Grandma's No-Fail Pie Crust

(This post originally appeared on my previous blog, A Face to the Sun, on October 27, 2012.)

 
It's been a long time since I've made a pie, but when I do, I always turn to my mother-in-law's recipe for no-fail pie crust.  She made a pie almost every Saturday morning of her adult life...and she lived to 93!  When she passed this recipe on to me, I looked at it and found some of the ingredients a little odd for pie crust, but I have found it tastes wonderfully flaky and light, and it is so easy to make.  I now use this recipe exclusively.
The recipe can make 2 upper and lower crusts, but today I am just making bottom crusts - one to use for dinner tomorrow and two to put in the freezer for Thanksgiving pies.  The rest of the dough will be put to another use...you'll see.

NO-FAIL PIE CRUST

CUT TOGETHER:
3 cups flour
1 cup shortening (I use Crisco Butter shortening)
1 1/2 tsp. salt.

IN A SEPARATE BOWL, WHISK TOGETHER:
1 egg
1/3 cup water
1 tsp. white vinegar

Make a well in the dry ingredients you have mixed together with your pastry cutter, and pour in the liquid ingredients.  Stir and form into a ball.  Don't overwork the crust.  Keep it light.  Roll out the dough and place in pans.  
Here are the three crusts I made this morning.  One is intended for a butternut squash pie for tomorrow's lunch...shhh, I'm telling the kids that it's pumpkin pie.

 The other two were sealed into bags for use at Thanksgiving time.  They will go straight to the freezer.

Now, what about that nice ball of dough left in the pan?  I follow my mother's example and always use it for cinnamon and sugar pinwheels.  Roll the leftover dough ball into a rectangle.

 Spread butter/ margarine over it and sprinkle with white sugar and cinnamon.

 Roll into a log, rolling lengthwise and then cut into 1/2 inch wheels.  Place into ungreased pie pans and bake at 350 until browned, maybe 25 - 30 minutes.  Mmmm...flaky, bite-sized goodness.  These won't last long!  Happy baking!

If it looks and tastes like pumpkin pie, it must BE pumpkin pie, right?

We shall see if I can fool the young foodies tomorrow!

Radio Man Saw Action

(This post first appeared on my previous blog, A Face to the Sun, on February 2, 2013.)

Recently, I came across this article written by Sheila Naveau, staff writer for the Northwest Signal, Napoleon, Ohio and published in the July 14-15, 2007 edition.  It features my uncle, Alfred Elling, and his story of service in World War II.
It definitely serves as a reminder of the sacrifices an entire generation made to protect our freedom.

"Liberty Center - Aug. 22, 1942, 20 year old Liberty Center native Alfred Elling was drafted into the U. S. Army.
He started his journey in Port Eustis, Va., with basic training, but when the trainees were shipped off to new destinations, Elling was not among them.  He and another soldier, Bob Bogart - also of Henry County - were left behind.
'I don't know why we weren't sent,' Elling said.
Until the next wave of draftees were brought in, Elling and Bogart had to work at the base.  'They (the base officials) didn't know what to do with the two of us, so they gave us a choice what we wanted to do,' Elling said. 'Bob took KP (mess hall) duty and I took guard duty so I could get a 24 hour pass when I was off duty.'
When the new draftees arrived, Elling said he had to go through basic training again.  'At least this time I knew what to expect,' Elling said with a laugh.

Corporal Alfred Elling

After the basic training was over, it was time for Elling to move on to train in a specific field.  He said he wanted to drive trucks, but the Army had other plans.  Elling was sent to Athens, Ga. for four months of radio school.  He learned to operate the communications radios and became proficient in Morse code.  He received his T5 stripes after completing his training.
'You hear it so long, it just comes natural,' he said.

Elling then spent a stint in Norfolk to be trained in amphibious operations, which he found later would come in handy as his battalion landed at Normandy.
March 15, 1943, Elling was stationed at Camp Davis, NC and was assigned to the 115AAA Battalion.  Elling's outfit spent six to seven months in South Hampton,England before shipping to Normandy.
'It was November in England and very cold,' he said.  'We slept in pup tents that only had three sides, so we took the tarps off the trucks to cover the opening to keep out some of the cold.'

