Karen’s Chatt – Page 57 – Karen’s Chatt

Nov 01

Tombstone Tuesday-Peter & Hannah M. (Schinnerer) Scare

By Karen in Scaer, Scare, Uncategorized

Peter & Hannah (Schinnerer) Scare, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Peter and Hannah (Schinnerer) Scare, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

SCARE
Peter
1862-1946

Hannah M.
1868-1958

Peter Scare was born in Baltic, Holmes County, Ohio, 10 April 1862, the first of five children born to John (1829-1994) and Katherine (Emrick) (1825-1886) Scaer. Peter’s parents were born in Germany and his father immigrated with his family in about 1839. They lived near Winesberg, Holmes County, Ohio, before moving to Tuscarawas County, and eventually moving to near Monroeville, Indiana, in about 1867.

This surname is usually spelled as Scaer in our family but has been spelled several ways over the years. Other spellings include Scarr, Skahr, and Scare. Peter changed the spelling to Scare for his branch of the family some time after his marriage.

Peter’s family resided in Allen County, Indiana, in 1870 and had a Monroeville address: John Scar/Scaer, 43; Katherine, 45; Elizabeth, 21; Peter, 7; Anna, 5; John 4; Mary, 3; and Margaret, 2. John, Katherine, and Elizabeth were born in Hesse Darmstadt; Peter, Anna, and John in Ohio; and Mary and Margaret in Indiana. This would indicate that the family moved to Allen County about 1867. The father John was a farmer. [1] Elizabeth was an adopted step-sister or half-sister from his mother’s first marriage. The family resided near Monroeville in 1880 as well. [2]

Children of John & Katie (Emrich) Scar/Scaer: Peter, John, Maggie, Anna, Lizzie, Mary

Peter “Scaer” married Hannah Schinnerer 20 April 1890 at Zion Schumm’s church, married by Rev. Seemeyer. Their marriage record indicates Peter was from Monroeville and Hannah was from Zion Schumm’s parish. Peter’s name is spelled Scaer on their marriage license and return. [3]

Johanna Magdalene “Hannah” Schinnerer was the fifth child born to Friedrich (1824-1905) and Elisabeth (Schumm) (1841-1917) Schinnerer, born 10 July 1868 in Dublin Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Hannah was baptized at Zion Schumm 12 July 1868, with Magdalene Bienz and Johanna Schumm serving as her sponsors.

By 1880 the Fred Schinnerer family had moved to Willshire Township, into the old Ansel Blossom home about a mile east of Willshire.

Hanna (Schinnerer) Scare (1868-1958)

It is interesting to note that in 1894, four years after Peter and Hannah married, Peter Scaer’s brother John married Hannah Schinnerer’s sister Elizabeth. John and Elizabeth were my great-grandparents, the parents of my grandmother Hilda (Scaer) Schumm (1895-1997).

In 1900, ten years after their marriage, Peter, 38, and Hannah, 28, lived in Madison Township, Allen County, Indiana. They had one child, Herman, 8, born May 1892. The couple had two other children who were deceased by that time. Also in their household was Bruin Shingter, 16, servant, who had been in the country just a year. [4]

By 1910 the Peter Scare family had moved to Pleasant Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, and their family included children Herman, 17; Edward, 9; Carl, 7; and Lula, 5. This enumeration indicates that two of their children were deceased. Peter was a farmer. [5]

In 1920 the couple resided in Pleasant Township with children Edward, Carl, and Lula. By 1930 Peter and Hannah had moved to Willshire Township, living just north of Schumm, living by themselves. [6]

Peter and Hannah resided in the same home in 1940. Peter died from heart disease there on 3 November 1946, at the age of 84 years, 6 months, and 24 days. He was buried on the 5^th, with Rev. A.P. Schlegel in charge of the service. [7]

In 1950 widow Hannah Scare, 81, lived near Schumm, with or next door to Rudolph and Lula (Scare) Allmandinger, her son-in-law and daughter. [8]

