Tombstone Tuesday - Schaich

Christian Schaich was born 1839 and died 26 FEB 1916 in Ft. Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.  He is buried at Lindenwood Cemetery, Ft. Wayne, Allen County, Indiana. 

*Headstone photo by Jim Cox
** Newspaper Clipping - Ft. Wayne Sentinel, 28 FEB 1916

Ft. Wayne Friday - Herman Otto Bandtel

    Herman O. Bandtel

Birth: 19 OCT 1887

  Death: 13 NOV 1911

**Headstone Photo by Jim Cox
** Obit from Ft Wayne Sentinel 13 NOV 1911

Tombstone Tuesday - Col. Zollinger

Civil War hero, Union Army colonel, who lead troops at Murfreesboro, Shiloh, Franklin and Nashville. Was also with Sherman during the Atlanta campaign. Later became Allen County Sheriff and served as Mayor of Fort Wayne for 6 terms. Recognized for many municipal accomplishments and for having left $133,000 remaining in the city's treasury at the time of his retirement. 

 Headstone location:  Lindenwood Cemetery, Ft. Wayne, Allen County, Indiana

 Headstone Photo courtesy of Jim Cox

*Allen County Historical Scrapbook

June 1977

**Contribution compliments of Jim Cox, Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Wedding Wednesday - Well Sort of....

Threat of Suicide Causes Wife's Return

 

Divorce Suit Dismissed after Husband Struggles with Deputy for Rifle

 

The divorce suit of Mrs. Anna Cook against Luke Cook was dismissed in the Superior Court on notice of the plantiff, after a tragic scene had been enacted at the home of the Cooks Saturday afternoon.

 

Mrs. Cook returned to her home to obtain some of her belongings, with Deputy Sheriff Capp, who was forced to struggle with Cook for the possession of a rifle with which he declared he would kill himself if she did not return to him.

 

Deputy Capp was successful in his attempt to foil the suicide, and Cook preceeded to beg his wife to return.  She went away with Capp, but promised to consider his proposal.  The dismissal was the result of a reconsideration of the divorce proceedings.

 

Source: Journal-Gazette, (Ft Wayne, IN), 01 JUN 1921, Pg. 11

[Courtesy of co-contributor Jim Cox]

Wedding Wednesday - Meads & Moyer (1946)

Meads-Moyer Vows Exchanged in Church Rite

Miss June Moyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Moyer of 3930 Tacoma Avenue, became the bride of Howard E. Meads, son of Mrs. I. A. Meads of 1005 West Wayne Street in a double ring ceremony read at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon, December 23, at the South Wayne United Brethren Church.

Dr. M. S. Livengood read the vows before an altar decorated with candelabra and evergreen trees similar arrangements marked the pews.  

Preceding the service, a musicale was presented by Miss Dorothy Koomjohn, organist, and Mrs. Robert Hoagland, vocalist. Selections included “Because,” “At Dawning,” and “The Lord’s Prayer.”

The bride, given in marriage by her father chose a gown of white fashioned with a sweetheart neckline and long sleeves.  The fitted bodice of satin was trimmed with crystal beading, with tiny buttons fastening the back.  Her full net skirt over satin fell into a long train and her fingertip length veil was caught in a cap of white lace held in place by a bow of lace. The bridal bouquet t was a cascade of white roses and satin ribbon.

Miss Sylvia Sholty attended as maid of honor, wearing a dress of yellow net styled with a fitted bodice of taffeta, bracelet length sleeves and a full skirt.  She carried a colonial bouquet of light pink carnations and white mums, tied with a bow of pink, and wore matching flowers in her hair.  Miss Velma Meads, sister of the bride-groom, served as bridesmaid, attired in a gown of light orchid net fashioned with short sleeves and a long full skirt.  Her colonial bouquet of deep pink carnations and mums was tied with a bow of orchids and her headdress was of matching flowers.

