Nov 16

Tombstone Tuesday-Bird Symbol

A bird symbol on a tombstone, often depicted as a dove, symbolizes peace, resurrection, and innocence and is often used on a child’s tombstone.

Bird on zinc child’s tombstone.

A dove holding an olive branch symbolizes peace or that the soul has reached divine peace in heaven.

Flying bird with olive branch.

A flying bird symbolizes the winged soul, a tradition dating back to the early Egyptians. An ascending bird represents the transport of the departed’s soul to heaven. A descending bird or dove represents a descent from heaven and the assurance of a safe passage.

Flying bird symbol.

Flying bird symbol on zinc tombstone.

Flying bird symbol.

Birds are sometimes used as part of an organization’s logo, as seen below for logos of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the Knights of Columbus (Roman Catholic fraternal organization), and the 32nd degree Mason.

Bird included in GAR logo.

Dove included in Knights of Columbus logo.

Bird included in 32nd degree Mason logo.

A bird lying dead symbolizes a life that was cut short prematurely.

Dead bird symbol.

Dead bird symbol.

Lastly, a hummingbird incised on a tombstone.

Hummingbird symbol on tombstone.

Nov 11

Veterans Day 2021

Today is Veterans Day. A day to thank, honor, and remember our United States veterans.

To all veterans, thank you for your service to our country.  

There are some veterans in my immediate family: my uncles, my dad’s brothers, Vernie and Ken Miller, as well as my cousin Ron and nephew Mike.

Carl LaVerne “Vernie” Miller, Army Anti Aircraft Artillery

Kenneth Miller, 278 Regimental Combat Team, 1953-55

Thank you for your service.

I have other, more distant relatives who also served, too many to recognize individually because I do not want to inadvertently leave someone out.

Thank you for your service.

I would also like to honor those veterans who have passed, including my dad, Herbert Miller (1925-2012), who was a World War II veteran.

Herbert Miller, WWII, 84th Division, 333rd Company, Infantry, 1944-46.

Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day and was created to commemorate of the end of World War I. Fighting between the Allied Nations and Germany ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the date generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Armistice Day became a legal holiday on 11 November 1938, primarily to honor World War I veterans and dedicated to the cause of world peace. After World War II and the Korean War the name was changed to Veterans Day. On 1 June 1954 Veterans Day became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Thank a veteran today. They deserve our thanks and gratitude and so much more.

Nov 09

Tombstone Tuesday-Elizabeth (Boroff) Smith Schumm

Elizabeth (Boroff) Smith Schumm, Tomlinson Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Elizabeth (Boroff) Smith Schumm, located in Tomlinson Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Mother
Elizabeth Smith
Schumm
1886-1962

Hester “Elizabeth” Boroff was born in Dublin Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 20 September 1886, the daughter of William I. and Mary Catherine (Coil) Boroff. [1] Her mother died in 1889 and her father married Effie Hale in 1891.

The William Boroff family in 1900: William, 43; Effie J, 41; Ida B, 16; Hester E, 13; Adam G, 12; and Basil Franklin, 4 months. William Boroff was a farmer. [2]  

Elizabeth Boroff married Edwin Augustus Smith in Van Wert County on 16 January 1907. Edwin was the son of W.L. and Elizabeth (Sprain) Smith. [3]

Elizabeth and Edwin had one daughter, Leone “Ida” Smith, born in York Township, Van Wert County 18 October 1907. [4]

Elizabeth’s husband Edwin Smith died of pneumonia in Liberty Township, Van Wert County, on 10 January 1909. [5] He is buried in Tomlinson Cemetery.

John Martin Schumm married widow Elizabeth (Boroff) Smith at the parsonage of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, on 9 February 1911.

In 1920 the John Martin Schumm family lived on Hogan Street in Willshire, where John Martin worked as a house carpenter. The John Martin Schumm family in 1920: John Schumm, 46; Elizabeth Schumm, 34; Dolores Schumm, 2; and Leone I Smith, 12. [6]

The John Martin Schumm family in 1930: John Schumm, 55, head; Elizabeth Schumm, 43, wife; Leone Smith, 23, stepdaughter; Dolores Schumm, 12, daughter; and Donald Schumm, 7, son. John Martin Schumm worked at a grain elevator in 1930. [7]

The John Martin Schumm family in 1940: John, 66; Elizabeth, 55; and Donald, 17. [8] No occupation is given here for John but at some point he was a marshal and constable in Willshire.

