May 17

Tombstone Tuesday-Hannah Miller

Hanna Miller, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Hannah Miller, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Hannah,
Wife of
George Miller
died Feb. 7
1849
aged 65 yrs

Hannah Miller’s sandstone tombstone is one of the oldest markers in Zion Schumm’s cemetery. Hannah’s death and burial are not recorded in Zion Schumm’s records. In fact, very few Millers are mentioned in their church records.

Hannah Miller died before the 1850 census and censuses before that time only recorded the head of household.

Her tombstone only tells us that she was 65 years old (born about 1784) and that her husband was George Miller. We don’t know if she was the widow of George or if he died after her death. If George is buried at Zion Schumm, there is no record of it in their records or in the cemetery.

There is a good deal of information about Hannah Miller and her family on Find a Grave.com, Memorial no. 34047119, Hannah Chilcote Miller. I will not recopy the information here because I did not research it, but if you are interested in Hannah and her family I would encourage you to take a look at the all the information there.

It appears Hannah’s family is spread across Ohio and Indiana but there also appears to be a couple connections to this area, a Chilcote and Tindall connection. That may explain how she came to be buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery.

Were she and her family passing through this area in 1849 or did some stay? According to Find a Grave, some family members stayed. Her sons James Henry Miller (1820-1895) and John C Miller (1826-1882) are buried in this area. James Henry is buried in Willshire Cemetery and John C in Hileman/Smith Cemetery south of Schumm. A nephew, John Chilcote Tindall (1827-1885) is buried in Tricker Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana. The nephew was the son of her sister, Nancy (Chilcote) Tindall, according to Find a Grave. There may be others.

Hannah Miller likely lived near Schumm because she is buried there and because of the Chilcote and Tindall names, which were local back then. Perhaps she attended Zion Schumm, but never joined the church.

For now, we can simply enjoy the beauty and carving of this old tombstone that has weathered many seasons.

May 13

M.J. Schumm, General Store at Schumm, Ohio, 1883

This is a lovely little advertising card, dated 1883, advertising Green’s August Flower for dyspepsia and liver complaint and Boschee’s German Syrup for other various ailments. An 1883 calendar is on the reverse side.

1883 advertising card, Schumm General Store.

I have seen a number of these cards and what makes each unique is that printed inside is where one could purchase the medicines.

This card indicates that they were for sale by M.J. Schumm, General Store, Schumm, Ohio.

1883 advertising card, M.J. Schumm, General Store.

M.J. Schumm was very likely Martin J Schumm. Martin J Schumm was appointed Schumm’s first postmaster on 31 December 1881. Back then it was common to have a post office located in a general store, so Martin J Schumm was both postmaster and general store merchant. The general store at Schumm was located by the railroad tracks.

Schumm’s first postmaster, Martin J. Schumm (1881). [1]

Martin J Schumm (1859-1909), born near Schumm, Ohio, was the son of George Martin (1812-1871) and Maria (Pflueger) (1820-1903) Schumm. Both parents were German immigrants. In 1882 Martin married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Ehrenmann (1860-1893). Lizzie died during childbirth in 1893 and by 1900 Martin and his three children were living in Brooklyn, New York, where Martin worked as a clerk/printer. Martin died in 1909 and both he and his wife are buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Schumm.  

Unfortunately, I could not locate Martin Schumm in the 1880 census. However, he was in the area in 1882, when he was married at Zion Schumm. Plus, their three children were born near Schumm between 1883-1888 and his wife Lizzie died near Schumm in 1893. So, he definitely lived in the area in 1883.

Imprinted on the advertising card:  

BOSCHEE’S GERMAN SYRUP
Has the largest sale of any medicine in the world, for the cure of Consumption, Bronchitis, Severe Colds settled in the chest, Pneumonia and all diseases of the Throat and Lungs. There is not probably, a druggist in the civilized world but will recommend it in preference to all others. Introduced in the U.S.A. in 1867, by distributing over 3,000,000 Sample Bottles free of charge. No medicine has ever met with such wonderful success and retained its popularity in every family where used, as Boschee’s German Syrup. Sample Bottles 10 cents. Regular size, 75 cents.

