As Herb and Clara’s life started they wanted to start a family. Their first child broke their hearts! Her name was Carol and was stillborn. This seemed like the end of the world to them, but they tried again for another child. This time, they had twin girls. They were so excited. They named the girls Joanne and Joan. At the age of 2 ½ years old, Joan had died of ammonia. This was so hard for them to have two children deceased. They didn’t give up at this point in life so they tried again for another child. They had another little girl and named her Deloris Gene,
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and at the age of one year she also died. Deloris Gene died of measles. Herb and Clara were very thankful they still had their beautiful daughter Joanne. Once again they tried for a child. A beautiful girl was born and her name was Janet, then another girl came along and her name was Linda. They now had three healthy little girls. Herb loved his girls but he still had the desire to have a little boy. Then Clara was expecting again for a child. At last, they were finally blessed with a little boy. He was such a miracle that they wanted to name him after his father, Herb. Herb was the last of all of the children. Life was a little rough for Clara and Herb by losing three children; they were so thankful and blessed with four beautiful children. They tried their best to raise them and to be a Christian by attending the Bradford Presbyterian Church.
Great Grandfather always had a heart of gold. He enjoyed helping others. He volunteered to help form St. Mary’s Lake. He helped by digging out the area. Herb spent many hours and days helping to form this lake. He was also known for helping to build the Round House at Bradford for the railroaders to stay in. Herb helped the community in so many different ways, he was well known by everyone.
He started his own business by owning a scrap yard. His business was called Schellenbarg Scrap Yard. He had contracts with the government to furnish them with metal for the war to make guns and other things during World War II. Metal back then was scarce. Herb didn’t serve any time in the military service; he was needed to supply metal instead. He had been in the junkyard business for 27 years. He was a hard worker and really enjoyed his work. Jobs were hard to find in the 1900’s. There were people that would come to his place begging for a job. Some of these people were homeless and they didn’t have a place to live. Great-
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Grandpa would let them stay with them until they could find a place to live. This was how my great-grandparents were. They tried to help in any way they could. My Great-Grandmother was always busy fixing huge meals to feed everyone.
As time went on, Herb had another disaster in his life. His business caught on fire and went up in flames on May 5, 1955. The fire was caused by a cigarette, which was discarded from a worker and not completely put out. The fire was terrible! You could see the smoke for miles. They claim you could see the smoke at Springfield, Ohio. There were a lot of tires in his scrap yard, which caused a lot of black smoke. In fact, Bradford Fire Department didn’t have much luck putting out the fire, so they called in Covington Fire Department. They were the ones who successfully put out the fire by using foam as a type of spray. This was the biggest fire in Bradford they ever had. They were very fortunate though that the fire didn’t spread to their home. It was located right next to the scrap yard. People came from all over to try to help out.
Herb recovered from this wicked fire and rebuilt his business all over again. He spent many hours and hard labor to get his business going. Since he was a man well known for all of his help to the community, many people volunteered to return the favor and helped Herb with his business. He was very thankful and once again blessed to be able to save his business.
Then one day, 10 years later on Thursday, July 29, 1965, around 6:00 P.M., a horrible tragedy happened in his life. As he was working at his business, along with his son by his side, they were moving some cars by using a crane to lift them. Herbert, Jr. was operating the crane and his father was standing under the boom, pulling the cable, and then all of a sudden there was a failure in the hydraulic system. The boom fell directly on my Great-Grandfather. Crushing him! His son couldn’t do any thing to help him. It happened too quickly. It was a disaster! The
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family had a terrible time accepting this tragic death. People came from all over for his services. He was a well-known man.
I feel very proud to have a Great-Grandfather such as Herb A. Schellenbarg. He was a hard working businessman and a man who knew how to take care of his family. Family meant everything to him. He cared a lot about his community and always volunteered to help in any way he could. His heart was so huge that it reached out to many. He was well known by everyone and everyone cared about him. The more I learn about him, the more I want to be just like him. Someday I will own my own business and be very successful just as he was. Family would mean the world to me also. I would take pride in my life and help others as much as I could. Even though my Great-Grandfather, Herbert Schellenbarg, isn’t with us today, he will always be remembered. I am very proud of my Great-Grandfather for everything he has done in his life.
Sources of and dates of information:
Pictures of the business fire from a camera my Great Grandfather
Copy of Marriage License
Memory paper of Herbert Schellenbarg when he past away
Newspaper clippings dated July 30, 1965 of tragic boom accident in the Piqua Daily Call
