Jacob Crecelius

Hewson L. Peeke wrote in his 1916 edition of A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, that Jacob Crecelius was born in Germany, and was married to Catherine Erf. He came to the United States in 1850, first settling in Huron County, Ohio, and then moving to Erie County in 1852. He was a farmer in Oxford Township, Ohio. Mr. Peeke stated, "Jacob Crecelius was a man of no little prominence in Oxford Township, served as trustee and for a number of years as a member of the Oxford Township school board, and was not only keenly interested but an influential and helpful factor in matters of local progress. He was a democrat in politics, and in every way public spirited." Mr. Jacob Crecelius was the father of Jacob J. Crecelius,who was also a farmer in Oxford Township. The younger Jacob Crecelius served as an Erie County Commissioner for several years.
















An obituary for Jacob Crecelius, the father, who died on June 14, 1899, appeared in the Sandusky Star newspaper on June 16, 1899. Jacob Crecelius was buried at St. John's Cemetery, near the intersection of Mason and Thomas Roads in Oxford Township, Erie County, Ohio. Many surnames of German descent can be seen on the tombstones of individuals buried at the St. John's Cemetery.

Charles Krebs

Charles Krebs was born on February 8, 1847, and died on October 21, 1876. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery. An inscription forming an arch at the top of Mr. Krebs' tombstone reads "In Memory of My Husband." Though the dates do not match up perfectly, this is most likely the same person who is listed as Charles Creps in the 1870 Erie County Census. Charles was a brewer who was born in Germany, and he had a wife named Christina, and a small infant in the household. Records at the Probate Court of Erie County indicate that a Christina Krebs married Jacob Crecelius on January 30, 1879. Jacob was listed in the 1870 Census as Jacob Chisalious. He had a wife and seven children, all living in Oxford Township.

By the 1880 U.S. Census, it appears that Jacob;s first wife had died. Jacob and Christina Crecelius were married, and in their household were:

Paulina
Hermon
Katherine
August
William
Matilda
Jacob
and Albert Crecelius
(children of Jacob Crecelius and his first wife)

as well as

Arnie Krebs
and Charles Krebs
(stepsons of Jacob Crecelius; Christina's children with first husband Charles Krebs)

and

an infant named Lewis Crecelius, the son of Jacob and Christina Krebs Crecelius. It must have been a very busy household!

In the nineteenth century, when a person lost their spouse, it was not unusual for them to remarry relatively quickly. A man would need help with raising his children and running the household, while a widow would find financial and emotional security by marrying again. Blended families have always been quite common, and were of course made part of popular culture by the long running television program, "The Brady Bunch" and the movie "Yours, Mine, and Ours."