Apr 16

Tombstone Tuesday–Pauline C. (Germann) Bienz

Pauline C. (Germann) Bienz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Pauline C. (Germann) Bienz, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Pauline C.
Wife of
A.J. Bienz
Died
Aug. 5, 1891
Aged
28 Y. 10 M. 10 D.
BIENZ

Pauline Charlotte (Germann) Bienz was born In Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, on 24 September 1862, as recorded in her death/burial record at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm. She was the daughter of Johann Phillip & Mary Elizabeth (Jung/Young) Germann.

Pauline Germann, as enumerated with her family in the 1870 census: John P [Phillip] Germann, 43; Mary E, 33; Mary E, 13; Louisa, 11; Emma, 8; John J, 10; Pauline, 6; Christena, 4; Matilda, 8 months; and Martin J, 2. The parents were born in Germany and all the children were born in Ohio. Johann Philip was a farmer. [1]

The Germann family, as enumerated in 1880, Harrison Township: JP [Phillip], 55; Mary E, 43; John J, 20; Emma, 19; Pauline, 17; Christine, 14; Martin, 12; Matilda, 10; Guirta, 8; William, 6; Otto H, 4; and Joseph, 2. [2]

Pauline Germann married Johann “Adam” Bienz in Van Wert County on 25 September 1887. [3] Adam was the son of Jacob and Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz and was born 26 October 1858.

Adam and Pauline Bienz had two children: “Mina“ Elisabeth Bienz, born 18 December 1888, and Walter Stephan Bienz, born 17 May 1890, died 18 May 1890. 

Pauline (Germann) Bienz died at 1:30 in the morning of 5 August 1891, after a prolonged illness of throat consumption, according to Zion Schumm’s records. She was 28 years, 10 months, and 12 days old, according to the church records, and 28 years, 10 months, and 10 days old according to her tombstone. She was buried on 7 August.

Adam and Pauline (Germann) Bienz had two children:
“Mina“ Elisabeth Bienz (1888-1952), married Fred Geschwell
Walter Bienz (1890-1890)

Pauline’s widowed husband Adam Bienz married twice after her death. Adam married Wilhelmine Christiana Reinking in Adams County, Indiana, on 9 April 1893 [4] and Christiana died in 1897. [5] Adam Bienz then married Christina Mathilda Bleeke in Adams County, Indiana, on 14 May 1899. [6] Christina Mathilda died 22 April 1944 [7] and Adam Bienz died 16 January 1949. Adam and his second and third wives are buried in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Decatur, Indiana. Adam shares a tombstone with his third wife. [8]

 

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, p.4 (penned), dwelling & family 28, John P Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1870usfedcen/ : viewed 14 Apr 2019).

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 148, p.16 (penned), dwelling 135, family 137, JP Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1880usfedcen/ : viewed 14 Apr 2019).

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1879-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-65XH-H3?i=119&cc=1614804 : viewed 10 Mar 2019), Adam J Bienz & PC Germann, 25 Sep 1887; Van Wert County Marriages, Vol. 7:181.

[4] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6GTH-1XV?i=240&cc=1410397 : viewed 10 Mar 2019), Adam J Bienz & Christiana W. Reinking, 8 Apr 1893; Adams County Marriages, Vol. F:478.

[5] Find a Grave memorial no. 106418617, Wilhelmine Christine “Lena” (Reinking) Bienz, Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana.

[6] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRS9-DQ8?i=49&cc=1410397 : viewed 10 Mary 2019), Adam J. Bienz & Christena Mathilda Blakey, 14 May 1899; Adams County Marriages, Vol. G:492.

[7] Find a Grave memorial no. 98917043, Christina Mathilda Bleeke Bienz, Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana.

[8] Find a Grave memorial no. 98917041, Adam Jacob Bienz, Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana.

Apr 12

Schumm Store Ad, 1904 Willshire Herald

There seems to be no end to the information in the 5 May 1904 edition of the Willshire Herald, William G. Hoffer, publisher. Not only were there personal items and business ads from Willshire, a few other local communities were mentioned.   