I wonder if this syrup is still around? It sounds like it could help treat Covid.

“AUGUST FLOWER”
Since the introduction of GREEN’S AUGUST FLOWER, in 1867, for the use of Dyspepsia, Indigestion and Biliousness, with their discouraging effects, such as sour stomach, sick headache costiveness, palpitation of the heart, symptoms of paralysis, dizzy head, sleeplessness, &c., there has sprung into the market hundreds of remedies advertised for the same purposes; but they all fail to meet that certain success and praise that every druggist and dealer in medicines over the entire civilized world, give to GREEN’S AUGUST FLOWER. Ask your Druggist about it. Three doses will relieve any of the above complaints. Every bottle sold has been a permanent advertisement, until over 2,000,000 Bottles were sold last year. Sample Bottles, 10 cents. Positively sold by all dealers in medicines on the Globe.
G.G. Green, Sole Manufacturer,
Woodbury, N.J., U.S. S.  And Toronto, Canada.

Another nice piece of Schumm history.

[1] U.S., Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, Vol 38, c1873-91, p. 478-9; and U.S., Appointments of US Postmasters, 1832-1971, Vol 79, c1891-1930, p. 575-77; digital images by subscription Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 September 2014), from NARA microfilm publication M841, roll 101.

May 10

Tombstone Tuesday-Lamp Symbol

A lamp inscribed on a tombstone symbolizes immortality of the spirit and resurrection. It may also symbolize wisdom, faithfulness, and holiness.

Lamp, Catholic Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

Lamp, Catholic Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

A lamp creates light and its purpose is to bring light to darkness. A lamp and light are mentioned a number of times in the Bible and here are just a few:

For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. (2 Samuel 22:29)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  (Psalm 119:105)

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light…(Proverbs 6:23)

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. (Proverbs 20:27)

For it is you who light my lamp; The Lord my God lightens my darkness. (Psalm 18:28)

Lamp, Baltic Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

 

May 06

Willshire-1950 U.S. Census, part 3

Today, the conclusion of my transcription of the 1950 census in the village of Willshire, the final third households in the town.

And there are more surprises. And more interesting information.

We know that the village of Willshire was a test community in 1950, used to test the new “household” census form. The new form contained the information of one household per sheet, compared to the old “multi-family” form which contained several families on one sheet.

As I transcribed the last third of the village I saw that yet another, different household form was used for some of Willshire’s enumeration in 1950.

Two different census forms were used for the testing in Willshire! One form, that we find on images 2-161, was used for about 80% of the village. The second form, images 162-201, was used for the remaining 20% of the village.

Blank 1950 “household” U.S. Census test form used for 20% of Willshire village.

On the first form, question No.6 asked the marriage status, but on the second form the marriage status question was moved and became question No.29. In fact, question No.6 was completely removed on the second form and the numbering on that form was 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7… What an odd way to handle that. On the first form (images 2-161) the second half of the form consisted primarily of work/employment information. The second form asks more family/personal questions there. New questions on the second form include: No.30: married more than once; No.31: number of years married, widowed, divorced, or separated; No.32: number of children born to a woman, not counting stillbirths; as well as U.S. military service, number of hours worked the previous week, and earned income in 1949.

Blank 1950 U.S. Census “household” form used for 80% of Willshire village.

My transcription below includes: name (head of household in bold), age, occupation (if given). For the others in household: name, age, relationship to the head of household, and occupation (if given). Occasionally I include marital status or where a person was born.

