This is the tombstone of Paul E. and Lydia B. (Schumm) Schumm, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
SCHUMM
Paul E.
1888-1970
Lydia B.
1883-1967
Paul Edwin Schumm was born in Willshire Township on 31 August 1888, the son of William and Anna Maria (Heffner) Schumm. He was baptized 9 September 1888 at Zion Schumm, with Heinrich Schumm II and Ferdinand Schumm as his sponsors.
In 1910 Paul lived on family farm east of Willshire with his widowed mother Mary and his siblings Oscar and Julia. Paul’s occupation was a farmer. [1]
According to church records, Paul Schumm married Lydia Schumm on 14 April 1914 at Zion Schumm’s parsonage. They were married by Rev. George J. Meyer and witnesses to the marriage were Oscar Schumm and Hilda Schumm.
Lydia Barbara Schumm was born 12 September 1883, the daughter of John Christian and Wilhelmina “Minnie” (Breuninger) Schumm. Lydia was baptized with her twin sister Hilda Maria on 23 September 1883 at Zion Schumm. Sponsors for the twins were Mrs. Sarah Schumm, Mrs. Rosine Schinnerer, Mrs. Hannah Germann, and Margaretha Buechner. Lydia’s mother Minnie was the sister of my great-grandmother Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm, one of the above sponsors.
A few years later, on 5 June 1917, Paul Schumm applied for the WWI Draft in Van Wert. He was married with one child at that time and lived at route 2 Willshire. He was of medium height, stout build, had light blue eyes, and dark brown hair. [2]
In 1920 Paul, age 31, and Lydia, age 36, lived on their farm east of Willshire, where Paul farmed. They owned their home and also in the household were daughters Mildred M, 3 years, and Delores M, 3 months, as well as Paul’s widowed mother, Mary Ann, age 64. [3]
Paul and Lydia remained on their family farm on the northeast corner of route 81 and Harrison-Willshire Road and in 1940 their household consisted of Paul, 51, Lydia, 56, daughters Mildred, 23, Lola, 17, Ellen, 15, and Paul’s sister-in-law Salome Schumm, age 47. Paul was a farmer and daughter Mildred was a secretary at an elevator. In fact, Mildred worked at the grain elevator in Willshire, where a few years later she trained my mother in the ins and outs of bookkeeping. [4]
Lydia Schumm died at home on 10 May 1967, at the age of 83 years, 7 months, and 28 days. She was buried on 14 May, with Rev. Elmer Braun in charge of the service. According to Zion Schumm’s records survivors included her husband; daughters Mildred Franz, Delores, Lola, and Ellen Black; sisters Hilda, Salome, and Elizabeth Linser; a brother Arnold; and 2 grandchildren.
Paul E. Schumm died at the Van Wert County Hospital on 8 September 1970, at the age of 82 years, 8 days. He was buried on 12 September, with Rev. Robert Schuler in charge of the service. According to church records survivors included four daughters; one brother, Oscar; and 2 grandchildren.
Paul and Lydia had the following children:
“Mildred” Maria (1916-2004), married Christian Franz
“Dolores” Minnie (1919-2014)
“Lola” Thelma (1922- )
“Ellen” May (1925- ), married Ray Black
[1] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, ED 114, p.1B, dwelling 15, family 15, Mary Schumm, from FHL microfilm 1375251, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1238.
[2] U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 April 2015), from NARA microfilm M1509, roll 1851249.
[3] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, ED 146, p.4B, dwelling 81, Paul E. Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 April 2015); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1446.
[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, Ed 81-26, p.8A, house no. 164, Paul Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 April 2015); from NARA microfilm T627, roll 3163.