Chloe Bertha Gingery Stuckman, Mother of Audry Gecowets

 

When Henry Gecowets, in probably his first or second year of teaching, first met his future wife, Chloe Bertha Gingery, as a young student, she was just recovering from the loss of her mother.  As the oldest child in her family, she likely already had even more to bear in caring day to day for her siblings and father.  

Born in 1898, Audrey was followed by Ava Morriss, a son, born 1900; and daughters, Sylvia Ila, born 1903; and Candace Ellen, born 1906.  The children lost their mother in a tragic accident in Hicksville.

"Mrs. George Stuckman, residing near Mark Center, was instantly killed by a Baltimore & Ohio local freight at Hicksville Friday morning when the buggy in which she, her husband, and an infant daughter, while crossing the track, was struck by the train.

The accident occurred at the north viaduct.  At this point, the main tracks are on an enbankment and a switch track runs down from the bank to the street grade, paralleling the main tracks through the town.  It was at this grade crossing the accident occurred.

The Stuckmans were on the way to the fairgrounds and were just crossing the tracks as the local freight backed down.  A box car concealed part of the train, but Stuckman saw the danger and attempted to turn around and get away.  A flat car in the rear of the caboose was concealed by the box car on the siding and it struck the buggy with great force, splintering it to kindling and throwing all of the occupants out.

Mrs. Stuckman was thrown upon the track and her body was cut in two by the wheels of the flat car.  Mr. Stuckman met with a few slight bruises, but the babe escaped without a scratch.  The fact that the caboose of the train could be seen above the box car and the flat car in the rear could not evidently led the driver to believe he had time to get out of the way.  The buggy was torn loose from the train and the horses ran away, but were caught.

Mrs. Stuckman was about 36 years of age and leaves behind her husband and the babe who were with her at the time of her death, four children who were in school when they learned of the sad affair."

Using the census as a guide, three children would have been in school and little Candace would have been the child involved in the accident.

George Stuckman sued the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and won a settlement in February 1912, for $2,000.

An obituary for Chloe Stuckman appeared in the Hicksville Tribune on September 21, 1911, page 1:

"STUCKMAN

Chloe Bertha, second daughter of Ava and Eliza Gingery, was born in Milford Township, Sept. 2, 1874, and departed this life at Hicksville, Sept. 15 1911, aged 37 years and 13 days.

She was united in marriage to George W. Stuckman, Feb. 20, 1896, and to this union were born 4 children, 3 daughters and one son, all of whom with their father survive herl  She was converted and united with the U. B. church at the age of 13 years and has lived a devoted Christian life ever since.  

She is the first of her father's family, also her own to be taken.  She was a devoted wife and other, an affectionate daughter, a kind and helpful neighbor and will be sadly missed by all.  She leaves to mourn her departure, a loving husband, four children, a father, mother, three sisters and 1 brother, and on husband's side, 6 brothers and 4 sisters, a host of relatives and friends.  Funeral was held from U.B. church at Six Corners, Sunday at 1 o'clock, Rev A. J. Smith, officiating  Interment at Six Corners Cemetery."

George Stuckman then married Clara Goller Dreher, a widow.  Audry Gecowets' father, George, died about a month before her son, Morris, in 1943.

"G. W. STUCKMAN TAKEN AT AGE 69

RITES OF FORMER MARK TOWNSHIP MAN TO BE SUNDAY IN NEY

Ney, March 4 - George W. Stuckman, 69, formerly of Mark township, died early last night in Ney.  He ha been ill with a cold for three weeks, but had been seriously ill only two days.

The body is being taken to the residence today from the Moats Funeral Home in Sherwoodl  Funeral will be Sunday at 1:30 from the residence and at 2:30 p.m. from the Ney Methodist Church, with Rev Walter Martin in charge.

Mr. Stuckman, a son of Isaac and Evaline (Rodgers) Stuckman, was born in Farmer Township, January 12, 1874.  For the major part of his life, he occupied a farm in Mark township near Mark Center before moving to Ney in 1930.  He had served on the Mark Township School Board.

Surviving are the wife, the former Clara Goller, three daughters - Mrs. Audra Gecowets, Mark Center; Mrs. Sylvia Lower and Mrs. Candace Miller of Fort Wayne, Indiana; a son, Ava, Garrett, Indiana, a stepson, Harold Dreher, Cleveland; a brother, Charles, Sherwood; two sisters, Mrs. Ida Berkley, Goshen, Indiana and Mrs. Lottie Whittle, Chicago and eight grandchildren, including four in the Army and two overseas."

George Stuckman at Six Corners Cemetery