Dec 08

J Jacob Loehr Theological Book, 1865

Last week I featured a picture postcard sent by Nellie Loehr in 1911, postmarked Rockford, Ohio. Nellie and her husband, Rev. Lincoln Luther Loehr, had just arrived in Chattanooga, Ohio. Rev. Loehr was the new pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Chatt.

Thanks to a Karen’s Chatt reader, I have another item related to the Loehr family, an old book that once belonged to Rev. Loehr’s father, John Jacob Loehr: The Distinctive Doctrines of the Different Christian Confessions, In the Light of the Word of God, by G. Graul, DD, Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission House at Leipzig, translated from the Fifth German Edition by Rev. D.M. Martens, A.M. Columbus, Ohio: Osgood & Pearce, Printers, 1862.

The Distinctive Doctrines of the Different Christian Confessions, 1862; owned by John Jacob Loehr

That is quite a long title for a book that measures only about 4½ x 7 inches and 133 pages.

The Distinctive Doctrines of the Different Christian Confessions, 1862; owned by John Jacob Loehr

The well-worn book dates back to the time of the Civil War, a time when not everyone could read and write, let alone read a scholarly book like this. Although John Jacob Loehr was born in Germany, he obviously knew how to read English very well. And it appears he was very interested in theology, which undoubtedly influenced his son Lincoln Luther to become a minister.

The Distinctive Doctrines of the Different Christian Confessions, 1862; owned by John Jacob Loehr

The book was published in 1862 and written inside the front cover is J Jacob Loehr 1865. 1865, the year his son Lincoln Luther Loehr was born. I wonder if Rev. Lincoln Loehr read this book as well.

J Jacob Loehr, 1865, signature

John Jacob Loehr was born in Rhineland, Germany, 26 August 1814, and died 4 April 1888 in Stark County, Ohio, aged 73. He is buried at Mapleton Cemetery, Canton, Stark County, Ohio. [1] John Jacob Loehr was a farmer.  

John Jacob Loehr immigrated sometime before 1837 and may have immigrated with his parents. He married Catharine Shearer (1819-1891) on 15 June 1837 in Mapleton, Stark County, Ohio. [2] John Jacob Loehr and wife Catharine remained in Stark County all their lives and both are buried at Mapleton Cemetery at Canton.

John Jacob and Catharine (Shearer) Loehr had a large family, predominately sons:

Caroline Loehr (1838-1917)
Josiah Loehr (1840-1917)
Washington Loehr (1842-1863)
Rueben Loehr (1844-1852)
Henry Shearer Loehr (1847-1921)
John J. Loehr (c1850-1924)
Edwin A. Loehr (1853-1910)
Charles Loehr (1856-1922)
George Loehr (1860-1863)
Lincoln Luther Loehr (1865-1954)

Because Lincoln Luther Loehr was born in 1865, you have to wonder if he was named after Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther. There is a lot of meaning and alliteration going on in his name. Rev. Loehr finished seminary and became a minister in 1899, eleven years after his father died. His father would have been very proud of him. 

[1] FindaGrave.com, John Jacob Loehr, memorial no. 53790390, Mapleton Cemetery, Canton, Stark Co, Ohio.

[2] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Stark County 1809-1874, p. 43, John Jacob Locher (sic) & Catherine Shearer, 15 Jun 1837; Ancestry.com.

Dec 05

Tombstone Tuesday-Christian & Henriette (Kable) Merkle

Christian & Henriette (Kable) Markle, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Convoy, Van Wert County, Ohio (2023 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Christian and Henriette (Kable) Merkle, located in row 18 of Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Convoy, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

MERKLE
Henriette
1871-1946
Psalm 90:  v10

Christian
1864-1947
Acts 4: v12

Christian [aka Christ] Merkle was born in Baden, Germany, 29 February 1864, the son of Carl Merkle (1836-1911), name of mother unknown, per Christian’s death certificate. [1] According to Christian Merkle’s German baptismal record his mother’s name was Justine Schaefer (1837-1894). [2]

The Carl Merkle family immigrated to America on the ship P Caland, arriving at New York on 7 August 1880: Carl Merkle, 43, Male, laborer; Justine Merkle, 42, F; Carl Merkle, 18, M; Christian Merkle, 16, M; Wilhelm Merkle, 9, M; and Justine Merkle, 4, F. [3]

The Carl Merkle family just missed being enumerated in the 1880 census by a couple months but later censuses indicate the family members immigrated in 1880. Census records also indicate some members of this family resided near each other in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. Carl and Justine Merkle had another child, Henry, born in 1881.