Featured on page two of that 1904 Willshire Herald was an ad for the Schumm Store:

THE SCHUMM STORE
GENERAL MERCANTILE STOCK
Farm produce a specialty—cash or trade.

Our wagon is on the road every day except Saturday. We pay the highest market price for produce and poultry, and meet all competition on goods we have to sell. Can fill any special order in any line.

HERBERT L. HILEMAN,
Proprietor,
Schumm, Ohio

Schumm Store, 1904 Willshire Herald

I did a little research to find out a little about the store’s proprietor, Herbert L. Hileman.

Herbert Loyd Hileman was born in 1878, the son of Harvey Ervin (1853-1928) and Isaveria (Shamel) (1857-1922) Hileman. In 1880 the Hileman family lived in or near Willshire and Harvey was a farmer. [1]

Herbert Hileman married Ada McClure around 1898 and by 1900 they had one child, a son named Jimmie B, who was born around March 1900. According to the 1900 census enumeration everyone in the family was born in Ohio. Herbert and Ada Hileman lived in or near Willshire and Herbert farmed. [2]

In 1910 the Herbert Hileman family lived in or near Willshire and Herbert’s occupation was farmer. Herbert and Ada had three children by this time: James, 10; Archie, 8; and Theah Vera, 3. The 1910 census indicates that Ada was born in Indiana. [3]

A person I knew! I remember Herbert’s son Archie Hileman. Archie was my school bus driver when I was in grade school at Willshire. I remember him as being a very nice man, who on the last day of school took a little detour from the normal bus route and drove to the Frosty Zip in Willshire, where he bought all the kids on the bus an ice cream cone. What a treat for all of us on a warm spring day, the last day of school. He was the best! Archie passed away in 1974 and is buried in Willshire Cemetery.

Below is a photo of the Willshire school bus drivers in 1960, when I was in the second grade. My bus driver Archie Hileman is on the left but I also knew Doyle Stetler and Jack August. Jack August was from Chatt and he was also our TV repairman.

Willshire school bus drivers, Archie Hileman, far left, 1960.

Back to the Schumm Store. It appears that Henry Schumm ran the Schumm Store in 1900 and was the postmaster there, too. Having both positions at the same time seemed to be common in other small villages as well. William A. Colter was appointed postmaster 23 September 1903. Herbert Hileman was appointed postmaster at Schumm on 18 June 1904 and probably began running the Schumm Store at same time. The Schumm Store had a huckster wagon and maybe Herbert drove that, too.

Brick building that once stood by the railroad tracks in Schumm, Ohio.

Wm. O Tickle was appointed Schumm’s postmaster on 27 February 1905, so Herbert Hileman was not the postmaster very long. Logan Wolfe was appointed postmaster 29 March 1906 and by 1910 Logan Wolfe and Gustav Schumm ran the Schumm Store. [4]  

Schumm Postmasters, Herbert Hileman, 1904; William Tickle, 1905; George Weinman, 1916.

Schumm Postmasters, Henry Schumm, 1886; Wm Colter, 1903; & Logan Wolfe, 1906.

Such interesting histories about these little towns.

 

[1] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.28 (penned), family 256, H.E. Hileman; digital image by subscription Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1880usfedcen/ : viewed 10 Apr 2019).

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 97, p.8, dwelling 156, family 170, Herbert Hilerman; digital image by subscription Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1900usfedcen/ : viewed 10 Apr 2019).

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.1A, dwelling, family, H.L. Hileman; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1910uscenindex/ : viewed 10 Apr 2019).

[4] U.S. Appointments of U.S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, Vol. 79, 1891-1930, p.576; database, Ancestry.com.

