Dec 17

Tombstone Tuesday–George Martin Pflueger

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

This is the tombstone of George Martin Pflueger, located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

George M.
Sohn von
M & CM Pfleger
Gest
Den 13 Aug 1859
Alter 1 J, 10 M, 11T

George M, son of M & CM Pflueger, died 13 August 1859, aged 1 year, 10 months, and 11 days.

George Martin Pflueger was born 23 September 1857 in Van Wert County, Ohio, to Michael and Maria Catharine (Brandt) Pflueger. He was baptized at home on 12 March 1858 with widow Barbara (Pflueger) Schumm and George Schumm and wife serving as his sponsors. Also baptized on that same day was his sister, Maria Barbara Pflueger, who was born 27 July 1855. Both children had the same sponsors.

Little George Martin Pflueger died 13 August 1859. Zion Schumm’s minister entered the information about his death in the church records along with the following notation: The parents do not belong to the church but the child was baptized by me.

The church records do not give the cause of George Martin’s death or the date of his burial.

Michael and Maria Catharine Pflueger, both German immigrants, married in Holmes County 28 May 1846 and moved to the Schumm area around 1848.

Despite the fact that Zion Schumm’s minister indicates that the parents did not belong to the church in 1859, several of their children were baptized at Zion Schumm over the years. Several family deaths and burials are also recorded there and some family members are buried in Zion’s cemetery. It appears the family probably did join the church at some point.

Wife and mother Maria Catharine (Brandt) Pflueger died 4 April 1882 and is buried in row 9 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery. The names of five of their children are inscribed on Maria Catharine’s tombstone. [1]

The father Michael Pflueger died in 1903 and is buried in Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County. [2]  

Michael and Maria Catharine (Brandt) Pflueger had at least eleven children and at least six of them died young:
Maria Katharina (1848-1848)
Margaretha (1849-1849)
Rosina/Rose Ann (1850-1869)
Abraham (1853-1936), married Elizabeth Hoffman
Maria Barbara (1855-1935), married Jacob/GW Clouse
Georg Martin (1857-1859)
Martin Friedrich (1860-1943), married Sarah M. Burk
Adam Jakob (1862-1919), married Anna Regina Pfeifer
Johann Heinrich (1863-1864)
Andreas Jacob (1866-1867)
Maria Hanna (1871-?)

[1] “Tombstone Tuesday-Maria C. Pflueger,” 14 May 2013; Karen’s Chatt (www.karenmillerbennett.com).

[2] “Tombstone Tuesday—Michael G. Pflueger,” 21 May 2013 and “Tombstone Tuesday—Michael G. Pflueger (revisited),” 6 Nov 2018; Karen’s Chatt (www.karenmillerbennett.com).  

 

Dec 13

100th Birthday Celebrations

Last week my Aunt Ruth celebrated her 100th birthday and we traveled to Pennsylvania to surprise her on her big day.

100th Birthday cake for Aunt Ruth, December 2019.

There was a nice celebration on her actual birthday, with most of her family in attendance, and by the weekend all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as nearly all of their spouses, were there to celebrate with her.

Aunt Ruth’s 100th Birthday, December 2019.

This was the third 100th birthday celebration I have attended. And all three celebrations were for relatives. Two of the three were on my mom’s side of the family (Schumm) and Aunt Ruth is my dad’s oldest sister, on the Miller side. A number of Schumms have reached that 100-year milestone but it is much rarer on the Miller side of the family. At any rate, I think it is pretty amazing to have so many relatives reach the century mark in my family.

Below are photos from the three 100th birthday celebrations I have attended.

My grandma Schumm, Hilda (Scaer) Schumm, turned 100 on 25 July 1995. We had a family celebration at my aunt’s home, where grandma was living at the time. She is holding a letter from the President in the photo below. Grandma passed away 9 March 1997.

Hilda (Scaer) Schumm, 100th Birthday, July 1995.

Velma Schumm turned 100 on 18 June 2014 and her family hosted a big party for family and friends at Shane Hill. Velma passed away 6 February 2016. Velma was my third cousin once removed.

Velma Schumm, 100th birthday celebration, June 2014.

Below, Aunt Ruth’s 100th birthday celebration last week in Pennsylvania. Aunt Ruth looks great and it is a treat to visit with her. She remembers all those old family stories, still does crafts, reads, plays Bridge, and keeps up on current affairs. She does very well at 100 years young!

