Mar 21

Tombstone Tuesday–Anna M. Wick

Anna M. Wick, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Anna M. Wick, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Our Darling
Anna M.
Daut. Of
S.S. & A.C. Wick
Died
Aug. 25, 1879
Aged
2 Yrs, 9 Mo, 3 d.

Anna’s tombstone is rather easy to spot. It is located in the middle of Zion’s cemetery and is the only tombstone in the cemetery with a figure of a lamb on the top. A lamb was most often used on a child’s tombstone and signifies innocence and purity. Markers with a lamb are not unusual but this is the only one in Zion Chatt’s cemetery. There are a couple tombstones with lambs carved into the stone in the cemetery.

Christened Anna Magdalena Wick, Anna was born In Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 22 November 1876, the daughter of Samuel Sixtus and Anna Catharine (Gugel) Wick. Anna was baptized when she was just 34 days old, on 26 December 1876. Her maternal grandparents, Sixtus and Magdalena (Herzog) Gugel, served as her baptismal sponsors. The records do not indicate whether she was baptized at home or at the church.

Her birth is also recorded in the Mercer County Probate Court records, reported by her father.

This surname was usually spelled as Wick in the church records but it was recorded as Wieck on Anna’s baptismal record as well as on her sister Maria Anna Wick’s baptismal record in 1878. The Gugel surname was sometimes spelled as Kugel.

Anna’s parents, Samuel Wick and Anna Catharine Gugel married 6 April 1873 at Zion Chatt. Anna’s paternal grandparents were Johann and Anna Wick and her maternal grandparents were Sixtus and Magdalena Gugel.

Anna Magdalena was born between two census enumerations so there are only few records that tell of her short life.

Anna M. Wick (2013 photo by Karen)

Anna Magdalena died 25 August 1879, at the young age of age 2 years, 9 months, and 3 days.

Anna M. Wick (2013 photo by Karen)

Samuel and Anna Catharine Wick had four other children. Two of them are mentioned in Zion Chatt’s records: William Henry Wick, born in January 1875; and Maria Anna, born in March of 1878. They also had twin sons, John Sixtus [1] [2] and Fredrick, both born 20 June 1880. [3]

Anna’s father died in 1910 and her mother died in 1927. Both are buried in Duck Creek Cemetery. Her maternal Gugel grandparents are buried in Zion Chatt’s cemetery.

When I looked at the 1900 census I noticed that the Samuel Wick family lived very close to my great-grandfather Jacob Miller and his family, which included my grandfather Carl Miller.

The 1876, 1888, and 1900 Blackcreek plat maps indicate that Samuel Wick lived just around the corner from my great-grandfather. In 1876 Samuel owned 80 acres on the northwest corner of State Route 49 and Sipe Road. His father-in-law Sixtus Gugel lived across the road and also owned 80 acres. In 1888 and 1900 Samuel still owned his same 80 acre parcel as well as the 80 acres Sixtus Gugel had once owned. According to the map it looks like the Wicks lived in the house that Kralls once lived in.

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p.10A, dwelling/ family 204, Samuel Wick; Ancestry.com (accessed 19 Mar 2017); FHL microfilm 1241303, NARA microfilm T623, roll 1303.

[2] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Mar 2017), John Sixtus Wick, 1 Oct 1945; FHL microfilm 2372585.

[3] Fred Wick: b. 20 Jun 1880 MCO, died 4 Jul 1945: “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” FamilySearch.org (accessed 19 Mar 2017), Fred Wick, 4 Jul 1945; FHL microfilm 2372580.

 

Mar 17

Some Local Obituary Abstracts, 1834-1850

I was doing a little spring cleaning and trying to reorganize my office when I came across a book that I forgot I had, Abstracts of Obituaries in the Western Christian Advocate, 1834-1850. It was compiled by Margaret R. Waters, Dorothy Riker, and Doris Leistner, copyright 1988, Indiana Historical Society. It took a lot of research and hard work to compile this interesting and informative book that is indexed and very well organized.

Abstracts of Obituaries in the Western Christian Advocate, 1834-1850

The Western Christian Advocate was a weekly publication of the Methodist Church, printed in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was an outgrowth of the Christian Advocate and Journal, a newspaper started in New York City in 1826, which by 1831 had the largest circulation of any weekly paper in the nation, religious or secular.

As Methodism spread westward there was a need for a newspaper to provide for those in the Midwest. The Western Christian Advocate was established in 1834 for this purpose and each issue consisted of four standard-size newspaper pages. News consisted of obituaries, some marriages, general news items, medical information, temperance and missionary news, Methodist meeting reports, sermons, and denominational concerns. Obituaries were not limited to only Methodists and most of the deaths reported were from Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and other Midwestern states. The paper had a circulation of 14,000 in 1840 and 18,000 by 1850. It was published until 1929.

