Dec 09

1910 Christmas Greetings to Adam Dietrich

I recently acquired this nice old Christmas postcard, addressed to Mr. Adam Dietrich, RR 2, Willshire, Ohio.

c1910 Christmas postcard to Adam Dietrich

It has no stamp on it and was never postmarked. It was likely given to Adam Dietrich in person, perhaps with a Christmas present. The postcard dates roughly to 1910. A clue is that United States postcards did not have a divided back, a line separating the address area and the writing area, until 1907.

c1910 Christmas postcard to Adam Dietrich

The postcard is addressed in English but the message is written in German, written in the old German script.

Signed Edna, c1910 Christmas postcard to Adam Dietrich

I do not know German but I can somewhat read the old German script and am fairly good at picking out names. The message is a Christmas and New Year greeting. I was able to pick out a couple words:

Merry Christmas (Froehlich Weihnachten) and year (Jahr).

And most importantly, Von Edna.

The postcard was from Edna.

Edna who? Just who was Edna? The Dietrichs and Schumms intermarried and I have a lot of genealogy information about the Schumms, but some about the Dietrichs .

The postcard was likely written to Johann “Adam” Dietrich (1828-1912), a German immigrant who would have spoken and read German for sure.

Adam Dietrich had a son Johann Adam (1860-1903). Since the son was deceased before 1907 (the divided card date), the card was likely written to the elder Dietrich.

Another of Adam Dietrich’s sons, Ernest George Dietrich (1864-1905) had a daughter Edna Magdalena (1901-1986). Edna probably went to one of the Lutheran parochial schools in the Schumm area, where they taught German and the old German Script. These parochial schools taught pupils to read and write German before WWI and the families probably spoke German at home. I remember that Velma Schumm (1914-2016) could read and write German. She once showed me one of her old schoolbooks, in which she practiced writing the old script.

This Christmas greeting could have been written by Edna Dietrich to her grandfather, Adam Dietrich. Edna would have been around 10 years old at the time, old enough to write the message.

That is my best guess.

If this is the correct Edna, her mother, Clara Rosina Schumm (1875-1936), was the daughter of River Henry Schumm and Rosina Schinnerer. Edna’s father Ernest George Dietrich died in 1905 and her mother Clara (Schumm) Dietrich married Carl Merkle (1869-1963).

Edna Dietrich went on to marry George Jacob Hofmann in 1925 and they had five children.

Whoever Edna was, she had very nice handwriting. I just wish I could read her whole message!

Dec 06

Tombstone Tuesday-George F. Allmandinger

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

This is the tombstone of George Frederick Allmandinger, located in row 2 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

George F.
ALLMANDINGER
1895-1961

George Frederick Allmandinger was born in Mercer County, Ohio, 10 November 1895, the son of Frederick (1869-1953) and Anna Katharine (Kallenberger) (1875-1944) Allmandinger. George F. was baptized by P.S. Hunzicker at Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, on 28 November 1895. His parents served as his baptismal sponsors.  

The Frederick Allmandinger household in 1900: Fred, 30; Anna, 24; George F, 4; and Paulena, 1. Frederick farmed. [1] They resided in the same place in 1910 and had three additional children by that time, Rudolf B, 7; Carl M, 4; and Elizabeth, 2. [2]

In 1911 the Frederick Allmandinger family moved to Liberty Township, Van Wert County. The family in 1920: Fred, 56; Anna, 46; George, 24; Paulena, 21; Rudolf, 16; Carl, 14; Elizabeth, 12; and Matilda, 9. [3]

In 1930 George F. Allmandinger, 34, and his sister Matilda, 29, lived at home with their parents Frederick and Anna. [4] By 1940 George, 44, was the only child living at home with his parents Frederick, 70, and Anna, 65. [5]  

George’s mother Anna (Kallenberger) Allmandinger died 2 October 1944.

In 1950 George F. (54) resided with his sister Paulena (51) and her husband Herbert Merkle (50) in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. George F. was unable to work because of a long-term disability. [6]

George’s father Frederick Allmandinger died 6 December 1953.

George Frederick Allmandinger died in Van Wert County 31 May 1961. He was buried next to his parents on 2 June.

