Apr 11

Tombstone Tuesday-Hugo F. Krueckeberg

Hugo F. Krueckeberg, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Hugo F. Krueckeberg, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

HUGO F.
KRUECKEBERG
Dec. 27, 1903-Oct. 5, 1985
The Lord is my Shepherd


“Hugo“ Friedrich Krueckeberg was born 27 December 1903, the second child born to Carl H. (1877-1943) and Vilenna M. (Bienz) (1879-1964) Krueckeberg. Hugo was baptized at the home of his parents on 10 January 1904 with Friedrich Krueckeberg and William Schamerloh serving as his baptismal sponsors. The church records note that both sponsors were from Adams County, Indiana. Additional research shows that his sponsor William Schamerloh (1859-1932) was married to Anna Bienz (1866-1942), the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Pflueger) Bienz, making William Schamerloh the granduncle of Hugo Krueckeberg by marriage.

Hugo Krueckeberg, age 6, with his family in Willshire Township in 1910: Carl H Krueckeberg, 33, head; Vilenna, 30, wife; Leo Krueckeberg, 7, son; Hugo Krueckeberg, 6, son; Elvira Krueckeberg, 4, daughter; Henoch Krueckeberg, 1, son; Elizabeth Bienz, 75, [Vilenna’s] grandmother; Earl Roehm, 17, hired hand; and Della Roehm, 23, servant. Carl Krueckeberg was a farmer. [1]

Carl and Vilenna Krueckeberg continued to reside in Willshire Township and were enumerated there with their 6 children in 1920. By 1929 Hugo Krueckeberg had moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and resided at 934 Savilla Avenue and worked as a winder at Dudlo Manufacturing. [2]

In 1930 Hugo, 26, and his brother Henoch, 21, were lodgers in the home of Archie Hileman and family, 934 Savilla Avenue, Fort Wayne: Archie C Hileman, 28, head; Reah B Hileman, 27, wife; Keith W Hileman, 5, son; Philip L Hileman, 1 month, son; Clyde L Siler, 28, lodger; John V Siler, 23, lodger; Henoch E Krueckeberg, 21, lodger; Hugo Krueckeberg, 26, lodger; Ormond Burdick, 24, lodger; Charles P Persing, 59, lodger; and Etta E Persing, 62, lodger. Archie Hileman, the Krueckeberg brothers, and the Siler brothers worked as assemblers in a truck factory. [3]

Hugo Krueckeberg, 36, single, returned to Willshire Township by 1940 and resided with his parents. In fact, that census indicates that Hugo resided in their Willshire Township home in 1935. It appears that Hugo’s father Carl had retired from farming by 1940 and that Hugo had taken over the farming. [4]   

According to Hugo’s WWII Draft Registration card, Hugo farmed 5 miles west of Ohio City, in Van Wert County. In 1942 Hugo’s draft classification was 1-A [5], but it appears he did not serve in the military.

Hugo’s father Carl Krueckeberg died on 5 January 1943.

In 1950 Hugo, 46, son, who had never married, lived with his widowed mother Vilenna, 70, head, in Willshire Township. Hugo worked as laborer for a container company. Hugo and his mother lived next to Hugo’s brother Walter and his family. [6]

In 1953 Hugo was the best man at the Christmas Day marriage of Albert Roehm and Ruth Myer. [7]

Hugo’s mother Vilenna (Bienz) Krueckeberg died on 2 November 1964.

The container company mentioned above in the 1950 census was Van Wert’s Continental Can Company. In 1967 Hugo Krueckeberg was one of 49 employees who were initiated into the company’s Veterans Club, signifying 25 years of service with the company. For that, each received a scroll, a diamond-studded gold lapel pin or brooch, and a gold Omega wristwatch. [8]

Hugo Krueckeberg, 1971 Zion Lutheran, Schumm, directory.

Hugo Krueckeberg died in the Van Wert County Hospital, Van Wert, from complications of a cerebral hemorrhage on 5 October 1985, at the age of 81. He was buried on the 9th. Hugo never married and was a wire winder at Continental Can. [9]

Hugo Krueckeberg had the following siblings:
Leo Charles Krueckeberg (1902-1970), married Helen Henrietta Miller
Elvira Carolina Krueckeberg (1906-1989), married Maurice Malcom Markle
Henoch Ernst Krueckeberg (1908-1996), married Ruth Schultz
Walter Friedrich Kreuckeberg (1910-2000), married Helen G. Backus
[male] Krueckeberg (1917-1917)
Anna Luetta Krueckeberg (1917-1942), married Edwin Herman Reinking

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 113, p.9A (penned), dwelling 114, family 116, Charles H Kruckeberg [sic]; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Apr 2019.

