Sep 02

Labor Day and the Durbin Bean Bake

I know what everyone is wondering right now–where did the summer go?

As usual, this summer has gone quickly and here it is, Labor Day weekend, which traditionally marks the end of summer. Technically we still have about 3 weeks of summer left although it looks and feels a little like fall already. The days are noticeably shorter, some leaves are coming down, the flowers are waning, the fall warblers are passing through, and the Monarch season is winding down. Yes, this year we again nurtured Monarch caterpillars and have released 50 Monarchs butterflies thus far, with another 24 in various stages of development. This has certainly been our best Monarch year yet!

The other day I was looking through some old online local newspapers, looking at the Mercer County news and happenings in early September 1910.

I saw that this part of the county was preparing for the Durbin Bean Bake! The same Labor Day Durbin Bake we are familiar with, although in 1910 they called it the Bean Supper and it was not held on Labor Day. Back then it was not held on a set date or day but occurred some time in early September. In 1910 it was held on the second Thursday in September and was their 13th gathering.

Bean Supper and Rennion [sic]
Trustee J.F. Smith, of the west end of the township, secretary of the Durbin bean supper and soldiers’ reunion association, was in town Monday arranging for the programs for their thirteenth annual meeting on the 8th inst. He expects it to be a cracker-jack as usual. The addresses will be made by Veteran J.C. Snyder, of Erastus; the irrepressible Pioneer A.H. Roebuck, of Mercer, and Mayor P.E. Kenney, of this city. [1]

Celina Democrat, 2 Sep 1910.

Below is their schedule of events for the 1910 Bean Bake:

Celina Democrat, 2 Sep 1910.

However, their Bean Supper did not happen on the 8th, due to rain. The next issue of the newspaper reports:

Durbin Bean Bake Postponed
The heavy rains of Wednesday night and yesterday morning cause the unceremonious postponement of the Durbin bean bake and soldiers’ reunion scheduled for yesterday.

It is announced, however, that the program arranged for the occasion will be rendered next Thursday, the 15th, just as if nothing had happened.

Uncle Jack Snavely will attend to the other little side issues.

Yesterday’s program won’t spoil and the beans are insured against cyclones, forked lightning and earthquakes.

The date was just seven days too early, anyhow. [2]

Celina Democrat, 9 Sep 1910.

The Durbin Bean Bake began in 1898 as a reunion of Civil War veterans. It continues to this day to honor all veterans and is a popular Mercer County Labor Day event. It free and open to the public and has games, attractions for children, food, and the beans are cooked all day and served about 4:00 p.m. It is held in Durbin Park, on Erastus-Durbin Road, just south of Mud Pike, in the southeast part of Liberty Township.

Another Durbin Bean Bake article in the Celina Democrat a couple years later, 27 August 1915:

BEAN BAKE       
At Durbin Is Coming, Though the Date Has Not Yet Been Announced

“Uncle Jack” Snavely gave the Democrat his annual call last Friday while in town making the rounds to secure a lift for the annual Durbin bean bake and reunion which is the big fall event of Mercer county. The pioneers of the county always look for the date of the big Durbin gathering, which is scheduled for the forepart of every September, at least as long as Uncle Jack can make the rounds.

“I am past the four-score milestone,” said the veteran caterer, “and have cooked the beans for twenty-one annual reunions at Durbin, besides helping at many other. Uncle Jack’s fame as a bean bake dates back to the time of the Civil War, and he is quite proud of the fame the many years’ baking has placed upon him. Here’s trusting Durbin will have the usual big day at the 1915 reunion. [3]

Celina Democrat, 27 Aug 1915.

Two of those articles mentioned Civil War veteran, Uncle Jack Snavely, who lived in Liberty Township. It appears he had attended all the Durbin Bean Bakes and always cooked the beans. Maybe he was one of the event’s founders.

Well that peaked my interest and I couldn’t help myself. I had to find additional information about Snavely, the man who attended every Durbin Bean Bake and who always cooked the beans there.

His name was actually John Snavely, but apparently everyone called him Uncle Jack. He was born in Ohio 1826 and served in the Civil War as a Private in Co. K, 88th OVI, enlisting and serving from July 1863-July 1865. [4]

According to the 1914 Appraiser’s Plat of Liberty Township, John Snavely lived in Section 24, on the north side of Schleucher Road, about a half mile from Erastus-Durbin Road. If this is the same person, he lived just a mile or two from the woods where the Durbin Bean Bake is held. And that makes sense.

