Johann Bernard Anton Winner (1833-1919)

I've been told the more you write the easier it becomes. I am not sure about that. Once you have been writing for a while all the easy stuff is used up and you have to look harder to find something to write about. Like I said earlier, "I am glad February is a short month." Any longer and I might have to start making things up about people (jk). I have decided to work on some uncles for a while so I chose Johann Bernard Anton Winner. He is my 3rd great grand uncle and my 1st cousin 5 times removed.  I chose him because my Ancestral Quest program lists a variety of relations between me and his children. Four of his sons are great grand uncles because they married four Bruns sisters who were already my great grand aunts. In addition to that relation, all of his children are also my 1st cousin 4 times removed and my 2nd cousin 4 times removed. Now on to the story of Johann Bernard Anton Winner, or as he is otherwise known, Anthony Winner.

Anthony Winner was born on 8 October 1833, in Neuenkirchen, near Voerden, in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany. His parents were Francis Joseph (1804-1835) and Mary Catherine Husmen Winner (1808-1877). He was baptized on 10 October 1833, at St. Bonifatius Church in Neuenkirchen. Records from St. Bonifatius Church list his sponsors as Johan Bernard Schnoterbord, Maria Elisabeth Westerhaus nee Winner and Antonius Brandewie. Anthony was the youngest of the children in Germany. At the age of three he immigrated to the United States with his family. The family settled in the community of Minster, Ohio, where his sister was born in 1836 and died a year later in 1837.

Carolina & Anthony Winner

On 28 October 1856, at the age of 23, Anthony married Carolina Rebecca Hoyng (1838-1909). Carolina was 19 years old when they married. Their union resulted in the birth of nine children: Charles Henry (1857-1936), Frederick William (1859-1945), Henry Joseph (1861-1942), Catherine (1863-1944), Clemens (1872-1958), Mary (1869-1941), Anton (1875-1879) and Anthony (1884-1957).

The 1870 census lists the value of Anthony's land holdings as $4,500 and his personal property as $1,100. He is living on his farm with his wife Caroline (age 26), and children Charles (age 12), Frederick (age 10), Henry (age 8), Catherine (age 6), Joseph (age 4) and Mary (age 11 months). All of the children except Joseph and Mary are attending school.

The 1880 census lists Anton (age 46), Caroline (age 39), Charles (age 22), Frederick (age 20), Henry (age 18), Catherina (age 16), Joseph (age 14), Mary (age 9) and Clemens (age 6). Joseph, Mary and Clemens are attending school. Catherina is listed as a servant. The older boys, Henry, Frederick and Charles, are working on the farm.

The 1900 census is a little confusing. The birth dates and ages don't match with the other records that I have. For example  Anthony is listed as being born October 1844 and age 55, while his wife is 61 years old and was born July 1838. Two children, Anthony and Mary are listed as living at home in this census. However, Mary is listed as being born May 1872.

In the 1910 census Mary is living at home with her father.

Anthony and Caroline raised their family on the farm located southwest of Egypt, Auglaize County, Ohio. His wife, Caroline, died on 15 January 1909 Anthony farmed this land all his life until October 1918 when he moved to Ft. Loramie to live with his daughter, Mary. Anthony died on 19 June 1909, after a month of suffering "lung fever" (broncho-pneumonia), the last week of which he was restricted to his bed. He was 85 years, 8 months and 11 days old at the time of his death.

Joseph Rieger (1832-1916)

Hello again, I think I have everything working on my computer now, but just in case I have purchased a back up hard drive. Never know when your hard drive will crash leaving you nothing from all your years of research. This story is about Joseph Rieger, my 2nd great grand uncle. He was the husband of Margaretha Weise, the daughter of Justice Weise in the previous story.

Emigrants Building, Bremerhaven, built 1849

Joseph Reiger was born on 21 October 1832 in Wurtenburg, Germany, the son of Joseph (b. ~1797) and Magdelena Marianne Hauver Reiger (b. ~1799). He immigrated to the United States aboard the ship Bremerhaven, arriving at Castle garden, New York on 7 September 1853. The family consisted of Joseph (age 20), his parents Joseph (age 56) and Marianne (age 54), and his siblings Veronica (age 26), Theresia (age 24) and Victor (age 16). The departed from Bremen and were bound for Pittsburgh. Joseph Sr., Joseph  Jr. and Victor were listed as farmers. The family settled in Lancaster, New York then moved on to Dayton Ohio and Greenville, Ohio.