Hannah (Schinnerer) Scare died of a stroke at her home 4 miles northeast of Willshire on 29 May 1958, at the age of 89. She was buried on 1 June. [9]

Peter and Hannah (Schinnerer) Scare had the following children:
Herman Scare (1892-1980), married Elizabeth Grotsch
Edward Scare (1901-1984), married Helen Margaret Germann
Karl Scare (1904-1989), married Wilhelmine “Minnie” Hinck; married Ella Gerber
Lula Anna Scare (1905-1999), married Rudolf Allmandinger

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Monroe, Allen, Indiana, p.581A, dwelling 73, family 71, John Scar; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Monroe, Allen, Indiana, ED 112, p.376D, dwelling & family 114, John Scar; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[3] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Van Wert County, Vol. 7, p.416, Peter Scaer & Hannah Schinnerer, 20 Apr 1890; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Madison, Allen, Indiana, ED 10, p.10, dwelling & family 195, Peter Scar; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Pleasant, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 96, p.1A, dwelling & family 10, Peter Scarr; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[6] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 24, p.5B, dwelling 104, family 106, Peter Scare; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Willshire Township, Van Wert, Peter Scare, 3 Nov 1946; FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZY-Y8NP?i=683&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CT-TBR , viewed 31 Oct 2022. [According to this record Peter was born in Baltic, Holmes County, Ohio.]

[8] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, sheet 72, line 20, Hannah Scare; Ancestry.com, viewed 31 Oct 2022.

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Willshire Township, Van Wert, Hannah Scare, 29 May 1958; FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9ZY-R5TN?i=1963&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CX-MWL ,viewed 31 Oct 2022.

Scaer, Scare, Tombstone
2 comments

Oct 28

1910 Spiritualistic Manifestation in Geneva

By Karen in Geneva Indiana, Halloween

Halloween 2022

For the Halloween season, below is an interesting piece about an eerie manifestation in the nearby town of Geneva, Indiana, in 1910.

Geneva Excited, Celina Democrat, 2 Sep 1910.

GENEVA GREATLY EXCITED
Over Spiritualistic Manifestations That Have to Do With Man Long Dead.
Picture Appearing Upon Canvas Recognized by Man Who Saw Victim Killed.

The people of Geneva and that community are considerably “up in the air” just at present over a most astonishing accomplishment in Spiritualism.

Charles Reicheldeifer, a pioneer of that place, was killed in 1858, when a tree fell on him when he and Alexander Bolds were at work in a woods near there. His son, Charles Reicheldeifer, never saw him, and thounh [sic] he had tried for years, has never been able to secure a picture of him.

On August 13^th last, Charles and his friend, A.P. Hardison, made a trip to Chesterfield Spiritualistic camp near Anderson. At 5 o’clock that afternoon they attended a seance held in a business room there. Mr. Reicheldeifer was asked if he would like to talk to any one [sic], and told the medium he would appreciate a conversation with his father. He made the request in writing, placed it in a slate and was soon answered by message that his father would talk to him. Soon a voice asked him what he wanted and he said he would like a picture of his parent whom he had never seen. The father agreed to set for the picture. A canvass was placed upon the window and the two Geneva men faced it and watched for developments, which came. Soon an ear appeared, then the eyes, and in a few minutes a clear, life-sized photograph of a man dressed in the style of fifty years ago came upon the canvas.

Of course, Charlie could not tell whether it was a photograph of his father or not, but consented to have it finished and framed and sent to him. Ten days later it arrived and was placed on exhibition in Sam Acker’s window at Geneva. It is on the of the finest works of art ever seen there and has attracted much attention.

A day or two ago, Alex Bolds, who, as stated, was with Mr. Reicheldeifer when he was killed, was brought to the store, without being told what was wanted or that a picture had been obtained. As soon as he saw the picture he recognized it as that of his old friend.

