Aug 24

School Days

Former Chatt School

Former Chatt School

Right now I’m sure most local school-aged children are wondering where this summer has gone, lamenting because most of the schools in our area opened this past week. I remember those days.

I have been sorting through several groups of photos that I obtained this summer. There were several school pictures among my dad’s photos and he had even identified and labeled some of them.

So, to commemorate back-to-school, here are a couple local school photos.

I have been told that the old building to the right is the former Chattanooga School. Chatt School, aka School No. 3, was located in Section 8, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on what is now the southeast corner of Schaadt Road and State Route 49. The school was listed on the 1876, 1888, and 1900 Mercer County plat maps.

During the local oil boom a second school house was erected to house the additional pupils. There were four grades in each building. The north building was a little smaller and there was a pump between the two buildings. Chatt School closed over 70 years ago, in 1939. After the school closed the students were bussed to Willshire.  [1]

Below is a photo of the students and teacher at Chatt School during the 1935-36 school year. Clark Sipe, the teacher, is standing in back. Clark Sipe and his family lived a couple miles from where I grew up and I remember him. He was the sixth grade teacher at Willshire School when I started school there but I never had him for a teacher.

Chatt School, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio,1935-36. Clark Sipe, teacher.

Row 1: Glenna Smith, Alfred Schott, Anna Lee Schott, Dale Schott, Kenny Branstetter, Norma Mae Schaadt, Donald Deitsch, Bob Carr, Anna Lee Schaadt, Bob Hunziker, Jug Andrews, Norval Weitz.
Row 2: Margaret Schaadt, Dale Baumgartner, Genevieve Wendel, Floyd Andrews, Geevieve Johnson, Barney Sapp, Catherine Leininger, Gene Duff, Genevieve Baker, Betty Hunziker, Paul Schott, Dorothy Leininger.
Row 3: Lois Schaadt, JoAnn Smith, Rex Vining, Rosemary Schaadt, Harold Sapp, Bob Wendel, Bob Deitsch, Vera Mae Andrews, Robert Heffner, Helen Jean Hileman, Bob Andress.

The photo below was taken about 1927 at Mosier School, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. According to Ohio HomeTown Locator, Mosier School was located on the corner of State Route 49 and County Highway 50, aka Willshire-Ohio City Road. The school was northeast of Willshire.

Mosier School, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, c1927.

(1) ? (2) Mamie (Cully) Tumbleson (3) Calvin August (4) Mildred (Bowen) Johnson (5) Mr. Troutner, teacher (6) Mildred (Cully) Friend [cousin to Alvera] (7) Bob Swoveland (8 & 9) ? (10) Bob Cully [brother to #6, Mildred] (11) Alvin August (12) Mercedes Swoveland [sister to #7, Bob] (13) Wilma (Swoveland) Hileman [w/o Isaac Hileman] (14) ? (15) Mary Lou Suman (16) Maxine Stetler (17) Virginia (August) Johnson (18) Ruth (Cully) Baker (19) Marjorie (Cully) Baker (20) Maxine (Pond) Briner (21) ? (22) Barbara (Cully) Freestone (23) ? (24) Tim Dull (25) Robert August (26) Jack August (27) Tim DeBolt (28) Uler Dull [brother to #24, Tim] (29) Eugene “Biscuit” Stetler (30) Oakaleea Stetler.

It is interesting to note that Jack August later resided in the Chatt area.

[1] Joyce L. Alig, editor, Mercer County, Ohio History 1978 (Dallas, Texas: The Taylor Publishing Company, 1980), 696-7.

Aug 21

Tombstone Tuesday–Caroline Biberstein

Caroline Biberstein, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio.

This is the tombstone of Caroline Biberstein, located in row 14 of Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed Hier ruhet, Caroline Biberstein, Geb. 14 Nov 1874, Gest 15 Oct 1890, Alter 15 Jah, 11 Mo, 1 Td. Translation: Here rests Caroline Biberstein, born 14 Nov 1874, died 15 Oct 1890, aged 15 years, 11 months, 1 day.

