercheval ave.
Detroit.
Mich,   

The message is rather curious and does not make much sense. Plus, how many rural Indiana households had a typewriter in 1911? Or perhaps this was typed from a business, although the message does not sound very business-like.

The typewriter, as we basically know it, was invented in about 1870 and the first practical typewriter was the Remington. I wonder if this message was typed on a Remington like this.

Old Remington Typewriter

After a little research, I believe the writer, D.W.H., may have been 32 year-old Daniel Wesley Hamrick, who in 1910 lived near Pleasant Mills, in St. Marys Township, Adams County, Indiana. In 1910 Daniel was single, living by himself, and doing odd jobs. [1] He was born in 1875/6, the son of Moses and Margaret (Knock) Hamrick and died in Fort Wayne in 1960.

The recipient of the postcard, Leo Karl, was living at the above address in 1910. He was age 23, single, and worked as a baker. [2] A few years later he was a soldier in WWI.

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, St. Marys, Adams, Indiana, ED 10, p. 1A, Dwelling & Family 7, Daniel W. Hamrick; Ancestry.com, viewed 17 Aug 2023.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Detroit Ward 17, Wayne, Michigan, ED 248, p. 12A, Dwelling 197, Family 263, Leo Karl [Anton Karl household]; Ancestry.com, viewed 17 Aug 2023.

Aug 15

Tombstone Tuesday-John George Albright

John George Albright/Albrecht, Kessler/Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2023 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of John George Albright, located in row 15 of Kessler/Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio.

This tombstone is weathered and is nearly illegible. I believe, at this time, the best reading of this tombstone is from 33 years ago, when the Mercer County Chapter OGS read the cemetery in 1990.

Their 1990 reading: J.G. Alhricht [died] 3 October 1850, [aged] 11 J, 9 M, 11 T. [1]

Although it would appear that 11-year J.G. Alhricht is buried here, I believe this is the tombstone of 44-year-old John Georg Albright/Albrecht, and that what has been read as age 11 years of age is actually age 44 years of age. Certain numbers are difficult to read on old, weathered marble tombstones and the number 4 is one of them. The number 4 often had a bold vertical line and thin horizontal and angled lines. Those thin strokes nearly disappear over time and years later the number 4 may end up looking like the number 1. I believe that is the case with this tombstone.

The surname is also difficult to read and I believe Alhricht is actually Albright/Albrecht.

Several items support the fact that this is the tombstone of 44-year-old John George Albright, who died 3 October 1850:

  • An 1897 affidavit states that John George Albright died 3 October 1850, as stated by two of his Liberty Township neighbors. [2]
  • John George Albright owned a farm and lived about a mile from Kessler/Liberty Cemetery and was the only J.G. Albright living in the area at that time.
  • The 44-year age agrees with John George Albright’s age on the ship’s passenger list and his age in the 1850 census.
  • John George Albright died after 14 September 1850, the day the 1850 census was taken in Liberty Township, and before 16 July 1852, when his daughter Christine Albright died. Her church death record states that her father was deceased.
  • His widow Eva Barbara Albright gave consent for their underage daughter to marry in 1853. The father John George would have given consent if he were alive.
  • John George Albright’s wife Eva Barbara was called Widow Albright in Zion Schumm’s records when she married Adam Ehrman in 1853.

John George Albright, Kessler/Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2023 photo by Karen)

Assuming this is the tombstone of 44 year-old John George Albright, his date of birth was 22 December 1805, as calculated from his tombstone.    

John George Albright, 37, emigrated from Bavaria in 1842, arriving in America with his wife Eva Barbara, 38, two daughters, Anna, 6, and Christina, 3, and Andrew Hiller, 42. They sailed from Bremen on the ship Emma and arrived in New York on 26 July 1842. [3]

The John George Albright family and Andrew Hiller immediately settled in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Both men were enumerated in Mercer County’s 1843 Quadrennial Enumeration. [4]

About that same time, John George Albright purchased 40 acres of land in Liberty Township. His 40-acre farm was located in the NE Quarter of the NW Quarter of Section 17, as listed in the 1853 Mercer County Plat Book. [5] The Albright farm was located on the south side of what is now Oregon Road, about a quarter mile east of State Route 49.

The Albrights and Andrew Hiller were enumerated in the 1850 census in Liberty Township:
John C [G] Albrite [Albright], 45
Barbara Albrite, [Albright], 40
Barbara Albrite, [Albright], 14
Christina Albrite, [Albright], 11
Andrew Hellen [Hiller], 51.
All members of the household were born in Germany and John and Andrew were farmers. [6]

Andrew Hiller immigrated with the Albrights and lived with the Albrights in Liberty Township. Was he related to John or Barbara? I have a feeling he was.

