Infant Thomas L. Charity

Thomas L. Charity was the infant son of Raymond and Virginia (Linz) Charity. He died at University Hospitals in Cleveland when he was three months and 21 days old, on December 23, 1946. His death certificate, available at Family Search Labs, stated that the cause of death was meningitis and pneumonia. An obituary for Thomas L. Charity appeared in the Christmas Eve issue of the Sandusky Register Star News. Little Thomas was buried at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Sandusky. He was survived by his parents, two brothers, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Tucker of Milan, Ohio, and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Linz of Sandusky, Ohio. It is heart breaking to think of losing a child so young at Christmas time.

Wordless Wednesday: Priests' Circle, St. Mary's Cemetery

Franz Tschill

According to an article in the January 4, 1924 issue of the Sandusky Register, Franz Tschill was found stricken on the sidewalk of Decatur Street outside the Ogontz Garage, as he was walking to his home on January 3, 1924. Albert Krohn found Mr. Tschill, and contacted George Muehlhauser, who was the owner of the Ogontz Garage. They notified police, but Franz Tschill was already deceased by the time the authorities arrived. The news article stated that the cause of death was a stroke. Franz Tschill was buried at the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

In the interment records of St. Mary's Catholic Church, available at Family Search Labs, the surname of Franz Tschill was spelled Schöll. (Click image for a larger view.)







While Mr. Tschill's tombstone lists his death date as January 4, 1924, his death certificate lists the date of death as January 3, 1924.





















Keep an open mind when viewing genealogical records. You will often find variations in dates and spelling, especially when researching ancestors of German or Eastern European ancestry.

Tombstone Tuesday: Mrs. Cecilia Herb Kromer

Mrs. Cecilia Kromer's tombstone is found at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Sandusky, Ohio. Her tombstone inscription is written in German.
























Translated into English, it reads:

Here Lies
Cecilia Kromer
Born (Herb)
On 5th October, 1837
At Altdorf (Baden)
Died 29th May, 1876
R.I.P.

Cecilia's husband Joseph Kromer, now widowed, is listed in the 1880 U.S. Census in Margaretta Township of Erie County, Ohio, with several children: William, age 23; Anthony, age 21; Joseph, age 20; Thrissa, age 14; Michael, age 12; and Anna, age 10. Later Joseph Kromer would marry Mary Ochs.

Extended hands, symbolizing Cecilia being welcomed into Heaven are found at a the base of her tombstone.
















Scrolls and a wreath adorn the top of Cecilia Herb Kromer's tombstone.



Many descendants of Cecilia and Joseph Kromer still live in Erie County, Ohio to this day.

Singler Family Lot at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery

The Singler family lot is in Section H of St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery on Mills Street in Sandusky, Ohio. The base of the main monument features a lovely angel, and the surname SINGLER on the base of the monument. Behind the angel are individual tombstones for Albert R. Singler (1861-1936), Amelia Singler (1866-1919) and Cyril Singler (1887-1911). Albert and Amelia's stones also bear the inscription Father and Mother on their stones.

Beside the angel are tombstones for two more family members, Milton Singler (1899-1900)and Albert Singler (1892-1893.) We know the maker of this monument, as the inscription C. Keim appears at the bottom right of the base of the monument. Conrad Keim was a stone carver in Sandusky for many years.













The father of the family, Albert R. Singler, died in Fremont on May 20, 1936. His obituary is located in the 1936 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK at the Sandusky Library. From his obituary, we learn that Mr. A. R. Singler was widely known in the bakery business in Sandusky. His bakery was located in the old Kanzler bakery location on Water Street.



Mrs. Amelia Singler, nee Amelia Kanzler, had preceded her husband in death in 1919. At the time of his death, Albert R. Singler was survived by five daughters, Mrs. Herman Welker, Sister Mary Catherine (the former Miss Juanita Singler), Mrs. Howard L. Magers, Mrs. Frank Link, and Mrs Clarence Hepp; a son, Lamont R. Singler, ten grandchildren, and a brother, Joseph A. Singler. The funeral mass for Albert R. Singler was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Link, with family friend the Rev. Father A. J. Bishop officiating. The sermon was given by Rev. Father Carl Reineck of Toledo. Prior to the funeral, services were also conducted by the courts of Catholic Order Foresters and the Knights of Columbus. Though Mr. and Mrs. Singler, and their three young children have been gone for many years, this lovely family lot helps keep their memory alive.

Favorite Cemetery Photo

The July 1, 2009 posting from The Association of Graveyard Rabbits blog challenges the Graveyard Rabbits to choose their favorite cemetery-related photo. My favorite cemetery photo is the picture of the female sculpture which honors the memory of the daughters of Vincent Kerber, as discussed in an earlier blog post.

The pensive lady symbolizes to me a mother figure in Heaven, looking down, and thinking, "Now what are those kids up to today?" Certainly at the time this sculpture was placed in the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio, computers had not yet been created, and no one had any idea as to what the word blog may mean. Finding the stories associated with the individuals buried in cemeteries around the Sandusky Bay area has been such a joy, and I would like to think this stone lady would be pleased.