May 16

Chattanooga News, June 1927

Chattanooga, Ohio.

Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio.

Local newspapers reported news about Chattanooga, Ohio, in the first half of the 20th century. The Willshire Herald printed a Chattanooga column during the 1930s and 40s and I recently discovered that The Rockford Press also had a frequent column about the Chattanooga residents, or as I like to call them, the Chattanoogians.

The newsy personal items below are from the 24 June 1927 edition of The Rockford Press. As you read these items from nearly 86 years ago you will notice some clues that show family relationships and genealogical information. This is just another reason newspaper research can be valuable for family history research.

I enjoy reading about the residents of the little village of Chattanooga back then and seeing some familiar names. I hope you will enjoy them, too.

  • Leo Slusser took dinner Sunday at the Perry Gibbons home.
  • [?] Slusser is doing some painting for Geo Koch.
  • Mrs. Marcella Strable called on Miss Grace Huffman Tuesday evening.
  • Miss Helen Fogel is doing the housework for her grandmother, Mrs. William Betzel.
  • Mrs. Geo Koch and daughter Goldie called on Mrs. Wm. Weinman Tuesday.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Heffner entertained company at their home Sunday.
  • Mrs. Wm. Fogle and son Billy and daughter Nellie visited her mother Mrs. Wm. Betzel.
  • Miss Mildred Bauer came home from Bowling Green Thursday but returned to school Monday.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Roebuck and family, Mr. and Mrs. Clem Roebuck were Fort Wayne caller Friday.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Alex Smith and daughters, Maxine, Joan, Glenna and Mrs. Wiseman motored to Angola Sunday.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Wendell and son Jimmy and daughter, Genevieve were business callers at Celina Tuesday.
  • Don’t forget the children services program Sunday night, June 26, at the Zion Lutheran Church. Everybody welcome.
  • Mr. and Mrs. John Regedanz and daughter, Mildred, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Carr and son Robert were at Edgewater Sunday night.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Rothhaar, Mr. and Mrs. James Duff were Sunday dinner guests of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Landfair and family.
  • Sure was a nice rain we had Tuesday. Everyone is wearing a smile.
  • Miss Verla Huffman visited her mother Wednesday. Miss Verla is working at Celina.
  • Sunday guests of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Andrews and family were Mr. and Mrs. John Andrews, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Baumgartner and family, Mr. and Mrs. Bruff and family, Mr. and Mrs. Jess Pickering and family.
  • Miss Evelyn Fetters called on Grace Huffman Saturday afternoon.
  • Misses Glenndola Bebout and Neva Stetler went to Marion, Ind. to Bible School. They will remain there a week.
  • Don’t forget the ball game Sunday, June 26th, Chattanooga vs. Maples, Ind.  Everyone in in Chattanooga was seen wearing a smile this week. Why? Chattanooga won Sunday. Who lost? Geneva Grays.
  • Mr. and Mrs. John Leistner and son Forest, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wendel, Messrs. Walter and Gale Butcher, Dwight Raudenbush, Victor Schaadt, Misses Grace Huffman, Lucille Purdy, Lulla Affolder motored to Anderson, Ind. Sunday to a camp meeting. Quite a number from Willshire attended the meeting.

And last but not least, was the report of a grand birthday party was held for Mildred Regedanz:

A most enjoyable evening was spent at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Regedanz, Monday evening, June 20th at their home in Chattanooga, when a number of friends gathered there to remind Miss Mildred of her 16th birthday. Miss Mildred received many beautiful gifts including five large birthday cakes. “Ye Gods” what a surprise! Those present were as follows: Opal Bollenbacher, Helen Meyers, Mable Howell, Verla Huffman, Magdalene Albrecht, Lela Baumgartner, Clista Baker, Gertrude Baker, Arlene Baker, Helen Fogle, Golda Koch, Mildred Regedanz, Clara Schaadt, Genevieve Johnson, Grace Huffman, Ernest Bollenbacher, Leota Baker, Ralph Schott, Albert Bollenbacher, Ferdinand Bollenbacher, Daily Lehman, Wm. Rothhaar, Luther Heffner, Pete Heffner, Orval Gibbons, Leo Slusser, Luther Gibbons, Dewey Gibbons, Sie Schritz, Arthur Pefferberger, Ray Smith, Gale Butcher, Dorsie Grimm, Paul Weiman, Chester Grimm, Glenn Felver, Perry Felver, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Meyers, Perry Gibbons, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Grimm, Mr. and Mrs. Orval Felver, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carr and their son Robert, Mrs. Wm. Heffner, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Johnson, and Mr. and Mrs. John Regedanz. The evening was spent in playing games. Miss Grace Huffman and Miss Goldie Koch furnished the music for the evening with everyone joining in on the chorus. Ha! A delicious luncheon was served consisting or sandwiches, angel food cake, ice cream and tea. All separated at a late hour reporting a good time and wishing Miss Mildred many more happy birthdays.  [1]

