August Ruemmele

August Ruemmele was born on December 6, 1818 in Zell, Baden. He emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1849. In 1851, August Ruemmele and Herman Ruess founded the first German language newspaper entitled the Intelligenz-Blatt. (An excellent article about German speaking newspapers in Sandusky is found at the Sandusky History website.) On September 1, 1857, August Ruemmele lost his life in a railroad accident. Several cars of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad separated from the track near the Castalia Mills. Henry Ross and David Cassett, both railroad employees also lost their lives. An account of the train accident appears in the September 2, 1857 Sandusky Daily Commercial Register, on microfilm at the Archives Research Center of the Sandusky Library, and the library of the Hayes Presidential Center.

The newspaper article reported that August Ruemmele left behind a young wife and child, as well as nine siblings. When the train arrived in Sandusky, carrying the bodies of the deceased, many of the friends of August Ruemmele met the train. He was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Wendelin Lieb

According to records found at Ancestry, Wendelin Lieb was born at Momlingen, Germany on October 19, 1841, and he died in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio on October 30, 1898. His wife is listed as Anna Marie Wernig. Wendelin Lieb's tombstone in Oakland Cemetery is in the shape of a tree stump, which represents a life cut short, or a life interrupted. It is very likely that the monument honoring Wendelin Lieb was made by his brother Ambrose Lieb, who had a marble works in Sandusky for many years.

Obituaries for Wendelin Lieb appeared in the Sandusky Register on October 30 and October 31, 1898.
Mr. Lieb had died in a dreadful accident, in which he fell from his buggy, was knocked unconscious, and the flames from his cigar engulfed his body. His obituary stated, "The accident was a particularly sad one and the family has the sympathy of the community." Mr. Lieb was considered a well known resident, and was known for being a hard worker. Wendelin's faithful horse was found standing beside his lifeless body. The funeral was held at the family home at the corner of Jefferson and Putnam Streets.

Alexander Hornig

Alexander Hornig was born in 1841 in Germany, but he came to the United States as a young man. In the 1880 U.S. Census for Erie County, Alexander stated that his occupation was marble cutter. The 1902 Sandusky City Directory listed the "marble works" of Alexander Hornig as being located on the south side of Milan Road, opposite Oakland Cemetery.

During the Civil War, Alexander Hornig served in Company D of the 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1887, Alexander was issued a patent for a millstone pick. The patent number was Number 366, 959.The millstone pick was the type that was used by stone cutters and masons.

Alexander Hornig died on September 12, 1913. He was survived by his wife Nettie, two daughters, and two sons. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery, across the road from the marble works, where he worked for many years. Obituaries for Alexander Hornig appeared in the Sandusky Register on September 13, September 15, September 16, and September 19 of 1913.

Mr. and Mrs. John Pfeil

In the March 31, 1906 issue of the Sandusky Register, is an obituary for John Pfeil. The article reported that Mr. Pfeil was born in Kurhessen, Germany on October 7, 1825, and came to Sandusky in 1866. "He was a tailor by trade and was one of the city's best known German residents." His wife, Martha, had passed away in 1893. He was survived by three daughters, Mrs. Charles Pelz, Mrs. William Dies, and Mrs. Henry Beatty; and four sons, Conrad, Paul, Jacob, and Henry.

Mr. and Mrs. Pfeil had made their home at 510 Neil Street in Sandusky. They are buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. (While the tombstone for John Pfeil has the year 1905 as his year of death, the obituary from the local newspaper indicates that the year he died was 1906.)

Ambrose Lieb, Stone Cutter

An ornate cross is found at the top of the monument which honors Ambrose Lieb, who died in Sandusky, Ohio on June 2, 1916. According to his death certificate (available at Family Search Labs) Ambrose Lieb was born to Herman Lieb and Elizabeth Gollas in Germany on December 28, 1845. An obituary appeared in the Sandusky Register on June 3 and June 6, 1916.

Ambrose Lieb was "one of the most highly respected citizens of the community." He passed away at his residence on 918 Shelby Street. He had been a resident of Sandusky for almost fifty years, and worked as a stone cutter and mason. Ambrose Lieb was survived by his wife, five sons, four daughters, twenty-one grandchildren, and four sisters, three of whom resided in Germany. The funeral for Ambrose Lieb was held at St. Mary's Church with Rev. Joseph Widman officiating. Burial was in St. Mary's Cemetery.