The Obituary of Minerva Ann Andrews Ruby (1852-1946)

 While doing some family research this morning, I came across this very lengthy and extremely detailed obituary of my 4th cousin and thought I'd share it with you all! 

This obituary is for Minerva Ann Andrews. She was born on February 11, 1852 born to Wells Riley Andrews (1825-1860) and Christina E. Mendenhall (1832-1855). 

Here's the obituary (Transcription following):

Obituary is from Downs News
Downs, Kansas
January 2, 1947

Transcription for easy reading: 

AGED PIONEER PASSES

Minerva Ann Andrews, born in Mahaska County, Ia., Feb. 11, 1852, died on Dec. 23, 1946, being 94 years, 10 month and 12 days of age. Her mother died when she was about four years old, then a few years later the father died. The children were, when the rather realized his going, "bound out" to neighbors. Mrs. Ruby going to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Blakesly. During the Civil War, this family went back to Indiana to dispose of their property, and then returned to Iowa. On Dec. 26, 1870, she and Alexander Baldwin Ruby were married and they came to Osborne county in 1880, purchasing a farm three miles southwest of Downs, where they resided until 1899, and have lived in Downs most of the time since then.

They were permitted to journey life's way together for 69 years, Mr. Ruby going on Nov. 23, 1939.

These years for her have been spent in living a life of interest in God's Word and His work, as represented in the temperance cause, missionary work and by intercession for and giving to the local church, she having joined the Methodist church when 13 years of age. Failing health this past summer required that friends come in. Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Courter, Mrs. Courter being a niece of Mrs. Ruby, have, with the kindly neighbors, endeavored to give the needed care. Nevertheless, the long life came peacefully to a close at the beginning of this Christmas season. Those left are: One brother, John W. Andrews of Oskaloosa, Ia., a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Out-of-town relatives here to attend the funeral were Mrs. Grace Barr of Grinnell, Ia., Miss Ada Andrews of Kansas City, Kans., and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Minkler of Smith Center. 

Funeral services were held at the Methodist church on Friday, at 2 o'clock with Rev. F.L. Courter in charge, assisted by Rev. C.W. Eklund. Music was furnished by Mrs. R.W. Getty, Mrs. Rose Fink, W.C. Sellers and D.H. Marshall. Casket bearers were Nate Winters, Clifford Headley, Clarence Fink, W.C. Sellers, R.W. Kiper and B.D. Courter. Burial was in the Downs cemetery.

Chester Millard Mendenhall (1923-2003)

Today, I researched my 6th cousin, 3x removed- Chester Millard Mendenhall

Chester was born on November 20, 1923 in South Bend, Indiana to Millard Mendenhall (1903-1981) and Mabel Margaret Six (1902-1986). He had two siblings: Deloris Mable (1922-2001) and Richard Lee (born 1933).  

Family Photo
Date- Unknown
Chester, Millard, May and Deloris

Chester's Birth Certificate 

Census Records: 

1930, April 8- 1509 Huey St., South Bend, Indiana- Son- age 6; Living with Father (age 27), Mother (27), and Sister (7)- home is owned and valued at $600. His father was working as a carpenter. The house at 1509 Huey Street was built in 1944, so Chester's house is no longer there.

1940, April 4- Same address as above- Son- age 16; Living with Father (37), Mother (37), Sister (17) and little Brother Richard (6). His father is working as a millwright, Delores is working as a waitress for a cafeteria and Chester is working as a latherer in building construction. 

On August 10, 1940, Chester married May Eva True in St. Joseph, Michigan. May was born on February 18, 1923 to Leo Vern True (1900-1971) and Tressie Elizabeth Hofmeister (1902-1987). 

Marriage License for Chester and May

Together, Chester and May had 3 Children and at the time of Chester's death, 10 grandchildren: 

1. Carol Jean Mendenhall (1922-2001)

2. Dennis Eugene Mendenhall (born 1947)

3. Rebecca Sue Mendenhall (born 1952)

Chester died on February 24, 2003 at the age of 73. Cause of death was Sudden death syndrome due to critical non operative articular stenosis. He is buried beside his wife in the Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana. 

