Feb 25

Tombstone Tuesday-Vacant Chair Gravestone Book

I recently read a new book about a unique tombstone style, the Vacant Chair gravestone.

I have only seen a couple Vacant Chair gravestones around here, usually a small monument to mark a child’s grave. Some have a pair of child’s boots added to the seat.

Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio, 1922 Vacant Chair, Rex Eugene Medaugh. (2018 photo by Karen)

Another nearby variation is the impressive Herbst chair monument in Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio. That monument looks like a Victorian living room chair, complete with tufted cushions and tassels, situated well above the ground on an elaborate base.  

Herbst monument, Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio

Although there are not many Vacant Chair gravestones around here, I learned that there are many variations of that gravestone in another part of the Midwest.

A Field Guide to the Vacant Chair Gravestone in Central Illinois, 2024, by Jackie Oakley, is a 208-page book that details her observation, study, and documentation of these Vacant Chair monuments found in that area.

A Field Guide To The Vacant Chair Gravestone In Central Illinois, Jackie Oakley, 2024

Her interest in cemeteries began as a child and eventually evolved into her study of Vacant Chair gravestones. Jackie visited cemeteries in 44 Central Illinois counties, looking for variations of the Vacant Chair gravestone. She found 213 examples of this marker in those counties. Some counties had none and one county had 37.  

What a clever idea. A project focused on one particular gravestone style, to study and document it in a specific area. A great project, especially if you enjoy visiting cemeteries.  

Jackie created a mission statement for the project, To catalog and to share information regarding the gravestone commonly known as the Vacant Chair.

The author sought to answer the question, why a chair? She describes what constitutes a chair and gives seven basic Vacant Chair gravestone styles. Some styles are rustic, appearing to be constructed of branches, vines, and log stumps, while others look like Victorian house chairs with carved cushions and tassels. Some have arms. Others look like a bench. But all have a backrest.

Jackie explains that the popularity of the Vacant Chair in Central Illinois began about the time of the Civil War and lasted for about sixty years. A number of the Illinois chairs can be linked to Civil War veterans and she discusses if there could be a link to the Vacant Chair and the Civil War. She also explores some myths and legends associated with the Vacant Chair.

The author created several descriptive categories, with graph tables, of the Vacant Chair gravestone. Function of the chair, for example. Whether the chair’s primary function is the grave marker or if the chair is located near the main marker, but is not the primary marker. Chairs located near the marker may appear to be a place for a family member to sit, but these chairs are usually too small to sit on. Other categories detail the marker’s style, size, and condition.

The book includes many photos, showing many chair variations and the numerous adornments that may be added to the chairs. Some iconography seen on Vacant Chair gravestones include shawls, cushions, fringe, tassels, scrolls, ferns, flowers, potted plants, leaves, tree trunks and branches.

A Field Guide To The Vacant Chair Gravestone In Central Illinois, Jackie Oakley, 2024.

The author identifies her Vacant Chair gravestone photos by county, cemetery, inscriptions (if any), dealer’s mark (if any), and categorized by function, style, size, condition.

In addition, this book is a good model guide for projects such as this. It is a good example of how to methodically gather, record, organize, evaluate, and document data for similar cemetery projects. 

I enjoyed reading this detailed study of Vacant Chair gravestones and seeing their many variations. There does not appear to be many Vacant Chair gravestones in this area of Ohio and Indiana, and I wonder why. Was that monument style particular to that region of Illinois? Were they a tombstone fad in that area at that time? Were they a specialty of a particular sculpture or dealer in that area?

The book sells for $25.95, tax & postage extra. You can order a copy of the book directly from Jackie Oakley by email: vacant.chair2020@gmail.com

I think you will enjoy this interesting and informative book.

Feb 21

Centenarians in the Family

I confess. I watch a lot of news. And there is a lot of news to watch these days.

I have been following the investigations of The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and their recent findings from the Social Security Administration are shocking. From their research, it appears that there are millions of individuals in the United States that are very, very old. Record-breaking old. Over 20 million people who are over 100 years old.  

