They lived in East Liverpool in June 1917, when Freed registered for the military draft during World War I. The federal census enumeration of 1920 shows the couple in East Liverpool, with Emma's widowed mother living under their roof. At that time, he earned a living as a catcher with a local tin plate company, and she as a decorator in a pottery.

By the early 1920s, the Koosers lived in Louisville, Stark County, OH. They have yet to be located on the 1930 U.S. Census.

By 1935, the pair had moved to Alabama, residing in Bessemer, a suburb of the city of Birmingham. His occupation as shown in the 1940 federal census was as a roller in a sheet mill.

Then as of 1950, census records place the couple in Ontario, San Bernardino County, CA. He had changed jobs completely by that time, laboring in a nursery.

By 1954, in Pomona, CA, the Koosers made news when building a hew home at the corner of Fremont and Mission Avenues. Said the Pomona Progress Bulletin, the "property on which the house is being build includes 3¼ acres of citrus trees. It was purchased from Frank C. Taylor of Ontario."

Freed spent his final years in Ontario. He died there on Nov. 5, 1972 at the age of 80. Burial was in Ontario's Bellevue Memorial Park.

Emma's fate is not yet known.

~ Daughter Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Kooser) Burchett Smith Heckel ~

Daughter Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kooser (1889-1979)  was born on May 24, 1889 in Connellsville, Fayette County.

She was married three times but never reproduced.

On Nov. 14, 1914, she married Grover Cleveland Burchett (1884-1942), a Kentucky native, and the son of Wyley and Mary (Hawes) Burchett. She was age 25 at the time, and he 30, and both were residents of East Liverpool. Rev. A.W. Gruber of East Liverpool performed the nuptials.

Grover was tall and slender, with brown eyes and dark hair. He was employed in 1914 as a potter in one of East Liverpool's clay factories, and she was an artist, likely decorating the clayware for sale to the public. In September 1918, with World War I raging in Europe, he registered for the military draft, and listed Elizabeth as his next of kin. Circa 1918-1923, they resided in Sebring, Mahoning County, OH, where Grover worked for Sebring Pottery Company.

The Burchetts divorced in January 1924, in Stark County Court, with Lizzie citing neglect and extreme cruelty. Grover remained in East Liverpool at 1235 St. George Street. In 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, he and two employees of the Patterson Foundry and Machine Company traveled to Columbus to remove pottery machinery from a plant being dismantled at Worthington, OH. He died at the age of 57 on Aug. 6, 1942. An obituary in the East Liverpool Evening Review said that "Prior to his illness he was employed in plant 7, of the Homer Laughlin China Co., and was a member of the National Brotherhood of Operative Potters." He was survived by three sisters. Funeral rites were conducted by Rev. H. Dale Mitchell of the First Church of the Nazarene, and burial was in Riverview Cemetery.

On July 17, 1925, Lizzie was wed to fellow Sebring resident Dennis William Smith (Jan. 3, 1875-1952), a native of Lake Township, Stark County and the son of Anna Catherine Miller Cole. The wedding was held in the parsonage of the Trinity Methodist Church of Youngstown, officiated by Rev. W.E. Hammaker. Their union was announced on the pages of the East Liverpool Evening Review and Youngstown Vindicator, which said that they honeymooned in Canada. Their first home together was at 305 West Oregon Avenue, Sebring.

In 1935 they lived in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and that year Lizzie signed her name as the informant on her mother's death certificate. He was a member of the Masons lodge and she belonged to the Order of Eastern Star.

After many years in Sebring, the Smiths relocated in 1940 to Alliance, where they spent their final dozen years together. He held memberships in Local 59 of the National Brotherhood of Operative Potters in Sebring, and they belonged to the First Presbyterian Church. Dennis retired in about 1950 from the pottery business. His final address was 206 East Milner Street. After undergoing colonoscopy surgery in Massillon City Hospital, at the age of 77, he died in the wee hours of May 5, 1952. His funeral was led by their pastor, Rev. Roland Showalter, and burial followed in Grandview Cemetery, Sebring. An Alliance Review obituary called him "a well known sager maker..." and said he was survived by his wife, mother, five sisters and two brothers.

