Dec 24

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Karen’s Chatt! Christmas blessings to you and yours.

Dec 20

Old Promotional Items from Chattanooga, Ohio

In the past, Christmas was the time when businesses gave away small handy and useful items to thank their customers as well as to advertise their business. These items often included calendars, notebooks, pencils, pens, and the like. Some businesses still send out promotional items, but it doesn’t seem that as many do today as in years past.

Below are photos of advertising items from some Chatt businesses years ago. These items may very well have been given away at Christmastime.

Yardsticks from Fisher Hardware and Implements. The bottom one is much heavier and is probably the older of the two:

Yardsticks from Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

Yardstick from Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

A fan from Fisher Hardware. This was probably used more in the summer months than at Christmastime:

Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

Fisher Hardware, Chatt, Ohio.

A 3-D glass Rockwell picture from Bollenbacher’s Grocery:

Picture from Bollenbacher’s Grocery, Chatt, Ohio.

Back of picture from Bollenbacher’s Grocery, Chatt, Ohio.

A 1934 calendar from Johnson’s Garage. This elaborate calendar is made from paper products and is very fragile. There is a “basket” above the calendar:

1934 wall calendar from Johnson’s Garage, Chatt, Ohio.

1934 wall calendar, Johnson’s Garage, Chatt, Ohio.

1934 wall calendar, Johnson’s Garage, Chatt, Ohio.

A fan from Wendel’s Motor Sales. Fans must have been popular:

Wendel’s Motor Sales, Chatt, Ohio.

Wendel’s Motor Sales, Chatt, Ohio.

A Farmer’s Pocket Ledger from Fisher Hardware, 1953-54.

1953-54, Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio

1953-54, Fisher Hardware, Chattanooga, Ohio

These items bring back some fond memories.

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).