Photo: Charles Greulich

Charles Philipp Greulich

Charles Philipp Greulich

Charles Philipp (Karl Philipp) Greulich, son of Georg Philipp and Anna Margaretha (Wurzel) Greulich, was born 13 Sep 1838 in Haag, Baden, Germany. He married twice, first Susanna Wolf, then to her sister Caroline Wolf.

Charles came to to America with his sister, Eva Katharina Greulich, and his half-brother, Georg Philipp Jakob. His passport, dated November 8, 1855 (the year of his father’s death), was issued at Neckargemund for Karl Philipp Greulich and two relatives. Karl changed his name to Charles Philipp Greulich and at age 17 arranged to learn the shoemakers trade from Samuel O. Stauffer who lived on his father’s farm, south of N. Zionsville, PA.

Monday Madness: Seeking Smith Family Information

My Smith family relations have always been a mystery. My grandparents don’t know much about what happened to them. I’ve tried researching them, but do you know how many William and James Smiths there are? Talk about overwhelming…

I was going through some papers—looking for something completely unrelated, of course—and came across some letters from my great-aunt Bonnie (Isabella Bonnington Hocker Ruder) to my grandfather and grandmother. In the letters she refers to our Smith relations and some of the problems we’ve had trying to figure out what happened to them. I thought I’d share the contents of some of them and what I’ve learned about my Smiths.

October 29th

Dear Bill and Ruth,

Searched for this all day yesterday, Aunt Bess [Elizabeth Marion (Smith) Lutz] had just a few papers, and I have just a few. Grandma Cochran’s [Elizabeth “Eliza” Craig (Bonnington) Smith Cochran] wedding license, a letter to uncle Lew asking the whereabouts of Willies [William “Willie” Smith Jr.] family, good thing you said you thought it was silver paper, address in mother’s writing no date for Willie:

Mr. John Norwood
70 Rue Massacre
Méaulte, Somme, France

Went under name of John Norwood since 1915. Spoils your dog tag theory. Also found a grave receipt for Paxtang Cemetery #23 in Range A in Hillside Lawn dated Feb. 26th 1905. Back marked Wm. Smith lot and receipt in Grandma’s name.

I had always been told he was buried in a lot given by someone. Now I’m wondering if Jim could have been buried in Paxtang. I always thought it was funny they would have to have a lot given to them, they weren’t poor.

I know Aunt Bess tore up a lot of papers. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her.

Peter Bonnington
6 Belfield Ave.
Musselburgh
Scotland

Last address 1940, Grandma’s brother [Peter Bonnington Jr.]. Just found a picture of French children on name Jacqueline other name cut off.

Hope this is what you are looking for.

Love,
Bonnie

The story I always heard was that William “Willie” Smith Jr., born 28 Mar 1892,  enlisted in the army during World War I under the assumed name of John Norwood. He allegedly left a wife and child at home in Pennsylvania, but married a French woman after the war and remained in France. Nothing was said about a divorce prior to his second marriage, but it might just have been one of those things that was not discussed.

This next letter discusses Willie’s brother James (Jim):

Dear Bill and Ruth,

Decided to take a day off from fixing up and got Grandma’s papers out. Sending a copy of cemetery deed for one grave lot. Now maybe Jim’s lot is the one next because A. Bess always said someone gave them a lot, but Grandma must have paid for this one.

As for Jim, Rev. Roddy, Olivet minister [?] him, in fact he always went after him when he went off. He married a girl, had a son James, never lived with her. Amelia was her name. He claimed the child wasn’t his but A. Bess said it was the spitting image. So somewhere we have a Smith cousin in U.S.A and at least 2 in France. Great world.

