Nov 08

A Story for Veterans Day

This coming Monday, 11 November, we commemorate Veterans Day. Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day was created to recognize of the end of World War I.  Fighting between the Allied nations and Germany ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. That date is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”  Veterans Day was made a legal holiday in 1938.

One of the great things about writing family history blog posts is being contacted by distant relatives from all over the world. Last summer I received an e-mail from Friedemann, a distant Rueck relative who lives in Germany. We shared family information and discovered that we both had knowledge of the following story that occurred in Germany during World War II.

My dad’s grandparents, Jacob and Christine (Rueck) Miller were German immigrants. Christine Rueck immigrated about 1880 with her immediate family—her daughter, parents, siblings and her male cousin.

The Ruecks were from the Crailsheim and Appensee area of Württemberg, and according to Friedemann, one of the main reasons they left Germany was the lack of farm land on which to raise their large family. Our branch of the family immigrated but many Rueck relatives remained in Germany. All through the years Christine and her family in America kept in contact with their Rueck relatives across the ocean.

Jacob Miller passed away in 1918 and after that his widow Christine lived with my dad’s family for a while. She was still living when my dad went off to Germany to fight in the war.

PFC Herb Miller, "The Railsplitters."

PFC Herb Miller, 84th Division, 333rd Co. Infantry; “The Railsplitters.”

My dad said that his grandmother Christine told him he should visit some of his Rueck relatives while he was in Germany. She specifically mentioned her first cousin, Babette “Barbara” (Rueck) Leiberich, who was also my dad’s great-aunt and Friedemann’s great-grandmother.

At some point when my dad was in Germany during the war he took a train to Barbara’s home, introduced himself, and stayed there overnight. During the visit he also met some Rueck cousins. I am not sure when or how he managed this visit.

I mentioned this story to Friedemann in one of my e-mails and asked him if he had ever heard anything about this incident. He said that he had heard the very same story from his mother!

His mother told him that one night after the war an unknown American soldier knocked on Barbara Leibrich’s door. The soldier went on to explain that he was a Rueck descendant and that his grandmother was Christine Rueck, who had immigrated to America decades before. That young American soldier was my dad.

Friedemann believes that Barbara was probably at the home of relatives in Appensee at that time because Barbara’s house in Crailsheim had been completely destroyed during the war. Barbara may have written Christine about her house and told Christine where she was living after it was destroyed.

Back then, none of the Ruecks in Germany spoke any English and Friedemann supposes that his mother was the translator. She would have been about 15 years old at the time and was a good English student.

Herb Miller (2)

Herb Miller

Friedemann said that one April during the war the Americans reached the old and beautiful city of Crailsheim and conquered it without resistance. But several days later fanatic Nazi troops came and took the town back. He said many American soldiers died during the fighting and the center of the city was completely destroyed. That was probably when Barbara’s home and all her possessions, including family papers, were destroyed.

It is a tragedy to think that relatives may have fought other relatives during the war. Friedemann mentioned that several Rueck family members, including his uncle, died during the war.

While e-mailing Friedemann I discovered that we also have another connection. My cousin and her mother [my aunt—my dad’s sister] visited Friedemann and his family in 1970. What a small world!

We owe all of our veterans a big Thank You for their service to our country. Remember to thank a veteran this coming Veterans Day and remember those veterans who are no longer with us.

Nov 05

Tombstone Tuesday–Georg & Maria Grund

Georg & Maria Grund, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

Georg & Maria Grund, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Georg and Maria Grund, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

GRUND

Maria
Ehefr. bon
G. Grund
Gest. Den
9 Marz 1913
Alter 59Y, 3M, 26T

Georg
Grund
Geb. Den
12 Dez. 1844
Gest. Den
5 Apr 1926

Translation: Maria, wife of G. Grund, died 9 March 1913, age 59 years, 3 months, 26 days. Georg Grund, born the 12 December 1844, died the 5 April 1926. Scripture, written in German, is also carved below each name.

Maria Grund’s date of birth was 11 November 1853, as calculated from the tombstone. This agrees with the information in Zion Schumm’s records: Mrs. Maria Grund, daughter of Mr. Johann Rettig and wife Freidericke, was born 11 November 1853 in Marion, Ohio. She died 9 March 1913, at the age of 59 years, 3 months, and 28 days. [There is an age discrepancy of two days between her tombstone and the other records.] She was buried on 11 March in Zion’s Cemetery. Survivors included three daughters, her husband, one brother, one sister, three half-siblings, and five grandchildren. Maria’s death certificate indicates that she died in Willshire Township, Van Wert County and that her mother’s name was Fridrica Goodhil. [1]

Zion Schumm’s records indicate that Georg Grund was born to Johann Heinrich (1809-1875) and Eva Maria (Brenner) Grund (1805-1880). Johann Heinrich and Eva Maria had four other children.

