My 4th-great-grandmother Agathe Weiler (or Wieler) died 158 years ago today. All that I know about her comes from Familienbuch der katholischen Pfarrei Sankt-Severin, Erpel 1615-1875 by Renate Hentschel (Köln: Westdeutsche Gesellschaft für Familienkunde, 2010.)
I know that Agathe was born about 1789, but I do not know where. I know that she married my 4th-great-grandfather Gottfried Lindlohr before 1817, but I do not know where they married. Gottfried was from Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Agathe may have been from somewhere else, possibly a nearby town.
Gottfried and Agathe had the following children, all baptized in Erpel:
Karl Josef, born 15 November 1817
Matthias Josef, born 29 February 1820 and died 7 March 1820
Adelheid, born 15 February 1821
Anna Sibylle, born 20 December 1823
Anna Maria, born 22 August 1826
Anna Margarete, born 10 April 1829
Johann Josef, born 23 December 1831
Agathe died on 10 November 1858. The cause of death was Schlagfluß (stroke). She was buried on 13 November 1858 in Erpel.
Showing posts with label Erpel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Erpel. Show all posts
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
52 Ancestors: Week 45 "Movember": Carl Joseph Schneider
Since this week's 52 Ancestors theme is free (pick your own theme), I have chosen the theme Movember. The Movember Foundation was founded in 2003. Each November, men grow moustaches to raise awareness of men's health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health, and physical inactivity. My 2nd-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider had an impressive moustache, so it is fitting to feature him during Movember.
Carl Joseph Schneider was born on 22 January 1855 in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He was the son of Johann Wilhelm Schneider and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr. He was only seven years old when his mother died on 2 April 1862. His father remarried less than a year later, to Adelheid Noll. Carl was sixteen when his father died on 13 November 1871.
On 31 January 1878, Carl married Christina Nagel in Bonn, Germany. The couple settled in Carl's father's hometown of Remagen, Ahrweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Christina's father and stepmother moved there as well. Carl worked as a tailor in Remagen.
Carl and Christina had seven children: my great-grandfather Johann, later known as John (born 6 December 1878 in Remagen); Johann Wilhelm (born 5 July 1882 in Remagen, died 17 August 1882 in Remagen); Johann Wilhelm, later known as William J. (born 8 December 1883 in Remagen); Carl J. (born 17 March 1885 in Remagen); Rudolph (born 21 September 1886 in Remagen); Anna Maria (born 25 November 1888 in Remagen); and Maria, later known as Marie, (born 11 April 1890 in Remagen).
I am not sure when Carl first grew a moustache, but he had one when my great-grandfather was a young boy.
As time passed, Carl's moustache grew bigger and fuller.
Photo by Bapt. Schneider Photogr. Atelier, Fürstenbergerstrasse, Remagen, Rhein-Erft, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Carl, Christina, and their children left Remagen in 1892 and immigrated to St. Louis, Missouri, where Carl's brother Johann Wilhelm (John William) was living. Carl continued to work as a tailor. He also continued to sport a moustache.
Carl took a trip back to Germany in 1900. He knew that he was dying of cancer, and he visited with friends and relatives there one last time. He died of stomach cancer on 5 November 1901 in St. Louis, Missouri and was buried in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, in Section 035, Lot 0160.
Carl Joseph Schneider was born on 22 January 1855 in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He was the son of Johann Wilhelm Schneider and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr. He was only seven years old when his mother died on 2 April 1862. His father remarried less than a year later, to Adelheid Noll. Carl was sixteen when his father died on 13 November 1871.
On 31 January 1878, Carl married Christina Nagel in Bonn, Germany. The couple settled in Carl's father's hometown of Remagen, Ahrweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Christina's father and stepmother moved there as well. Carl worked as a tailor in Remagen.
Carl and Christina had seven children: my great-grandfather Johann, later known as John (born 6 December 1878 in Remagen); Johann Wilhelm (born 5 July 1882 in Remagen, died 17 August 1882 in Remagen); Johann Wilhelm, later known as William J. (born 8 December 1883 in Remagen); Carl J. (born 17 March 1885 in Remagen); Rudolph (born 21 September 1886 in Remagen); Anna Maria (born 25 November 1888 in Remagen); and Maria, later known as Marie, (born 11 April 1890 in Remagen).
I am not sure when Carl first grew a moustache, but he had one when my great-grandfather was a young boy.
Johann (John) and Carl Joseph Schneider
As time passed, Carl's moustache grew bigger and fuller.