Death Certificate 

My relation to Chester- 6th cousin 3x removed: 

Chaminade High School, Class of 1932, Senior Group C

 Welcome to Chaminade High School in Dayton Ohio

This is the 3rd post pertaining to the class of 1932. You can read the other two here: Senior Group A & Senior Group B.

Group C:

Teacher: Brother Anthony B. Bishop, S.M.

1. Virgil Henning

William Virgil Henning Jr. was on October 1, 1912 Cincinnati, Ohio to William Virgil Henning Sr. (1887-1964) and Mary Nellie Clark (1888-1972). He married Bernadine C. Metcalf (1916-2000), daughter of Samuel Aloysius Metcalf and Alberta Amine Gemin. Together, they had 3 children: William, Joseph and Mary Elaine. 

Virgil died at the age of 68 years old on April 9, 1981 in Dayton, Ohio. He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

Obituary- The Journal Herald 
Dayton, Ohio
April 11, 1981

2. Carl Henry

Carl Ernest Henry was born on 19 Apr 1914 in Orestes, Indiana to Charles Henry (1886-1948) and Marguerite Simonett (1889-1965). He married Leona Alberta Davis (1916-1951) on October 15, 1935. Together, they had two children. Carl and his wife Leona were both killed in a car accident on January 19, 1951 at ages 36 & 34 consecutively. 

Funeral Notice- The Journal Herald
Dayton, Ohio
January 22, 1951

Carl is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio. 

3. Frank Hoefler

Frank John Hoefler Jr. was born on July 3, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to Frank John Hoefler Sr. (1884-1961) and Olivia Mary Unger (1886-1985). 

Pictured to the right- Hoefler in 1936, University of Dayton- Catholic Action.

On July 1, 1939, Frank married Kathleen Wren Reilly (1915-2009) and they had four sons- Frank, James, Thomas, and Patrick. 

Frank worked at his father's business- Hoefler & Stoecklein, a coal, paints and building materials company. 

On March 20, 1976, Frank died at the age of 61 in Dayton, Ohio. 

By the end of his life, he was President of his father's company: 

Newspaper Clip
The Journal Herald- Dayton, Ohio
March 23, 1976

4. Paul Hoelscher

Paul Joseph Hoelscher was born on January 4, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to John A. Hoelscher (1881-1959) and Mary J. Ulliman (1882-1965). He married Mary A. Shaffer (1915-2003) and they had one son.

Paul died at the age of 61 on September 3, 1975 in North Ridgeville, Ohio. He is buried in the Saint Mary Cemetery in Elyria, Ohio. 

5. Richard Hohenbrink

Richard Jerome "Dick" Hohenbrink was born on March 13, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to William H. Hohenbrink (1875-1920) and Dora  B. Autz (1890-1949). He married Florence Henrietta Sutter (1914-2002) and they had a daughter- Patricia Ann.

Richard died on March 4, 1968 at the age of 53. 

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
March 7, 1968

6. Robert Jehn "Bob"

Robert Howard Jehn was born on 1914 in Ohio to 

He married Irene Schutte and they had 4 children: Michael, Patricia, Diana and Michael. 

Robert was a senior tool engineer at GM and had a 28 year career. He died on November 17, 1998 at the age of 84 in Destin, Florida. 

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
November 26, 1998

7. Robert Kelly "Bob"

Robert John Kelly was born on 22 Jun 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to Robert Neil Kelly (1874-1943) and Sarah Eagleton (1876-1969). 

Robert married Dorothy Elizabeth Hull (1915-2003) on September 10, 1943 and they had 2 children: Barbara and Michael. Robert outlived his wife and both of their children. 

At the age of 90 on Aug 11, 2004, Robert passed away.  

Obituary 
The Star-Democrat- Easton, Maryland
August 13, 2004

8. Robert Kronauge "Bob"

Robert Warren Kronauge was born on 26 Sep 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to William J. Kronauge (1880-1959) and Helen M. Kramer (1879-1959). According to a family tree on Ancestry.com, and her obituary, he married Kathryn E. Martin (1915-1995). They had no children.

Robert died at the age of 79 on April 28, 1994 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton.

9. Eugene Leibold "Gene"

Eugene Aloysius Leibold was born on November 28, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to August Leibold (1884-1953) and Louise Ann Orendorf (1887-1973). He married Margaret Elizabeth Spalding (1912-2001) and they had 2 children- Lawrence and Jeanne. 

