Feb 17

A Chattanooga, Ohio, Postcard from Charles Egger

I do not run across many postcards from Chattanooga, Ohio, but I recently found this one, postmarked 25 June 1912 from Rockford.

It is addressed to J.S. Egger, Hornick, Iowa.

1912 postcard from Charles Egger to his father Jacob S. Egger.

The sender, Charles, was writing to his father J.S. Egger:

June 25-12
Rockford, O
Dear Pa,
Well I got the Draft yesterday
I am well and hope you are all the same
Your son, Chas

At one time, around the turn of the century, Chattanooga had its very own post office. It was located in frame building that stood just south of where the Chatt Bar is today. The post office was in Samuel Egger’s Grocery, located on the first floor, while Egger’s Mortuary was located upstairs. Samuel Egger was also the local UCC minister. What an interesting variety of services provided by Rev. Samuel Egger, who lived in Mercer County the rest of his life.

1912 Chattanooga, Ohio, postcard from Charles Egger to his father Jacob S. Egger.

But who was this J.S. Egger that lived in Iowa, the person to whom the postcard was addressed?

In 1910 one Jacob S. Egger and his wife Augusta lived in Willow, Woodbury County, Iowa. They had been married 35 years and their nine children were living with them. One of their children was Charles L, age 25. Jacob S. Egger was born in Ohio and was a farmer. Jacob’s son Charles was born in Iowa and he was a farm hand. It appears the family moved to Iowa shortly after 1880 because son Albert was born in Ohio about 1880 and the next child, daughter Rosa was born in Iowa about 1881. [1]

In 1880 the Jacob S. Egger family lived in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1880, where Jacob S was a carpenter. [2] Son Charles Egger had not been born yet.

Going backward in time a little farther I learned that Jacob S. Egger married Augusta Steinhoff on 30 March 1875 in Monroe County, Ohio. [3]

Jacob S. Egger (1851-1947) and Augusta (Steinhoff) Egger (1856-1941) remained in Woodbury, Iowa, the rest of their lives. They are both buried in German City Cemetery, Holly Springs, Woodbury County, Iowa.

The information about Jacob S. Egger on FindaGrave.com, which looks like it might be his obituary, indicates that he was survived by, among others, a son Charles and a brother, Rev. Sam Egger, of Van Wert. [4]

So, Rev. Samuel Egger of Chatt and Jacob S. Egger of Iowa were brothers. Charles Egger was likely visiting his uncle Samuel in Chatt when he sent the postcard in 1912.

It appears that Charles Egger never married. Charles was born 1 January 1885 and died in 1961. He is also buried in Germany City Cemetery. His tombstone is simply inscribed Brother Charles L, 1885-1961. [5]

And what was this “Draft” that Charles referred to on the postcard? There was no military draft in 1912. That was not enacted until 18 May 1917, for WWI.

Was Charles referring to an illness? Did he catch a cold or the flu?

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willow, Woodbury, Iowa, ED 217, p.9B, dwelling 123, family 126, Jacob S Egger; Ancestry.com (accessed 14 Feb 2017); FHL microfilm 1374442, NARA microfilm T624, roll 429.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Summit, Monroe, Ohio, ED 132, p.603B, dwelling 50, family 51, Jacob S Egger; Ancestry.com (accessed 14 Feb 2017); FHL microfilm 1255050, NARA microfilm T9, roll 1050.

[3] Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993, Ancestry.com (accessed 16 Feb 2017); from FamilySearch Ohio Marriages, microfilm 000940297.

[4] FindaGrave.com, (accessed 16 Feb 2017); Augusta Minnie (Steinhoff) Egger memorial no.125760798; Jacob Samuel Egger memorial no. 125762120.  

[5] FindaGrave.com, (accessed 16 Feb 2017); Charles L Egger memorial no.126411700.  

 

Feb 14

Tombstone Tuesday–Maria (Betzel) Herzog

Maria Herzog, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Maria (Betzel) Herzog, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Maria
Ehefrau den
G. Friedrich Herzog
Gest. 2 Mai, 1903
Ater 74 J  11 M  16 T
HERZOG

Translation: Maria, wife of G. Friedrich Herzog, died 2 May 1903, aged 74 years, 11 months, 16 days.