The affair has all of the people of that place guessing, and many have made trips to Chesterfield camp since. [1]

Just for the heck I did a little research. FindaGrave.com indicates that Charles Reicheldeifer Sr, memorial no. 20938501, is buried at Hartford Cemetery, Adams County, Indiana. His tombstone apparently does not exist but FindaGrave.com indicates that he died 6 January 1859, at the age of 25. His calculated birth date is 24 June 1833.

According to FindaGrave.com Charles Sr married Sophia Pontius (1829-1898) in 1852 and they had two children, Henry Reicheldeifer (1854-1859) and Charles Reicheldeifer (1858-1927). That explains why Charles Jr never saw his father. Charles Jr was only 9 months old when his father died. This memorial indicates that Charles Sr died in 1859, not 1858, as the news article reported. Charles Sr’s widow Sophia is also buried at Hartford Cemetery, FindaGrave memorial no. 20938631.

And, as I looked over these families I noticed that Alex Bolds, the person who knew Charles Sr, who was with Charles Sr when he died, and who identified his picture image in 1910, was Charles Sr’s brother-in-law. Alexander “Alex” Bolds (1830-1912) married Leah (Pontius) (1835-1907), the sister of Charles Sr’s wife, Sophia Pontius. Alex and Leah Bolds are also buried in Hartford Cemetery.

Charles Reicheldeifer Jr is buried in Westlawn Cemetery, Geneva, FindaGrave memorial no. 59241086.

The characters and families all fit together but the story about the medium, the séance, and the mysterious picture is more of a mystery.

And what about the Chesterfield Spiritualist Camp? According to the Discover Indiana website, “The Chesterfield Spiritualist Camp was established in 1890 outside of Anderson, Indiana. Modern spiritualism emerged in the mid-1800s and involves the science, philosophy, and religion of continuous life, based on the communication through a medium with those in the spirit world. The camp setting was used to meet, exchange ideas, and witness the demonstrations of famous mediums and believers streamed to these sites all over the country.”

Their webpage goes on to tell that they met in tents in the 1870s but as time went on permanent structures were built and people attended the camps all year long.

Spiritualism was particularly strong in Indiana and two state associations were established in 1888 and in 1904. By 1924 almost every state had a spiritualist camp and Indiana had over 50 spiritualist churches, some located in Veedersburg, Angola, Muncie, Yorktown, Crawfordsville, Greensburg, Fort Wayne, North Vernon, and Indianapolis. Attendance was over half a million people and in 1927 the six-week camp session at Chesterfield drew over 20,000 people.

Today, the Chesterfield Spiritualist Camp contains a variety of buildings dating from the 1900s-1950s and is one of the few spiritualist camps that remain today, one located in Florida and another in Maine. Chesterfield was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. [2]

An interesting story, indeed.

Happy Halloween everyone! Here are a couple more photos of our Halloween display.

Halloween 2022

Halloween 2022

Halloween 2022

[1] The Celina Democrat, Celina, Ohio, 2 Sep 1910, p.8; Library of Congress.gov, viewed 25 Oct 2022.

[2] Chesterfield Spiritualist Camp, Discover Indiana, https://publichistory.iupui.edu/items/show/308 , viewed 26 Oct 2022.

Oct 25

Tombstone Tuesday-Edward & Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson

By Karen in Dirkson

Edward & Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Edward and Johannah (Meyer) Dirkson, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

DIRKSON
Edward
1864-1938
Psa. 90
Heb. 4, 9-11

Johannah
1873-1923
Psa. 25-10
Rev. 7, 9-17

William “Edward” Dirkson was born 8 July 1864 near Bingen, Adams County, Indiana, the son of Henry (1837-1915) and Lisetta (Aumann) (1844-1923) Dirkson. Edward grew up in Adams County and had younger siblings Anna, Louisa, Mary, and Emilie. [1]

Edward Dirkson married Johanna Meyer in Adams County, Indiana, 24 April 1898, married by Rev. J. Matthias. [2]

