Jan 17

Tombstone Tuesday–Peter J & Mary A Bryan

Peter J & Mary A Bryan, Loofbourrow Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana

This is the tombstone of Peter J and Mary A Bryan, located in Loofbourrow Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. The grave marker is inscribed: BRYAN, Peter J. Bryan, 1852-1914; Mary A. his wife, 1854-1901.

Passage:  P.J. BRYAN PASSES AWAY:  P.J. Bryan of Jefferson Township, father of S.P. Bryan, our local jeweler, died at his home on Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, 1914, age 62 years. Mr. Bryan was one of the pioneer farmers of Adams County and a man known and respected by nearly every inhabitant of the county. He had been an invalid for several months with a complication of diseases and his death had been expected for some time. The direct cause of his death was the bursting of a blood vessel. (Geneva Herald, 29 January 1914)

Obituary: Peter J. Bryan was born in Jay County, Indiana, May 22, 1852. He departed this life at the home of his son on Jan. 27, 1914, at the age of 62 years, 8 months and 5 days. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reed in the year 1876. She preceded him in death in the year 1900. To this union was born six children. Five are still living, one having died in 1898. Those still living are John Bryan of this county, Irene Maxwell of Toswell, New Mexico, Adele Digges of Beaumont, Texas, Jesse Bryan of Geneva, Ind., and Emma Bond of Beaumont, Texas. He also leaves one brother, H.B. Bryan of Michigan, and four sisters, Mrs. Mollie Reed of Kenton, Ohio, Mrs. Emma Bysel [sic] of Jay County, Ind., Mrs. Bertha [sic] Saxman of Michigan and Mrs. Alta Schmidt of Jay County, Ind., seven grand-children and many other relatives and friends. Mr. Bryan was an exemplary citizen and a patient sufferer for many years before his death.  He was a member of the K. of P. Lodge and an active member of the Maple Grove Christian Church. (Geneva Herald, 5 February 1914)

Peter J Bryan (1852-1914)

Mary A Bryan died 27 Jul 1901 in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. (County Health Office, Decatur, Indiana, Book H-22:10, Indiana WPA; database, FamilySearch.org, (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

Obituary: Mary A. Bryan was born Oct. 6, 1854 and died July 27, 1901, aged 46 years, 6 months and 21 days. She was united with the Christian church at the age of 17 and was united in marriage to Peter J. Bryan in 1877. To this union was born six children, three sons and three daughters. Edward, the second son, having preceded her to the Spirit Land. She leaves a husband, two sons and three daughters to mourn in her death, a kind mother and loving wife. Funeral by Elder Miller at Mt. Carmel Church.  (Geneva Herald, 2 Aug 1901) 

Peter J Bryan was the son of John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan. He was born in Bear Creek Township, Jay County, Indiana. He married Mary A. Reid 8 Nov 1877 in Allen County, Ohio. (Ohio County Marriages, 1790-1950, film number 901414, image number 637; digital database, Family Search.org (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 15 Jan 2012). Peter was my great-great-granduncle.

Peter and his wife Mary were living in Washington Township, Van Wert County, Ohio in 1880. The family consisted of Peter J, 29, born in Indiana; Mary, wife, 26, Ohio; John, son, 2, Ohio.

Peter J & Mary (Reid) Bryan

In 1900 the Peter J Bryan family was living in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. They probably moved to Indiana sometime between 1881 and 1884. The family consisted of: Peter J, 49, born in Indiana; Mary A, 45, Ohio; John S, 21, Ohio; Irena L, 19, Ohio; Edward B, 15, Indiana; Opadell M, 13, Indiana; Jesse P, 8, Indiana; Emma E, 7, Indiana.

Peter was still residing in Jefferson Township in 1910. In this census enumeration he was a widower and living with his son John. The household was as follows: John, head, 30; Sylvia, wife, 30; Kenneth, son, 3; Lawrence, son, 1y 6m; Peter J, father, 58; Jesse, brother, 19; Hazel Galloway, servant, 14.

