Surname Saturday : WRIGHT

The WRIGHT surname is in my maternal line.  The origins of the surname are Scottish.


Stories and history:


Ahnentafel # 12: Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972).  Virgil was born July 6, 1894 in Orestes, Madison County, Indiana.  He married June 19, 1915 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana to Edna Muriel "Peach" Pierce (1897-1968).  Edna was born February 7, 1897 in Madison County, Indiana.  They raised three children in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana where Virgil was a farmer.  Edna died March 3, 1968 in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.  Virgil died March 25, 1972 in Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Park View Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 24: John William Wright (1860-1945).  John was born February 21, 1860 in Brown County, Ohio.  He married May 13, 1888 in Madison County, Indiana to Ellen King (1868-1913).  Ellen was born August 24, 1868 in Frankton, Madison County, Indiana.  They lived in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana and were the parents of two surviving children.  Ellen died December 24, 1913 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  John married secondly in Madison County, Indiana to Margaret Lewis (1872-    ).  Margaret was born August 19, 1872 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.  Nothing further is known about her at this time.  John died June 5, 1945 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  John and Ellen are buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 48: Joseph Wright (1838-1919).  Joseph was born April 1838 in Brown County, Ohio.  He married in Schuyler County, Missouri on November 1, 1857 to Rebecca Ann Heaton (1841-1890).  Rebecca was born in 1841 in Brown County, Ohio.  They lived briefly in Schuyler County, Missouri before returning to Brown County, Ohio and came to Madison County, Indiana after the Civil War.  They had 9 children.  Rebecca died March 25, 1890 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Joseph married secondly on April 11, 1891 in Madison County, Indiana to Dorothy Palmer (1837-1926).  Dorothy was born June 1837 in Pennsylvania and died March 4, 1926 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  Joseph died September 16, 1919 in Monroe Township, Madison County, Indiana.  All are buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 96: John Wright (1814-1890).  John was born November 4, 1814 in Pleasant Township, Brown County, Ohio.  He married September 9, 1834 in Brown County, Ohio to Anna Wardlow (1816-1893).  Anna was born April 23, 1816 in Brown County, Ohio.  They raised 6 children in Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio where John was a farmer.  John served as County Commissioner and County Treasurer for Brown County.  Anna died October 4, 1893 in Brown County, Ohio.  John died June 10, 1890 in Brown County, Ohio.  Both are buried in Wardlow Cemetery # 2, Washington Township, Brown County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 192: George Wright (1780-1853).  George was born July 31, 1780 in Pennsylvania.  He married January 27, 1812 in Adams County, Ohio to Elizabeth Robins (1781-1857).  Elizabeth was born June 16, 1781 in Pennsylvania.  They raised 6 children in Brown County, Ohio.  George was a veteran of the War of 1812.  Elizabeth died November 22, 1857 in Brown County, Ohio.  George died August 5, 1853 in Brown County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 384: John Wright (1755-1810).  John was baptized April 13, 1755 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  He married before 1780 to Sarah Fleming.  I do not have dates of birth or death for Sarah.  They came from Pennsylvania to Kentucky and then Ohio at the time of statehood.  They had 9 children.  John died October 15, 1810 in Clemont County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 768: Deacon John Wright (1727-1772).  John was born February 10, 1727 in Freuchie, Falkland Parish, Fife, Scotland.  He married February 15, 1753 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts to Hannah Fessenden (1732-1800).  Hannah was born August 15, 1732 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  They raised 5 children in Cambridge.  John was a surgeon's mate in the French & Indian War.  Hannah died December 9, 1800 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.  John died June 1772 off the coast of Anamaboo, New Guinea while serving as a medical missionary.


Ahnentafel # 1536: Robert Wright (1688-1749).  Robert was born April 23, 1688 in Logie, Perth, Scotland.  He married June 24, 1718 in Logie, Perth, Scotland to Elizabeth Henderson (1698-1790).  Elizabeth was born December 18, 1698 in Logie, Perth Scotland.  They raised 12 children.  Elizabeth died April 22, 1790 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.  Robert died December 13, 1749 in Foodie, Fife, Scotland.  Robert is buried in the cemetery of the Parish Church of Darsie, Scotland.  Elizabeth is buried in the Chapel of Ease Burying Ground, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.


Ahnentafel # 3072: Alexander Wright (    -1708).  Alexander married in 1672 to Mary Fergus (    -1732).  They had 5 children and held land in Parish of Falkland, Scotland.  Mary died November 1732.  Alexander died January 1708.


Ahnentafel # 6144: James Wright (c1615-1674).  James was born circa 1615.  He married October 22, 1639 to Elizabeth Linton (    -1672).  Elizabeth was from Pendreich, Scotland.  They raised 7 children.  James purchased the estate of Drumdrouls and Haughhed in the Parish of Dunblane and Shire of Perth.  Elizabeth died February 1672 in Scotland.  James died in 1674.


Ahnentafel # 12288: Patrick Wright. Nothing further is known at this time.


Ahnentafel # 244576:  James Wright.  James married at Denny, Scotland to Marion Young.  Nothing further is known at this time.


Related blog posts:

• John Wright Cemetery Plot: I.O.O.F. Cemetery

• What Happened to Grandma's Babies?