I looked through the index and found some obituary abstracts of individuals from our area. I noticed places such as Deep Cut and Duck Creek were specifically mentioned, likely because there was a Methodist congregation in those areas. Also note that St. Marys was still part of Mercer County until 1848.

Below are a few local obituary abstracts.

Auglaize County, Ohio:

GRAY, Eliza Jane, b. 16 August 1804 in Virginia, d.15 August 1849 at her residence near Wapakoneta, at the age of 45. Her parents were William & Catharine McGee and the family moved to Kentucky when she was 12 years old. She married Samuel Gray on 28 March 1819 and they moved to Miami County, Ohio, in 1827; to Mercer County, Kentucky, in 1832; and to Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1838. Her husband survived her and they had children, but they were not named in the obituary.

Deep Cut, Mercer County, Ohio:

DELLINGER, Susannah, born in Fairfield County, Ohio, died 17 July 1847 in [Deep Cut] Mercer County, Ohio. Her parents were William and Susanna North. She married Samuel Dellinger on 20 April 1835. She was survived by her husband and 2 small children.

Duck Creek, Mercer County, Ohio:

COUNTERMAN, Mrs. Elizabeth, died in 1 January 1843 at the age of 23 [Duck Creek]. She was married to Jacob Counterman.

FLAGG, Samuel, born September 1772 in Boilstone, Massachusetts. He died January 1843 [Duck Creek]. In 1800 he lived in Berkshire, Franklin County, Vermont.

Mendon, Mercer County, Ohio:

DUTTON, Mrs. Elizabeth, died November 1840. She was married to Jonathan Dutton.

Mercer County, Ohio:

DONLEY, Mary, born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, died 9 March 1839 in Mercer County, Ohio. She came to Ohio in 1818.

GLINKLE, Mrs., born in New York, died in Mercer County, Ohio. She was married and had a family. Her death was in the 26 January 1844 issue.

HARPER, Mrs. Catharine, born 20 May 1795 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, died 8 November 1841 in Mercer County, Ohio. Her parents were John and Catharine Martin. She married Joseph Harper on 3 September 1813. They had a daughter Margaret who died 20 December 1841. She lived in Venango County, Pennsylvania, at one time.

HOLLINGSWORTH, Deborah, born in Jackson County, Ohio, and died 8 October 1844 at St. Marys, Mercer County, Ohio, at the age of 33 years. She was the daughter of Cuthbert and Deborah Vinson and they moved to Mercer County in 1825. She married William Hollingsworth in 1834 and they had 3 children.

JONES, Charlotte, died 19 April 1837 in Mercer County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Samuel and Ruth Johnson. She was the wife of JB Jones and they lived in Dayton, Ohio.

LATTIMER, Esther, born 26 August 1796 in New York state. She died near St. Marys, Mercer County, Ohio, on 5 August 1844, at the age of 48. She moved to Medina County, Ohio, in 1826, and to Mercer County, Ohio, after her marriage to William Lattimer, which was on 20 October 1842.

MERLIN, Lydia, died in Mercer County, Ohio, on 21 May 1849 at the age of 41. She was married to William Merlin.

MORE, James, born in 1786 in Virginia, died 21 October 1839 in Mercer County, Ohio. He moved to Madison County, Ohio, about 1809, to Franklin County, and finally to Mercer County.

POWERS, Margaret Jane, died in Mercer County, Ohio, on 20 December 1841, at the age of 20. She was the daughter of Joseph and Catharine Harper and was married to John Powers.

ROEBUCK, Benjamin, born in Virginia, died 17 December 1842 in Mercer County, Ohio. He moved from Virginia to Ross County, Ohio, in the early 1800s. He had children who were not named in the obituary.

ROEBUCK, Greenley, died in Mercer County, Ohio, on 28 December 1841 at the age of 26. He was the son of Benjamin Roebuck and was formerly from Fayette County, Ohio.

ROEBUCK, Sarah, born in South Carolina, died 11 December 1842 in Mercer County, Ohio. She was past 50 years of age. She was a widow and her husband died about a year before. She had 11 children, 1 died young and 2 sons were deceased. She moved from Fayette County, Ohio, 24 years ago.

UPTON, Margaret, born in Hardin County, Kentucky, died in Mercer County, Ohio, on 20 June 1845, at the age of 25 years. She married Thomas Upton on 21 March 1839 and they moved to Mercer County shortly after their marriage.  They had 4 children.

WATTS, James, born 1787 in Baltimore County, Maryland, died in Mercer County, Ohio, on 24 January 1843.

WRIGHT, Able, born 1765 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, died in Neptune, Mercer County, Ohio on 17 March 1848, at 83 years of age. He moved to Clinton County, Ohio about 40 years ago and later to Mercer County.

