Mar 19

Tombstone Tuesday–James M & Florence M (Reynolds) Wilson

James M & Florence M (Reynolds) Wilson, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of James M. and Florence M. (Reynolds) Wilson, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

WILSON
Florence M.
1898-1989
James M.
1897-1958

James Michael Wilson was born in Henry County, Ohio, 9 July 1897, the son of James A. Wilson (1849-1943) and Elizabeth (Gessner) (1854-1931) Wilson. [1]

James M. Wilson, age 1 year, was enumerated in the 1900 census with his family: James, 50, head; Elizabeth, 45, wife; William F, 21, son; Emma B, 17, daughter; and James M, 1, son. The family lived in Flatrock Township, Henry, County, Ohio, and according to the 1900 census, the parents had been married 24 years and 3 of their 5 children were living. All members of the family were born in Ohio and the father James was a farmer. [2]

James M. Wilson, 12, was the only child living with his parents in Flatrock Township in 1910. [3]

James M. Wilson, 20, married Florence M. Reynolds, 18, in Monroe County, Michigan, on 9 August 1917. They were married by F.R. Vine, a Baptist minister, and Mrs. Howard Reid and Mrs. Ollie Seymour were witnesses to their marriage. At the time of their marriage both the bride and groom resided at Holgate, Ohio. James was born in Ohio and Florence was born in Michigan. [4]

Florence M. Reynolds was born 19 September 1898 in Adrian, Michigan, the daughter of Ernest A. (1876-1948) and Nellie (Patten) (1877-1963) Reynolds. [5]

Florence Reynolds, enumerated with her family in 1900: Ernest A, 23, head; Patten Reynolds, 20, wife; Florence M, 1, daughter; and Eva L, 4 months, daughter. Her father Ernest was a porter at a hotel. The mother was born in Ohio and the other family members were born in Michigan. [6]

By 1910 the Ernest Reynolds family of four had moved to Toledo, Ohio, where the father was a salesman. [7]

By 1920, three years after their marriage, James and Florence Wilson had a daughter, Virginia Mae, born about 1918. The family lived in Flatrock Township, Henry County, Ohio, where James was a farmer: James M, 22, head; Florence M, 21, wife; and Virginia M, 1, daughter. [8]

By 1930 their family had grown to include Marvel E, born about 1921, and Imogene L, born about 1922, in addition to their oldest daughter Virginia Mae. James continued to farm in Flatrock Township. [9]

Sometime between April 1935 and April 1940 the James M. Wilson family moved to French Township, Adams County, Indiana. Their son James Leroy was born in Ohio in 1935 and was baptized by Rev. S.K. Strams at Holgate, Ohio, on 12 April 1936, so they likely moved to Adams County after his baptism.  

By 1940 daughters Marvel and Virginia Wilson had left home and their siblings Imogene, 18, and James Leroy, 4, were the only children living at home with their parents. The father James M. continued to farm in French Township. [10]

In 1950 James M Wilson, 50, wife Florence, 50, and son James Leroy, 14, were living in Blue Creek Township, Adams County, Indiana, where James M. farmed and son James L. helped on the farm. [11]

The Wilsons attended Zion Lutheran, Chatt, during this time and their son James Leroy was confirmed at Zion Chatt on 2 April 1950. His church confirmation record also gives information about his baptism.

James M. and Florence Wilson had a Monroe, Indiana, address, and according to James’ death certificate they lived 2 miles east of Salem. According to Zion Chatt’s records, James M. Wilson died of a heart attack on 15 December 1958 at Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, where he had been hospitalized for a week. He was 61 years, 5 months, and 6 days old. He was buried on the 18th and was survived by his wife, 3 daughters, a son, 3 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. [1]

Florence died at Lakeside Manor, Decatur, Indiana, on 26 August 1989, at age 90. Her cause of death was a heart attack and she was buried the 30th. Her occupation was a cook. [5] Neither her death nor burial are recorded in Zion Chatt’s records.

