Aug 12

Some Mercer County Deaths, 1850 Mortality Schedule

Last week I wrote about the remarks census taker Willshire Riley made in Mercer County’s 1850 Mortality Schedule. The 1850 Mortality Schedule reported the county deaths of those who died between 1 June 1849 and 31 May 1850, the year prior to census day, which was 1 June 1850.

Mercer County’s 1850 Mortality Schedule consists of 6 pages and includes 177 deaths. Willshire Riley recorded 126 deaths on the first 4 pages, in townships Union, Dublin, Marion, Granville, Butler, Franklin, Jefferson, Hopewell, and Center, and made remarks on each of those pages.

Vincent Bebout recorded 51 deaths the other 2 pages but he did not indicate what townships he recorded. He may have recorded deaths in the remaining five townships, Blackcreek, Liberty, Gibson, Recovery, and Washington. We don’t know.

Since Bebout may have recorded deaths in some of the northern townships, below is his list of Mercer County deaths during the year before the 1850 census was taken. After that I include Dublin and Hopewell Township, as recorded by Riley.  

The information below includes: name, age, marital status if given, where born, month of death, cause of death, number of days ill.

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer County, Ohio, p.739:
Barnet, Jacob, 38, Marr, Ger [Germany], Mar, congestion, 8
Barnet, Margt, 34, Wid, Ger, Aug, cholera, 1
Wise, Barbara, 1 mo, OH, Jul, croup, 1
Bushaw, Ann, 1, OH, Apr, fever, 19
Granger, Ann, 2, Eng, May, unknown, 3
Jones, Rachel, 10, OH, Jul, scarlet fever, 5
Jones, Wm, 8, OH, Jul, scarlet fever, 11
Jones, Geo W, 6, OH, Jul, scarlet fever, 11
Doll, John, 37, Marr, Ger, Nov, consumption, 9
Doll, John, 10, OH, Jul, unknown, 8
Doll, Mary Ann, 3, OH, Nov, measles, 8
Doll, Mary, 1, OH, Aug, fits, 8
Doll, Tacia, 1, OH, May, fever, 18
Lotzer, Joseph, 4, OH, Aug, cholera, ½
Follett, Tacia, 31, Ger, Aug, cholera, 1
Downs, Hannah, 2, OH, Aug, scarlet fever, 28

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer Co, OH, p739, unknown twp.

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer County, Ohio, p.762:
Batcher, Jacob, 1 mo, OH, Jan, fits, 1 hr
Kimmel, Taylor, 1 mo, OH, Feb, croup, 1
Nesley, Christian, 67, (female), Wid, Ger, Feb, old age
Nicholson, Isaac, 43, Marr, PA, Oct, inflammation, 7
Dornet, Stephen, 8 mo, OH, Aug, diarrhea, 30
Adams, Solomon, 2, OH, Nov, croup, 1
Freeman, Ann, 35, Marr, OH, Apr, congestion, 6
Davison, James, 38, Marr, Ireland, Jan, inflammation on brain, 2 ½ mo
Lininger, Mary, 1 mo, OH, Feb, unknown, 1 hr
Dixon, Taylor, 1 mo, OH, Mar, unknown, 1 hr
Wilson, Nancy, 3 mo, OH, Jan, congestion, 8
Herod, Susanna, 2 mo, OH, Mar, fits, 11
Franklin, Francis M, 8 mo, (male) OH, Aug, unknown, 4
Byerley, Jacob, 3, OH, Feb, unknown, 1
Carmack, Cath, 6 mo, OH, Jul, flux, 1
Carmack, Mary E, 2, OH, Jul, scarlet fever, 25
Lawridge, Joseph, 1 mo, OH Mar, croup, 1
Lipps, Sarah, 46, VA, Nov, unknown, 18
Rance, Martha, 3, OH, Sep, liver compt, 8
Painter, Mary, 36, OH, Aug, unknown, 10
Painter, Mary, 3, OH, Feb, scarlet fever, 40
Rockwell, Thos, 2 OH, Mar, scarlet fever, 8
Myers, Henry A, 10 mo, OH, Feb, croup, 1
Ellis, Susanna, 33, Marr, RD, Sep, fever, 2
Myers, Henry A, 9 mo, OH, Mar, croup, 1
Dunwoody, Harrison, 14, OH, Sep, fever, 35
Nickison, Taylor, 1 mo, OH, Jan, croup 1
Adney, John S, 42, Marr, VA, Dec, lung fever, 4
Matthews, Magdaline, 2, OH, Mar, croup, 3
Troutman, Mary, 5, OH, Aug, cholera, 1
Ovelman, Mary, 28, Ger, Aug, cholera, 3
Troutman, Geo, 60, Marr, Ger, Aug, cholera, 1
Troutman, Susan, 58, Marr, Ger, Aug, cholera, 2
Gerger, Mary, 34, Marr, Ger, Aug, cholera, 1
Cramer, Mary, 30, Ger, Aug, cholera, 1

