Theodore G & Leona (Stetler) Schumm, Willshire Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio (2023 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of Theodore G. and Leona (Stetler) Schumm, located in Section 3, row 13 of Willshire Cemetery, Willshire, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
SCHUMM
Theodore G.
1898-1967
Leona
1906-1971
Theodore Gottlieb “Pete” Schumm was born in Van Wert County, Ohio, on 21 May 1898, the third and youngest child born to Henry (1844-1922) and Anna Magdalene “Lena” (Geisler) (1868-1946) Schumm. Henry and Anna Magdalene married in 1891. This was Henry’s second marriage and they had three sons, Louis, Herman, and Theodore. Henry’s first wife, Anna Rosina Schinnerer, died in 1890, leaving widower Henry with nine children.
The Henry Schumm family in 1900, when son Theodore was just 2 years old: Henry, 55; Lena, 32; John, 26; Mina, 23; Hannah, 22; Gustav, 18; William, 16; Tillie, 14; Joseph, 12; Louis, 8; Herman, 6; and Theodore, 2. That enumeration indicates that the father Henry was a farmer, that Henry and Magdalene were married nine years, and that three of their three children were living. [1]
By 1910 most of the Schumm children had left home and only the three youngest sons lived with their parents: Louis F, 18; Harmon [sic], 16; and Taylor [sic], 11. Son Herman was enumerated as Harmon, and Theodore was enumerated as Taylor. This enumeration also indicates that Henry and Lena had been married 19 years, that this was Henry’s second marriage and Magdalene’s first, and that three of their four children were living. [2] Was there a fourth child born to Henry and Magdalene, a child born and died between 1900-1910? A child who is unaccounted for? A fourth child is not included in Zion Schumm’s records or county birth and death searches.
Theodore Schumm registered for the WWI draft on 12 September 1918. He was 20 years old, born 21 May 1898, and described as slender, medium height, with brown eyes and hair. His occupation farming and Henry Schumm was given as his nearest relative. [3]
Theodore Schumm WWI Draft Registrarion
By 1920, Theodore, 21, was the only one of Henry Schumm’s children who still lived at home and helped on the farm. [4]
Theodore Schumm married Leona Stetler on 25 December 1922, married by Zion Schumm’s Rev. Bienert. Leona was 17 years of age and her father Frank Stetler gave his consent for her to marry. [5]
Frank Stetler gives his permission for daughter Leona to marry Theodore Schumm, 1922
Marriage record of Theodore Schumm & Leona Stetler, 1922, Van Wert County, Ohio
Leona Stetler was born in Black Creek Township, Mercer County, Ohio, on 17 June 1906, the daughter of Frank (1867-1937) and Sarah E. (Rumple) (1867-1938) Stetler. Leona was the eighth of ten children.
The Frank Stetler family in 1910: Frank, 52; Sarah E, 42; Walter G, 16; Earl L, 14; Ralph, 12; Nellie V, 10; Savada, 8; Virgia M, 7; Mary J, 5; Leona, 3; Gertrude A, 1; and Conrad Rumple, uncle. The father Frank was a farmer. [6]
In 1920, Leona, age 13, lived with her parents and four of her siblings on Walcott Street in Willshire. Her father Frank worked in the trucking business. [7]
Theodore Schumm married Leona Stetler in 1922 and by 1930 they had three sons. In 1930 the family lived on Riley Street in Willshire, parents and sons Henry, 5, Frederick, 3, and William, 8 months. The father Theodore worked as a farm laborer. [8]
In 1940 the Theodore Schumm family of five lived in Willshire and Theodore worked as a mill man at a grain elevator. [9]
The Theodore Schumm family in 1950, living in the village of Willshire: Theodore G, 52, head; Leona, 43, wife; William L, 20, son, single; Frederick L, 23, son, married; Rose Mary J Schuman [sic], 17, daughter-in-law, married; Thomas A Schuman [sic], less than a year, born in July, grandson. Theodore worked as a machine operator in the electric motor manufacturing industry. [10]
Theodore Schumm died in Van Wert on 20 September 1967, aged 69 years.
THEODORE G. SCHUMM
WILLSHIRE — Theodore G. (Pete) Schumm, 69, of Willshire, died at 8:45 a.m. today in Van Wert County Hospital. He had been ill several years and had been a hospital patient nine days.
Born May 21, 1898, in Willshire Township, he was the son of Henry and Magdelena (Giessler) Schumm. He was married Dec. 25, 1922, to Leona Stetler.
Survivors include three sons, Henry L., Frederick L. and William L., all of Willshire; two brothers, Louis F. of Willshire, and Herman A. of Port Gibson, N. Y.; a half-sister, Mrs. Ernest (Matilda) Merkle of Ohio City; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. [11]
Widow Leona (Stetler) Schumm died 19 June 1971 in Van Wert, at the age of 65.
LEONA SCHUMM
WILLSHIRE – Leona Schumm, 65, of Willshire, died at 5:06 p.m. Saturday in Van Wert County Hospital where she had been admitted a few hours earlier. Death was unexpected.
Born June 17, 1906, in Mercer County, she was the daughter of Frank and Sarah (Rumple) Stetler. She was an employee of The Dinner Bell Restaurant in Willshire for several years and was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, and its Ladies Aid Society. Mrs. Schumm was also a member of the Willshire American Legion Auxiliary.She was married to Theodore (Pete) Schumm on Dec. 25, 1922. He died Sept 20, 1967.
Survivors include three sons, Henry L. of Syracuse, Ind., and Frederick L. and William L., both of Willshire; four sisters, Mrs. Fred (Vada) Marbaugh of Rt. 1, Willshire, Mrs. Virgie Harman of Decatur, Mrs. Roy (Mary) Case of Willshire and Mrs. Gertrude Coil of Venedocia; 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A sister and four brothers preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Zion Lutheran church, Schumm, with the Rev. Robert Schuler officiating. Burial will be in Willshire Cemetery. Friends may call at the Zwick Funeral Home, Decatur, after 7 p.m. today and until 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and at the church one hour prior to the services.
Theodore and Leona (Stetler) Schumm) had the following children:
Henry Leo Schumm (1924-2005), married Norma Jean Carr
Frederick Louis “Fritz” Schumm, married Rosemary Ilo Fisher
William Laverne “Bill” Schumm (1929-2013), married Dorothy Ellen Ketrow
[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 97, p.8, dwelling 170, family 183, Henry Schumm; Ancestry.com.
[2] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 114, p.3A, dwelling & family 50, Henry Schumm; Ancestry.com.
[3] Ohio, Van Wert County, WWI Draft Registration, Theodre [sic] G Schumm; Ancestry.com.
[4] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.6A, dwelling 117, family 118, Henry Schumm; Ancestry.com.
[5] Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993, Van Wert Marriages 1921-1935, p. 138, Theodore G Schumm & Leona G Stettler [sic], 25 Dec 1922; Ancestry.com.
[6] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.5B, dwelling & family 106, Frank Stetler; Ancestry.com.
[7] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 146, p.8A, dwelling 43, family 44, Frank Stettler [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[8] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 22, p.1A, dwelling & family 5, Theadora Schummer [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[9] 1940 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-26, p.2B, household 45, Theodore Schman [sic]; Ancestry.
[10] 1950 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 81-38, dwelling 154, Theodore G Schuman [sic]; Ancestry.com.
[11] Theodore G Schumm Find a Grave.com, memorial no. 58943177, Willshire Cemetery, citing the Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 20 Sep 1967.
[12] Leona (Stetler) Schumm, Find a Grave.com, memorial no. 58942981, Willshire Cemetery, citing the Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 21 June 1971.
