Mrs. Amelia Hecht Harmening, Wife of Frederick - The Years After Her Husband's Death

 After Frederick's unexpected death at the age of 43, Amelia was suddenly a single mother of four children - Lydia, 16; William, 14; Carl, 9; and toddler, Fred, 3.  She was settled into her home on Warren Road in Second Ward, Defiance. In 1884, she had an addition constructed to the home.  

She became the owner of many acres of land and livestock that had to be managed. A large case was brought against her husband started in 1882 and continued into 1885 and was adjudicated in the U.S. Circuit Court in Toledo, Ohio.  The Defiance Democrat reported on its resolution on June 25, 1885, here given in part:

"In 1869 the guardian of Dick Evans Arrowsmith filed a petition in the Probate Court of Defiance County for the purpose of selling the real estate of said ward...

A short time afterwards Mr. Harmening bought 80 acres of this land and in 1870 160 acres more, all at appraised value; and in 1873 400 acres more, at 50 percent above the appraised value.  All of these sales were confirmed by the Probate Court and deed ordered to be made to Harmening.  One-third of the purchase money was paid by Harmening, cash in hand, and mortgages given to secure the balance in each sale, and all the purchase money was paid to the guardian, except about twenty-three hundred dollars, and interest, which was paid by Harmening direct to Rinaldo Evans, uncle and trustee of Dick Evans Arrowsmith.

Harmening cleared up this land, ditched, improved and cultivated it, until he made it one of the finest farms in the county.  The guardian, upon his final account, was short, unable to pay over to his successor the full amount due his ward. 

Finally, in 1882, suit in ejectment was brought by young Arrowsmith by Rinaldo Evans, his next friend, against Harmening for this land, in the Common Pleas Court of Defiance County.  The theory of the plaintiff being that as no additional said bond had been given as required by law, the Probate Court had no justification to order sale of the land, and that Harmening's deeds for and title to the land were void.  Against this, it was contended by Harmening's attorneys that Harmening bought on the faith of the judgement of a Court that had jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter of the case; and if the Court did make an error in not requiring an additional sale bond that did not render his title void, as he had a right to rely on the finding and judgement of the Court...to be sufficient for the purchaser.  

The case was tried in the Common Pleas and District and finally in the Supreme Court of Ohio and always decided in favor of Harmening..."

Her son, William, died in 1889; his obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on October 31, 1889:

"Wm. Harmening, aged 20 years and 6 months, one of Defiance's best young men, died on the 23d of typhoid after an illness of two weeks.  The funeral at his late residence on Warren Road (a short street off of Holgate), Second Ward, on Sunday morning at 9 o'clock, was largely attended, as were the religious services at St. Paul's Lutheran Church at which Rev. Conrad Ide officiated."

That death was followed in 1898 by the death of her mother, Eva Elizabeth Hecht, at the age of 84.  The obituary appeared in the Defiance Democrat on March 31, 1898:

"MRS. HECHT'S FUNERAL. A Long Time Resident of Defiance County Laid to Rest.

The funeral of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Hecht occurred Thursday afternoon from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Harmening, with sermon at St. Paul's Lutheran Church by her pastor, Rev. H. Mueller. The flowers sent by relatives and friends were profuse and beautiful, some coming from the far west. The pallbearers were Michael Shultz, Herman Krell, Herman Yeager, Jacob Seible, A. Stoll and Fred Shultz.  Both the home and church were filled with sympathizing friends.  

Eva Elizabeth Madlum was born October 14, 1814, near Muehlnansen, Thueriugia, Germany and was married to John Hecht in 1834.  She came to this country in 1847 and settled first in Butler County, Pa.  In 1860, she moved with her family to Defiance County.  John Hecht died in 1862.  Her family consisted of nine children, four of whom died in infancy, Carl, Ida, May and Martha.

Her daughter, Mrs. Anna Harmening died in 1891(*1871). Her son, William Hecht, in 1895. There are still living, Karl Hecht who resides in Wyoming; Reinhold Hecht whose home is in Laramie.  Mrs. Hecht has been sick but about three years with bronchitis.  Her life has been the life of a Christian woman.  Her faith and patience an example to her posterity and her death that of a triumphant Christian." 

