May 03

Tombstone Tuesday-Oswald H. Schumm

Oswald H Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Oswald H. Schumm, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Oswald H. Schumm
1902-1987

“Oswald” Hugo Otto Schumm was born in Willshire Township on 23 February 1902, the eighth and youngest child of George Martin “Henry” III and Henrietta Wilhelmine “Minnie” Hoppe. Oswald was baptized at Zion Schumm on 9 March 1902 with Hugo A. Schumm, Hugo Schumm, and Otto Schumm serving as his sponsors.

Oswald Schumm was first enumerated in 1910, enumerated with his mother and some of his siblings: Minnie [Wilhelmina] Schumm, 50, head; Edna, 22, daughter; [unreadable], 20, daughter; Emanuel, 18, son; Emil, 17, son; Edna, 15, daughter; Clara, 12, daughter; Alfred, 10, son; and Oswald, 8, son. [1] Oswald’s father Henry Schumm homesteaded in Colorado in the early 1900s but returned to the Schumm area by the 1930. This may be why he was absent in Willshire Township’s enumeration.

In 1920 Oswald resided in Willshire Township with his mother and several siblings: Wilhelmina H Schumm, 59; Agnes, 31; Alma, 30; Emanuel, 28; Clara, 21; Alfred, 19; Oswald, 17; and Abalonia Freese, 83, widow. [3] Abalonia was Minnie’s mother. Abalonia’s husband Henry Freese had died in 1902. 

In 1930 Oswald Schumm, 28, and his older sister Edna Schumm, 34, rented a home at 2428 Wayne Avenue in Dayton, Ohio. Oswald worked as a machinist in an electric shop and his sister Edna worked as a saleswoman. [3]

Oswald’s mother Minnie died in 1937 and in 1940 Oswald resided with his widowed father Henry, age 79, and his sister Alma Schumm. Oswald was a night watchman at a sawmill, likely the sawmill at Schumm. A lodger, Hunter Bee, age 21, also was in the household and worked at the sawmill as well. [4]

Oswald’s father Henry Schumm died in 1941.

According to Oswald’s WWII Draft Registration Card, Oswald was 39 years old, resided at Schumm, his telephone was 2 long and 1 short, his sister Alma Schumm was his contact person, and his occupation was night man, employed by WP Robinson, Schumm [Schumm sawmill]. Oswald Schumm enlisted in the U.S. Army on 23 September 1942 at Toledo, Ohio, and was honorably discharged 17 March 1943. [5]

In 1950 Oswald, 48, resided with his sister Alma, 60, and their aunt Barbara A. Schumm, 91, a widow. They likely lived in or very near the village of Schumm since Zion Schumm’s minister, Rev. Werner Kuhlberg, lived a house away. Oswald worked at the sawmill. [6]

Oswald’s sister Alma Schumm died in Van Wert County on 12 February 1972.   

Oswald Schumm died of cardio-pulmonary arrest in a nursing home in Van Wert on 30 August 1987 at the age of 85. He was buried on 2 September. [7]

Oswald Schumm never married. He had the following siblings:
“Agnes” Wilhelmina Barbara Schumm (1888-1921)
“Alma” Abalonia Schumm Alma A. Schumm (1889-1972)
“Emanuel” Henry John Schumm (1892-1973), married Edna Scaer
Emil Fredrick Schumm (1893-1960), married Louise Stock
Edna Alwine Magdalena Schumm (1895-1990)
Clara Anna Maria Schumm (1898-1984)
Alfred Oswald Ferdinand Schumm, Rev. (1900-1981), married Irma S. Wambsganss

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2A, dwelling & family 37, Minnie Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Dec 2021.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling & family 48, Wilhelmina H Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Dayton, Montgomery Ohio, ED 112, p.3A, dwelling 46, family 48, Oswald H Schum [sic]; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 1 May 2022.

[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 88, HM Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[5] Draft Registration Cards for Ohio, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, Records of the Selective Service System 147, Box 1287, National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 1 May 2022. And Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946, NAID, 1263923, Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007, Record Group: 64, Box 09273, Reel 349, National Archives at College Park, Maryland; Ancestry.com.  

