Oct 28

Tombstone Tuesday-Philip W. & Caroline (Koch) Kable

Philip Kable, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Twp, Mercer Co, Ohio (2023 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Philip W. and Caroline (Koch) Kable, located in row 2 of St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Philip W.
1850-1915
Caroline
1849-1923
KABLE
Christ Is Our Hope

Philip William Kable was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, 9 February 1850, the son of Christian (1814-1885) and Dorothea (Maurer) (1815-1904) Kable. Philip’s parents were both born in Germany, married in Germany, and immigrated to America with their four children in 1846. They settled in Liberty Township, Mercer County, and attended church at St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township. [1]  

The Christian Kable family in the 1850 census: Christian Kable, 38; “Theresia,” 63 [sic]; Jacob, 10; Christian, 8; Louisa, 8; John, 7; Philip, 7 months. [2] By 1860 the family had another daughter, Katharine, born about 1855. [3]

Philip Kable, age 20, resided with his parents in 1870 [4] and 2 years later, on 15 February 1872, he married Caroline Koch in Mercer County. [5]

Caroline Koch was born in Butler County, Ohio, on 10 September 1849, the daughter of William (1817-1886) and Katharine Elizabeth (Liebrich) (1829-1910) Koch. Her parents were both born in Germany and married in Butler County, Ohio, on 4 January 1849. [6]

In 1850 the William Koch family lived in Milford, Butler County, Ohio: William, 30; Catharine, 20; and Caroline, 8 months. William was a farmer. [7]

By 1860 the William Koch family had moved north to Liberty Township, Mercer County and had a Skeels Crossroad Post Office address. Their family had grown to include 5 children, Caroline, 10; Lydia, John, William, and David. The father William was a farmer. [8]

The William Koch family in 1870: William, 53; Catharine, 42; Caroline, 20; Lydia, 18; John A, 16; David, 10; William, 8; Theodore, 5; Charles, 4; and Philip, 1. [9]

Philip Kable and Caroline Koch married in 1872 and by 1880 they had four children and lived next door to Philip’s parents. The Philip Kable family in 1880: Philip, 30; Caroline, 30; Catherine, 6; Philip [Jr], 5; William, 3; and Louisa, 1. Philip Kable Sr. was a farmer. [10]

Philip Sr’s father Christian Kable died in 1885 and in 1900 Philip’s widowed mother Dorothea Kable, 85, lived with her son Philip [Sr] and his family in Liberty Township. Also in the household were two of Philip Sr. and Caroline’s children, Peter, 18, and Anna, 11. This enumeration indicates that Caroline Kable had given birth to six children, all of them living. [11]

Philip Sr’s mother Dorothea Kable died 23 December 1904 and Philip, Caroline, and their daughter Anna moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, about 1906.

In 1910 Philip Sr. and Caroline Kable lived at 1312 Packard Avenue [sic?] in Fort Wayne. Philip Sr. worked as a laborer in the Private Families industry. Their daughter Annie, 21, single, also lived with them and worked as a dipper in a candy factory. [12]

In 1913 Philip Sr. and wife Caroline lived at 1312 Park Avenue, and Philip worked as a clerk at GS Clapesattle. [13]

Philip W & Caroline (Koch) Kable, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Twp, Mercer Co, OH (2023 photo by Karen)

Philip W. Kable Sr. died at his home in Fort Wayne on 6 March 1915, at the age of 65, from chronic laryngeal and pulmonary tuberculosis. Philip’s occupation was a clerk in a drug store. [14]

Philip Kable Sr. obituaries:
Kable-Philip Kable, aged sixty-five years and for the past nine years a resident of this city, died late Saturday night at his home 1325 [sic ?] Park Avenue, flowing a six weeks’ illness. He was employed at the Clapesattle drug store on South Broadway. The widow and the following children survive: Mrs. J. Weinman, Philip, William and Peter Kable, Mrs. William Hunsicker [sic] and Mrs. Gimke [sic]. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at the residence and Tuesday the body will be shipped to the former home of the deceased in Mercer County, Ohio. [15] 

Philip Kable, a well-known former resident of Liberty township, died at his home in Ft. Wayne last Saturday night, the 6th, at the age of 65 years. He was born in Liberty township and was taken there for burial, where services were held at the St. Paul’s Evangelical church on the 9th. He was married to Caroline Koch, who with three sons and three daughters survive him. [16]

I am not sure exactly where the Kable family lived in Fort Wayne. Three sources give three different addresses.