 

[1] The Rockford Press, Rockford, Ohio, 24 June 1927, p. 10.

May 14

Tombstone Tuesday–Maria C. Pflueger

Maria C. Pflueger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Maria C. Pflueger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Maria C. Pflueger, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. In addition to Maria’s name the names of five of her children are inscribed on the four sides of the marker.

The front of the marker has the names of Maria C. and her daughter Margretha. The marker is inscribed:

Maria C.
Frau von
Michael Pflueger
Gest 5 Apr 1882
Alter 55 Jahre, 6 Mo, 5 Tag,

 Margretha Pflueger
Gestorben 1849
Alter 7 Monat

 Rosina Pflueger
Gestorben
14 Mai 1869
Alter 18 Jahre, 7 Mon, 17 Tage

 Andreas Pflueger
Gestorben 27 Mar 1867
Alter 8 Mon, 17 Tage

 Maria C. Pflueger
Gestorben 27 Sep 1848
Alter 4 M, 28 Tag

 Johannes H. Pflueger
Gest 4 Juni 1864
Alter 7 Mon, 24 Tage

The top of this tombstone is broken off. It is inscribed in German and translations for the German words are: Alter: age; Gest/Gestorben: died; Frau: wife; j/jahre: years; monat: months; t/tag: days.

According to Zion Schumm’s church records, [Maria] Katharina Pflueger, nee Brand, was born 9 April 1826 in Gerebrunn, Württemberg. She died 4 April 1882 of dropsy at the age of 56 years, 11 months and 4 days. She was buried on April 7, 1882 in the parish cemetery and her funeral text was Psalm 90:11,12. 

“Catherine Brant” married Michael Pflueger on 28 May 1846 in Holmes County, Ohio, by Daniel Crans. [1]

Although her tombstone shows her name as Maria C., it appears she went by the name of Catherine/Katherine. Her name was spelled both Catherine and Katherine in the church records. Also note that her age and date of death in the church records disagrees with that on the tombstone.

Maria C. Pflueger. (2013 photo by Karen)

Maria C. Pflueger, lower front of tombstone. (2013 photo by Karen)

Michael and Maria Catherine Pflueger had at least eleven children, according to Zion Schumm records. Of the eleven children mentioned in the church records at least six of them died young and four of them lived to adulthood. I do not know what happened to their youngest child, Maria Hanna, although she lived to be at least nine years old. Many of their children died as infants between census enumerations, so the church records are valuable in reconstructing this family.

Margretha Pflueger, upper front of tombstone. (2013 photo by Karen)

Margretha Pflueger, upper front of tombstone. (2013 photo by Karen)

The following are the children of Michael and Maria Catherine (Brant) Pflueger, as taken from Zion Schumm’s records. Some of the information disagrees with the tombstone information, possibly in part because of the weathering of the tombstone, making it difficult to read.

Maria Katharina (1848-1848), died 27 September 1848, aged of 4 months and 28 days.
Margretha (1849-1849)
Rosina/Rose Ann (1850-1869), born 24 November 1850, died 14 May 1869, age 18 years, 5 months, 18 days.
Abraham (1853-1936). He married Elizabeth Hoffman in 1875.
Maria Barbara (1855-1935), born 27 July 1855, baptized 12 March 1858 at home in Mercer County. Sponsors were the widow Barbara Schumm and Georg Schumm and his wife. She married Jacob/GW Clouse in 1874.
Georg Martin (1857-1859), born 23 September 1857, baptized 12 March 1858 at home in Mercer County. Sponsors were the widow Barbara Schumm and Georg Schumm and his wife. The minister wrote, The parents do not belong to the church, but the child was baptized by me.
Martin Friedrich (1860-1943), born 7 December 1860, baptized 15 December 1860 in the church. Sponsors were Martin Schinnerer and his wife and Friedrich Schumm (son of Georg). He married Sarah M. Burk in 1889.
Adam Jakob (1862-1919), born 10 May 1862, baptized 25 May 1862 in the church. Sponsors were Adam Buechner and Jakob Bienz. He married Anna Regina Pifer about 1893.
Johann Heinrich (1863-1864), died 4 June 1864 of inflammation of the lungs (pleurisy), age 7 months, 24 days, buried on 5 June.
Andreas Jacob (1866-1867), born 10 July 1866, baptized 5 August 1866. Sponsors were Andrew Roehm and Jacob Bienz. He died 27 March 1867, age 8 months, 17 days and was buried on 28 March.  Cause of death was lung fever.
Maria Hanna (1871-aft 1880), born 19 April 1871 and baptized 23 April 1871. Sponsors were Maria Schumm and Hanna Schumm.