Eugene died on August 7, 1993 at the age of 78. 

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
August 10, 1993

10. Edmund Magly

Edmund Nicholas Magly was born on 17 Mar 1913 in Dayton, Ohio to Joseph Othman Magly (1880-1938) and Eva Francis Kunkel (1881-1948). He married Margaret Reger (1914-2002) and they had a daughter- Mary.

Edmund died at the age of 65 on July 29, 1978. He is buried beside his wife in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio. 

11. George Motza

George Joseph Motza was born on 03 Feb 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to Joseph Charles Motza (1873-1943) and Marie Magdalena Zinga (1883-1941). He served in the Army in Company C, 504th Military Police battalion. He married Thelma J. Lawrence (1918-2010) and they had two children: Mary Ann and Gary. George died on November 11, 1958 at the young age of 44. Cause of death was a heart attack. He is buried in the Glen Haven Memorial Gardens in New Carlisle, Ohio.

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
November 12, 1958

12. Harry O'Brien

Harry Joseph O'Brien was born on January 13, 1915 in Dayton, Ohio to Henry Cornelius O'Brien (1885-1956) and Mae Roma Young (1893-1949).

On 28 Sep 1940, he married Margaret Jeanne Edmon (1915-1998) and they had one daughter- Molly.

He died on December 10, 1961 at the age of 46, injuries resulted from a car accident. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
November 11, 1961

13. Robert "Bob" Orf

Robert Charles Orf was born on October 7, 1913 in Dayton, Ohio to Clarence Orf (1885-1953) and Cora (1886-1936). He married Rose Mary Sawaya (1911-1993) and they had one daughter- Patricia Helen.

Robert died on October 1, 1985 at the age of 71.

14. Urban Rohr "Urb"

Urban Edward Rohr was born on July 17, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to Raymond H. Rohr and Florence Zeugelder. He married Dorothy E. Davis (1909-1996) on March 8, 1941 and they had 3 daughters: 

1. Daphne A. (born 1941)

2. Dorothy Diantha (1947-1947)

3. Stephanie Louise (1948-1948)

Urban died at the age of 82 on May 16, 1997 and is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Omaha, Nebraska.

15. Wilfred Romer "Willie"

Wilfred Earnest Romer was born in 1913 in Ohio to Herbert Albert Romer (1888-1954) and Rose M. Schulte (1887-1974). He married Mary Jane Baker (1917-1983) and they had at least two children: Frederick Joseph (1940-2001) and Patricia Ann Romer Gore (1947-2020).

Wilfred died on January 20, 1965 at the age of 52. He and his wife are buried in the Miamisburg Catholic Cemetery in Miamisburg, Ohio.

16. John Rueth "Johnny"

John Anthony Rueth was born on August 3, 1914 in Ohio to Charles A. Rueth (1878-1946) and Clara Oneta Kammer (1883-1962). John earned his bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Dayton in 1941. 

He married Margaret Brehm (1917-1984) and they had 3 children- Ruth Ann, Robert and Joseph. 

John died at the age of 65 on August 12, 1979 in Kettering, Ohio. 

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
August 14, 1979

17. Herman Schauer

Herman Frank Anthony Schauer was born on April 17, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to Herman Franz Schauer (1880-1972) and Mary Sedlak (1885-1972). 

On October 11, 1936, he married Janet L. Glaze (1917-1944). Secondly, he married Betty Spohr (1924-2005) and they had 2 sons: Tom and Carl. 

Herman died on May 11, 1985 at the age of 71. 

Obituary 
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
May 13, 1985

18. Robert Schellman "Bob"

Robert Henry Schellman was born on August 13, 1914 in Dayton Ohio to Clemence and Rozella. Robert served in the military- Lt Col of HQ 309th infantry, 78th Division and served in the European Theater. 

Robert married Helen Ayerigg on November 15, 1943 and had 7 children- Robert Jr., William F., Richard P., James M., John C., Helen S. and Deborah Ann. 

Robert died on January 16, 1994 and is buried in Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Georgia.  

Obituary 
The Atlanta Constitution- Atlanta, Georgia
January 19, 1994

19. Francis Schopler "Frank"

Francis Anthony Schopler was born on July 23, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to Anton Schopler (1886-1964) and Mary Dornstadter (1887-1972). 

