Updates

This week, some updates of past blogs.

Re:  Bluetooth Blues, 1 February blog. In the world of technology there is nothing more frustrating than a renegade mobile device. Bluetooth has now ceased communications with my Droid entirely. A few weeks ago I dialed a phone number on my Droid but no sound came from the Bluetooth in my ear. However, I could tell by looking at my phone that the other party’s phone was ringing. I talked, but they could not hear me and I could not hear them. I redialed the number but the results were the same. Then I made the mistake of pressing on Bluetooth in an effort to end the attempted call. Bluetooth took it upon itself to dial one lucky person from my Contact List. In the past Bluetooth usually liked to dial Janet H when it got the chance, but this time the special person was Robin C. I could not hear anything coming from my earpiece. So how did I know Bluetooth had dialed Robin? I heard a little voice coming from my purse, “Hello. Hello.” (My phone was in my purse.) I called Robin back immediately, but how do you explain that your mobile device has a mind of its own and is out of control? A simple apology was best.  At least Bluetooth didn’t call her early in the morning. No more Bluetooth Blues for me. Bluetooth has been relegated to silence in a drawer.

Re: Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob Miller, 29 March. Jacob Miller was my great-grandfather and in this blog I transcribed his lengthy obituary. At the time I did not know where that obituary came from. On a recent research trip to the Brumback Library in Van Wert I discovered that his obituary was in the 5 July 1918 edition of The Willshire Herald. I also learned that there was a short obituary published in the 21 June 1918 edition of the same paper: Jacob Miller, aged 75 Years, residing 5 miles south of town, died Saturday afternoon, June 15. He leaves a wife and five children to mourn his loss. Burial took place at the Chattanooga mausoleum.

Re: I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, Part 2, 10 March. This blog was about Joe’s grandfather, Ed Roesner. The 27 April 1917 issue of The Daily Standard reported that Ed Roesner was married when he lost his arm in the railroad accident. I believe this was a reporting error. I searched the Van Wert probate court marriage records and Ed Roesner was not married in Van Wert County before his accident in 1917. I also found reports of his railroad accident in several Van Wert newspapers, but none mentioned a wife. On his WWI Draft Registration card, dated June 1917, and on his marriage license to Goldie Helen Lee, in 1921, Ed stated that he had never been married.

Re: We Are For the Birds, 24 June. In this blog I told about seeing hundreds of Dickcissels in a neighboring field. This was a type of bird that we had never seen before. About a week after I wrote that blog the little birds were evicted when the farmer mowed the field. Hopefully the Dickcissels were able to relocate to another alfalfa field. On happier note, we recently saw another bird that was new to us and to our lot. A Summer Tanager visited one of our bird baths and perched in a tree long enough for me to get a photo. We usually see some Scarlet Tanagers every spring but we have never seen this Tanager variety.

Summer Tanager, July 2011

Re: Ten Tech Tools and Tips, 13 May. So far the portable scanners have worked very well. I took my Flip Pal Scanner to my Aunt Amy’s a few weeks ago and scanned some Schumm photos. I visited with her while I scanned photos. The nice thing was that her photos didn’t have to leave her house. I haven’t used the Magic Wand Scanner a lot, but some color pages that I scanned turned out great. I will be using both devices this weekend at the Miller reunion. I have asked family members to bring photos and I will be able to scan them right there at the reunion. I just need to remember to take extra batteries.

Re: What I’m Reading Now, 30 January. I have since finished the Hallows series of books by Kim Harrison. There are 9 books in the series so far and I hope Kim continues the series with several more books. I really like the characters and Kim’s imagination. Then I went back to the Southern Vampires/Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris and read Dead Reckoning, the 11th book in that series. It was published in May of this year. The HBO True Blood TV series is based on these books.  I enjoy these books almost as much as the Hallows books. I started a new series a couple weeks ago—Kate Daniels/Magic series by Ilona Andrews. The first book is Magic Bites and I couldn’t put it down. Like the other books I have been reading, these also feature a female lead character, our heroine, who lives in a fantasy world and fights all sorts of evil creatures. These books are set in an alternate Atlanta and they combine fantasy and mystery. Ilona doesn’t come right out and give you all the details of who or what Kate actually is or the circumstances of the setting. You feel your way through and I like that. So far there are 5 books in this series. For me this summer’s reading will include more vampires, shapeshifters, wares, witches and magic.

