Surname Saturday – Braun (Germany / Illinois)

Mary BRAUN is my second great-grandmother. She was born 19 November 1855 in or near Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany. I believe that she and her husband Carl STOFFEL were married in Germany and arrived in the US together in 1884. They settled in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, where they had seven children. My direct line ancestors are in blue.

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First Generation

1.

Mary1 BRAUN was born on 19 November 1855 in or near Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany, and died on 9 August 1936 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Mary married Carl "Charles" STOFFEL, about 1884, probably in Germany. Carl was born on 16 September 1855 in or near Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany, and died on 8 November 1902 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Children from this marriage were:

2	i.	Heinrich2 "Henry" C STOFFEL was born on 28 October 1885 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 20 March 1919 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. He never married and had no children.
+ 3	ii.	Anna E STOFFEL was born on 19 January 1887 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 12 June 1936 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
4	iii.	Margaret Elisa STOFFEL was born on 10 March 1889 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 21 July 1970 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
5	iv.	Corporal Charles Louis STOFFEL was born on 30 August 1890 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died circa 12 April 1976 in Illinois.
6	v.	Marie "Elsie" A STOFFEL was born on 26 October 1892 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 10 July 1979 in Illinois. Elsie married Clarence Henry HAMMAN on 25 November 1922, in Cook County, Illinois. Clarence was born on 22 August 1899 in Indiana and died on 18 December 1979 in Illinois. Elsie and Clarence had two daughters.
7	vi.	William STOFFEL was born on 14 November 1894 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 6 February 1934 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. William married Elizabeth HARRELL on 12 November 1914 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Elizabeth was born in 1898 in Kentucky and died in 1989. William and Elizabeth had at least two children.
8	vii.	George STOFFEL was born on 1 October 1901 probably in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 3 September 1978 in Illinois. George married Marie DAHL on 10 June 1922 in Cook County, Illinois. Mabel was born on 9 April 1900 in Illinois and died on 7 January 1969 in Illinois. George and Marie had at least one daughter.

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Second Generation

3.

Anna2 E STOFFEL (Mary1 Braun) was born on 19 January 1887 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 12 June 1936 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Anna married George ROTTMAN, son of Phillip ROTTMAN and Mary Eva REEDER, on 12 February 1914 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. George was born on 19 June 1882 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa, and died on 19 February 1946 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Children from this marriage were:

9	i.	Edward George ROTTMAN was born on 14 December 1915 in Illinois, and died on 10 January 1968 in Mundelein, Lake, Illinois. He served in the US Army during World War II. Edward married Helen –?– after 1940. Helen was born on 23 November 1920 and died on 23 December 1999 in Wisconsin.
10	ii.	Margaret Ann ROTTMAN was born on 28 January 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 12 June 1999 in Round Lake, Saratoga, New York. Margaret married Lawrence Henry "Turk" COMERFORD, son of Nicholas D COMERFORD and Margaret A FREEMAN, on 22 July 1940 in Cook County, Illinois. Lawrence was born on 9 November 1916 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 9 September 1970 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
11	iii.	Marie Ethel ROTTMAN was born on 29 April 1920 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 20 July 1989 in Bensenville, DuPage, Illinois. Marie married Harold Leslie MILLER, son of Emil Karl August MILLER and Alma Mary LEPPIN, on 6 July 1939 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Harold was born on 4 August 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 June 1982 in Maywood, Cook, Illinois. Marie and Harold are my grandparents.

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Disclaimer: Information is based on research completed as of 27 February 2013. Some details have been omitted to protect the privacy of living relatives.

Sources: Available upon request.

PDF Available: The content of this post is available as a PDF through Scribd and may updated periodically as new information is found.

Other Blog Posts: To see other posts about the Braun family, click here. To see other Surname Saturday posts, click here.

Contact: If you would like more information about this family, or would like to share what you know, please contact me at genblogjulie@gmail.com.

Surname Saturday–Hänfler (Germany / Illinois)

Minnie HÄNFLER (with variants including Henfler, Hamfler, and Hemfler) is my second great-grandmother. She was born in Germany and married Herman LEPPIN in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

I previously discovered a possible sister, Augusta HÄNFLER, who married Philipp Zimmermann, and just days ago confirmed my suspicion further with a baptism record for Augusta and Philipp's daughter naming Minnie Leppin as a witness. Clues in other church records suggest that Minnie may have had a brother, Carl HÄNFLER, and that her parents might have been Carl HÄNFLER and August --?--. Further research is needed to prove/disprove these connections.

My direct line ancestors are in blue.

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First Generation

1.

