Tombstone Tuesday–Catharine Muller

Catharine Muller (1886-1895) Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Catharine Muller, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The inscription on the tombstone is: Hier ruhet in Gott [Here rests in God] Catharina, tochter von [daughter of] Jakob & C Muller, gest [died] 7 Mar 1895, alter [age] 8 jahr [years], 5 mon [months], 2 tag [days].

Catharine was the third child born to Jakob/Jacob and Christina (Rueck) Muller/Miller. Jacob and Christina were my great grandparents.

According to her baptism record Catharine Muller was born 5 October 1886 and was baptized 5 November 1886. Her parents were Jacob Muller and Christina, born Rueck.  The birthplace of her father was Bierbach, Rheinpfalz, Bavaira, and the birthplace of her mother was Steinbach, Oberamt, Brailsheim, Wuerttemberg. The sponsor at her baptism was Catharina Rueck, sister of the mother. Substitute sponsors were both parents. (source: Records of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Book I: 154)

According to her burial record Katharine Muller died 7 March 1895, aged 8 years, 5 months, 2 days. She was buried on 9 March 1895.  Survivors were the parents, Jakob Muller and wife.  (source: Records of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Book II: 338)

Catharine Muller’s death was also recorded in the Mercer County probate court: Catharine Miller died 7 March 1895, age 6 years, 5 months, 0 days.  She was born and died in Black Creek Township. The cause of her death was typhoid. (source: Mercer County Probate Court Death Records, Book II) Note that her age is incorrect in the probate record.

My aunt Kate recalls the family talking about one of Jacob & Christina’s daughters who died of typhoid fever. Aunt Kate remembers hearing that Catharine developed typhoid from drinking the water from one of the wells on the farm that had gone bad. She believes it was a well on the west side of the farm. Perhaps my aunt Kate was named after Catharine Muller.

Jacob Miller was predeceased by five of his children. Jacob’s first wife, Sophia Goelzer, died in Germany during the birth of their first child. Their child also died. This was about a year before Jacob came to America in 1871.Christian Miller (1880-1911) was one of two sons born to Jacob and his second wife Margaretha Strobel/Strabel. The first three children born to Jacob and Christina Rueck, Jacob’s third wife, died before their parents. They were Maria Regina (1884-1905), Jacob Jr (1885-1913), and Catharine (1886-1895).

Jacob Jr, Christian, Maria, and Catharine are all buried very near each other in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery.   Below is a photo of row 7. Jacob Jr’s tombstone is to the far right and Christian’s tombstone is to the left of his. Maria Regina’s tombstone is the fourth from the right and Catharine’s is the seventh one from the right, the small stone to the left of the largest tombstone.

Jacob Jr, Christian, Maria, Catharine Muller, row 7, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga

Three of Jacob and Christine’s other children are also buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery. They are Caroline (1893-1988), Carl (1896-1973), and Clara (1899-1997). Jacob and Christine are buried in the Chattanooga Mausoleum, located at the cemetery.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.