Relatively Strangers…

Sympathy Saturday – August Schulte

September of 1881 was a very tragic time for the Schulte family.  My 3rd great-grandfather, August Schulte, suddenly disappeared during the night and was found floating a day later in the Detroit River.  As there was no evidence of violence on his person, it was determined that he commit suicide and is buried in the unconsecrated ground section of the cemetery in an unknown location.  He left behind a grieving widow (Mina Raass) and 4 young sons.  His oldest son and his namesake, August Schulte, would also drown 15 years later.  (clicking on the images makes them larger)

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Tombstone Tuesday – Franz Schulte

He was born Johann Franz Joseph Schulte in 1805 to Franz Schulte & Elisabeth Wilmes and was the oldest of 7 children.  He married Elisabeth Förth in 1830 and is the father of 9 children, of whom only 5 survived.  His sister, Elisabeth Lenneman, immigrated to the United States with her family in 1846, and they resided in Westphalia, Clinton, Michigan.  Franz followed behind with his family a year later in 1847, and they resided in Detroit, Michigan.  He died in 1869 of consumption which is what is known today as tuberculosis.  He is buried in Mt. Elliott Cemetery in the “old section.”  His grave his a flat stone that has sunk about 3 inches.  The rain has faded away what the inscription on the stones says.  I took the photograph almost 10 years ago, and at that time knew little about rubbings and water, etc.  I hope to get back soon and photograph the stone again so there is a record before it completely disappears. (clicking the picture makes it larger)