In the 1900 census, Amelia, 46, lived at 872 Holgate Avenue with sons, Carl, 26, single and a carpenter, and Frederick H., 18, single and working as a clerk in a drug store.  Emma Hasemeier, 18, lived with them as a servant.  Frederick would go on to attend the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy, where he passed his boards in 1901 and was licensed as an assistant pharmacist.  Whether he was at home or at school during the census is unknown.  Lydia had married William Moll in 1888.

By the 1910 census, only Amelia and Carl remained on Holgate Avenue, this time numbered 804. The home was owned free and clear, and Carl was working odd jobs at the age of 35. Carl sued his mother at least once over a land dispute, but they continued to live together until his death in 1935.

Defiance Crescent-News, April 2, 1935, page 1 -

"CARL HARMENING TAKEN BY DEATH. Rites for Defiance Native, 60, Will Be Held Thursday.

Carl H. Harmening, 60, who made his home with his mother at 804 Holgate avenue, died at 4:30 a.m. today in a Toledo hospital.  He had been in ill health for several years and had gone to Toledo about ten days ago.  Death was due to arteriosclerosis.

Mr. Harmening was born in Defiance, May 18, 1874, and spent his entire life here.  He was the son of Frederick and Amelia Harmening.  He is survived by his mother, who is now in her 81st year; a brother, Fred, Cleveland; and a sister, Mrs. Fred Moll, Toledo.

Funeral services will be held from the Mansfield Funeral Home, where the body has been taken, at 2 p.m. Thursday with Rev. Theodore Strauss, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery."

Mrs. Amelia Harmening died just a few years later in 1937.  Her obituary was in the Defiance Crescent-News on January 11, 1937, on page 1:

"MRS HARMENING DIES AT AGE 83. DEFIANCE WOMAN'S FUNERAL WILL BE CONDUCTED TUESDAY.

Funeral services for Mrs. Amelia Harmening, 83, who died at 7 a.m. Sunday at her home, 804 Holgate Avenue, will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. from the Mansfield funeral home with Rev.Theodore Strauss, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, officiating.  Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery.  The body was taken to the funeral home where friends may call.

Mrs. Harmening had been in failing health for some time.  Her death followed a stroke of paralysis a week ago Sunday.

Mrs. Harmening was born in Saxonburg, Pa. Dec. 1, 1853, and came to Defiance when only six years old in company with her parents, Johann and Elizabeth Hecht. She was married Nov. 18, 1873, to Frederick J. Harmening who died about ten years later.  She had made her home at the present address in Holgate Avenue ever since her marriage.

She is survived by one son, Frederick H., 804 Holgate Avenue; a daughter, Mrs. William E.Moll, Toledo; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  One son, Carl, died in April 1935."

John Frederick Harmening - G.A.R., Bishop Post

 Johann Friedrick (John Frederick) Harmening was an immigrant from Lower Saxony, Germany in the mid-1850s. He married twice, fathered six children, and died at the young age of 43, having accomplished much more than many of us will.  Farmer, entrepeneur, timberman, land baron, school board member, county supervisor and inspector, postmaster - he was a busy man who contributed greatly in the development of Defiance County.

Born on November 1, 1838/1839, Frederick, as he was called, immigrated when he was in his teens. Some researchers stated that he was in Iowa after immigrating, and his pension card and Civil War records indicated that he enlisted for three months in Company K, 7th Illinois Infantry.  

This unit mustered in on April 25, 1861 and served in Altoona, Cairo, and Mound City, Illinois, and finally in St. Louis until July 25, 1861. On these merits, Frederick joined the G.A.R. in Defiance, Ohio.

However, his second wife, Amelia, did not apply for his pension until 1916 - reason unknown.

Frederick was in Defiance by June 20, 1866, when he married his first wife, Johanna Barbara Hecht.  Johanna, (born on April 5, 1844), gave birth to two children: Lydia Marie in 1867, and William F. in 1869.  The family appeared in the 1870 census, living in Defiance Township.  Frederic, 30, Anna, 26, Lydia, 3, and William, 1, along with Lucy Frichie, 11, domestic servant, lived on a farm. Frederick had real estate worth $5400 and a personal wealth of $500 - a goodly sum for the year.  Before this time, he had platted the town of Mark Center on the north side, preparing for the railroad and its benefits.  He also served as a township supervisor and in 1871 or before, he began his search for timber to produce railroad ties.