Arlington National Cemetery

Lizzie's third husband, whom she wed in 1959 when she was 67 years of age, was 68-year-old John "Perry" Heckel (Feb. 9, 1891-1966). He was an Elizabeth, WV native and a veteran of World War I, and the son of Charles and Mary (Gilmore) Heckel. He had been married previously to Lala Theakston (1889-1945) of Salem, OH and Bertha Amelia Mort (1894-1958). Circa 1917, he had been employed at an East Liverpool pottery. Then in 1940, living at 421 Broadway in East Liverpool, he worked for Taylor Smith and Taylor China Company across the river in Chester, WV.

From his marriage to Bertha, Perry was the father of three stepchildren -- Mrs. Arlo Green, William Mort and Louis Mort.

Perry and Lizzie relocated to Atwater, OH, where he operated a milk and ice cream business. He also held memberships in the Wellsville lodge of the Elks and Veterans of Foreign Wars post, and the American Legion in Chester, with his name frequently in the newspapers for his Legion offices. Among his accomplishments was a collaboration with the Child Welfare Association and the McKinley Parent-Teacher Association during the Great Depression to provide food to 500 students each day. They belonged to the Atwater Baptist Church.

Sadly, Perry died in Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna on Feb. 12, 1966. In an obituary, the Akron Beacon Journal placed the headcount of his survivors as nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. His remains were transported to Fort Myer, VA for interment in Arlington National Cemetery.

Lizzie was named in Perry's obituary. She appears to have moved to Tampa, FL. Toward the end, she was admitted to reside in Little Forest Nursing Home in Akron.

After what the Alliance Review called "a long illness," she died in the Home on Aug. 1979.

~ Daughter Sadie Esther (Kooser) McLaughlin ~

Daughter Sadie Esther (Kooser) McLaughlin (1893-1965) was born in January 1893 in Pennsylvania.

She was close with her cousin Katherine (Long) McClain (daughter of William Jacob Long). In a postcard dated Sept. 9, 1915, Katherine wrote this to another of their cousins, Hannah Pritts, in Normalville: "I had a letter from Sadie to-day. She is trying to hold me to my promise to go out there Xmas. Would like well enough to but guess I can't." 

At the age of 24, in about 1917, Sadie married 32-year-old William Arthur Shaw "W.A." McLaughlin Sr. (1886- ? ), an emigrant from Liverpool, England. The wedding nuptials were held in Youngstown, Mahoning County, OH.

As a young man, he was tall with a medium build, and with grey eyes and black hair. He worked as a potter for Cartwright Brothers in East Liverpool, played semi-professional soccer and emigrated to the United States aboard the Mauritania. In June 1917, he registered for the American military draft. "During World War I," recalled a granddaughter, "he served in one of the Queen's house guard regiments in Canada as a Calvary officer and played coronet in the house guard band."

The McLaughlins lived in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH in 1923-1935, where the 1930 federal census shows him employed as a motorman with a street railway. They later resided at 932 South Arch Avenue in Alliance, Stark County, OH. 

They had three known children -- William Arthur McLaughlin Jr., Wanda Dolores Riedel and Charles Robert McLaughlin.

"Sadie had beautiful henna colored hair," said the granddaughter. "She was only 5' 2" -- the other sisters were taller. She was very sweet, frugal and wise. Until she met my grandfather, she worked in the pottery part time as a painter and part time in a book bindery."

William passed away in Sandusky, Erie County, OH on Sept. 30, 1961.

Sadie is believed to have outlived him by four years and to have succumbed to the spectre of death in Geauga, OH on Aug. 16, 1965.

