Jun 03

Old Photos of Sisters Hilda & Edna Scaer

Wednesday I went over to visit Mary, my first cousin once removed. We spent the afternoon talking and had a wonderful visit. She had invited me over to look at some old family photos. Of course I am always eager to learn more about the family and scan old family photos.

Mary and I share common ancestors through the Scaers, Schinnerers, and Schumms. Her mother Edna (Scaer) Schumm was the younger sister of my grandmother Hilda (Scaer) Schumm, daughters of John and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Schinnerer) Scaer. We had a lot to talk about.

John and Lizzie Scaer started housekeeping near Monroeville, Indiana, but moved east of Willshire about 1905, when John purchased a farm from Martin Schinnerer. These photos were taken at their frame house on Willshire Eastern Road before John remodeled the house by adding on to the east side and putting a brick facade on the house.

Mary showed me some photos of her mother Edna and my grandmother Hilda as young women, photos that I had never seen before.

Sisters Hilda & Edna Scaer.

Sisters Hilda & Edna Scaer.

Sisters Hilda & Edna Scaer with Carl Schinnerer.

Sisters Hilda & Edna Scaer with Carl Schinnerer.

I cannot say for certain, but I believe the vase with flowers situated between the two sisters in the above photos is the same vase I have in the photo below, or one just like it. I have two of these beautiful carnival glass vases that my mom said were her mother’s [Hilda’s] old vases. My cousin Mary also has one and she said they were actually Lizzie’s vases, Lizzie being the mother of Hilda and Edna. At any rate, the vases are old and it is certainly interesting to see one in an old photo!

Lizzie Scaer vase

Sisters Hilda & Edna Scaer with Carl Schinnerer.

Sisters Hilda & Edna Scaer with Carl Schinnerer.

I am not sure which Carl Schinnerer is in the photos above. There was a Karl Freidrich Schinnerer, born in 1898, the son of George Friedrich and Minnie (Roehm) Schinnerer. They lived in Willshire Township and I suspect he is likely the person in the photos.

There was also a Rev. Carl August Schinnerer, born in 1889, the son of Rev. Johann Jacob Friedrich and Anna Margaret (Evers) Schinnerer. That family lived in Iowa and other states out west.

The sisters would have been second cousins to both Carl Schinnerers.

Old photos are the best, especially when the people are identified.

 

May 31

Tombstone Tuesday–John A. Grauberger

John A. Grauberger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

John A. Grauberger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of John A. Grauberger, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

GRAUBERGER
John A.
Feb. 18, 1860
July 13, 1939

“John” Andrew Grauberger was born in Ohio on 18 February 1860 to George Adam and Anna Marie (Schaefer) Grauberger. John’s father was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria and immigrated to America about 1854. John’s mother was born in Hessen Darmstadt and immigrated in about 1851.

John’s parents George and Anna married in 1858 in Franklin County, Ohio, [1] and they moved to Blackcreek Township, north east of Chattanooga, by 1868. One Johannes Andreas Grauber was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 14 April 1875 and was likely John Andrew Grauberger.

John’s father George was drafted into the Civil War and served as a private in Co C, 122 Regiment, Ohio Infantry. [2] [3]

The Grauberger family lived on the northeast corner of Section 20, along what is now Grauberger Road. The family was enumerated in Blackcreek in the 1870 census as Crawbarger and in their household: George, 45, Mary A, 36, John, 12, Elizabeth, 6. George, 2. [4]

The Grauberger household in 1880: George, 55; Anna M, 45; John A, 20; Elizabeth, 16; George, 11; Henry M, 9. All of their children were born in Ohio. [5]

In 1900 the family consisted of George, Anna, John A, George, Henry, and son Henry’s wife Emma (Baker) Grauberger. [6]

John’s father George died 2 April 1902.

