Oh, Ursulla Oxer, You Sprightly Woman, You!

Why can’t all of my ancestors have marriage announcements in the newspapers? and why couldn’t Ursula Oxer been my ancestor? Yes, I do research Auxer, Axers and Oxers, however, she married into the clan and I’m trying to find out what happened to her previous husband!

Look at all of this information in six short lines:

• They got married the previous Sunday (30 June 1812),
• A German Reformed Pastor married them (Mr. Hoffmeyer, probably J.H. Hoffmeier)
• Groom’s name, Peter Holl (spelled Hohl in other records),
• This is not the bride’s first marriage since the “Mrs.” gives that away,
• Both bride and groom lived in Strasburg and they were each 70 years of age!
• . . . and don’t forget, she was sprightly!

Next task? Go through previous editions of this particular newspaper and look for her husband’s death! Think I’ll find it?

I’ll let you know!

 

Newspaper Archives; my favorite reading!

I love Newspaper archives. Not only do I search for ancestors in them, I read them issue by issue, just to get a feel for the time. And what wonderful results that can yield!

With newspapers now readily available online I can read newspapers anytime day or night.  Sites like Genealogy Bank, Ancestry.com, ProQuest, Footnote, Libraries, Historical Societies, Colleges and Archives; all are to be commended for putting these invaluable resources out there for researchers around the world.

It was while I was just going through old newspapers online, that I finally jumped over the brickwall that was my great-greatgrandfather, John Niess.

One evening I was putting in variants of my grandmother’s maiden name and came across a familiar name, and then the date jumped out at me!  According to my great-great-grandmother’s obituary, her husband had “preceded her in death nineteen years before.”  Since she died in 1905 and the date of the newspaper I was looking at was July of 1886, it was a strong probability, that my John Niess, was the person mentioned in this little blurb.

This deserved to be looked into a little further, so the next morning, I walked on down to the library for a look at the local newspaper’s microfilm.  I almost jumped up from the viewer and did a “grateful dance” around the microfilm viewer!  (Key word in that sentence is “almost!”) I had finally found his death date!  That little blurb from a Philadelphia newspaper led me to this article in a Lancaster newspaper:

DEATH ON THE RAIL
An Old Man struck By a Locomotive and Killed at Mountville
John Neiss, a man aged seventy-seven, was struck and killed by extra engine west, No. 374, of the Pennsylvania railroad, at the east end of the village of Mountville, this forenoon.  The property on which the deceased lived is situated along and extended back to the deep cut through which the railroad passes.  Between 10 and 11 o’clock a. m. his wife sent him out to empty some potato parlings down the railroad embankment.  The bucket containing them fell out of his hand and rolled down upon the track.  He went after the vessel, and while standing on the track was struck by the engine.  He was not mangled, but died in less than a half hour after he was struck.  Coroner Honaman was notified, and he left this city at 2 o’clock for Mountville to hold an inquest.
The deceased had resided in Mountville for some years, and besides a wife leaves several grown children.  One of them, a daughter, lives at home.  Neiss was crippled in one of his arms and was a laborer.

The more expanded version helped to verify that this was indeed, my great-greatgrandfather.  It was just one more fact I learned about his life, thanks to the newspapers online and on microfilm.

Had it not been for those wonderful sites that post newspapers, I would have never found this!  I had been searching for his death date for years.

John Niess, you should have let that bucket lay!

 

I’m on a mission! I found some new Church Records!

Church records are probably my favorite documents.  Even though a lot of the information is not quite accurate, they are full of clues and fun to read!

I love Baptismal records that indicate “supposed father.”  I love marriage records that indicate one party (or both) were widowed and I love death records that give the cause of death.

On Saturday, I just found the database for a Church that no longer exists, and I found it 20 minutes before closing time!  Know what makes for a long weekend?  No access to those Church records!  Today, I was on a mission!

My mission was to spend as long as I can, with my computer next to me, searching for those I know were either married or buried in this town that I’ve not been able to find. I’d decided to head right to the source.  The Philip Schaff Library. At the Lancaster Theological Seminary. Second Floor is one of the best kept secrets for church records ~ The Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society. I love this place, and I’m usually the only person using the records when I’m there.

