Karen’s Chatt – Page 58 – Karen’s Chatt

Oct 25

Tombstone Tuesday-Edward & Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson

By Karen in Dirkson

Edward & Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Edward and Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

DIRKSON
Edward
1864-1938
Psa. 90
Heb. 4, 9-11

Johannah
1873-1923
Psa. 25-10
Rev. 7, 9-17

William “Edward” Dirkson was born 8 July 1864 near Bingen, Adams County, Indiana, the son of Henry (1837-1915) and Lisetta (Aumann) (1844-1923) Dirkson. Edward grew up in Adams County and had younger siblings Anna, Louisa, Mary, and Emilie. [1]

Edward Dirkson married Johanna Meyer in Adams County, Indiana, 24 April 1898, married by Rev. J. Matthias. [2]

Johanna (Hannah) Louisa Meyer was born 15 November 1873 in Preble, Adams County, Indiana, the daughter of Henry William Christian (1832-1883) and Rosina K. (Schueler) (1837-1912) Meyer. Johanna grew up in Adams County, Indiana, and had several siblings, Mary Sophia, Helen Maria, Wilhelmina, William Michael, Sophia R., Edward George, Susanna, Rosine, and Martha Katharine. [3]

Two years after their marriage Edward and Johanna resided in Preble, Adams County, Indiana. They had no children and Edward, 35, was a farmer. [4]

Their first child, Arthur, was born in May 1901 and burned to death in December of that same year when he pulled a lamp into his crib and caught his bedclothes on fire. Daughter Helena was born less than a year later and died the day after she was born. Daughter Martha was born in 1903 and son Paul in 1906.

In 1910 the couple still resided in Preble and had two children, Martha, 6, and Paul, 4. This census enumeration indicates that the couple had two other children who had died. [5]

By 1920 Edward and Johanna Dirkson and their two children had moved to Willshire Township, where Edward farmed: Edward, 56; Johanna, 45; Martha, 16; and Paul, 14. [6]

Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson died from intestinal peritonitis on 31 January 1923 in Willshire Township, at the age of 49 years, 2 months, and 16 days. She was buried on 2 February. [7]

After Johanna’s death widower Edward Dirkson lived with his children Martha, 26, single, and Paul, 23, single, in Willshire Township. Edward and his son Paul farmed. [8]

Edward Dirkson died from uremia on 5 July 1938 in Ridge Township, Van Wert County, at the age of 73 years, 11 months, 27 days. He was buried on 8 July. [9]

Edward’s obituary:

Edward Dirkson
Van Wert, July 7-Edward Dirkson, 74, retired farmer of Willshire-tp, died yesterday at Van Wert-co hospital after an extended illness.

Born in Adams-co, Ind., he was the son of Henry and Lizzie Dirkson. He spent most of his life in Adams-co, but for the past 18 years had resided in Willshire and vicinity. He was a member of the Schumm Lutheran church.

Surviving are two children, Paul Dirkson, Harrod, and Mrs. Edward Gunsett, with whom he made his home; and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Schumm, Ft. Wayne, and Mrs. Otto Ewell, Decatur, Ind.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Schumm Lutheran church, with Rev. A. Maueler [sic] officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. [10]

Edward and Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson had the following children:
Arthur (1901-1901)
Helena (1902-1902)
Martha Anna Marie (1903-1981), married Edward “Dick” Gunsett
Paul (1906-1987), married Leota M. Kemper

Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson was the great-granddaughter of John Georg Schumm, our Schumm immigrant ancestor and descends from John Georg’s daughter Maria Katharina, who married Michael Schueler.

[1] Census years 1870 & 1880.

[2] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019,” Edward Dirkson & Johanna Meyers, 24 Apr 1898 database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[3] Census year 1880 & FindaGrave.com. Note, this surname is sometimes spelled Meier.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Preble, Adams, ED 8, p.8, dwelling 127, family 129, Edward Dieksan; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Preble, Adams, ED 8, p.1B, dwelling & family 21, Edward Dirkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling 55, family 56, Edward Dirkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Johannah Dirkson, 31 Jan 1923; database with images, FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZY-TKNL?i=338&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CF-GGH , viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[8] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, ED 245, p.2B, dwelling 39, family, Edward Derkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Ridge Township, Van Wert County, Edward Dirkson, 5 Jul 1938; database with images, FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ZY-TY35?i=247&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CF-RRN , viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[10] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 7 Jul 1938, p.2; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

Oct 21

The Willshire Canning Company

By Karen in Willshire, Willshire Canning Company

Willshire had a canning company in the early 1900s, appropriately named The Willshire Canning Company. I do not know a lot about the company or where it was located, just what I have read in a couple sources, The Willshire Herald and Dun and Bradstreet.

