Tombstone Tuesday–Charles F. and Hannah M. (Schumm) Germann

Germann, Charles R. & Hannah M., Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

Germann, Charles F. & Hannah M., Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2014 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Charles F. and Hannah M. (Schumm) Germann, located in row 2 of Evangelical Protestant Cemetery, Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

GERMANN

Charles F.
1849-1932

 Hannah M.
1853-1926

Karl Fredrick “Charles” Germann was born 22 February 1849 in Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, to immigrants Charles and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Germann. Charles was a farmer who died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 2 July 1932 in Harrison Township. He was buried on the 6 July.  [1]

Charles married Hannah M. Schumm on 22 February 1872 at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm, where Hannah was a member. They were married by Rev. G.M. Schumm. Charles’ name is shown as Karl Fr. in Zion’s records.

Hannah Magdalena Schumm was born 29 March 1853 in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, the eighth child born to immigrants Ludwig and Barbara (Pflüger) Schumm. According to Zion Schumm’s records she was baptized 30 January at home, with Friedrich Schinnerer and wife Magdalena and Jacob Schumm and wife Hanna as sponsors. Hannah M. Schumm was my second great-grandaunt, the sister of my great-grandfather, Louis Schumm and my great-great-grandmother Elisabeth (Schumm) Schinnerer. Hannah died of cardiac hypertrophy on 27 March 1926 in Harrison Township. She was buried on the 30th. [2]

Hannah (Schumm) Germann) 1853-1926.

Hannah (Schumm) Germann) 1853-1926. Photo courtesy of Sue Allen.

Harrison Township Lady Answers Death Summons
Mrs. C.F. German, aged 73 years, born in Willshire Township, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Schumm, died at her home in Harrison township Saturday afternoon, March 27, 1926. As Hannah Schumm she married Mr. Germann, and they immediately went to housekeeping in Harrison township, where they always resided and where their family of six children were born and reared—Otto and Felix of Harrison township; Mrs. John Schaadt and Mrs. Carl Hahn of Lima; Mrs. Minnie Seigle of Pleasant township; Mrs. C.L. Germann of Harrison township, and Mrs. Charles Schumm of Rockford.

Deceased was the sister of Mr. L.J. Schumm, east of town, and of the late John C. Schumm, recently deceased, and a half sister of W.A. Buechner, who resides north of Schumm.

Funeral services and burial were held Tuesday forenoon from the family residence and from the St. Thomas church, with interment in the church cemetery. [3]

Charles F. Germann (1849-1932). Photo courtesy of Sue Allen.

Charles F. Germann (1849-1932). Photo courtesy of Sue Allen.

Well Known Resident Dies Sunday Morning
Charles F. Germann, 83, a prominent retired farmer of Harrison township, died Sunday at 11:15 o’clock in his home, east of Wren. Death was due to infirmities. Mrs. Germann was born in Harrison township on February 22, 1849. With the exception of a few years, when he lived on a farm in Willshire township, he spent his entire lifetime in Harrison township. In 1882 he moved to the farm which had since been his home. Besides farming, Mr. Germann also had been engaged in the manufacture of tile. He was one of the organizers of the Farmer’s Mutual Aid Association of Van Wert county, and was widely known for his integrity and his unusual ability as a farmer. He maintained his faculties up until the last, and his handwriting was notable for its clearness and beauty and very unusual for an aged man.

Mr. Germann was a member of St. Thomas Lutheran church in Harrison township, where funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock following a brief service at the home at 2 o’clock. Burial was made in the church cemetery.

Surviving are two sons, Otto L. Germann and Felix E. Germann, both of Harrison township; five daughters, Mrs. Rosa Schaadt, who lived with her father, Mrs. Minnie Siegel, of Pleasant township, Mrs. Carl Holm, of Lima, Mrs. Conrad L. Germann, of Harrison township, and Mrs. Charles Schumm, of near Rockford, and one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Rupright, of Los Angeles, Cal. His wife preceded him in death in 1926. [4]

Charles and Hannah (Schumm) Germann had the following children:

Otto L. (1873-1960) married Magdalena “Emilie” Schumm
Rose (1874-1955) married John Schaadt
Minnie (1877-1952) married Richard Siegel
Felix E. (1878-1957) married Olivia Saam
Henrietta (1880-1972) married Karl Holm
Emma P. (1882-1959) married Conrad L. Germann
Amalia C. (1884-1969) married Charles J. Schumm

The Germanns attended St. Thomas Church, which is a few miles northeast of Schumm. St. Thomas is also a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

 

[1] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X6ST-2RW : accessed 16 March 2014), Charles Fredrick Germann, 2 July 1932; citing Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, reference fn 45307; FHL microfilm 1992665.

[2] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8JJ-RRJ : accessed 16 Mar 2014), Hanna M. Hermann, 27 March 1926; citing Harrison Twp., Van Wert, Ohio, reference fn 20316; FHL microfilm 1984197.

[3] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 1 April  1926, p.1.

[4] The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 7 July 1932, p.1.

2 comments

  1. How do you pronounce “Germann?” It has been my experience that German and Germann are pronounced very differently. German (a man from Germany) is always pronounced with a hard G (like J) while Germann is usually given a “gerrrrrr” like a dog growling (guess that would be a soft G?) or the way you say guppy.

    1. That is the way I have always heard both pronounced, the two different ways.

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