• Great Grandma Made the Funnies (sort of)

• The Second Mrs. Wright

• Ellen (King) Wright (1868-1913)

• Sentimental Sunday: Memories of Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972)

• John William Wright (1860-1945)

• Marriage: Joseph Wright to Dorothy Palmer

• Tombstone Tuesday: Joseph W. and Rebecca Ann (Heaton) Wright

• Tombstone Tuesday: John William and Ellen (King) Wright

• Virgil Lee Wright : World War II Draft Registration

• Happy Anniversary: Joseph W. and Rebecca Ann (Heaton) Wright

• Edna Muriel (Pierce) Wright (1897-1968)

• Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972)

• No will?  No problem...if you can find a deed

• Tombstone Tuesday : Virgil Lee and Edna Muriel (Pierce) Wright

• Virgil Lee and Edna Muriel (Pierce) Wright : Death certificates

• Obituary : John William Wright (1860-1945)

• Will of George Wright (1853): Brown County, Ohio

• George Wright, cabinetmaker?

• Obituary: Dorothy (Palmer) Wright (1837-1926)

• Obituary: Virgil Lee Wright (1894-1972)

• Obituary : Joseph Wright (1838-1919)

Surname Saturday – create a post in which you discuss a surname and mention its origins, its geographical location(s) and how it fits into your genealogy research. Surname Saturday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Marriage : Nehersta PIERCE to Howard ROBERTS

While searching in Google Books, I discovered this snippet regarding the marriage of Nehersta PIERCE to Howard Hyde ROBERTS.  Nehersta was my maternal great-grandaunt, the daughter of William Francis and Vida (MADDOX) PIERCE.

Pacific oil world: Volume 42

1949 - Snippet view Popular HH (Bob) Roberts, manager of public relations for Standard of California at Los Angeles, was married to Nehersta (Nina) Pierce Miller of Columbus. Ohio. The bride, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. WF Pierce of Alexandria, Indiana, ...

This is a ‘snippet’ from Google books.  Will have to see if I can locate this publication through inter-library loan.

Bibliographic information

Title	Pacific oil world, Volume 42
Publisher	Petroleum Publishers., 1949

Some interesting bits of information in this article.  Was Nehersta previously married to someone named Miller?  It would appear so.  Apparently, she was living in Columbus, Ohio at the time as well.  More facts to research and mysteries to uncover.


Nehersta Edith PIERCE was born January 4, 1910 in Madison County, Indiana.  She died September 2, 1979 in Los Angeles, California and is buried in Park View Cemetery, Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana.  She was the half-sister to my great-grandmother, Edna Muriel (PIERCE) WRIGHT.

Family Recipe Friday: Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Grandma "Peach" Wright in her kitchen

This recipe from my mom has been a favorite in our family:

My parents, Bill and Bonnie Wright, were avid readers.   My mother especially enjoyed reading recipes as well as novels.   She was always searching for new recipes to try.   So it is only natural that I would become an avid reader and recipe searcher.   I'm always looking for recipes that use ingredients that I have in my cupboards.   The following recipe came about after having eaten Sweet and Sour meatballs at a dinner at the local Elks Club many years ago.   While I can remember it having pineapple in it,  I knew that I wanted a recipe that used other ingredients.   While reading a Farm Journal Cookbook, I came upon this recipe.   It called for tomatoes which I grew and canned and the surprise ingredient in the sauce was gingersnap cookies, an old time favorite cookie.  

It appears that this recipe will be one that is handed down through the generations as everyone in our family has asked for a copy of it, even it is only the sauce.  This is great recipe for pitch-ins and easily works in a crock pot.  I especially like it because you can make it ahead of time.  Let meat balls bake while you fix the unusual sauce--quick and easy!   If you don't have time to make the meatballs from scratch which I think are better, you can use precooked meatballs from the store. 

Meatballs:

    3-4 cups bread crumbs                                          
    2 pounds ground beef                                           
    1/2 cup chopped onions                                         
    1/2 teaspoon garlic salt                                       
    1/4 teaspoon pepper                                            
    1 teaspoon salt                                                
    2 eggs slightly beaten    

                                                                           

Moisten bread crumbs slightly.  Combine with remaining ingredients, except Sweet-Sour Sauce.  Shape in balls the size of walnuts (1 /2"); place in jelly roll pan (15 1/2"x10 1/2"x 1").  (Or brown balls in skillet containing a little hot fat).  Bake in very hot oven (450) 15-18 minutes. Place balls in Sweet-Sour Sauce for Beef and simmer 10 minutes.  If balls are made ahead, add sauce to them and heat in the overn for 15 minutes.  Makes about 36-50 meat balls, 8-9 servings.

SWEET-SOUR SAUCE FOR BEEF:

1 (1lb.12oz.) can tomatoes (about 3 1/2 c.)
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tsp. grated onion
10 ginersnaps, crushed

Combine all ingredients.  Cook to boiling.  Makes enough sauce for 36 (1 1/2") meat balls..   

Family Recipe Friday – is an opportunity to share your family recipes with fellow bloggers and foodies alike. Whether it’s an old-fashioned recipe passed down through generations, a recipe uncovered through your family history research, or a discovered recipe that embraces your ancestral heritage share them on Family Recipe Friday. This series was suggested by Lynn Palermo of The Armchair Genealogist.

Two Generations : Descendants of Peter & Elizabeth (Schuhmacher) Rieber

RIEBER family researcher Ray Bland sent me this chart showing two generations of descent from Peter and Elizabeth (SCHUHMACHER) RIEBER, Corinne's 4th-great grandparents.


Peter (1826-1869) and Elizabeth (1826-1916) were married in 1848 in Louisiana, but moved to Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana between 1849 and 1853.