The mayor of Zelienople gives Ruth a Certificate of Recognition:

Aunt Ruth and the mayor of Zelienople, December 2019.

Below is photo of Aunt Ruth, quite possibly her Willshire High School graduation photo.

Ruth (Miller)

Happy Birthday, Aunt Ruth, and I wish you many more to come.

Dec 10

Tombstone Tuesday–Karl C. Schmidt

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

This is the tombstone of Karl C. Schmidt, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Karl C. Schmidt
Gestorben
26 Jan 1872
Alter
47 Jahr, 2 Monat, 16 Tag

Karl C. Schmidt, Died 26 January 1872, aged 47 years, 2 months, 16 days. It appears the marker has broken at one time but has been reset in the ground.

Karl/Carl C. Schmidt was born 10 November 1824, as calculated from the inscription on his tombstone. Other sources indicate he was born 14 September 1824.

A Smith family lived in Willshire Township in 1850, residing near Schumm, with Jacob Dietrich and Michael Schuler as neighbors. This Smith family included a Charles Smith, age 25. Karl went by the name of Charles Smith in 1851 when he married Rebecca Shell. This may or may not be today’s Karl C Schmidt, who may have gone by Charles Smith in this 1850 household: Charles Smith, 60; Regina, 51; Charles, 25; and Peter, 18. The three older members of the household were born in Germany, but the youngest, Peter Smith, was born in Ohio. [1]

Karl Schmidt, recorded as Charles Smith, married Rebecca Shell on 6 November 1851 in Van Wert County, Ohio. [2]

The Karl Schmidt family in 1860, living in Willshire Township: Karl, 34; Rebecca, 26; William, 6; Virginia, 3; and Charles F, 9 months. This enumeration indicates that Karl was born in Baden and the rest of the household was born in Ohio. Karl was a farmer. [3] At least one of their children, son William Henry Schmidt (1854-1926), lived to adulthood.

The Schmidts attended church at Zion Schumm in the early 1860s, where a son, Carl Samuel Schmidt, born 22 July 1861, was baptized at home on 29 July 1861. His sponsors were Carl Germann and his wife Elisabeth.

Within a year, both Rebecca and their son Carl had died, passing away within a day of each other.

Rebecca (Shell) Schmidt, age 27, died 9 May 1862 and their son Carl Samuel, age 9 months, died 10 May 1862. Rebecca is buried in row 3 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery.

Widower Karl Schmidt married Maria/Mary Stamm on 23 Apr 1863. They were married at the bride’s home in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, by Rev. Werfelman. [4]

The next year Karl enlisted in Co. C, 165 Regiment, OVI. He served as a Private from 2 May 1864-31 August 1864. His grave registration card indicates he was born 14 September 1824, but no birthplace was given. It is interesting to read the description of his burial plot on this card: Schumm #25, Schumm Rd, near Willshire; Lot no.41, Block 1, Grave no. 1. [5]

The Karl Schmidt family in 1870: Karl, 44; Mary, 31; William H, 16; Regina, 14; Anna E, 6; and John F, 1. This enumeration indicates that Karl and all the children were born in Ohio and that his wife Mary was born in Baden. Karl was a farmer. [6]

Karl and Maria had at least three children of their own, who were baptized at Zion Schumm:

Anna Elisabeth (1864-1950)
Johann Friedrich (1869-1954)
Jacob Christoph (1871-1964)

Karl Schmidt died 26 January 1872 and he was buried on the 28th. His death and burial are recorded in Zion Schumm’s records.  

[1] 1850 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.172A dwelling 358, family 377, Charles Smith; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/ : viewed 9 Dec 2019).

[2] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Van Wert, Ohio, Marriage Vol. 1:138, Charles Smith & Rebeca Shell, 6 Nov 1851; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5QV-1Z?i=89&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX8P3-BF7  : viewed 2 Dec 2019).

[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.426, dwelling 1083, family 1077, Charles Schmith; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/ : viewed 2 Dec 2019).

[4] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Van Wert, Ohio, Marriage Vol. 2:356, Charles Schmith & Mary Stamm, 23 Apr 1863; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5QK-61?i=439&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX8PQ-6VC : viewed 9 Dec 2019).

