Mrs. Edna C. Arend

According to her death record, Edna C. Arend was born Edna C. Schmidt, on May 14, 1882.  Her parents were August and Ida (Rehberg) Schmidt, both originally from Middle Bass Island. In February of 1905, Edna C. Schmidt married Nelson Arend in Erie County, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Arend moved to Cleveland in 1913, where Edna was active with the Associated Charities and the Cleveland Women's City Club. On December 31, 1941, Edna C. Arend died after a lengthy illness. She was survived by her husband, two daughters, a grandson, and a sister. Funeral services for Edna Arend were held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. William Sprow, with Dr. Donald Wonders officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery.

Family History at our Christmas Get Together

The large Christmas family gathering, which includes the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of Paul and Joyce Orshoski, (at least as many of them that are able to attend) is always fun! Mom and Dad are pictured above in a wedding photo from 1951. Later they would have six children and twenty grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. On Christmas Day we got to see how big the nieces and nephews are getting, exchange gifts, and enjoy lots of delicious food. This past Christmas Day we heard about a nephew and future niece-in-law's upcoming wedding. Also a niece and her hubby announced that they are expecting a little one in the summer. Recently another niece and nephew and their spouses announced a new baby in their family line as well! As one who loves family history, I see that soon there will be new branches and limbs on the family tree. My sister Kellie got a "selfie stick" and she had a good time testing it out on the family! Below are just some of the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of Paul and Joyce Orshoski. Though are no longer with us, the things they taught us, and traditions they began, continue to stay with us all to this day.

Photo by Kellie Kenniston

L.H. Kitzelman, Civil War Veteran

L.F. Kitzelman served in Company H of the 113th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. Though he did not reside in Sandusky at the time of his death, he had friends and relatives from the Sandusky area. After Mr. Kitzelman's death on December 27, 1907, his remains were brought to Sandusky for burial at Oakland Cemetery. Brief obituaries for L.K. Kitzelman appeared in the December 29 and December 30 issues of the Sandusky Register in 1907.

When the Orshoski Children Were in the Church Play at Trinity Lutheran Church

In an article which appeared in the December 22, 1939 issue of the Sandusky Register, I learned that on Christmas Eve in December of 1939, my dad, Paul Orshoski, and his siblings and cousins were all participants in the Trinity Lutheran Church’s Children’s Christmas Service. In the pageant “On to Bethlehem,” Paul Orshoski, his brother Wayne Orshoski,  his sister Alberta Orshoski and his cousin Frank Orshoski were all characters in the pageant.

Dad’s brother Don Orshoski and cousin Rolland Orshoski were part of the group of angelic hosts who gave a recitation.



It is hard for me to imagine any child from the Orshoski family portraying an angel in the church pageant! In the family stories I have heard, they were all quite mischievous! The Trinity Lutheran Church, on Bardshar Road is located on Sandusky’s west side, in a region that was once known as Venice, Ohio. Trinity Lutheran Church  was an outgrowth of the Zion Lutheran Church in Sandusky.A few years before this 1939 Christmas pageant, this picture of my dad and his siblings was taken at their home in Bay Bridge.

In the 1940s, several of the youngsters who had been  in the Christmas  pageant at Trinity were confirmed.

Pictured above is the confirmation class of Trinity Lutheran Church from Spring of 1944, in Venice, Ohio. Seated in front: Elmer Wahl, Wayne Orshoski, Joyce Galloway, Betty Martin, Rev. John Braun, Joyce Gardner, Nancy Klafter, Donald Orshoski, and Rolland Orshoski. In the back row: Norm Oeder, Richard Quinn, Marilyn Martin, Albert Oeder, Paul R. Orshoski, Stan Perry and Curtis Miller. 

Hugh McGenanty, A Native of Moneymore, County Derry

This lovely stone which has a cross at the top, honors the memory of Hugh McGenanty, who was also known as Hugh McGinty. Hugh died on December 19, 1876, at the age of 65. He was buried at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio, near several other members of the McGinty family. An inscription at the bottom of this tombstone indicates that has was a native of Moneymore, in County Derry, Ireland.