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer Co, Ohio, p.762, unknown townships.

1850 Mortality Schedule, Dublin Twp, Mercer County, Ohio, p.737:
Crantz, Elizabeth, 65, NJ, Oct, consumption, 1 mo
Patterson, Wm, 2, OH, Aug, sum compt, 2 mo
Wiley, Ellen C, 1, OH, Oct, cholera, 1/3
Roebuck, Harriet, 6 mo, OH, Jun, liver compt, 9
Hedges, Sarah, 8, OH, Dec, scarlet fever, 9
Moore, Chas, C, 10 mo, OH, Feb, dropsy, 3
Work, Taylor, 6 mo, OH, Jan, C, 6 mo
Chivington, Jos, 6, OH, Jan, winter fever, 7
Gran/Grau, Palmer, 32, Marr, OH, Oct, cholera, 1/3
Dugdale, TG, 26, Marr, OH, Oct, cholera, 6 (physician)

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer County, Ohio, p.737, includes Dublin Twp.

1850 Mortality Schedule, Hopewell Twp, Mercer County, Ohio, no page no. [Ancestry.com image 4]:
Hamline, —, 1 mo, (female), OH, May, C, 14
Patterson, 18, VA, Dec, consumption, 1 yr
Updyke, Isaac, 22, OH, Sep, cholera, 3
Updyke, Jacob, 26, OH, Sep, cholera, 1

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer County, Ohio, no pg no., includes Hopewell Twp.

These records indicate that there were many deaths of children under a year old. Some families suffered several losses.

Diseases included Cholera, Scarlet Fever, Summer Complaint (diarrhea & high fever), Winter Fever (pneumonia), Consumption (TB; lung disease, wasting away), Flux (dysentery), and Croup (upper airway infection). Most died within a few days.   

Source: 1850 U.S. Mortality Schedule, Mercer County, Ohio, p.739, 762, 737, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 Aug 2022.

Aug 09

Tombstone Tuesday-Knights of Pythias Symbol

The Knights of Pythias was officially founded in Washington DC in 1864 by Justus Rathbone, founded as a secret fraternal society for government clerks. The order is based on the story Damon and Pythias [Phintias], members of a school founded by the 5th century B.C. philosopher Pythagoras. Rathbone was influenced by the story and formed the fraternal society based on the traits of friendship, benevolence, and charity. The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal society to receive a Congressional charter.

Knights of Pythias, “Friendship, Charity, Benevolence,” Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio

The Knights of Pythias follows the principles of Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence. The first letters of these words, F, C, B, are usually used for their tombstone inscription, sometimes with the image of a shield and knight.

The society had over 900,000 members at its peak in 1923 but lost many members during the Great Depression. There were less than 10,000 members at the end of the twentieth century. Today, the Knights of Pythias exist in most states and provinces across the United States, Canada, and Europe. They support charitable, benevolent, fraternal, and social activities in their lodges and in the communities they serve. They support many charities, but primarily the American Cancer Society.   

