Jun 07

A Letter Concerning a Gravestone

I recently came across this old letter, written to my great-grandfather Ludwig “Louis” J. Schumm (1851-1938). The letter was written on 26 August 1909 and is from C. F. Germann, Wren, Ohio.

1909 letter from C.F. Germann to Louis J. Schumm.

It is a very short note and unfortunately most of it is written in the old Gothic German script. I can read some names, dates, places, and some basic church information that is written in the old script, but reading a letter is beyond my capabilities.

However, since the letter is so short, I tried to enter the letters and words as best as I could into Google Translate on-line.

I did not have much success, but from the few words I could decipher this letter was written to Louis about a check and a tombstone. I cannot read the letter word for word, but I was able to translate a few important words.  

The letter begins,

Schwager Ludwig [Brother-in-law Ludwig]

C.F. Germann (1849-1932) was indeed Louis’ brother-in-law. Germann was married to Louis’ sister Hannah (1853-1926).

I was able to make out the word grabstein/gravestone and mutter/mother. Going by the date the letter was written, it probably had something to do with Louis’ mother’s tombstone.  

Louis’ mother, Barbara (Pflueger) Schumm Buechner, died 13 November 1908 and her family was likely buying her tombstone about that time.

The letter went on–

….one check for $7.22…was all that remained/left over of your mother paid…

Perhaps Germann was returning Louis’ over-payment for his share of his mother’s tombstone.

The letter is still in its original envelope, with nice 1909 postmarks from both Willshire and Wren.

27 August 1909 Wren postmark, from C.F. Germann to Louis J. Schumm.

1909 Willshire 1909 postmark, from C.F. Germann to Louis J. Schumm.

Maybe some day I will get the whole letter translated.

Maybe someone out there can translate and read it…

Jun 04

Tombstone Tuesday–Karl G. Stegmeier

Karl G. Stegmeier, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Karl G. Stegmeier, located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

KARL G.
STEGMEIER
1884-1954

Karl Georg Stegmeier was born near Willshire, Ohio, on 31 January 1884, the first child of Leonhardt “Leonhard” G. and Leah “Katharine” (Rettig) Stegmeier. Karl was baptized 4 February 1884 at the home, with Karl Rettig and Georg Rueck serving as his sponsors. Interesting, because Georg Rueck is one of my ancestors, the brother of my great grandmother, Christine (Rueck) Miller.

Karl Stegmeier was enumerated in several censuses as Charles or Charley and sometimes spelled his name Carl. I will use the spelling Karl, as inscribed on his tombstone and on his baptism record.

The Leonhard Stegmeier family in 1900, living near Willshire: Leonhard, 43; Katharine, 40; Charles G, 16; Anton G, 14; and Nettie, 2. The father Leonhard was a farmer, born in Germany and immigrated in 1879. Everyone else in the household was born in Ohio. Katharine had given birth to 4 children and 3 were living. [1]  

In his 1918 WWI Draft Registration, Karl Stegmeier is described as having blue eyes and light hair, with medium height and build. He lived at RR #3, Ohio City, and worked for the C & E Railroad. He signed his name Charles Stegmeier. [2]   

The Leonhard Stegmeier family in 1920: Leonhard, 64; Katharine, 59; Charles, 34; and Nettie 22. Karl worked on the farm and his sister was a servant for a family. This enumeration shows that the father Leonhard immigrated in 1881. [3]

Karl’s mother died in 1927 and in 1930 Karl and his widowed father lived together in Willshire Township. Both worked on the farm. [4]

In 1940 Karl, age 56, resided with his widowed father, who was 83 years old by that time. Although other documents indicate that Karl worked for the railroad, all the census enumerations show him as working on the farm. [5] Karl’s father Leonhard died later that year.

In the early 1940s, on Karl’s WWII draft card, he was age, 58, lived in Ohio City and worked for Edward Gunsett. [6]

Karl George Stegmeier died of a heart attack in Tully Township, Van Wert County, on 23 July 1954. He was buried on the 25th and Smith Funeral Home, Convoy, was in charge of the arrangements. He worked for the railroad and lived at rural Convoy at the time of his death. His sister “Nettie” was the informant for information on his death certificate. Karl never married. [7]

Karl G. Stegmeier’s obituary:

Stegmeier–
Carl George Stegmeier, 76, a retired railroad worker, died at 7:25 o’clock this morning in the home of his sister, Mrs. James A. Bell in Tully Township, with whom he had made his home for the past two years. He had been in failing health for a year.

