Tombstone Tuesday–Twin Daughters of Henry & Katharina (Schumm) Lankenau

Rosina Elisabeth Augusta and Hannah Katharina Wilhelmina Lankenau, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2018 photo by Karen)

This is a double tombstone for twins Rosina Elisabeth Augusta Lankenau and Hannah Katharina Wilhelmina Lankenau, located in row 1 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Hier ruhet in Gott
[unreadable]
Geb. 25 Oct. 1875
Gestorben
6 Nov. 1875/2 Nov. 1875
Kinder von
H. u. K.
LANKENAU

Here rests in God, [unreadable], born 25 Oct. 1875, died 6 Nov. 1875/2 Nov. 1875, Children of H. and K. Lankenau.

Twins Rosina Elisabeth Augusta and Hannah Katharina Wilhelmina Lankenau, were born 25 October 1875 to Henry and Katharina (Schumm) Lankenau. According to the Schumm genealogy, these twin girls were the 5th and 6th of 14 children born to the couple. Their father Henry was born in Germany and their mother Katharina was born in Ohio.

Both little girls were baptized on 26 October 1875, the day after their birth. Rosina’s sponsors were Mrs. Elisabeth Geisler and Rosina Bienz. Hannah’s sponsors were Mrs. Rosina Schinnerer and Hannah Kreiselmeyer. The twins were likely born early or were sickley for their baptisms to have been performed so quickly after their birth.

The twins lived less than two weeks. Hannah died 2 November 1875 and and Rosina died a few days later, on 6 November 1875.

According to Zion Schumm’s records, only one other child born to Heinrich and Katharina Lankenau was baptized at Zion Schumm, Flora Dorothea Barbara. She was born 19 October 1876 and was the next child born after the twins. It appears the family lived in Adams and/or Allen County, Indiana.

The twins‘ mother Katharina was the daughter of Johann Jacob and Hannah (Billman) Schumm. Johann Jacob Schumm was one of the original Schumm immigrants.

 

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