Minnie1 HÄNFLER was born on 9 April 1871 in Germany and died on 17 May 1945 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Minnie married Herman LEPPIN on 26 March 1894 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Herman was born on 22 March 1873 in Germany and died on 31 March 1948 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona. Children from this marriage were:

+ 2	i.	Alma2 LEPPIN was born on 1 September 1896 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 December 1928 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois
3	ii.	Heinrich "Henry" August LEPPIN was born on 11 July 1898 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 26 March 1958 in Cook County, Illinois. Henry married Ann M FORNER, daughter of Lena, on 5 July 1933 in Cook County, Illinois. Ann was born on 10 March 1912 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 June 1976 in Cook County, Illinois. They had three known children: Henry, Mary, and Susan.
4	iii.	Herman Paul LEPPIN was born on 17 May 1900 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 2 November 1959 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona. He never married and had no children.
5	iv.	Carl "Charles" Friedrich LEPPIN was born on 13 February 1906 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 6 October 1980 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona. Charles married Maida "Meta" HOFFMANN about 1928 in Illinois. Maida was born on 22 June 1906 in Germany and died on 28 July 1997 in Arizona. They had one known son, Warner.

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Second Generation

2.

Alma2 LEPPIN (Minnie1 HÄNFLER) was born on 1 September 1896 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 December 1928 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Alma married Emil Karl August MÜLLER, son of Emil MÜLLER and Hulda WACH, on 4 September 1915 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Emil was born on 9 February 1889 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 21 February 1938 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Children from this marriage were:

6	i.	Roman3 "Raymond" Henry MILLER was born on 18 August 1916 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 May 1979 in Whittier, Los Angeles, California. Raymond married Roma C BENING between 1939 and April 1940. Roma was born on 26 August 1917 in Illinois and died on 4 August 1995 in Orange County, California. They had three children.
7	ii.	Harold Leslie MILLER was born on 4 August 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 June 1982 in Maywood, Cook, Illinois. Harold married Marie Ethel ROTTMAN, daughter of George ROTTMAN and Anna E STOFFEL, on 6 July 1939 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Marie was born on 29 April 1920 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 20 July 1989 in Bensenville, DuPage, Illinois. They had two children, their daughter, Jean, being my mother.
8	iii.	Mildred Dolores MILLER was born on 10 December 1922 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 6 September 1976 in Mountain View, Santa Clara. Mildred married Sidney William HICKS on 14 February 1940 in Cook County, Illinois. Sidney was born on 17 June 1916 in Illinois, and died on 6 August 1990 in Santa Clara County, California. They had one daughter and an adopted son.

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Disclaimer: Information is based on research completed as of 9 April 2013. Some details have been omitted to protect the privacy of living relatives.

Sources: Available upon request.

PDF Available: The content of this post is available as a PDF through Scribd and may updated periodically as new information is found.

Other Blog Posts: To see other posts about the Hänfler family, click here. To see other Surname Saturday posts, click here.

Contact: If you would like more information about this family, or would like to share what you know, please contact me at genblogjulie@gmail.com.

Surname Saturday – Leppin (Germany / Illinois)

My Leppin line currently ends at my second great-grandfather, Herman LEPPIN. I don't know much about his roots other than he apparently came from Germany and settled in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  My direct line ancestors are in blue.

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First Generation

1.

Herman1 LEPPIN was born on 22 March 1873 in Germany, and died on 31 March 1948 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona. Herman married Minnie HEMFLER, on 26 March 1894 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Minnie was born on 9 April 1871 in Germany, and died on 17 May 1945 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Children from this marriage were:

+ 2	i.	Alma2 Mary LEPPIN was born on 1 September 1896 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 December 1928 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
3	ii.	Henry August LEPPIN was born on 11 July 1898 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 26 March 1958 in Cook County, Illinois. Henry married Ann M FORNER, daughter of Lena, on 5 July 1933 in Cook County, Illinois. Ann was born on 10 March 1912 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 June 1976 in Cook County, Illinois. They had three known children: Henry, Mary, and Susan.
4	iii.	Herman Paul LEPPIN Jr. was born on 17 May 1900 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 2 November 1959 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona. He never married and had no children.
5	iv.	Charles F LEPPIN was born on 13 February 1906 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 6 October 1980 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona. Charles married Maida "Meta" HOFFMANN about 1928 in Illinois. Maida was born on 22 June 1906 in Germany and died on 28 July 1997 in Arizona. They had one known son, Warner.

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Second Generation

2.

Alma2 Mary LEPPIN (Herman1) was born on 1 September 1896 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 December 1928 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Alma married Emil Karl August MILLER, son of Emil MILLER and Hulda WACH, on 4 September 1915 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Emil was born on 9 February 1889 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 21 February 1938 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Children from this marriage were:

6	i.	Roman3 "Raymond" Henry MILLER was born on 18 August 1916 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 May 1979 in Whittier, Los Angeles, California. Raymond married Roma C BENING between 1939 and April 1940. Roma was born on 26 August 1917 in Illinois and died on 4 August 1995 in Orange County, California. They had three children.
7	ii.	Harold Leslie MILLER was born on 4 August 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 June 1982 in Maywood, Cook, Illinois. Harold married Marie Ethel ROTTMAN, daughter of George ROTTMAN and Anna E STOFFEL, on 6 July 1939 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Marie was born on 29 April 1920 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 20 July 1989 in Bensenville, DuPage, Illinois. They had two children, their daughter, Jean, being my mother.
8	iii.	Mildred Dolores MILLER was born on 10 December 1922 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 6 September 1976 in Mountain View, Santa Clara. Mildred married Sidney William HICKS on 14 February 1940 in Cook County, Illinois. Sidney was born on 17 June 1916 in Illinois, and died on 6 August 1990 in Santa Clara County, California. They had one daughter and an adopted son.