Tombstone Tuesday–Christian Miller

Christian Miller (1880-1911), Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Christian Miller. It is located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The stone is inscribed Christian Miller, 1880-1911. MILLER is also carved on the top of the stone.

Christian was the second son of my great grandfather, Jacob Miller and Jacob’s second wife, Margaretha Strabel/Strobel. I descend from Jacob and Christena Rueck, Jacob’s third wife.

Obituary: Christian Miller, son of Jacob and Margaretha Miller, nee Strabel, was born Sept. 5, 1880; was baptized in infancy, confirmed as a full member of Zion’s Evangelical church, at Chattanooga, April 21, 1895, by Rev. Sollar. The next eleven years of his life were spent in and near the parental home, where he endeared himself to all who knew him. Since then he had labored in various oil fields in Oregon, California, Oklahoma and recently in Texas. He was a Christian young man, was industrious and saved his money, investing it in properties. There is no doubt that he cherished fond dreams of occupying a home of his own at some future time after his years of sojourning in different States. But God meant that instead of this he should occupy a more abiding home than this could have been—a building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

After only about ten days’ residence in Texas he was taken sick with typhoid fever. He was taken to the hospital at Wichita Falls, Texas, where two nurses and skilled physicians did their utmost to care for him; but after only twelve days’ sickness he was summoned from these earthly scenes. Realizing the seriousness of his condition, he asked for a pastor of his own faith and when one came he partook of the Lord’s Supper. He also desired to see his father, who was telegraphed for and with his brother, John, hastened to his bedside, but they were disappointed to find him no longer among mortals. He died Oct. 24, aged 31 years, one month and 20 days. Father and brother returned Friday night with the remains and the funeral took place at the Lutheran church, Saturday, conducted by the pastor, Rev. L. Loehr. Interment in the Lutheran cemetery. (source: The Willshire Herald, 2 Nov 1911, page 8 )

Chris Miller (1880-1911) by oil drums

Last Rites: The funeral of Christ Miller, whose death occurred at Wichita, Texas, was held here Sunday at the Lutheran church in Liberty township. The young man was the son of Jacob Miller of Blackcreek township, and was thirty-one years old at the time of his death. He had been working in the oil fields in Oklahoma and three weeks ago went to Wichita, Texas, where he contracted typhoid fever and died in the hospital there. His father and one brother, Pete, Miller, of California, when appraised of his illness started for his bedside, but his death occurred before either reached him. His father brought the remains here where his funeral occurred Sunday. (source: The Daily Standard, 3 Nov 1911, page 3)

Christian Miller never married.

Morrison Photography, Chattanooga, Ohio

Unidentified photo by Morrison, Chattanooga, Ohio

I am not sure how I acquired this photo nor do I know who the gentleman in the photo is. There is nothing written on the back of the photo to identify him. I do not know when the photo was taken either. Basically, I don’t know a whole lot about this photo.

However, there is something very interesting about this photograph–its inscription. The lower right corner of the cardboard frame is inscribed, “Morrison, Chattanooga, O”. Evidently Chattanooga had a photography business at one time.

There have been many businesses in Chattanooga over the years. In a blog a few months ago I listed the Chattanooga businesses that were included in the 1916 Mercer County, Ohio, Farm Journal Directory. Morrison Photography was not among them.

