Tombstone Tuesday–Ernest G. Dietrich

Ernest G. Dietrich, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Ernest George Dietrich, located in row 9 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

WE SHALL MEET AGAIN
Ernest G. Dietrich
Gest den 20 Juli 1905
Alter 41 J, 11 T

Ernest G. Dietrich, died 20 July 1905, aged 41 years, 11 days.

Christened Georg Ernst Dietrich, “Ernest” was born near Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio, on 9 July 1864. He was the sixth child born to Adam and Maria (Germann) Dietrich. Ernest was baptized at home on 17 July 1864, with Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Germann, George Wambsganss, and Elisabeth Germann serving as his sponsors.

Most records indicate that he went by the name of Ernest, although some, including Zion Schumm’s records, show his name as Ernst.

The Adam Dietrich household in 1870, with Ernest at 6 years of age: Adam, 42; Mary, 37; Augustus 7; Magdalene, 11; John, 9; Ernest, 6; Sophia, 3; and Henry, 9 months. [1]

The Adam Dietrich household in 1880: Adam Dietrich, 52; Mary, 47, wife; Mary M M, 21; John, 19; Ernest, 15; Sophia, 13; Henry, 10; Emma, 6. The father Adam was a farmer. [2]

Ernest’s mother Maria died a few years later, on 28 November 1888, and is buried in row 5 of Zion Schumm’s cemetery. His father did not remarry.

Ernest Dietrich married “Clara” Rosina Schumm at Zion Lutheran, Schumm, on 14 August 1898. [3] Clara (1875-1936) was the daughter of “River Henry” Schumm and his first wife, Rosina (Schinnerer). Both families attended church at Zion Schumm.

In 1900 Ernest and Clara Dietrich lived near his father Adam’s farm north of Schumm. Ernest was a farmer. Their household in 1900: Ernest, 35; Clara, 24; and Rosa A, 1, daughter. [4]

Ernest and Clara had three more children, all daughters, before Ernest died of gall bladder disease on 20 July 1905. He was 41 years and 11 days old and was buried on the 23rd, according to Zion Schumm’s records. His Van Wert County death record indicates he died of liver cancer on the 25th. [5] Their youngest child, Louise Wilhelmine, was only a few months old when Ernest died.

Ernest and Clara (Schumm) Dietrich had the following children:
Rosine Marie Dietrich (1899-1987), married Walter Baker
Edna Magdalena Dietrich (1901-1986), married George Jacob Hofmann
Leah Juliana Dietrich (1902-1996), married Oscar Boenker; married Richard Merkle
Louise Wilhelmine Dietrich (1905-1992), married Ervin Peters

Ernest Dietrich’s widow Clara (Schumm) married Carl Merkle in 1908 and they went on to have two children of their own, Hugo and Velma.

The upper portion of Ernest’s tombstone is a nice example of clasped hands, which often symbolizes marriage. The cuff on the left looks like a man’s shirt cuff and the one on the right like a lady’s cuff. Inscribed below the hands is WE SHALL MEET AGAIN.

Ernest G. Dietrich, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p: 20 (penned), dwelling 136, family 137, Adam Dietrich; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?htx=List&dbid=7163&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 : viewed 4 Jan 2019).

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p: 449A (stamped), p.13 (penned) family 116, Adam Dietrich; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?htx=List&dbid=6742&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 : viewed 4 Jan 2019).

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S57T-P2?i=103&cc=1614804 : viewed 4 Feb 2019), Ernest G. Detrick and Clara Schumm, 14 Aug 1898; Van Wert Marriages, Vol. 9:143. And Zion Schumm’s marriage records.

[4] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 98, p.310A (stamped), dwelling 211, family, 216, Ernest Dietrich; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1900usfedcen/?name=adam_dietrich&birth=1828_germany_3253&birth_x=1-0-0&residence=_van+wert-ohio-usa_2983 : viewed 14 Jan 2019).

[5] “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,“ database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6725-BD?i=611&cc=2128172 : viewed 4 Feb 2019) Ernest G. Dietrich, 25 Jul 1905, Van Wert County, p.52.

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