James M. and Florence M. (Reynolds) Wilson had the following children:
Virginia Mae Wilson (1918-1991), married Aiden L. Babcock; married Leo E. Ulman
Marval Elizabeth Wilson (1920-2003), married Earl Stader
Imogene Lee Wilson (1922-1999), married Robert L. Hahnert
James Leroy Wilson (1935-)

[1] Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, death/burial records, James M. Wilson; and Indiana Death Certificates, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Year 1958, roll 15, James M Wilson, 15 Dec 1958; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 24, p.9, dwelling 183, family 189, James F [sic] Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 26, p.8B, dwelling & family 100, James Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[4] Michigan Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Michigan Dept of Community Health, Division of Vital Records & Health Statistics, record 709, James M Wilson & Florence M Reynolds, 9 Aug 1917; Ancestry.com.

[5] Indiana Death Certificates, Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Year 1989, roll 12, Florence M Wilson, 26 Aug 1989; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Michigan, Lenawee County, Adrian Ward 2, ED 35, p.1, dwelling & family 2, Ernest A Reynolds; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Lucas County, Toledo Ward 1, ED 31, p.7A, dwelling 147 & family 153, Ernest A Reynolds; Ancestry.com.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 52, p.9A, dwelling 180, family 181, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[9] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Henry County, Flatrock, ED 7, p.8A, dwelling & family 170, James Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[10] 1940 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams County, French Township, ED 1-2, p.5B, household 75, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com.

[11] 1950 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams County, Blue Creek Township, ED 1-1, p.17, dwelling 189, James M Wilson; Ancestry.com. 

 

 

Mar 15

Wedding Announcements

I have been looking through quite a few civil marriage records lately, a good source of information for both the bride and groom. Records associated with marriage may reveal age, date of birth, place of birth, current residence, occupation, parents’ names, if it was the first marriage and/or many times married, and how the previous marriage(s) ended.

In addition to civil marriage records, newspaper accounts of engagement and marriage can information. Usually not as much information as the marriage record, but at a minimum, the date and place of marriage and the parents’ names.

In the mid-to-late-1900s engagement and marriage announcements were quite descriptive and lengthy. But like most things, these newspaper announcements have changed over the years. They are shorter today, giving more basic information about the couple and the wedding.  

Engagement announcements have not changed all that much. Back then, as well as today, there is often an engagement photo of the couple with information about the upcoming nuptials, their occupations or schooling, and the names of their parents.

However, sometimes there is more. This couple went above and beyond. They had a regular engagement announcement and then sometime later they announced who their wedding attendants would be. A little unusual, but we are always seeking information, so here it is:

Bonell Names Attendants for June Wedding, 1963

Priscilla Ruth Bonell Names Attendants for June Wedding (1963)
Miss Priscilla Ruth Bonell, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Harold C. Bonell of Nashua, N.H., will be attended by her sisters, the Misses Miriam E. Bonell and Deborah G. Bonell, when she becomes the bride of the Rev. Herbert Ivan Schumm of Willshire, Ohio, Saturday, June 15, in the First Baptist Church at Nashua. The Rev. Bonell, pastor of the church, will perform the ceremony at eight o’clock…

The groomsmen are also named: Albert R. Schumm, Rockford, bridegroom-elect’s brother; and Rev. Ellis E. O’Neal, Newton Center, Mass.

The reception was to be held 5-7:00 at the parsonage. [1]

Perhaps it was commonplace there to announce the wedding party. Another article announced the wedding a few weeks later.

And I wonder, was it customary in that area to have the reception before the wedding ceremony? That is a little different from what we are accustomed to.

A note about the couple. The bride-to-be, Priscilla R. Bonell, was a nurse and was completing theological studies as well. She lived in Germany for a time, where she combined her theological studies and professional nursing and eventually became a pastor.