Georg Grund died at the age of 81 years, 3 months, and 24 days, as calculated from the tombstone. According to Georg’s obituary and Zion Schumm’s records, Georg immigrated to America with his parents in 1852. There is no record of Georg’s death or burial in Zion Schumm’s records, although it appears he is buried in the church cemetery. Georg’s death certificate indicates he died in Willshire Township, Van Wert County. [2]

According to the records of Zion Schumm and Van Wert County marriages [3], Georg Grund married Maria A. Rettig on 27 March 1874 at the church. Zion Schumm’s records indicate they had the following children:

Anna Katharina Rosina Sophia “Sophie” (b. 14 September 1876; m. Louis Nofer)
Margaretha Magdalene Martha “Martha” (b. 14 November 1879; m. Carl Nofer)
Johanna Katharina Christina “Christine” (b. 13 March 1882; m. Christian Klein)

Obituaries:

Mrs. Maria Grund Also Goes to Her Reward
Maria Grund, daughter of John Rettig and wife was born at Marion, Ohio, November 11, 1853, and died at her home in Willshire township, March 9, 1913, aged 59 years, three months and 28 days.

In her early days she moved here with her parents. She was instructed and confirmed in the German Lutheran church and has been a consistent and faithful member all her life.

In 1783 [sic] she was united in marriage to Geo. J. Grund. To this union three children was [sic] born. Mrs. Louie Nofer, Mrs. Chas. Nofer and Mrs. C.L. Klein.

She leaves to mourn her departure, a husband, three daughters, one brother, one sister, and a host of other relatives and friends.

The funeral services were conducted from the German Lutheran church at Schumm, Tuesday afternoon, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Meyer. [4]

Willshire Township Deaths
George Grund, a resident of Willshire township for more than 70 years, died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Charles Nofer, Monday, April 5, 1926. He was aged 81 years, three months and 23 days. He was a victim of pneumonia. He was born in Germany, and at the age of 8 years came to this country with his parents.

He made his home after arriving at a man’s estate on a farm one and on-half mile north of Schumm, which he owned at the time of his death. Mrs. Grund preceded him in death a number of years ago, the only survivors being the three daughters, Mrs. Charles Nofer, Mrs. Louis Nofer and Mrs. Chris Kline, all residents of Willshire township.

Funeral services were held from the Charles Nofer home and from the Schumm Lutheran church Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Jr. Bienert.  S.S. Buchanan & Son were the undertakers in charge. [5]

 

[1] “Ohio, Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:MM9.1.1/F6CF-L5H : accessed 3 Nov 2013), Mary Grund, 9 Mar 1913.

[2] “Ohio, Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6CF-P9W : accessed 4 Nov 2013), John George Grund, 5 Apr 1926.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XD24-RVD : accessed 3 November 2013), John George Grund and Mary A. Rettig, 26 Mar 1874; citing Van Wert, Ohio, United States, Vol 4:221, reference 221; FHL microfilm 1015860.

[4] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 13 March 1913 p. 2.

[5] The Willshire Herald, Willshire Ohio, 8 April 1926, p. 1.

Nov 01

Remembering Aunt Em

Our Miller family gathered together this week. We met for the visitation and funeral of my aunt Em. We gathered for the same reason just last year, when my dad passed away. The family is once again a little smaller.

Emelene Miller graduation.

Emilene Miller graduation, 1942.

Emilene (nearly everyone called her Em) was one of my dad’s older sisters. There were eight siblings in their family–five sisters and three brothers. Now four of them remain.

Em passed away this past Monday, 28 October, and family and friends met Thursday to mourn her passing and celebrate her life.

Emilene Beatrice was the third child born to Carl and Gertrude (Brewster) Miller–their third daughter. My dad was the fourth born and was their first boy. Em and my dad were only a year apart in age.

My aunts and uncles have always been close. They enjoy getting together and reminiscing about the old days. They always have many stories to tell about their childhood.

I learned a few things about aunt Em’s childhood the past couple days. Em was the quiet one in the family. She did not play as many pranks or get in as much trouble as some of her siblings. Her sisters would say that the Miller girls were too busy working in the kitchen and around the house to get in trouble.

Emilene Miller

Emilene Miller

Em was smart. Her father taught her to read when she was very young and she was good in Latin in high school.