The day was beautiful and I walked the 8 blocks rather than drive.  it was a no brainer, even carrying my laptop!  Photo ops abounded! The cars happened to be gone from the front of this row of homes, giving me a good opportunity to take a great picture of some Lemon Street Homes, one block from my destination.

On the campus of the Seminary is probably one of the prettiest buildings, and of course the clouds and sky didn’t hurt the picture at all.  Any angle you photograph the Lark Building from would be the right one.  This building was built in 1894 and gets more beautiful every time I see it!

Now let’s get back to my purpose for the walk ~ Church Records!  I had been looking for the records of the St. Paul Reformed Church’s congregation, but thought I’d been overlooking the books.  Everytime I filed Church books (as part of my volunteer responsibilities) I’d look and never find anything!  There was a reason.

The records were on microfilm!  Who would have thought?  Well, I found them Saturday and they had a lot of names that I’ve been looking for in them and I didn’t have a chance to go through the microfilm with a fine tooth comb.

Since I’d rather look at books than microfilm, I decided to go to the source and look at the records there.  And the source didn’t let me down!  I got to look at the original records, page by page by page.  My idea of nirvana.

Death Records for the year 1851

Rather than print each page with one of “my names” on it, I photographed each page in it’s entireity, and then cut the photo enhanced, information I needed.  Works for me.  An example of that is below.  I can now paste it on a word document and add it to the file it belongs in.  Saves the printing cost and helps to save a tree.

Death Record for Abraham Cole, 1864

All in all,  three hours at the library was a good one.  I came home with over 60 images loaded on my camera, and a lot of loose ends tied up.  I also had a wonderful walk through the beautiful streets of Lancaster.

Ah!  The Perfect Life. . . . for three hours, anyway, and then I got the news about Katrinka.

See my preceding post and weep with us for our companion that is no longer with in our home.

It’s a checks and balance system ~ joy and grief, good and bad.  I experienced all of those emotions today.

 

My Favorite Cemetery

Since I love cemeteries, I thought I’d try to narrow it down to my favorite cemetery.  I visit so many,so often, you’d think I have a favorite.  Well, I do!

Entrance to Donegal Presbyterian Church

I love the peacefulness and stillness I feel when I visit the cemetery at Donegal Presbyterian Church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  It is in the country, surrounded by an old stonewall.  The old Church is right across the drive and down the hill are the Donegal Springs with a bench to sit and comptemplate whatever it is you wish to contemplate!

Donegal Springs, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Is this my favorite cemetery?  No, but it is one of my favorites!

Lancaster City has many, many old cemeteries, all beautifully maintained, for the most part.  Two blocks away from my home is the old Shreiner Cemetery where the great Abolitionist, Thaddeaus Stevens is buried.  Today the cemetery is right on the edge of a major thoroughfare thru the city, and in the middle of a wonderful old neighborhood.  It is surrounded by an iron fence, and mowed and weeded regularly.

James Buchanan's gravesite, Woodward Hill Cemetery, Lancaster, PA

The final resting place for Jacob Auxer and his family is in horrible shape.  I have removed weeds, trash and dirt from this site.  I cannot sit the stones upright, but I have filled in gopher holes that have undermined headstones.  Perpetual care?  hmmm-m-m-m-m-m-m-m

Auxer site, bottom of the hill, Woodward Hill Cemetery

Is this my favorite cemetery?  Once again, no, but high on the list.  High on the list because it gives me something to maintain.  Someplace that makes me feel that I am indeed honoring my family ~ however distant it maybe ~ and somewhat of a cause.

Harrisburg Cemetery, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

No, my favorite cemetery, without a doubt, is Harrisburg Cemetery! This awesome cemetery stands in the middle of the city, with a view of the State Capitol. It once was on the edge of the city with the entrance to the west. The entrance is now to the south, through a less than desirable neighborhood.

This is the cemetery in which my ancestors first spoke to me and encouraged me to continue in my search for their stories.  This is the cemetery where three generations all lie together for eternity.  This is the cemetery that keeps pulling me back, if only to place a few flowers, pull a few weeds and sit quietly for a minute or two.

Ephraim Niess, his wife, Catharine Auxer Niess and five of their young children have their lives all noted on the same headstone, Catharine’s brother, mother, father and grandmother share the plot with them.