Pflueger marker with Maria C. & five children inscribed. (2013 photo by Karen)

Pflueger marker with Maria C. & five children inscribed. (2013 photo by Karen)

Maria Catherine’s husband Michael Pflueger is not buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Schumm. Find out where he is buried next week.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org : accessed 12 May 2013), citing Holmes County Marriages, Vol. 2: 298, Michael Pfleger and Catharine Brant, 1846.

May 09

The Top Ten Reasons for a Genealogical Conference

FGS 2013 Ambassador

FGS 2013 Ambassador

Because I enjoy attending genealogy conferences and consider them worthwhile for learning about and keeping up with the latest methodology in genealogical research, I signed on to be an FGS 2013 Ambassador. So, from time to time, I will blog about the upcoming FGS Conference, to be held in Fort Wayne this coming August.

Today’s topic is Why Genealogy Conferences and I put together a Top Ten List of reasons for having them and reasons for attending.

I would first like to say that if you have never attended a national genealogy conference you should really try to attend one. There are all levels of researchers at any conference, big or small, and many things for everyone to learn and share.

The top ten reasons for a genealogy conference:

1. Hear the best genealogical speakers lecture on a wide variety of genealogical,historical and technical topics.

2. Attend sessions that will expand your level of research. Sessions are available for all research levels and you will always learn something, no matter what research level you are currently at.

3. Visit and shop at the Exhibit Hall, where you can browse and shop for items such as books, tombstone rubbing supplies, Flip Pal mobile scanner, foreign and domestic maps and atlases from all time periods, books, fun genealogical items such as T-shirts, mouse pads, totes, special pens and magnifiers, publishing items and did I mention books? By the way, the Exhibit Hall is free and open to the public. You do not need to be a conference attendee to go through the exhibits.

4. Special workshops for specific interests or specific areas of research.

5. Learn more about using, navigating and searching Internet websites such as FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, Fold3, Google, Google Earth and more.

6. Exposure to new and advanced research techniques.

7. Share information and ideas with other researchers between sessions and at luncheons.

8. Learn about and see genealogy software demonstrations and tech gadgets with the opportunity to ask questions. Talk with representatives of genealogical societies and organizations from around the country, all in the Exhibit Hall.

9. Learn the ability to pay it forward by becoming a volunteer indexer and learn how to index at home through FamilySearch.org.

10. Learn more about and dig deeper into your areas of interest. Or learn about a subject that you know nothing about.

The first national genealogical conference that I ever attended was an FGS Conference–the 2001 FGS Conference in Davenport, Iowa. I will never forget hearing about the terrorist attacks while driving to Davenport on September 11th. Despite the tragic circumstances of that day it was a very good conference and a wonderful learning experience for me. The information I received from that conference helped with my research in many ways.

After that I was hooked on genealogy conferences and as the little girl says on the commercial, “I want MORE!”

 

 

 

May 07

Tombstone Tuesday–Catharine and William Fowler

Catharine & William Fowler, Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Catharine & William Fowler, Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

These are the tombstones of Catharine and William Fowler located in row 7, Section 1, Greenbriar Cemetery, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. The markers are inscribed:

Catharine
wife of
Wm Fowler
Died
Oct. 26, 1888
Aged
50y, 5m, 21d

William Fowler
Born
Jan. 15,1831
Died
Feb. 24, 1889
Aged
58y, 1m & 9d

 

Greenbriar Cemetery is located at the intersection of Willshire-Ohio City Road and Glenmore Road, Section 13 of Willshire Township, about 3 ½ miles west of Ohio City. There is an old frame church next to the cemetery. And it was in this cemetery that we had an exciting find last week.

