Every Scrap of Evidence

I'm searching for Henry Carl Meinzen's city of birth and his parents' names. Family "sources" indicate that his father's name was Carl and that at the time of Henry's death, he had a brother named Fred living in Germany.

When approaching a brick wall, the genealogy books I've read suggest reviewing every document and piece of paper, just on the chance some bit of evidence has been overlooked. So that's what I've done. And here's what I've found.


Henry's Timeline

1837 Jul 25
Henry Carl Meinzen born in Hannover (1880 census), Prussia (1870 census), Germany (1910 census) (Birth date from certificate of death and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church records)

1852 Aug 24
Elizabeth Armitage (future wife) born in England (her mother dies after August 1852 & possibly before 1859)

1864
Elizabeth immigrates to U.S. (1900 census)

1866 Jun
Henry, native of Prussia, age 28, immigrates to U.S. (Probate Court record from Belmont County, Ohio. Name as “Heinrich” Meinzen.)

1867 Oct 7 & 8
Henry files Declaration of Intention to become a naturalized citizen in Belmont County, Ohio. "Heinrich" was a native of Prussia, aged 28, immigrated in June 1866. (Probate Court record, Belmont County, Ohio)

1870 Apr 24
Henry & Elizabeth marry (Jefferson County, Ohio, marriage record)

1870 Jul 11
Henry, age 32, works at the railroad; lives in Ward 4, Steubenville (1870 census)

1870 Sep 25
Henry (son) born in Jefferson County, Ohio (age 10 in 1880 census)

1871
Henry lives at 116 South Water Street, is a carpenter (Palmer’s 1871 Steubenville City Directory)

1871 Oct 9
Henry (not Heinrich) becomes naturalized citizen (Received from Probate Court of Jefferson County, Ohio, though the county’s name is not on the paper)

1872
William born (age 8 in 1880 census)

1873 Apr 28
Purchased Lot 32 Morris Second Addition (on N. 8th Street), Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio, from Justin G. and Henrietta S. Morris for $600.00. (He sold the lot in Feb. 1892.)

1875 Feb 13
Hannah born (age 5 in 1880 census; 25, born Feb 1875 in 1900 census)

1875-76
Henry is carpenter, lives North Eighth above Franklin (Steubenville City Directory, 1875-76)

1879 Mar 5
Edward born (age 1 in 1880 census; 21, born Mar 1879, in 1900 census; 28 in 1910 census)

1880 Jun 9
Henry, 41 years, lives on N. Eight Street, dwelling #251, Steubenville. He is a laborer, born in Hanover. With him are wife Elizabeth, 28 years, Henry, 10; William, 8; Hannah, 5; and Edward, 1 (1880 census)

1880 Aug 28
Isabella Marie (or Marie Isabella) (age 19, born Aug 1880 in 1900 census)

1882 Nov 13
Walter born (age 17, born Nov 1882 on 1900 census)

1885 Jan 26
Wilhelmina born (Minnie, age 15, born Jan 1885 on 1900 census; 25 in 1910 census)

1887 Jan 10
Lula born (Luella, age 13, born Jan 1887 on 1900 census; 23 on 1910 census)

1888 Oct 7
Bertha born (age 11, born Oct 1888 on 1900 census)

1888 Nov 24
William (16 yrs) dies

1891 Jan
Stillborn infant, interred on 23 Jan 1891 (Union Cemetery records)

1892 Feb 8
William Carl Robert born (age 9, born Feb 1891 in 1900 census; 18 years in 1910 census) (Other records give either 1891 or 1892 birth year.)

1892 Feb 20
Sold Lot #32, Morris Second Addition, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio to John McClave for $850.00. (Henry purchased this property in April 1893 for $600.00.)

1893 Dec 15
Jacob born (age 6, born Dec 1893 in 1900 census; 16 in 1910 census)

1896 Sep 3
Karl (or Carl) Nelson is born (dies on 14 Sep 1896) (Zion E. L. Church records)

1896 Dec 27
Henry (son) & Ella Dray marry

1898 May 22
Naomi born (age 2 years, born May 1898 in 1900 census; 11 in 1910 census)

1898 Oct 15
Henry displays radish (Steubenville Herald-Star, 15 Oct 1898)

1898 Oct 20
Henry’s name appears in news article about Zion Lodge I.O.O.F (Steubenville Herald-Star, 20 Oct 1898)

1900 Jun 12
Henry, 62 years, born Jul 1837, married 30 years, born Germany; immigrated in 1866; is a naturalized citizen; works as gardener; rents a farm; lives in Cross Creek Township (New Alexandria); also in the home are Elizabeth, 47; Hannah, 25; Edward, 21; Isabella, 19; Walter, 17; Minnie, 15; Luella, 13; Bertha, 11; Robert, 9; Jacob, 6; and Naomi, 2 (1900 census)

1901 Nov 20
Isabelle (21 yrs) and Ben Hashman marry

1902 Aug 8
Purchased Lot #2 Stokely’s 1st Addition (306 S. Third Street (previously S. High Street) in Elizabeth’s name from Hanson and Mary Hebron for $3,000.00. (Elizabeth turned 50 and Henry turned 65 in 1902.)