WRIGHT, Mrs. Mary, died in Mercer County, Ohio 3 August 1840, at the age of 75. She was married to Able Wright.

WRIGHT, Wealthy, born in Whately, Massachusetts, died in Mercer County, Ohio on 3 September 1845 at the age of 60. She was the daughter of John and Jane Smith and they moved to western New York when she was young. She married James Wright in 1805.

I will print a few more local obituary abstracts from the Western Christian Advocate next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar 14

Tombstone Tuesday–Johann Brinkmann

Johann Brinkmann, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

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

Hier
Ruht in Gott
Johann
Brinkmann
Geb. 26 Juli
1879
Gest. 13 Oct
1894
Alter 15 Jahr
2 Mon 17 Tag

Translation: Here rests in God Johann Brinkmann, born 26 July 1879, died 13 October 1894, aged 15 years, 2 months, and 17 days.

There is a record of this young man’s death and burial in Zion Chatt’s records. The dates and ages in the church record match the dates on the tombstone, but his name is different. The church record shows his name as Wilhelm Heinrich Karl Brinkmann.

The church record indicates that he was born near Berlin on 26 July 1879. Unfortunately it does not give the names of his parents. The record also indicates that the cause of his death was typhoid/nervous fever and that he was buried on 14 July.

Johann Brinkmann’s death is recorded in the Mercer County, Ohio, probate death records, which gives his name as John. It indicates that he died in Blackcreek Township, where he also lived, and that he was born in what looks like Hassoor Ger. Did they mean Hessen Germany?  The county record also indicates that he was a farmer and that he died of “Typ. Malria.” The writing on this record is difficult to read. This record tells that he was 15 years and 1 month of age.  Unfortunately the county record does not give the names of his parents either. [1]

When I first read the church record I thought of Berlin, Ohio, but when I read his county death record I think he may have been born near Berlin, Germany.

Johann Brinkmann, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

I don’t know of any Brinkmanns that lived in the Chatt area but Johann did attend Zion Chatt and took communion there at least once between the years 1893 and 1894. There was a Joseph Brinkman family that lived in Granville Township but I do not know if there was a connection.

Another little mystery in Zion Chatt’s cemetery.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 12 Mar 2017), John Brinkman, 13 Oct 1894; Blackcreek, Mercer, Deaths, Vol. 2, p.261; from FHL microfilm 914954.

Mar 10

Springtime–Flowers and Memories

Spring is less than two weeks away. Although this has been a fairly mild winter everyone is always ready for spring this time of year.

One sure sign of the upcoming spring season is the arrival of seed and plant catalogs. We received over a dozen catalogs this year, many more than we usually do. We usually don’t receive flower and seed catalogs, mainly because we don’t order seeds or plants by mail.

Why all the catalogs this year? They were sent to my mom, but forwarded to our address. We are still getting mail intended for her.

My mom was an avid flower gardener. Actually, my dad enjoyed working in the yard as much as she did and they had a beautiful yard. They took a lot of pride in their yard and they spent many hours planting, grooming, and tending to it. It was one of their favorite pastimes and, as a result, their lot was always a show-place.

They once had a small vegetable garden and a few fruit trees in back but mainly my mom grew flowers. At one time she had over 100 rose bushes. Most of them were along the fence surrounding their yard and around the back lot but she also had a small rose garden east of the gazebo.

She definitely had a green thumb and she nurtured some of her plants all winter long. In the fall she would pull up her geraniums and winter them over in their sun porch, setting them in the room’s south window. In late winter the catalogs would arrive and she would pore over them, planning and making sketches of her intended flower bed plantings for that year. Then she would order the seeds and start them indoors. Those fragile little seedlings. Some would make it and some would not, but most did survive for her. There were a few years when she used a grow-light in the basement. The fragile little plants would arrive from the plant retailers later, at planting time.

Every spring my parents planted a lot of flowers. After all, there were a lot of beds to be planted in their yard. Most areas contained some perennials, around which they would fill in with annuals. There were several beds around the yard, the area around the house and around the gazebo, the planter attached to the house and the planters by the driveway, the area by the fence, the boardwalk going to the gazebo, and the rose garden and vegetable garden. It was a lot to plant and maintain! I remember one year they planted over 300 plants. Some were started from seed, others were mail-order, and the geraniums were the ones my mom had wintered over.

My parents probably inherited the gardening gene from their parents.

Both Grandma Miller and Grandma Schumm always had very nice vegetable gardens and Grandpa Schumm had massive hedges that once surrounded their house east of Willshire.

As the years went on it became more difficult for my parents to maintain all the flowers and plants. They took out the vegetable garden and the rose garden and cut down the fruit trees. Some of the roses died along the fence and my mom gave away some of the other roses.

My dad bought a Gator to get around the yard easier. He was so proud of that vehicle.

