**UPDATE** We're goin' to the chapel . . . or house

**UPDATE** Florence Windisch married William Michel in Ashtabula County, Ohio on 10 October 1912. She is the daughter of Friedrich Windisch (born in Carroll Township, Ottawa County, Ohio) and Lura Brodock (born in New York). She had a brother Leo and a sister Effie.

This picture is labeled as "Flossie Windisch & William Michle Wedding" with "Merle Fritsche bridesmaid" and "Edward Michel bestman". I am assuming the rest of the people in this photograph are probably family, I just need to figure out who is who.

Timeframe: Sadly I don't have the marriage date for William & Flossie but the large hairbow that Merle seemed to be so fond of was popular in the mid-1910's. Think between 1913-1917 or so. Since Merle is listed as a bridesMAID I assume it was taken before October, 1913. After October, 1913 and it would be Merle Leutz, matron of honor. :-) I knew it was before October, 1913 I just didn't know it was one year almost exactly. I assume this picture was taken on the wedding day so, October, 1912.

Where It Fits: Christian Fritsche & Dorothea Langschwanger had ten children; two of which were Robert & Emilie. Robert married Caroline Hopfinger and they had Merle, the bridesmaid. Emilie married Frank Michel and they are the parents of William & Edward Michel.

We're goin' to the chapel . . . or house

This picture is labeled as "Flossie Windisch & William Michle Wedding" with "Merle Fritsche bridesmaid" and "Edward Michel bestman". I am assuming the rest of the people in this photograph are probably family, I just need to figure out who is who.

Timeframe: Sadly I don't have the marriage date for William & Flossie but the large hairbow that Merle seemed to be so fond of was popular in the mid-1910's. Think between 1913-1917 or so. Since Merle is listed as a bridesMAID I assume it was taken before October, 1913. After October, 1913 and it would be Merle Leutz, matron of honor. :-)

Where It Fits: Christian Fritsche & Dorothea Langschwanger had ten children; two of which were Robert & Emilie. Robert married Caroline Hopfinger and they had Merle, the bridesmaid. Emilie married Frank Michel and they are the parents of William & Edward Michel.

School Days - Part II

This might seem rather cut and dry but it isn't as easy as it looks. The back of this image identifies the teacher as Burton Opper. The sign the child in the front row identifies this image as taken at the "Dist. No. 4, May 14, 1908". Now, who are the children? From other images I can identify the Michel boy on the far right, the second one with the light colored shirt and jacket on. He has his hand on the little girl in front of him. See him? I didn't recognize anybody else BUT I did find a "Souvenir 1908". It appears to be something akin to a graduation bulletin. According to this B. R. Opper was the teacher at the public school in Port Clinton, Ohio. The school board is James Snider and W. F. Kirk, clerk. (Ugh, can you imagine being addressed as Clerk Kirk.) Now, for the pupils we have:

• Viola Snider (7th grade)
• Lucy McRitchie (7th grade)
• Mable Floro (7th grade)
• Merle Fritsche (7th grade)
• Edward Michel (6th grade)
• Orin Ohm (6th grade)
• Gladys Minier (6th grade)
• Viola Short (6th grade)
• Elsie Juntsch (4th grade)
• Clifton Kirk (4th grade)
• Bertrice Snider (4th grade)
  
• Rosella Gentsch (4th grade)
• Hanna Pauls (4th grade)
  
• Lester Short (4th grade)
  
• Henrietta Whiting (4th grade)
• Elmer Guntsche (3rd grade)
• Carl Minier (3rd grade)
• Emery Short (3rd grade)
  
• George Floro (3rd grade)
  
• John Minier (3rd grade)
• Emma Short (3rd grade)
  
• Thelma Bronkhorst (2nd grade)
• Chester Floro (2nd grade)
• Watson Minier (2nd grade)
  
• Hazel Bronkhorst (2nd grade)
• Elmer Floro (2nd grade)
  
• Eva Short (2nd grade)
• Orilla Whiting (2nd grade)
  
