Apr 19

Tombstone Tuesday-Alma A. Schumm

Alma A Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Alma A. Schumm, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Alma A. Schumm
1889-1972

Alma Abalonia Schumm was born 19 July 1889, the second child born to George Martin “Henry” III and Henrietta Wilhelmine “Minnie” Hoppe. Alma was baptized at Zion Schumm on 28 July 1889 with Anna Schumm, Mrs. Anna Maria Schumm, and Wilhelmine Brockmeyer serving as her sponsors.

Alma Schumm, enumerated with her family in 1900 in Willshire Township: Henry M Schumm, 39; Wilhelmina H, 40; Agnes, 12; Alma, 10 Emanuel, 9; Emil, 6; Edna, 4; Clara, 3; Alfred, 2 months; Henry Freese, 63, father-in-law; Abolonia, 61, mother-in-law. [1] Abalonia Freese was Wilhelmina (Hoppe) Schumm’s mother and Henry Freese was Wilhelmina’s step-father.

In 1910, Alma may be the 20-year-old daughter living in the Minnie Schumm household in Willshire Township. The name is basically unreadable but appears to begin with an A. Her relationship is daughter, but sex is male. Daughter Alma would have been about 20 in 1910 and this could be her. The family in 1910: Minnie [Wilhelmina] Schumm, 50, head; Edna, 22, daughter; [unreadable], 20, daughter; Emanuel, 18, son; Emil, 17, son; Edna, 15, daughter; Clara, 12, daughter; Alfred, 10, son; and Oswald, 8, son. [2] Regular readers will recall that Alma’s father Henry Schumm homesteaded in Colorado in the early 1900s but returned to the Schumm area by 1930.

In 1920 Alma resided in Willshire Township with her mother and several siblings: Wilhelmina H Schumm, 59; Agnes, 31; Alma, 30; Emanuel, 28; Clara, 21; Alfred, 19; Oswald, 17; and Abalonia Freese, 83, widow. [3] Abalonia’s husband Henry Freese had died in 1902. 

In 1930 Alma Schumm, 40, single, was a lodger at the home of Lois [Louis?] and Adele Heffner at 320 South Cherry Street in Van Wert. Alma worked as a bookkeeper for a dry cleaner. The Heffners were both 63 years old and Mr. Heffner was a barber. [4]

By 1935 Alma had moved back to the Schumm area. Her mother Minnie died in 1937 and in 1940 Alma resided with her widowed father Henry Schumm, age 79, and her brother Oswald Schumm, age 38. No occupation is given for Alma but her brother Oswald was a night watchman at a sawmill, likely the sawmill at Schumm. A lodger, Hunter Bee, age 21, also was in the household and he also worked at the sawmill. [5]

Alma’s father Henry died in 1941.

In 1950 Alma Schumm, 60, lived with her brother Oswald H, 48, and her widowed aunt Barbara A Schumm, 91. They likely lived in or very near the village of Schumm since Zion Schumm’s minister, Rev. Werner Kuhlberg, lived a house away. No occupation is given for Alma but her brother Oswald worked at the sawmill. [6]

Alma Schumm died in Van Wert County on 12 February 1972.    

Alma A. Schumm obituary:
Willshire-Alma A. Schumm, 82, died at 6:30 a.m. today in the same farm home on Rt. 1, Willshire, in which she had been born. She had been in failing health for the past three months.

Born July 19, 1889, in Willshire Township, she was a daughter of Henry M. and Wilhelmina (Hoppe) Schumm.

Survivors include two sisters and three brothers, Emanuel, Oswald, Edna and Clara, all of Rt. 1, Willshire, and Alfred of New Haven, Ind. A brother and sister are deceased.

Miss Schumm was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church in Schumm and its Ladies Aid Society and Valparaiso Guild.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the church with the Rev. Robert Schuler officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call at the Zwick Funeral Home, Decatur, after noon Sunday and until 11 a.m. Monday. Viewing will begin at the church at 12-noon Monday. [7]

Alma is buried very near her siblings Oswald Schumm (1902-1987) and Agnes Schumm (1888-1921).

Alma Schumm never married. She had the following siblings:

“Agnes” Wilhelmina Barbara Schumm (1888-1921)
“Emanuel” Henry John Schumm (1892-1973), married Edna Scaer
Emil Fredrick Schumm (1893-1960), married Louise Stock
Edna Alwine Magdalena Schumm (1895-1990)
Clara Anna Maria Schumm (1898-1984)
Alfred Oswald Ferdinand Schumm, Rev. (1900-1981), married Irma S. Wambsganss
Oswald Hugo Otto Schumm (1902-1987) 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 97, dwelling 183, family 196, p.9, Henry M Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2A, dwelling & family 37, Minnie Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Dec 2021.

