George Franklin Slusser and Lillian Lorena Zumkehr

My great grandparents < Kathryn Slusser

George Franklin Slusser was born July 12, 1893 in Maximo, Stark, Ohio, US. to Henry Wilson Slusser and Eva Viola Munk. He died October 31, 1965 in Canton, Ohio, US and was buried at Fairmount Memorial Cemetery, Alliance, Stark, Ohio, US. He married Lillian Lorena Zumkehr sometime before 1920.

The 1900 Census lists his name as George L. He was able to read and write, and in 1910 he was listed as a farm laborer on a home farm. His WWI record names him as Frank George and at that time he was working in the farming industry. He was described as short, medium build with light blue eyes and dark brown hair. By 1920 he and Lillian were living on Harrisburg Road in Malboro, Stark, Ohio, US., he was a farm laborer and he appeared to be going by Franklin instead of George. They appeared to be living in the same house as his parents at the time.

By 1930 he was back to George, he was renting a home at 1658 Wayne Ave., N.E., Canton, Stark, Ohio, US. for $17.50, with radio set. He was able to read and write and he was a craneman at Republic Steel. In 1940, he was now listed as Franklin G. and this census states he completed 7th grade. In regards to his name, my mother recalls him always going by Frank. His WWII draft record names him as George Franklin, they were still living at the same address on Wayne Ave. and he worked at the blast furnace at Republic Steel. He was 5’4″ and 140 pounds with a ruddy complexion. His death records lists him as Franklin G. A life claim was listed for him dating 24 Sep 1959, so I assume he may have been sick for awhile before his death.

Notes: I did find records for a George Fredrick Slusser who was born July 14, 1891 and lived in Stark County, Ohio, US so I wonder if perhaps great grandpa started going by Frank to avoid confusion. I’ve been unable to locate his birth record so far, so unfortunately I have not been able to verify his actual birth name.

Lillian Lorena Zumkehr was born March 25, 1899 in Maximo, Stark, Ohio, US. to Emmanuel Frederick Zumkehr and Katharina Werren. She died January 29, 1998 in Louisville, Stark, Ohio, US. and was buried January 31, 1998 at Fairmount Memorial Cemetery, Alliance, Ohio, US. She was a homemaker.

I found two birth records for Lillian, each of which names her simply as “Zumkehr”. One, the sex is not listed, the other states female. She was able to read and write. The 1900 and 1910 Census records name her as Lillie but the 1900 record incorrectly defines her as the son of head of household as her sex is listed as “F” then crossed out as “M” for whatever odd reason.

Great grandma died when I was a teenager, so I have at least some memories of her. I remember feeling so fortunate as a child to have an extra grandmother. I can’t recall anything specific about her, but I remember her as this tiny, quiet woman although I know in her younger years she kept busy with her many children.

Their children were:

1. Frederick Wilson Slusser born July 14, 1919 Louisville, Stark, Ohio. Married Berdella Fern Woods (born 16 July 1918, Stark, Ohio, US., daughter of Clinton Van Buren Woods and Eva Almeda Woods) February 5, 1939, Brooke, West Virginia. Died July 20, 2003 in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, U.S. At the age of 10 he was living with Lillian’s sister Laurie and her husband. Fern lost her eyesight about 1965. Fred and his family moved to VanNuys, California sometime after 1952. Their children:
   • Nancy Carol Slusser (1939) married several times, last lived in Michigan according to family records. At least 7 children: William M. Tabor, Karen L. Tabor, Robert J. Holderman, Christopher L. Kennedy, Randy H. Tompson, Fredric D. Tompson, Lisa M. Tompson. Last married Reginold Fredric Armstrong (1920).
   • William Fredric Slusser (1941) married Deloris Karen Lukasieivicz (1942). Lived in Utah, last lived in Arizona. Two sons, Frank W. Slusser and Gregory L. Slusser.
   • Marcella Ann Slusser (1943) married ? O’Conner with children: Kimberly K O’Conner and Tim M. O’Conner. Divorced, remarried John D. Stishak (1937) with one daughter: Margert L. Stishak (1987). Last lived in Oregon.
   • Kenneth James Slusser (1956) married Margret Elizabeth Young with one son, Andrew J. Slusser (1992).
2. Kathryn Viola Slusser
   
