Feb 21

Tombstone Tuesday-Charles & Clara (Schumm) Merkle

Charles & Clara (Schumm) Merkle, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. 2012 photo by Karen

This is the tombstone of Charles and Clara (Schumm) Merkle, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

MERKLE
Charles
Jan. 8, 1869
Sept. 4, 1963

Clara
July 24, 1875
Jan. 14, 1936
PS. 37.5

Charles H. Merkle was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, on 8 January 1869, the son of William (1830-1911) and Elisabeth (Muntzinger) (1843-1903) Merkle. He sometimes went by the name of Carl. Charles’ parents were both born in Germany and they married in Germany in 1864. Their first child, Elisabeth, was born in Germany about 1865 and soon after, that same year, the family immigrated to America, with Van Wert County as their destination. Their next child, William, was born in Ohio about 1867 and Charles was born in 1869.

The William Merkle family in 1870, residing in Willshire Township, with a Leslie Post Office address:
William, 40, born in Baden; Elisabeth, 26, Baden; Elisabeth, 5, Baden; William, 3, Ohio; and Charles, 1, Ohio. [1]

The William Merkle family in 1880: William, 50; Elisabeth, 36; Elizabeth, 15; William, 13; Charles, 11; John, 9; and George, 7. [2]

The William Merkle family in 1900: William, 70; Elisabeth, 56; Charles, 31; John H, 29; George, 27; and Ernest T, 19. [3]

Charles Merkle married widow Clara (Schumm) Dietrich on 26 November 1908. They were married by Rev. H. Holle and William Merkle and Henry Schumm were witnesses to the marriage.

“Clara” Rosina Schumm was born in Willshire Township on 24 July 1875, the second of ten children born to “River Henry” (1844-1922) and Anna Rosina (Schinnerer) (1854-1890) Schumm. Anna Rosina was River Henry’s first wife. Henry’s second marriage was to Lena Geisler. The family lived east of Willshire, near the St. Marys River.   

Clara Schumm first married Ernst George Dietrich on 14 August 1898 and they had four children:
Rosina Marie Dietrich (1899-1987), married Walter Baker
Edna Magdelina Dietrich (1901-1986), married George Jacob Hofmann
Leah Juliana Dietrich (1902-1996), married Oscar Boenker; married Richard Merkle
Louise Wilhelmina Dietrich (1905-1992), married Ervin Zitzlaff Peters  

Clara’s husband Ernst Dietrich died of gall bladder disease on 20 July 1905 and the widow Clara married Charles Merkle in 1908.

The Charles Merkle family in 1910, residing in Willshire Township: Charles Merkle, 38; Clara Merkle, 34; Hugo Merkle, 6 months; and step-children Rosina Dietrich, 10; Edna Dietrich, 8; Leah Dietrich, 7; and Louisa Dietrich, 5. Charles Merkle was a farmer. [4]

The Charles Merkle family in 1920: Charles, 51; Clara, 44; Edna Dietrich, 18; Leah Dietrich, 17; Louisa Dietrich, 14; Hugo Merkle, 10; and Wilma Merkle, 4. [5]

Clara Rosina Elisabeth (Schumm) Dietrich Merkle died from heart problems in Willshire Township on 14 January 1936, aged 60 years, 5 months, and 20 days. She was buried on the 17th.  

In 1940 widower Charles Merkle’s daughter Velma and her husband Henry Etzler lived with Charles in Willshire Township. [6] Charles resided with the Etzler family in 1950, Henry Etzler listed as head of household in that enumeration. [7]

Charles Merkle died in Van Wert on 4 September 1963 and was buried on the 7th. Charles’ obituary:

Charles Merkle
Van Wert-Charles Merkle, 94, a retired farmer and life resident of Willshire Township, Van Wert County, died Wednesday in the Van Rue Geriatric Center.

Mr. Merkle, who died from a cerebral hemorrhage, had been seriously ill for the past 10 days.

He was born Jan. 8, 1869, the son of William and Elisabeth Merkle. On Nov. 26, 1908, he married to the former Mrs. Clara Dietrich. She died in 1936.

Mr. Merkle was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in nearby Schumm.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Henry (Velma) Etzler, of Willshire Township; four step-daughters, Mrs. Walter (Rosa) Baker and Mrs. Ervin (Louise) Peters, Route 1, Willshire, and Mrs. George (Edna) Hofmann, Mrs. Leah Merkle, Rt. 2, Ohio City; two brothers, George Ernest, both of Rt. 2, Ohio City; 17 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, with Rev. Elmer W. Braun officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call this evening at the Cowan and Son Funeral Home here. [8]

Charles and Clara (Schumm) Merkle had two children:
Hugo Merkle, (1909-1963), married Myrtle Butters
Velma Maria Merkle (1915-1999), married Henry Etzler

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.22, dwelling 148, family 149, William Merica [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

[2] 1800 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.455B, family 232, William Marcaly [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

[3] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 98, p.6, dwelling 115, family 119, William Merkle; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

[4] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.6A, dwelling 113, family 114, Charles Merkle; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

[5] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.2B, dwelling & family 40, Charles Merkle; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 108, Chas Merckle [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

[7] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, sheet 71, line 29, Henry F. Etzler; Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

[8] Charles Merkle obituary, The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 6 Sep 1963, p.4; digital image Ancestry.com, viewed 20 Feb 2023.