[2] U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Fort Wayne, 1929, p.446, Hugo F Krueckeberg; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, ED 25, p.25A, dwelling 569, family 619, Archie Hileman household; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 106, Chas H Kruckenberg [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 3 Apr 2023.

[5] “Registrants Reclassified,” Delphos Daily Herald, Delphos, Ohio, 3 Oct 1942; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, sheet 8, Section 15, dwelling 120, line 36, Vilenna Krueckeberg; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[7] “Myer-Roehm Wedding is Holiday Event,” Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 7 Jan 1853; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[8] “CCC Adds 49 To Company’s Veterans Club,” Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 12 Oct 1967; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Pleasant Township, Van Wert, Ohio, Hugo F. Krueckeberg, 5 Oct 1985; database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 10 Apr 2023.

Apr 07

Happy Easter!

Today is Good Friday, the day Christians observe when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins.

But on the third day,  our Easter Sunday, He rose from the dead and we celebrate His resurrection.

He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Easter Blessings to all!

Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio

Apr 04

Tombstone Tuesday-Carl H. & Vilenna M. (Bienz) Krueckeberg

Carl H. & Vilenna M. (Bienz) Krueckeberg, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Carl H. and Vilenna M. (Bienz) Krueckeberg, located in row 2 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

KRUECKEBERG
Carl H.
1877-1943
Vilenna M.
1879-1964

Charles “Carl” H. Krueckeberg was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, on 27 Mar 1877, the son of Charles/Carl Henrich W. (1835-1915) and Caroline Wilhelmine (Kleinschmidt) Krueckeberg (1834-1913).

The Charles Krueckeberg family in 1880: Charles [Sr], 45, born in Germany; Caroline, 45, Germany; Fredrick, 19; Sophia, 17; Louisa, 17; Minnie, 12; Ernst, 8; and Carl [Jr], 3. All the children were born in Indiana and their father was a farmer. [1] In 1900 Carl Krueckeberg [Jr] lived with his parents and extended family in Union Township, Adams County, Indiana.

Carl Krueckeberg [Jr] married Mary “Vilenna” Bienz at her grandparents’ home in Van Wert County on 22 August 1901. Carl was from Adams County, Indiana, and Vilenna was from Zion Schumm’s parish.

Vilenna Bienz was born in Van Wert County on 19 Jul 1879, the daughter of John Lewis (1852-1940) and Mary (Chilcoat) Bienz (c1859-c1881).

Vilenna Bienz, with her family, in 1880, residing in Willshire: JL [John Lewis] Bienz, 28, born in Ohio; Anna, 22, wife, Ohio; Mary V [Vilenna], 11 months, Ohio, born in July. John Bienz’s occupation was a house carpenter. [2]

Zion Schumm’s records indicate that Vilenna’s mother Ann Mary (Chilcoat) Bienz died before Vilenna’s baptism at Zion Schumm on 3 December 1882. Maria Bienz and Mrs. Katharina Roehm [?] served as Vilenna’s baptismal sponsors. The church records indicate that Vilenna’s grandparents Jacob and Elizabeth (Pflueger) Bienz had taken in Vilenna to raise.

In 1900 Vilenna Bienz lived with her grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Pflueger) Bienz: Jacob, 75; Elisabeth, 64; and Mary V [Vilenna], 20. [3]

Meanwhile, Vilenna’s widowed father John L. Bienz had remarried in 1890, to Elizabeth Hixon. In 1900 John Lewis Bienz and wife “Lizzie” lived in Indianapolis, Indiana: John, 47, born June 1852 in Ohio; and Lizzie, wife, 38, born April 1862 in Indiana. They had been married 10 years and had no children. John reportedly worked as a machinist. [4]

Seven years after Carl and Vilenna married, Vilenna’s grandfather Jacob Bienz died in 1908. In 1910 Vilenna’s widowed grandmother Elizabeth (Pflueger) Bienz resided with Vilenna and Carl Krueckeberg and their children: Carl H Krueckeberg, 33; Vilenna, 30; Leo Krueckeberg, 7; Hugo Krueckeberg, 6; Elvira Krueckeberg, 4; Henoch Krueckeberg, 1; Elizabeth Bienz, 75, grandmother; Earl Roehm, 17, hired hand; and Della Roehm, 23, servant. Carl Krueckeberg was a farmer. [5]

Vilenna’s grandmother Elizabeth (Pflueger) Bienz died in 1913.

