I have been asked by Donald Bohrer to post some information he has sent
to me in regards to the Zion Lutheran Cemetery located in southern
Franklin County. It has been earmarked as our second project in our
pioneer cemetery restoration project. We are halfway with our first
project. Donald would like me to post the information to create support
for our second project whether it is by physical help or donation of
money or materials. Donald lives in Minnesota.
Here is the information that he sent to me....
Late in 1844 George Bohrer and several of his neighbors including
Christian Bohrer, George Shindeldecker, John Hoffman, Jacob Traeger and
Adam Clemence were granted a release from Saint Jacobs Evangelical
Protestant Church, which was located on the Blue Creek just inside the
Dearborn County line. George Bohrer and his neighbors wished to
establish a congregation closer to their homes. The new congregation
was known as Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church and George Bohrer, Jacob
Traeger Jr. and Adam Clemence were elected as Trustees. On September
14, 1844 a warranty deed was executed between the above Trustees and
John Hoffman and for the sum of $10.00 conveyed title to a plot of land
12 rods by 12 rods to Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. The legal
discription reads as follows, a part of the S.E. quarter of the S.W.
quarter of section 25 in township 9 range 3 west. A log church was
built and a cemetery established on the plot. Thirteen families moved to
Minnesota in 1856. It appears the congregation declined in membership
and probably desolved in the early 1880's. Zion church records were lost
or destroyed, a diligent search has been made for them in the last few
years, but so far have not been found. The total number of persons
buried in Zion cemetery is unknown, some graves are unmarked, some
markers are no longer readable. According to the ten markers that are
readable Katherine Bohrer would have been the first buriel in 1854 and
Herman H. Wittkemper the last in 1882.
NOTE:
Saint Jacobs Ev. Protestant Church noted above is still in existance
today and is known as Saint Jacobs United Church Of Christ.
SOURCES:
St. Jacobs United Church Of Christ (150th anniversary booklet)
Franklin Co. Register of Deeds (warranty deed)
Brookville Library ( Cemetery records)
On site research.
Burial Listing:
Dr. David Adam - Died Nov. 24, 1863 age 59 years 11 mo. 6 days.
Katherine Bohrer Jan. 1816 to Jan. 1854.
Katherine Holzberger Died April 15, 1864 age 35 yr. 8 mo. 13 days.
George Holzberger Jan. 6, 1800 to Aug. 3, 1872.
Christian Stoll 1791 to 1856.
Herman H. Wittkemper 1824 to 1882.
Maria I. Wittkemper 1826 to 1872.
Barbara Eva Zimmer Wife of George, born Schmidt, 1815 to 1865.
Barbara Eva Zimmer 1850 to 1860.
Sophia Zimmer 1851 to 1870.
George Schindeldecker 1794 to 1851 (burial not verified) no marker.
Randy Klemme
Franklin County Genealogy Coordinator