Tombstone Tuesday–Sophia (Becher) Germann

Sophia (Becher) Germann, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

Sophia (Becher) Germann, Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Sophia (Becher) Germann, located in row 3 of the Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Ohio City, located on German Church Road, Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Sophia
Ehefrau von
J.B. Germann
1855-1920
GERMANN
Text: 1 Tim. 6, 12

Translation: Sophia, wife of J.B. Germann, 1855-1920, GERMANN.

Sophia Becher was born 4 November 1855 in Mercer County, Ohio, the first child born to John and Anna Maria (Becker) Becher. Sophia’s father John was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria and her mother was born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Sophia’s parents were married on 22 January 1855 by Rev. JD Gackenheimer, and theirs was the first marriage entered in Zion Chatt’s records. The Bechers lived west of Chatt, on the Ohio side of the state line, and they attended church at Zion Chatt.

Sophia’s baptism is not recorded in Zion Chatt’s records but she was confirmed there on 21 March 1869.

Sophia Becher married Jacob Peter Germann on 14 November 1873 at Zion Chatt. Their witnesses were Carl Stamm & 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. Jacob was the son of Peter and Katherine (Dietrich) Germann.

In 1880 Jacob and Sophia 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. [1]

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. [2]

Sophia was enumerated in the 1920 census, taken on 4 February 1920, less than two weeks before she died. The Jacob Germann household in 1920: Jacob B, 69; Sophia, 64; Lydia, 30; Oscar, 27; and Esther, 24. [3]

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

Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio

Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio

Sophia’s husband Jacob died 4 April 1926 in Van Wert County and he is buried in row 2, not far from Sophia.

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] 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.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

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