DOGE found that 4.7 million individuals are listed between the ages of 100-109, although data from other sources indicates that there were approximately 101,000 individuals 100 years or older in the US in 2024.

But the numbers get even crazier than that, showing that there are over 15.6 million people listed between the ages of 110-229 years, and one person listed between 360-369 years of age.

An individual 365 years old would have been born in 1660 and could have come over on the Mayflower. The US wasn’t even the US then.

What history these people would know! The stories they could tell.  

Perhaps there is an explanation for all this. I know what I think and time will tell.

Maybe some alerts on the government computer programs would help. My Roots Magic genealogy program alerts me when the data looks unusual or unreasonable.

My grandmother Hilda (Scaer) Schumm lived to be 101 and Roots Magic sees that as an unusually old age. So, it puts an alert by her name.

Hilda (Scaer) Schumm, Roots Magic alert.

Roots Magic gives me alerts for other things, too, if the data shows a child is born before the mother’s birth or after the mother’s death, a child born to a woman past the child-bearing age, a child born before the parents were married, etc. The alerts are helpful because they draw my attention to data that may be unusual or incorrect, data that I may have entered in error. Or, the data may be correct and the person lived over 100 years or other instances.

There are a number of individuals in my family tree and in Joe’s family tree that lived to be 100 years of age or older. I knew several of them. Here is a list of them:

Schumm family:

  • Paula Henrietta Buechner (1901-2004), d/o William A. & Katherine Magdalena (Schumm) Buechner, married Walter Leonard Allmandinger.
  • Edna M. Germann (1896-1997), d/o Stephen E. & Anna E. “Rosina” (Schumm) Germann.
  • Pauline C. Germann (1903-2005), d/o Frederick & Clara C.M. (Pflueger), married Otto A Wimmers.
  • Viola E. Germann (1900-2001), d/o Stephen E. & Anna E. “Rosina” (Schumm) Germann.
  • Edith Hausling (1888-1990), d/o Ferdinand & Katherine (Rheinfrank) Hausling, married Rev. Otto Paul Schinnerer.
  • Estella Rosine Elizabeth Merkle (1909-2010), d/o Ernest Theodore & Sarah Mathilda “Tillie” (Schumm) Merkle, married Martin D. Habegger.
  • Paula Katherine Merkle (1911-2011), d/o Ernest Theodore & Sarah Mathilda “Tillie” (Schumm) Merkle, married Kurt R. Henkel.  
  • Dorothy Grace Ott (1914-2018), d/o Charles J. & Maude O. (Yountz), married Col. Norman H. Lankenau.  
  • Anna Elizabeth Peters (1879-1979), d/o Claus & Anna A. (Kleye) Peters, married Rev. John Louis Roehm.
  • Hilda Magdalena Scaer (1895-1997), d/o John & Elizabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer, married Cornelius Schumm. My grandmother.
  • Bertha Henrietta Schinnerer (1896-1997), d/o Rev. Johann Jacob Friedrich & Anna Margaret (Evers) Schinnerer, married Walter Adolph Wier.
  • Anna Augusta Schmidt (1885-1985), d/o _ (Sclezner) Schmidt, married August William Lankenau.
  • Bessie Schumm (1887-1988), d/o Ludwig George & Catherine (Bonnewitz) Schumm.
  • Emma Sophie Barbara Schumm (1911-2017), d/o Philip Frederick Martin & Leona Barbara (Schumm) Schumm, married Otto L. Boerger.
  • Karl George Schumm (1913-2019), s/o Gustavus Jacob & Dorathea Elizabeth (Bienz) Schumm, married Margaret “Isabelle” Wermer.
  • Velma Louise Schumm (1914-2016), d/o Philip Frederick Martin & Leona Barbara (Schumm) Schumm.
  • Lena Strobel (1869-1969), d/o John Michael & Margaret (Endres) Strobel, married August “George” Bienz.
  • Harold Ervin Thieme (1917-2017), s/o Walter Henry & Paula Marie (Bienz) Thieme, married Alma Margaretha Roehm, married Ellen L. Fuelling.
  • Margaret “Isabelle” Wermer (1916-2016), d/o, William & Grace (Hawkins) Wermer, married Karl George Schumm.

