Nov 17

Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob & Martha (Sundmacher) Hiller

Jacob & Martha Hiller, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

Jacob & Martha Hiller, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Jacob and Martha (Sundmacher) Hiller, located in row 6 of Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

FATHER
Jacob
1842-1926
MOTHER
Martha
1848-1922
HILLER

Jacob and Martha were the parents of Katharina Hiller (1882-1910), who married Georg Linn, a couple I recently wrote a Tombstone Tuesday about.

Jacob Hiller was born 14 November 1842 in Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, the son of Johann “John” and Maria Margaretha (Müller) Hiller. Jacob’s parents were natives of Bavaria and immigrated to America in about 1839. They lived in Butler County, Ohio, for about 8 years before moving to the Adams County, Indiana, area, close to Chatt in about 1847. The Hillers attended Zion Lutheran in Chatt and church records indicate that Jacob was baptized in Butler County but confirmed in Mercer County.

In 1850 the Hillers lived in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. In the household was John Hiller, 48, a weaver; Margaret, 45; Jacob, 8; and George, 4. [1]

In 1860 the family had a New Corydon, Indiana, post office address and Jacob’s father John was a farmer. In the household was John, 54, Bavaria; Margaret, 60, Bavaria; Jacob, 16, Indiana; George, 15, Indiana. [2]

Jacob Hiller married Martha Sundmacher on 20 February 1868 at Zion Chatt, married by Rev. George Heintz. [3] Martha was the daughter of Johann Dietrich Reinhard and Rebecka Sundmacher. Zion’s records indicate that Jacob Hiller was 26 years of age and from Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, and that Martha Sundmacher was 22 years of age, from Weseloh, Amt Bruchhausen, Hannover. George Hiller, Jacob’s brother, was the witness to the marriage.

In 1870 Jacob and Martha had a New Corydon address and Jacob farmed. He and Martha had two sons by this time and Jacob’s mother Margaret and his brother George lived with them. In the household was Jacob, 28, Ohio; Martha, 24, Hanover; George, 1, Indiana; John, 10 months, Indiana; George, 24, Ohio; and Margaret, 69, Bavaria. [4]

By 1880 Jacob and Martha had six children. In their Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana, household: Jacob, 38; Martha, 32; George, 11; John, 9; Henry, 8; Mary, 7; Lizzie, 4; and Edward, 1. Henry is listed as “maimed, crippled, or bedridden.” [5]

In 1900 the Jacob Hiller family consisted of Jacob, 57, Martha, 51, John, 29, Henry C, 28, and Katie, 18. The Hillers had been married 31 years and Martha had given birth to 7 children but only 5 were living. [6] Their children Lizzie and Edward had passed away five years before.

Their daughter Katharina, widow of Georg Linn, and her two daughters Clara and Maria lived with Jacob and Martha in 1910. That census was enumerated on 18 April, just a month before Katharina died of consumption on 22 May. Also living with Jacob and Martha was their son John. They lived near John Bollenbacher, Michael Kuehm, and Conrad Heffner. [7]

By 1920 only three of Jacob and Martha’s seven children were living, George, John, and Mary. Living with Jacob and Martha was their son John, age 49 and single, as well as two of their granddaughters, sisters Clara and Marie Linn, children of their daughter Katharina. Jacob and Martha still lived close to Chatt in Adams County, Indiana. Some of their neighbors were Otto Bollenbacher, Lewis P. Wendel, John M. Bollenbacher, Raymond Becker, Welker E. Woodruff, and a couple of my Brewster relatives—Frank D., Winfield S., and Rachael Brewster. [8]

Margaret Hiller died of old age on 24 February 1922. She was buried on the 28th and was survived by her husband, 2 sons, and 13 grandchildren.

Jacob Hiller died of cancer on 9 January 1926, at the age of 83 years, 2 months, and 3 days. He was buried on the 12th and was survived by 1 brother, 2 sons, 14 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

Jacob and Martha are buried near several of their children, including their daughter Katharina Linn.