Being a Morse code operator, Elling said he was at the front line a lot of the time. 'When Patton was moving forward, the radios followed,' Elling said.
His outfit had Sherman tanks that were equipped with bulldozers to clear hedge brush and make roads for convoys to get through.  Elling traveled in a trailer with his radio equipment.  He had large batteries and power to run his radios while they traveled.  
'I had to keep in touch with 13 corps,' he said.

The secret code was changed two to four times a day to make sure the Germans hadn't broken it and knew what the troop positions were.
Elling recalled many times his outfit sat along the roadway camouflaged, and he heard unidentified humming noises on the radio.  Knowing they had been detected by German fighter planes, Elling said they had to stay off the air waves until the planes were gone.

115th Gun Battalion, U.S. Army

When Elling's outfit went into Normandy, it was days after D-Day.  He said the casualties were tremendous.  'There were bodies everywhere,' he said.
When the outfit first reached Normandy, it was running low on ammunitions and the Germans were still coming.
'We rigged our 90's (ammunition) with a clock and fuse set to go off shortly after being shot,' Elling said. 'Normally, they explode on impact.'

Elling said his outfit went into France and took over a house in Sarreguemines, but the Germans continued to attack and Elling became ill, possibly by the fumes from the smoke.  He was evacuated to Nancy, France and then given his discharge...

Some 30 years after his tour in WW II, in 1974, Elling and his wife became involved in the Henry County Amateur Radio Club. The couple have been ham radio enthusiasts and continue to this day to talk to people all over the world who enjoy their passion for Morse code and ham radio.

Thank you for your service, Uncle Al!

Left at the Altar

(This post appeared originally on my previous blog, A Face to the Sun, on July 12, 2013.)

 

Anna Spoering (Helmke)

, 

sister to Ida, my grandmother.

Recently, I've been browsing newspapers on a newspaper archive site, and I've come across a few additions to the family history which I'll be adding along the way.

This article, I'm sure, has a story behind it!  It was discovered in the Van Wert Daily Bulletin, December 16, 1920 under a column labeled, "Nearby Towns" that had news from all over northwest Ohio.

Maybe someone knows some details?

 "A breach of promise suit for $8,000 was filed in Common Pleas Court at Napoleon by Anna Spoering against Theodore Drewes.  The plaintiff asserts that Drewes promised to marry her in the last week of September, that she was willing and ready to enter into a marriage contract with him, that the wedding day had been decided upon and all necessary preparations made by the plaintiff."

That was quite a sum of money in 1920.  I wonder if the suit was settled or if it went before a judge.  More investigation needed...

Henry and Fred Spoering

(This post originally appeared on my previous blog, A Face to the Sun, on July 23, 2013.)

 
Once again, I've been diving into some old newspapers and this time, I came up with a few obituaries for siblings of my grandmother, Ida Spoering Elling.  Both of these brothers died when I was very young, so I have no memory of them.

 First, Fred Spoering's obituary was found in the Findlay Republican Courier, December 27, 1954:

"FRED SPOERING  RITES HELD SUNDAY
Henry Co. Native Succumbed Friday

Deshler, Dec. 26 - Services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday for Fred Spoering, 67, a retired farmer who resided northwest of Deshler.

The Rev. Otto Ehlen officiated at services at St. John's Lutheran Church.  Burial was in the church cemetery.  The Pelter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Spoering died at 1:10 a.m. Friday at his residence after an illness of two years.  He had lived his entire life in Henry County.
He was born Nov. 6, 1887 in Marion Twp., Henry Co. to Henry and Marie Spoering.  He married Anna Imbrook, Dec. 11, 1919 and she survives.
Also surviving are a son, Richard, Altoona, Pa.; daughter, Mrs. Martha Sunderman, Deshler; step-daughter, Mrs. Helen Drewes, Deshler; brother, George, Napoleon; sisters, Mrs. Mary Baden, Malinta; Mrs. Sophia Marksch, Deshler; Mrs. Anna Helmke, Mrs. Lydia Louden and Mrs. Frieda Lang, all of Napoleon; Mrs. Kate Tietje, Hamler; Mrs. Amelia Schlagel, Traverse City, Mich., six grandchildren and one great-grandchild."



