Apr 27

More About Area Hucksters

Last week’s photo of Spitler Grocery’s huckster truck sparked quite a bit of interest and I enjoyed reading all the comments and hearing everyone’s memories about hucksters.

A couple people even sent me some photos. I thank everyone for sharing and today I am posting a couple of those photos that were sent to me.

Spitler Grocery, Willshire, Ohio, Huckster Truck

Thanks to Andy for sending this photo of the William Edgar Spitler family. William Spitler had a grocery in Willshire, which he sold to his sons Glenn and Jesse in 1938.

William Edgar Spitler family. (Photo courtesy of Andy Gappa)

Left to right: Elezan Byer Spitler (seated), Clark Edgar Spitler (seated on armrest), Jesse Christopher Spitler (standing), Bessie Glee Spitler Ross (seated), Glen Ivan Spitler (standing), William Edgar Spitler (seated), and Mary Bernice Spitler Morrison Taylor (standing).

Comparing the faces, the huckster truck driver seems to resemble Jesse Spitler.

Driver, Spitler Grocery, Willshire, Ohio, Huckster Truck

Andy is a Byer descendant and his connection here is that William Spitler married Elezan Byer. Andy is also a distant relative to William Kenneth Hoblet. Last week’s photo had a Hoblet connection because the Spitler truck was stopped at the Hoblet house, according to the name on the mailbox in the photo.

Thank you to Tom and Deb for sending this photo of Schumm huckster Carl Weinman. Carl is Tom’s maternal grandfather.

Carl Weinman drove a huckster wagon, which was probably out of Schumm. Schumm also had a grocery back then.

Carl Weinman with huckster truck. (Photo courtesy of Tom Reichard)

According to Tom’s mother there were numerous huckster wagons that served the area–Ohio City, Glenmore, Dull Town, Willshire, and Schumm. In addition, she said that other men would stop at homes, take orders from their store and deliver them the next day. She recalls that Miles Ross, out of Willshire, was one such man who came to their home in Schumm.

The photo below is the horse-drawn huckster wagon of Merkle & Egger from Chattanooga, Ohio. The photo was sent to me some time ago by Doug Roebuck, who is a Merkle descendant.

Merkle & Egger, Chattanooga, Ohio. (photo courtesy of Doug Roebuck)

Merkle & Egger ran a general store in Chatt in 1916, actually probably even before that. In 1910 Leo Merkle, 21, was a clerk in a general store and Semon Egger, 19, was a wagon driver. Egger may have driven the huckster wagon for the store.

Thank you all for sharing these great photos!

They are great reminders of times past.

Apr 24

Tombstone Tuesday–Eda E. (Hoehamer) Shindeldecker

Eda E Shindeldecker, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Eda Elizabeth (Hoehamer) Shindeldecker, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Eda E.
Shindeldecker
1901-1932

Edie “Eda” Elizabeth Hoehamer was born in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 3 September 1901, the daughter of William and Margaret E. “Maggie” (Kallenberger) Hoehamer. [1] She was baptized at Zion Chatt as Ida Elisabetha Hoehamer on 22 Sep 1901, with her maternal grandparents Andrew and Elizabeth (Burkhart) Kallenberger serving as her sponsors.

In 1910 the William Hoehamer family lived on West Pearl Street in Rockford, Ohio, where William was a blacksmith. Eda was enumerated at Edith in the 1910 census. William and Maggie had been married 10 years and Maggie had given birth to 3 children, all of whom were living. Their household in 1910: William M, 35; Maggie, 36; Edith, 8; Freda, 7; and William, 1. [2]

Eda was confirmed at Zion Chatt by Rev. W.F.H. Heuer on 30 May 1915. She was confirmed as Ida Hoehamer.

In 1920 Eda, enumerated in the census again as Edith, lived with her parents in Blackcreek Township. Their household in 1920: William Hoehamer, 44, farmer; Elisabeth, 46; Edith, 18; Frieda,16; William, 10; and “Kallen Barger,” mother-in-law, 79, widow, who was very likely Maggie’s mother, Elizabeth (Burkhart) Kallenberger. [3]

Eda Hoehamer married Carl A.B. Shindeldecker on 24 July 1923 at Zion Chatt, married by Zion’s Rev. J.E. Albrecht. Rev. Albrecht’s wife Clara was the witness. Carl was the son of Frank and Eudocia (Roebuck) Shindeldecker and was a farmer. Carl was from Rockford and was 22 years old. Eda was 21 years old and this was the first marriage for both. [4]

Eda and Carl attended Zion Chatt back then. They had a son, William Ansel Levine, born 29 January 1924, and a daughter, Elizabeth Jane Shindeldecker, born 15 April 1925. Both were baptized at Zion Chatt on 19 July 1925 and William Jr and Maggie (Kallenberger) Hoehamer, their maternal grandparents, were their sponsors.

