Lillie E Gunsett, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Lillie E. Gunsett, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
GUNSETT
Lillie E.
1898-1989
Lillie Emma Gunsett was born 10 November 1898, the fifth and last child born to Joseph (1865-1931) and Clara (1866-1942) (Schinnerer) Gunsett. Lillie was baptized at home on 27 November 1898 with Martha Grund and Mrs. Emma Balyeat serving as her sponsors. Lillie grew up with three older brothers. The fourth brother died infancy before she was born. The family attended Zion Lutheran Church at Schumm.
The Joseph Gunsett family in 1900: Joseph, 37, head; Clara A, 34, wife; Walter, F, 10, son; Edward T, 8, son; Herbert H, 3, son; and Lillie E, 1, daughter. Joseph and Clara had been married 11 years and 4 of their 5 children were living. Everyone in the family was born in Ohio and Joseph was a farmer. [1]
In 1920 Lillie Gunsett, age 21, resided with her parents and brother Edward in Willshire Township. Lillie was not employed. Her father and brother were farmers. [2] In 1930 Lillie and Edward resided with their parents in Willshire Township as well.
Their father Joseph Gunsett died in Willshire Township 21 October 1931. After Joseph Gunsett’s death Lillie and her mother Clara moved to Van Wert sometime before 1935. In 1940 Lillie, 41, single, lived with her widowed mother Clara, 74, at 709 Washington St, Van Wert. Lillie’s occupation was housework at a private residence. [3]
Lillie’s mother Clara (Schinnerer) Gunsett died 12 March 1942. According to Clara’s obituary, Lillie lived in Van Wert, Lillie’s brother Walter lived in Chicago, brother Edward lived in Willshire, and brother Herbert lived in Akron.
Lillie Gunsett died at Brighton Hall Nursing Home, Fort Wayne, Indiana, on 22 June 1989 at the age of 90. She never married and her usual occupation was domestic employee. Lillie was buried next to her parents on 26 June. [4]
Lillie Gunsett had the following siblings:
Walter Friedrich (1890-1968) married Clara Bender
Edward Theodore (1891-1973) married Martha A. Dirkson
Arthur Hermann (1893-1895)
Herbert Heinrich (1896-1981) married Fayelle Kelly
Lillie was my first cousin twice removed and my second cousin once removed, depending on which common ancestors you look at. We are related through both the Schumms and the Schinnerers. Lillie’s mother was the daughter of Frederick & Elizabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer. Her mother Clara was a sister to my great grandmother Lizzie (Schinnerer) Scaer.
[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, ED 98, p. 11A (penned), p. 310A (stamped), dwelling 207, family 208, Joseph Gruasett; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Jun 2022.
[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, ED 145, p.3B, dwelling & family 63, Joseph Gunsett; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Jun 2022.
[3] 1940 U.S. Census, Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio, ED 81-10, p.3B, visitation 71, Lillie Gunsett; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Jun 2022.
[4] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Indiana State Board of Health, 1989, roll 10; database on-line Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Jun 2022.
