Tombstone Tuesday

Jacob Stauble died on May 25, 1859, in his 66th year. He is buried at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky.

Karl W. Kurtz

Karl W. Kurtz worked for many years in the advertising business. He worked as the advertising and general services manager for the H. C. Godman Co. in Columbus during the 1930's. Later he served as the first advertising director of the H and S Bakery in Sandusky. In a part-time position, Mr. Kurtz had a radio show on W.L.E.C. Radio. Because his radio program was based on unusual facts and stories, he became known as "The Oddity Man." "The Elderlies" column, written by Karl Kurtz, appeared in the Sandusky Register from 1974 through 1978.

On May 15, 1980, Karl Kurtz passed away. He was a member of Emmanuel United Church of Christ, Lions Club, Y.M.C.A. Senior Men's Fellowship Club, and had several Masonic affiliations. Karl Kurtz was survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth Covert. He was buried in Oakland Cemetery next to his first wife, Lillian Kintz Kurtz. An obituary for Mr. Kurtz is found in the May 15, 1980 issue of the Sandusky Register. Bound copies of Karl Kurtz's "Elderlies" columns can be view at the Sandusky Library. Ask the Reference Services Staff for assistance.

Native American Burial near Sandusky Bay

Recently, two Native American burial ceremonies were held in Danbury Township of Ottawa County, overlooking Sandusky Bay. On Friday, May 8,2009, a chief of the Piqua Shawnee Tribe held a ceremony for the burial of the remains of a Native American female.On Thursday,May 7, a chief from the Wyandotte nation held his own ceremony.

An article describing the Danbury Site is found online at the website of the Ohio Archaeological Council. A blessing of the Native American burial ground was held in May, 2008.

Thanks for the Award, Harriet at Genealogy Fun!

Harriet, from the Genealogy Fun blog, awarded the Graveyeard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay the "One Lovely Blog" Award. Thank you very much, Harriet!

I would like to pass on the "One Lovely Blog" Award to:

Beth at Grave Addiction

Terry at Cemeteries of the Hill Country

Linda at Exploring Almost Forgotten Gravesites in Ohio

The folks at Catholic Architecture and History of Toledo, Ohio

Deb at Whistling Past the Graveyard

Amy at Graveyard Rabbit of Central Ohio

and to

The mappers at Grave Mappers

Steen L. Parker

Steen Leroy Parker was the second child born to Leroy and Ada Steen Parker in January, 1908. He worked on the family farm in Perkins Township for many years, and later was employed by Esmond Dairy and Apex, an appliance manufacturing company in Sandusky. During World War Two, Steen Parker served with the Seabees, primarily in England.

Steen Parker married Doris Wheeler in 1927. They had three children, Steen Thomas Parker, and daughters Joyce and Sally. Doris passed away in 1943. Steen married Ruth Renwand in 1944, and they had children Patricia and Charles.

Steen Parker was known for his sense of humor. Steen L. Parker died May 10, 1949, shortly before daughter Joyce's high school graduation. He left five children and two grandchildren. Steen Parker is buried in the Parker family lot at Perkins Cemetery.

Steen and Doris Parker are seen here in the mid 1920's.

William H. Gilcher Monument

Hewson Peeke, in his book A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, wrote that William H. Gilcher was the son of Peter and Christina Boos Gilcher. William was born on July 2, 1843. He was a prominent Sandusky businessman, active in the lumber and transportation business, the Norwalk Electric Company, and other business ventures. In 1868, William H. Gilcher married Minnie Rosenbaum (some sources list Minnie's first name as Tinnie or Tina), the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Rosenbaum. Minnie died in 1890. Twelve years after her death, William H. Gilcher married Julietta Stimson of Ashtabula.

At Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery, is a large family plot in remembrance of the Gilcher family. William H. Gilcher died on March 9, 1922. The main Gilcher monument is also inscribed with the names of Minnie Rosenbam Gilcher, and two of the children of William H. and Minnie Gilcher: William A. Gilcher, who died in Norwalk in 1925, and Minnie Gilcher, who died as an infant in 1870. Four spheres are located in the four corners of the Gilcher family plot. The cemetery's bandstand can be seen in the background.



Leading up to the monument, from the roadway, are two more spheres. On one sphere are the words Mother and Father.



















The other sphere features the first names of two of the Gilcher children, Will and Minnie.















A Great Lakes steamer was named for W. H. Gilchrist. Sadly it went down in October of 1892, when all aboard perished. The loss was estimated at $200,000.

Ohio Veterans Home Cemetery

There is a large cemetery on the grounds of the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, Ohio. The facility was formerly known as the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. The institution was built between 1886 and 1887, primarily as a result of the members of the G.A.R.'s concern for the well being of Ohio's aging Civil War veterans. On November 19, 1888, the first seventeen residents arrived at the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home; all were Civil War veterans. Originally, the home provided the veterans with housing and food services. Beginning in 1950, the Home began providing nursing home care as well.

Honorably discharged soldiers and sailors who served the U.S. government in any of its wars and reside in the state of Ohio qualify for admission to the home. Fees for residents of the Ohio Veterans Home are based on income. In 2003 a second Ohio Veterans Home was opened in Georgetown, Ohio. Both facilities are run by the Ohio Veterans Home Agency.

A search of the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System retrieved the name of Royal W. Lane who served in Co. B. of the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.












Edwin T. Thorson served as a sergeant in the 15th Minnesota Infantry during the Spanish American War.



















Several photographs of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, taken by Ernst Niebergall, are available to view at Lake Erie's Yesterdays. Death records of the veterans who died at the Ohio Veterans' Home between 1889 and 1983 are available at the Archives Research Center of the Sandusky Library.

As I viewed the hundreds of tombstones which represent the lives of so many who served our country, I was filled with gratitude for the sacrifices of the men and women of our Armed Forces.