Apr 13

Tombstone Tuesday-Sarah Hartzog

Sarah Hartzog, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Sarah Hartzog, located in row 7 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Sarah
wife of
George Hartzog
died Dec 28th  
1846
aged 58 Y’rs 9
mo, & 19 ds

Sarah Hartzogs’s date of birth is 9 March 1788, as calculated from her tombstone.

In 1840 Sarah would have been 52 years old is likely the woman in the 50-60 year age group, enumerated with George Hartzog in Willshire Township. The males in this family in 1840: 1/10-15; 2/15-20; 1/20-30; 1/50-60, and females in 1840: 1/10-15; 1/15-20; 1/50-60.

This is another very old sandstone tombstone, one of five located next to each other in row 7. All are related to the Hartzog family. In this row are Sarah Hartzog (1788-1846, wife of George Hartzog), Soloma Hartzog (1767-1844, wife of George Hartzog), Catharine (Hartzog) Strete (1824-1845, daughter of Christian Hartzog), Katherine (Lindemoot) Hartzog (1803-1843, wife of Christian), and Caroline Hartzog (1837-1840, daughter of Christian Hartzog).

It is reported that Sarah’s husband George Hartzog (1789-1846) is also buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery, but his tombstone has not survived.

Saloma Hartzog, wife of older George and mother-in-law of Sarah, was likely the mother of the local Hartzog men, George, Christian, Benjamin, and Solomon. Solomon and his wife are buried in row 8 in Zion Schumm’s cemetery.

Unfortunately, most of these markers predate Zion Lutheran Schumm’s records, but it would appear they attended Zion Lutheran Church in the 1840s.

Several more Hartzogs are buried about a mile south of Zion Schumm’s cemetery, in Hileman/Smith/Hartzog/Alspaugh Cemetery.

Apr 09

A Pressing Matter

Ironing. Or as we used to call it, pressing. A chore I do not enjoy. I don’t think anyone enjoys ironing. Fortunately, most of today’s clothing is pretty much perma-press wash and wear, and doesn’t require ironing. Nice for all of us.

Last weekend I got out my savvy steam iron to press some clothes for Easter Sunday. This high-tech iron automatically adjusts to any type of fabric. It is a very nice iron but all of its wonderful features have not lured me into using it more often.

As I was misting some water on the clothing I remembered something we used to do before ironing many years ago. In the days before the steam iron.

We dampened the clothes, rolled them up, placed them in a plastic bag, and put them in the refrigerator. It sounds strange today, but it worked. The clothes seemed easier to iron and you didn’t have to iron them right way. You could iron them a day or two later. They weren’t going to mold or mildew in the refrigerator.

I wonder, did anyone else ever do this or was it something only our family did?

Gertrude (Brewster) Miller ironing.

This is a photo of my Grandma Miller ironing. She is standing in this photo but she usually ironed sitting down, watching TV at the same time. Ironing could take hours and watching TV all the while made the task a little more bearable.

Grandma Miller liked to play practical jokes. She was actually was very ornery. Before she was married, still living at home, her brother Dore got the seat of his pants wet. Dore made the mistake of going to his big sister for help. Her solution was to apply a hot iron to the seat of his pants while he was still wearing them! Talk about being in the hot seat! I am sure it was very uncomfortable for poor Dore. I have other stories about Grandma’s antics but will save them for another time.

Ironing could be worse. At least we don’t have to use heavy irons like these anymore.

Apr 06

Tombstone Tuesday-Column Symbols

Stately-looking columns are sometimes used to frame the ends of a tombstone. Unbroken columns symbolize a noble life or that life has been completed.

Columns, Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Ohio. (2021 photo by Karen)

One column, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Occasionally you will see broken columns on a marker. A broken column symbolizes the end of life, sorrow, or that the life was cut short. This icon can also represent the loss of the head of a family.

Two broken columns, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

One broken column, Riverside Cemetery, Rockford, Ohio. (2021 photo by Karen)

Columns that create an archway symbolize the entrance to Heaven.

Heavenly entrance, Woodland Cemetery, Van Wert, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

 

Apr 02

Good Friday 2021

Today is Good Friday, the day Jesus suffered and died on the cross for us.

The cross is the Christian symbol of salvation, used often on tombstones years ago as well as today.

Here are a few variations of crosses I have seen on tombstones.