After my dad died my mom planted more perennials and fewer annuals. That was less work and she had fewer flowers, but her yard still always looked nice.

And the new owners continue in that same tradition.

Mar 07

Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob & Gertrude (Miller) Deitsch

Jacob & Gertrude (Miller) Deitsch, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Jacob and Gertrude (Miller) Deitsch, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

DEITSCH

Gertrude
Deitsch
Died July
13, 1902
Aged 75 Y
8 M  21 D

Jacob Deitsch
Died June
20, 1891
Aged 67 Y
1 M   17 D

According to Zion Chatt’s Familienbuch Jacob Deitsch was born 3 May 1824 in Bischmisheim, District Sarrbrucken in the Kingdom of Prussia. He was the son of Jacob and Maria Sophia Deitsch and he  immigrated to America with his parents in 1836. They lived in Butler County, Ohio, some time before coming to Mercer County, Ohio.

Jacob married Gertrude Müller/Miller in Mercer County on 17 January 1852. [1] Her name is listed as Charity on their marriage record. She was called Charity in the 1870 census and Catharine in the 1860 census, but she usually went by the name of Gertrude.

Gerturde was the daughter of Johann Andreas and Barbara Müller/Miller. Gertrude was born 22 October 1826 in Eichfeld, District Mittelfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria. Her name was often spelled Gertraud in the church records.

In 1860 the Jacob Deitsch family lived in Jefferson Township, Mercer County, with a Celina address. In the household: Jacob, 35; Catharine, 34; Mary, 8; Sophia, 6; Margaret, 4; Jacob, 2; William, 4 months; and John Smith, 25. Jacob Deitsch and John Smith were both merchants. [2]

Zion’s records mention that Jacob Deitsch moved out of the community in 1864. The family was living in Jefferson Township in 1870 but Jacob and Gertrude took communion at Zion Chatt until their deaths. All of their children were baptized at Zion Chatt, except Elizabeth. Only Elizabeth’s confirmation is listed in the records.

In 1870 the Jacob Deitch family lived in Jefferson Township with a Celina address: Jacob, 46; Charity, 44; Mary C, 17; Sophia, 16; Margaret, 15; Jacob, 11; Frederick, 9; Louisa R, 6; Elizabeth, 4 months. Jacob farmed. [3]

In 1880 Jacob and Gertrude Deitsch and their family lived Liberty Township: Jacob, 57; Gertrude, 55; Mary C, 27; Sophia, 25; Frederick, 19; Louisa, 17; and Elisabeth, 10. Jacob was a farmer and daughter Mary C. was a school teacher. [4]

Jacob Deitsch died in Liberty Township on 20 June 1891 of rheumatism and cerebral inflammation, according to Zion Chatt’s records. He was 67 years, 1 month, and 17 days old and was buried on the 22nd. Rev. Chr. Reichert was in charge of the service.

In 1900 widow Gertrude Deitsch lived with daughter Mary and son-in-law Andrew Leistner. In the household: Andrew Leistner, 47; Mary Leistner, 47; Gertrude Deitsch, 73; William Huston, 26; Ettie Leistner, 26; and Charles Snider, 27. [5]

Gertrude Deitsch died 13 July 1902 at the age of 75 years, 9 months, and 21 days, according to Zion Chatt’s records, which disagree slightly from her tombstone inscription. She was buried on the 15th.

Jacob and Gertrude (Miller) Deitsch had the following children:
Maria/Mary Catharine (1852-1940), married Andrew Leistner
Sophia (1854-1925), married August C. Hofmann
Anna Margaretha (1856-1955), married George Germann
Jacob W. (1857-), married Ida Myers
Johann William (1860-1860)
Friedrick Conrad (1861-1947), married Ida May Biteman
Louisa Barbara (1864-)
Elizabeth (1870-1937), married Samuel Clase

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch.org (accessed 5 Mar 2017), Jacob Deitsch and Charity Miller, 17 Jan 1852; Mercer Marriages, Vol. ABC, p.365, #7, FHL microfilm 914955.

[2] 1860 U.S. Census, Celina, Mercer, Ohio, p.432, dwelling 959, family 962, Jacob Deitch; Ancestry.com (accessed 5 Mar 2017); FHL microfilm 805009, NARA microfilm M653, roll 1009.

[3] 1870 U.S. Census, Celina, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.471A, dwelling 101, family 98, Jacob Deitsch; Ancestry.com (accessed 5 Mar 2017); FHL microfilm 5527421, NARA microfilm M593, roll 1243.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.471A, dwelling & family 9, Jacob Deitsch; Ancestry.com (accessed 5 Mar 2017); NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[5] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.10B, dwelling 192, family 198, Andrew Seistner; Ancestry.com (accessed 5 Mar 2017); FHL microfilm 1241304, NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.