Data source is Douglas Mumma, 2123 Farmington Place, Livermore, CA 94550, email = doug@mumma.org
Jacob's farm was called the "Pleasant Hill Fruit Farm"
SOURCE: From Clyde Mumma's personal diary
1850 Census, OH, Montgomery Co., Harrison Twp, 19 July 1850, p. 278-9
Jacob Mumma, 55, farmer, $10,000 real estate, b. PA
Mary " , 53, b. MD
George R. " , 30, farmer, $1150 real estate, b. MD
Serena M. " , 22, b. MD
Jacob H. " , 20, farmer, b: OH
Martha Puterbaugh, 9, b: OH
John Snyder, 52, weaver, b. MD
Jesse Brooks, 9, b. OH
The following story was written by JHWM in 1852
--------------------------------------------------------------
EDUCATION
Consider a human soul without education like marble in the quarry which shows none of its inherent beauties, until the skill of the polisher fetches out the colours, makes the surface shine, and discovers every ornamental cloud, spot, and vein, that runs through the body of it. Education, after the same manner, when it works upon a noble mind, draws out to view every latent virtue and perfection, which, without such help, are never able to make their appearance. What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to a human soul. The philosopher, the saint, or the hero, the wise, the good or the great man, very often lies hid and concealed in a plebeian, which a proper education might have disintered, and have brought to light. I am therefore much delighted with reading the accounts of savage nations; and with contemplating those virtuos which are wild and uncultivated; to see courage exerting itself in fierceness, resolution in obstinacy, wisdom in cunning, patience in sullenness and despair. It is therefore an unspeakable blessing to be born in those parts of the world where wisdom and knowledge flourish through, it must be confessed there are even in those parts several poor uninstructed persons, who are but little above the inhabitants of those nations of which I have been here speaking; as those who had the advantages of a more liberal education, rise above one another by several different degrees of perfection. For, to return to our statue in the block of marble, we see it sometimes only begun to be chipped sometimes rough hewn, and but just sketched into a human figure; sometimes, we see the man appearing distinctly in all his limbs and features; sometimes, we find the figure wrought up to great elegancy; but we seldom meet with any to which there could not be some amendment. I consider education as one of the greatest things any person can acquire, for without education a person is considered amongst the lowest grade of society; therefore acquire knowledge and become useful.
And this is the mind of the writer
Jacob H. W. Mumma
Dayton, Ohio
April 8th, 1852 (age 22)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma's marriage to Susannah Klepinger was recorded in the Montgomery County marriage book, p. 148 as April 20, 1853. The license was issued on April 19, 1953 and the ceremony was performed by Peter Nead, minister of the gospel.
1860 Census, OH, Montgomery Co., Harrison Twp., 20th June, dwelling 230
J.H.W. Mumma, 30, farmer, $6000 real estate, $600 personal, b: OH
Susanna " , 31, H. wife, b: OH
Geo F. " , 6, b: OH
Simon S. " , 4, b: OH
Oliver W. ", 3, b: OH
Victoria S. , 1, b: OH
Lewis Lutz, 27, farm hand, b: Germany
Michael Smith, 17, farm hand, b: OH
1870 Census, OH, Montgomery Co., Harrison twp., 10 June, p. 506-7, dwelling185
Mumma, Jacob H.W., 40, fruit grower, $10,000 real estate, $1500 personal, b: OH
" , Susan, 40, keeping house, b: OH
" , George, 16, farm hand, b: OH
" , Simon, 14, farm hand, b: OH
" , Oliver, 12, at home, b: OH
" , Victor, 11, at home, b: OH
" , Hiram, 9, at school, b: OH
" , Aaron, 7, at school, b: OH
" , Levi, 5, b: OH
" , Clara, 3, b: OH
" , Noah, 8/12, b: OH, b: Sept.
1880 Census OH, Montgomery Co., Harrison twp. p. 517 16th June, dwelling 235
Mumma, J. H. W., 50 Fruit Growing, b: OH.PA/MD
" , Susannah, Wife, 50, keeping house,b: OH/PA/PA
" , Geo.F., 26, son, single, teacher, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Simon S., 24, son, single, works at home, b: OH/OH/OH
" . Oliver W., 22, son, single, works at home, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Victor S., 21, son, single, works at home, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Hiram W., 19, son, single, works at home, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Aaron K., 17, son, single, works at home, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Levi B. 15, son, single, works at home, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Clara V., 13, dau, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Noah J., 10, son, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Albert M., 8, son, single, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Perry A., 5, son, single, b: OH/OH/OH
Landis, Bermanda, 21, domestic servant, female, b: OH/OH/OH
Hoffert, Geo. 32, servant, farm hand, b: Hesse D/Hesse D/Hesse D
After Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma's wife, Susannah, died in 1883, Jacob became more involved with the Levi Stanley Gypsies of Dayton, Ohio. During the summers, the Stanley Gypsies would headquarter in Montgomery County where they who ply their trade in this area. They were involved in many different activities including carperntry, peddling, fortune telling and raising horses. Jacob was quite interested in their spiritualistic views and the ways of these gypsies. He allowed them to camp on his farm during the summer camp. Eventually, Jacob became involved with one person, Mrs. Ida Cripen, who was either associated with the Stanley Gypsies or she was a fortune teller/spiritulist and he eventually married her. A little background into the Stanley Gypsies follows.