When Em was little she liked Shirley Temple. In fact, she wanted to be called Shirley and would do additional household chores if her siblings would call her Shirley.

Once her oldest sister was spinning around with her arms outstretched when she accidentally hit and knocked Em down. She knocked the wind out of Em and was afraid she had killed Em.

Emilene Miller confirmation, 1938, Zion Lutheran, Chatt.

Emilene Miller confirmation, 1938, Zion Lutheran, Chatt.

I knew Em all my life and she was one of the nicest people I have ever met. She always had a smile on her face and was always willing listen and to help anyone in need. Her son Ron described her as being generous,sharing, tenacious, and energetic. She was all of those things.

Em had a green thumb and always put out a vegetable garden and lots of flowers. She also grew a variety of herbs. She still tended her yard and garden into her 80s. Em was also a very good cook. She was known for her pie-making skills and was best known for her coconut cream pie. The Millers would all race to get a piece of her made-from-scratch coconut cream pie at our annual reunion. That pie has been a reunion staple as long as I can remember. Thanks to cousin Ellen, who has taken on the responsibility of making the coconut pie for the reunions, using Em’s recipe.

Aunt Em cutting her coconut cream pie. (2001 photo by Karen)

Aunt Em cutting her coconut cream pie. (2001 photo by Karen)

Aunt Em had been in failing health for several years. She moved from her life-long home into a facility this past spring. I saw Em last July. We visited her at the facility and she attended the Miller reunion the next day. She was doing well until she developed pneumonia a couple weeks ago and had to be hospitalized.

Em’s family recently sold her house. While sorting through her papers they found a large stack of old letters from my dad. He wrote them during the war and sent them to Em and her husband. Her children graciously gave the letters to me and they are truly a treasure.

I always wandered if my dad sent letters from Europe to the folks back home and if he did, what had happened to them. I am so grateful that aunt Em saved them and had them packed safely away. I have not had time to go through them yet but I plan to digitize and transcribe all of them. You will have the opportunity to read some of them in future posts.

Emilene Beatrice (Miller) Henkle, 9 March 1924-28 October 2013.

Rest in peace, Aunt Em. You will be missed.

 

Oct 29

Tombstone Tuesday–James M. & Emma Duff

James M. & Emma Duff, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

James M. & Emma Duff, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of James M. and Emma Duff, located in Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

DUFF

Emma
1857-1946

James M.
1856-1935

James Madison Duff was born 5 March 1856 near Columbus, Ohio, to William and Eliza (Lazaliet) Duff.  He married Emma Mason 25 January 1879. Emma was born 10 January 1857 to John and Louise (Barkmen) Mason.

James and Emma moved to Chattanooga about 1922 and operated a cream station in the town. James died in Chattanooga on 12 March 1935 of peritonitis from a perforated intestinal ulcer. His widow Emma died of pneumonia on 7 Feb 1946 in her son Jacob’s home in Chattanooga.

James and Emma had the following children:

Oley (1879-?)
Jacob William (1882-1948)
Finley Cleveland (1884-1969)
James “Ray” (1886-1962)
Earl (1888-?)
Mabel Fern (1891-bef 1935)
Ross  F (1894-1963)
Bessie (1903-bef 1920)

Their son Jacob William Duff was the subject of last week’s Tombstone Tuesday post.

James’ obituary:

WELL KNOWN CHATT CITIZEN DIES SUDDENLY   

James Duff, 79, highly respected citizen of Chattanooga, died Tuesday morning at 3 o’clock at his home in that place. He took seriously ill on Sunday. A post mortem which was held by Dr. Dailey Jones was necessary to determine the cause of his death and it was found that a hole in the large intestine which had developed into peritonitis was responsible for his sudden passing away.

Mr. Duff had operated a cream station for six years in Chattanooga and before that lived on his farm in Jefferson township.

He is survived by his wife and six sons: Ollie and Earl in Florida; Finn and Ross of Buckley, Mich.; Roy of Jefferson township, and Jacob of Chattanooga. Two daughters preceded him in death, Mrs. Mable Landfair and Miss Bessie Duff.

Funeral services Thursday morning at 10:30 o’clock at the MP Church in Chattanooga. Burial in Kessler cemetery. SS Egger, undertaker. [1]

A week later The Willshire Herald printed a biographical sketch of James Duff. What a great find for a family history researcher.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JAMES M. DUFF

James M. Duff, son of William and Eliza Lazaliet Duff was born near Columbus, Ohio, March 5, 1856, and departed this life March 12, 1935, at the ripe old age of 79 years.