The groom-to-be, Rev. Herbert Ivan Schumm, was a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School and was the former minister of the Congregational Church, Warren, Indiana. Both husband and wife were pastors and Priscilla’s father was a minister as well. Rev. Herbert Ivan Schumm was the son of Louis Fredrick Schumm (1892-1974) and my Grandpa Cornelius Schumm was Herbert Ivan’s baptismal sponsor in 1928.

Rev. Herbert Ivan Schumm (1928-2018) was a brother to the next groom, Rev. Robert William Schumm (1915-2003).   

Newspaper marriage announcements in the 1900s went into great detail about the wedding gown and veil. I think most of us remember those long descriptions about the gown:

Miss Picknell is Sunday Bride (of Rev. Robert William Schumm, 1950)
…The bride [Frances L Picknell] wore white Chantilly lace over taffeta with a shirred shoulder neckline, long tight sleeves, cathedral train and full gathered skirt. Her imported illusion fingertip veil fell from a Juliet cap and she carried a white colonial bouquet filled with white maline…matron of honor in gray imported marquisette over gray taffeta made with bouffant skirt with colored panels, elbow length shirred sleeves, and high neckline…

It went on to name the groomsmen but did not describe their attire.

The bride, Frances L Picknell, attended a music conservatory and wrote the words to one of the vocal numbers sang at the wedding. [2] The groom, Rev. Robert William Schumm, was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Louis Frederick Schumm, Willshire.

Couple United in German Ceremony [1969]:
The next wedding occurred in Germany. The bride was from Germany the groom was from Van Wert and they were married in a traditional German ceremony in the Smidt Gedachnis Church.

The German ceremony was not all that different from an American ceremony. Just a couple differences.

There was a musical prelude with German wedding songs. The flower girl and flower boy scattered fresh flowers on the aisle just before the bride was escorted down the aisle by the bridegroom. Their ceremony was conducted in both German and English….The bride appeared in a floor-length gown of traditional white, styled in a controlled A-line silhouette of Swiss lace and tissue bridal taffeta. She wore a flowered head band crown lavished with small pearls caught to a net illusion bouffant waist-length veil. The bride carried a cascade arrangement of white, lilac, and red carnations, accented with fern…

Following the ceremony Dr. Gerlits [officiant] presented the couple with a Traditional German Bible. The reception was held in the bride’s home.

The couple participated in an interesting German wedding tradition: The couple was honored at a pre-wedding party given by their friends. At this time it is customary for the children of the neighborhood to collect bottles and throw them against the frond door step for good luck. The prospective bridegroom then goes to the door and treats the children with candy… [3]

The best luck would be if the children had good aim and it seems the broken glass would be a mess to clean up. It rather of sounds like what I remember as a Belling.

My mom’s gown and veil were described in detail in 1950:

Schumm-Miller Wedding Revealed
Bride [Florence Schumm]…wore a gown of ivory slipper satin designed with a fitted bodice, sweetheart neckline, trimmed with seed pearls and rhinestones, and full skirt which ended in a cathedral train. Her fingertip veil was of French illusion and was edged with Chantilly lace. The veil was attached to a tiara of satin trimmed with seed pearls and rhinestones. She carried a bouquet of white chrysanthemums and daisies centered with an orchid.

Miss Esther Schumm attended her sister as maid of honor and wore a gown of shrimp satin fashioned with a fitted bodice with a deep lace yoke. Her braided headdress was of the satin to match her gown. Her bouquet was of bronze chrysanthemums.

Miss Catherine Miller and Mrs. Louis Allmandinger were bridesmaids and they wore gowns in blue and green, respectively, styled like that of the maid of honor.  They carried bouquets of yellow chrysanthemums.

Alvin Krueckeberg was best man and ushering the guests were Kenneth Miller and Elmer Schumm.

The bride’s mother wore a black crepe dress and the bridegroom’s mother wore a green dress, and both had corsages of red roses.