Loofbourrow Cemetery is also known as Lufboro Cemetery or New Corydon Cemetery. I enjoy visiting this cemetery which is located on the south side of county Road 1150, a short distance east of County Road 450. It is in the middle of a field and getting to the cemetery reminds me of driving down a farm lane. Once a Mocking Bird entertained me as I wondered through the cemetery. Some of my Brewster ancestors are also buried there, including Jackson and Mary Ann, Daniel’s first wife Sarah Ann (Fetters) and Sarah’s parents, John and Elizabeth.

Loofbourrow Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana

An index of Loofbourrow Cemetery transcriptions can be found on the website of the  Indiana Genealogical Society. It is a free database.

 

Census Sources:

1880 US Census, Washington Twp, Van Wert, Ohio, Roll 1074; Page: 425C; ED: 153; Image: 0009; FHL Number: 1255074; database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

1900 US Census, Jefferson Twp, Adams, Indiana; Roll: T623_357; Page: 12B; ED: 4; database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

1910 US Census, Jefferson Twp, Adams, Indiana; Roll: T624_338; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0004; Image: 83; FHL Number: 1374351; database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Jan 2012)

 

 

 

Jan 13

Hannah Smoked a Pipe

Great-great-great-grandmother, Hannah (Huey) Bryan

Last summer I visited a distant relative in Jay County, Indiana. We both descend from John and Hannah (Huey) Bryan. John and Hannah were my great-great-great-grandparents. I descend from their daughter Emily and he descends from their daughter Alta Jane.

My distant cousin had some Bryan family heirlooms and photos to show me. In return I shared my Bryan family history research with him. It was a good trade.

Some of his Bryan heirlooms were very interesting and surprising. One item was a small pipe that he said Hannah (Huey) Bryan had smoked. My great-great-great-grandmother smoked a pipe! Who would have guessed that this sweet-looking grandmother was a pipe-smoker?

The petite pipe is in good condition and I believe it is made out of clay. It did not look like the corn cob pipes I have seen.

Female pipe smoking was very popular in the 17th and 18th centuries. By the 1850s it was associated with the working class and began to decline in public. However, many women continued to smoke their pipes in secret. I wonder if Hannah smoked this pipe in secret. Perhaps behind their Jay County barn?

Hannah Huey Bryan's pipe

My cousin also showed me a number of calling cards that belonged to the Bryan family and friends. I always thought that calling cards were used by city folk. But apparently the Bryans left and received Victorian calling cards in rural Jay County in the latter half of the 1800s.

Leaving a calling card was considered part of social etiquette. Calling cards were popular from 1840-1900 and were carried primarily by well-to-do ladies. The cards were left at a home when an individual went to visit. The visiting person would leave their card in a card receiver on an entry table in the foyer or on a parlor table. They might have left the card with a servant.

Emma Bryan

Charley Bryan

Hallet B Bryan

Merida F Bryan

Sometimes the cards were folded and the folds meant different things. A folded top left corner: the visitor had come in person; an unfolded top left corner: a servant was sent; a folded bottom left corner: farewell; a folded top right corner: congratulations; a folded bottom right corner: condolence. The folding of corners went out of style by the 1900s.  A black band around the edge signified that the carrier of the card was in mourning.

Miss MC Huey

Calling card salesmen traveled around with books displaying samples of their cards. Plain cards could be ordered for about a $1/100 and fancy fringed cards sold for about $1.25/dozen. You can read more about Calling Cards on this website.

Minnie May Reid

AA Metzner

I do not know all the owners of these calling cards but I can identify a few:

  • AA Metzner: Arthur Augustus Metzner married Laura Dell Reid, daughter of Wilbur and Emily (Bryan) Reid.
  • HB Bryan: Hallet B Bryan (1853-1936) was the son of John and Hannah.
  • Emma Bryan (b.1892) may have been the daughter of Peter J. and Mary A. Reid Bryan. Peter was the son of John and Hannah. Or Emma may have been Emily Bryan Reid (1856-1940), daughter of John and Hannah.
  • Minnie May Reid was either the daughter of Daniel and Elvira (Headington) Reid or the daughter of William and Emily (Bryan) Reid. (The former 1867-1910, the latter born 1884)

I scanned these calling cards with my Flip Pal mobile scanner during my visit with my distant cousin. The scanner worked well and was very convenient to take along. I scanned photos and other items while we talked. I also used my Magic Wand scanner to scan the larger documents. I’ll show more scans of other items in future blogs.