Christian Merkle married Henriette Kable in Mercer County on 23 November 1890, married by Rev. Carl Moeller. [4]

Henriette [aka Nettie] Kable was born in Mercer County, Ohio, 11 July 1871, the daughter of Ferdinand (1827-1912) and Catharine (Bollenbacher) (1832-1922) Kable.

The Ferdinand Kable family in 1880: Ferdinand, 54; Catharine, 45; Adam, 17; Caroline, 16; Louisa, 13; Katherine, 12; and Nettie, 8. Their father Ferdinand was a farmer. [5]

After their 1890 marriage, Christian and Henriette Merkle set up housekeeping in Pleasant Township, Van Wert County. In 1900 they had three children: Christian Merkle, 35; Henriette Merkle, 28; Louis W Merkle, 7, son; Freda Merkle, 4, daughter; and Herbert Merkle, 2 months. This census indicates that Christian and Henriette Merkle had been married 9 years, had 3 living children, that Christian was a farmer, born in Germany, and who immigrated in 1880. Living next to Christian and Henriette were Charles Merkle, 63, widow, and Charles Merkle, 37, both born in Germany and both immigrated in 1880. These two men were very likely Christian’s father and brother. [6]

The Christian Merkle family in 1910: Christian, 46; Henriette, 39; Louis W, 18; Freda L, 15; Herbert E [sic], 10; Clara C, 7. [7]

The Christian Merkle family in 1920, living in Section 22 of Pleasant Township: Christian Markle, 55, head; Henriette, 48, wife; Herbert, 19, son; and Clara, 17, daughter. Christian’s occupation was dairyman. Also living in Section 22 next to or with them was their son Lewis Markle, 27, and wife Bertha, 27. Christian owned his property but Lewis was a renter. This enumeration indicates that Christian was a dairyman, immigrated in 1881, and was naturalized 1886. [8]

After Henriette’s mother Catherine (Bollenbacher) Kable died in June 1922, two of Henriette’s sisters, Louisa Kable and Katherine C. Kable, moved to Pleasant Township and resided with Henriette and Christian.

Henriette’s sister Louisa Kable, 63, died at Christian and Henriette’s home in Pleasant Township in February 1930. She died before the 1930 census was taken but later that year Katherine Kable was enumerated in the Christian Merkle household: Christian Merkle, 66, head; Henriette Merkle, 58, wife; Katherine C Kable, 61, single, sister-in-law. [9]

Sometime between 1935 and 1940 Katherine Kable, 72, moved back to Mercer County and resided in Chattanooga. [10]

Christian and Henriette Merkle in 1940, living in Pleasant Township: Christian, 76, and Mary, 73. [11]

About a year later Christian and Henriette Merkle moved to Van Wert and resided at 220 W. Maple Street there.

Henriette (Kable) Merkle, 75, died of heart trouble at their Van Wert home on 11 October 1946. She was buried 13 October. [12]

Obituary:
Mrs. Christ Merkle
Van Wert, Oct 12—Mrs. Christ Merkle, 75, died Friday at her home in this city after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Gamble-Alspach funeral home and at 2:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed church in Harrison-tp. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Mrs. Merkle, a native of Mercer-co, moved from Pleasant-tp to this city five years ago. Surviving are her husband; three children, Mrs. Floyd Agler, Willshire-tp, Herbert D., Ohio City and Lewis W., Rockford., and a brother and sister, Adam Kable and Miss Catherine Kable, both of Mercer Co. [13]

Widower and retired dairy farmer Christian Merkle, 82, died of heart disease at the Van Wert Hospital on 28 January 1947. He was buried on 30 January. [1]

Obituary:
Christian Merkle
Van Wert, Jan. 29. Christian Merkle, 82, retired Willshire-tp farmer died Tuesday at Van Wert-co hospital after a long illness. He was a native of Baden, Germany, and came to this county 68 years ago.

Surviving are three children, Mrs. Floyd Agler, Willshire-tp. Herbert D, Liberty-tp. And Lewis W., Rockford; a sister, Christina Merkle, Gladwin, Mich., and two brothers, William, Van Wert, and Henry, Gladwin.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 1 :30 p.m. at the Gamble-Alspach funeral home and at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed church in Harrison-tp. Burial will be made in the church cemetery. [14]

Christian and Henriette (Kable) Merkle had the following children:
Lewis William Merkle (1891-1964), married Bertha Ludlow Parker
Herbert Deabolt Merkle 1900-1985), married Paulena Katherine Allmandinger
Freda L Merkle (1894-1939), married Albert Furrell
Clara (1902-1985), married Floyd E. Agler

[1] “Ohio, county Death Records, 1840-2001,” Van Wert, Pleasant Township, Christian Merkle, 28 Jan 1947; FamilySearch.org.