He was a native of Willshire Township, born January 31, 1884, a son of the late Leonard and Katherine (Rettig) Stegmeier. The only survivors are his sister and three nephews and a niece. Two brothers are deceased.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm. Sunday in the Zion Lutheran Church at Schum and Rev Were P.V Kuhlberg will be in charge. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the H.D. Smith Funeral Home in Convoy. [8]

Karl George Stegmeier had the following siblings:
George Adam Anton “Tony” (1886-1929), married Anna Giessler
“Friedrich” Johann (1890-1892)
“Antoinette”/”Nettie” Elisabeth Martha (1897-1983), married James A. Bell

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 98, p.12 [penned], p.311A [stamped], dwelling 224, family 229, L Stegmeyer; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com;  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1900usfedcen/ : viewed 7 May 2019)

[2] World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Van Wert, Ohio, Roll 1851249, Charles George Stegmeier; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 7 May 2019.

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 145, p.3A [penned], p.272 [stamped], dwelling & family 52, Leonard Stegmeier; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1920usfedcen/ : viewed 7 May 2019).   

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, WIllshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 24, p.7B [penned], dwelling 162, family 165, Lenhard Stegmeier; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com;  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1930usfedcen/ : viewed 7 May 2019).

[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p. 6A [penned], p.357 [stamped] house 110, Leonard Stegemeyer; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com ( : viewed 7 May 2019).

[6] WWII Draft Cards (4th Registration), Ohio, Karl George Stegmeier; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975, Record Group 147.

[7] ”Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Tully, Van Wert, Ohio, Karl George Stegmeier, 23 Jul 1954; database with images, FamilySearch.org  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZY-RVWL?i=944&cc=2128172 : viewed 5 May 2019).  

[8] Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 23 Jul 1954, p.12, Deaths and Funerals, Carl George Stegmeier; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, accessed 7 May 2019.

May 31

Willshire School News, January 1949

I just could not help myself. A few weeks ago, while at the Brumback Library in Van Wert, looking at William G. Hoffer’s obituary, my eyes strayed to other parts of the Willshire Herald. Actually, I looked at a few other issues of the newspaper while we were at the library. Those old newspapers are just so darned interesting! My time there that day was very limited but I still had enough time to gather some information from one of the papers.

Willshire High School, October 1917, photo postcard.

The 27 January 1949 issue had some Willshire School News and I saw names that I recognize—some names of people that I know. I am sure some of you know some of these students, too. Maybe your name is among them:

WILLSHIRE SCHOOL NEWS

11th Grade Perfect Spellers
Eugene Bienz, Ruth Kreischer, Peggy Clouse.

10th Grade Perfect Spellers
Phyllis Kessler, Wanda Edwards, Beverly Clouse, Patty Black, Phyllis Gunsett, Victor Strickler, Elmer Schumm, Frederick Schumm, Rosemary Weinman, Patty Minx.

9th Grade Perfect Spellers
Beverly Agler, Donna Baker, Carl Fisher, Evelyn Humerickhouse, Tommy June Marsee, Helen Roehm, Katy Stetler.

8th Grade Perfect Spellers
Donald Debolt, James Habegger, Bonnie Harmon, Marlene Harmon, Barbara Merkle, Kay Slusser, Virgil Thatcher, Mary Evelyn Weddle, Yvonne Voltz.

8th Grade Honor Roll
Minor: Donald Debolt, Virgil Thatcher.

8th Grade Perfect Attendance
Jack Bayles, Arley Buckmaster, Donald Debolt, James Habegger, Eugene Price, Robert Roebuck, Lester Strickler, Eileen Black, Marlene Harmon, Anna Miller, Kay Slusser, Virgil Thatcher, Marlene Trisel, Yvonne Voltz, Mary Evelyn Weddle.

7th Grade Perfect Spellers
Vernon Kuhn, Janet Black, Mary Byer, Carolyn Caffee, Colleen Weinman.