Find a Grave sources: Find a Grave memorial no. 91867047, Harvey Ervin Hileman, Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio. And Find a Grave memorial no. 146910401, Herbert L. Hileman, Willshire Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. And Find a Grave memorial no. 144825191, Ada A. (McClure) Hileman, Willshire Cemetery, Van Wet County, Ohio. And Find a Grave memorial no. 147026093, Archie C. Hileman, Willshire Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Apr 09

Tombstone Tuesday–Jakob & Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz

Jakob & Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Jakob and Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz, located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

BIENZ
Elisabeth
Gattin Von
J. Bienz
Geb. 30 Juli
1836
Gest
7 Feb. 1913

Jakob
Bienz
Geb.
1 Apr. 1825
Gest
17 Apr. 1908

BIENZ, Elisabeth, wife of J. Bienz, born 30 July 1836, died 7 February 1913. Jakob Bienz, born 1 April 1825, died 17 April 1908.

Jakob “Jacob” Bienz was born 1 April 1825 in Gerlingen, Wuerttemberg, the son of Balthas and Catharina Barbara (Weidlin) Bienz. He was baptized 3 April 1825 in Gerlingen. [1]

Jacob Bienz birth/baptism record, Gerlingen, Germany.

Jacob immigrated with his parents and nine siblings in about 1838. The family settled in Tully Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, and Jacob and his brother John moved to Willshire Township about 1850. [2]

Jacob Bienz, age 24, was living in Willshire Township by 1850, staying with the George and Mary Schumm family. [3] Perhaps he was originally there to help the Schumms with the farm work, but he also met his future wife there.  

Jacob Bienz married Elisabeth Pflueger near Schumm on 21 August 1851.  Both were from Zion Schumm’s parish. Her name is shown as Lissabetha in their church marriage record. They were married by Zion’s Rev. George Streckfuss.

Elisabeth was the daughter of Christian and Anna Barbara (Sekel) Pflueger. Christian, Anna Barbara, and their six children emigrated from Wuerttemberg in 1832 and lived in Holmes County, Ohio, for several years before settling near Schumm.

Elisabeth Pflueger was born in Holmes County on 31 July 1835 and was baptized there, at Zion Church, Winesburg, on 5 October 1835, according to the records of Zion Church, Winesburg.

The Pfluegers moved from Holmes County to near Schumm by September 1846, where Elisabeth’s mother Anna Barbara (Sekel) Pflueger died at the age of 55. Her death is recorded in Zion Schumm’s records but apparently her tombstone has not survived. Elisabeth Pflueger, the youngest of the Pflueger children, was only 10 years old when her mother died and her sister Mary took her in. Her sister, Mary (Pflueger) Schumm (1820-1903), was married to George Martin Schumm (1812-1871). The George Martin Schumm family lived near Schumm and consisted of seven children at that time, the sister Elisabeth, and Jacob Bienz, 24, born in Germany. Yes, Jacob Bienz was also enumerated in that same Schumm household in 1850. The George Martin Schumm household in 1850: George Schumm, 38; Mary, 30; Fred, 11; Louis, 9; George, 8; John, 6; Rosina, 5; Margaret, 2; Mary, 1; Elisabeth “Flecker” [Pflueger]; and Jacob “Bentz”, 24. [3]

Jacob Bienz and Elisabeth Pflueger married the next year.

I have a personal interest in the Pflueger family because Elisabeth’s older sister Anna “Barbara” Pflueger married immigrant Johann “Ludwig” Schumm and they are my great-great grandparents. Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz is my second great-grandaunt.