Jacob & Martha (Sundmacher) Hiller had the following children:
John “George” (1869-1959) married Della
“John” Dietrich (1870-1952)
“Henry” Conrad (1871-1905)
Maria Rebecka “Mary” (1872-1921) married David Burger
Elisabeth Wilhelmina “Lizzie” (1875-1895), married Fred Hoffman
Jacob “Edward” (1878-1895)
Katharina Hiller (1882-1910­) married Georg Linn

 

[1] 1850 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, p. 63A, dwelling & family 809, John Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Oct 2015); from NARA microfilm M432, roll 135.

[2] 1860 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, p. 234, dwelling 1649, family 1629, John Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Oct 2015); from FHL microfilm 803242, from NARA microfilm M653, roll 242.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch k(https://familysearch.org : accessed 27 Oct 2015), Jacob Hiller and Martha Sundmacher, 20 Feb 1868; citing Mercer, Ohio, marriages, Vol. 3, p.178; from FHL microfilm 914956.

[4] 1870 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, p.39B, dwelling & family 66, Jacob Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Oct 2015); from FHL microfilm 545795, from NARA microfilm M593, roll 296.

[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 133, p.50B, dwelling & family 51, Jacob Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Oct 2015); from NARA microfilm T9, roll 263.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.11B, dwelling & family 202, Jacob Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Oct 2015); from FHL microfilm 1240357, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 357.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.2B, dwelling 36, family 36, Jacob Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 25 Oct 2015); from FHL microfilm 1374351, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 338.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams Indiana, ED 4, p. 7B, dwelling 143, family 153, Jacob Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Nov 2015); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 420.

Nov 13

The Ministers of Zion Chatt, Rev. W.F.H. Heuer (#15)

Werner F.H. Heuer was born 10 March 1876 in Hermannsburg, Germany, the only child of John Henry and Katharine Dorothea (Lilje) Heuer. His parents were nearly 40 years old and had been married for 13 years when Werner was born. Werner was baptized two days after his birth. His family moved to Hannover when he was 2 years old so he could attend a parochial school there, in the area which was the center of religious and missionary activities in Germany.

Werner was confirmed on 13 April 1890 at Cross Congregation of the Lutheran Free Church in Hannover. Soon after his confirmation he decided to dedicate his life to the ministry of the Lord. His parents were quite poor and were not able to finance his education in Germany, so they decided to immigrate to America, where worthy ministry students could receive financial support from the church.

The Heuer family immigrated to America in August of 1891 and Werner entered Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, a month later. After several bouts of illness he graduated from Capital in 1895 and from the nearby ELT Seminary in 1900.

Rev. W.F.H. Heuer

Rev. W.F.H. Heuer

His first call was to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Phillipsburg, Ohio, where he served from 1900-1902.

Rev. W.F.H. Heuer.

Rev. W.F.H. Heuer.

Rev. Heuer married Anna Kristina Dismeier 17 April 1902 at St. John’s Lutheran Church near Greenville, Ohio. Rev. Heuer next served at a church in Tell City, Indiana, where their first child Werner was born on January 12, 1904.

Rev. W.F.H. & Anna Kristina (Dismeier) Heuer.

Rev. W.F.H. & Anna Kristina (Dismeier) Heuer.

In the spring of 1904 Rev. Heuer was called to St. Paul’s Congregation near North Star, Ohio, where he served for about 11 years. During the time he was there the congregation built a new church, in 1911-1912.

While they were in North Star Werner and Anna Kristina had five more children: Fredrick (1905-1907), Frieda (1908-2002), Helena (1910-1910), Martin (1911-), and Margaret (1913-). Their son Fredrick died in 1907, at two years of age, and their daughter Helena died in 1910, at the age of four months. Both children are buried in St. Paul Cemetery, North Star, near Rev. Heuer’s parents John Heinrich (1836-1909) and Katharine (1836-1926).

In April 1915 Rev. Heuer accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church in Chattanooga, where he served for about four years. Zion’s current brick church was built during the time he was there. The cornerstone was dedicated in 1916 and the building was dedicated the next year.

Cornerstone dedication, 1916. Rev. R.V. Smith, Rev. W.H.F. Heuer, Rev. B.F. Brandt.

Cornerstone dedication, 1916. Rev. R.V. Smith, Rev. W.H.F. Heuer, Rev. B.F. Brandt.