Johanna (Hannah) Louisa Meyer was born 15 November 1873 in Preble, Adams County, Indiana, the daughter of Henry William Christian (1832-1883) and Rosina K. (Schueler) (1837-1912) Meyer. Johanna grew up in Adams County, Indiana, and had several siblings, Mary Sophia, Helen Maria, Wilhelmina, William Michael, Sophia R., Edward George, Susanna, Rosine, and Martha Katharine. [3]

Two years after their marriage Edward and Johanna resided in Preble, Adams County, Indiana. They had no children and Edward, 35, was a farmer. [4]

Their first child, Arthur, was born in May 1901 and burned to death in December of that same year when he pulled a lamp into his crib and caught his bedclothes on fire. Daughter Helena was born less than a year later and died the day after she was born. Daughter Martha was born in 1903 and son Paul in 1906.

In 1910 the couple still resided in Preble and had two children, Martha, 6, and Paul, 4. This census enumeration indicates that the couple had two other children who had died. [5]

By 1920 Edward and Johanna Dirkson and their two children had moved to Willshire Township, where Edward farmed: Edward, 56; Johanna, 45; Martha, 16; and Paul, 14. [6]

Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson died from intestinal peritonitis on 31 January 1923 in Willshire Township, at the age of 49 years, 2 months, and 16 days. She was buried on 2 February. [7]

After Johanna’s death widower Edward Dirkson lived with his children Martha, 26, single, and Paul, 23, single, in Willshire Township. Edward and his son Paul farmed. [8]

Edward Dirkson died from uremia on 5 July 1938 in Ridge Township, Van Wert County, at the age of 73 years, 11 months, 27 days. He was buried on 8 July. [9]

Edward’s obituary:

Edward Dirkson
Van Wert, July 7-Edward Dirkson, 74, retired farmer of Willshire-tp, died yesterday at Van Wert-co hospital after an extended illness.

Born in Adams-co, Ind., he was the son of Henry and Lizzie Dirkson. He spent most of his life in Adams-co, but for the past 18 years had resided in Willshire and vicinity. He was a member of the Schumm Lutheran church.

Surviving are two children, Paul Dirkson, Harrod, and Mrs. Edward Gunsett, with whom he made his home; and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Schumm, Ft. Wayne, and Mrs. Otto Ewell, Decatur, Ind.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Schumm Lutheran church, with Rev. A. Maueler [sic] officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. [10]

Edward and Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson had the following children:
Arthur (1901-1901)
Helena (1902-1902)
Martha Anna Marie (1903-1981), married Edward “Dick” Gunsett
Paul (1906-1987), married Leota M. Kemper

Johanna (Meyer) Dirkson was the great-granddaughter of John Georg Schumm, our Schumm immigrant ancestor and descends from John Georg’s daughter Maria Katharina, who married Michael Schueler.

[1] Census years 1870 & 1880.

[2] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019,” Edward Dirkson & Johanna Meyers, 24 Apr 1898 database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[3] Census year 1880 & FindaGrave.com. Note, this surname is sometimes spelled Meier.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Preble, Adams, ED 8, p.8, dwelling 127, family 129, Edward Dieksan; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Preble, Adams, ED 8, p.1B, dwelling & family 21, Edward Dirkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling 55, family 56, Edward Dirkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Johannah Dirkson, 31 Jan 1923; database with images, FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9ZY-TKNL?i=338&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CF-GGH , viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[8] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, ED 245, p.2B, dwelling 39, family, Edward Derkson; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Ridge Township, Van Wert County, Edward Dirkson, 5 Jul 1938; database with images, FamilySearch.org, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ZY-TY35?i=247&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6CF-RRN , viewed 24 Oct 2022.

[10] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 7 Jul 1938, p.2; Ancestry.com, viewed 24 Oct 2022.