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Disclaimer: Information is based on research completed as of 18 February 2013. Some details have been omitted to protect the privacy of living relatives.

Sources: Available upon request.

PDF Available: The content of this post is available as a PDF through Scribd and may updated periodically as new information is found.

Other Blog Posts: To see other posts about the Leppin family, click here. To see other Surname Saturday posts, click here.

Contact: If you would like more information about this family, or would like to share what you know, please contact me at genblogjulie@gmail.com.

Surname Saturday: Rottman (Bavaria / Georgia / Iowa / Illinois)

Ah, now we get to talk about my crazy ROTTMAN family.  The earliest known ancestor is Philip ROTTMAN, my second great-grandfather.  He apparently came to the US from Bavaria, Germany.  This family has been difficult to research for many reasons, but mainly because they moved around the country several times.  My direct line ancestors are in blue.

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First Generation

1.

Philip1 ROTTMAN was born about 1835 in Bavaria, Germany and died on 24 June 1885 in Golden, Jefferson, Colorado.  He married Mary Eva REEDER (or LASSER) before 1870 possibly in Germany or France. Eva was born cal. 18 March 1849 in France and died on 26 October 1889 in Iowa. Children from this marriage were:

+ 2	i.	John2 W ROTTMAN was born in July 1870 in Henry County, Georgia, and died before 11 October 1937 in Linn County, Iowa.
3	ii.	Louise ROTTMAN was born on 19 October 1871 in McDonough, Henry, Georgia, and was baptized on 27 May 1873 in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky.  She likely died before June 1880.
4	iii.	Gottlieb ROTTMAN was born 14 January 1873 in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, was baptized on 27 May 1873 in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, and died on 10 July 1873 probably in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky, where he is buried.
5	iv.	Anna E ROTTMAN was born in April 1874 in Missouri and died in 1964.  Anna first married Joseph W ZARUB on 24 December 1896 in Marion, Linn, Iowa. Joseph was born in February 1874 in Iowa.  Anna married second, Jacob M HOAG on 18 December 1912 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Jacob was born in 1871 in Illinois and died in 1949.
6	v.	Malissa Elizabeth ROTTMAN was born in 1875 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died between 1896 and 1900.  “Lizzie” married Joseph RUSHEK on 6 April 1896 in Big Grove, Johnson, Iowa. Joseph was born on 13 August 1874 in Solon, Johnson, Iowa.
7	vi.	Charles Henry ROTTMAN was born on 11 August 1877 in Ivanhoe, Linn, Iowa, and died on 11 February 1927 in Wilton, Muscatine, Iowa.  Charles married Rosanna Elizabeth "Anna" BEATTY on 14 April 1899 in Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa. Rosanna was born on 25 November 1880 in Sugarcreek, Cedar, Iowa, and died on 24 July 1958 in Wilton, Muscatine, Iowa.  They had 13 children.
8	vii.	Mabel Louise ROTTMAN was born on 28 September 1879 and died on 1 April 1961.  Mabel married Paul Frederick William HAASE on 8 May 1901 in Solon, Johnson, Iowa. Paul was born on 3 May 1877 in Germany.  They had two children.
+ 9	viii.	George ROTTMAN was born on 19 June 1882 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa, and died on 19 February 1946 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

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Second Generation

2.

John2 W ROTTMAN (Phillip1) was born in July 1870 in Henry County, Georgia, and died before 11 October 1937 in Linn County, Iowa.  John married Melvina E HORN, daughter of Samuel HORN and Mary A MARSHALL, on 31 December 1891 in Lisbon, Linn, Iowa. Melvina was born in October 1862 in Johnson County, Iowa, and died in 1944. Children from this marriage were:

10	i.	Ethel3 Mary ROTTMAN was born on 29 May 1892 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa, and died on 17 November 1986 in Iowa.  Ethel married George W COSTER, son of James COSTER and Alice F KING, on 21 September 1920 in Lisbon, Linn, Iowa. George was born on 8 September 1893 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa and died on 26 January 1954 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa.
11	ii.	Clarence Leo ROTTMAN was born on 20 September 1895 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa, and died on 6 November 1985 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa.  Clarence married Marguerite Alma COSTER, daughter of James COSTER and Alice F KING, on 10 December 1919 in Lisbon, Linn, Iowa. Marguerite was born on 23 April 1899 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa, and died on 12 November 1978 in Iowa.

9.

