Aug 13

Duckcreek Church Member List, 1905-1913

Continuing with the Duckcreek Church records that I have, today some membership records from 1905-1913.  

Fletcher Cemetery is mentioned again in these records. I recently learned that there is a Fletcher Cemetery located on Clayton Road in Willshire Township, a couple miles north of Willshire Eastern Road. I suspect there was once a church associated with the cemetery, called Fletcher Chapel. This could be the Fletcher Chapel the Duckcreek records refer to. Several Chilcotes/Chilcoats are buried at this Fletcher Cemetery and a couple of them attended Duckcreek Church at one time. Charles Chilcoat (1819-1898), his wife Catharine Chilcoat (1821-1898), as well as James W Chilcote (1850-1911) and his wife Sarah C (1850-1905) are buried there. [Van Wert County Cemetery Inscriptions Vol. V, Van Wert Chapter OGS.]

I was recently asked what the term Class means, a term often used in Methodist records. I found this information about that: Church members were divided into organized units, called Classes. Each Class had a leader who directed weekly instruction and gave spiritual and moral guidance. Early church rolls were listed under Classes and often contained some information about the members. Classes began each year at conference time and ran from September to September.  

This 1905-1913 member list includes name, marital status, Class, residence, date received, by whom received, received elsewhere, remarks. The amount of information given for each person varies and not every item of information was given for every person. In addition to Duckcreek Church, Willshire, Fountain Chapel, and Fletcher Chapel are also mentioned, under the Residence category. These records appear to include more than just Duckcreek records, although they were within the Duckcreek records I received.

Duckcreek Church membership records, 1905-1913:  

Com, TJ; M; Cl 1; Fountain Chapel; to Bethel UB 10 Apr 1909; dissatisfied
Com, Mrs. Nettie; M; Cl 1; Fountain Chapel; received by cert Apr 1905 by B.G.; to Bethel UB Apr 1909
Counterman, Jacob; M; Cl 1; Willshire; removed/no cert; gone to Michigan
Counterman, Emma; M; Cl 1; Willshire; removed/no cert; gone to Michigan
Counterman, Elva; S; Cl 1; Willshire; removed/no cert; gone to Michigan
Counterman, Florence; S; Cl 1; Willshire; removed/no cert; gone to Michigan
Christy, Calinda; M; Cl 3; Willshire; died
Chilcote, Idora; M; Cl 3; Willshire; died
Cully, Burt; M; Cl 8; Willshire; to Tipton Ind by certificate Jul 1913
Cully, Myrtle; M; Cl 8; Willshire; removed by certificate
Case, Hulda; M; Cl 1; Duckcreek
Carter, Mary; M; Cl 2; Fletcher; trans to Willshire
Cully, Alice; M; Cl 1; Fletcher; trans to [?]
Cornell, Emma; S; Cl 3; Willshire; received by cert 18 Sep 1906; marr Jan 1907, see Boda
Cornel, Dollie; S; Cl 3; Willshire; received by cert 18 Sep 1906; marr 25 Jan 1907, see Kaufman
Case, Mrs. J; Wd; Willshire; received 12 Apr 1908 by L. Rice
Culley, L.S.; M; Fetcher; received by cert 15 Jun 1908 by L. Rice; trans to Willshire
Culley, Glenn; S; Fletcher; received by cert 15 Jun 1908 by L. Rice; trans to Willshire
Culley, Wibur; S; Fletcher; received by cert 15 Jun 1908 by L. Rice; trans to Willshire
Cornell, Margaret; Wd; Willshire; received 23 Aug 1908 by L. Rice
Culley, Dove; S; Willshire; received by cert 18 Apr 1909 by L. Rice; marr D.F. Roller, see Roller
Colter, W.A.; M; Willshire; received 26 Jan 1913 by Carl W. Jamieson
Colter, Mrs. W.A.; M; Willshire; received 26 Jan 1913 by Carl W. Jamieson
Campbell, Rebeka; M; Willshire; received by cert 16 Feb 1913 by Carl W. Jamieson
Colter, Bernice; S; Willshire; received by cert 16 Feb 1913 by Carl W. Jamieson
Clouse, Monroe; M; Willshire; received by cert 16 Feb 1913 by Carl W. Jamieson
Clouse, Clara; M; Willshire; received by cert 16 Feb 1913 by Carl W. Jamieson

I still have a few more Duckcreek Church records to share!

