Some Christmas Postcards from Years Past

My grandfather, Cornelius Schumm, had a scrapbook filled with postcards he received and collected when he was a young man in the early part of the twentieth century.

I am not sure how I ended up with the scrapbook but I am glad to have it. I like old postcards and have a modest collection myself.

There are a few Christmas postcards in the collection. Most of the Christmas cards were sent to him but there are a couple that were sent to his mother, Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm, to his sister Frieda, and one to my grandmother HIlda (Scaer) Schumm. A few cards have no stamp, postmark, or writing on the back. Maybe someone gave him the card in person or perhaps they were leftover cards that he did not send.

This is the oldest postcard in the group, dated 22 December 1909.  The sender did not sign the card. I wonder who it was from?

To Cornelius Schumm, 1909.

To Cornelius Schumm, 1909.

To Cornelius Schumm, TT 2, Willshire, Ohio. 1909.

To Cornelius Schumm, RR 2, Willshire, Ohio. 1909.

The following postcard was sent to my grandfather from Carl S. in 1919. “Ft. Wayne Ind, 12-22-19. Old Scout: How are you? Am all well & happy. Will see you Wed. night at church. Best wishes & a Merry Xmas. From Carl S.”

From Carl S, Fort Wayne, 1919.

From Carl S, Fort Wayne, 1919.

The date is unreadable on the next postcard from Cornelius’ cousin Lizzy, postmarked Prairie ___, Wisconsin. “It is very cold here, think we will have snow for Christmas if it don’t all melt. Will close. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Lizzy.”

From Cornelius' cousin Lizzy.

From Cornelius’ cousin Lizzy, unknown date.

The postcard below was sent to Frieda Schumm, from M.K. Frieda was Cornelius’ sister. “Best Wishes for Christmas and a better one than you had last year. MK.” M.K. may be M. Koehler, who sent several postcards to my grandfather and his mother:

To Frieda Schumm from M.K., undated.

To Frieda Schumm from M.K., undated.

Cornelius married Hilda Scaer in 1927. Before their marriage Hilda worked as a housekeeper for the John Perry Reed family in Van Wert. John P. Reed was married to Estella Brumback, [1] daughter of John Sanford Brumback. John Brumback was a Van Wert banker and businessman who left a sizable bequest to Van Wert County to establish a county library. The Brumback Library in Van Wert was built with this money in 1899 and is the oldest county library in the United States. [2] [3]

The Reeds sent my grandmother the postcard below from Venice during the Christmas of 1925. John P. Reed died in 1920, so the postcard was probably written by his widow Estella or their daughter Ellen. Written on the back, to Miss Hilda Scaer: “Venice, Italy, 6 December 1925. The Reeds wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

To Hilda Scaer from "The Reeds" in Venice, Italy, 6 December 1925.

To Hilda Scaer from “The Reeds” in Venice, Italy, 6 December 1925.

Back of postcard from Venice, 1925.

Back of postcard from Venice, 1925.

Below is a postcard sent to Mrs. Louis Schumm, Willshire, Cornelius’ mother. Postmarked Cleveland, the date is unreadable: “Dear Aunt Sarah, Received your letters, both of them, and thank you very much. Yes, everything is very high, and some things you can hardly get, even for much money. I guess pretty soon we will have to stop eating, drinking and all else. Regards to Uncle Cornl, Frieda.  Tony Schumm.[4]

To Mrs. Louis Schumm from her nephew Tony Schumm, date unreadable.

To Mrs. Louis Schumm from her nephew Tony Schumm, date unreadable.

The final Christmas postcard was sent to Mrs. Sarah Schumm (Cornelius’ mother) from M. Koehler, postmarked Van Wert, 22 December 1919. “A Happy Christmas. My New Year wish to you all. We are all well and I hope you’re the same. We will have our program by the Sunday School on Christmas day at 4:00 p.m. I wish that your kin see it. Will be a good program. They don’t have it [?] Best regards to all. Write or come. M. Koehler.” [5]

To Mrs. Sarah Schumm from M. Koehler, 1919.

