Tombstone Tuesday–Pauline C. (Germann) Bienz

Pauline C. (Germann) Bienz, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Pauline C. (Germann) Bienz, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Pauline C.
Wife of
A.J. Bienz
Died
Aug. 5, 1891
Aged
28 Y. 10 M. 10 D.
BIENZ

Pauline Charlotte (Germann) Bienz was born In Harrison Township, Van Wert County, Ohio, on 24 September 1862, as recorded in her death/burial record at Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm. She was the daughter of Johann Phillip & Mary Elizabeth (Jung/Young) Germann.

Pauline Germann, as enumerated with her family in the 1870 census: John P [Phillip] Germann, 43; Mary E, 33; Mary E, 13; Louisa, 11; Emma, 8; John J, 10; Pauline, 6; Christena, 4; Matilda, 8 months; and Martin J, 2. The parents were born in Germany and all the children were born in Ohio. Johann Philip was a farmer. [1]

The Germann family, as enumerated in 1880, Harrison Township: JP [Phillip], 55; Mary E, 43; John J, 20; Emma, 19; Pauline, 17; Christine, 14; Martin, 12; Matilda, 10; Guirta, 8; William, 6; Otto H, 4; and Joseph, 2. [2]

Pauline Germann married Johann “Adam” Bienz in Van Wert County on 25 September 1887. [3] Adam was the son of Jacob and Elisabeth (Pflueger) Bienz and was born 26 October 1858.

Adam and Pauline Bienz had two children: “Mina“ Elisabeth Bienz, born 18 December 1888, and Walter Stephan Bienz, born 17 May 1890, died 18 May 1890. 

Pauline (Germann) Bienz died at 1:30 in the morning of 5 August 1891, after a prolonged illness of throat consumption, according to Zion Schumm’s records. She was 28 years, 10 months, and 12 days old, according to the church records, and 28 years, 10 months, and 10 days old according to her tombstone. She was buried on 7 August.

Adam and Pauline (Germann) Bienz had two children:
“Mina“ Elisabeth Bienz (1888-1952), married Fred Geschwell
Walter Bienz (1890-1890)

Pauline’s widowed husband Adam Bienz married twice after her death. Adam married Wilhelmine Christiana Reinking in Adams County, Indiana, on 9 April 1893 [4] and Christiana died in 1897. [5] Adam Bienz then married Christina Mathilda Bleeke in Adams County, Indiana, on 14 May 1899. [6] Christina Mathilda died 22 April 1944 [7] and Adam Bienz died 16 January 1949. Adam and his second and third wives are buried in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Decatur, Indiana. Adam shares a tombstone with his third wife. [8]

 

[1] 1870 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, p.4 (penned), dwelling & family 28, John P Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1870usfedcen/ : viewed 14 Apr 2019).

[2] 1880 U.S. Census, Harrison, Van Wert, Ohio, ED 148, p.16 (penned), dwelling 135, family 137, JP Germann; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1880usfedcen/ : viewed 14 Apr 2019).

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1879-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-65XH-H3?i=119&cc=1614804 : viewed 10 Mar 2019), Adam J Bienz & PC Germann, 25 Sep 1887; Van Wert County Marriages, Vol. 7:181.

[4] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6GTH-1XV?i=240&cc=1410397 : viewed 10 Mar 2019), Adam J Bienz & Christiana W. Reinking, 8 Apr 1893; Adams County Marriages, Vol. F:478.

[5] Find a Grave memorial no. 106418617, Wilhelmine Christine “Lena” (Reinking) Bienz, Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana.

[6] “Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DRS9-DQ8?i=49&cc=1410397 : viewed 10 Mary 2019), Adam J. Bienz & Christena Mathilda Blakey, 14 May 1899; Adams County Marriages, Vol. G:492.

[7] Find a Grave memorial no. 98917043, Christina Mathilda Bleeke Bienz, Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana.

[8] Find a Grave memorial no. 98917041, Adam Jacob Bienz, Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery, Decatur, Adams County, Indiana.

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