I searched through a number of other Mercer County sources that listed businesses in Chattanooga: the 1882, 1907, and 1978 Mercer County Histories; the 1888 and 1900 Mercer County Combined Atlases; and the Liberty Township Passport, by Joyce Alig of the Mercer County Historical Society, 2008. This little booklet gives quite a long list of businesses that were in Chatt over the years. Morrison Photography was not listed in any of these sources.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s there were several Morrison families living within 2-3 miles of Chattanooga, in Black Creek Township. Chatt is in northern Liberty Township and the Liberty-Black Creek Township line is on the north end of the village.

I also looked through census enumerations for the years 1900-1920 in Mercer County. The Morrisons were farmers then. There were no photographers listed among them.

Morrison, Chattanooga, O

The Morrison photographer could have been from Adams County, Indiana, since Chattanooga is only a mile from the state line.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone that can identify the gentleman in this photo or from anyone that has information about Morrison Photography in Chattanooga, Ohio.

Tombstone Tuesday–George & Anna B. Bollenbacher

George & Anna B. Bollenbacher, Liberty (aka Kessler) Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio.

This is the tombstone of George and Anna B. Bollenbacher, located in row 7 of Kessler Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

George Bollenbacher
1830-1912
Anna B. His Wife
1836-1913
BOLLENBACHER

Kessler Cemetery, aka Liberty Cemetery, is about ½ mile from the Indiana state line and about two miles south of Chattanooga, Liberty Township.

George Bollenbacher and Anna Albrecht [sic] were married in Mercer County, Ohio, by Rev. John George Streckfuss on 28 July 1853. (source: Mercer County Marriage Book D:19) Rev. Streckfuss was a pastor at St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township, Mercer County, in the mid 1850s as well as a pastor the Zion Lutheran, Schumm, Van Wert County, 1847-1856. George and Anna may have been married at someone’s home because the St. Paul church was not completed until about 1856.

George and Anna Bollenbacher attended Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, a good portion of their adult lives. Both of their funeral services were held at Zion by Pastor Loehr. The following information is taken from Zion’s death and burial records:

George Bollenbacher died 14 Apr 1912, age 81 years, 5 months, 5 days.  He was buried on the 16 April.  Survivors include his spouse, 8 children, 37 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren.  The cause of death was heart disability and mitral insufficiency.  Text: John 11:25, 26; Deut. 33:27. (source: Records of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Book II:343) His date of birth was 9 November 1830, as calculated from the church records.

Anna Barbara Bollenbacher died 1 Feb 1913, age 76 years, 10 months, 12 days.  She was buried on 4 Feb. Text: Rom: 8:28; Prov. 23:23.  (source: Records of Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Book II:344) Her date of birth was 20 Mary 1836, as calculated from the church records.

Anna’s Ohio Department of Health death certificate gives the following information: Anna Barbara Bollenbacher, born 19 April 1836 in Germany, the daughter of John and Barbara (Hiller) Albright, died 1 February 1913 in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. She was buried 4 February 1913 in Kessler Cemetery. She was 76 years, 9 months, and 22 days old. She was a housewife and was a widow at her death.  As often happens, her age differs in these two records.

Liberty (aka Kessler) Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio

George and Anna were enumerated as “Bulenbaugh” in the 1860 census in Liberty Township, with a Skeels Cross Roads Post Office. Their household consisted of George, 30, born in Germany; Barbary, 26, Germany; Jacob, 6, Ohio; Caroline, 4, Ohio; Harriett, 2, Ohio; and Ellen, 2/12, Ohio. (source: 1860 US Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio; Roll: M653_1009, page 359)

In 1880 George Bollenbacher was a farmer in Liberty Township, Mercer County. The following were in the Bollenbacher household in 1880: George J., 49, Rhein Beirne [sic]; Barbara, 44, Rhein Beirne [sic];  Louis, 20, son; Louisa, 17, daughter; Anna, 15, daughter; George, 13, son; Frank, 11, son; Samuel, 8, son; Mary, 5, daughter; and Edward, 1, son. All the children were born in Ohio. (source: 1880 US Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio; Roll: 1048:474C)