Catharine Fowler (1838-1888). (2013 photo by Karen)

Catharine Fowler (1838-1888). (2013 photo by Karen)

William Fowler (1831-1889). (2013 photo by Karen)

William Fowler (1831-1889). (2013 photo by Karen)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Fowler married Catharine Stripe on 2 November 1856 in Fairfield County, Ohio. [1]

By 1860 William and Catharine Fowler were living in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. Their household in 1860: William, 30, born in Ohio; Catharine, 22, Ohio; Sarah A., 1/12, Ohio. [2]

The Fowlers still resided in Pleasant Township in 1870. Their household in 1870: William, 35, Ohio, farmer, real estate value $3000, personal property value $500; Catharine, 32, Ohio, keeping house; Sarah A, 10, Ohio; Emma Stripe, 25, Ohio; Charley Moore, 1, Ohio. [3]

The last census enumeration that the Fowlers were recorded in was the 1880 census, Pleasant Township. Their household in 1880: William, 57, Ohio, farmer, father born in England, mother born in Pennsylvania; Catharine, wife, 42, Ohio, keeping house; Sarah, daughter, 21, Ohio, school teacher; Charles Moore, 10, nephew, attends school; William J. Lee, laborer, 24, Indiana, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Ohio. [4]  

According to the 1872 map of Van Wert County, W. Fowler owned 80 acres of land in the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 32 in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. Their farm was at the south end of Pleasant Township and bordered Liberty Township. It was about 4-5 miles from the Greenbriar cemetery and church.

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

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

Daughter Sarah A. Fowler married the laborer William J. Lee on 15 October 1883 in Van Wert County. [5] Emma Stripe and Charles Moore were living with the Fowlers in 1870. Perhaps Emma Stripe was Catharine’s sister. The 1880 census tells us that Charles Moore was William and Catharine’s nephew.

Marble Photo Cover, Catharine Fowler tombstone.

Marble Photo Cover, Catharine Fowler tombstone.

Catharine Fowler memorial photo.

Catharine Fowler memorial photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Friday was a beautiful spring day so Joe and I decided to spend the day visiting some local cemeteries. We had never visited Greenbriar Cemetery and stopped there to photograph a specific tombstone. Unfortunately the cemetery is in very poor condition with many sinking and broken stones. I found the tombstone I was looking for and as we were walking through the cemetery, looking for unusual markers and inscriptions, Joe noticed something different on the two Fowler markers. On each tombstone was a screw holding a thin flat marble cover/plate and when he slid the cover to the side we saw a memorial photo underneath.

I have seen quite a few modern memorial photos on tombstones but never any old ones, and I have been looking for quite some time. Needless to say, we were thrilled to discover these. Catharine Fowler’s photo is still in good condition but William’s is very faded. We noticed another tombstone at Greenbriar that was broken and laying on the ground. It also had an insert for a photo but unfortunately the photo was gone.

Catharine Fowler memorial photo.

Catharine Fowler memorial photo.

William Fowler memorial photo.

William Fowler memorial photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial photos were popular in the late 1800s and have become somewhat popular again. How exciting to find two old tombstones with memorial photos, allowing us to put faces to the names on the markers.

Catharine and William Fowler could never have imagined that 125 years after their deaths their photos would be seen around the world on something called the Internet.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 May 2013), FHL film 295269, Fairfield Marriages Vol. 2:134, 1851-1868, for marriage of William Fowler and Catharine Stripe.

[2] 1860 U.S. Census, Pleasant, Van Wert, Ohio, p. , line 9, dwelling 294, family 287, William Fowler; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 May 2013); NARA microfilm M653, roll 1045.

[3] 1870 U.S. Census, Pleasant, Van Wert, Ohio, p. 323A, line 7, dwelling 198, family 200, William Fowler; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 May 2013); FHL film 552774, from National Archives microfilm M593, roll 1275.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Pleasant, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 149, p. 321B, line 7, dwelling 77, family 90,

William Fowler; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 5 May 2013); FHL film 1255073, from National Archives microfilm T9, roll 1073.

[5] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 May 2013), FHL film 1015861, Van Wert Marriages Vol. 6:282, 1880-1885, for marriage of William J. Lee and Sarah A. Fowler.