By 1860 Jacob and Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz had 4 children and lived in Willshire Township, where Jacob farmed. Their household in 1860: Jacob, 35; Elisabeth, 25; John L, 8; Margaret, 6; George, 4; and Adam, 1. [4]

There were ten members of the Jacob Bienz family by 1870: Jacob, 45; Elisabeth, 35; John G, 18; Margaret, 16; George, 14; Adam, 11; Fredrick, 8; Elizabeth, 10; Mary, 6; and Anna, 4. Elisabeth’s father, Christian Pflueger, age 89, was also living with them. Christian Pflueger passed away in 1877. [5]

By 1880 some of Jacob and Elisabeth’s children had left home to start families of their own. The Jacob Bienz household in 1880: Jacob, 55; Elisabeth, 44; George, 24; Frederick, 19; Mary, 16; and Anna, 14. Jacob’s occupation was farmer. [6]  

In 1900 their granddaughter Mary V [Vilenna] Bienz was enumerated with them: Jacob, 75; Elisabeth, 64; and Mary V, 20. Mary “Vilenna” Bienz was born July 1879. [7] Jacob and Elisabeth had been married 48 years and Elisabeth had given birth to 8 children, 7 of whom were living. This enumeration indicates that Jacob immigrated in 1831. [8]

Jacob Bienz died 17 April 1908 in Schumm, at the age of 83 years and 17 days. He was buried on the 20th. Zion Schumm’s records indicate that he was survived by his wife Elisabeth and 7 grown children.  His funeral text was Rev. 17:18.

In 1910 widow Elizabeth Bienz lived with her granddaughter Vilenna [Bienz] Krueckeberg and her family: Charles H Krueckeberg, 33; Vilenna, 30; Leo Krueckeberg, 7; Hugo Krueckeberg, 6; Elvera Krueckeberg, 4; Herioch Krueckeberg, 1; Elizabeth Bienz, 75; Earl Roehm, 17, hired hand; and Della Roehm, 23, servant. [9]

Elisabeth Bienz died 6 February 1913, at the age of 77 years, 6 months, and 7 days, according to Zion Schumm’s records.  She was buried on the 9th and her funeral text was Job 19:25-27. She was survived by 6 children, 31 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. According to her death certificate Elisabeth died in Willshire Township from asthma and bronchial pneumonia on 7 February 1913. [10]

There is some conflicting recorded information concerning the dates of Elisabeth’s birth and death. The Winesberg church records indicate she was born 31 July 1835. Her tombstone indicates she was born 30 July 1836. Zion’s records indicate she was 77 years, 6 months, 7 days old, which would make her date of birth 30 July 1835. She was reported as being 14 years old in the 1850 census, which would also make her year of birth as 1835. I feel the Winesberg church record is the most accurate record, since it indicates she was baptized 5 October 1835. Zion Schumm’s records indicate she died 6 February and her tombstone and her death certificate indicate she died 7 February. The death certificate is likely the most accurate for her death date.

Jacob and Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz had the following children, all baptized at Zion Schumm:
Johann Ludwig “Louis” Bienz (1852-1940), married Anna M. Chilcote; Elizabeth Hixon
Margaretha Magdalena “Margaret” Bienz (1854-1908), married Lehrer L [Louis?] Schmidt
“George” Martin Bienz (1856-1935), married Katharine Muntzinger
Johann “Adam” Bienz (1858-1949), married Pauline Germann; Wilhilmine Christine Reinking; Christina Mathinda Bleeke
Michael Friedrich “Fred” Bienz (1861-1937), married Maria Sophie Helena Reinking
Maria Barbara “Mary” Elisabeth Bienz (1863-), married [William/John?] Reinking
“Anna” Barbara Catharine Bienz (1866-1942), married William Schamerloh
Anna Susanna Emma Bienz (1874-1874)

 

[1] Lutheran Taufen, Tote, & Heiraten, 1564-1875, [Baptisms, Deaths & Marriages], Gerlingen, Wuerttemberg, 1823 baptisms, Jakob Bienz, 1 Apr 1825; Ancestry.com, tree of klicen, viewed 2 Apr 2019.

[2] According to Sutton’s 1882 History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio, p.258, one John B [Balthas] Bientz immigrated in 1838 with his wife and ten children. The family settled in Tully Township and about 1850 two of the sons, Jacob and John, settled in Willshire Township.

[3] 1850 U.S. Census, p.166B, dwelling 114, family 131, George Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1850usfedcenancestry/ : viewed 8 Apr 2019).

