Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob B. Germann

Jacob B Germann, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Ohio City, OH. (2014 photo by Karen)

Jacob B Germann, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Ohio City, OH. (2014 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Jacob B. Germann, located in row 2 of the Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Ohio City, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Jacob B.
1850-1926
1 Cor. 15. 12-23
GERMANN

Jacob Germann was born 4 September 1850, the son of Peter and Catherine/Katherine (Dietrich) Germann.

It appears that his parents Peter and Catherine Germann were not members of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, but one of their children was baptized there, their daughter Maria Catharine. She was born 29 December 1858 and was baptized at Zion Schumm on 23 January 1859, with GP Germann, Heinrich Germann, Mrs. Dietrich senior, and Mar. Stamm serving as her baptismal sponsors.

The Peter Germann household in 1860, the first census Jacob appears in: Peter, 37, born in Ohio; Catharine, 28, Hesse-Darmstadt; Jacob, 10, Ohio; Elizabeth, 6, Ohio; and Catharine, 2, Ohio. [1] Other records indicate that the father Peter Germann was born in Germany.

In 1870 Jacob’s father Peter Germann farmed and Jacob worked on the family farm. Their household in 1870: Peter, 47, Hesse/Hamburg; Catherine, 38, Hesse/Hamburg; Jacob, 19, Ohio; and Catherine, 11, Ohio. [2]

Jacob Germann married Sophia Becher on 14 November 1873 at Zion Lutheran Church in Chattanooga. Sophia was the daughter of John and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher. Witnesses to the Germann-Becher marriage were Carl Stamm and Maria Sechor. The groom’s name was recorded as Jacob Peter but nearly every other record, including his tombstone, shows his middle initial as B.

In 1880 Jacob and Sophia Germann lived in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. In their household: Jacob B, 29; Sophia, 24; Richard T, 4; Rudolph A, 2; and Julia AC, 1. Jacob was a farmer and Sophia kept house. [3]

The 1900 census indicates that Jacob Germann was born in September of 1850 in Ohio. This enumeration also indicates Jacob and Sophia had been married 26 years and that Sophia had given birth to 9 children, all of whom were still living. Jacob farmed and son Richard was a carpenter. Their household in 1900: Jacob, 49; Sophia, 54; Richard T, 24; August R, 22; Julia A, 21; Wm F, 18; Hugo J, 16; Walter L, 14; Lydia T, 10; Oscar E, 7; and Esther L, 5. [4]

Jacob and Sophia were still living in Harrison Township in 1910: Jacob B, 59; Sophia, 54; Walter, 24; Lydia, 20; Oscar, 17; and Esther, 15. Jacob farmed and this enumeration indicates Sophia had given birth to 9 children and all 9 were living. [5]

The Jacob Germann household in 1920: Jacob B, 69; Sophia, 64; Lydia, 30; Oscar, 27; and Esther, 24. This enumeration was taken on 4 February 1920, less than two weeks before Sophia died. [6]

Sophia (Becher) Germann died 24 February 1920 in Van Wert County, Ohio. She was buried on the 27th.

Jacob B. Germann died of lobar pneumonia 4 April 1926 in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. He was buried one row away from his wife on the 7th. His death certificate indicates he was born on 4 September 1850. WL Germann of Van Wert was the informant for the information on the death certificate.  [7] [8]

Jacob and Sophia (Becher) Germann had the following children:
Richard Theodore (1876-1940), married Mary G Reidenbach
Rudolph August (1878-1942), married Julia A Bolander
Julia Katharine (1879-1936), married Daniel Jacob Gunsett
William Frederick (1882-1943), married Fredona Baker
Hugo John (1884-1959), married Maude Elizabeth Berger
Walter Leo (1886-1951), married Margaret E. Saam
Lydia Theresa (1889-1958), married Arthur J Buechner
Oscar Edwin (1892-1970), married Laura L Merkle
Esther Leonora (1895-1989), married Albert Edgar Miller

 

[1] 1860 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, p.442, dwelling 1322, family 1316, Peter German; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 805045, from NARA microfilm M653, roll 1045.

[2] 1870 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, p.267A (stamped), dwelling/family 221, Peter Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 552774, from NARA microfilm M593, roll 1275.

[3] 1880 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 148, p.304C, dwelling 59, family 60, Jacob B Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 1255073, from NARA microfilm T9, roll 1073.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 79, p.27A, dwelling 281, family 284, Jacob B Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 12411329, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1329.

[5] 1910 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 90, p.16A, dwelling 281, family 290, Jacob Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Aug 2016); from FHL microfilm 1375251, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1238.

[6] 1920 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 122, p.9B, dwelling 201, family 215, Jacob B Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 Aug 2016); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 1446.

[7] Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007, database on-line, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 Aug 2016); from Ohio Division of Vital Statistics Death Certificates & Index 1908-1953, Series 3094, OHS, and ODH Index to Annual Deaths, 1958-2002, ODH, Columbus, OH.

[8] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 20 Aug 2016), Jacob B Germann, 4 Apr 1926; from Harrison, Van Wert, Oh, no. 28563; from FHL microfilm 1984303.

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