3. Ina June Slusser was born June 24, 1922 in Fairhope, Stark, Ohio, US. She died May 25, 2013 and was buried at Fairmount Memorial Cemetery, Alliance, Stark, Ohio, US. I remember the last time we spoke at the Slusser reunion we connected in our mutual inability to drive and our love of books. I remember her as a sweet woman. She always went by June as long as I knew her. She married David Newton; their children:
   • Janet D. Newton (1940) married William Torak. Divorced. One son: William D. Torak (1959). Married Thomas Tate. Two children: Dianna L. Tate (1970) and Thomas M. Tate (1972).

     June then married John D. Cady (March 13, 1922- January 8, 1992).

4. Franklin George Slusser, Jr. was born September 11, 1924 in Marlboro, Stark, Ohio. He served in the military during WWII, Vietnam and Korea, narrowly surviving multiple times.
   

   

   He was always known to me as Mickey, though I don’t know where that nickname came from. He married Rita F. Skuhr (1929, Hungary, daughter of Vladime and Minna), a Holocaust survivor. They lived in El Paso, Texas, US and adopted a son, David H. Slusser (1958, E. Germany.) Mickey died January 29, 2009 from cancer. He is buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Texas, US. He first married Dorothy Polon, with one daughter Sharon R. Slusser (1946). She married Frank D. Mikeska (1940).

   Their children:

   • Shannon B. Mikeska born March 26, 1967, died May 6, 2014 after 3 year battle of numerous illnesses. He served 6 years in the US Navy. Retired from the US Post Office.
   • Melanie Jo Mikeska (1969)
   • Davena L. Mikeska married Scott Howell

   From his enlistment record:

   Enlistment Date	20 Nov 1942
   Enlistment State	Ohio
   Enlistment City	Fort Hayes Columbus
   Branch Code	Coast Artillery Corps or Army Mine Planter Service
   Grade	Private
   Grade Code	Private
   Term of Enlistment	Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
   Component	Army of the United States – includes the following: Voluntary enlistments effective December 8, 1941 and thereafter; One year enlistments of National Guardsman whose State enlistment expires while in the Federal Service; Officers appointed in the Army of
   Source	Civil Life
   Education	2 years of high school
   Civil Occupation	Shipping and receiving clerks
   Marital Status	Single, without dependents
   Height	64
   Weight	137

   

5. Ruth Nadine Slusser was born January 12, 1926 in Canton, Stark, Ohio, US. She married Jay Heberling (1926.) She died October 13, 2003. I remember being somewhat afraid of her as a small child because she reminded me of a witch, having a small mole near her nose. However, I will remember her fondly as the Sunday school teacher she was, knowing how much she loved children. She worked for Stark MRDD. One daughter, Patricia Ann Heberling (1957) married Gary Eckert (divorced). Their children: Jay C. Eckert (1981), Eric J. Eckert (1983), Adam S. Eckert (1985).
6. Blanche Mae Slusser was born June 18, 1927 in Canton, Stark, Ohio, US.  She married Harlan R. Peffer (August 1, 1929 – April 15, 1957). Harlan died in a ditch cave in. She married Charles Richard Davis (1927.) She died December 3, 2006. She was known to us as Patsy. I remember many summers going swimming at her home. Uncle Chuck worked at a donut shop. I remember one year in particular I was collecting leaves for a school project and Uncle Chuck helped me gather a sassafras leaf from their property. Children of Patsy and Harlan are:
   • Douglas R. Peffer (1950) married Anita G. Bosler (1949). Their children are: Melissa A. Peffer (1970), Adam D. Peffer (1971) married Debra Stanton, Benjamen J. Peffer (1976) and Andrew J. Peffer (1979.)
   • Dennis H. Peffer (1951) married Ila J. Sommers (1952.) Their children: Kimberly J. Peffer (1972) and Joshua T. Peffer (1976.)
7. Grace Margret Slusser was born July 2, 1930 in Canton, Stark, Ohio, US. She married William Glen Conway (September 11, 1930 – 2003). She died September 28, 2011 in Louisville, Stark, Ohio, US and buried at Union Cemetery, Louisville, Stark, Ohio, US. Their children:
   1. Timothy Lee Conway (1951) married Lola Marie Sommers (1951). Their children: Daniel J. Conway (1971), David B. Conway (1976), Donald M. Conway (1980.)

