Tombstone Tuesday-John, John Jr, & Jacob Rodes

John, John Jr, & Jacob Rodes, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of John Rodes Jr, Jacob Rodes, and John Rodes, located in row 3 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

John Rodes, Jr
Died
May 29, 1851
Aged
55 Y’s, 27 D’s

Jacob Rodes
Died
Aug. 4, 1846
Aged
44 Y’rs, 5 M

John Rodes
Died
16 Aug 1843
Aged
88 Y’s

The names inscribed on this old marble tombstone are somewhat of a mystery. The surname on the tombstone clearly looks like Rodes, but the name in Zion’s church records, written in the old German script, looks like Roth.

Zion Schumm’s death records begin in 1846, so the older John’s death is not recorded there. But the other two deaths and burials are recorded, but both are recorded as what looks like the name “Roth.”

Jacob “Roth” died 4 August 1846, according to his tombstone. He was 44 years, 4 months, and 26 days old and was buried on the 8th, according to the church records. His calculated date of birth would be 9 March 1802.

John “Roth” [Jr] died 31 May 1851 at 9:00 at night, aged 54 years, 11 months, and 2 days.  He was buried on 2 June, all according to the church records. His death date in the church records differs slightly from that on the tombstone. His calculated date of birth would be about 29 June 1796.

The third name, inscribed on the south face of the tombstone, is that of John Rodes [Sr], who died 16 August 1843, at the age of 88 years. His calculated date of birth would be about 1755.

The inscription could be that of a father and his two sons.

I found neither of these surnames (Roth/Rodes) in a search of Willshire Township in the 1840 and 1850 censuses.

In addition, there is a flagstaff by the tombstone. Did the elder Rodes serve in the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812?  

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