To Mrs. Sarah Schumm from M. Koehler, 1919.

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/DL4-29H : accessed 5 December 2013), John P. Reed Jr and Estella or Estelle BRumback, 26 October 1886; citing Van Wert, Ohio, United States, reference v7p 102; FHL microfilm 1015861.

[2] “The Brumback Library,” Remarkable Ohio, Marking Ohio’s History, The Ohio Historical Society (http://www.remarkableohio.org/HistoricalMarker.aspx?historicalMarkerId=486 : accessed 5 December 2013).

[3] “Brumback Library,” Discover Ohio, Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of TourismOhio  (http://consumer.discoverohio.com/searchdetails.aspx?detail=57565 : accessed 5 December 2013).

[4] Tony Schumm was Anton Gerhard Schumm (1878-1938), son of Rev. George M. and Charlotte (Breuninger) Schumm. Charlotte (1855-1905) and Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm (1861-1921) were sisters.

[5] M. Koehler was probably Mary A. (Breuninger) Koehler (1858-1930), sister of Sarah (Breuninger) Schumm. Mary Breuninger was married to Oscar Koehler and they lived in Van Wert.

 

 

Tombstone Tuesday–George M. Schumm

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

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

This is the tombstone of George Martin Schumm, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Schumm, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Hier ruhet in Gott
George M. Schumm
Gestorben
Den 4 Juni 1871
Im Alter von
58 Jahr 6 mo. 24 Tage

Translation: Here rests in God, George M. Schumm, died 4 June 1871, aged 58 years, 6 months, 24 days.

George Martin Schumm was the fourth child born to Johann Georg and Anna Maria (Fisher) Schumm. He was born in Ruppertshofen, Württemberg, on 11 Nov 1812, as calculated from his tombstone. He came to America with his father, sister, and three brothers in 1833.

Church records at Zion Lutheran Schumm, indicate that he and his family resided in Holmes County, Ohio, for 5 years before moving to Van Wert County. While in Holmes County he married Maria Pflüger on 1 May 1838 [1] and the couple moved to Schumm on 7 June 1838. George Martin died near Schumm on 4 Jun 1871 of a nervous disorder and his wife Maria died 25 March 1903 in Van Wert County.

On 26 April 1837 George Martin applied for a land patent at the US Federal Land Office in Lima, Ohio, for the southeast quarter of Section 22 in Willshire Township, Van Wert County, consisting of 160 acres. [2] On 10 March 1840 he sold his 160 acre tract of land to his brother Lewis for $200. [3] George Martin purchased the northeast quarter of Section 27 from his father for $200 on the same day. [4] On 10 Jan 1842 George and his wife deeded ½ acre of section 27 to the “Dütch Lutheran Church” [Zion Schumm] for $5. [5] A log church was built on this site in about 1840. The railroad also had right of way through George Martin’s property.

In 1839 George Martin Schumm was enumerated as a white male inhabitant of Willshire Township, enumerated by assessor William Parent. [6] He was enumerated in the 1840 census in Willshire Township and his household consisted of a female 20-30 years old and a male child less than 5 years of age. [7] George Martin was naturalized 2 October 1843 in Van Wert County, witnessed by Henry Reichard and Thomas R. Kear. [8] In 1882 George Martin’s son Henry G. Schumm was living on the family homestead. [9]

George Martin Schumm (1812-1871)

George Martin Schumm (1812-1871)

Maria Pflueger Schumm (1820-1903)

Maria Pflueger Schumm (1820-1903)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Martin Schumm and Maria Pflüger had the following children:

