Tombstone Tuesday–Michael & Margaret (Kuehm) Schott

Michael & Margaret Schott, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

Michael & Margaret Schott, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. (2011 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Michael and Margaretha (Kuehm) Schott, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

SCHOTT
Michael
1855-1940

Margaret
1855-1942

According to Zion Chatt’s records Michael Schott was born in 28 October 1855 in Mercer County, Ohio. He was the son of Michael and Catharina (Brechheiser) Schott. His mother Catharina was born 10 November 1821 in Schwindratzheim, Elsass, the daughter of Georg and Barbara Brechheiser.

His parents were married in Elsass [France] in 1844 and had three children in Iffenheim, Elsass, before immigrating to America in 1855. They settled in Mercer County, Ohio, and Michael [Jr] was born in Washington Township later that same year. He was confirmed at Zion 1869.

Michael [Sr] died 25 March 1858 and his widow Catharine married Nicholas Martin 6 June 1861 in Mercer County. [1] Nicholas died 30 August 1879 [2] and Catharine married Johann Dietrich Sundmacher on 20 May 1880 in Mercer County. [3] Katherine died 10 November 1893 and is buried in Kessler’s Cemetery.

Margaretha “Margaret” Kuehm was born in 1855 in Schillersdorf, Elsass, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Mueller) Kuhm. Their family immigrated in about 1872.

Michael Schott married Margaret Kuehm on 12 November 1874 at Zion Chatt. Witnesses to the ceremony were Jacob Kessler and Anna Drewes.

Michael and Margaretha Schott had the following children. All were baptized at Zion Chatt and all but Georg Ferdinand were confirmed there.

Georg Ferdinand (1876-1877)
Elisabeth Barbara (1878-1931), never married
August Michael (1879-1961), married Almeda M. Roehm
Friedrich William (1881-1936), married Wilhelmina “Minnie” Emerich
Maria “Mary” Katharina (1886-1918), married William Laderman
Lorina “Laura” Barbara (1888-1943), married Frank Swander
Walter “Albert” Jakob (1893-aft. 1942), never married?
Margaretha “Maggie” Olga (1895-1979), married Otto Bollenbacher

Michael Schott died 20 January 1940 at the age of 84 years, 2 months, and 23 days. His widow Margaretha (Kuehm) Schott passed away on 13 August 1942, at the age of 87 years, 3 months, and 18 days.

Their lengthy obituaries are below:

Funeral for Aged Man Held Monday
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at Zion’s Lutheran Church in Chattanooga for the late Michael Schott of Liberty township. The pastor, Rev. Carl Yahl, was in charge of the last sad rites, and burial was made in the church cemetery.

The obituary read at the funeral was as follows:

Michael Schott, son of Michael Schott and Catherine nee Brechheiser, was born October 28, 1855, in Washington township, Mercer county, Ohio.

At an early age he moved to Liberty township, Mercer county, Ohio, where he spent, with the exception of a year or so when he lived in Fort Wayne and Adams county, Ind., the rest of his life. For the last five years, he and his life companion to whom he had been married for over sixty-five years, lived with his son-in-law and daughter who tenderly nursed him in his last illness, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Bollenbacher. He was privileged to end his days on the farm which had been the family homestead for many years.

Baptized at an early age by the Rev. Locker, he was confirmed at the age of 14 in the Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, by the Rev. Geo. Heintz.

On November 12, 1874, he was married to Margaret Kuehm, who is still living, with whom he was privileged to celebrate a fiftieth and sixtieth wedding anniversary. This union was blessed with a number of children.

Those living are: August Schott, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Mrs. Frank Swander, Auburn, Ind.; Albert Schott, Auburn, Ind.; Mrs. Otto Bollenbacher, Liberty township, Mercer county, O. The children who preceded their father are: George Ferdinand, Mary Ladderman, Elizabeth Schott and Frederick Schott.

Twenty-eight grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren mourn his departure.

