Tombstone Tuesday-Oswald H. Schumm

Oswald H Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Oswald H. Schumm, located in row 10 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Oswald H. Schumm
1902-1987

“Oswald” Hugo Otto Schumm was born in Willshire Township on 23 February 1902, the eighth and youngest child of George Martin “Henry” III and Henrietta Wilhelmine “Minnie” Hoppe. Oswald was baptized at Zion Schumm on 9 March 1902 with Hugo A. Schumm, Hugo Schumm, and Otto Schumm serving as his sponsors.

Oswald Schumm was first enumerated in 1910, enumerated with his mother and some of his siblings: Minnie [Wilhelmina] Schumm, 50, head; Edna, 22, daughter; [unreadable], 20, daughter; Emanuel, 18, son; Emil, 17, son; Edna, 15, daughter; Clara, 12, daughter; Alfred, 10, son; and Oswald, 8, son. [1] Oswald’s father Henry Schumm homesteaded in Colorado in the early 1900s but returned to the Schumm area by the 1930. This may be why he was absent in Willshire Township’s enumeration.

In 1920 Oswald resided in Willshire Township with his mother and several siblings: Wilhelmina H Schumm, 59; Agnes, 31; Alma, 30; Emanuel, 28; Clara, 21; Alfred, 19; Oswald, 17; and Abalonia Freese, 83, widow. [3] Abalonia was Minnie’s mother. Abalonia’s husband Henry Freese had died in 1902. 

In 1930 Oswald Schumm, 28, and his older sister Edna Schumm, 34, rented a home at 2428 Wayne Avenue in Dayton, Ohio. Oswald worked as a machinist in an electric shop and his sister Edna worked as a saleswoman. [3]

Oswald’s mother Minnie died in 1937 and in 1940 Oswald resided with his widowed father Henry, age 79, and his sister Alma Schumm. Oswald was a night watchman at a sawmill, likely the sawmill at Schumm. A lodger, Hunter Bee, age 21, also was in the household and worked at the sawmill as well. [4]

Oswald’s father Henry Schumm died in 1941.

According to Oswald’s WWII Draft Registration Card, Oswald was 39 years old, resided at Schumm, his telephone was 2 long and 1 short, his sister Alma Schumm was his contact person, and his occupation was night man, employed by WP Robinson, Schumm [Schumm sawmill]. Oswald Schumm enlisted in the U.S. Army on 23 September 1942 at Toledo, Ohio, and was honorably discharged 17 March 1943. [5]

In 1950 Oswald, 48, resided with his sister Alma, 60, and their aunt Barbara A. Schumm, 91, a widow. They likely lived in or very near the village of Schumm since Zion Schumm’s minister, Rev. Werner Kuhlberg, lived a house away. Oswald worked at the sawmill. [6]

Oswald’s sister Alma Schumm died in Van Wert County on 12 February 1972.   

Oswald Schumm died of cardio-pulmonary arrest in a nursing home in Van Wert on 30 August 1987 at the age of 85. He was buried on 2 September. [7]

Oswald Schumm never married. He had the following siblings:
“Agnes” Wilhelmina Barbara Schumm (1888-1921)
“Alma” Abalonia Schumm Alma A. Schumm (1889-1972)
“Emanuel” Henry John Schumm (1892-1973), married Edna Scaer
Emil Fredrick Schumm (1893-1960), married Louise Stock
Edna Alwine Magdalena Schumm (1895-1990)
Clara Anna Maria Schumm (1898-1984)
Alfred Oswald Ferdinand Schumm, Rev. (1900-1981), married Irma S. Wambsganss

[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.2A, dwelling & family 37, Minnie Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 8 Dec 2021.

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.3A, dwelling & family 48, Wilhelmina H Schumm; Ancestry.com, viewed 6 Dec 2021.

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Dayton, Montgomery Ohio, ED 112, p.3A, dwelling 46, family 48, Oswald H Schum [sic]; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 1 May 2022.

[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-28, p.5B, household 88, HM Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[5] Draft Registration Cards for Ohio, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, Records of the Selective Service System 147, Box 1287, National Archives at St. Louis, Missouri; digital image, Ancestry.com, viewed 1 May 2022. And Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946, NAID, 1263923, Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007, Record Group: 64, Box 09273, Reel 349, National Archives at College Park, Maryland; Ancestry.com.  

[6] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-40, p.13, dwelling 182, Oswald H Schumm; digital image, 1950census.archives.gov, viewed 18 Apr 2022.

[7] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” Pleasant Twp, Van Wert, Ohio, database with images, Oswald Hugo Schumm, 30 Aug 1987; digital image, FamilySearch.org, viewed 29 Apr 2022.

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