Tombstone Tuesday–Emanuel H. and Edna L. (Scaer) Schumm

Emanuel and Edna (Scaer) Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen).

Emanuel and Edna (Scaer) Schumm, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen).

This is the tombstone of Emanuel H. and Edna L. (Scaer) Schumm, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Schumm
Emanuel H.
1892-1973
Edna L.
1899-1985
Married Oct. 22, 1929

Emanuel Heinrich Johann Schumm was born 17 January 1892, the third child born to Heinrich Martin George and Henrietta Wilhelmine (Hoppe) Schumm. He was baptized at Zion Schumm on 31 January 1892, with Adam Sauer, Heinrich G. Schumm, and Mrs. [unreadable] of Rochester, Indiana, as sponsors.

A World War I flagstaff stands beside their monument, a testament of Emanuel’s military service during that war. According to his WW I Draft Registration card, dated 5 June 1917, Emanuel H. was born in Schumm, Ohio, had blue eyes, light brown hair, and a medium build. At that time he was single and worked as the manager of the Schumm elevator. [1]

Emanuel H. Schumm WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917.

Emanuel H. Schumm WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917. [1]

Emanuel enlisted in the U.S. Army 24 May 1918 and was in the 159th Depot Brigade until 21 June 1918. He was Corporal in Co. K 155th Infantry 12 August 1918; Private 19 December 1918; Corporal 26 May 1919; American Expeditionary Forces from 22 August 1918 to 17 Aug 1919; and was honorably discharged 27 August 1919. [2]  

Emanuel and Edna were married 22 October 1929 at Zion Schumm’s parsonage by Rev. R.O. Bienert. According to Zion’s records both were members of the congregation. Witnesses to the marriage were Paul and Elsie (Scaer) Roehm, Edna’s brother-in-law and sister. Emanuel and Edna lived on the south edge of the village of Schumm.

Edna L. Scaer was born 5 June 1899 near Monroeville, Allen County, Indiana, the third child born to John and Elizabeth “Lizzie” (Schinnerer) Scaer. The John Scaer family moved to east of Willshire about 1904. Edna was the sister of my grandmother Hilda (Scaer) Schumm. Edna’s maternal grandfather was Friedrich Schinnerer, the miller (1824-1905).

Scaer sisters: Elsie Roehm, Hilda Schumm, Edna Schumm.

Scaer sisters: Elsie Roehm, Hilda Schumm, Edna Schumm. c1983

Emanuel Schumm managed the grain elevator in Schumm for many years. On 16 April 1940 Emanuel  was confirmed as Schumm’s postmaster, replacing George Weinman, who served as postmaster there from 1931-1940.   Emanuel served as Schumm’s postmaster until 6 January 1953. [3] According to his obituary, Emanuel was the last postmaster at Schumm before the office was abandoned.

Edna was a housewife and mother but also worked hard helping her brother Oscar Scaer on the family farm east of Willshire. During the 1940s Edna helped care for their mother Lizzie after she suffered a stroke. Edna cared for Lizzie during the week while her sisters Hilda and Elsie cared for her during the weekends. Oscar lived in the Scare home and also helped with their mother’s care.

Emanuel passed away 3 February 1973 and Edna passed away 3 October 1985.

Emanuel and Edna Schumm had two children:

Elmer Emanuel (married Imogene Meyer)
Mary Elizabeth (married Marvin Grote)

Obituaries:

Schumm—Emanuel H. Schumm, 81, of Rt, 1, Willshire, last postmaster of the community of Schumm before abandonment of the post office, died at 6:35 p.m. Saturday in Van Wert Manor Nursing Home at Van Wert. He was also a retired grain dealer.

Surviving are his widow, Edna; a son, Elmer Schumm of New Haven; a daughter, Mrs. Marvin Grote of Rt. 2, Ohio City; two sisters Edna Schumm of Willshire and Clara Schumm of Van Wert, and two brothers, the Rev. Alfred Schumm of New Haven and Oswald of Willshire.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Zion Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Friends may call at the Zwick Funeral Home at Decatur until 11 a.m. Tuesday and then after 12:20 p.m. at the church. [4]

Edna L. Schumm
Edna L. Schumm, 86, of Rt. 2, Willshire, died at 1:45 a.m. (EST) in Adams County Memorial Hospital in Decatur. She had been in failing health for the past three months. Mrs. Schumm had been a resident of Willshire since she was five years old.

She was born June 5, 1899 in Allen County, Indiana, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Schinnerer) Scaer.

She married Emanuel H. Schumm on Oct. 22, 1929. He died Feb. 3, 1973.

Survivors include a son, Elmer Schumm of New Haven, Ind; a daughter Mrs. Marvin (Mary) Grote of Rt. 2, Ohio City; a brother, Oscar Scaer of Rt. 1, Willshire; two sisters, Mrs. Cornelius (Hilda) Schumm and Mrs. Paul (Elsie) Roehm both of Rt. 1, Willshire; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother.

Mrs. Schumm was a homemaker and a member of Zion Lutheran Church Schumm, Ladies Aid, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Lutheran Layman’s League.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. (EDT) Sunday in the Zion Lutheran Church Schumm, with the Rev. Gary A. Luderman officiating. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery Schumm.

Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Friday and 2-9 p.m. (EDT) Saturday in the Zwick-Boltz and Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur, Ind. Also, friends may call at the church from 1:30 p.m. until time of the services on Sunday.

Preferred memorials are to go to the Zion Lutheran Church Schumm Improvement Fund. [5]

 

[1] “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital images by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2014), Emanuel H. Schumm, serial no. 1811, order no. 29, East Willshire precinct, Van Wert County, Ohio; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509; no specific roll cited, from FHL microfilm 1851249.

[2] Ohio Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918, database on-line by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2014), Emanuel H. Schumm,U.S. Army enlistment 24 May 1918, Van Wert, Ohio; The Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the World War, 1917-1918 (Columbus, Ohio : The F.J. Heer Printing Co., 1926), 15294.

[3] U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971, database on-line by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 April 2014), Emanuel H. Schumm, appointment 16 April 1940, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio; citing Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-Sept. 30, 1971; NARA publication M841, Roll 101.

[4] Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 5 February 1973, p.3.

[5] Van Wert Times Bulletin, Van Wert, Ohio, 3 October 1985, p.3.

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