Matilda Stanley, queen of the Gypsies and wife of Levi, died in January of 1878 in Mississippi, but was not buried in Dayon until September, 9 months later. This was a common practice for the Stanley Gypsies to wait to bury their dead in the summer in Woodland cemetery. For this funeral, they estimate there was a crowd of between 15,000 to 20,000 people. The gypsies numbered in the hundreds and were from the United States, Canada, and England. A thousand carriages paraded from downtown to the cemetery. The following information was written in 1898 by Dr. Barger who officiated at the funeral: "The two younger daughters, Missouri and Matilda, like the three children of nature that they were, cast off all restraints of conventialism, and leaping down into the grave, remained for sometime upon the great marble slab which hid their dear ones form from them, pouring forth a prolonged torrent of affectionate and tender experssion. With much difficulty, they were at last persuaded to come out of the grave." It was "Missouri Stanley" who purchased the Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma homestead and property.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_and_Matilda_Stanley
The following documents trace some of the transactions recorded between Jacob Mumma and the Stanley Gypsies.
18 June 1885 Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma married Mrs. Ida Crispen by James Cooper, Minister of the Gospel. (License # 2712).
Many family legends and tales were created when he married Ida. Apparently, among other things, she would tickle Jacob with large feathers and there were wild happenings.
9 July 1886 Jacob & Ida Mumma sell the 52 3/4 acre homestead to Missouri Stanley for $13,000. Deed book V147, p 525.
and on the same day, Missoui gives Jacob a 10 year lease for property for $13,000. Montgomery County Lease book 4, pp 217-219
The terms seem to be a bit convoluted and not fully clear to me. $5000 was paid cash in hand and then $800 was to be paid each year for 10 years.
It was a common practice of the Gypsies to purchase land upon which they could make camp in the summer, and then lease the property for income.
Jan 1888 Common Court Pleas #9058 Thisis a judgment for $1821.85 against Jacob Hiram Welty and Ida Mumma by the Klepingers. This document has not yet been obtained and I don't know the details.
17 March 1888 At a sheriff’s sale, the 52 3/4 acre homestead is sold to Simon S. Mumma for the sum of $2667 to satisfy a judgment against Jacob Hiram Welty and Ida Mumma by Henry Klepinger and William Klepinger, administrators of the estate of George Klepinger for the sum of $1010.21 which includes costs. Deed book V156, p 391. George Klepinger, I believe, was Jacob’s first wife’s father. Henry and William Klepinger were her brothers.
13 July, 1888 Simon S. & Nancy M. Mumma sell the 52 3/4 acre homestead to Missouri Stanley for the sum of $3145. Simon Mumma is Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma’s son. Deed book V158, p. 93. It is interesting to note that a James A Mumma signed the papers as a notary. James A. Mumma is a lawyer and son of Joseph Benjamin Mumma.
5 Oct. 1888 Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma files for divorce from Ida Mumma because Ida, “since the 21 day of Sept. 1886, has been living in an adulterous intercourse with one Harry C. Beck in the city of Logansport, Indiana.” Common Court Pleas #10424. Record 33, page 288. The divorce was granted on 7 Feb 1889. [One family legend claims that Simon Mumma drove to Indiana and found his father being kept in a chicken coup and Simon brought his father home. I think this is more of a tale than fact and Jacob likely remained in Dayton as stated in the complaint.]
26 July, 1890 Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma, an unmarried man, sells the 52 3/4 acre homestead to Nora Stanley for the sum of $8000. Deed book V 170, p. 170. I
This document is very confusing to me. I thought that the property had been sold previously. I believe the "Nora" listed here is really Missouri Stanley. There is a "Nora Stanley", but she is with wife of Adam Stanley, Missouri's brother.
3 July, 1891 Missouri Stanley sells the property for $1 to Mary Stanley, Clipper Stanley and Readbird Stanley. Deed book 177, p. 460. These are Missouri's nephews and the son's of her brother, Adam. Clipper is 17 and Readbird is only 13. I suspect that Mary is the sister of the boys and a daughter of Adam. I believe she died prior to the 1900 census. She was probably the oldest of the living children. It is interesting & strange that Missoui sold the property to her "under age" nephews and neice.