“Uncle Jack” Snavely passed away on 27 July 1917, at the age of 91, and is buried in Buck Cemetery.

Part of his obituary:

…Uncle Jack was a member of D.J. Roop Post, G.A.R., but he will be best remembered for his interest in the annual soldiers’ reunion and bean bake at Durbin, which attracted thousands each year, and of which it may well be said, to use a popular expression, he was the “whole push.” [5]

Celina Democrat, 3 Aug 1917.

The Democrat’s editor wrote a tribute to Uncle Jack Snavely with his obituary. Part of that tribute:

…But this thing that added more than all things else to Uncle Jack’s fame and popularity were the annual bean bakes at Durbin, Mercer county. He always had charge of the baking and he could do the work to a queens [sic] taste, too. No one ever presumed to challenge his ability in that respect and now that he has gone to join his comrades on the peaceful fields of paradise, the old soldiers are wondering who will take his place… [6]

Celina Democrat, 3 Aug 1917.

We occasionally go to the Durbin Bean Bake. Here are some of my photos from the 2018 Bean Bake:

Durbin Bean Bake, 2018

Cooking the beans takes all day. Durbin Bean Bake, 2018

It began to honor Civil War veterans, so what better than a Civil War encampment. Durbin Bean Bake, 2018

Durbin Bean Bake, 2018

Durbin Bean Bake, 2018

Durbin Bean Bake, 2018

Have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend!

[1] Bean Supper and Reunion, The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 2 Sep 1910; Library of Congress.gov. (Note: inst. is an abbreviation for instant, meaning in the current month.)

[2] Durbin Bean Bake Postponed, The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 9 Sep 1910; Library of Congress.gov.  

[3] Bean Bake, The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 27 Aug 1915; Library of Congress.gov.  

[4] 1890 Veterans Schedules of the U.S. Federal Census, Mercer, Liberty, Ohio, ED 189, SD 2, p.3, no.37, John Snavely; Ancestry.com, viewed 1 Sep 2022.

[5] Uncle Jack Snavely Dead, The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 3 Aug 1917; Library of Congress.gov.

[6] Editor Sullivan’s Tribute to “Uncle Jack,” The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 3 Aug 1917; Library of Congress.gov.

Aug 30

Tombstone Tuesday-Edna A. & Clara M. Schumm

Edna A & Clara M Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Edna A. and Clara M. Schumm, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Edna A.
1895-1990

Clara M.
1898-1984

Sisters Edna and Clara Schumm were the fifth and sixth of eight children born to Henry M. (1861-1941) and Minnie (Hoppe) (1860-1937) Schumm.

Edna Alwine Magdalena Schumm was born in Willshire Township 16 October 1895. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran, Schumm, on 27 October 1895 with Wilhelmine Schumm, Leone Schumm, and Alwine Seemeyer serving as her sponsors.

Clara Anna Marie Schumm was born in Willshire Township on 16 April 1898 and was baptized at Zion Schumm on 8 May 1898, with Maria Schumm and Anna Seemeyer serving as her sponsors.

In 1900 Edna, 4, and Clara, 3, lived with their family in Willshire Township. Family members included their father Henry M, 39; mother, Minnie, 40; siblings Agnes, 12; Alma, 10; Emanuel, 9; Emil, 6; Alfred, 2 months; and their maternal grandparents, Henry Freese, 63, and Abalonia Freese, 61. [1]

The eighth child, Oswald, was born to the family in 1902. Their mother Minnie Schumm was enumerated with her 8 children in Van Wert County in 1910, although some of the names of those in the household are difficult to read and somewhat confusing. One daughter’s name is repeated, another name is nearly illegible and indicates the daughter is a male. After comparing birth dates, ages, and gender with known family information, I believe the members of the household in 1910 were: Minnie, 50, married, had 8 children, all living: Agnes, 22; Alma, 20; Emanuel, 18; Emil, 17; Edna, 15; Clara, 12; Alfred, 10; and Oswald, 8. [2]

Their father Henry M. Schumm was not enumerated with them in Van Wert County in 1910 but was probably living in Colorado, although I have not found him in the 1910 census. Henry homesteaded in Cheyenne County, Colorado, in about 1907 and remained in Colorado for 15-20 years. It appears his wife Minnie and some of their children went back and forth between Colorado and Van Wert County during that time, but by 1930 Henry and Minnie were back in Willshire Township, where they resided for the remainder of their lives.

