Tombstone Tuesday–William Schumm

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

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

This is the tombstone of William Schumm, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

SCHUMM
Wm. Schumm
Died
Dec. 28, 1906
66 Y. 3 M. 12 D.
Text. Luke 2:29-32

Wilhelm “William” Schumm was born 16 September 1840, the first known child born to Johann “Friedrich” and Magdalena (Meyer) Schumm.

William’s father was born in Ruppertshofen, Württemberg, in 1814 and was one of five Schumm siblings who immigrated to America with their father Johann Georg Schumm in 1833. Most of the Schumm family settled in Van Wert County about 1838 so William was likely born near Schumm.

William’s father Friedrich was one of the original land owners in the Schumm area of Van Wert County. Friedrich Schumm applied for a land patent from the United States government on 26 April 1837 to acquire the northeast quarter of Section 22 in Willshire Township, consisting of 160 acres. [1] Friedrich sold this land on 10 March 1840 and purchased the northwest quarter of Section 26 in Willshire Township from his father Johann Georg on the same day. [2] This purchase also consisted of 160 acres and is likely where William and his siblings grew up. Their land was located on northeast corner of Willshire Eastern and Schumm Road. Friedrich Schumm deeded ½ acre of this land to the Dütch Lutheran Church in 1842 [3] and a frame church was built there in 1855. The frame church was located just north of Zion’s cemetery, across the road from the current church.

William Schumm married Anna Maria Heffner on 12 February 1874 at Zion Lutheran, Chatt. Anna Maria was the daughter of George and Sophia (Martin) Heffner and was from Mercer County, near Chatt. After their marriage William and Anna Maria resided in Blackcreek Township for a year or two before moving to Van Wert County, near Schumm.

In 1880 the William Schumm family lived in Willshire Township where William worked as a “house carpenter.” There were four children in the household at that time: Mary Amelia, 5; John Henry H., 3; George Fred O., 3; Rudolphus R., 11 months. [4]

In 1900 their family consisted of William, 59; Maria, 44; Hugo, 23; Rudolph, 20; Theodore, 18; Conrad, 16; Bertha, 14; Paul 12; Oscar, 9; and Julia, 4. William was a farmer and they lived between Willshire and Schumm. [5]

William and Anna had the following children:

Amelia “Emilie” Marie (1874-1952), married Samuel William August Koch
John Henry “Hugo” (1876-1955), married Amalia Maria Schumm
Georg Frederick “Otto” (1876- ), married Alma B. Hoppe
Alexander “Rudolph” (1879-1913), married Bertha A. Liebmann
“Theodore” Henry Martin (1881-1944), married Doretta May Altheon
“Conrad” Adam (1883-1955), married Eva Meyers
“Bertha” Ottilie (1886-1947), married Henry W. Garrison
“Paul” Edwin (1888-1970), married Lydia Barbara Schumm
“Oscar” Albert (1890-1984), married Hilda Marie Schumm
Juliana “Julia” Gertrude (1895-1966), married Fred John Buechner

William died 28 December 1906 was buried on the 31st. According to Zion Schumm’s records, survivors included children Emilie Koch, Hugo, Otto, Theodor, Rudolf, Conrad, Bertha, Paul, Oscar, and Julia; 5 grandchildren; and siblings: Fredrick, Ludwig, Georg, Henry, Rev. Ferd Schumm, Katherine Stamm, Johanna Zimmermann, Maria Zimmermann, and Barbara Schumm. William’s wife was not mentioned, but she also survived him.

 

[1] U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Patent Search,” database, General Land Office Records (http:www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx : accessed 23 March 2015), entry for Frederick Schumm, Lima Office, Doc. no. 9728.

[2] Van Wert County, Ohio, Deeds, Vol. E:280, Recorder’s Office, Courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio.

[3] Van Wert County, Ohio, Deeds, Vol. N:207, Recorder’s Office, Courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio.

[4] 1880 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 154, p.456C, family 246, Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed 14 March 2015); from FHL film 1255074, from NARA microfilm T9, roll 1074.

[5] 1900 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 97, p.11A, dwelling 219, family 234, William Schumm; digital images by subscription Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 March 2015); from FHL microfilm 1241329, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1329.

4 comments

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    • Phyllis Brockmyer on March 28, 2015 at 1:09 am
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    Was the original frame church the same building used for the Schumm school?

    1. They were two separate buildings and the school was brick.

    • Phyllis Brockmyer on March 29, 2015 at 9:43 pm
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    I remember a white frame building there in the 1950s and thought it was used as the school. I’m not absolutely sure, but can check with some friends about it. Do you know when it/they were torn down? I’m sure your Mother would remember.

    1. The old brick school was there in the 50s. That is where my mom attended grade school and I remember that building. I asked my mom about a white building and she does not remember one being there. Just the the old brick schoolhouse.

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