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, p.13, dwelling 182, Oswald H Schumm; digital image, 1950census.archives.gov, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Pleasant Twp, Van Wert, Ohio, database with images, Oswald Hugo Schumm, 30 Aug 1987; digital image, FamilySearch.org, viewed 29 Apr 2022.

Apr 29

Willshire-1950 U.S. Census, part 2

Today is a continuation of my transcription of the village of Willshire as recorded in the 1950 U.S. Census. The 1950 census was released for public view on 1 April 2022.

As I mentioned last week, the village of Willshire was one of a very select few areas (Enumeration District/ED) to use the new census form, called a household form. Most areas of the United States used the multi-family form, Form P1.

1950 U.S. Census, blank “household” form used for Willshire village.

The village of Willshire in the 1950 census (ED 81-38) includes 201 pages. The population of Willshire in 1950 was 565 and there were 194 dwellings. Mrs. Dorothea Brubaker, from Ohio City, was the enumerator.

The basic census instructions were to List every person who usually lives in your household and every person staying in your household on April 1, 1950 (except temporary visitors)…

My transcription of the village of Willshire includes: name (head of household in bold), age, occupation (if given). For the others in household: name, age, relationship to the head of household, and occupation (if given). Occasionally I include marital status or where a person was born.

1950 census, Willshire village, Jesse Schlickman, image/p.100, dwelling 119, sheet 342.

The village of Willshire (ED 81-38), 1950 U.S. Census, p.65-132 (about 1/3 of the village):