Clara Schumm:

In 1920 Clara Schumm, 21, resided with her mother Minnie, grandmother Abalonia Freese, and siblings Alma, Emanuel, Alfred, and Oswald in Willshire Township. [3] And just to make things interesting, Minnie, Clara, Alfred, and Oswald, were enumerated again, about a month later in Cheyenne County, Colorado, with the father Henry Schumm. [4]

In 1930 Clara, 30, single, rented a home or apartment at 407½ Race Street, Troy, Ohio, and shared it with roommate Annabel Powell, 29. Clara worked as a public health nurse. [5]  

Their mother Minnie (Hoppe) Schumm died 19 November 1937 and their father Henry M. Schumm died 1 February 1941.

In 1950 Clara, 51, single, resided in Mansfield, Ohio, where she was the supervisor of city and county nurses. [6]

Clara Schumm, 86, died at her home in Van Wert on 29 April 1984. Clara Schumm’s obituary:

Van Wert–Former Mansfielder Clara Schumm 86, of 314 N. Jefferson St., Van Wert, died at her home Sunday after a long illness.

She is survived by a sister, Edna Schumm of Van Wert and a brother, Oswald Schumm of Van Wert.

She came to Mansfield from Troy, Ohio, with Dr. Harry Wain as a nursing director of the combined city-county health department and the visiting nurses association. She served in that position until retiring.

She was an active member of various health associations, locally and statewide. She received special recognition for her organization of the polio immunization program in Mansfield. Miss Schumm was a Case-Western Reserve University and Columbia University graduate with a degree in public health nursing. She was a charter member of the Altrusa Club of Mansfield.

Friends may call from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Cowan Funeral Home, Van Wert. Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Van Wert. Burial will be in the Schumm Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Wert Visiting-Nurses Association. [7]

Clara’s sister Edna Schumm:

In 1930 Edna Schumm, 34, and her brother Oswald Schumm, 28, rented a home at 2428 Wayne Avenue in Dayton, Ohio. Edna worked as a saleswoman and Oswald worked as a machinist in an electric shop. [8]

In 1940 Edna, 44, single, resided in Mechanicsburg where she taught at a public school. She was a lodger in the home of Della Kimball, 73, on 115 N Main Street, and had lived there in 1935 as well. Edna was a college graduate and reported her income as $1425. [9]

In 1950 Edna Schumm, 54, single, lived on Market Street in Bellville, Richland County, Ohio, where she was a business education teacher at a public high school. [10]

Edna Schumm, 95, died of respiratory arrest and heart failure at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana, on 21 December 1990. She donated her remains to the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens. Edna was a high school teacher and never married. She lived on South Anthony, Fort Wayne, at the time of her death. [11]

Edna and Clara had the following siblings:
“Agnes” Wilhelmine Barbara Schumm (1888-1921)
Alma Abalonia Schumm (1889-1972)
“Emanuel” Henry John Schumm (1892-1973), married Edna Scaer
“Emil” Fredrick Schumm (1893-1960), married Louise Stock
Alfred Oswald Ferdinand Schumm, Rev. (1900-1981), married Irma S. Wambsganss
Oswald Hugo Otto Schumm (1902-1987) 

[1] 1900 U. S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 97, dwelling 182, family 195, p.9, Henry M Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2B, dwelling & family 37, Minnie Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Dec 2021. [How the family looks on the census: Minnie, 50; Edna, 22; Samuel, 20, daughter (M); Emanuel, 18; Emil, 17; Edna, 15; Clara, 12; Alfred, 10; Oswald, 8.]

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling & family 48, Wilhelmina H Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[4] 1920 U.S. Census, Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne, Colorado, ED 56, p.7B, dwelling 84, house 89, Henry M Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[5] 1930 U.S. Census, Troy, Miami, Ohio, ED 7, p.6A, dwelling & house 141, Clara Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 29 Aug 2022.

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Mansfield, Richland, Ohio, ED 70-41, p.79, dwelling 226, Clara M Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 29 Aug 2022.

[7] News-Journal, Mansfield, Ohio, 1 May 1984, p.7, Clara Schumm; Newspapers.com, viewed 29 Aug 2022.

[8] 1930 U.S. Census, Dayton, Montgomery Ohio, ED 112, p.3A, dwelling 46, family 48, Oswald H Schum [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 1 May 2022.

[9] 1940 U.S. Census, Mechanicsburg, Champaign, Ohio, ED 11-3, p.2A, house no. 115, household 42, Della Kimball; Ancestry.com, viewed 29 Aug 2022.