In 1900 George, Anna and their family were still living in Liberty Township. In the Bollenbacher household were George, 69, head, Germany; Anna B., 65, wife, Germany; George, 33, son, Ohio; Samuel, 27, son, Ohio; Edward, 21, son, Ohio; Christina Shenebarger, 17, granddaughter, Indiana; and William Shenebarger, 10, grandson, Indiana. In the enumeration they stated they had been married 48 years. Anna had given birth to 12 children but only 8 were living in 1900. This census also tells us that George immigrated in 1847 and Anna in 1840. George was still a farmer. (1900 US census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio; Roll T623_1304:11B)

The 1910 census was the last census George and Anna were enumerated in. They were still residing in Liberty Township. In the household were George, head, 79; Barbara, wife, 74; George, son, 42, single; Samuel, son, 37, single; Edward, son, 30, single; and William Sinabagher [sic], 19, nephew.  (source: 1910 US Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio; Roll: T624_1214:11B)

Several of their children were either baptized, confirmed, or had burial services conducted at Zion, Chattanooga. Most of the church confirmation records also give birth dates. The following information concerning their children is in Zion’s records:

Anna Henrietta Bollenbacher was born 16 Nov 1857 and was baptized 27 Dec 1857. Witnesses at her baptism were Ferdinand Kable and his wife Catherine.  (source: Records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Book I:103)

Louise Emilie Bollenbacherwas born 4 Jun 1862 and confirmed 17 Mar 1878. She died 6 Sep 1882, age 20 years, 2 months, 18 days.  (source: Records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Book I:320)

Laurina Ida Bollenbacher, young child of George and Anna Maria Bollenbacher, was born 17 Feb 1882 and died 16 Mar 1884. Her death was some sort of accident. Her age was 2 years and 29 days. She was buried on the 18th. (source: Records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Book I:320)

Frank Bollenbacher was confirmed at Zion in 1884. He was born 25 July 1869. (source: Records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Book I:173)

Samuel Abraham Bollenbacher was confirmed at Zion in 1886. He was born 22 July 1872. (source: Records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Book I:174)

Maria K. Bollenbacher was confirmed at Zion in 1890. She was born 23 June 1875. (source: Records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Book I:175.)

Edward Daniel Bollenbacher was confirmed at Zion in 1893. He was born 31 Jan 1879. (source: Records of Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga, Book II:205-06)

Angel atop tombstone of George & Anna B. Bollenbacher, Mercer County, Ohio

George and Anna, with several of their children, took Communion regularly at Zion, Chattanooga. Their names are in Zion’s Communion Records regularly from 1882-1899 and at various times between 1907-1910.

1920–Devastating Hurricane Visits Willshire Vicinity

The Willshire Herald, 2 April 1920

The Willshire Herald, 2 April 1920

DEVASTATING HURRICANE VISITS WILLSHIRE VICINITY—That was the headline of the Friday, April 2, 1920 edition of The Willshire Herald. It was published less than a week after one of worst tornadoes swept through this part of the country.

Why do I have an interest in tornadoes? A while back my mom gave me some old photos. Among them were some showing the aftermath of wind damage and one of a barn being rebuilt. I suspected these photos may have been taken at the Schumm farm, east of Willshire, where my mom grew up. Her grandfather, Lewis J. Schumm, purchased the farm in 1878 and the farm has been in the family ever since. However, the barn roof has the date 1886 on the shingles. No one that I have talked to has ever heard that the barn was once destroyed and rebuilt. My mom only has knowledge that the orchard was destroyed by a tornado many years ago.

My research mission this time was to find out if a tornado had ever hit the Schumm farm. So, I headed off to the Brumback Library in Van Wert and to the Mercer County Public Library in Celina to look through some area newspapers on microfilm and see what I could learn about local tornadoes that occurred  nearly 100 years ago. I have included a list of the newspapers I used as sources of information at the end of this blog.