Wilbert C Heil, 44, truck driver/stone quarry; Dorothy D, 39, wife, telephone operator; Phyllis J, 19, [name crossed out].
Harriet M Alsbaugh, 73, widowed.
Claude E Buchanan, 75, widowed; Daisy D Hileman, 73, sister, widowed, telephone operator.
Emma A Lautzeheiser, 78, widowed.
Dale C Jones, 45, car dealer; Mary L, 41, wife.
Donald F Eichar, 23, carpenter/construction co; Elizabeth L, 24, wife; Linda L, 2, daughter; Sue E, under 1 year, daughter.
Kermit E Bienz, 40, filling station employee; Irene W, 39, wife, clerk/variety store; Walter E, 17, son; Donna M, 13, daughter.
Merrill J Osborn, 34, osteopathic physician; Mary E, 31, wife; Martha D, 9, daughter; Merrill D, 5, son; RC Duane, 3, son; Daryl E, 2, son.
Lottie L Jones, 66, widowed.
George H Dellinger, 64, shop worker/lumber yard; Elizabeth A, 61, wife; Mary E, 35, never married, bookkeeper/lumber yard.
Mary A Stetler, 57, divorced, cook/public school; John P, 25, son, never married, house painter; Louis G, 20, son, never married, section department/railroad; Katherine M, 16, daughter.
Russell E Griffith, 47, high school superintendent; Mary K, 45, wife, grade school teacher; Harold D, 17, son.
Ruth H Davis, 44, divorced; Norma J. Standiford, 19, daughter, married; Richard D. Standiford, 53, son-in-law, married, works in garage; Kathryn A Davis, 14, daughter.
Louisa C Buechner, 78, widowed.
Lester J Hoverman, 33, implement mechanic/farm implement; Jessie, 38, wife, postal clerk.
Charles H Myers Jr, 20, lather/construction company; Patsy L, 18, wife; Carla J, under 1 yr.
Esther D Strickler, 57, widowed, machine operator/electric motor manufacturing; Lewis W August, 88, father, widowed; Elva Kauffman, 70, divorced.
Charles H Gissler, 82; Effie, 75, wife.
Leland E Miller, 34, packer/truck manufacturing; Bernice M, 26, wife; Barbara N, 8 daughter; Judith C, 7, daughter; Joseph G, 5, son; William L, 4, son.
Dale E Clouse, 42, self-employed/grocery store; Opal E, 42, wife, grade school teacher; Beverly, 16, daughter, never married, clerk/grocery store; Kay, 14, daughter.
Homer V Minx, 51, clean-up work/feed mill; Wilma A, 41, housekeeper/private home; Patricia J, 16 daughter.
Orceney J Passwater, 72; Nancy, 68, wife.
Judson J Passwater, 37, carpenter foreman/construction co; Leona M, 40, wife; Caral K, 8, daughter.
Luther M Wolfe, 58; Dot K, 54, wife.
Edwin O Bissell, 52, minister/Methodist church; Geneva M, 31, wife; John E, 7, son.
Earl A Straub, 64; Sadie S, 64, wife.
Martha E Finch, 38, separated, office assist nursing/Dr office; James M, 13, son; Linda Sue, 11, daughter; Rebecca Nan, 7, daughter.
L Dennison Tinkham, 39, truck driver/truck manufacturing; N Ruth, 33, wife; Nyla, under 1 year, daughter.
Roland A Marbaugh, 30, manager/lumber yard; Carmilla M, 35, wife; Lyn A, 4, daughter; Wade L, 1, son.
Ora M Hoffer, 78, widow, music teacher/in own home; Gretchen, 50, daughter, never married, manager/aid for aged.
Paul K Robison, 35, car checker/feed mill; Olga M, 36, wife; Judy L, 7, daughter; Jay A, 3, son.
Kenneth W Neuenschwander, 40, self-employed/hardware; Freda L, 34, wife, self-employed/hardware; Vickie D, 8, daughter.
John H Leistner, 63; Grace I, 58, wife; Hugh A, 22, son, never married; Gordon J, 19, son, never married, farmer.
Charley H Miller, 63, farmer; Bess, 64, wife.
Jesse L Schlickman, 38, carpenter/soy bean factory; Margaret E, 37, drill press/novelty manufacturing; Billy L, 16, son; Jan E, 12, son; Sondra A, 10, daughter.
David C Miller, 82; Ida B, 81, wife.
Ralph W James Sr, 43, brake setter/truck manufacturing; Lillie V, 28, wife; Ralph W Jr, 10, son; Fred L, 8, son; Jimmie L, 7, son.
Walter C Suman, 28, assembly line/truck manufacturing; Sally H, 22, wife; Larry E, 3, son; Y Sue, 2, daughter; H Edward, under 1 year, son.
Donald W Schumm, 27, self-employed/furnace shop; Barbara R, 27, wife; Donna J, 7, daughter; Judy A, 5, daughter.
Harvey C Hileman, 35, clean-up man/electric motor manufacturing; Mary E, 28, wife; Karen K, 8, daughter; Donald H, 6, son; Helen J, 5, daughter.
T Chalmer Snider, 40, truck repair/truck transportation; Evohn A, 42, wife, switch assembly line/electric motor manufacturing; Chalmer W, 18, son, metal lather/construction co.
Lewis Harris, 54, painter/house painting.
Carlis E Jacobs Sr, 34, self-employed/odd jobs; Elizabeth J, 26, wife; Carlis E Jr, 5, son; David E, 3, son; Gerald L, 1, son.
Floyd L Strickler, 52, labor/city of Willshire; Nellie F, 51, wife; L Adaline, 22, daughter, never married; Lester L, 15, son.
Frank M Reece, 58, married.
Melvin L Davis, 88; Rawena L, 70, wife.
Mary E Laughrey, 70, widowed.
John D Cowan, 62, installation dept/electric motor manufacturing; Bess D, 52, wife; Suzanne, 17, daughter; James D, 8, son.
Alta J Allender, 73, widowed.
Minnie M Reichard, 77, widowed.
Ella C Dellinger, 59, married.
Harold T Bebout, 52; Ethel E, 50, wife.
Olive E Hoblet, 71, widowed.
Jack L Brasher, 48, self-employed/sheet metal shop; Mable M, 47, wife; Bobby G, 21, son, never married, sheet metal worker/sheet metal shop ; Bonnie L, 11, daughter.
Kenneth P Dellinger, 31, auto mechanic/garage; N Virginia, 30, wife; Larry D, 9, son; Barry L, 2, son; Terry S, under 1 year, son.
William A Cookson, 68; Alma E, 63, wife.
Elton C Vining, 58, salesman/implement co; Lou E, 58, wife, operator/telephone co.
Martin V Stamm, 68; Clara H, 61, wife.
Callie L Foreman, 74, widowed.
John D Tinkham, 67, freight checker/truck manufacturing; Sarah C, 61, wife.
Theodore G Schumm, 52, machine operator/electric motor manufacturing; Leona, 43, wife; William L, 20, son, never married, sales clerk/hardware store; Frederick L, 23, son, married, bartender/private club; Rosemary I, 17, daughter-in-law, married; Thomas A, under 1 year, grandson.
Charles H Myers, 52, pipe fitter/soybean factory; Sarah J, 43, wife; Tommy E, 5, son; John H Jarvis, 75, father-in-law, widowed.
Wilbur A Marbaugh, 40, relief operator/soybean factory; Wanda L, 36, wife; Barbara L, 15, daughter; Richard B, 14, son; Connie C, 13, daughter; Buddy R, 10, son.
Walter Kesler, 38, machine operator/electric motor manufacturing; Marguerite A, 31, wife; Gary A, 12, son.
Harry J Riker, 59, machine painter/soybean factory; Jeannette R, 56, wife.
Joseph Avery, 29, shipping clerk/wire company; Edna L, 27, wife, beauty operator/beauty shop; Judith K, 8 daughter.

