Limb & Hartz (1851 – 1864)

Martin Frederick Limb
1817 ▸ March 15. Born in Southwest Germany. (1860 Census estimates birth year as 1814).
1849 ▸ July. Arrived in the U.S. from the Duchy of Nassau (Immigration records)
1852 ▸ March term. Petition for citizenship. Court of Common Pleas (Journal 17)
1855 ▸ September. Granted citizenship. Wayne Co Court of Common Pleas (Journal 19)
According to family lore, Martin was very anti-war as a result of living through so much turmoil while growing up in what is now unified Germany; he fed Confederate soldiers who were brought by train through Wooster; he was a horticulturist who loved to espalier trees.

Caroline Hartz (or Huetz)
1832 ▸ January 22. Born Württemberg, Germany
Caroline Hartz immigrated from Württemberg. Her records have not yet been found.
Caroline’s sister was Johanna (Hannah) Hartz.

1851 ▸ October 13. Martin Limb and Caroline Hartz married in Wayne Co, OH.
Martin and Caroline had six children together, one of whom died in infancy.
Children of Martin Limb & Caroline Hartz:
1852-1855 ▸ August A.
1856-1857 ▸ George J.
1856-1932 ▸ Mary L.
1860-1889 ▸ Frederick B.
1861-? ▸ Louisa
1863-1942 ▸ Caroline H.
In brief about these Limb children:
August was a druggist who married and lived in Akron; Mary married and moved to Mt. Pleasant, MI; Frederick B. was a telegraph operator who married and lived in Lima, OH; Louisa is unknown after moving to Mt. Pleasant, MI to live with her sister; Caroline also moved to Mt. Pleasant to live with sister Mary and married Charles Small from Columbus, GA.

1860 ▸ CENSUS. Wooster, Wayne Co, OH. Household includes Martin Lemb (46) with wife Caroline (28) and children August (8), Mary (6) and Fred. (6/12).
1860 ▸ CENSUS. Occupation Grocery.

1864 ▸ June 11. Caroline died age 32. Buried in Wooster Cemetery, Wayne Co, OH, their memorials are side-by-side.

1864 ▸ December 27. Martin Limb and Maria Margaretha Schaible were married.Limb & Schaible

NOTE ▸ Spellings for last name are as transcribed from handwritten census forms for Ancestry.com.

Directory listings:
1859-’60 ▸ Williams’ Akron, Wooster & Cuyahoga Falls Directory, City Guide and Business Mirror
pg 97, Lamb Martin, cof. h. s s Liberty b Bever and R.R.
1864 ▸ Ohio State Gazetteer, Shippers’ Guide and Classified Business Directory
pg 540, Limb M, Wooster (listing of Saloons)
1870-71 ▸ Directory of Akron, Alliance, Cuyahoga Falls, Middlebury, Kent, Canton, Ravenna, Massillon, Salem, Wooster
pg 268, Limb, Martin, saloon, East Liberty street.
pg 268, Limp, Aug., clerk, East Liberty street (August was Martin’s son who was a drug store clerk in 1870)
1875-76 ▸ Williams’ Ohio State Directory,
pg 315, Limb Martin, saloon, 145 E. Liberty
pg 515, Limb, Martin, Wooster, Wayne

Wayne County Democrat
Wooster, Ohio
Wednesday, 31 July, 1856
pg 2
Constitution of the Democratic Club
This organization shall be known as the Wooster Democratic Hickory Club.
The object of this organization shall be the dissemination of Democratic truths.
The rights and privileges of members as such, shall be equal.
The officers of this Club shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, to be elected once a month by the members.
The President, when in attendance, shall preside at all meetings of the Club, and in his absence his duties shall be discharged by the Vice President. The Secretary shall keep a full record of the proceedings of the Club, subject to the inspection, at all times, of any member of the Club. And the treasurer shall receive all money belonging to the Club, and disburse the same as it may direct.
All questions shall be decided by agreement of the members present, or by vote, and in all cases the expressed will of a majority of the members present shall decide.
Any person may become a member of this Club who will vote for James Buchanan, for President, and John C. Breckinridge, for Vice President, at the Presidential election of 1856, and sign his name to this Constitution.
This Constitution may be altered or amended at any time by a vote of a majority of the members present, at any regular meeting of the Club.
[91 names in each of two columns, includes Martin Limb.]