In the 1860 US Census the family is living in McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio. Joseph Jr. married Margaretha Weise in 1857. By 1860 they had three children born. The children were Louisa (b. ~1857), Joseph (1858-1859), and August (1859-1927). One child, Joseph, had died before the 1860 census. At this time Joseph is a shoemaker by occupation. He had opened his shoe store in 1857.

The 1870 US Census lists the families residence as Berlin (Loramie), McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio. The family consisted of Joseph (age 37), Margaret (age 34), and their children Elizabeth (age 12), August (age 11), Margaret (age 10), Catherine (age 8), Cecilia (age 7), Caroline (age 5), Mary (age 3), and Joseph (age 1). Joseph owns $2,000 in real estate and has a personal value of $200. He is working as a shoe maker at this time. The family had 2 more children, Anna and William before Margaret dies on 3 May 1872 at the age of 36. In 1873 Joseph married Mary Swartz (1843-1934). A total of 12 children were born to this marriage.

Joseph Rieger, seated on left

The family had grown considerably by the 1880 US Census. They are living in Berlin (Loramie), McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio. Joseph had changed occupations and is now listed as a saloon keeper. The family consisted of Joseph (age 47), his second wife Maria (age 36), his children from his first marriage Vatherina (age 18), Cecilia (age 17), Caroline (age 16), Mary (age 14), August (age 20), Joseph (age 10), William (age 9), and Anna (age 9), and his children from the second marriage Fransiska (age 6), Rosa (age 4), Peter (age 2) and John (age 6 months). The oldest son, August, is employed as a teamster, probably with the Wise Sawmill.

The 1900 census lists Joseph as a shoemaker again. His son August is now listed as a saloon keeper. I wonder if his son took over the job during this time. Joseph (age 67), his wife Maria (age 58),  and one daughter, Rosa (age 24), are living in the house. Maria states that she had seven children with only three still alive at the time of this census. I currently only have six children listed for Maria and Joseph's obituary only lists six children as well. They were Maria Fransisca (1874-1965), Elizabeth Rosa (1876-1906), Peter Michael (1877-1928), John F (1879-1880), John Jacob (1881-1883), and Emelia (1883-1896).

In 1910, Joseph is listed as a retired shoe dealer. He is 77 years old and his wife Maria is 65 years old. She states that she had seven children and only two remain alive at this time. The two living children would be Maria and Peter. During his life, Joseph had served as Township trustee and treasurer.

Joseph & Mary Rieger, St. Michaels Cemetery

On 2 June 1916 Joseph died. He was 83 years, 7 months, and 12 days old at the time of his death. He had been under the doctors care since 5 January for ailments including asthma and chronic nephritis. The cause of death was a cerebral hemmorhage resulting in a paralytic stroke on May 31. He died two days later. He is buried with his second wife, Mary (Maria), in St. Michaels Cemetery, Ft. Loramie, Shelby County, Ohio.

Justus Weise (1808-1884)

I believe this is day eight in my writing. I wasn't sure I would get this one out since my computer and other things were working against me. By the way, if you download Microsoft Office Pro 2013 - 64 bit be aware that you may have problems installing it. It has taken me three days to get the right configuration for it to work on my computer. The 32-bit version worked right away on the other computer without a problem. Now that that issue is resolved, here is my story about my 3rd great-grandfather, Justus Weise.

Justus Weise was born on 29 October 1808 in Lippe-Detmold, Falkenhagen, Germany. His parents were Christopher Weise (1754-1824) and Christine Bruns Henke (1756-1826). As usual, I don't have much information on his life in Germany but I have researched his life in the United States. Justice and Anna Margaretha Wilken were married in 1832. Soon after they left Falkenhagen and relocated in Holland where their four children were born.