Easterday Family: Portland, Indiana (1907)

Source: Complete Directory of Jay County, M. & M. Directory Co., Portland, Ind., p. 51

The relevant entries that relate to my families are :

Easterday, Christian (Barbary), retired, 803 n Meridian

Easterday, John G, (Elizabeth), grocer, 802 n Meridian

Easterday, Orvil R, asst cashier, 1st Nat bank, 802 n Meridian

Easterday, Philemon, (Ola), grocer, 809 n. Meridian (Arah, Atha)

Christian EASTERDAY was born 1831 in Ohio and married April 25, 1853 in Marion County, Ohio to Barbara Helen HALEY, daughter of George J. and Rachel H. (GARY) HALEY.  Barbara was born November 20, 1835 in Goshen, Hardin County, Ohio.  She is my paternal 2-great grandaunt, the older sister of my George Washington HALEY.

Christian is the father of John G and Philemon, Orville is John's son.  Christian was a Civil War veteran.  He died May 21, 1918 in Portland, Jay County, Indiana.  Barbara died March 28, 1908 in Jay County, Indiana.

Back from Grand Rapids

Source: The Weekly Chronicle, Elyria, Ohio, September 6, 1902, page 3.

Back from Grand Rapids


Councilman Eady, City Engineer Snow and City Clerk Park returned Saturday morning from Grand Rapids, where they had been to attend the meeting of the National Municipal League.  Councilman LeMaster went on to visit his father.  They report a very profitable meeting and much valuable information gained in regard to streets, lights, etc.  There was a great deal of discussion in regard to municipal ownership and the most of the sentiment was strongly in its favor.  The next meeting of the league will be in Baltimore.


---
Councilman LeMaster was my paternal great-granduncle, William Clifford LeMaster (1871-1922).  His father, Luman Walker LeMASTERS was living in Jay County, Indiana.  Distance from Elyria, OH to Grand Rapids, MI is 275 miles, per Google Maps.  From Grand Rapids, MI to Portland, IN is another 200 miles, give or take.  Would be interesting to see what railroads they would have taken.

Wordless Wednesday: The Highs

John, Clara (Wright) & Charlie High

Wordless Wednesday – a great way to share your old family photos! Create a post with the main focus being a photograph or image. Some posters also include attribute information as to the source of the image (date, location, owner, etc.). Wordless Wednesday is one of the longest running “memes” in the blogosphere and is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Council Favors New Industries

Source: The Weekly Chronicle, Elyria, Ohio, August 9, 1902, page 4.

COUNCIL FAVORS

New Industries Will Co-operate to Encourage New Steel Plant and Tube Mill for Elyria - Automatic Stokers for Elyria - Much Business in Council

All the councilmen except Mr. Shearer were present to hear the reading of the minutes at the council meeting Tuesday evening.

The city engineer, marshal, solicitor clerk and stenographer were present to perform their respective duties.

The pay ordinance was read, the total amount being $7335.76.  Over $600 came from the police fund and $3700 was for estimate on West Bridge street paving.  Mr. Eady objected to the bill for paving.  He said he had found the specifications were not followed, inasmuch as they had not filled the trenches where drains are put in with stone.  He took it that specifications were made to follow.

Mr. LeMaster thought that the contractors were taking out the clay and replacing it with stone.  He thought there was enough of a margin to protect the city if the bill were allowed, but he believed the contractors should live up to the contract.  Others spoke in the same tenor.  Mr. Andress, the inspector, said that all but 150 feet of the clay had been taken up and stone was put in.  He thought the contractors would be willing to make the ditch right.  Mr. LeMaster thought the 25 per cent reserve would protect this city.  The ordinance was passed with the [missing text]

Hon. George H. Ely, who had been asked what had become of the Columbia Steel Co. said, "The delay was on account of the company not being able to obtain structural iron, but that it could be secured in the near future.  He said company to be located between the Lake Shore & Baltimore & Ohio R. Rds. on the West Side, instead of Lorain as had been talked of.  The B. & B. object to having their road crossed, but agreed to pay one third of the expense of building an underground crossing for a new street to the site of the shops.  The Ely Realty Co., agreed to pay one third of the expense of building not to exceed $3,000 dollars.  The Steel Company propose to put in a 500 horse power engine and four 150 horse power boilers.  Mr. Ely in asking the council to pay one third of the expense of the crossing, wished them to insist upon the company using stokers to feed the boilers instead of hand feeding as the company are contemplating doing.  He begged the coucil to do this in order to compel the company to burn at least 90% of the smoke and he also said it would save them a great deal of fuel.

He thought all factories to be built in the future should be compelled to use patent stokers and said it would have been a saving to the Ely Realty company if they had been compelled to do so when they built the power block.  An informal motion was passed assuring Mr. Ely that the city would look after one third of the expense of putting the road under the B & O tracks under the conditions named.

Mr. George Townsend, representative of Springfield Roller Co., proposed to council to deliver F.O.B. a 30,000 lb. bevel drive wheel, steam steering road roller for $3,500.  The proposition was referred to the street committee, with power to act.  Mr. Townsend was requested to furnish specifications for a method of road improvement suitable to our soil.

The Burdell bill for about $50 and the Couch bill for $72.80 for damage to property in sanitary work by board of health, were referred back to the board of health.

A proposition of a new directory company to sell directories to the city was referred to the financial committee with power to act.

Chairman LeMaster of the finance committee gave a report on the investigation into the matter of interest on city funds that the law would not permit a loan of the money and the matter was dropped.

The matter of plans for the steam heating fittings for the opera house and city hall was referred to the building committee with power to act.