 

 

 

Jan 10

Tombstone Tuesday–Rev. John G. Burger

Rev. John G. Burger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Rev. John G. Burger, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed, Rev. John G. Burger, 1815-1847, First Resident Pastor, Zion Lutheran Church.

Johann Georg Burger was born 4 July 1816 in Nördlingen, Bavaria. He passed away 26 March 1847 in Van Wert County at the age of 31 years, 8 months and 25 days. He died of pneumonia and was buried on 27 March.

The Schumm area was settled in 1838. Despite all the problems of pioneer life their faith was very important to the settlers. In 1839 Pastor Friedrich Wyneken, a traveling minister from Fort Wayne, Indiana, traveled to the area and preached to the new settlers. In the early years they worshiped in their cabins. In 1840 the Schumm pioneers area erected a log church.

During this time there was a shortage of Lutheran pastors in this area. It is said that when Pastor Wyneken arrived in Fort Wayne in 1838 the only Lutheran pastor in Indiana had just passed away. Appeals for ministers of the Gospel were sent to Germany over the next few years.

In southern Germany Rev. Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe was particularly interested in mission work and the spiritual state of German immigrants in America. He recruited young men to become ministers and sent many pastors to North America and other countries. In 1841 Rev. JKW Löhe trained Johann George Burger as a teacher. Burger was Löhe’s second student. John Burger and fellow student Adam Ernst were two of the first future ministers to be sent to America by Rev. Löhe.

John Burger and Adam Ernst sailed to America together on the ship Philip. They arrived in New York on 26 September 1842. They were both 27 years of age.

Ship Philip passenger list, 26 Sep 1842, New York

John Burger continued his studies at the Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He was ordained by Dr. Wilhelm Sihler on 18 September 1845 in Cleveland. Dr. Sihler founded Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne in 1846.

After his ordination Rev. Burger served as the pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Hancock County, Ohio. On 14 June 1846 he was called to be the pastor of Zion, Schumm. While at Schumm he also ministered to the congregations of St. Thomas Lutheran, Ohio City, and St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township, Mercer County.

One of the first things Pastor Burger did at Zion was to write a constitution for the congregation. The congregation adopted the constitution on 18 September 1846 and it was signed by twelve founding members. Included in the constitution was the congregation’s financial support of a proposed new synod.

Rev. Burger played an active role in the formation of a new Lutheran synod in America. He met with other pastors in Cleveland on 13-18 September 1845 to make plans to form a new synod. In July 1846 Pastor Burger was one of sixteen pastors who met at Fort Wayne to complete the preparatory plans. The new synod was to be organized at Chicago the next year, 1847.

Pastor Burger had planned to go to Chicago in 1847 and report that he and his congregation were ready to join the new synod. But on 26 March 1847 he died of pneumonia at the young age of 31 years.

The German Evangelical Lutheran Church Missouri, Ohio and Other States, now known as the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, was formed on 26 April 1847 in Chicago, Illinois. Twelve pastors representing 15 German Lutheran congregations met to form the new church body. I am sure Rev. Burger would have been there to represent Zion if he had been able.

According to a report by Dr. Sihler in Der Lutheraner, Rev. Burger’s last words to his congregation were, “God now has given you a pastor, but He can also take him away again. Only remain firm in the confession of the truth and be agreed among yourselves… I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, yet I would like to abide in the flesh a little longer for your sake, but as God wills.”

Rev. Burger performed 15 baptisms, 2 confirmations, 1 marriage and 5 burials during the nine months he served as Zion’s pastor. He performed the first recorded baptism at Zion, baptizing John Edward Roedel on 28 June 1846. He performed the first recorded marriage when he united Casimir Leikhart and Catharine Haller on 5 November 1846.

Rev. John G. Burger was laid to rest next to John Georg Schumm, the founder of the Schumm community.

Sources:

  • Cyclopedia LCMS, Burger, Johann Georg.
  • “Hundreth Anniversary of the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schumm, Ohio, 1846-1946.
  • Year: 1842; Microfilm Serial: M237; Microfilm Roll: M237_50; Line: 32; List Number: 826; Ancestry.com. New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010; accessed 9 Jan 2012.
  • Church records of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm.
  • History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio (1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, Indiana: Windmill Publications, Inc, 1991), 423.

Jan 06

2012 Genealogy Goals

2012 Goal: Keep office organized and neat.

It is here–another New Year and the time to make those dreaded resolutions. After all these years I am not going to stress out about making New Year’s Resolutions that I probably won’t keep anyway. I basically have the same resolution each year: to lose weight. Some years I succeed while the opposite happens other years.

Last year about this time I made some lofty Genealogy Goals. How did I do? I accomplished the following:

  • Regularly journaled, using prompts from “52 Weeks of Sharing Memories” from Olive Tree Genealogy Blog
  • Backed up my data every month
  • Digitized many photos with my Flip Pal portable scanner
  • Blogged every week
  • Went to a national genealogical conference (FGS in Springfield, Illinois)

The following goals didn’t happen and are still on the to-do list:

  • Digitize old home movies
  • Digitize documents I have in binders
  • Join Sons & Daughters of WWII Veterans
  • Review and write conclusions from information I have in binders
  • Discover when Isaac Huey died and where he is buried

I succeeded with 50% of my goals. That’s not too bad. This year I will make goals that are more modest:

  • Digitize those old home movies from the 1950s (repeat goal from last year)
  • Try to be more organized and keep my office neater (constant problem for genealogists)
  • Keep writing and journaling
  • Collect old family stories
  • Photograph all the tombstones in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm
  • Continue journaling with “52 Weeks of Sharing Memories”

In addition, I have two on-going goals that I have had for many years: Discover when Isaac Huey died and where he is buried. Discover who Jackson Brewster’s parents were. Maybe I will have success in 2012.

I am a list maker and always have many lists going at once. I have the long-term list (things to accomplish in a year), the medium-term list (to accomplish within a couple months) and the short-term list (to accomplish within a week). I keep my lists on the ColorNote Notepad app on my phone. ColorNote is an Android app that also syncs with my Kindle Fire. I keep shopping lists on that app, too. It is very handy and easy to use.

I also do low-tech. I have many little pieces of paper with to-do items on them. I am always writing down things while at work and stuff the paper in my pocket. This system works well until a list goes through the laundry. Is that what they call a laundry list?

I can now check off one item on my short-term list since I have finished Friday’s blog.

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan 03

Tombstone Tuesday–Catharina Heinz

Catharina Heinz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Catharina Heinz, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The gravemarker is inscribed: Catharina, Ehefrau von [wife of] of Christ. Heinz, geb den [born the] 25 June 1828, Gest den [died the] 18 May 1888, Alter [age] 59y, 10m, 23t [days].

I featured the tombstone of Catharina’s husband Christian last week. His marker is next to hers. The spelling of their surname was not consistent in the records. It was spelled Heintz, Heinz, Hines and other ways. The name is even spelled differently on their tombstones. His is spelled Heintz and hers is spelled Heinz.

According to Zion’s records Catharina was the daughter of Philipp and Charlotte (Baus) Oberkircher, born 25 June 1828 in Altstadt, County Homburg, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria. She was baptized and confirmed there and came to America in 1852. She was the wife of Christian Heinz. Catharina died 18 May 1888 after lingering and severe suffering. She was aged 59 years, 10 months and 23 days. Burial was on the 20th.

Christian and Catharina were married in Franklin County, Ohio, on 19 June 1853. (Franklin County Marriages, Vol 6:42). They were living in Hamilton Township, Franklin County, PO Columbus, in 1860 and were enumerated in the census there as ‘Hines”. The value of Christian’s personal property was $600. (1860 US census, Hamilton, Franklin, Ohio, M653_963:223) They had one child that died at a very young age.

Christian Heintz & Catharina Oberkircher marriage record, 19 June 1853, Franklin County, Ohio, Vol 6:42

Lorren Caffee remarked that he remembers Christian Heintz’s large tombstone. He asked if there was any information about what Christian did for a living or the extent of his land holdings. I was glad he asked the question. It prompted me to do more research and I discovered some interesting things.

The Heinz family was a little difficult to locate in census records, probably because of the spelling variations of their name.  I did find their farm on the 1876 and 1888 maps of Blackcreek Township. Christian Heinz was a farmer. His 80 acre farm was the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 17 in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio. His farm was just a few miles north of where I grew up. Rockford West Road borders the north part of what was his property.

The 80 acres to the south of them was owned by A.M. [Andrew] Kallenberger. But I remember the Kallenbergers living on Rockford West Road and the boys getting on the school bus there. That was the north part of the section 17. I decided to take a trip to the courthouse to look up some land deeds.

Christian Heinz bought the NW ¼ of the SE ¼  of Section 17 [40 acres] from Jacob Heller/Holley on 1 October 1862 for $335. (Mercer County Deeds, Vol: 4:374) He purchased the NE ¼ of the SE ¼ [40 acres] from B & I RR Co [Bellefontaine & Indiana Rail Road Company] on 8 January 1865 for $300. According to the deed, B & I RR consolidated with the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh & Cleveland Rail Road Company on 22 December 1864. (Mercer County Deeds, Vol 9:42) Evidently someone had plans for a railroad there. Maybe that was the same train that was supposed to go through Chattanooga at one time.

Christian and Catharina “Heintz”, as enumerated in the 1880 census: Christian, 50, born in Bavaria, works on farm; Catharina, 51, born in Bavaria, keeping house; Rosetta Walker, 14, born in Ohio, servant. (1880 US census, Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio; Roll 1048:328D, ED 179)

Christian sold his 80 acres to Andrew Eichler on 24 January 1889, about nine months before Christian passed away. Andrew Eichler passed away in 1894 and the land went to Leonard Eichler. Leonard sold the land to Laura Musselman in 1897. Maggie (Rueck) Kallenberger, wife of Mike [son of Andrew] purchased the land in 1910. That is how the Kallenbergers came to own the whole southeast quarter, which includes the land along Rockford West.

Christian Heintz farm (red), Kallenberger farm (yellow), Jacob Miller farm (green), Blackcreek Twp, Mercer County, 1888.

Don Caffee said that his parents, Howard and Caroline (Miller) Caffee, lived in the house on the north 80 acres when they were first married. They married in 1914. Howard and Caroline’s son Vernon was born there in 1915.

Andrew Kallenberger purchased his south 80 acres from William Foreman on 30 August 1864. (Mercer County Deeds, 7:471) The Kallenbergers lived in house on the south 80 acres for many years. After the 1920 tornado destroyed that house Mike and Maggie Kallenberger moved into the house on the north 80.

And that is how the bus came to stop at the house along Rockford West to pick up the Kallenberger boys, Mike and Maggie’s grandchildren. The Kallenbergers had lived in the north house ever since.

My connection to all this: Caroline (Miller) Caffee was the sister of my grandfather Carl Miller. Their parents were Jacob & Christine (Rueck) Miller. Caroline and Carl were half-siblings to Maggie (Rueck) Kallenberger. Maggie was Christine’s daughter, born in Germany.

While in Celina I also stopped at the Mercer County Library to look at the 1880 Agricultural Census. This is what the Christian Heinz farm was like in 1880:

Land: owned 80 acres, 50 acres tilled, 5 acres of meadow, 30 acres of woods.
Value: $2500, including buildings; $150, machinery; $260 livestock.
Farm labor paid in 1879: $150.
Value of all farm products sold in 1879: $450.
Horses: 3
Cattle: 3 milk cows; 8 other, 1 calf dropped, 1 cow purchased, 2 cows sold.
Milk products: 900 gal milk sold in 1879, 300 lb butter made on 1879.
Crops: Hay, 8 acres; Indian corn, 24 acres/700 bushels; oats 4 acres/100 bushels; wheat 11 acres/240 bushels; Irish potatoes ½ acre/ 50 bushels; 1 acre apple orchard, 20 bearing trees/30 bushels.
Forest Products: 30 cords of wood cut in 1879, $30.

Heinz/Heintz was not a common surname in Blackcreek Township. Although Christian and Catharina had no descendants their story lives on.