Wooster Republican
Wooster, Ohio
Thursday, 24 July, 1862
pg 2
One Union!
One Country! One Destiny!
The citizens of Wayne County of all parties who are for supporting the Government in the prosecution of the war and the suppression of the rebellion, are requested to meet at the Court House, on Saturday even next, July 19th, at 7 o’clock, to express without reference to any party question whatever, their undiminished confidence in the justice of our cause and their inflexible purpose to maintain it to the end, and to proffer to the Government all the aid it may need to the extent of all their resources.
Wm. Given, C. Lake, J.H. Kauke, J.C. Jacobs, J.H. Stout, P.S. Van Houten, I.N. Jones, C.A. Crandal, C.S. Frost, W.C. Downing, J.P. Jeffries, P.E. Beach, J.H. Baumgardner, T.P. Baumgardner, J.Y. Ross, L.S. Baumgardner, Horace Carr, P. Strow, H. Howard, L. Sheible, J.B. France, A. Laughlin, T. Methven, D. Black, C.C. Baker, R.H. Laubach, J.N. Robison, F.L. Imgard, A. Imgard, Wm. Belnap, J.H. Dowling, Ike Johnson, Jr., C. Cutter, R.L. Landerson, M. McClure, A.H. Pierson, J.W. Nimmons, E.A. Clingan, Thos. Woodland, S.A. English, W.J. Miller, W.S. Rowe, H.H. Rowe, John Leies, C.S. Shuckers, J.F. Barrett, W.W. Hanna, E.D. Whitmere, Jacob Kaufman, A. Hickman, Samuel Mentzer, Peter Frailey, John Bechtel, J.S. Hallowell, W.S. Labourn, C.O. March, J.B. Clark, N. Power, W. Smith, C. Rogh, I. Bechtel, E. Thourley, D. Pierson, A. Leies, A. Wright, W.H. Kidd, J. McCormick, J. Walker, L. Sprague, D. Robinson, H. Carr, W.N. Jones, J. Wilhelm, Chapman Barrett & Co., A.A. Methven, J. Ressaler, A.H. Crawford, Wendell Young, Henry Bahl, A.J. Siegenthaler, Joshua Wilson, R.R. Donnelly, E.V. Dean, E. Avery, L. Cox, T. Stibbs, A.H. Myers, Jno. Hanna, J. Nachtrieb, T.H. Baker, E. Parker, Julian Spink, Jno. Oberly, Geo. Bliss, G.W. Henshaw, Geo. Plummer, H. Bixler, D.H. Holliday, T.S. Johnson, H.E. Totten, W.W. Sperr, C.C. Parsons, T.W. Peckinpaugh, E. Schuckers, A. McDonald, J. Zimmerman, D. Atkins, E. Foreman, L. Flattery, S. French, J.C. Jamel, Wm. Nold, J.A. Anderson, John Crall, G. Braunneck, D.B. Ihrig, P.Hain, J. Fox, J. Swartz, H. Snider, J.P. Power, S. Woods, J. Markwalter, H.A. Rowe, J.S. Duden, J.B. Trimble, G. Gasche, L. Young, H. Gerbig, J. Brinkerhoff, Ezra Dean, M. Shaffer, F.U. Gark, S. Geitgey, E.D. Ely, E. Quinby, jr., D.H. Gillespie, E. Pardee, Wm. M. Orr, E.A. Miller, C.M. Amsden, H. Lehman, Thos. Power, M. Welker, J. Larwell, W.C. Moore, C. Eyster, I. Mowrer, J. Huston, Geo. Hesler, W. Childs, J.P. Horn, M. Limb, C.F. Lenz, Geo. Metzler, Wm. Mann, John Johnston, James Curry, R. Christy, John Berry, B.J. Jones, F. Harry, L. Firestone, James, Jacobs, Wm. Spear, R.A. Logan, Wm. Maple, Jacob Metz, G.W. Bailey, D. Foglesong, J.F. Kennedy, Ben Douglas, J. McSweeny, Ohio F. Jones, M. Miller, A. Saybolt, G.W. Ely, L.E. Smith, J.S. Gray, H.J. Frost, A. Hommer, F. Yengling, G. Buecking, A.G. Patterson, J. Beistle, S.R. Bonewitz.
The following speakers have been invited and will address the meeting: Col. Wm. Given, Hon. Levi Cox, Wm. M. Orr, Esq., J. McSweeny, Esq., Hon. M. Welker, Hon. G. Bliss, and J.H. Downing, Esq.
L. Firestone, Pres.
C. Lake, Sec’y.
Wooster, July 18, 1862