J. Frederick (1839-1927), married Maria Germann
Louis (1840-?), married Mina Domke.
George, Rev. (1841-1917), married Amalia Justine Markworth 1867; married Charlotte Breuninger 1875.
John (1843-1864)
Anna “Rosina” (1845-1928) married Johann Roehm 1870.
Margaretha Barbara (1847-1851).
Marie (1849-?), married Claus Peters 1871.
George “Jacob” (1851-1895) married Lena Kellerman; married Amalia Backhaus 1880.
George “Christian” (1852-?).
George Henry “H. G.” (1854-1939), married Anna Roehm 1879; later married Wilhelmina Kroemer.
Jacob Wilhelm “Will” (1857-1858).
Jacob “Martin” (1859-1909), married Elizabeth Ehrenmann 1882.
Anna Magdelina Sophia (1862-?).

Their son John Schumm (1843-1864) died while imprisoned in a Confederate prison in Salisbury, North Carolina during the Civil War. John joined the 60th OVI, Company A, on 27 February 1864 as a private and was later appointed to Corporal. [10] Family history says that he was wounded and captured while fighting in the Battle of Petersburg, Virginia. He is presumed buried in one of the trench graves at Salisbury.

George Martin Schumm’s is buried in the same row as his brothers Friedrich and Ludwig. There is a flagstaff by George Martin’s tombstone, but he was not in any American war to my knowledge.

 

[1] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XDP1-PT5 : accessed 24 Nov 2013), George Schumm and Mary Pfluger, 01 May 1838; citing Vol. 2 1831-1867, p. 44, Holmes, Ohio, United States, reference 272; FHL microfilm 477144.

[2] U.S. Bureau of Land Management, “Patent Search,” database, General Land Office Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx : accessed 1 December 2013), entry for George  Schumm, Lima office, doc. no. 9727.

[3] Van Wert County Deeds, Recorder’s Office, courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio, Vol. E: 283.

[4] Van Wert Deeds, Recorder’s Office, courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio, Vol. E: 282.

[5] Van Wert Deeds, Recorder’s Office, courthouse, Van Wert, Ohio, Vol. N: 208.

[6] History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio (1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, Indiana : Windmill Publications, Inc. , 1991), 141.

[7] 1840 U.S. Census, Willshire, Van Wert, Ohio, p. 69, line 27, George Schumm; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 1 December 2013); from FHL microfilm 0020178, from National Archives microfilm M704, roll 431.

[8] Van Wert County Common Pleas Court, Journal A:160.

 [9] History of Van Wert and Mercer Counties, Ohio (1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, Indiana : Windmill Publications, Inc. , 1991), 257.

Wedding Postponed Due to Snow and Cold

Florence & Herbert Miller, 3 December 1950.

Florence & Herbert Miller, 3 December 1950.

It was supposed to be a nice Sunday afternoon wedding, scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend,1950.

Months of preparations and details were finally completed. The beautiful satin wedding gown from Fort Wayne had been fitted, pressed, and delivered. The Reverend Werner Von Kuhlberg and organist Velma Schumm were ready for the ceremony. The wedding cake was decorated and the flower arrangements were made.

Everything was ready for the late autumn wedding at Zion Lutheran Church in Schumm. It was to be the wedding of my parents, Herbert Miller and Florence Schumm

My parents’ wedding was scheduled for 26 November 1950, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. But the weather did not cooperate. It started to snow on Saturday and it snowed and blowed the whole weekend. And the snow piled up and drifted.

Late Saturday afternoon my dad left his home north of Chatt in his Studebaker Starlight to visit his fiancé, who lived a couple miles east of Willshire. It was only about an eight mile drive to the Schumm home.

But my dad never made it to the Schumm residence that afternoon, the day before his wedding. He did not even make it half way to Willshire. He got about two miles from his home, as far as Duck Creek Cemetery on State Route 49, when his car got stuck in the snow. He was driving in one of the worst blizzards Ohio had experienced in many years.