A reception was held in the church parlor, attended by 200 guests. Phyllis Gunsett, Emma Allmandinger, Helen Roehm, and Mrs. Wilbert Thieme served the guests….

Rev. Werner Kuhlberg was the officiant, Velma Schumm played the organ, and Edgar Allmandinger was the vocalist. The church was decorated with chrysanthemums, ferns, and candles in candelabra. [4]

And of course, I followed the same tradition, with a very long description:

The bride [Karen Miller], escorted down the aisle by her father, wore a formal wedding gown of candlelite satin. Cluny lace entwined with satin ribbon enhanced the bodice and the high ruffled collar. The long traditional sleeves were lace trimmed at the wrist and the waistline was sashed with satin ribbon, streamer bow in back. The A-line candlelite satin skirt was embellished in front with two overlays of ruffled Cluny lace entwined with satin ribbon, and lace formed the hemline. The back of the gown was styled with a built-in train also accented with lace and fell to cathedral length. She wore a matching candlelite Cluny lace cloche enhanced with matching satin ribbon and small pearls, held to a full layered elbow length bouffant veil of imported illusion. She carried an arm bouquet consisting of orange sweetheart roses, wheat, dry baby’s-breath, bittersweet, fall leaves, yellow pompoms, and straw-flowers…[5]

That was quite a lengthy description of my gown and veil, thanks to Harriet Chodash. In fact, the whole write-up was quite long. All the musical selections were named, as well. All twelve of them! It was a lot!

Personally, I don’t think it is a totally bad thing that those gown and veil descriptions were dropped from the wedding announcements. Did anyone really read them closely? Even though they were detailed descriptions of beautiful wedding gowns, it is hard to visualize a dress from a written description.

[1] “Priscilla Ruth Bonell Names Attendants for June Wedding,” Portland Press Herald, Portland, Maine, 2 Jun 1963; Newspapers.com.  

[2] “Miss Picknell is Sunday Bride,” The Decatur Daily Review, Decatur, Illinois, 28 Aug 1950; Newspapers.com.  

[3] “Couple United In German Ceremony,” Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert County, Ohio, Neiford & Hain, 15 Feb 1969; Newspapers.com.

[4] “Schumm-Miller Wedding Revealed,” Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 23 Dec 1950; Newspaperarchive.com.

[5] “Karen Sue Miller Is Bride of Joe Alan Bennett In Recent Ceremony,” The Photo Star, Willshire, Ohio, 9 Jan 1974.

Mar 12

Tombstone Tuesday-Stanton Sr, Margaret M (Brandt), Stanton Jr Dailey

Dailey, Stanton R, Margaret (Brandt), Stanton Jr, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Stanton R (Sr), Margaret M (Brandt), Stanton Jr Dailey, and five of their other children, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

DAILEY
Stanton Sr.
1897-1970
Margaret M.
1901-1979
Stanton Jr.
1934-1949
Infant Dau. (1927); Infant Dau. (1930); Infant Son (1931); Infant Son (1938); Infant Son (1939)

Stanton Revere Daily was born 15 December 1897 in Adams County, Indiana, the son of Joseph J (1849-1939) and Samantha T (Robinson) (1852-1910) Dailey. Stanton had a twin brother Stanley Pearl (1897-1985), and two sets of twin siblings.

Stanton Dailey, enumerated with his family in 1900: Joseph Dailey, 51, head; Samantha, 54, wife; Esias W, 20, son; Mabel, 14, daughter; Leina, 13, daughter; Leora, 13, daughter; Viola, 8, daughter; Wilma, 5, daughter; Stanley, 3, son; and Stanton, 3, son. The parents had been married 26 years and 12 of their 13 children were living. It is interesting to note that there are three sets of twins in the Joseph Dailey family. [1]

Stanton R. Dailey married Margaret Brandt on 17 February 1923 in Mercer County, Ohio. They were married at Zion Lutheran, Chatt, by Zion’s Rev. Albrecht. Stanton, age 22, was living in Willshire and Margaret, 21, was living in Black Creek Township, Mercer County. Mrs. Maria Brandt and Emil Brandt were witnesses to their marriage, as recorded in Zion Chatt’s records.