In pursuance of the above call the citizens of Wooster met at the Court House and organized by appointing Dr. L. Firestone President, J.H. Kauke, I.N. Jones, J. Zimmerman, J. Nachtrieb, E. Quinby, jr., and Hon. E. Dean, Vice Presidents, and C.Lake and R.R. Donnelly, Secretaries.
On taking the chair the President called for the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner,” which was responded to by Baumgardners’ choir in their usual masterly manner, the immense audience joining in the chorus.
Dr. Firestone then briefly stated the object of the meeting, and urged upon every person to do his duty in this our nation’s peril.
Col. Given was then loudly called for, and responded in his usual impressive manner. He did not believe there was one traitor in Wayne County. The cause of the Union, the Constitution and the Country must be sustained, and the people of Wayne will unite in doing their duty.
Music—“Forward, boys, forward.”
Wm. M. Orr, Esq., next followed in a patriotic speech, urging the necessity of immediate action, when Judge Welker was called upon, who declined making a speech, but urged the necessity of opening a subscription to raise funds as a bounty for the volunteers and sustaining their families. Seconded by J. McSweeney in a few appropriate remarks.
R.R. Donnelly then took the floor, and in his peculiar and energetic manner, showed the necessity of every man doing his duty. None were exempt, all could do something to put down this most cursed rebellion, and called upon all that could not go to aid by their names in giving a liberal bounty to those that may volunteer.
Subscriptions were then called for and thirty-two hundred dollars was subscribed at once, and a committee, consisting of B. Barrett, J.H. Downing, I.N. Jones and J. Zimmerman, was appointed to canvas the town.
On motion it was
Resolved, That we recommend to the Governor of Ohio, the Hon. D. Tod, to offer a Bounty of $50 to each man that may volunteer for three years or during the war, in this State, and that the Commissioners of Wayne County be requested to make an appropriate bounty for the volunteers to be raised in said County.
E.V. Dean, Esq., offered the following preamble and resolutions, which were adopted by acclamation:
Whereas, We have assembled irrespective of party to express our undiminished confidence in the justice of our cause and our inflexible purpose to maintain it to the end, and so proffer to the Government all the aid it may need to the extent of our resources.
Resolved,, That this war was forced upon the Government by the dis? of the Sough, with the intent of disrupting the ? of the ? and the destruction of the Constitution of our Country.
Resolved,, That we are for One ? of the Union, the Pr? of the ? ?, and to the end thereof, we pledge to the Government our hearty support without condition, or qualification, and that we will maintain, and uphold them under all circumstances, and at every necessary sacrifice of life and treasure until the great work of subduing the rebellion is accomplished.
Resolved,, That we acknowledge ? ? divisions of the people of the United States in this Crisis, those who are loyal to its Constitution, and are ready to make every sacrifice for the integrity of the Union and the maintainance of civil liberty within it and those who openly or covertly endeavor to sever our Country, or yield to the insolent demands of its enemies,—that we fraternize with the former and detest the latter,—and that forgetting all former party names, and distinction, we call upon all patriotic citizens to rally for one undivided country, one flag, one destiny.
Resolved,, That we will to the utmost of our abilities aid and assist in raising Wayne County’s proportion of volunteers in compliance with the late call of the Governor of Ohio for troops.
On motion, E. Quinby, Jr., and J.H. Kauke, were appointed a committee to act with the Military Committee of Wayne county in the disbursement of the funds raised at this meeting and that may hereafter be raised for the volunteers from this county.
On motion of R.R. Donnelly, it was
Resolved,, That we remember with loved gratitude those noble sons of old Wayne, who today stand between us and the rebels, that we honor their courage and will imitate their example, and here in the presence of God and this people pledge ourselves to support them in this hour of their peril and pledge the last man and the last dollar to aid in the suppression of this most unholy Rebellion, and the restoration of Union, Liberty, and Law.

On motion, the meeting adjourned to meet at the call of the Military Committee.
L. Firestone, President
R.R. Donnelly, }
C. Lake, } Secretaries.

List of Subscriptions.
We the undersigned agree to pay the several sums annexed opposite our names for the purpose of aiding the enlistment of volunteers for the 102d Regiment, a part also to be paid for the maintenance of the families of those who volunteer in the regiment above named, the money to be paid to D. Robisin, Jr., Treasurer of the Wayne County Military Committee:
List of contributors follows.

Vallandigham Sympathy.
The Crisis, edited by the “Old Wheel Horse” and Blessed Martyr of Secesh Democracy, the Dayton Empire, owned and controlled by the traitor Vallandigham, and sundry other Democratic (?) county papers like the Ashland Union, Stark County Democrat &c, are now busily engaged in getting up sympathy for the traitor John W. Keys, late editor of the Circleville Watchman, but now an inmate of Fort Warren, where he was sent by the Government on account of his treasonable publications. These papers consider Keys a martyr and worthy of the warmest sympathy of the Vallandighamists. They howl “despotism,” “tyranny,” and really feel deeply the indignity heaped upon Northern traitors by the Government.—And well they may, for
“No rogue e’er felt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law.”

