Jan 31

Tombstone Tuesday-J.W. Smith WOW Monument Unveiled, 1910

As I was reading through the 1910 issues of The Celina Democrat, this article got my attention. It tells about a Woodman of the World [WOW] cemetery marker that was unveiled 31 July 1910 on the grave of Jacob Walther Smith, at North Grove Cemetery in Celina.

The Celina Democrat, 5 Aug 1910. Smith monument unveiled.

Jacob Walter Smith died 5 October 1909, at the age of 34, and was buried on 7 October. Smith died relatively young from typhoid fever, after suffering with the disease for 18 days. He was a real estate agent and was married to Mary Rosetta Koch. They had two daughters, Eulalia and Juanita. Jacob Smith was the son of William and Caroline (Meyers) Smith. [1]

Woodmen of the World, North Grove Cemetery, Celina, Ohio

Jacob Smith’s monument was not unveiled until late July 1910, nearly ten months after his death. The unveiling ceremony appears to have been quite an event, with music and eulogies. Several organizations were involved, including the I.O.O.F. [Independent Order of Odd Fellows], the Ladies’ Circle auxiliary, the White Oak Camp, and Senator Johnson. I am not sure what group the ladies auxiliary was associated with and I wonder if the White Oak Camp was the name of the local Woodmen’s organization.    

I have written about the Woodmen of the World before. They are a non-profit, fraternal benefit society that combines insurance with mutual aid and social membership. Their markers often look like a tree stump, or in this case, like stacked logs. Early Woodmen certificates entitled holders to a death benefit and a free monument, but later the monuments were given to members who purchased a $100 rider. The tree stump tombstone was abandoned in the late 1920s due to cost. 

Right now it is a little chilly to be out taking cemetery photos, but as luck would have it, this marker caught my eye back in 2005 and I took a photo of it then. The angle of the tombstone in this photo isn’t the best and does not show the inscription very well, but you get a good overall look of the tombstone.  

[1] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” Mercer County, Jacob Walter Smith, 5 Oct 1909; database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 30 Jan 2023.

Jan 27

Chattanooga-One of the Best Towns on Earth

I hope you find these old newspaper articles as interesting as I do. Here are some more local items of  interest from the 1910 Celina Democrat.

We all know that there is no place like Chatt and the surrounding area. The George Adams family thought the same thing in 1910. 

Celina Democrat, 25 Nov 1910

Words matter. Adjectives matter. This year Joe and I celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary but I don’t think of us as an Aged Couple.

Celina Democrat, 12 Aug 1910

An accident involving a buggy and an automobile, in the days before auto insurance.

Celina Democrat, 29 Jul 1910

Sealscott and Groth purchase the grocery and huckster business at Hinton. The Hinton business, which included a post office at one time, was located at the intersection of Oregon and Erastus Durbin roads. John H. Laudhan was the postmaster there until 1905, after which time the mail was sent to Celina. 

Celina Democrat, 2 Dec 1910

Occasionally The Celina Democrat included some Willshire news. 

Celina Democrat, 30 Sep 1910

It appears less red tape was required for adoptions in 1910. Just a casual notice in a newspaper. You wonder what happened to all those children.  

Celina Democrat, 12 Aug 1910

Another disturbance at a church. Was this a common occurrence?

Celina Democrat, 4 Nov 1910

The next article may seem to be unrelated to Chatt, but there is a connection. Margaret “Maggie” Shepherd ran a millinery store in Celina for many years, until her death on 16 March 1910. About 40 years earlier, Sarah Sitterley, from east of Chatt, purchased a bonnet with a green ribbon from Maggie Shepherd’s store for Mary Arabella Secaur. That green ribbon was found tied on the bridle of Alexander Mcleod’s horse after Mary Secaur’s murder. Maggie testified about the bonnet and ribbon at the murder trial.

Celina Democrat, 16 Sep 1910

Jan 24

Tombstone Tuesday-Frederick N. & Anna M. (Sochor) Allmandinger

Frederick N & Anna M (Sochor) Allmandinger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Frederick N. and Anna M. (Sochor) Allmandinger, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

ALLMANDINGER
Frederick N.
“Fritz”
7 -7-1907
7-14-1987

Anna M.
(Sochor)
1-12-1917
7-14-1987

Frederick Nicolaus Allmandinger was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, on 7 July 1907, the son of William and Barbara (Hoehammer) Allmandinger. Frederick was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, on 21 July 1907 with Nicolaus Pfeifer and Eva Pfeifer as his sponsors. His friends knew him as Fritz.