1904-05
Henry C. and Elizabeth live at 306 S. Third. Henry has a confectionery store at 308 S. Third. Living with them are Bertha; Edward, who works at LaBelle Co; Hannah; Lulu; Mina, and Walter, who also works at Labelle Co. Henry & Elizabeth's son Henry and his wife Ella live at 939 Sixth ave and Henry works at LaBelle I Co. (Steubenville City Directory, 1904-05)

1906
Henry C. & Elizabeth live at 306 S. Third (confectionery at same address); living with them are Bertha, dressmaker; Edward working at LaBelle Iron Works; Hannah; Lulu; Mina; Walter working at LaBelle Iron Works (Steubenville City Directory, 1906)

1906 Jun 28
Walter (23 yrs) and Nellie Leonhart marry

1906 Jul 11
Bertha (17 yrs) and William Henderson marry

1907 Mar 27
Hannah (32 yrs) & John Hendricks marry

1907 May 31
Walter dies (24 yrs) in accident at LaBelle Iron Works

1908 Jan 29
Edna Hendricks (Hannah's daughter) born (age 11 & living with Henry & Elizabeth on 1920 census)

1909 May 27
Zerelda Hendricks (Hannah's daughter) born

1909 or 1910
William O. Henderson (Bertha's son) born

1910 Apr 18
Henry, age 72, born Germany, grocer, married 40 years, lives at House 306 South High Street, Ward 1, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. Also living there are Elizabeth, 57; Edward, 28; Wilhelmina, 25; Lula, 23; Robert, 18; Jacob, 16; and Naoma, 11.

1910 Aug 21
Anna Hendricks (Hannah's last daughter) born

1910 Sep 4
Hannah Meinzen Hendricks dies (age 35) (The care of her daughters falls to Henry and Elizabeth and Hannah's sisters.)

1910
Wilhelmina (24-25 yrs) & George Harris marry

1911
Henry C. and Elizabeth live at 308 S. Third (confectionery at same address). Living at 306 are Jacob, works Pope T. P. Co.; Lulu; Mina; Robert, barber (Steubenville City Directory, 1911)

1911 Mar 11
Anna Hendricks (Hannah's youngest daughter) dies at age 6½ months

1911 Nov 11
Edward (31 1/2 yrs) dies

1911 Dec 26
Lula (23 yrs) and Charles Sticker marry

1913
Henry & Elizabeth live at 306 S. Third Street (confectionery shop at 308 S. Third Street). Living with them are Jacob, driver for Loomer & Son; W. C. Robert, barber at 838 Sixth Avenue; and Naomi F. (Steubenville City Directory, 1913)

1914 Sep 8
Robert (22 1/2 yrs) & Emma Bickerstaff marry

1915-1916
Henry and Elizabeth live at 306 S. Third Street (grocery at 308 S. Third). Living with them are Jacob, laborer; Naomi

1916 Sep 2
Naomi (~18 yrs) and Russell Rhome marry

1916 Sep 4
Jacob (22 3/4 yrs) and Sudie Coss marry

1917
Elizabeth (65 yrs) diagnosed with cancer of the face (death certificate)

1917 Sep 12
Jacob (23 3/4 yrs) dies in accident at LaBelle Iron Works

1918
Henry and Elizabeth live at 308 S. Third (confectionery at same address)

1918 May 14
Bertha (29 1/2 yrs) dies

1918 Aug 27 Elizabeth et al. sold Lot #2 Stokely’s 1st Addition (306 S. Third Street) for $3,500.00 to Abel A. Dutz (County Deed Book)

1920 Jan 24
Henry & Elizabeth live at 1540 Oregon Avenue, Steubenville Twp., Steubenville 4th Ward. Henry is 82, no trade/profession [probably retired], owns his property without a mortgage; immigrated in 1866, naturalized in 1871; born Hanover, Germany. Lives with Elizabeth, age 67; and Edna Hendricks, granddaughter, age 11 (1920 census)

1920 Jun 26
Elizabeth (68 yrs) dies at age 67 years, 10 months, 21 days, of cancer of the face; born in England, father is Abel Armitage. (Certificate of death)

1920 Jun 29
Elizabeth buried in Union Cemetery, Section Q, Lot 203 (Union Cemetery records)

1925 Dec 30
Henry (88 yrs) dies (date of death from death certificate; Zion E. L. Church record says date of death was 31 December 1935) Henry’s obituary indicates that he was a carpenter and wagon maker; his father’s name is Carl.

1926 Jan 2
Henry is buried in Union Cemetery, Section Q, Lot 203 (Union Cemetery records)

This timeline was updated on January 29, 2010.