While at Zion Chatt another daughter was born to the Heuers. Anna Christina Heuer was born 17 April 1917 and was baptized at Zion on 22 April 1917, the first Sunday after her birth. Mrs. Elizabeth Brobst and Miss Amelia Bollenbacher served as her sponsors. All of the Heuer children were baptized the first Sunday after their birth but Anna’s birth was so close to the weekend that her mother was unable to be present at her baptism. Anna Christina was one of the first to be baptized in Zion’s new church. She later legally changed the spelling of her name to Anne Christine.

Heuer family, about 1918-1919.

Heuer family, about 1918-1919.

Above is a Heuer family photo that may have been taken in Chatt about 1918-1919. Front: Rev. Heuer, Anna, Mrs. Heuer, Margaret. Back: Frieda, Martin, Werner.

Two of the first baptisms Rev. Heuer performed at Zion Chatt were at my great-grandfather Jacob Miller’s home. On 15 March 1915 Rev. Heuer baptized two of Jacob Miller’s grandchildren: Luella Maria Christina Miller, daughter of Peter and Della (Kuehm) Miller, and Vernon Allen Caffee, son of Howard and Caroline (Miller) Caffee. Peter Miller and Caroline (Miller) Caffee were Jacob Miller’s children. The last baptism at Zion Chatt by Rev. Heuer was that of Wilma Katherine Sauer, daughter of Leonhard and Minna (Hofferberth) Sauer, on 26 January 1919.

1917 Confirmation Class, Zion, Chatt.

1917 Confirmation Class, Zion, Chatt.

The above photo is the 1917 Confirmation Class at Zion Chatt. Front row 1: Luetta Baker, Lucile Becher, ?, Louise Becher, ?, Matilda Becher, Anna Ruth McGough. Row 2: Clarence Kuhn, Walter Becher, ?, Charles Andrews. Row 3: ?, ?, Rev. Heuer, ?, Vera Heffner. The remainder of the class, unidentified in the photo: Frieda Louisa Hoehammer, Harold Roman Bender, Ralph Huffman, Lee Kuhn, Florence Kuhn, Clara Linn.

In 1919 Rev. Heuer accepted a call in Hebron, Nebraska. While there he also taught at Hebron College, where all five of their children later received their college degrees. While living in Hebron he also served congregations in Kansas, near the Kansas/Nebraska state line.

The Heuer family moved to Cook, Nebraska, in 1931. Rev. Heuer eventually retired in Talmage, Nebraska, where he passed away on 2 September 1964, at the age of 88. He is buried in Saint Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery there beside his wife, who died in 1972.

Rev. Heuer’s daughter Anne Christine (Heuer) Buethe, with some of her family, visited Zion in 2001. She passed away on 25 May 2005 in Nebraska. Rev. Kathy Gerking, the great-granddaughter of Rev. Heuer and the granddaughter of Frieda (Heuer) Gerking, visited Zion with her family in July 2004, the year before Zion’s 150th anniversary. She stood in Zion’s pulpit, the same pulpit where her great-grandfather once stood and preached the Word of God.

Rev. Kathy Gerking, at Zion Chatt, 2004.

Rev. Kathy Gerking, at Zion Chatt, 2004.

From the memoirs of Rev. W.F.H. Heuer: “…In April 1915 I followed a call to the Zion’s and St. Paul’s parish, in and near Chattanooga, Ohio. Here again I became instrumental in building a beautiful new church, with an octagonal Sunday School department in Chattanooga (which was dedicated in 1917). Almost at the same time, St. Paul’s Congregation in the country installed art glass windows in its church. Here at Chattanooga, our youngest child, Anna Christine, was born on April 7, 1917. After serving this parish for nearly four years, I became afflicted with a peculiar throat ailment. Repeatedly, I was unable to preach for a number of weeks in succession. This caused me in 1919 to accept a call by the Mission Board to Grace Congregation, Hebron, Nebraska….”

Rev. Heuer served at the following churches: Immanuel Lutheran, Phillipsburg, Ohio, 1900-1902; Tell City, Indiana, and a small congregation at “German Ridge,” 1902-1904; St. Paul Evangelical, North Star, Ohio, 1904-1915; Zion, Chattanooga 1915-1919; Grace Congregation, Hebron, Nebraska, 1919-1931; Immanuel, Cook, Nebraska, 1931-? Rev. Heuer oversaw the building of two area churches–brick church and parsonage was built while he served at St. Paul Evangelical, North Star (1904-1915) and Zion Chatt’s present brick church was built in 1916 during his service as minister (1915-1919).