Aug 10

Tombstone Tuesday-Frederick A. Schumm

Frederick A Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Kare)

This is the tombstone of Frederick A. Schumm, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

FREDERICK A. SON OF
L.E. & C.E. SCHUMM
MAR. 18, 1923
MAY 9, 1923

Frederick Arthur Schumm was born in Willshire 18 March 1923, according to his tombstone; born 19 March 1923, according to his death certificate. [1] Frederick was the son of “Louis” Fredrick and Cora Eva (Roop) Schumm.

Frederick’s parents lived on State Street in Willshire in 1920 and his father Louis was a house carpenter. [2]

Frederick Schumm died at home in Willshire of pyloric stenosis [a stomach-related ailment] on 9 May 1923, at the age of 1 month and 21 days. He had been under the care of the physician since 22 April. Frederick was buried on the 10th. [1]

Frederick Schumm had the following siblings:
Robert W. Schumm [Rev. Dr.] (1915-2003), married Delora Burk; married Frances Picknell
Elbert R. Schumm Sr (1918-1978), married Elva Jane Martin
Mary Elizabeth Schumm (1920-2016)
Herbert Ivan Schumm [Rev.] (1928-2018), married Priscilla Ruth Bonell

There is no record of Frederick’s baptism in Zion Lutheran, Schumm’s records. His death was recorded years later, in 1975 by Rev. Schuler.

On a side note, Frederick’s sister Mary Schumm was my first organ teacher. That was back in the early/mid-1960s. She also played the harp.

[1] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953, Willshire, Van Wert, Fredrick Arthur Schumm, 9 May 1923; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6XSQ-LW4?i=1335&cc=1307272&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX8TB-CBV : viewed 9 Aug 2021).

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.11A, dwelling 126, family 127, Louis F Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/ : viewed 9 Aug 2021).

Aug 06

175th Anniversary of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm

Last Sunday was the 44th Schumm reunion but 2021 also marks a noteworthy anniversary for Schumm’s congregation, the 175th anniversary of the founding of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church at Schumm, Ohio.

175th Anniversary of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, Ohio.

John Georg Schumm and five of his children immigrated to America in 1833, lived in Holmes County, Ohio, for a few years, and then moved to the Schumm area in 1838. By 1839 traveling missionary Friedrich Wyneken was ministering in the area. In 1846 John Georg Schumm, his four sons, George Martin, John Jacob, Louis, Frederick, his son-in-law Michael Schueler, and two other members founded Zion Lutheran Church at Schumm. Unfortunately, John Georg Schumm died three days before the adoption of Zion’s first constitution in 1846. A year later the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod was organized and Zion Schumm became a charter member. 

Zion Schumm’s first church was a small log structure located where their parsonage is today. Their second church was a frame structure, located across the road from the present church, surrounded by the cemetery and tombstones. It is said that the pulpit, alter, pews, and other fixtures in the church were all made of black walnut.

Zion Lutheran Schumm’s old frame church by the cemetery.

Frame church, Zion Schumm.

The current brick Gothic-style church was dedicated in 1915 and features a beautiful interior with lovely stained-glass windows.  

Zion Lutheran Schumm’s current church.

Through the years the pastors at Zion Schumm kept good records and those records are invaluable for genealogy research. The oldest entry is the death of Michael Billman, 10 June 1846, followed by the baptism of John Edward Roedel and Phoebe Elisabeth Haeberle on 28 June 1846, by Rev. J.G. Burger, Zion Schumm’s first resident pastor.

Zion Lutheran Schumm.

175th Anniversary of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, Ohio.

At last Sunday’s reunion there was a nice selection of mementos commemorating Zion’s 175th Anniversary and I came home with a few goodies–a tote bag, travel mug, coaster set, and a cookbook.

Zion Lutheran, Schumm, some 175th Anniversary items.

Happy Anniversary to Zion Lutheran, Schumm, and many more to come!

Aug 03

Tombstone Tuesday-2021 Schumm Reunion Cemetery Walk

This past Sunday was the 44th Schumm Reunion, the gathering of the descendants of immigrant John Georg Schumm. The reunion is usually held every other year and would have been held last year had it not been for the pandemic in 2020.