George Allmandinger
Van Wert- George F. Allmandinger, 65, Liberty Township resident until a few months ago, died unexpectedly at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday in the home of his sister, Mrs. Herbert Merkle, in Pleasant Township. He had been ill much of his life.

He was born Nov. 10, 1895, in Black Creek Township in Mercer County to Frederick and Anna (Kallenberger) Allmandinger. He was never married.

He is survived by two brothers, Rudolf of Willshire Township and Karl of Celina Rt. 1; and three sisters, rs. Pauline Merkle, Mrs. Harold (Elizabeth) Giessler of Willshire Township ad Mrs. Herman (Matilda) Schaekel of ear Decatur.

Funeral services will be held at 1:15 p.m. Friday in the Zwick Funeral Home in Decatur and then at 2 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church in Schumm, of which he was a member. The Rev. Edward Zacharias will conduct the services. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call in the funeral home. [7]

George had the following siblings:
Paulena Katharine (1898-1988), married Herbert D Merkle
Rudolf Benjamin (1903-1993), married Lula Anna Scare
Karl Michael (1905-1984), married Chloa Estella Smith
Elizabeth M (1907-1972), married Harold Alfred Giessler
Matilda Rebecca (1910-2009), married Herman William Schaekel

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p.8, dwelling & family 165, Fred Alma [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.5A, dwelling & family 99, Fredrick Allmandinger; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 127, p.2A, dwelling 5, family 6, Fred Allmandurgh [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 7, p.2B, dwelling & family 48, Fred Allmandinger; Ancestry.com.

[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-7, p.2B, household 37, Fred Almandinger [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Pleasant, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-25, sheet 776 [stamped], Herbert Merkle; Ancestry.com.

[7] George F. Allmandinger obituary, The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 1 June 1961, p.2; Ancestry.com.

Nov 29

Tombstone Tuesday-Frederick & Anna K. (Kallenberger) Allmandinger

Frederick & Anna K (Kallenberger) Allmandinger, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Frederick Allmandinger, located in row 2 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

ALLMANDINGER
Father
Frederick
1869-1953

Mother
Anna K.
1875-1944

Frederick Allmandinger was born in Butler County, Ohio, on 12 Sep 1869, the son of John Lewis (1829-1988) and Rosina (Schneider/Snyder) (1833-1915) Allmandinger.

The Lewis Allmandinger family in 1870, residing in Wayne, Butler County, where they had a Jacksonburg post office address: Lewis, 40; Rosina, 36; Lewis, 12; Michael, 11; John, 8; Jacob, 6; William, 3; Frederick, 8 months. The father Lewis was a farmer. [1]

By 1880 the Lewis Allmandinger family had moved to Black Creek Township, Mercer County. Their family in 1880: Lewis, 51; Rosina, 46; Lewis, 23; Michael, 22; John, 17; Jacob, 15; William, 12; Frederick, 10; Mary, 8; and Lena, 6. [2] The Allmandingers attended Zion Lutheran Church in Chattanooga, Ohio, also where his future wife attended church.

Friedrich Allmandinger married Anna Katharine Kallenberger on 8 January 1895 at the Kallenberger residence. William Allmandinger and Elisabeth Margarethe Kallenberger were witnesses to the marriage.

The bride Anna Katharina Kallenberger was born in Mercer County, Ohio, on 14 November 1875, the daughter of Andreas (1830-1914) and Elisabeth (Burkhart) (1841-1935) Kallenberger. Anna was baptized 4 May 1876, with her parents and Christ Heintz serving as her sponsors. Her father Andreas was born in Germany.