[2] Baden and Hesse Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1502-1985, Weiler Parish, Preussen, Baden, Christian Merckle [sic], born 29 Feb 1864, baptized 6 Mar 1864; Ancestry.com.

[3] New York, U.S., Arriving Passenber and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957, Ship P Caland, 7 Aug 1880, Carl Merkle family; Ancestry.com.   

[4] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Mercer County 1887-1904, p.236, Christian Merkle & Henrietta Kable, 23 Nov 1890; Ancestry.com.

[5] 1880 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 188, dwelling, 51, family 54, p.474C, Ferdinand [sic] Kable; Ancestry.com.

[6] 1900 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 86, p.10, dwelling 189, family 193, Christ Markle [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[7] 1910 U.S. Census, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 96, p.9A, dwelling & family 180, Christ Merkle; Ancestry.com.

[8] 1920 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 128, p.5B, dwelling 114, family 119, Christ Merkle; Ancestry.com.

[9] 1930 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 12, p.7A, Dwelling & Family 167, Christian Merkle; Ancestry.com.

[10] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Mercer, Liberty, ED 54-22, p15B, household 315, Catherine Kable [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[11] 1940 U.S. Census, Ohio, Van Wert, Pleasant, ED 81-16, p.7B, household 142, Chrest Mockle [sic]; Ancestry.com.

[12] “Ohio, county Death Records, 1840-2001,” Van Wert, Pleasant, Henrietta Merkle, 11 Oct 1946; FamilySearch.org.

[13] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 13 October 1946, p.2, Mrs. Christ Merkle obituary; Ancestry.com.

[14] The Lima News, Lima, Ohio, 29 Jan 1947, p.2, Christ Merkle obituary; Ancestry.com.

Dec 01

1911 Postcard with Chattanooga Connection

This is an interesting picture postcard, postmarked Rockford, 7 June 1911. The photo on the front is a common picture that I have seen before, labeled St. Mary’s River, Willshire, O. I wonder if the photo was actually taken on the St. Marys River at Willshire. Did the St. Marys River ever really look like that at Willshire? Did people boat on the river? Perhaps.

1911 postcard from Nellie Loehr

But that really doesn’t matter. I did not purchase the postcard for the photo or for the date. I purchased the postcard because of who wrote the message on it. The name, Nellie Loehr, caught my eye. I recognized that name right away.

In 1911 the Loehrs had just moved to Chattanooga, Ohio.

Nellie’s husband, Rev. Lincoln Luther Loehr, was the new minister at Zion Lutheran, Chatt.

Rev. Loehr; at Zion Chatt, 1911-13.

Written on the postcard:

Rockford, 7 June 1911, 7 p.m.
To Mrs. Ralph Weaver, Chicago, Ohio

Parsonage, June 5, 1911
Dear Friend,
Well we got here safely and are now all settled in the parsonage. We have a real pretty and comfortable home, and good kind people. I hope everything is going all right up there at Chicago. Please tell Mr. Vogel that we have had 4 horses offered us but we have not bought any yet. We send best regards to you all and hope to hear from you

Cordially,
Nellie Loehr

1911 postcard from Nellie Loehr

The note is short, but it tells us a lot.

The local people were good kind people. That is always good to hear.

The Loehr’s new home, the church parsonage, was pretty and comfortable. In 1911 that would have been the old frame parsonage, which was destroyed in a fire during the WWII years. The current brick parsonage was built soon after, in the same general location. The church at Zion Chatt would have been the old frame church. The current brick church was built in 1916/17, in the same general location.  

The old parsonage, south of the Lutheran School, c1900.

Zion Lutheran, Chattanooga. Old frame church beside new brick church. (1917 photo)

It appears the Loehrs would not have any trouble finding a horse. Although automobiles had been invented and were in use in 1911, apparently horse and buggy transportation was the norm in the Chatt area.  

About that address, Chicago, Ohio. I had never heard of Chicago, Ohio, and at first I thought that was a mistake. But Nellie was a school teacher and she probably would not have made a mistake like that.

I am always learning and I learned that there was indeed a Chicago, Ohio, aka Chicago Junction, located in New Haven Township, Huron County, in north-central Ohio. The village was established about 1875 at the junction of two railroads, where the Chicago division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad joined with the Mansfield-Columbus division. The extension was known as the Baltimore, Pittsburgh, & Chicago Railway. The community was incorporated in 1882 and they had a post office. [1] The name of the village was changed to Willard in 1960, renamed after the president of the B & O Railroad.

Rev. Lincoln and  his wife Nellie lived there in 1910. They resided on Rant Street, in the Village of Chicago Junction. Lincoln Loehr, 45, head, born in Ohio, preacher at German church; Nellie M, 34, wife, born in Ohio, not employed. They had been married 8 years, the first marriage for both, and they had no children. [2]

Nellie Mae Knepper was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, on 8 November 1874 the daughter of George A. and Emeline A. (Hoover) Knepper. In 1900 Nellie lived in Pickaway County, Ohio, and was a teacher.