A vote of thanks was suggested for Mr. Reefy, as chairman of the street committee for letting the council off without a report.

Mr. Grundy of the sewer committee, reported that the Lodi street sewer was too small and the water backed up in about fifteen cellars.  He thought something should be done at once and not wait for a new sewer system.  He recommended that about 400 feet of 2 foot sewer pipe be purchased.  The matter was referred to the sewer committee to report at the next meeting.

Mr. Lersch said that the pavement on Lodi street along the street car tracks were in bad shape.  He also suggested that the crossings be lowered, so that the raise would not be over two inches at the gutter plates, with the sidewalks graded down accordingly.  His suggestions were referred to the street committee with power to act.

Mr. Williams, of the light committee, reported that there had been a few outages during this month but he had no report.  Some one sarcastically suggested that a vote of thanks be tendered the lighting company for the excelling of the service.

Mr. Lersch, of the fire and water committee reported that the firemen asked that the city pay their expenses to the picnic at Wellingon Aug. 27.  They want to take the band with them.  The fire chief and committee were authorized to use city money for such expenses not to exceed $75.  The reason the chief asked for these expenses was that there had been no fires lately and the fireman had not received any money.

Mr. LeMaster recommended new stone culverts with railings to be built on Winckles and Northrup streets.  A proposition for painting the bridges and railings for 30 cents per running foot for bridges and five cents for railing except the Third and Lodi street bridges on which the railings were to be seven cents per foot.  This was referred to the bridge committee with power to act.

The bridge committee recommended the removal of the Washington street bridge to Thirteenth street if it could be made strong enough, and if not to build a new bridge at that point.  He said that all that was asked of the city to secure a new tube mill was that a bridge be built at Thirteenth street and good roads be built there.  This was referred to the bridge committee with power to act.  All spoke in favor of the project, as one that would encourage home investments and industries.

[end of transcription]

---

The 4th ward city councilman, William Clifford LeMASTER (1871-1922), was my paternal great-granduncle.  He was the cashier of a local bank, and active in political affairs.  I find these old newspaper clippings interesting reading about life over 100 years ago in Elyria, Ohio.

Engagement: LeMaster and Coats

Source: Earlham Post, Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, January 15, 1952, page 2

Picking up the lead baloons [sic] we move to the engagement department.  Wow, I haven't had so many engagements to write about since they announced that married men would be draft exempt.  (Don't get excited men, they made that announcement two years ago.  It doesn't work anymore.)  Having strewn orange petals around my typewriter, I shall proceed.  Harry Rudy became engaged to Mary Stevens shortly before our Christmas parole.  Others who have announced their engagements since are, Aimee Wildman and Langdon Kisbree, Ginny Whipple and Hugh Cronister (50% of Cronister and Mathews, We Can Do Anything Incorp." and they usually did), Eldon Kronewitter and Ruth Cox, Idola LeMaster and Pvt. Donald Coats, and George Adams and Mary Winslow.  May there be much happiness ahead for all of you, and may you all raise your children on Pogo comic books.

--- 

I located this snippet from the Earlham College Post in their digital archives, mentioning the engagement of my aunt, Idola LeMaster and Pvt. Donald Coats.  Idola was a student at Earlham, Don was a Korean War veteran.  I'm happy to report that they are both still happily married.

Tombstone Tuesday : Robert W. Wehrly (1914-1968)

Source: Salamonia Cemetery (Jay County, Indiana), Robert W. Wehrly marker, photographed by Travis LeMaster, 26 March 2009.

Robert W. WEHRLY is buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Madison Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Robert was my paternal 2nd cousin twice removed.

Robert was born 1914 in Jay County, Indiana, the son of Alonzo John and Bertha (________) WEHRLY.

Robert died in 1968.  I do not yet know when and where.

Tombstone Tuesday – To participate in Tombstone Tuesday simply create a post which includes an image of a gravestone of one or more ancestors and it may also include a brief description of the image or the ancestor. This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

Amanuensis Monday: Letter from Aunt Helene (October 1972)

An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. 

Source: Letter from Helene LeMaster, 206 Bon Air Dr., Sidney, Ohio to Ord Weldon LeMaster, 214 West Monroe, Alexandria, Indiana, postmarked 26 October 1972.

October 25, '72

Dear Gloria and Ord:

It is high time that I am writing to you.  I had filled in what little I knew about the LeMasters, in the material I had ready for you, on the history of the family you wrote about.  I took a Shelby County book, recently published, and your material to the re-union in September, hoping you would be there.  When I showed the history Art had compiled the relatives there wanted to copy it.  I am wondering if they have sent it to you.  Ora LeMaster, Garth's wife has it.  She is to be sure that I have it returned to me.

The county book has some information on part of the LeMaster - Young family, from grand father Luman Walker's side.  Several LeMaster names are mentioned in it.  I'll enclose what little I have found.  I do not know the family history as I should.  Aunt Emma knew so much more than I do.  She was in the family twelve years before I was.  She passed away in Feb. 1956.  I think I mentioned in my letter to you that there was a book printed by another LeMaster with the Luman W. LeMaster family in it but not much detail.  No one seems to who got the book but Art had it.  It had the LeMaster crest in it.

We just had a shock as my brother's son Jack passed away.  He was our 'right hand' in all our affairs.  He was in Bergen Norway touring when he had a heart attack and passed away.  It took three weeks for the casket to reach Sidney.  He was more a son than a nephew to me.

I am sorry not to be of more help.  We just had a call last week from Jessie Whitacre that her brother, I think Clyde, passed away.  He lived in Findlay Ohio.  Whitacres are from Grandma LeMasters family.

The history Art & Maud Phillips compiled has more information & I hope you can get it some time.

Sorry we missed seeing you in September.  We had a nice get together.

We are still at 206 Bon Air Dr so come to see us.

Love,

Aunt Helene 

---

This letter, postmarked 26 October 1972, was written by my father's great grandaunt, Helene (GARMHAUSEN) LeMASTER, widow of Vernon Walker LeMASTER.

1. The Ora LeMaster is Ora Lee (BRADY) LeMASTER, wife of Garth Luman LeMASTER.  Garth was a son of Clarence and Ferry May (BICKEL) LeMASTER.

2. Aunt Emma is Emma (GARMHAUSEN) LeMASTER, wife of Ord Otterbein LeMASTER.  She was Helene's aunt, and married into they LeMaster family in 1907, while Helene married into it in 1917.

3. The Art LeMaster is Arthur Raymond LeMASTER, brother of Vernon and Ord LeMASTER.  He had died December 16, 1971.  He authored a family history circa 1960 along with his sister, Maud (LeMASTER) PHILLIPS.

4. The Jessie WHITACRE is the daughter of Frederic E. and Caroline Bishop (CHEW) WHITACRE.  Caroline was a sister to Mary Keziah (CHEW) LeMASTER, wife of Luman Walker LeMASTER (and mother to Vernon, Ord & Arthur, et al.)

Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Amanuensis Monday is a popular ongoing series created by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch.

The Schaeffer Murder

Source: Evansville Courier, Evansville, Indiana, September 19, 1883.


The Schaeffer Murder


Coroner Carter yesterday concluded the testimony and rendered his verdict in the Schaeffer-Schaeffer murder case.  The witnesses examined were Messrs. John W. Ashby, whose testimony was similar to that published in the Sunday COURIER.  Albert Zachares, and the defendant, Chas. Schaeffer, which is as follows, and which does not tally with the statement made to a COURIER reporter the night of the deed:


"Mary V. Schaeffer was my wife; have been married 11 years; have always been on good terms with my wife and relatives, except once about a year ago, when I had a fight with my brother-in-law; we have five children living and one dead; we had family spats once in a while; the last I remember on Saturday night, my wife and I were at Zachares' saloon; from there we started home; my wife and I were both drunk; she was never drunk before; and she drank whisky; and she never drank that before; she said that she was going to drink just because I did; I did not say anything when we were going from saloon, but that we will go home and go to bed; and we were laughing and talking, but I don't recollect anything else that I said; I can't tell how I got my pistol out; I know I got it out, and she grabbed for it, and we were scuffling for it as it went off; and soon as it went off I asked her if she was shot, and she said yes; and I gave her the pistol and she throwed it into my brother-in-law's (Jake Rieber) yard; I never in my life threatened to kill her; she threatened to leave me if I did not stop drinking, and my relatives used to make fun of us because I hugged and squeezed her so much; Andy Rieber and I were always on good terms; we all lived in the same house for three years.  "Where were you when you did the shooting?" I never done the shooting, but it happened just as we stepped off the pavement into the alley; we were more in the alley than on the line of the pavement.  I didn't take my pistol out just at that time; I had the pistol out before that and we were scuffling for it and it went off right there; I stood in front of her; we were almost against each other; I had drank at least 20 or 25 glasses of beer; I was able with 20 or 25 glasses of beer in me to understand everything and to run to get the assistance of my brothers-in-law; I don't know if this is the pistol I had; I got it in the dark from Mr. Russ; I couldn't tell.


Coroner Carter, after hearing all the testimony, returned the following verdict: "That Mary Schaeffer came to her death by a pistol shot at the hands of Charles L. Schaeffer."


---
Mary V. (RIEBER) SCHAEFFER, was Corinne's paternal 3rd-great grandmother.  I have yet to discover the outcome of Charles Schaeffer.  Additional articles relating to the murder have been posted here, here and here.  This article was sent to me by a Rieber researcher, Ray Bland.

Another Sunday Murder

Source: Evansville Courier, Evansville, Indiana, n.d. [probably Sept 16, 1883]


ANOTHER SUNDAY MURDER


Chas. Schaefer Shoots His Wife To Death


And is Afterward Stabbed by His Brother-In-Law, Andy Rieber


The sun again rises this morning on another tragedy, single so far, but which later may become a double one.  The pistol and knife were both factors in the occurence of last night, backed by unlimited quantities of whisky and beer.  The parties to the tragedy are Charles Schaefer, a German varnisher, living at 812 Second avenue, his wife and her brother - Anton Rieber.  Schaefer and Rieber work at the coffin factory.  Last night Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer started out on a drinking tour, the result of which is the death of the wife and the probable fatal cutting of the husband.  The facts which led immediately to these results are as follows: Mr. John W. Ashby, residing at 712 Second avenue, while sitting at his bed-room window, being unable to sleep, saw a man and woman pass his house, coming from toward Franklin street.  They stopped on the corner of the alley, and seemed to Mr. Ashby to be in earnest convesation.  As it was in German he could not understand it.  They had not been there but a moment, when Mr. Ashby heard a pistol shot, and looking out of the window saw the woman fall.  He dressed himself quickly as possible and started out to see what was the matter, but before reaching them the woman had gotten up and walked away, while the man run off.  A short distance further, and nearer her residence, the woman fell again and it was then that Ashby discovered the woman was shot.  At this time a number of persons attracted by the shot had arrived and took charge of the woman, while Ashby went to hunt the man that did the shooting.  Knowing who he was from knowing the woman, it was an easy matter to find him, which he soon did, with Officer Schutler, not far from the scene of the shooting.  The woman Schaeffer was taken to her home, when medical attendence was immediately had in Dr. McClurkin.  Mrs. Schaeffer was undressed and the wound probed.  The ball which was of 28 calibre, had entered her body about one and half inches from the narel [sic], ranging downward.  The ball could not be found, as it had entered the cavity of the stomach.  Schaeffer was taken by Ashby to the central station while the officer hunted for Rieber, had between the shotting and the arrest of Schaeffer been at work on the latter with a knife.  Schaeffer, when taken to the lock-up, was found to be bleeding from a wound in the right breast and a couple of cuts in the hands.  His wounds were dressed by Police Surgeon WIlton, and at the time the reporter saw him he was resting easily.