After Philip Sr’s death, widow Caroline Kable moved back to Liberty Township, Mercer County, and lived with her widowed daughter Louisa Hunziker and her two children. [17]

Caroline (Koch) Kable died in Van Wert on 1 June 1923. [18]

Philip W. Sr. and Caroline (Koch) Kable had the following children:
Catherine Kable (1873-1957), married Jacob Weinmann
Philip W. Kable Jr. (1874-1947), married Louisa Alt; married Gertrude Maurer
William Kable (1876-1963), married Elizabeth K. Anselman; married Anna Marie (Steinhardt) Burmeister
Louise Kable (1878-1977), married William Christian Hunziker 
Peter Kable (1881-1968), married Augusta Wilhelmina Steffen
Anna W. Kable (1888-1972), married Victor H. Dimke

[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] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer County, 1861-1887, p.303, Philip Kable & Caroline Cook [sic], 15 Feb 1872; Ancestry.com.  

[6] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Butler County Marriages 1803-1879, p.56, William Koch & Catharine Librick [sic], 4 Jan 1849; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1850 U.S. Census, Ohio, Butler, Milford, p.190A, dwelling 1037, family 1048, Wm Cook [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[8] 1860 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p.358, dwelling 992, family 997, William Cook [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[9] 1870 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p. 145B, dwelling 58, family 52, William Cork [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[10] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 188, p.16 [penned], dwelling 135, family 142, Phillip Kable; Ancestry.com.

[11] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 85, p.12, dwelling 230, family 236, Philip Kable; Ancestry.com.

[12] 1910 U.S. Census, Indiana, Allen, Fort Wayne Ward 6, ED 48, p.11B, dwelling 252, family 259, Philip Kable; Ancestry.com.

[13] U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995, Fort Wayne, Indiana, City Directory, 1913, Philip Kable; Ancestry.com.

[14] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Philip Kable, 6 Mar 1915; Ancestry.com.

[15] Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 8 Mar 1915, Philip Kable obituary; Newspapers.com.

[16] The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 12 Mar 1915, Philip Kable obituary; Newspapers.com.

[17] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 140, p. 15B, dwelling 316, family 337, Louisa Hunziker; Ancestry.com.

[18] Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, 1958-2007, Caroline Kable, 1 Jun 1923; Ancestry.com.

Oct 24

Rev. Schmitt Becomes Rev. Smith

I have written about Rev. Reuben Valentine Smith before. Rev. RV Smith was the pastor at Zion Lutheran, Chatt, from 1899-1905, his first pastorate after graduating from the ELT Seminary in Columbus in 1899.

Rev. Reuben Valentine Schmitt

In 1955, just before he died, Rev. Smith wrote a narrative about his personal experiences as Zion Chatt’s pastor. In 1955, when he wrote his recollections of the Chatt area, he was Rev. Smith, but when he was the pastor at Zion Chatt, his name was actually Rev. Schmitt. He signed his name as Rev. RV Schmitt on documents he left behind. 

Thanks to a reader who sent me information that Rev. Schmitt legally changed his name from Schmitt to Smith in 1918 and why he did that.

WANTS TO CHANGE NAME
Rev. R.V. Schmitt Says Anything That Hints of German Taint Must Be Done Away with.
Seeking to anglicize his name, the Rev. R.V. Schmitt, 409 Parkview Avenue, Bexley, filed a proceeding in the probate court Wednesday afternoon. He asks that his name be changed to Smith, and his wife, Nora E. Schmitt, makes the same application. “Anything that hints of German strain or taint must be done away with,” said Schmitt, who is an instructor at Capital university. [Columbus Evening Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio, 27 Jun 1918]

Rev. Schmitt name change, Columbus Evening Dispatch, 27 Jun 1918.

During that time, because of WWI, the country was filled with anti-German sentiment, and some people changed the spelling of their German surname to a more American-sounding name. Schmitt actually gave this as his reason for changing the spelling of his name.

Rev. Schmitt served at Zion, Chattanooga, from 1899-1905 and at Marion, Indiana, 1905-1906. After that, from 1906-1955, he was a college professor and Dean of Classic Language at Capital University. He had fifty years of uninterrupted teaching, missing only two days of classes during those years.

Rev. Schmitt returned to Zion Chatt in 1916 for the dedication of the new church’s cornerstone.

Cornerstone dedication, 1916. Rev. R.V. Schmitt, Rev. W.H.F. Heuer, Rev. B.F. Brandt.

Rev. RV Smith’s obituary:

Rev. RV Smith obituary, Columbus Evening Dispatch, 18 Nov 1955

Death Takes R.V. Smith, Capital Dean
Reuben V. Smith, 78, dean emeritus of the College of Arts and Sciences at Capital University and in his 50th year of teaching on the university staff, died Friday morning at his home, 409 S. Parkview Avenue.

Prof. Smith, who joined the faculty at Capital in 1906, served as dean from 1923 until 1947 and was continuing to teach classical languages there.

A native of Columbus, he had attended the old Central High School here and was a graduate of the Capital University Seminary and the University of Michigan graduate school.

He had served in various Ohio ministries before joining the Capital staff.

Considered a guiding spirit in associations of classical languages in this area, he had been active in the American Philological Association, the Ohio Classical conference and was a past president of the Columbus Latin Club. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church.

He was a faculty representative in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

Surviving Prof. Smith are his wife, Nora Mangold Smith; a sister, Mrs. Charles Bash, Columbus; and a nephew.

Service will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Christ Lutheran Church with burial in Green Lawn Cemetery by Schoedinger funeral home, 229 E. State St.  [Columbus Evening Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio, 18 Nov 1955]

Rev. Schmitt was also the teacher for Zion Chatt’s Christian Summer School during his time at Chatt.

Zion Lutheran School, Chattanooga, Ohio (c1904)

The narrative he wrote in 1955 is a very interesting first-hand account of what life was like in this area around the turn of the century. He mentioned the muddy roads several times.

His recollections are worth reading and can be found in two blog posts: Recollections of Chattanooga, Ohio and Recollections of Chattanooga, Ohio, Part 2.

Oct 17

Paulding, Ohio, Murals

Recently we drove to Paulding, Ohio, to take a photo of their post office mural. Their post office is located at 121 West Jackson Street.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Paulding’s mural is quite different from the ones I photographed at Coldwater and Wapakoneta. Paulding’s mural is carved wood relief, carved by Charles Umlauf in 1940.

Paulding, Ohio, post office mural. (2025 photo by Karen)

The title of the mural is Industry and depicts men sawing down trees, likely in the Great Black Swamp.

Paulding, Ohio, post office mural. (2025 photo by Karen)

Paulding, Ohio, post office mural. (2025 photo by Karen)

The mural is located in the post office lobby, on the wall above the postmaster’s door, the same as the other two post office murals I have viewed.

During the 1930s-40s, to make artwork accessible to all people, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Section of Painting and Sculpture allocated monies for art and sculptures in post offices constructed between 1934 and 1943.

The artist/carver’s signature:

Paulding, Ohio, post office mural. (2025 photo by Karen)

While driving through Paulding, we noticed that there is a painted mural on the side of one of their downtown buildings. It is quite nice with a lot of little details.

Paulding, Ohio, mural. (2025 photo by Karen)

The mural contains four scenes of Paulding’s history, separated by trees. The sections, from right to left: Fort Brown and Native American Indians in a canoe; harness racers before the grandstand at the Paulding County Fairgrounds; a farmer on a tractor with the sun rising and their historic round barn in the background; and a canal boat on one of the two canals that run through the county, either the Wabash-Erie Canal or the Miami-Erie Canal, with a farm in the background.

Paulding, Ohio, mural. (2025 photo by Karen)

Paulding, Ohio, mural. (2025 photo by Karen)

Paulding is the county seat of Paulding County, established in 1820.

Paulding, Ohio, mural (2025 photo by Karen)

Their mural was painted by Sandy & Kinsey Dobbelaere, assisted by Franzi Wagner in July 2011.

Paulding, Ohio, mural (2025 photo by Karen)

Lots of little critters and birds are painted all around the mural.

Paulding, Ohio, mural (2025 photo by Karen)

Paulding, Ohio, mural (2025 photo by Karen)

Paulding, Ohio, mural (2025 photo by Karen)

Paulding, Ohio, mural (2025 photo by Karen)

Paulding, Ohio, mural (2025 photo by Karen)

We also noticed two other paintings on buildings around town.

Paulding, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

This one looks like it might be old: 

Paulding, Ohio (2025 photo by Karen)

Yet another local town with beautiful artwork showing the history of their area.

Oct 14

Tombstone Tuesday-Minnesota (Bennett) Drumm

Minnesota (Bennett) Drumm, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio. (2025 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Minnesota (Bennett) Drumm, located in Ward 3, Row 7 of North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

DRUMM
Minnesota Bennett
1873-1953

Minnesota “Minnie” Bennett was born in Montezuma, Mercer County, Ohio, 2 December 1873, the daughter of Henry Brandenburg Bennett (1840-1921) and Sarah Maria (Milligan) Bennett (1844-1928). She was the third of seven children, all named after states or territories.

The Henry Bennett family in 1880: Henry, 40; Maria, 35; Nevada, 15; Dakota, 12; Minesota [sic], 6; and Alaska, 2. Henry was a farmer. [1]

The Henry Bennett family in 1900 included Minnie and her five brothers: Henry, 59; Sallie [sic], 55; Dakota, 32; Alaska, 21; Minnesota, 26; Arizona, 18; Delaware, 16; and Vermont, 13. [2]

By 1910, Minnie, Arizona, and Vermont still lived with their parents. Minnie, 35, was a servant for a private family. [3]

In 1920 Minnie lived alone with her parents in their home on Main Street in Montezuma. Minnie was probably caring for her father, 79, and her mother, 75. Minnie’s occupation was a servant for a private family. [4]

Minnie’s father Henry Brandenburg Bennett died in 1921.

Minnie married widower James Austin Drumm in Mercer County on 13 January 1928. James was a cabinet maker and Minnie was a domestic. [5] James’ first wife, Mary Elizabeth (Teeters), died in 1926.

Minnie’s mother Sarah Maria (Milligan) Bennett died a few months later, on 12 May 1928.

By 1930, James, 66, and Minnie, 56, had moved to Celina and lived at 810 Market Street. James worked as a building carpenter. [6]  

James, 76, and Minnie, 66, had moved to 213 ½ South Main Street, Celina, by 1940, and they had 3 lodgers in their household, Evelyn Garwick, 24; Monica Moeller, 20; and Harriet Will, 19. James was the manager of a pool hall and Minnie was a land lady. [7]

In 1950 James, 86, and Minnie, 76, lived at 120 S. Buckeye, Celina. No occupation was given for either of them. [8]

James and Minnie had no children.

Minnie’s husband James Drumm died in Celina on 5 May 1953. James and his first wife Mary share a tombstone in North Grove Cemetery, in Ward 17, Row 8.