Miller family:

  • Ruth Headington (1840-1940), d/o William & Mary Ann (Cottrell) Headington, married John Huey
  • Ruth E. Miller (1919-2020), d/o Carl F. & Gertrude E. (Brewster) Miller, married Robert Werner.
  • Jane Newton (1840-1940), married James Henry Brewster.
  • Hazel Virginia Nussbaum (1907-2008), d/o Sam & Mary (Liechty) Nussbaum, married Theodore “Dore” Brewster.

Bennett family:

  • Sarah Elizabeth Cain (1860-1960), d/o Rev. David B. & Narcissa (Manning) Cain, married James Francis Monroe.

That is a nice-sized list of centenarians. I apologize if I missed some centenarians in our families.

In the meantime, I hope DOGE can figure out and resolve the problem of all these extra, exceptionally old people.

 

Feb 14

Be My Valentine

Be My Valentine–a popular sentiment on cards given and received today.

Today is the day to show your love by sending cards, flowers, candy (you can never go wrong with chocolate), or having a romantic dinner.

Today’s Valentine cards are beautiful, but there is a certain charm to the old Valentine cards.

I have a few old Valentine cards that my mom saved. Some were given to my Grandpa Cornelius Schumm, some were given to my mom when she was a student at Zion Lutheran Parochial School at Schumm, and some were given to others.

To my grandfather Cornelius Schumm from Mary Eicher.

I somehow have a couple Valentine cards that were given to Wilbert Germann:

To Wilbert Germann.

To Wilbert Germann, 1927.

To my mom from Herbert, but not my dad Herbert. They didn’t meet until later.

To my mom from Herbert, 1936.

Some of her valentines have moving parts or unfold to become three dimensional and some have intricate cut-out designs.

This Valentine was from Ellen, probably Ellen (Schumm) Black. The little girl looks like Shirley Temple:

To Florence, From Ellen S (1939)

A few other Valentines given to my mom from other friends and from teachers:

To Florence, From Lois (1936)

To Florence, From Marilyn (1944)

To Florence, From Louis

To Florence, From Teacher (1936)

To Florence, From Teacher (1940)

We exchanged Valentine cards with classmates at Willshire elementary school. We each decorated a box or shoe box and cut a large slit in the lid to collect our Valentine cards. Our boxes were usually covered with red or pink construction paper, with hearts of various sizes colored or pasted on the outside. Paper heart-shaped doilies were also popular decorations. We sat our box on our desk and we walked around the classroom and placed a Valentine in each of the other students’ boxes.

And of course there was usually some sort of  food treat involved.

I think I’ll go treat myself to a piece of chocolate, from my favorite Valentine.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Feb 11

Tombstone Tuesday-Peter & Luisa Haas

Peter & Luisa Haas, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Twp, Mercer County, Ohio. (2024 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Peter and Luisa Haas, located in row 6 of St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

HAAS

PETER HAAS
1832-1888

LUISA HAAS
1841-1903

Peter and Luisa Haas were both born in Germany, married there, and had several children there, before immigrating to America in 1883. Peter Haas, 51, and Louisa Haas, 43, arrived in New York 30 June 1883, aboard the ship Rhynland, with their four sons, Peter, 22, Carl, 14, Jacob, 11, and Ludwig, 6. [1]

The senior Peter Haas missed being enumerated in any U.S. census. The family arrived in America three years after the 1880 census was taken and he died well before the 1900 census. Peter got to enjoy life in the new country for only five years. As a result, there is very little information about Peter Haas Sr. It appears his death was not recorded in Mercer County either.

Peter Haas, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2024 photo by Karen)

His widow Luisa lived long enough to be enumerated in the 1900 census, residing in Liberty Township with her son Carl, aka Charley Haas. At that time Charley and his wife had a family of six children. Charley’s younger brother Jacob also lived with them. The Charley Hass family in 1900: Charley, 31, head; Elizabeth, 32, wife; Adolph J, 6, son; Charley P, 5, son; Olga J, 4, daughter; Ida M, 3, daughter; Willis D, 2, son; Lizzie L, 9 months, daughter; Jacob Haas, 29, brother; and Louisa Haas, 60, mother. Charley had at least two more children, born between 1900 and 1910, Julius T and John A Haas.

Luisa Haas, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio (2024 photo by Karen)

That 1900 census enumeration indicates that the mother Luisa Hass was born in Germany in November 1839, was a widow, and that two of her four children were living. Those two children were Charley and Jacob. Luisa could not write or speak English. It was not known when she immigrated. However, Charley, reportedly immigrated in 1883, was naturalized, and was farmer. [2] Luisa’s birth date in the 1900 census disagrees with her year of birth on her tombstone.

Luisa’s other two sons, Peter and Ludwig, apparently died sometime between 1883 and 1900. Their deaths are not recorded in Mercer County probate.

According to Mercer County Death records, “Louisa” Hass died in Liberty Township, on 4 October 1902, aged 63 years, 11 months, and 23 days. Cause of death was dropsy of the chest, her residence was Scudder, and she was born in Germany. The death date on her death record disagrees with the date on her tombstone. [3] Luisa’s date of birth was 12 October 1838, as calculated from her death record.

Per Find a Grave.com, Luisa’s maiden name was Schug. [4]

Although two of Peter and Luisa’s sons apparently died before 1900, their other two sons, Carl and Jacob, lived to marry and have children.

Carl Haas (22 Aug 1868-21 Jan 1947), aka Charley Haas, was fourteen years old when the family immigrated. Charley married Elizabeth (Gravins) and they had at least eight children. They lived in Liberty Township in 1900, moved to Oklahoma by 1910, and to New York by 1930. Charley and Elizabeth are both buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Canastota, Madison County, New York. [5]

Jacob Haas (20 Dec 1870-4 Nov 1963), was eleven years old when the family immigrated and remained in Mercer County the rest of his life. He married Philippina “Phebe” (Schaadt) Alt and they had at least six children. Jacob and his wife Phebe are buried in St. Paul UCC Cemetery. [6] Jacob and Phebe spoke German in 1910. [7]

[1] Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897, M237, U.S. Customs Service, RG 36, National Archives, Washington DC, Peter Hass & family, 30 Jun 1883, ship Rhynland; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty Twp, ED 85, p.8, dwelling 143, family 148, Charley Haas; Ancestry.com.

[3] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001, Mercer, Vol. 2, no page number, Louise Haas, 4 Oct 1902; FamilySearch.org.

[4] Find a Grave.com, Luisa (Schug) Haas (1841-1903), Memorial no.27656150. 

[5] Find a Grave.com, Charles Haas (1868-1947), Memorial no.52163397.

[6] Find a Grave.com, Jacob Haas (1870-1963), Memorial no.27656046.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, Twp, ED 119, p.10A, dwelling 172, family 175, Jacob Haas; Ancestry.com.

Feb 07

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Do you speak German?

In 1910, who spoke German as their main language in Black Creek and Liberty Townships, Mercer County, Ohio?

Why 1910? The 1910 census has a specific question, column 17, “Whether able to speak English; or, if not, give language spoken.”