George2 ROTTMAN (Phillip1) was born on 19 June 1882 in Mount Vernon, Linn, Iowa, and died on 19 February 1946 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  George married Anna E STOFFEL, daughter of Carl "Charles" STOFFEL and Mary BRAUN, on 12 February 1914 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Anna was born on 19 January 1887 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, died on 12 June 1936 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  It is possible that George was married once prior to Anna (still working on this). Children from this marriage were:

12	i.	Edward3 George ROTTMAN was born on 14 December 1915 in Illinois, and died on 10 January 1968 in Mundelein, Lake, Illinois.  He served in the US Army during World War II.  Edward married Helen –?– after 1940. Helen was born on 23 November 1920 and died on 23 December 1999 in Wisconsin.
13	ii.	Margaret Ann ROTTMAN was born on 28 January 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 12 June 1999 in Round Lake, Saratoga, New York.  Margaret married Lawrence Henry "Turk" COMERFORD, son of Nicholas D COMERFORD and Margaret A FREEMAN, on 22 July 1940 in Cook County, Illinois. Lawrence was born on 9 November 1916 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 9 September 1970 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
14	iii.	Marie Ethel ROTTMAN was born on 29 April 1920 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 20 July 1989 in Bensenville, DuPage, Illinois.  Marie married Harold Leslie MILLER, son of Emil Karl August MILLER and Alma Mary LEPPIN, on 6 July 1939 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Harold was born on 4 August 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 June 1982 in Maywood, Cook, Illinois.  Marie and Harold are my grandparents.

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Disclaimer: Information is based on research completed as of 2 February 2013. Some details have been omitted to protect the privacy of living relatives.

Sources: Available upon request.

PDF Available: The content of this post is available as a PDF through Scribd and may updated periodically as new information is found.

Other Blog Posts: To see other posts about the Rottman family, click here. To see other Surname Saturday posts, click here.

Contact: If you would like more information about this family, or would like to share what you know, please contact me at genblogjulie@gmail.com.

Surname Saturday: Miller / Müller (Prussia / Illinois)

My earliest known Miller (Müller) (in this line—I do have others from Luxembourg) is my second great-grandfather, Emil, who was probably born in or near Bromberg, Posen, Preußen (Prussia).  He is the only one of my 16 second greats whose fate is unknown.  Perhaps someone out there can help.  My direct line ancestors are in blue.

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First Generation

1.

Emil MÜLLER was born about 1864, possibly in or near Bromberg, Posen, Preußen (Prussia), and died after 1902.  Emil married Hulda WACH, daughter of Henry WACH and Amelia WIETZKE, on 8 August 1886 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. The marriage ended in divorce on 12 December 1900 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Hulda was born on 9 January 1869 in Bernsdorf, Bütow, Pommern, Preußen (Prussia), and died on 15 May 1914 in Dunham, McHenry, Illinois. Children from this marriage were:

2	i.	Heinrich "Henry" Fredrick MILLER was born on 1 June 1887 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died circa 3 May 1963 in Illinois.  Henry married Katherine KOTTKA, daughter of August KOTTKA, on 25 December 1909 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  The marriage ended in divorce about 1925.  Katherine was born about 1889-1891 in Illinois.  Henry married second, Elizabeth ---?--- about 1925-1926.  Elizabeth was born about 1892 in Germany.
+ 3	ii.	Emil Karl August MILLER was born on 9 February 1889 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, was baptized on 3 March 1889 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 21 February 1938 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.
4	iii.	Ida MILLER was born on 31 July 1891 in Illinois and died on 8 December 1970 in Wisconsin.  Ida married Charles BRUNNER, son of Henry BRUNNER and Henrietta BRUA, on 25 June 1909 in Harvard, McHenry, Illinois.  Charles was born in May 1889 in Germany, and died on 9 March 1952 in Harvard, McHenry, Illinois.

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Second Generation

3.

Emil Karl August MILLER (Emil1) was born on 9 February 1889 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, was baptized on 3 March 1889 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 21 February 1938 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  Emil married first, Alma Mary LEPPIN, daughter of Herman LEPPIN and Minnie HEMFLER, on 4 September 1915 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  Alma was born on 1 September 1896 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 December 1928 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Children from this marriage were:

5	i.	Roman "Raymond" Henry MILLER was born on 18 August 1916 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 May 1979 in Whittier, Los Angeles, California.  Raymond married Roma C BENING between 1939 and April 1940.  Roma was born on 26 August 1917 in Illinois and died on 4 August 1995 in Orange County, California.
6	ii.	Harold Leslie MILLER was born on 4 August 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, was baptized on 8 September 1918 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 15 June 1982 in Maywood, Cook, Illinois.  Harold married Marie Ethel ROTTMAN, daughter of George ROTTMAN and Anna E STOFFEL, on 6 July 1939 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.  Marie was born on 29 April 1920 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 20 July 1989 in Bensenville, DuPage, Illinois.  Harold and Marie are my grandparents.
7	iii.	Mildred Dolores MILLER was born on 10 December 1922 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, and died on 6 September 1976 in Mountain View, Santa Clara, California.  Mildred married Sidney William HICKS on 14 February 1940 in Cook County, Illinois. Sidney was born on 17 June 1916 in Illinois and died on 6 August 1990 in Santa Clara County, California.