1950 census, Willshire village, Joseph Avery, image/p. 132, dwelling 161, sheet 376.

Edna Avery was my mom’s beautician for many years, until Edna retired, and I remember her well. My mom had her “hair done” every Thursday after work. The beauty shop was also a good place to catch up on the latest news.

I find it interesting to read that some were employed at a soybean factory. This was likely Central Soya but I never thought of it as a factory. My grandpa Carl Miller also worked at Central Soya.

I will finish my transcription of Willshire in the 1950 census next week.

Source: 1950 Census, Official 1950 Census Website

Apr 26

Tombstone Tuesday-Gate Symbol

A gate inscribed on a tombstone symbolizes the passageway from this life to the next. The passageway from one realm to another. The gate is open and the path leads to heaven.

Gate symbol, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio

Gate symbol, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio.

A guiding star may lead the way.

Gate symbol, Ridge Slater Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

Gate symbol, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio

Gate symbol, Catholic Cemetery, Celina, Mercer County, Ohio

Sometimes the open gate shows the way to the Heavenly City in the clouds.

Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio

There are not many gates at cemetery entrances anymore, but they were common at one time.

Old iron fence & gate, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio

Gate, Harmony Mennonite Cemetery, Harmony, PA

Apr 22

Willshire Village-A 1950 Census Test Area

The 1950 U.S. Census was released for public view on 1 April 2022. I was excited to look at some local areas such as Blackcreek, Liberty, and Willshire Townships, as well as the village of Willshire. I couldn’t wait to see the names and the information about their inhabitants who were enumerated in the census 72 years ago. My parents were not married yet, but I found their names. As I read the names I see some who have passed away in the last 72 years and I know others who are still around to see their names in the census. For many, this is the first time to see their names in a census.

As I looked through the 1950 census it didn’t take me long to see that the census pages for the village of Willshire were a lot different than the pages of the other communities. I learned why after reading a FAQ on 1950census.archives.gov, the website where I have been viewing the 1950 census and where I got these census images.

The 1950 census was the last census in which most people were visited by an enumerator using the large multi-family form, Form P1. This form was used by the vast majority of areas in the United States in 1950 and is the type of census form I am most familiar with. This type of census form was used for every census since 1850. Each page usually had 50 lines (40 in the earlier censuses) and each page listed a number of families, which included the names of all the individuals in a family. One name per line.