My dad could not get his Studebaker out of the snow drift and there was no other traffic on the road that afternoon to help get him out. So he hunkered down and spent the night in his car, stranded by the cemetery.

It was a long cold night, but the conditions were not as bitter as those he experienced a few years earlier in Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. He did not see the inside of a building for nearly 30 days during that time. At least he had his car for shelter during the Ohio blizzard.

The next morning my dad headed home—on foot. Farrel Krall remembers seeing my dad walk past their house that Sunday morning, walking toward the Miller farm house. It was supposed to be their wedding day but no one was able to get out onto the roads. No one was going anywhere that day.

As a result of that winter storm, my parents had to postpone their wedding one week. Grandma Schumm froze the wedding cake and the minister had to fill out a new marriage certificate.

Rev. Von Kulhlburg did not think the weather would get that bad that weekend and so he filled out my parents’ Certificate of Marriage ahead of time. He wrote the 26 November date on the certificate and had to void that certificate when the wedding was postponed. To void that certificate he inserted a couple words: Herbert Melvin Miller and Florence Elizabeth Schumm “were supposed” to be united by me…  He also wrote at the bottom, “Wedding was postponed due to deep snow and cold weather.”

Certificate of Marriage: Wedding was postponed due to deep snow and cold weather." 26 November 1950.

Certificate of Marriage: “Wedding was postponed due to deep snow and cold weather.” 26 November 1950.

Rev. Von Kulhberg prepared another Certificate of Marriage the next Sunday, 3 December 1950, the day my parents finally were married. Their second marriage certificate has the correct date and it is embossed with the seal of Zion Lutheran Schumm, which the first certificate did not have. My mom has both certificates.

Certificate of Marriage, 3 December 1950, with embossed seal of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm.

Certificate of Marriage, 3 December 1950, with embossed seal of Zion Lutheran Church, Schumm.

According to newspaper accounts, few Ohio roads were passable that Thanksgiving weekend. The following Monday Lima reported that 15 inches of snow fell during the three-day blizzard and that many private cars were abandoned beginning early Saturday evening. [1]

Governor Lausche called for a state of emergency and requested that people stay off the highways. Snow drifts were as high as ten feet in some areas of the state. Transportation was nearly paralyzed across the state, including Mercer and Van Wert Counties. [2]

Miller/Schumm wedding, 3 December 1950.

Miller/Schumm wedding, 3 December 1950.

My parents’ wedding was not the only event affected by the blizzard of 1950. The Ohio State/Michigan football game was played on 25 November 1950 in Columbus and is still known as the “Snow Bowl.” The complete game was played during the snow storm, with five inches of snow on the ground and wind gusts of 29 miles-per-hour. It was the worst blizzard in 37 years in Columbus. Unfortunately, Ohio State lost to Michigan 3-9. [3]

The teams punted 45 times, sometimes on first down, hoping the opponent would fumble a slippery ball near the end zone. The win earned Michigan the Big Ten Conference championship and a trip to the 1952 Rose Bowl. [4] You Tube has an interesting video of the 1950 OSU/Michigan game, The Snow Bowl.

Just about everyone that was around in 1950 still remembers the blizzard that hit that Thanksgiving weekend. Some of my patients even attended The Snow Bowl in Columbus. Some made it back home to Mercer County that night while others had to stay in Columbus overnight.

My parents were married nearly 61½ years when my dad passed away in 2012. They would have been married 63 years this coming Tuesday. Today, 29 November, my dad would have been 88 years old. Today I remember their anniversary and his birthday.

 

[1] The Lima News, Monday 27 November 1950, p.1; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 November 2013).

[2] Delphos Daily Herald, Delphos, Ohio, 27 November 1950, p.1 & 2; digital image by subscription, Newspapers.com ( www.newspapers.com : accessed 23 November 2013).

[3] “1950 Snow Bowl,” Ohio State University Libraries , The Ohio State University Libraries (www. Library.osu.edu : accessed 23 November 2013).

