Oct 23

Willshire High School Junior Class, 1941-42

Below is a photo of Willshire High School’s Junior class, taken during the 1941-42 school year. My dad, Herb Miller, was a member of that class and you can see that he labeled this class photo.

In this photo my dad labeled some of his classmates by identifying the branch of the U.S. military they served in during WWII and who was married. He probably labeled the photo sometime after the war and before  April 1949. 

This was typical of my dad. He liked to label things and I am glad he did. Otherwise I would not know many of the people in the old photos he saved.

Junior class of Willshire 1941-42:

Whillshire High School Juniors, 1941-42.

Front row: Mary Dailey, Miriam Baker (married), Dorothy Leininger, Norma Jean Carr (married), Twyla Pifer, Ellen Schumm, Helen Schumm.

Middle row: Rilla Putman (married), Carl Ripley (Marines), William Stanton, Dale Caffee (Army), Ivan Wyer (Army), Dale Baumgartner (Army), Doris Painter, Norma Gribler

Back row: Dick Cowan (Air Corps Reserves), Kenny Ross, Murlin Miller (Marines), Herb Miller (Army), Carl (Jr) Linn, Louis Allmandinger (Army), G.M. Alspaugh (Navy).

My dad graduated from Willshire High School the next year (1943) and joined the U.S. Army in 1944.

Oct 20

Tombstone Tuesday-Lois M. Schumm

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

This is the tombstone of Lois M. Schumm, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Lois M.
Schumm
Nov. 28, 1928  †  May 4, 2002

Lois Margaret Schumm was born near Schumm in Van Wert County, Ohio, on 28 November 1928, the third of five children born to Arnold and Naomi (Schumm) Schumm. Her two older siblings were stillborn twins, born in 1926.

Lois was baptized at home by Rev. R.O. Bienert on 2 December 1928, with Erna Schumm and Salome Schumm serving as her sponsors.    

The Arnold Schumm family in 1930: Arnold, 39; Naomi, 32; and Lois, 1. Her father Arnold was a farmer. [1]

Arnold and Naomi had two more children in the next ten years, Frederick, born in 1933 and Wilma, born in 1936.

The Arnold Schumm family in 1940: Arnold, 49; Naomi, 43; Lois, 11; Frederick, 6; and Wilma, 3. [2]

Lois’ father Arnold Schumm died in 1968 and her mother Naomi (Schumm) Schumm died in 1982.

Lois died 4 May 2002 in Van Wert County, Ohio. She was buried on the 7th. Her obituary:

Lois M. Schumm, 73, of Willshire, Ohio, a member of Zion Lutheran Church, died Saturday, May 4, 2002, at Van Wert County Hospital. The Willshire native retired after 25 years from Berco in Berne. Surviving are a brother, Frederick J. of Willshire; and a sister, Wilma L. Schmidt of Fort Wayne; a niece; and four nephews. She was preceded in death by twin siblings. Services are 11 a.m. (Ohio time) Tuesday at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, with calling one hour before services. Calling is also from 2 to 8 p.m. (Indiana time) today at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur. Burial will be at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorials are to the church or donor’s choice. Information provided by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur. [3]

Lois is buried next to her parents.

Louis Schumm had the following siblings:
Male & female twins (1926-1926)
Frederick J (1933-2015), married Eileen Saalfrank
Wilma Louise (1936-2020), married Paul Frederick Schmidt

[1] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED, p. dwelling 95, house, 97, Arnold Schuman; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : viewed 28 Jun 2020).

[2] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5A, house visited 41, Arnold Schumm; Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ : viewed 28 Jun 2020).

[3] The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 6 May 2002; Find a Grave.com, Lois M Schumm, memorial no. 38982890.

Oct 16

Local Servicemen, Willshire, 1952

A couple days ago, while trying to reorganize and clean out the back room of our basement [a task with no end in sight], I ran across my aunt Ann’s 1952 edition of the Willshire Public School yearbook, the Willow. My dad’s sister, Ann (Miller) Kosier, was a Junior in 1952, which is also the year I was born.

1952 Willow, Willshire Public School

I stopped cleaning for a while and took some time to thumb through the old yearbook, a cleaning habit which is probably the reason it is taking me so long to reorganize this cluttered room.

Toward the front of the yearbook I noticed a page of photos entitled Local Servicemen. Many, possibly all, were Willshire graduates serving in the U.S. military during the Korean Conflict (1950-1953). My Uncle Vernie Miller, a brother to Ann and my dad, is one of the soldiers pictured. I recognized many of the other names.

Servicemen, 1952 Willow

Servicemen, 1952 Willow

Servicemen, 1952 Willow

Those pictured:
Carl Geissler, Army
Tim Agler, Air Force
Bob Shoup, Marines
Laverne Miller, Army
Willy Allmandinger, Army
Ned Byer, Air Force
Phil Hileman, Air Force
Gene Bienz, Marines
Robert Voltz, Army
Paul Roehm, Army
Keith Ross, Air Force
Gene Myers, Marines
Harold Griffith, Marines
John Gribler, Air Force
John Schaffner, Marines
Bob Frank, Army
Ray Hamrick, Army
Don Geary, Marines [no photo]
Bill Marbaugh, Air Force

What a nice tribute to the local recent graduates who were serving in our armed forces.

