May 10

Tombstone Tuesday–John L. & Caroline (Deitsch) Strabel

John L & Caroline (Deitsch) Strabel, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

John L & Caroline (Deitsch) Strabel, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of John L. and Caroline (Deitsch) Strabel, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

STRABEL
John L.
1850-1906

Caroline
1856-1945
We Shall Meet Again

Johann “John” Leonhard Strabel was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on 6 January 1850 to Peter and Dora (Herbolzheimer) Strabel. His parents were both born in the Kingdom of Bavaria and immigrated to America in 1849. The family lived in Cincinnati for several years but moved to Mercer County, Ohio, by 1863. John Strabel was baptized in Cincinnati but was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 15 May 1864.

John Strabel married Caroline Deitsch on 28 March 1878 in Mercer County, Ohio. They were married by Rev. JC Bohnen. [1]

Caroline Deitsch was born in Liberty Township on 18 December 1856. She was the daughter of Philip and Catherine (Huffman) Deitsch.

After their marriage John and Caroline lived in Liberty Township, where their four children were born.

In 1880 John and Caroline lived next door to John’s parents and they had one child, Philip, who was 6 months old. John farmed and Caroline kept house. [2]

In 1900 the family consisted of John, Caroline, Philip, 22, Katie, 17, Christina, 10, and Edward, 3. Caroline had given birth to 4 children, all of whom were living. John was a farmer. [3]

John Strabel died of pneumonia on 30 March 1906, at the age of 56 years, 2 months, and 24 days. He was buried on 2 April. According to the church records he was survived by his widow, his mother, two sons, and two daughters.

In 1910 widow Caroline Strabel lived with her two sons Philip, 30, and Edward, 13. She described her occupation as overseer of the home farm. She indicated that all four of her children were still living. [4]

By 1920 widow Caroline Strabel, age 66, had moved to Celina and was living at 649 North Sugar with her unmarried son Edward, age 22. Caroline was not employed but Edward worked as a machinist in a garage. [5]

Caroline (Deitsch) Strabel married widower Frank P. Miller on 4 January 1923 in Mercer County. Frank was a farmer, the son of John and Emily (Lincoln) Miller and was born in Mercer County about 1855. [6] Frank and Caroline did not get to spend many years together because Frank died 16 April 1927. Frank is buried with his first wife Margaret (Smith) Miller in North Grove Cemetery, Celina. [7]

By 1930 twice widowed Caroline (Deitsch) Strabel Miller was still living at 649 North Sugar Street. Living with her was her 17 year-old granddaughter Willametta Hudson and her 22 year-old niece Marcella Strabel. [8]

In 1940 Caroline, age 83 and still a widow, was living with her son Edward Strabel, age 43, his wife Emma, 35, and their son Lisle in Celina. Her son Edward was a garage proprietor. [9]

Caroline (Deitsch) Strabel Miller died in Celina of an intestinal obstruction caused by colon cancer on 9 April 1945. She was 88 years, 7 months, and 21 days old. Her son Philip Strabel was the informant for the information on her death certificate. She was buried on the 11th. [10]

John and Caroline (Deitsch) Strable had the following children:
Philip (1879-1957), married Mary Brehm
Katharine “Katie” Dorothea (1883-1970?), married Marshall Hudson
“Christina” Margarethe, (1889-1921), married Clarence Beitler
“Edward” Paul (1896-1991), married Emma Now

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 8 May 2016), John Strabel and Caroline Deitsch, 28 Mar 1878; from Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 4, p.100; from FHL microfilm 914956.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.472C, dwelling 21, house 22, John Strable; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1255048, from NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.10A, dwelling 188, family 193, John Strabel; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241304, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.

[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119, p.18A, dwelling 393, family 344, Caroline Straby; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[5] 1920 U.S. Census, Celina, Mercer, Ohio, ED 139, p.6B, dwelling 138, family 158, Caroline Straby; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[6] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 8 May 2016), Frank P Miller and Caroline Strable, 4 Jan 1923; from Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 12,  p.179; from FHL microfilm 2366955.

