Tombstone Tuesday-John Andrew Lillich

John Andrew Lillich, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of John Andrew Lillich, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

John
Andrew
Lillich
Born
Oct. 6, 1792
Died
June 16
1847
Aged
54 Y, 8 m, 10d

According to Zion Schumm’s records John Andrew Lillich died of stomach cancer on 16 June 1847 at the age of 55 years, 6 months, and 9 days. He was buried on the 18th.

As is often the case, the age information on his tombstone does not agree with the information in the church records. Going by his age in the church records, his date of birth would be calculated as 7 December 1791.

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

There is very little information about John Andrew Lillich, just his tombstone and the scant church record of his death and burial. I could not locate him in the 1840 census and he died before the 1850 census, which would have given a little information about him.

John Andrew Lillich’s wife was likely Catherine Lillich, who is buried in Ridge Slater Cemetery, Van Wert County. [1] Catharine’s tombstone indicates that she was the wife of Andrew and that she died 28 Oct 1873, at the age of 82. She was born about 1790 and was about the same age as John Andrew. Her death record indicates she was born in Germany and that she was a widow. [2] In 1870, Catharine Lillich, age 80, born in Germany, lived with the John Buchner family. [3]

Fredrick Samuel Lillich (1829-1890) was likely the son of John Andrew and Catharine. He is also buried in Ridge Slater Cemetery and was reportedly born in Germany. [4]

My theory is that John Andrew Lillich was married to Catherine, they were both born in Germany and married there, and they had a son Frederick Samuel Lillich, who was born in Germany as well.

[1] Find a Grave, memorial 33998218, Julia Elizabeth Catharine Lenk Lillich gravestone, (1790-1873), Ridge Slater Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.

[2] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Willshire Twp, Van Wert County, p.80, Catharine Lillich, 28 Oct 1873; database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 21 Feb 2021.

[3] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.445B, dwelling 218, family 219, John Buechner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : viewed 11 May 2020).

[4] Find a Grave, memorial 33998228, Fredrick Samuel Lillich gravestone, (1829-1890), Ridge Slater Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.

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