Knights of Pythias symbol, “Friendship, Charity, Benevolence,” Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio

Green Park Cemetery, Portland, Jay County, Indiana

The Knights of Pythias has a strong crusader and military flavor in their rituals and regalia and their badge consists of a blue, yellow, and red triangle with the letters F, C, B.

Knights of Pythias, Union Cemetery, Darke County, Ohio

The above tombstone has additional letters added to their usual inscription, but I do not know what the additional letters stand for.

Knights of Pythias, Willshire.

Willshire had a Knights of Pythias lodge at one time. Their symbol is visible on the second level of the building that houses Willshire Home Furnishings today. Willshire also had a Pythian Sisters lodge, their female auxiliary.

Knight of Pythias once had a lodge in Willshire.

Aug 05

Remarks in Mercer County’s 1850 Mortality Schedule

Mercer County, Ohio’s 1850 Mortality Schedule is rather interesting. Not just because it has information about individuals in the county who died sometime during the 12 months prior to the 1850 census day, 1 June 1850, but because one of the enumerators wrote remarks in the Remarks section at the bottom of the pages. Reading remarks on an old document is usually pretty interesting.

Mortality Schedules were created from 1850-1880, separate schedules to supplement the censuses that were taken every 10 years. Mortality Schedules reported deaths occurring the year prior to census day. Census day in 1850 was 1 June, the day from which family information was to be collected. The 1850 Mortality Schedule was to include those who died between 1 June 1849-31 May 1850. 

1850 Mercer County, Ohio, Mortality Schedule

Two people enumerated the 1850 Mortality Schedule in Mercer County, Willshire Riley and Vincent Bebout. This schedule is small, consisting of only 6 pages. These 6 pages report a total of 177 deaths. Willshire Riley recorded 126 deaths on 4 pages and Vincent Bebout recorded 51 deaths on 2 pages.

The interesting thing is that Willshire Riley wrote remarks on each of his 4 pages. Although Riley seemed more interested in recording the soil and land conditions than he was in recording the mortality information, he made some interesting observations.

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer County, Ohio, remarks by Willshire Riley

Riley recorded deaths in the townships of Union, Dublin, Marion, Granville, Butler, Franklin, Jefferson, Hopewell, and Center. Bebout did not indicate the townships he recorded, but one would assume they were the remaining five townships, Blackcreek, Liberty, Gibson, Recovery, and Washington.

Cholera was a major cause of death during that time period. So was smallpox. Other common fatal diseases in the county included scarlet fever, consumption, and measles. 

Some of the writing was difficult to read and I have underlined words that I was unsure of.

Mercer County, Ohio, 1850 Mortality Schedule, as reported by Willshire Riley:

p.737, Union & Dublin Townships
Union had 11 deaths, 1 from cholera
Dublin had 10 deaths, 3 from cholera.
One of the Dublin cholera deaths was T. [L?] G. Dugdale, 26, a physician.
Remarks: Union Twp escaped the pestilence which swept over the County last year. It being settled altogether by farmers & one leading thoroughfare running through it. Soil rich producing all kinds of grain well, also well adapted to the raising of grass. Well watered land rolling. Timber much the same as Jefferson Tp. Water limestone & sulphur ranging in the depth from 20 to sixty feet. There are a great many fountains within this township, these are obtained by [?] to an average depth of 50 feet & are invariably sulpher.