The bride’s mother wore a brown dress and matching accessories and the bridegroom’s mother chose a black dress and black accessories. Each wore a corsage of carnations.

A reception was held later at the home of the bride’s parents, where a table was laid with cream lace and centered with a three-layered wedding cake flanked by candelabra. Ivory tapers stood at either end of the buffet, which was decorated with arrangements of white mums and snapdragons, red carnations being used in the other rooms. 

Mrs. Elmer Bidlack, Mrs. Clarence Stowe, Mrs. George Karns and Mrs. Sam Kwainez assisted in serving.

Source: Journal-Gazette (Ft Wayne, IN) 21 JAN 1946

[Provided by co-contributor Jim Cox]

Wedding Wednesday - Erwin & Dooley (1961)

Sylvia J. Erwin Married in Double Ring Ceremony

Rev. Ervin Petznik officiated at the double ring wedding of Miss Sylvia Janelle Erwin and Jack L. Dooley at 6:30 pm Saturday at the First Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Mr. Erwin escorted his daughter to an altar decorated with white gladioli and pompoms.  She wore a floor length gown of Chantilly type lace and tulle over taffeta, with a Basque bodice, jeweled neckline, long sleeves, and a full skirt with lace motifs. A seed pearl crown held her bouffant silk illusion veil.  She carried a cascade arrangement of white carnations centered with an orchid.

Mrs. Judith Sipe attended her sister as matron of honor.  Miss Virginia Erwin, also a sister of the bride and Miss Janet Sue Purdy of North Manchester were bridesmaids.  They wore identical street length dresses of mint green silk organza over taffeta, with molded bodices, sweetheart necklines, three-quarter length sleeves and bouffant organza skirts. Matching dressmaker bows held their circular blush veils.

Terry Lynn Sipe was the ring bearer. Michael Dooley, the bridegroom’s brother attended as best man. Ushers were Joseph Samreta and Melvyn Mueller.

A reception was held at American Legion post 47. For a wedding trip to the Eastern states, the bride wore a red knit dress, black faille coat, patent accessories, red feather hat and white gloves.

Source: Journal-Gazette (Ft. Wayne, IN). 17 SEP 1961

[Provided by co-contributor Jim Cox]

Wedding Wednesday - Gephart & McCook (1961)

Sharon Gephart, Dennis McCook Exchange Vows

Miss Sharon Gephart and Dennis James McCook were married at 6:30 pm Saturday at Trinity English Lutheran Church. Dr. Paul H. Kruess officiated at the double ring rites.

Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Claude R. Gephart, 4743 Ashland Drive, and Mr. and Mrs. Anthony McCook of North Manchester.

Mr. Gephart escorted his daughter to an altar decorated with white gladioli and pompoms. She wore a gown of hand-clipped Chantilly lace over satin, fashioned with a mandarin collar, long sleeves and a bouffant skirt. A matching lace crown held her veil and she carried a bouquet of talismans roses and cocoa orchids.

Mrs. Bruce Sheehan attended as matron of honor. The bridesmaids were Mrs. Jack Biggs and Miss Karolynn Schnepel. They were attired in cognac satin dresses and matching headpieces with blush veils. They carried yellow and gold carnations.

Eugene Weberski of Spring Valley, Ill., was best man. The ushers were Ron Plassman and Russell Zeman of North Manchester.

A reception was held at Fruehauf Hall.  Following a wedding trip to Chicago, the couple will reside at 2906 John St.

Source: Journal-Gazette (Ft. Wayne, IN), 17 SEP 1961

[Provided by co-contributor, Jim Cox]

Wedding Wednesday - Boxberger & Ayers (1937)

Married Recently

 

Miss Lucille Dolorous Boxberger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Boxberger, 3232 South Harrison Street, recently became the bride of Mr. Gerald Albert Ayers, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Ayers, 2907 Winter Street.  The ceremony took place at 9 o’clock last Saturday morning in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, with the Rev. Lawrence D. Monahan reading the nuptial high mass.