Toyland Advertisement from December of 1915

Instead of electronics, the children of Sandusky, Ohio in 1915 were looking forward to sleds, bicycles, and skates under the Christmas tree. This ad appeared in the December 15, 1915 issue of the Sandusky Register. All these items were sold by the J. Mertz & Sons store at Washington and McDonough Streets in Sandusky, Ohio.

Erecto Model Builder sets sold for 88 cents! Skates were priced 40 cents and up.

Marriage Record of Lorenz Jaeger and Catharina Dannenmann

Today I had the pleasure of chatting with some descendants of the second wife of my Great Great Grandfather, Lawrence Yeager/Lorenz Jaeger. After Great Great Grandpa's first wife, Maria Schweighardt, passed away, he married the widow of John Christian Dannenmann, whose maiden name was Catherine Geigel. By searching FamilySearch.org for the marriage record of Lorenz Jaeger and a bride named Catherine, this record was retrieved. The couple was married in Erie County, Ohio on February 25, 1892. The second Mrs. Yeager passed away on March 15, 1911. She was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery, where her first husband was also buried. Here is information about the Yeager/Jaeger family, as it appeared in the 1900 U.S. Census. Theirs was a blended family. I am sure that Mrs. Catherine Yeager got to know my great grandfather, Andrew Yeager, and his siblings. In the census listing as it appears at FamilySearch.org, the surnames were spelled Jueger and Dunneman. Always keep in mind that in surnames of German descent, many spelling variations may be found!

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Loren Jueger	Head	M	33	Germany
Catharine Jueger	Wife	F	53	Germany
Charles Dunneman	Stepson	M	21	Ohio
Mary Dunneman	Stepdaughter	F	18	Ohio
Annie Dunneman	Stepdaughter	F	14	Ohio
Amelia Dunneman	Stepdaughter	F	13	Ohio

Jacob A. Barker, 1818 - 1898

According to the Firelands Pioneer, Jacob A. Barker was born in Buffalo, New York on December 9, 1818. His father was Zenas W. Barker, who served in the War of 1812. His grandfather, also named Zenas Barker, served in the American Revolution. In 1834, Jacob A. Barker moved to Sandusky, Ohio with his family. He married Mary Elizabeth Patterson on November 22, 1847. Jacob and Mary were the parents of four sons. Jacob Barker was the general freight agent for the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad. Later he was the Sandusky agent of the United States Express Company. Jacob A. Barker died on December 22, 1898, and he was buried in the family lot at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Barker Street and Barker School in Sandusky were named for the ancestors of Jacob A. Barker.

Charles H. Jenkins, 1846-1910

Charles H. Jenkins was on June 5, 1846 in Jefferson County, to George K. Jenkins and his wife, the former Sarah Updergraff, both devout followers of the Quaker religion. For many years, Charles H. Jenkins was a cashier at a bank in Oberlin, Ohio, where his brother in law served as  bank president. In 1875, Charles Jenkins married Alice Johnson, the daughter of Leonard B. Johnson.  Alice Johnson Jenkins passed away in 1881 at the age of 31. Mr. Jenkins took as his second wife Miss Kate Ross of Zanesville. They had a son named Kenneth. Charles H. Jenkins died on December 3, 1910, after a lengthy illness. An obituary which appeared in the December 4, 1910 issue of the Sandusky Register read in part:

Mr. Jenkins had been in failing health for more a year or more and was stricken with paralysis on the night of November 22, from which he did not rally but slightly and later gradually failed until the end, came peacefully.His death removes a citizen whom was not only personally highly esteemed, but who for a period of about thirty-eight years has been identified with Sandusky's business interests. 

Funeral services for Charles H. Jenkins were held at the family residence, and burial was in Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. 

Tombstone Tuesday: Peter Hollricher, 1833-1891

Peter Hollricher was a native of Germany. By 1859 he was residing in Erie County, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Bance (spelling of Elizabeth's surname varies.) Peter worked as a cooper. On December 1, 1891, Peter Hollricher died as a result of cancer. His death record was recorded in Erie County Probate Court, on line number nine. Peter Hollricher was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. On one of his tombstone is a musical instrument.

