Wordless Wednesday (Almost): 1940 Niehaus Reunion

Recently I had a very nice surprise. My cousin, Pat (Niehaus) Cracraft, contacted me by email saying she wanted to re-energize her family history activities. Super! We began a steady stream of emails, including sharing family photos. This photo of the 1940 Niehaus Family Reunion is one that Pat copied for me from her scrapbook. I am so happy to see this. Just had to feature it immediately on Wordless Wednesday. Pat is sitting in the front row, fourth from the left. Isn't she lovely!



This was the second annual Niehaus Reunion and took place on Sept 15, 1940, at Garfield Park in Indianapolis. It seems as though everyone's dressed more formally than the other, picnic-type reunions of our family. Does anyone have an idea of the reason?
Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties.


Related posts:
See photos of Niehaus Reunions at the tab above.
Click on Family: Niehaus in left column for family stories and photos..


Research To Do: Identify every person. Add to our collection on the Reunion page.

Copyright (c) Nancy Niehaus Hurley

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52 Ancestors Challenge: #4 - Katharine Grunsst, Grunst or Jungst?

The 52 Ancestors Challenge is a blogging series initiated by Amy Johnson Crow at the No Story Too Small blog. I'm having a great time bringing our ancestors to this party and reading other bloggers' stories.  

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Ancestor #4 of my 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks series is my third great grandmother, the mother of Adam Weber, Katharine Grunsst.  Or is her maiden name Grunst?  Or maybe it’s Jungst? 

My knowledge of Katherine's family history is brief, as it stands today.  But, there are some interesting tidbits that came to light from a surprise discovery.  That’s where the confusion on her name sprouts.  While researching my second great grandfather, Adam Weber, I was fortunate to unearth the record of his marriage in the Catholic church in Vilbel, Germany that contained his parents’ names.  I was pleasantly surprised to find this record in Adam's Civil War records. It came to be there because his widow was required to provide documentation of her marriage for her widow’s pension application.  Of course, the discovery fertilized this branch of the family tree considerably.  In this case, an element of uncertainty grew too, Katherine’s maiden name. And, I have this name issue that still needs solving. All opinions are welcomed!    
The first document that I uncovered with Katherine's name was created in 1892, 36 years after the marriage of her son.  The German parish priest provided this transcription in English for the bride/veteran’s widow, Amelia Micol Weber.  Based on my limited knowledge of reading the script of that time, I believe Katherine’s maiden name circled in red in the excerpt below is Grunsst.  Or could it be Gurnsst?  What do you think? 
But wait!  The next step in this research process was to find the actual church record to see if it might contain additional family information.  When my husband and I had the chance to explore the historical wonderland of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, I hit pay dirt again. The original records of the Catholic church in Vilbel, Germany, are microfilmed. Using the date from the above transcript, I was able to find the marriage record of Adam Weber and Amelia Micol on May 12, 1856. The excerpt below shows, outlined in red, Katherine’s maiden name.  (Any German readers who have an opinion on the translation of this name?)

From there I was pleased to find folks at the FHL who offer to translate records.   I was given the name Grunst in the translation of the above record by experts in Salt Lake City.  
And there’s more to Katherine’s name story.  Later, when I was trying to squeeze more information out of this piece of evidence, I realized there were a few words or names I wasn’t 100% clear about in the record.  Next, enter a knowledgeable friend at the Indiana German Heritage Society who came to my rescue.  I’m grateful for another translation of the complete 1856 record.  This time, the opinion on her name was Jungst!

To recap this brief family story:
Katherine Grunsst (or Grunst, or Jungst) lived in Altenstadt, Hessen, Germany approximately 1800 to 1860.    She married Adam Weber sometime before 1821, when their son, Adam, was born.  Generations of her descendants lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, after her son and his wife emigrated in 1856.

