John Kreiselmeyer, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)
This is the tombstone of John Kreiselmeyer, located in row 5 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
John
Kreiselmeyer
Died
20 Jul 1887
Aged
32 y. 8 m. 21 d.
Johann “John” Kreiselmeyer was born 29 November 1854 in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, the son of Christoph and Susanna (Schwab) Kreiselmeyer. According to the records of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, he was baptized at home on 3 December 1854 with Johann Brenner and his wife Elisabetha serving as sponsors.
John Kreiselmeyer, living with his family in Willshire Township in 1860: Christoph, 38; Susanna, 28; Mary, 11; David, 9; John, 6; Hannah,1. This enumeration indicates all were born in Ohio. [1]
In 1870 John Kreiselmeyer still lived on the family farm in Willshire Township with his parents and siblings. Their household in 1870: Christoph, 48; Susanna, 39; John, 15; Hannah, 11; Fredrick, 7; Anna, 4; and William, 11 months. This enumeration indicates that the father was born in Bavaria and the other family members were born in Ohio. [2]
John Kreiselmeyer married his neighbor Emma Seaman sometime between 1870 and 1880, but I could not find a record of their marriage. The Kreiselmeyers and Seamans lived near each other for years and both families attended Zion Schumm, so I assumed John and Emma would have married at Zion Schumm. But their marriage is not in their records. [I am using the most common spelling here, Seaman, although it is spelled as Seemann in Zion Schumm’s records.]
In 1880 John and Emma [Seaman] Kreiselmeyer lived in Willshire Township with her parents John and Anna Maria Seaman. The John and Emma Kreiselmeyer household in 1880: John [Seaman], 65; Anna Maria [Seaman], 61, John [Kreiselmeyer], 28; Emma [Kreiselmeyer], 21; and Fredric Rattach, 21. They were farmers and Rattach was their farm laborer. Emma’s parents were born in Wuerttemberg and John and Emma were born in Ohio. [3]
The church records indicate that John Kreiselmeyer died of typhoid fever at 3:30 in the afternoon of 20 July 1887. He was 32 years, 8 months, and 20 days old and was buried on the 22nd. His funeral text was John 8:51.
Van Wert County Death Records indicate that John died of bilious fever, a term used for a fever that was accompanied by nausea or vomiting and strong diarrhea. His probate death record indicates he was born in Willshire Township, where he also died, and that he was married. This record shows he was 32 years, 8 months, and 21 days old, one day older that the church record indicates. [4]
It appears John that John and Emma did not have any children. John’s widow Emma died 4 April 1896 and is buried in row 7 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery.
John Kreiselmeyer, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)
[1] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire Twp, Van Wert Co, Oh, p.150 [penned], dwelling 1072, family 1066, Christopher Railselmeyers [Kreiselmeyer]; Ancestry.com (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7667&path= : viewed 17 Sep 2018).
[2] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.436A [stamped], dwelling 95, family 96, Christ Kreisshenier; Ancestry.com ( https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?htx=List&dbid=7163&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 : viewed 1 Oct 2018).
[3] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.449A [stamped], family 113, John Kreiselmyer; Ancestry.com (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?htx=List&dbid=6742&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 : viewed 1 Oct 2018).
[4] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-672G-MH?i=312&cc=2128172 : viewed 1 Oct 2018), John Kreiselmeyer, 20 Jul 1887; Willshire Twp., Van Wert County Deaths, p.282, no. 153; FHL microfilm 1015858.