The William Allmandinger household in 1910, in Van Wert County: William, 43; Barbara, 33; Richard, 11; Walter, 10; Marie, 9; Caroline, 8; Bertha, 6; Hugo, 4; Frederick, 2; Lila, 3 months; and Leroy Lautzenheiser, 20, servant/farm work. [1] 

Frederick’s father William Allmandinger died in July of 1919, leaving his widow Barbara and 12 children. Widow Barbara Allmandinger with their children in 1920, living in Willshire Township: Barbara S, 42; Richard E, 21; Walter L, 19; Marie M, 18; Caroline K, 17; Bertha M, 16; Hugo J, 13; Fredrick N, 12; Lillie L, 9; Minnie l, 8; Martin W, 6; Aaron L, 2; and Anna B, 2. [2]

Frederick’s mother Barbara (Hoehamer) Allmandinger died in February 1929 and her younger children went to live with their older, married siblings.

In 1930 Frederick, age 23, lived with his older brother Richard and Richard’s wife Freda: Richard, 31, head; Freda, 36, wife; Louis, 4, son; Frederich, 23, brother; and Martin, 17, brother. [3]

Frederick Allmandinger married Anna Marie Sochor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Van Wert, on Valentine’s Day, 14 February 1939, married by Rev. Father Gallagher. Frederick lived in Glenmore and Anna lived in Ohio City at the time of their marriage. [4]

Anna Marie Sochor was born in Paulding County, Ohio, on 12 January 1917, the daughter of Joseph (1875-1961) and Marie (Hrachovska) (1879-1946) Sochor. Both of Anna’s parents were born in Czechoslovakia. Anna grew up in Paulding County and had two sisters, Bessie and Elizabeth. Their father was a farmer.

In 1940 newlyweds Frederick and Anna (Sochor) Allmandinger lived in Willshire Township, in or near Glenmore, next door to Frederick’s brother Martin and Martin’s wife Beatrice. Frederick worked as a mechanic in a garage, as did his brother Martin. [5]

A daughter, Betty Louise Allmandinger, was born to Frederick and Anna in 1941. Betty Louise was baptized at Zion Schumm on 2 November 1941, with Mrs. M.W. Allmandinger and Mrs. W. Allmandinger as her sponsors.

The Frederick Allmandinger household in 1950: Frederick, 42, head; Anna M, 33, wife; and Betty L, 8, daughter. Frederick worked as a mechanic in a repair shop. [6]

Frederick and Anna Allmandinger died in a boating accident near Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan, in 1987.  Their obituary:

Daughter here
Frederick, Anna Allmandinger, Glenmore, Ohio
Word has been received here of the death of Frederick N. Allmandinger 80, and Anna Marie Allmandinger, 70, of Glenmore, Ohio, who drowned Tuesday morning when their boat capsized in Randalls Lake, Mich. They are the parents of Betty L. Sautbine and grandparents of Troy Sautbine, both of Columbus.

Funeral service will be conducted by the Rev. Gary Luderman at 11 a.m. Saturday at Zion Lutheran Church at Schumm, Ohio. Calling hours will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Cowan and Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, Ohio. Friends may call one hour prior to service time at the church. Burial will be at the church cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran Church, where they were members.

Allmandinger was born July 7, 1907, in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, the son of William and Barbara Hoehammer Allmandinger.

Mrs. Allmandinger was born Jan. 12, 1917, in Paulding County, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph and Marie Hrachovska Sochor.

They were married Feb. 14, 1939.

Allmandinger owned and operated Glenmore Garage for 45 years.

Other survivors include a son, Gene F. Allmandinger of Ohio City route 2; two other grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Allmandinger is survived by a brother, Martin W. Allmandinger of Ohio City route 2 and two sisters, Marie Beard of Convoy, Ohio, and Minnie Drydale of Chicago. He was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters. [7]

Frederick and Anna (Sochor) Allmandinger had two children:
Betty Louise Allmandinger
Gene Allmandinger

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.4B, dwelling 79, family 80, Wm. Allmandinger; Ancestry.com, viewed 9 June 2013.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, PD 146, p.3A, dwelling 52, family, 53, Barbara S Allmindinger [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 10 Jan 2020.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 24, p.2B, dwelling 38, family 39, Richard Allmandinger; Ancestry.com, viewed 9 Jan 2023.

[4] Ohio Marriages, 1774-1993, Van Wert County, Vol. 18, p.366, Frederick Allmandinger & Anna Sochor, 14 Feb 1939; Ancestry.com, viewed 23 Jan 2023.

[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, Ed 81-28, p.1A, dwelling 1, FN Allmindinger [sic]; Ancestry.com, viewed 23 Jan 2023.  

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, Ed 81-40, sheet 17, dwelling 249, Fred N Allmandinger; Ancestry.com, viewed 23 Jan 2023.

[7] Frederick & Anna Allmandinger death notice/obituary, The Republic, Columbus, IN, 15 Jul 1987, p.14; Newspapers.com, viewed 23 Jan 2023.

Jan 20

Wets and Drys

I continue to search through old issues of The Celina Democrat, looking for articles and information about our area of Mercer County. Sometimes I find news pieces about Liberty and Blackcreek Townships, and even some news about the village of Willshire, in Van Wert County. Issues of The Celina Democrat for the years 1910-1918 are online, so I am limited to that time period.