Quite a few tornadoes have gone through this part of the country over the years. I remember the Palm Sunday Tornadoes in April 1965 as well as the tornadoes that struck Van Wert County in 2002. The Willshire area was also hit by a tornado in March of 1918.

But a group of even more destructive and deadly tornadoes struck the area on Sunday, March 28, 1920 at 7 o’clock in the evening. There was extensive wind damage near Chicago before the storm moved into Indiana and Ohio. The 1920 Van Wert Times referred to it as the worst tornado in the history of Van Wert. The storm followed a path similar to that of the 1918 tornado. Although the 1920 storm was not as wide across as the tornado two years before, it was more serious. It came from the southwest, crossed parts of Mercer County and went on into Van Wert and Auglaize Counties. Just about every township in Van Wert County, as well as portions of Mercer, Auglaize and Darke Counties were struck by the high winds. Also hard hit were Monroeville, Bryant, Geneva, Berne, and Zulu in Indiana.

DEVASTATING HURRICANE VISITS WILLSHIRE VICINITY—(The Willshire Herald, 2 April 1920, front page): The country to the southwest, south, southeast and east of Willshire was in the path of the hurricane that swept over portions of eight states Sunday afternoon and evening, leaving death and devastating ruin in its wake wherever it struck. Up to noon Thursday 326 fatalities had been reported from the various stricken districts, while the maimed is estimated at several thousand…Edgerton, a small town in Williams county, Ohio, near the Indiana state line, was practically wiped out of existence, as was the little hamlet of Zulu, a few miles west of the state line…the country surrounding Geneva and Berne was visited [and] several persons, relatives of Willshire people, were killed and injured. Fred Miller, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Miller of this town, had both legs broken, and his wife was also painfully injured. Mrs. Simon Riffle, mother of Mrs. Fred Miller, was killed, as was her grandfather, George M. Ramseyer, aged 82. The entire Riffle family was more or less injured… Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Smitley and children were seriously hurt. Edward Anspaugh, also of the Berne district, whose back was broken, is a cousin of Mrs. W.A. Dull and Mrs. G.M. Clouse of this town. The dead in the Bryant district total nine, and the Geneva district three.

Tearing on east the hurricane struck the Willshire territory in the Milo Campbell-W.E. White neighborhood, spreading out from one-half to one mile in width…The Campbells were left without shelter…Will Evans had his house wrecked and barn demolished. The Duckcreek church was razed and the wreckage strewn over ten acres of ground. The M. Branstetter place was hard-hit, as were the G.W. Sapp, Perry Hoblet, Jesse Tickly, Frank Dudgeon, Elmer Stetler, Floyd Friedly and many others. Coursing northeast the hurricane struck the Ridge territory with terrific force. The Shell brick school house was leveled to the ground; Audie Stetler’s barn was demolished and several horses and a cow killed; the F.C. Myers and Mart Stamm, E.A. Acheson, Joe Doner, John Wright, Jesse Wheeler, Jesse Boyer and Wm. Buechner farm buildings were all badly damaged, and over in Liberty Township the big barn on the J.M. Dull farm was wrecked and his fine brick house damaged. Wm. Rader in Ridge Township was instantly killed and Mrs. Rader died while being taken to the hospital in Van Wert.

Damage after 1920 tornado, Van Wert County, Ohio.

Damage after 1920 tornado, Van Wert County, Ohio.

SWEPT BY TORNADO was the headline of the April 1, 1920 edition of The Rockford Press. This newspaper reported the damage in Mercer, Auglaize and Darke Counties in Ohio, as well as in Indiana.

Sweeping across many states, spreading devastation and taking its toll of human lives, the terrific windstorm struck this section early Sunday evening. While the wind blew a stiff gale all day, the sky was clear and the sun shone brightly and no one really suspected that a cyclone was on its way.