Carl and Vilenna continued to reside in Willshire Township, in 1920 with their 6 children, and by 1930 only their two youngest children resided with them. Son Hugo Krueckeberg, age 36 and single, was their only child living with them in 1940. It appears that Carl had retired from farming by that time and that Hugo had taken over the farming. [6]   

Carl Krueckeberg died from colon cancer in Decatur, Indiana, on 5 January 1943, aged 65. He was buried on the 7th. [7]

Vilenna Krueckeberg died at a long-term care facility in Alllen County, Ohio, on 2 November 1964, at the age of 85. [8]

Carl and Vilenna (Bienz) Krueckeberg had the following children:
Leo Charles Krueckeberg (1902-1970), married Helen Henrietta Miller
Hugo Friedrich Krueckeberg (1903-1985)
Elvira Carolina Krueckeberg (1906-1989), married Maurice Malcom Markle
Henoch Ernst Krueckeberg (1908-1996), married Ruth Schultz
Walter Friedrich Kreuckeberg (1910-2000), married Helen G. Backus
[male] Krueckeberg (1917-1917)
Anna Luetta Krueckeberg (1917-1942), married Edwin Herman Reinking

[1] 1880 U.S. Census, Union, Adams, Indiana, ED 131, p.26B, dwelling 41, family 42, Charles Krikeberg [sic]; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 2 Apr 2023.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.460A, family 48, JL Bieny [sic]; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 2 Apr 2023.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 98, p.310A (stamped), dwelling 208, family 214, Jacob Bienz; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Apr 2019.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, ED 62, p.2, dwelling 32, family 38, John L Bienz; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 2 Apr 2023.   

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 113, p.9A (penned), dwelling 114, family 116, Charles H Kruckeberg [sic]; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Apr 2019.

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 106, Chas H Kruckenberg [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 3 Apr 2023.

[7] Indiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2017, Charles H. Krueckeberg, 5 Jan 1943; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 3 Apr 2023.

[8] Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, 1958-2007, Vilenna Krueckeberg, 2 Nov 1964; Ancestry.com, viewed 2 Apr 2023.

Mar 31

Two Schumm Soldiers in WWI

Last week I posted a photo of 139 young men from Van Wert County, in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse, just before they departed for Camp Sherman on 22 July 1918, where they would receive basic training before entering WWI.

At that same time my grandfather Cornelius Schumm (1896-1986) was of draft age, age 21. He was born 15 September 1896 and turned 21 in September 1917. That put him in the Second Registration, which was for those who attained age 21 after 5 June 1917. The men in last week’s photo would have been from the First Registration, on 5 June 1917, for all men between the ages of 21 and 31 on that day. My grandfather Schumm was too young for the First Registration by about 3 months.

This was Cornelius Schumm’s WWI Draft Registration Card, dated 5 June 1918:

Cornelius Schumm Draft Registration, 5 June 1918

About five weeks later my grandfather was classified as One A:

CONSCRIPTION CALL
Final Listing Classes of Registrants of the Year 1918
The County Conscription Board has concluded the work of classifying the members of the Class of 1918. The final addition to the main list follows:

Class One A, Cornelius Schumm, Clyde Schaffer, Otto Dolt, Beryl Ashbaugh, Millard Graham, Earl Chambers, Edwin Geissler, Francis Jenkins, Elmer Croghan, Leland Couts, Walter Schaffner, Roy Clem, Webster Stewart, Harold DeLong, Thomas Brown, Harry Shoop, Frederick Smith, Ralph Clouse, Otto Hertz, William Rauch, Paul Vincent, Ellis Duprey, Frederick Grill.

Class Two 1: Clement Counsellor.
Class Four 1: Clifford Summersett, Ada Pritchard, Frederick Rathert, Estell Sperry. [1]

My grandfather, classified as One A, turned draft age during the last stages of the war and did not serve in the military. He likely would have been drafted had the war continued. The war ended 11 November 1918, before he was sent to serve.

However, two of my grandfather Cornelius Schumm’s older second cousins, brothers Emanuel Schumm (1892-1973) and Emil Schumm (1893-1960), both served in WWI.  

Emanuel Schumm was conscripted on 14 February 1918. Men accepted for service from the Willshire area:
Willshire Township: Carl G. Roehm, Theodore A. Reidenbach, Emanuel H. Schumm, Oliver Reese.
Liberty Township: Arthur W. Merkle, Henry Hoffman.
Certified to the District Board: Henry Reichard, Willshire. [2]

Emanuel Schumm enlisted 24 May 1918, and left for Camp Taylor 25 May 1918:

…a special train of ten coaches and a baggage car for 561 soldiers, squads from Van Wert, Williams, Defiance, Henry, Paulding, Mercer, and Darke Counties. …to arrive at Louisville at 7:45 p.m. and then escort them to Camp Taylor…

Members of the squad from the Willshire area:
Homer Hudson, Wren
Fred F. Roop, Willshire
Harry E. Roll, Willshire
George W. Price, Willshire
Carl Roehm, Willshire Twp
Emanuel Schumm, Willshire Twp
Oliver Reese, Willshire
Carl Weinman, Willshire Twp
Don Watkins, Willshire
Alfred Stettler, Willshire
Charles R. Reichard, Willshire [3]

During WWI Emanuel Schumm served as a Private and a Corporal and was among the American Expeditionary Forces. He was honorably discharged 27 August 1919. [4]

I believe Emanuel Schumm is the soldier in the two photos below, photos which came from his daughter. It looks like Emanuel, but I don’t know what his brother Emil looked like, so it could be Emil.

Emanuel Schumm WWI

Emanuel (or Emil) may have been visiting his family, who lived in Colorado at the time:

Emanuel Schumm WWI

In 1929 Emanuel Schumm became Cornelius’ brother-in-law when he married Edna Scaer (1899-1985), the sister of Cornelius’ wife Hilda Scaer (1895-1997). Emanuel Schumm managed the grain elevator in Schumm for many years. On 16 April 1940 Emanuel replaced George Weinman as Schumm’s postmaster and Schumm served as postmaster there until 6 January 1953. He was the last postmaster at Schumm before the office was abandoned.

Emanuel Schumm’s brother Emil Schumm was conscripted on 10 June 1918 with several others from Willshire Township: Lee Ross, Orley Walters, Walter Harman, Henry Roll, Emil Schumm, Reed Knight, Theodore Reidenbach, and Arthur Merkle. Alternatives from the area included Isaac Case, Willshire Township, and John Lotter, Willshire. 96 registrants made up the squad going to Camp Sherman and were ordered to report the week of the 24th. [5]

Emil Schumm enlisted 24 June 1918. On 25 June 1918 those 96 soldiers departed from Van Wert and Emil Schumm was among them. [6]

By the end of September 1918 Emil Schumm was overseas:

Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nofer, of Willshire township are in receipt of a card from Emil Schumm, a neighbor, announcing his safe arrival overseas. [7]

Emil and Emanuel’s father Henry M. Schumm, who had homesteaded in Colorado some years before, was living with his family in Colorado at the time. Emil and Emanuel had remained in Ohio and that is probably why Emil wrote home to his neighbor in the Schumm area.

Emil Schumm served as private and was honorably discharged 29 October 1919. [4]

I find it interesting to read these newspaper accounts and to see the timeline and how quickly things progressed.

[1] Conscription Call, Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 13 Jul 1918; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 28 Mar 2023.

[2] Conscription Call, Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 14 Feb 1918; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 28 Mar 2023.

[3] Soldiers Leave, Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 25 May 1918; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 28 Mar 2023.

[4] Ohio Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918, database on-line by subscription; Ancestry.com, accessed 20 April 2014.

[5] Conscription Call, Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 10 Jun 1918; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 28 Mar 2023.

[6] Soldiers Depart, Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 25 Jun 1918; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 28 Mar 2023.

[7] Soldier Letters, Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 30 Sep 1918; NewspaperArchive.com, viewed 28 Mar 2023.

Mar 28

Tombstone Tuesday-Occupation Symbols

A variety of symbols and images can be carved or etched on tombstones. The photos below show examples of carvings and etchings and show the difference between the two techniques.  

Religious symbols are the most popular tombstone inscriptions but other symbols tell us a little about the life of the deceased. Today, some local tombstones that indicate a person’s occupation.

Modern etching techniques create realistic-looking images on grave markers. Among my favorites are the photo-like farm images. It is obvious these are the grave markers of farmers.

St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Preble County, Indiana

Swamp College Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio

West Lawn Cemetery, Baltic, Ohio

Below are some carved images and you can see how they differ from etchings.

This person was a medical doctor.

North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

This person was an Ohio State Highway Patrolman.

Catholic Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

A barber pole indicates the person was a barber.

West Lawn Cemetery, Baltic, Ohio

This person was a truck driver.

Decatur Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana

This person evidently had several trades.

Woodlawn Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

An emblem is sometimes attached to the monument. These emblems indicate a fireman and a volunteer fireman.

North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery, Preble County, Indiana