Tombstone Tuesday–Andrew & Barbara (Eichler) Eichler

Andrew & Barbara (Eichler) Eichler, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2014 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Andrew and Barbara (Eichler) Eichler, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker they share is inscribed on each side:

Andrew
Eichler
Died
Sept. 5, 1894
Aged
76 Y  3 D

Barbara
Wife of
A. Eichler
Died
Aug. 10, 1898
Aged
73 Y  3 M

EICHLER

This marble marker looks like a lectern with a closed book on it. A closed book is often thought to represent the Book of Life. On the front of the tombstone are two clasped hands, one with a feminine cuff and the other with a masculine cuff, symbolizing marriage. Father & Mother is inscribed above the hands.

Andrew Eichler was born 2 September 1818 in Zweifelsheim, Bavaria, according to Zion Chatt’s records. His wife Barbara (Eichler) Eichler was born 10 May 1825 in Bavaria. Both of their birth dates are calculated from their tombstone inscription but Zion Chatt’s records give Barbara’s date of birth as 11 May 1825.

Andrew Eichler married Barbara Eichler on 11 December 1847 in Butler County, Ohio, married by Rev. J.A. Fischer. [1]

By 1860 Andrew and Barbara had six children. They resided in Butler County, the county they were married in, and Andrew worked as a farm hand. Their household in 1860: Andrew, 42; Barbara, 24; George, 10; Fred, 8; John, 6; Anna, 5; Levi, 3; and Andy, 1. [2]

The Andrew Eichler household in 1870, still living in Butler County: Andrew, 52; Barbara, 45; George, 20; Fred, 18; John, 16; Anna, 14; Levi, 12; Andrew, 11; Jacob, 9; Lawrence, 7; Christian, 4; and Peter, 1. This enumeration reports that the parents were born in Baden and the children in Ohio. Andrew farmed and enumerated next to them was another family that would eventually move to the Chatt area, Peter Lotter, 35, his wife Catharine [Eichler], 30, and their son John, 6 months. The Lotters were also from Germany. [3]

The Eichlers moved to Mercer County, Ohio, sometime between 1870 and 1880 and were enumerated in Blackcreek Township in 1880: Andrew, 61; Barbra, 55; Andrew, 21; Anna C, 23; Jacob, 19; Laurence, 17; Christopher, 14; Peter, 10.  Andrew continued to farm in Mercer County. [4] Andrew owned 160 acres of land in Section 20 of Blackcreek Township, along Wilson Road, east of what is now State Route 49.

Andrew Eichler died Andrew 5 September 1894 in Blackcreek Township at the age of 76 years and 3 days. He was buried on the 8th.  He was survived by his wife, 2 sisters, and 10 children, according to Zion Chatt’s records.  The church records give his cause of death as dropsy, while his probate court death record gives his cause of death as lagrippe, an influenza-type disease. [5]

Andrew Eichler, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2014 photo by Karen)

Barbara Eichler died of cancer and old age on 10 August 1898, at the age of 73 years and 3 months. She was survived by 10 children and 15 grandchildren, according to Zion Chatt’s records.

Barbara (Eichler) Eichler, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2014 photo by Karen)

Census enumerations and the church records indicate that Andrew and Barbara had at least 10 children. Several are buried in North Grove Cemetery, Celina. Their children:
George (1850-1914), married Eliza R. McAfee
John Fredrick (1852-1942)
John (1853-1933)
Anna C (1856-1919)
Levi (1857-1929), married Angeline Irene McAfee
Andrew (1859-1931), married Anna Catharine Boehm
Jacob (1860-1944)
Lawrence (1863-1939), married Magdalena Allmandinger
Christopher (1866-1957), married Agnes Louise Kuhn
Peter (1869-1900)

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Family.Search.org, Andrew Eichler and Barbara Eichler, 11 Dec 1847; Butler Marriages, Vol. 3, p.37; FHL microfilm 355779.

[2] 1860 U.S. Census, Hanover, Butler, Ohio, p.343, dwelling & family 311, Andy Eygler; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 803940, NARA microfilm M653, roll 940.

[3] 1870 U.S. census, Madison, Butler, Ohio, p.279A, dwelling 49, family 47, Andrew Igler; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 552676, NARA microfilm M593, roll 1177.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, Ed 179, p.327B, line 8, Andrew Eichler; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1255048, NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[5] Mercer County, Ohio, Deaths, Vol. 1,2; FamilySearch.org, no page; FHL microfilm 914954.

 

 

 

2 comments

    • Sara J. Staley ne Eichler on December 11, 2019 at 10:51 pm
    • Reply

    Andrew and Barbara are my thrice great Grandparents. This was very interesting to read. Thankyou.

    1. You are welcome! Thanks for writing!

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