Bonnie

So, apparently these Smith relatives were nothing to write home about, but I’d like to find out more information about them if possible. Here’s what I know:

WILLIAM1 SMITH Sr. was born 25 Sep 1851 in Greenburn, Whitburn district, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, son of James Smith and Isabella Aitken[1,2]. He died 23 Feb 1905 of pneumonia at his home on 1314 Howard Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.[3] He was buried 26 Feb 1905 in Harrisburg cemetery, according to his death certificate, but in Paxtang cemetery according to family. The mystery surrounding the grave site concerns William. To this date we’re not sure where he’s buried; family word-of-mouth says it’s at Paxtang cemetery, but not with the rest of the family because a cemetery lot had to be given to the family by a family friend when he died.

William was a ship’s engineer on the English ship Lady if Khirs. He was discharged from his ship on the 22nd of January 1882 after a voyage to Calcutta. He filed a declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen in Berks county on 20 Sep 1886. He became a U.S. citizen on 12 Jan 1893 in Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.[4] He owned and operated a ice factory on Howard street. The family lived at 1347 Zarker Street in 1910, likely behind the icehouse.

He married Elizabeth “Eliza” Craig Bonnington on 12 Dec 1882 in The Manse, Uphall Parish, Linlithgowshire, Scotland.[5] Elizabeth was born 2 Oct 1866 in Colinton, Edinburgh, Scotland, daughter of Peter Purvis Bonnington and Elizabeth Buchanan.[6] She died 18 Oct 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was buried after 19 Oct 1946 in Paxtang cemetery.[7]

William and Elizabeth had the following children in Scotland and the U.S.:

  1. Elizabeth2 “Lizzie” Smith was born 17 Jun 1884 and died  17 Jun 1884, age 8 hours, of Atalectasis Pulmonium in Straiton, Liberton Parish, Lasswade, Edinburgh, Scotland.[8]
  2. James Smith was born 22 Jun 1785 in Straiton, Liberton Parish, Edinburgh, Scotland.[9] He may have died in 1905 and been buried in Paxtang Cemetery, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. James allegedly married a woman named Amelia (___) and fathered her son James, but he never lived with them.
  3. Elizabeth Marian “Bess” Smith was born 31 Oct 1887 at No. 3, Straiton, Liberton Parish, Edinburgh, Scotland.[10] She died 3 Jan 1973 in Willow Grove, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. She married Frank Lutz 7 May 1917 in Elkton, Maryland.
  4. William M. Smith Jr. was born 4:45 p.m. 28 Mar 1892 in Harrisburg, Dauphin county Pennsylvania.[11] He allegedly married twice, once in Pennsylvania, fathering at least one child, then again under the name John Norwood in France, possibly fathering a daughter named Jacqueline and additional children. He most likely died in France.
  5. Isabella Aiken Smith was born 11 p.m. 4 Apr 1893 in Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.[12] She died 21 Jul 1962 in Harrisburg.[13] She married William Howard Hocker 13 Oct 1914 in Harrisburg.[14]
  6. Robert Thomas Alexander Smith was born 7:20 p.m. on 7 Apr 1899 at Harrisburg.[15] He died 12 Nov 1970 in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania and was buried in Paxtang Cemetery in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.[16]

Footnotes:

  1. William H. Hocker and Isabella A. Smith, Application for Marriage, Dauphin County Marriage Book F: Page 153, Dauphin County Clerk of the Orphans Court, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
  2. William Smith and Elizabeth Bonnington marriage extract, Register of Marriages, Parish of Uphall, County of Linlithgow; General Register Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, 28 Aug 2001.
  3. “Registration of Death – William Smith,” 22 May 1905, Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Book H, Number 790, Collection of Kristen Hocker.
  4. William Smith entry, Dauphin County Citizens Register Book, 1891-96, Volume 7: Page 202.
  5. William Smith and Elizabeth Bonnington marriage extract, Register of Marriages.
  6. Eliza Craig Bonnington, birth certificate no. 81 (1866), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland; extracted 28 Aug 2001, extract no. 236828.
  7. Elizabeth Cochrane, death certificate, no. 90063 (1946), Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Statistics, New Castle.
  8. Elizabeth Smith, death certificate no. 48 (1884) General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extracted 6 Sep 2001, estract no. 62233.
  9. James Smith, birth registration, no. 89 (1885), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extract no. 259559.
  10. Elizabeth Marian Smith, birth registration, no. 195 (1887), General Records Office, New Register House, Edinburgh, Scotland, extracted 9 Aug 2002, extract no.259560.
  11. Smith family bible record.
  12. Smith family bible record.
  13. Isabella A. Hocker, Death Certicifate File number 065720-62 (1962), Pennsylvania Department of Health, Vital Statistics, New Castle.
  14. William H. Hocker and Isabella A. Smith, Application for Marriage, Dauphin County Marriage Book F: Page 153, Dauphin County Clerk of the Orphans Court, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
  15. Smith family bible record.
  16. Robert T. Smith, obituary, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 14 Nov 1970, page 12.