In 1930 Carl and Eda lived in Dublin Township. Their household in 1930: Carl, 29; Eda, 28; Ansel, 6; and Elizabeth, 4½. Carl did road work, mixing concrete. [5]

Within the next year or two the Carl Shindeldecker family moved to RR#2 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where Eda gave birth to another child on Christmas Day 1932. Eda died a few days later.

Eda (Hoehamer) Shindeldecker died in South Beaver Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, on 31 December 1932 at 9:30 p.m. Her death certificate indicates that she died of influenza following the birth of a child on 25 December 1932. Eda was a housewife, aged 31 years, 3 months, and 28 days. She was buried on 4 January 1933 and Joseph Pratt and Brothers, Van Wert, Ohio, in charge of the funeral arrangements. Eda’s husband Carl was the informant for the information on her death certificate. [6]

According to Zion Chatt’s records Eda Shindeldecker was survived by 2 daughters, her parents, a sister and a brother. If that information is correct, I wonder what happened to their son Ansel. The other daughter mentioned was the child born on Christmas Day, a few days before Eda died.

Their daughter Elizabeth “Betty” married Gustav K. Carlgren and she died in 2005 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. According to Betty’s obituary, she was survived by a brother Dan and a sister Mary. [7]

Eda’s husband Carl Shindeldecker married Verna J. (Glentzer) (1918-1981) after Eda’s death and they had several children together. Verna preceded Carl in death and Carl lived in Preble County, Ohio, at the time of his death in 1989, although he died in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana. He died of aspiration pneumonia and a cerebral infarction on 15 April 1989 and is buried in Preble County. [8] [9]  

Carl and Eda E. (Hoehamer) Shindeldecker had the following children:
Ansel Levine (1924-?)
Elizabeth “Betty” (1925-2005), married Gustav K. Carlgren
Eda M (1932-?), married Emmett A. Miller

Eda’s siblings were Friedericke Louisa “Freda” Hoehamer (1903-1970), who married John Patrick Martelock and Wilhelm Andreas Hoehamer Jr (1909-1978), who married Alice Luella Deitsch.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Edie Elizabeth Hoehamer, 3 Sep 1901; Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Births, Vol. 4, p.58, no.75; FHL microfilm 2367098.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Dublin, Mercer, Ohio, ED 111, p.7B, dwelling 182, family 187, William M. Holehower; Ancestry.com; FHL microfilm 1375227, NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[3] 1920 US Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, p.10A, dwelling 190, family 190, line 20, William Hoehamer; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 July 2013); from National Archives microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[4] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Carl Shingledecker & Eda Hoehamer, 24 Jul 1923; Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 12, p.225; FHL microfilm 2366955.

[5] 1930 U.S. Census, Dublin, Mercer, Ohio, ED 6, p.9A, dwelling 153, family 191, Carl Shindeldecker; Ancestry.com; NARA microfilm T626.

[6] Pennsylvania Death Certificates, 1906-1966, Mrs. Eda Elizabeth Shindeldecker, 31 Dec 1932; database on-line, Ancestry.com; Pennsylvania Death Certificates, Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission 1906-1963, series 11.90, certificate no. range 106501-109500.

[7] FindAGrave.com, Betty D. Shindeldecker Carlgren, memorial no. 123841622, accessed 23 Apr 2018.

[8] FindAGrave.com, Carl Ancel Shindeldecker memorial no. 19180823, accessed 23 Apr 2018.

[9] Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Carl A Shindeldecker, 15 Apr 1989; database on-line, Ancestry.com, accessed 23 Apr 2018; Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Year 1898, roll 7.

Apr 20

Spitler Grocery Huckster Truck, Willshire, Ohio

Today, a photo of a huckster truck [1] from Spitler Grocery in Willshire, Ohio.

Spitler Grocery, Willshire, Ohio, Huckster Truck

I do not know when the photo was taken nor who was driving the truck. The driver may have been a Spitler or he may have worked for the Spitlers. Does he look familiar to anyone?

Driver of Spitler Grocery huckster truck, Willshire, Ohio

Our best guess on the age of the truck is that it dates from the late-1920s through mid-1930s. The truck may not have been new when they used it. Back then they made things last and used things for quite some time.

Spitler Grocery huckster truck, Willshire, Ohio

The truck had obviously stopped at someone’s home and it looks like the lady of the house is browsing and shopping in the back of the huckster truck. She is wearing a skirt and black lace-up shoes but her face is hidden.

When I enlarged the photo I noticed a mailbox on the far left. It looks like H Hoblet, R 1, Box 35. William H. Hoblet? He lived south of Willshire, in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County.