15 May 1893 Adam Stanley "quit claims" the property to Clipper Stanley (his son) for $1. Deed book 191, p. 358. The purpose or reason for this deed is not obvious nor how Adam aquired an interest in the property, unless this is his daughter interest and has Mary died. Clipper is about 19 years old at this time.
18 July 1902 Readbird Stanley sells his 1/3 interest to Nora Stanley (his mother) for $4000. Deed book 247, p161. Readbird signs with an X which is notarized in the "Indian Territory". It is unclear where he is currently living. In the same document, Nora and her husband, Adam, sell a 1/3 interest in the property to Clipper Stanley for $4500. Nora and Adam Stanley sign this document with their Xs. They are also living in the Indian territory. The Western District was located in Muskogee, Oklahoma at that time.
19 Oct 1909 Note (Nora) & Adam (husband) Stanley and Redbird & Annie (wife) Stanley sell their interest in the property to Clipper Stanley. Deed book 316, p 77. Note & Adam received $4, Redbird & Annie received $500. These deeds were signed in Montgomery County.
28 Feb 1911 Clipper Stanley, unmarried in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, sells to Adam & Nora Stanley the property for $1. Deed book 326, p 254
Abt Aug 1911 Adam Stanley sells the entire 52 3/4 acre property to Samuel Brumbaugh. Deed book 331, p.320
I don't have this deed so don't know the details. This was the last time that the Stanley Gypsies owned or controlled the property.
5 Aug 1911 Samuel Brumbaugh sells the property to M.S Benn, a trustee, for $1. Deed book 331, p 330.
After this sale, the property is subdivided and sold in smaller parcels. The old "Mumma housee" built by Jacob Hiram Welty Mumma remained on a 4 acre parcel
1900 Census, OH, Montgomery Co, Harrison twp., p. 185A, 6 June, dwelling 83
Mumma, George F., head, b: Dec 1853, 46, m 18 yrs, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Sarah E., wife, b: Feb 1861, 39, m: 18 yrs, 5 children 3 living, b: OH/OH/OH
" , Bertha D., dau, Nov 1882, 17, single, b: OH/OH/OH, at school
" , Ida M., dau, Feb 1885, 16, single, b: OH/OH/OH, at school
" , Melvin L, son, Sept 1888, 11, single, b: OH/OH/OH, at school
" , Jacob H. W. father, Feb 1830, 70, widowed, b: OH/PA/MD, farm laborer
Rogers, Edward E., servant, Feb 1873, 27, single, b: OH/unknown/OH
1910 Census, OH, Montgomery Co., Harrison Twp., pct North B. p. 190 dwelling141
Mumma, Jacob H. W., head, 80, widowed, b: OH/MD/MD, no occupation
Jacob was a successful farmer in Harrison Township, Montgomery Co., OH. After his wife died, he became involved with the Stanley Gypsy family of Dayton, Ohio. Eventually, he married one of the Stanley Gypsies or someone who was involved with them. He sold his father's original homestead to the Stanley Gypsies. The house is still standing just off of Salem Pike Road west of Dayton and is listed on the National Register.
NOTE: The Klepinger book incorrectly lists Jacob and Susannah as being buried in Ft. McKinley Cemetery. They were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
=========================================
Obituary - (Newspaper Unknown 1 Aug 1914)
Prominent Retired Farmer Summoned
--------------
"Photo"
JACOB H. W. MUMMA
--------------
Jacob H. W. Mumma, pioneer resident of Montgomery county, who died Thursday night at the home of his son, Albert, north of Dayton on the Salem pike. He is survived by six sons, George F. Mumma, Simon S. Mumma, Albert M. Mumma, Perry O. Mumma, Aaron K. Mumma and Hiram W. Mumma.
Funeral services were conducted at his son Albert's home Saturday afternoon at 2:30. Interment was in Woodland cemetery.
========================================
In 1941, one of Jacob's sons, Rev. Aaron Klepinger Mumma, wrote the following to his cousin, Lizzie Longenecker, and I quote.
“I haven’t seen Cousin Tom M. for over 40 years I think. When I spent a week at Dayton last November I called on Margaret Siebenthaler. She is past 90 years old and enjoyed my coming to see her as a brother. After Mother’s death in 1883 Margaret Siebenthaler. kept house for father for 2 or 3 years until Father married a gipsy woman with his eyes shut and she broke everything about the house, and sent Margaret Siebenthaler a flying out of the house with many false accusations. It was then the home was broken up and all were scattered. This was in 1886. When I think of the whole matter, it has been the best for us all. We were forced out on our own resources to shift for ourselves. Father’s spiritualistic belief brought him much trouble and none of the boys could accept his teaching although he would bring mediums to the house to convince us or convert us. But it was a failure, as we could see through the sham, and deception of the whole medianistic business, and failure of its statements.”