[4] “Snow Bowl (1950),” Snow Bowl (1950) Wikipedia , Wikipedia, (www.wikipedia.com : accessed 23 November 2013).

 

Tombstone Tuesday–Catharina Schüler

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

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

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

Hier ruhet in Gott
Catharina
Ehefrau von
Michael Schüler
Geborn 21 April 1810
Gestorben
3 Deceb 1838

Translation: Here rests in God, Catharina, wife of Michael Schüler, born 21 April 1810, died 3 December 1838.

Maria “Catharina” [also known as Katherine] was born 20 or 21 April 1810 in Ruppertshofen, Württemberg, the third child of Johann Georg and Anna Maria (Fisher) Schumm. Her tombstone actually has both dates on it. There is a plaque on the back of her tombstone that indicates she was born on the 20th of April while the inscription on the front shows her date of birth as the 21st. I believe her date of birth is accepted as the 20th, but I am not sure where the information for that date comes from.

Catharina immigrated to America with her father and four brothers in 1833. The Schumms lived in Holmes County, Ohio, for several years and Catharina married Michael Schüler there on 22 November 1833. [1] The rest of her Schumm family purchased land in Van Wert County and moved there soon after.  According to the records of Zion Schumm, the Schumms, and probably Michael and Catharina Schüler and their family, arrived in Van Wert County on 7 June 1838.

Catharina (Schumm) Schüler lived in Van Wert County only a few months before she died on 3 December 1838. She was the first person to be buried on the ground that would later become Schumm Cemetery.  A little less than eight years later her father was laid to rest next to her.

Catherina (Schumm) Schuler plaque. (2012 photo by Karen)

Catherina (Schumm) Schuler plaque. (2012 photo by Karen)

A metal plaque is mounted on the back of Catharina’s grave marker and is inscribed:

KATHERINE (SCHUMM) SCHUELER
Born in Ruppertshofen Germany
April 20, 1810
Died December 3, 1838 the same
year the Schumms settled in
this area. She was buried in this plot on high ground in the forest
that later became Zion Lutheran
Cemetery, becoming the first person buried in this cemetery.

Michael and Catharina (Schumm) Schüler had the following children:

George (1834-1893)
Magdalena (1835-1916) married Johann Bienz
Rosina K. (1837-?)

 

[1] “Ohio, Marriages, 1800-1958,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/SC7C-JNR : accessed 24 Nov 2013), Michael Scheuler and Catharine Schoone, 22 Nov 1833.

A Chatt-Area Graduation?

A reader from Indiana recently sent me a copy of an old photo. Donna found the photo among her sister’s items and had never seen the photo before.

Their mother is standing with a group of young adults and Donna believes the photo may be an eighth grade graduation picture, taken about 1910 at a school near Chattanooga, Ohio. But I wonder…

Donna and her family lived in Chatt when she was a child. Her paternal and maternal grandparents lived in or near Chatt as well. Donna’s father was William Andres and her mother was Minna Baumgartner. Minna was born in 1897 in Indiana.

Donna’s mother is the young lady standing to the far left in the photo below. Donna wonders if the photo was taken at Wildcat School because she believes her mother attended Wildcat School at one time. Wildcat School was a one-room school located a mile north of Chatt. It once stood on the very lot where I grew up.

Chattanooga Graduation photo, c1910.

Young adults from Liberty Township, c1910.

Donna is sure that this photo is not a church photo and it does look like it may have been taken at a graduation. The individuals are holding rolled up papers that look like diplomas. The students are all dressed up. Everyone is in their Sunday best and it looks like this was an important event. The girls are wearing pretty, white lace-trimmed dresses, white stockings, and big bows in their hair. The boys have on their suits and ties.