The village of Willshire (ED 81-38), 1950 U.S. Census, p.133-200 (about 1/3 of the village):

Benjamin S Gause, 63, night watchman/merchant police; N Leah, 60, wife; Wilbur D, 31, son, never married, sales clerk/grocery store.
Roy E Brodbeck, 44, spot welder/truck manufacturing; Rosa M, 39, wife; Clarence J, 15, son; Helen L, 13, daughter; Earl Jr, 10, son; Dorothy L, 7, daughter; Darrell L, 7, son.
Ivan Wyer, 25, salesman/farm machinery; Joan L, 26, wife; Candice L, 1, daughter.
Walter G Stetler, 56, laborer/township road; Daisy P, 53, wife; Okaleah M, 29, daughter, never married, winder/electric motor manufacturing; R Ann, 20, daughter, never married, sales clerk/retail grocery store; Charles F, 18, son, never married, laborer/soybean factory; Jackie L, 15, son; Jesse Case, 49, sister-in-law, widowed.
Dewey E Neidigh Sr, 51, tool & die maker/electric motor manufacturing; Winifred H, 49, wife; Dewey E Jr, 18, son; Merelen J, 15, son.
Douglas H Neidigh, 25, lift driver/ordinance plant; Marrium/Marium, 21, wife, assemble switches/electric motor manufacturing; James D, 1, son; Jan A, under 1 year, daughter.
Cora E Bilderback, 82, widowed.
Charity A Brown, 74, widowed.
David R Bracken, 27, welder’s helper/railroad; Jean I, 33, wife.
Amy E Cox, 37, widowed, bookkeeper/public school; Patience L, 2, daughter.
John R Myers, 82; Mary A, 76, wife.
Noel G Black, 45, laborer/soybean factory; Wilma P, 44, wife; Donald W, 17, son, never married; Patricia L, 16, daughter; Ellen J, 14, daughter; Merle D, 12, son.
John M Schumm, 76, marshal/Willshire corp; Hester E, 63, wife.
Effie K Lautzenheiser, 47, widowed; H Ray, 21, son, never married, machine operator/oil seal manufacturing; Kenneth L, 15, son; Phillip L, 9, son; Marlin D, 4, son.
A Gale McLain, 56, widowed, process beans/soybean factory; Jimmie D, 15, son.
Oatus Strickler, 73, caretaker/cemetery; Lillie K, 72, wife.
Chancey H Debolt, 77; Alta I, 62, wife.
William H Dellinger, 62, tool crib attendant/electric motor manufacturing; Harriet M, 38, wife.
Orville E Hileman Sr, 49, feed man/elevator; M Louise, 40, wife; Orville E Jr, 13, son; Waldo C, 10, son.
Carl F Foreman, 50; Leah C, 48, wife.
Oscar E Miller, 58, laborer/electric motor manufacturing; Mae H, 54, wife.
Luella M Huffman, 32, widowed; William R, 11, son; Barbara P, 9, daughter; Roger D, 4, son; George H Huffman, 77, father-in-law, widowed.
Ralph W Baumgartner, 33, manager/sawmill; Helen M, 34, wife; Phyllis J, 11, daughter; Sharon R, 8, daughter; Rebbecca J, 7, daughter.
Daniel D Yocum, 41, auto mechanic/garage; Naomi N, 26, wife; Robert E, 6, son.
George F Marbaugh, 70, widowed.
James S Evans, past 65, widowed; Helen, 30, daughter, never married; Della Huffman, 84, sister-in-law, never married; information given by neighbor.

My transcription continues below, now from the second form. Additional information from this form that I include: if married more than once; number of years married, widowed, divorced, or separated; number of children born to a woman; and U.S. military service.

Russel L Christy, 55, separated 17 years, WWI vet.
Hugh D Reynolds, 48, married 23 years, plant superintendent/stone quarry; Eva M, 43, wife, 4 children; Leon W, 8, son; Kathleen I, 4, daughter.
Clarence B Hoblet, 67, married 39 years; Pearl M, 67, wife, no children.
Paul M Schaffner, 58, married 29 years, WWI vet; Eva J, 46, wife, 14 children, trimmer/mop factory; John F, 20, son, never married, truck driver/lumber yard; Martha L, 18, daughter; Paul L, 16 son; Georg C, 14, son; William R, 12, son; Rachael F, 10, daughter; James W, 8, son; Francis, 5, daughter; Eleanor, 2, daughter; Laura A, 4, granddaughter.
Ira E Huber, 54, widowed 3 years, test electrical/General Electric, WWI vet.
John E Acheson, 29, married 6 years, lineman/telephone co, WWII vet; Phyllis J, 27, wife, 2 children, office work/newspaper office; Gayle S, 5, daughter; John E, 2, son.
Truman Dudgeon, 69, widowed 30 years, fence building/farm.
L Leroy Ray, 64, married 42 years, retail grocery clerk/grocery store; Eva D, 61 wife, 3 children.
Russell T Price, 40, married 15 years, core inspector/casting foundry; Isabel, 35, wife, 2 children; Eugene F, 14, son; Sharon L, 4, daughter.
Kathryn I Detter, 73, widowed 11 years, 8 children; Mary L, 37, never married, grocery clerk/retail grocery store. 
Robert J Shoup, 46, married 19 years, inspector/electric motor manufacturing, WWI vet; Dora D, 41, wife, 2 children; Robert D, 16, son; Sonja S, 12, daughter.
John P Estill, 46, married 18 years, self-employed/restaurant & package; Elizabeth E, 38, wife, 2 children, self-employed/restaurant & package; Betsy E, 11, daughter; Susan M, 6, daughter; Bertha M Grunden, 16, lodger. 
Elmo L Wolfe, 40, married 3 years, truck driver/casting foundry, WWII vet; Ruth E, 26, wife, 3 children; Roberta A, 5, daughter; David W, 3, son; Betty J, 2, daughter.
Eugene V Reichard, 22, married 2 years, printer/newspaper office; Betty J, 21, wife, 1 child; Terry D, under 1 year, son.
Thomas B Passwaters, 49, married 19 years, custodian/public school; I Leone, 42, wife, 2 children, bookkeeper/printing office; Thomas R, 16, son, paper carrier/newspaper office; Teddy E, 10, son.
James S Buchanan, 71, married 46 years, insurance agent/insurance agency; Eliza C, 68, wife, 1 child.
Ray H Kelsey, 29, married 10 years, welder/electric motor manufacturing, WWII vet; Berniece L, 28 wife, 3 children; Ronald A, 8, son; Jerry A, 7, son; Bruce L, 3, son.
A Marie Popp, 84, never married.
Frank B Ketrow, 53, separated less than 1 year, fireman boiler house/feed mill, WWI vet; Dorothy E, 22, daughter, not married, winder/electric motor manufacturing; Ruth M Kelly, 24, daughter, married 7 years, 1 child, winder/electric motor manufacturing; Robert W Kelly, 3, grandson.
Charles R Jones, 34, married 13 years, operates machine/soybean mill; Opal M, 34, wife, 3 children; Donald L, 11, son; Carolyn S, 5, daughter; Linda L, under 1 year, daughter.
Florence R Dull, 75, widowed 19 years, 6 children; Vera P, 54, daughter, never married, high school teacher/public school.
Cecil M Stetler, 31, married 10 years, assembly line/truck manufacturing, WWII vet; Marcia E, 29, wife, 2 children, cafeteria cook/public school; Judy K, 9, daughter; John D, 7, son.
John Thatcher, 67, married 26 years, farm hand/farm; Margaret, 54, born in Switzerland, wife, 5 children.
Leo B Buechner, 41, married 10 years, sheet metal worker/sheet metal shop; Louise M, 41, wife, no children; Gary L, 1, son.
Minnie Wilson, 64, widow for 8 years, no children; information given by neighbor.
John E Reichard, 44, married 6 years, married more than once, postmaster/post office; Delores E, 40, wife, married more than once, 3 children, postal clerk/post office; Daniel J, 4, son; James D Habegger, 14, step-son; Eldon L Habegger, 12, step-son.
Vera B Fisher, 48, never married, self-employed/intertainer [sic], worked 3 hours the previous week.
Van B Nelson, 34, married 9 years, married more than once, assembler/electric motor manufacturing, WWII vet; Beatrice T, 32, wife, 3 children; Charles L, 6, son; Michael E, 2 son.
Glenn E Hurless, 36, married 16 years, stator press/electric motor manufacturing, WWII vet; Dorothy G, 37, wife, 2 children; David C, 3, son; Phoebe Reece, 78, mother-in-law, widowed 12 years, 8 children.
Frank S Bailey, 47, married 20 years, farm hand/farm; Gladys L, 43, wife, 8 children; Edna M, 15, daughter; Esther M, 12, daughter; Janice M, 11, daughter; Wilbur L, 10, son, Evelyn L, 7, daughter; Kathleen A, 5, daughter; Joyce E, 4, daughter.
James E Wyer, 62, married 28 years, married more than once, section foreman/railroad; Grace I, 55, wife, married more than once, 2 children, peel tomatoes/tomato cannery.
Gary D Mercer, 82, married 46 years; Mary A, 71, wife, 3 children; Margorie R, 43, daughter, never married, winder/electric motor manufacturing.
Robert L Cowan Sr, 30, married 8 years, high school teacher/public school, WWII vet; Norma J, 29, wife, 1 child; Robert L Jr, 6, born in Delaware, son; information given by father.
Lester M Ross, 21, married 2 years, machine operator/axle factory; Wilma L, 19, wife, 1 child.
Heber H Alsbaugh, 47, married 17 years, laborer/electric motor manufacturing; Inola F, 38, wife, 3 children, laborer/novelty manufacturing; Gloria L, 16, daughter; Jeanette C, 11, daughter; H Eddie, 9 son.