It was good to get together again, mask-free, on a beautiful August day. There was good company and conversation, good food, an interesting program by Mike (Spank) Schumm, and even commemorative items to take home.

This year also marks the 175th anniversary of Zion Lutheran Schumm’s congregation.

There was a lot to be thankful for and to celebrate Sunday.

John Georg Schumm immigrated to America in 1833 with five of his children and they are all buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery.

There is much Schumm history in Zion’s cemetery and for one of the reunion’s afternoon activities I compiled a self-guided cemetery walk. The walk highlighted the tombstones of these immigrants.

Brief biological information about the six Schumm immigrants was printed on the walk guide. Each biography was numbered and a corresponding numbered flag was located by each tombstone.

Most of the highlighted tombstones are near each other. (2021 photo by Karen)

The other two tombstones are not far away. (2021 photo by Karen)

Self-guided cemetery walk, Zion Schumm, August 2021.

Here is the virtual version of the cemetery walk:

Johann Georg Schumm (2011 photo by Karen)

No. 1 [Row 5] John Georg Schumm (1777-1846) was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, the father who immigrated to America in 1833 with 5 of his children. His wife had died in Germany in 1822. In 1837 John Georg purchased 3 land patents, each containing 160 acres in Van Wert County: SW ¼ Section 23; NW ¼ Section 26; NE ¼ Section 27. His sons George Martin and Johann Friedrich each purchased 160 acres at the same time. The Schumms paid a total of $1000 for their 800 acres of land. The final land certificates were signed by President Martin Van Buren and were dated 10 October 1840. John Georg and his 4 sons were among the founding fathers of the congregation at Zion Lutheran, Schumm, but John Georg died 3 days before Zion’s first constitution was adopted.

Catherina (Schumm) Schuler (2012 photo by Karen)

No. 2 [Row 5] Maria “Catharine” Schumm Schueler (1810-1838) was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, and immigrated to America in 1833 with her father John Georg Schumm and her 4 brothers. She married Michael Schueler in 1833 in Holmes County, Ohio, and they had 3 children. She was the first person buried in this cemetery. Her widowed husband married Catharine Lakehard in 1839. He died about 1880 near Preble, Adams County, Indiana.

George Martin Schumm (2012 photo by Karen)

No. 3 [Row 6] George “Martin” [M] Schumm (1812-1871) was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, and immigrated to America in 1833 with his father John Georg, 3 brothers, and 1 sister. He married Maria Pflueger in 1838 in Holmes County, Ohio, and they had 13 children. In 1837 George Martin purchased a land patent for 160 acres (SE ¼ Section 22) in Van Wert County. His widow Maria died in 1903. [Row 5]

Friederick & Magdalena Schumm (2012 photo by Karen)

No. 4 [Row 6] Johann “Friederich” Schumm (1814-1902) was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, and immigrated to America in 1833 with his father John Georg, 3 brothers, and 1 sister. He married Magdalena Meyer in 1838 in Holmes County, Ohio, and they had 12 children. In 1837 Johann Friedrich purchased a land patent for 160 acres (NE ¼ Section 22) in Van Wert County. His widow Magdalena died in 1897 and they share a tombstone.

J.J. (Johann Jacob) Schumm (2012 photo by Karen)

No. 5 [Row 5] Johann Jacob [JJ] Schumm (1815-1853) was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, and immigrated to America in 1833 with his father John Georg, 3 brothers, and 1 sister. He married Hannah Billman in 1859 and they had 5 children. Their son Daniel Schumm died in the Civil War. Johann Jacob’s widow Hannah married George Steger and she died in 1878.

Ludwig Schumm (2012 photo by Karen)

No. 6 [Row 6] Georg “Ludwig” Schumm (1817-1855) was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, and immigrated to America in 1833 with his father John Georg, 3 brothers, and 1 sister. He married Maria Barbara Pflueger in 1840 in Holmes County, Ohio, and they had 9 children. His widow Barbara married Adam Buechner and she died in 1908. [Row 4]

A seventh biography and tombstone was included, that of Zion Schumm’s first resident pastor Rev. John George Burger.

Rev. John G. Burger (2012 photo by Karen)

No. 7 [Row 5] Rev. John George Burger (1815-1847) was the first resident pastor at Zion Schumm. Born in Bavaria and educated there as a teacher, he immigrated to America in 1842. He studied at the Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and was ordained in 1845. He was called to be Zion Schumm’s pastor in June 1846 and wrote Zion’s first constitution soon after. During this time Burger also ministered to St. Thomas Lutheran, Ohio City, and St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township, Mercer County. Rev. Burger played an active role in the formation of the LCMS in America but died of pneumonia a month before the synod was formed on 26 April 1847. During the 9 months Burger served at Zion Schumm he performed 15 baptisms, 2 confirmations, 1 marriage, and 5 burials.  

 

 

Jul 30

Duckcreek Church Members Received & Removed, 1890-1898

Continuing on with the Duckcreek Church [1] records that I have, below are the Duckcreek Church members who were received and removed from 1890-1898.

This information includes the person’s name, whether married [M] or single [S], class [Cl], received, received by whom, how removed, and occasionally some remarks. However, very little information was given for most of the individuals. 

The abbreviation prob was used several times and likely refers to probationary members, those seeking full church membership.

Duckcreek Church members who were received and removed, 1890-1898:

Chilcoat, Charles; M; Class 1; deceased
Chilcoat, Catharine; M; Cl 1; removed by death; died in great peace
Case, Jasper; M; Cl 3
Case, John; M; Cl 6
Case, Catharine; M; Cl 6
Counterman, A.M.; M; Cl 1; removed by death
Counterman, Mrs.; M; Cl 1; trans to Willshire
Cross, Elonzo; M; Cl 1; removed by death; trans to Willshire
Cross, Lu__; M; Cl 1; removed without letter; trans to Willshire
Christy, Calinda; M; Cl 4
Carr, L.B.; M; received by transfer Oct 1890; gone without letter
Counterman, Jacob; M; trans back to Willshire from Fletcher
Cross, Mollie; [NG]; removed by death
Case, Maude; S; received from prob 12 Jun 1892 by L.G. Herbe
Chilcote, Eliza; M; Cl 4
Case, Judson; M; Cl 6
Case, Mrs. Judson; M; Cl 6
Counterman, Emma; M; Cl 1; transfer to Willshire
Chilcote, Idora; M; Cl 7; received from prob 12 Jun 1898 by J.S. Snodgrass
Chilcote, Joshua; M; received from prob 19 Jun 1898 by J.S. Snodgrass; Fletcher Chapel
Chilcote, James; M; Fletcher Chapel
Chilcote, Calista; M; Fletcher Chapel

Concerning the last 3 entries, Fletcher Chapel was written under Remarks and it was not specified whether they transferred to or from Fletcher Chapel. There is a Fletcher Chapel Methodist Church in Millersport, Fairfield County, Ohio, but I do not know if this is the church they were referring to.

Also, there is a Fletcher Cemetery on Clayton Road in Willshire Township and several Chilcotes/Chilcoats are buried there. At least a couple of them attended Duckcreek Church. According to Van Wert County Cemetery Inscriptions Vol. V, by the Van Wert Chapter OGS, Charles Chilcoat (1819-1898) and his wife Catharine Chilcoat (1821-1898) are buried at Fletcher Cemetery in Van Wert County. Both are mentioned in the records above. James W Chilcote (1850-1911) and his wife Sarah C (1850-1905) are also buried there. This could be the couple recorded above with the Fletcher Chapel notation. Joshua M Chilcote (1804-1880) is also buried at Fletcher Cemetery but his vital dates do not coincide with the Duckcreek records.

Now I wonder if there was once a church associated with Fletcher Cemetery. Do any readers know? A local Fletcher Chapel would make more sense than the Fletcher Chapel in Millersport.  

There is a very short entry of the 1882 Probationers:
Benjamin Frank, M; Middleberry [residence]; received 29 Aug 1882 by L.E. Prentiss
Mattie Goens, S; [no further information]

[1] Duckcreek Church was established in 1858. A frame church was built about 1868 and was located a couple miles north of Chatt on State Route 49 in Mercer County, Ohio. The church was destroyed by a tornado in 1920 and was never rebuilt. Many of its members joined the Chattanooga Methodist Church after their church was destroyed.