[10] 1950 U.S. Census, Belleville, Richland, Ohio, ED 70-18, p.4, dwelling 40, Edna H Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 29 Aug 2022.

[11] Indiana Death Certificates, Year 1900, Roll 20, Edna Alwina Magdelina [sic] Schumm, 21 Dec 1990; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 29 Aug 2022.

Aug 26

Radio Set Owners in 1930, Willshire & Liberty (Mercer) Townships

Today, a list of those in two local townships that answers the 1930 question, Who Owned a Radio? In the 1930 census, question number 9 asked if the family owned a radio set. It is interesting to see who, if any, in my family owned a radio and if any of their neighbors did. Perhaps your family owned a radio in 1930.

By 1930 radio broadcasting had been around for a decade. Listeners enjoyed live musical performances, dramas, comedy acts, and talk and educational programs. I remember my dad mentioning shows such as Amos ‘n’ Andy, Gene Autry, and Jack Benny.

From last week’s list of radio set owners in Willshire village and Black Creek Township in 1930, I noticed that my Miller grandparents and their close neighbors did not own a radio. Someone asked if they even had electricity in 1930.

Good question, although a radio could have operated by a battery.

I went to one of my go-to sources of information, my Uncle Kenny. Although he was born after 1930, he said that the family did not get electricity until about 1940-41, when he was in the third grade. Kenny said that before they had electricity their family had a console-type radio setup, with the radio on top and a car-like battery below. Another person I talked to said that Vernon Caffee wired the house immediately west of the Miller farm when they moved in after their marriage in 1935. Some good information that helps clarify the radio/electric timeline issue.   

Below, those who owned radio sets in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, and Liberty Township, Mercer County, in 1930, and their ages.

In 1930 it is estimated that 40% of households owned a radio. In Willshire Township, 75 of their 258 households (29%) owned radios. In Liberty Township, Mercer County, 46 of their 272 households (17%), owned radios. These two townships have a lower percentage of radios than reported in Black Creek Township (78 of 224 households, 35%) and the village of Willshire (62 of 139 household, 44%) in 1930.

Those who owned radios in Willshire Township in 1930 (excluding Willshire village & Wren):

Leonard Troutner, 49
Jacob Shell, 51
Oliver Painter, 47
Hoadley Dellinger, 42
Joseph Bowers, 67
James C Adams, 50
Jesse Ross, 55
Monroe Clouse, 61
Leroy August, 35
Fredrick G Schinnerer, 69
Arthur Store, 60
Paul Schumm, 41
James Banta, 73
Gust Brandt, 62
James W Haney, 59
Walter Almandinger, 30
Richard Almandinger, 31
Martin Stamm, 47
Leroy Putman, 39
Emma Hines, 59
John Hay, 51
Jesse McCrory, 51
Timothy Putman, 39
Edward Seaney/Sesney, 50
Wilber Reidenbach, 42
Henrietta Roehm, 50
John Scaer, 64
Theo C Hoffman, 46
Jennie Neiford, 70
Orley A Krugh, 26
Donald F Eichar, 39
Oscar Miller, 37
Charley F August, 63
Alfred Handwork, 31
“Schumm town”:
Ray Johns, 26
Henry M Schumm, 68
Richard Bienert [Rev], 45
Lincoln Cully, 64
Charley Krueckeberg, 53
Ramond L Stetler, 39
John W Harshman, 71
Wilson P Nye, 53
Junius Mattax, 24
Viola Tope, 63
Earnest Vanatta, 28
Orval Lenhart, 32
Curtis Tumbleson, 46
Arthur J Cully, 73
Christopher Kline, 50
Frank Bower, 48
John Riedle, 58
Noris J Sidle, 40
Herman Giessler, 42
Lewis Long, 28
Carey LaRue, 33
Adam Giessler, 54
John Schmidt, 72
William Gehres, 62
Lawrence Gehres, 34
Mary Jones, 88
William Black, 47
Rudolph Voltz, 85
Xanthus Walters, 44
Glenn Mathews, 28
Fredrich Myers, 48
Village of Glenmore:
Earnest Voltz, 40
Ray Neiferd, 49
Phoebe Giessler, 46
Floyd Kohn, 26
Louis Harman, 28
John Shook, 66
Katie Neiferd, 55
Joseph Kriescher, 36
Fred J Gehres, 58
Floyd Donovan, 23

Those who owned radios in Liberty Township, Mercer County (including Chattanooga) in 1930:

Russell Doner, 36
Antone Feipel/Feissel, 69
Matt Schritz, 82
Dan Stoltz, 66
Bill Florence, 34
John Kincaid, 54
Emmett Florence, 25
John Sudhoff, 55
Sam Dixon, 71
Andy Wyckel, 53
Adam Fisher, 52
Peter Strable, 60
Fred W Betzel, 38
John Deitsch, 54
JE Albrecht [Rev], 54 
AW Becher, 32
George Becker, 62
Raymond Becker, 32
Geo E Bollenbacher, 62
Samuel Bollenbacher, 57
Edward D Bollenbacher, 51
Henry Linn, 58
Peter Brehm, 77
John Gehm, 42
Alfred J Wahl, 37
Lewis Brehm, 42
George Weiman, 69
Lewis Wendel, 47
Albert Growth, 51
William H Maurer, 63
Walter Linn, 37
Ezra Laffin, 38
Steve Seibert, 45
OC Shiveley, 29
Grace Hager, 50
Daniel Davis, 71
Dorman Thatcher, 35
WH Roettger, 61
David Hone, 39
Chris Hone Jr, 24
RG Heffner, 43
HH Kuhn, 28
Carl Schroeder, 33
Walter E Heffner, 31
Ivan Johnson, 37
Louis P Wendel, 39

As for my family, neither my maternal nor paternal grandparents owned a radio in 1930. However, my great-grandparents, John & Elizabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer, in Willshire Township, owned a radio. Also, the family of Paul Linn, Liberty Township, my uncle by marriage, owned a radio. It is also interesting to see that both Rev. Bienert and Rev. Albrecht, the ministers of Zion Lutheran Churches in Chattanooga and in Schumm, owned a radio.

Aug 23

Tombstone Tuesday–Pythian Sisters Symbol

The Pythian Sisters, the female auxiliary of the Knights of Pythias, had their own symbol, a Maltese cross with the letters PLEF. These letters stand for Purity, Love, Equality, and Fidelity. This is the symbol used on a member’s tombstone.

Pythian Sisters symbol on tombstone, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Knights of Pythias & Pythian Sisters symbols on same tombstone, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Van Wert County, Ohio.

The Pythian Sisters were formed in 1888. Their local units are called Temples, their state units called Grand Temples, and the national structure called Supreme Temple. The Pythian Sisters have a youth affiliate, the Pythian Sunshine Girls, established in 1930.

Pythian Sisters flag holder, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Van Wert County, Ohio.

I featured the Knights of Pythias symbol in a Tombstone Tuesday a couple weeks ago. Both societies are fraternal charitable, benevolent societies.

Knights of Pythias & Pythian Sisters symbols on tombstone, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Aug 19

Black Creek & Willshire Radio Set Owners in 1930

A few years ago I did some research for someone and the one piece of information that the client found most interesting was that his relative owned a radio in 1930. Yes, question number 9 on the 1930 census asked if the family owned a radio set.

1930 Census, Black Creek Twp, p.3A, Radio Set, question 9

By 1930 radio broadcasting had been around for a decade. Live musical performance was popular in the early years of radio and dramas, comedy acts, talk and educational programs became popular soon after.

Some of the most popular shows included Amos ‘n’ Andy, Abbott & Costello, The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet, Bell Telephone Hour, Burns & Allen, The Danny Kaye Show, Dick Tracy, Dragnet, Eddie Cantor, Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch, The General Electric Concert, The Green Hornet, Guiding Light, Hallmark Playhouse, Hopalong Cassidy, Jack Benny, Kraft Music Hall, The Life of Riley, The Lone Ranger, Maxwell House Showboat, Mercury Theater on the Air, Our Gal Sunday, Palmolive Beauty Box Theater, The Pepsodent Show, Perry Mason, Philip Morris Playhouse, Queen for the Day, Red Skelton, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Roy Rogers Show, Tarzan, Dinah Shore Show, Ed Sullivan Show, This is Your Life, Truth or Consequences, Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra, to name a few. Many of these radio shows later became TV shows. Radio news came to the airwaves during World War II.

It was the Golden Age of Radio.

In 1930 it is estimated that 40% of households owned a radio. That statistic was fairly accurate for our rural area, too. Below I have copied the radio set owners in Black Creek Township and the village of Willshire, as reported in the 1930 census, with the spelling of names pretty much as indexed on Ancestry.com. In Black Creek Township, 78 of the 224 households (35%) owned radios and in the village of Willshire, 62 of 139 households (44%) owned radios.

Perhaps your family owned a radio in 1930.

Those who owned radios (and their age) in Black Creek Township in 1930:
Chancy A Gephart, 54
Wilbur M Smalley, 38
John B Fleming, 50
Orvil R Brookhart, 34
Homer Buchanan, 45
Alfred Miller, 43
Emanuel Hurles, 46
C Leroy Pifer, 38
Ruben Witter, 51
John Leistner, 43
Charles H Sample, 55
Dessie Morrison, 54
John Dellinger, 39
Fredrick Kidd, 49
Jesse King, 31
Solomon King, 54
John Myers, 62
William E Hamrick, 39
Earl Case, 48
Frank Garwood, 45
James P Riley, 56
Auston Evens, 79
William G White, 31
Emanuel Stetler, 49
Jess A Pickering, 48
Melvin Stetler, 59
Floyd Hill, 34
Albert Hamrick, 29
James Figley, 45
Dillan Jordan, 44
Michael Kallenberger, 59
Wilber C Stover, 26
John McGough, 55
Thomas J Dellinger, 54
Otto A Brandt, 56
John M Byer, 58
Anton M Jones, 43
Gale Hook, 47
William H Hoblet, 51
Fredrick Hartzog, 65
Carl C Kessler, 37
Fredrick W Becher, 43
Augustus Bollenbaugh, 51
Martin Affolder, 41
Fred Diener Jr, 39
Lewis G Baker, 63
William R McDougle, 55
Emma Graubarger, 51
William F Detro, 67
Walter G Detro, 34
John H Kettering, 47
Willets U Carr, 58
Oscar Pifer, 56
J Calvin Figley, 72
Herber Martz, 35
Charles A Branstetter, 50
Charles A Kuhn, 52
Elmer Haver, 50
Adam Alt, 50
William Hoverman, 44
Otto Growth, 56
PT Spangler, 48
Jess E Crabtree, 35
Ernest S Statter, 52
Elara E Rogers, 54
Otto Linn, 36
Nellie Cross, 42
William D Andrews, 41
Cloyd E Stover, 39
Ralph R Stover, 22
William B Rumple, 44
Pearl D Spitler, 50
Russell Stetler, 31
Clyde Johnson, 27
Frank H Springer, 61
Andrew Harb, 66
Jack L Brasher, 28
Arthur H Bailey, 56

My grandfather Carl Miller, who lived in Black Creek Township, did not own a radio in 1930.

Those who owned radios (and their age) in the village of Willshire in 1930:
John Young, 26
John Knott, 52
Charity Brown, 54
Floyd Strickler, 31
Mary E Beam, 74
Sherman Liming, 34
Henry Dellinger, 42
Garey D Mercer, 62
James G Bilderback, 62
George J Buckley, 37
Grover, C Inman, 45
Price McClure, 35
Walter Stetler, 35
Charles H Miller, 45
Ralph L Peden, 41
Thomas Jones, 35
Earl Stetler, 34
Clarence Hoblet, 47
Foster Coil, 25
Frank A Miller, 51
William H Ayers, 73
Russel O Dull, 37
Steve F Buchanan, 81
Elijah H Alspaugh, 52
Dale Cowan, 42
Dale Clouse, 22
Grant Strickler, 61
Clarence Laughrey, 30
Walter Scott, 41
Miles Ross, 31
Logan Wolf, 58
Ottis P Spitler, 554
William Spitler, 58
Herman Myers, 30
Frank Detter, 57
Harriet Colter, 53
Frank Cronister, 40
Roland Detter, 27
James H Frye, 88
Chalmer Edwards, 27
Mary Snyder, 54
Rosa Price, 61
Jerome Morrison, 27
Joseph M Winkler, 56
Clarence Giessler, 39
Hattie Koontz, 59
John Hoblet, 84
Samuel Dellinger, 35
David Morrison, 64
Felix Yoss, 32
Lawrence Dellinger, 25
Jess Spitler, 29
Ira E Huber, 34
Glen Spitler, 31
Elihu Johnson, 73
Chauncey J Fisher, 47
James Buchanan, 67
Ward W Acheson, 44
Harry Workinger, 28
Daniel Geary, 63
Lillian Cowan, 54
William Counterman, 55

I can visualize families and others gathered around the radio in the evening, listening to live entertainment shows and their other favorite radio programs.