Michigan Birth, Marriage and Death Records

Do you have ancestors in Michigan? If so, there are two fantastic resources you should know about for online records.

FamilySearch.org has birth, marriage, and death records for Michigan online, as follows: Michigan Births 1867—1902, Michigan Marriages 1868—1925, Michigan Deaths 1867—1897. You can search the records through the index, then view and save a digital image of the original record.

The family of Juan Fernandez Hocker and Anna Piper wound up in Berrien county, Michigan. I found marriage records for son Jack F. Hocker [aka Juan Fernandez Jr.] and his wife Mary Cumings (1901), daughter Kate Hocker and husband Alva L. Pratt (1898), daughter Bertha Hocker and husband Clary Van Allen (1902), son William Wilkes Hocker and his wife Alvina Umphrey (1903), son John Oliver Hocker and his wife Olive H. Hosbein (1905), and daughter Elizabeth Hocker and her husband Benjamin Koof (1905).

The other site is SeekingMichigan.org. In conjunction with the Michigan State Library, they’ve put Michigan Death Records 1897—1920 online for free. They’ve got about 25% of the 1 million records online already and are adding more in the coming weeks. You can read the article about the database, including which counties are already available online. They have had some problems with the search and are currently working on it. So, if you have trouble finding what you’re after, try try again later.

Berrien county isn’t yet complete, so I didn’t find any of my Michigan Hockers, but I’ve bookmarked the site and fully intend to be visiting it again in the future.

Genealogy Blog Memes

When I first started this blog, I’d never actually visited another genealogy blog. As I began posting, I started wondering about what I should be posting—besides my research findings, that is. I got curious. What were other family researchers posting? Just their research? Genealogy news? Helpful how-tos?

While surfing from blog to blog, I came across the idea of a blog meme. Now I don’t consider myself a newbie, but I’d never heard of a meme. What is it? you ask. Well, you’ve probably already seen one, but just didn’t know what to call it. Chris Garrett on his blog about the business of blogging and new media defines it like this:

“For bloggers Memes have become synonymous with internet quizzes, surveys, and novelties that people link to and pass around on their blogs, forums and via email…”

The interesting ones that caught my attention, however, were the themes of genealogy posts for days of the week. Geneabloggers had a list, with tips on what to do if you want to participate. The memes are suggested by various bloggers and passed around. Bloggers post content to their site that corresponds with the theme all on the same day. Here’s some of the topics that were suggested:

  1. Tombstone Tuesday (yep, photos of grave stones)
  2. Wordless Wednesday (just the photo, please)
  3. Madness Monday (the ancestor who drives you crazy)
  4. Saturday Surnames (tweeting the names you’re researching)

Aren’t they great? I love the idea of a “regularly scheduled feature,” with additional posts as available. I also got to thinking of other ideas (at 3 a.m., of course in lieu of sleeping):

  1. Friday Finds (unexpected or gratifying research finds)
  2. Monday’s Memories (remembrances, yours and those passed on to you)
  3. Theory Thursday (the latest research theory you’re following)
  4. Sunday’s Sources (new or helpful sources of information, site/book reviews, etc.)

Of course, I don’t have to post anything. I’ve never been one to do what everyone else was, just because they were doing it… But I did see a lot of good ideas on my tour of the blog-o-sphere, so don’t be surprised if you see some of them popping up here. :^)

Photo: Greulich Children

Charles and Caroline Greulich's children

Some of Charles and Caroline Greulich's children and/or spouses

This photo was likely taken circa 1941-1942 in East Greenville, Pennsylvania and includes the living children (and/or spouses) of Charles Philipp and Caroline K. (Wolf) Greulich—assuming, of course, that the identifications are correct.

Men (L-R): John Wieder, Lewis Keller, Elmer Greulich, Albert Sterner, Charles Greulich

Women (L-R): Katherine Jane (Greulich) Wieder, Kate Amanda (Weil) Greulich, Anna E. (Greulich) Keller, Lillian Witmer (Snyder) Greulich, Flora (Greulich) Sterner, Carrie A. (Greulich) Letterhouse, Anna M. (Scholl) Greulich

I’m not sure of the identification. I’ve taken the information from another photograph where Bill Wieder, son of John and Katherine (Greulich) Wieder, kindly identified the occupants. Bill was present at the gathering, so I’m trusting his memory. I, unfortunately, am too young to have ever met any of these family members.

If you’re a family member and can make a positive identification of one of the people in the photo, please let me know.

Must Have Books For the Family Researcher

If you’re going to be researching your family, there are some books that you must have. These are not just the books that I’ve found useful, but books that I’ve returned to again and again.*

Red Book

Red Book

The Red Book: American State, County & Town Sources contains much need background information on the genealogy resources for every state. It provides information on each county, including when it was created, its parent county or counties, and the first year Deed and Probate records were recorded for that county.

You’ll also find contact information for archives, libraries and genealogical societies in that state, as well as a state map which shows the counties and it’s main city.

Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Census

Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1930
The Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Census provides a map for each state showing the counties enumerated in each census year overlaid on the state’s current counties. If you’re a visual person, like me, it’s a great way to understand how the boundaries shifted and counties were added over time.

Evidence!

Evidence: Citation & Analysis for the Family HistoriaEvidence: Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian is absolutely a must have for the family researcher. Knowing the source for any piece of information is the ONLY way to determine it’s value. Elizabeth Shown Mills not only explains how to cite a source correctly, but how to analyze that source. Very important stuff!

The answers to your family research questions can seldom be found in books. And when they are they are only what that author knew at that time. Sometimes, they are right. Sometimes, they are partially correct. And sometimes, they are flat out wrong. That’s why you need to know the source of that information, so you can follow-up, verify it, and if necessary build on it. I’ve found several instances where follow-up research on information I felt to be reliable proved incorrect with new information! (Okay, getting off the soap box now.)

Producing a Quality Family History

Producing a Quality Family HistoryOf course, once you’ve done your research, you want to present to to the world, right? Or at least to family. And you want it to be the best. I’ve found Patricia Law Hatcher’s book Producing a Quality Family History to be very helpful in putting my research together in a cohesive, readable format.

Now if I could only find the time to finish the darn book!

Do you have any books that you’d recommend as must haves for the family historian?

* Links to Amazon from this page are affiliate links. If you purchase one of these books, I will earn a small commission. It will not change the final price of the book to you, though.

Joseph and Susanna (___) HACKER

The family of Joseph and Susanna (___) Hacker is another of my loose ends/brick walls. I don’t know much about them, but I’m wondering if this Joseph is the one baptized on 21 Jul 1816 in St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Shaefferstown, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania. If so, that would make him the child of George and Christina (Miller) Hacker. I’d appreciate any information on this family.

Joseph HACKER was born ca 1812/17 and died  sometime after 1880. He appears in the 1850 US census for Elizabeth township, Lancaster county; the 1860 US census for Ephrata; the 1870 US census for Stouchsburg, Berks county; and the 1880 US census for Lebanon (Ward 1), Berks county.

