May 14

Tombstone Tuesday-Chi Rho Symbol

This is the Chi Rho symbol, a Christian symbol for the Greek word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, Christos, which means Christ.

Chi Rho symbol

It is formed by overlapping the first two letters of the word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, Chi (X) and Rho (P). It is one of the earliest forms of a Christian monogram, or a Christogram. Chi Rho, pronounced as KEE-roe.

In Christian art, the Chi Rho is often flanked by the Greek letters alpha and omega, symbolizing Jesus Christ as the Alpha and Omega—the Beginning and the End. The Chi Rho symbol is not mentioned in the Bible, even though these letters are used to form the name “Christ” in Greek.

Chi Rho symbol

The Chi Rho symbol was used by early Christians to symbolize both Jesus and Christianity. It is attributed to Roman Emperor Constantine I, who used it as a military symbol. The first public use of the Chi Rho symbol was on 28 October 213 A.D., on the shields of Constantine’s warriors in the Battle of Milvian Bridge. Constantine’s troops saw a miraculous sign in the sky the day before the battle and Emperor Constantine believed he won the battle because of the Chi Rho symbol on the shields of his men. Several months later, in the Edit of Milan, Constantine declared Christianity legal in the Roman Empire, ending nearly three hundred years of Christian persecution.

This symbol appeared on the coins of Constantine and his successors.

Chi Rho symbol

Even though Christians have used the Chi Rho symbol to represent Christ and Christianity for centuries, Chi Rho has also been used as a good-luck charm and as a talisman for warding off evil. It is believed the symbol was worshiped by pagans in ancient Greece, believing the symbol bestowed good fortune.

The Chi Rho symbol exists today in numerous variations. Some of our altar cloths have this symbol.

The symbol may have lead to the modern practice of using the letter X in Xmas, as an abbreviation for Christmas.

May 10

Mothers and Daughters

Happy Mother’s Day!

Here are some photos of mothers and daughters and grandmothers in my family, and some sons and husbands as well:

Florence & Karen, c1959

Grandma Hilda (Scaer) Schumm with Amy, Esther, & Florence

Lizzie (Schinnerer) Scaer & Amy Schumm, 1929.

Frieda, Sarah (Breuninger), Cornelius, Louis J Schumm (1905)

Front: Carl, Jacob, John, Christina (Rueck), Clara, Caroline. Back: Mary, Peter, Jacob Jr, Christian, Maggie.

Carl Miller family, front: Herb, Anna Lou, Kenny, Vernie. Back: Carl, Gertrude, Ruth, Helen, Kate, Em.

Front: William Reid, Gertrude (Brewster) Miller, Mary Ann (Cotterell) Headington. Back: Pearl (Reid) Brewster, Elvira (Headington) Reid. c1898

Grandma Miller (Gertrude Brewster Miller) and Great-grandma Brewster (Pearl Reid Brewster)

Emily (Bryan) Reid & daughter Pearl (Reid) Brewster (1936 photo) Photo courtesy of Brian Brewster

Emily (Bryan) Reid and her daughters. Front: Pearl, Emily, Laura. Back: Zorphia, Minnie, Edith, Gladys.

John & Hannah (Huey) Bryan, children Emily, Peter, Mary, William Riley, Alta Jane, Hallet, Byantha (c1883)

May 07

Tombstone Tuesday-Dogwood Flower

Flowers are commonly carved on tombstones. Flowers have a natural beauty and the individual varieties have special, symbolic meanings. 

People in ancient cultures often left flowers in and on the graves of their loved ones out of respect.

Flowers carved on a tombstone create a permanent remembrance.

This flower is the dogwood flower.

Dogwood flower symbol

The dogwood flower is a symbol of Easter, the Passion of Christ, rebirth, renewal, and beginnings. Dogwood trees bloom in April, often during the Easter season, and are a reminder of spring, regeneration, and resurrection.

Dogwood flower

The dogwood flower is predominantly white, symbolizing beginning, purity, and spiritual perfection.

The four white petals of the dogwood tree are not really petals but are leaves, called bracts. The actual flowers are the small yellow clusters in the center of the bracts.

