Schmelzers of Bavaria, Germany to Fairfield, Perry counties, Ohio
I have the Schmelzers from Jacobus Blazius/Blasius Schmelzer and his wife, Maria Walburga Christ back to Sixtus Schmelzer in Bavaria and my direct line forward through their son Anselm (Abasalom) Schmelzer and his wife, Margarethe Keller.
I would love to hear from anyone connected to these Schmelzers in Fairfield and Perry counties, Ohio. This is some of what I have. Would welcome corrections and additional information.
Descendants of Anselm Schmelzer
Generation No. 1
1.ANSELM-7 SCHMELZER(JACOBUS BLASIUS-6, JOSEF-5 SCHMOLZER, ANTON-4, WILLIBALD-3, JAKOB-2, SIXTUS-1) was born March 29, 1831 in Ornbau, Bavaria, Germany, and died June 24, 1872 in Bremen, Fairfield County, Ohio.He married MARGARETHE KELLER October 30, 1854 in Sacred Heart Church, Geneva, Fairfield, Ohio.She was born August 31, 1831, and died November 17, 1873, presumably at Bremen, Berne Township, Franklin County, Ohio.
Notes for ANSELM SCHMELZER:
During the American Civil War, Anselm (Absalom) enlisted in Company C, 62nd Infantry Regiment, Ohio, on September 23, 1864 as a private at age 35. This unit was initially organized on Sept. 1, 1861 and mustered on Sept. 1, 1865. During the period that Anselm was enlisted the regiment fought the following battles:
Battle Near Petersburg, Virginia on 23 September 1864;
Battle Near Richmond, Virginia on 9 October 1864;
Battle at Darbytown Road, Virginia on 13 October 1864;
Battle at Hampton, Virginia on 13 October 1864;
Battle at Richmond, Virginia on 14 October 1864; Battle at Chapin's Farm, Virginia, on 01 April 1865; Battle at Fort Gregg, Virginia on 06 April 1865;
Battle at Rice Station, Virginia on 06 April 1865;
Battle at Petersburg, Virginia on 02 April 1865;
Battle at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia on 09 April 1865.
Jean Schmelzer gives Anselm's date of death as June 24, 1872. Other records have shown 1899.
Three children born to Anselm Schmelzer and Margarethe are not listed by Jean Schmelzer: Joseph, b. 1864, Benjamin R born 1866 and Sophia born 1868.
More About ANSELM SCHMELZER:
Burial: St. Phillips Cemetery, Berne Township, Fairfield, Ohio
Notes for MARGARETHE KELLER:
Anselm (Anslum) Keller and Margarethe are buried in the St. Phillips Cemetery in Berne Township, Fairfield County, Ohio. In the same cemetery is buried Joseph Keller b. 1808, d. May 31, 1861 and Elizabeth Keller d. April 11, 1864. These could be her parents but more research is needed. Birth date for Margarethe is based on date given on tombstone.
More About MARGARETHE KELLER:
Burial: St. Phillips Cemetery, Berne Township, Fairfield, Ohio
Children of ANSELM SCHMELZER and MARGARETHE KELLER are:
i. MARY LORETTA8 SCHMELZER, b. October 05, 1855.
ii. PHILUMENA FRANCES SCHMELZER, b. October 15, 1856, Logan, Hocking, Ohio; d. October 01, 1904, Washington, Daviess, Indiana; m. CHARLES CHRIST, Bet. 1874 - 1876; b. Abt. 1850, Alsace, France; d. Aft. 1900.
Notes for PHILUMENA FRANCES SCHMELZER:
Jean Schmelzer has Minnie's birth date as Oct. 22. The birth certificate may be in error or perhaps Oct. 22 was the Christening date. In the 1900 federal census, Minnie said that she was 40 years old on her last birthday which would make her born in 1859 rather than the 1857 year shown on her death certificate.
Her death certificate clearly states her birth date as Oct. 15, 1857 and that she was 47 years, 11 months and 15 days old. But if she died 14 days before her birthday, she would have turned 48 on Oct. 15, 1904 had she lived and that would calculate as a birth year of 1856 ... so she would have turned 44 (not 41) on her birthday in 1900. Maybe she just wanted to shave a few years off her age when talking to the census taker.
Notes for CHARLES CHRIST:
According to family tradition Charles was born in Alsace/Elsass and came to the United States to avoid conscription. His birth date and birth place are not known. In the 1880 census for Corning, Perry, Ohio, he claimed that he was 30 which would indicate that he was born in 1849 or 1850. In that census he also claimed that he was born in Germany.
Following the Franco-Prussian War of 1871, Alsace remained under the control of Germany until the conclusion of WWI in 1918. Alsatians who immigrated to the U.S. would sometimes answer “France” and other times “Germany” when questioned about their place of birth by the census takers. Charles Christ may have answered the question in 1880 on the basis of who was currently in power in 1880 and had been for nine years.
iii. LAYMAN HENRY SCHMELZER, b. 1858.
iv. MARY ELIZABETH SCHMELZER, b. December 19, 1859.
v. SUSAN ANN SCHMELZER, b. March 06, 1861; m. JOHN MICHAEL FREEDNOUR.
vi. MARGARET HELEN SCHMELZER, b. January 01, 1862; d. November 28, 1863.
More about MARGARET HELEN SCHMELZER:
Burial: St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery
vii. JOSEPH SCHMELZER, b. 1864.
viii. BENJAMIN SCHMELZER, b. 1867.
ix. SOPHIA SCHMELZER, b. 1867.
x. LEOPOLD SCHMELZER, b. 1869.
xi. JACOB SCHMELZER, b. 1870.
xii. FRANK SCHMELZER, b. 1872.