That 1850 census enumeration was taken in Liberty Township on 14 September 1850. John Georg Albright died a couple weeks later, on 3 October 1850, and is buried in row 15 of Kessler/Liberty Cemetery.

John George Albright’s widow Eva Barbara married widower Adam Ehrman in Van Wert County on 2 August 1853 .

Eva Barbara Albright Ehrman (1810-1853) died on 17 September 1853, about six weeks after her marriage to Adam Ehrman. Three months later, on 18 November 1853, her second husband Adam Ehrman (1799-1853) died.

John George and Eva Barbara Albright had two daughters that immigrated with them:
Anna Barbara Albright (1836-1913), married George Bollenbacher (1830-1912)
Christine Albright (1839-1852)

[1] Mercer County Chapter OGS, compiler, Mercer County, Ohio, Cemetery Inscriptions, Vol. VI, Blackcreek, Hopewell, and Liberty Townships, (Celina, Ohio : Privately printed, 1990), p.66.

[2] Mercer County, Ohio, Recorder’s Office, affidavit, Vol. 15:525.

[3] New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957, 1842, Arrival, New York, New York, Line 8, list number 659, Andre Hiller; Ancestry.com, viewed 10 May 2023.

[4] 1827 and 1843 Quadrennial Enumeration of Adult White Males of Mercer County, Ohio, The Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, 2004, data from the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Library Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University, p. 28.

[5] 1853 Mercer County, Ohio, Plat Book, p. 199.

[6] 1850 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.287A, dwelling, family, John C Albrite [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 10 May 2023.

Aug 11

1918-Reichard Rescued from Torpedoed Boat

Several months ago I wrote about Emanuel and Emil Schumm, two brothers from the Schumm area who served in the U.S. armed forces during WWI.

They weren’t the only ones. There were many others from the area who also served in The War to End All Wars. Thank you to the Reichards for sending me several photos of their relatives who also served in WWI.

Today, a little about one of them, Willshire native William Denzil Reichard, who served in the Navy during WWI.  

William Denzil Reichard (1891-1982), WWI

William Denzil Reichard was born in Willshire, Ohio, 7 March 1891, the son of James Henry E. (1867-1945) and Malinda Mae (Sonday) (1872-1958) Reichard. William grew up in Willshire and enlisted in the U.S. Navy 4 December 1917.

William D. Reichard, 27, survived a harrowing Naval attack during the war.

William D. Reichard was sailing near Scotland, stationed on the cargo vessel USS Lakemoor. On 11 April 1918 the USS Lakemoor, aka Lake Moore, freighter/cargo vessel (ID-2180), was torpedoed and sunk in the Irish Sea, 3 miles off Corsewall Point Light, sunk by the German UB-64 [possibly UB-73]. 46 sailors perished but William D. Reichard was among the 18 survivors. [1] William was very lucky to have survived.  

An official announcement issued at Washington confirms the report that William D. Reichard, of Willshire, was among the rescued American soldiers on board the Lake Moor, when the vessel was torpedoed in a French port. [2]

VAN WERT BOY RESCUED FROM TORPEDOED BOAT
Van Wert, O, April 25- William Densel [sic] Reichard, of Willshire, this county, was among those rescued from the cargo ship Lake Moor when it was sunk by a German submarine off the Irish coast. The navy officials gave the news to the parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Reichard. The message further stated that Reichard was landed at an Irish port and would soon return to the United States. Reichard enlisted in the navy three months ago. He had previously served one enlistment period. [3]

The Fort Wayne Sentinel, 25 Apr 1918.

A longer article, more detailed article from a Defiance, Ohio, newspaper:

BOY WHO WAS ON BOARD TORPEDOED SHIP WILL SPEAK AT COMMUNITY SING TONIGHT
William Demsel [sic] Reichard, who was on the ill fated United States freight Lakemoor, which was torpedoed at eleven o’clock the night of April 11th by the Hun submarine rats and which sunk in two minutes after the torpedo was fired with the result that Reichard was in the water for five hours before he was picked up, will appear at the Community Sing at court house square this evening.

Mr. Reichard, who is an engineer in the naval service, was serving as a fireman on the Lakemoor when she was sunk.

His home is at Wilshire [sic], Ohio, and he is visiting his two brothers Charles and Fred, who board at the home of Charles Zeschke. He is home on a fifteen day furlough.

While he is very modest, he has been prevailed upon to appear at the Community Sing in full uniform this evening and will be introduced to the large audience.