"TIMBER WANTED. - F. Harmening will buy 100,000 feet of squared timber, delivered on the R.R. track.  He will also buy standing timber, if convenient to the road - the timber to be of white or burr oak.  He can also give employment, for the winter, to twenty good choppers."  Defiance Democrat, October 28, 1871.

Sadly, on September 27, 1871, his wife, Anna, passed away at the age of 27, probably in childbirth. A new son, Henry, born in 1871, died on October 24,1871.  

From the Defiance Democrat, September 30, 1871:

"On Wednesday, September 27, Mrs. Anna, wife of Frederick Harmening, (died) in her 28th year."  She was buried in Old Riverside Cemetery.

Frederick was left with two small children, but several years later, he married Amelia (Emelia) Hecht, Johanna's (Anna) sister just before Amelia turned 20.  Amelia, born December 1,1853, in Pennsylvania, and Frederick were married on November 18, 1873, in Defiance. Frederick continued to acquire land and build his timber business.

"BIG PURCHASE - This week Fred. Harmening and W. D. Hill purchased one hundred sixty acres of land at Mark Center, on the B & O Road.  A town has for some time been located there and considerable business is done at that point.  It will make a good station."  Defiance Democrat, December 24, 1874.

Many real estate transfers appeared in Frederick 

Harmening's name - 192 acres in

Tiffin Township, more in Mark Township and all through the county. He also owned at least 400 acres in Paulding County in 1880.  He travelled to Chicago in 1882 to the stock sales where he purchased five Kentucky bred Durham cows for about a thousand dollars, the newspaper claiming he was giving much attention to raising these cows and was very successful. He also owned some store rooms on Clinton

Street.  After Amelia's death in 1937, the rooms were sold for the 

Meek Pastry Shop.

"At present about the only thing sold in the Defiance market is railroad ties.  J. F. Harmening has been purchasing largely this season, and the money he has disbursed has materially benefitted many farmers.  During the past month, nearly 40,000 were received at this station."  Tiffin Weekly Tribune, August 24, 1876.

"THE TIE BUSINESS- J. F. Harmening advertises for 100,000 railroad ties, half to be oak and half of soft wood, such as elm, black ash, beech and soft maple.  The use of soft wood for railroad ties is a new thing in this section.  Those purchased by Mr. Harmening are to be treated by the patent process of the American Wood Preserving Company, which has located in this town.  Soft wood prepared by this Company will last as long and even longer than the best oak ties.  The market for soft wood will soon become very important in this place,and will add much to the development and consequent wealth of Defiance and Paulding counties. 

Defiance Democrat, January 17, 1878.

The Harmening family lived near the now extinct town of Ashwood on a farm west of Defiance.  In 1879, Frederick was appointed postmaster there.  The 1880 census indicated that they lived on Warren Road, (a street off of Holgate Avenue) - Fred J. Harmening, 40; Amelia, 26; Lydia, 13, William, 11 (the children of her sister, Anna); Carl, 6 and Anna, 3 months. Her mother, Eva Hecht, 65, a widow, also lived with them.  Tragedy would soon strike, however, when baby Anna died in 1881.  Later, he would lease the Ashwood farm out and move into a house on Holgate Avenue in Defiance City.

"HARMENING - On Tuesday, August 2d, 1881, Anna S. E. Harmening, infant daughter of Frederick and Amelia Harmening, aged 1 year, 5 months and 8 days."

Defiance Democrat, August 11, 1881. 

Previously, a daughter, Ida Margaret, born in 1876, died in 1877.

In the meantime, his family grew with the addition of Fred H. on March 5, 1882.

Sadly, Frederick would not live to see his children grow to adulthood.  He died suddenly on October 29, 1883.  

John Frederick Harmening was buried in Old Riverside Cemetery.

Next...the story of Amelia after his death.