That concludes my transcription of the 1950 enumeration of Willshire village.

I was able to get a little more interesting information from the additional questions on the second form, the form used for 20% of the village:

Cudos to the persons who worked the most hours the week before the census was taken: to Frank S Bailey, who worked 90 hours as a farm hand; to John Estill and his wife Elizabeth, who each worked 84 hours at their restaurant; and to Thomas Passwaters, who worked 80 hours at his custodial job at the school. And an atta-boy to Thomas’ son, Thomas Passwaters Jr, 16, who worked 7 hours on his paper route the previous week. He earned $286 from that paper route in 1949.

I remember Tom Passwaters and his full head of bushy white hair from my early school days at Willshire Public School. He always had a smile on his face and was very pleasant.

Tom Passwaters, 1961, Willshire School

The different census form showed an individual’s reported income in 1949 for this 20% of the village. For those who were employed somewhere, income ranged from $200 to $3800, and $4200 for one family where both the husband and wife were employed. The average 1949 annual income for this 20% of the village was $2400. Not many were self-employed in this group but their income was about $700. About a dozen residents reportedly earned income from interest, dividends, or pension and this income ranged from $100-$2000, with an average of about $700.

I also remember Effie Lautzenheiser from my elementary school years at Willshire. No occupation was given for her in 1950 but she was a cook at the school in 1961.

Effie Lautzenheiser, cook, 1961 Willshire School.

May 03

Tombstone Tuesday-Oswald H. Schumm

Oswald H Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Oswald H. Schumm, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Oswald H. Schumm
1902-1987

“Oswald” Hugo Otto Schumm was born in Willshire Township on 23 February 1902, the eighth and youngest child of George Martin “Henry” III and Henrietta Wilhelmine “Minnie” Hoppe. Oswald was baptized at Zion Schumm on 9 March 1902 with Hugo A. Schumm, Hugo Schumm, and Otto Schumm serving as his sponsors.

