Conrad Rumple, 1833-1911
My uncles are the marrying kind, sometimes more than once! I had to go back four generations for a bachelor uncle, my great-great-great uncle Conrad Rumple, 1833-1911. Conrad was an older brother to my matrilineal great-great grandfather, William T. Rumple 1839-1912. He also had two sisters who survived to adulthood, Jane and Elizabeth, neither sister married. The three unmarried siblings lived their lives together, with their parents, on the families’ various farms in Ohio.
Conrad Rumple 1895
Family and Farming
Conrad Rumple was born 12 August 1833 [1] to Daniel and Elizabeth (Harting) Rumple in Todd Township, Crawford County, Ohio. He was the fourth child and third son, but sadly his two older brothers, David and John, both died as children before 1840 [2]. The Rumple family remained in Crawford County until after the marriage of brother William in 1866 [3] when they all moved to Jennings Township in Van Wert County, Ohio. The two Rumple families farmed the same property, although lived in separate houses. Records indicate they were farming under 30 acres of their 80 acres and primarily raised rye.[4]
Conrad’s father, Daniel Rumple, died in August 1874 [5] leaving Conrad the head of the family farm. Then in November 1874, sister-in-law Hannah (Gilbert) Rumple, my matrilineal great-great grandmother, died [6] leaving four children under the age of 10. Fortunately the grandmother and two aunts were nearby and the families continued to help each other.
By 1885 the William Rumple family moved west to Black Creek Township in Mercer County, OH [7] to farm their own land. But Conrad, his two sisters and their mother remained in Jennings Township, Van Wert County on the family farm.
Loss and Life
In 1893, Conrad lost both his mother and younger sister. Sister Elizabeth died in July a week shy of her 49th birthday, his mother in October, 6 weeks prior to her 90th birthday [8]. In the 1880 census, sister Elizabeth was classified ‘idiotic.’[9] At the time of her death she was living in an “asylum” in Toledo and her cause of death is listed as “exhaustion of acute mania.“[10] The mother’s cause of death is simply listed as “old age.” This left Conrad, and his older sister Jane, as the sole inmates of the family farm, he was 60 and she was 66 years old.
I am now of the belief that my great grandparents, Ella Rumple and Homer King, went to live and farm on the Rumple place in Jennings Township prior to the deaths of the two Elizabeth’s. They probably lived in the old William Rumple house, their first child, Charles, was born there in 1893 and then daughter Roxanne in 1895. I have previously written about [11] the 1895 group photo of the family that was taken on this farm.
Conrad and his sister Jane continued on the farm until Jane’s death about 1898. I have not found any exact record of Jane’s death, but about this time Conrad sells the family farm and goes to live with his brother William T. Rumple in Mercer County[12]. Conrad may have worked as a farm hand for his brother for a time. But in 1910 he is living with his eldest niece, William’s daughter Sarah Stetler, and her family on their farm, also in Black Creek Township, Mercer County[13]. Considering 9 of Sarah’s 10 children were also living on the farm, it’s surprising they had room for Uncle Conrad. Whether Conrad continued to work as a farm hand despite being over 70 is hard to say, but it was common in the Rumple family to visit and stay awhile with one and other.
Death
Conrad Rumple died February 15, 1911 of an apparent stroke. It must have been sudden and fatal based on the comments of the physician on the death certificate. The “Personal Particulars” include his parents names and there are two things I find interesting about that:
1) His father’s name was Daniel and I often see it transcribed as David. Looking at Conrad’s death certificate I can see why the mistake was made. The handwriting on this document makes the ‘n’ look like a ‘v’ and the ‘el’ combination does look like a ‘d’.
2) His mother’s maiden name is given as ‘Hartong‘ which is not anywhere close to the maiden name often associated with her: McBride. Considering the informant is William Rumple, presumably Conrad’s brother, it seems odd he would get this name wrong. After further research, which includes discovery of estate records for a man named Abraham Harting, I have concluded that Conrad’s mother was indeed Elizabeth Harting or Hartong.