[5] “Ohio, Soldiers Grave Registration Cards, 1804-1958,” Ohio History Connection, Karl C Schmidt; digital image by subscription, Fold3.com, viewed 9 Dec 2019.

[6] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.443B, dwelling 187, family 188, Charle Schmiett; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : viewed 9 Sep 2019).

Dec 06

1877 Letter to Louis Breuninger from Niece Sarah Kitchen

This past summer this old letter was found among some other old Schumm-related items.

Dated January 1877, it is a sad letter from Sarah Kitchen in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to her uncle Louis Breuninger in Willshire, Ohio. Sarah writes about the death of her mother, who was also Louis’ sister.

Louis Breuninger was my great-great-grandfather, my grandfather Cornelius Schumm’s maternal grandfather.

To Louis Breuninger, Willshire, Ohio, from Sarah Kitchen, Green Bay, Wisconsin, 1877.

Louis Breuninger (1819-1890) immigrated in around 1840 and lived in Green Bay until about 1869, when he purchased land east of Willshire and moved his immediate family there. His brother Carl and two sisters, also immigrants, had also settled near Green Bay, but they remained in Wisconsin.

The writer of this letter, Sarah Kitchen (1852-?) was the daughter of Charles Kitchen (c1805-1885) and his wife Charlotte Elisabeth Magdalena (Breuninger) (1824-1876/7). Charlotte was the sister of my great-great-grandfather Louis Breuninger. Sarah writes about the death of her mother Charlotte. You can feel Sarah’s grief in her letter: 

Green Bay Wisconsin
Jan 28th 1877

Dear Uncle,

I have intended to have written to you before but I could not. My mind feels so distracted at times that I don’t know what to do first. What is home without a mother. It does not seem like home at all. We miss her more and more every day. When I sit and think of all our troubles it almost breaks my heart. O dear—I don’t know what to do sometimes.

We have not seen the worst of it yet. Father is very weak and miserable. He is getting thinner every day. He walks about the house all day and frets and no rest at night. It almost kills him. We tell him not to do so but to no good. He says he wants to go, too. What shall we do—no one to go to for advice. We have all the business to see to ourselves.

Father does not know anything about it for he has not attended to it for two or three years. Mother did it all, poor thing. It was too much for her. It was more than she could stand. We would often tell her not to worry, so that we would rather lose everything we had than have her fret so much.

Her health was very poor for two or three years and after Eliza’s death she kept getting worse. She was troubled very much with palpitations of the heart and short breath. It would almost take her breath away to go up and down stairs and still she would not have a doctor until the very last. She had the dropsy six weeks before she died. Her body was swelled very much but still she was not in bed. She kept up as long as she would until the day before Christmas and then she could not get up anymore. She suffered terrible the last few days from inflammation of the bowels. She was quite conscious until the very last but could not speak.

Dear mother, what a life of care and trouble she had. It is all at an end. She rests in peace. No one but those that have lost a mother know what it is. It is hard, very hard, but one consolation is that we have but a short time and we will all meet again. Our Redeemer knows what is best for us.

Did you get cousin Lora’s and Jane’s letter and the paper we sent. Cousin Lora is staying with us. Please write to Aunt Minnie and tell her mother began a letter for her but never finished it.

The rest of the family are all well. Hoping you are all the same. From your niece.

Sarah Kitchen

Tell Charlotte I received her letter this morning and will answer as soon as I can. Poor thing I pity her.

Letter to Louis Breuninger from his niece Sarah Kitchen, January 1877.

Some of the the people mentioned in the letter:

Aunt Minnie was likely Louis Breuninger’s daughter, Wilhelmina (1860-1899), who married John C. Schumm (1849-1926).

Charlotte, mentioned at the end of the letter, was likely Louis Breuninger’s daughter Charlotte (1855-1905), who married Rev. George Schumm (1841-1917) in 1875. I wonder what Sarah was referring to when she said she pitied her.

Cousin Lora was likely Lora Ellis (1852-1937), daughter of Albert Gallatin Ellis & Louisa Charlotte Elisabeth Juliana “Eliza” Breuninger, sister of the deceased, Charlotte (Breuninger) Kitchen.

Jane may have been the writer Sarah’s younger sister.