In 1910 John’s widowed mother Anna was living on Eckles Pike [could this be Eichler Pike?] with her two unmarried sons George and John A. Also in the household was farm hand George Shafer, 28, and maid Leota Brandstetter, 21. [7]

In 1920 John, age 59, lived by himself and was enumerated as head of household and farmer on a farm that he owned. Although the index and transcription of this census shows him as married, it looks like a Ba, which could have been the enumerator’s abbreviation for bachelor. [8]

A short distance away was John’s mother Anna, age 86, living with her other unmarried son George, 50. [9]

John’s mother Anna (Schaefer) Grauberger died in Blackcreek Township on 11 July 1922. [10]

In 1930 John, 69, and his brother George, 61, lived together in Blackcreek Township on what looks like Grauberger Pike on the census page. Both brothers were single and George was listed as the head of the household. John was the owner and manager of a ditching operation and his brother George farmed. They indicated that they were both born in Ohio, their father was born in Bavaria, and that their mother was born in Hesse.  Some of their neighbors included Burris McBride, William Berry, Leroy Kuhn, Leroy Pifer, Fred Stuckey, and Hugo Weinman. [11]

According to Zion Chatt’s records John Andrew Grauberger died of an infection on 13 July 1939, at the age of 79 years, 4 months, and 25 days. He was survived by one brother and was buried on the 16th.

John is buried between his brother George and his sister Elizabeth (Grauberger) Stroebel and her husband Michael Stroebel. John’s parents George and Anna are buried on the other side of Elizabeth.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 May 2016), George A. Grauberger and Mary Schaeffer, 10 Jun 1858; from Franklin, Ohio, marriages, Vol. 7, p.122; from FHL microfilm 285144.

[2] 1890 U.S. Veterans Schedule, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 178, p. 2, line 3, Georges Grougbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 May 2016); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, from NARA microfilm M123, Record Group 15.

[3] “United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 22 May 2016), George Grauberger, 1888.

[4] 1870 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, dwelling 94, family 94, George W Crawbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 552742, from NARA microfilm M593, roll 1243.

[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 179, p.327A, line 30, George Granberger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p. 8A, dwelling 167, family 167, George A Grauberger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241303, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1303.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.2A, dwelling 33, family 33, George Granbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375277, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, p.12B, dwelling 238, family 238, John Granbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[9] 1920 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, dwelling 192, p.10A, George Gronbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[10] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 May 2016), Anna Marie Grauberger, 9 Jul 1922; from Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, deaths; from FHL microfilm 1992065.

[11] 1930 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 1, p.2B, dwelling 35, family 35, George Grauberger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 29 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 2341584, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 18500

May 27

Memorial Day 2016

This coming Monday we celebrate Memorial Day, a federal holiday originally called Decoration Day. Some people still refer to it as Decoration Day and this holiday traditionally marks the beginning of summer.

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Memorial Day began as a way to remember and honor both Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed in battle during the Civil War. The 30th of May was designated to decorate those graves with the choicest flowers of springtime. The day was officially proclaimed in 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery by General John Logan, the national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

After WWI Memorial Day was extended to honor Americans who died in all wars. Today most Americans use this holiday as a time to decorate grave sites, whether the deceased served in the military or not.

Memorial Day was declared a U.S. federal holiday in 1971 and is now observed the last Monday in May.

In December 2000 the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed, which asks all Americans to pause at 3:00 p.m. local time and reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day.

Proper American flag etiquette should be observed on Memorial Day. The American flag should be flown at half-staff until noon and then raised to full-staff. During a parade there may be several participants with a flag and it is appropriate to salute only the first flag as it passes by. As the first flag passes everyone should show respect by standing at attention with their right hand over their heart. Those in uniform should give their appropriate formal salute.

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Most area town have a Memorial Day ceremony at local cemetery, conducted by the local American Legion and/or VFW, who also mark all veterans’ graves with an American flag. Willshire Home Furnishings will have a display of military uniforms, photos, flags, maps, and letters of local servicemen all weekend and Memorial Day. It is a wonderful display and well worth a visit.

The flag photos in this post were taken at Resthaven Memory Gardens, located in Auglaize County, east of St. Marys on 33A. The beautiful display is set up and flown every Memorial Day. In addition to the American flags, flags representing of all five branches of the military are also flown–Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, as well as a POW/MIA flag. There are also plaques recognizing the major U.S. wars and conflicts. It is a breathtaking display.

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Flags representing branches of the U.S. military, Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 by Karen)

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

Resthaven Memory Gardens, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

Remember the true meaning of Memorial Day this Monday as you welcome summer.

