Remembering My German Ancestors on German-American Day, 2016

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6 as German-American Day in honor of 13 German families from Krefeld, Germany, who arrived in Philadelphia three centuries earlier, on October 6, 1683, and created the first German settlement in the original American colonies in Germantown, Pennsylvania.  Read more about the holiday here.

In honor of German-American Day I'm spotlighting my known German immigrant ancestors.  As far as I know, all became citizens of the United States, hence, were German-Americans.  Below are their countries of origin as I've found in my research.  I continue searching for information to locate their cities of origin.

Henry Carl Meinzen ➞ William Carl Robert Meinzen ➞ Audrey Victoria Meinzen ➞ me
b. 25 July 1837, d. 30 December 1925

• Prussia.  Naturalization document of 9 October 1871, Jefferson County, Ohio
• Prussia.  1870 U.S. Census, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio
• Hanover.  1880 U.S. Census, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio
• Germany.  1900 U.S. Census, Cross Creek Township, Jefferson County, Ohio
• Germany.  1910 U.S. Census, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio
• Hanover, Germany.  1920 U.S. Census, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio

Frederick K. Gerner ➞ Beulah Gerner Doyle ➞ Lee Doyle ➞ me
b. 28 September 1848, d. 26 March 1926

• Germany.  Passenger list of ship "Cotton Planter," arriving in New York in June, 1853.  Fried., age 4, traveled with [uncertain name], 26, farmer; Anna Marie, 6; Elisabeth, 2; and Carl, 1/2.
• Prussia.  1860 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
• Prussia.  1870 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
• Germany.  1880 U.S. Census, Putnam County, West Virginia
• Germany.  1900 U.S. Census, Butler County, Pennsylvania
• Germany.  1910 U.S. Census, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
• Germany.  1920 U.S. Census, Butler County, Pennsylvania

John Froman ➞ Tressa Froman ➞ Gust Doyle ➞ Lee Doyle ➞ me
b. ~1841, d. December 1871

• Hessen - Passenger list of Bremen ship "Julius," arriving in Baltimore, Maryland, on 4 August 1856.  Surname spelled Frommann.  Johann (as he was identified on the passenger list) traveled with Werner, 54; Maria, 21; Anna, 12; Elisabeth, 7; Heinrich, 5; Caspar, 4; and Christiane, 23.  To date I have been unable to document a familial connection between John and the Frommann passengers.  Werner could be the father or uncle of John and the rest.  Or not.
• Hesse Cassel - Naturalization document, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, 9 October 1868
• Germany - 1860 U.S. Census, Hickory Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.  Living with Werner, 58; Henry, 10; and Casper, 7
• Prussia - 1870 U.S. Census, Pymatuning Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

Catherine Saylor ➞ Tressa Froman ➞ Gust Doyle ➞ Lee Doyle ➞ me
b. 5 June 1844, d. 20 December 1928

• Baden - 1870 U.S. Census, Pymatuning Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
• Rhine-Bonn - 1880 U.S. Census, Pymatuning Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
• Germany - 1900 U.S. Census, Lake Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
• Germany - 1910 U.S. Census, Lake Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
• Rhineland, Germany - 1920 U.S. Census, Stoneboro, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

Christian Gerner (father of Fred Gerner)
b. ~1820, d. 16 February 1899

• Prussia - Passenger list of ship "Hungarian" departing from Havre, arriving in New York on 10 May 1852.  He traveled with Th. Daniel, 28, and Elisabeth, 25.
• Prussia - 1860 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
• Prussia - 1870 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
• Prussia - 1880 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania

Elizabeth (or Mary) Stahl (wife of Christan Gerner, above)
b. ~1824, d. after 1880

• Prussia - Passenger list of ship "Hungarian" departing from Havre, arriving in New York on 10 May 1852.  She traveled with Christian, 32, and Th. Daniel, 28.
• Prussia - 1860 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
• Prussia - 1870 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania
• Prussia - 1880 U.S. Census, Fairview Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania

Jacob Saylor (father of Catherine Saylor)
b. abt. 1812-1816, d. ~1870

• Baron, Germany - A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania
• Germany - 1850 U.S. Census, Hickory Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
• Germany - 1860 U.S. Census, West Greenville P.O., West Salem Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania

I'm grateful these ancestors chose to come to the United States of America and become citizens.  I hope to learn more about their cities of birth in Germany.

--Nancy.

Copyright © 2014-2016 Nancy Messier. All Rights Reserved.