The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, chose for her wedding a gown fashioned of heavy bridal satin in Empire mode and enhanced only by seed pearls, which outlined the heart-shaped neck line and bordered the high placed fullness of the leg o’ mutton sleeves. The fullness of the beautiful lace veil was held in place by a halo adorned with seed pearls and rhinestones, and the fullness followed the lines of the satin beyond the end of the graceful train. The bride wore white satin sandals and she carried a large shower bouquet combining white bride’s roses and swansonia. She wore a gold cross and chain, a gift of the bridegroom.

Miss Dorothy Boxberger attended her sister as maid of honor. The bridesmaids were Miss Ruth Laney and Miss Carolyn Larson.  Miss Boxberger’s dress was of yellow net over satin, with matching accessories. Her bouquet was of Briarcliff roses and yellow snapdragons. Miss Larson’s gown was of aqua blue organdie with matching accessories.  Her bouquet was of Briarcliff roses and delphinium.  Miss Lancy’s gown was pale pink chiffon with matching hat and sandals.  Her bouquet was of Briarcliff roses and pink snapdragons.

The little flower girl, Miss Joan Schmitt, small cousin of the bride and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Schmitt, was dressed all in white and wore in her hair a bandeau of white daisies. She carried a French basket from which she scattered white rose petals in the path of the bride. The attendants wore crosses, gifts from the bride. Mr. Vernon Russell Ayers attended his brother as best man and the ushers were Mr. Warren Geise and Mr. William Tilker.

Mrs. Boxberger, mother of the bride, chose for her gown a navy blue redingote with white accessories. A corsage of roses and snapdragons adorned her shoulder. Mrs. Ayers, mother of the bridegroom, wore white with a corsage of roses.

A wedding dinner was served at the Catholic Community Center for twenty guests, and a reception was held later in the afternoon. The ornament topping the wedding cake was 45 years old.

Source: Journal-Gazette (Ft Wayne, IN) 18 JUN 1937

[Provided by co-contributor Jim Cox]

Hodge Podge Friday - Niblick (Ft Wayne, IN)

Mrs. John Niblick Dies This Morning

Prominent Decatur Woman Dies Today

   Mrs. Mary Jane Studabaker Niblick, 86, member of a pioneer Decatur family, and a prominent social and church worker, died this morning at 6 o'clock at the Adams County Memorial Hospital.  Death was attributed to old age.

   Mrs. Niblick, widow of the late John Niblick, was born in Decatur on August 6, 1855, the daughter of Judge David and Harriet Evans Studabaker.  Her family was among the first settlers in the community.

   During her entire life the deceased was an ardent member and worker in the First Methodist Church and one of the city's foremost club women.  She and her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison, shared the distinction of being the only two presidents of the Decatur Library Board.   During the first World War, Mrs. Niblick served as head of the Adams County Chapter of the American Red Cross.  In 1906 and 1907, she was president of the eighth district of the federation of woman's clubs.  She was a member of the local Shakespeare Club.

   In addition to being an ardent worker of the Decatur WCTU, she was a charter member of the missionary society of the First Methodist church and an organizer of the ladies aid society of the church.  She later became a charter member of the women's society of Christian service, which was formed in 1940 by the uniting of the home missionary society, the ladies aid society and the women's foreign missionary society.

   She was a graduate of the Glendale Women's College in 1875.  On May 18, 1876, she was married to Mr. Niblick.  He preceded her in death on May 4, 1930.  She was the last member of her family.  Three sisters and two brothers preceded her in death.

   Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. A. D. Suttles of Decatur, Mrs. O. P. Edwards of Leipsic, Ohio, and Mrs. H. H. Stoner of Chicago. Two sons, Jesse D. and Burton S. are deceased.  Six grandchildren and four great grandchildren survive.

