Selected Families and Individuals

Notes


Orlando Gregory Smithberger

On June 5, 1917, Orlando Gregory Smithberger of Stanleyville, Monroe County, Ohio filled out a U.S. military draft registration card. He stated that he was born on Sept. 3, 1890 in Harrietsville, Ohio. Orlando was a self-employed oil-field contractor. He was married with two children. Orlando was described as being tall and slender with brown hair and brown eyes.


Lulu Whilhelmina Smithberger

SS# issued in Kentucky in 1973.


Charles Edward Smithberger

From the Zanesville (OH) Times Recorder, newspaper, wedding announcement of Charles Smithberger and Florence Kress, Sep 29, 1947

Marriage Vows Read Saturday CALDWELL, O.--Miss Florence Kress, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Gerhard Kress of Caldwell, and Charles Smith-
berger, son of Mr.s and Mrs. Orlando Smnithberger of
Whipple exchanged marriage vows before the candlelit
altar of St. Philomena Catholic church Saturday morning
at nine o'clock. Rev. Fr., Stephen J. Pekalla officiated. The bride is a graduate of Fulda high school, class of
34, and is employed with the Tarleton Coffee Shop. The
groom, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Smithberger, of
Whipple, O., is a graduate of St. Mary's Parochial school
in Marietta and is associated with his uncle in the oil
business.

Sources conflict on Charles E. Smithberger's date of death. According to the Ohio online death certificate index, he died on 6 Jul 1965. His wife's 2006 obituary states that he died on 5 Jul 1965. There is no entry in the Social Security Death Index.


Florence M. Kress

Florence Kress Smithberger's obitury appeared in The Marietta Times newspaper on June 3, 2006
CALDWELL — Florence M. Smithberger, 89, of Caldwell, died at 10:30 p.m. Thursday (June 1, 2006) at Summit Acres Nursing Home in Caldwell.
She was born Sept. 17, 1916, in Fulda to Gerhard and Veronica Schott Kress. She attended Fulda School. She had worked at Marietta Memorial Hospital, starting in 1967, and retiring at age 80. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Marietta, and the Catholic Women’s Club. She enjoyed crocheting and working in her flower gardens.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Smithberger, on July 5, 1965. They were married on Sept. 27, 1947. She also was preceded by two brothers, Howard A. and Rupert E. Kress.
Funeral liturgy with Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Monsignor John Michael Campbell as celebrant. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Marietta Chapel of Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home. There will be a vigil service at 7 p.m. Sunday


Bernard Joseph Smithberger

A brief death notice for Bernard Smithberger appeared in the Marietta Times on Nov. 4, 2009
Bernard J. Smithberger, 81, of Wintersville, Ohio, died Sunday (Nov. 1, 2009) at Trinity West Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio. Arrangements are pending at CARE Funeral & Cremation Service, 1500 Second St., Moundsville, W.Va


Bernard Joseph Smithberger

A brief death notice for Bernard Smithberger appeared in the Marietta Times on Nov. 4, 2009
Bernard J. Smithberger, 81, of Wintersville, Ohio, died Sunday (Nov. 1, 2009) at Trinity West Hospital in Steubenville, Ohio. Arrangements are pending at CARE Funeral & Cremation Service, 1500 Second St., Moundsville, W.Va


Howard A. Kress

Conflicting data on year of birth:
1) Delores Snider (citing church records of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Fulda, Noble Co., OH) has year of birth as 1920.
2) Social Security Death Index gives 1921 as year of birth.
3) The 1930 census (taken on April 1 of that year) states that Howard turned 9 on his last birthday, suggesting that 1921 is the correct year.

The Zanesville Times Recorder on 25 Aug 1938 lists Howard Kress among those in attendance at the Ruppel Family Reunion. (See write-up for Clemence Ruppel for entire article)

The following article appeared in the Zanesville Signal on August 17, 1944: Pfc. Howard Kress, 23, was seriously wounded in
combat duty on Saipan on July 8, according to word
received Aug. 7 by his parents, Mr. and Mrs, Gerhard
Kress of near Caldwell. Pfc. Kress was hit by a shell fragmaent on his right
arm and was taken to a hospital in Hawaii. He entered
the service Nov. 11, 1942, and was sent to the Hawaiian
islands shortly afterwords. His brother, First Sgt. Rupert E. Kress is stationed
somewhere in France.