They are doubtless not a whit better patriots than Keys in Fort Warren, and equally as guilty as he is, but show more tact and less courage in avowing their sentiments. Feeling conscious of their guilt, the punishment of one of their clique gives them a strange sensation about the neck.
And they ask what has Keys done, that he should be arrested and sent to Fort Warren? but they are very careful not to give their readers the words, uttered and published by the scoundrel, and which caused his arrest. They dare not publish them, lest the honest portion of their readers acknowledge the traitor justly arrested. We will give a couple of paragraphs, so that people may know what kind of patriotism these Vallandigham Editors are defending.
In regard to the taking of Richmond, the “Blessed Martyr” Keys published his opinion as follows:
“There is just as much probability of our forces taking the moon, as there is that we will take Richmond. Whenever Jeff. Davis gets ready to let us have Richmond, he will let us know by taking up his bed and walking away. It will be just as he pleases about it. There will have to be a change of rulers in this country before we shall be rid of this devastating and God-abhorred abolition crusade against one half of this once happy and prosperous people. It will be waged by the blind traitorous fanatical rulers who are ruling us with an infamous military despotism, their only object being the destruction of the Union or of slavery and the satisfaction of their brutal passions for vengeance upon the people of the South, until they are hurled from power by the people. It is to be regretted that the people cannot reach the Nero tyrants immediately. They would be hurled from their abused places of trust with one voice, as it were.”
Could anyone suppose, for a moment that this tirade was written by a Northern man? No Devil in Jeff Davis’ domains could spout more treason in less space. How gloriously good Keys and his sympathizers must have felt when they heard the Union army was repulsed at Richmond.
Again, like Jeff, and his minions, this “Blessed Martyr” Keys was very much incensed at Gen. Butler’s celebrated and wholesome New Orleans Woman Order. So he patriotically (speaking after the manner of Vallandigham) wrote and published as follows:
“This is the motto of the Abolition dogs and libertines who are prosecuting this infamous civil war for the freedom and equality with us, of the dusky negro. “Booty and Beauty,” is also a motto of such hellians and brutes as Ben. Butler. Why don’t the men of New Orleans shoot the infamous wretch like they would a reptile or a dog.
Soon after his publication, this Northern Rebel found himself in Fort Warren, in the midst of his “Southern brethren,” and thereupon the Vallandigham presses, and leaders in State Convention, defend the rebel! and harp long and loud about the “tyranny and despotism” of this “abolition Government!”

The War Meeting.
The War Meeting held in Wooster on Saturday evening last was highly creditable to the patriotism of our people. The Court House was filled to overflowing before dark, and the crowd continued till a late hour. The official proceedings will be found in another column, to which we refer for particulars. The speeches were able and of the most enthusiastic and patriotic kind.
The resolutions adopted do honor to the meeting and will be greeted by true Union men and patriots as an indication of harmony, and a desire to lay aside all party matters, and work for the Government alone. They were received with bursts of applause and adopted by acclamation.
The subscriptions to the War Fund were liberal, and amounted to over Thirty-one Hundred Dollars before the meeting adjourned. The amount continues to swell and is now over $5,000. It is expected that some fifteen or twenty thousand will be raised in the County, so that every volunteer may be given a handsome bounty, in addition to what the State and General Government may confer.
The meeting as a whole was highly creditable to the patriotism of those present, and indicated a strong determination to give the Government a united, strong, and unconditional support, in its efforts to suppress the rebellion. We hope many more such meetings may be held in Wayne County, and that the three hundred men called for may be raised at once.

The Wayne County Democrat
Wooster, Ohio
Thursday, 25 June, 1863
pg 4
Outrage Upon a Citizen of Wooster.
He is Assaulted, Abused and Kidnapped by Soldiers.
Abolitionists Cheer them for the Disgraceful Act.

We have the upmost respect and admiration for soldiers, when they conduct themselves according to the honored reputation of the noble profession of arms. But when they cease to be the protectors of the helpless, and disgrace the blue uniform of the American soldier by becoming ruffians and ravishers of the sacred rights of citizens, they are no longer worthy of the name they bear, and receive, as they merit, the contempt of all who admire the brave and true men who maintain our cause and uphold our flag.