He arrived in New York through Castle Gardens on 5 April 1854 aboard the William Tapscott departing from Liverpool, England. His name was recorded as Justice Wyse (age 45). His family consisted of his wife Anna Margaretha (age 52), and children Justice (age 19), Anna Margaretha (age 18), Louisa P (age 16) and Anna (age 12). Justice listed his occupation as farmer. His wife, daughters Anna Margaretha and Louisa P were listed as servants. His son Justice, was listed as a laborer. The youngest daughter, Anna, is listed as a child. Both Justice and his son Justice changed their name to August once they arrived in the States.

William Tapscott

The picture to the left is of the William Tapscott. This is the ship that the Wyse family took in their migration from Europe to the U.S. during March/April 1854. The average travel time for this voyage was about 31 days but could have taken over 45 days depending on weather. The William Tapscott was one of the finest ships of its time. It was one of the largest full-rigged ships built in Maine during the 1850s.

The ship had three decks. The passengers slept on the two lower decks. The second deck was entered through a trap-door hatchway. On each side of the deck, there were numbered cabins. Each cabin contained sleeping “berths”. Each cabin also had light from a large porthole covered with very thick blue glass. Two long tables ran down the middle of this deck. Benches, fastened to the floor, bordered these tables. When the sea wasn't rough, the porthole window could be left open.

The bottom deck was entered by a trap-door hatchway on the second deck. Like the deck above, there were cabins with berths around the sides. There weren't any portholes on this deck. For light, there were lanterns. It was very dark. It was described by a passenger on this deck as “… so dark that you could not see for awhile till your eyes got accustomed to the gloom.”  

There was a cooking gallery for the common use of all passengers. In the center of the cooking gallery was a very large stove, about 10 feet square. Around this stove was space for passengers to stand and hold onto their pans as they cooked. The toilet closet was a large hole with a bar to sit on. A passenger described the closet as “…The only place I was frightened was when we had to go to the closet, there was just a straight stick across and of course you could see the ocean. How I did cling to my little sister when she was on that bar, for it was a large enough place to let a grown person down, let alone children.”

After plying the oceans for about forty years the William Tapscott was lost in the English Channel in 1888. The figurehead from the ship was salvaged and is now on display at the Bude-Stratton Museum in Cornwall, England.

Upon their arrival, the family made their way up the Ohio River to Cincinnati, Ohio. When settlers arrived in Cincinnati they were grouped together and directed up the Miami-Erie Canal where they eventually settled near Ft. Loramie, Shelby County, Ohio. Once he arrived there he began buying and selling land. 

Justice filed for naturalization in Shelby County, Ohio and was granted citizenship on 29 October 1856. His naturalization records reads as follows: "Be it remembered that on the Twenty Ninth day of October AD 1856, personally appeared before me Saml McCowan Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas within and for said County and State, Justice Wise, an Alien a Native of Amsterdam in Holland and subject of William 3 King of Holland or Netherlands, who being sworn according to law on his oath doth declare and say that it is bonafide his intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever and more particularly all allegiance and fidelity to William 3 King of Holland, whose subject he is. Thereupon his papers of Intention were issued in due form of Law October 28th, 1856."

Wise daughters.

The 1860 US Census for Sidney Post Office, McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio, lists August (age 53) and his wife Anna (Age 63) living on the farm. The real estate value was $400 and his personal value was $100. In 1870 the couple are living in Berlin Village, McLean Township, Ohio. His real estate value is $350. But his personal value has increased to $1150. Justice is listed as 62 years old and his wife is 73. One problem with this census is that it lists his wife as Louisa. They also have a child, John Rhoma, age 2, living in their home. This child is the son of his daughter Louisa and her husband Martin Romie. Martin died in 1868, leaving Louisa a widow. However, Louisa remarried in 1871 to Jacob Gaier and had five children from that marriage. Justice's wife, Anna died on 23 April 1874.

Wise Sawmill (after 1894)

In 1880, Justice, being 70 years old and widowed, was living with his son August. This family consisted of August (age 43), his wife Theresa (age 41), children August (age 6) and Louisa (age 4), and two boarders Robert Davis and William Davis. August and the Davis brothers are listed as teamsters and probably worked for the local sawmill.

In 1881, Justice purchased a sawmill about one mile north of Loramie from the estate of Conrad Brucken. The sawmill was steam powered and was an awesome sight with all the belts and pulleys operating off the central shaft. This sawmill was moved into town by his son August (Justice) in 1894. 