   2. Rebecca Sue Conway (1952) married John Arthur Cheezan (1952.) Their children: John E. Cheezan (1979), Jeffery B. Cheezan (1981), Stephanie N. Cheezan (1982.)

   3. Glenda Kay Conway (1956) married Mark Thomas Kauffman (1954). Their children: Jay T. Kauffmann (1978), Matthew M. Kauffmann (1980), Grace A. Kauffmann (1984.)

   4. William Jay Conway (1961) married Kathy Coblentz (1964). Their children: Katie B. Coblentz? (1980), William J. Conway (1984) and Shannon M. Conway (1986.)

8. Beverly Mary Slusser was born October 30, 1933 in Canton, Stark, Ohio, US. She married Glenn Miller. She died May 14, 1988 in Deerfield, Portage, Ohio, US. and is buried at Fairmount Memorial Cemetery, Alliance, Stark, Ohio, US. She died of cancer.

Living are Virginia L Slusser McFarland, Shirley A Slusser Ollis, Wilma Slusser Sheneman and James Slusser.

Sources:

Family History of Abraham Zumkehr (1812-1894)

“United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDPJ-W4S : 14 December 2015), Lillian Slusser in household of Franklin Slusser, Marlboro, Stark, Ohio, United States; citing sheet 8B, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,436.

“United States Census, 1930”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X4C2-VCK : 8 December 2015), Lillian Slusser in entry for George Slusser, 1930.

“United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KWPH-F67 : 17 May 2014), Lillian L Slusser in household of Franklin G Slusser, Ward 10, Canton City, Canton Township, Stark, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 90-113, sheet 2A, family 22, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 3186.

George

Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA.

“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K6N4-MSD : 12 December 2014), Frank George Slusser, 1917-1918; citing Stark County no 2, Ohio, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,851,190.

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2015. Provo, UT, USA.

Certificate: 79390; Volume: 18238. Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007. Ancestry.com and Ohio Department of Health. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2010 Provo, UT, USA

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=71653506&ref=acom

(Lillian)

“Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X6JD-324 : 24 May 2016), Zumkehr, 25 Mar 1899; citing Birth, Nimishillen, Stark, Ohio, United States, county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 897,620.

“Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X6RX-FF7 : 8 December 2014), Zumkehr, 25 Mar 1899; citing Nimishillen, Stark, Ohio, reference pg 318; FHL microfilm 897,620.

“United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMX7-RWD : 22 January 2015), Lillie Zumkehr in household of Fred Zumkehr, Nimishillen Township (excl. Louisville vill.), Stark, Ohio, United States; citing sheet B, family 356, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,322.

“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MLD7-8V5 : 29 October 2015), Lillie Zumkehr in household of Frederick Zumkehr, Nimishillen, Stark, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 211, sheet 17A, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,245.

“Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VK2K-LCX : 8 December 2014), Lillian L Slusser, 29 Jan 1998; from “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-2007,” database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2010); citing vol. 31415, certificate number 006995, Ohio Historical Society, Columbus; Ohio Department of Health, State Vital Statistics Unit, Columbus.

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=146241226&ref=acom