SCHAEFFER'S STATEMENT


Schaeffer gave the reporter the following statement.  He said: I work at the coffin factory, and last night my wife and her brother and I went to Zacheres saloon, on the corner of Third avenue and Franklin street.  I hadn't drank anything before for three weeks.  I was surprised at my wife wanting to go along, for I never knew of her doing anything of that kind before.  While Reiber and I drank beer she drank whisky.  After sitting there awhile we started for home.  When we got there my wife went and got a pitcher of beer, but wouldn't drink any of it.  I said to her, 'Mammy will you have a drink of whisky?  She said she would, and we started out to get it.  While she was gone for the beer Andy Rieber said to me: "She is trying to make you jealous." "I said I don't care what she does, she can't do that."  My wife and I went and got the whisky and in coming back she said that she must have another.  I said to her: "Mamy if you take another drink, we will both die together." I then pulled out my revolver for the purpose of showing it to her, I suppose, and somehow it went off.  I saw that her clothes were on fire and I took my hands, put it out.  She started to walk but fell down.  I then went to the house and told Andy.  Andy I suppose I have shot my wife."  He then started out to find her and the next thing I knew he had cut me two or three times, and pushed me down.  While he was cutting at me I grabbed his hand and held it, telling him, "Look here Andy you can't do anything of that kind with me if you have got me down, for I'm a better man than you are."  Just then I was arrested and Reiber ran off.  I said to the men, I suppose I am under arrest and I will go with you whenever you want me to.


ANTON RIEBER'S STATEMENT


Through Capt. McCutchan THE COURIER reporter heard Rieber's statement, the drinking part of which does not materially differ with that given by Schaeffer.  He says, however, that when Schaeffer and his sister left the house they were in excellent humor, laughing and talking with each other, and he cannot account for Schaeffer's murderous assualt on his sister.  Rieber admits stabbing Schaeffer, and said, God damn him; if they had let me alone I would have killed him.  Rieber was brought to the central station, but as his dying sister kept constantly calling for him, the captain concluded to let him return to her with a policeman as a guard over him.


At this hour of writing, 3:30 this morning, Mrs. Schaeffer is in dying condition, she bein pulseless.


Source: Evansville Courier, Evansville, Indiana, n.d. [probably September 17, 1883]



THE WIFE MURDER.


Schaefer Committed to Jail to Await the Action of the Coroner,


Who Was Engaged all Day Yesterday in Taking Testimony


Mrs. Schaefer, who was shot by her husband between 11 and 12 o'clock on Saturday night, lingered until Sunday evening when she died at 6 o'clock.  Schaefer, as soon as her death was known, was locked up in his cell by Captain Newitt and was yesterday transferred to the county jail to await the result of the Coroner's verdict.  The incidents of this shooting will be found in the testimony given by Mrs. Schaefer's brother and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Rieber, and are sustantially as reported in Sunday's COURIER.


Coroner Carter held a post mortem examination on the body of Mary Schaeffer yesterday and discovered that the ball (32 calibre) entered one and a half inches below the navel and to the left of the median line, and found that it had perforated the intestines six times, passing backward and downward and to the right, and finally lodged in the muscles of the hollow of the sacrum.


Anton Rieber said: I am the brother of Mary Schaeffer, to whom Chas. Schaeffer has been married about 11 years.  Schaeffer was sometimes the best of men, and then again he was as mean as he could be.  Mr. and Mrs. Schaeffer have had frequent quarrels, but none lately.  He had been touchy ever since last Thursday, and has not been in a good humor with her since Friday night because she wouldn't give him a dime to get shaved with.  He has never threatened directly to kill her, but has intimated it.  Schaeffer drank a good deal.  He would get on the street about once a month.  On Saturday night my wife and I and Schaeffer and my sister were at our house, and my wife proposed getting some beer and she and my sister went after it; soon after Schaeffer wanted to go and get a drink, and his wife said, "If you go, I'll go," and they went off together.  This was about 11 o'clock; they hadn't been gone more than five minutes when I heard a pistol shot.  I started in the direction from which it came and when I got part of the way, I met my sister, and found that she had been shot by Schaeffer; I then went into Hoffman's saloon; when I got there they told me that S. had gone into the backyard; I yelled to him to come out as I wanted to see him; I then went back through the saloon and ran down Franklin street to the middle of the block; I then saw my sister and carried her home and laid her on my bed; I found her under the gas post on the corner of Michigan street and Second avenue, lying on the pavement; my wife was with her; she couldn't speak at first, but afterwards told me that Schaeffer had shot her; she said that she didn't think he would do so or she would not have gone with him by herself; she said that he shot her while in front of Ashby's; that he was standing on the left side of her and that after he shot her she wrenched the pistol from him fearing that he would shoot her again, she threw the pistol in my brother's yard, on the other side of the alley; he never owned a pistol, nor was he in the habit of carrying one; I knew he had a pistol that night, for he showed it to me two or three times and wanted me to go out and practice with it; the pistol, he said, he had taken away from a drunken friend of his, Billy Russ.