Enumerators were given these instructions in 1910 for the language question in Column 17: This question applies to all persons 10 years of age and over. If such a person is able to speak English, write English. If he is not able to speak English—and in such cases only—write the name of the language which he does speak, as French, German, Italian. If he speaks more than one language, but does not speak English, write the name of that language which is his native language or mother tongue. For persons under 10 years of age, leave the column blank. [1]

My great-grandfather Jacob Miller Sr. (1843-1918) immigrated to the United States in 1871 and settled in Black Creek Township, Mercer County. Our family history says that he never learned to speak English. The story goes that his son-in-law Howard Caffee, who did not speak German, had a difficult time communicating with him.

German was always the primary language of Jacob Miller and his wife Christena (Rueck) (1858-1945), who was also an immigrant. They probably didn’t feel the need to learn to speak English. They lived in a community with quite a few other German families. Jacob and Christena attended church at Zion Chatt. Zion had a German minister and services were held in German in 1910. Zion’s first English service was around 1911, but German services were still provided into the 1920s.

My dad and his sister Ruth, growing up in the 1920s and 30s, picked up a little German from their grandmother Christena, because she spoke German at home.

Jacob and Christena Miller probably didn’t feel the need to learn English living in the Chatt area.

So, I wondered how many others in that area spoke German in 1910.

Apparently not very many in Black Creek Township, according to the 1910 census.

In Black Creek Township, there was only one person who reported that they did not speak English, per the 1910 census.

That one person was Sophia Schulz, 67, widow, born in Germany, immigrated in 1894. Sophia lived in the Marie Brandt household. And Sophia spoke German.  

Surely there were more people in Black Creek Township who spoke German. Like my great-grandparents? Why didn’t they report that they spoke German?

Perhaps I misunderstood the question. Maybe English was recorded as their language if a person spoke even just a teeny bit of English.

Was there a misunderstanding when asking the question or getting an answer to that question? Was there a communication problem between the census taker and the individual answering questions in that largely German community? Perhaps people were afraid to admit that they spoke German.

Who knows?

Then I looked at Liberty Township, Mercer County, and saw that there were many more people who spoke German there. I suspect the reason is how the census enumerator interpreted question no.17.

It is also interesting to note that not all who spoke German were immigrants. In many cases, all family members, including the parents, were born in Ohio, but still spoke German. And some immigrants who had been in the United States for decades still spoke German.  

Those who spoke German in Liberty Township, Mercer County. It’s a long list:

Sophie Meyer, 70, married, mother-in-law, in John Sudhoff household on Mud Pike.

John Hatert, 65, wife Anna, 51, and children Henry, Joe, Clara, and Edward. All born in Ohio and lived on Mud Pike. [Hatert indexed as Hubert on Ancestry.com]  

George VonStein, 48, born in Kentucky, his wife Leana, 45, born in Ohio, and their children, Carl, Frieda, Arthur, Ernest, Cristina, George, John, Edna, and Walter, born in Ohio, lived on Mud Pike.

Catharine Weigel, 64, widow, born in Germany, immigrated in 1858.

Catharine Turckes, 42, born in Ohio, wife of Joseph.

Mathias Schritz, 62, and wife Anna, 40, both born in Luxembourg, immigrated in 1880 and 1881 respectively. 

John Everling, 74, and wife Mary, 70, both born in Luxembourg, immigrated in 1881.

Gardner Vunwell/Vundwell [?], 58, single, step-mother Anna Vunwell, 79, widow, both born in Germany, immigrated in 1865.

Richard Schmidt, 68, and his children David, 45, and Amelia, 27, all born in Ohio.

Peter Bauer, 44, wife Catharine, 44, children Adolf, Otto, and Nora, brother William Bauer, 50. The adults were born in Germany, the children in Ohio. Peter and Catharine immigrated in 1850 and 1865 respectively.

Fred Bauer, 37, and his wife Mary, 30, both born in Ohio.

William Dickie, 47, wife Augustie, 41, children Edward, Viola, and Otto. Augustie emigrated from Germany in 1873, the others were born in Ohio.

Margaret Bader, 62, widow, born in Germany, immigrated in 1883.

Henry Klopfleisch, 63, wife Annie, 57, children Bertha and Gust. The parents emigrated from Germany in 1867 and 1860 respectively, the children born in Ohio.