[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling & family 48, Wilhelmina H Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[4] 1930 U.S. Census, Van Wert, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 11, p.7B, dwelling 203, family 216, Lois Heffner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[5] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 88, HM Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, p.13, dwelling 182, Oswald H Schumm; digital image, 1950census.archives.gov, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[7] Alma A. Schumm obituary, Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 12 Feb 1872, p.2; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

Apr 15

Advertisers in Willshire’s 1950 Willow

Last week it was interesting to see who advertised in Willshire School’s 1948 Willow, the school’s first yearbook.

This week I am featuring local advertisers from the 1950 Willow. This information will coincide with some additional 1950 information that I will post in the next couple weeks. Hint: Some pretty exciting information that is only released every 10 years.

A census enumeration! Specifically, the 1950 census, which was just released earlier this month. And, as a supplement to these 1950 Willow advertisers, next week I will start posting the village of Willshire, as it was enumerated in the 1950 census.

Willshire School’s 1950 Willow yearbook

But, back to today’s post. The 1950 Willow had about 28 advertisers from the Willshire/Chatt area, compared to about 20 area advertisers in the 1948 Willow. There were also advertisers from Van Wert and Decatur in the yearbook but I am including only those from Willshire and Chatt.

1950 Willow advertisers:

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

Actually, Wendel Motor Sales:

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

1950 Willow

Next week, a glimpse of the 1950 census in Willshire!

Apr 12

Tombstone Tuesday-Heavenly City Symbol

The Heavenly City in the clouds symbolism is often seen on older tombstones.

Ridge-Slater Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

Woodlawn Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio

The columns and the open gates show the entrance to Heaven and the path leads the way to the city in the clouds. The divine star guides the way.

Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio

Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio

Unfortunately, many of the old marble monuments are weathering badly and their inscriptions and images are becoming difficult to read.

Apr 08

Advertisers in Willshire’s 1948 Willow

After spending time looking at occupations and businesses in the village of Willshire in the 1880 census, I am leaving the 19th century and fast-forwarding about 70 years, to look at some Willshire businesses in the mid-1900s.

But instead of using census records I am using the advertisers in Willshire’s yearbook, the Willow. Their advertisements bring back memories of businesses that are no longer. I have several old Willow yearbooks and the 1948 Willow is the oldest I have.

1948 Willow, Willshire Public School

I am familiar with some of the advertisers in the 1948 yearbook. Some advertisers were from neighboring towns like Van Wert and Decatur, but I did not include them. Except for the Chattanooga advertisers, which I am including. There were many Chatt-area students at Willshire Public School and, after all, this is Karen’s Chatt.

Willshire and Chatt advertisers in the 1948 Willow:

1948 Willow

My mom was a bookkeeper at Willshire Grain & Supply.

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

Phone numbers were easier to remember back then. They consisted of only 2 or 3 digits and today we use 10!

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

1948 Willow

I have some other Willow yearbooks, for more recent years, and I will show some of the advertisers in them soon.

Apr 05

Tombstone Tuesday-Caroline Huber

Caroline Huber, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

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

Caroline Huber
Born 6, 10, 1842
Died 2, 13, 1924
Age 81 Years
8 Mo, 3 Da

Caroline Huber was born 10 June 1842 in Schwieberdingen, Wuerttemberg, the daughter of Michael and Christena (Ehret) Huber. Caroline was baptized 12 June 1842 in Schwieberdingen. [1] [2]

Caroline’s father Michael Huber, her mother Christena Huber, and Caroline herself came to America in June 1853. [2]

The Michael Huber family settled in Blackcreek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, and had Shanes Crossing address. The Michael Huber family there in 1860: Michael Huber, 44; Christena Huber, 46; and Caroline Huber, 18. This enumeration indicates that all three family members were born in Wuerttemberg and Michael was a farmer. [3]

Caroline Huber married Casimere B. Laukhart on 23 July 1863 in Mercer County, Ohio. [4] Casimere Laukhart (1818-1879) was a widower with a couple sons from his first marriage. A daughter, Flora C, was born to Casimere and Caroline on 11 June 1864. Census records indicate that Casimere and Caroline divorced or separated by 1870 and Caroline and her daughter Flora went back to live with Caroline’s parents, Michael and Christene Huber. Caroline took back her maiden name and retained her maiden name the rest of her life.   

The Michael Huber family in 1870, residing in Blackcreek Township: Michael Huber, 54; Christena M Huber, 57; Caroline Huber, 28; and Flora Laukhart, 6. This enumeration indicates all three Hubers were born in Wuerttemberg and that Flora was born in Ohio. [5]  

Caroline’s father Michael Huber died 29 March 1877 and is buried in row 9 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery. [6]

In 1880 Caroline Huber, 36, divorced, and her daughter Flora Laukhart, 11, lived with her widowed mother Christena Huber, 70, head, all living in Willshire Township. This enumeration indicates that Christena and Caroline were born in Bavaria and that Flora was born in Ohio. This enumeration also indicates that Christena had cancer of the uterus. [7]

Caroline’s mother Christena (Ehret) Huber died on 4 July 1880, a few weeks after the census was taken, and is buried in row 9 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery.  

The 1890 census was destroyed, so there is a 20-year gap between the 1880 and 1900 censuses. During that time Caroline’s daughter Flora Laukhart married Jacob Elonzo Alspaugh (1867-1948). They married about 1888. I could not locate Caroline Huber in the 1900 census but it would be a good assumption that she was living with her daughter Flora and her family. Caroline lived with them the rest of her life and they were her only relatives in this country.

In 1900 Jacob and Flora (Laukhart) Alspaugh lived on West South Street in Rockford: Jacob, 32; Flora, 35; Finley, 10; Arnold, 7; Adah, 5; and Zelah, 1. Jacob worked as a house carpenter. [8]  

The Jacob Alspaugh family moved to Willshire Township by 1910 and Caroline Huber lived with them and was enumerated with their household in 1910: JE Alspaugh, 42; Flora, 45, wife; Finley, 20, son; Arnold, 17, son; Adah, 15, daughter; Zelah, 11, daughter; Ezra, 9, son; Esther, 5, daughter; and Caroline, 77, mother. [9]

The Jacob Alspaugh family moved to Stryker, Williams County, Ohio, sometime between 1910 and 1920. Caroline continued to live with her only child Flora and her family there, residing on Lynn Street in Stryker. The Jacob Alspaugh family in 1920: Jacob E Alspaugh, 52, head; Flora Alspaugh, 55, wife; Ezra Alspaugh, 18, son; Esther Alspaugh, 15, daughter; and Caroline “Hoover,” 77, mother-in-law, widowed. [10]

Caroline Huber died in Stryker, Ohio, on 13 February 1924, at the age of 81 years, 8 months, and 3 days.  She was buried on the 16th, buried a couple rows from her parents gravesite.

Child of Casimere B. Laukhart and Caroline Huber:
Flora C. Laukhart (1864-1963), married Jacob Elonzo Alspaugh

[1] Wuerttemberg, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1985, Schwieberdingen Taufen, Tote, Heiraten, Notizen & Toten, 1558-1810, year 1842 no.42, Karolina Huber, born 10 Jun 1842.

[2] Wuerttemberg, Germany, Family Tables, 1550-1985, Schwieberdingen, Konfirmation & Familienbucher, 1723-1866, p. 182, Michael Huber family; online database, Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Mary 2022.

[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p.329, dwelling 581, family 586, Michael Huber; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Mar 2022.

[4] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer County Marriages, 1861-1887, p.46 , Casamere Lakehart & Caroline Hahur/Hover, 23 Jul 1863; database on-line, Ancestry.com, viewed 30 Mar 2022.

[5] 1870 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p.23A, dwelling & family 62, Michael Hoober; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Mar 2022.

[6] Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001, Van Wert, Vol.1, 1867-1908, p.120 Michael Huber, 29 Mar 1877; database with images, FamilySearch.org, viewed 6 Mar 2022.

[7] 1880 U.S. Census Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.457A, family 258, Mary Hoser; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Mar 2022.

[8] 1900 U.S. Census, Dublin, Mercer, Ohio, ED 78, p.9, dwelling 201, family 208, Jacob Allspaw; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 3 Apr 2022.

[9] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2A [penned], dwelling & family 28, JE Alspaugh; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 30 Mar 2022.

[10] 1920 U.S. Census, Springfield Twp, Williams, Ohio, ED 168, p.8B [penned], dwelling & family 222, Jacob E Alspaugh; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 30 Mar 2022.