Ephraim and Catharine Niess and 5 of their children, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

This picture was taken when spring had just arrived.  The grass is green and the leaves on the trees shade the cemetery’s occupants final resting places.  It is Mother’s Day and I’ve taken my annual pilgrimage to the various cemeteries through out the midstate region, leaving a small flower at grandmother’s grave. I have graves from Snyder County to Shippensburg and Harrisburg down to Lancaster to visit, but it is worth the effort.  I am sure some of these graves have not been visited for years and I love to show my respect and love for these wonderful women who paved the road I travel today.

Abraham Auxer

Maria Leader Auxer

Philip Kleiss Auxer, Catharine Niess' father

Susannah Bischoff Leader Kaylor, Catharine's grandmother

In reality they all could be my favorite cemetery, but Harrisburg Cemetery, is without a doubt my favorite cemetery, because of it’s history and meaning to my family and because my ancestors still speak to me when I visit them.

I guess you can say, I do play favorites . . . . . .

 

Every so often you get a break and it happened last week

If you know what you are looking for, the information is there and readily available! My Kleiss line is finally yielding some information, and it doesn’t necessarily agree with the information that’s “out there!”

Maria, 6th child of Philip and Elizabeth Kleiss married and moved to Harrisburg where she died.  I’ve had that information for some time, thanks to a newspaper blurb announcing her marriage that I found about a year ago.  Recently, I found the notice of her estate settlement while scanning a Lancaster newspaper online, just looking for information of anybody in any line in my database!  It mentioned the fact that she had died in Harrisburg but the estate settlement was in Lancaster.  Two brother-in-laws were administrators of her estate.  Bingo! That was the right Anna Maria!

Last Friday, on my regular volunteer day, I got a copy of the Administrator’s account and VOILA! It mentioned her living sisters and their married names, her deceased brothers and sisters and their descendants!  It even listed married names for the female descendants!  It several cases, it listed the husband’s names!

This information has helped in sorting out the various Georges and Philips in a very confusing Kleiss line where George and Philip were very common names!  (and why couldn’t that Kleiss family be a little more original in their names, anyway??)

do have all the details on this, so if this is your line and information you are interested in, please contact me.  I am always willing to share and exchange information.  I do not put it all out there, however, since it often ends up on other’s web pages as other’s own work, and I’ve never had an opportunity to meet other family members!

Children of Johann Philip and Elizabeth Auxer Kleiss

(Birth order according to Auditor’s Report with the exception of Philip, Jr. who is not mentioned, of course)

• George
• Philippina
• John
• Elizabeth
• Catharine
• Anna Maria
• Susanna
• Philip, Jr.


Thank goodness for boredom and the inability to sleep and most of all thank goodness for all those societies and agencies who put those wonderful newspapers online for all of us Family History junkies!

It just goes to show you that it is persistence that brings the luck that befalls a researcher!




 

Sometimes I wish I descended from Christopher. . . .

That branch has so more drama in it than Michael’s does!!

We have wife beaters in this branch, we have bootleggers and we have somebody who enlisted in the Civil War three times just to collect the bounty!  Yes, he deserted all three times and he got caught. And he even applied for a pension!!  However, our government, in one of their smarter moves, turned him down.  Duh!

I keep thinking I’ve found the end of the drama, but then more just jumps up and slaps me in the face! I love this branch of the Axer family! and it always seems to be Christopher’s kid Jacob’s branch! The others, it seems, lead fairly normal lives.

Christopher’s grandson John is our subject this week, his first born, heir to the throne, yada, yada, yada. As I documented previously, John married Anna Maria Ferree and they had a daughter Lydia. So far so good.

My trip to the National Archives opened up a new chapter in this guy’s life for me. I got his military record and matched it with a file I had for the military pension for John Axer, Lieutenant in the First Maryland Calvary. Guess what? Same guy! . . . . and just what is he doing in NYC after the war??? This guy traveled from Lancaster to Maryland to NYC . . . . and now he has a different wife!!

How did I come to the conclusion that the guy in NYC is the same John Axer that was born in Lancaster, PA? For one thing I compared signatures, and for another, and most importantly, death dates matched exactly!

There is NO divorce in Lancaster County for John and Anna Maria Ferree, perhaps there is one in Philly. I certainly hope there is a divorce record, because Ida claims to be his widow while wife #1 is still alive!! What goes on here?

Another interesting fact is a letter in his file requesting a leave of absence from the military to go home to Lancaster because “one of his children” has just died and his wife is very ill. Who died? Who was the wife in Lancaster? Anna Maria was in Philly from 1850, and just exactly how many children did he have???

. . . . so now we add Ida F., as one of John’s wife and the search continues for his children! Now we must find out when he picked this one up, and when he got rid of the other! Who knows? Rosanna Kiplinger may be his wife, too! He may have wives in 3 separate states ~ and children scattered far and wide!

So continues another week of research with a lot of loose ends to tie up . . . . . somehow!

 

Christopher? Christian? Same Guy? YUP!!

This is the 2nd time I’ve run into Christian and Christopher being used interchangeably, and both in this particular family line! Are they the same guy?? Facts say undeniably, YES!

My latest find is in the Doebler line. Anna Maria Axer, daughter of Christopher (Christian?) Axer and Catharine Danner, married to John George Doebler. Anna Maria and John George had at least five children, probably more because they keep turning up the more I dig! One of the children is the Christian/Christopher I am referring to.

According to Church Records found for a Lutheran Church, George Doebler and his wife, Anna Maria, baptized a son, Christoph on 4 October 1820. The child was born in 1816. First name for this son.

On the 1850 census, in the same area, Christopher is now married to Elisabeth. She is 26, he is 32 and they have three children, John, age 7, George, age 5 and Catharine, age 3.

On the 1860 census, same area again, Christian Dobler is 45, (he’s aged 13 years, not unusual) Elisabeth is 36, John is 17, George is 15, Catharine is 13 and two more children have been born, Anna age 5 and Mary age 2.

According to those same church records, in 1856, Christian Daveler is buried, leaving Elisabeth a widow.

In 1870, the census shows Elisabeth Daveler as 46 and a housekeeper for the Good family in the same area. Mary is with her and is 13.

On the 1880 census, Elizabeth Daveler is 53 and widowed, Anna is 25 and single. They are still in the same area. They are still in West Lampeter, which they were 10 years previous.

As Christian and Christopher are interchangeable, so seems to be Doebler/Dobler and Daveler. I have conferred with several people on this, and everybody concurs that this is indeed, the same family.

. . . . . . . . . .Just love it when more information pops out at me!!

 

Don’t You Love It When Things Start Clicking?

Compiling each family on what I call “Family Cover Sheets” has paid off in more ways than one!

Each family in my database has one of these “Family Cover Sheets.” It Lists the Patriarch, who he married, their vital statistics, census data, any pertinent newspaper articles and their children and who they married. Some of them are 5 pages long, some are less than one page. Just a little background on what I go through to organize my books and records ~ and keep all the “Georges, Jacobs and Michaels” straightened out!

As I was doing a cover sheet on a new name I found, I discovered it was not a new name after all! Earlier I mentioned finding the marriage of Susan Axer and John Hanson. The marriage record stated that Susan was the daughter of Georg Axer and Mary, born Dolan, all of “Millerstown”. Millerstown is most probably Millersville, since the wedding took place in Lancaster County.

Now, if you go to the “Poor Children’s Records” in Manor Township (where Millersville is located!) you will find Susan daughter of George Oxer, on the list in 1822 and again in 1825. She was 11 years old in 1825.

Let’s assume Susan who married John Hanson is the daughter of George Oxer of Manor Twp, and label it fact #1.

Now, George Axer of Strasburg married a Polly Daein of Strasburg on 13 Aug 1801. Let’s label this fact #2.

If “Daein” is in fact “Dalin,” (think a very short script “L”) could it in fact be the same “Mary Doland” who was married to George and was the mother of Susan??? Let’s assume so, and call it fact #3.

It’s getting better.

George Oxer of Erie County was from Lancaster County and was born 11 Jan 1805. When he was baptized in Erie County (St. John’s Lutheran Church, 25 May 1844) he stated his parents were “Georg and Maria Oxer.” Son of George and Mary/Polly Daein/Dalin/Dolan? Again, let’s assume so. Fact #4.

In 1850, Hannah Oxer, age 32, is enumerated with the Stoner family in Manor Township, Millersville. This could be the same Hannah, who was on the “Poor Childlren’s List,” daughter of George Oxer in 1825, 26 and 27. Let’s call it Fact #5

Buried in Millersville Mennonite Cemetery:
Mary Oxer Copeland
Born Oct 26, 1807
Died May 30, 1878.

Old German Midwife’s Records, Family History Library Film #383294:
Born 25 Oct 1807, father Giorg Agser.
Another Child for George and Mary/Polly Daein/Dalin/Dolan. Fact #6

What these assumptions give us:
George Axer/Oxer married Mary Doland (aka Polly) on 13 Aug 1801
They were the parents of:

1. Mary, married to Copeland, born 26 Oct 1807
2. George of Erie County, born 11 Jan 1805 .
3. Susan who married John Hanson, born about 1810, according to Poor Children’s List
4. Hannah, who lived w/the Stoners, born about 1816

Any thoughts on this?

 

Final resting spots. . . . . .

I guess final resting spots could be new discoveries, couldn’t they? . . . . . well, to me they are, not to those interred therein!

First discovery? The Trost family. Who??? George (bad boy) Auxer’s only daughter and her family. Why had I never found them before this? Well, I’ve assumed (wrongly) that if you were an Auxer descendant and lived in Lancaster, you must either be of the Reformed faith or a Lutheran! A Catholic? Never! Boy was I wrong!

. . . . and being Catholic, where do you think they are buried? Well, the Catholic Cemetery, of course, right in the heart of Lancaster, right next to the huge Lancaster Cemetery where I thought they should be buried!!! And isn’t it a magnificent monument??

The odd thing about this is, I was looking for her mother’s headstone and found her’s! Her mother, according to records, is supposed to be buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery. I found her obituary (Catharine Auxer’s) and it said she was buried there. Well! After searching the records, I found an entry where “Susan Frost and George Auxer” were purchasers of a particular site. In the pouring rain, with winds high enough to turn my umbrella inside out, I went searching for the headstones in the referenced site. I found people who were supposed to be buried in adjacent sites, but no Auxer, no Frost, no Trost. . . . . . and why would George purchase a site for Catharine, when he died in California in 1880 and Catharine died in 1909???? He didn’t even care about her enough to come and see her in Lancaster after he left town years before! Another mystery in the Auxer legacy. . . .

Now on to the Leader clan! I’m still trying to trace my 6th great grandfather’s brothers and sisters! Oh! and step-brothers and sisters! Samuel had 8 brothers and sisters and 6 step-brothers and sisters. He had at the very least, 40 nephews and nieces. . . . . and those are just the ones I have found. I would venture to say there are at least 25 more! Tracing the Leader line has been fun! Try putting “Leader” into a search engine ~ guess what you’ll get!! Thousands upon thousands of hits, and maybe, just maybe 1%of them might apply to the surname “Leader!”

Anyway, enough of the ranting, after all, we’re talking about headstones, today, and I finally took the time to drive out to Mt. Joy and photograph Samuel’s step-brother, Joshua’s headstone. His headstone includes his wife, Agnes and his daughter Isabella (Bella.) Since it is relatively new, I’m assuming it was erected upon Bella’s death in 1933.

The headstone below does NOT belong in our family line. I just found it fascinating and had to photograph it. It is in the Catholic Cemetery in Lancaster, at the opposite end of the row that the Trost family can be found in. It must have been awesome when it was new. I think it is beautiful in an eerie sort of way ~

 

Let’s get started on a few updates

The primary purpose of this blog is to update my genealogy as new information jumps out at me! Since I am spending more and more time researching in Lancaster, more information on the Lancaster lines will appear here than others. The Axer/Auxer, Kleiss and Leader families are my lines with the primary ties to Lancaster.

This week I went thru (hastily, I might add!) some Church records previously overlooked, and found several entries that pertain to our Auxers and at least one that pertained to the Kleiss family ~ although sorting out those Kleiss’ with the same first name has become a real chore!

These are the corrections, with my comments in red.  As always, if you want the source and to document it, simply contact me and I will provide you with the information.  If you only collect names, at least reference me as your source . . . . .please.