The Andrew Kallenberger family in 1880: Andrew, 50; Elizabeth B, 39; Christena, 14; Andrew M, 9; Margaret E, 5; and Anna C [K], 4. The father Andrew was a farmer. [3]

Five years after their 1895 marriage, Frederick and Anna (Kallenberger) Allmandinger resided in Black Creek Township with their two children, living very close or next to Anna’s parents. The Frederick Allmandinger household in 1900: Fred, 30; Anna, 24; George F, 4; and Paulena, 1. Frederick farmed. [4] They resided in the same place in 1910 and had three additional children by that time, Rudolf B, 7; Carl M, 4; and Elizabeth, 2. [5]

The Frederick Allmandinger family moved to Liberty Township, Van Wert County, in 1911 and another daughter, Matilda, was born about that same time. The family in 1920: Fred, 56; Anna, 46; George, 24; Paulena, 21; Rudolf, 16; Carl, 14; Elizabeth, 12; and Matilda, 9. [6]

By 1930 only two children were living at home with Frederick and Anna, George, 34, and Matilda, 29. [7] Only son George, 44, lived at home with Frederick, 70, and Anna, 65, in 1940. [8]  

Wife Anna (Kallenberger) Allmandinger died in Van Wert County of cancer on 2 October 1944. She was 68 years old and was buried on the 5th. [9]

In 1950 widower Frederick Allmandinger, 80, lived with daughter Elizabeth and her husband Harold Geissler and their 2 children, Donald N, 20, and Lela Ann, 4. [10]

Frederick Allmandinger died of pancreatic cancer at the Adams County Hospital, Decatur, on 6 December 1953. He was 84 years old and had been ill for less than a year. He was buried on the 9th. [11]

Frederick’s obituary:

Frederick Allmandinger
Willshire-Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday for Frederick Allmandinger, retired Willshire Township farmer, who died Sunday in Adams County Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Ind.

Services will be in the Zion Lutheran Church, at Schumm, with the Rev. Werner Kuhlberg officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Mr. Allmandinger was born Sept. 12, 1869, near Hamilton and had lived in the Willshire community since 1911.

Surviving are three daughters and three sons: Karl of Celina, Ridolph [sic], of Willshire, George Allmandinger and Mrs. Harold Giessler, of Ohio City, Mrs. Herbert Merkle, Van Wert, and Mrs. Herman Schaekel, Decatur. [12]

Frederick and Anna (Kallenberger) Allmandinger had the following children:
George Frederick (1895-1961)
Paulena Katharine (1898-1988), married Herbert D Merkle
Rudolf Benjamin (1903-1993), married Lula Anna Scare
Karl Michael (1905-1984), married Chloa Estella Smith
Elizabeth M (1907-1972), married Harold Alfred Giessler
Matilda Rebecca (1910-2009), married Herman William Schaekel

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Wayne, Butler, Ohio, p.491B, dwelling 78, family 75, Lewis Allmandinger; Ancestry.com.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 179, p.323A, line 38, Lewis Allmanding [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[3] 1880 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 179, p.327, line 24, Andrew Kallenberger; Ancestry.com.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p.8, dwelling & family 165, Fred Alma [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.5A, dwelling & family 99, Fredrick Allmandinger; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 127, p.2A, dwelling 5, family 6, Fred Allmandurgh [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1930 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 7, p.2B, dwelling & family 48, Fred Allmandinger; Ancestry.com.

[8] 1940 U.S. Census, Liberty, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-7, p.2B, household 37, Fred Almandinger [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Liberty Township, Van Wert, Anna Katherine Allmandinger, 2 Oct 1944; FamilySearch.org.

[10] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, sheet 3, dwelling 37, Frederick Allmandinger; Ancestry.com.

[11] Indiana Archives & Records Administration, Death Certificates, 1953, Roll 12, Frederick Allmandinger, 6 Dec 1953; Ancestry.com.

[12] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 8 Dec 1953, p.2, Frederick Allmandinger obituary; Ancestry.com.

 

Nov 24

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving Day.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 118:1.

Nov 22

Tombstone Tuesday-Hands

Hands are depicted in many ways on tombstones.

Praying:

Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio

Willshire Cemetery

Pointing upward:

Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio

Pointing downward:

Hand pointing downward, holding flowers

Riverside Cemetery, Rockford

 Clasped hands:

Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Ohio

Hands crossed:

St. Joseph Cemetery, Wapakoneta

Hands are often shown holding things.

Holding a Bible:

Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm

Holding a cross:

St. Augustine Cemetery, Minster, Ohio

Holding flowers:

Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert

Holding shears:

Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio

Holding a rope:

Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City

This hand probably symbolizes something, but what, I do not know. Maybe someone has an idea.

Riverside Cemetery, Rockford