Emil married second, Pearl "Myrtle" C MATTHEWS, daughter of William MATTHEWS and Mary HILLERY, on 15 February 1930 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. Myrtle was born on 15 November 1895 in Illinois and died on 20 November 1967 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

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Disclaimer: Information is based on research completed as of 19 January 2013. Some details have been omitted to protect the privacy of living relatives.

Sources: Available upon request.

PDF Available: The content of this post is available as a PDF through Scribd and may updated periodically as new information is found.

Other Blog Posts: To see other posts about the Miller family, click here. To see other Surname Saturday posts, click here.

Contact: If you would like more information about this family, or would like to share what you know, please contact me at genblogjulie@gmail.com.

Fearless Females – Brick Walls

Back in 2010, in honor of Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo created a list of writing prompts for each day during the month of March.  I didn’t participate in 2010, so I’m going to take the opportunity to participate this year, since Lisa was kind enough to resurrect her prompts for 2012.

Is there a female ancestor who is your brick wall? Why? List possible sources for finding more information.

Three of the four second great-grandmothers on my mom’s side are “brick walls” simply because in order to determine their parents and siblings, requires studying others of the same surname in Chicago and/or “crossing the pond” to Germany.  Here are some basic details on each of them:

Minnie (Hemfler) Leppin – According to her death certificate, Minnie Hemfler was born on 9 April 1871 in Germany.  Minnie married Herman Leppin on 26 March 1894 in Chicago.  Minnie died on 17 Mary 1945 in Chicago.  Her death certificate does not name her parents.  However, based on the correlation of a few sources, I’m fairly positive that she had a sister named Augusta, who married a Philip Zimmermann (you can read more about this in my post I Think She’s Related).

Mary Eva (Reeder) Rottman – This one is definitely a thorn in my side (I’m sure my cousin Barbara would agree!).  I don’t really know that much about Eva, other than she was probably born about 18 March 1849 in France, married Philip Rottman likely before 1870, and died on 26 October 1899 in Iowa.  The interesting twist is that of their six children’s records, sometimes her maiden name was listed as Reeder, while other times is was listed as Lasser.  Is it possible that she was married briefly before she married Philip?

Mary (Braun) Stoffel – According to her death certificate, Mary was born on 19 November 1855 in Frankfurt, Germany.  She married Carl “Charles” Stoffel about 1884.  On 9 August 1936, Mary died in Chicago.  As I was reviewing a wedding booklet for Mary’s daughter, Anna, I was able to identify all of the names, except two.  After researching those two names, I’ve come to the conclusion that Mary had a sister (could also be a cousin, but there’s definitely a relationship), Anna, who married an Otto Beckard in Chicago in 1871.

Hopefully as my research on these ladies continues, I will be able to figure out who their parents and sibling were and where they came from, other than “Germany.”

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Read all of my Fearless Females posts.

Fearless Females – Gone Too Soon

Back in 2010, in honor of Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo created a list of writing prompts for each day during the month of March.  I didn’t participate in 2010, so I’m going to take the opportunity to participate this year, since Lisa was kind enough to resurrect her prompts for 2012.

Did you have any female ancestors who died young or from tragic or unexpected circumstances? Describe and how did this affect the family?

I have several female ancestors who passed on too early.  Here are the stories for two of my great-grandmothers.

Alma (Leppin) Miller – Alma Leppin was born 1 September 1896 in Chicago, Illinois.  At the age of 19 she married Emil Charles Miller 4 September 1915 in Chicago.  Together, Emil and Alma had three children: Raymond, Harold, and Mildred.  Alma died 15 December 1928, at the age of 32, due to heart trouble.

Catherine (Schwartz) Cahill – Catherine Schwartz was born 16 April 1894 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.  On 25 April 1916, she married John Cahill in Aurora.  Just two-and-a-half years after their last child was born, Catherine reportedly committed suicide on 26 January 1925 in her home in Aurora.  She was just 30 years of age.

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Read all of my Fearless Females posts.

Fearless Females – Photo

Back in 2010, in honor of Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo created a list of writing prompts for each day during the month of March.  I didn’t participate in 2010, so I’m going to take the opportunity to participate this year, since Lisa was kind enough to resurrect her prompts for 2012.

Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This is a photo of Maida “Meta” Hoffman, who married my great-granduncle, Charles Leppin.  It was supposedly taken on the ship when she emigrated from Germany to the US in 1928.

Read all of my Fearless Females posts.

SNGF - “Heritage Pie” Chart

This week’s challenge from Randy is:

• List your 16 great-great-grandparents with their birth, death and marriage data (dates and places). 
• Determine the countries (or states) that these ancestors lived in at their birth and at their death.
• For extra credit, go make a "Heritage Pie" chart for the country of origin (birth place) for these 16 ancestors. [Hint: you could use the  chart generator from Kid Zone for this.] [Note: Thank you to Sheri Fenley for the "Heritage Pie" chart idea.]
• Tell us about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a post on Facebook or google+.

Here’s mine:

 

16.  Thomas CAHILL - bap. 8 May 1860 in Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland; died 15 October 1929 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois; married Margareth MILLETT, 3 July 1887 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.

17.  Margareth “Maggie” MILLETT – bap. 3 February 1863 in Old Grange, Kilkenny, Ireland; died 7 January 1945 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.

18.  John SCHWARTZ – born 11 Arpil 1856 (cal.) in Luxembourg; died 20 January 1912 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois; married Margaretha KRAMER, 6 September 1888 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.

19.  Margaretha “Margaret” KRAMER – born 31 October 1866 in Consdorf, Echternach, Luxembourg; died 14 January 1945 in Aurora, Kane, Illinois.

20.  Timothy McMAHON – born 14 May 1874 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois; died 14 October 1939 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois; married Sarah Jane WARD, 11 November 1899 in Lake County, Indiana.

21.  Sarah Jane WARD – born 7 April 1875 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois; died 8 October 1956 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

22.  James Manly GARRISON – born 26 December 1861 in Picton, Prince Edward, Ontario, Canada; died 23 May 1909 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois; married, Sarah Jane MULLIGAN, 23 January 1893 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

23.  Sarah Jane “Jennie” MULLIGAN – born 16 April 1870 in Flint, Genesee, Michigan; died 26 April 1947 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

24.  Emil MILLER – born January 1864 in Germany; died after 1902, probably in Chicago, Cook, Illinois; married Hulda WACH, 8 August 1886 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

25.  Hulda WACH – born 9 January 1869 in Germany; died probably between 1910 and 1920 in McHenry County, Illinois.

26.  Herman LEPPIN – born 22 March 1873 in Germany; died 31 March 1948 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona; married Minnie HEMFLER, 26 March 1894 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

27.  Minnie HEMFLER – born 9 April 1871 in Germany; died 17 May 1945 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

28.  Philip ROTTMAN – born about 1835 in Bavaria, Germany; died between 1885 and 1889, probably in Linn Couny, Iowa; married Mary Eva REEDER before 1870, possible in France.

29.  Mary Eva REEDER – born 18 March 1849 (cal.) in France; died 26 October 1889 in Iowa.

30.  Carl “Charles” STOFFEL – born 16 September 1855 in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany; died 8 November 1902 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois; married Mary BRAUN, about 1884.

31.  Mary BRAUN – born 19 November 1855 in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany; died 9 August 1936 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

I Think She’s Related

In October 2008, I went to various cemeteries to take photos of family gravestones.  I came across an unusual arrangement of three stones, two of which were for sure family.

The first photo shows the stones for Henry August Leppin and his wife Ann.  Seeing that there was a stone butted up against Ann’s I went around to investigate.  I found the stone for Minnie Zimmermann, who I had not yet run across, but photographed it wondering if there was a connection.  I wondered if Minnie was perhaps a sister of Ann, since I do not have Ann’s maiden name.  Unable to make a connection, I filed it in my “Possible Family” folder and moved on.

Over the last few days, I’ve been exploring other people with the same surnames in the areas where know family lived.  I stumbled across a possible sister for my second great-grandmother, Minnie HEMFLER/HAMFLER (who married Herman LEPPIN in 1894).  Finding a marriage record for Augusta HEMFLER and Phillip Zimmermann, I went on to explore them.   In the 1900 census, it indicated that Augusta immigrated in 1892, which is the same as Minnie’s immigration in the 1910 census.  Augusta was born about 1869 in Germany; Minnie was born in 1872 in Germany.  In the 1900 census, their residences were about a mile apart in Chicago.

What’s interesting is that the marriage record for Augusta and Phillip was in 1899, but the 1900 census lists them as being marriage seven years and having three children.  I suppose it’s possible that Phillip was married before and the children were from a previous marriage; this is still not clear to me.  I have not been able to locate the birth records for the three children living in the 1900 household.

I did however find a birth certificate for a Minnie Zimmermann, born to Phillip Zimmerman and Augusta Hemffler on 22 November 1904.  As I’m entering this information in my “Possible Family” database, it occurs to me I’ve seen this name before…and I knew where to look to find it.  I hopped over to my “Possible Family” folder and found the image of the Minnie Zimmermann gravestone.  The bonus?  The birth date on the stone matches the date on the birth certificate.  There is no doubt that this is the same person.

With what I’ve uncovered so far, I am now pretty certain that Minnie HEMFLER Leppin and Augusta HEMFLER Zimmermann are in fact sisters.  I have not been able to find the death certificate for Minnie HEMFLER Leppin, so I am hoping to find the one for Augusta and learn who their parents are.

Boy, I sure am glad I took a photo of that gravestone!!  Without it, I may not have made this connection.  I would have suspected that Minnie and Augusta were sisters until I found other proof.  But having this stone, in the same section as my Leppins (and right next to Leppin stones) makes me pretty darn certain of this relationship.  More research is needed, of course, but right now I’m content with what I’ve found so far.

Saturday Night Challenge – 08/08/09

Randy’s challenge for this evening is as follows:

List your 16 great-grandparents in pedigree chart order. List their birth and death years and places.

Figure out the dominant ethnicity or nationality of each of them.

Calculate your ancestral ethnicity or nationality by adding them up for the 16 - 6.25% for each (obviously, this is approximate).

If you don't know all 16 of your great-grandparents, then do it for the last full generation you have.

Write your own blog post, or make a comment on Facebook or in this post.

Here’s mine:

I have 10 German, 4 Irish, 1 Canadian, and 1 French.  Further generations on Sarah MULLIGAN would also have English.  But according to the way Randy asked us to figure this, I am: 63% German, 25% Irish, 6% Canadian, and 6% French.

Family Events – Week of July 19 to July 25

Bridget ( ) Ward – Bridget is my third great-grandmother, who was born in January 1838 in Ireland.  She died 19 July 1912 in Chicago, Illinois.

Marie Ethel ROTTMAN – Marie is my grandmother, who was born on 29 April 1920 in Chicago, Illinois.  She died on 20 July 1989 in Bensenville, Illinois.

Mildred SCHULTZ & Gottlieb KUNBERGER – Mildred is my second great-grandaunt, who married Gottlieb on 20 July 1901 in Chicago, Illinois.

Joseph Webster GARRISON – Joseph is my great-granduncle, who was born on 4 January 1898 in Chicago, Illinois.  He died on 23 July 1930 in Chicago.

Frances HILLS – Frances is my eleventh great-grandmother, who was born on 23 July 1605 in England.  She died about 1690 in Farmington, Connecticut.*

Margaret RYAN – Margaret is my third great-grandmother, who was born about 1846 in Ireland.  She died on 23 July 1928 in Illinois.

Henry August LEPPIN – Henry is my great-granduncle, who was born on 24 July 1898 in Chicago, Illinois.  He died on 26 March 1958 in Illinois.

Hannah JOHNSON – Happy 20th birthday to my niece on July 25th.

Harry Henry Adolph TRAPP – Harry is my first cousin three times removed, who was born on 25 July 1895 in Chicago, Illinois.  He died on 4 February 1972 in Antioch, Illinois.

*Based on information from several compiled source, of which I have not personally verified at this time.

Saturday Night Fun – June 6, 2009

The challenge for Randy’s Saturday Night Fun is:

1. Which of your ancestors were alive in 1909?
   
2. Tell us where your ancestral families were living in 1909. What country, state, county,  city/town, etc. Who was in the family at the time? Use the 1910 census as "close enough."
   
3. Have you found each of these families in the 1910 census?
   
4. Write a blog post about your response. Or write a comment to this post.
   
5. Have fun. Learn something!

Here’s mine (those in bold are direct line ancestors):

Third great-grandmother, Amelia (a.k.a. Emilie), was living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois in 1910, with her son Heinrich “Henry” (my second great-granduncle) and his family.  Amelia is a mystery to me; she was married to a WACH and had three children.  She then married a SCHULTZ and had one daughter.  I have no idea what her maiden name is or the first names (and fates) of her two husbands.

Another mystery woman, my third great-grandmother, Bridget Ward, was living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois in 1910 with two daughters, Sarah and Rose, and Sarah’s husband Timothy McMAHON.  Again, I have no idea what Bridget’s maiden name is, or the first name of her husband.  I am not able to find her after 1910 in censuses or death records.

My second great-grandmother, Mary (or Anna or Marie) BRAUN Stoffel, was living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois with her seven children:  Henry C, Anna E, Margaret, Charles L, Elsie A, William, and George.

Thomas Robert CAHILL, my second great-grandfather, was living in Aurora, Kane, Illinois in 1910 with his wife, Margaret “Maggie” MILLETT and four of his six children, Margaret, Thomas Michael, John F, Robert Emmett.

My second great-grandfather, James Manly GARRISON, was living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois in 1909, when he died on 23 May 1909.  His wife, Sarah Jane “Jeanie” MULLIGAN was living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois in 1910 with her four children, James Norton, Joseph Webster, Emma Jane, and Robert Parks.

My second great-grandparents, Herman LEPPIN and Minnie HAEMFIFLER, were living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois in 1910 with their four children, Alma Mary, Henry August, Herman Paul, and Charles F.

My third great-grandparents, Timothy McMAHON and Margaret RYAN, were living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois in 1910 with four of their five children, John Joseph, Nellie, Jerimiah William, and Elizabeth V.   Margaret’s grandson (through her daughter from another marriage), Francis J, was also living with them in 1910.

Emil Charles MILLER, my great-grandfather, was likely living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois in 1910, but I have yet to find him in the census.

My great-grandfather, George ROTTMAN, also eludes me in the 1910 census, but he was likely living in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

My second great-grandparents, John SCHWARTZ and Margaret KRAMER were living in Aurora, Kane, Illinois in 1910 with their six children, Henry Ferdinand, John J, Catherine M, Mary J, Theresa K, and Herman J.