Funeral Monday

    Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the residence, 222 Jefferson Street, with Rev. R. W. Graham officiating.  Interment will be in the mausoleum at the Decatur cemetery.

   The body was taken to the Zwick funeral home.  It will be returned to the residence Sunday and may be viewed there after 2 p.m. until time for the services.

[Obit courtesy of co-contributor, Jim Cox]

Hodge Podge Friday - Schmidt (Ft Wayne, IN)

WAS BUTCHER MANY YEARS AGO
CHRISTIAN SCHMIDT, OF WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, DEAD

Came Here in 1869 and Worked for Ten Years for Late Fred Eckert, Then Moved to Farm-Was Seventy Six Years Old

Christian Schmidt, seventy-six years of age, a pioneer butcher of Fort Wayne but for the past twenty-eight years one of the best known farmers of Allen county, died about noon Sunday at his home, six miles northwest of the city, in Washington township. His death was due to a complication of diseases. He had been sick for four months.

Mr Schmidt was born March 2, 1829 in Gross Schoenfeld, Pomerania, Germany, coming to America and to Fort Wayne in 1869. For the first ten years after his arrival here he was employed as a butcher for the late Fred Ecker. He was a frugal and industrious man and accumulating a snug fortune, twenty-eight years ago he purchased a good farm in Washington township. He moved to the farm and spent the remainder of his life there.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs August Schmidt, and four children, William Schmidt of Lake township; August F Schmidt of Washington township; Mrs Amelie Bruder of Toledo, and Mrs John Kurtz of Lake township. There are also nineteen grandchildren, a brother who resides at Blackburn, Mo and two brothers and a sister in Germany. Mr Schmidt was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran church, on the Leesburg road.

The funeral services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 pm at the family home and at 2 oclock at the Bethlehem church, the Rev Herman Wurthman officiating.

Source: 29 MAY 1905  Journal-Gazette (Ft Wayne, IN)  Pg 4, Col. 3

MRS AUGUSTA SCHMIDT SUMMONED
Was Resident of Washington Township Forty Years
Widely Know in County –Died at Age of Seventy-five Year of Complication of Diseasses After Long Illness

Mrs Augusta Schmidt, for over forty years a resident of Allen county, died Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock of a complication of diseases at the family home in Washington township. Mrs Schmidt was seventy five years old. She had been in failing health for a year and had been confined to her bed for the past two months.

Mrs Schmidt was born September 30, 1831 in Brandenberg, Prussia. She was married while still in Germany to Christian Schmidt, and came with her husband to America over forty years ago. Mr Schmidt was first employed in the county in the old Eckart slaughter house and later purchased a farm in Washington township where he moved and where Mrs Schmidt has since resided.

The husband died in May, 1905.

Five children have preceded Mrs Schmidt in death. She is survived by four children-Mrs Emilie Bruder of Toledo, Ohio; Mrs John Kurtz of Lake township; William Schmidt of Lake township and August F Schmidt of Washington township. There are twenty-one grandchildren. Two brothers also survive – Carl Haak of Germany, and Theodore Haak of Washington township and two sisters – Mrs Wilhelmina Gossow of Fort Wayne and Mrs William Miller of Washington township.

The funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock from the residence and at 1:45 o’clock from the Behlehem Lutheran church. The interment will be in the Bethlehem cemetery.

Source: 28 JAN 1907  Journal-Gazette (Ft Wayne, IN)  Pg 3, Col. 3
[Obits courtesy of co-contributor, Jim Cox]

Up From The Ground Came A Bubbling Pool.... Oil That Is...

John Abnet
13 JUN 1894
80 Acres
Jefferson Township, Adams County, Indiana

**Image provided by Jim Cox, Co-Contributor to Genealogy Frame of Mind

Up From The Ground Came A Bubbling Pool.... Oil That Is...

R.K. Allison
11 JUN 1894
260 Acres
Wabash and Monroe Townships, Adams County, Indiana

Up From The Ground Came A Bubbling Pool.... Oil That Is...

