Friedrich & Elisabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Friedrich and Elisabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
Elisabeth
Schinnerer
Geb. den 17 Nov. 1841
Gest. den 11 Juli 1917
Alter 75 Ja. 7 Mo. 24 Ta.
Friedrich
Schinnerer
Geb. den 8 Mai 1824
Gest. den 5 Feb 1905
Alter 80 Ja. 8 Mo. 27 Ta.
Schinnerer
Translation: Elisabeth Schinnerer, born the 17 November 1841, died the 11 July 1917, aged 75 years, 7 months, 24 days. Friedrich Schinnerer, born the 8 May 1824, died the 5 February 1905, aged 80 years, 8 months, 27 days.
Elisabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer was the first child born to Ludwig and Maria Barbara (Pflüger) Schumm. Both parents were born in Württemberg and Elisabeth was born in Ohio. Her birth predates the records of Zion Lutheran Schumm, but her marriage and death were recorded.
According to her church death record, survivors included six daughters, one son, one daughter-in-law, six sons-in-law, one sister, three brothers, one half brother, one step-daughter, one half sister, and 25 grandchildren. She was buried on the 15th. Again, there are contradictions. Her death certificate indicates that she was born in 1842 and that she died of chronic nephritis on the 12th. Her daughter Mollie was the informant for her death certificate. [1] Since Elisabeth was buried on the 15th, she may have died on the 12th and the church record and tombstone may be incorrect.
Obituary:
Mrs. Fred Schinerer [sic], one of the best known and respected ladies of Willshire township,died at her late home last Wednesday night. Mrs. Schinerer, who was more than 75 years of age, was born and lived her entire life in Willshire township. Mrs. Schinerer is survived by six daughters and one son, Mrs. Bert Balyeat of California; Mrs. Joseph Gunsett, Mrs. John Scaer, Mrs. Theodore Huffman, [sic] H.F. Schinerer all of Willshire township; Mrs. Peter Scaer [sic] of Harrison township and Mrs. J.H. Gunsett of Van Wert.
Funeral services were held Sunday morning at the late home and at the Schumm church, Rev. Geo. Meyers officiating. [2]
Elisabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer (1841-1917)
Elisabeth Schumm married Friedrich Schinnerer on 12 Jun 1862 in Van Wert County. [3]
Friedrich Schinnerer was the third child born to Georg Michael and Anna Barbara (Zeller) Schinnerer. According to Zion Schumm records he was born in Windsheim, Kingdom of Bavaria. Friedrich sailed to America on the ship Harve, arriving in New York on 16 June 1849. [4] Two of his brothers, Johann “Pankratius” and Martin, immigrated together a few years later and also settled in Van Wert County.
Friedrich was married twice. His first wife Mary Deier died in 1861, leaving Friedrich with three young children. He then married Elisabeth Schumm and they had many children. The church records indicate they had 15 children, but most other records indicate only the children that lived to adulthood.
The children of Friedrich and Elisabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer:
Catharina Elisabeth “Barbara Anna” (1863-1897)
Rosina Catharine Marie (1864-1875)
Anna “Clara” (1866-1942) married Joseph Gunsett
Heinrich Friedrich (1867-1952) married Louise Maria Schumm
Johannah “Hannah” Magdalene (1868-1958) married Peter Scare
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Katherine (1870-1951) married John Scaer
Maria Rosina Sophia (1871-1927) married J. Herman Gunsett
Maria Amalia (1873-1873)
Emma Barbara (1874-1963) married Burton B. Balyeat
Johann Ludwig Wilhelm (1876-1882)
Carl Friedrich (1878-1878)
Christian Martin (1879-1881)
Wilhelmine Margaretha (1881-1881)
Amalia “Mollie” (1883-1955) married Christ “Theodore” Hofmann
Unnamed female Schinnerer (1886-1886)
Children of Friedrich & Elisabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer, c1888. Back: Hannah, Lizzie, Sophie, Emma. Front: Clara, Mollie, Henry.
It is interesting to note that “Hannah” Schinnerer [sister of my great-grandmother Elizabeth “Lizzie”] married Peter Scare [brother of my great-grandfather John Scaer, who married Lizzie]. Peter changed the spelling his surname from Scaer to Scare. Same family, same brothers, different spelling.
Friedrich Schinnerer was a prominent farmer in the Willshire area and several local newspapers printed his obituary: The Van Wert Daily Times, Ohio City News, and The Willshire Herald, which published two death notices for him.
Obituary:
Frederick Schinnerer, one of the oldest residents of this county died at 2:00 Feb. 5, from the infirmities of old age, at his home in Willshire. Mr. Schinnerer was a native of Germany, having been born in Wiesheim [sic] on the 8th day of May, 1824. At the age of twenty-five he sought his fortune on this side of the Atlantic and passed most of his life close to the place of his death. During his long and useful life he succeeded in surrounding himself with a goodly number of friends and a bounteous supply of worldly goods. He leaves behind him a wife and eight children, all of whom are residents of this county. He was a devoted and lifelong member of the German Lutheran church and his funeral will be conducted from their church at Schumm at 10:00 today, by the Rev. Mr. Seemeyer. The names of his children are Mrs. Christ Hofmann and Mrs. Peter Scare of Pleasant Township, Mrs. Joseph Gunsette, [sic] H.F. Schinnerer, Mrs. John Scare [sic] and Miss Mollie Schinnerer of Willshire Township; Mrs. J.G. Gunsette and Mrs. B.B. Balyeat of Van Wert. [5]
Friedrich Schinnerer (1824-1905)
Obituary:
Death of an Honored Citizen
Frederick Schinnerer, one of the most prosperous farmers and highly respected citizen of this community died at his home one mile east of Willshire at 2 o’clock Sunday morning after a short illness.