“There were nineteen vessels in our fleet,” said Richard [sic]. “Two of them were sunk. They got us at 11 o’clock at night. I was sleeping in the coal bunkers when the crash came. It seemed that everything had come down on me. I had decided to give up when one of my pards said, ‘Hurry up, and get out of this.’ We found our way out and leaped into the water. We were in the water five hours when we were picked up by a Norwegian steamer. I had no life belt but we had a raft and just floated around. My legs became cramped and bent but we were picked up in time so that everything came out alright. I never saw any more of my pards in the fire room. There were 46 lost and 18 saved. The Hun threw his lights around for awhile after he had sunk us. It’s a good thing he didn’t find us or he probably would have shelled us.”

Mr. Reichard says that the Lakemoor was not armed and therefore could not put up a fight. He still feels the effects of the cold water on his limbs.

He returned to the United States on an American ship that formerly was a big German liner. An attempt was made to torpedo it and the torpedo missed it only a few feet, striking a British cruiser that was conveying it but not sinking the cruiser.

He says that the men in the Navy are especially in need of lens (glasses). The Germans camouflage their subs different every time they go out and it is almost impossible to distinguish one. With good lens it makes it easier to locate them. People back home who have opera glasses should give them to the Navy.

He will return in a few days to New York City to take a few more trips across and back.

Mr. Reichards [sic] was asked to appear at the Community Sing this evening. “Nothing doing,” said he. “I’m not a public speaker and I don’t want to face no crowd.” He was told that it would have a good effect on the people back home and finally consented to do so…

Dr. E.O. Crist will deliver a short patriotic address… [at] the Sing…College and High school voices will lead the singing… These Community Sings are being held all over the United States for the purpose of stimulating patriotism and enthusiasm. “America is singing herself to Victory” and Defiance is doing her share. Especially are the Community Sings proving popular in the eastern cities. [4] 

William D. Reichard was honorably discharged 18 September 1919. He married Gertrude Irene Resch (1898-1936) in New York, New York, on 22 Jun 1918. They resided with her parents in New York for a couple years but moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, between 1920-1921, where their infant son William died in 1921. William and Gertrude Reichard had three additional children. Gertrude died in 1936 and widower William D. Reichard married Bessie Cleo (Ribkee) Berry (1904-2000) on 11 March 1944 in Indiana. William D. Reichard died in Fort Wayne 13 Aug 1982 and is buried Greenlawn Memorial Park, Fort Wayne.

[1] Casualties of the United States Navy and Coast Guard, Naval History Homepage, viewed 9 Aug 2023.

[2] Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 26 Apr 1918; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 9 Aug 2023.

[3] The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 25 Apr 1918; Newspapers.com, viewed 9 Aug 2023.

[4] Defiance Crescent-News, Defiance, Ohio, Saturday, 11 May 1918, Newspaperarchive.com, viewed 9 Aug 2023.

Aug 08

Tombstone Tuesday-Daffodil Symbol

These pretty flowers carved into this tombstone look like daffodils, a flower not often seen on grave markers.

St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Preble County, Indiana

Daffodils, also called narcissus or jonquils, symbolize rebirth, new life, resurrection, new beginnings, hope, and love. 

They are one of the earliest flowers to emerge and bloom. They are a symbol of Spring and are associated with Easter. Daffodils are hardy survivors in the plant world, showing their resilience and new life after weathering the winter storms.

Their cheerful bright yellow and white colors also symbolize positivity.

Daffodils are one of my very favorite flowers.

A few of our cheery daffodils.

Aug 04

The Albright & Ehrman Orphans

Last week I wrote about the Albrights and the Ehrmans, two German immigrant families who had tragic family losses. The parents of both families died within a few years of settling in the Willshire and Chattanooga areas, leaving behind underage children.

My original research problem was to determine what happened to their orphaned children. Unfortunately, this situation happened more often than you would think. Parent-less children were usually taken in by relatives, baptismal sponsors, neighbors, or friends. To make matters worse, in this instance it appears the Albrights and Ehrmans did not have any relatives in the area. Their children had to live with friends and neighbors after their parents died. However, the legacy of both families continued on and both families have many descendants today.

The Albrights’ one living child Anna, legally a minor at age 17, married George Bollenbacher shortly before her mother Eva Barbara died in 1853. Anna’s father John George Albright had died a couple years before, in 1850, and Anna’s mother Eva Barbara had to give consent for minor daughter Anna to marry. Anna (Albright) and George Bollenbacher spent the rest of their lives in Liberty Township, Mercer County, and had a number of children.