The storm in it greatest severity crossed Mercer County in two places, the northwest and southeast corners. In the northwest part the Duckcreek Church in Blackcreek Township seemed to be the first object on which the wind vented its fury; the structure was laid flat. And from this point northeasterly on into Willshire Township, Van Wert County, the wrecked homes and farm buildings, and other debris, plainly mark the storm’s path. No less than 25 farm homes were badly damaged and but few places escaped injury of some kind.

Mercer County was indeed fortunate there was no loss of human life. Many people had narrow escapes; some were blown out of their homes, yet landed safe. The loss of livestock is large. The animals being crushed under the falling structures, struck by flying timbers or dashed to death.

The large barn of Charles Schumm on the Willshire Road was badly twisted by the storm. Among the heavy losers from the cyclone in Blackcreek Township are Wm. Evans, Mike Branstetter, Wm. Hamrick, Milo Campbell, Oscar Krall, John McGough, Clarence Hoblet, Frank Dudgeon, and many others. All suffered the demolishing of houses or barns or both and had narrow escapes from injury. Nearly everyone lost livestock of some kind.

In the southeastern part of the county, the storm vented its greatest fury on Marion, Franklin and Granville Townships. The neighborhoods of St. Rosa, St. Johns, Maria Stein and Chickasaw being most severely affected…the Catholic Church at St. Rosa had a tower blown off…damage done here will touch at least 25 or 30 farms…

At Moulton, in Auglaize County, the new Lutheran Church, the Methodist and the United Brethren Churches were all blown down. Services were being held in the Lutheran Church when the storm came up and the pastor advised his congregation to go to the cellar, which saved many of his members from death. A department store and an elevator were wrecked…eight residences were demolished. The reported dead are Henry Lechner aged 16; the six year old son and a four year old daughter of John Kacheiries; and another child was missing. In Darke County there were eight dead and 30 injured.

In Jay County, Indiana, the little town of West Liberty was struck and only three houses left standing…The death list there includes Frank Smith, Mrs. Goldie Smith, Florence Smith, Clarence Smith, Mrs. Frank Haggot, Keith Haggott, David Kessler, Mable Fields, Katharine Fields, Katherine Gross.

The storm struck heavily east of Berne, Indiana, and damaged many houses and buildings. Monroeville, Indiana, was touched by the storm and in a district north of the town Mrs. William Simons and two children named Giant and Grodian were killed.

The damage reported in Willshire Township: Louis Schumm, barn down; William Buechner, barn destroyed and dwelling seriously damaged; Otto Stetler, barn destroyed and three dead horses; Robinson house and barn down; Jesse Boyer and Jesse Weiler, houses and barns badly wrecked; barns destroyed at Jacob Gunsett, Thomas Friedly, Maynard Stetler, Jesse Tickle, and Dudgeon farms. The George F. Robinson farm in Van Wert County occupied by Frank Wright was swept of its buildings. [This may be the Robinson farm mentioned above.] In all there were fourteen barns destroyed in Willshire Township. Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, also suffered severe losses.

Damage after 1920 Van Wert County Tornado

The 1920 tornadoes were deadly. A day after the storm a resident near Convoy reported that Dr. Morgan of Dixon found seven dead between New Haven and Monroeville and that he and had not yet reached the worst part of the damage. Mr. & Mrs. William Rader were both killed. Darke County, hardest hit in Ohio, reported eight deaths. One family there lost the father and three children. Mercer County escaped without the loss of life. The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Tuesday, March 30, 1920, reported that over 176 were killed in eight states: Illinois, 30; Georgia & Alabama, 75; Ohio, 32; Indiana, 28; Michigan, 9; Wisconsin, 1; Missouri, 1.

Others were seriously injured: Mrs. Fred Stephenson, two ribs and an arm broken, a scalp wound and badly bruised; Fred Stephenson, bad cut on the side of his face, scalp wound and bruises; Myron Stephenson, left leg broken below the knee, bruises; Mr. & Mrs. Martin Roth, scalp wounds and bruises.