Mailbox, where Spitler truck has stopped

[An update on this photo, added a few months after it was first posted: A Hoblet family member confirmed that the man in the truck is Vernon Hoblet. She did not believe that Vernon ever worked at the Spitler Grocery but was just sitting in the truck. The huckster truck was parked in front of his parents’ home [William and Ada Hoblet], which was located on State Route 49, south of the Van Wert-Mercer County Line, just south of the curves. The house was destroyed in the Palm Sunday tornado. The woman standing in the back was likely his mother Ada Hoblet.]

I remember my mother talking about Spitler’s Grocery and I figured her older sister, my aunt Amy, would remember their grocery, too. So I called Amy to see what she remembered about the store. Amy has a good memory and she does remember Spitler’s Grocery and recalls that it was located where Willshire Home Furnishings is today.

Amy said that Spitler’s did have a huckster truck and it would stop by their house east of Willshire when she was a child. She believes that her mother, my grandma Hilda Schumm, sold or traded eggs to them.

I did a little searching myself and from Glenn I. Spitler’s 1973 obituary I learned a little about the grocery and their family:

Brothers Glenn and Jessie Spitler owned and operated the Spitler Grocery Store in Willshire. They had purchased the store from their father in 1938 and Glenn retired from the grocery business in 1967.

Glenn was a lifelong resident of Willshire, born in Willshire on 13 October 1898, the son of William and Elsie (Byers) Spitler. Glenn married Rose Belle Brannon [sic] [should be Brandon] on 31 March 1923. Glenn died 9 April 1973 and is buried in the Willshire Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, his brother Jessie, and two sisters, Mrs. Miles Ross, Willshire, and Mrs. Mary Taylor, Columbus. [2]

So, the man in the photo, driving the truck, could be William Spitler, Glenn Spitler, Jessie Spitler, or someone else.

My aunt Amy also told me that her mother Hilda had a cream separator and that she sold her cream to none other than Mary Stetler! This would probably have been around 1940, give or take a couple years. Amy said that Mary would drive out to their farm and pick up grandma Hilda’s cream. Mary’s store at that time was where Doc Osborn’s office was years later. I believe that would be west of where the old hotel stood.

How interesting that we were just talking about Mary’s good ice cream this past week and that I also have a connection to it, way back when. I would love to have some of her rich ice cream right now!

 

[1] A huckster truck carried food and a wide variety of small articles for sale door-to-door on a regular basis, usually every week or two. From the 19-teens through the Great Depression hucksters traveled door-to-door in horse-drawn wagons and later in motorized trucks.

Huckster trucks carried food, small household items, yard goods, and sewing notions. They had staples such as coffee, sugar, salt, pepper, and spices. Since most of the family’s food came from the farm or was made at home, items like store bought cookies and bread were a luxury and a treat.

The farmer could also trade items with the huckster. The huckster would take the farmer’s homegrown items such as eggs, cheese, and even live chickens in trade. Hucksters carried empty crates and containers to hold and transport the farmer’s trade items.

[2] Van Wert Times Bulletin, 9 April 1973, p.2, Glenn I. Spitler obituary; Newspapers.com, accessed 19 Apr 2018.

Apr 17

Tombstone Tuesday–Mark Steven Warner

Mark Steven Warner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Mark Steven Warner, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Mark Steven
Warner
Sept. 2, 1968

According to Zion Chatt’s records Mark Steven Warner was stillborn on 2 September 1968, born to Howard and Sandra Jayne (Stroh) Warner.

Mark Steven was buried on the 6th and the funeral was conducted by Zion’s Rev. Ralph Hershberger.

The church records indicate that the graveside service was held at the Decatur Cemetery but his tombstone is in Zion’s cemetery, next to the marker of his grandparents Milbert and Koneta (Fisher) Stroh.

Mark Steven’s mother Sandra Jayne (Stroh) was the adopted daughter of Milbert and Koneta.

Apr 13

The Old Willshire Hotel

I vaguely remember the old Willshire Hotel. It was located on the east side of Willshire’s main street, State Route 49, in the general area of where Blackcreek Peddler is located today. Actually, I believe it stood in the exact same location.

Below is a nice picture postcard of the old Willshire Hotel.

Willshire Straubinger Hotel, photo postcard.

Below is an enlarged portion of the photo. I wonder who the two men were? Maybe guests. Maybe the owner or proprietor.

Willshire Hotel enlargement.

It looks like the old hotel was a fine establishment. I wonder if there was a place to eat there,too, and how many guest rooms there were.

Below is a photo of the Willshire Hotel, as it looked in about 1963, when I was in the 6th grade and a student at the Willshire School. I was in Mrs. Freeman’s class and we took a field trip to the old hotel and the park. I snapped this photo of my classmates that day. You can tell it is the same building but the years had taken their toll.

Straubinger Hotel.1963 photo

I am thinking that in the later years, during my time, there was a little restaurant or ice cream parlor in the hotel. It looks like that in the above photo. Maybe someone else remembers that.

I do not know when they took the building down, but it is fun to look at the old photos.