Apr 25

Chatt-Area Farm Bureau Council

I grew up in a rural area and I still live in farm country. To this day farming continues to be the main business in this region. As a result, years ago organizations and events were created to keep the farmers informed of the latest farming trends and news and to give farmers the opportunity to offer their opinions and ideas concerning the farm industry.

I have written about a couple of these local farm organizations recently and that brought to mind yet another rural organization that my parents belonged to back in the 1950s and 60s—the Farm Bureau Council.

About a dozen families belonged to our neighborhood “Council,” as we used to call it. Most of the couples in our discussion group lived north of Chatt. The group met monthly and each family took their turn hosting a meeting in their home.

The main purpose was to discuss a specific farm topic or issue, given to the group by the state organization. They provided the topic and questions for discussion. The secretary then reported the results of the discussion to the larger organization.

Christmas pot-luck dinner, c1962. L to R: Dorothy Humbert, Lucille Bransteter, Amber Oakley, Ercie Ripley, Vergie Buchanan, Rita & Bob Humbert, Ruth Broerien.

Christmas pot-luck dinner, c1962. L to R: Dorothy Humbert, Lucille Bransteter, Amber Oakley, Ercie Ripley, Vergie Buchanan, Rita & Bob Humbert, Ruth Broerien.

It was not all serious business. Sometimes the group played games and sang songs. I remember accompanying the group on the piano at several meetings. And of course there was food. The hostess for the monthly meeting would prepare a snack, usually a dessert. It was not only a farm business discussion, it was a social event.

I would usually go along to the meetings. Some of the other couples had children that were my age and we all knew each other because we went to school and church together. We kids would play games while the adults tackled more serious issues.

The members of our Council were Bill & Amber Oakley, Claude & Vergie Buchanan, Vernon & Donna Caffee, Fred & Hulda Miller, Homer & Leona Carr, Forrest & Ercie Ripley, Leo & Mary Baker, Bob & Dorothy Humbert, Enid Westerberg (later married Charles Strable), Argyle & Lucille Bransteter, Raymond and Ruth Broerien, and my parents.

Council Christmas pot-luck, c1962. L to R: Ercie Ripley, Verbie Buchanan, Mary Baker, Ruth Broerien, Forrest Ripley, Claude Buchanan, Bill Oakley, Leo Baker. Front: Fred Miller & Vernon Caffee.

Christmas, c1962. L to R, Front: Fred Miller & Vernon Caffee. Back:  Ercie Ripley, Vergie Buchanan, Mary Baker, Ruth Broerien, Forrest Ripley, Claude Buchanan, Bill Oakley, Leo Baker.

The North-of-Chatt group had a yearly Christmas pot-luck dinner that was usually held at our house. Our basement was partially finished and it was a roomy enough to host a meal.

Christmas c1962, L to R: ?. Florence Miller, Donna Caffee, Homer Carr, Vernon Caffee, Rita & Bob Humbert, Fred Miller.

Christmas c1962, L to R: ?. Florence Miller, Donna Caffee, Homer Carr, Vernon Caffee, Rita & Bob Humbert, Fred Miller.

I do not know if these small groups had names but I do know there were other Farm Bureau Council groups in the area. My friend Miriam said her parents belonged to a group between Chatt and Rockford. That council included the Ivan Fasts, Philip & Emma Brehm, as well as Miriam’s parents, William & Thelma Hawk. Lester & Marge Miller and Paul & Kate Eichler were also in a council.

The Farm Bureau Councils are still active today but are now called Community Councils. According to the Ohio Farm Bureau website, the council program was started in 1936 and the concept is unique to Ohio. The councils were originally formed so groups of couples and singles would “meet regularly to develop camaraderie and community while discussing farm and family topics.. Farm Bureau’s greatest strength lies in its grassroots approach to policy-making and problem solving, giving a voice to agriculture and rural communities…and media and legislators often take note of council feedback.”

The state organization provides topics for discussion to over 400 Community Councils in Ohio today. And they seem to be keeping up with the times, using social media such as Facebook and Twitter to share ideas and information.

Apr 22

Tombstone Tuesday–Emanuel H. and Edna L. (Scaer) Schumm

Emanuel and Edna (Scaer) Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen).

