Tombstone Tuesday-Pvt. Edgar F. Schumm

PVT. Edgar F. Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2020 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Edgar F. Schumm, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

1914-1944
PVT. Edgar F. Schumm
Died in battle at Montigny,
France

Edgar Friedrich Schumm was born near Rockford, Mercer County, Ohio, on 18 November 1914, the son of William and Amanda (Reidenbach) Schumm. He was baptized at home by Rev. George J. Meyer on 6 December 1914, with Victor Schumm and Theodore Hoffmann serving as his sponsors.     

Edgar’s mother Amanda died on 17 August 1916, a few hours after the birth of their third child. Edgar’s father William Schumm married Minnie “Mina” Gunsett in Van Wert County on 2 May 1918. [1]

The William Schumm family in 1920, when son Edgar was 5 years old: William, 35; Mina, 33; Reinhart, 7; Edgar, 5; Amanda, 3; and Margaret, 3 months. The father William was a farmer. [2]

The William Schumm family in 1930, when son Edgar was 15: William, 44; Mina, 42; Reinhart, 17; Edgar, 15 Amanda, 13; Margaret, 10; Richard, 7; and Elmer, 5. They lived near Philip Schumm and his family, west of Rockford. [3]

Edgar’s 1940 census enumeration is interesting. His name is written at the very end of the Black Creek Township section and is grouped with the Ben Bollenbacher family on the Ancestry.com index. Edgar Schumm’s name is the last name written but the enumerator indicates that he was actually enumerated with Black Creek household number 3, which is the William L. Schumm household. It shows Edgar’s enumeration was a continuation of household no. 3’s enumeration. I believe the person writing the census forgot to write Edgar’s name with his family and added his name at the end of the section, but still linking him to his actual family. Edgar, age 25, worked at a mill/feed factory. This enumeration also shows that the William Schumm family lived on U.S. Route 33, which was formerly US Route 54. The family: William, 55; Mina, 53; Margaret, 20; Richard, 17; and Elmer, 15. [4]

Sometime after 1940 Edgar Schumm moved to Van Dyke, Michigan, where he worked for Rotary Electric & Steel. It was there, in Michigan, that he applied for the draft and his draft registration card provides this information: Edgar Frederick Schumm, address 20741 Huron, Van Dyke, Macomb Co, Michigan; age 25, born in Rockford 18 Nov 1914; 5’5”, 150 pounds, gray eyes, brown hair, light complexion. Employer: Rotary Elec. Steel, Mound Road, Warren, Macomb Co, Michigan. Lawrence W. Schumm, RR2, Rockford, was the person who would always know his address. [5]

Private Edgar F. Schumm went overseas to battle in Europe in April 1944 and was killed in action 13 November 1944 on the battlefield in Montigny, France. He was 29 years, 11 months, and 25 days old.  

A Rockford soldier, Pvt. Edgar Schumm, has been killed in action in Germany according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Schumm. He met death on Nov. 13, the war department message said. [6]

Another:

Mr. and Mrs. William Schumm of west of Rockford have been notified that their son, Pvt. Edgar F. Schumm was killed in action in Europe Nov. 13. He had been in the service for a year and was sent overseas last April.

Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Margaret of Van Wert and Amanda of Harrison township, and three brothers, Elmer at home, Richard with the Marines on Guam island and Rinehart, in an Army camp in Virginia. [7]

His name is listed among those on Mercer County’s WWII Roll of Honor, listed as EF Schumm:

WWII Roll of Honor, Mercer County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

How difficult it would have been for Edgar’s family, losing a son in battle and having two other sons serving in the war at the same time.

Edgar Schumm had the following full siblings:
Reinhart Waldo (1912-1986), married Frieda Oleta Etzler
Amanda Barbara (1916-1965) married Leonard Etzler

Edgar Schumm had the following half siblings:
Margaret Louise (1919-2009), married Charles Shaffer
Richard E (1922-1990), married Eileen H. Swanson
Elmer Jacob (1924-1963), married Esther Ferne Schmid

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Van Wert County, Vol. 15, p.200, Lawrence William Schumm & Mina Catharine Genosett; 12 May 1918 database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-67ZG-D7?i=140&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AZZ18-KZMM : viewed 20 Sep 2020).

[2] 1920 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 124, p.1B, dwelling & family 13, LW Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/ : viewed 28 Sep 2020).

[3] 1930 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 1, p.1A, dwelling & family 3, L William Schwinn; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : viewed 28 Sep 2020).

[4] 1940 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 54-1, p.61A, line 26, house visited 3, Edgar Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/ : viewed 28 Sep 2020).

[5] WWII Draft Registration Cards for Michigan, 1940-1947, Records of Selective Service System, 147, box 1067, Edgar Frederick Schumm; Ancestry.com.

[6] Greenville Daily Advocate, Greenville, Ohio, 6 Dec 1944, p.6; digital image, Newspapers.com.

[7] The Journal Herald, Dayton, Ohio, 10 Dec 1944, p.12; digital image, Newspapers.com.

 

 

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