One thing I noticed is that this newspaper, during this time period, often featured articles about liquor and drinking. It was a hot topic back then. This was just a few years before Prohibition. They featured articles about the Wet/Dry debate and they made their stance known. The Celina Democrat was anti-liquor. They were Dry.  

Of course, Chatt had a saloon. Actually I believe there were two saloons in town at one time, and because of that the village occasionally made the news. And that news was not all good news, but it is rather interesting to read now.

These articles were related mostly to local news, but there was some news from other areas. It went like this in 1910:

The Celina Democrat, 20 May 1910 [Celina news]

The Celina Democrat, 27 May 1910

The Celina Democrat, 27 May 1910

The Celina Democrat, 24 Jun 1910 [Cincinnati news]

The Celina Democrat, 23 Dec 1910

The Celina Democrat, 2 Sep 1910

The Celina Democrat, 28 Oct 1910 [Cincinnati news]

Then, in June 1910, Liberty Township, where the village of Chattanooga is located, had a vote on whether the township would be wet or dry.

The Celina Democrat, 20 May 1910

The Celina Democrat, 10 Jun 1910

The people spoke and their votes were counted:

The Celina Democrat, 17 Jun 1910

The following piece was also in that 17 June 1910 newspaper, right near the voting results:

The Celina Democrat, 17 Jun 1910

And so it went. Things in Chatt were pretty quiet until October, when there were a couple incidents, one at the saloon, the other at a church east of town.

The Celina Democrat, 21 Oct 1910 

I am not sure if that article will be legible, so here is the transcription:

REIGN OF BOOZE AND TERROR Still Has Chattanooga and Vicinity Guessing-Conditions Grow Worse.
Chattanooga continues to bask in the sunshine of booze and is making arrangements to contribute its share of degenerates to society de bum.

Last Saturday night they cut loose and had the most important session yet announced. It was attended by a couple of stars of doubtful pedigree from across the State Line-one Oliver Everett, of Pleasant Mills, and one Hattie Burkhart, of Decatur. Making a specialty of jags at Chattanooga, they invested in a couple and the fun was on. The young bucks began to see around the corners and smacked their lips. Hattie led the procession. As an artist in vulgarity and profanity she made the welkin ring. When she was interfered with she grew obstreperous and handed out a few short-arm jabs that had ginger in them and concluded by handling the arresting officer a few, who finally got in a swipe on the jaw and she went down for the count. Squire Leininger’s court then began to grind. Hattie was found to have painted the village to the extent of $10 and costs, which was duly assessed, and the young bloods fell over each other to contribute to the fund for her liberation. She was then ordered to get out of town.

Young Everett, who admitted to furnishing liquor to the girl, was bound over to court in the sum of $500 and brought here and lodged in jail. He claims to be under age. It is said he got the liquor from the Chattanooga joints, one of which is run by the officer who arrested Everett.

Liberty township voters evidently got all they voted for when they entered into partnership with these saloons.

The lawlessness and debauchery will probably continue until a murder or two occurs.

The Celina Democrat, 21 Oct 1910

Ah, the good old days. I see every generation had their problems.

Jan 17

Tombstone Tuesday-Epitaphs

Some tombstones are inscribed with an epitaph. Epitaphs are usually insightful and/or clever. They may tell something about the deceased or provide philosophical insights about life and death.

Some of my favorite epitaphs:

Remember me as you pass by.
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so must you be.
Prepare for death and follow me.
[Baptist Cemetery, Noble Co, IN]

Baptist Cemetery, Noble Co, IN

Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake. Stepped on the gas instead of the brake.
[Uniontown, Pennsylvania]

She always said her feet were killing her, but nobody believed her.
[Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia]

Here lies Johnny Yeast. Pardon me for not rising.
[Ruidoso, New Mexico]

Here lies Ezekial Aikle, age 102. The good die young.
[East Dalhousie Cemetery, Nova Scotia]

ANN MANN
Here lies Ann Mann, who lived an old maid but died an old Mann.
[London, England, Dec. 8, 1767]

Here lies an Atheist. All dressed up and no place to go.
[Thurmont, Maryland]

Epitaph of Jack Dempsey:
A Gentle Man and a Gentleman.

Some years ago one of my patients gave me this photo of a tombstone that has an interesting and unusual inscription beneath her vital information. The tombstone is located in Wright Cemetery, Shelby County, Ohio:

Elizabeth Stoner  , Wright Cemetery, Shelby County, Ohio

Elizabeth Stoner
Wife of John Stoner
Born Oct. 18, 1822
Died Aug. 23, 1901
Age 79 years

“This stone was bought by her son W. H. Stoner and paid for by him after his sister squandered all her mother’s money.”

Written in stone for all time…