Carl, Christina, and their children left Remagen in 1892 and immigrated to St. Louis, Missouri, where Carl's brother Johann Wilhelm (John William) was living. Carl continued to work as a tailor. He also continued to sport a moustache.
Photo by Pietz, 1630 Franklin Ave., St. Louis, Missouri
Carl took a trip back to Germany in 1900. He knew that he was dying of cancer, and he visited with friends and relatives there one last time. He died of stomach cancer on 5 November 1901 in St. Louis, Missouri and was buried in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, in Section 035, Lot 0160.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Surname Saturday: Lindlohr
The maps below show the absolute distribution and relative distribution (considering population density) of the surname Lindlohr in Germany. They were created using Christoph Stöpel's Geogen 3.0 surname mapping site. A newer version, Geogen 4.0, is now available. Both versions use data from German telephone directories.
©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Lindlohr&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=abs
©Christoph Stöpel. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DE (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/de/deed.en). http://legacy.stoepel.net/de/MapGateway.aspx?name=Lindlohr&target=DE&renderer=EN_US&mode=rel
The maps show the highest concentration of the surname in Landkreis Neuwied. The next highest concentration is in Landkreis Ahrweiler, which is across the Rhine River.
My known Lindlohr ancestors are:
3rd-great-grandmother: Anna Sibylle Lindlohr
born 20 December 1823, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Heinrich Josef Hellmann 24 June 1845, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Johann Wilhelm Schneider (my 3rd-great-grandfather) 20 April 1853, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
died 2 April 1862, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
4th-great-grandfather: Gottfried Lindlohr
born 7 February 1791, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Agathe Weiler
died 13 June 1841, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
5th-great-grandfather: Johann Lindlohr
baptized 19 January 1760, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Anna Adelheid Wintzen 12 November 1782, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
died 3 February 1814, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
6th-great-grandfather: Hermann Lindlohr
married Anna Maria Classen 31 May 1746, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Anna Margarete Brandenburg (my 6th-great-grandmother) 1 May 1758, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
buried 24 June 1760, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Absolute distribution
Relative distribution
The maps show the highest concentration of the surname in Landkreis Neuwied. The next highest concentration is in Landkreis Ahrweiler, which is across the Rhine River.
My known Lindlohr ancestors are:
3rd-great-grandmother: Anna Sibylle Lindlohr
born 20 December 1823, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Heinrich Josef Hellmann 24 June 1845, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Johann Wilhelm Schneider (my 3rd-great-grandfather) 20 April 1853, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
died 2 April 1862, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
4th-great-grandfather: Gottfried Lindlohr
born 7 February 1791, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Agathe Weiler
died 13 June 1841, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
5th-great-grandfather: Johann Lindlohr
baptized 19 January 1760, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Anna Adelheid Wintzen 12 November 1782, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
died 3 February 1814, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
6th-great-grandfather: Hermann Lindlohr
married Anna Maria Classen 31 May 1746, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
married Anna Margarete Brandenburg (my 6th-great-grandmother) 1 May 1758, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
buried 24 June 1760, Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Tombstone Tuesday: Carl Joseph and Christina (Nagel) Schneider
My 2nd-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider was born on 22 Jan 1855 in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. (The birthdate on the tombstone is incorrect.) He married Christina Nagel on 31 January 1878 in Bonn, Germany. She was born on 27 Feb 1851 in Kendenich, Rhein-Erft, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. They moved to Remagen, Ahrweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany after their marriage. In 1892, they immigrated to St, Louis, Missouri with their children. Carl died in St. Louis on 5 November 1901. Christina died on 16 January 1934, also in St. Louis. They were buried in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri, in Section 035, Lot 0160.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
52 Ancestors: Week 38 "Favorite Place": Anna Sibylle Lindlohr from Erpel, Germany
In January, I traveled to Germany and visited some ancestral places. I loved visiting all of them, but I found Erpel especially beautiful.
Erpel is a local community (Ortsgemeinde) which is part of the collective municipality Unkel, in Kreis (district) Neuwied, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). It is located on the eastern bank of the Rhine River, across from Remagen, another ancestral place of mine.
My 2nd-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider was born in Erpel. His father, Johann Wilhelm Schneider, was born in Remagen, and his father's mother's family lived in Remagen for generations. But on his mother Sibylle Lindlohr's side, his roots were in Erpel.
My 3rd-great-grandmother Anna Sibylle Lindlohr was born in Erpel on 20 December 1823. She was the daughter of Gottfried Lindlohr and Agathe Weiler (or Wieler). On 21 December 1823, she was baptized at Pfarrkirche St. Severinus, the Roman Catholic Church in Erpel. Her baptismal sponsors were Peter Wilhelm Stieldorf and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr, represented by Anna Maria Lindlohr.
On 24 June 1845 in Erpel, Sibylle married Heinrich Josef Hellmann from Bad Godesberg. The witnesses to the wedding were Karl Lindlohr and Matthias Jos. Klaeser. Their first child, Maria, was born on 12 March 1846. Another daughter, Adelheid, was born on 23 April 1848, but died a year later, on 26 April 1849. Their son Christian Josef was born on 11 February 1850.
Heinrich Josef Hellman died on 10 October 1850. A little more than a year after losing her husband, Sibylle lost her daughter too; Maria died on 21 February 1852.
Sibylle married my 3rd-great-grandfather Johann Wilhelm Schneider in Erpel on 20 April 1853. The witnesses to the wedding were Peter Frizam and Johann Belinger from Remagen. Less than a month later, on 15 May 1853, their daughter Anna Maria was born. Not long afterward, Sibylle lost another child: her son Christian Josef Hellmann died on 4 July 1853.
Sibylle and Wilhelm's next child, my 2nd-great-grandfather Carl Joseph, was born on 22 January 1855. Their son Johann Wilhelm (later known as John William) was born on 24 December 1856.
Sibylle's first child with Wilhelm, Anna Maria, died on 9 June 1857. Sibylle gave birth to twins, Anton and Maria Josefa, on 24 March 1859. Both children died on 17 May 1859.
Sibylle and Wilhelm had two more children, neither of whom would survive to adulthood: Gottfried, born 25 May 1860 (and died of encephalitis on 24 April 1873) and Maria Anna, born 25 February 1862 (and died 14 January 1863).
Sibylle died in Erpel on 2 April 1862. Her cause of death was listed as Auszehrung (emaciation, consumption, tuberculosis). She was buried on 5 April 1862.
Erpel is a local community (Ortsgemeinde) which is part of the collective municipality Unkel, in Kreis (district) Neuwied, in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz). It is located on the eastern bank of the Rhine River, across from Remagen, another ancestral place of mine.
View of Erpel from Remagen
My 2nd-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider was born in Erpel. His father, Johann Wilhelm Schneider, was born in Remagen, and his father's mother's family lived in Remagen for generations. But on his mother Sibylle Lindlohr's side, his roots were in Erpel.
My 3rd-great-grandmother Anna Sibylle Lindlohr was born in Erpel on 20 December 1823. She was the daughter of Gottfried Lindlohr and Agathe Weiler (or Wieler). On 21 December 1823, she was baptized at Pfarrkirche St. Severinus, the Roman Catholic Church in Erpel. Her baptismal sponsors were Peter Wilhelm Stieldorf and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr, represented by Anna Maria Lindlohr.
Pfarrkirche St. Severinus, the location of many family baptisms, marriages, and funerals
On 24 June 1845 in Erpel, Sibylle married Heinrich Josef Hellmann from Bad Godesberg. The witnesses to the wedding were Karl Lindlohr and Matthias Jos. Klaeser. Their first child, Maria, was born on 12 March 1846. Another daughter, Adelheid, was born on 23 April 1848, but died a year later, on 26 April 1849. Their son Christian Josef was born on 11 February 1850.
Heinrich Josef Hellman died on 10 October 1850. A little more than a year after losing her husband, Sibylle lost her daughter too; Maria died on 21 February 1852.
Sibylle married my 3rd-great-grandfather Johann Wilhelm Schneider in Erpel on 20 April 1853. The witnesses to the wedding were Peter Frizam and Johann Belinger from Remagen. Less than a month later, on 15 May 1853, their daughter Anna Maria was born. Not long afterward, Sibylle lost another child: her son Christian Josef Hellmann died on 4 July 1853.
Sibylle and Wilhelm's next child, my 2nd-great-grandfather Carl Joseph, was born on 22 January 1855. Their son Johann Wilhelm (later known as John William) was born on 24 December 1856.
Sibylle's first child with Wilhelm, Anna Maria, died on 9 June 1857. Sibylle gave birth to twins, Anton and Maria Josefa, on 24 March 1859. Both children died on 17 May 1859.
Sibylle and Wilhelm had two more children, neither of whom would survive to adulthood: Gottfried, born 25 May 1860 (and died of encephalitis on 24 April 1873) and Maria Anna, born 25 February 1862 (and died 14 January 1863).
Sibylle died in Erpel on 2 April 1862. Her cause of death was listed as Auszehrung (emaciation, consumption, tuberculosis). She was buried on 5 April 1862.
Rathaus (town hall), built in 1780
Neutor (New Gate), the only remaining tower of the old city wall
Monday, August 3, 2015
Amanuensis Monday: Carl Schneider's Letter from Germany
The below letter was written in 1900 by my great-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider to his wife Christina (Nagel) Schneider and their children. He had gone to his native Germany to visit family and friends. The letter appears to be a typed copy and may be a translation. The typographical errors in my transcription are also present in the typed letter.
Dear Tina and Children!
Yesterday I received the dear letter from you and the children and I am very pleased the good news from all of you. Thursday the 5th was my day for Erpel. Although Joseph and Marion are no longer there (the first is in Düren and Marion is married in Cologne). I was nontheless very well received by all the friends in Erpel, especially by Pether Schmitz - Scholl is dead and Peter is in Erpel since then. Lena lives in Remagen, although both are almost thirty they are not married yet. We made a trip to Heister (?) where they only now begin to work at our stoneworks, then to Arsberg, Bruchhausen, Severinsberg (?), Karsbach (there I visited the Weber family) and finally to Erpel where everybody brought me to the Rhine at a very late hour to go back home. It was an elegant tour, Webers were delighted to see me and I had to promise to come back in a week from Sunday for Kirmes. Friday morning we had copany in Remagen and we arranged for a tour to Neuenahr. Peter . . . . (the neighbor's boy) teacher Martin Demm and I zipped by bike to Ahr and there I met Krupp and baker Nelles as well as a former from Albermann Bonn who now has a large hotel in Neuenahr. He showed ma all and we had a great time with him - at nine in the evening we returned to Remagen.
Neuenahr is a much larger and more elegant place now. Krupp has a large two family house there like a large hotel, but his wife is dead now for seven years. Generally things have changed a lot, but only the better. Tomorrow, Sunday, I will go to Erpel and at the beginning of next week to Bonn, Brühl, and Haimath (?); I will write again from there. I enjoyed getting the letter from the children. There are plenty of news to tell. I have made a lot of notes, particularly about Remagen. The boys are still very much alive. Unfortunately the weather is bad, always rain and that, of couse, limits my bycycling. The cold weather bothers me a lot and an overcoat would feel good. I caught quite a cold and have my famous very stuffy nose. most of my time here, althoug I am careful.
Many regards from everybody here
Your Carl and Papa
This letter is full of clues to follow up on. I recognize the names of several ancestral places, but do not know of any family connection with some of the places. Many people are mentioned, but I do not know who they are. Joseph and Marion may be Carl's half-siblings Wilhelm Josef Schneider and Maria Schneider. I suspect that Agnes Schmitz from Kendenich, a sponsor at the baptism of Carl and Christina's son Johann Wilhelm Schneider, may be Christina (Nagel) Schneider's sister Agnes. Christina was born in Kendenich. Perhaps Pether Schmitz was Agnes Nagel's husband.
Dear Tina and Children!
Yesterday I received the dear letter from you and the children and I am very pleased the good news from all of you. Thursday the 5th was my day for Erpel. Although Joseph and Marion are no longer there (the first is in Düren and Marion is married in Cologne). I was nontheless very well received by all the friends in Erpel, especially by Pether Schmitz - Scholl is dead and Peter is in Erpel since then. Lena lives in Remagen, although both are almost thirty they are not married yet. We made a trip to Heister (?) where they only now begin to work at our stoneworks, then to Arsberg, Bruchhausen, Severinsberg (?), Karsbach (there I visited the Weber family) and finally to Erpel where everybody brought me to the Rhine at a very late hour to go back home. It was an elegant tour, Webers were delighted to see me and I had to promise to come back in a week from Sunday for Kirmes. Friday morning we had copany in Remagen and we arranged for a tour to Neuenahr. Peter . . . . (the neighbor's boy) teacher Martin Demm and I zipped by bike to Ahr and there I met Krupp and baker Nelles as well as a former from Albermann Bonn who now has a large hotel in Neuenahr. He showed ma all and we had a great time with him - at nine in the evening we returned to Remagen.
Neuenahr is a much larger and more elegant place now. Krupp has a large two family house there like a large hotel, but his wife is dead now for seven years. Generally things have changed a lot, but only the better. Tomorrow, Sunday, I will go to Erpel and at the beginning of next week to Bonn, Brühl, and Haimath (?); I will write again from there. I enjoyed getting the letter from the children. There are plenty of news to tell. I have made a lot of notes, particularly about Remagen. The boys are still very much alive. Unfortunately the weather is bad, always rain and that, of couse, limits my bycycling. The cold weather bothers me a lot and an overcoat would feel good. I caught quite a cold and have my famous very stuffy nose. most of my time here, althoug I am careful.
Many regards from everybody here
Your Carl and Papa
This letter is full of clues to follow up on. I recognize the names of several ancestral places, but do not know of any family connection with some of the places. Many people are mentioned, but I do not know who they are. Joseph and Marion may be Carl's half-siblings Wilhelm Josef Schneider and Maria Schneider. I suspect that Agnes Schmitz from Kendenich, a sponsor at the baptism of Carl and Christina's son Johann Wilhelm Schneider, may be Christina (Nagel) Schneider's sister Agnes. Christina was born in Kendenich. Perhaps Pether Schmitz was Agnes Nagel's husband.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Those Places Thursday: Pfarrkirche St. Severinus, Erpel, Germany
Pfarrkirche St. Severinus is a Roman Catholic Church in Erpel, Kreis Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Germany.
The church is a late Gothic column basilica which was built in the mid-13th century. The tower basement is from an earlier nave church which was built in the 11th or early 12th century.
In 1751, the galleries were removed, a new roof was put on the tower, the height was increased on the roofs of the side naves, and the side towers were dismantled.
The church was renovated again in 1960-1967, and the galleries were restored.
According to legend, the original church hosted the remains of the Three Wise Men in 1164, when Rainald von Dassel, Archbishop of Cologne, brought them from Milan, Italy to Cologne.
My great-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider and his siblings were baptized at St. Severinus. His parents Johann Wilhelm Schneider and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr were married there. Many earlier generations of the Lindlohr family attended St. Severinus.
References
A gem of sacral archiecture: Erpel's parish church St. Severinus gets renovated - modifications are part of history
Parish Church St. Severinus
St. Severin (Erpel)
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Capture of the Ludendorff Bridge
Today is the 70th anniversary of the capture of the Ludendorff Bridge. The bridge connected Remagen and Erpel, two German ancestral towns of mine. It was built in 1918 to carry supplies to the Western Front in World War I, and was named after General Erich Ludendorff. Architect Karl Wiener designed it as a railroad bridge; it had two railroad tracks and a walkway for pedestrians.
On 7 March 1945, the U.S. 9th Armored Division captured the Ludendorff Bridge shortly before 4:00 PM, when they believed the Germans would blow it up. The first American soldier to cross the bridge was Alexander A. Drabik; as the Germans fired at him, he ran across the entire length of the bridge. German-born lieutenant Karl H. Timmermann was the first officer to cross the bridge. More than 8,000 American soldiers crossed over within 24 hours.
14-year-old Heinrich Lindlohr and his family were in the back part of the bridge tunnel at the time of the surrender. About 40 American soldiers were there as well. Heinrich's sister Anni walked toward the soldiers and carried a white flag. Lindlohr is one of my ancestral surnames from Erpel. I could be related to Heinrich and Anni Lindlohr.
On 17 March 1945, the bridge collapsed as a result of the damage it had sustained.
References
Alexander Drabik, 82, First G.I. To Cross Remagen Bridge in 1945
Battle of Remagen
The Bridge of Remagen - Between Truth and Legend: Contemporary witnesses remember March of 1945
Capturing the Bridge at Remagen, 1945
Ludendorff Bridge
The Ludendorff Bridge Erpel - Remagen
Ludendorff-Bridge - "The battle for the bridge is legendary"
Ludendorff-Bridge ... "The Bridge of Remagen"
Remagen
US Troops Capture Ludendorff Railroad Bridge at Remagen
Monday, February 23, 2015
Mappy Monday: Stadtrundgang Erpel
I photographed this map in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Germany. Stadtrundgang means "city tour" in German.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Tuesday's Tip: Meyers Orts Gazetteer
Ancestry.com has made Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire (Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs) available free. The gazetteer was compiled in 1912, and it includes all areas that were part of the German Empire before World War I. If you have German ancestors, this is a great resource to use; it will give you information about locations in Germany, such as a town's population, government district, churches, post office, and schools.