However, in 1950 different forms were tested in a very few selected Enumeration Districts (ED) in selected counties in Ohio and Michigan. One of those selected Ohio counties was Van Wert County and, in Van Wert County, the village of Willshire (ED 81-38) was selected to use the new form. These new forms were called “household” forms, meaning that one form was used for each household. Each family was enumerated on its own page. (Sometimes 2 pages if it was a large family.) The forms were still filled out by the enumerator in 1950, not by a family member. That eventually changed and today each family completes its own census form.

In 1950 Willshire village was an ED specifically selected to test a new census form! Willshire Township and Mercer County used the old multi-family forms which listed several families on one page.

1950 U.S. Census, blank “household” form used for Willshire village.

How interesting is that! Willshire was special!

The Ohio counties selected to have EDs which would try out the new forms in 1950 were Coshocton, Defiance, Delaware, Fulton, Henry, Knox, Licking, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Richland, Van Wert, and Williams. The new forms were used primarily in Ohio. Only areas in two Michigan counties tested the forms.

Right now there is not what I consider to be a good index of the 1950 census. 1950census.archives.gov has an index of sorts, an OCR (optical character recognition) index, based on artificial intelligence/machine learning. Their website states that it is not 100% accurate and I will attest to that. I could not locate any of several people I searched for using their OCR method. I assume research websites like Ancestry.com will eventually create their own indexes, which should be much more accurate.

But for now, looking through an ED, page by page is sufficient for me. I find the state and county and then I look for a specific ED within that county. Willshire’s ED is 81-38. The first number (81) is the number of the county and the second number (38) is a specific geographic area within that county.

The 1950 census of the village of Willshire (ED 81-38) is 201 pages. The population of Willshire in 1950 was 565 and there were 194 dwellings. Mrs. Dorothea Brubaker, from Ohio City, was the enumerator.

1950 U.S. Census, Willshire village, image/p.1

Some instructions from the 1950 census: List every person who usually lives in your household and every person staying in your household on April 1, 1950 (except temporary visitors)…

Some of my observations and take-aways from Willshire in the 1950 census: The 1950 census does not give as much information as some previous censuses, but the information is still interesting. The 1950 census does not give the address of the households, at least not in Willshire, using this form. There were a number of self-employed/local businesses in the village. I noticed that a number of women worked outside the home. Quite a few individuals worked in electric motor manufacturing and I wonder if they worked in Decatur or Fort Wayne. A number of older people, some widowed, lived in the village and were not employed. I imagine they were retired.

A portion of my transcription of the village of Willshire in the 1950 Census is below and I have included: name (head of household in bold), age, occupation (if given). For the others in household: name, age, relationship to the head of household, and occupation (if given). Occasionally I include marital status or where a person was born. There was a box where one of four items could be checked: What was this person doing most of last week: (1) Working; (2) Keeping house; (3) Unable to work (long-term disability, not short illness); (4) Something else (ill, retired, on vacation, looking for work). No. 2 was often checked for a woman; no. 4 often checked for older, retired persons. I did not include answers to this question in my transcription, but I instead included the more-detailed occupation that was written below that.  

1950 U.S. Census, Willshire village, Glenn Goodwin family, image/p.2, dwelling 134, sheet 354.

The village of Willshire (ED 81-38), 1950 U.S. Census, p.2-64 (about 1/3 of the village):