Son William Arthur McLaughlin (1920-2002) was born on April 13, 1920 in Cleveland. On July 2, 1941, at the age of 21, he married his 19-year-old high school girlfriend, Mildred Ruth "Millie" Corbett (Sept. 26, 1920-2004). Their four children were William McLaughlin Jr, Nancy Jeanne Lord, Janis Lyn McLaughlin and James McLaughlin. He spent his career as a production manager for Chardon Bubber Company in Chardon, OH, which he joined Oct. 5, 1950 and from which he retired 39 years later on Jan. 5, 1989. He also was a professional musician, playing trumpet as well as conducting and arranging. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and was a musician in the Pacific Theatre, said to have played at a party honoring Admiral Halsey. Said the Willoughby (OH) News Herald, "Bill is remembered by many as a musician during the 'Big Band' Era, playing the trumpet with Lew Ayers, Lew Anderson and Hal Lynn among others. He appeared in many clubs and ballrooms.... He and Millie were founding members of the Geauga Lyric Theater Guild and he served as Director from 1955 to 1980. He directed more than 30 musicals. Remaining active until 1990. From 1960 to 1976, he was director of the Great Geauga County Fair Band and was honored for his service in 2001.." The McLaughlins made their home in Burton, Geauga County, OH. At the age of 82, William passed away on May 29, 2002. Funeral services were held at the Newbury United Community Church, led by Rev. Brian Bagley-Bonner. Mildred followed him to the grave two years later, at the age of 83, on April 22, 2004. Obituaries for both were published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer as well as in the Willoughby News Herald.

• Grandson William Arthur McLaughlin Jr. ( ? - ? ) was born in (?). He married Delores ( ? ). They have lived in Meadville, PA.

• Granddaughter Nancy Jeanne McLaughlin (1943-2013) was born in on July 10, 1942 in Cleveland. She obtained a bachelor of fine arts degree in education from Ohio University. She wed (?) Lord. She dwelled in Middlefield and Burton and produced two sons, Robert William Lord and Donald Lee Lord. Reported the Willoughby (OH) News Herald, "A resident of this area for 30 years, Nancy worked in sales at Flambeau in Middlefield for over 20 years and at Shade Tree in Middlefield 10 years, retiring in 2009. Her hobbies included bird watching and music. She was a choir director at Newbury Community Church for 20 years and directed several shows for Geauga Lyric Theatre Guild." Nancy Jeanne died at the age of 70 on Feb. 19, 2013 in UH Geauga Medical Center. A memorial service was held at the Burton Congregational Church, and the family asked that any memorial donations be made to the rescue village at the Geauga County Human Society. The Cleveland Plain Dealer published an obituary. Their son Robert married Jacque and resided in Seattle, while son Donald made his home in San Jose, CA.

• Granddaughter Janis Lyn McLaughlin ( ? - ? ) has made her home in Burton. Circa 2003, she ran a non-profit organization known as Heartland Circle, which helped rural women in the farmlands of western Ohio.

• Grandson James Bruce McLaughlin ( ? - ? ) lived in Burton. He  was deceased by 2013.

Daughter Wanda Dolores McLaughlin (1922- ? ) was born in 1922 in Ohio. She was wedded to Donald F. Riedel (1914-2014), son of Michael and Anna Riedel of Highland Heights, OH. Their three children were Douglas Riedel, Karen Leyde and Craig Riedel. Wanda worked as a secretary during her career and enjoyed singing in the Sweet Adalines. Noted the Willoughby (OH) News-Herald, Donald "was a department manager at Cleveland Crane for over 40 years.... Don and Wanda moved to Florida after his retirement and enjoyed 25 years there. They returned to Ohio in 2003. He loved fishing and caught many muskies at Chautauqua Lake." Just four months shy of his 100th birthday, Donald died at home in Mentor on June 27, 2014. Burial was in Whitehaven Memorial Park, with an obituary appearing in the News-Herald.

• Grandson Douglas Riedel wed Kimberly. He is said to have been interested in the family genealogy.

• Granddaughter Karen Riedel married Richard Leyde.Grandson Craig Riedel was joined in wedlock with Mai.

• Grandson Craig Riedel was joined in wedlock with Mai.