Sarah wrote that her mother Charlotte’s health was poor for several years after Eliza’s death. Eliza was most likely Eliza (Breuninger) Ellis, the sister of Charlotte (Breuninger) Kitchen and Louis Breuninger. Louisa Charlotte Elisabeth Juliana “Eliza” (Breuninger) Ellis (1821-1872), was married to Albert Gallatin Ellis.  

Sarah mentioned her father Charles in the letter. Charles was a confectioner, or baker, according to the 1870 and 1880 censuses and from information I received from a Kitchen descendant. That descendant said that Charles was from England. Charles Kitchen died in Green Bay about eight years later, in February 1885, at the age of 80 years. A brother John survived him.

I have always wondered what brought Louis Breuninger to Van Wert County. Why did he move from Green Bay, where his siblings and their families remained? Louis likely knew someone near Willshire, but who? He or his wife Maria quite possibly had some connection to someone living in the area.

Letter to Louis Breuninger from his niece Sarah Kitchen, January 1877.

I love reading these old letters and seeing all the family names that are mentioned.

This letter is yet another bit of family history and just little piece of the puzzle.

Dec 03

Tombstone Tuesday–Rebecca (Shell) Schmidt

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

This is reportedly the tombstone of Rebecca Schmidt, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. This marble tombstone was very weathered and illegible when I took this photo in 2012. However, the Van Wert County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society read Zion Schumm’s Cemetery in 1992, when the inscription was apparently still readable. Their reading of this tombstone:

Rebecca Schmidt
Gest [?] 1862
27 J, 8 M, 13 T

Rebecca Schmidt, died [?] 1862, [age] 27 years, 8 months, 13 days.

This information corresponds with a death and burial entry in Zion Schumm’s records, that of Rebecca (Shell/Schell) Schmidt, wife of Carl Schmidt, who died 9 May 1862, at the age of 27 years, 8 months, and 15 days.

Rebecca Shell was born 24 August 1834, as calculated from the church records.

This is likely the same Rebecca who was enumerated in the 1850 census in Willshire Township, in the household of Henry Shell: Henry Shell, 42; Mary, 40; Rebecca, 16; Sarah, 14; C A, 13; Elisabeth, 10; Nancy, 8; and Jeremiah, 0. Henry was a blacksmith, born in Pennsylvania. The other members of the household were born in Ohio. Rebecca was possibly the daughter of Henry and Mary, but we do not know for sure from this enumeration, since no relationships are given. [1]

Rebecca Shell married Carl Schmidt on 6 November 1851 in Van Wert County, Ohio. His name was recorded as Charles Smith. [2]

The Carl Schmidt family in 1860, living in Willshire Township: Carl, 34; Rebecca, 26; William, 6; Virginia, 3; and Charles F, 9 months. [3] Their son William Henry Schmidt (1854-1926) lived to adulthood. I am not sure about the other children enumerated in this census.  

The Schmidts attended church at Zion Schumm in the early 1860s, where a son was baptized. Carl Samuel Schmidt, born 22 July 1861, was baptized at home on 29 July 1861. His sponsors were Carl Germann and his wife Elisabeth.

Within a year, both Rebecca and their son Carl had died, passing away within a day of each other.

Rebecca (Shell) Schmidt died 9 May 1862 at 2:00 in the morning. Their son Carl Samuel died 10 May 1862, at the age of 9 months. No cause of death was given for either of them.

Widower Carl Schmidt married Maria Stamm on 23 Apr 1863, married at the bride’s home in Harrison Township, Van Wert County. Carl and Maria had at least three children of their own, who were baptized at Zion Schumm:

Anna Elisabeth (1864-1950)
Johann Friedrich (1869-1954)
Jacob Christoph (1871-1964)

Carl Schmidt died 26 January 1872 and is buried in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm.

[1] 1850 U. S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p. 167A, dwelling 120, family 137, Henry Shell; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8054/ : viewed 1 Dec 2019).

[2] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Van Wert, Ohio, Marriage Vol. 1:138, Charles Smith & Rebeca Shell, 6 Nov 1851; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5QV-1Z?i=89&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX8P3-BF7 : viewed 2 Dec 2019).

[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.426, dwelling 1083, family 1077, Charles Schmith; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/ : viewed 2 Dec 2019).