Thank you for your service.

Oct 13

Tombstone Tuesday-Richard E. & Eileen H. (Swanson) Schumm

Richard & Eileen (Swanson) Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Richard E. and Eileen H. (Swanson) Schumm, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

SCHUMM
Richard E.
1922-1990
Eileen H.
1926-1986

“Richard” Eugene Schumm was born near Rockford on 27 October 1922, the second of three children born to William and Mina (Gunsett) Schumm. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm,  on 12 November 1922 with Carl Gunsett, Amos Schumm, and Edna Dietrich serving as his sponsors.

Richard had three half-siblings, from his father’s marriage to Amanda Reidenbach (1889-1916):

Reinhardt Waldo (1912-1986), married Frieda Oleta Etzler
Edgar F. Schumm (1914-1944)
Amanda Barbara (1916-1965) married Leonard Etzler

The William Schumm family in 1930, when Richard was 7 years old: William, 44; Mina, 42; Reinhart, 17; Edgar, 15 Amanda, 13; Margaret, 10; Richard, 7; and Elmer, 5. [1]

Rockford High School FFA, 1938, Richard Schumm, row 4, 3rd from left. (Ancestry.com yearbooks)

The William Schumm family in 1940, when Richard was 17 years old. They resided on U.S. Route 33, which was formerly US Route 54. The family: LW [William], 55; Mina, 53; Edgar, 25; Margaret, 20; Richard, 17; and Elmer, 15. [2]

By 1942 Richard Schumm lived in Detroit, Michigan, residing at the YMCA at 1601 Clark Avenue and working at Cadillac Motors. In 1942, at age 19, Richard registered for the draft. He was 5’11”, 150 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. [3] During World War II Richard served in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 8 December 1942-21 December 1945. [4] He was a Sergeant in Company A, 3D Tank Battalion, 3D Marine Division, Fmf (Fleet Marine Forces). [5]

Richard Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio, row 10. (2020 photo by Karen)

After the war Richard Schumm returned to Detroit, where he married Eileen Swanson on 28 June 1947. [6]

“Eileen” Helen Swanson was born in Detroit on 7 August 1926, the daughter of Eddie Elmer and Esther Clara (Lynch) Swanson. [6]

The Eddie Swanson family in 1930 when Eileen was 3 years old: Eddie, 32, Illinois; Esther, 25, Michigan; Eileen, 3, Michigan; and Richard, 1, Michigan. The father Eddie Swanson was a policeman for the city of Detroit. [7]

The Eddie Swanson family in 1940: Eddie, 42; Esther, 36; Eileen, 13; Richard, 11; and Michael, 8. The father Eddie was a policeman and the mother Esther was a corsetiere for a corset manufacturing company. [8]

After their marriage Richard and Eileen Schumm lived in Detroit and in 1992 they lived at 18920 Lindsay Street, Detroit. [9]

Richard and Eileen owned and operated Creative Interiors Workroom and later Custom Workroom in Detroit, a home decorating service. Richard enjoyed singing throughout his life. He was a member of the Rockford High School Boy’s Glee Club as a youth and sang in his church choir as an adult. His love of music is symbolized with the treble clef on their tombstone.

Rockford Boy’s Glee Club, 1938, Richard Schumm, row 2, 2nd from left. (Ancestry.com yearbooks)

Eileen (Swanson) Schumm died 18 August 1986 in Detroit, Michigan. Eileen’s death notice:

SCHUMM
Eileen H. (nee Swanson). Beloved wife of Richard; dear sister of Richard and Michael Swanson and Sandra Schrieter. Visiting at the Haley Funeral Home, 24525 Northwestern Hwy. (Lodge X-way Svc, Dr., S, of 10 Mi. Rd.), Tuesday 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Visiting Wednesday 4 p.m. at St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, 19400 Evergreen. Interment in Ohio. [10]

Richard died 25 September 1990 in Van Wert County, Ohio. Richard’s obituary:

SCHUMM
Richard E. Former owner of the Custom Workroom. Formerly of Detroit, died in Van Wert, Ohio, on Sept. 25, 1990. A longtime Detroit businessman, he retired in 1989 due to poor health. Husband of Eileen Swanson Schumm, who preceded him in death in 1986; she started Creative Interiors Workroom, and later joined ownership of the Custom Workroom, supplying leading home decorators in the metro area with custom draperies and home furnishings. Survived by sister, Margaret Shaffer of Van Wert. Mrs. Schumm served in the Marines in WWII. He loved to sing and sang in several church choirs. He was a member of Lola Park Ev. Lutheran Church, Detroit. Services have taken place. Contributions to Continuing Care of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, or the Lola Park Ev. Lutheran Church, 14750 Kinloch, Detroit MI 48239, appreciated. [11]

Richard Schumm had the following full siblings:
Margaret Louise (1919-2009), married Charles Shaffer
Elmer Jacob (1924-1963), married Esther Ferne Schmid

Richard and Eileen did not have any children of their own.

