Anna Baals, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Anna (Geisler) Baals, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
Anna Baals
1828-1925
Anna Geisler was born 19 August 1828 in Germany, according to the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm. She may have been from Gruengraben, Bavaria, where her brother Nichols Geisler was from.
The Geislers immigrated before 1850 and the father was likely Michael Geisler. The Michael Geisler family in 1850, in Willshire Township: Michael, 50; Anna, 21; Nicholas, 18; George, 21; Barbara, 15; and Margaret, 11. Michael Geisler was a farmer and all were born in Germany. [1]
Anna Geisler married Conrad Baals on 6 May 1851 at Zion, Schumm. Both were members of Zion’s parish.
Three children were born to Anna and Conrad Baals within the next 7 years: George (1854), August (1856), and Mary (1858).
The Conrad Baals family in 1860, in Willshire Township, where Anna’s brother Nicholas lived with them: Conrad, 40; Anna, 32; George, 6; August, 4; Mary, 2; and Nicholas Geisler, 27. Conrad, Anna, and Nicholas were all born in Bavaria, while the rest were born in Ohio. [2]
The Conrad Baals family in 1870: Conrad, 53; Anna, 42; George, 16; Augustus, 14; Margaret, 12; Fredrick, 5; and William, 3. [3]
The Conrad Baals family in 1880: Conrad, 62; Anna, 52; George, 26; Augustus, 24; Margaret, 20; Frederick, 17; and William, 12. Conrad and his sons were farmers. [4]
Anna’s husband Conrad Baals died of consumption on 7 March 1889, at the age of 71 years, 7 months, and 10 days. He is buried in row 5 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery.
Widow Anna (Geisler) Baals in 1900, living with two of her sons: Anna, 76, head; George, 45, son; and William, 32, son. Anna was born in Germany but no immigration date was given. Anna had given birth to 5 children and all 5 were living. George was single and William was married for 5 years, but there was no wife in the household. They were farmers. [5]
Anna (Geisler) Baals, living with her two sons in Willshire Township, in 1920: John, 52, head, divorced; Anna, 91, mother, widowed; and George, 65, brother, single. John and Goerge farmed. Anna was naturalized in 1853, immigration date unknown. [6]
Anna (Geisler) Baals died 23 September 1925 in Willshire Township, at the age of 97 years, 1 month and 3 days. She was buried on the 25th.
Conrad and Anna (Geisler) Baals had the following children:
Johann “George” Pankratius (1854-1930), never married
Adam Gustav (1856-1903)
Rosina Maria Margarethe (1858-1929), married August Heim
Johann “Friedrich” (1864-)
Johann Wilhelm “William” (1867-1943), married Jennie A. Gershaw Haines; married Jennie A. Rison
[1] 1850 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, dwelling 108, family 124, Michael Geshler; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/ : viewed 14 Mar 2020).
[2] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.424 [stamped], p.147 [penned], dwelling 1051, family 1045, Conrad Baltz; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/ : viewed 14 Mar 2020).
[3] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert Ohio, p.446B, dwelling 238, family 239, Conrad Balls; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : viewed 23 Mar 2020).
[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.447A [stamped], p.9 [penned], family 78, Z Coomod Bates; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : viewed 23 Mar 2020).
[5] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED97, dwelling 211, family 225, Ina Baabs; (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/ : viewed 23 Mar 2020).
[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.2A, dwelling & family 25, John Baals; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/ : viewed 23 Mar 2020).
