Tombstone Tuesday–Leonard & Katharine (Rettig) Stegmeier

Leonard & Katharine Stegmeier, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Leonard and Katharine (Rettig) Stegmeier, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

STEGMEIER
Leonard
1856-1940

Katherine
1860-1927

According to the records of Zion Lutheran, Schumm, Leonard G. Stegmeier was born in Steinbach, Wuerttemberg, on 13 May 1856. He immigrated in 1879, according to 1900 census, but I do not know where he was living in 1880. His death certificate indicates his mother was Mary Bauman, but does not give his father’s name.

Leonard Stegmeier married Katharine Rettig on 13 Sep 1883 at her parents’ home in Van Wert County. Both Leonard and Katharine were from Zion Schumm’s parish and were married by Zion’s Rev. Seemeyer. Their marriage is also recorded in Van Wert County. [1]

Leah “Katherine” Rettig was born in Willshire Township on 4 May 1860, according to the records of Zion Schumm and according to her death certificate. She was the daughter of Johann and Friedericke (Gutheil) Rettig. Her mother was born in Germany and her father probably was, too. The Rettig family resided in Willshire Township by July 1860. [2] The father, John Rettig, was not enumerated in the household with the family in 1860 and he probably died sometime between September 1859 and July 1860. According to the 1860 Mortality Schedule, one John Rechick, age 42, married, farmer, died of erysipelas in Willshire Township in March 1860. This could very well be Katharine’s father. The dates between Katherine’s conception, her father’s death, and her mother’s second marriage match. John Rettig was likely buried in Zion Schumm’s cemetery, but apparently his tombstone did not survive.

The Rettig household in 1860: Friedericke, 34 [female]; Charles, 8; Mary A, 6; John, 3; Friedrick, 1; and Katharine, 2 months. [3]

With five young children under the age of 9 to raise, Katherine’s widowed mother Friedericke married widower Andreas Roehm at Zion Schumm on 8 November 1860. Andreas Roehm’s first wife Katharine Bienz had died in 1858, leaving behind several children for Andreas to raise. Andreas Roehm and his second wife Friedericke (Gutheil) Rettig Roehm had several children of their own. [4]

By 1870 the Roehm and Rettig households were combined: Andreas Roehm, 56; Friedericke [Gutheil Rettig] Roehm, 43; Jacob Roehm, 23; Henry Roehm, 19; Emmanuel Roehm, 16; Anna Roehm, 13; Charles Rettig, 18; Mary Rettig, 16; John Rettig, 13; Fredrick Rettig, 11; and Katharine Rettig, 10. [5]  

The Andrew Roehm family in 1880: Andrew, 66; Friedericka, 56; Katherine, 18 [step-daughter, shown as Katherine Roehm, actually was Katharine Rettig]; George Roehm, 17, son; Magdalena Roehm, 15, daughter; Susanah Roehm, daughter, 14; and Rosanah Roehm, daughter, 11. [6]

Katherine Rettig married Leonard Stegmeier in 1883.

The Leonard Stegmeier family in 1900, living near Willshire: Leonard, 43; Katharine, 40; Charles G, 16; Anton G, 14; and Nettie, 2. The father Leonard was a farmer, born in Germany, who immigrated in 1879. Everyone else in the household was born in Ohio. Katharine had given birth to 4 children and 3 were living. [7] 

In 1910 the Leonard Stegmeier family resided in Willshire Township, where Leonard farmed: Leonard, 55; Katharine, 49; Carl, 26; Anthony, 23; and Nettie, 12. This enumeration indicates that Leonard immigrated in 1870. [8]

Katherine’s mother Friedericke (Gutheil) Rettig Roehm died 9 September 1910, at the age of 83 years.

The Leonard Stegmeier family in 1920: Leonard, 64; Katharine, 59; Charles, 34; and Nettie 22. Karl worked on the farm and his sister was a servant for a family. This enumeration shows that the father Leonhard immigrated in 1881. [9]

Katherine (Rettig) Stegmeier died of a heart condition (mitral regurgitation) in Willshire Township on 16 November 1927, at the age of 67 years, 6 months, and 12 days. Her death certificate does not give her father’s given name but gives her mother’s name as Friedericka Gutheil. [10] Kathrine was buried on the 19th.

In 1930, widower Leonard Stegmeier lived with his son Carl in Willshire Township. This enumeration indicates Lenhard immigrated in 1886, which is incorrect, since he married in Van Wert County in 1883. [11]

In 1940, 83 year-old widower Leonard Stegmeier lived with his son 56 year-old single son Carl in Willshire Township. [12]

Leonard G. Stegmeier died of apoplexy at Convoy, Ohio, on 16 December 1940 at the age of 84 years, 7 months, and 3 days. He was buried on the 18th. [13]  

Leonard and Katharine (Rettig) Stegmeier had the following children:
Karl George (1884-1954), never married
George Adam Anton “Anthony” (1886-1929), married Anna Giessler
Friedrich Johann (1890-1892)
“Antoinette”/”Nettie” Elisabeth Martha (1897-1983), married James A. Bell

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” Van Wert County, Vol.6:269, Leonharolt Steigmeier & Katharine Rettig, 13 Sep 1883; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-65X8-L9?i=174&cc=1614804 : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

[2] Zion Schumm’s records indicate that Katherine Rettig’s sister Maria Rettig (who married George Grund) was born in Marion, Ohio, on 11 November 1853. Their records also indicate that Maria was the daughter of Johann and Friedericke Rettig. Thus, the family moved from the Marion to Van Wert County before 1860.

[3] 1860 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.423, dwelling 1045, family 1039, Frederic Redich; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1860usfedcenancestry/ : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

[4] The children of Andreas and Friedericke (Gutheil) Rettig Roehm who were mentioned in Zion’s records: George Adam Roehm, b.1862; Elisabeth Magdalene Roehm, b. 1864; Susanna Catharine Roehm, b.1866; and Rosina Isabella Roehm, b.1869.    

[5] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p.439 A, dwelling, 132, family 133, Andrew Roehm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1870usfedcen/ : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

[6] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.449B, family 120, Andrew Roehm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1880usfedcen/ : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

[7] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 98, p.12 [penned], p.311A [stamped], dwelling 224, family 229, L Stegmeyer; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com;  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1900usfedcen/ : viewed 7 May 2019)

[8] 1910 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert Ohio, Ed 113, p.6A, dwelling 61, family 62, Leonard Stegmeier; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1910uscenindex/ : viewed 10 Jun 2019).

[9] 1920 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 145, p.3A [penned], p.272 [stamped], dwelling & family 52, Leonard Stegmeier; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1920usfedcen/ : viewed 7 May 2019).   

[10] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” Willshire, Van Wert County, Catherine Stegmeier, 16 Nov 1927; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPK4-9RXF?i=857&cc=1307272 : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

[11] 1930 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 24, p.7B, dwelling 162, family 165, Lenhard Stegmeier; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com  (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1930usfedcen/ : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

[12] 1940 U.S. Census Willshire, Van Wert Ohio, ED 81-28, p.6A, household 110, Leonard Stegemeyer; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1940usfedcen/ : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

[13] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1853,” Convoy, Van Wert, Leonard Stegmeier, 16 Dec 1940; database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G574-9MTV?i=1885&cc=1307272 : viewed 24 Jun 2019).

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