John Martin Schumm died at his home in Willshire on 28 April 1954 and he is buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Schumm. His widow resided in Willshire after his death.

Hester (Boroff) Smith Schumm died of heart disease at the Van Wert County Hospital, on 31 March 1962, at the age of 76. She was buried on 1 April. [9]

Elizabeth’s obituary:

Willshire-Mrs. H. Elizabeth Schum [sic], 76, Willshire, died Saturday in Van Wert Hospital. She was a member of the Methodist Church and Pythian Sisters.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Leone Passwater [sic] Willshire, and Mrs. Delores Shady, Fort Wayne; a son Donald E., Fort Wayne; a sister, Mrs. Ida DeVere, Continental; nine grand-children, and two great grandchildren.

Services will be at :30 [sic] p.m. Monday in the Willshire Methodist Church. Burial will be in Tomlinson cemetery, Mercer County. The body is in the Cowan and Son funeral home. [9]

Elizabeth is buried next to her first husband Edwin Smith.

Edwin and Elizabeth (Boroff) Smith had one child:
Ida L Smith (1907-1999), married Thomas Passwaters

John Martin and Elizabeth (Boroff) Smith Schumm had two children:
Dolores Louise Schumm (1917-1976), married Doyle C. Shady
Donald Wayne Schumm (1922-2009), married Barbara Baker

Last week I wrote about Elizabeth’s second husband John Martin Schumm (1873-1954), who is buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery at Schumm. A few years ago we walked through Tomlinson Cemetery and I noticed Elizabeth Schumm’s marker and photographed it at that time. I usually take note and photograph a Schumm marker when I see one in a cemetery where I am not expecting to see the Schumm name. This was the case for Elizabeth’s marker and we did not have to travel back to Tomkinson Cemetery to get the photo for this blog post.

[1] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” Vol. 2, p.41, Ester Elizabeth Boroff, 20 Sep 1886; database with images, FamiySearch.org  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RYW-S6DY?i=87&cc=1932106&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AVN7V-MXY : viewed 8 Nov 2021). [Elizabeth’s marriage and death certificate give her date of birth as 23 August 1886]

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Dublin, Mercer, Ohio, ED 77, p.3, dwelling & family 58, William Boroff; digital image, Ancestry.com (viewed 1 Nov 2021).

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” Van Wert, Vol. 12, p.390, Edwin A Smith & Elizabeth Boroff, 1907; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5Q4-59?i=227&cc=1614804 : viewed 8 Nov 2021). [This record indicates Elizabeth was born 23 Aug 1886.]

[4] “Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” York Twp, Van Wert, Leone Smith, 18 Oct 1907; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RYH-SXK4?cc=1932106&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AVNW6-VF5 : viewed 8 Nov 2021).

[5] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” Liberty, Van Wert, Edwin Augustus Smith, 10 Jan 1909; database with images, FamilySearch.org  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9PKG-WNM?i=2444&cc=1307272&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXZ2B-66P : viewed 8 Nov 2021).

[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.7A, dwelling & family 2, John M Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com (viewed 1 Nov 2021).

[7] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 22, p.1A, dwelling & family 14, John Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com (viewed 1 Nov 2021). 

[8] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-26, p.2A, house 34, John Schman; digital image, Ancestry.com (viewed 1 Nov 2021).

[9] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Pleasant Township, Van Wert, Hester Elizabeth Schumm, 31 Mar 1962; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89ZY-T6WX?i=667&cc=2128172&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AF6C6-K2T : viewed 8 Nov 2021). [This record indicates she was born 23 Aug 1885.]

[10] Elizabeth Boroff Smith Schumm Find a Grave memorial no. 49050058, Tomlinson Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio, viewed 1 Nov 2021.

Nov 05

Excavating C.L. Schumm Pond

Problem: a low-lying, wet, unfarmable area on a farm.

Solution: a pond.

A reasonable solution, especially when your son-in-law has earth-moving equipment.

Back in the 1960s my Grandpa Cornelius Schumm (1896-1986) had a low area on his farm, located a little northeast of his barn.

His son-in-law Alvin Krueckeberg had the excavation equipment and turned that low area into a nice farm pond.

Cornelius Schumm farm pond, 2017.

Here are couple photos of the Cornelius Schumm excavation. Although I do not have an exact year, I believe the Schumm farm was created in the early 1960s. 

Excavating Cornelius Schumm farm pond, early 1960s.

Excavating Cornelius Schumm farm pond, early 1960s.

Excavating Cornelius Schumm farm pond, early 1960s.

My Grandpa Schumm standing in his newly excavated pond.

Cornelius Schumm standing in his pond excavation, early 1960s.

Alvin Krueckeberg (1928-2019) excavated other ponds in the area. One of them was for Ned Alspaugh in 1974, across from Zion Lutheran Church at Schumm, which I wrote about a couple weeks ago.

Nov 02

Tombstone Tuesday-John Martin Schumm

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

This is the tombstone of John Martin Schumm, located in row 4 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Father
JOHN MARTIN SCHUMM
Aug. 18, 1873
Apr. 28, 1954

John Martin Schumm was born near Willshire on 18 August 1873, the first of ten children born to “River Henry” and Anna Rosine (Schinnerer) Schumm. He was baptized 24 August 1873 with Johann Schumm and Martin Schinnerer serving as his sponsors.

The Henry Schumm family in 1880: Henry, 35; Rosina, 26; John, 6; Clara, 4; William, 3; Hannah, 2; and Edward, 4 months. The father Henry Schumm was a farmer. [1]

John Martin’s mother Rosina (Schinnerer) Schumm died in 1890 and his father married Magdalena “Lena” Geisler in 1891. The Henry Schumm family in 1900: Henry, 55; Lena, 32; John, 26; Mina, 23; Hannah, 22; Gustav, 18; William, 16; Tillie, 14; Joseph, 12; Louis, 8; Herman, 6; and Theodore, 2. John Martin Schumm worked on the family farm. [2]  

By 1910 John Martin Schumm, 36, and his younger brother Joseph, 22, had left the family farm and were boarders at Willshire’s Straubinger Hotel. John Martin was a contractor and Joseph was a carpenter. [3]  

John Martin Schumm married Hester “Elizabeth” (Boroff) Smith at the parsonage of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, on 9 February 1911. Widow Elizabeth Smith was from Ohio City and her husband Edwin Augustus Smith died in 1909.

In 1920 the John Martin Schumm family lived on Hogan Street in Willshire, where John Martin worked as a house carpenter. The John Martin Schumm family in 1920: John Schumm, 46; Elizabeth Schumm, 34; Dolores Schumm, 2; and Leone I Smith, 12, daughter from Elizabeth’s first marriage. [4]

The John Martin Schumm family in 1930: John Schumm, 55, head; Elizabeth Schumm, 43, wife; Leone Smith, 23, stepdaughter; Dolores Schumm, 12, daughter; and Donald Schumm, 7, son. John Martin Schumm worked at a grain elevator in 1930. [5]

The John Martin Schumm family in 1940: John, 66; Elizabeth, 55; and Donald, 17. [6] No occupation is given here for John but at some point, according to his obituary, he was a marshal and constable in Willshire.

John Martin Schumm died at his home in Willshire on 28 April 1954.

John Martin Schumm
Willshire-Rites were to be held this afternoon for John Martin Schumm, 80, Willshire marshal, who died Wednesday at his home following a cerebral hemorrhage Burial was to be made in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery in Willshire Township with the Cowan Funeral Home in charge.

Mr. Schumm, who was born Aug. 18, 1873, in Willshire Township, served as marshal and constable for 20 years.

Surviving are his widow, Elizabeth; two children; a stepdaughter; two sisters; two brothers; three half-brothers, and nine grandchildren.

John Martin’s widow Elizabeth died 31 March 1962 and is buried in Tomlinson Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio.

John Martin and Elizabeth (Boroff) Schumm had two children:
Dolores Louise Schumm (1917-1976), married Doyle C. Shady
Donald Wayne Schumm (1922-2009), married Barbara Baker

[1] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.443A, family 4, Henry Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : viewed 1 Nov 2021).

[2] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 97, p.8, dwelling 170, family 183, Henry Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/ : viewed 1 Nov 2021).  

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.14A, dwelling & family 120, Adam Stranbinger; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884/ : viewed 1 Nov 2021).  

[4] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.7A, dwelling & family 2, John M Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/ : viewed 1 Nov 2021).

[5] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 22, p.1A, dwelling & family 14, John Schumm; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : viewed 1 Nov 2021).  

[6] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-26, p.2A, house 34, John Schman; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ : viewed 1 Nov 2021).

[7] John Martin Schumm obituary, The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 30 Apr 1954, p.2; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 1 Nov 2021)