Perhaps I will never have the definite spelling of Katherine Grunsst Weber’s maiden name.   But, I hope to come to know a lot more about her history.  I’m motivated now to revisit her. She’s a part of my research goals for this year. 
In fact, that should be a way to conclude each 52 Ancestors post. Make at least one research goal:  
--  Order the Vilbel Catholic Church microfilm from FHL to search for more Grunsst, Grunst, Jungst records. 
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Have some news about this ancestor?   Click on Comments below to leave me messages about Katherine or any family history subject. 
To learn more about the 52 Ancestors In 52 Weeks challenge click on the link in the left column.  If you would like to reread my #1 – #3 posts go to the 52 Ancestors link at the top of the Post Topics on the left also. 

Source: Catholic Church of Vilbel (Friedberg District) (Vilbel, Hessen, Germany), Church Registers, 1655-1876, 1856 marriages, No. 2, Adam Weber and Maria Amelia Micol, 12 May 1856; FHL microfilm #939213-4.
Translation of Adam and Amelia Micol Weber’s Marriage Record. From the records of the local Catholic Church in the Community of Vilbel, Germany
In the year one thousand eight hundred fifty six (12 May 1856) according to the authority of the local Catholic parish and in the parish of St. Johannes church in Bremen, and after receiving dispensation because of the second degree of blood relation, and after the official approval of the regional court with regard to the civil and clerical conditions of the union that there were no problems with proceeding with the marriage; and with the approval of both sets of parents, Adam Weber, citizen and policeman in Bremen, the legitimate unmarried son of Adam Weber, citizen and sheep herder in Altenstadt, and his wife, Katharina, nee Grunsst (Grunst) (Jungst), of the Catholic religion, and at the age of 36 ½ ; and Maria Amalia Micol, the legitimate unmarried daughter of the late local citizen and master tailor, Frederick Ludwig Micol and his wife, Julianae, nee Weber, of the Catholic religion, age 22 and 7 months.
Witnesses: Johannes Weber, son of deceased carpenter, Adam Micol, single, brother of the bride
Signed by the acting priest of the marriage ceremony.
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Thanks for visiting Indiana Ties! 
 
Copyright © Nancy Niehaus Hurley

Family Recipe Friday -- Dot Hurley’s Corn Chowder

        How about a nice Corn Chowder to get warmed up during this extra-cold winter?!   This recipe belonged to Jerry’s mom, Dot Hurley.  Everything she made was good.  And since the last instruction involves putting butter in the bottom of each bowl before filling it with the yummy chowder, this has to be a winner.   Enjoy.
       If you have a family recipe to add to this collection, please feel free to leave me a message in the comments section below.  Help yourself to the recipes that have already appeared in this segment by clicking on the Family Recipe Friday link in the left column.
     Thanks for reading Indiana Ties!

copyright © Nancy Niehaus Hurley

52 Ancestors -- #3, Anna Niehaus Donahue’s News, 1875-1957

     The lady I’m writing about today, Anna Niehaus Donahue, was a young girl of 11 when her family immigrated to America in 1886. Annie’s parents, Joseph and Gertrude Niehaus hoped for a happy and healthy life for their eight children born in Germany and the five whose births occurred in their new country. Who would imagine that 70 years after their ship landed the newspaper of the family’s adopted city, Indianapolis, Indiana, would carry a poignant story of Annie’s journey. 
     Anna Niehaus Donahue was my grandaunt. She’s pictured here, second from the left, with her four sisters.  I don’t remember her, but it’s likely I did attend a family event with her when I was a little girl. From all accounts, she was a kind and happy person. I would be delighted to know her better.
     Meanwhile, one of the ways I have come to see Anna somewhat more clearly is by the story that was shared in her city newspaper at her passing. Although I would make one correction, her father’s name was Joseph not Bernard, this is a more thorough and intimate obituary than many I have collected.  It tells of a lady devoted to her large family and of her enjoyment of motherhood. Ten of her children were living when she died in 1957 at the age of 81.  The Indianapolis newspaper obituary stated: “Anna Donahue, 81, was herself one of 13 children and she was mother of 13 children.  She was also grandmother of 30 and great grandmother of 25.  ….All her time and energy Mrs. Donahue devoted to her home and family.  She enjoyed her household tasks and particularly she liked to cook.  She had many old-fashioned German recipes at her fingertips.  Especially she excelled at baking pies….”  (Read the full obit by clicking on the item on the left.)
        There’s a warm feeling in this accounting of Annie’s life.  I think she would have been very happy to read it.









     Thank you for reading Indiana Ties.  If you have information to share about Anna Niehaus Donahue, or any of our family in common, please leave me a comment below.  Are her “old-fashioned German recipes”  waiting out there to be a part of our Family Recipe Friday? 
    A brief relationship chart for me and Annie is on the right.  And, you may click the following link for further Niehaus family genealogy:  Niehaus Descendants
     You might also like to read these related stories:
     Niehaus Family Germany Heritage Story
     Gertrude Wilmsen Niehaus, Anna’s Mother

Copyright © Nancy Niehaus Hurley

52 Ancestors Challenge -- #2, Katherine Birkenstock Kuhn’s Will Discovery

     Yes, her name was Birkenstock. But no family connection has surfaced to the comfy shoes that many of us like to wear.   Maybe someday a surprise discovery will have us all literally walking in some family shoes. In the meantime, I continue to look into Katherine’s history. (See the link at the end of this post for her descendants.) This story is about finding some brief, but important details of Katherine's life. 
     There have been occasions over the past ten years when Katherine Birkenstock Kuhn’s footsteps became a little clearer.  One event that stands out is how her will was unexpectedly uncovered in a town 60 miles from where she lived the last 15 years of her life. Because her son, Charles’s obituary had a five word comment at the end – “Connersville papers please pick up” – my husband and I made a research trip a few years ago to Fayette County, Indiana, east of Indianapolis.  There were many revelations about the Birkenstock-Kuhn family by the time we concluded our sleuthing in the local county library, cemetery and the office of the county clerk.   We found obits in the microfilmed newspapers and family tombstones listed in the cemetery transcriptions in the genealogy area of the library.  Then we were able to walk through the local cemetery and take photos of the graves, including Katherine’s husband. 
Our last stop was at the county clerk’s office because we had learned they had marriage record books available. I was happy to locate several records pertaining to Katherine’s children. By the time our three-day research trip was on its last afternoon, I’ll have to say I was getting a slight bit distracted though.  I was browsing the shelves in the clerk’s office and noticed the Probate Records book. Just because it was there, I opened to the index and glanced down at the K’s.  Seeing the listing for Katherine Kuhn wasn’t that exciting at first, since Kuhns had been popping up a lot in this county.  Then, I saw the column where heirs are listed and read:  Wilhelmina Scherrer.  Woo hoo! That name matched our Katherine Kuhn’s daughter, the one who had been providing a home for her in Indianapolis for many years and whose plot Katherine was buried in.  We were puzzled why a will would be filed in Connersville, 60 miles away from Indianapolis, where she had not lived for 15 years.  But I knew that members of the family still lived in the county when their mother died in 1890.  And these details were too close to ignore.  Of course, I made an inquiry about getting a copy of the will.  It turned out that it would take a few days for the staff to find the document in the archives and make a copy.  No problem. I left money with the clerk to pay for the copying and postage. I was anxious to see what the will could say about any or all of her seven children.    
Fortunately, the copy of the will was in my mail within a week.  What a wonderful discovery!  This hand-written, brief document that surfaced unexpectedly paints a clearer picture of who Katherine Birkenstock Kuhn was and what her life was like. Yes, it only mentions one heir, her daughter Wilhelmina.  But she does state the reason.  I’m posting below the portion that includes Katherine’s wishes. The will was written in Indianapolis on the 26th day of January 1888 and states:   
….My daughter Wilhelmina Scherer having taken care of me during my life time and having nursed and cared for me since I became blind, it is my will that all that may belong to me at the time of my death be it real estate or personal property whatever the same may be or whatever else may come into my possession as heir or in any other way shall become the property of my beloved daughter Wilhelmina Scherer…
           
      Researching can take us to places we don’t anticipate and bring completely unplanned results.  I learned from this experience that I should always keep my eyes open for a piece of the puzzle that may be lurking close by in unexpected locales.  I wonder what other details of Katherine Birkenstock Kuhn’s life are out there to be discovered?
     Thanks for reading Indiana Ties.  If you have comments, or additions to this story, please leave me a message.
Related posts you may find interesting:
1880 and 1900 Censuses in the Neighborhood
Wordless Wednesday – Kuhn Family 1919
Birkenstock-Kuhn Descendant Report
Copyright © 2014 Nancy Niehaus Hurley

52 Ancestors Challenge – #1, Charles H. Albers, 1865-1915

I’ve decided to participate in the “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” challenge for 2014 by Amy Johnson Crow at “No Story Too Small”  Amy’s challenge is to have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor.  Sounds like a good way to progress on my goal to write the first volume of our family history.  At the very least I hope to spread these stories to more “cousins” and meet new blogging friends.  . 

So, who and where do I  start? How about with the earliest birth in my database?  Or maybe with an ancestor’s immigration story?  Or…I might share a scandalous story to start. These ideas all sounded okay, but when I took a quick look at my ancestry chart, one of my paternal great grandfathers jumped out.  I realized that I’m now at the point where I lack a photograph of only one of those eight people – Charles H. Albers.  He deserves a little attention!
Charles was born in Germany on the 24th of January, 1865, according to his naturalization record and his death certificate.  Another piece of information I have for his birthplace indicates the town was Bremer Haven.  But, oh shoot!  Where did that info come from? The source for that town seems to have slipped away.  (Note to Nancy: Dig up this documentation again.)
Since I did document his naturalization, I know that Charles immigrated to America in January 1884. But my searching for his passenger list telling me where he came into the country, or with whom, has not yet been successful.  At 18 years of age he could have been traveling alone, seeking better opportunities for the future.  Or maybe he makes the journey with other young people from his birthplace. 
His naturalization record also shows that by 1890 he lives in Indianapolis. And he can be found in city directories for the next two years as a boarder at two different addresses.  He’s employed as a laborer.  So, it appears he doesn’t live with his family. Maybe he did come to the U. S. alone. 
While getting familiar with his new city, he meets a young lady that helps him create a new family.  Martha Marsischky and Charles Albers are married in Indianapolis on February 3, 1892.  By the time the census enumerator visits Charles and Martha Albers on June 2, 1900, they have three children, are renting a home at 1901 Hazel Street; and Charles is employed as a laborer at an engine shop.  One of those children, Louise Charlotte Albers, would become my grandmother.
The 1910 census shows that the 45-year-old Charles’s family continued to grow with the birth of another daughter and that they changed their residence again in the ten-year period.    Also, his occupation is now reported as salesman at a hardware store. Maybe he has a more reliable job now and is starting to move ahead. His life seems to be taking new paths and progressing.  Just speculating, of course.
By approximately 1912, the Albers family settled into a home at 1722 S. Keystone Avenue, according to city directories.  But then,on March 12, 1915, Charles died at that residence of chronic parenchymatous nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) at age 50.  He is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, with his wife, Martha. 
That’s the Charles Albers story, as I know it today.  I hope to color in more of the background of this great grandfather for our history.  His birthplace, parents and siblings are high on my list of research topics.  There are clues that I might follow on his death certificate; or perhaps I’ll research additional burial records first.  Meanwhile, I’m still wondering what he looked like?  A photo would be fantastic!
If you are a fellow descendant in this Albers family interested in sharing our family history, let’s talk.  Thanks for visiting on Indiana Ties and please return.  I welcome all comments and suggestions below.
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(Resources for the information provided in this story will gladly be provided upon request.  Leave me a message below.)
Other Albers information on my website:
Albers Marsischky Descendants Report
Martha Marsischky Albers Story
Louise Albers Story

Copyright © 2014  -  Nancy Niehaus Hurley

Family Recipe Friday -- Hamburger Rye Snacks

With bowl games, playoffs and the Super Bowl, it's a nice time of year for bringing out the favorite snack recipes. These Hamburger Rye Snacks come from Aunt Peg's recipe box.  They're perfect for the game days or just any time you might want to have hearty snack.




Special thanks to Peg (Weber) Stull for her contribution to our Family Recipes! If you would like to take a look at other favorite recipes, click on the Family Recipe Friday link in the left column.

Copyright 2013 Nancy Hurley


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