Wordless Wednesday - 04/08/09

 

Family Events - Week of March 29 to April 4

Timothy McMAHON - Timothy is my third great-grandfather.  He was born in December 1845 in Tippeary, Ireland.  He died on 29 March 1913 in Chicago, Illinois.

Thomas Michael CAHILL - Thomas is my great-granduncle.  He died on 30 March 1972 in Danville, Vermillion, Illinois (date calculated based on date of obituary).

Richard FOX - Richard is my ninth great-grandfather.  He died on 31 March 1709 in Glastonbury, Hartford, Connecticut.*

John PRICE - John is my seventh great-grandfather.  He died on 31 March 1737 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut.*

Mabel Louise ROTTMAN - Mabel is my great-grandaunt.  She died on 1 April 1961.

Robert PARKS & Elizabeth HALL - Robert and Elizabeth are my sixth great-grandparents.  They married on 2 April 1760 in Plainfield, Windham, Connecticut.

Herman Paul LEPPIN - Herman is my great-granduncle.  He died on 3 April 1948 in Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona at the age of 47.

Robert PARKE - Robert is my eleventh great-grandfather.  He died on 3 April 1593 in Gestingthorpe, Essex, England.*

*Based on information from several compiled source, of which I have not personally verified at this time.

Family Events - Week of March 22 to March 28

Herman LEPPIN & Minnie HAEMFIFLER - Herman and Minnie are my second great-grandparents.  They were married on 26 March 1894 in Cook County, Illinois.  Herman was born on 22 March 1873.

Samuel PARKE - Samuel is my ninth great-grandfather.  He died on 22 March 1709 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut.

Alvina WACH - Alvina is my second great-grandaunt.  She was born in Germany around 1873.  She died on 24 March 1959 (calculated based on date of obituary and funeral).

Noah WEBSTER - Noah is my second cousin nine times removed (father of dictionary Noah Webster).  He was born on 25 March 1722 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut.

Julie Marie CAHILL - Happy birthday to me on March 25th.

Names, Places & Most Wanted Faces

Taking the bait from Craig over at GeneaBlogie, here's my list of names, places, and most wanted faces.

Names	Places
Cahill	Cook Co., Illinois Kane Co. Illinois Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland
Garrison	Cook Co., Illinois Picton, Ontario, Canada
Leppin	Cook Co., Illinois Germany
McMahon	Cook Co. Illinois Tipperary, Ireland
Miller/Mueller/Muller	Cook Co., Illinois Germany
Millet	Kane Co., Illinois Kilkenny, Ireland
Mulligan	Genesee Co., Michigan
Norton/Naughton	Connecticut Rutland Co. Vermont England
Parks/Parke	New London Co., Connecticut Oakland Co., Michigan
Rottman	Cook Co., Illinois Eastern Iowa/Western Illinois (Quad Cities) Germany
Ryan	Tipperary, Ireland Dublin, Ireland
Schwartz	Kane Co., Illinois Luxemburg, Germany
Stoffel	Cook Co., Illinois Frankfort, Germany
Trapp	Cook Co., Illinois Lake Co., Illinois Germany
Wach	Cook Co., Illinois Prussia, Brandenburg, Germany
Ward	Cook Co. Illinois Ireland
Webster	New England States Oakland Co., Michigan

Most Wanted Faces

I'd really like to find Sarah Jane WARD McMahon's parents.  Mother's name was Bridget; father's name unknown to me.  Both were born in Ireland.

Also on the list, Hulda WACH Miller's parents.  Mother's name was Amelia/Emilie; father's name is unknown to me.  Both were born in Germany.

Family Events - Week of December 14 to December 20

Jonathan WEBSTER & Esther JUDD - Jonathan and Esther are my 8th great-grandparents.  They were married on 14 December 1704 in Hartford, Connecticut.

Edward George ROTTMAN - Ed is my granduncle, who was born on 14 December 1915 in Illinois.  He died on 10 January 1968 in Mundelein, Lake, Illinois.

Alma Mary LEPPIN - Alma is my great-grandmother.  She was born in Chicago in 1896.  Alma died of heart trouble at the age of 32 in Chicago on 15 December 1928.

Clarence H HAMMAN - Clarence is the husband of my great-grandaunt, Elsie STOFFEL.  He was born on 22 August 1899 in Indiana.  Clarence died in Illinois on 18 December 1979 at the age of 80.

Dorcas BROWNSON - Dorcas is my 10th great-grandmother.  She was born on 19 December 1633 in Connecticut.  Dorcas died at the age of 63 on 10 May 1697 in Connecticut.

Carl Montgomery ROTTMAN & Minnie KONNERT - Carl is my first cousin twice removed.  He and Minnie married on 19 December 1929.

Kenneth William ROTTMAN - Ken is my first cousin twice removed, who was born on 29 January 1919 in Iowa.  He died on 20 December 2003, at the age of 84, in Iowa.