
Paul A. & Elsie E. (Scaer) Roehm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Paul A. & Elsie E. (Scaer) Roehm, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
ROEHM
Paul A.
1903-1989
Elsie E.
1904-1998
Paul Andreas Roehm was born 6 September 1903, the first of nine children born to Andreas “Friedrich” George and Henrietta Amalia (Schumm) Roehm. Paul was baptized at Zion Schumm on 20 September of the same year, with Hugo A. Schumm and Heinrich Reidenbach as his sponsors.
Paul married Elsie Scaer 27 February 1927 by Rev. R.O. Beinert at Zion Schumm Church. Witnesses to the marriage were members of the two families.
Elsie Elisabeth Scaer was born 23 November 1904, the fourth child born to John and Elisabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer. Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm and Lydia Schumm were sponsors at her baptism on 4 December 1904 at the Scare home east of Willshire. Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm was my great-grandmother and they lived just down the road from the Scaers.
Elsie was a sister to my grandmother Hilda (Scaer) Schumm. The Scaers lived in Allen County, Indiana, when my grandmother Hilda was born in 1895, but it appears the Scaers had moved to east of Willshire by 1904. Census enumerations 1910-1940 show that Elsie was born in Ohio and the fact that Elsie was baptized at Zion Schumm in 1904 also indicates the move.
Paul and Elsie lived, farmed, and raised their family a couple miles east of Willshire on State Route 81. Paul was known as Senior by that time because their first child was named Paul Andres Jr. The Roehms first lived on the south side of State Route 81, where River Henry Schumm once lived. The Roehms later moved across the road, into the house near the edge of the woods owned by my grandfather Cornelius Schumm. My mom and her sisters used to walk through the woods to visit their Roehm cousins.
Jacob and Regina Rueck once owned that home on the north side of 81, along with 120 acres of land. Jacob and Regina were my great-great-grandparents. The Reuck family resided there in about 1880, soon after they immigrated from Württemberg. They moved to Oregon a few years later but their daughter Christena stayed in Van Wert County and married Jacob Miller in 1882. Jacob and Christena Miller were my great-grandparents. Interesting how families on both sides of my family are intertwined.
Paul Roehm Sr farmed all of his life. The family also raised chickens in the 1930s and 1940s. Elsie and the children would butcher the chickens and Paul would drive to Fort Wayne where he sold the chicken meat and eggs. Paul was active in several Van Wert County farm organizations including the Van Wert County Farm Bureau, The Van Wert Soil and Water Conservation, and The Field Science Day Committee. He served on the board and as committee chair in several of those organizations.
I remember attending the Van Wert Farm Focus held at the Roehm farm one summer back in the late 1980s or early 1990s. A feature of the event was the opportunity to take a wagon ride. The ride took us around the neighborhood, passing by many of the farms in the Schumm area. It was a big event and all the farms and yards were nicely manicured for the special occasion.
Paul Roehm Sr. passed away 13 July 1989, at the age of 85 years, 10 months and 7 days. Elsie passed away 15 July 1998, at the age of of 93 years, 7 months and 22 days.
Paul and Elsie had the following children:
Paul Andrew Jr (1929-1968), married Jeanette LaRue; married Gretchen Thieme
Ella Louise, married Wilbert Thieme
Helen Elizabeth (1934-2018), married Palmer Schwartz
Walter George, married Nancy Sidle
Obituaries:
Paul A. Roehm Sr.
Paul A. Roehm Sr., 85, of Willshire, died Thursday, July 13 in his residence.
He was born Sept. 6, 1903, in Mercer County, the son of F.G. and Henrieta (Schumm) Roehm. On Feb. 27, 1927, he married the former Elsie E. Scaer, who survives.
Other survivors include one son, Walter G. of Rt. 4, Rockford; two daughters, Mrs. Wilbert (Ella) Thieme of Rt. 5, Decatur, Mrs. Palmer (Helen Schwartz of Rt. 7, Decatur; one brother, Albert Roehm of Convoy; two sisters, Mrs. Harold (Alma) Thieme of Rt. 3, Decatur and Mrs. Anna Bergman of Fort Wayne; 27 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Paul Roehm Jr. and several brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held Sunday in the Zion Lutheran Church of Schumm with the Rev. Gary Luderman officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. [1]

1997, funeral of Hilda (Scaer) Schumm, sister of Elsie. Seated: Elsie (Scaer) Roehm. Row 2: Ella (Roehm) Thieme, Amy (Schumm) Boenker, Helen (Roehm) Schwartz, Florence (Schumm) Miller. Row 3: Walter Roehm, Esther (Schumm) Krueckeberg, Mary (Schumm) Grote, Elmer Schumm.
Elsie E. Roehm
Elsie E. Roehm, 93, former resident of Willshire, died July 15, 1998, at Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Ind. She had lived the past eight years with her daughter in rural Decatur.
She was born November 23, 1904 at Van Wert County, Ohio, to the late John and Elizabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer. She married Paul A. Roehm on February 27, 1927 in the Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm. He died in 1989.
Mrs. Roehm was a homemaker. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Ladies Aid, L.S.M.L., and A.A.L. of the church.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Wilbert (Ella) Thieme and Mrs. Palmer (Helen) Schwartz, both of rural Decatur; a son, Walter G. Roehm of Rockford; 27 grandchildren; 70 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Paul Roehm Jr.; two sister, Hilda Schumm and Edna Schumm; two brothers, Oscar Scaer and William Scaer.
Funeral services were held Sunday, July 19, at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm with Rev. Tim Zechiel officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. [2]
[1] The Photo Star, Willshire, Ohio, 19 July 1989, p.3.
[2] The Photo Star, Willshire, Ohio, 22 July 1998, p.3.
Karen, Fascinating article. I too was wondering about the lack of a door into the first cabin. But as I…
Hi Karen, your articles are always very interesting. I’m just wondering why there was no door on the Schumm log…
A blessed Easter to you and yours! I look forward to your posts every week. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Deb! Happy Easter to you and your family.
Thank you so much. Happy Easter to you and your family.