Martha Margaretha “Margaret” Brandt was born in Black Creek Township, Mercer County, on 2 June 1901, the daughter of Louis J (1839-1905) and his second wife Marie L (Schulz/Schultz) (1866-1928) Brandt. Margaret was baptized at Zion Lutheran, Chatt, on 14 July 1901, with her grandmother serving as her sponsor.

Margaret’s father Louis Brandt died 31 January 1905. In 1910, Margaret Brandt, 8, lived with her widowed mother Marie, 43, and brothers Louis E, 11 and Emil F, 10, in Black Creek Township. Her maternal grandmother, Sophia Schulz, 67, also lived with them. [2]

Seven years after their 1923 marriage, Stanton and Margaret Dailey resided in rural Willshire, Van Wert County. Three of four children born to them were living. A daughter was stillborn to them in 1927. Their family in 1930: Stanton R, 32; Margaret M, 28; Alma, 7; Mary, 5, and Robert L, 1. Stanton was a farmer. All the children were born in Ohio. [3] Margaret gave birth to a daughter a couple months later, in June 1930, but she was stillborn or died shortly after birth.

During the next ten years, 1930-1940, seven more children were born to Stanton and Margaret. Several died shortly after birth or were stillborn. Their children born 1930-1940: a daughter (1930-1930), a son (1931-1931), Charles L (1932), David Eugene (1936), Katherine M (1937), a son (1938-1938), a son (1939-1939).

By 1940 seven children were living in the Stanton Dailey household: Alma, 17; Mary, 16; Robert, 11; Charles, 8; Stanton Jr, 6; David, 4; and Katherine, 3. [4]

Two more children were born in the next five years, Marjorie (c1940) and Thomas (1945).

More tragedy for the family in 1949, when son Stanton Dailey Jr, born 13 Aug 1934, died 12 March 1949, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident southeast of Willshire on route 33. Three of his brothers were also involved in the accident. Stanton Jr was 14 ½ years old and was buried on the 14th. He was survived by his parents, four brothers, and four sisters.

All in all, Stanton and Margaret had fourteen children. Five were stillborn or died in infancy, son Stanley R Dailey Jr died in an auto accident at age 14, and four sons and four daughters lived to maturity. 

The births and/or deaths of four children born to Stanton and Margaret are recorded at Zion Lutheran, Chatt: Alma Martha Daily, born 6 August 1923, baptized 15 August 1923, sponsors were Mrs. Maria Brandt and Mrs. Clara Albrecht. Mary Mildred Dailey, born 23 November 1924, baptized 24 January 1926, sponsors were Emil Brandt and the child’s mother. A stillborn child, born and died 3 June 1927, buried on the 4th. Son Stanton R. Jr’s death, 12 March 1949, and burial on the 14th.

The Stanton Dailey family in 1950, rural Willshire: Stanton R, 51; Margaret, 48; Robert L, 21; Charles L, 18; David E, 14; Katherine M, 13; Marguerite, 10; and Thomas J, 5. Stanton was a farmer. [5]

Stanton Dailey Sr. died at the Adams County Hospital, Decatur, Indiana, on 8 April 1970, aged 72. He was buried on 10 April. His address was route 2 Berne at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife, 4 sons, 4 daughters, a sister, and a twin brother.

Margaret Martha (Brandt) Dailey died at the Caylor-Nickel Hospital, Bluffton, Indiana, on 24 June 1979, age 78. Her address was route 2 Berne at the time of her death. She was survived by eight children, 11 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.   

