Dec 14

Two More Brewster 5-Generation Photos

How many people can say they have been in two 5-generation family photos. Not many, I would guess.

However, my great-grandmother, Pearl (Reid) Brewster (1880-1962), did just that. She was in two 5-generation family photos that were taken nearly 60 years apart!

The first 5-generation photo Pearl was in was taken around 1898. Pearl was the mother of the youngest child in that photo, my grandmother Gertrude (Brewster) Miller (1896-1973):

William Reid (1855-1905), Gertrude (Brewster) Miller (1896-1973), Mary Ann (Cottrell) Headington (1816-1903) Standing: Pearl (Reid) Brewster (1880-1962), Elvira (Headington) Reid (1838-1911). c1898 photo

The little girl is my grandmother, Gertrude (Brewster) Miller. Her mother, Pearl (Reid) Brewster, is standing on the left. Pearl’s father William Reid is seated. William’s mother, Elvira (Headington) Reid, is standing on the right and Elvira’s mother, Mary Ann (Cottrell) Headington, is seated on the right. [1]

The next 5-generation photo that Pearl was in was taken about 1958. In that photo she was the oldest person, the great-great-grandmother. That photo is one of two 5-generation photos that were published together around 1979. The newspaper clipping is not labeled so I do not know the exact date or the name of the newspaper, but it is probably from a Berne, Geneva, or Portland-area paper:

Brewster 5-generation photo, c1958.

The caption between:

Twenty-One Year Makes A Difference
In the picture above, you have seated on the left, Pearl Brewster, great-great-grandmother and on the right great grandfather, holding Debbie McCroskey. In the back on the left is Sue McCroskey and on the right Eileen Bollenbacher, the grandmother.

In the picture below seated on the left you have Dorothy Brewster, a great-great-grandmother, and on the right, Eileen Bollenbacher, a great-grandmother. Standing on the left is Sue McCroskey, the grandmother, and on the right is Debbie Ehr, the mother holding Jeremy Ehr. So the baby in the picture above is the mother in the picture below.

5-generation Brewster photo, taken c1979.

Pearl’s son Jesse Brewster (1900-1964) was the great-grandfather in the 1958 photo.

Jesse’s widow Dorothy (Parr) Brewster (1903-1980) was the great-great-grandmother in the 1979 photo.

Some great family photos!

 

[1] A Snapshot of the Past—Five Generations of My Family, Karen’s Chatt, 29 Apr 2011.

Dec 11

Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob Dietrich

Jacob Dietrich, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

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

JACOB
Sohn von
A. & M. Dietrich
Gestorben
12 Apr 1857
Alter 2 Monet

Jacob, son of A & M Dietrich, died 12 April 1857, aged 2 months.

Jacob Dietrich was likely the first child born to Adam and Maria Elizabeth (Germann) Dietrich. According to Zion Schumm’s records Jacob was born in Willshire Township on 13 February 1857. He was baptized at home on 15 February 1857, with Jacob Dietrich and his wife, Jacob Germann, and Carl Germann’s wife serving as his sponsors.

Jacob Dietrich died on 12 April 1857, at the age of 2 months. He was buried on the 13th.

Jacob’s parents were both born in Germany and they married in Van Wert County, on 21 November 1854. [1] Jacob’s father Johann “Adam” Dietrich was born 27 January 1828 and died 10 February 1912. His mother Maria Elisabeth (Germann) was born 20 February 1833 and died 28 November 1888. Both are buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery.

The parents, Adam and Maria Dietrich, had the following children:
Jacob Dietrich (1857-1857)
Maria Magdalena “Lena” Margaretha (1859-1940), married Adam Sauer
Catharina (1859-1859), born and died on the same day, twin to Maria Magdalena Margaretha,
Johann Adam (1860-1903)
Wilhelm (1862-1863)
Georg Ernst (1864-1905), married Clara Schumm
Anna Maria Sophia (1866-1945), did not marry
Jacob “Heinrich” (1869-1935), married Maria Schumm
Hannah “Emma” Magdalena (1874-1956), married Johann “Ferdinand” Schinnerer

 

[1] “Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958,” database, FamilySearch.org, Adam Detrick & Mary Elizabeth Germann, 21 Nov 1854, Van Wert, Ohio.

Dec 07

A Mercer County Christmas Songbook

As I was going through my Christmas music and I found this 32-page paper booklet, “Sing the Joys of Christmas!” published by Celina’s Daily Standard some years ago and inserted in their paper at Christmastime.

This nice booklet includes the words with piano accompaniment of many familiar Christmas hymns and songs. It is printed on newsprint and easy to carry in my purse. I have used it several times over the years.There is no date on it, so I do not know when it was printed, but you can get an idea of the time period by looking at the sponsors and advertisers listed. Some are still in the same location while others have moved. Some sponsors are no longer in business, but I remember most of them.

It was published before Bob’s Audio & Video, Shirley’s Sweets, Carter Lumber, and Bair Pharmacy closed. Rino’s was still on East Market Street and The Fountain Restaurant offered breakfast specials for $2.78.