Maria was born 17 May 1828, as calculated from the information on her tombstone. Her church death and burial record indicates she was 75 years and about 2 months old. She was born in Bavaria, according to the 1880 census. [1]

Maria Betzel married Friedrich Herzog on 27 January 1872 in Mercer County, Ohio. They were married by Lutheran pastor L. “Lerr.” [2]

This was Friedrich’s second marriage. Friedrich married Catharine Kuhn on 15 April 1852.  Catharine died 9 December 1871 at the age of 44 years, 9 months, and a few days. She has two tombstones in Zion Chatt’s cemetery, an older one and a newer one. Both tombstones are side by side and the newer one is situated  south of her husband’s stone.

In 1880 Friedrich, 55, and his second wife Maria, 52, lived in Liberty Township, where Friedrich was a retired farmer. There were no children in the household. This record indicates they were both born in Bavaria. [1]

It appears that Friedrich and Maria never had any children.

Georg Friedrich Herzog died of a stroke on 21 July 1901, at the age of 76 years, 4 months, and 25 days.

Maria Herzog, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

His widow Maria (Betzel) Herzog died a couple years later, on 2 May 1903, and was buried on the 4th. She is buried on the north side of Friedrich and Friedrich’s first wife Catharine is buried south of him.

Maria, Friedrich, Catharine Herzog Tombstones. (2017 photo by Karen)

Other than that, I was not able to find any more information about Maria. She would have been about 44 years old when she married Friedrich Herzog. Was Betzel her maiden name? Or was her marriage to Friedrich Herzog her second marriage, which would make Betzel her married name?

 

[1] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.471B, dwelling 15, family 16, Frederick Hartsog; Ancestry.com (accessed 5 Feb 2017); NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[2] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch.org (accessed 5 Feb 2017), Frederick Herzog and Mary Betzel, 27 Jan 1872; Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 3, p.301; FHL microfilm 914956.

 

Feb 10

Be My Valentine

Be My Valentine– a popular sentiment on cards this time of year.

Tuesday is Valentine’s Day. A day to show your love by sending cards, flowers, candy [you can never go wrong with chocolate], and having a romantic dinner.

Our ancestors celebrated Valentine’s Day, too, and they had some beautiful cards years ago.

Here are some old Valentine postcards and cards that were given to my grandfather Cornelius Schumm, my mother, and to Wilbert Germann.

This could be a Valentine Card although it does not say so specifically.

To my grandfather Cornelius Schumm from Mary Eicher.

Two cards to Wilbert Germann:

To Wilbert Germann, 1927.

To Wilbert Germann.

Some Valentine cards my mom saved:

To my mom from Florence, her teacher.

Inside of card from Florence.

To my mom from Phyllis Gunsett.

Inside of card from Phyllis Gunsett.

To my mom from Lois.

Inside of card from Lois, 1941.

The last Valentine card is to my mom from Herbert, dated 1936. However, I do not believe it was from my dad because I do not think they met until after the war.

To my mom from Herbert, 1936.

To my mom from Herbert.

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Feb 07

Tombstone Tuesday–Georg Friedrich Herzog

Friedrich Herzog, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of George Friedrich Herzog, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Georg Friedrich
Herzog
Geb. den 26. Feb, 1825
Gest. Den 21 Juli, 1901
Alter 76 J. 4 M, 25 T.
[some writing in German]
I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH
HERZOG

Translation: Georg Friedrich Herzog, born 26 February 1825, Died 21 July 1901.

According to Zion Chatt’s records, Georg “Friedrich” Herzog was born 26 February 1825 in Buschendorf, County Court Herzogenauerach, District Unterfranken, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Europe. [Some of Zion Chatt’s records were very detailed, even providing the name of the continent!]

He usually went by the name of Friedrich and I will use that name here. This surname is sometimes spelled Hartzog or Hardzog in various records.

Friedrich was the son of Johann Herzog and his wife Margaretha, but her maiden name was not given in the church records. Friedrich was baptized and confirmed in Buschendorf and immigrated to America in 1846. He first lived in Butler County, Ohio, before moving to Mercer County.

Friedrich married Catharine Kuhn on 15 April 1852 in Mercer County, Ohio. [1] Catharine was the daughter of Heinrich/Henry and Margaretha Kuhn.