Rev. Lincoln Loehr married Nellie Knepper 23 May 1901 at the home of her parents, near St. Paul, Pickaway County. At that time Rev. Loehr was the minister of Fairview Lutheran Church, Hiawatha, Kansas. [3]   

Rev. Loehr and Nellie were only in Chatt for two years. In 1913 they moved on to the Auglaize/Shelby County area, where he continued his ministry.

Rev. Lincoln Luther Loehr died in Columbus, Ohio, on 26 June 1954 and his wife Nellie (Knepper) Loehr died in Columbus on 29 March 1964. They are both buried at Reber Hill Cemetery, Pickaway County, Ohio. Nellie’s parents are also buried at Reber Hill Cemetery.

I have been to that cemetery. That is the same cemetery where my Revolutionary War ancestor, Christian Whiteman, is buried.

It is indeed a small world.

[1] Larry L. Miller, Ohio Place Names (Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1996) 48. And Julie Minot Overton, Ohio Towns and Townships to 1900: A Location Guide (The Ohio Genealogical Society, Mansfield, OH: Penobscot Press, 2000) 69.

[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Ohio, Huron, New Haven Township, ED 31, p.2a, dwelling 32, family 33, Lincoln  Loehr; Ancestry.com. 

[3] The Kansas Democrat, Hiawatha, Kansas, 6 Jun 1901, Lincoln Loehr & Nellie Knepper marriage; Newspapers.com, viewed 30 Nov 2023. And Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Pickaway County 1896-1906, p.268, Lincoln Loehr and Nellie May Knepper, 23 May 1901; Ancestry.com.

Nov 28

Tombstone Tuesday-Wreaths across America

You have probably seen a photo like this, Arlington National Cemetery during the Christmas season, when beautiful wreaths with red velvet bows are placed at veterans’ tombstones. It is a beautiful and touching scene.

Arlington National Cemetery, 2010, Flickr [1]

These wreaths are from the non-profit organization Wreaths across America and are placed by volunteers on a specified day in December.

This year National Wreaths Across America Day is Saturday, 16 December 2023, when volunteers will gather at more than 4,000 participating locations across the country to remember and honor our nation’s heroes, one wreath at a time.

These live balsam wreaths come from the Worcester Wreath Company, a family farm in Maine and a proud sponsor of Wreaths across America. The wreaths are made in Maine and each comes with a red velvet ribbon.

The mission of Wreaths across America is threefold: Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.

Remember: Sponsor a veteran’s wreath in honor of or in memory of a loved one who served in our armed forces. Or sponsor a wreath and allow Wreaths across America to designate a recipient among the millions of veterans who rest in honored glory.

Honor: Volunteer with Wreaths across America as they honor our veterans throughout the year. Opportunities include laying wreaths locally, leading a sponsorship group, or coordinating a ceremony location.

Teach: Invite friends, family, coworkers, and organizations to join Wreaths across America as they strive to honor every veteran, helping to support and spread the word of their mission.

You can volunteer for this worthy cause several ways: sponsor a wreath, volunteer, partner with Wreaths across America on National Wreaths across America Day, or sponsor a specific cemetery or Local Sponsorship Group.

There are several ways to sponsor a wreath or any number of wreaths:

Pair a Wreath: Pair a sponsored wreath with a gift wreath which is delivered to your home or to a loved-one or friend.

In Honor and Memory Of: Sponsor wreaths in honor of living veterans or in memory of those who have passed, with the option to include email or mailed gift cards.

Show Your Support: Show your support on National wreaths Across America day with Wreaths across America merchandise and gear, which also makes a good gift, helping to spread information about their mission.

The past few years I have sponsored a wreath and purchased a wreath for my parents’ tombstone, called Pair a Wreath. I let Wreaths across America designate a recipient for my sponsored wreath, although I could designate a specific recipient if I wanted.  

I received my Wreaths across America wreath last week and we placed it at my parents’ gravestone, in honor of my dad, a WWII veteran. The wreath I sponsored will be placed at a tombstone somewhere on 16 December, National Wreaths Across America Day.   

Herbert & Florence Miller, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio (2023 photo by Karen)

What a special way to honor our nation’s veterans and decorate a grave-site with a beautiful Christmas wreath as well. 

[1] Flickr photo, taken 11 Dec 2010, uploaded 14 Dec 2010, https://www.flickr.com/photos/walmartcorporate/with/5262055852/ , Creative Commons License, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/# .

Nov 23

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Karen’s Chatt! Wishing each of you a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving