| Notes |
- REFN: kidolly
Witnesses at his birth in Erckartsweiler were Uncle George Schle
mmer, 35, and Major Melchior, 45. Major had a beautiful signatu
re.
Married twice. First wife died abt 1853, second wife Catherine S
caer, m. 1853.
Obituary from The Weekly Breeze, Monroeville, Allen County, IN, Thu
rsday, August 25, 1898: The Oldest Settler of Monroe Township P
asses Away. Philip Schlemmer died Saturday morning last, Augus
t 20th, 1898, at his residence two miles south-East of town, aft
er months of affliction, in the presence of his companion and se
veral of his children. His passing was not unexpected owing t
o his ailment and advanced age, therefore those who have been ne
ar and dear to him who were not present, were not in the least s
urprised when his death was announced.
Mr Schlemmer was considered to be the oldest settler in Monroe t
ownship. He was born in Germany in September 1820 and came to th
is country with his parents when but a child having first settle
d in Carroll County, Ohio, where they remained until he arrive
d at the age of fifteen years. In 1835 hisparents sought to see
k fortunes in the west and came to Indiana and settled upon th
e tract of land now owned and upon the same spot where now stand
s the residence of Ex-trustee Christian Hoffman. Here he toile
d with his parentsuntil manhood when he took unto himself a com
panion andd settled down upon the tract of land where he departe
d this life. He was twice married, his firstwife having died i
n 1854 and his second survives him, together with four sons an
d four daughters namely: George Schlemmer, of New Bremen, Ind.
, Philip H., Henry and Charles Schlemmer and Mrs. Christena Ehli
ng, of Monroe township, Mrs. Catherine Siegel, of Madison townsh
ip, Mrs. Lizzie M. Erhardt, of Jackson township and Marthe Garth
an. It is not necessary for us to state that at the time of sett
ling in this section with his parents thaere was no farm, fine d
wellings and settlement of people such as at the present time, b
ut on the contrary dense forests, wild beasts and log cabins wer
e such as the settlers of those days were compelled to contend w
ith. But not withstanding all this, the Schlemmer family of whic
h the deceased was one, battled on contending with their chose
n lot. Miles between neighbors and miles to travel through fores
ts and not gravel roads as today, to get to mill or a trading po
int. In this lonely manner they moved on until finally the count
ry began to become more densely settled, the forests disappeare
d and cultivated farms instead. Prosperity and happiness beame
d before them, but one by one, like the forests there become a b
roken link in the family and this continues from time to time un
til the last link of the first chain had passed over the river t
o that world from which none ever return.
During life, especially in his days, Philip Schlemmer was ever f
ound in readiness to assist his neighbor no matter in what manne
r he was called upon. Especially was this the case in time of si
ckness or distress. He with the assistance of Henry Miner, who s
till lives, hewed from a walnut log the first coffin, dug the fi
rst grave and laid to rest the first person that died in this se
ction of country.
Thus in conclusing the BREEZE can only say that the one who ha
s just ended his labors of 78 years has left behind him a recor
d that will be recalled many times by the present, and followin
g generations. The funeral was held Sunday morning last from th
e house and later services were conducted by his pastor and spir
itual advisor, at the German Lutheran church near the home of th
e deceased. The remains were interred in the grave yard near th
e church and upon a spot of ground which he and his father clear
ed and laid out as a family burial ground many years ago.
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Carl & Elaine (Grove) Rhodes' Genealogy Pages
1820 - 1898 (77 years)