2019 archive

Tombstone Tuesday–Martin J. Schinnerer

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

Martin J.
Schinnerer
1858-1933

Johann “Martin” Schinnerer was born 14 January 1858, the fourth child born to Pankratius and Anna “Rosina” (Hoffmann/Hofman) Schinnerer.

1915 Confirmation Photo, Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio

Recently I was thrilled to get a digital copy of an old Zion Chatt confirmation photo that I had not seen before, thanks to Tom and Deb  Reichard. They found this confirmation photo recently while going through some of Betty (Weinman) Reichard’s photos. Betty, Tom’s mother, passed away a few weeks ago. The photo is …

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Tombstone Tuesday–Johann Pankratius Schinnerer

This is the tombstone of Johann Pankratius Schinnerer, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: JOHANNPantkraeiusSchinnerredGestorbenDen 19 July 1857Alter28 Jah 4M 10T Johann, Pantkraeius Schinnerred, died 19 July 1857, aged 28 years, 4 months, 10 days. This is a tombstone that I use as an …

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A Visit to Harmony, PA

A couple weeks ago we traveled to Harmony, Pennsylvania, where we stayed a couple days with my cousin Linda and had the chance to visit my Aunt Ruth, who turns 100 next month. Harmony is located in Butler County, about ½ hour north of Pittsburgh.

Tombstone Tuesday–Johannes Rapp

This is the sole tombstone in the Harmonist Cemetery, located in the town of Harmony, Butler County, Pennsylvania. The marker is inscribed, as translated:

Here lies and rests the body of
Johannes Rapp
Born 19 Dec 1783
Died 27 July 1812

The clay on potter’s wheel
awaits that dissolution reveals
the precious salt of new,
joyously resurrected life.

At first glance you would not recognize this area is a burial ground, the final resting place for nearly 100 people. The Harmonist Cemetery looks like a flat grassy area, enclosed by an old limestone wall. The enclosed area is roughly 80 x 140 feet.