Tombstone Tuesday-Catharine (Hardzog) Strete

Catharine (Hardzog) Strete, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Catharine (Hardzog) Strete, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

IN
Memory of
Catharine wife
of John Strete who
Died Feb. 27th 1845
Aged 20 [?] Years, 3 Mo
& 8 days

Catharine Hardzog was born 19 November 1824, as calculated from her tombstone, when she died at age of 20. She was the daughter of Christian and Katharine (Lintermoot) Hardzog and her family lived in Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, in 1840. [1]

Her death predates the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, so there was no information about her in the church records.

Catharine Hardzog married John Strete in Mercer County, Ohio, on 31 Aug 1841. John Strete was also a resident of Mercer County. [2]

Catherine was only 16 years old when she married, legally underage to marry without the consent of her father or guardian. Therefore their marriage record tells us that her father was Christian Hardzog. Christian gave his consent for his daughter Catherine to marry John Strete and several people attested to Christian’s signed consent. The following is a transcription of that document:

The State of Ohio
Mercer County ss
Personally appeared John Streete who being duly sworn says that in the contemplated marriage between himself and Catharine Hardzogg he the said John Streete is of lawful age and both reside in the County aforesaid and further that the certificate produced by him and signed by Christian Hardzogg as the father of said Catharine Hardzogg giving his consent to said marriage he saw him sign the same and heard him acknowledge his consent thereto.
Sworn to this 31 day of August 1841.
Franklin Linzee, Clerk Pro Tem

August the 30 1841
To the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Mercer County Ohio I hereby certify in the presents of the subscribing witness that it is my wish and with my consent that you grant to John Streete License for the marriage of the said John Streete to Catharine Hardzogg my daughter in testimony whereof I sign my name in presence of Joseph John Hartzog. Christian Hardzogg. We hereby testify that we saw Christian Hardzogg subscribe his name to the above order.
Attest Daniel Berger
Attest John Streete

John Streete
&
Catharine Hardzogg

License Issued Aug. 31 1841
I hereby certify that John Streete and Catharine Hartzogg were joined in marriage on the 31 day of August A.D. 1841.
By Josephus Dowus, Justice of the Peace
Sept. 7, 1841
Franklin Linzee, Clerk Pro. Tem

I love it when research comes together and results in new revelations. Catharine’s sandstone tombstone is weathered and her surname has been misread. Her maiden name and her true identity have probably been unknown for some time.

But it all fits together.

The surname on the tombstone is Strete. The marriage record of John Strete and Catharine Hardzog states that Christian Hardzog was Catharine’s father. Several Hardzog family members are buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Schumm, including Catharine’s mother Katherine and Catharine’s sister Caroline Hardzog, who are both buried row 7. Their markers are some of the oldest sandstone markers that remain in Zion Schumm’s cemetery. Catherine’s father Christian is buried down the road in Hileman/Smith/Hartzog/Alspaugh Cemetery.  

Catharine Hardzog can now be added to the list of children of Christian Hardzog and his first wife Katharine (Lintemoot/Lindenmuth).

Catharine (Hardzog) Strete, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

However, other questions remain unanswered. Did John and Catharine (Hardzog) Strete have any children and if so, did any survive to adulthood? What happened to John Strete after Catharine’s death? Where did John and Catharine live?

I may continue to research this family…

[1] 1840 U.S. census, Mercer County, Ohio, Black Creek Township, p. 84, line 10, Christian Hartsock; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8057/ : accessed 13 January 2013).

[2] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” Mercer County Marriages, Vol. ABC (1838-1852), p.79, John Streets & Catharine Hertzogg/Hardzogg, 31 Aug 1841; FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BJSW-SQ?i=71&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXZC5-8Y3 : viewed 7 Mar 2021). 

2 comments

    • Elaine Dykstra on March 9, 2021 at 10:08 am
    • Reply

    I love this that you may decide to keep researching Catherine and family. I don’t mind going off my own and doing another’s family at all. It’s my hobby and I love it!

    1. So true! It is such a rush when the research all comes together and you realize that you have made some discoveries and connections. I don’t care whose family it is, the research is really fun! Thanks for writing.

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