This is the fifth and remaining Biberstein/Beberstein tombstone in Kessler Cemetery. It is between the tombstone of her father and mother.

Caroline’s inscription is on the north side of the tombstone. The name Frederike Biberstein is inscribed on the south side of the tombstone and nothing more is written on that side. There is no mention of another Frederike Biberstein in the church records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, just Friedricka the mother.

Frederike Biberstein, south side of tombstone.

According to the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Caroline Margaretha “Baberstein” was born 14 November 1874 in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Her parents were Abraham Baberstein, born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, and his wife Friedricka, born Stretter, born in Murr, Württemberg. Caroline was baptized 12 December 1874.

Caroline Biberstein inscription, north side of tombstone.

I did some further research on the Biberstein family. It appears that Abraham and Friedricke had a son, George Washington, who lived to maturity and married. George W. “Beverstine”, age 2 [born c1858] was enumerated in the 1860 census, in Sandy Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. According to Zion’s records Washington Biberstein was confirmed in 1873. Since Lutherans are usually confirmed at about age 14 this was likely the same person.

G.W. “Beberstine” married Magdalena Wiedman on 18 January 1883, in Mercer County, R. H. Besel, mg, officiating.  [1]

According to Zion’s records Georg Washington and Magdalena (Widmann) Biberstein had a son Georg Abraham, born 11 September 1884 and baptized 17 September 1884. His sponsor was Johann Enkel, in place of Wilhelmina Ritter, who was absent. Georg Abraham’s baptismal record also gives the birth place of his father as Sidney Township [a spelling error?], Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and that of his mother as Recovery Township, Mercer County, Ohio.

This is the George Beberstein family as they appeared in 1900 in Allen County, Indiana: George (42, Oh; father born in Switzerland, mother born in Germany), Magdalina, (33, Oh), George A (15, Oh), Charles M (12, Ind), Mary M (11, Ind), Elizabeth (8, Ind), Emma (6, Ind), Alwis (3, Ind). [2]  

There a memorial to George W. Beberstein on Find A Grave.com, #28524191. There is no photo of his tombstone but the memorial indicates that he was born in 1857 and died in 1933. He is buried in Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. Also memorialized on Find A Grave in the same cemetery are the following Bebersteins: Magdelena (1865-1932), #28524189; Dortha Lucile (1900-1918), #28524172; and Theodore O. (1897-1950), #28524178. [3] 

There were two other Bibersteins in Zion’s records, very likely members and/or descendants of this original Beberstein family.

Maria Louisa Biberstien was confirmed in 1873. This would indicate that she was born about 1859 if she was confirmed at about age 14, She might be Mary, age 1, enumerated in the 1860 census, Sandy, Tuscarawas County, in the Abraham “Beverstine” household. [4]

Maria Wilhelmine Engel was baptized in 1885. Her parents were Johann and Friderike Wilhelmine (Biberstein) Engel. Further research shows that John P. Engle married Minnie Beberstine on 23 October 1884 in Mercer County, Ohio. [5] This was probably Minnie “Beaverstein” age 16 in the 1880 census. [6]

Sources:
[1] Mercer County Marriages Vol. 5: 185, Probate Court, Celina, Ohio.

[2] 1900 US Census, Wayne, Allen, Indiana; Roll: 358; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 22; FHL microfilm: 1240358, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 Aug 2012).

[3] Beberstein memorials, Saint Johns Lutheran Cemetery, Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana, added 25 Jul 2008 by Jim Cox, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 18 Aug 2012).

[4] 1860 US Census, Sandy, Tuscarawas, Ohio; Roll: M653_1043; Page: 354; Image 297; Family History Library Film: 805043, (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 29 July 2012).

[5] Mercer County Marriages Vol. 5: 275, Probate Court, Celina, Ohio.

[6] 1880 US Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio; Roll: 1048; Family History Film: 1255048; Page: 472C; Enumeration District: 188; Image: 0656, (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 29 July 2012).

 

Aug 17

This & That During The Summer of 2012

Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds, and me! June 2012.

This busy summer is quickly coming to an end. As usual, I didn’t get everything accomplished that I had planned.