Emanuel and Edna (Scaer) Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen).

This is the tombstone of Emanuel H. and Edna L. (Scaer) Schumm, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Schumm
Emanuel H.
1892-1973
Edna L.
1899-1985
Married Oct. 22, 1929

Emanuel Heinrich Johann Schumm was born 17 January 1892, the third child born to Heinrich Martin George and Henrietta Wilhelmine (Hoppe) Schumm. He was baptized at Zion Schumm on 31 January 1892, with Adam Sauer, Heinrich G. Schumm, and Mrs. [unreadable] of Rochester, Indiana, as sponsors.

A World War I flagstaff stands beside their monument, a testament of Emanuel’s military service during that war. According to his WW I Draft Registration card, dated 5 June 1917, Emanuel H. was born in Schumm, Ohio, had blue eyes, light brown hair, and a medium build. At that time he was single and worked as the manager of the Schumm elevator. [1]

Emanuel H. Schumm WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917.

Emanuel H. Schumm WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917. [1]

Emanuel enlisted in the U.S. Army 24 May 1918 and was in the 159th Depot Brigade until 21 June 1918. He was Corporal in Co. K 155th Infantry 12 August 1918; Private 19 December 1918; Corporal 26 May 1919; American Expeditionary Forces from 22 August 1918 to 17 Aug 1919; and was honorably discharged 27 August 1919. [2]  

Emanuel and Edna were married 22 October 1929 at Zion Schumm’s parsonage by Rev. R.O. Bienert. According to Zion’s records both were members of the congregation. Witnesses to the marriage were Paul and Elsie (Scaer) Roehm, Edna’s brother-in-law and sister. Emanuel and Edna lived on the south edge of the village of Schumm.

Edna L. Scaer was born 5 June 1899 near Monroeville, Allen County, Indiana, the third child born to John and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Schinnerer) Scaer. The John Scaer family moved to east of Willshire about 1904. Edna was the sister of my grandmother Hilda (Scaer) Schumm. Edna’s maternal grandfather was Friedrich Schinnerer, the miller (1824-1905).

Scaer sisters: Elsie Roehm, Hilda Schumm, Edna Schumm.

Scaer sisters: Elsie Roehm, Hilda Schumm, Edna Schumm. c1983

Emanuel Schumm managed the grain elevator in Schumm for many years. On 16 April 1940 Emanuel  was confirmed as Schumm’s postmaster, replacing George Weinman, who served as postmaster there from 1931-1940.   Emanuel served as Schumm’s postmaster until 6 January 1953. [3] According to his obituary, Emanuel was the last postmaster at Schumm before the office was abandoned.

Edna was a housewife and mother but also worked hard helping her brother Oscar Scaer on the family farm east of Willshire. During the 1940s Edna helped care for their mother Lizzie after she suffered a stroke. Edna cared for Lizzie during the week while her sisters Hilda and Elsie cared for her during the weekends. Oscar lived in the Scare home and also helped with their mother’s care.

Emanuel passed away 3 February 1973 and Edna passed away 3 October 1985.

Emanuel and Edna Schumm had two children:

Elmer Emanuel (married Imogene Meyer)
Mary Elizabeth (married Marvin Grote)

Obituaries:

Schumm—Emanuel H. Schumm, 81, of Rt, 1, Willshire, last postmaster of the community of Schumm before abandonment of the post office, died at 6:35 p.m. Saturday in Van Wert Manor Nursing Home at Van Wert. He was also a retired grain dealer.

Surviving are his widow, Edna; a son, Elmer Schumm of New Haven; a daughter, Mrs. Marvin Grote of Rt. 2, Ohio City; two sisters Edna Schumm of Willshire and Clara Schumm of Van Wert, and two brothers, the Rev. Alfred Schumm of New Haven and Oswald of Willshire.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Zion Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the Zwick Funeral Home at Decatur until 11 a.m. Tuesday and then after 12:20 p.m. at the church. [4]

Edna L. Schumm
Edna L. Schumm, 86, of Rt. 2, Willshire, died at 1:45 a.m. (EST) in Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur. She had been in failing health for the past three months. Mrs. Schumm had been a resident of Willshire since she was five years old.

