Tombstone Tuesday–Friederich & Magdalena Schumm

Friederick & Magdalena Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

Friederich & Magdalena Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Johan Friederich and Magdalena Schumm, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

SCHUMM

Hier ruhet in Gott zu Eheleute
Friederich und Magdalena Schumm

Magdalena Schumm
Geboren
Den 4 Sept. 1819
Gestorben
Den 15 Marz 1897

Friederich Schumm
Geboren
Den 24 April 1814
Gestorben Den 6 Aug. 1902

Translation: Here rests in God the married couple Friederich and Magdalena Schumm; Magdalena Schumm, born 4 September 1819, died 15 March 1897; Friederich Schumm, born 24 April 1814, died 6 August 1902.

Johann “Friederich” was the fifth child born to Johann Georg and Ann Maria (Fisher) Schumm, born 24 April 1814 in Rupppertshofen, Württemberg. He came to America in 1833 with his father, sister, and three brothers. They lived in Holmes County, Ohio, for five years before moving to Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, on 7 June 1838.

“Friedrich cleared his wooded land with an ax by himself and made for himself one of the finest homes in Willshire Township. He had 260 acres of well-improved land, with good substantial buildings.” [1]

Friederich Schumm farm, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, 1882.

Friederich Schumm farm, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, 1882.

Friederich applied for a land patent on 26 April 1837 to acquire the northeast quarter of Section 22 in Willshire Township, consisting of 160 acres. The final certificate was signed by President Martin Van Buren and issued 10 October 1840. [2] Friederich sold the east half of this tract of land to his brother-in-law Michael Schüler for $100 on 10 March 1840. [3] Friederich then purchased the northwest quarter of Section 26, consisting of 160 acres, from his father Johann Georg on 10 March 1840 for $200. [4]

Friederich and his wife deeded ½ acre of this land to the Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm [Dütch Lutheran Church] on 10 January 1842. [5] A frame church was built on this land in 1855, built on the east side of Schumm Road, just north of the cemetery. The railroad had right of way through his land and in 1894 Friederich sold a parcel of his land to the Schumm Creamery Company. [6]

Friederich was enumerated  in Van Wert County in the 1840 census. In addition to Friederich was a female, age 20-30, and a male and female under five years of age. He and his family were listed next to George Schumm and Jacob Schumm in 1840. [7] Friederich was naturalized 2 October 1843 in Van Wert County, Henry Reichard and Thomas R. Kear as witnesses. [8]

While in Holmes County Friederich married Magdalena Meyer/Meier on 15 August 1838. [9] According to the Zion Schumm’s records, Magdalena Meyer was born 4 September 1819, in Kleburg [Cleebourg?] bei Weiszenburg in Elsass. She died of a heart ailment on 15 March 1897 at the age of 77 years, 7 months and 11 days and was buried on the 18th.

Friederich & Magdalena (Meyer) Schumm, 1882.

Friederich & Magdalena (Meyer) Schumm, 1882.

Friederich died 6 August 1902 near Schumm. According to Zion’s records he died of old age, at the age of 86 years, 2 months and 27 days and was buried on the 24th. Friederich was the last surviving member of the Schumm family that immigrated in 1833. His obituary:

An Old Settler Dies

Frederick Schumm Sr., of Schumm, died Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., age 88 years. Funeral Sunday morning at ten o’clock. He had lived in the county 65 years and was one of the early pioneers. [10]

Friederich and Magdalena (Myer) Schumm had the following children:

Wilhelm Schumm (1840-1906), married Maria Heffner
Johann Schumm (1842-?)
Friedrich Schumm Jr (1844-1907), married Margaret Ehrenmann; married Maria Büchner
Catherine Isabella Schumm (1846-1907), married David Stamm
Johann Jacob Schumm (1848-1862)
“Hannah” Margaretha Schumm (1849-1927), married Rev. Johann Zimmerman
“Maria” Barbara Schumm (1851-1928), married Johann Zimmerman
“Lewis” George Schumm (1853-1939), married Catherine “Cassie” Bonnewitz
George Friedrich Schumm (1856-1927), married Sadie McClellan
Maria “Barbara” Margaret Schumm (1858-1951)
George Martin “Henry” Schumm (1861-1941), married Henrietta Wilhelmina “Minnie” Hoppe
George Conrad “Ferdinand” Schumm [Rev] (1864-1926), married Minnie Brockmeyer; married Minnie Felkner

[1] History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio (1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, Indiana : Windmill Publications, Inc. , 1991), 254.

[2] U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Patent Search,” database, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx  : accessed 1 December 2013), entry for Frederick  Schumm, Lima office, Doc. no. 9728.

[3] Van Wert Deeds, Recorder’s Office, courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio, Vol. E: 281.

[4] Van Wert Deeds, Recorder’s Office, courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio, Vol. E: 280.

[5] Van Wert Deeds, Recorder’s Office, courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio, Vol. N: 207.

[6] Van Wert Deeds, Recorder’s Office, courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio, Vol. 46: 588.

[7] 1840 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p. 69, line 26, Frederick Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 December 2013); from FHL microfilm 0020178, from National Archives microfilm M704, roll 431.

[8] Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, Journal A: 159.

[9] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDP1-59B : accessed 24 Nov 2013), Frederick Schum and Magdalena Meyers, 15 Aug 1838; citing Vol. 2 1831-1867, p. 53, Holmes, Ohio, United States, reference 276; FHL microfilm 477144.

[10] Van Wert Democrat, Van Wert, Ohio, 8 August 1902.

 

5 comments

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  1. It is very interesting that so many of the local settlers came to Holmes county Ohio first, then moved to the Chatt area. In the last decade or so we have been attracted to the large Amish settlement in the Holmes county area that has become a strong tourist attraction. Ironic that the Amish live today much in the style of the settlers you have highlighted coming from Germany back in the 1800s. The old hardware store there in Holmes county is a treasure chest of old stoves, farm equipment and other horse powered era tools because they are still in strong demand by the large Amish settlement surrounding that area. Part store, part museum the large Lehman’s store takes several hours to visit. But if your want a wood cooking stove, gas refrigerator, or long forgotten hand tools, it is the only place to find them.

    1. We visited Holmes County a few years ago and visited the hardward you mention(Lehman’s Hardward). I think many of the immigrants went to Holmes County first because they knew other immigrants and/or relatives who had already settled there. After a few years many moved west.

  2. How neat to have that drawing of the Friederich Schumm Farm. Did it appear in a local history book, or is it something that was kept in the family? It really looks beautiful – I especially like the “good substantial” farmhouse!

    1. That nice drawing of their farm as well as their individual drawings came from the 1882 History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties. It sure does look like a busy farm.

  3. While the German heritage and lifestyle of the Amish in Holmes county are interesting, the Local Amish lifestyle is probably more consistent with how our German ancestors lived who settled near Chatt before 1900. The Holmes county Amish have embraced the tourist trade (something strongly repulsive to the Berne area Amish) and they have an exceptional wealth. You see an oil well on nearly every property in the Amish community and consequently homes that are anything but “plain” compared to expectation for a simple life. However, one must consider how technology is affect all Amish lifestyles as cell phones (no physical line connecting to the system like the old phones and electric power), LED lights and modern grocery services are powerfully changing their attitudes and behavior.

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