1850 Mortality Schedule, Mercer County, Ohio, Dublin Twp.

p.754, Marion Township
Marion had 35 deaths, 21 from cholera
One child, a one year-old, died from “tething” for 42 days, which I assume was teething. Another child died from burns and another from “fits,” which could have been epilepsy we know it today.
Remarks: This Township is somewhat rolling, but few small streams. Soil a black loam with a yellow clay subsoil. Water generally limestone, with the southern part some sulphurs, obtained at a depth of from 15-20 feet. Timber generally burch with hickory, ash, walnut, bur, red & black oak & some cherry. Thickly settled by Germans with a Negro settlement in the N.W. corner. Cholera now fatal in this than any other Township in the County.

p.753: Granville, Butler, Franklin Townships
Granville had 14 deaths, 5 from cholera
Butler had 12 deaths, 1 from cholera
Franklin had 9 deaths, 1 from cholera
One 28 year-old man fell out of a tree in Granville Township.
Remarks: Granville & Butler Tps, considerable of Cholera throughout last summer. Somewhat rolling & reasonably well watered, streams small. Water a limestone at a depth of twenty-five feet, soil mostly a black loam sandy in many places.
Franklin Tp: Much the same as above.

No page number, Marion, Jefferson, Hopewell, Center Townships
Marion had 13 deaths, 1 from cholera [probably a continuation of the township from p.754]
Jefferson had 12 deaths, 1 from cholera & 5 from smallpox
Hopewell had 4 deaths, 2 from cholera
Center had 6 deaths, 1 from cholera and one from smallpox
Remarks:
Jefferson Tp: The smallpox raged with great virulence in this Tp throughout the months of Dec, Jany, & Feby (proving fatal in but few cases however). Soil a black loam on a limestone foundation. Water limestone. Timber burch, bur, white, red & black oak, sugar, hickory, ash, elm & cherry. A large portion of the land in a wild state though getting rapidly [?]. Ground somewhat undulating. The only stream Beaver River. Water flows almost unlimited from the Mercer County Reservoir which bounds it on the south.
Hopewell & Center Tp: Soil, Timber & water much the same as Jefferson Tp, but sparsely settled, a great portion of the land being owned by speculators.   

The final two pages in Mercer County’s 1850 Mortality Schedule were enumerated by Vincent Bebout, who did not write any remarks nor did he indicate what township he was reporting on. Bebout recorded 51 deaths, 2 from cholera on page 735 [or 739] and 6 from cholera on page 762. Scarlet fever was also the cause of several deaths. Bebout probably reported on the townships not covered by Riley, Blackcreek, Liberty, Gibson, Recovery, and Washington.  

I noticed a high number of infant and children deaths in this Mortality Schedule. Cholera was bad and people usually died within 1-3 days. Many passed away after being ill one day. People lingered longer with scarlet fever and smallpox, often 8-14 days.

I also checked the 3 pages of Willshire Township’s 1850 Mortality Schedule, but unfortunately enumerator S.E. Brown did not make any notable comments. Brown wrote just one comment at the end, stating that he carefully recorded the deaths and followed the instructions. It is no surprise that in Willshire Township there were several cholera deaths, as well as deaths from scarlet fever, smallpox, and other causes.

The questions asked on the 1850 Mortality Schedule: Name, age, sex, color, free or slave, married or widowed, place of birth, month died, profession, disease, number of days ill.

This can be a good source of information, particularly if your ancestor deemed to “disappear” by the 1850 census.

Source: 1850 U.S. Mortality Schedule, Mercer County & Van Wert County, Ohio, Ancestry.com, viewed 4 Aug 2022.

Aug 02

Tombstone Tuesday-Henry C. Buechner

Henry C Buechner, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Henry C. Buechner, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Henry C.
Buechner
1867-1931

Johann Conrad Heinrich “Henry“ Buechner was born in Willshire Township on 23 December 1867, the 6th and last child born to John & Anna Margaret (Scior) Buechner.  Henry Buechner was baptized 1 January 1868 with Conrad Baals and John Bienz serving as his sponsors. Both of Henry’s parents were born in Germany and immigrated before 1853, when they married at Zion Schumm.

The John Buechner family in 1870: Catharine Lillich, 80; John Buechner, 42; Margaret Buechner, 40; William Buechner, 11; Mary Buechner, 9; John Buechner, 5; and Henry Buechner, 2. Henry’s father John was a farmer. [1]

The John Buechner family in 1880: John Buechner, 51; Margaret Buechner, 51; William A Buechner, 21; Mary C Buechner, 19; John P Buechner, 14; and Henry C Buechner, 12. [2]

Henry’s father John Buechner died 7 January 1896.

Three months later, on 9 April 1896, Henry Buechner married Rosa Lillich. They were married at Zion Schumm by Rev. Seemeyer. [3] Rosa was the daughter of Fred Samuel and Sarah (Shell) Lillich.

Henry’s mother Anna Margaret (Scior) Buechner died 20 April 1907.

After their marriage Henry and Rosa Buechner lived in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, where Henry farmed. They raised their three children, Fred, Leona, and Lawrence on their Blackcreek farm and the family was enumerated there in the 1900, 1910, and 1920 censuses.

Henry’s wife Rosa (Lillich) Buechner died in 1929 and is buried in row 11 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery. By 1930 widower Henry Buechner, daughter Leona, 29, and son Lawrence, 26, both single, had moved into the village of Willshire and lived on State Street there. Henry worked on the state road, Leona did housework, and Lawrence worked at a grain elevator. [4]  

Henry Conrad Buechner died on 28 May 1931 in Willshire from a heart problem after an operation, at the age of 63 years, 5 months, and 5 days. His occupation was truck driver and he was buried on the 31st.

Henry and Rosa (Lillich) Buechner had the following children:
Fredrick John Buechner (1897-1964), married Julia G Schumm
Leona Emma Buechner (1900-1994), married Earl C Shuherk
Lawrence Emanuel Buechner (1903-1970), married Myrtle Winkler

Henry Buechner had the following siblings. There may have been an additional sibling, since in 1900 Henry’s mother indicated that she had given birth to 7 children, 4 of whom were living.
Maria Catharina Buechner  (1854-1858)
Johann Adam Buechner (1857-1857)
William Buechner  (1859-1926), did not marry
Mary Buechner (1861-1930), married Friedrich Schumm Jr
John Buechner (1865-1933), married Louisa Lillich

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.445B, dwelling 218, family 2019, John Buechner; digital image by subscription, Acestry.com, viewed 11 May 2020.

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.444C, family 24, John Buechner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 11 May 2020.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” Van Wert, Vol. 8, p.478, Henry Buechner & Rosa Lillich, 9 Apr 1896; database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 1 Aug 2022.

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 22, p.5A, dwelling & family 109, Henry Buechner; digital image by subscription Ancestry.com, viewed 1 Aug 2022.

[5] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Willshire Township, Van Wert, Henry Buechner, 28 May 1931; database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 1 Aug 2022.

 

 

Jul 29

Earliest Censuses for Mercer County & Willshire Township

In February 1820 the Ohio government authorized the establishment of Mercer County and Van Wert County. Mercer County was organized in 1824 and Van Wert County was organized in 1837. St. Marys Township, now part of Auglaize County, was organized in 1824 as part of Mercer County. Auglaize County was established and organized in 1848 from Mercer and Allen counties. [1]

During this same general time period the village of Willshire was platted by Captain James Riley in 1822. Yes, this year Willshire celebrates its Bicentennial.

I have been looking at the earliest census reports for this area and wondered who the earliest settlers in this area were.

Since neither Van Wert nor Mercer County were organized in 1820, they are not among the 57 Ohio counties searchable in the 1820 census on Ancestry.com. However, 18 persons were enumerated in “Mercer County” in 1820. “Mercer County” was included with Darke County’s 1820 census enumeration. Darke County was established in 1809 and organized in 1817, several years before Mercer County.  

