Welcome to a journey through time with Vintage Recipe Box 001, a treasure trove of culinary history. This wooden box, part of a larger lot I purchased from an eBay auction, is one of eight vintage recipe boxes crafted from wood and tin. Each holds decades of cherished family recipes. The moment I opened this box, I felt a connection to the past, and the clues it held led me on a fascinating path of discovery.
How It All Began
In September 2015, I sat in a hotel room in Kansas City, feeling a wave of nostalgia and sadness over not having my grandmother’s recipes—she never wrote anything down. That moment stirred something in me, a longing to preserve the past. Later that evening, as I browsed eBay, I came across a listing that caught my eye: eight vintage recipe boxes made of wood and tin. I couldn’t believe that someone would part with such a treasure, so I immediately placed a bid and won. Those boxes had come from an estate sale in Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, and now they were mine.
This serendipitous discovery planted the seed for the Vintage Recipe Project. By October 21, 2015, I had purchased the domain and officially started the site. My mission became clear: to “save” as many recipes as possible, sharing the food history and the stories behind these precious recipe boxes and the legacies of the families who created them.
Vintage Recipe Box 001
The Discovery of Goldie’s Box
One of the boxes in this collection, Vintage Recipe Box 001, turned out to be the key to unlocking the life and times of Goldie Ree Lewis Sowers. I found a small piece of yellow paper inside the box with the name “Goldie” written on it, and my heart leaped. This was the first clue to the box’s original owner. Then, I discovered a tiny newspaper clipping announcing Goldie’s marriage, which led me to uncover a wealth of information about her life and the recipes she cherished.
A Family Legacy Unfolds
Through meticulous research using Ancestry.com, I pieced together Goldie’s family history. I discovered that she was born in 1889 in Ohio, married in 1911, and spent most of her life in Morrow County. She and her husband, Charlie, raised two children, Jean and Harry, on their farm in Johnsville, Ohio. Goldie’s grandmother, Barbara Ellen Schultz Snyder, was a Mennonite, and the family’s roots ran deep in the Ohio soil.
The box contained recipes from Goldie, her friends, and family, with newspaper clippings spanning over 40 years. These recipes tell the story of a life well-lived, filled with love, community, and the joys of home cooking. I also discovered that the box had originally belonged to Goldie’s son, Harry, a veterinarian, whose estate sale brought these recipe boxes into my hands.
Connecting the Dots
Through this journey, I’ve learned so much about Goldie, her family, and the recipes they treasured. Each recipe card is a piece of history, connecting me—and now you—to the past. I aim to preserve these recipes and share them with others so they can continue to be enjoyed for generations.
The Origin Story
The seller provided a tantalizing hint: these recipes originated from an estate in Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, belonging to a veterinarian. Unfortunately, the seller couldn’t recall the veterinarian’s name but promised to check with the auctioneer for more details. With a little patience and persistence, I might soon uncover more about this mysterious family’s history.
From the eBay seller:
These recipes came from Shelby, Ohio, Richland County (Shelby Richland County, Ohio), the estate of a veterinarian. We cannot remember his name. We will ask the auctioneer who did the sale and see if he has the family’s name, and when we find out, we will surely let you know.
The First Clue: Goldie’s Recipe Box
Among the recipes, I stumbled upon a small piece of yellow paper that excited me. It bore the name “Goldie”—not a last name, but enough to ignite my curiosity. Who was Goldie? I didn’t have to wonder for long.
The Breakthrough: Goldie Gets Married
Then, as if fate guided me, I found a tiny newspaper clipping announcing Goldie’s marriage. This small but significant clue opened up a world of information about Goldie and her circle of friends and family. With the help of Ancestry.com and a lot of detective work, I began to piece together the life of Goldie Ree Lewis Sowers.
I then visited Newspapers.com, hoping to find where the clipping was published, but I could not find it. I did find this treasure!
Piecing Together Goldie’s Life
Goldie Ree LEWIS was born in Ohio on January 12, 1889, and passed away on May 1, 1987, in Morrow County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Lyman L. LEWIS and Anna Jane SNYDER. On October 11, 1911, in Morrow County, Goldie married Charles Allen SOWERS, born in 1886 and died in 1956.