[7] Find a Grave.com, Frank Pierce Miller memorial #40209297.

[8] 1930 U.S. Census, Celina, Mercer, Ohio, ED 18, p.9B, dwelling 231, family 240, Caroline Miller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 2341584, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 1850.

[9] 1940 U.S. Census, Celina, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-19, p.5B, dwelling 231, family 240, Edward Strable; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T627, roll 3114.

[10] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 8 May 2016), Caroline Deitsch Miller, 9 Apr 1945; Ohio State File no. 23428, from FHL microfilm 2372782.

May 06

Garage Treasures

Unlike the dainty hankies, aprons, and nylons I found in the house, the garage stuff that Joe is going through is rough, worn, and dare I say, dirty. I have acquired a new appreciation for acetone, which cuts the sticky grime coating on some of the items that were stashed away out there for decades.

Below are a few things that Joe recently uncovered in my parents’ garage.

The rusty remains of an old single-shot muzzle loading pistol:

The remains of a single-shot muzzle loading pistol.

What is left of a single-shot muzzle loading pistol.

An old pistol grip inscribed with an eagle holding four arrows:

Grip

My old Huffy Galaxy bicycle seat. That old bicycle was a turquoise beauty and I put many, many miles on it. However, this seat was not very comfortable and was put away when it was replaced with a softer model.

Huffy Galaxy Bicycle seat from the 1960s.

Huffy Galaxy Bicycle seat from the 1960s.

I assume the “H” on the underside of the seat stood for Huffy:

Huffy Galaxy Bicycle seat from the 1960s.

Huffy Galaxy Bicycle seat from the 1960s.

My old jump rope. I briefly considered using it again but immediately thought better of it.

Karen's old jump rope.

Karen’s old jump rope.

A box full of spoke wheel covers:

Box of wire wheel covers.

Box of wire wheel covers.

Some old Jacks:

A few old Jacks.

An old house sign. It looks like someone started to paint it but decided not to.

The Millers

The Millers

A metal container full of feathers that I never should have opened that windy day:

Container of feathers.

Container of feathers.

Feathers that never made it into the pillow.

May 03

Tombstone Tuesday–Georg Strable

Georg Strable, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Georg Strable, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

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

Georg
Sohn von
Peter und Dora
Strable
Gest von
Marz 22, 1883
Alter von
22 Y und 5 T

Translation: Georg, son of Peter and Dora Strable, died 22 March 1883, aged 22 years, 5 days.

Note that there are several spelling variations for this surname in the church records but Strabel seems to be used the most. It is also spelled Strobel or Stroebel, but in this case, on this particular tombstone, it is spelled Strable. Georg’s parents usually used the spelling of Strabel but I am using the Strable spelling for this post since that is the way it is inscribed on this tombstone.

Georg Strable was born 17 March 1861 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Christened Johann “Georg” Strable, he was the sixth of nine children born to Peter and Margaretha Dorothea “Dora” (Herbolzheimer) Strable.

Both of his parents were born in the Kingdom of Bavaria and immigrated to America in about 1849. The family lived in Cincinnati several years before moving northward to Mercer County, Ohio, sometime between March 1861 and May 1863. Georg was born in Cincinnati during their time there but was baptized at Zion Chatt on 14 May 1863. Georg and Barbara Brummer served as his baptismal sponsors at Zion.

George Strable was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 14 April 1875.

The Peter Strable family lived on the north side of Chatt on what is now called Strable Road.

Although the family attended Zion Chatt Georg’s death was not recorded in the church records, possibly because there is a gap in the records during that time.

However, his death is recorded in the Mercer County Probate records. That record indicates that he died of measles in Liberty Township on 21 March 1883. He was 22 years and 4 days old, born in Cincinnati, and was a farmer. [1] Note that the probate information disagrees with the inscription on his tombstone by one day.

Georg’s father Peter died of dropsy in Mercer County on 12 September 1889 and his mother Dora died in Liberty Township on 18 February 1913.

Georg is buried between his parents and his sister Margaretha (Strobel/Strable) Miller. Margaretha was the second wife of my great-grandfather Jacob Miller.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 28 Apr 2016), George Strabel, 21 Mar 1883; from Liberty Township, Mercer, Ohio, Deaths, Vol. 1, p.186-7, from FHL microfilm 914954.

Apr 29

Jacob Miller Jr Was a Woodman of the World

I always mention the unique grave markers of the Woodmen of the World in my tombstone/cemetery talk, but until a few days ago I did not know that a member of our family was a member of their fraternal benefit society.

Jacob Miller Jr's Woodmen of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Miller Jr’s Woodmen of the World certificate, 1911.

The Woodmen of the World is a fraternal benefit society–a non-profit organization owned and governed by its members, that combines insurance with a common bond of mutual aid and social membership organized into branches with meetings, and conventions.

The Woodmen of the World was organized by Joseph Cullen Root in June 1890 in Omaha, Nebraska. Root first founded the Modern Woodmen of the World in 1882 and it operated in nine of the central western states. Root left the Modern Woodmen in 1890 to organize Woodmen of the World. [1]

Jacob Miller Jr Woodman of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Miller Jr’s Woodman of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Miller Jr, my great-uncle, had Woodmen of the World Benefit Certificate no. 253940. Jacob Jr was a member of the Bakersfield, California, Camp no. 460, Pacific Jurisdiction. He was born in Mercer County but left Ohio before 1910 to work in the western oil fields. His certificate is dated 30 November 1910 and is stamped 16 January 1911. It shows Jacob Jr was 25 years old and was from Willshire, Ohio.

Jacob Miller Jr Woodman of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Miller Jr Woodman of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Miller Jr’s Woodman of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Jr’s certificate was in the amount of $500 and his father Jacob Miller Sr was the beneficiary. The certificate states that the beneficiary would receive $250 if the member died within one year of the certificate date, $375 if the member died within two years, and $500 if death occurred after two years.

Jacob Miller Jr (1886-1913)

Jacob Miller Jr (1886-1913)

Jacob Miller Jr was killed out west when an oil derrick fell on him in April of 2013. Two years had passed since Jacob Jr took out the policy so his father should have received the $500 death benefit.

Jacob Miller Jr's Woodmen of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Miller Jr’s Woodmen of the World certificate, 1911.

Jacob Miller Jr does not have the distinctive Woodmen of the World tree trunk tombstone or one of their “WOW” insignia that their members sometimes have. The tree stump tombstone was an early benefit of Woodmen membership but was abandoned in the late 1920s due to cost. [2] These unique markers are easy to spot in a cemetery.

Woodman of the World marker, Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima, OH (2013 photo by Karen)

Woodman of the World marker, Woodlawn Cemetery, Lima, OH (2013 photo by Karen)

Throughout the years the Woodmen have merged with other fraternal benefit societies and are still in existence today, known as WoodmanLife. [3]

[1] History of Woodmen of the World , accessed 28 April 2016.

[2] WoodmenLife, Wikipedia.org, accessed 28 April 20165.

[3] WoodmenLife, accessed 28 April 2016.

Apr 26

Tombstone Tuesday–Peter and Dora (Herbolzheimer) Strabel

Peter & Dora Strabel, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Peter & Dora Strabel, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Peter and Dora (Herbolzheimer) Strabel, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

STRABEL
Peter
Strabel
Born
Oct. 21, 1818
Died
Sept. 12, 1889

Dora
Strabel
Born
Aug. 25, 1826
Died
Feb. 18, 1913

 

There are several spelling variations in the church records for this name but Strabel is the most common. It is also spelled Strobel, Strable, and Stroebel, with Stroebel being the German spelling.

Zion Chatt’s church records give conflicting information about Johann “Peter” Strabel’s date and place of birth. According to Zion’s Familienbuch he was born 10 February 1818 in Dottenheim, County Court Windsheim, District Mittelfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria, but according to his church death and burial record he was born 21 Oct 1819 Billberg, District Mittelfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria. His tombstone is a mixture of both dates.

Peter was the son of Gottfried & Catharina Strabel and he immigrated to the U.S. in 1849. He married Margaretha Dorothea Herbolzheimer in Cincinnati that same year, according to Zion’s records.

Margaretha Dorothea “Dora” Herbolzheimer was born 25 August 1826 in Markipsheim, County Court Windsheim, District Mittelfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria. She was the daughter of Thomas and Dorothea Herbolzheimer.

Peter and Dora Strabel resided in Cincinnati for several years before moving to Mercer County, Ohio. Several of their children were born in Cincinnati and two of their sons died there. Sometime between March 1861 and May 1863 they moved to the Chatt area.

At one time Peter and Dora Strabel owned 80 acres in Section 4 of Liberty Township and 80 acres in Section 33 of Blackcreek Township. Both farms were along what is now called Strable Road.

Peter and Dora lived in Liberty Township in 1870 and in the household were: Peter, 49; Dora, 45; John, 20; Barbary, 13; Margaret, 11; George, 9; Mark, 7; Susanna, 4; and Peter, 5/12. [1]

In 1880 Peter and Dora lived in Liberty Township with children George, 19; Michael, 16; Aver, 13; and Peter, 10. Peter Sr lived next door to their married son John, his wife Caroline, and their son Phillip. [2]

Peter Strabel died of dropsy on 12 September 1889, at the age of 70 years. He was buried on the 14th, with Rev. Chr. Reichert in charge of the service. He had been a farmer all of his life.

In 1900 Dora, a widow, lived in Liberty Township with her son Peter and his family. In the household: Peter, 30, head; Louise, 30, wife; Rudolph, 2, son; Leona D, 4/12, daughter; Strabel [Dora], mother, 74. Dora indicated that she had given birth of 9 children but only 5 were living. [3]

In 1910 Dora Strabel lived with her daughter “Affie” [Eva Barbara] and her husband John J Bollenbacher in Liberty Township. This enumeration indicates that Dora immigrated in 1848 and that she had given birth to 9 children but only 4 were living. [4]

Dora died in Liberty Township on 18 February 1913 at the age of 86 years, 6 months, and 23 days. She was buried on the 21st. According to her death certificate she died of dropsy and Bright’s Disease.

Peter and Dora Strabel had the following children:
Johann “John” Leonhard (1850-1906), married Caroline Deitsch
Johann Georg (1852-c1859)
Johann Georg (1854-c1856)
Susann “Barbara” (1857-1941), married John Williams
Margaretha (1859-1882), married Jacob Miller
Johann “Georg” (1861-1883)
Johann “Michael” (1863-1930), married Elizabeth Grauberger
Eva Barbara (1866-1943), married John Jacob Bollenbacher
Johann “Peter” (1869-1957), married Louise Fischer

As is so often the case, I have a connection to the Strabel family. Margaretha Strabel was the second wife of my great-grandfather, Jacob Miller. Jacob’s first wife, Sophia Goelzer, died in Bavaria before he immigrated to America in 1871. Jacob married Margaretha Strobel at Zion Chatt on 15 March 1877.

Jacob and Margaretha (Strabel) Miller had two sons, Johann “Peter” (1878-1957), who married Della Kuehm, and Christian Miller (1880-1911), who died of typhoid fever out west and never married. After Margaretha’s death Jacob married Christine Rueck on 9 November 1882 at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm. I descend from Jacob and Christine Rueck. [5]

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.150A, dwelling 131, family 117, Peter Strabel; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 Apr 2016); from FHL microfiom 552742, from NARA microfilm M593, roll 1243.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.472C, dwelling 20, family 21, Peter Strable; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 Apr 2016); from FHL microfilm 1255048, from NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.12A, dwelling 223, family 229, Peter Strabel; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 Apr 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241304, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.

[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119, p.13B, dwelling, family, John J Bollenbacher; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 Apr 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[5] Tombstone Tuesday–Margaretha (Strobel) Miller blog post, 12 April 2011, Karen’s Chatt.