The four bracts of the dogwood flower form a perfect cross, with what looks like a crown of thorns in the middle. Each of the four bracts is indented on the edge, giving the appearance that a nail has passed through it. In that dent is a red spot of color that resembles blood. Christ’s blood. For that reason, dogwood trees were and are still often planted in and around cemeteries.   

In nature the dogwood is hard and durable, giving additional symbolic values of strength, protection, and a firm will.

Dogwood flower

There is a legend of the dogwood tree that claims the cross of Jesus’ crucifixion was made of dogwood. According to the legend, the dogwood tree was very different then and was a strong, solid tree that grew larger than an oak or cedar tree. It was chosen to make Jesus’ cross because its wood was very strong and sturdy. After Jesus was crucified God declared that dogwoods would never grow tall enough to create another cross. Jesus blessed the dogwood tree to grow beautiful flowers that would bloom at Easter time.

In actuality, flowering dogwood trees are native only to Eastern North America and Northern Mexico and are not native to the Middle East. There were no dogwood trees in Israel during the time of Jesus and dogwood trees are not mentioned in the Bible.

Dogwood trees produce red fruit in the fall and are deciduous trees, dropping their leaves in the fall. The average lifespan of a dogwood is 80 years.

As an old Southern saying goes, referring to a deceased person, “I’ll see you when the dogwood blooms.”

May 03

Chatt Grocery for Sale, 1903

Even though Chattanooga, Ohio, has always been a small town, it has been home to a number of businesses over the years. Years ago, when travel was not as easy as it is today, it was important that the small towns meet the needs of the local people, so they could buy and sell goods close to home.

A grocery store was one of those necessary businesses. It was important to have a grocery close to home. There have been a number of grocery stores in Chatt over the years.

Here is one such Chattanooga grocery, up for sale and advertised in the Cincinnati Enquirer on 7 November 1903:

GENERAL STORE-In Chattanooga, Ohio, in the oil field and doing a good business: splendid opportunity. G.R. Hagerman, Chattanooga, Ohio.

Chatt Grocery for Sale, 7 Nov 1903, Cincinnati Enquirer

There are a couple interesting things here. The mention that Chatt was in the oil field would have been a good business opportunity. A location in the oil field would mean there were more people in the area and thus generate more money.

And who was G.R. Hagerman, who was apparently selling the grocery?

A few years back I wrote a blog post about this man, Chattanooga physician Dr. G.R. Hagerman, Dr. G.R. Hagerman, Physician and Surgeon in Chattanooga, Ohio.

In that blog post I wrote about an 1896 letter, postmarked Chattanooga, Ohio, with the return address of Dr. G.R. Hagerman, Chattanooga, Ohio.

Letter from Dr. G.R. Hagerman, Chattanooga, Ohio, 1896.

This 1900 map of Chatt shows where Dr. Hagerman lived.

1900 map of Chattanooga, Ohio.

According to his death certificate, George Robinson Hagerman was born 2 August 1856 in Mendon, Ohio, the son of James and Elizabeth Hagerman. [1]

In 1880 Dr. George Hagerman, age 23, was a physician in Mendon, Ohio. He was single and lived in John Heppard’s boarding house. John C. Miller, another physician, also lived in the same boarding house. [2] 

Dr. George Hagerman married Elizabeth Luella Dutton on 25 May 1882 in Mercer County. [3] Elizabeth was also from Mercer County, the daughter of James W. and Sarah C. (Grant) Dutton. [4]

In 1900 Dr. Hagerman lived in Liberty Township, Mercer County, with Elizabeth, his wife of 18 years, and 3 sons, Charles W., 15; Edwin W., 11; and James F., 1. Their oldest son Charles ran a huckster wagon. [5] Perhaps Dr. Hagerman ran the grocery in addition to his medical practice. Or perhaps his wife ran the grocery. Maybe he owned the grocery but hired a non-family member to run the grocery. We may never know.

Their son Wallace Edwin Hagerman died in 1902 and a year later Dr. Hagerman put the grocery store up for sale. 

Dr. Hagerman apparently sold the grocery because by 1910 he and his family resided in Camden, Loraine County, Ohio, [6] where he remained and practiced medicine until his death in 1939 at the age of 82.