I wasn’t able to research as much as I had hoped and I still haven’t started my 1812 application. But I did collect, digitize and organize a lot of old family photos. I attended a national conference (NGS) in May and two family reunions a couple months later.

I signed up as a volunteer indexer for FamilySearch and enjoyed indexing Ohio batches of the 1940 census. I participated in 5 Million Record Day on 2 July, the day when volunteers were asked to index a few extra batches in order to achieve a new indexing record–5 million records in one day. Thanks to all those indexing that day we surpassed that goal, and then some. On that day over 46,000 indexers and arbitrators indexed and arbitrated over 10 million records. I indexed 19 batches of Ohio census records that day. The 1940 census has been completely indexed by now thanks to the many 1940 US Census Community Project volunteers.

We went all the way to Cincinnati for a vacation in June and attended two Reds games. While near the ballpark one afternoon Joe recognized Cincinnati Reds’ ballplayer Todd Frazier. Todd is very nice in addition to being a very versatile ball player. He was playing 3rd base for the injured Scott Rolen but has since taken charge of 1st base after Joey Votto injured his knee. Todd is also in the running for Rookie of the Year and IMHO he deserves it, hands down. Take for example that 474 foot home run Wednesday night! And there was that nifty little toss to Leake to make an out at first base during the same game. Way to go Todd! He even saved a man from choking earlier in the year. Todd and the Reds are both having a great season.

I managed to take a little time away from genealogy and my computer to venture into the great outdoors for a little yard work. Our yard was quite a mess after a hurricane-like storm went through the Midwest the end of June. My yard work went like this:

Day 1: south half of the front yard; picked up sticks, hauled away many loads in wheel barrow.
Day 2: north half of front yard; too stiff to bend over; raked sticks into 14 separate piles instead.
Day 3: blisters on hands and feet; still could not bend over; recuperated in house.

Some interesting birds passed through our yard this year. A pair of pileated woodpeckers were pounding on our trees for several months. These are the large woodpeckers, about 20 inches tall. They look like Woody Woodpecker, for those of you that remember that cartoon. We were thrilled. We thought we would never see one of these in our lifetime.

Pileated Woodpecker. This was the best photo I could get.

We also have a pair of wild turkeys that occasionally show up and wander through the yard. They like to nibble their way around the pond, possibly plumping themselves up for Thanksgiving.

Wild turkeys grazing around the pond.

Speaking of birds, this headline caught our attention a couple weeks ago:

Headline in “The Daily Standard”

We wondered what type of heron is illegal to possess. Could it be a Great Blue? The Green Heron? We often see both types on our lot. Nope, it was neither of those varieties. It seems the couple in the headline plead not guilty to possession of heroin. One little letter can change the whole story. Editors can be helpful and I do appreciate my editor Miriam.

Last, but not least, our son became engaged this past week! Wahoo! He is engaged to a wonderful girl and they make great couple. I’m sure they will be very happy together. Best of all, I will soon have a beautiful daughter-in-law. Can’t wait!

Yes, it has been an eventful summer so far and there is still have a month of it left to enjoy. And GO REDS!

Aug 14

Tombstone Tuesday–Margaretha Biberstein

Margaretha Biberstein, Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio.

This is the tombstone of Margaretha Biberstein, located in row 14 of Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed Margaretha, tochter of A. & F. Biberstein, geb. 26 Nov 1866, gest. 26 Oct 1867, Alter 11 mo. Translation: Margaretha, daughter of A. & F. Biberstein, born 26 November 1866, died 26 October 1867, aged 11 months.  

This may be the only record of Margaretha’s birth and death.  She was not enumerated in a census because she was born and she died between census enumerations. There is no record of Margaretha’s birth, baptism, death or burial in the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, or in the probate court death records of Mercer County. Mercer County began recording deaths in July 1867.

A lamb is carved on her tombstone. A lamb icon was often used to indicate an infant or child’s tombstone and represents purity and innocence.

Five Biberstein/Beberstein family tombstones are in a row in Kessler Cemetery. Margaretha’s tombstone is between the tombstones of her brother Abraham and her father Abraham. Her mother Friedricka’s tombstone is on the end. This surname was spelled several different ways in the various records and on their tombstones.

Beberstein tombstones, Kessler Cemetery. Abraham [son], Margaretha, Abraham [father], Caroline, Friedricka [mother].

Aug 10

Schumm Reunion 2012

75th Anniversary of Zion Lutheran, Schumm, 1921. Photo copied at 2012 Schumm Reunion.

The 2012 family reunion season is over for me. I was able to attend two out of three family reunions and I thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

The Schumm reunion was this past weekend. Although I wasn’t able to attend the church service, which included the dedication of the John George Schumm Bible, I went into the church as soon as I got there to look at the Bible.

John George Schumm’s Bible was donated to the congregation of Zion by the descendants of W. J. Schumm (1883-1967). The Bible is now housed in a beautiful wood case, opened to the 23rd Psalm. It is a large Bible. I didn’t measure it but it is probably about 18 inches by 12 inches. It was printed in 1692 in Nuremberg, Bavaria, and John George brought it with him when he came to America in 1833. The Bible appears to be in very good condition and it was exciting to see it.

John George Schumm Bible.

Zion’s former pastor Rev. Robert Schuler gave the message at Sunday’s church service. Back in the 1970s Rev. Schuler knew our pastor at Zion, Chattanooga. My mom said that Rev. Schuler was at our home for my grandparent’s 50th wedding anniversary in 1977. I don’t remember that but maybe she has a photo of that event somewhere. Rev. Schuler’s daughter Martha was a Parkway graduate and she came all the way from Colorado for the reunion.

After viewing the Bible I went outside to the pavilion where the reunion was being held. I had a table off to the side so I could scan photos. There were groups of photos from several people and I scanned them with my Flip Pal portable scanner and my wand scanner. Both scanners worked well and I was able to scan large and small photos as well as photos in albums. A couple people came prepared and brought digital photos on thumb drives. Thanks to everyone who shared their photos.

After the meal Mary Ann Falk from Van Wert provided the entertainment by singing several songs. There appeared to be about 200 Schumm relatives at the reunion Sunday and several attendees were recognized. The relative who traveled the farthest was from Seattle. Velma Schumm, 98, was the oldest female there and Vince Muntzinger, 92, was the oldest man in attendance. Wilbert and Ella Thieme were honored as being married the longest, 62 years.

Dave and Carol, brother and sister from New York, brought one of those long narrow photos of the 75th Anniversary of Zion Lutheran, dated 10 July 1921. I love these large group photos with so many people to look at! They said it was found in an area antique store. I really need to get out more and look around in those local shops. The wand scanner did a pretty good job scanning the long photo. It just looks a little wavy in the middle. I may have not have been moving the wand scanner steadily.

75th Anniversary of Zion Lutheran, Schumm, 1921.

A few of us were able to identify some relatives in the 1921 photo. My grandfather Cornelius Schumm is usually fairly easy to spot because he had very dark eyes and bushy hair. He is in the center of the photo below:

Cornelius Schumm, center, 1921.

I also located Cornelius’ parents Lewis and Sarah (Breuninger) in the photo. They were not sitting together and it appears that the men and women were seated in separate groups. I’m glad Sarah was holding her hat in her lap so that her face could be seen.  Sarah died 21 August 1921, a little over a month after the photo was taken. This was probably the last photo taken of her. She is in row 2, the woman to the left:

Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm, row 2, woman on the left, 1921.

Unfortunately no one knew the identities of individuals in the 1924 photo of the first Schumm reunion. I have not found my grandmother Hilda (Scaer) or her mother Lizzie (Schinnerer) Scaer in either the 1921 or 1924 photo. I know they attended church at Zion. Perhaps they were camera shy.

Louis Schumm, row 2, 2nd from left, 1921.

Alma Buechner, identified as the girl in the second row, far right:

Alma Buechner (1907-1998), row 2, far right, 1921.

Plans are already in motion for the next Schumm reunion, to be held on 3 August 2014. And I have already started going through and sorting the photos I scanned Sunday. I hope to have some digitized Schumm photos on thumb drives to pass out at the next reunion.