[4] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.151 (penned), dwelling 1079, family 1073, Jacob Bentz; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1860usfedcenancestry/ : viewed 8 Apr 2019).

[5] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.15 (penned), dwelling 107, family 108, Jacob Bence; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1870usfedcen/ : viewed 8 Apr 2019).

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.14 (penned), family 117, Jacob Bienz; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1880usfedcen/ : viewed 8 Apr 2019).

[7] According to Zion’s records, Vilenna was the daughter of L. Bienz, whom Jacob and Elisabeth took in to raise. This record appears to indicate that one of the parents was deceased, and since their son Louis died in 1940, it may have been the mother, Anna M. Chilcote. Louis Bienz and Anna Chilcote married in Van Wert County on 2 Jan 1879.

[8] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 98, p.310A (stamped), dwelling 208, family 214, Jacob Bienz; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com   (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1900usfedcen/ : viewed 8 Apr 2019).

[9] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 113, p.9A (penned), dwelling 114, family 116, Charles H Kruckeberg; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1910uscenindex/ : viewed 8 Apr 2019).

[10] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” Elizabeth Bienz, 7 Feb 1913; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPJ5-6ZJ?i=918&cc=1307272 : viewed 8 Apr 2019), Willshire Twp, Van Wert County.

Apr 05

Fraternal Societies in Willshire, 1904

For the past several weeks I have been posting personal items, items of interest, and various advertisements from the 5 May 1904 edition of the Willshire Herald. Those items give us a glimpse of the past—what Willshire was like just after the turn of the century. I am nearing the end of information I can gather from that newspaper but there are still a few items that I have not covered.

Willshire had several fraternal societies in 1904, and evidence of one of them is still visible to this day.

Below is an 1886 map of Willshire. Although it was printed 18 years before this 1904 newspaper, it is a nice map showing the streets and a few of the businesses and churches. It gives you an idea of where some of these meetings were being held.

1886 Map of Willshire, Ohio.

Today, notices of some Willshire church and society meetings in 1904.

The Willshire Herald, 5 May 1904.

The ME Church was on the corner of Simpson and Hogan.

ME Church
Regular Services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Sunday School at 9:30 a.m.
Prayer Meeting Thursday evening. Everyone invited.
Rev. J.B. Gottschall, Pastor

Willshire Lodge, F. & A.M.
Regular meetings first and third Wednesday of each month. Hall in the Cornell Block on Wolcott Street.
Visitors cordially welcomed.
James Chilcote, W.M.
D.O. Thorp, Sec.

This society was the “Free and Accepted Masons.” Secretary D.O. Thorp was a painter and wallpaper hanger and his ad was mentioned in the paper before.

Bethlehem Chapter, O.E.S.
Regular Meetings second & fourth Wednesday of each month at Masonic hall. Visitors cordially invited.
Mrs. Lulu Thomas, W.M.
Mrs. Idora Chilcote, Secy.

“Order of the Eastern Star,” is a Freemason organization and the largest fraternal lodge to which men and women can both belong, according to Wikipedia. Idora Chilcote and James Chilcote [W.M.–Worshipful Master of the Masons, shown above] may be related since both are in branches of the Masons.

Willshire Lodge, I.O.O.F.
Regular meetings every Friday evening in hall over Clothing store. Visiting Brothers cordially invited.
August Brown, N.G.
O.T. Salleys, Recording Secretary

 “Independent Order of Odd Fellows,” a non-political and non-sectarian fraternal society, according to Wikipedia. It evolved from the Order of Odd Fellows, which was founded in England in the 1700s. Their motto is Friendship, Love, and Truth and the first letters of this motto (FLT) are often inscribed in a three-link chain on a deceased member’s tombstone. Sometimes they use only the three chain links, without the letters, on a tombstone to indicate their membership.

