Tombstone Tuesday—Louis J. & Sarah H. (Breuninger) Schumm

Louis J & Sarah H Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Ohio

This is the tombstone photo of Louis J. Schumm and his wife Sarah, nee Breuninger.  They are buried in row 10 of Zion Cemetery,  Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. Louis’ home was the subject of the previous post. The marker is inscribed:

Louis J.
1851-1938
Sarah H.
His Wife
1861-1921
SCHUMM

Ludwig Johann “LouisSchumm was born 26 April 1851 in Van Wert County, Ohio, the son of George Ludwig  and Anna Barbara (Pflueger) Schumm. His father immigrated to America from Ruppertshofen, Wuerttemberg, in 1833.

According to Zion Schumm’s records, Louis was baptized 28 April 1851, with Georg Schumm and wife as sponsors. He married Sarah Breuninger 8 February 1883 in Van Wert County by Rev. G.F.C. Seemeyer. (Vol. 6:221) Louis died 5 Apr 1938 in Van Wert County. According to his death certificate he died of arteriosclerotic heart disease and cardiac failure.

Obituary:
Louis J. Schumm, 87, a well known and highly respected farmer, passed away suddenly Tuesday morning at 7:00 while sitting in a chair in his home about one and one-half miles east of Willshire. The cause of his death was heart trouble.  He had been in failing health for some time, but became worse about a week before his passing when attacked by the flu.  The deceased was a son of the late George L. Schumm and wife, and was born in and lived all his life in this community.  He was a member of the Schumm Lutheran church.  Surviving are two children, Cornelius Schumm, and Mrs. Richard Allmandinger, both of Willshire Township; a half sister, Mrs. Fred Kreiselmeyer of Fort Wayne, and a half brother, William A. Buechner of Willshire Township.  Funeral services in charge of S.S. Buchanan & Son, will be held Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the home and 2 p.m. at the Schumm church, Rev. Alfred Moeller officiating.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.
(Source: Louis J. Schumm obituary, The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 7 April 1938, page 1)

Louis J. Schumm (1851-1938)

An 1896 biographical sketch: Louis J. Schumm an enterprising farmer, was born in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, April 26, 1851, and is a son of George M. [sic] [should be George L] and Mary [sic] [should be Barbara] Pflueger Schumm, and grandson of John Schumm, of whom mention in full is made in the biography of Henry G. Schumm, on another page.  Louis J. was, like his pioneer ancestor and his children, reared to farming, but was also taught the trade of a carpenter, and for thirteen years he followed this calling, proving himself to be an excellent mechanic and a master of his trade, erecting, during the period mentioned, some of the finest dwelling houses and barns in Willshire Township. He received a very good education, was taught both the English and German languages, while his business training was in no manner neglected.  He was joined in matrimony, February 8, 1883, with Miss Sarah Breuninger, the accomplished daughter of Louis and Mary (Seckel) Breuninger.  The parents of this amiable young lady were born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, and were married in Green Bay City, Wisconsin, where the father had for many years held a position as clerk, then he engaged in merchandising on his own account, and finally came to Van Wert County, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of 100 acres, which he cultivated until his death.  His widow resides on this farm and is a respected member of the Lutheran Church, of which her husband has also been a member.  To the happy marriage of our subject has been born one child–Freida E. Schumm—now the idol of his parents and the pet of his relatives.

Mr. Schumm had bought his present farm before his marriage, and it now comprises 100 acres.  It is drained with over 1,500 rods of tiling, and is improved with a neat modern frame dwelling and a bank barn of his own planning and construction, and which, owing to his skill as a carpenter, surpasses any similar structure in the county.  The most of his property Mr. Schumm has realized through his personal industry and the exercise of a sound discretion in the management of his affairs, and to his skill both as a mechanic and farmer.  In politics, Mr. Schumm has always exercised his franchise in the interests of the Democratic Party.  With his wife he is a devout member of the Lutheran Church, and his and her social standing is with the best families of Van Wert County, Ohio. (Source: A Portrait and Biographical Record of Allen and Van Wert Counties, Ohio (Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1896), 669-670)

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