Minnesota “Minnie” (Bennett) Drumm died 19 December 1953. Her obituary:

Minnesota B Drumm
Celina-Mrs. Minnesota Bennett Drumm, 80, of 120 South Buckeye Street, died at Gibbons hospital Saturday following complications due to advanced age. She was the widow of James Drumm, who died in May, 1953. She was a charter member of the Order of Eastern Star at Celina, having received her life membership at the golden anniversary on May 3, 1948. She also received her 50-year pin at that time. Mrs. Drumm was a member of St. Paul’s Methodist church and the Women’s society of the church. She is survived by two brothers, Arizona Bennett, Union City, Ind., and Vermont Bennett, Piqua; nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Vale’s funeral home, with Dr. Don Mueller officiating. Burial in North Grove cemetery, Celina. Friends may call at the funeral home. [9]

The siblings of Minnesota (Bennett) Drumm:
Nevada B. Bennett (1865-1925), married John J. Beauchamp
Dakota T. Bennett (1868-1936), married Anna Manning
Goldsby Alaska Bennett (1878-1953), married Ida Ellen Monroe
Arizona Landon Bennett (1881-1961), married Orla Yancy
Delaware Samuel Bennett (1884-1937), married Mattie Evelyn Yeaton
Vermont H. Bennett (1886-1964), married Lura Vivian Monroe; married Mattie Evelyn Yeaton

Minnie was my husband Joe’s great-aunt. 

[1] 1880 US Census, Ohio, Franklin, Mercer, Ohio, Ed 183, p.399c, dwelling 163, family 165, Henry Bennett; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1900 US Census, Ohio, Mercer, Franklin, ED 79, p.5, dwelling 102, family 104, Henry Bennett; Ancestry.com.  

[3] 1910 US Census, Ohio, Mercer, Franklin, ED 112, p.7a, dwelling & family 127, Hary B Barnette [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[4] 1920 US Census, Ohio, Mercer, Franklin, ED 130, p.9B, dwelling & family 177, Henry B Bennett; Ancestry.com.  

[5] Ohio, US, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer Marriages Vol. 13, 1925-1931, p.169, James Austin Drumm & Minnesota Bennett, 13 Jan 1928; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1930 US Census, Ohio, Mercer, Celina, ED 16, p.2 A, dwelling & family 44, James A Drumon [sic]. Ancestry.com.

[7] 1940 US Census, Ohio, Mercer, Celina, ED 54-17, p.11B, visited 254, James A Drumm; Ancestry.com.

[8] 1950 US Census, Ohio, Mercer, Celina, ED 54-29, p.12, dwelling 151, James A Drumm; Ancestry.com.

[9] Minnesota B Drumm obituary, 21 Dec 1953, The Journal Herald, Dayton, Ohio; Newspapers.com.

Oct 10

To Adam Kable, Esq, Hinton, Ohio

Below is an old envelope, addressed to Adam Kable, Esq, Hinton, Mercer County, Ohio.

To Adam Kable, Esq, Hinton, Mercer County, Ohio, 1901.

The postmark date is nearly impossible to read but is probably from about 1901.

To Adam Kable, Esq, Hinton, Mercer County, Ohio, 1901.

Hinton was a hamlet with post office, located at Oregon and Erastus Durbin Roads. Their Post office operated from 1890-1904.

The return address is Chas. J. Fox, County recorder, Celina.

Adam Kable (1861-1948) was born in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, and was the son of Ferdinand and Catharine (Bollenbacher) Kable, both German immigrants. He was married twice, first to Maggie Miller (1861-1889), and then to Catherine Huffman (1862-1913). Both preceded him in death.

Adam lived his whole life in Liberty Township and, according to census records, was a farmer.

The envelope referred to Adam as Esq, short for Esquire, a term that was often used for an attorney. The term used to imply that the individual was licensed to practice law. However, by the early 20th century, the term esquire was used as a general courtesy title for any man in a formal setting, with no precise significance, and was usually used as a suffix to his name.

The handwriting on this envelope is beautiful and reminds me of a time when people took pride in their penmanship. My mom also had beautiful handwriting and I remember that she enjoyed practicing her handwriting. Maybe I should try that because sometimes I have a hard time reading my own handwriting.  

I wonder what correspondence might have been in this old envelope, addressed in such a formal manner.

I want to thank David for sending me the photos of this envelope, in reference to Adam Kable’s Tombstone Tuesday blog post. [1]

[1] Karen’s Chatt, Tombstone Tuesday-Adam Kable, 29 Sep 2023.