This debasement of their calling was exhibited by some soldiers last Thursday afternoon in an outrage upon the person, family and property of our fellow citizen, Martin Limp. The facts, as near as we can learn them, are these: An extra train came to Wooster in the afternoon of Thursday, having on board about 200 soldiers, from different regiments, who had been East as guards to rebel prisoners, and were on their return to Camp Chase, Columbus, where they belong. A majority of them were evidently intoxicated. Shortly after arriving at the depot, some of them made inquiry for Mr. Ethan A. Brown, of Edinburg, whom they wanted to kill, having been told he was a “Copperhead,” information given them, doubtless, by some malignant Abolitionists at the depot, for the base purpose of having blood shed in our streets, they being too cowardly themselves to inaugurate a personal quarrel with Mr. Brown. Fortunately for somebody he was not in town. A squad of the soldiers then proceeded to the grocery of Mr. Limp, near the depot, and asked for drinks on Vallandigham’s account, which were freely given them, the Governor’s credit being good with the Democratic proprietor. These civilly retired, and Mr. Limp, apprehending trouble from the noisy crowd at the cars, closed and locked his doors.

A large number—probably fifty, soon besieged the premises, fiercely demanding admittance, which was denied them. They then assailed the doors and windows with muskets and stones, breaking them in, knocking down Mr. Harrington, who had entreated them to desist from the assault, and charged into the grocery, when ensued a scene of riot rarely witnessed. Mr. Limp disputed their passage. He was fired at several times, as the bullets in the walls bear witness. In the encounter he knocked two of his assailants down, but had to give way before superior numbers, and retreated into the family part of the house, where he was pursued by the soldiers with cries of “kill him!” “kill him!” — an officer, whose name is unknown to us or fame, waving his sword to encourage the men in their bloody purpose. While Mr. Limp for a time evaded them, they turned their violence upon his family, insulting his wife, abusing the helpless woman and children until their shrieks echoed over the neighborhood. After some search they discovered Mr. Limp, who was caught after making strenuous resistance, in which he was severely bayoneted in the hand, and the clothes literally torn from his back. With hoots and yells, they then dragged him by the hair, goaded along by bayonets, to the depot, and thrust him, all bloody from wounds, hatless and coatless, aboard the cars, which moved off with the almost insensible victim, amidst the cheers of the drunken rowdies calling themselves soldiers.

It is a gratification to state that many of the soldiers condemned the action of their comrades, and took no part in the outrage. But few citizens were present, the business part of Wooster being distant from the scene. A portion of those who were witnesses, approved of the affair.

Mr. Evans Parker, the plow-maker, and Mr. Leyburn, the gas-man, we are informed by authority not to be denied, swung their hats in approving cheers when Mr. Limp was thrown on the cars; and Mr. Thomas Stibbs, the factory man, declared that he should have been killed. The conductor, named Lovejoy, is said to have delayed the train purposely, and otherwise incited the men to acts of violence. He has since, we understand, been discharged from the road.

All this transpired in a short time, and upon becoming generally known, but too late for good, the excitement uptown was intense. The prominent Abolitionists, generally, at first, applauded the act, because the victim was a Democrat, but soon found public sentiment was against them, and became “very sorry it had happened.”

Mr. Limp was taken to Columbus, a distance of 110 miles. While on the cars, as he himself related to us, he was offered every indignity. As he lay helpless and scarcely sensible, bayonets were placed at his breast, and threats made of impalement. The officer spoken of before, struck him in the face, and Conductor Lovejoy cursed him for being a VALLANDIGHAM man, saying with oaths, that death was too good for him. The engineer, and many of the soldiers, however, spoke kindly to him, and did all they could for him under the circumstances.

At Columbus, his captors let him go; but some of the soldiers, sympathizing with him, took Mr. Limp to the Provost Marshal of Columbus, and gave evidence against the rioters. The Marshal had his wounds dressed, gave him a coat and a free pass to Wooster, where he arrived safely last Saturday morning. He is severely injured in the back, arm and hand.

The only offenses that can be charged to Mr. Limp is that he is a Democrat, and had the humanity two weeks ago to give some famished Confederate prisoner a bucket of water. He has ever been indulgent to soldiers, often giving them refreshments without charge. If the soldiers who assailed him had not been tampered with and incited to this act by some vindictive cowards, we give them the credit of believing they would not have been guilty of the crime they committed. The outrage has stirred up such an indignation that our worthy and law-abiding citizens are determined to see the law promptly and rigidly enforced against the perpetrators. All the soldiers who took part have been arrested and will be tried for the offense.

1864 ▸ Caroline died age 32 in June. In Wooster Cemetery, Wayne Co, OH.
1864 ▸ Martin Limb and Maria Margaretha Schaible were married on 27 December. Limb & Schaible
1880 ▸ Martin Limb died 15 March, age 63, of dropsy, probably due to congestive heart failure.