She was born June 5, 1899 in Allen County, Indiana, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer.

She married Emanuel H. Schumm on Oct. 22, 1929. He died Feb. 3, 1973.

Survivors include a son, Elmer Schumm of New Haven, Ind; a daughter Mrs. Marvin (Mary) Grote of Rt. 2, Ohio City; a brother, Oscar Scaer of Rt. 1, Willshire; two sisters, Mrs. Cornelius (Hilda) Schumm and Mrs. Paul (Elsie) Roehm both of Rt. 1, Willshire; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother.

Mrs. Schumm was a homemaker and a member of Zion Lutheran Church Schumm, Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Lutheran Layman’s League.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) Sunday in the Zion Lutheran Church Schumm, with the Rev. Gary A. Luderman officiating. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery Schumm.

Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Friday and 2-9 p.m. (EDT) Saturday in the Zwick-Boltz and Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, Ind. Also, friends may call at the church from 1:30 p.m. until time of the services on Sunday.

Preferred memorials are to go to the Zion Lutheran Church Schumm Improvement Fund. [5]

 

[1] “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital images by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2014), Emanuel H. Schumm, serial no. 1811, order no. 29, East Willshire precinct, Van Wert County, Ohio; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509; no specific roll cited, from FHL microfilm 1851249.

[2] Ohio Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918, database on-line by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2014), Emanuel H. Schumm,U.S. Army enlistment 24 May 1918, Van Wert, Ohio; The Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the World War, 1917-1918 (Columbus, Ohio : The F.J. Heer Printing Co., 1926), 15294.

[3] U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, database on-line by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2014), Emanuel H. Schumm, appointment 16 April 1940, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio; citing Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-Sept. 30, 1971; NARA publication M841, Roll 101.

[4] Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 5 February 1973, p.3.

[5] Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 3 October 1985, p.3.

Apr 18

Happy Easter!

Religious themes are probably the most common type of tombstone art and around here Christian symbols are the most prevalent religious designs on the monuments.

This Sunday is Easter and to celebrate of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ here are some of my favorite monument photos that remind me of the Easter season.

Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Angels are messengers between God and man and are popular tombstone figures.

Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio. (2006 photo by Karen)

Union Cemetery, Greenville, Darke County, Ohio. (2006 photo by Karen)

St. Joe Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

St. Josoph Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

The cross is the Christian symbol of salvation and is probably the most popular Christian motif placed on tombstones.

St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. (2010 photo by Karen)

St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. (2010 photo by Karen)

Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

 

North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Mercer County, Ohio. (2008 photo by Karen)

North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Mercer County, Ohio. (2008 photo by Karen)

 

St. Joe Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

St. Joseph Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Easter blessings to everyone.

Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

He is risen. He is risen indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apr 15

Tombstone Tuesday–Oscar J. Scaer

Oscar J. Scaer, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

Oscar J. Scaer, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Oscar J. Scaer, located in row 2 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Oscar J.
SCAER
Oct. 17, 1906
Nov. 9, 1992

Oscar Johann Scaer was the fifth child born to John and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Schinnerer) Scaer, born 17 October 1906 in Willshire Township. He was baptized 28 October 1906, with Joseph Gunset and Wilhelm Schumm as his sponsors.

Oscar was a grandson of Friedrich Schinnerer, the miller and farmer, and the brother of my grandmother Hilda (Scaer) Schumm.

John and Lizzie Scaer lived in Allen County, Indiana, when they were first married but moved to Van Wert County in about 1903. They lived a couple miles east of Willshire on Willshire Eastern Road, first living in a frame house and later building a brick home.

John Scaer home east of Willshire, c1904. Willie, Elsie, Hilda, Edna Scaer.

John Scaer home east of Willshire, c1904. Willie, Elsie, Hilda, Edna Scaer.

Oscar never married and lived in the brick home his father built the remainder of his life. He gave his occupation as a farmer in the 1930 and 1940 censuses. Oscar died 9 November 1992 in Van Wert, Ohio. He is buried next to his parents.