One of the most heartwarming discoveries was the obituary for Goldie’s daughter, Jean, which mentioned that she was born on the family farm in Johnsville, Ohio. I wondered if this farm belonged to Goldie’s family or something she and Charles built together.
A Glimpse Into Goldie’s Heritage
Digging deeper, I found a photograph of Goldie’s grandmother, Barbara Ellen SCHULTZ Snyder, on Ancestry.com. The image shows Barbara stirring a large pot of apple butter outside, with the caption noting that she was a Mennonite in Johnsville, Morrow County, Ohio. This connection to the Mennonite community and the family’s deep roots in Ohio added another layer to the story.
The Collection of Clippings
The recipe box also contained numerous newspaper clippings, dating from 1917 to 1959, giving insight into the recipes Goldie, her family, and friends cherished for over 40 years. However, the biggest mystery was how this box ended up in the possession of a veterinarian in another county.
Uncovering the Connection
It turns out the box was part of the estate of Goldie’s son, Harry Sowers, who was a veterinarian. Born on February 11, 1921, in Bellville, Ohio, Harry followed in his mother’s footsteps in preserving family traditions. His obituary provided a touching snippet about the values he learned from growing up on a Morrow County farm with “godly parents,” values he passed on to his own family.
The People Behind the Recipes
This collection includes recipes from various individuals, each connected to Goldie. Here are some of the key figures:
- Ada THUMA Dawson and Lockie Elizabeth THUMA Coe: Cousins and granddaughters of Simon Thuma and Nevada Millier, these women appear to be Goldie’s family friends. Ada contributed recipes for Grape Jelly and Mustard Pickles. Lockie has one recipe, Grape Butter.
- Amy J. LEE McWilliams: Amy is likely a family friend born in 1900 and died in 1966. Her Bread and Butter Pickles recipe is included in this collection.
- Aunt Lydia: Likely Lydia Alice Lewis Rinehart, Goldie’s father’s sister, was born in 1864 and died in 1954. Her recipe for Bread and Butter Pickles is noted as being from “Aunt Lydia.”
- Aunt Minnie: Possibly Minnie Belle Ruhl, Goldie’s mother-in-law, or a second cousin named Minnie Snyder. Her Oatmeal Cookie recipe adds to the mystery that still needs further research.
- Edna M. JOHNS Furbay: A family friend with two recipes in the collection, Doughnuts and Pineapple Salad.
- Grace Marie LOVELAND Hershner: A friend from Richland County with a Peach Custard Pie recipe.
- Grandma Sowers: Likely referring to Minnie Belle Ruhl Sowers (Goldie’s mother-in-law) or Amy Malvina Smith Sowers (Goldie’s husband’s grandmother). Her Soft Molasses Cookies recipe is a comforting addition to the box.
- Marie (last name unknown): Contributed to Marie’s Fudge recipe. Her identity remains a mystery.
- Mrs. Millikin: Likely one of two women named Ruth Millikin from Morrow County, OH, both of whom have recipes (Catsup, and Orange Cookies) in this collection. Based on research, I am assuming it is one of these ladies I find information that leads me in another direction. One Ruth was born in 1891 and died in 1987. The other was born in 1913, and death unknown. At this time, it looks like there is no relation to Goldie, and assuming she is a friend of the family
- Mrs. Noser: With a single recipe for Chocolate Cake, Mrs. Noser’s identity is still unknown.
- Ruth Denison: With two recipes for Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Pie, Ruth’s identity is yet to be confirmed.
Goldie Ree Lewis Sowers – Timeline of a Life and Legacy
1889
- January 12: Goldie Ree Lewis is born in Ohio to Lyman L. Lewis (1856–1922) and Anna Jane Snyder (1865–1928).
1900
- Age 11: Goldie is living in Perry, Morrow County, Ohio, with her family.
1910
- Age 21: Goldie resides in Perry, Morrow County, Ohio, listed as single and living with her parents.