6th Grade Perfect Spellers
Wayne Black, Charles Koch, Esther Brandt, Donna Mae Bienz, Martha Fisher, Sharon Baker, Jane Fowler, Bonnie Stetler, Mary Thatcher.

6th Grade Honor Roll
Major: Bonnie Stetler, Esther Mae Brandt, Donna Mae Bienz, Martha Fisher, Jane Fowler, Linda Hoblet, Anna Kallenberger, Leon Jones.
Minor: Sharon Baker, Jan Schlickman, Charles Koch.

6th Grade Perfect Attendance
Walter Baker, Merle Black, Wayne Black, Roderick Bowen, Jim Finch, Tommy Garwood, Leon Jones, Charles Koch, Donald Krall, Richard Marbaugh, Jimmy Martin, Eugene Michaud, Robin Schaffner, Jan Schlickman, Kent Stetler, Lynn Stucky, Billy Walls, Sharon Baker, Esther Brandt, Donna Mae Bienz, Lois Christman, Katherine Dailey, Jane Fowler, Janice Geisler, Linda Hoblet, Alla Kallenberger, Bonnie Stetler.

Willow year books, 1948, 1950, 1957.

5th Grade Perfect Spellers
Paul Bollenbacher, Alan Clase, John Goodwin, Farrel Krall, Gerald Kuhn, Gilbert Merkle, Larry Miller, Dick Samples, Kyle Taylor, Marcile Byer, Betsy Estill, Linda Finch, Mary Ann Fisher, Vernie Frank, Norma James, Jeanette Voltz.

5th Grade Honor Roll
Major: Farrel Krall, Judy Byer, Marcile Byer, Mary Ann Fisher.
Minor: Alan Clase, John Goodwin, Gilbert Merkle, Jeanette Voltz.

5th Grade Perfect Attendance (One-half year)
Paul Bollenbacher, Bobby Caffee, Alan Clase, Donald Lee Jones, Leon Kallenberger, Max Kallenberger, Farrel Krall, Larry Miller, Kyle Taylor, Norma James, Sonja Shoup.

4th Grade Perfect Spellers
Janet Koch, Louise Merkle, Phyllis Goodwin, Teddy Passwater, Emma Marsee, Sondra Schlickman, Sharon Hoverman, Julia Suman, Dana Hoblet, Eugene Huston, Ronnie Lautzenheiser, Anne Heffner, Clara Garver, Buddy Marbaugh, Billy Huffman.

4th Grade Honor Roll
Major: Sondra Schlickman, Phyllis Goodwin.
Minor: Bobby Wechter, Anne Byer, Clara Garver, Darlene Gibbons, Anne Heffner, Dana Hoblet, Sharon Hoverman, Janet Koch, Emma Marsee, Louise Merkle, Marjorie Thatcher, Charmaine Wilson.

4th Grade Perfect Attendance (One-half Year)
Marjorie Thatcher, Julia Suman, Sondra Schlickman, Sandra Marbaugh, Shirley Kuhn, Janet Koch, Buddy Marbaugh, Billy Huffman, Sharon Hoverman, Ellen Harmon, Nada Bayles, Esther Bailey, Janice Bailey, Larry Miller, Larry Huston, Waldo Hileman.

2nd Grade Perfect Spellers
David Byers, Rose Baumgartner, Jimmy Cowan, Mary Goodwin, Ralph Merkle, Karen Hoverman, Richard Merkle, Delilah Kuhn, Larry Dellinger, Marlene Dietrich, Larry Caffee, Richard Delliger, Leroy Ernie, Mary Harriett Eichar, Evelyn Krall, Jimmy Myers, Ronald Kelsey, Edward Garver, Patty Donovan, Vincent Nieto, Betty Allmandinger, Marguerite Dailey, Billy Christman.

2nd Grade Honor Roll
David Byers, Jimmy Cowan, Richard Dellinger, Ralph Merkle, Richard Merkle, Edward Garver, Jimmy Myers, Leroy Ernie, Marlene Dietrich, Mary Harriett Eichar, Mary Goodwin, Delilah Kuhn, Carl Lawson, Evelyn Krall, Betty Allmandinger, Josephine Allmandinger, Rose Baumgartner.

2nd Grade Perfect Attendance (One-half Year)
Wayne Baker, Larry Caffee, Billy Clouse, Jimmy Cowan, Larry Dellinger, Dickie Dellinger, Richard Huffine, Ralph Merkle, Jimmy Myers, Betty Allmandinger, Marlene Dietrich, Patty Donovan, Mary Harriett Eichar, Mary Goodwin, Karen Hoverman, Delilah Kuhn, Josephine Allmandinger.

I have a few old Willow yearbooks, but not the 1949 edition. The oldest I have is 1948.

Just for fun, here are the class photos from that 1948 Willow:

1948 Willshire classes, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman.

1948 Willshire grades 8, 7, 6.

1948 Willshire grades 5, 4, 3.

1948 Willshire grades 2 & 1.

I will post the names that go with the class photos sometime in the future.

 

May 28

Tombstone Tuesday for Memorial Day

Today, some Memorial Day cemetery photos.

Resthaven Cemetery, St. Marys, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

My parents’ tombstone at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio.
Herbert M. Miller (1925-2012), my dad
WWII
Private, 84th Division, 333rd Regiment, Co. L, The Railsplitters
Battle of the Bulge, 2 Bronze Stars

Herbert & Florence Miller tombstone, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2018 photo by Karen)

Back side of Miller tombstone (2018 photo by Karen)

Daniel Brewster (1845-1917), my great-great-grandfather
Civil War
Private, Co E, 80th OVI
Riverside Cemetery, Geneva, Indiana

Daniel Brewster tombstone, Riverside Cemetery, Geneva, Indiana. (2014 photo by Karen)

Daniel Brewster tombstone, Riverside Cemetery, Geneva, Indiana. (2014 photo by Karen)

Ralph J. Derickson Jr. (1925-1945), my first cousin once removed
WWII
Private, 99th Infantry Division
Killed in action in Germany during the Battle of the Bulge
Buried in Luxembourg
Riverside Cemetery, Geneva, Indiana

Ralph Derickson Jr, Riverside Cemetery, Geneva, Indiana (2014 photo by Karen)

Christian Whiteman (1762-1827), my 5th great-grandfather
Revolutionary War
Private, Berks County 6th Battalion, Pennsylvania Militia
Reber Hill Cemetery, Walnut Township, Pickaway County, Ohio

Christian Whiteman, Reber Hill Cemetery, Pickaway County, Ohio. (2002 photo by Karen)

Nicholas Headington (1790-1856), my 5th great-grandfather
War of 1812
Gorsuch’s Company, 2nd Maryland Militia
Liber Cemetery, Wayne Township, Jay County, Indiana

Nicholas Headington, War 1812 marker at foot.

This is only a partial list of my ancestors and relatives who served our county with the military service.

We remember them all and are thankful for their service to our country.

Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Auglaize Co, OH (2013 photo by Karen)

May 24

Memorial Day 2019

This coming Monday is Memorial Day. It was originally called Decoration Day, the name my mom always used. It is a federal holiday that traditionally marks the beginning of summer.

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Memorial Day began as a way to remember and honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed in battle during the Civil War. In 1868 the 30th of May was officially proclaimed as the day to decorate those graves. After WWI Memorial Day was extended to honor Americans who died in all wars. Today most Americans use this holiday as a time to decorate grave sites, whether the deceased served in the military or not.

Memorial Day was declared a U.S. federal holiday in 1971 and is now observed the last Monday in May. In December 2000 the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed, which asks all Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time and reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day.

Remember to observe proper flag etiquette on Memorial Day: The American flag should be flown at half-staff until noon and then raised to full-staff. During a parade there may be several participants with a flag and it is appropriate to salute only the first flag as it passes by. As the first flag passes everyone should show respect by standing at attention with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should give their appropriate formal salute.

Most area towns have a Memorial Day ceremony at local cemetery, conducted by the local American Legion and/or VFW, who also mark all veterans’ graves with an American flag. A big Thank You to all those volunteers.

Aleta, Willshire Home Furnishings, Memorial Day, 2018.

Willshire Home Furnishings will have a display of over 150 military uniforms, photos, flags, maps, and letters of local servicemen all weekend and Memorial Day. It is a wonderful display and well worth a visit. My dad’s photo and Army jacket will be on display there. Willshire will also have its Memorial Day Parade on Monday.