Laurie's musical about Amelia Earhart

Son Charles Robert "Chuck" McLaughlin (1924-2004) was born on Nov. 22, 1924 in Ohio. He was united in holy matrimony with Mary Alice Owens (1928-1995), thought to have been the daughter of Paul Clarence and Hilda Mary (Mauntel) Owens of Cleveland. Their only child was Laura Marie "Laurie" McLaughlin. He served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman and parachutist during World War II. After the war, he was employed as a mechanical engineer. He enjoyed playing guitar and singing in local bands. Mary Alice passed into eternity on Aug. 26, 1995 with burial in All Souls Cemetery in Chardon, a property of the Catholic Cemeteries Association of the Diocese of Cleveland. Charles survived his wife by nine years. He relocated to Valrico near Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL. He joined her in death on June 17, 2004, with his remains shipped to Ohio for interment.

• Granddaughter Laura Marie "Laurie" McLaughlin ( ? -2017) was born on Nov. 23, (?). She grew up in Chagrin Falls, OH and was employed in customer service at CCS Medical. Laurie graciously shared information for this biography in 2003. A graphic designer and playwright, she authored Final Approach: The Amelia Earhart Musical and recruited Minnesota singer-songwriter Claudie Schmidt to play one of the lead roles. She also completed the manuscript of Earhart's husband, George Palmer Putnam. In March 2014, during a trip to Austrlia, she became a Buddhist nun and was given the name "Venerable Gyalten Yangchen." She went to live in Land of Medicine Buddha, a green certified non-profit Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in the Santa Cruz Redwood Mountains. In November 2013, she authored "Vegetarian Eating Experience" on the Land of Medicine Buddha's website. Stricken with cancer, she died in Soquel, CA on Jan. 18, 2017.

~ Daughter Ruamy Blanche "Amy" (Kooser) Browne Phelps ~

Daughter Ruamy Blanche "Amy" Kooser (1898- ? ) was born on Nov. 19, 1898 in Scottdale, Fayette County.

She migrated with her parents to East Liverpool, Columbiana County, OH.

At the age of 23, on Oct. 9, 1920, she married 23-year-old Leslie A. Browne (1898- ? ), of Wellsville, Columbiana County, the son of Tennessee natives Walter L. and Etta (Bills) Browne. Rev. P.E. Carson performed the ceremony in Lisbon, OH. At the time of marriage, Amy was employed as a potter in East Liverpool, and he by the railroad.

They had one known son, Leslie Browne Jr., born in Pittsburgh in March 1922, and brought back home to Wellsville. Tragically, the boy died at the age of one month, 13 days, on May 6, 1922, most likely of bronchial pneumonia, just as the physician arrived at their home. The child's remains were taken to Leslie's hometown of Nashville, TN for burial.

The Brownes' marriage ended. Amy supported herself as a potter in Ashland, Ashland County, OH. On Aug. 19, 1924, in Ashland, and using the name "Kooser," Amy entered into matrimony with 46-year-old grocer Harvey O. Phelps (Jan. 9, 1877-1958), son of Lewis M. and Martha (Shields) Phelps and originally from Meigs County, OH. Rev. A.B. Robertson presided. Harvey was more than 20 years older than Amy, and on the marriage license application, she claimed she had never been married before.

Harvey had been married before, in 1900, to Iva M. Stewart ( ? - ? ), and was the father of Beulah May Phelps, Wilbur C. Phelps, Ilah Marie Kontnier, Thelma Phelps, Allen R. Phelps and Harold O. Phelps. In what must have been unspeakable grief, only one -- Ilah -- lived beyond the age of 18.

By 1935, the Phelpses had moved to Pataskala, Licking County on the outskirts of Columbus, Franklin County, OH.

The 1940 census shows Amy (using the name "Blanche") and Harvey in Hebron, Licking County. He passed away in 1958, with burial in Kirkersville Cemetery in Licking County.

Amy survived him by 24 years and surrendered to the angel of death on Nov. 8, 1982, in Newark.

