O'Toole Monument at St. Joseph Cemetery

The surname O'Toole is located at the base of this majestic monument located in Section D of the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. Flowers on a cross adorn the top of the O'Toole monument, on the side of the monument which faces west.

The side of the O'Toole monument which faces to the east contains no inscriptions.

Katie O'Toole's name is inscribed on the side of the monument which faces toward the South. Bridget Catherine "Katie" O'Toole died on March 10, 1884, at the age of 17. In 1880, Katie was residing with her family on a farm in Margaretta Township, Erie County, Ohio. Her parents' names were listed as Bartholamue and Hannah Toole. They were both natives of Ireland. Katie O'Toole was buried in the family lot at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

Rosa Koberle; Age Two Years and Seven Days

Rosa Koberle (sometimes spelled Koeberle) died on October 15, 1886, at the age of two years and seven months. She was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.  The phrase "Ruhe in Frieden"   is the German phrase for "Rest in Peace."

Rest in Peace, Chuck, the Accidental Genealogist

Today I learned that a library patron, who had gotten to know the staff very well, died this week unexpectedly. Chuck McCoy used to visit the library almost every day for the past two years. He had learned a lot about how to do genealogy by searching for his own ancestors. He shared that knowledge with several other patrons who also wanted to know about the previous generations in their own families. Chuck brought us treats, told us jokes, and was always pleasant and positive. We will miss you Chuck! The library won't be the same without you!

Arndt Monument at Oakland Cemetery

This lovely monument at Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery honors the memory of Mr. and Mrs. David M. Arndt. David M. Arndt was a well-known Sandusky business man, who is credited with bringing telephone service to Sandusky, Ohio. David M. Arndt died on May 18, 1914, while visiting his son, Dr. Charles Henry Arndt in Germantown, Pennsylvaina. His wife, the former Anna Hussey, had passed away in 1909.

A cross adorns the top of the Arndt monument.

While standing near the Arndt monument at Oakland, and facing to the south, one can see a lovely view of the cemetery, with its winding roads and many trees.

Mrs. Anna Scherz, A Native of Germay

This beautiful monument at Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio,  honors the memory of Anna Shettler/Schettler Scherz. Anna Schettler was born on May 1st, 1828 in Wankheim, Kingdom of Wuerttemberg, Germany. She emigrated to the US in 1846 with some of her siblings and her father.  By the year 1849, Anna Shettler was living in Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio. That year she married John Louis Scherz.

The 1850 U.S. Census listed the couple as Lewis and Ann Schult. By 1860, John Louis Scherz and his wife Ann/Anna had three children. Sadly, Anna Schettler/Shetler Scherz died on September 21, 1866, at the age of 38. She was buried in the family lot at Oakland Cemetery. Shortly after arriving in America, Anna Schettler witnessed the ravages of the cholera epidemic in Sandusky. Read a letter she wrote to family members back in Germany at this online site, Emigration Paths Into the U.S.A.  (Ctl-f to the word Dangers to read Anna’s letter.) Many thanks to Mr. Kemmler for hosting this amazing site!

Below is a picture of the tombstones of three members of the Scherz family who were all buried at Oakland Cemetery.

The back of the tombstone of J.L. Scherz speaks volumes about his character.

Bartholomew and Hannah O'Toole, Natives of Ireland

According to his death record, Bartholomew O'Toole was born in Ireland. In 1851, Bartholomew O'Toole married Hannah Williams at Holy Angels Church in Sandusky, Ohio. You can see the brief marriage record at FamilySearch's collection of records from the Toledo Diocese.

In the 1860 U.S. Census, Mr. O'Toole was listed as B. Tool. Also in the record were his wife Hannah, and children Dennis, Anne and Mary. The family was living in Margaretta Township of Erie County, Ohio.  By 1870, the family had three more daughters, Mercy, Hannah, and Katy/Katie. Sadly, Katie died at the young age of 17. In the 1890s, the O'Toole family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Bartholomew O'Toole died on June 14, 1897. His remains were brought back to Sandusky by train. Funeral services of Bartholomew O'Toole were held at Holy Angels Church, and burial was at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. Mrs. Hannah O'Toole remained in Chicago, until her death on March 24, 1915. She too was buried at the St. Joseph Cemetery.

A beautiful monument on which Katie O'Toole's name is inscribed is found on the family lot at the St. Joseph Cemetery.

A marker with the letters O'T mark the southern most boundary of the O'Toole family lot at the cemetery.

Steen Thomas Parker Married Evelyn James in Sandusky

Pictured above are Evelyn and Steen Thomas Parker, and their oldest child, Patricia Ann Parker, not long after they got married in Sandusky, Ohio. Today when I was looking for something else, I ran into an article about their wedding, from the August 21, 1947 issue of the Sandusky Star Journal. Steen Thomas Parker was my mom's older brother, making him my uncle.

They went on to have two more children, Steen Thomas Parker, Jr. and Shelley Parker. When I was little, we all looked forward to the Parker family's  annual cross-country drive from California to Ohio, to visit all the relatives back in Erie County! Though they later divorced, and each married again, it was delightful to read about Uncle Tom and Aunt Ev's wedding in 1947!

Obituary of Mrs. Maud Lena Allen Thompson, 1887-1916

Mrs. Maud L. (Allen) Thompson was born on November 28, 1888 (or 1887) to Thomas and Christiana Allen of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. On April 27, 1915, Maud married Rev. Herbert Joseph Thompson, a Methodist minister. Sadly, Maud died on March 17, 1916 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, from nephritis and influenza. A lengthy obituary for Mrs. Maud Lena Allen Thompson was found in the notebook of my Great Grandmother Ada Steen Parker. The obituary stated that she was born and reared in a Methodist home, and she possessed a "rare cultured voice and delighted to use it for the glory of God." Funeral services for Maud Thompson were held at the North Royalton Methodist Episcopal Church, where Rev. Thompson had formerly been the minister. Maud was survived by a young daughter, her husband, her parents, six sisters and three brothers. Mrs. Maud Thompson was buried at the North Royalton Cemetery in the Allen family lot. Rev. Thompson went on to marry again, Rachel House, another young lady with strong faith. From 1950 to 1960, Rev. Thompson was the general manager of the Lakeside Association. He lived to be 96, passing away in 1983 in the Youngstown area.

Mrs. Mary W. Radcliffe Kilbourne

Mary Webster Radcliffe Kilbourne was the daughter of H. P. Radcliffe, and his wife, the former Maria Brink, born in Ohio in 1845. On April 27, 1870, Mary took as her husband, Lincoln P. Kilbourne, the son of Dr. James Kilbourne. Sadly, Lincoln P. Kilbourne died very young, in the year 1880. On March 10, 1922, while visiting her son's family in New York, Mary W. Kilbourne died,. She had  been in frail health for some time. Her remains were returned to Sandusky, Ohio, for burial in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery in the Kilbourne family lot.

August Michel, Founder of a Cooperage in Sandusky, Ohio

According to Hewson Peeke's A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, August Michel settled in Erie County, Ohio in 1876, and soon he began working as a cooper. Eventually August Michel founded his own cooperage business. In 1881 the brothers August and Robert Michel formed a partnership and the business was known as Michel Brothers. In 1902, they incorporated the business, the Michel Cooperage Company. The 1905 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the location of the Michel Cooperage on Warren Street in the business district of Sandusky, Ohio. The company employed 45 men at that time.

August Michel, the president and manager of the Michel Cooperage Company, died on March 8, 1906. He was buried at the St. Joseph Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. Following the deaths of August and Robert Michel, the cooperage business was run by August Michel's son George A. Michel. Hewson Peeke wrote this tribute to August Michel in his book A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO: 

The late August Michel held a place of high esteem in Sandusky, not only in business but in social and civic circles. He was a thoroughly successful business man, had founded one of the first cooperage enterprises in Erie County, and could always be looked to for a manifestation of that public spirit which is one of the best assets of a growing and progressive city. 

Zistel Monument at Oakland Cemetery

This large monument honoring the memory of several members of the Zistel family is located in the North Ridge portion of Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. The patriarch of the Zistel family was Louis Zistel. He once ferried passengers to Cedar Point, in the 1870s. During the Civil War, he took prisoners to Johnson's Island in his boat. A popular business he operated was the Atlantic Gardens, a saloon in downtown Sandusky that was frequented by many German-American residents of Sandusky. Mr. Zistel died on March 6, 1899. A transcription of his obituary from the March 6, 1899 issue of the Sandusky Star reads:

Louis E. Zistel, one of the oldest and most highly respected German residents, died at his residence, 319 Meigs St., at an early hour this morning.  He had been ill but a short time when death came as the crowning victory of a long and useful life.

The deceased was nearly 71 years of age and, with the exception of two years spent in Germany, had lived here continuously since he was 19 years of age.  He was born in the village of Zatlan, in Sax-Coburg, April 23, 1828.  When 19 years old he came to America and made Sandusky his place of residence.  After living here about three years he returned to Germany, where he was married.  After spending two years there he returned to Sandusky and became the engineer and later captain of one of the lake steamers.  During the war he commanded the boat which ran between this city and Johnson's Island.  His face was a familiar one upon our streets and all respected him.

Seven children survive him as a result of the first marriage.  Three sons, Oscar, Ottomer and Oswald, reside in this city.  One other son, Herman, is a resident of Coldwater, Mich.  His three daughters, Mrs. Adam Meyer, Mrs. Charles Smith and Mrs. Charles Schippel, all live in Sandusky.  His wife by a second marriage also survives him.

In 1877, Louis Zistel was issued a patent for an ice elevator. One of the pages from patent number 186, 781 is pictured below.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Andres

Charles J. Andres, a Sandusky funeral director and furniture maker, died on March 3, 1902. On the day of his death, Charles J. Andres was busy at the funeral of Louis Kanzler. Mr. Andres became sick at St. Mary's Church, and he was taken by carriage to his home. Dr. Gillard attended the bedside of Mr. Andres, and later called in Dr. F. F. Lehman and Dr. George W. Crile of Cleveland. In spite of the doctors' best efforts, Charles J. Andres did not recover, and he passed away in the early morning hours. Funeral services for Mr. Andres were held at the family residence at 423 Jackson Street. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery.













After her husband's death, Mrs. Josephine Andres carried on the funeral and furniture business with Fred Frey, Sr. For several years, the business was known as Andres and Frey. After the death of Mrs. Andres in 1921 , the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Andres continued as the C.J. Andres' Sons Funeral Home until 1971.