The beginning of Volume I contains a list of abbreviations, which will help in understanding the entries. The excerpt below explains the abbreviations for Post, Telegraph, Fernsprecher (telephone).
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol.I, page X.
Below are the entries for some of my ancestral towns:
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. I, page 208.
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. I, page 383.
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. I, page 453.
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. I, page 598.
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. I, page 777.
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. I, page 951.
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. II, page 330.
Meyers Gazetteer of the German Empire [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Erich Uetrecht. Meyers Orts- und Verkehrs-Lexikon des Deutschen Reichs. 5th Edition. Leipzig, Germany: Bibliographisches Institut, 1912-1913. Vol. II, page 577.
As you can see, I found quite a bit of information about my ancestral towns! Some entries are much longer than others.
The beginning of Volume I contains a list of abbreviations, which will help in understanding the entries. The excerpt below explains the abbreviations for Post, Telegraph, Fernsprecher (telephone).
Below are the entries for some of my ancestral towns:
As you can see, I found quite a bit of information about my ancestral towns! Some entries are much longer than others.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Sibling Saturday: Carl Joseph and John William Schneider
For a long time, I did not know that my Schneider ancestors had family in St. Louis when they arrived. My great-great-grandparents Carl Joseph and Christina (Nagel) Schneider and their children (including my great-grandfather John Schneider) left Remagen, Ahrweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany in 1892 and settled in St. Louis. Christina's brother Mathias Nagel had been living in Jefferson City, Missouri, but had moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1891.
While searching the Missouri History Museum's Genealogy and Local History Index, I found an entry for Carl J. Schneider from the weekly periodical Squib. He was mentioned in a biographical sketch. I requested a photocopy from the Missouri History Museum. Although Schneider is a common surname, I thought there was a chance that the entry referred to my great-great grandfather, or to his grandson with the same name (my maternal grandmother's brother). It did not refer to either of them. It was a biographical sketch of a man named John William Schneider. One of his sons was named Carl J. Schneider. The Missouri History Museum thoughtfully included extra information about John William Schneider; they also sent his death certificate and a copy of his death notice.
I looked over the information, and a theory began to form. The biographical sketch said that John William Schneider was born in Erpil, Germany on 25 December 1856. My great-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider was born in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany on 22 January 1855. "Erpil" looked like a misspelling of "Erpel." The two men were close in age. John William Schneider's death notice mentioned that he was an uncle, and his oldest son shared a first name and middle initial with my great-great-grandfather. His death certificate stated that his father was William Schneider, born in Germany (likely Wilhelm), and his mother was unknown. Carl Joseph Schneider's father was Johann Wilhelm Schneider, and he was called Wilhelm. His mother was Sibylle Lindlohr, who had died in Erpel on 2 April 1862, when she was only 38 years old. John William Schneider had died of chronic hypertrophic cirrhosis of the liver, but gastric carcinoma was listed as a contributory cause of death. Carl Joseph Schneider had died of stomach cancer. When Carl Joseph Schneider wrote a letter to his wife and children while visiting Germany in 1900, he mentioned receiving "brother's letter." This statement implied that his brother was not living in Germany. I suspected that his brother was John William Schneider. However, I could not prove it right away. Catholic church records from Erpel are not available through the Family History Library. I had information about Carl Joseph Schneider's parents and maternal grandparents from the book Familienbuch der katholischen Pfarrei Sankt Peter und Paul Remagen, 1649 bis 1899, by Gerhard Hentschel (Köln: Westdeutsche Gesellschaft für Familienkunde, 2007). However, the book only listed one child for them: a daughter, Maria Anna, who died in 1863 when she was not quite a year old and was buried in Remagen. Carl Joseph Schneider was not even listed as their son, but I knew that he was their son; his marriage certificate names his parents. He was born in Erpel (just across the Rhine River), so he was not recorded in the Remagen book.
In 2010, the book Familienbuch der katholischen Pfarrei Sankt Severin Erpel 1615-1875 (Köln: Westdeutsche Gesellschaft für Familienkunde), by Gerhard Hentschel's wife Renate, was published. I obtained a copy, and finally found the proof that I had been searching for. In the list of children of my my 3rd-great-grandparents Johann Wilhelm Schneider and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr, underneath the entry for my great-great-grandfather, was one for Johann Wilhelm Schneider, born 24 December 1856 in Erpel. The two men were brothers.
Carl Joseph Schneider's father-in-law Johann Nagel, his children's only living grandparent, died in Remagen on 15 February 1891. The following year, Carl and his wife and children moved to St. Louis, Missouri to join his brother, his only living full sibling.
I believe that John William Schneider wanted to be found. If I had not received the information from the Missouri History Library, I probably would not have found him. Even though I still would have learned about him from the Erpel Familienbuch, I would not have known that he went to St. Louis. Although researching others with the same surname can lead to finding relatives, this approach does not work so well with common surnames like Schneider, especially in an area like St. Louis, with a large German population. And after learning that his son Ferdinand had died in World War I, I believe that John wanted me to find him too.
Biographical sketch of John William Schneider. Squib, circa 1911. From the collection of the Missouri Historical Society.
Family of Johann Wilhelm Schneider and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr. Hentschel, Renate. Familienbuch der katholischen Pfarrei Sankt Severin Erpel 1615-1875. Köln: Westdeutsche Gesellschaft für Familienkunde, 2010.
John W. Schneider death certificate, 27 August 1934. Missouri State Board of Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics.
While searching the Missouri History Museum's Genealogy and Local History Index, I found an entry for Carl J. Schneider from the weekly periodical Squib. He was mentioned in a biographical sketch. I requested a photocopy from the Missouri History Museum. Although Schneider is a common surname, I thought there was a chance that the entry referred to my great-great grandfather, or to his grandson with the same name (my maternal grandmother's brother). It did not refer to either of them. It was a biographical sketch of a man named John William Schneider. One of his sons was named Carl J. Schneider. The Missouri History Museum thoughtfully included extra information about John William Schneider; they also sent his death certificate and a copy of his death notice.
I looked over the information, and a theory began to form. The biographical sketch said that John William Schneider was born in Erpil, Germany on 25 December 1856. My great-great-grandfather Carl Joseph Schneider was born in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany on 22 January 1855. "Erpil" looked like a misspelling of "Erpel." The two men were close in age. John William Schneider's death notice mentioned that he was an uncle, and his oldest son shared a first name and middle initial with my great-great-grandfather. His death certificate stated that his father was William Schneider, born in Germany (likely Wilhelm), and his mother was unknown. Carl Joseph Schneider's father was Johann Wilhelm Schneider, and he was called Wilhelm. His mother was Sibylle Lindlohr, who had died in Erpel on 2 April 1862, when she was only 38 years old. John William Schneider had died of chronic hypertrophic cirrhosis of the liver, but gastric carcinoma was listed as a contributory cause of death. Carl Joseph Schneider had died of stomach cancer. When Carl Joseph Schneider wrote a letter to his wife and children while visiting Germany in 1900, he mentioned receiving "brother's letter." This statement implied that his brother was not living in Germany. I suspected that his brother was John William Schneider. However, I could not prove it right away. Catholic church records from Erpel are not available through the Family History Library. I had information about Carl Joseph Schneider's parents and maternal grandparents from the book Familienbuch der katholischen Pfarrei Sankt Peter und Paul Remagen, 1649 bis 1899, by Gerhard Hentschel (Köln: Westdeutsche Gesellschaft für Familienkunde, 2007). However, the book only listed one child for them: a daughter, Maria Anna, who died in 1863 when she was not quite a year old and was buried in Remagen. Carl Joseph Schneider was not even listed as their son, but I knew that he was their son; his marriage certificate names his parents. He was born in Erpel (just across the Rhine River), so he was not recorded in the Remagen book.
In 2010, the book Familienbuch der katholischen Pfarrei Sankt Severin Erpel 1615-1875 (Köln: Westdeutsche Gesellschaft für Familienkunde), by Gerhard Hentschel's wife Renate, was published. I obtained a copy, and finally found the proof that I had been searching for. In the list of children of my my 3rd-great-grandparents Johann Wilhelm Schneider and Anna Sibylle Lindlohr, underneath the entry for my great-great-grandfather, was one for Johann Wilhelm Schneider, born 24 December 1856 in Erpel. The two men were brothers.
Carl Joseph Schneider's father-in-law Johann Nagel, his children's only living grandparent, died in Remagen on 15 February 1891. The following year, Carl and his wife and children moved to St. Louis, Missouri to join his brother, his only living full sibling.
I believe that John William Schneider wanted to be found. If I had not received the information from the Missouri History Library, I probably would not have found him. Even though I still would have learned about him from the Erpel Familienbuch, I would not have known that he went to St. Louis. Although researching others with the same surname can lead to finding relatives, this approach does not work so well with common surnames like Schneider, especially in an area like St. Louis, with a large German population. And after learning that his son Ferdinand had died in World War I, I believe that John wanted me to find him too.
John William Schneider. Squib, circa 1911. From the collection of the Missouri Historical Society.
Carl Joseph Schneider. Photo taken at Pietz, 1630 Franklin Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.
Certificate of death, Carl Joseph Schneider, 5 November 1901. Ancestry.com. Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. Original data: Missouri Death Records. Jefferson City, MO, USA: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Mappy Monday: Rhine River (Fluss Rhein)
This map shows the Rhine River (Fluss Rhein). The Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein come together in Switzerland. The Hochrhein (High Rhine) flows to the west from Lake Constance to Basel, Switzerland. The Oberrhein (Upper Rhine) flows from Basel to Bingen, Germany. This section of the Rhine flows through Switzerland, France (Alsace), and the German states of Baden-Württemburg, Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz), and Hesse. The Mittelrhein (Middle Rhine) flows from Bingen to Bonn. The Niederrhein (Lower Rhine) begins in Bonn. After it enters the Netherlands, it splits into branches, including Waal, Merwede, Nieuwe Maas, and Nederrijn, and flows out to the North Sea.
My German ancestors lived by the Rhine River. My Schneider ancestors were from Erpel and Remagen. My Nagel ancestors lived in Bonn for a while. They were originally from Hürth (Hermülheim, Kendenich), which is near the Rhine. My Gersbacher/Gerspacher ancestors were from the Hotzenwald region in Baden, in Görwihl and Niederwihl (now part of Görwihl). My Dreier ancestors were from Niederwihl. Görwihl is at the edge of the river Alb, which is a tributary of the Rhine.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Military Monday and 52 Ancestors: #20 Ferdinand Constand Schneider
Photo from page 165, Missouri - Soldiers of the Great War, compiled by W. M. Haulsee, F. G. Howe, and A. C. Doyle. Washington, DC: Soldiers Record Publishing Association, 1920. Available online at http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/wwi/missourisoldies-greatwar.htm.
Ferdinand Constand Schneider was the son of my great-great-grandfather's brother John William (Johann Wilhelm) Schneider and Caroline Uhlik. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on 4 November 1887. He and his older brother Carl Joseph (named after his uncle, my great-great-grandfather) were the first generation born in the United States; their father was born in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany and their mother was born in Bohemia.
On 5 June 1917, Ferdinand registered for the World War I draft. At that time, he lived at 1316 Geyer Ave. in St. Louis and was a foreman at St. Louis Cordage Works, Menard & Soulard. His draft card noted that one of his fingers was cut at the first joint. In the 1909 St. Louis city directory he had been listed as a cutter; perhaps he had an accident at work.
Details of Ferdinand's service are provided in World War I Biography and Service Records: Persons Who Enlisted in St. Louis City and County. Addenda: Those Who Died in Service (Missouri Historical Society, 1995). Ferdinand joined the United States Army on September 19, 1917 and was a private in Company I, 354th Infantry. On March 16, 1918 he was transferred to Company G, 38th Infantry 3rd Division, where he was a private and machine gunner. A newspaper clipping in the Missouri Historical Society publication stated that "his last letter derides the Germans for their inaccuracy in shooting. He said that they merely pull the trigger and trust to luck to have the bullets take effect."
Unfortunately the bullets took effect on 15 July 1918 at the Battle of Château-Thierry (Aisne, Picardy, France), when Ferdinand was killed by shell fire. The son of a German immigrant had died fighting against the Germans. His body was transported back to the United States, and he was interred in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Oakville, St. Louis County, Missouri on the fourth anniversary of his death.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 26 September 1918, p. 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 12 July 1922. p. 19
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Wedding Wednesday: Carl Joseph Schneider and Christina Nagel
My great-great-grandparents Carl Joseph Schneider and Christina Nagel were married in Bonn, Germany on 31 January 1878. Carl Joseph Schneider was born in Erpel, Neuwied, Rheinland on 22 January 1855. He was the son of Wilhelm Schneider and Sibilla Lindlohr. Christina Nagel was born on 27 February 1851 in Kendenich, Rhein-Erft, Rheinland. She was the daughter of Johann Nagel and Anna Maria Aussem.
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