Josephine Rieber said that she was the sister-in-law of Mrs. Schaeffer, and that S. for the past few days had been very cross; he had threatened to hit her and once to kill her for her saucy mouth; Schaefer was drunk a couple of weeks ago, and had drank something before he came home Saturday night; he was in a good humor then; I saw the pistol, as he showed it to all of us, and wanted Andy to go out with him in the morning to practice with it, but Andy said "no;" about 11 o'clock on Saturday night, Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer left the house by themselves; both were in a good humor, and in about five minutes I heard a pistol shot and Mrs. S. scream "Oh, my God," three times; I ran toward her and met her on the corner of Michigan street and Second avenue; she walked across the street with me, clinging to my neck.  I said, "Mary, what's the matter?" She said, "Oh, dear, Joe, I'm shot."  I asked her who shot her, and she said, "Charley shot me."  She said, "He's jealous; oh, dear me, he'll kill Andy," and she fell.  She said that she didn't think Charley would have done it; that as they were walking along, he said: "Mary, I'll go to the alley with you, and then our separation will be death."  He said that on the corner of Second avenue and Franklin street, and we walked on; I laughed at him, not thinking he was in earnest; when we reached the alley by Ashby's house, he pulled out his pistol and shot me."  Mrs. Schaeffer said that she was afraid that he would shoot Andy, and she took the pistol away from him.  She said that Charley was jealous of Andy.  She said that after being shot she wanted Charley to come and see what he had done and how she suffered."


John J. Hoffherr said: On Saturday night I was in Pregler's saloon getting a glass of beer, when I heard a pistol shot, and right afterwards a police whistle.  I went out to assist the officer who had called for assistance.  As soon as I found out what had happened I left him and went up to Schaeffer's house.  I found Mrs. Schaeffer lying on the bed speechless, but suffering very much; I rubbed her with camphor, and then Dr. McClurkin came; she then came to herself and told me that her husband and herself were going to get a drink and as they were coming back home he said to her "that was the last drink she would ever take with him."  "This was at the alley, but no hard words had passed between us; he then pulled out his pistol and stepped around and shot me."  She said that she thought jealousy was the cause of it; she didn't know what else it could be.


Fred Kroener said in his testimony: On Saturday, I went to the Apollo theater, and after, I went and got shaved and was going home.  At the corner of Franklin street, between Michigan street and Second avenue, I heard a pistol shot, and met George Gerst and a Mr. Smith; went down the street and saw a man and woman standing by they alley; they were quiet for a moment, and then the woman began to yell, "Murder! Help!"  We went toward them, and Schaeffer said: "You so-o-bs, stand back."  We went back and around the corner and then came up Franklin street, when Schaeffer passed us, running, saying to some one, "I shot her!"


George Gerst's testimony was substantially the same as Mr. Kroener's.


Will Russ, on being sworn, said: That he had known Schaeffer for the last six months; he works in the same shop that I do; I never heard him say anything about his wife or his family; the pistol that Schaeffer used was mine.  On Thursday or Friday morning Schaeffer was talking about killing his dog and I proposed to sell him my pistol; he said that he had no use for it, that he had a gun or two at home; he told me to bring it around anyhow, and he would try to sell it for me; I told him that all he could get over a $1.25 he could have; he told me to bring it up; I forgot it until Saturday night, but he reminded me about it every morning and noon, until he finally started to tie a string around my ear to make me remember it; I then told him to meet me at the Court house, Saturday night; he met me there and we went up the alley between Third and Fourth streets, back of the jail; I gave him the pistol, and then we went out through the alley to Third street; from there I went to get shaved, and he waited for me; we then went down Main street to the art store, where we met Jake Rieber, when they started home together, and that was the last I saw or heard of him, until Sunday morning.


The case will be continued to-day and a verdict reached.



---
Mary (RIEBER) SCHAEFFER was Corinne's paternal 3rd-great grandmother.  Additional articles relating to her murder can be found here and here.  These articles were provided to me by Ray Bland, a Rieber researcher.

Mrs. Schaeffer Dies And Her Husband Is Held For Murder

Source: Evansville Journal, Evansville, Indiana, September 17, 1883, page 4.


THE TRAGEDY


Mrs. Schaeffer Dies And Her Husband Is Held For Murder


His Defense to be Insanity - Rieber's Story - Suspension of Schuetler the Policeman


The tragedy of Saturday night, upon which the curtain fell at the opening of a new day before its completion, ended for the time last evening with the death of Mrs. Schaeffer a few minutes after six.  She had suffered great pain during the day, and required almost the constant attention of a physician to relieve her intense agony.  Toward the  last, however, this was ended, and she died from internal hemorrhage.  At the time of her death her husband's father, mother, brother and sister, her own mother and brother and sisters were with her, and watched the failing breath.  At the request of Andy Rieber, the brother of Mrs. Schaeffer, who tried to kill her murderer, he was allowed to remain in the house in charge of a policeman until some time after the death of his sister.


The coroner was immediately summoned, and after viewing the remains and getting a few preliminary statements, he adjourned the inquest until to-day.  This morning at 9 o'clock the post mortem examination will be made by the coroner and county physician, to determine the course of the ball.