Andy Bauer, 42, and his wife Mary, 39, both born in Ohio.

Lizzie Bauer, 35, widow head, born in Ohio.

Margaret Kable, 65, widow, born in Ohio.

John Bauer, 76, wife Susanna, 72, both emigrated from Germany in 1862 and 1848, respectively.

Nichol Peters, 76, and wife Catherine, 64, both emigrated from Germany in 1850 and 1856 respectively.

Peter Alt, 56, wife Hermina, 53, son William, and Elizabeth Alt, 64 [sic], mother, widow. The adults were born in Germany, immigrated in 1877, and William was born in Ohio.

John Schaadt, 36, and wife Katie, 28, both born in Ohio.

William Schaadt, 34, and wife Annie, 34, both born in Ohio.

Ludwig Alt, 52, married, born in Germany, immigrated in 1877.

Mary Schaadt, 59, widow, son Adam Schaadt, both born in Ohio.

Henry Linn, 37, born in Germany, immigrated in 1875, and wife Maggie, 31, born in Ohio.

Peter Brehm, 51, wife Sofa, 46, both born in Ohio.

Catharine Koch, 79, head, widow, emigrated from Germany in 1834, and son John Koch, Ohio.

The John Deiner family, John Deiner, 43, wife Sofa, 43, and children John, Urban, and Millie. All were born in Ohio.

Helmut Kaufman, 48, wife Annie, 29, both emigrated from Germany in 1883 and 1885 respectively, their daughters, Elsie and Hilda, born in New York.

Rosie Schaadt, 31, emigrated from Germany in 1885, wife of William; their son Oscar, William’s brothers George Schaadt, 28, Dee Schaadt, 21, and niece Lizzie Emrich, 15, Ohio.

Louisa Fender, 72, widow, born in Germany.

Jacob Haas, 39, born in Germany, wife Phebe, 38, born in Ohio.

Jacob Wendel, 61, wife Pheaba, 62, both emigrated from Germany in 1861.

John Fahncke, 50, wife Louisa, 40, children Henry, Annie, Emma, Otto, Hugo. John and Louisa immigrated in 1872 and 1874 respectively, the children were born in Ohio.

Valentine Brehm, 49, wife Sofia, 42, son Philip Brehm, 23; Fred Linn, 24, son-in-law, and Annie Linn, 21, daughter, all born in Ohio.

Valentine Deitsch, 30, wife Caroline, 27, both born in Ohio.

Peter Fickert, 75, wife Phillippina, 70, sons Lewis and Otto, all emigrated from Germany in 1885.

David Schaadt, 36, wife Ida, 31, both born in Ohio.

Henry Bollenbacher, 42, children Eda and Edwin, all born in Ohio.

George Berron, 49, emigrated from Germany in 1873, wife Mary, 49, Ohio.

Jacob Linn Jr, 72, wife Catharine, 72, both emigrated from Germany in 1872.

Louis C. Bollenbacher, 50, wife Mary, 46, children Rufus, Eda, Meala, Annie, all born in Ohio.

Nicholas Lenhart, 71, widow, emigrated from Germany in 1860.

Mike Linn, 26, wife Arnela, 23, both born in Ohio.

Philip Linn, 69, wife Margaret, 62, both emigrated from Germany in 1872.

Jacob Bollenbacher, 53, emigrated in 1865, wife Louise, 48, daughter Lizzie, both born in Ohio.

Jacob Garman, 34, single, emigrated in 1885.

George Bollenbacher, 78, emigrated in 1842, wife Barbara, 74, born in Ohio.

Jacob Bollenbacher, 72, emigrated in 1852, wife Magdalena, 53, children Jacob D, Hulda, Daniel F, Laura M, the rest of the family born in Ohio.

John C Bollenbacher, 44, wife Phoebe, 42, children Hugo, Theodore, Meala, all born in Ohio.