Oct 21

The Willshire Canning Company

By Karen in Willshire, Willshire Canning Company

Willshire had a canning company in the early 1900s, appropriately named The Willshire Canning Company. I do not know a lot about the company or where it was located, just what I have read in a couple sources, The Willshire Herald and Dun and Bradstreet.

But a recent find shows that my great-grandfather Louis J. Schumm was a shareholder in The Willshire Canning Company. He purchased 4 shares of The Willshire Canning Company stock at $100 a share, issued 30 April 1904, signed by secretary E. Brown and president Henry Altheon. Louis’ stock certificate was number 8, obviously a very early number.

Willshire Canning Co stock certificate, 1904, Louis J Schumm

Willshire Canning Co stock certificate, 1904, Louis J Schumm

The Willshire Canning Company likely began about that time, early 1904. The 5 May 1904 edition of The Willshire Herald mentions The Willshire Canning Company several times and encouraged farmers to grow tomatoes and sweet corn for the company.

Articles from the 5 May 1904 Willshire Herald about the canning company:

The Willshire Canning factory now has over 150 acres of sweet corn and tomatoes contracted. Better get into the band wagon while there is yet a chance to toot a lead horn.

And,

Farmers, Attention!
All persons desiring to avail themselves of the opportunity to raise sweet corn or tomatoes for the Canning Factory for the coming season, can contract with the processor, Chas. Nachbauer, on or after March 10, at the Hardware Store of Hurless & Brown, Willshire, O.

Professor Catchpole is going to put in his summer vacation superintending and caring for fifteen acres of corn and tomatoes, for the Canning Factory. How much better such a course is than to sit around like a bump on a log and croak against the Canning Factory and its success, as a number of our citizens are doing.

Testimonials from the same paper, letters written to the canning factory’s processor, Chas. Nachbauer:

Another Testimonial
This is to certify that I had out eight acres of tomatoes and raised 420 bushels to the acre, which made a profit of $52.00 an acre. This crop I raised in Lewis township, Clay County, Ind., in 1903, for the Clay City Packing company. I intend to raise another crop this year for the same company, as I consider it the most profitable kind of farming. If there is anyone who desires to inquire into this statement, I refer them to the Clay City Packing Co., Clay City, Ind. Yours truly, L. Phegley.

Willshire Herald, 1904

DOES IT PAY?
Read this statement from men who have raised material for canning factories and then ask yourselves this question: DOES IT PAY NOT to RAISE VEGETABLES for the CANNING FACTORY WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY? Following is the statement of one of them:

Clay City, Ind., April 19, 1904.
“We made a little over One Hundred dollars an acre off our tomatoes. So, you see, it paid us well for raising them. There are a number of others here who did as well. I will give you a few names of farmers around here who say that it paid them to raise tomatoes for the factory. Wm. Liechty, George Williamson, Robert McKee, Mr. Phegley

And there are many others who would willingly add their testimony, but I think that it is not necessary to mention the names of others. Yours truly, J.P. Scherb, Clay City, Ind.

C.E. Detter is now at Oklahoma City, working up a $15,000 canning factory proposition. He says that city is a hustling, bustling place. [1]

The Willshire Canning Company was first listed in Dun and Bradstreet March 1905 and was in each consecutive issue through 1913, with a consistent H 3½ rating. In 1914 Dun and Bradstreet lists The Willshire Packing Company but not the canning company. I do not know if the packing company replaced the canning company or if the two companies were unrelated. By 1920 The Willshire Packing Company was not listed either. [2]

Dun & Bradstreet, Mar 1905, part 2, p.113

I wonder if my great-grandfather Louis Schumm raised vegetables for the factory?

[1] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 5 May 1904.

[2] Dun & Bradstreet Reference Book, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov. Vol. 2 of the following issues: Mar 1905:113 [image 197/587]; Jul 1906:116 [image 207/618]; Mar 1907:118 [image 204/629]; Mar 1908:120 [image 248/692]; Mar 1913:119 [image 210/618]; Sep 1920:142-4 [image 198-9/854].