Tombstone Tuesday–John C. Schumm

John C. Schumm (1849-1926)

This is the tombstone of John C. Schumm, located in row 11 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed: SCHUMM, John C. 1849-1926.

Obituary:
Funeral services for John C. Schumm were held from the Lutheran church at Schumm last Friday afternoon, and were attended by a very large concourse of relatives, friends and acquaintances.  The services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. R.O. Bienert, with interment in the church burial ground. 

The following authorized obituary was read in connection with the services:

John Christian Schumm, son of Ludwig Schumm and his wife, Anna Barbara, nee, Pflueger, was born at Schumm, Ohio, December 29, 1849.  On November 18, 1880, he was united in marriage with Wilhelmina Breuninger, who preceded him in death 27 years ago.  Their union was blessed with six children–Victor A., Arnold, Mrs. Paul Schumm, Mrs. Oscar Schumm, Miss Salome Schumm, living in Willshire Township, and Mrs. W.C. Linser of Van Wert.

John C. Schumm died suddenly January 12, 1926.  Besides his children he leaved to mourn their loss, 15 grandchildren; one brother, Ludwig Schumm, Willshire township; one sister, Mrs. C.F. Germann, Harrison Township; one half-brother, W.A. Buechner; one half-sister, Mrs. Margaret Kreiselmeyer, and one step-brother, Fred Buechner, of Fort Wayne, In.  He had attained to the age of 76 years and 14 days. (Source: The Willshire Herald, Willshire, Ohio, 21 January 1926.)

John C. Schumm (1849-1926)

There are several other sources of information about John C. Schumm. According the Zion Lutheran Church records Johann Christian Schumm was born 29 December 1849 to Ludwing and Barbara (Pflueger) Schumm. He was baptized on 30 December 1849. His baptismal sponsors were Christian Pflueger and Jacob Schumm. He married Wilhelmine Breuninger on 18 November 1990 at the home of the bride’s parents. Both were from Zion’s parish.

“John C. Schumm was born in Van Wert County, 1849, and married Wilhelmina Brenninger [sic] in 1880.  Louis Schumm, the father of the above, was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, 1818, but came to America, 1833, and married Barbara Pflueger.  He died August 22, 1856.” (Source: History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio (1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, Indiana: Windmill Publications, Inc., 1991), 258.)

According to his death certificate John was born in Ohio and died at his home in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, of organic heart disease. He was buried at Schumm Cemetery on 15 January. The undertaker was S.S. Buchanan & Son of Willshire. John was a widower and a farmer. Victor Schumm was the informant. (Source:  John C. Schumm Certificate of Death, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Registration District 1297, File No. 78, Primary Registration District No 5993, Registered No. 78, #6382. Digital image, FamilySearch.org, Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953, image 456 of 3527, accessed 28 May 2012.)

I also descend from Louis and Barbara (Pflueger) Schumm. I descend from their son Ludwig “Louis” Schumm, who married John C. Schumm’s sister-in-law, Sarah Breuninger.

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