May 03

After the 2013 OGS Conference: A New To-Do List

Last week’s OGS Conference in Cincinnati was in my opinion one of their very best. There was a good variety of topics and lectures presented by excellent speakers. I came home armed with new ideas and information, re-energized and ready to try out some new research plans and techniques. I started a Things-To-Do-When-I-Get-Home list  and added to it as I sat in lectures and talked with other genealogists. That’s right. Not all research ideas and information come from lectures. Many come from networking with other genealogists.

Below are half a dozen things I want to investigate and try out:

1. Search on-line for ortsfamilienbüchers. These are wonderful compiled books that consist of vital and genealogical information for a certain time period in a specific area or town in Germany. I have already used one of these books in my German Müller research and know how helpful they can be. My great-grandfather Jacob Müller/Miller was from Bierbach and I copied the book Einwohner von Bierbach bis 1830 by Hans Cappel from a Family History Library microfilm. This compilation gives genealogical information about the families in the town of Bierbach from 1304-1974. That’s a pretty good span of years and books like these could be great sources of information for my other lines.

I learned from Ernest Thode that there are many of these books out there. I think my best chance at research in the ortsfamilienbücher will be through the Family History Library. Maybe they have microfilmed and digitized the ortsfamilienbücher for the specific town I am researching. If one has been microfilmed I can always order the film. I found it helpful to do a search for familienbuch on FamilySearch.org or to search by the town name. Another good website for ortsfamilienbücher is http://www.online-ofb.de/ . For this type of research you really need to know the name of your German ancestor’s home town.

2. Try my hand at on-line German newspaper research. I am hooked on American newspaper research but I did not realize that many German and German-language newspapers are also on-line.

Using my Ernest Thode lecture handouts as a guide, I spent several hours this week checking out German newspaper websites. I found quite a few German newspapers but the language is a problem. I know very little German but I can read just enough Gothic German script to recognize names in church records and what event was going on in the church. Basically I can read the vital information–birth/baptisms, marriages and death/burials. I have problems with the translation if the minister elaborated on the event.

3. Map my German ancestors’ towns on maps of various years. Germany is a complicated place to research because before 1871 it consisted of separate kingdoms whose boundaries changed a lot. That means that your ancestor’s town may have been in several governing districts over the years. To research your German ancestor it is vital to know what governing district and parish the records were kept in.

Warren Bittner pointed out that by determining what governing districts your ancestor’s town was in over the years and knowing the boundary changes can lead you to the correct places to research. I have collected a few copies of old German maps and marking the exact locations of towns on them should help determine what governing districts they were in various years. Warren has gathered an amazing amount of information about his German ancestors, although he said it took him seven trips to Germany to gather the information. What is amazing is that his ancestors were almost neighbors to my Müllers in Bavaria.

I do believe that with a little work I will be able to figure this German research out.

4. Add information to the Mercer County page on the Family Search Wiki. Yes there is a Mercer County page on FamilySearch.org and they are asking volunteers to add information to it. These county pages are to be research guides and I plan to add some research information as well as information about Mercer County churches.

5. Create timelines for my brick walls. One of my friends created a great timeline for his problem ancestor, with hopes of solving some research problems. It looks like a good way to organize information and view the details at a glance. He created his timeline in Word. I work with Word a lot but I must say that I have been missing their table feature. Some of my genealogy software may also be able to create a timeline.

6. Look into publishing my family history on Roots Magic.com, MyHeritage.com or the new FamilySearch’s Family Tree. But first I need to upgrade to Roots Magic 6.

Genealogical conferences are worthwhile and fun and I am excited that I get to attend two conferences this year. The second conference is the 2013 FGS Conference to be held in Fort Wayne, Indiana, 21-24 August. The Federation of Genealogical Societies sponsors a national conference annually and this year’s theme is Journey Through Generations. The 2013 FGS conference is also within driving distance, actually close enough that I can drive back and forth each day. Fortunately both conferences fit into my work schedule.

There is always something new to learn at a genealogy conference–new methodology, new resources, new technology or maybe a new and different way to look at an old problem. I know there will be knowledgeable speakers, a wide variety of session topics, workshops, and a large exhibit area at FGS 2013. Plus there are many opportunities to ask questions of other researchers and sometimes the speakers. People from all over the country will be in Fort Wayne for the conference, giving attendees the opportunity to ask research questions about other areas of the country. Maybe I’ll see you there!