Stanton R. and Margaret (Brandt) Dailey had the following children:
Alma Martha (1923-2020), married L Paul Kable
Mary Mildred (1924-2012), married Max Eugene Bennett
Infant daughter (1927-1927)
Robert Louis (1928-2012), married Eileen Dolores Wallis    
Infant daughter (1930-1930)
Infant son (1931-1931)
Charles L (1932-2015), married Ileen Shaffer
Stanton R Jr (1934-1949)
David Eugene (1936-2013), not married
Katherine M (1937-2015), married Gerald Bair
Infant son (1938-1938)
Infant son (1939-1939)
Marjorie (c1940-), married Joseph Dodane
Thomas W (1945-2011) not married

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams, Blue Creek, ED 1, p.4, dwelling 74, family 77, Joseph Dailey; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Black Creek, ED 107, p.8A, dwelling 166, family 167, Marie L Brandt; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Willshire, ED 24, p.1B, Stanton R Dailey; Ancestry.com.

[4] 1940 U.W. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Willshire, ED81-28, p.8B, household 171, Stanton R. Daily [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[5] 1950 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Willshire, ED 81-40, sheet 73, Stanton R Dailey; Ancestry.com.

Mar 08

March-Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History month. Women were the heart of the family and have made many contributions to society over the years. We all have fond memories of our mothers and grandmothers and for the generations of women beyond them, we rely on family stories and search for additional information about them.  

Women were actually included in quite a few records, such as vital records (birth/marriage/death), tombstone inscriptions, church records, census records, passenger lists, directories, military records and pensions, land records, guardianships, wills and probate, court records, newspaper items, and published histories.

Unknown ladies from Schinnerer/Scaer album; Longsworth & Agler photo, Van Wert

That is a good list of sources, but female ancestors can still be a research challenge, as we try to learn who their parents were, their maiden name, and what happened to them.

For one thing, a woman’s name usually changed when she married. A few weeks ago I wrote that years ago it was the society norm to call a married women by her husband’s given name, e.g. Mrs. John Doe. When you think about it, the woman completely changed her name when she married. She basically took her husband’s given name and surname. Jane Smith became Mrs. John Doe. Thank goodness census reports show the woman’s actual given name, although it might be in the form of nickname or shortened version of the name.

The above is a fairly long list of possible sources of information, but I usually use a few specific ones for research from here at home. Below are some examples of where I research women, the ones I use most.  

Censuses
Census enumerations are one of my favorite sources of information for anyone, but especially women. Family members were not specified (wife/daughter/son) until the 1880 census but sometimes in the 1850-70 censuses I will see “helps mother.” That indicates a relationship to me. From 1880 on, wives and daughters are identified.   

Some of my favorite census years and their questions for information about women:
1900: How long the couple has been married; number of children the woman gave birth to; how many of those children were living; when the individual immigrated; birth month & year of each person.
1910: Number of children the woman gave birth to; how many of those children were living; the number of the couple’s marriage (1st, 2nd ); number of years married.
1930: The person’s age at first marriage.

Years ago, before assisted living homes were common, older, widowed women often lived with their children or one of their siblings, so it is important to research all members of a family, not just your direct line.

Marriage Records
Marriage records include civil records and church records, although church records may not exist or be available.

We want to know who a woman married and when.

The problem: I know a woman was married to a certain man, but I can’t find their marriage by using her maiden name.
The solution: This may be her second or third marriage, but I assumed it was her first marriage. On a marriage record, her surname will usually be the surname of the man to whom she was just previously married. If she was married several times and you don’t know about one of those marriages, you may have a problem finding a later marriage for her.

Another hint: Add the names of the women’s parents into her marriage search. The parent’s names were often included on a marriage license.

Other information is often included on a marriage license and marriage record: the ages and birth dates of the bride and groom, their place of birth, current residence, occupation, number of marriage. 

A woman may have been included in various records generated during the time she was married to each husband, so researching all the husbands may turn up additional information.

Having an unusual name is also helpful. But it is a mixed blessing. An unusual name may be easier to find but it is also easier to misspell and index. Add poor penmanship to that and some names are difficult to find no matter what.

Some interesting given names I have recently run across in my research include Blossom, Ivadeen, Echo, Gladysmae, and Carmaletta.

It appears some women are drawn to men with unusually long surnames. I recently ran across a woman who married Mr. Stoppenhagen and after his death she married Mr. Sassmannshausen. Another woman, whose maiden name was Haendschke, married Mr. Jesowshek. Challenging surnames indeed.  

John & Elizabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer, 1894.

Obituaries
Obituaries can be very helpful in researching women, giving a lot of family information (parents, children, grandchildren) and some occupational and personal information as well. Search for an obituary by using both a woman’s maiden name and her married name. Previously unknown surnames may show up in an obituary, often used in conjunction with the children’s names, and may be clues to a previous marriage.

In an obituary, a woman’s name may be shown as husband’s name, e.g. Mrs. John Doe. In that instance, you would not find the obituary searching for Jane Doe.  

Other obituary search tips: Search by using the full name of one or more of her surviving children. Search for her siblings. Search for her last name and the married surname of one of her daughters or sisters.

Scaer sisters: Elsie Roehm, Hilda Schumm, Edna Schumm.

Speaking of newspaper obituaries, on-line newspaper subscriptions are a good source for finding obituaries as well as for reading regular, society articles. Look for engagement and wedding announcements, where parents are mentioned, as well as siblings or cousins, who may have been wedding attendants. Newspapers often include photos. It is interesting to see photos of the people you are researching. It brings them to life and you see that they are not just names, dates and places.

Perhaps a woman belonged to a local society or card club. She may be mentioned in the news for any number of things.

I use FindaGrave.com regularly and a woman is usually entered there with her last married name. FindaGrave.com also usually includes a woman’s maiden name and links to memorials of deceased family members. Their information is pretty accurate, but I have found a few errors. Often times an obituary is included in the FindaGrave.com memorial, which is a real plus.

Occasionally, a woman’s tombstone inscription will include her maiden name.

Finally, the birth and/or death record of any of a woman’s children may reveal previously unfound information about the mother.

Basically, search a wide variety of sources for information and hopefully you will be rewarded with some new information and insights into your female ancestors, and other ancestors as well.

You may soon be doing the Genealogy Happy Dance.   

Mar 05

Tombstone Tuesday–Fred & Mary A. (Wendel) Kable

Fred & Mary A. (Wendel) Kable, St. Paul UCC Cemetery, Liberty Twp, Mercer County, OHio (2023 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Fred and Mary A. (Wendel) Kable, located in row 6 of St. Paul’s UCC Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

KABLE
Mary A.
1874-1966
Fred
1870-1934

Frederick “Fred” Kable was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 27 January 1870, the son of Frederick (1817-1886) and Catharine (Koch/Cook) (1837-1911) Kable. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, on 28 January 1870, with Ferdinand Hoffmann and wife serving as his sponsors, although this church record recorded his name in error as Ferdinand.  

A few months after his birth Fred Kable was enumerated in the 1870 census with his family in Liberty Township, Mercer County: Frederick Kable [Sr], 52; Catharine, 33; Jacob, 6; Christina, 3; Frederick, 4 mo. [1] By 1880 Fred had another brother, John H Kable, born in 1877. [2]

Fred’s father Frederick Kable [Sr] died 29 April 1886.