On the other side of Peter's tombstone is the Odd Fellows triple chain symbol, which represents friendship, love and truth.

Though Mr. Hollricher passed away well over a hundred years ago, we can learn about him from simply looking at this tombstone.

Guy E. Bardshar

According to his death certificate, Guy Edward Bardshar was born on July 19, 1872 to Solomon and Amelia Bardshar, in Castalia, Ohio. On August 1, 1901, Guy Bardshar married Hedwig Wiedel in Erie County, Ohio. Guy listed his occupation as machinist. Before Guy got married, he was issued this patent for a churn cover.

Eventually Guy and Hedwig Bardshar moved to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Guy E. Bardshar passed away on November 30, 1938. This brief obituary for Guy Bardshar was listed in the Cleveland Necrology file:

Notes: Bardshar: Guy E., husband of Hettie, father of Gwendolen and Elaine, on Wednesday, Nov. 30. 1938; residence 898 Helmsdale Rd., Cleveland Heights. Friends may call at Charles Melbourne & Sons', 12737 Euclid ave., where services will be held Friday, Dec. 2, at 11 a. m. Interment Sandusky, O.

Guy Bardshar was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery.

Sentimental Sunday: Old Clock from Citizens Bank in Sandusky

This clock from the old Citizen's Bank in Sandusky, Ohio is now located directly across the street from the Civista Bank at Wayne and Water Streets in downtown Sandusky. The clock was originally located at the old Citizens Bank in the Feick Building on Market Street. Since the mid 1980s, the downtown Sandusky office of the Citizens Bank (now Civista Bank)  has been at 100 East Water Street. The clock was moved to its current location in 1992. In 2015, the bank formerly known as the Citizens Banking Company became known as Civista Bank.

Henry J. Booth, One of the Founders of the Union Iron Works

According to the 1880 U.S. Census, Henry J. Booth was born in England in 1830. In 1880 he was residing in San Francisco, California, with his wife Elizabeth, and their children, Edgar, Jessie, Lizzie and Genevieve, ranging in ages from 8 to 18. Three other adults were also residing in the Booth household in 1880. Henry listed his occupation as proprietor of a foundry. A listing from the 1865 San Francisco Directory, available at the Internet Archive, features an advertisement from the Union Iron Works, of which H.J. Booth was one of the partners, along with George W. Prescott and Irving M. Scott.

The company manufactured locomotives, marine and stationary engines, and a variety of pumps and pumping machines. By 1909, Henry J. Booth had moved to New York City, where he resided with his youngest daughter Genevieve. A brief obituary which appeared in the November 27, 1909 issue of the New York Times reported that Henry J. Booth had died on November 26, 1909. The article stated that Henry J. Booth moved from Ohio to San Francisco in 1851, where he was one of the founders of the Union Iron Works. Mr. Booth was survived by his widow, and three daughters. His remains were brought to Sandusky, Ohio, where he was buried at Oakland Cemetery.  Henry J. Booth was buried in Block 21, where several other Booth family members were also laid to rest.

Lockwood Monument at Oakland Cemetery

This monument at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery honors the memory of three members of the L. Pitt Lockwood family. Leonard Pitt Lockwood was born in 1851. In January of 1876, L. Pitt Lockwood married Nannie E. Smith in Erie County, Ohio. The family resided in Erie County, Ohio in 1880. By this time, L. Pitt and Nannie Lockwood had a three year old son named Fred. For many years, L. Pitt Lockwood was an agent with the Big Four Railroad. His job eventually took him to St. Louis, Missouri. L. Pitt Lockwood died in St. Louis, Missouri in November of 1912. This obituary appeared in the November 23, 1912 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal.

Mrs. Nannie Lockwood died in Cincinnati on July 2, 1937. Her death record indicates that her parents' names were Warren Smith and Marie Townsend Smith. Mrs. Lockwood was buried next to her husband at Oakland Cemetery. Sadly, the son of L. Pitt and Nannie Lockwood, Fred, had died in 1924.Fred's name is located at the very top of the Lockwood monument.