While still a young man he came to Jay county, Ind., on the 25th of January, 1879. He was united in marriage to Emma Mason. To this union was born six sons and two daughters, Oley of Titusville, Fla., Jacob of Chattanooga, Finley of Buckley, Mich., Ray of Geneva, Ind., Earl of Minns, Fla., Mabel, deceased, Ross of Buckley, Mich., and Bessie, deceased.

In the year 1891 the family moved from Jay county to Adams county, Ind., where they resided until 1922. Since then he has resided in Chattanooga, O.

At the age of 18 he was converted and became a member of the Macklin Methodist Protestant church. After moving to Adams county he changed his membership to the Mount Carmel Evangelical church. In 1907, realizing the need of a church in Chattanooga, he helped to organize a Sunday school in a vacant room and later on helped to organize and build the present Methodist Protestant church of which he was a charter member and remained a consistent and faithful member until his departure. Almost his last public testimony was that he was striving to lay up his treasures in heaven.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his sorrowing wife, six sons, 33 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, two brothers, Frank, of Texas and William, of Hartford City, Ind., and three sisters, May Bolinger, Allie Smith and Maud Baucher, all of Hartford City, Ind. His father and mother, three brothers, one sister and two daughters preceded him in death. He was of a jovial and cheerful disposition and will be greatly missed by his church, neighbors and friends as well as the relatives. [2]

James Duff obituary. [3]

James Duff obituary, 1946. [3]

After James’ death Emma went to live with her son Jacob Duff in Chattanooga. [4]

LAST RITES SUNDAY FOR MRS. EMMA DUFF

Funeral services were held Sunday for Mrs. Emma Duff, 90, widow of the late James Duff, who died at the home of a son, Jacob Duff, in Chattanooga. She had resided with her son since the death of her husband 11 years ago.

Surviving are six sons, as follows: Oley W. Duff, Indian River City, Florida; Earl Duff, Minns, Florida; Finlay and Ross Duff, both of Buckley, Michigan; Ray Duff, Geneva, Ind., and Jacob Duff, Chattanooga. Two daughters preceded in death. [5]

Emma Duff obituary, 1946.

Emma Duff obituary, 1946. [6]

[1] The Willshire Herald, 14 Mar 1935, p. 1.

[2] The Willshire Herald, 21 March 1935, p. 6.

[3] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X6WQ-M9J : accessed 23 Oct 2013), James Madison Duff, 11 Mar 1935; citing Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, reference fn 18828; FHL microfilm 2022485.

[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Chattanooga, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 54-22, family 291, line 72, sheet 14B, Jacob W. Duff; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Oct 2013); NARA digital publication of T627, roll 3114.

[5] The Willshire Herald, 14 February 1946, p. 1.

[6] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:MM9.1.1/XXS6-2QL : accessed 23 October 2013), Emma Duff, 07 Feb 1946; citing, reference Certificate; FHL microfilm 2372652.

 

 

 

Oct 25

Haunted Mercer County?

When you think of haunted places in Ohio, northern Mercer County is probably not the first place that comes to mind. But this area seems to be a hotbed of paranormal activity according to the Internet and some other sources. They identify several haunted places very near here. Legendary places where people claim they have witnessed paranormal activity. And for some unknown reason the majority of these sites are in the Mendon area.

Are these spooky tales perpetuated by teenagers or those that seek out paranormal activity? Or are these places truly haunted?

With less than two weeks before Halloween and a full moon last Friday night, Joe and I decided it would be the perfect time to do a little ghost hunting ourselves. We visited some of the rumored haunts during the day and others under the light of the full moon. Did we see or hear any paranormal activity? Read on.

Palmer Cemetery:

Palmer Cemetery, Palmer Road, Mendon, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Palmer Cemetery, Palmer Road, Mendon, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

This is a small family cemetery on Palmer Road, west of Mendon. The cemetery is in the middle of a field, about 200 yards from the road. A stately old cement arch by the road marks the location of a grassy lane that leads to the burying ground. It is said that two cement lions with green glass eyes once flanked the arch and that the green eyes spooked passing horses. A broken portion of a lion’s claw is all that remains of those statues.

Palmer Cemetery. (2013 photo by Karen)

Palmer Cemetery. (2013 photo by Karen)

A stone wall surrounds the family plot back in the field. I was near there one afternoon last week and it was quiet and peaceful. Nothing out of the ordinary appeared. In fact I think the Palmer family would be interesting to research.