• Charles Edward Albright, son of Frederic Albright and Sarah born Axer, born Oct. 17, 1846 – aged 8 yrs, 9 months and 8 days. Buried on Woodward Cemetery.

• Charles Edward Albright, son of Frederic A. Albright and wife Susan (sic) born Axer. Sponsors – Mary Ann Hentsch born Evans and Catherine McGinnis. Born: Oct. 17, 1846 Baptised: May 20, 1847

• December 18, 1836 marriage – John, Axer, son of Jacob and Sarah Axer to Anna Maria Ferree, dau. of Philip and Dorothea Ferre.

This differs drastically from the info rec’d elsewhere. I could never figure out why there were 2 John Axers’ in MD and both were married to somebody named Rosanna!! I do know that our John Axer was in Baltimore in 1846. He died in 1879 and his widow and daughter can be found in Philadelphia after that point.

• Aug. 3, 1845 marriage -Frederic Anthony Albright, son of Anthony Albright, deceased, and wife Susan born Seib, to Sarah Axer, dau. of Jacob Axer, deceased, and wife Susan born Ward, both of Lancaster.

• Walter Franklin Albright, son of Frederic A. Albright and wife Susan (sic) born Axer. Sponsors – Susan Albright and the parents. Born: Oct. 14, 1851 Baptised: Nov 14, 1852

• Sarah Catherine Albright, dau. of Frederic A. Albright and wife Susan (sic) born Axer. Sponsors – the parents, Br. Samuel Beam and the grandmother Albright. Baptised: Jul 8, 1855

• 1868, Died Jan 26, Buried Jan 29 – Clara Elizabeth Auxer, only daughter of the widow Sarah Auxer, born Milchsack, departed this life after a few days illness. Age 18 years and 10 months. The parents were not member of the church, but the child was a scholar in our Sunday School. Remains interred in Lancaster Cemetery.

• 1869 Died Dec 1, Buried Dec 5 – Andrew Clayton McGinnis, infant son of George W. McGinnis, and his wife Sophia born Chambers, died of scarlet fever at Carlisle, Pa. The remains were brought here and interred in the Lancaster Cemetery. Funeral services held at the home of the grandparents McGinnis, aged 1 yr and 7 mos. By D. Bigler, assisted by Rev. Wm. Nivin of the Reformed Church.

Information previously obtained said he died in Lancaster. Evidently, not so.

• May 30, 1847, Marriage -Henry Burkins (Buckius) son of William Burkins, and wife Augusta born Weiss, to Mary Vehrer, dau. of George Vehrer and wife Elisabeth born Kline, deceased of Lancaster.

This would be the brother of Susan Axer who married George, the son of Jacob Axer.

• Feb. 8, 1871, Marriage -John Myer, widower, was married to Sarah Axer, widow – both of Lancaster. Ceremony at parsonage.

Widow of Jacob Axer, mother of Sarah Elizabeth above? Time frame fits.

• Marriage, Sept. 23, 1847 -John Hanson, son of George Hanson, and wife Mary Magdalena born Devault, both deceased, to Susan Axer, dau. of George Axer and wife Mary born Doland, deceased, all of Millerstown, Lancaster Co.

??????? I think Millerstown (Millerstown is in Perry County!) really means Millersville, and I think this is the George who was the father of the “Poor Children,” since he lived in that area and had a daughter, Susan/Susanna who would be marriageable age in 1847. Mary Doland may very well be the Polly Dalin that has appeared in other Church records, since Polly is a nickname for Mary ~ Think about it!

• Marriage, May 24, 1827 -George Doebler, widower, from Conestoga Twp., and Susanna, Warrick.

Was this the George Doebler who married Anna Maria Auxer? Did she die before 1827??? More research to do on this one!

• Marriage, Sept. 14, 1836 – Ferdinand Gerber, son of John and Rachel Gerber, to Rebecca Kleiss, dau. of John and Margaret Kleiss, both of Lancaster.

Which John was married to Margaret? Love those Kleiss boys!

Back to the drawing board! Next week I’ll spend more time in this set of records. Doesn’t the database keep changing? So many things we’ve taken for Gospel truth has become fiction the more research we do! Lesson learned? Seek your own documentation or ask to see somebody else’s!