Justice Wise headstone, St. Michaels Cemetery

Justice died on 25 December 1884 in Fort Loramie, at the age of 76. He is buried in St. Michaels Cemetery, Ft. Loramie, Ohio. His headstone lists his name as Justus Wais. There is also a window on the St. Michaels Church that was donated by the Wise family when the church was constructed. His wife Anna was buried in Lock II Cemetery, New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio. The reason the two were buried so far apart has been attributed to Anna being Lutheran and Justice being Catholic. Each one was buried in their specific cemetery based on religion.

Reverend Thomas Pullen (1752-1828)

I am going back a few years for this story. The Reverend Thomas Pullen is my wife's 6th great-grandfather. He is the furthest back that we have currently researched on this line. this line is confusing since there are several documents that contradict each other and many people have combined this Thomas Pullen with another Thomas Pullen who was born in Virginia in 1761. Also, due to the lack of documentation, many of the dates given are approximate.

Thomas Pullen was born 21 November 1752 in Scotland. The immigration records indicate that he came to the American Colonies through Philadelphia in 1774. It is believed that he settled in Virginia. Based on DAR records (#A092089), Thomas served in the American Revolution. I haven't found the documents to back this up yet but he was awarded land grants in several land lotteries for war veterans. About 1777, Thomas married Lydia Bowers (1761-1824) and settled in Laurens County, Georgia where he established the settlement of Pullen's Hill. Thomas and Lydia had six children that we know of. They were Phereby (~1780-~1824), Henry (b. ~1782), Margaret (~1784-1826), Thomas (~1786-833), Mary (b. ~1787) and Moses (~1788-1868). Thomas remarried after the death of Lydia. His second wife's last name was Linder, but I have no more information than that.

Thomas was a devout Methodist preacher and preached at several churches in the area. He was also a planter. In 1792, he received a land grant of 362 acres in Washington County, Georgia. In 1795, he acquired an additional 300 acres. He registered for the 1805 and 1827 land lotteries but I don't know if he received any land from these. In 1817, he sold 118 acres in Laurens County (previously part of Washington County). He sold an additional 300 acres in Laurens County to John Arline, his son-in-law, in 1819. In 1820, he sold 20 acres to Joseph Joyner. Thomas acquired additional land in Muscogee County, Georgia from the 1827 Land Lottery.

Thomas died on 6 February 1828 in Pullen's Hill, Laurens County, Georgia at the age of 75. His will can be found in the Laurens County Georgia Will Book A, 1809-1840, pages 93-95 and reads as follows:

"The Will of THOMAS PULLEM, Senior
Written December 30, 1824 and recorded March 21, 1828

In the name of God Amen. I THOMAS PULLEN of the County of Laurens and State of Georgia in reasonable health and sound mind and memory, knowing that it is appointed to all men once to die and wishing to point out the order and manner for the distribution of what property it has pleased GOD to bless me with, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. First I wish all my just debts, if I should have any unpaid at my death, paid out of the sale of property hereafter named.

Item, I give to my son HENRY PULLEN my large family Bible.

Item, I give to my son THOMAS PULLEN four hundred Acres of land more or less, it being the plantation where I now reside. Also one Negro man named Jack and one volume of Cokes Commentary.

Item, I give to my son MOSES PULLEN two hundred Acres of land now in his possession, also one Negro man named John and also all my guns and one small Bible and one volume of Cokes Commentary.

Item, I give unto the heirs of JOHN ARLINE one hundred and fifty dollars to be raised out of the sale of property hereafter appropriated.

Item, I give unto my daughter MARGARET MASON one Negro man named Jacky, commonly called Jonas.

Item, I give unto my daughter MARY PULLEN one hundred and forty four Acres of land on Big Creek bounded by Charles Morrman and Simeon Ellington’s land. Also one Negro woman named Amy and young Sorrell Mare called Pok and six cows and calves and one bed she is making with the furniture thereto belonging and one other bed she is making and her trunk and ten pair of geese and one stock of bees.

Item, The balance of my books, not heretofore disposed of, I wish to be equally divided between my daughters PHEREBY WILLIAMS, MARGARET MASON and MARY PULLEN.

Item, I give unto my stepson LEWIS LINDER one Negro man named Serus and one Negro woman named Hannah.

Item, I give unto my stepson GEORGE LINDER one Negro man Serus, commonly called Jim.

Item, I give unto my stepsons LEWIS and GEORGE LINDER all the property not herein mentioned that belonged to their Mother at the time of our intermarriage. My wish and desire is that the balance of my property not specially disposed of be sold in order to pay my just debts and the cash legacy and what remains to be equally divided between my sons THOMAS PULLEN, HENRY PULLEN, MOSES PULLEN and my daughters MARGARET MASON, and MARY PULLEN and to the heirs of JOHN ARLINE one sixth part to each. My desire is that this wish may be carried into effect as soon after my death as it can be done with convenience and propriety at the discretion of my executor hereafter to be named and I do hereby appoint HENRY PULLEN and GEORGE LINDER my executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills heretofore made by me do declare this my Last Will and Testament. In witness where of I have hereto set my hand and seal this 30th of Dec. 1824. THOMAS PULLEN  (seal)

Executed in Presents of James Mason, Lewis G. Linder, Thomas Vickers, David R. Maddux, and David Mason.

Georgia, Laurens County, Court of Ordinary, March term 1828. James Mason, Lewis G. Linder and David R. Maddux being duly sworn deposed and saith that they were present and did see THOMAS PULLEN the Testator named in the foregoing will sign, seal, publish and acknowledge the same to be his last will and testament and that they did also see Thomas Vickers and David Mason sign their names together with themselves as witnesses thereto and that he was of sound mind and memory at he time of so doing. Sworn to in open Court, Signed-David R. Maddux; James Mason; Lewis Linder (Attest)

Thomas Moore, Clerk"

Ferdinand Gaier (1809-1902)

I can't believe I have been able to write for six consecutive days. Hopefully I will be able to keep this up until the end of the month. Today's post is my 3rd great-grandfather Ferdinand Gaier.

Ferdinand Gaier was born 18 October 1809 in Neudorf, Baden, Germany. His parents were George Adam (1778-1818) and Maria Josephine (Ochsler) Gaier (1785-1839). Ferdinand married Eva Katherine Siegel (1821-1844) on 10 May 1838. This union resulted in the following children: Gertrude (1838-1911), Jacob (1841-1906), Caroline (1843-1907), and Valentine (1844-1915). On 4 June 1846, two years after Eva's death, he married Eva's sister Appolonia Siegel (1826-1880). Ferdinand and Apolonia had two children in Germany, Charles (1848-1921) and Magdalena (1852-1929). Magdalena Gaier is my great-great-grandmother.

Berlin (Ft. Loramie), Ohio

I don't have any more information on his life in Germany prior to the time of his immigration to the United States. The New York Passenger List for the ship Carolus Magnus lists the family as Ferdinand Geiger (age 43), his wife Apolonia (age 27), and children Gertrude (age 13), Jacob (age 9), Caroline (age 8), Valentine (age 7), Carl (age 3), and Magdalena (age 3 months). They arrived in New York on 13 January 1854. Ferdinand lists his occupation as farmer and his place of birth as Baden on the ship's list. They originally settled in Troy, Miami County, Ohio but then moved to McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio by 1860 where he purchased 85 acres of land to start farming. The land in the area was characterized as swamp and marsh and required much work to make it farmable. At this time Berlin, later known as Fort Loramie, was the largest town in McLean Township. The German immigration had increased during the late 1830s associated with the construction of the Miami-Erie Canal. St. Michael's church was completed in 1851. Willman's general store and the first flour mill had opened in 1858. Soon afterward Bruckens and Vogelsang's cafe opened. Both of these establishments are still located in Ft. Loramie.

Apolonia & Ferdinand Gaier

In the 1860 US Census, Ferdinand Gaier (spelled Gayer in census) is listed as a farmer owning $1,500 in land and $200 in personal property. He is 48 years old, his wife Apolonia is 34 years old. Their household consists of 8 children; Jacob (age 18), Caroline (age 16) and Valentine (age 14) from his first marriage, and Charles (age 9), Magdalena (age 7), Catherine (age 5), Elizabeth (age 3) and Ferdinand (age 1) from his second marriage. Catherine, Elizabeth, and Ferdinand were born in Ohio. The census states that Magdalena was born in Ohio but the immigration records indicate that she was 3 months old when they arrived in the United States from Germany. In 1860 the area where the family lived was listed as Sidney Post Office, McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio.

The 1870 US Census was a little creative with the names of individuals in the family so I will include the correct names as well as what the census listed. This census states the location of the family as Loramie Post Office, McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio. Ferdinand is continuing as a farmer and now has $2,000 in land and $685 in personal property. He is listed as 59 years old. His wife, Apolonia is listed as Abbslam. She is 40 years old. Their children are listed as Charles (age 21) working on the farm, Mag (age 18) helping her mother, Cathrin (age 13) attending school, Elizabeth (age 12) attending school, Ferdinand (age 10) attending school, John (age 7) attending school, George (age 5) and Zibidu (age 3). I believe Zibidu is actually Joseph who was born on 24 January 1868.

In the 1880 US Census, Ferdinand in 70 years old. He is continuing with his farming. The family consists of his wife Appalonia (age 54), and children Eliza (age 22), Ferdinand (age 20), Catherin (age 24), John (age 18), George (age 14), Joseph (age 13), and Herman (age 10). Herman and Joseph are attending school. Ferdinand, John and George are helping on the farm while Eliza and Catherine are helping their mother keep the house. Catherine is a recent widow, her husband Francois Carity had died on 18 April 1880, leaving her to take care of their 9 month old son Philip. In addition to that loss, Apolonia also dies soon after the 1880 Census.

By the 1900 US Census, Ferdinand (age 90) is living with his daughter Magdalena, her husband Joseph Reiss (spelled Rice in the census), and their children John (age 22), Katherine (age 20), Edward (age 12) and Leo (age 7). Joseph Reiss is employed as a fireman at the Wise Sawmill and his son John is a teamster for the mill. Katherine is employed as a servant.

Headstone, St. Michael's cemetery, Ft. Loramie

Ferdinand Gaier died on 17 January 1902 at the age of 92 years and 3 months. His obituary in The Minster Post was written in German and has been translated by Google Translator as follows: "On Saturday here Ferdinand Geyer died at the age of 92 years and 3 months. He was one of the oldest settlers of this whole neighborhood, and he was generally respected and loved by his fellow citizens. Few people are granted to live nearly a century in this world and few have the luck to see four generations grow up around them. It means the number of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren amounted to 180. The funeral took place on Monday morning from the funeral home and gave him a large crowd of relatives and friends, the last honor escort to the grave. May he rest in peace. The bereaved our sincere condolences." Ferdinand is buried in the old St. Michael's Cemetery in Ft. Loramie, Shelby County. Ohio.

Edward Faul (1827-1895)

Now that I have done a couple stories about my ancestors I will get back to a few from my wife's line. Today's blog will be about Edward Faul, my wife's 3rd great-grandfather. He is another great explorer in the family, travelling from Ireland as a young man and eventually settling in Oregon.

Edward Faul, the son of William (1805-1893) and Margaret Faul (1807-1883), was born 25 December 1827. He grew up in Ballywillin, Antrim, Ireland where he was the oldest of at least nine children. His siblings, as far as we have found, were William (b. ~1828), Alexander (b. ~1830), Margaret Jane (b. ~1832), Catherine (1833-1834 age 11 months), Archibald (b. ~1836), Robert (b. ~1839), Daniel, and Mary Anne.

Edward arrived in New York on 24 October 1853 aboard the ship Manchester. After arriving in the United States he settled in Connecticut. His naturalization papers indicate that he was naturalized on 23 October 1856. He gave his residence as New Canaan, Connecticut and his birth place as Ireland. In the 1860 US Census he is living in Darien, Farifield County, Connecticut. He is there with his wife Fanny (age 21), two daughters; Ida (age 5) and Ella (age 6 months), and Darias Waterbury, a farmer. Edward's occupation is listed as shoemaker and he had $500 in personal value. His wife Fanny was born in Connecticut.

Connecticut Regiments

On 25 April 1861 Edward enlisted in Company F, 3rd Regiment, Connecticut Infantry to fight in the Civil War. Company F consisted of men from Fairfield County. The unit camped in the Hartford fair grounds before being mustered into service on 14 May, departing by rail for New Haven on 23 May, receiving their colors and then traveling aboard the steamer Cahawba for Washington, D.C. Once they arrived in Washington they set up camp at Glenwood along with the 1st and 2nd Connecticut Regiments and provided for the defense of Washington until 1 June. The three Regiments marched on Virginia and encamped at Falls Church and joined the Army of the Potomac, performing picket duty until 16 July. From 16 July until 21 July the Regiment advanced to Manassas, Virginia and occupied Fairfax Court House on 17 July. The unit's first and only real battle experience came on 21 July at Bull Run. This battle was the first major land battle between the Union and Confederate armies in Virginia. The battle is described by Colonel Keyes as follows, "At about two o'clock P. M., General Tyler ordered me to take a battery on a height in front. The battery was strongly posted and supported by infantry and riflemen, sheltered by a building, a fence, and a hedge.  My order to charge was obeyed with the utmost promptness. Colonel Jameson of the Second Maine, and Colonel Chatfield of the Third Connecticut Volunteers, pressed forward their regiments up the base of the slope about one hundred yards, when I ordered them to lie down, at a point offering a small protection, and load. I then ordered them to advance again, which they did, in the face of a movable battery of eight pieces and a large body of infantry, toward the top of the hill. As we moved forward, we came under the fire of other large bodies of the enemy, posted behind breastworks, and on reaching the top of the hill the firing became so hot that an exposure to it of five minutes would have annihilated my whole line.....The gallantry with which the Second Regiment of Maine, and the Third Regiment of Connecticut Volunteers, charged up the hill upon the enemy's artillery and infantry was never, in my judgment, surpassed."

This battle was a rout by the Confederate army and by late afternoon the Union forces were in full retreat back to Washington. By the evening of 21 July the 3rd Regiment had made it back to the camp they had left earlier that morning. The next day they were ordered to continue on to Falls Church and then to Washington. During the next two days the unit was busily engaged in saving camp and garrison equipment and stores that had been abandoned by other units. Company F had experienced the following casualties during the Battle of Bull Run: 0 killed, 1 MIA, 1 wounded, 5 captured, and 2 disabled. The regiment was mustered out of service on 12 August 1861.

After his short service in the Civil War, Edward returned home to Darien and took up the occupation of farming. By the 1870 US Census, Edward had amassed $1,500 in land and had $200 in personal value. His wife Fanny (age 31), and daughters Ida (age 15) and Ella (age 9) are listed in the home and are attending school. Edward is listed as 42 years old. On 10 July 1874, his daughter Ida died after a seven week long bout with typhoid fever. She was 19 years old and had been working as a teacher at the Ox Ridge school in Darien, Connecticut.

Hillside School (1877-1966)

Sometime in the 1870s Edward decided to travel west to Oregon. It would have taken 4 to 6 weeks to make this journey at that time. By 1877, Edward Faul had acquired extensive acreage within the Gales Creek, Washington County, Oregon community. The Faul's are known to have raised goats on their farm. One acre of the farm was donated to the school district for the construction of a 20'x20' frame building to be used as a school house. One of the Faul's neighbors, Mr. Clapshaw was hired to construct the building. Each day two students would carry water from either the Faul or Clapshaw wells to the school house. In 1889 the school house was moved to its present location on land that was rented from the Fauls for $1/year for 100 years. The school closed in 1966 when they consolidated with Forest Grove. The highest attendance for the school was 40 students. Today this school is kept as a free museum displaying the history of the area's early settlers and the school.

Headstone of Edward & Fanny Faul

In the 1880 US Census, Edward (age 52), his wife Fanny (age 41) and daughter Ella (age 19) were still located in Gales Creek, Washington County, Oregon. Edward is listed as a farmer in this census.

On 22 November 1895, Edward was working with a very uncooperative colt when, due to exhaustion and frustration, he suffered a heart attack and died. He is buried, along with his wife Fanny, in Hillside Cemetery, Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon. The headstone reads. "We will meet again." On the other side, under Fanny's name, are etched the words, "Reunion after many a lonely year." His daughter, Ella, married Sylvester Perry Reeder, the son of Corydon Bloomfield Reeder who was a subject of my story previously.

Catherine Bornhorst (1858-1931)

I hope people are enjoying my stories. Even though I have close to 40,000 people in my family tree, I find it difficult to choose one to write about. I am trying to stay with direct lines and not get off on sub-branches of in-laws or those married to the cousin of my great-great-grandmother's sister's husband (yes, I do have those in my tree). Today I will be focusing on Catherine Bornhorst, my great-great-grandmother (not her sister's husband's cousin). This is a little more challenging since most women of this time stayed at home and didn't leave as many records as their husbands.

Catherine Bornhorst was born on 18 December 1858, in Egypt, Auglaize County, Ohio. Her parents were Franz Joseph (1820-1900) and Catherine (Brandewie) Bornhorst (1824-1885). She was the seventh of ten children. Her siblings were Anthony (1846-1897), Bernadina (b. 1848), Henry (b. 1850), Bernard (1851-1935), Joseph (1853-1931), Frank (1856-1942), Clemens (1861-1931), Elizabeth (1864-1938), and John (1867-1935). Both of her parents were born in Germany and they were married on 13 May 1845 in Minster, Auglaize County, Ohio. Joseph, her father immigrated in 1836 at the age of 16.

The first record I have listing Catherine is the 1860 US Census for Minster, Jackson Township, Auglaize County, Ohio. At the time she is listed as 1 year old. Her family consisted of her father Joseph (age 39), mother Catherine (age 35), and siblings Anthony (age 14), Dena (age 12), Henry (age 10), Barney (age 8), Joseph (age 6), and Frank (age 4). According to this census, her father was born in Oldenburg and her mother was born in Hanover. Her father is a farmer with $1,800 in real estate and $500 in personal property.

Catherine married William Severin around 1877 and had four children from this marriage. These children were Emma, Frank, Bernard and Anne, a daughter who died as a young child. The family left Ohio and moved to Belloit, Mitchell County, Kansas in October 1885. Her husband, William died in January 1886, a few months after they arrived in Kansas. Shortly afterward the remaining family moved back to the Minster, Ohio area to be with family. On 16 February 1887, she married my great-great-grandfather, Henry Westerheide (1863-1948) in St. Joseph's Church, Egypt, Auglaize County, Ohio.

The 1900 US Census for Jackson Township, Auglaize County, Ohio lists the family as follows: Henry Westerheide (age 35) and his wife Katharina (age 41), and their eight children; Edward (age 12), Julius (age 10), Maria (age 9), George (age 6), Raymond (age 5), Paulina (age 4), Joseph (age 2) and Anton (age 6 months). Henry and Katharina had been married 14 years and all eight of their children were still surviving. As was customary for this area, Henry was a farmer. I noticed that none of the three surviving Severin children are included in this family or the child count in the census. I am not sure where those children were during this census or future censuses.

In the 1910 US Census for Jackson Township, Auglaize County, Ohio, Katherine states that she has had 13 children with 12 still living. That would include the nine Westerheide children and the four Severin children. However, the Severin children are again not found in the household. This census lists the family as Henry (age 47) and Katherine (age 52) and their children Edward (age 22), Julius (age 20), Mary (age 18), George (age 16), Raymond (age 14), Paulina (age 13), Joseph (age 11), Anthony (age 9) and Henry (age 7). Edward is a veterinary doctor and Julius is listed as a laborer. Their father is still farming.

The 1920 census for Jackson Township, Auglaize County, Ohio lists the family as Henry (age 56) and Katherine (age 61) and their children George (age 26), Pauline (age 23), Anton (age 19) and Henry (age 17). Anton and Henry are listed as laborers and their father is still farming.

The 1930 census for Jackson Township, Auglaize County, Ohio lists the family as Henry (age 66) and Katherine (age 71) and their son Anthony (age 30) with his wife Mathilda (age 27) and son Stanley (age 4). Anthony and Mathilda were married about 1921.

Headstone, St. Joseph's Cemetery

Catherine died on 19 April 1931 in Egypt, Auglaize County, Ohio, where she spent the majority of her life. She was survived by her husband, 9 children (2 Severin and 7 Westerheide), 34 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and several of her siblings. Her funeral was held on 23 April 1931 at St. Joseph's Church, Egypt, Ohio with Rev. Thomas Meyer officiating. The burial followed in the church cemetery.