Dr. George R. Hagerman died at his home in Kipton, June 6 at the age of 82 years. He was the father of James F. Hagerman, a member of the U.S. Coastguards at Marblehead. Funeral services were held Friday. [7]

Death of George R. Hagerman
Dr. George R. Hagerman died at his home in Kipton, Tuesday evening, at the age of 82 years. He is survived by his wife, one son, James F. Hagerman, of the U.S. Coast Guards at Marblehead, and one grandson, Russell Hagerman, of Cicero, Ill. Funeral services were conducted at the Community Church, Kipton, on Friday morning with interment at Mendon, Ohio. [8]

Dr. GR Hagerman obituary, 2 Jun 1939, The Peninsular.

Dr. George R Hagerman is buried at Mendon Cemetery and shares a tombstone with wife Elizabeth L. (1864-1941), son Wallace E. (1889-1902), son Charles W. (1884-1911). [9]

[1] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” Camden, Loraine, Geo Robinson Hagerman, 6 Jun 1939; FamilySearch.org.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Mendon, ED 191, p.535D, dwelling & family 43, George Hagerman; Ancestry.com.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Mercer County, Vol 5, p.135, Geo R Hagerman & Libbie L Dutton, 25 May 1882; FamilySearch.org.

[4] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” Ottawa, Port Clinton, Elizabeth Luella Hagerman, 13 May 1941; FamilySearch.org.

[5] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 85, p. 10A, dwelling 184, family 189, George R Hagerman; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Loraine, Camden, ED 101, p.3A, dwelling 67, family 69, George R Hagerman; Ancestry.com.

[7] Port Clinton Herald and Republican, Port Clinton, Ohio, 16 Jun 1939, p.10; Newspapers.com.

[8] The Peninsular News, Marblehead, Ohio, 2 Jun 1939; Newspapers.com.

[9] FindaGrave.com, George Robinson Hagerman Memorial #64361248.

Apr 30

Tombstone Tuesday-Luetta L. Baker

Luetta L. Baker, Chattanooga Mausoleum, Mercer County, Ohio. (2017 photo by Karen)

This is the burial compartment of Luetta L. Baker, located in the Chattanooga Mausoleum, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The compartment is inscribed:

Luetta L. Baker
Oct . 13, 1902
Oct. 24, 1932

Luetta Louisa Baker was born in Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 13 October 1902, the daughter of Theodore W. (1875-1932) and Mary H. (Bollenbacher) (1875-1961) Baker. She was the youngest of four daughters born to Theodore and Mary. 

The Theodore Baker family in 1910: Theodore, 34; Mary, 25; Elvira, 12; Leona, 11; Marie, 10; and Luetta, 7. The family lived on what was known as Baker Pike and Theodore was a farmer. [1]

Luetta was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, on 27 May 1917. Luetta’s confirmation photo:

In 1920 Luetta, 17, lived with her parents and sisters Leona and Marie. Luetta attended school and her father was a bank teller. [2]

By 1930 Luetta’s three sisters had married and left home and Luetta, 27 and single, lived with her parents. She was not employed and her father operated a stone crusher. [3]

Luetta Baker, age 30, died in Black Creek Township on 23 October 1932. On 23 October according to her death certificate, although 24 October is inscribed on her compartment. According to her death certificate she died from tuberculosis. [4] Zion Chatt’s death and burial records indicate that she died from a hemorrhage of the lung. Luetta was interred in the Chattanooga Mausoleum on the 26th.  She was survived by her parents and 2 sisters.

The Baker family lost three family members that year. Luetta’s sister Elvira (Baker) Ripley died 30 July 1932, Luetta died in October, and their father Theodore Baker died 14 December 1932.

Luetta Louisa Baker had 3 sisters:
Elvira Lorena Baker (1897-1932), married Forrest M. Ripley
Leona Louise Baker (1898-1980), married Homer Carr
Marie Christina (1900-1986), married Oscar F. Schaadt

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer County, Black Creek Township, ED 107, p.1B, dwelling & family 14, Theadre [sic] W Baker; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer County, Black Creek Township, ED 124, p.8A, dwelling & family 160, Thead [sic] Baker; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer County, Black Creek Township, ED 1, p.7B, dwelling & family 163, Theador [sic] W Baker; Ancestry.com.

[4] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” Mercer County, Luetta L Baker, 23 Oct 1932; FamilySearch.org.