Friedrich and Catharine lived in the Chatt area after their marriage, where they had a Shanesville/Shanes Crossing post office address. Frederich was a farmer and it appears that they did not have had any children. Just the two of them were enumerated in the 1860 and 1870 censuses. Zion Chatt’s communion records begin in 1861 and Fred and Catharine are listed among those first recorded communicants in December 1861.

In 1860: Friedrich, 35, and Catharine, 34. Both were reportedly born in Germany. [2]

In 1870: Friedrich, 46, and Catharine, 43. Both were reportedly born in Bavaria. [3]

Friedrich’s wife Catharine died 9 December 1871 at the age of 44 years, 9 months, and a few days. She has two tombstones in Zion Chatt’s cemetery, an older one and a newer one. Both tombstones are side by side and the newer one is situated next to her husband’s stone.

Friedrich married soon after Catharine’s death. He married Maria/Mary Betzel on 27 January 1872, married by Lutheran pastor L. “Lerr.” [4]

In 1880 Friedrich, 55, and Mary, 52, lived in Liberty Township, where Friedrich was a retired farmer. There were no children in the household. This record indicates they were both born in Bavaria. [5]

According to the 1888 and 1900 plat maps a Friedrich Herzog lived on the east side of downtown Chattanooga. There were at least two Friedrich Herzogs in the area and I am not sure which one of them lived in Chatt. I have not located today’s subject in the 1900 census.

It appears that Friedrich and Mary did not have any children.

Georg Friedrich Herzog died of a stroke on 21 July 1901, at the age of 76 years, 4 months, and 25 days.  He was buried on the 23rd.

His widow Marie died a couple years later and is buried on the other side of Friedrich.

Friedrich had an older brother George who is also mentioned in Zion Chatt’s records. In the church records George Herzog had the same parents as Friedrich, was from the same town in Bavaria, and was a couple years older than Friedrich. George Herzog was born 2 July 1823 in Buschendorf and the record indicates that George immigrated with his parents in 1845 and resided in Butler County, Ohio, before eventually moving to Mercer County. George married Sarah Anna Thaney/Tannery in 1850 [6] and they had at least five children: Johann Jacob, Elisabeth Jane, Margaretha, Michael, and Carolina.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch.org (accessed 29 Jan 2017), Frederick Hartzog/Harzog and Catharine Kuhn, 15 Apr 1852; Mercer County Marriages, Vol.ABC, p375. ; FHL microfilm 914955.

[2] 1860 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p.333, dwelling 625, family 630, Fred Hardsag; Ancestry.com ( accessed 29 Jan 2017); FHL microfilm 805009, NARA microfilm M653, roll 1009.

[3] 1870 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p.29B, dwelling/family 158, Fredrick Hardzog; Ancestry.com (accessed 29 Jan 2017); FHL microfilm 552742, NARA microfilm M593, roll 1243.

[4] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch.org (accessed 5 Feb 2017), Frederick Herzog and Mary Betzel, 27 Jan 1872; Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 3, p.301; FHL microfilm 914956.

[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.471B, dwelling 15, family 16, Frederick Hartsog; Ancestry.com (accessed 5 Feb 2017); NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[6] “Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958,” database, FamilySearch.org (accessed 5 Feb 2017), George Hartzig and Sarah Tannery, 24 Jan 1850; Butler County Marriages, Vol. 1-4; FHL microfilm 0355779. [Zion Chatt’s records shows her name as Thaney; the FamilySearch database shows her name as Tannery.]

 

Feb 03

The Buchanans of Willshire

Here are a couple more interesting postcards from Willshire, Ohio, from the early 1900s.

You can see the name Buchanan on the side of the the horse-drawn hearse below.

Stephen S. Buchanan, undertaker in Willshire, Ohio.

Stephen S. Buchanan and his son Claude were both undertakers in Willshire. This is likely Stephen Buchanan driving the hearse. According to the awning on the building, the photo was taken in front of his furniture/undertaker business.

Stephen Sylvester Buchanan was born 15 November 1848 in Ohio. He married Rosa Fairchild 27 April 1871 in Fairfield County, Ohio. [1] Stephen died 4 February 1934 in Willshire, at the age of 85 years and is buried in Willshire Cemetery beside his wife Rosanna. [2]

In 1880 Stephen S. and Rosa Buchanan lived in Willshire. In their household at that time: Steve, 32; Rose, 28; Emily Alice, 8; Claude E, 6; Daisy Dell, 3; and James S, 1. Steve was enumerated as a carpenter. [3]

According to census enumerations Stephen S. Buchanon was a furniture merchant, carpenter and undertaker in Willshire over the years. I have seen his name as the undertaker on several local death certificates from years ago. Furniture makers were often undertakers because they could make the wooden coffins.