Glenn G Goodwin, 41, self-employed/garage; L Lucile, 35 wife; John O, 11, son; Phyllis A, 10, daughter; Mary E, 8, daughter; Janet M, 7, daughter; Martha J, 5, daughter; Gary G, 2, son; John, 88, father, widowed.
Mrs. CJC Davis, 35
Lulu B. Scott, 61, widow, self-employed/filling station; (Lodgers): Lowell L Rhuland Sr, 45, married, self-employed/hardware store; Margery S Rhuland, 42, married, saleslady/hardware; Lowell L Rhuland Jr, 22, never married.
Georgia E Huffman, 47, divorced.
George R Devore, 42, foreman/tile mill; Fern A, 50, wife; Michael T Scarry, 86, England, widowed, father-in-law.
Charley Martin, 55, widowed; Glen L, 18, son; Wilbur E, 16, son; James L, 15, son.
Katherine Straubinger, 74, never married; Benjamin F Straubinger, 68, brother, never married; Lucia Straubinger, 71, sister, never married; Claude B Kilmer, 76 (Missouri), never married, cousin, hatchery; Lowell A Thatcher, 22, never married, assembler/truck manufacturing.
Laura B Geary, 71, widowed.
Wallace Parks, 80; Edythe, 80, wife.
Charles H Samples, 75; Minnie M, 70, wife; (2 lodgers): John Miller, 76, widowed; Charles Debolt, 42, laborer/electric manufacturing.
Jesse C Spitler, 49, self-employed/grocery store; Margaret E, 46, wife; Linda L, 8, daughter.
Walter Avery, 63, widowed, blacksmith.
Wilbur J Miller, 35, truck repair/manufacture; Clista A, 28 wife; Wilbur J Jr, 8, son; Bonnie J, 6, daughter; Diana L, 3, daughter.
Berniece C Acheson, 55, widow, beauty shop operator.
Jesse R Hamrick, 46, stamping machine/electric motors; Iola K, 44, wife, connect leads/electric motors; Ray L, 21, son, never married, bookkeeper/truck manufacturing; Phyllis K, 18, daughter, never married, sub grade teacher/public school; Eunice E Reppert, 16, daughter, married; Robert L Reppert, 24, son-in-law, truck driver/coal & oil supply.
Martin Snyder, 63, never married, watchman/casting foundry.
Merl R Olson, 32, self-employed/filling station; Betty K, 28, wife.
Robert D Miller, 21, unloads cars/truck manufacturing; Phyllis G, 29, wife; Lynn Ann, 1, daughter.
Roman E Huffman, 48, truck driver/sawmill; Lois J, 35, wife; Mary K, 13, daughter.
Chalmer J Edwards, 47, high school teacher; Leah, 54, wife; Wanda E, 16, daughter.
Cloyde Dellinger, 52, never married, labor/electric motor manufacturing.
Laurence E Buechner, 46, self-employed/grocery store; Myrtle C, 47, wife, self-employed/grocery store.
Cleo R Painter, 34, self-employed/restaurant; Virginia M, 34, wife; Rex C, 8, son.
Angina Morrison, 80, widow.
J Todd Morrison, 48, shipping clerk/electric motor manufacturing; Daisy P, 48, wife.
Samuel H Dellinger Jr, 56, plumber/plumbing shop; Nellie M, 54, wife; Samuel H Dellinger Jr, 24, never married, junk dealer/junkyard.
Lewis F Schumm, 58, carpenter; Cora E, 65, wife; Mary E, 25, daughter, never married, general office/Farm Bureau Office; Herbert J, 21, son, never married, preacher/Church of God.
Max E Dellinger, 26, auto mechanic/garage; I Eileen, 27, wife; Dennis G, 1, son.
Jeff Moser, 80, widowed; Minnie M Keser, 66, widowed.
Ored G Dudgeon, 60, divorced, rural mail carrier; Dale Dudgeon, 29, cousin, never married, farmer.
J Clarence Geisler, 59, labor/electric motor manufacturing; Bessie M, 59, wife, connector/elector motor manufacturing; Kent C, 26, son, married, packing motors/electric motor manufacturing; Mildred L Dudgeon, 27, daughter-in-law; Jacqueline S, under 1 year, granddaughter.
Clara L Winkler, 72, widowed.
Frank, C Chronister, 60, superintendent/casting foundry; Edna C, 63, wife.
Carl W Hunziker, 30, lather/construction co; Dorothy E, 22, wife; Billy L, under 1 year, son.
Ethel A Place, 62, never married, telephone operator.
Kenneth Bienz, 39, farmer; Fawn, 37, wife, sewing/mop factory; Boyd, 17, son.
Vernon Hoblet, 47, insurance salesman; Wilma C, 45, wife.
Edward Anderson, 40, auto mechanic/garage; Bertha W, 37, wife; James W, 6, son; Robert E, 3, son; Sam R Robinson, 46, brother-in-law; Edithe M Robinson, 48, sister-in-law. [last 2 names crossed out]
Lee R Painter, 59, labor/state highway; Mary A, 53, wife; Garland E, 18, son; Martha L, 16, daughter; Janet D, 12, daughter.
Imel K Tice, 52, widowed; William E Snyder, 56, brother, never married, auto mechanic/garage.
Ivan G Allen, 55, warehouse employee/hardware co; G Elizabeth, 58, wife; Jack V, 23, son, never married, runs press/rubber plant; Tommy M, 19, son, never married, lineman/telephone co; Donna R, 16, daughter.
Preston B Thatcher, 25, assembly line/truck manufacturing; Doris M, 25, wife; Delbert L, 2, son.
Herbert H Byer, 48, farmer; Margaret M, 45, wife; Ned S, 19, son, never married.
CH Bowen, 58, farmer; Leola L, 45, wife.
Donald L Hoblet, 25 [name crossed out; school written]; Harriet I, 26, head [wife crossed out]; Vaughn A, 3 son; Kathy A, under 1 year, daughter.
J Fred Jewell, 55, barber/barber shop; Bess G, 52, wife.
Herbert Avery, 55, blacksmith machinist/soy bean plant; Fern, 53, wife; Mary A, 30, daughter, never married.
Audie F Passwater, 65; Flo, 64, wife.
Leone Spitler, 73, widowed.
Glenn I Spitler, 50, self-employed retail grocery clerk/grocery store; Rose B, 48, wife, retail grocery clerk/grocery store.
Elesaam A Spitler, 82, widowed.
James L Angel, 23, preacher/UB church; Dorothy V, 18 wife; Judith L, under 1 year, daughter.
Harry H Shell, 44, truck driver/wholesale sugar; Devona L, 35, wife; Arley E Buckmaster, 15, son; Margo J Shell, 7, daughter; Vickie J Shell, 1, daughter.
Marks D Riker, 62; Adoline, 62, wife.
Merl F Hoverman, 35, elevator/grain co; L Irene, 30, wife; Sharon R, 10, daughter; Karen A, 8, daughter.
Robert G Lucas, 30, Jr High teacher/public school; Patricia J, 22, wife; Robert G, under 1 yr, son.
Richard M Foreman, 28, attendant/filling station; Gretchen P, 29, wife, coil winder/electric motor manufacturing; Shelia  A, 6, daughter.
Robert W Games Sr, 31, high school teacher & coach/public school; Alice H, 35, wife; Robert W Jr, 5, son; John C, 3, son; Larry M, 1, son.
Charles L Painter, 23, bar tender/restaurant, tavern; Janette R, 22, wife; Johnny J, 1, son; Linda A, 1, daughter.