• Stella Cluckey (1st grade)
  
• Wilson Kirk (1st grade)
  
• Emery Whiting (1st gade)
• Luella Guntsche (chart class)
  
• Fay Ohm (chart class)
  
• Sophia Short (chart class)
  
• John Floro (chart class)
  
• Eva McRitchie (chart class)
  
• Ernie Short (chart class)

There are 32 children, 1 adult and 1 dog in the image. There are 37 children listed as students in 1908 so who happens to be missing? I can identify Edward Michel so that leaves 31 other children to identify. I talked to Chuck Whiting at lunch one day and he spotted all three of the Whiting children so that means we have a total of four children identified. (Chuck is the son and nephew of the Whiting children in this image.) Can you spot any other people on the list?

Timeframe: May 14, 1908.

Where It Fits: Lucy & Eva McRitchie are the daughters of John McRitchie & Mary Ransom. Their brother, Burton, married Ada Bisch. Ada Bisch is the daughter of Louisa Leutz Bisch. Louisa is the daughter of Gustav Leutz.

Merle Fritsche is the daughter of Robert Fritsche & Caroline Hopfinger. She is the mother of Mary Cary, Robert & A.J. Leutz.

Edward Michel is the son of Frank Michel & Emilie Fritsche. Emilie Fritsche is the sister of Robert Fritsche, that makes Edward and Merle cousins.

Viola, Lester, Eva & Ernie Short are the children of Chalion Short & Mary DeWitz. Their youngest brother, Alvin, is the second husband of Velma Taylor a.k.a. Velma Johannsen.

Wilson Kirk is the son of Arthur Kirk & Amy Broekley.

School Days

This photograph was taken by Andrews in Port Clinton and it actually labeled. According to the back of the photograph the teacher is Laura Heidel. For some reason it says "Put-in-Bay teacher". The students in the first row are Elva Short, Lester Short, Hannah Pauls, Watson Minier, Beatrice Snider & John Minier. In the second row we have Edward Michel, Carl Minier, John Minier, Viola Short, Beatrice von Rensselear, Rozella Guntch, Merle Fritsche & Viola Snider. Third row has Elsie Guntch, Evelyn van Rensselear & Lucy Jane McRitchie. The last row has Earl McRitchie, Chester Smith, Bartelle Moore & Clifford Smith. As far as I know none of these children ever lived in Put-in-Bay so I assume she is from Put-in-Bay or was a substitute teacher from the Put-in-Bay school.

Timeframe: Lester Short, the little guy in the front row, was born in September, 1896. Edward Michel (2nd row) was born in November, 1895. Viola Short (2nd row) was born in March 1894. Merle Fritsche was born September, 1894. Lucy Jane McRitchie was born November, 1894 and Earl McRitchie was born in February, 1892. Judging by the length of the dress on Merle she is about eight years of age. As a rule the dress was a couple inches past the knee and got progressively longer as the girls got older, reaching the ankle by age 12. Since they are still wearing shorter skirts that would put this picture taken about 1902 or 1903.

Where It Fits: Hold on to your hats for this one. Taking it from the top we have Lester & Viola Short, children of Chalion Short & Mary DeWitz. Their youngest brother, Alvin, is my step great-grandfather.

Edward Michel, son of Frank Michel & Emilie Fritsche. Emilie is the sister of Robert Fritsche, that makes Edward Michel & Merle Fritsche cousins.

Merle Fritsche, daughter of Robert Fritsche & Caroline Hopfinger. She is the mother of Mary Cary, Robert & A.J. Leutz. She is the cousin of Edward Michel.

Lucy Jane & Earl McRitchie, children of John McRitchie & Mary Ransom. Their older brother, Burton, married Ada Bisch. Ada Bisch is the daughter of George Bisch & Louisa Leutz. Ada Bisch is the cousin of Leon Leutz, the future husband of Merle Fritsche.

In History: Today is the 146th birthday of Johann Fritsche.

Sources: Dressed for the Photographer, Ordinary Americans and Fashion by Joan Severa