Pictured in the next photo is likely the father Stephen S. Buchanan and his son James S., in front of their general store in Willshire. His son James S. was born about 1879.

J.S. Buchanan General Store, Willshire, Ohio.

I remember a general store on the west side of State Street in Willshire. I think it was near where Lillie’s Tin Ceiling is today. I remember shopping for fabric there years ago, in the late 1950s to early 1960s, but I do not remember the name of the store. Was it Buchanan’s? I do not know when the Buchanan store there closed. Perhaps someone remembers.

I worked in St. Marys, Ohio, for nearly 37 years and there was also a Buchanan’s Department Store there, on East Spring Street. That would have been in the 1970s and maybe the early 1980s. It was a nice store that had clothing and fabrics and I always wondered if Buchanan’s Department Store in St. Marys was connected to the Buchanan store in Willshire.

Just this past week, after studying these photos, I asked a couple of my St. Marys patients if they remembered the St. Marys Buchanan store. One man said his mother did household work for the Buchanan’s. He recalled that Mrs. Buchanan’s name was Mary but could not remember Mr. Buchanan’s name. Another person remembered the store but not the owner’s name. Finally, I talked to one lady who said she actually worked in Buchanan’s Department Store in St. Marys. She said she bought her children’s clothing there and that the owner’s were Stephen and Mary Buchanan.

Were these Buchanan stores in Willshire and St. Marys connected somehow?

According to FindaGrave.com Stephen James Buchanan (1909-1984) and his wife Mary Bancroft (1907-1997) are buried in Elam Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Ohio.  [4] They would have been the St. Mary’s Buchanan store owners.

Stephen J. Buchanan was the son of James S. and Liza C. Buchanan. And James S. Buchanan was the son of Willshire’s carpenter and undertaker, Stephen S. Buchanan.

James S. Buchanan married Eliza K. Hill in Mercer County, Ohio, on 14 Dec 1904. He was living in Van Wert County and she was from Blackcreek Township. James S’s parents were given as S.S. Buchanan and Rosie Fairchild. Eliza parents were Fredrick Hill and Nancy Bollenbacher. James S. was a blacksmith at the time of their marriage. [5]

In 1910 James S. Buchanan and his wife Eliza lived on Green Street in Willshire, where James S. owned and operated a blacksmith shop. The couple had been married 6 years and their son Stephen was 8 months old. It appears he was their only child. [6]

In 1920 James S. and Liza Buchanan lived on Sprague Street in Willshire, where James S. owned a clothing store. Their household in 1920: James S, 39; Liza C, 37; Stephen J, 10. [7]

So Stephen James Buchanan, the owner of Buchanan’s Department Store in St. Marys, was the grandson of Stephen S. Buchanan, the undertaker. And Stephen James Buchanan was also Claude Buchanan’s nephew since James S. and Claude were brothers.

A family with generations of merchants, carpenters, and undertakers.

Mystery solved.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013, FamilySearch.org (accessed 2 Feb 2017); Stephen Buchanan & Rosa  Fairchild, 27 April 1871; from Fairfield County Marriages, Vol.3, p.215; FHL microfilm 295270.

[2] Find a Grave.com, Stephen S. Buchanan memorial no. 71892217.

[3] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.461C, family 68, Steve Buchanan; Ancestry.com ( accessed 2 Feb 2017); FHL microfilm 1255074, NARA microfilm T9, roll 1074.

[4] Find a Grave.com, Stephen James Buchanan memorial #40528178.

[5] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013, FamilySearch.org (accessed 2 Feb 2017); JS Buchanan & Eliza K Hill  14 Dec 1904; from Mercer County Marriages, Vol.3, p.80; FHL microfilm 914958.

[6] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.12B, dwelling 76, James Buchanan; Ancestry.com (accessed 2 Feb 2017); FHL microfilm 1375251, NARA microfilm T624, roll 1238.

[7] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.10B, dwelling 105, James A Buchanan; Ancestry.com (accessed 2 Feb 2017); NARA microfilm T625, roll 1446.