Ever lighter are the ranks of the pioneers, who for the development of this fruitful Northwest, so to speak, helped [to] lay the foundation. There hardly passes a week, where we don't have to write a necrology for one of these old trailblazers of civilization. Today we must do this for Johann Simon Hollrich, one of the oldest German settlers of the south Ridge, who on Monday morning about seven o'clock, after a long battle with the infirmities of age, passed away easily and peacefully in his sleep.
Unfortunately, we don't know all that much about Mr. Hollrich's life story. He was born in the year 1818 in upper Franconia, Bavaria. So far as we know, he immigrated at the start of the Fifties, and settled immediately in this area, where two of his brothers already lived. There he practiced agriculture with effort and industry, until forced by age into retirement; and since his labors had not been unrewarded, he and his surviving faithful life's companion were able to look forward to the evening of their lives without worry. Besides his widow, the deceased leaves behind his son John and his descendants.
The burial took place Wednesday morning under the direction of Pastor H. Diemer from the St. Stephan's Luthern Church, to whose founders the deceased belonged. Many mourners followed the casket to the grave.
May the tired Pilgrim have found the Peace, which he so very much desired!
[d 4 Dec 1905]
Elisabeth Diemer
In the very bloom of her life, Elisabeth Diemer, wife of Martin Diemer in Highland Township and eldest daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Wm. G. Kopp, was torn from the circle of her loved ones on Saturday evening. Since the previously healthy woman had required an operation just over a month ago, there had been little hope for her recovery. As a last attempt to save her dear life, on Saturday she was once again operated upon by Doctors Blue, Reynolds and Ury; but within a few hours, the patient had slipped away. She had lived for only 21 years, 6 months and 1 day. Her premature death is mourned by her widower, with whom she had enjoyed marriage for but a few days over a year, one infant, her parents, ten siblings, and a large circle of more distant relatives and friends.
The burial took place Tuesday morning with a large attendance from the St. Stephan's Lutheran Church on the South Ridge. Pastor F. A. Kiess from Defiance led the funeral service and gave a gripping sermon.
Relatives living more distant who attended the burial: Mrs. Pauline Crum and Mrs. Emelie Hermann with daughter Viola from Chicago; Mrs. Isaac Wallace from Continental, Ohio; Chas. Vollmer and son Fred. from Bucyrus, Ohio; John Kopp, A. Ummel, Henry Reese and John Gross from Peabody, Ind.
[b 24 May 1884, d 25 Nov 1905]
Hermann Krull
In his residence No. 816 Jefferson Street Friday evening shortly after 7:30, Hermann Krull died of a kidney disease. He was born on the 6th of December 1845 in Althaldensleben in the Kingdom of Prussia. In the year 1855 he immigrated to this country with his parents and siblings and settled in Defiance, where he has resided almost constantly ever since. On the 31st of March 1861 he was confirmed by Pastor Adam Detzer, and on the 26th of June 1870 he married Miss Charlotte Yackee, who with seven children survives. They are Friedrich, Christian, Theodor and Julius, Mrs. Lisette Goller in South Richland, Olivia and Anna Krull. Three children died in early youth. Further, the sisters Emma King, from here, and Louise Schultz in Cleveland, O., remain behind, along with a large circle of friends.
The deceased was a plumber by trade and followed his profession until a short time before his death. Since the previous Fall he had suffered from the kidney disease, which a few days before his death was also accompanied by a stroke. He had only been bedridden for a few days. His remains were buried Monday afternoon from the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church under the direction of Pastor W. H. Bunge in the Riverside cemetery. A large number of mourners gave the deceased company to the gravesite. Pallbearers were N. G. Woodward, Josiah McElroy, Louis Palm, Friedr. Schäufle, Helmuth Jäger and Gustav Balzke; flowerbearers August Meyer and Wm. Clemens.
[d 30 Aug 1907]
Johann Hermann Schatz
On Thursday evening about 9 o'clock, Johann Hermann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Schatz of the South Ridge, died after a lengthy siege of kidney disease at the age of 19 years, 3 months and 26 days. He was an ambitious, well-behaved youth, whose premature death will be sincerely mourned not only by his relatives but also by [his] large circle of friends. His remains were laid Sunday morning in the cemetery (God's Acre) of the St. Stephan's Evangelical Lutheran Church, after Pastor Walter Lussky held funeral services in the family home at 9:30 and a half hour later in the Church.
[b 1888 Pleasant Twp., Henry, OH; d 12 Dec 1907 Pleasant Twp., Henry, OH]