The following article appeared in the Zanesville Times Rcorder on September 6, 1944:
The war department has announce that Pfc. Howard
A. Kress, son of Mrs Frona Kress of near Caldwell,
has been wounded in action in the Central Pacific
area.


Richard Charles Kress

The following article appeared in the Zanesville Signal, April 23, 1953: CALDWELL -- Charles Richard Kress, 10-month-
old son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kress, North
street is a patient at Good Samaritan hospital,
Zanesville. The child was admitted Saturday
suffering from an infected intestine, Hus grand-
parents are Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart (sic) Kress
of North street.


Albert Sebastian Hohman

Albert Hohman was the second child and oldest son of John and Theresa Hohman. In addition to farming, his father was the schoolteacher at the one-room schoolhouse in Rado (Noble Co., OH), so Albert helped his mother run the farm in the fall and spring when school was in session.

Albert was a lover of horses. He began training work horses early in his life. As a young teenager he and his brother George “broke” (trained) a team of colts to work the family farm. The colts were so small that ordinary harness would not fit them, so Albert and George contrived custom made harness for them. Polly, one of the team, remained with the family and provided work and rides for all of my dad’s six brothers. That horse could probably tell plenty of stories of all the girlfriends she visited with her riders.

On September 12, 1918, Albert Sebastian Hohman (20 - November 22, 1898) of RFD #1, Caldwell, Noble Co., Ohio registered for the military draft. His occupation is listed as farmer and his employer as F. A. Smith of RFD #1, Caldwell, Ohio. His nearest relative is given as Mrs. Teresia Hohm, RFD #4, Cladwell, Noble co., Ohio. His physical description is given as: height: medium; build: medium; eyes: gray; hair: brown.

After working for a couple of years as teamster for Frank Smith who owned the general store in Fulda, Albert left home in 1918.

In 1920, 22 year old unmarried Albert Hohman was a roomer in the home of Fred and Mary Coats in Hudson Twp., Summit Co., Ohio. Albert worked as a teamster on a dairy farm.

He traveled to Kent, Ohio and was hired by a dairy farmer, W.C. Arnold. This farm was near that of Andrew Anthony Yeager. Albert was sent to help on the Yeager farm at threshing and haying time. That is how he met Loretta Margaret Yeager whom he married in 1923. The best man was Frank Yeager, brother of the bride and the maid of honor was Mary Agnes Hohman later known as Sister Benita Marie who was a sister of the groom.

Albert left the farm and hired in to work building tires for the B.F. Goodrich Co. The newlyweds moved to 523 Seth Court, Akron, Ohio. After a couple of years working in the rubber shop, Albert took the civil service exam to become a postal employee. Loretta helped him study and Albert passed with flying colors, despite the fact that he had not finished eighth grade.

In 1930, 32 year old postal worker Albert S. Hohman lived with his wife Loretta M. (29) in a home they owned (value $4500) at 523 Seth Court, Akron, Summit Co., Ohio. Living with them were their children Martha (5) and Maurice A. (2 yrs. 8 mos). Also living with them was Albert's brother Clement H. (26). Based on census records, they had been married for 7 years. All members of the household were born in Ohio, as were Albert's parents and Loretta's mother. Loretta's father was born in West Virginia. The family did not own a radio set.

In addition to working for the post office, running the family farm was a priority for him and the family. Albert carried mail for 33 years. Twice each day Albert walked a route around Delia Ave. and St. Sebastian Church. He walked 14 miles each day carrying a bag of mail weighing 30 or 40 pounds. He was a conscientious mail carrier and a great friend of the children and dogs on his route. When Albert began to work at the post office and had to spend several weeks learning routes money was in short supply. Loretta supplemented the income by keeping boarders. She cooked for them, did their laundry and provided a sleeping room, and sharing the front-room living space.

In 1931 Albert moved his family to 1052 Frederick Blvd in West Akron. Albert was a wonderful provider and keeper of promises. He played with his children; he treated them to sled rides as he came down the street from the bus stop after work. The family spent each Sunday afternoon traveling to visit relatives - many lived on farms not far away. Albert made arrangements to purchase fresh fruit and produce and meat from our relatives who lived on the farms nearby.

When Albert’s younger brothers and sisters were ready to leave Fulda they often came to Akron to find employment. Albert offered them a place to stay and helped them comb the want ads for jobs.

In late April of 1943 a tornado struck the house at 1052 and did a great amount of damage. The south wall of the house was torn loose; there is still a block and tackle in the attic holding that wall in place. The garage was collapsed and the material thrown up broke all the rafters on the west side of the house roof as well as two chimneys every window in the house. Mud and glass splinters were driven into the wallpaper and woodwork throughout the house. That entailed major cleanup

Albert supplied train fare to his sisters, Sr. Cordea and Sr. Benita Marie whenever they could come to Ohio. He would also provide rides for them to get around to visit the relatives. He also gave the tuition shortfall for Andrew Hohman during his seminary days when the summer job did not furnish enough money for the year ahead. Toward the end of his life when the grandchildren were ready to get married, Albert purchased a $500.00 government bond for each which was to be their wedding present. Albert died before Donald was married but the gift was delivered posthumously.

Following his first wife's death and his subsequent marriage to Mabel Girard, Albert sold the house at 1052 Frederick to his son Maurice and his wife They moved to Juneau Ave., then to Seward Ave., just a block away from Maurice, Nancy, and the grandchildren.

Albert battled chronic leukemia successfully for about the last 15 years of his life. He was sick only 2 days before he died. He bought a new car-- a little blue Plymouth Horizon just four days before his death. He died in Akron General Hospital on April 15, 1980 as a result of his leukemia going on a sudden rampage. The Plymouth Horizon served Mabel until 1993 and then Maurice and his family until 1998. Albert would have been proud of his little blue car. It performed faithfully for 18 years.

Albert's daughter Sister Marie Hohman reminisces: "As I look back over my life and remember Dad I see quite clearly what a fine representative of God he was. Dad paved the way for my understanding of how a heavenly Father operates. This sense of being treasured and cared for has grown and deepened as I have lived, prayed and watched God working in my life and the lives of those I love and serve. And I thank God often for giving me an earthly father who such a window on God himself."

Albert Hohman's obituary appeared in The Akron Beacon Journal on 16 Apr 1980:

Albert S. Hohman, 82, of 1000 Seward Av. died April 15 at Akron General Medical
Center. Mr. Hohman was born in Fulda, Ohio and was an Akron resident for 62 years. He
was a member of St. Sebastian Church and the Holy Name Society. He was a retired letter
carrier and a life member of the NALC.
He is survived by his wife, Mabel M.; daughter, Sr. Marie Hohman O.P. of Our Lady of
the Elms; son, Maurice A. Hohman of Copley, brothers Clem of Zanesville, Francis of Louisville,
Joseph of Fulda, sisters, Sr. Benita Marie, Sr. M. Cordea, both of Manitowoc, Wisc., Mrs.
Clara Smithberger of Reynoldsburg, Mrs. Rose O'Brien of Mentone, Calif.; and three grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial Friday, 10 a.m. at St. Sebastian Church. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery.
Rosary will be recited Thursday, 8 p.m. at the Hummel Funeral Home 3475 Copley Rd., Copley,
where friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.


Loretta Margaret Yeager

The day of Loretta's funeral, on the way into church that morning her husband Albert pulled Loretta’s wedding ring out of his inner pocket of his suit coat and offered it to his daughter, Martha who was not quite 21 years old. She has worn it since her final profession and treasures the ring as a beautiful reminder of her dear mother and a loving and thoughtful dad.


Martha Catherine Hohman

Martha Hohman entered the Sisters of St. Dominic on September 8, 1943. She pronounced her vows on 29 Aug 1945 in Akron, OH and became Sister Marie Hohman. Her father would often take his excess garden produce “over the hill” to the Sisters at St. Vincent Convent where Sr. Marie was assigned.

As Sister Marie, she taught math, science, and computer science for 42 years in the Catholic schools of Ohio. She is now retired and serves as insurance coordinator / troubleshooter for the Sisters of St. Dominic in Akron, Ohio.