But a recent find shows that my great-grandfather Louis J. Schumm was a shareholder in The Willshire Canning Company. He purchased 4 shares of The Willshire Canning Company stock at $100 a share, issued 30 April 1904, signed by secretary E. Brown and president Henry Altheon. Louis’ stock certificate was number 8, obviously a very early number.

Willshire Canning Co stock certificate, 1904, Louis J Schumm

Willshire Canning Co stock certificate, 1904, Louis J Schumm

The Willshire Canning Company likely began about that time, early 1904. The 5 May 1904 edition of The Willshire Herald mentions The Willshire Canning Company several times and encouraged farmers to grow tomatoes and sweet corn for the company.

Articles from the 5 May 1904 Willshire Herald about the canning company:

The Willshire Canning factory now has over 150 acres of sweet corn and tomatoes contracted. Better get into the band wagon while there is yet a chance to toot a lead horn.

And,

Farmers, Attention!
All persons desiring to avail themselves of the opportunity to raise sweet corn or tomatoes for the Canning Factory for the coming season, can contract with the processor, Chas. Nachbauer, on or after March 10, at the Hardware Store of Hurless & Brown, Willshire, O.

Professor Catchpole is going to put in his summer vacation superintending and caring for fifteen acres of corn and tomatoes, for the Canning Factory. How much better such a course is than to sit around like a bump on a log and croak against the Canning Factory and its success, as a number of our citizens are doing.

Testimonials from the same paper, letters written to the canning factory’s processor, Chas. Nachbauer:

Another Testimonial
This is to certify that I had out eight acres of tomatoes and raised 420 bushels to the acre, which made a profit of $52.00 an acre. This crop I raised in Lewis township, Clay County, Ind., in 1903, for the Clay City Packing company. I intend to raise another crop this year for the same company, as I consider it the most profitable kind of farming. If there is anyone who desires to inquire into this statement, I refer them to the Clay City Packing Co., Clay City, Ind. Yours truly, L. Phegley.

Willshire Herald, 1904

DOES IT PAY?
Read this statement from men who have raised material for canning factories and then ask yourselves this question: DOES IT PAY NOT to RAISE VEGETABLES for the CANNING FACTORY WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY? Following is the statement of one of them:

Clay City, Ind., April 19, 1904.
“We made a little over One Hundred dollars an acre off our tomatoes. So, you see, it paid us well for raising them. There are a number of others here who did as well. I will give you a few names of farmers around here who say that it paid them to raise tomatoes for the factory. Wm. Liechty, George Williamson, Robert McKee, Mr. Phegley

And there are many others who would willingly add their testimony, but I think that it is not necessary to mention the names of others. Yours truly, J.P. Scherb, Clay City, Ind.

C.E. Detter is now at Oklahoma City, working up a $15,000 canning factory proposition. He says that city is a hustling, bustling place. [1]

The Willshire Canning Company was first listed in Dun and Bradstreet March 1905 and was in each consecutive issue through 1913, with a consistent H 3½ rating. In 1914 Dun and Bradstreet lists The Willshire Packing Company but not the canning company. I do not know if the packing company replaced the canning company or if the two companies were unrelated. By 1920 The Willshire Packing Company was not listed either. [2]

Dun & Bradstreet, Mar 1905, part 2, p.113

I wonder if my great-grandfather Louis Schumm raised vegetables for the factory?

[1] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 5 May 1904.

[2] Dun & Bradstreet Reference Book, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov. Vol. 2 of the following issues: Mar 1905:113 [image 197/587]; Jul 1906:116 [image 207/618]; Mar 1907:118 [image 204/629]; Mar 1908:120 [image 248/692]; Mar 1913:119 [image 210/618]; Sep 1920:142-4 [image 198-9/854].

Oct 18

Tombstone Tuesday-Tombstone Shapes

By Karen in Tombstone, Tombstone Art

Today, more examples of tombstones with a symbolic shape.

A tombstone in the shape of a semi truck.

Decatur Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana

A marker in the shape of a slot machine.

St. Joseph Cemetery, Auglaize County, Ohio

A monument shaped like a log cabin. The little logs are markers for family members.