I will continue with this 1950 Census transcription of the village of Willshire next week.

Willshire has another bicentennial event planned for this Saturday, 23 April: a baseball theme movie in the park for children and adults. Hot dogs and popcorn will be available at 7:30, with the movie at 8:00. Attendees should bring a lawn chair. This will also kick off the spring/summer ball season.

Apr 19

Tombstone Tuesday-Alma A. Schumm

Alma A Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Alma A. Schumm, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Alma A. Schumm
1889-1972

Alma Abalonia Schumm was born 19 July 1889, the second child born to George Martin “Henry” III and Henrietta Wilhelmine “Minnie” Hoppe. Alma was baptized at Zion Schumm on 28 July 1889 with Anna Schumm, Mrs. Anna Maria Schumm, and Wilhelmine Brockmeyer serving as her sponsors.

Alma Schumm, enumerated with her family in 1900 in Willshire Township: Henry M Schumm, 39; Wilhelmina H, 40; Agnes, 12; Alma, 10 Emanuel, 9; Emil, 6; Edna, 4; Clara, 3; Alfred, 2 months; Henry Freese, 63, father-in-law; Abolonia, 61, mother-in-law. [1] Abalonia Freese was Wilhelmina (Hoppe) Schumm’s mother and Henry Freese was Wilhelmina’s step-father.