 

Mary and Charles Lohman, 1936

~ Daughter Mary Frances (Kooser) Lohman Higgins ~

Daughter Mary Frances (Kooser) Lohman Higgins (1902-1956) was born on Jan. 17, 1902 in East Liverpool, Columbiana County, OH.

Mary was a teenager when her parents divorced. In young womanhood, she lived at 215 West Indiana Avenue in Sebring, Mahoning County, OH, and was employed in the office of a pottery. 

On Christmas Day 1923, she was joined in wedlock with her first spouse, Charles Lohman (1898-1969), a native of Salineville, Columbiana County, and the son of George and Rosie (Salter) Lohman. The nuptials were held in Sebring, presided by Rev. O.J. Moore. John was of medium height, and of slender build, and had brown eyes and blond hair. He played semi-professional baseball and was considered somewhat of a rogue.

They produced an only son, Glenn Lohman.

Prior to marriage, in September 1918, when he was required to register for the military draft, he stated his employer as Androlic Pressed Steel Co., his position as "making shells" and his nearest relative as Mrs. Rose Lohman of Salineville.

They are seen here circa 1936, at the golden wedding anniversary of their aunt and uncle, John and Rachel (Long) Pritts. Mary would have been age 34 at the time, and Charles 38.

Circa 1926, their home was on West Maryland Avenue in East Liverpool, Columbiana County, OH. That year, Mary hosted a visit from her married sister Sadie McLaughlin of Cleveland. By 1930, they resided in Sebring, Mahoning County, OH, on Maryland Avenue, when the federal census was taken. Mary's aged mother Susan made her home in their residence that year, and died there in 1935. Charles worked as a turner in a pottery in Sebring.

In July 1956, the Lohmans divorced in Canton, with Mary alleging cruelty and neglect.

Charles apparently migrated to the West Coast where, said the Alliance (OH) Review, he was a "potter in California." Charles later married Katherine (?), and they divorced in September 1950. He then is believed to have moved to San Jose, CA. He passed away at age 70 on July 17, 1969 in the Jane Francis Nursing Home near Alliance, with burial at Woodland Cemetery in Salineville. His obituary appeared in the Salem News, which referred to him as "a former potter and a semi-professional baseball player."

Then at the age of 49, residing in Alliance, Mary wed a second time, on June 17, 1951, to 51-year-old Sebring resident Rea Higgins ( ? - ? ), a West Virginia native and the son of William and Anna B. (Kelly) Higgins. The ceremony was conducted in Stark County. At the time, Rea earned income as a potter.

The Higgins' marriage ended in divorce on Leap Day 1956 in Stark County, with Mary taking back her first married name.

Mary suffered from asthma in her later years but remained in Ohio against doctor's orders. She succumbed to an asthma attack in Stark County, OH on June 9, 1956. Burial was in Grandview Cemetery in Sebring, Mahoning County, OH, with her pastor, Rev. Alva B. Miller, leading the services. [Find-a-Grave] An obituary in the Alliance Review said that she was "a native of Wellsville" and had "resided in Alliance and Sebring 30 years. She was a member of the Sebring Methodist Church."

Son Glenn Dean Lohman (1936-2004) was born on Dec. 11, 1936 in Alliance, Stark County. He was age 19 when his mother died in 1956. Glenn relocated to California. At the age of 30, on March 18, 1967, he entered into matrimony with 23-year-old Joyce H. Leveau ( ? - ? ). They produced a family of children, among them Sheri Lohman, Mitch Lohman and Scott Lohman. At the death of his father in 1969, Glenn and family dwelled in Hawthorne, CA. Sadly, Glenn suffered a stroke and died in Fullerton, Orange County, CA on Aug. 7, 2004.

• Granddaughter Sheri Lohman ( ? - ? )

• Grandson Mitch Lohman ( ? - ? )

• Grandson Scott Lohman ( ? - ? )

Copyright © 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2012-2013, 2017, 2023 Mark A. Miner

Glenda (Tressler) Smith and the late Laurie McLaughlin generously have contributed content for this biography.