May 24

Tombstone Tuesday–George A. & Anna M. (Schaefer) Grauberger

George A. & Anna M. Grauberger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

George A. & Anna M. Grauberger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of George Adam and Anna Marie (Schaefer) Grauberger, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

GRAUBERGER
George A.
July 31, 1824
Apr. 2, 1902
Anna M.
Feb. 18, 1833
July 9, 1922

George Adam Grauberger was born in Neidhardwinden, Mittelfranken, Kingdom of Bavaria, according to Zion Chatt’s records, and he immigrated to America about 1854.

George married “Anna” Marie Schaefer on 10 June 1858 in Franklin County, Ohio. [1] Anna Schaefer was born in Gronau, Hessendarmstadt, also according to Zion Chatt’s records.

The Civil War started a couple years later and George Grauberger, at age 40, was drafted into service. He served as a private in Co C, 122nd  Regiment, Ohio Infantry. He entered the war in June 1864 and mustered out in June 1865. He suffered a disability, but I could not read the writing on the page. [Something chronic and something stroke.] [2] [3]

George and Anna moved to Blackcreek Township, north east of Chattanooga, by 1868, where their son George was born in February of that year. George owned 80 acres in the northeast corner of Section 20, along what is now Grauberger Road. The family was enumerated in Blackcreek in the 1870 census as Crawbarger and in their household: George, 45, Mary A, 36, John, 12, Elizabeth, 6. George, 2. [4]

In 1880 George farmed and in the household: George, 55; Anna M, 45; John A, 20; Elizabeth, 16; George, 11; Henry M, 9. All of their children were born in Ohio. [5]

The 1900 census indicates that George immigrated in 1854, that Anna immigrated in 1851, and that they married in 1858. They had been married for 42 years and all four of their children were living. In the household: George, Anna, John A, George, Henry, and son Henry’s wife Emma (Baker) Grauberger. In 1900 Henry and Emma were married less than a year and had no children. George Sr farmed and his sons worked on the farm. [6]

George Grauberger died 2 April 1902, at the age of 77 years, 8 months, and 2 years, and was buried on the 4th.  He was survived by his widow, 4 children, and 21 grandchildren.

In 1910 Anna Grauberger, a widow, was living on Eckles Pike with her two unmarried sons George and John A. Also in the household was farm hand George Shafer, 28, and maid Leota Brandstetter, 21. [7]

In 1920 Anna, age 86, lived with her unmarried son George, 50. Their neighbors included William Hoehamer, Elmer Stetler, Christ Eichler, Truman Dudgeon, and Charley White. [8]

Anna (Schaefer) Grauberger died of old age on 11 July 1922, at the age of 89 years, 4 months, and 21 days, according to Zion’s records.  According to her death certificate she died in Blackcreek Township of hypostatic pneumonia. The informant was her son George and Ketcham Brothers were in charge of the funeral. [9]

George and Anna Grauberger had the following children:
John Andrew (1860-1939)
Elizabeth (1864-1938), married Michael Stroebel
George (1868-1939)
Michael Heinrich “Henry” (1871-1918), married Emma Baker

George & Anna Grauberger are buried in the same row as and near their children John, George, and Elizabeth.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 May 2016), George A. Grauberger and Mary Schaeffer, 10 Jun 1858; from Franklin, Ohio, marriages, Vol. 7, p.122; from FHL microfilm 285144.

[2] 1890 U.S. Veterans Schedule, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 178, p. 2, line 3, Georges Grougbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 May 2016); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, from NARA microfilm M123, Record Group 15.

[3] “United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 22 May 2016), George Grauberger, 1888.

[4] 1870 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, dwelling 94, family 94, George W Crawbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 552742, from NARA microfilm M593, roll 1243.

[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 179, p.327A, line 30, George Granberger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T9, roll 1048.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p. 8A, dwelling 167, family 167, George A Grauberger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1241303, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1303.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.2A, dwelling 33, family 33, George Granbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375277, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, dwelling 192, p.10A, George Gronbarger; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1418.

[9] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 May 2016), Anna Marie Grauberger, 9 Jul 1922; from Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, deaths; from FHL microfilm 1992065.

May 20

Wolfe & Schumm, Schumm, Ohio

Here is an old wooden box that I recently acquired, likely a mailing box destined for Wolfe & Schumm, Schumm, Ohio. If that was the actual shipping information I have to wonder how the box ever got to its intended destination, the little village of Schumm.

Box to Wolf & Schumm, Schumm, Ohio.

Box to Wolf & Schumm, Schumm, Ohio.

Just who was Wolfe & Schumm? I had to know…

I learned that in 1910 John “Logan” Wolfe and Gustav Schumm were both merchants in a general store that was most likely located in Schumm. Although the 1910 census did not specify it was the village of Schumm, neighboring names and occupations lead me to believe it was Schumm: Joseph Johnson, overseer at the sawmill; Nicholas Pfeifer, laborer at the sawmill; Fred Whiting, engineer at the sawmill; Abraham Pflueger, carpenter; and Zion Schumm’s minister, indexed as Henoch Haooe, likely an incorrect transcription. Note that the sawmill seemed to be the largest employer in the village.

According to the 1910 census Gustav Schumm, 28, was a merchant at a general store. He had been married to Dora, age 25, for a year and they had a son Arthur, 7 months. Gustav lived next door to Abraham Pflueger, who was a house and barn carpenter. [1]

Gustavus “Gustav” Jacob Schumm was born 18 December 1881 to Henry and Rosina (Schinnerer) Schumm. He married Dorathea Elizabeth Bienz on 27 December 1908 and they had 5 children: Arthur William, Ora Katherine, Karl George, Ida Johanna, and Paul G.

This makes perfect sense because Gustav’s son Karl George is still living and remembers his father’s store. In January 2015 I talked to Karl about his father’s general store, the brick building that once stood along the railroad tracks in Schumm. Regular readers of Karen’s Chatt will remember the photo of the mysterious brick building that once stood south of the tracks on the north edge of town. [2]  

Karl Schumm was born in Schumm in 1913, born in a house near the brick building that housed Schumm’s general store, owned by Karl’s father Gustav. The train used to stop there to drop off mail and supplies for the store. Gustav sold the building and store to George Weinman about 1916 or 1917 and Karl’s family moved from Schumm in 1923.

In 1910, just a few houses down the street from Gustav Schumm, was J.L. Wolfe, 38, also a merchant at a general store. [3] Additional research indicates his name was actually John “Logan” Wolfe. Logan Wolfe was born 28 April 1871 in Mercer County, Ohio, to Jacob B. & Emaline Wolfe. They were Quakers and lived across the state line in Indiana for a few years. [4] Logan Wolfe married Della Acheson about 1908 and they had two children, Elmo and Mildred M. Wolfe. Logan later became a business man and merchant in Willshire.

By 1920 Logan Wolfe and his family had moved to Sprague Street in Willshire, where he managed a garage. His father-in-law John Acheson, an 86 year-old widower, lived with them. [5]

In 1930 Logan was a merchant in a grocery store, likely in Willshire. The family consisted of Logan, Della, Elmo, and Mildred and they lived on Simpson Street in Willshire. [6]

Logan, Della, and Elmo still resided in Willshire in 1940. No occupations were given for any of them. [7]

Logan died in 1948 and he is buried in Willshire Cemetery. His wife is buried in Van Wert.

Gustav Schumm died 18 June 1951 and he and his wife are buried in the Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Convoy.

Box to Wolf & Schumm, Schumm, Ohio.

Box to Wolf & Schumm, Schumm, Ohio.

Thank you Bob for parting with this nice piece of Schumm history. And thanks to husband Joe for figuring out the name was Wolfe.

 

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2B, dwelling 39, family 39, Gustav Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375251, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1238.

[2] “Update on Schumm’s Old Brick Building,” Karen’s Chatt, 9 Jan 2015.

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2B, dwelling 43, family 43, JF Wolf; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375251, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1238.

[4] Membership Records, 1902-1935, Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes, Earlham College, Richmond, IN; database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 May 2016); from U.S. Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935.

[5] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.10A, dwelling 95, family 96, John Logan Wolfe; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1446.

[6] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 22, p.3B, dwelling 76, family 76, Logan Wolfe; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 May 2016); from FHL microfilm 2341624, from NARA microfilm T626, roll 1890.

[7] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-26, p.7A, line 4, JL Walfe; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 May 2016); from NARA microfilm T627, roll 3163.