In 1900 Fred, 30, a farmer, resided with his widowed mother Catherine (Koch) Kable, 63, head, and his three unmarried siblings: Christina Kable, 33, Jacob Kable, 35, farmer; and John H, 23, schoolteacher. [3]

Fred Kable married Kable Mary Ann Wendel 20 September 1904 in Adams County, Indiana. Rev. Samuel Egger, Chattanooga minister, officiated over their ceremony and David Gerber was a witness to the occasion. [4]

Mary Ann Wendel was born 30 August 1874 in Adams County, Indiana, the daughter of Phillip (1848-1937) and Margaret/Martha R (Emerick) (c1854-bef.1900) Wendel. Mary Ann’s parents were both born in Germany. [5]

The Phillip Wendel family in 1880, residing in Liberty Township, Mercer County: Phillip, 32; Martha R, 29; Mary A, 5; Caroline, 3; and John 1. [6]

Mary Anna’s mother Margaret Wendel died before 1900 and the family moved from Liberty Township to Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana. The Phillip Wendel family in 1900, residing in Adams County, Indiana: Phillip, 52; Mary A, 25, daughter; Caroline, 23; Sarah, 14; John, 21; William, 11; Jacob Daniel, 11; and Louis Phillip, 9. [7]

Mary Ann and Fred married in 1904 and by 1910 they had two children, William, 3, and Lewis, 2, both born in Ohio. Fred Kable was a farmer in Liberty Township. [8]

Fred Kable’s mother Catharine (Koch) Kable died 5 July 1911.

By 1920 Fred and Mary Anna had three children: William, 13; Louis, 12; and Freda, 7. [9]

Fred Kable died from kidney disease and complications from surgery on 13 March 1934 at the Decatur Hospital, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana. [10]

Mary Ann’s father Philip Wendel died 3 February 1937.

In 1940, widow Mary Ann (Wendel) Kable, age 65, lived by herself in Liberty Township. [11]

Mary Ann (Wendel) Kable died 15 Jun 1966 in Willshire. Her obituary:

Mary Ann Kable
Rockford-Mrs. Mary Ann Kable, 91, of Rockford, died at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Richard E. Felver of Willshire, with whom she had lived since 1947.

Born Aug. 30, 1874, in Adams County, Ind., she was the daughter of Philip J and Margaret Emerick Wendel. She married Frederick Kable Sept. 20, 1904, and he died March 13, 1934.

Mrs. Kable was a member of the United Church of Christ in Liberty Township, Mercer County.

Surviving are two sons, William of Rt 1, Celina, and Lewis of Rt. 3, Celina, a daughter, Mrs. Richard E. (Frieda) Felver of Willshire; a brother, Lewis P. Wendel of Chattanooga, Ohio, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home, Rockford, Rev. Larry May officiating. Burial will be in the United Church of Christ cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 1:30 p.m. Thursday. [5]

Fred and Mary Ann (Wendel) Kable had the following children:
William Kable (1906-1982), married Mary Margaret Griggs
Lewis Kable (1907-2003), married Remma M Felver
Frieda Kable (1912-2005), married Richard E Felver

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, p.148B, dwelling 105, family 97, Fredrick Kable; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 188, p.473B, dwelling 43, family 45, Frederick Kable; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 85, p.6, dwelling 115, family 120, Catherine Cable [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[4] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019,” Adams County, Vol. H, Oct 1899-May 1905, p.508, Fred Kable & Mary Ann Wendell, 20 Sep 1904; FamilySearch.org.

[5] Mary Ann Kable obituary, Lima News, Lima Ohio, 2 Feb 1966; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 188, p.480D, dwelling 160, family 168, Phillip Wendel; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1900 U.S. Census, Indiana, Adams, Jefferson, ED 4, p.7, dwelling & family 124, Phelip [sic] Wendel; Ancestry.com. 

[8] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 119, p.4A, dwelling & family 59, Fred Kalle [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[9] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 140, p. 10B, dwelling 206, 224 family, Fred Kable; Ancestry.com. 

[10] Indiana Archives & Records Administration, Indianapolis, Death Certificates, Year 1934, Roll 4, Fred Kable, 13 Mar 1934; Ancestry.com.

[11] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED, p. visitation no.152, Mary Kable; Ancestry.com.