It was thought at first there would be an unusual scarcity of witnesses and the exact time of the shooting had not been witnessed, but now the witnesses spring up, and the possibility is that each step taken by Schaeffer and his wife on the evening of the shooting can be traced from supper time until the time he left the policeman on the corner of Michigan street and Second avenue.  But the necessity of this seems vanishing, too, as the cloud of witnesses increases, for even the brother (Andy) of ther murdered woman who wished to kill the murderer, says Schaeffer was subject to epileptic fits, and whenever the moon changed he became irritable and "cranky."  At such times he was wont to drink considerably, and when full or even partially so, found a delight in picking a quarrel with any one.  A fight at such times pleased him most of all.  At such times his wife was afraid of him, and he was generally given free reign by every one.  The sprees were frequently followed by fits, when it would take four men to hold him.  Not long since, while irritable, he threatened his brother-in-law, and abused them so that the oldest jumped on to him.  They were presented in police court for fighting and were fined.


One of the children, a boy, shows that he inherits to a marked degree, this epileptic tendency, and is quite idiotic at times, and always weak in mind.


About 10 o'clock last night Andy Rieber was taken to the lockup and placed in a cell.  He gave the reporter a statement of the shooting, and his subsequent action, claiming the statement made by Schaeffer tended to make Mrs. Schaeffer appears as inclined to drink, when she was not that kind at all.  She went to the saloon as Schaeffer has told, and was there treated twice with Mrs. Andy Rieber, by John Rieber and Schaeffer.  They then went home and sent for five cents worth of beer, which was drank by Mrs. Schaeffer and Mrs. Rieber.  Schaeffer then entered the home, which was occupied in common by his own and Andy's families.  He asked his wife to go to the saloon with him, and she to humor him consented, but refused to proceed further than the alley between Michigan and Franklin streets, on Second avenue.  There the shooting took place as described yesterday.  It was witnessed by John Ashby, a man employed on Bingham's wharfboat, who lives in a cottage on the corner of the alley and Second avenue, on the Franklin street side.  It was a very few moments afterward when Andy Rieber heard of the affair, and, maddened beyond control, he started to find Schaeffer.  He saw him at the corner of Michigan near his house in company with the officer, and jumped at him with the avowed intention of killing him.  After this his mind is greatly confused and he cannot remember with any degree of certainty what happened except that after a time he was being taken away and he saw an officer had hold of his arm.  That hand held the knife and he dropped it as soon as he saw the officer who then released him, and his friends took him away.  Whether it was Schuetler who took him off or Schaeffer or not he is unable to say.


Yesterday at the morning roll call (at eleven) Capt. McCutchan, to whose watch Schuetler belonged, suspended him for cowardice, to await an investigation into his conduct, which takes place to-day.


In addition to the brothers and sisters mentioned, Mrs. Schaeffer's mother survives her and resides at 310 Virginia street.  Her father is dead.  Schaeffer's parents, who live on Babytown hill, came in early yesterday, and stayed until the death of the murdered woman.  They are quite old and past work, and lived with their daughter and her husband, Gottfried Stocker, who has a malt house in Babytown.  A son, who works for the Mechanic's furniture company as a varnisher, lives in the city.  All of the Rieber boys, but one, are varnishers, and Andy worked for the Crescent City chair works.


When the news of the woman's death was telephoned the lock-up, Capt. Newitt went in the cell house to secure the door of Schaeffer's cell, as is customary with murderers.  He asked about his wife, and was told she was dead.  He cried out, not loudly, but in a pained way, and then, in a few minutes, asked how long she had been dead.


"We have just learned of it" was the response.  "Oh," he said, and that was all.  Later, when the turnkey went in the lockup he inquired if the report was true, and an hour later was sleeping soundly and peacefully.  His wound is not serious and will hardly be worth mentioning in a day or two.  The line of his defense which has been indicated, although he has not yet secured counsel, will eventuate most probably in his confinement in an insane asylum.


Rieber is not at all exercised over his predicament, and seems confident it will all end happily.  They will be transferred to the county jail this morning - at least Schaeffer will.  Rieber will probably be admitted to bail.


---
Mary V. (RIEBER) SCHAEFFER (c1853-1883), was Corinne's paternal 3rd-great grandmother.  Additional information regarding her murder was posted previously.

Sunday's Obituary : Clara Louise (Burkey) LeMaster (1894-1985)

Source: Commercial-Review, Portland, Indiana, October 31, 1985, page 12.

Clara LeMaster


Clara L. LeMaster, 90, 316 W. Main St., Portland, died Wednesday evening at the Portland Community Care Center East following a brief illness.


Born Dec. 16, 1894, in Jay County, she was the daughter of John and Leafie (Beebe) Burkey.  She was married in 1913 to Chesley F. LeMaster, who died Aug. 9, 1960.


Surviving are two sons, Ralph LeMaster, Elkhart, and Dale W. LeMaster, Springfield, Mass.; a daughter, Mrs. Doris M. Shaneyfelt, Portland; two sisters, Mrs. Etta Greaf, Portland, and Mrs. Clyde (Mabel) Murray, Goshen; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.


Services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Portland Chapel of the Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home.  Rev. John Bellante will officiate.  Burial will be in the Salamonia Cemetery.


Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Friday.  The family will be present at the funeral home from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.



Sunday’s Obituary – if you have obituaries of family members and ancestors, consider posting them along with other information about that person as part of Sunday’s Obituary. This is an ongoing series developed by Leslie Ann at Ancestors Live Here.