A big thank you to Judy Edmonds, granddaughter of Rev. Heuer and the daughter of Anne Christine (Heuer) Buethe, for providing photos and additional information about her grandfather.

Nov 10

Tombstone Tuesday–Agnes Elvira Linn

Agnes E. Linn, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

Agnes E. Linn, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Agnes Elvira Linn, located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Agnes E. Linn
Born
Feb. 19, 1907
Died
May 4, 1908

Agnes Elvira Linn was born 19 February 1907, the third child born to Georg and Katharina (Hiller) Linn. She was baptized at Zion Chatt on 10 March 1907 with her maternal grandparents Jacob and Martha Hiller serving as her sponsors. Church records indicate that her paternal grandparents Philip and Margaretha Linn were honorary sponsors.

Agnes died of tuberculosis on 4 May 1908, at the age of 1 year, 2 months, and 15 days, and was buried on the 27th. She was survived by her parents and 2 sisters.

Her father died six months later, on 28 November 1908, and her mother died about two years after that, on 22 May 1910.

Nov 06

The Ministers of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Ohio (12-14)

This is the third installment of short biographies of the ministers of Zion Chatt since its establishment 160 years ago. The information is from the ELCA Archives at Trinity Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, and from my personal research.

Paul Charles Herman Brockhaus was born in Marion, Wisconsin, on 18 October 1880. Both of his parents were born in Germany. He was ordained in 1901 and served the following parishes: Chicago, 1902-1904; Zion, Chattanooga, 1905-1906; Trinity, Oak Lawn, Illinois, 1906-1926; and Immanuel, Lincoln, Illinois, 1927-1957. He married Clara C. Stender on 21 June 1905 in Cook County, Illinois, and they had at least two sons. Rev. Brockhaus retired from the ministry in 1957 in Coal City, Illinois, and died there on 23 November 1960, at the age of 80.

Rev. George Haas; served at Zion 1907-1911.

Rev. G. Haas

George Haas was born 13 July 1876 in Amberg, Bavaria, and graduated from the Neuendettelsau School. He immigrated to America in 1894 and graduated from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, in 1898. He served in the ministry forty years at the following parishes: Toledo, Ohio, 1897-1907; Zion, Chattanooga, 1907-1911; and St. Paul, Napoleon, Ohio, 1911-1937. He married Barbara Hahn in 1897 in Michigan and they had at least seven sons and seven daughters, and possibly more children. They moved to California in 1938 because of Barbara’s health. After Barbara’s death in 1939 Rev. Haas was called to minister in Colorado. There he served several small congregations for about 18 months before retiring in California. Rev. Haas died in Lynwood, California, on 27 June 1944, at the age of 67. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles County, California.

 

1911 Confirmation class with Rev. George Haas.

1911 Confirmation class with Rev. George Haas.

In the above 1911 photo, row 1: Ed Strabel, far left: . Row 2: Clarence Becher, far left:; Carrie Becher, last girl on the right. Row 3: Rudolf Strabel, far left. Others in the photo: Gertrude Haas, Lizzie Kuehm, Bertha Huffman, Clara Huffman, Frieda Kessler, Clara Bender, Elvira Baker, Hulda Andrews, Mary Andrews, Carl Berron, Heinrich Kuehm, Louis Brandt, Raymond Becher, Albert Becher, Wilhelm Berger, Omar Heffner, and Otto Allmandinger.

Rev. Loehr; at Zion 1911-13.