Chas. A. Knott Lodge No. 542, K. of P.
Meets every Tuesday evening. All Pythian Knights cordially invited to visit us.
John Wechter, C.C.
Wm. G. Hoffer, K. of R. and S.

The Order of “Knights of Pythias,” a secret fraternal benefit society. The symbol of this society is still visible on the west face of the building, above Willshire Home Furnishings. It is a triangle with “1907, FCB.” The FCB stands for their motto–Friendship, Charity, Benevolence. [Note that Wm. G. Hoffer was also the publisher of the Willshire Herald.] The Pythian Sister’s is K. of P. female auxiliary.

Knights of Pythias emblem, Willshire, Ohio.

Knights of Pythias emblem above Willshire Home Furnishings.

Willshire Central Star Lodge, C.M.A.-O.T.N.
Meet every Thursday evening, in W.R.C. hall. All visiting members invited.
F.C. Myers, Pres.
C.E. Wechter, Sec’y

I am not sure what these letters stand for or what this society was, although I see that John Wechter was C.C. [could be Castle Chancellor?] of the Knights of Pythias and C.E. Wechter was Secretary in the C.M.A.-O.T.N. There could be a connection between the two Wechters and the latter society could have been a branch of the Pythian Sisters. Not sure, just speculation. Local Pythian Sister units are called Temples and there is a “T” in the letters.

This, on this same page of the newspaper:

Hon. C.B. Hoke, the Happy Hooligan of Van Wert county Pythians, has a large sized boom for election as Grand Outer Guard at the Grand Lodge meeting in Cleveland next month. Hoke is not only one of the most enthusiastic of Pythians, but he is also one of the most deserving. The Grand Lodge will bring honor on itself by elevating Mr. Hoke to the position for which the Fifth district Knights in convention assembled nominated him by unanimous consent. 

These societies were very popular at that time and their symbols and insignia were often placed on the tombstones of their deceased members. There were many such lodges and societies in the area and I have seen many of their symbols in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ohio City and in Woodland Union Cemetery in Van Wert. It is interesting to note how many different societies there were in an area by their tombstone insignia.  

Example of I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows) insignia, Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City.

 

Apr 02

Tombstone Tuesday–Johann Bienz

Johann Bienz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2019 photo by Karen)

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

Johann Bienz
Gest den 13 Juli 1898
Alter
75J, 3M, 20 T
BIENZ

Johann Bienz died 13 July 1898, aged 75 years, 3 months, 20 Days.

The records of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, indicate that Johann “John” Bienz was born 23 March 1823 in Gerlingen, Oberamt Liesberg, Wuerttemberg. [1]

John was the son of Balthas and Catharina Barbara (Weidlin) Bienz and was baptized in Gerlingen on 25 March 1823. [2]

 

Johannes Bienz, birth/baptism, Gerlingen, Wuerttemberg, 1823.

John Bienz married Louise A. Billmann 7 November 1848 near Schumm. John and Louise were from Zion, also according to Zion’s records. In addition, their marriage is recorded in Van Wert County Probate, although that record indicates they were married on 1 December 1848, married by Zion Schumm’s Rev. Streckfuss. [3] A notation on their church marriage record indicates that Louise died 18 June 1849. This is the only place her death is recorded in the church records and may be the only record of her death. There appears to be no surviving tombstone and deaths were not recorded in county probate until 1867. I found no mention of children born to John and Louise in the church records and you might speculate that Louise died from complications of pregnancy or childbirth.  

John Bienz married Magdalena Schueler 15 April 1852 near Schumm and both were from Zion’s parish.  Zion Schumm’s records indicate that John was a widower.

Magdalena was the daughter of Michael and Maria Katharina (Schumm) Schueler (1810-1838). Her mother Maria Katharina (Schumm) was the daughter of immigrant Johann Georg Schumm and she was also an immigrant.