[1] 1930 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 1, p.1A, dwelling & family 3, L William Schwinn; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : viewed 28 Sep 2020).

[2] 1940 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-1, p.1A, house visited 3, LW Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ : viewed 28 Sep 2020).

[3] WWII Draft Registration Cards for Michigan, 10/16/1940-3/31/1947, Records of the Selective Service System, 147, Box 1067, Richard Eugene Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 Oct 2020.

[4] U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010, Richard Schumm; on-line database, Ancestry.com.

[5] U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Record Group 24, Richard E Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 Oct 2020.

[6] Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, MI Dept of Community Health, Division of Vital Records & Health Statistics, Film 348, 82 Wayne 384070-387309, Richard Eugene Schumm & Eileen Helen Swanson, 28 Jun 1947; database on-line, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 Oct 2020.

[7] 1930 U.S. Census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, ED 407, p.59A, dwelling 698, family 8, Eddie Swanson; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : viewed 11 Oct 2020).

[8] 1940 U.S. Census, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, ED 84-749, p.14A, house visited 52, Eddie Swanson; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ : viewed 11 Oct 2020). The father Eddie was a policeman.

[9] U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Vol. 1, Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings, Richard E Schumm; on-line database, Ancestry.com.

[10] Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, 19 Aug 1986, p.8B, Eileen H. Schumm death notice; digital image, Newspapers.com.

[11] Detroit Free Press, Detroit, MI, 30 Sep 1990, p.6C, Richard Schumm obituary; digital image, Newspapers.com.

Oct 09

1877 Trisel Bible Pages

Today, two pages from the 1877 Henry and Elizabeth Trisel Bible, pages that were included in Elizabeth (Feldman) Bahn Trisel’s Widow’s Pension Application.

Elizabeth (Feldman) Bahn married Henry Trisel 23 September 1865 and they raised their family in Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, about a mile north of Chatt. Henry died 15 February 1896 and, because he was a veteran of the Civil War, his widow Elizabeth was entitled to a widow’s pension. 

To receive her widow’s pension, Elizabeth Trisel needed to provide affidavits and documents to prove she was married to Henry Trisel, when they married, and to show if they had any minor children.

Among the items she sent to the United States Pension Office were two pages from the Henry Trisel family Bible. Elizabeth would have torn these pages from her family Bible to mail them to the U.S. Pension Office. There were no photocopy or fax machines in 1896, so Elizabeth sent the original Bible pages to them. These original Bible pages are part of her Widow’s Pension Application File, stored at the National Archives.

Written in her pension application: As further evidence of the date of her marriage she encloses her family record, being a page taken from her family Bible. That this record was made by a traveling man who came to the house and being a good scribe was allowed to transcribe the family record in this way in German text letters for a small compensation. He was in no way related to the family and was made some 19 years ago. She further states that she has no income whatsoever…

Below, the Family Record page from the Bible shows the birth dates of the Trisel family members. Translations: verheiraty/marriage; kinder/children.

Births, Henry Trisel Bible, 1877.

FAMILY RECORD
Heinrich Trisel-15 Juli 1834
Elisabetha Feldmann-22 Mai 1845
Verheiraty-23 September 1865

KINDER
Johann Fr. Trisel Bahn-31 Marz 1865
Elisabetha Trisel-24 Februar 1867
Margretha Trisel-22 Februar 1869
Jakob Trisel-17 Juli 1871
Eisabetha [?] Trisel-16 Mai 1874
Jakob August Trisel-16 Marz 1877
Frank Otto Trisel-17 Juni 1880
Maria Litha [?] Trisel-21 April 1883

Below is the record of deaths [gestorben] in the Henry Trisel family, stamped U.S. Pension Office Mar 31 1896:

Deaths, Henry Trisel Bible, 1877.

GESTORBEN
Unsere Leiber Vater Johann Heinrich Trisel ist gestorben 15 February 1896 [Our dear father Johann Heinrich Trisel died 15 February 1896]
Johann Fr. Trisel-10 September 1876
Elisabetha Trisel-15 August 1868
Jacob August Trisel-24 September 1888

These Bible pages show that daughter Elizabeth died in 1868, between  census enumerations, and may be otherwise unknown.

The child Johann Fr. Trisel, who died 10 September 1876, was actually Johann F. Bahn, Elizabeth’s son from her marriage to Johann Bahn, who died in the Civil War. 

[1] Elizabeth Trisel Bible, c1877, Family Record [births & deaths], additional evidence, Elizabeth Trisel’s widow’s pension appl. no. 629, 450, cert. no. 448,354, 27 Mar 1896, service of Henry Trisel (Pvt., 4th Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, Civil War); Case Files of Approved Pension Applications…, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15, National Archives, Washington, D.C.