Kidnapping- Nov 1939- 25 years old- Frank and his future-wife Mary were kidnapped when returning from a date. Frank was dropping Mary off at her house when four teens with a rifle ordered them back into the car! The two were held in the back seat for 115 miles when the driver stopped for gas and the two fled. All four boys admitted to the abduction. The abductors were Dewayne Frey (16), Arthur Cox (17), Robert Wilson (17) and James Esson (17). The four of them had escaped the Columbus Bureau of Juvenile Research, stolen a car and abandoned it near Dayton. 

In 1936, Frank graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in engineering. 

On October 7, 1941, Frank married Mary Elizabeth Bockrath (1921-1994) and they had 4 children Rebecca, Laura, Francis, and David. 

Frank died on March 13, 2002 in Stanfield, North Carolina at the age of 87. He is buried beside his wife in the Miami Valley Memory Gardens in Springboro, Ohio. 

20. Charles Schroll

Charles William Schroll was born on January 8, 1913 in Dayton, Ohio to John and Cora Schroll. He married Arline Louise Leingang (1915-1993) and they had 3 children: Lynne, Charles Jr., and John. 

Charles died on July 1, 1992 at the age of 79. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

21. Jack Schwindler

I couldn't find much on Jack-- I did find a Jack Schindler born and living in New York, but I don't think that's the same one at all. 

22. Herbert Sommer

Herbert Joseph Sommer was born March 23, 1913 in Anna, Ohio to Anthony Sommer (1868-1935) and Katherine Marie Unghrun (1875-1947).

Herbert was married to Mary Elizabeth Daly (1913-2003) and they had 4 children: Sara, Marian, Joseph, and Robert.

Herbert died on August 22, 2005 at the age of 92. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

23. Rolland Sprauer "Rolly"

Rolland Joseph Sprauer was born on July 5, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to William Joseph Sprauer (1885-1958) and Mary A. Cochran (1887-1921). On June 14, 1938, he married Caroline Josephine Leidecker (1916-1987) and they had 3 children: Rolland William Sprauer Jr. (1940-1948), Ralene, Ricky.

Rolland died at the young age of 38 on September 16, 1952 after a two-month long illness. 

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
September 16, 1952

24. Carl Stichweh

Carl Stephen Stichweh was born on July 22, 1913 in Ohio to Henry Leopold Stichweh (1886-1957) and Theresia E. Zugelder (1881-1966). He never married.

Carl died on September 13, 1988 at the age of 75.

25. Robert Unverferth "Bob

Robert H. Unverferth was born in 1914 in Ohio to Urban L. Unverferth (1888-1977) and Anna G. Ens (1891-1976). 

He married Mary (ULN) and they had 3 children: Robert, Joseph and Thomas.

Robert died June 16, 1957 at the age of 43.

Obituary
Dayton Daily News- Dayton, Ohio
June 17, 1957

26. Herbert Wilson "Pete"

Herbert Thomas Wilson was born on October 12, 1913 in Ohio to Thomas G. Wilson and Ida Kemper. 

Herbert died on March 13, 1987 at the age of 73.

Unfortunately, that's all I could find on Herbert.

27. Raymond Woeste

Raymond L. Woeste was born on 15 July 1913 in Ohio to Bernard F. Woeste (1884-1949) and Sophie J. Clune (1886-1952). In 1937, he married Ruth E. Huelsman (1911-1993) and they had 2 children: Donald and Doris.

Raymond died on 29 Oct 1968 at the age of 55. He is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

28. Elmer Zimmer

Elmer Clarence Zimmer was born on December 7, 1913 in Dayton, Ohio to Ferdinand Zimmer and Elizabeth Klinker. He married Edris Eleanor Duke (1915-2007) and they had 4 Children: Peggy, Kayann, Ronnie, Thomas. 

Elmer died at the age of 89 on December 31, 2002 in Dayton. He is buried in the Beavertown Cemetery in Ohio beside his wife Edris. 

29. Otto Zolg 

Otto John Zolg was born on June 13, 1914 in Dayton, Ohio to Rudolph Otto Zolg (1883-1918) and Josephine Christine Autz (1883-1942). 

Otto never married. He died on November 12, 1987 at the age of 73. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.