Solomon M. Schlenk, 1867-1909

Solomon M. Schlenk was the son of Solomon and Mary Schlenk, born on April 24, 1867. In 1880, the elder Solomon Schlenk listed his occupation as hotel keeper in Sandusky, Ohio. The "Schlenk House" was located at 823 Market Street in the late 1880s, according to HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, edited by Lewis Cass Aldrich. Christian Schlenk, the older brother of Solomon M. Schlenk, once served as the superintendent of Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. On September 21, 1899, Solomon M. Schlenk married Mary "Mollie" Larkins in Franklin County, Ohio. Solomon M. Schlenk died on January 14, 1909, when he was aged forty one, leaving Mollie a widow. Solomon M. Schlenk was buried in the family lot at Oakland Cemetery. Mollie went on to marry John J. Weis as her second husband.

Mary "Mollie" Larkins Weis

Mary "Mollie" Larkins was my great great grandaunt, the sister of my great great grandfather Thomas F. Larkins. Aunt Mollie was born on March 8, 1872 to Patrick Larkins and Bridget Ryan Larkins. (Her tombstone, however, reads 1873 as the year of her birth.) She was the fifth of the seven Larkins children, all baptized into the Catholic faith. In September of 1899, Mollie Larkins married Solomon Schlenk. Solomon Schlenk died on January 14, 1909, when he was only 41 years of age, leaving Mollie a young widow.

Between 1920 and 1930, Mollie Larkins Schlenk married John J. Weis. They lived on McDonough Street in Sandusky, Ohio. Mollie Weis passed away on December 26, 1938. Sadly, her husband John J. Weis, and her brother, John Larkins, had both died previously in the same year that Mollie died. Mollie and John J. Weis are buried at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. What a sad Christmas for the Larkins family, to lose Mollie the day after Christmas.

Below is a family picture (of poor quality, I'm afraid) of several Larkins family members. Aunt Mollie is the short lady standing beside her brother Tom.

















Mollie's sister in law, Mary Louise Cross Larkins, and her niece Irene Larkins, are pictured in the front row of the family picture.

Mr. and Mrs. Christian Schlenk

An article in the local newspaper read "Parted By Death," after the death of Christian Schlenk on April 3, 1933. Mr. and Mrs. Schlenk had celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on September 7, 1931. Mr. Schlenk, the former superintendent of Oakland Cemetery, fell ill suddenly, and it is thought that he may have suffered a heart attack. Funeral services for Mr. Schlenk were held at the family residence, with Rev. C. L. Alspach officiating. Burial was in charge of the Sandusky Odd Fellows Lodge. Mrs. Louisa Schlenk died on May 30, 1936. She was buried next to Mr. Schlenk at Oakland Cemetery.

The October 2, 1906 issue of the Sandusky Register featured an advertisement for Sandusky Monumental Works. C. Schlenk was listed as the salesman, and W. J. Dingle was the proprietor. The marble works was located opposite the main entrance to Oakland Cemetery.





Obituaries for Christian and Louisa Schlenk are found in the OBITUARY NOTEBOOKS in the Reference Services level of the Sandusky Library.