Henry Spoering's obituary was also in the Findlay Republican Courier, February 9, 1952, page 2:

 "FIND WORKMAN DEAD IN SHOP
Holgate Man, 66, Succumbs Friday

Holgate, Feb. 8 - Henry Spoering, 66, was found dead about 6 p.m. today in his workshop near his home here by two neighbors.
Albert Riebesehl, who visited Mr. Spoering each day, found his friend on the floor of his workshop and called Ray Kline, a neighbor.
A physician was called and he said Mr. Spoering died of a heart attack at approximately 4 o'clock in the afternoon.
Mr. Spoering was born November 10, 1883.  He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Emil Hahn, Hamler; Mrs. Paul Sandman, Bowling Green; and Mrs. Roy Baer, Deshler; two brothers, Fred, Bartlow Twp, and George, Erie, Mich.; and seven sisters, Mrs. Mary Baden, Malinta; Mrs. Sophia Marks, Deshler; Mrs. Anna Helmke, Mrs. Frita Lange and Mrs. Lydia Loudon, all of Napoleon; Mrs. Katie Tietje, Hamler; and Mrs. Amelia Slagel, Traverse City, Mich.  There are three grandchildren.  
The body was taken to the Wesche Funeral Home in Napoleon.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete."

Ludwig Spengler, Native of Germany

(Originally posted on A Face to the Sun, my previous blog, on September 3, 2013.)

 
One of the hardest things for many genealogists is finding the native village in Europe for an ancestor.  I was lucky in that a piece of paper, saved and passed on to an aunt, gave me a very good clue to where the Elling ancestors lived in Germany.  

So when I find an obituary of an immigrant as I read newspaper microfilm, and an European village is mentioned as a former home, it's hard not to save it.  I'd like to think that someone will be looking for that very information someday.

Today I came across this obituary in the Defiance Democrat, December 28, 1916, page 2, column 6.  The name appears back and forth as Spangler/Spengler.

"MAN AGED 88 VICTIM OF BLOOD POISONING
Venerable Ludwig Spengler Passes Away on Christmas Day.

The venerable Ludwig Spangler, father of Police Chief Spangler, of this city, died Christmas morning at 2 o'clock, a victim of blood poisoning.
Death struck the deceased at the advanced age of 88 years.  A few weeks ago, he celebrated his sixtieth wedding anniversary, and at that time, he was in good health.  Mrs. Spengler survives.
Mr. Spengler had been in good health until a few days ago, when he received a bad wound in one of his lower limbs.  A plank fell from a lumber pile, and one end cut in deeply.  The wound did not heal readily and blood poisoning set in.

Created Much Sorrow

News of the death created much sorrow throughout the city.  The aged man was widely known.  He had a host of friends who will miss him.

Ludwig Spengler was born at Werbellin, Neustadt, Eberswald, Germany, July 11, 1828.  He was married to Henrietta Louisa Shultz Nov. 11, 1856, at Grosse Schenebeck, Germany.  Mrs. Spengler was born August 30, 1840(?) at Grosse Schenebeck.

The couple came to Defiance May 28, 1860, and they have lived here ever since.  During his local residence, Mr. Spengler has been engaged in the contracting and grocery business.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock and the obsequies will be private.  Friends are requested not to send flowers.  Rev. Mr. Foelsch will have charge of the services.  The burial will be made in Riverside cemetery.

Five daughters and three sons survive Mr. Spengler, as follows: Mary Deindoerfer, Mrs. Charles Kahlo, and Lena Spengler of Defiance; Mrs. John Hossfeld, Glassford, Ill., and Mrs. Edward Thomas of St. Mary, Charles, Julius and Alva Spengler.

There are 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild surviving."

The purple mark is Werbellin, Eberswald and Grosse Schenebeck is just above the R in Berlin.

 This obituary is chock-full of great genealogical information, giving a wealth of clues for further research in Germany as well as in the U.S.

