Tombstone Tuesday-Edward & Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson

Edward & Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Edward and Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

DIRKSON
Edward
1864-1938
Psa. 90
Heb. 4, 9-11

Johannah
1873-1923
Psa. 25-10
Rev. 7, 9-17

William “Edward” Dirkson was born 8 July 1864 near Bingen, Adams County, Indiana, the son of Henry (1837-1915) and Lisetta (Aumann) (1844-1923) Dirkson. Edward grew up in Adams County and had younger siblings Anna, Louisa, Mary, and Emilie. [1]

Edward Dirkson married Johanna Meyer in Adams County, Indiana, 24 April 1898, married by Rev. J. Matthias. [2]

Johanna (Hannah) Louisa Meyer was born 15 November 1873 in Preble, Adams County, Indiana, the daughter of Henry William Christian (1832-1883) and Rosina K. (Schueler) (1837-1912) Meyer. Johanna grew up in Adams County, Indiana, and had several siblings, Mary Sophia, Helen Maria, Wilhelmina, William Michael, Sophia R., Edward George, Susanna, Rosine, and Martha Katharine. [3]   

Two years after their marriage Edward and Johanna resided in Preble, Adams County, Indiana. They had no children and Edward, 35, was a farmer. [4]

Their first child, Arthur, was born in May 1901 and burned to death in December of that same year when he pulled a lamp into his crib and caught his bedclothes on fire. Daughter Helena was born less than a year later and died the day after she was born. Daughter Martha was born in 1903 and son Paul in 1906.

In 1910 the couple still resided in Preble and had two children, Martha, 6, and Paul, 4. This census enumeration indicates that the couple had two other children who had died. [5]

By 1920 Edward and Johanna Dirkson and their two children had moved to Willshire Township, where Edward farmed: Edward, 56; Johanna, 45; Martha, 16; and Paul, 14. [6]

Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson died from intestinal peritonitis on 31 January 1923 in Willshire Township, at the age of 49 years, 2 months, and 16 days. She was buried on 2 February. [7]

After Johanna’s death widower Edward Dirkson lived with his children Martha, 26, single, and Paul, 23, single, in Willshire Township. Edward and his son Paul farmed. [8]  

Edward Dirkson died from uremia on 5 July 1938 in Ridge Township, Van Wert County, at the age of 73 years, 11 months, 27 days. He was buried on 8 July. [9]

Edward’s obituary:

Edward Dirkson
Van Wert, July 7-Edward Dirkson, 74, retired farmer of Willshire-tp, died yesterday at Van Wert-co hospital after an extended illness.

Born in Adams-co, Ind., he was the son of Henry and Lizzie Dirkson. He spent most of his life in Adams-co, but for the past 18 years had resided in Willshire and vicinity. He was a member of the Schumm Lutheran church.

Surviving are two children, Paul Dirkson, Harrod, and Mrs. Edward Gunsett, with whom he made his home; and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Schumm, Ft. Wayne, and Mrs. Otto Ewell, Decatur, Ind.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Schumm Lutheran church, with Rev. A. Maueler [sic] officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. [10]

Edward and Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson had the following children:
Arthur (1901-1901)
Helena (1902-1902)
Martha Anna Marie (1903-1981), married Edward “Dick” Gunsett
Paul (1906-1987), married Leota M. Kemper

Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson was the great-granddaughter of John Georg Schumm, our Schumm immigrant ancestor and descends from John Georg’s daughter Maria Katharina, who married Michael Schueler.

[1] Census years 1870 & 1880.

[2] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019,” Edward Dirkson & Johanna Meyers, 24 Apr 1898 database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[3] Census year 1880 & FindaGrave.com. Note, this surname is sometimes spelled Meier.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Preble, Adams, ED 8, p.8, dwelling 127, family 129, Edward Dieksan; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Preble, Adams, ED 8, p.1B, dwelling & family 21, Edward Dirkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling 55, family 56, Edward Dirkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Johannah Dirkson, 31 Jan 1923; database with images, FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZY-TKNL?i=338&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CF-GGH , viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[8] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, ED 245, p.2B, dwelling 39, family, Edward Derkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Ridge Township, Van Wert County, Edward Dirkson, 5 Jul 1938; database with images, FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ZY-TY35?i=247&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CF-RRN , viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[10] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 7 Jul 1938, p.2; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

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