two schnapps glasses with fulda church behind them

Eddie said he was just keeping his pledge to Joe

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You could get the best refreshments in Fulda, OH at the Fisher Saloon. It was hopps fired brewed German beer, sparkling and crystal clear. Mrs. Frank Fisher grew the family’s own hopps, fire cooked brewed the hopps, set them in a 10-gallon stone jar with sugar added, let it ferment for five days till worked off, then bottled, let set for five more days, then it was ready to drink. It was very good; people would come for miles to get a drink.

Frank came to this country as a single man. He married Margaret Hupp, and they built their home on Lot 7 in Fulda and raised 7 children there. Frank had learned the cobbler business from his father in Fulda, Germany. He ran the cobbler shop in the same room Margaret ran the saloon, so you could have a good drink while you got your shoes repaired or your harness or saddle repaired.

Fisher Saloon in Fulda, OH.
Fisher Saloon in Fulda, OH.

Eventually, Joseph Fisher took over the cobbler shop from his dad. Joseph was a bachelor. After his mother died he and Eddie Crock became great pals. Eddie and Rosey Crock bought the Ed Johanning home and store, which was directly across the street from the Fisher Saloon.

Eddie and Joe spent a lot of time in each other’s place of business, visiting with each other and the customers. They got to having a morning eye opener each day until it got to be a must. This went on for years without missing a morning.

They made a pledge with each other, that if one died the other would bring an eye opener and visit the grave. Joe died first and was buried in the 3rd addition to the cemetery, which was in sight of the church.

Each morning Eddie got up and poured two glasses of schnaps, one for Joe and one for himself. He would pick up Joe’s in his left hand and his in the right hand, tap them together and say “Here’s to you Joe,” then up and drink his, turn around and drink Joe’s.

He would then get his walking stick and along with old Shep, walk up past the church and down through the cemetery to Joe’s grave. He’d lean against Joe’s tombstone, take his left hand, open his fly and pee on the grass in front of the tombstone, and say “Here’s to you, Joe.” Then he’d rest a little bit and walk back home.

This picture of the Fulda General Store was taken in the spring of 1921 or 1922. Proprietor Ed Crock (1891-1967) is shown with two of his children, Herman (1915-1981), and Dorothy (b. 1920).
This picture of the Fulda General Store was taken in the spring of 1921 or 1922. Proprietor Ed Crock (1891-1967) is shown with two of his children, Herman (1915-1981), and Dorothy (b. 1920).

Eddie did this for several years each morning without fail.

Father Donaldson came to Fulda as the parish priest and noticed Eddie going by the church each morning at 8:00 AM prompt and that Eddie went to the same tombstone. One day when Eddie was going home, Father asked Eddie why he always went at exactly 8:00 AM and to the same tombstone. Eddie told him that was the grave of his pal Joseph Fisher, that he and Joe always had a morning eye opener for over 40 years, and that he was taking Joe’s down to him.

Father said he never saw Eddie carrying an eye opener and it looked more like he was peeing on Joe instead. Eddie said he was just keeping his pledge to Joe, but he hadn’t said he wouldn’t run it through his kidneys first.

from Life of John Crock and Descendants, Born in 1811, Father of all Crocks in Ohio, by Leander Crock, publ. by Noble County University, Caldwell, OH, 1996 

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