Rev. L. Loehr

Lincoln Luther Loehr was born 9 April 1865 in Mapleton, Stark County, Ohio, the son of John Jacob and Catharine (Shearer) Loehr. He graduated from Capital University and ELT Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, in 1899. He served in the ministry for forty years at the following churches: Fairview, Kansas, 1899-1902; Lenexa, Kansas, 1902-1907; Willard, Ohio, 1907-1911; Zion, Chattanooga, 1911-1913; St. Marks, Montra, Shelby County, Ohio, and St. Marks, Auglaize County, Ohio, 1913-1921; St. Paul, Ironton, Ohio 1921-1926; and Patricksburg, Indiana, 1926-1939. He retired from the ministry in 1939. He married Nellie Mae Knepper in 1901 but they apparently had no children. Rev. Loehr died 26 June 1954 in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 89. He is buried beside his wife Nellie (1874-1964) in Reber Hill Cemetery, Pickaway County, Ohio.

 

1913 Confirmation Class with Rev. Lincoln Luther Loehr.

1913 Confirmation Class with Rev. Lincoln Luther Loehr.

In the above 1913 photo, the girls in row 2, left to right: Marie Baker, Marie Heffner, ?, Leona Strabel, Marie Becker, Clara Miller. Row 3: Leona Baker, girl to far right. The remainder of the class: Lavina Maria Becher, Donald Heitzwebel, John Stein, Catharine Kuehm, Roman Heffner, Frieda Berron, Raymond Kuhn, Walter Edward Heffner, and George Stein.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov 03

Tombstone Tuesday–Katharina (Hiller) Linn

Katharina (Hiller) Linn, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

Katharina (Hiller) Linn, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2015 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Katharina (Hiller) Linn, located in row 8 of Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Katharina
Linn
Geb. 10, Juni 1882
Gest. 22 Mai 1910
LINN

Translation: Katharina Linn, born 10 June 1882, died 22 May 1910.

Katharina Linn, born Katharina Hiller, was born 10 June 1882, the daughter of Jacob & Martha (Sundmacher) Hiller. She was baptized at Zion Chatt on 23 July 1882 with Jacob and Katharine Betzel as her sponsors.

The Hillers lived just across the state line in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. According to Zion Chatt’s records the Hillers immigrated in 1839 and moved to the Chattanooga, Ohio, area about 1847. They attended Zion Lutheran Church in Chatt.

In 1900 Katharina Hiller was living with her parents and two of her siblings in Adams County, Indiana: Jacob, 57, Martha, 51, John, 29, Henry C, 28, and Katie, 18. The enumeration indicates that Jacob and Martha had been married 31 years; that Jacob was born in Ohio but his parents were born in Germany; that Martha (Sundmacher) Hiller was born in Germany and had given birth to 7 children but only 5 were living; and that their three children enumerated with them were born in Indiana. [1]

Katharina Hiller married Georg Linn on 14 January 1902 at Zion Chatt, married by Rev. R.V. Smith. The church record indicates that Katharina was 20 years of age and was from Adams County, Indiana. Georg was 27 years of age and from Liberty Township, the son of Phillip and Margaret (Miller) Linn. Although they were married at Zion Chatt they obtained their marriage license in Adams County, Indiana. [2]

Georg Linn & Katharina Hiller marriage, with Mary Miller.

Georg Linn & Katharina Hiller marriage, with Mary Miller.

Georg and Katharina had three daughters during their short married life:

Clara Margaretha Martha Linn (1903-1971), married Homer W. Debolt
Maria Katharina Linn (1904-1975), married Rudolph Debolt
Agnes Elvira (1907-1908)

Their youngest daughter Agnes Elvira died 4 May 1908, at the age of about 14 months. Georg passed away about six months later, on 28 November 1908.

Katharina (Hiller) Linn died of consumption on 22 May 1910 and was buried near her parents in Kessler Cemetery on the 24th.

Georg and Katharina’s remaining two young daughters were orphans and were taken in by their maternal grandparents. In 1910 sisters Clara and Maria were living with grandparents Jacob and Martha Hiller in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. [3]

The two surviving sisters eventually married brothers, sons of David & Mary (Hartzog) Debolt.

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.11B, dwelling & family 202, Jacob Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 27 Oct 2015); from FHL microfilm 1240357, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 357.

[2] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 25 Oct 2015), George Linn and Katharine Hiller, 1902; from Adams, Indiana, Vol. 1, p.120.

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Jefferson, Adams, Indiana, ED 4, p.2B, dwelling 36, family 36, Jacob Hiller; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestery.com : accessed 25 Oct 2015); from FHL microfilm 1374351, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 338.