Tombstone Tuesday–Sophie Schulz

Sophie Schulz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Sophie Schulz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Sophie Schulz, located in row 1 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

MUTTER
Hier Ruhet in Gott
Sophie Schulz
18 Juli 1843
28 Juli 1910

Translation: Mother. Here rests in God, Sophie Schulz, 18 July 1843-28 July 1910.

The surname was also spelled as Schultz in some of Zion’s records. I will use the Schulz spelling, as is written on her tombstone.

Sophie Schulz was born 18 July 1843 in Germany and very likely immigrated with her daughter around 1892. [1] Sophie’s son may have immigrated with them at the same time. I suspect that Sophie was a widow when she came to America. Her father’s surname looks like Butchorn on her death record but her mother’s maiden name was not known on that record. [2]

In 1900 Sophie, listed as mother-in-law, was living with her daughter Marie S. and her husband Louis Brandt. Sophie was a 56 year-old widow, born in Germany. She was born in July 1843 and had given birth to two children, both of whom were still living. This enumeration indicates that Sophie and her daughter Marie immigrated 1892. [1]

Sophie Schulz 1910 death certificate, FamilySearch.org.

Sophie Schulz 1910 death certificate, FamilySearch.org. [2]

Sophie was still living with her daughter Marie and son-in-law Louis Brandt in 1910. They lived on Brandt Pike in Blackcreek Township and Sophie was shown as a widow, 67 years old, born in Germany. She had given birth to 2 children and they were both living. This record indicates that Sophie and Marie immigrated in 1894. [3]

Sophia Schulz died 28 July 1910, about three months after she was enumerated in the 1910 census. Zion’s records indicate she died of dropsy but her state death record indicates she died of chronic nephritis and indigestion. She was 67 years, 10 days old and her occupation was given as housekeeper. Her daughter Marie Brandt of Willshire was the informant for Sophia’s death information. [2] Sophie was buried on the 31st. Survivors included 1 son and 1 daughter.

Sophie’s daughter Marie Schulz was the second wife of Louis Brandt. They married about 1896 and had the following children: Louis Ernst James (1898-1976), Emil Friedrich (1900-1954), and Martha Margaretha (1901-1979). Marie died in Minnesota in 1928 while visiting a relative.

I have a theory that Sophie’s son was Rev. Ernst Schulz. He is mentioned in Zion’s records as a baptismal sponsor for Louis Ernst James Brandt (1898-1976), the son of Louis and Marie (Schulz) Brandt. If my theory is correct, Ernst would have been Marie’s brother, a good choice for the baptismal sponsor of his nephew. In addition, a child was usually named after his/her sponsor and would be Ernst’s namesake.

One Ernest George Henry Schulz, born 18 March 1871 in Schwarmatedt, Germany, died 5 June 1924 in Jacksonville, Florida. His parents were Ernest and Sophie (Bluethorn) Schulz. His occupation was Minister of the Gospel. [4] This could very well be Sophie’s son.

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 74, p.13A, dwelling & family 261, Louis Brandt; digital images by subscription Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Aug 2015); from FHL microfilm 1241303, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1303.

[2] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 30 Aug 2015), Sophie Schulz, 28 Jul 1910; citing Blackcreek Twp., Mercer, Ohio, Ohio Dept. of Health; from microfilm 1952492.

[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 107, p.8A, dwelling 166, family 167, Marie L. Brandt; digital images by subscription Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 Aub 2015); from FHL microfilm 1375227, from NARA microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[4] “Florida Deaths, 1877-1939,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 30 August 2015), Ernest George Henry Schulz, 5 June 1924; citing Jacksonville, Duval, FL reference 7873; from FHL microfilm 2116304.

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