Mr. Schinnerer was born in Winstein, [sic] Germany, May 8th, 1824. He came to America in 1849. In 1872 he moved to his late residence east of Willshire, prior to that time living at Rockford.
He was twice married, and is survived by a wife and eight children, seven daughters and one son: Mrs. Lena Hoffman, [sic] Pleasant township; Mrs. Sarah Gunsett, Willshire township; H. F. Schinnerer, Willshire township; Mrs. Hannah Scar, Pleasant township; Mrs. Lizzie Scar, Willshire township; Mrs. Sophia Gunsett, Van Wert; Mrs. Emma Balyeat, Van Wert, and Mollie Schinnerer, living at home.
Funeral services were held at the German Lutheran church in Schumm at ten o’clock Tuesday morning, conducted by Rev. Seemyer [sic]. Both German and English services were held.
Mr. Schinnerer, it may be said of him, was a model man, a model farmer and a model citizen. The Herald extends sympathy to the sorrowing family in their bereavement. And this community as a whole, realizes the loss it has sustained in the death of one of its most substantial citizens. [6]
Obituary:
Frederick Schinnerer was born the 8th day of May, 1824 at Winsheim, [sic] Bavaria, Germany. In 1849 he immigrated to this country and settled in Dublin Township, Mercer county, O. A miller by trade he embarked in the milling business and built a saw mill and a grist mill on the banks of the St. Marys river. The only mill far and near at that time. In 1874 or ’75 he sold out his mill and the land on which it was located and bought the farm on which his son, Henry now resides, and lived on it for some years. He then bought the farm adjoining this on the east, on which he built a fine brick residence, where he lived until his death.
Mr. Schinnerer was twice married. His first wife, who came with him to this county, died the 26th of November, 1861. In the following year, 1862, on the 12th of June, he was again united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Schumm, who survives him. He died the 5th day of February, 1905, of infirmities of old age, at the age of 80 years, 8 months and 27 days. The interment took place on the 7th of February in the cemetery of the German Ev. Lutheran congregation, of which he was a true and faithful member ever since he came to this country. [7]
Elisabeth and Friedrich are my second great-grandparents. Elisabeth is also my second great-grandaunt because her brother Johann “Louis” was also my great-great-grandfather.
Elisabeth has been a very popular name in our branch of the Schumm family over the years. I descend from Friedrich and Elisabeth’s daughter Elisabeth “Lizzie” and my mom’s middle name is Elizabeth.
There will be more about the interesting Friedrich Schinnerer in upcoming blog posts.
[1] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8J8-VPT : accessed 02 Feb 2014), Elizabeth Schinerer, 12 Jul 1917; citing Willshire Twp., Van Wert, Ohio, reference fn 48837; FHL microfilm 1984103.
[2] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 20 July 1917, p.1.
[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8PQ-DXH : accessed 02 Feb 2014), Frederick Schinner and Elizabeth Schum, 12 Jun 1862; citing Van Wert, Ohio, United States, reference, Vol. 2:316; FHL microfilm 1015859.
[4] Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897, digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 February 2014), for Friedrich Schemer, 24, arrived 16 June 1849 aboard Havre; from National Archives microfilm M237, roll 80.
[5] Van Wert Daily Times, Van Wert, Ohio, 7 February, 1905.
[6] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 9 February 1905, p. 4.
[7] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 23 February 1905, p. 4.
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We grew up with the children of Art & Helen Schinnerer who lived east of Willshire on 81. Their children, who were all very nice and smart, were Joe, Graduated from Willshire in ’61, George, approx. ’61, Marlene ’62 from Parkway and a couple more younger children. It was rumored that Art was excommunicated from the Zion Lutheran Church because he couldn’t tithe. He had a large family and made sense that he couldn’t. The family attended church with us at Zion United Brethren Church S.E. of Willshire. Today they would have been considered a “poor” family, like the Goodwin’s and many other families of that era. Don’t know where they figure into your profile today but enjoyed your article.
Author
Art was the grandson of Martin Schinnerer and Martin was a brother to Friedrich [the Friedrich featured in this post]. Thank you for your interesting information.
Karen, I just wanted to drop a note regarding your work on this blog. I am so impressed. Our families combine, hit, miss, every so often, but your posts are so interesting.. your work is so admirable, I find myself reading about people I don’t even know.. simply because of the presentation.. haha. I am just sincerely impressed. I’ve thought a long time of doing something with our family similar to this, but it would be hard to live up to the standard you’ve set.. Keep up the good work!
Rich
Author
Thank you so much! This is what I had originally intended to do–research, record, and share family history and some history of the area. Even if you don’t blog publicly you should write down your family memories and information about your life. Someday someone will really appreciate having that information. Thanks for writing.
Arthur and Hellen’s younger children were Lester (graduated 1964) and Kenny (graduated 1966 or ’67). Helen was an assistent teacher for my Sunday School class at Zion United Brethren Church in Blackcreek Township, southeast of Willshire.