Christian & Dorothea (Maurer) Kable, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. (2025 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Christian and Dorothea (Maurer) Kable, located in row 5 of St. Paul Lutheran Liberty Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
DOROTHEA
KABLE
Geb. 7 April 1815
Gest. 23 Dez 1904
Alter
89 Jahr, 8 Mo
16 Tage
CHRISTIAN
KABLE
Geb. 15 Jun 1814
Gest. 6 Feb 1885
Alter
70 Jahr, 7 Mo
21 Tage
Dorothea Kable, born 7 April 1815, died 23 December 1904, age 89 years, 8 months, 16 days. Christian Kable, born 15 June 1814, died 6 Feb 1885, age 70 years, 7 months, 21 days.
Christian Kable was born in Fechingen, District Saarbruecken, Prussia, on 15 June 1814, the son of Christian and Elisabeth Kable. His wife, Dorothea Maurer, was also born in Fechingen, on 7 April 1815, the daughter of Jakob and Susana Maurer. Christian and Dorothea were both baptized and confirmed in Fechingen. [1]
Christian Kable and Dorothea Maurer married in Germany in 1840 and four of their children were born there, Jacob in 1840, twins Christian and Louise in 1841, and Johannes “John” in 1843. [1]
The couple and their four children immigrated to America in 1846 and settled in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. They attended church at St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township. [1]
Christian & Dorothea (Maurer) Kable, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. (2025 photo by Karen)
Their son Philp was born to the couple in Mercer County in February 1850. [1]
The Christian Kable family, as enumerated in the 1850 census: Christian, 38; “Theresia,” 63 [sic]; Jacob, 10; Christian, 8; Louisa, 8; John, 7; Philip, 7 months. All were reportedly born in Germany except for John and Philip, [2] although St. Paul Liberty’s records indicate that John was born in Germany. Christian was a farmer.
The Christian Kable family in 1860: Christian, 47; Dorothea, 46; Jacob, 20; Christian, 19; Louisa, 19; John, 16; Philip W, 12; and Katharine, 5. [3]
Daughter Katharine died later that year, on 26 June 1860, at age six. Christian and Dorothea lost two sons a few years later, Christian (Jr) on 6 May 1866, age 24, and Jacob on 12 October 1868, age 28. Jacob left a widow, Sophia (Diener).
The Christian Kable family in 1870: Christian, 62; “Doldea,” 56; and Philip, 20. [4]
By 1880 Christian and Dorothea were the only members of their household and lived next door to thier son Philip and his family. Christian had retired from farming by this time. [5]
Son John Kable died 12 November 1881, at age 37, leaving behind wife Margaret Deitsch/Deutsch.
Christian Kable (Sr) died 6 February 1885, aged 70 years.
Christian Kable, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County. (2025 photo by Karen)
In 1900 his widow Dorothea Kable, 85, lived with their son Philip and his family in Liberty Township. This enumeration indicates that Dorothea had given birth to six children, and one was living. [6]
Dorothea Kable died 23 December 1904, aged 89 years. She died from old age, according to St. Paul Liberty’s records.
Dorothea (Maurer) Kable, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County. (2025 photo by Karen)
Christian and Dorothea are buried in the same row, near the graves of four of their children, Jacob, Christian, John, and Katharine.
Christian and Dorothea (Maurer) Kable had the following children:
Jacob (1840-1868), married Sophia Diener
Christian (1841-1866)
Louise (1841-1892), married John Alt (1843-1881)
John (1843-1881), married Margaret Deitsch/Deutsch
Philip W (Sr) (1850-1915), married Caroline Koch
Anna “Katharine” (1854-1860)
[1] Familienbuch, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, Christian Kable family, p. 24.
[2] 1850 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p.287A, dwelling 19, family 20, Christian Kablea [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p.356, dwelling 971, family 976, Christ Kable; Ancestry.com.
[4] 1870 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p.146A, dwelling 62 family 57, Christine [sic] Kable; Ancestry.com.
[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 188, p.179A, dwelling 135, family 143, Christian Kable; Ancestry.com.
[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 85, p.12, dwelling 230, family 236, Philip Kable; Ancestry.com.
2 comments
Greetings Karen – Were the common census takers fluent in other languages ?
As was the case of my GG-Grandmother Margaret Schaefer enumerated in 1900 from Paulding County Ohio she couldn’t speak English. As I peruse that census there were citizens born in other countries.
Without a doubt quite a few could speak at least broken English allowing them to complete the questions.
Yet that had to be a challenge for the census takers.
1900 she is recorded to have immigrated in 1885. The 1910 census says 1840. Allowing for slipping memory at 81yrs old there was the possibility of thick German brogue perhaps. Although German 1840 and 1885 doesn’t sound real close
Best regards
Ken Schaefer
Author
That is a very good question. It appears the census takers were from the are where they took the census and I do not think they were necessarily fluent in other languages. Possibly, if there were a number of people in their area who spoke another language, the enumerators may have taken an interpreter or someone who could speak and understand the other language. Yes, taking the census would have been a challenge back then and that is probably part of the reason census records are not always consistent and are not totally reliable and accurate. There is the language problem as well as the fact that we don’t always know who gave the information to the enumerator. They are great records for us, but should be used in conjunction with other records, realizing that there will be errors. Thanks for writing!