Circa 1845, Joseph married Susanna (___). She was born about 1825/27 and died after 1880, possibly on 9 Feb 1898 in Lebanon county. She may have been buried in Stouchburg, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania.

According to census records, Joseph and Susanna had the following children:

  1. Henry Hacker (1846—?) married Amanda (___)
  2. Emma Hacker (ca 1848—?)
  3. Susan Hacker (ca 1851—?)
  4. Albert Hacker (ca 1853—?)
  5. John B. Hacker (1854—aft 1930) married Mary Fessler
  6. Elizabeth Hacker (ca 1856—?)
  7. Ida Hacker (ca 1859—?)
  8. Alice Hacker (ca 1862/3—?)
  9. Beckie Hacker (ca 1871—?)

Jacob and Maria (Krieg) Hacker

The Jacob and Maria (Krieg) Hacker family is another family group that turned up during my Lancaster county, Pennsylvania research. They show up in Penn township census records in 1850 and 1870. The children show up in Penn township, Warwick township, Manheim township, and Lititz Borough through 1930. I’m interested in finding Jacob’s parents; I’m wondering if he’s possibly the son of George and Christina (Miller) Hacker.

Jacob Hacker was born 28 Sep 1803, probably in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He died 26 Jul 1873, probably in Lancaster county, and was buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville, Warwick township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. This is the church that my ancestor Johan Adam Hacker attended.

About 1841 Jacob Hacker married Maria Krieg, daughter of John Elias Krieg and Anna Maria Gibbens. Mary was born 5 Aug 1819 and died 22 Mar 1898, both in Pennsylvania, probably in Lancaster county. She, too, is buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.

As far as I know, Jacob and Mary had the following children:

  1. William Hacker (ca 1841—bef 1873)
  2. Elias K. Hacker (1845—aft 1920)
  3. Allen K. Hacker (1847—1928)
  4. Martin K. Hacker (1850—1906)
  5. Henry K. Hacker (1852—1925)
  6. Benjamin K. Hacker (1856—1938)

I’ve posted a transcription of Jacob’s last will & testament in a separate post.

John and Sarah (BEINHOWER) HOCKER

The family of John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker is another on that was inappropriately attributed as belonging to John and Christianne Catherine (Steirling) Hocker. Like Adam Hocker, John and family lived in the correct place to belong to John’s family line, but subsequent research proved that they did not.

I am searching for any information that might help to identify John’s parentage.

John HOCKER was born 6 Jul 1815, possibly in Hummelstown, Derry township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He died 21 Jan 1882 in Churchville, Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Churchville Cemetery in Oberlin, Pennsylvania. John was at various times a brickmaker, shoemaker and a farmer. He appears in Derry township tax records in 1838 and in Swatara township tax records in 1840.

John married Sarah BEINHOWER, daughter of John Peter BEINHOWER and Mary Ann SMITH, on 3 Dec 1835, according to the marriage announcement in The Democratic State Journal on Tuesday, December 15, 1835. Both John and Sarah were of Derry township at the time of the marriage. [2] Sarah was born 12 Jan 1814 in Churchville and died 12 Nov 1901 in Middletown.[3] She was buried in Churchville Cemetery with her husband.

John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker had, to the best of my knowledge, one child:

  1. Maria Anna/Anna Maria (1840—1873/83) married Christian Gingerich

Footnotes:

  1. John Hocker gravestone, Churchville Cemetery, Oberlin, Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Photographed by Kris Hocker, 7 April 2002.
  2. John Hacker and Sarah Beinhouer marriage announcement, The Democratic State Journal, Volume 1, Number 40, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 15 December 1835.
  3. Sarah Hocker gravestone, Churchville Cemetery, Oberlin, Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, Photographed by Kris Hocker, 7 April 2002.

Photo: Charles and Edith Seltzer

Charles and Edith Seltzer

Charles and Edith Seltzer

Charles and Edith (Early) Seltzer mugging it up in their automobile. Charles was the son of Dr. Henry Hocker and Susan (Arnold) Seltzer.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Bell