Fred Affolder
16 JUN 1894
80 acres
Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana

**Images provided by Jim Cox, Co-Contributor to Genealogy Frame of Mind

Tombstone Tuesday - Mystery Solved!

Countless times through the years, people have asked why a particular grave in the Monmouth Cemetery has an ornate iron fence surrounding it. Stories have been told that the lady that was buried there was a
wealthy widow woman. Others say that she was someone famous. Kids like to tell that she was a witch and the fence was put there to keep her in the grave. Actually my great, great, grandfather put the fence
around the grave because as he liked to tell it - she was so mean, he was afraid that she would come out and get him while he was sleeping. (Side note: They were divorced in the late 1800's).....

The truth, while rather amusing, isn't nearly as exciting as the stories. My uncle, Lawrence A. Baker, great-great grandson of the lady buried inside the iron fence, told the true story as follows:

When great-great grandma Sabrina was dying, she told her family, "I want you to put up a fence around my grave so the cows can't stomp all over me!" Now, you might ask, "Why would cows be in a cemetery, stomping on graves?" Well, in 1887, when Sabrina died, many residents of Monmouth, Indiana, Adams Co., IN, owned a family milk cow. These animals would often be staked out in vacant lots, small fields, or the cemetery. The cemetery was free pasture and the cows helped keep the weeds and grass mowed down. The downside of this was that the animals often knocked over the tombstones.

I hope that great-great-great grandma has slep well in her grave for over 117 years, knowing that no cows ever stomped on her grave.

Sabrina Benson Lord McChan

12-29-1812, New York State
3-9-1887, Root Township, Adams County, Indiana
 
**Headstone photo's by co-contributor Jim Cox.

Up From The Ground Came A Bubbling Pool.... Oil That Is...

Hattie and George Aumiller
15 JUN 1894
Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana


**Images provided by Jim Cox, Co- Contributor to Genealogy Frame of Mind

Up From The Ground Came A Bubbling Pool.... Oil That Is...

D. and S.E. Barkalow
14 JUN 1894
40 Acres
Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana

**Images provided by Jim Cox, Co-Contributor to Genealogy Frame of Mind

Up From The Ground Came A Bubbling Pool.... Oil That Is...

Lawrence Beitler
28 JUN 1909
40 Acres
Section 27, Range 14, Township 26, Monroe Township, Adams County, Indiana

**Images courtesy of Jim Cox - Co- Contributor to Genealogy Frame of Mind

Tombstone Tuesday - Ziba Dorwin

21 JAN 1793 - 3 FEB 1864

 Monmouth Cemetery, Root Township, Adams Co., Indiana

**Headstone photo courtesy of Jim Cox, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, 2011

**Will images courtesy of Jim Cox, Adams County, Indiana Probate Court, 2011, Adams County Will Book A

Up From The Ground Came A Bubbling Pool.... Oil That Is...

Catherine Ensley/Eusley
28 DEC 1892
57 ACres
Hartford Township, Adams County, Indiana

**Images provided by Jim Cox, Co-Contributor Genealogy Frame Of Mind

Sometimes Being First Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be

The first woman in Adams County, Indiana to have a will was Rebecca Flagg.  Below is a summary of Rebecca's will, along with the parties named in the will and why they were named.  There is no transcription of the will as of this date. 

**Samuel Flagg Husband of Rebecca Flagg; named executor of Rebecca's estate

David Showers Witness to Rebecca Flagg making last will & testament

F. D. C. Braddock Witness to Rebecca Flagg making last will & testament

James B. Simcoke Clerk of Adams County, Indiana Sept. 22, 1860

James B. Simcoke Oath of will being admitted to probate

**Will not dated
Adams County, Indiana Will Book A, Pgs. 271-274

**Images of will book provided by Jim Cox, Ft Wayne, Indiana 2011