1820 census enumeration of Mercer County, Ohio:
Abitha Lilly
Isiah Dungan
Samuel Dungan
Abner Greene
George Ayers
Jonathan Reeves
Benjamin Roebuck
Solomon Carr
John Roebuck
Samuel Hanson
Rewel Roebuck
James Calison
Elias Bishop
Michael Harner
Edward Gilbert
Calvin Drimeston
Peter Edsale
Anthony Shane [2]

1820 US Census, Mercer County, Ohio.

Column no.3 in the 1820 census asked the number of males age 16-18 and column no.4 asked the number of males age 16-26. Males in the 16-18 age group would also have been listed in the 16-26 age group but were not supposed to be added twice in the final count. Counting all the marks could account for the total number of children not matching your family records or other records. John Roebuck had the only male in the 16-18 age group.

I compared the above 1820 list with the those enumerated in Mercer County’s 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration. This gives me an idea where in Mercer County some of these individuals were living 7 years later, although some may have moved or passed away. Those from the 1820 census who were still in Mercer County in 1827 were all living in Dublin Township. This is not a surprise because Shanesville, the oldest town in Mercer County and now called Rockford, was established in 1820 by Anthony Shane and is in Dublin Township. Note that Anthony Shane was enumerated in Mercer County’s 1820 census.

Mercer county 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration:
Samuel Dungan
Benjamin Roebuck
John Roebuck
Samuel Hanson
Ruel Roebuck
James Calison
Michael Harner
Calvin Dennison [likely the Calvin Drimeston in 1820]

There were 2 others with the same surname but a different given name:
John Lillie [may be from the Abitha Lilly household?]
Timothy Greene [may be from the Abner Greene household?] [3]

You might wonder what a Quadrennial Enumeration is. Per Ohio’s 1802 State Constitution, every 4 years Ohio counties were to take an enumeration of white males over 21 years of age. The censuses were taken for legislative apportionment but were often mistaken as tax lists because tax assessors from each county were in charge of the count. These enumerations were taken from 1803-1911.

Over 1800 Quadrennial Enumerations were taken in Ohio but fewer than 100 survive. Mercer County’s 1827 and 1843 Quadrennial Enumerations have survived and the 1827 is the earliest known to exist for the county. The original documents are housed at the Paul Lawrence Dunbar Library Special Collections and Archives at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. The Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society photocopied and transcribed the 1827 and 1843 lists in 2004.

Next, I compared both above lists with Mercer County’s 1830 census, to see where the same people were living.

Mercer County, 1830 census enumeration:
Isiah Dungan-St. Marys Twp
Benjamin Roebuck-Union Twp
John Roebuck-Dublin Twp
Samuel Hanson-Union Twp
Ruel Roebuck-Dublin Twp
Michael Harner-Union Twp
John Lillie-Dublin Twp
Timothy Green-Dublin Twp

Another interesting thing is that Willshire Township is listed with Mercer County in the 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration. The source I have shows three townships in the 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration: Dublin, St. Marys, and Willshire Township (Van Wert County). I do not know if Willshire Township was originally grouped with Mercer County or if it was added to the publication because of its proximity to Mercer County. At any rate, since Willshire was not organized until 1837 and was not included in the 1830 census, this is one of the earliest lists of inhabitants of Willshire Township:  

Willshire Township, 1827 Quadrennial Enumeration:
John McManas
Abraham Brown
Enoch Lewis
Ronvell Riley
Ansel Blossom
Levi Johnson
David Huber
Peter Bolenbaugh
John Bolenbaugh
Peter Bolenbaugh Senior

Good information from census enumerations.

[1] County Establishment: Until a county was formally organized it remained attached to its parent county or surrounding counties. County Organization: A county did not function as a county until it was organized. It is possible a land-owner never moved, yet various records may show he had different counties of residence.

[2] 1820 U.S. Census, Richland, Darke, Ohio, p.168; Ancestry.com, viewed 28 Jul 2022.

[3] 1827 and 1843 Quadrennial Enumeration of Adult White Males of Mercer County, Ohio, The Mercer County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society, 2004, self-published.