In 1860 the John Bienz family lived near Schumm, with Christoph Kreiselmeyer and Michael Geisler as neighbors. The John Bienz family as enumerated in 1860: John, 36, born in Wuerttemberg; Rose AM, 24, born in Ohio; John F, 7; George E, 5; Catharine R, 4; Anna BC, 1; and Alfred Geier, 20, born in Bavaria. The children were reportedly all born in Ohio, except for the youngest, Anna, who is shown as being born in “Sonomy.” [4] I am not sure where this meant because she was likely born in Van Wert County.  

The John Bienz family in 1870, spelled Bence in this enumeration: John, 47; Magdalena, 35; John F, 17; George E, 15; Rosina C, 13; Anna BC, 11; John JC, 9; Henry W, 5; and Mary, 1. The father John was a farmer. [5]

The John Bienz household in 1880: John, 55; Magdalena, 45; Catharine, 21; John, 19; August, 17; Henry, 14; Mary, 11; Christian, 8; and Martin, 4. Her father, a farmer, was born in Wuerttemberg and her mother and siblings were born in Ohio. [6]

John Bienz died of brain fever on 13 July 1898, at the age of 75 years, 3 months, and 20 days, according to Zion Schumm’s records. He was buried on the 16th. His death is also recorded in Van Wert County Probate, which gives his age as 74 years and 4 months, his birthplace as Van Wert County, his residence as Schumm, and that he died of dropsy. [7]

Not all the dates on all the records add up, particularly John’s age when he died. His tombstone is weathered and very hard to read. The church records and probate records are sometimes not accurate. Surviving relatives sometimes gave the wrong information, not remembering or knowing the correct information. Therefore it is hard to determine his exact age.

John Bienz is buried next to their daughter Maria, who died the year before. John’s wife died in Adams County, Indiana, in 1916 and is buried there.

Johann and Magdalena (Schueler) Bienz had the following children:
Johann Friedrich (1853-1918), married Mary “Virginia” Bleichner
George Emanuel (1855-1954), married Lucinda “Cindy” Fox
Rosina Catharine (1857-1940), married Charles Carl Meyer
Anna Barbara Catharine (1859-1943), married Henry Linnemeier
Johann Jacob Andreas (1861-1935), married Caroline Dueker
August George (1863-1938), married Lena Strubel
Heinrich Wilhelm (1865-1926), married Mini Winte
Maria Barbara Elizabeth (1868-1897)
Christian Andreas (1872-1947?)
Ludwig Eberhart Ferdinand (1873-1876)
Martin Gottfried (1875-1954)
Wilhelm C (1878-1879)
Magdalena Anna Margaretha (1881-1965), married Charles Hobrock

 

[1] According to Sutton’s 1882 History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio, p.258, one John B Bientz immigrated in 1838 with his wife and ten children. The family settled in Tully Township and about 1850 two of the sons, John and Jacob, settled in Willshire Township. The son John is today’s subject, as confirmed by the church records of Gerlingen.

[2] Lutheran Taufen, Tote, & Heiraten, 1564-1875, [Baptisms, Deaths & Marriages], Gerlingen, Wuerttemberg, 1823 baptisms, Johannes Bienz, 23 Mar 1823; Ancestry.com, tree of klicen, viewed 2 Apr 2019.

[3] “Ohio Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5QV-CZ?i=47&cc=1614804 : viewed 1 Apr 2019), John Bienz & Louisa A. Billmann, 1 Dec 1848; Van Wert Marriages, Vol. 1:55.

[4] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.150 (penned), dwelling 1071, family 1065, John Bientz; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1860usfedcenancestry/ : viewed 1 Apr 2019).

[5] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.439B, dwelling 135, family 136, John F. Bence; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?htx=List&dbid=7163&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 : viewed 24 Mar 2019).

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 145, p.452C, family 162, John Beinz; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?htx=List&dbid=7590&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 : viewed 24 Mar 2019).

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” database with images, Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6722-2S?i=380&cc=2128172 : viewed 1 Apr 2019), John Bienz, 13 Jul 1898; Van Wert County Deaths, Vol. 2:13.