A firsthand account from Mrs. Ora Schaffer, who lived a short distance north of the Ridge Township House: “This didn’t seem to be a tornado like the one two years ago. It was simply a terrific wind which seemed to come from all directions. It had been raining hard and then the hail started. The house started to shake. I said to my husband, ’We’d better get to the cellar.’ We grabbed the children and got half way down the cellar when the cellar windows were blown out and the house went entirely off its foundation.” (The Van Wert Times, Monday March 29, 1920)

It was reported that a piano belonging to the Leplys, east of Van Wert, was picked up [by the wind or just picked up? not sure] and put on a pile of wreckage. (The Van Wert Times, Monday March 29, 1920) It was also reported that the tornado, almost a mile wide, moved a house several feet on its foundation.

The 1 April 1920 edition of the Van Wert Twice Weekly Bulletin estimated the loss of property from the storm in Van Wert County at $2 million. The paper also reported that many residents discovered too late that they were not covered by insurance. Apparently during the month preceding the storm some families neglected to transfer their insurance policies after they had transferred ownership of farm lands. They were not insured, according to insurance company rules.

The good people of Van Wert County chipped in to help their neighbors. Reconstruction work was started in all parts of the county Sunday night after the storm and yesterday and today hundreds of men and boys are at work. The entire county is uniting in helping the sufferers. The schools, county officials, Red Cross, the Farm Bureau, churches and other organizations are co-operating. Temporary shelters are being constructed, fences are being built to keep in cattle, repairs are being made to damaged buildings and debris is being collected. (Van Wert Times, 30 March 1920, front page)

Clean up and rebuilding after 1920 tornado

Rebuilding a barn (1920)

The 1920 tornado is also mentioned in the history of Duckcreek Church, Mercer County: Late in the evening of March 28, 1920, just after dark, the church was completely blown apart by a cyclone. It destroyed the church building and turned over or broke cemetery stones, but the church bell came straight down and was later moved and used in the Mount Hope Church, four miles to the west.

The Willshire Herald was the only area newspaper that referred to this storm as a hurricane. Did we really have a hurricane here in landlocked west central Ohio? According to Dictionary.com, today’s definition of a hurricane is 1. A violent, tropical, cyclonic storm of the western North Atlantic, having wind speeds of or in excess of 72 mph. 2. A storm of the most intense severity. 3. Anything suggesting a violent storm. Webster’s Dictionary, copyright 1943, defines a hurricane as A gale of extreme violence characterized by fitful changes of the wind and, sometimes, thunder and lightning. According to those definitions, you could call the storm that hit the area in 1920 a violent hurricane.

I still don’t have the answer to my original question. The newspaper article said the Louis Schumm barn was destroyed by a tornado but no family members remember Louis or Cornelius talking about a tornado that destroyed their barn. The barn’s slate shingles appear to be the original 1886 shingles. Louis Schumm’s barn was a banked barn but the barn being built in the photos was not a banked barn.

Perhaps Louis lost a small barn-type building and the newspaper exaggerated. And perhaps these were photos of a neighbor’s tornado damage and someone else’s barn being rebuilt. I may never know for sure.

These newspaper articles also give me ideas for future research. I can research the March 1918 Van Wert County tornadoes. One of the articles mentioned that a cyclone struck Mercer County in May 1884, causing the loss of several lives and much destruction in Liberty and Hopewell Townships. Even more research opportunities…

Newspaper sources for this blog: Willshire Herald, 2 April 1920; The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, 30 March 1920; The Van Wert Times, 29 March 1920 and 30 March 1920; Van Wert Times Bulletin, 29 March 1920; Van Wert Twice Weekly Bulletin, 30 March 1920 and 1 April 1920; and The Rockford Press, 2 April 1920.