Roberts Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio

Roberts Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio

Roberts Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio

A life-like tree stump marker.

Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio

A tombstone shaped like a tree trunk. Many of these are associated with Woodmen of the World.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima, Ohio

A monument shaped like a pyramid. Legend has it that the devil will not recline on a pyramid-shaped tombstone.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima, Ohio

A grave marker shaped like a bench.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio

Oct 14

Mercer County Courthouse Tour

By Karen in Mercer County Courthouse, Mercer County Ohio

The past couple years there have been several historic anniversaries in our area. Rockford celebrated their Bicentennial in 2020. Well, sort of. Because of the pandemic their celebration was postponed until 2021. This year Willshire observes their Bicentennial. Next year the Mercer County Courthouse will celebrate its 100^th anniversary.

Mercer County, Ohio, Courthouse

The old courthouse was built in 1868 and stood on the northeast corner of the current courthouse block. The county eventually outgrew that structure. Plus it lacked electricity, plumbing, telephones, and modern heating. In 1920 a bond issue for $500,000 was passed for building a new courthouse. Ground was broken 19 May 1921, the cornerstone was laid 20 July 1921, and the building was dedicated 3 September 1923. Peter M. Hulsken, of Lima, was the architect. The final building cost was under budget and today it is insured for many times that amount.

Old Mercer County Courthouse, built in 1868.

Last weekend the Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society sponsored a courthouse tour. Kip Wright was our tour guide through the historic and beautiful courthouse. He pointed out some of the courthouse’s architectural elements and told interesting facts about the courthouse.

Today, some photos from last Sunday’s courthouse tour.

Kip Wright began the tour in the courthouse foyer

Main stairway, Mercer County Courthouse

The acoustics are amazing when standing in the center of the star. You can whisper and still be heard. Note the three levels of the building.

Looking down at the first landing

The courthouse ceilings are striking and I spent a lot of time looking up.

Ceiling in entrance area

The beautiful rotunda

There have been a few updates, repairs, and some redecorating over the years. Today, when painting, repairs, or basically any work is needed or desired, the work must adhere to specific guidelines because the courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. Paint colors must meet strict historical specifications. Wallpaper is carefully repaired when necessary.

The images on this wallpaper border have a 3-D appearance. Note some of the granite has a wood-grain appearance.

Second floor border

Border and trim on the third floor

Border and trim on the third floor

Third floor

Geologists and other visitors, children in particular, enjoy looking for fossilized shells in the interior materials.

Embedded shells, millions of years old

An elaborate plaster ceiling and light fixture.

Stairway to the third floor

The Common Pleas Courtroom, third floor:

Common Pleas Courtroom

Note the letter v in place of u in the word COURT. The letters u and v were interchangeable in the ancient Latin language. Courthouses often use a v instead of a u to evoke a classical, ancient Roman aesthetic.

Common Pleas Courtroom

Common Pleas Courtroom

Jury box, Common Pleas Courtroom

Common Pleas Courtroom

Common Pleas Courtroom

Textured wall covering, Common Pleas Courtroom

Ceiling, Common Pleas Courtroom

Juvenile Courtroom, third floor:

Kip Wright in Juvenile Courtroom

Ceiling in Juvenile Courtroom

Juvenile Courtroom

Visiting the Juvenile Courtroom made me think of when, about 24 years ago, son Jeff appeared in that very courtroom for a minor traffic violation. I accompanied him and it was a learning experience that turned out well for Jeff, but we both remember a side-story to the event. I had previously scheduled an appointment for Glamour Shots to be taken earlier that morning. The Glamour Shots lady made up my face with lots of pancake makeup and styled my hair in a poofier coiffure than I usually wear. Let’s just say that I did not look like my usual conservative self for the photos. There was not much time between the two appointments and I went straight to the courthouse after the photos were taken. When I arrived at the courthouse Jeff was waiting for me in the hallway outside the Juvenile Courtroom and was shocked to see my altered appearance. I was a little uncomfortable being out in public all made-up, let alone sitting before a judge. Jeff and I still laugh about the way I looked that day.

Glamour Shot photo, 1998

To be clear, I did not wear the feathers and jewelry into the courtroom. They were provided by the Glamour people.

If you get the chance, I encourage you to visit our courthouse and take in its beauty. I have visited nearly a dozen courthouses and this is probably the most beautiful and well-kept courthouse I have been in.

Or, consider taking a courthouse tour. They will be offering tours during the upcoming 100th anniversary year.