The sponsors in the book:

Thwaits Floor Fashions, Plaza, Celina

American Shoppe, Main Street, Celina
Mercer Savings Bank, several locations
Shirley’s Sweets, Market Street, Celina
Precious Angels, U.S. 127, CelinaBright.net, Market Street, Celina
Nationwide Insurance, Beth Brandewie Weber
New Life Apostolic Church, Grand Lake Road, Celina

Beaver Chapel, Karch Road, Celina
Sigler Insurance, Rockford
Bair Pharmacy, Main Street, CelinaKetcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford


Bella’s Italian Grille, South Main, Celina
Niekamps Farm & Flea Market, U.S. 127, Celina
Judy’s House of Hair
Celina Utilities
Rino’s Auto Sales, E. Market, Celina
Ace Hardware, Plaza, Celina
Cornerstone Shop, New Bremen
Miller House, Meadowview Drive, Celina
Essentials, Market Street, Celina
Carter Lumber, State Route 703
Northwest Regional Systems, West Market, Celina
Celina First Church of God
W.H. Dick & Sons Funeral Homes, Celina & Mendon
State Farm Insurance, Bob Nuding, Main Street, Celina
CCM Computers, Main Street, Celina
Cisco Funeral Home, State Route 703
Bob’s Audio & Video, U.S. 127, Celina
The Fountain Restaurant, West Market, Celina

Pro Limo, St. Marys
Lehman Funeral Home, Myers Road, Celina
Gold Star Sound, Bill & Judy Needham

Celina Animal Hospital, Havemann Road, Celina
Schlarman’s Health Center, Ft. Recovery-Minster Road
Stammen Insurance, Celina & St. Henry
Lake Contracting, Mercelina Park
The Daily Standard

There is a coloring page at the end of the booklet.

The back cover:

I will probably use this nice Christmas song book this weekend for our DAR luncheon.

 

 

Dec 04

Tombstone Tuesday–Wilhelm Dietrich

Wilhelm Dietrich, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This the tombstone of Wilhelm Dietrich, located in row 2 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Hier Ruhet in Gott
Wilhelm
Sohn von
Adam & Maria
Dietrich
Geboren
Den 15 Sep 1862
Gestorben
Den 15 Juni 1863

Here rests in God, Wilhelm, son of Adam and Maria Dietrich, born 15 September 1862, died 15 June 1863.

According to Zion Schumm’s records, Wilhelm Dietrich was born 15 September 1862, the son of Adam and Maria [Elizabeth] (Germann) Dietrich.  He was baptized at Zion Schumm’s church on 21 September 1862 with Adam Buechner and wife and Philip Germann serving as his sponsors.

Wilhelm Dietrich died 15 June 1863, at the age of 9 months. The church records do not give the cause of his death.

Wilhelm’s parents were both born in Germany and married in Van Wert County, Ohio, on 21 November 1854. [1] Wilhelm’s father Johann “Adam” Dietrich was born 27 January 1828 and died 10 February 1912. His mother Maria Elisabeth (Germann) was born 20 February 1833 and died 28 November 1888. Both are buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery.

According to Zion Schumm’s records Wilhelm had a brother and sister living when he was born and four siblings who were born after his death:

Jacob Dietrich (1857-1857)
Maria Magdalena “Lena” Margaretha (1859-1940), married Adam Sauer
Catharina (1859-1859), born and died the same day, twin to Maria Magdalena “Lena” Margaretha
Johann Adam (1860-1903)
George Ernst (1864-1905), married Clara Schumm
Anna Maria Sophia (1866-1945), did not marry
Jacob “Heinrich” (1869-1935), married Maria Schumm
Hannah “Emma” Magdalena (1874-1956), married Johann “Ferdinand” Schinnerer

 

[1] “Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958,” database, FamilySearch.org, Adam Detrick & Mary Elizabeth Germann, 21 Nov 1854, Van Wert, Ohio.

Nov 30

Hunting

It is hunting season and we hear and see the hunters around here.

We are not hunters. We have nothing against hunting. We just do not hunt, except for occasionally getting rid of a destructive, pesky varmint such as a groundhog or muskrat. Actually, I don’t know if bagging them is even considered hunting, but Joe used to like to shoot rats in a corn crib and shoot groundhogs.

My grandma Schumm really disliked groundhogs. Quite a few of them had burrowed under their old barn and she invited Joe to come over and shoot them any time he wanted. And he happily obliged.

My dad didn’t hunt and I don’t think that his father Carl was a hunter either. At least not during my lifetime.

But my grandpa Schumm was a hunter.

Cornelius L. Schumm, far left.

I found this photo of my grandpa, Cornelius Schumm, with three other men and the deer they shot. I do not know when the photo was taken. Grandpa was born in 1896 and it is hard to tell how old he was in the photo. Maybe someone recognizes the other men in the photo or recognizes the house. It would be interesting to know who they were. Who grandpa hunted with.

When we went through things at my mom’s house we found this old deer skin. It has a hole in it, likely from the bullet hole or arrow puncture. Perhaps it is one of the deer in the above photo.

Deer skin.

Below is an old bow that belonged to my grandpa Schumm or maybe his father Louis. I do not know how to date something like this so it may be older than I think. It looks like it may have been homemade and maybe one of them made it. I do not know if it was even usable or perhaps it was a toy. It is interesting, nevertheless.

Old wooden bow.

The farther back in time you go the more families had to rely on wild game for their food.

Louis Breuninger’s black powder hunting pouch.

My grandpa Schumm’s grandfather, Louis Breuninger (1819-1890), was a hunter. He had this very interesting black powder hunting pouch with two gun powder flasks and a cloth pouch with some shot still inside. The large pouch appears to be made from an animal claw. Maybe from a bear? He lived in Wisconsin for several years before moving to the Schumm area, so it could be from an animal up there. One of the powder flasks is made of metal and the other appears to be bone. [Note: Thanks to a reader who informed me that the pouch is made from deer legs. Good to know!]

Louis Breuninger’s black powder hunting pouch.

There is some decorative braiding on the leather strap.

Strap of black powder pouch.

I also have a pair of mittens, made from some animal skin.

Old animal skin mittens.

The whole collection:

Some real pioneer items!