One very interesting thing about this photo is that each of the students signed their name on the bottom of the photo. It is often difficult to find an old photo in which everyone is identified, let alone finding a photo that has everyone’s signature on it. The signatures at the bottom of the photo are written in the order the students are positioned:

Mina Baumgartner, Flossie Stoll, Carl Berron, Alvina Keck, James Gibbons, Rosa Betzel, Isa Martz

Dolan Loree, Rosa Turckes, Herald Redger, Irma Wilson, Chester Kincaid, Eda Kable

Ed Bauer, Hugo Fancke

I looked up the names of all these individuals in the1910 Census and I found the name and age of each, except for Harold Redger. [Thanks to Miriam who found Harold after this was posted.] All were living in Liberty Township and they were enumerated with their parents. Below are the names of the students, their ages, and the names of their parents, as enumerated in 1910 [1] :

Minna Baumgartner [12, Jacob & Rosa]
Flossie Stoll [Liberty, 14, John & Sarah]
Carl Berron [13, George & Mary]
Alvina Keck [20, John & Enna]
James Gibbons [14, William & Nancy C]
Rosa Betzel [15, Jacob & Mary]
Isa Martz [“Icy” 13, William Sr & Luania]
Dolan Loree [13, Marion & Sula]
Rosa Turckes [“Rosa S” 11, Joseph & Catharine]
Harold Redger [11, William & Harriet “Roettger”]
Irma Wilson [11, Liberty, Scudder & Christina]
Chester Kincaid [11, Alec & Mahala]
Eda Kable [14, John & Annie]
Ed Bauer [“Edward” 12, Fred & Mary]
Hugo Fancke [11, John & Louisa]

The photo might have been taken at an eighth grade graduation. In the early 1900s the eighth grade was often the highest grade achieved by many people. Eighth grade graduation would be comparable to today’s high school graduation. Yes, a big event.

But I also looked at a 1900 map of Liberty Township, to see where each family was living about ten years before the photo was supposedly taken. Not all of the young adults lived near Chatt. In fact, they lived all over Liberty Township. Miles away from each other. There were schools all over the township and schools were just a couple miles apart. It is hard to believe that students from all over the township would attend one particular school that was farther from their home. Or that they would attend a school in another township. Wildcat School was in Black Creek Township and these students were from Liberty Township.

Could this photo have been taken to commemorate another event? Perhaps some township-wide event or some special recognition? Donna said her mother took piano lessons and performed in a piano recital at least once. Was this a group of piano students?

Donna also told me a little about her family. Jacob Baumgartner, Minna’s father, owned and operated the sawmill in Chatt from 1896-1915. The Baumgartner family, per the 1910 census: Jacob, 52; Rosa, 48; Paul, 22; Samuel, 19; Minnie, 12. [2]

Minna married William Andress in 1915. [3] William’s parents, John and Sophia Andress were from the Chatt area. In 1910 they were living in Black Creek Township. [4]  Black Creek Township borders Liberty Township on the north end of Chatt. William Andress took over the sawmill from Jacob Baumgartner in about 1915.

Donna also told me a story about her mother Minna. Donna said that there was a fire at Minna’s school one day. Minna enjoyed school and was very upset when the school caught fire. She went home crying because she thought she would not get to go back to school.

I would love to hear from anyone that has knowledge of the people in this photo or the event in the photo.

 

[1] 1910 U.S. census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 0119; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 November 2013); from National Archives microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[2] 1910 U.S. census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 0119, p. 16B, dwelling353, family 314, Jacob Baumgartner; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 November 2013); from National Archives microfilm T624, roll 1214.

[3] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:MM9.1.1/XZTX-T62 : accessed 21 Nov 2013), William Andress and Minnie Baumgartner, 04 Apr 1915; citing Mercer, Ohio, United States, reference cn913 p.457; FHL microfilm 914959; citing Vol. 10:457.

[4] 1910 U.S. census, Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio, ED 0107, p.5A, dwelling 97, family 97, John H. Andress ; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 November 2013); from National Archives microfilm T624, roll 1214.