Catharine Kable, 72, widow, mother [of John Kable], emigrated in 1862.

Elizabeth Gertz, 63, widow, emigrated in 1871.

Anton Alexander, 50, Ohio, widow, children Fred and Mary, Indiana.

John C Brehm, 55, wife Margaret, 53, children Mary, Annie, Fred, Carl. All born in Ohio except Margaret, who emigrated in 1873.

Jacob Weisman, 69, wife Elizabeth, 65, both emigrated in 1883.

John C Bollenbacher, 37, wife Effie, 33, both born in Ohio, mother-in-law Dora Strabel, 84, widow, emigrated in 1848.

Frederick Weitz, 63, wife Christina, 60, both emigrated in 1870.

Andy Bollenbacher, 41, wife Katie, 39, children Elmer, Roma, Loree, Henry. Katie emigrated in 1837, the rest born in Ohio.

George Bollenbacher, 46, wife Caroline, 44, both born in Ohio.

John Hinger, 69, emigrated in 1882, wife Dora, 52, Ohio.

George Weinman, 49, wife Minnie, 39, emigrated in 1873 and 1882 respectively.

Catharine Deitsch, 74, widow, emigrated in 1883.

John Koch, 34, wife Elizabeth, 30, both born in Ohio.

Charles Bollenbacher, 38, wife Mary, 35, daughter Alvina, all born in Ohio.

John Fickert, 40, emigrated in 1875, wife Caroline, 35, Ohio.

George F Koch, 31, wife Hulda, 27, both born in Ohio.

Martin Pelinkey, 70, wife Jennie, 68, children John, Lena Jacob. Parents and John emigrated in 1872, the rest born in Ohio.

Annie Robin, 70, widow, emigrated in 1870.

Samuel Egger, 53, wife Mary, 52, children Frieda, Semen, Frank, Livina, Cornelius, all born in Ohio.

Caroline Baker, 67, widow, emigrated in 1853.

George Hass, 32, emigrated in 1894, wife Barbara, 30, Iowa, daughter Gertrude, Ohio.

John T Becher, 46, Ohio, wife Rettie, 47, emigrated in 1881, children Carl, Roman, Albert, born in Ohio.

Walter Fickert, 22, Ohio, wife Minnie, 18.

Fred Kuhn, 39, wife Marie, 38, both born in Ohio.

Caroline Huffman, 87, widow, emigrated in 1849.

Conrad Freewalt, 65, wife Dora, 64, emigrated in 1869 and 1871 respectively.

Jacob Linn, 44, wife Elizabeth, 37, emigrated in 1872 and 1887 respectively, children Otto, Lucy Caroline, Peter, all born in Ohio.

Jacob Allmandinger, 44, wife Louisa, 28, both born in Ohio.

Elizabeth Huffman, 76, widow, emigrated 1845, daughter Elizabeth Huffman, 52, Ohio.

Henry Regedanz, 61, emigrated 1853, wife Emma, 53, Ohio.

Fred Schott, 28, wife Minnie, 23, both born in Ohio.

Anton Koch, 62, Ohio, wife Margaret, 64, Germany.

Henry Baker, 32, wife Margaret, 30, both born in Ohio.

Charles Bollenbacher, 64, emigrated 1852, wife Catharine, 64, Ohio.

Ferdinand Kable, 82, wife Catharine, 77, emigrated 1849 and 1852 respectively, children Louisa and Catharine, born in Ohio.

Caroline Strable, 53, widow, sons Philip, Edward, all born in Ohio.

Jacob Baker, 33, wife Katie, 24, both born in Ohio.

Marie Becher, 73, widow, born in Pennsylvania.

William Becher, 38, wife Catharine, 32, daughter Marie, all born in Ohio.  

What a difference in the reporting of the German-speakers between the two adjacent townships.

I suspect the enumerators interpreted question no.17 very differently in the two townships.

Or, who knows?

Maybe my great-grandparents could speak English better than we thought.