Cholera Cemetery

In 1849 a cholera epidemic swept through Sandusky. Many people fled, but of those who remained, 400 died of the disease. Many were buried in a common grave in the cemetery on Harrison Street in Sandusky, not far from Sandusky Bay.

The “Remarkable Ohio” website contains a transcription of each side of the marker found at the site of the Cholera Cemetery.

Side A:

Of the city's 5,667 people in 1849, 3,500 fled, and 400 of those remaining were victims of cholera. Most are buried here, some only in rough boxes in a common grave. The scourge came again in 1850 and 1852 but with less toll. "Dismay stalked abroad in the daytime and the drowsy night was hideous with the wailings of the disconsolate."

Side B:

Doctors, nurses and others assisted in fighting the cholera in 1849, aiding heroic citizens led by Foster M. Follett. Doctors Austin, Brainard, Lane and Tilden suffered illness and exhaustion, leaving Dr. Cochran alone among Sandusky doctors until aid came. Drs. Ackley, Beaumont, Lauderdale and Spencer, and Messrs. Dolan and Miller of Cleveland; Drs. Banks, Caroland, Follen, Foote, Hughes, Lindsey, Ocheltree, Quinn and Raymond, and Messrs. Bailey, Hindale and Yorke, Mrs. Cowden and nurses from Cincinnati; Dr. Appleton of Philadelphia; Dr. Stanley of Canton; Drs. Evans and Pack of Akron; Drs. Glick and Teagarden of Mansfield; Dr. Vance of Urbana; and Mr. and Miss Rushton of Bellevue. "They came emphatically in our time of need, and faithfully and successfully did they minister relief to the distressed and the dying. Long will be e'er the citizens of Sandusky forget their kindness."

Paul R. Orshoski, Sr.

Paul R. Orshoski was born to Steve Orshoski and Emma Yeager Orshoski on December 1, 1927 in the small town of Bay Bridge, Ohio. He served in the United States Navy during World War Two. He married Joyce E. Parker in July of 1950. They were the parents of six children. Paul was a plumber by trade, and he was very active in coaching youth baseball. He was a terrific fund raiser, helping out the Bay View Recreation Department, Margaretta Band Parents, United Way, and many other organizations throughout the years. He was known for his wonderful sense of humor, compassion, kindness, and being an all around "good guy."

In March of 1983, Paul lost battle with lung cancer. He is buried in Perkins Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio. He is still missed by family and friends.



Below is a photograph from about 1935 with the five children of Steve and Emma Yeager Orshoski sitting in order, from youngest to oldest: Clifford, Donald, Wayne, Paul, and Alberta.



Tom Stauffer wrote a touching tribute to Paul Orshoski, Sr. in 1976. Sadly, Tom passed away in the prime of his life, as did Paul.



Click on this link for a larger view of the article.

Perkins Cemetery Marker

Julius House, Early Settler in Perkins, Ohio

Julius House was born in 1786 in Glastonbury, Connecticut. He had a twin sister named Julia. Julius and Julia and their families came west to Ohio with a group of people from Glastonbury, Connecticut, led by John Beatty. Julius House taught Sunday School for over fifty years at the Methodist Church in Perkins Township.

His home was known as a place for the Methodist Circuit Riding preachers to stay. Not surprisingly, two of his daughters married Methodist ministers.

Julius House married Percy Taylor. After she died, he married Mehitable Hollister. Julius and both his wives are honored with a monument at Perkins Cemetery in Erie County, Ohio.

See the June 1865 of the "Firelands Pioneer," to read more about the trip by oxen train from Connecticut to Perkins Township in 1815.

Julia Orshoski, first wife of Joseph Orshoski

Julia Herzog was born in Hungary about 1885. According to her Passenger Record on the Ellis Island website, she arrived in the United States on February 21, 1904, on the ship Patricia, having departed from Hamburg, Germany. Julia married Joseph Orshoski on November 23, 1905 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

After moving from Pennsylvania to Dorcester, Virginia, eventually the family settled in the small village of Bay Bridge, Ohio in Erie County. Joseph was employed by the Medusa Cement Company. The couple had six sons.

Sadly, on July 19, 1919, Julia Orshoski died. Below is a photograph taken on the day of her funeral. She was buried in the Castalia Cemetery, next to her son Joseph Orshoski, Jr.












The family legend was that after his first wife died, Joseph said to his family back in Hungary, "Send me a new wife, one named Julia." And, in keeping with his wishes, a new wife was found. Julianna Szomolya came to the United States on September 30, 1921. She and Joseph were married, and had two daughters. Joseph and Julianna were married for over fifty years, and left a host of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Two Daughters of Vincent Kerber

Louise and Pauline were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Kerber.

Kerber Family Monument

This lovely lady adorns the cemetery plot of the Vincent Kerber family in Sandusky, Ohio at the St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.