Elsie Ann Dull

1853-1937

Elsie Ann Dull was born 13 Mar 1853 in Van Wert County, Willshire Township, Ohio. According to family stories, she was raised by her mother Christina Schaffer 1802-1870. It is unknown at this time who her father was though family stories say she was born out of wedlock and obviously her father's name was Dull. There was several members of the Dull family living in that area at the time of her birth. Elsie married Thomas Fredrick Mihm 1852-1931, on 30 Nov 1879 in Van Wert, Ohio, by L. B. Shaffer, Justice of the Peace. Elsie and Thomas had four children,  Charles William 1880-1881, Justice Elmer 1882-1947, Forest David 1885-1946 and Olive Gertrude Mihm 1889-1971. Thomas Mihm died on 23 Oct 1931. Elsie Ann Dull died 9 Feb 1937 in Van Wert, Ohio, Death certificate (#166). Thomas and Elsie are buried in Riverside Cemetery, Dublin Township, Rockford, Ohio. There are no headstones marking their graves. It was told to me by my mother, Virginia Mihm 1921-1903, that her mother, Ada Clouse 1888-1971 said they are buried in unmarked graves in the remaining family plots near the headstone of Thomas Mihm's parents, David Mihm 1842-1907 and Delilah Brouse 1832-1922.

Research on Elsie (Dull) Mihm has hit a wall. I don't believe Christina Shafer 1802-1870 was her mother (though I have her connected in the family tree database as such for now) because of Christina's age when Elsie was born. I think that it is a greater possibility that Elsie was born to one of Christina's daughters, (maybe Christina abt1836-), and she was raised by her grandmother Christina 1802-1870. Christina Shafer was enumerated as head of household in Van Wert, Liberty Township, on the 1850 census. Her children were; Christopher abt1827-, George abt1829-, John abt1831, Susanna abt1832-, James abt1834-, Christina abt1836-, Delilah abt1838 and Hannah abt1842-. In 1860 she is living in the same location with children Delilah and Hannah still living with her. By 1870 she is living in the same location with a child named Eliza Dull abt1852. I believe this to be Elsie Dull 1853-1937 but I could use more proof.

(L-R) Justice Elmer Mihm 1882-1947, his father Thomas Fredrick Mihm 1852-1931 and mother Elsie Ann (Dull) Mihm 1853-1937, on the far right is Justice Mihm's  wife Ada Elisabeth Clouse 1888-1971.

Elsie Ann (Dull) Mihm

In the year 2000, while working on this family history, I wrote to my mother in Ohio asking her what she could remember about her grandma and grandpa Mihm. (Thomas Fredrick Mihm 1852-1931 and Elsie Ann Dull 1853-1937) Mom wrote back but thought she didn’t have much to tell. What she said however, gave me a much more vivid picture of them than I could ever get form photographs and records. 

Letter from my mother, Virginia (Mihm) Kohus,1921-2003, dated, October 28, 2000. 

They were poor, very clean and my mom did not like my grandma, and I guess it rubbed off on us kids. Grandpa Mihm as I recall was a very gentle man as was my dad. They never showed any love or concern for us. Maybe that was the way things were, I don’t know. Grandma and my mom got into an argument over my sister Helen, (when grandma lived with us), my sister was pregnant and married, and my grandma said she was a bad girl. Well, that really got to my mom. Mom said you got a lot of room to talk. At that time I did not know about grandma’s birth circumstances. Mom only told me when I was married and older. Well, mom called Aunt Lucy, uncle Forest’s wife, and said I’m sending grandma to your house. Grandma asked my dad for her checks, state old age pension money. Dad unlocked his drawer and handed her the envelope. She accused my dad of stealing her checks. One was up against the envelope. Well, that made dad angry at his mom. My dad was as honest as the stars. Well now, picture this. Mom packed the cloths and the taxi came and my grandma went out with her thunder mug in one hand. I imagine my dad took her cloths out to the cab and she never came to our house again. I do not think grandma cared much for my dad as she did for Uncle Forest.  

Now when dad was seven he worked in a saw mill and got caught in the saw and was hurt really bad. The doctor wanted to amputate his leg but grandma said no. He had a limp and his hand was crippled with one or two fingers missing, forgot how many. I guess they needed the money and dad suffered all his life because of it. I do not know if they grandma and grandpa owned their home or not. I can remember down to the last tee what the inside of the house looked like, the furniture and the rooms. I never was in the second floor. When I was a baby, mom tells a story. They went to the house and laid me on the bed and grandma said, supper over dishes washed nothing left but a piece of squash. Mom said never mind, I gotta nurse Virginia. Now, mom liked grandpa Mihm. He thought mom was so smart because she drove a car, but would argue with mom over politics. He was a republican and mom was a democrat. I never heard my mom say anything against grandpa, only grandma. I think he was a farmer but I don’t know where or for who or for himself. That was never talked about and when I got to know them I guess he was too old to farm and the state sent them a check every month. 

So, what was there to like?? I do not remember any one of them saying a word to me, taking my hand or anything. I only remember sitting on the old couch while mom and dad was there, and me sneaking a look into the little red room that had 2 double beds in it with a big trunk at the end of the path through the room. I can’t say I did not like them, really I did not know them. Even when grandma lived with us she never was friendly as I can recall. One day I was down the street at my girlfriend’s house and Mrs. Felger said, Virginia, isn’t that your grandma walking down the sidewalk? And sure enough, it was, her with an apple and a knife just gumming away on the apple. I ran home and told my mom. Someone went and got her. I think she was just a cold woman. Maybe she was ashamed of her birth. In those days it was horrible not like today. I can imagine my dad was torn between his mom and his wife, I really don’t know. The work of grandma fell on my mom, I know that. I guess I just can remember how clean and in order the house and yard was. Then they had only those push mowers. According to the picture of my grandpa, he sure looked like any poor person. To this day, no one knows where in Rockford Cemetery they are buried. Don’t know why but my aunt Ollie never was in on the care of grandma. She did enjoy poor health; Ollie was the only girl my grandma and grandpa had. She married Perry Wiseman and they had one girl, Pauline. Pauline was a nurse that took her training at the general hospital in Cincinnati.

That is the story of my grandma and grandpa Mihm. Nothing to put in the genealogy folder that I can see. I would sum it up that they were poor, very honest people that taught one of their son’s, my dad, honesty and work, truthfully, just one great dad. For that I say thank you grandma and grandpa Mihm.

Love you, Mom

    Below is the personal Bible of Elsie Ann (Dull) Mihm

I was contacted by a gentleman in 1998 who said he found a Bible at a flea market in Texas. He traced some of the names in the Bible back to this website. How it ever ended up in Texas is anyone's guess. As far as I know Elsie always lived in Northern Ohio. I was contacted by him and we agreed on a fair price for it. I used it a research aid while creating this family tree. The Bible is now in the possession of Mary (Mihm) Clay, Van Wert, Ohio. Mary has been by far the largest contributor of Mihm and Clouse photos and records to this website. It wouldn't have been the same without her help.