The Ehrmans left more children behind, most of them minors. The mother Charlotte Ehrman died in 1851 and the father Adam Ehrman died in 1853. Their deaths left their six orphaned children behind, five of them under 21 years of age.  

What happened to the Ehrman children?

Christian Ehrman, the oldest child of Adam and Charlotte Ehrman, was 25 years old when his father died in 1853. Christian married Margaret Bienz 13 July 1854, about eight months after his father’s death. Christian and Margaret started their own family on the Ehrman farm between Willshire and Schumm. I will relate the research of the Christian Ehrman family in a future blog post.

John “Adam” Ehrman, the second child of Adam and Charlotte Ehrman, was born about 1833 and was age 20 when his father died in 1853. Adam (the younger) was enumerated in the 1850 census and seemed to disappear after that.

Emily “Amelia” Ehrman, the third child of Adam and Charlotte Ehrman, was born about 1836 and was age 17 when her father died. She married George Adam Kienzle (1835-1900) on 2 January 1859 in Van Wert County and they had seven children. [1] Emily (Ehrman) Kienzle died in Celina, Ohio, on 13 October 1921 and is buried in North Grove Cemetery, Celina. [2]

George Kienzle & Emeline Ehrman marriage, 2 Jan 1859, Van Wert Co, Vol 1839-1863, p.153

Florina Ehrman, the fourth child of Adam and Charlotte Ehrman, was born about 1838 and was 15 years old when her father died. She was enumerated in the 1850 census and seemed to disappear after that.

Margaret Ehrman, the fifth child of Adam and Charlotte Ehrman, was born 25 March 1847 and was 6 years old when her father died. After her parents’ death Margaret went to live with Adam and Maria (Germann) Dietrich and was living with them in 1860: Adam, 32, Hesse Darmstadt; Mary E, 27, Hesse Hamburg; Mary M, 1, Ohio; Eserbert [sic] [Eberhart?] Zimmerman, 19, Bavaria; and Margaret Airaman [Ehrman], 15, Ohio. [3] Margaret Ehrman married Friedrich Schumm Jr (1844-1907) on 26 October 1871 and they had nine children. Margaret died 27 June 1885 and is buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery.

Catharine Ehrman, the sixth child of Adam and Charlotte Ehrman, was born 7 November 1849 and was 4 years of age when her father died. Catharine was baptized 27 November 1849, with John George and Elizabeth Brenner as her baptismal sponsors, as recorded in Zion Schumm’s records. After her parents’ death, Catharine Ehrman went to live with the Brenners, her baptismal sponsors, and was enumerated with them in Willshire Township in 1860: John Brenner, 62, Wuerttemberg; Elisabeth, 55, PA; Godfrey, 16, OH; and Catharine Airman [Ehrman] 10, OH. The Brenners lived very close to the Adam Dietrichs, where Catharine’s sister Margaret was living. [4] It is nice to see the sisters were still living rather close together.

Catharine Ehrman married Anthony John H. “Anton” Kramer (1850-1937) on 22 July 1871 in Allen County, Indiana, [5] and they had five children. Catharine (Ehrman) Kramer died 30 May 1930 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery there. [6]

As usual, questions still remain:

  • Where were Margaret and Catharine Ehrman living in 1870? I have not determined that yet. My best guesses are Fort Wayne, somewhere in Adams County, Indiana, or in Van Wert County.
  • When did Adam Ehrman [the older] settle in Van Wert County? The Ehrmans immigrated in 1834 but I have not found the family in the 1840 census. Adam Ehrman purchased his Willshire Township land in 1848 and they first appear in Zion Schumm’s records in 1849, when their daughter Catharine was baptized. I am now wondering if they lived in another area before moving to Van Wert County.
  • What happened to children John Adam Ehrman and Florina Ehrman after 1850?

I would love to hear from and compare notes with Ehrman family researchers.

[1] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Ohio, Van Wert, Vol 1839-1863, p.153, George A Kienzle & Emeline Areman [sic], 2 Jan 1859; Ancestry.com, viewed 3 Aug 2023.

[2] Find a Grave.com, memorial no. 64404497, Amelia Kienzle, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio.

[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p: 151 (penned), dwelling 1075, family 1069, Adam Dertrich [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 4 Jan 2019.

[4] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.151 (penned), dwelling 1073, family 1067, John Bauner [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Sep 2021.

[5] Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001, Allen County, FHL Film no. 002111268, p.330, Anton Kramer & Catherine Ehrman, 22 Jul 1871; database, Ancestry.com, viewed 3 Aug 2023.

[6] Find a Grave.com, memorial no. 120842047, Katherine Ehrmans Kramer, Woodlawn Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Michigan.