Of course, many obits are not this detailed, but it's a must to try to locate them anyway...just in case.

Change of Pastors, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hanover Settlement

My Elling great-great grandfather, Friedrich Elling, was one of the original members of the church at the Hanover Settlement in Napoleon Township, Henry County, Ohio.

Recently, while rolling through the newspaper microfilm, I found this article telling some of the history of when Rev. Louis Dammann left as pastor.  It's a little bit of church history, mixed with the story of Dammann's life, as well.

Defiance Democrat, December 14, 1916 -

"LUTHERAN PASTOR SUBMITS RESIGNATION

At a meeting of the congregation of St. Paul's Lutheran church in the Hanover settlement, Wednesday morning, it was decided to accept the resignation of their longtime pastor, Rev. L. Dammann, and by a unanimous vote to extend a call to Rev. George Haas, pastor of Emanuel's Lutheran church in Napoleon.  Rev. Haas will no doubt accept the call, but will also remain with his Napoleon charge.

Rev. Dammann decided to tender his resignation to his congregation because of his advanced age.  He came to Napoleon from Monroe, Mich., some 35 years ago when called here by the Hanover church and upon his arrival founded the Emanuel's church and for many years acted as pastor for both churches.  About fifteen years ago, he resigned as pastor of Emanuel's to devote his entire attention to St. Paul's.  Rev.Wuebben filled the vacancy at that time.  During Rev. Dammann's pastorate, he has gained the love of his congregation who deeply regret the fact that he feels the necessity of retiring from active duty.

Rev. Dammann was born in a province of Hanover, Germany, started his studies prepartory to entering the ministry at Hermannsberg, Hanover, Germany.  Before he had completed his work and in his 30th year, came to America where he finished the study of theology and accepted a pastorate at Montray, Ohio.  During the next ten years, he served congregations at Liverpool and Amherst, Ohio, and at Monroe, Mich., and it was when he was at the last named city that he received the call form the Hanover church which he accepted and came to Napoleon, where he has since resided.   Napoleon Signal."

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon Township, Henry County, Ohio

 

Great-Grandfather, Fritz (Friedrich/Fred) Elling's Farm, 1880

An often overlooked resource for information on rural America are the agricultural censuses which enumerate all the crops, livestock, and production of each farm.  In 1880, the agricultural census of Freedom Township, Henry County, Ohio, gave us a picture of my great-parents' (Fred and Mary Rohrs Elling) farm as it was on June 5, 1880, although some of the questions refer back to 1879, as well.

(Not all of the children in the photograph were born by 1880 and the house shown is the one Fritz and Mary had later in Fulton County, but Fritz and Mary are front and center in the photo.)

Fred's land was in Section 29 of Freedom Township on the north side.  In the 1875 atlas, his neighbors were Lewis Bockleman, Christ Binger, H. Van Deyton and Mary and James Raddy.

In 1880, Fred owned 30 acres of land, tilled, and 10 acres of woodland in Freedom Township, with a value of $1600.  He valued his farm implements at $100 and his livestock at $300.  He had hired some farm help in 1879 for 26 weeks and paid total wages of $36.
For 1879, he figured the estimated value of all his farm production (sold or consumed) was $300.

The report on his livestock was based on what he had on June 1, 1879:
2 horses
4 milch cows and 3 other cattle
1 calf dropped and 1 sold living
3 sheep
2 sold living, 1 slaughtered and 1 died of disease
21 swine
30 poultry
Production from these animals included 400 pounds of butter made on the farm, 3 wool fleeces of 18 pounds, and 125 eggs.

The final tally on his crops for 1879 included:
16 acres of Indian corn with production of 400 bushels
2 acres of oats with production of 100 bushels
12 acres of wheat with production of 200 bushels
1/8 acre of sorghum for 9 gallons of molasses
1/4 acre of potatoes for 40 bushels and
2 acres of apples

I think the evidence shows that Fred and Mary were subsistence farmers, feeding their family from the farm, like so many others of the time period.  I would imagine a large garden was part of this scenario, too.  Hardworking, children of immigrants, scraping by and celebrating their freedom in Freedom Township!