This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
Death of Mrs. Jno. A. Sheetz.
Mrs. Margaret Sheetz, daughter of John George Donnenwirth and wife, Magdalene, nee Ruch, was born on the 28th day of October, 1813 at Urweiler, district Weissenburg, Elsass. According to her old and valued German certificate, Margaret was baptized 2 days after her birth, admitted to the first Holy Communion on the Good Friday following her confirmation which took place on Palm Sunday, the 8th of April, 1827. About 2 weeks later, on the 23rd of the same month the family set sail for the new world.
Stark county neighborhood of Canton, Ohio, became the first home of the Donnenwirths. While at this place; Margaret would frequently walk to Pittsburgh, and work for fifty cents a week. In 1834 the family moved to Crawford county where Mr. John George Donnenwirth purchased a farm, known at the present, as the High place, north-west of this place. Margaret, who meanwhile had been married to Mr. Ehregott Hesse, had not been with the family, but followed them to New Washington in 1836. Mr. Hesse founded a store and proved very successful in managing the business. On a tour to Buffalo, when crossing the Lake Erie the boat caught fire and together with others, Mr. Hesse became a prey of the waves. Thus Margaret with 24 years became a widow. On the 14th of April, 1842, she entered a second union. This time with Mr. John A. Sheetz, a widower. Many years of prosperity and happiness were granted them, until God severed the bonds through the death of Mr. Sheetz, Dec. 7, 1889. Although widow a second time and physically failing, the deceased always kept her cheerful disposition and a firm faith. Gradually stomach trouble developed and made her subject to severe spells which seemed to return at regular intervals. Soon it became a rarity to see mother Sheetz in church where her face was so familiar. Some time ago all attempts to go about had to cease, her sickness adopting new and more severe phases, often causing her to be prostated for days. Though expecting and heartily desiring her end, it seemed sudden when the Lord called her away on Sunday, September 4th, at 4 p.m. Saturday at 1 p.m. she was seized by one of those spells. She gladly heard the consoling and well known promises of God when with the words, “Jesus my Saviour” on her lips she gently and peacefully slumbered away.
Her first union was blessed with 2 children, a boy named Alexander, who died at the age of 18 months and was buried in Stark county, and a daughter named Matilda, married to Rev. Geo. Schwemley, who also preceded her mother to eternity. From her second marriage, with J. A. Sheetz, there were six children. Two of these died, son John George in infancy and daughter Mary at the age of 22. Two sons and two daughters: Jacob and John H. Sheetz and Mrs. J. M. Guiss, of this place and Mrs. John Assenheimer of Bucyrus, survive; also Mrs W. H. Donnenwirth of Canton, a daughter from Mr. Sheetz’s second marriage. Mrs. John A. Sheetz obtained the age of 78 yrs. 10 mos. 6 da.
The Lord has prepared a rest for his own. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. The burial took place last Wednesday at 10 a.m., conducted by her pastor, of the Germany Ev. Lutheran church.