Though I do not have an official vital record that provides that L. Pitt Lockwood's parents' names, I did some sleuthing to find out who his parents were. Since S.M. Lockwood and H.H. Lockwood, both brothers of L. Pitt Lockwood, both have these two names listed as their parents: father, Horace Allen Lockwood and mother, Sarah Ramsdell, It makes logical sense that the parents of L. Pitt Lockwood were also Horace Allen Lockwood and Sarah Ramsdell. Horace Allen Ramsdell died in 1857 when his children were very young. Both the Ramsdell and Lockwood families were pioneer residents of the Firelands. Hewson Peeke wrote in his book A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, that Horace's father, Samuel Mills Lockwood, traveled to the Firelands in the early 1800's, and he was in charge of surveying and selling much of the land in Danbury and Portage Townships of Ottawa County, Ohio.

Jonas Prevonsha, U.S. Navy

Jonas Prevoncha was listed as a sailor in the 1890 Sandusky City Directory. He resided at the northwest corner of Hancock and Monroe Streets. During the Civil War, Jonas Prevonsha served in the United States Navy on the U.S.S. Carondelet, a Union ironclad gunboat.

According to the obituary of Jonas Prevonsha (sometimes spelled Provonsha), Jonas died in Ward D at the hospital of Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home on March 18, 1918. Obituaries for persons who died in the Sandusky area in 1918 have been compiled in a notebook on file at the Sandusky Library. Jonas Prevonsha was 90 years old at the time of his death.He had been admitted to the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home on June 22, 1892. His nearest of kin was Alonzo Prevonsha, of Sandusky. Funeral services for Jonas Prevonsha were held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. Hornig. Burial was in the cemetery of what is now known as the Ohio Veterans Home.

George W. Hill, Civil War Soldier

According to the Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion, George W. Hill enlisted as a musician in Company B of the 101st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 5, 1862. He was 18 years old when he enlisted. Though his grave marker states that he died on November 17, 1863, the Ohio Roster lists the date of death of George W. Hill as November 12, 1862. G.W. Hill died at Perryville, Kentucky, from disease. He was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. You can learn more about the 101st O.V.I. in the book Story of the One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry: A Memorial Volume, by Lewis W. Day, available full text at Google Books. Other men from Sandusky who served in this unit were: Jay Caldwell Butler, John M. Butler, and Josh B. Davis.

A Closer Look at the Inscription on the Tombstone of Charles Cross

Today as I was visiting the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio, I stopped to look at the tombstone of my 4th great grandfather, Charles Cross.  Underneath the phrase "In His 77th Year" is an inscription.

It a passage from the Douay-Rheims Bible, Psalm 40:13, which reads:


Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me, look down, O Lord, to help me. 

I think that the survivors of  Charles Cross wanted those in the generations who came after him to see this inscription from 1889! Several other versions of this verse can be viewed at the BibleHub online.

Mrs. Louisa Dyar

This flat stone is found in Block 59 of Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Mrs. Louisa Dyar (sometimes spelled Dyer) died on December 30, 1863, at the age of 63 years and 10 days.  She was the wife of Thomas Dyar/Dyer, who was the keeper of the Marblehead Lighthouse from 1861-1865. I am sure the Marblehead Lighthouse, which is the key feature at an Ohio State Park visited by thousands of tourists every year, was a very familiar sight to Louisa!

Veterans Monument at Sackett Cemetery in Ottawa County, Ohio

This monument is provided by the generosity of the Marblehead Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7572, and the American Legion, Post 555. November 11, 2007.

Sentimental Sunday: Wolcott House in Maumee, Ohio

Recently, my friend and I got to visit the Wolcott House, on River Road in Maumee, Ohio. It was the former home of James Wolcott and his wife, the former Mary Wells. The Wolcott House built by James Wolcott, who was an entrepreneur who moved to Ohio from Connecticut. His wife, Mary Wells, was the daughter of Indian scout William Wells, and the granddaughter of Little Turtle. Click here to read more about the genealogical background of James Wolcott. Mr. Wolcott died in 1873. Click here to see his listing at FindaGrave.

Archie Long, Firefighter

 

Archie P. Long was born on September 5, 1875 in New Haven, Indiana, to August and Edith (Compton) Long. For twenty-eight years, Archie Long was a firefighter with the Sandusky Fire Department. He joined the fire department on January 18, 1910, and he was promoted to Lieutenant on May 11, 1917. On November 6, 1939, Archie Long died at the age of 64, from heart disease. Funeral services for Archie Long were held at the home of his mother, Mrs. Edith Long, and he was buried at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. Pallbearers were members of the Sandusky Fire Department and members of the Santa Clara Camp, Spanish American War Veterans. Honorary pallbearers were Former Fire Chief John Curtis, former Assistant Fire Chief Dan Diskin, former Captain Tom Nolan, former fireman Joseph Schneider, Fire Chief W. McLaughlin and Assistant Fire Chief Clarence Owen. Archie Long was a veteran of the Spanish American War. He was survived by his mother and two sisters. An obituary for Archie P. Long is found in the 1939 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK at the Sandusky Library.

Tombstone Tuesday: Solindo Severini

Solindo Severini was born in Pesaro, Italy in 1874 to Tony and Augusta Severini.  He emigrated to the U.S. in 1913.  On October 30, 1918, Solindo Severini died from bronchial pneumonia. He was buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. A dove is found at the top of the tombstone of Mr. Severine. Above his name is the word Husband. A fern adorns the right side of the stone.

Anthony Missig, 1871-1926

According to his death record, Anthony V. Missig was born in Sandusky, Ohio on October 2, 1871, to Jacob Missig and his wife, the former Catherina Koch. Jacob was a native of Hesse, Germany and Catherina had been born in Bismark, Ohio. By occupation Anthony Missig was a painter. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage on October 31, 1926.  Anthony Missig was buried at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A rolled scroll with the word Brother adorns his tombstone.

The sides and the back of the stone looks similar to bricks that were set in place one by one.

Wordless Wednesday: Fall at Oakland Cemetery

Poem Written by My Maternal Grandmother Doris

A short time ago, I accidentally stumbled upon a little poem written by my mother's mother, Doris Wheeler, about 1919.

It was in a vintage scrapbook now housed at the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center, on page that was entitled "Stunts and Jokes."

It read:

Doris sat upon the sand
Eating candy kisses
A young man came along and said
Why how are you there misses.

Doris Wheeler

My grandmother died in 1943, when my mother Joyce was only eleven years old. What a treasure to come across this poem that she wrote so long ago. My mother, Uncle Tom, and my brother are all known to have written poetry. Perhaps it just runs in the family!

Henry Py, 1868-1918

According to his death record, available at FamilySearch, Henry Py was the son of Jacob and Barbara (Didelius) Py, born on April 8, 1868. His occupation was stone mason. An image of his death certificate reveals that he died from apoplexy, and that over work also contributed to his death.

An article in the October 22, 1918 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that Henry Py died on October 21, 1918 at the Schlenk House. Marquart undertakers took charge of funeral arrangements, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery. Henry Py was survived by a brother, Frank Py, of Chicago, and a sister, Mrs. Jay Balduff of Sandusky. The word brother appears at the top of the tombstone of Henry Py.

Sentimental Sunday: The Kromer Barn at Lyme Village

Recently I took my grandsons to Lyme Village, where we saw the Kromer Barn, which once stood in Perkins Township, and was dismantled and rebuilt at Lyme Village. My Steen, Milner, Parker, and House ancestors all resided on farms in Perkins Township, Erie County Ohio, before the land was sold to the U.S. Government for a munitions factory for the war effort in the early 1940s. Seeing this barn and its contents helped me know what my ancestors' barns may have contained. Outside the barn was an old wheel.

Inside the barn there was an old sleigh


and a vintage tricycle.

Andreas Kromer's remains were removed from his original resting place at the old Perkins Cemetery to the St. Mary's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

It is a blessing to me to see that so many pieces of Erie County history remain for us to see today.