Erie, Pa Research Trip – Part 2

After a wonderful morning, as described in my Part 1 post of May 6, 2010, Jim & I discussed the next stop on our agenda while having a quick lunch at MacDonalds. (We always try to stop at Macs once while traveling - just love their fish sandwiches!!)  The Erie County Historical Society opens at 11am on Tuesday and, even though they’re in the midst of exhibit construction, the library and archives are intact and accessible.

We were greeted warmly as we entered the research area. Once I explained our mission - my goals for this location were primarily to learn what I could about the Streuber tannery, Jacob Walther and family and gather general information about Erie in the 1870s - Anita directed us to the various areas within our interest. With a collection of this size, it’s especially helpful to understand the layout. We would focus on the several county histories, city directories, naturalization indices and maps in the collection.

We found some interesting items. For instance, Charles is listed in only one city directory in Erie (Atkinson’s Erie City Directory for 1874-5). At that time they lived at 1526 State (pg250). This is the description of State from that Directory:

STATE, the main business street of the city, and the starting point of all streets running East and West…commences at the Public Dock, but is not numbered until it reaches Front Street, when it commences with No. 100 and runs south to Twenty-sixth street; 100 feet in width… (pg25)

In that same Directory Streuber & Son’s Tannery is described. (I’m quite sure this is where Charles and Fred worked and learned the tanning trade.)

Streuber & Son’s Tannery – State street, between Eighteenth and Nineteenth. Capital $23,000, Number of employees 10. Material used annually, 2,600 heavy hides, 4,000 calf skins, 400 cords of hemlock bark. Value of annual products; sole leather, $18,200; calf skins, $12,000; other varieties of leather, $10,400. (pg129)

The County histories provided even more descriptions of the tannery and also biographical sketch about Jacob F. Walther (witness at C & S wedding). Maps & atlases gave us visuals of our couple’s living and working locations.

I’d say it was a well-spent few hours! I’ll finish up our research day in my next post.

Erie, Pa Research Trip – Part 1

Wow, I had forgotten how much fun a research trip can be!! Even a short stop, like this one, gets you out to places you’ve never been and might possibly have never gone, if not for genealogy. Best of all, though, are all the wonderful people you meet and learn from along the way.

This morning, March 04, 2010, after a breakfast at the hotel, Jim and I set out to take pictures of some of the key locations for Charles and Salome (C&S) – their address in 1873, the tannery where Charles and Fred worked (probably) and the church where they were married and where Caroline, Eva, Emma and Julia were baptized. The first two places are really no longer in existence so we just did the best we could to come close to how things might have been but St. Paul’s UCC (formerly St. Paul’s German Evangelical Church) is as it once was.

On the way to the church, I called the office to see if we could get inside to take some pictures. The answer was a hearty, “sure, just ring the bell and I’ll let you in.” A few minutes later we were graciously met by Rev. Wayne Sova and Cheryl Pierce. I explained about C&S’s marriage and the childrens' baptisms and Cheryl said, “Would you like a copy of those records? [I have the abstracts but not the originals.] They would be in German.” Of course, I jumped at the chance. So, while we talked with Rev. Sova and took pictures of the sanctuary – which is much as it was in 1873 -

Cheryl busied herself with finding the records in the old ledgers; not only that but she, also, found a picture of the altar area in 1901 before any remodeling had occurred.

We were enjoying our visit so much we could have stayed and talked for hours but didn’t want to take up all their time. We reluctantly said goodbye to two helpful and interesting people!!

Cheryl Pierce and Rev. Wayne Sova

What a great start to the day! The next stop: Erie County Historical Society. More on that later.

Jennie Siegler's Maiden Name

Okay, I know, I’m suppose to be getting ready for my trip to Erie but, really, I think I have everything ready now. I’ve listed my goals for the trip, determined where I’ll be going to research, called each place to be sure they will be open and accessible while I’m there. I have my research log prepared the addresses, phone numbers, even check boxes next to the goals.

In other words, I’m ready so I don’t feel guilty about branching off a bit. Truth be told, I’m very happy I did because I made a discovery I’ve been tracking for at least ten years now. I’ve mentioned Salome’s brother, Fred, before, but he’s not the mystery. It has been his wife, Jennie.

On Fred’s tombstone is written, “Our Father and Beloved Husband of Jennie Siegler” and, on the 1900 Federal Census for Chicago, Illinois, Jennie is listed as Fred Siegler’s wife. She was born in France about 1858. (1900; Census Place: Chicago Ward 14, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T623_261; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 419. Fred Seigeler [sic] household) My question has been: what is Jennie’s maiden name?

My best guess, based on the age of their son, Frederick, was that Fred and Jennie were married before 14 Jul 1877. She was also, according to the census, ten years younger than Fred which makes it unlikely the marriage occurred much before 1874.

Since 2002, I’ve known that Fred was in Erie, Pennsylvania in March of 1874 (filing of Declaration of Intention) and, according to Lakeside Directory of Chicago, he was in Chicago in 1876-77. Did they marry in Erie or Chicago?

Making of very long story somewhat shorter, the other day I decided to go back, yet again, to the FamilySearch Record Search site to look for this marriage. Usually I’ve been going directly to the Chicago records but, this time, I opted to search for “Fred Siegler” from the home page to see what else might come up. Lo and behold, there in the Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, records - that I’ve searched a zillion times - was a marriage record for Fréderic Siegler and Eugénie Bedel on 19 Sept 1875. She was 18 and he was 26. Hmmm, could Eugénie be Jennie? I have never considered Eugénie as her given name; Jennifer, Jeanne, etc. but not Eugénie.

Then, further along in the returns from my query, was a birth record for Frederick Riegler. (Huh?) He was born at 521 Halsted [sic] St, ward 14, Chicago; mother: Eugenia Riegler from France, nee Bédel; father: Frederick Riegler from France, a tanner; return date 16 Jul 1877. Fred and Jennie’s son, Fred, was born 14 Jul 1877 according to his WWI draft registration.

Ah, I feel so much better now that I can take the “UNKNOWN” from Jennie’s surname and give her back her identity: BÉDEL.  

Connections! Connections! Connections!

For the past day or so, I’ve been looking into possible connections between Charles and Salome(C&S) or, more precisely, the Ruch and Siegler families and certain residents of Erie, PA. Having determined what I believe to be the main reason for C&S to emigrate from France – the ceding of Alsace to the Germans after France’s defeat in the Franco/Prussian War – I began to wonder what brought them to Erie, PA. There was no stopping in New York to get their bearings, no wavering whatsoever; they were in Erie as quickly as the train could travel from New York. Not only that but they no more arrived in the city than they were standing before the pastor of St. Paul’s German Evangelical church to be married!

The marriage was witnessed by Friedrick Siegler and Jacob Walther. Since Fred Siegler’s naturalization record – papers of intent – state that he immigrated in 1872, it appears Salome’s brother led the way. He most likely paved the way for the wedding, as well. (I have yet to find a passenger list for Fred so his “papers” will have to do for now.)

The other witness, Jacob Walther, was an unknown. I’d never encountered that surname in my research of the families. Was he just a church member or was there some connection about which I didn’t know? I checked the 1870 and 1880 census records and all I really learned was he was born in France and was a shoemaker. Well, France could be helpful but not really definitive.

As it turns out, I spent a good part of this morning at the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, IL plodding through the two volumes of Nelson’s Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Erie County, Pennsylvania published by S. B Nelson in 1896. Happily, Jacob Frederick Walther’s biography is included; he was not only born in France but in Buchsweiler (the German spelling for Bouxwiller), Alsace. The Walther family had been in Erie since 1846 but probably kept contact with friends and family in France. At least, Jacob would most likely have been pleased to help a young couple from back home.

One more connection to mention before I sign off: Jacob Walther’s wife was Frederika, nee Streuber, the daughter of John Streuber who established a tannery in Erie. This family was also from Bouxwiller, the children of the same generation as C&S and immigrating only 10 years earlier. Charles became a tanner while in Erie and, most likely, learned that trade at the E Streuber & Bros Tannery on State Street between 18^th and 19^th.

Erie, PA, Here I Come!

Well, I've talked about it long enough and the procrastination is over. We have our reservations at the motel and tomorrow will set the dog up for "camp" while we're gone! It will be a quick trip but, since C & S only lived there a couple of years, I think it will do.

Back in 2002, I sent a request to the Erie Society of Genealogical Research (ESGR) for information regarding Ruch/Rosch and Siegler/Ziegler. I was as specific as I could be. I told them what I knew and how I knew it and asked for information from records to which I hoped they had access.

The answer I received was a beautifully concise and well-written research report. I was able to document some vital information both for C & S and their first four children (two sets of twins).

Also included was some information about Fred Siegler which caused me some confusion. One referenced a naturalization record which appeared to be for Salome's brother, Frederick; at least, the birth year and location matched our Fred. The other mention stated "Fred died August 4, 1885." Well, our Fred moved to Chicago, fathered three children and died in 1904. Thus, my confusion.

Yesterday I decided to call the ESGR to see if Fred Siegler is listed in the Erie City Death Records and if any additional information could be provided about him. I was fortunate that Alice, ESGR Research Coordinator, was volunteering when I called. I mentioned that we are planning a trip to Erie and, I hoped, to clear up the question of the Fred who died in 1885 first. Since time will be of the essence, I'd like to focus on C & S.

Alice was terrific!! She went back to the original request and response and, after a few minutes of give and take conversation, she said she'd look into it and get back to me. Sure enough, later in the afternoon, Alice called to tell me that the 1885 death belonged to Fred Siegler of Bavaria and she had also found a separate naturalization for Bavaria Fred. The existence of any familial relationship between the two Sieglers seems unlikely.

Alice told me to let her know our trip plans so me can connect while I'm there. Fortunately, she also volunteers at the library on a day we will be in town. I'm really hoping to meet her; she's been so helpful.

So, I have a week to get all my ducks in a row. I have a couple to resources to check at our local library, define my goals (I'm nearly finished with that one), make sure I have all the contact information for everywhere I want to go (that's mostly done too) and think about packing.

I'm really looking forward to this trip!!

Wordless Wednesday - Emma, Julia and baby 1942

Julia Brown, Emma Higgins and Emma's grandson, 1942

Putting the Writing First

I’ve been doing a bit more writing of the story of Charles and Salome -  between family obligations and weeding the yard that is. (Alas, trying to keep the weeds out of the grass and the grass out of the sedum is a losing battle!) The writing is going slower than I’d like because it seems after every other sentence I mention something I’d really like to know more about. So, then, it’s off the Google and time just slips away.

However, I am beginning to know this couple personally, especially Salome. As I follow the options available based on the events of their times, large and small, I understand why they made certain decisions. I don’t just wonder how they must have felt but I seem to feel with them. The more I write the closer I get to them.

I have a long way to go but, so far, I’m enjoying the journey!!

If my blog posts are less frequent, it’s probably because I’m spending more time with the Ruch family. For now, they must be my priority.