Category: Willshire

Two Schumm Soldiers in WWI

Last week I posted a photo of 139 young men from Van Wert County, in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse, just before they departed for Camp Sherman on 22 July 1918, where they would receive basic training before entering WWI. At that same time my grandfather Cornelius Schumm (1896-1986) was of draft age, age 21.

Schumm Sawmill/USS Constitution Connection

As 2022 winds down to its final weeks, Willshire’s Bicentennial year does the same. The village was founded and platted in 1822 by Captain James Riley and the village and residents of the area have been celebrating its 200th birthday all year.

Willshire Fires-1908, 1914, 1922

A couple weeks ago I wrote about the Willshire Canning Company. The Willshire Canning Company was started about 1904 and operated for roughly 10 years.

The Willshire Canning Company

Willshire had a canning company in the early 1900s, appropriately named The Willshire Canning Company, and my great-grandfather Louis J. Schumm was a shareholder.

1822-era Camp at Willshire

Last Saturday, as part of Willshire’s Bicentennial celebration, they replicated an 1822-era encampment on the banks of the St. Marys River, behind Willshire’s Legion. We enjoyed talking with and learning from the reenactors and demonstrators. If you missed or could not attend the event, here are some photos from the camp.