Obituary for Conrad Rumple
from the Willshire Herald of February 23, 1911
Conrad, son of Daniel and Elizabeth Rumple, was born in Carroll county, O., August 12, 1833; died in Black Creek township, Mercer county, O., February 15, 1911, aged 77 years, six months and two days. He was converted when a young man and joined the United Brethren church at Hopewell class, Jennings township, Van Wert county, O. That class being dropped, his name was transferred to Monticello class, in the same township and county. Afterward moving to Mercer county, he united with Zion class, Pleasant Grove circuit, where he was held in high esteem, because of his loyal Christian life, no one doubting his integrity. He passed to the beyond as peacefully as a child falling to sleep. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” He leaves one brother, six nieces, three nephews and a host of friends to mourn. Funeral service at Zion church, of which he was a member, conducted by Rev. J. M. Sherer, assisted by Rev. Macklin. Interment in Pleasant Grove cemetery.
I knew very little about this bachelor uncle of mine until writing this piece. Researching the records for Conrad’s life led to new discoveries about this family line and connections I had not previously considered. Truly worthwhile.
SOURCES:
1. Entry for Conrad Rumple, “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” [database with images online] FamilySearch.com (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X881-XF7 : 9 March 2018), Conrad Rumpel, 15 Feb 1911; citing Blackcreek, Mercer, Ohio, reference fn 10436; FHL microfilm 1,952,773
2. Entry for Daniel Rumple, U.S. Federal Census, Year: 1840; Census Place: Harrison, Carroll, Ohio; Page: 224; FHL Film: 0020160 (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/8057/4093776_00456?pid=1668279)
3. Entry for Daniel Rumple, U.S. Federal Census, Year: 1870; Census Place: Jennings, Van Wert, Ohio; Roll: M593; Page: 287B; FHL Film: 552774 (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7163/4278469_00078?pid=38397290)
4. Entry for Danid Rumple, Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, Year: 1870; Census Place: Jennings, Van Wert, Ohio; Archive#: T1159; Roll: 41; Line: 3; Schedule Type: Agriculture
5. Entry for David Rumple, “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” [database with images online], FamilySearch.com (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6NN-TQS : 9 March 2018), David Rumple, 22 Aug 1874; citing Death, Jennings, Van Wert, Ohio; FHL microfilm 1,015,858, image# 204.(https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/1276/32804_241796-00481/6117247)
6. Entry for Hannah Rumple, “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” [database with images online], FamilySearch.com (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6NN-TQ9 : 9 March 2018), Hannah Rumple, 03 Nov 1874; citing Death, Jennings, Van Wert, Ohio; FHL microfilm 1,015,858, image# 204.
7. Entry for Wm. B. Rumple, “Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962.” Index. FamilySearch.com, Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.
8. Entries for Mary E. Rumple and Maria Rumple, “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” [database with images online], FamilySearch.com (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6NJ-5PX : 9 March 2018), Mary E. Rumple, 01 Oct 1893; citing Death, Jennings Township, Van Wert, Ohio, United States, source ID v 2 p 178 fn 11, FHL microfilm 1,015,858, image# 523.
9. Entry for Elizabeth Rumple, U.S. Federal Census, Year: Year: 1880; Census Place: Jennings, Van Wert, Ohio; Roll: 1074; FHL Film: 1255074; Page: 500A; Image: 0159. (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6742/4243858-00163/25370953)
10. Entry for Elizabeth Rumple, “Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001,” [database with images], FamilySearch.com (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F6N2-GLJ : 9 March 2018), Elizabeth Rumple, 05 Jul 1893; citing Death, Toledo, Lucas, Ohio, United States, source ID p 155, FHL microfilm 1,672,030, image# 272.
11. https://barblafara.com/rumple-family-1895/
12. Entry for Conrad Rumple, U.S. Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio; Roll: 1303; Page: 11B; FHL microfilm: 1241303 (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7602/4117768_00624/41086050)
13. Entry for Conrad Rumple, U.S. Federal Census, Year: 1910; Census Place: Black Creek, Mercer, Ohio; Roll: T624_1214; Page: 5B; FHL microfilm: 1375227 (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/7884/4449830_00590/22242107)
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