A lot can happen in 3 days.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Mar 30

Tombstone Tuesday-Elizabeth (Tague) King Hardzog

Elizabeth (Tague/Dague) King Hardzog, Ridge/Slater Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2021 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Elizabeth (Tague) Hardzog, located in Ridge/Slater Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Elizabeth
Hardzog
Died
Nov. 4, 1878
Aged
65 Y, 5 M, 7 D

This is the same Elizabeth Hardzog [aka Hartzog] who was enumerated twice in Mercer County in the 1850 census, that I wrote about last week. Elizabeth was the wife of Christian Hardzog in 1850 and one of those duplicate enumerations indicates that Elizabeth was 37, which agrees with her age as calculated on her tombstone.

Elizabeth Tague/Dague was born 28 May 1813, as calculated from her tombstone. Elizabeth Tague married Josias King in Franklin County, Ohio, on 25 February 1830, married by John W. Clark, E, M.E. probably a Methodist minister. [1]

By 1840 both the Josias King family and the Christian Hardzog family lived in Black Creek Township, Mercer County. The Josias King family in 1840: males, 1/under 5 years, 2/5-10, 1/15-20, 1/40-50; females, 1/5-10, 1/20-30. The Christian Hardzog family in 1840, males, 2/5-10, 1/10-15, 1/15-20, 1/40-50; females, 1/under 5, 2/5-10, 1/10-15, 1/15-20, 1/40-50. [2]

Josias King and Christian Hardzog were both counted in Mercer County’s 1843 Quadrennial Census of adult white males, age 21 and over, both living in Black Creek Township.

The Kings and Hardzogs were probably neighbors in Black Creek Township or both families likely knew each other.

Christian Hardzog’s first wife Katharine died in 1843 and Elizabeth’s husband Josias King died in 1846. The widowed pair married in 1847 and combined their families.

Christian Hardzog was appointed guardian of the Elizabeth’s five King children in 1848: Amos, 14; Noah, 11; Andrew, 9; Elmira, 7; and Martha, 5. [3] Christian and Elizabeth went on to have several children of their own, William, Zachary, and Harriet.

In 1850 the Christian Hardzog family was enumerated twice, enumerated in both Black Creek and Dublin Townships. See last week’s blog post for that information. [4]

In 1860 the Christian Hardzog family was enumerated in Black Creek Township, with their post office as Shanesville. The family consisted of Christian, 65; Elizabeth, 41; William, 13; Zachary, 11; and Harriett, 9. [5]

The Christian Hardzog family in 1870: Christian, 65, PA; Elizabeth, 58, OH; and Harriet, 15, OH. Christian was a retired farmer by this time. [6]

Christian Hardzog/Hartzog died 8 October 1874 and Elizabeth (Tague/Dague) Hardzog died 4 November 1878. They are buried in separate cemeteries, a couple miles apart.

Elizabeth is buried in Ridge/Slater/Liberty Cemetery, which is located at the intersection of Ohio Route 81 and Rhodes Mill Road. Elizabeth is buried a row or two away from her first husband Josias King. Christian is buried in Hileman/Smith/Hartzog/Alspaugh Cemetery, which is located a couple miles west of Ridge/Slater, at Route 81 and Schumm Road. Both cemeteries are in Van Wert County.

The Kings and Hardzogs lived south of and not too far from Schumm. Some Hardzogs are buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm. I do not know if the Hardzogs attended Zion Schumm in the 1840s, but Christian’s first wife Katharine, daughters Caroline and Catharine, and likely some other family members are buried at Zion Schumm. Zion Schumm’s cemetery is a mile or two north of Hileman/Smith/Hartzog/Alspaugh Cemetery.

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016, Franklin, Ohio. Vol.2, p.241, Josiah King & Elizabeth Tague, 25 Feb 1830;  FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-L1TC-9?i=171&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXD5H-L57 : viewed 29 Mar 2021).

[2] 1840 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p.83-84, Josias King & Christian Hardstaff/Hardsock; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8057/ : viewed 29 Mar 2021). 

[2] Ohio Probate Records 1789-1966, Administration Dockets 1829-1850, Appointments of 1848, Mercer, Ohio, p.382, Christian Harzogg guardian; (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89QP-VPDK?i=262&wc=S2CL-YWG%3A266275901%2C266281101&cc=1992421 : viewed 29 Mar 2021).

[4] Enumerated Twice in Mercer County in 1850, Karen’s Chatt, 26 Mar 2021, https://karenmillerbennett.com/census/enumerated-twice-in-mercer-county-in-1850/ .

[5] 1860 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p. 322, line 10, dwelling 468, family 473, Christian Hartzog; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7667/ : accessed 6 January 2013).

[6] 1870 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, p. 20B, line 31, dwelling 30, family 30, Christian Hardzog; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : accessed 13 January 2013).