Mr. Schott was preceded into eternity by his parents, one brother and two sisters: Jacob Schott, Mrs. Mary Martin and Mrs. Barbara Huffman. He was the last one of the family.

From the time when he was confirmed, he remained a faithful and esteemed member of Zion Lutheran congregation. For many years, he served on the church council, at one time for eleven consecutive years. He sang in the choir and at all times took an interest in the work of the church. He was one of the oldest members of the congregation.

He engaged in farming practically all of his life. He will be remembered for his kind and jovial disposition and friendliness. He is remembered and esteemed by many.

His sickness began with an infection of the brain followed by pneumonia. He was called home early Saturday morning, Jan. 20, 1940, at 12:35, at the age of 84 years, 2 months and 23 days. [4]

Aged Chattanooga Lady Dies Thursday
Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon from the Zion Lutheran church at Chattanooga for Mrs. Margaretha Schott, who passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Otto Bollenbacher, Thursday, August 13. Interment was made in the church cemetery, nearby, in charge of S.S. Buchanan and Son, Willshire morticians. The services were conducted by Rev. Carl Yahl, who read the following obituary:

Margaretha Kuehm Schott was born April 26, 1855, in Schillersdorf, Elsass Lorain. She was the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Mueller Kuehm and migrated with her parents to America in 1872, settling in Adams county, Ind.

On November 12, 1874, she was married to Michael Schott by Pastor Philip Schmidt. She and her husband moved to Ohio, where they lived together for 65 years in the vicinity where both passed away. Mr. Schott died January 20, 1940.

Of the children born to this union, four are still living. They are: August M. Schott, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Mrs. Frank Swander, Auburn, Ind.; Albert Schott, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Mrs. Otto Bollenbacher, near Chattanooga, O. The children who have passed away are: George Schott, Elizabeth Schott, Mrs. Mary Laderman and Frederic W. Schott. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Five great grandchildren are deceased.

Grandmother Schott came from a family of eight children. Of her brothers and sisters, two are still living. They are: Michael Kuehm, Elkhart, Ind., and Katherine Huser, Mars, Pa. Those who are deceased are: George Kuehm, Jacob Kuehm, Mrs. Mary Berron, Mrs. Barbara Pfeifer and Lena Kuehm.

Mrs. Schott was baptized in infancy and confirmed in the Lutheran church of the land of her birth. After coming to this country, she united with the Zion Lutheran Church, Chattanooga, Ohio, remaining a member until the day of her death. For a number of years she did not attend regularly because of physical infirmities. Several years ago she was made an honorary member of the Ladies’ Aid and Missionary Society. Before her decease, she was the oldest living member of the congregation.

It can be well said of her that she was of a friendly disposition. A person well thought of by those who knew her.

Four weeks ago, she took to her bed due to complications and old age. During the time of her last illness, she was patiently and tenderly cared for by her daughter, Mrs. Otto Bollenbacher, with whom she had made her home for a number of years. Death came at three o’clock in the morning on Thursday, August 13, 1942, at the age of 87 years, 3 months and 18 days. [5]

 

[1] “Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958,” index, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 1 September 2014), Nicholas Maratain and Catherine Schott, 6 June 1861; citing Mercer, Ohio, Vol. 3, p. 6, from FHL microfilm 0914956.

[2] “Ohio, Deaths and burials, 1854-1997,” index, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 1 September 2014), Nicholis Martin, 30 August 1879; citing Mercer County, Ohio, Vol. 1, p.124, from FHL microfilm 914954.

[3] “Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958,” index, FamilySearch (www.FamilySearch.org : accessed 1 September 2014), John D. Sundmacher and Catharine Martin, 20 May 1880; citing Mercer, Ohio, Vol. 4, p. 165, from FHL microfilm 914956.

[4] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 25 January 1940, p. 1,7.

[5] The Willshire Herald,Willshire, Ohio, 20 August 1942, p. 1,2.

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