In 1910, Alma may be the 20-year-old daughter living in the Minnie Schumm household in Willshire Township. The name is basically unreadable but appears to begin with an A. Her relationship is daughter, but sex is male. Daughter Alma would have been about 20 in 1910 and this could be her. The family in 1910: Minnie [Wilhelmina] Schumm, 50, head; Edna, 22, daughter; [unreadable], 20, daughter; Emanuel, 18, son; Emil, 17, son; Edna, 15, daughter; Clara, 12, daughter; Alfred, 10, son; and Oswald, 8, son. [2] Regular readers will recall that Alma’s father Henry Schumm homesteaded in Colorado in the early 1900s but returned to the Schumm area by 1930.

In 1920 Alma resided in Willshire Township with her mother and several siblings: Wilhelmina H Schumm, 59; Agnes, 31; Alma, 30; Emanuel, 28; Clara, 21; Alfred, 19; Oswald, 17; and Abalonia Freese, 83, widow. [3] Abalonia’s husband Henry Freese had died in 1902. 

In 1930 Alma Schumm, 40, single, was a lodger at the home of Lois [Louis?] and Adele Heffner at 320 South Cherry Street in Van Wert. Alma worked as a bookkeeper for a dry cleaner. The Heffners were both 63 years old and Mr. Heffner was a barber. [4]

By 1935 Alma had moved back to the Schumm area. Her mother Minnie died in 1937 and in 1940 Alma resided with her widowed father Henry Schumm, age 79, and her brother Oswald Schumm, age 38. No occupation is given for Alma but her brother Oswald was a night watchman at a sawmill, likely the sawmill at Schumm. A lodger, Hunter Bee, age 21, also was in the household and he also worked at the sawmill. [5]

Alma’s father Henry died in 1941.

In 1950 Alma Schumm, 60, lived with her brother Oswald H, 48, and her widowed aunt Barbara A Schumm, 91. They likely lived in or very near the village of Schumm since Zion Schumm’s minister, Rev. Werner Kuhlberg, lived a house away. No occupation is given for Alma but her brother Oswald worked at the sawmill. [6]

Alma Schumm died in Van Wert County on 12 February 1972.    

Alma A. Schumm obituary:
Willshire-Alma A. Schumm, 82, died at 6:30 a.m. today in the same farm home on Rt. 1, Willshire, in which she had been born. She had been in failing health for the past three months.

Born July 19, 1889, in Willshire Township, she was a daughter of Henry M. and Wilhelmina (Hoppe) Schumm.

Survivors include two sisters and three brothers, Emanuel, Oswald, Edna and Clara, all of Rt. 1, Willshire, and Alfred of New Haven, Ind. A brother and sister are deceased.

Miss Schumm was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church in Schumm and its Ladies Aid Society and Valparaiso Guild.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. Robert Schuler officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Zwick Funeral Home, Decatur, after noon Sunday and until 11 a.m. Monday. Viewing will begin at the church at 12-noon Monday. [7]

Alma is buried very near her siblings Oswald Schumm (1902-1987) and Agnes Schumm (1888-1921).

Alma Schumm never married. She had the following siblings:

“Agnes” Wilhelmina Barbara Schumm (1888-1921)
“Emanuel” Henry John Schumm (1892-1973), married Edna Scaer
Emil Fredrick Schumm (1893-1960), married Louise Stock
Edna Alwine Magdalena Schumm (1895-1990)
Clara Anna Maria Schumm (1898-1984)
Alfred Oswald Ferdinand Schumm, Rev. (1900-1981), married Irma S. Wambsganss
Oswald Hugo Otto Schumm (1902-1987) 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 97, dwelling 183, family 196, p.9, Henry M Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2A, dwelling & family 37, Minnie Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Dec 2021.

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling & family 48, Wilhelmina H Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Van Wert, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 11, p.7B, dwelling 203, family 216, Lois Heffner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 88, HM Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, p.13, dwelling 182, Oswald H Schumm; digital image, 1950census.archives.gov, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[7] Alma A. Schumm obituary, Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 12 Feb 1872, p.2; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.