Oswald Schumm was first enumerated in 1910, enumerated with his mother and some of his siblings: Minnie [Wilhelmina] Schumm, 50, head; Edna, 22, daughter; [unreadable], 20, daughter; Emanuel, 18, son; Emil, 17, son; Edna, 15, daughter; Clara, 12, daughter; Alfred, 10, son; and Oswald, 8, son. [1] Oswald’s father Henry Schumm homesteaded in Colorado in the early 1900s but returned to the Schumm area by the 1930. This may be why he was absent in Willshire Township’s enumeration.

In 1920 Oswald resided in Willshire Township with his mother and several siblings: Wilhelmina H Schumm, 59; Agnes, 31; Alma, 30; Emanuel, 28; Clara, 21; Alfred, 19; Oswald, 17; and Abalonia Freese, 83, widow. [3] Abalonia was Minnie’s mother. Abalonia’s husband Henry Freese had died in 1902. 

In 1930 Oswald Schumm, 28, and his older sister Edna Schumm, 34, rented a home at 2428 Wayne Avenue in Dayton, Ohio. Oswald worked as a machinist in an electric shop and his sister Edna worked as a saleswoman. [3]

Oswald’s mother Minnie died in 1937 and in 1940 Oswald resided with his widowed father Henry, age 79, and his sister Alma Schumm. Oswald was a night watchman at a sawmill, likely the sawmill at Schumm. A lodger, Hunter Bee, age 21, also was in the household and worked at the sawmill as well. [4]

Oswald’s father Henry Schumm died in 1941.

According to Oswald’s WWII Draft Registration Card, Oswald was 39 years old, resided at Schumm, his telephone was 2 long and 1 short, his sister Alma Schumm was his contact person, and his occupation was night man, employed by WP Robinson, Schumm [Schumm sawmill]. Oswald Schumm enlisted in the U.S. Army on 23 September 1942 at Toledo, Ohio, and was honorably discharged 17 March 1943. [5]

In 1950 Oswald, 48, resided with his sister Alma, 60, and their aunt Barbara A. Schumm, 91, a widow. They likely lived in or very near the village of Schumm since Zion Schumm’s minister, Rev. Werner Kuhlberg, lived a house away. Oswald worked at the sawmill. [6]

Oswald’s sister Alma Schumm died in Van Wert County on 12 February 1972.   

Oswald Schumm died of cardio-pulmonary arrest in a nursing home in Van Wert on 30 August 1987 at the age of 85. He was buried on 2 September. [7]

Oswald Schumm never married. He had the following siblings:
“Agnes” Wilhelmina Barbara Schumm (1888-1921)
“Alma” Abalonia Schumm Alma A. Schumm (1889-1972)
“Emanuel” Henry John Schumm (1892-1973), married Edna Scaer
Emil Fredrick Schumm (1893-1960), married Louise Stock
Edna Alwine Magdalena Schumm (1895-1990)
Clara Anna Maria Schumm (1898-1984)
Alfred Oswald Ferdinand Schumm, Rev. (1900-1981), married Irma S. Wambsganss

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2A, dwelling & family 37, Minnie Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Dec 2021.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling & family 48, Wilhelmina H Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

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

[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 88, HM Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[5] Draft Registration Cards for Ohio, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, Records of the Selective Service System 147, Box 1287, National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 1 May 2022. And Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946, NAID, 1263923, Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007, Record Group: 64, Box 09273, Reel 349, National Archives at College Park, Maryland; Ancestry.com.  

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, p.13, dwelling 182, Oswald H Schumm; digital image, 1950census.archives.gov, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Pleasant Twp, Van Wert, Ohio, database with images, Oswald Hugo Schumm, 30 Aug 1987; digital image, FamilySearch.org, viewed 29 Apr 2022.