1911
- October 11: Goldie marries Charles Allen “Charlie” Sowers (1886–1956) in Morrow County, Ohio.
1918
- August 23: Birth of daughter Flogene “Jean” Sowers (1918–2009) on the family farm in Johnsville, Ohio.
1920
- Age 31: Goldie, now married, is living in Perry, Morrow County, Ohio, with her husband, Charlie.
1921
- February 11: Birth of son Harry Lewis Sowers (1921–2015) in Shauck (Johnsville), Morrow County, Ohio.
1922
- February 12: Death of Goldie’s father, Lyman L. Lewis (1856–1922) in Morrow, Ohio.
1928
- December 21: Death of Goldie’s mother, Anna Jane Snyder (1865–1928) in Morrow, Ohio.
1930
- Age 41: Goldie and her family are living in Perry, Morrow County, Ohio.
1935
- Age 46: The Sowers family continues to reside in Perry, Morrow County, Ohio.
1940
- April 1: Goldie is recorded living in Perry, Morrow County, Ohio, with her husband Charlie, still married.
1956
- August 11: Death of Goldie’s husband, Charles Allen “Charlie” Sowers (1886–1956) in Mount Gilead, Morrow County, Ohio.
1987
- May 1: Goldie passes away at 98 in Morrow, Ohio. She is buried in Shauck (Johnsville), Morrow County, Ohio.
Johnsville, Ohio (Shauck)
A search for Johnsville, Ohio (also known as Shauck) led me to discover that this unincorporated community is part of northern Perry Township, Morrow County. It has a post office at the intersection of U.S. Route 42 and State Route 314. Interestingly, Snyder Road in Johnsville might be named after Goldie’s mother’s family, adding another layer of connection to her heritage.
VINTAGE RECIPE BOX 001 INDEX
Below are links to the other vintage recipe boxes purchased within this recipe box lot.
Vintage Recipe Box 001
BEVERAGE RECIPES
BREAKFAST RECIPES
DINNER RECIPES
FOOD PRESERVATION
BREAD RECIPES
CONDIMENT RECIPES
CONDIMENTS - JELLY RECIPES
CONDIMENTS - PICKLE RECIPES
SALAD RECIPES
SANDWICH RECIPES
VEGETABLE RECIPES
DESSERTS - CAKE RECIPES
DESSERTS - COOKIE RECIPES
DESSERTS - PIE RECIPES
DESSERTS - PUDDING RECIPES
MISCELLANEOUS RECIPES
RESOURCES
- Johnsville, Ohio on Wikipedia
- Obituary for Harry Lewis SOWERS
Andrea
Wednesday 26th of February 2020
I am from Johnsville Ohio. Shauck post office. Minnie Snyder’s husband was Homer and lived on county rd 29. Minnie and Homer went to the same church as Charlie and Goldie. Grace Hershner was married to Earl Hershner they had 4 or 5 children. William, who is still living next to the home place Marvin, Robert Dean passed away 2 weeks ago and I forgot the other sister's name any way they all went to the same church. The Depues all passed away within 1 year of each other. Merridelle, Margarette Shaffer, and, Marjorie Simmons who ran the Dairy Queen in the town. The Simmons daughter lives in the DePue home.
Billie at Vintage Recipe Project
Thursday 27th of February 2020
Thank you so much for sharing this information with us!!!
Edward Reinholtz
Monday 22nd of August 2016
I enjoyed reading the info on how these recipes came along and always love recipes . I go to my local Library and look at the Books they have on sale and do find some old Cookbooks which I do Buy . I believe their is a Johnsonville Ohio but not sure .
Royce Helen Robertson
Friday 22nd of April 2016
What an amazing find and story of their history. Thank you so much for sharing. I love old recipes. They generally require more time and effort but find the food much tastier then many recipes of today. How lucky to have the history of the owner of your lucky find of treasures. I have two recipe boxes just like the ones shown in the photos third from left on the top and second from left on the bottom. I am soon to be 79 years of age this year and have had my little recipe boxes for years and years. My recipes and boxes are much more worn the ones in your photos. Many many thanks again. Loved the article.