Home built by John Scaer, east of Willshire.(2001 photo by Karen)

Home built by John Scaer, east of Willshire.(2001 photo by Karen)

Obituary:

Oscar J. Scaer
Oscar J. Scaer, 86, a lifelong resident of rural Willshire, Ohio, died Monday, Nov. 9 in Van Wert Manor Nursing Home, Van Wert. He had been seriously ill for the last two months.

He was born October 17, 1906 in Willshire, Ohio to John and Elizabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer.

Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Hilda Schumm and Mrs. Elsie Roehm, both of rural Willshire; six nieces and two nephews.

Services were held Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm with the Rev. Michael Roth officiating. Burial was in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Willshire.

Preferred memorials are to Zion Lutheran Church Improvement Fund. [1]

 

Oscar J. Scaer, c1981.

Oscar J. Scaer, c1981.

[1] The Photo Star, Willshire, Ohio, 11 Nov 1992, p.3.

Apr 11

The 1969 Mercer County Grange Drill Team

Last week I wrote about the local Farmers’ Institute meetings and that me reminded me of another rural organization that our family belonged to in the 1960s–the Chattanooga Grange.

The Chattanooga Grange meetings were held at the old Parish Hall east of Chattanooga on Tama Road. In addition to the monthly meetings the Chattanooga Grange sponsored and participated in a couple big events every year.

One event was the Strawberry Festival. Once a year, in the spring, the Chattanooga Grange would prepare a meal that revolved around the dessert–fresh strawberry shortcake. It was a big event that drew a crowd of people from miles around and the food was delicious. Grange members know how to cook! I remember cleaning crates and crates of strawberries the morning of the meal and waiting tables that evening. It was a lot of work, it was fun, and it was a major source of revenue for our organization.

Back in the 60s there were five or six individual Granges in Mercer County and each was responsible for decorating a booth at the Mercer County Fair. The displays were judged at the fair and ribbons were awarded. A specific theme was assigned each year and booth displays had to adhere to that theme. I remember one year the theme revolved around a pair of hands. My dad made a mold of his cupped hands, cast them in plaster, and painted the finished cast a gold-color. It was creative. I wish I had some photos of those fair booths.

In 1969 the youth members from the Mercer County Granges formed a drill team and we won the Ohio State Grange Drill Team competition. The Grange drill team had to adhere to many required movements and formations. One of the required formations was a cross. We practiced our formations and our marching over and over. We crisscrossed across the stage and made sharp turns. I recall that our drill lasted about 10 minutes. Rosella (Dull) Vining accompanied us on the piano with a lively march. The women wore black jumpers with white blouses and the men wore black trousers and white shirts and black ties.

This photo was taken right after we won the competition:

Mercer County Grange Drill Team, State Champions, 1969. [1]

Mercer County Grange Drill Team, State Champions, 1969. [1]

We chartered a bus to take us to the competition, held in Ashville, Ohio, about 20 miles south of Columbus. We were confident about our drill but were nervous before going out onto the stage. We marched very well that night and when the drill was over we knew that we had nailed it. We had won the state Grange drill championship.

But the evening was far from being over. On the way home we had bus trouble. In a time before the idea of cell phones ever existed, the driver had to walk for help, leaving us stranded on the bus. We sat in the bus, somewhere on the side of some road, in the dark, for hours and hours. We did not get home until about 6:00 a.m. the next morning. But Mercer County had won the 1969 State Grange Drill Team Championship.

Winners…
Mercer County Grange’s Youth Drill Team journeyed to Ashville Saturday and won the state championship in competition with seven other district contest winners. The local group collected 98.5 points of a possible 100 to top second place Stark County which earned 96 points. Fairfield County was third with 95.5 points while Erie County placed fourth with 95. The local team will perform at the State Grange convention in October. Team members are, left to right, front row, Pam Gilmore, Nancy Laffin, Karen Westerberg, Vicki Gause, Marge Gause and Karen Miller; middle row, Mrs. Rosella Vining (pianist), Ron Miller, Bob Willrath, Janet Howell, Susan Canary, Dorothy Hoenie, Angela Thurston, and Jun Hoenie; back row, Ray Gilmore (director), Jerry Laffin, Wayne Doner, Dave Stephenson, Ken Doner, Bruce Felver and Gail Grunden. [1]

 

[1] The Daily Standard, Celina, Ohio, Monday, 31 March 1969.