Palmer Cemetery

Palmer Cemetery

One of the tombstones supposedly glows in the dark and is visible from the road. We drove by slowly in the light of the full moon, looking for a glowing tombstone. One stone did appear to have a pale green aura, but Joe pointed out that it was actually light from a distant farm night light, blocked by the tombstone, its light glowing around the stone.

Palmer Cry-Baby Bridge:

Cry-Baby Bridge, Palmer Road, Mendon, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Cry-Baby Bridge, Palmer Road, Mendon, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Palmer Cry-Baby Bridge is about half a mile down the road from Palmer Cemetery and spans the St. Marys River. There are a several variations of this bridge’s legend, 1) A father threw his baby over the bridge and killed his wife. 2) A man killed his wife and baby and then hanged himself from a tree at the bottom of the bridge. 3) The devil killed a family under the bridge.

It is said that if you park on the bridge at night, turn off your car engine and lights and roll down the windows, you will hear a baby cry. Then a ghost will appear, enter your car engine and disable it. You will have to push your car off the bridge before it will start again. Sounds plausible.

Cry-Baby Bridge. (2013 photo by Karen)

Cry-Baby Bridge. (2013 photo by Karen)

We followed all those instructions last Friday night under the full moon. Twice. Our car started just fine both times. No ghost. No baby’s cries. I thought I heard a howl once, but Joe said it was just the wind blowing through the trees.

As we sat there in silence I wondered if we would be able to push our car off the bridge if it wouldn’t start. What if it actually would not start? Joe said that he could steer our car if I would push it.

Tomlinson Cemetery:

Tomlinson Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Tomlinson Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

This cemetery is on Tomlinson Road, at the Mercer-Van Wert County line. The remains of Tomlinson Church are across the road. It is said that if someone stands in the middle of the cemetery and another person walks backward around the cemetery, the person standing in the cemetery will disappear.

This is a rather large cemetery and I decided not to walk backward around it. Besides, Joe said he did not want to disappear. And to be honest, I did not want him to disappear either. The legend never explained where the person disappeared to or gave instructions on how to get them back.

Tomlinson Cemetery

Tomlinson Cemetery

Bloody Bridge:

Bloody Bridge, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Bloody Bridge, Auglaize County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Bloody Bridge is in Auglaize County and crosses the Miami-Erie Canal south of Spencerville. Bloody Bridge looks a lot like Cry-Baby Bridge, probably because both were recently rebuilt. The Auglaize County Historical Society erected a sign near Bloody Bridge in 1979 that tells its spooky tale:

BLOODY BRIDGE
During the canal years of the 1850’s a rivalry grew between Bill Jones and Jack Billings for the love of Minnie Warren. This became hatred by Bill because Minnie chose Jack. On a fall night in 1854, returning from a party, Minnie and Jack were surprised on the bridge by Bill. Armed with an ax, with one swing, Bill severed Jack’s head. Seeing this, Minnie screamed and fell from the bridge into a watery grave. Bill disappeared, and when a skeleton was found years later in a nearby well, people asked was it suicide or justice.

It is said you can see a woman’s face in the waters of the canal when standing on the bridge. The only thing we saw in the water was an old tire.

Were there any haunts around Chatt? When I was a teenager we talked about one spot on Oregon Road, near the state line. There were woods on both sides of Oregon Road there and the trees were thick and close to the road. The story was that a couple parked between the two woods and the guy left the car for some reason. After a while, waiting for her boyfriend to return, the girl heard something swishing back and forth on the car roof. She thought it was a tree branch but it was actually her boyfriend’s head hanging from a branch. Maybe some of you from the Chatt area remember this story?

Houck Cemetery, Kentucky. (photo used by permission)

Houck Cemetery, Kentucky. (photo used by permission)

Finally, the photo above was given to me by one of my patients who knew of my interest in cemetery research. The photo was taken in Houck Cemetery, in the hills of Kentucky. They were having trouble locating the back-road cemetery. The entrance was overgrown and they unknowingly drove past it several times.

She said it was a clear, warm, still day but all of a sudden a gust of wind blew some low branches to the side, enabling them to see the cemetery’s entrance. She located her ancestor’s tombstones and took some photos in the cemetery.

When she got her 35mm photos developed she noticed there were opaque white spots floating in the air above some of the tombstones. She saw nothing like that when she was in the cemetery and she is convinced that the spots were ghostly apparitions. Believe it or not…

Even though Joe and I did not see or hear any ghosts or witness any unusual activity last week, we had fun visiting the local spooky spots. Happy Halloween!