Lee S. Weed, Perkins Township Farmer

According to Hewson Peeke's book A STANDARD HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY, OHIO, Lee S. Weed was born in Sandusky to William and Sarah (Sanford) Weed, early pioneer settlers of Erie County, Ohio. William Weed made coffins for cholera victims of Sandusky during the 1840 cholera epidemic, and he also aided in caring for the sick during that difficult time. Lee attended schools in Perkins Township of Erie County, Ohio, and he also completed a course of study at the Buckeye Business College in Sandusky. Lee S. Weed was a successful farmer in Perkins Township. In politics, he was a Republican, and for a time he served as a Perkins Township Trustee. In October of 1885, Lee S. Weed took as his wife, Mary Ann Denman, the widow of John R. Denman. Mary Ann was a daughter of Thomas and Ann Milner. On January 9, 1923, Lee W. Weed passed away at the age of 73. Funeral services for Lee S. Weed took place at the family residence on South Columbus Avenue, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery.

Note: While Mr. Weed's tombstone lists his birth year as 1850, Peeke's history lists his birth date as 1849.

Jesse and Matilda E. Stem

The Handbook of Texas Online tells us that Jesse Stem was an Indian agent Indian who was born about 1820, to Jacob and Sarah Stem, in Green Springs, Sandusky County, Ohio. Jesse and his wife, the former Matilda Elizabeth Pittinger, had four daughters. After practicing law for a time, Jesse Stem became an Indian agent in Texas. In 1854, Jesse Stem and a friend were both killed by Kickapoo Indians. Jesse Stem's remains were returned to Ohio, and he was buried in Sandusky's Oakland Cemetery. (Some sources indicate that Jesse Stem died in 1854, and others state that he died in 1853.)

Matilda Elizabeth Pittinger Stem passed away in 1903, and she is buried beside her husband Jesse at Oakland Cemetery.










An essay written by Aline Stem, the daughter of Jesse and Matilda E. Stem, can be seen at the Sandusky History website.

Jacob J. and Jenna Schrank

Jacob J. Schrank was born in 1878 in Germany to Jacob and Phillipina Schrank. As a youngster, he immigrated to the United States. In 1910, Jacob was living in Ward 3 of Sandusky, Erie County, Ohio, with his widowed mother, and two sisters. According to the 1910 U.S. Census, Jacob J. Schrank was already assistant manager of a fish company. Jacob continued to be associated with the Booth Fisheries in Sandusky until the 1930s. On Valentine's Day of 1914, Jacob J. Schrank married Jena Biehl at the First Congregational Church in Sandusky.

Jacob J. Schrank died of pneumonia on March 3, 1935. He was survived by his wife, three sisters, and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Schrank had active in Masonic organizations in Sandusky. He also was a member of the Elks, Sandusky Council of United Commercial Travelers, the Catawba Cliffs Club, and the First Congregational Church. Funeral services for Jacob J. Schrank were held at the family home on Hancock Street, and burial was at Oakland Cemetery. Mrs. Jena Schrank died on January 12, 1967. The majestic monument honoring the memory of Jacob J. and Jena Schrank features Masonic emblems. Mr. Schrank's obituary appears in the 1935 OBITUARY NOTEBOOK at the Sandusky Library,and  Mrs. Schrank's obituary was in the January 12, 1967 issue of the Sandusky Register.

Louis and Annie E. Heinzerling

Louis Heinzerling and Annie E. Heinzerling are buried at Oakland Cemetery. The inscription on the monument is in German.

LOUIS HEINZERLING
GESTORBEN
DEN 25 MAR 1901
ALTER
69 JAHRE

ANNIE E. HEINZERLING
GESTORBEN
DEN 25 MAI 1874
ALTER
73 JAHRE

Louis Heinzerling was born in Hesse, Germany in May 1832, according to the 1900 U.S. Census. He came to the U.S.A. in 1854. In the 1871 Sandusky City Directory, Louis Heinzerling was employed at a dry goods store, Zollinger & Heinzerling, located at the southeast corner of Hancock and Madison Streets. This location was home to a great number of businesses in Sandusky through the years, including the Wholf Hardware store from the 1960's through the 1980's. Wholf Hardware store had wooden floors, and a variety of hardware and household items in a "no frills" style. Sandusky residents were sad to see it close.

Not much information is known at all about Annie E. Heinzerling, other than her date of death and her age at that time. It is safe to say that she probably also was born in Germany, and while we do not know if she was a spouse or sister to Louis, she was most definitely a family member.

Mystery Monday: Old Photo from California

This old photograph was in my mother's things, and it was probably taken by my great grandmother Irene Larkins Risko. Grandma Irene visited California in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, and she had family and friends in Santa Monica, Hawthorne, and Fullerton, California. My cousin from southern California wasn't sure where it was taken, and I don't have any other living relatives who would know. If anyone has any idea as to where this picture may have taken, could you please contact me? Thanks so much!

Isaac J. Sperry

Isaac J. Sperry's tombstone is found in Row 36 of the Strong's Ridge Cemetery in Lyme Township of Huron County, Ohio. He died on January 3, 1835, in his 33rd year of age.

Wordless Wednesday: Winter View of Weier Mausoleum at Oakland Cemetery