Feb 17

Chatt-area News, February 1911

Some more news from our area of the county, from February 1911 issues of The Celina Democrat.

The birthday celebration for Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Bollenbacher) Bollenbacher, who was born 11 February 1883.

Celina Democrat, 17 Feb 1911

A delivery wagon accident in Liberty Township:

Celina Democrat, 24 Feb 1911

Marriage licenses for Blackcreek farmer Henry Miller and Rockford resident Perry Stultz:

Celina Democrat, 17 Feb 1911

Some Blackcreek and Liberty news. Fred V. Bollenbacher mentioned once again:  

Celina Democrat, 17 Feb 1911

And, beggar goes from Celina to Toledo:

Celina Democrat, 10 Feb 1911

 

 

Feb 14

Tombstone Tuesday-Knights Templar Symbol

This is an interesting tombstone inscription I have seen a few times, the symbol of the Freemason order of Knights Templar. The inscription features a Patee cross with the Latin phrase In Hoc Signo Vinces. There is usually a Christian cross and crown in the center, although the cross and crown is sometimes used alone. The Latin phrase dates back to 312 A.D. and the Roman Emperor Constantine and is translated as In This Sign Thou Shalt Conquer.

Knights Templar, Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio

Knights Templar, with Masonic symbol, Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio

Knights Templar, Woodland Cemetery, Lima, Ohio. This person was also a member of the Odd Fellows.

Wikipedia gives the full name of the Knights Templar order as The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes, and Malta. The order is open to Freemasons who profess a belief in Christianity.  

A little different version of the Knights Templar symbol:

Knights Templar, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio.

The original Knights Templar order (Order of the Poor Knights of the Temple of Jerusalem) was founded about 1118 A.D. to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land after the First Crusade (1096-1099). They were known across Europe as an elite fighting force with a strict code of conduct. They swore oaths of chastity, poverty, and obedience and eventually gained a great amount of financial and military power.

Pope Clement V officially dissolved the Knights Templar in 1312. Since the 1700s the Knights Templars have been revived and imitated. Today, in addition to the Masonic order of Knights Templar, some non-Masonic groups have Knights Templar orders.

Feb 10

Black Creek & Liberty News, 1911

I have moved from 1910 and am now looking through the 1911 issues of The Celina Democrat, searching for news and information about Black Creek and Liberty Townships. Most of the news the paper printed was from the Celina area, but occasionally there is news from the northwest part of the county.

Chatt-area farmers make plans for their own Farm Institute in Liberty Township:

20 Jan 1911, The Celina Democrat

John Linn and wife return to Liberty Township. I believe this article refers to John Linn (1880-1945) and his brother Philip Linn (1868-1935), sons of Jacob and Catharine (Mueller) Linn. John’s wife was Marie Klenz and John’s mother Catharine was the sister of my great-grandfather Jacob Miller.

20 Jan 1911, The Celina Democrat

The death and funeral notice of Ollie E. (Ketro) Morrison (1877-1911). She is buried in Woodland Union Cemetery in Van Wert:

27 Jan 1911, The Celina Democrat

Here are a couple mentions about local ministers, reprinted from The Lutheran Standard. The third person mentioned, Rev. George Haas, was Zion Chatt’s minister from 1907-1911. He was born in Germany in 1876 and would have undoubtedly made an excellent professor of German History.

27 Jan 1911, The Celina Democrat

A fire in Rockford made news:

20 Jan 1911, The Celina Democrat

Did you ever wonder when and where your ancestor moved? This could be a clue. I believe this is James Andress (1868-1950), the son of Jefferson & Malvina (Figley) Andress, born in Mercer County and buried in Shelby County, Ohio:

27 May 1910, The Celina Democrat

Feb 07

Tombstone Tuesday-Masonic Tombstone Art

Masonic symbols are usually easily identified on tombstones. The Masons, also known as Freemasons or Free and Accepted Masons, is a fraternal society that originated in the Middle Ages from stonemason and cathedral builder guilds.

Mason, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

The most common Masonic symbol seen on tombstones is the square and compass, the tools used by masons and carpenters. The square represents morality and the compass represents measuring the ability to wisely conduct actions. The letter G is often in the center of the square and compass. The G may mean God, geometry, gnosis, or the ancient Hebrew letter with the value of 3.   

Mason, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

Masonic symbol superimposed over Bible, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

Members are awarded degrees, some as high as 32 and 33.

32nd Degree Mason, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

33rd Degree Mason, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

33rd Degree Mason, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

The Masons have several auxiliary organizations, called appendant bodies. The Order of the Eastern Star is open to both women and men but is probably known more as a women’s branch. The Eastern Star symbol is a five-pointed star with the bottom point pointing downward toward the manger. The meaning of the letters FATAL is reportedly revealed only to members but I have read that they represent the words Fairest Among Thousands Altogether Lovely.

Order of Eastern Star, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

This Order of Eastern Star symbol has its acronym, OES.

Order of Eastern Star, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

The boys Masonic branch is the Order of DeMolay and the girls branch is the Order of Job’s Daughters or the Order of the Rainbow.

Another group connected to the Masons is the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, usually known as the “Shriners.”  

Shriner, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio