Newspapers-Vital Records-DNA To the Rescue!

Johannes and Maria Stein - 2nd great-grandparents

Johannes born 8/16/1840, German died 7/29/1906, Maryland

Maria born 11/22/1843, Germany died 2/15/1908, Maryland

Immigrated 11/22/1880 - Baltimore, Maryland

This is the only photograph our family has of Johannes and Maria Stein. Family lore states this was their wedding day. Records indicate they were married in 1863. Johannes was about 22 years old. Maria would have been 20 years old. Aren't they a lovely couple? 

For years, I have been trying to verify Maria's birth name. Researchers have used the surnames Feltman, Feldman and Feldner. The problem is, we didn't have documentation to support any of these surnames.

The Baltimore Sun Newspaper - November 30, 1888 - Newspapers.com

On Newspapers.com I located a marriage announcement for Louisa Stein. She was the oldest daughter of Johannes and Maria Stein (my great-grandmother). The article gives information about her marriage to Charles Wakefield, my great-grandfather. We are told the marriage occurred "at the residence of the bride's parents". 

Since the marriage took place in her parent's home, I figured most of the attendees would be family and close friends. I began the task of tracing surnames to see if they help with research.

I created an Ancestry tree for the couples listed. Beginning with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Uhl. Using Ancestry clues and newspaper articles, I built a family tree. Charles and Lena (Helena, Helene) Uhl had a daughter named Helena. Is she the Lena Uhl listed as bridesmaid in the article for Wakefield marriage?

Marriage record for John Bensel and Helene Uhl

Maryland State Archives

Here is the record for Helena's marriage to John Bensel. This will become an important hint.

Death certificate - Helena Bensel 

d. October 26, 1912, Baltimore, City, Maryland

Above we have the death certificate for Helena Bensel. We see the father listed as Conrad Uhl. With additional research, I found he was the Charles listed in the announcement. His first name was Charles, but used his middle name, Conrad, in life and on documents. From past German research, I found this to be a common practice. Her mother is listed as Louisa Feldner!

Obituary - Louisa Uhl 

Der Deutsche Correspondent; 13 Mar 1893; Monday; pg. 6

Newspapers.com

Next, I found the above obituary for Helena's mother, Louisa Uhl. As you can see, it was located in a German language newspaper. Not a problem. I uploaded to the Facebook Group, "German Genealogy Translations".

"Louise nee Feldner, widow of master butcher Conrad Uhl, born in Philippinenhof near Kassel, Kurhessen [=Electorate of Hesse], on 2 Oct. 1845, died on Thursday 9 March at age of 48 y, funeral: yesterday at 3 p.m. at Baltimore Cemetery, funeral service in the home of the dead in 301 North Broadway held by Pastor Ed. Huber of St. Matthäi [=Matthew] Community. She leaves behind 2 sons, 2 daughters, 1 son-in-law, 1 brother-in-law (restaurateur Joh. Uhl in Frederick Avenue). Her husband died 2 ½ y ago."

Another Feldner! But, am I related to this family? Next DNA.

Using AncestryDNA, I searched for the (possible) Feldner line. A cousin connection came up with the surname Bensel! Helena's married name. This match was for the great-granddaughter of Helena Bensel. She is my fourth cousin 1x removed

With additional information, we verified my Maria (2nd great-grandmother) and Louisa (Helena's mother) were sisters. Feldner sisters. The match is my fourth cousin 1x removed. 

Now I have the correct surname to research the line back generations. Love when a research plan solves a brick wall mystery.

In the News! ~ Discovery with Cluster Research

https://pixabay.com/vectors/newspaper-article-journal-headlines-154444/

Newspapers! One of a family historian's best research tools. They are rich with information about our ancestor's lives. From birth to death, the details we find are pure gold. Every day, I'm digging into these sites, searching for hints.

Democratic advocate

Friday, Dec 29, 1911

Westminster, MD

vol:47, pg. 2 

GenealogyBank

Often times, a small article can lead to interesting family stories. That is what happened when I discovered this tidbit from a Westminster, Maryland newspaper for Frederick Walther.

You may wonder how I found the clipping with Walther surname misspelled. Actually, I was researching James Fraley, husband of Cecelia Kreymborg.

How are Cecelia and James connected to Frederick N. Walther, Jr.? Here is the relationship:

• Lillian G. Kreymborg - my son-in-law's great-grandmother
• George W. Walther - husband of Lillian G. Kreymborg - son-in-law's great-grandfather
• Frederick N. Walther, Jr. - brother of George W. Walther - son-in-law's 2nd great-uncle
• Cecelia Kreymborg - sister of Lillian G. Kreymborg - son-in-law's 2nd great-aunt
• Stuart S. Fraley - husband of Cecelia Kreymborg - son-in-law's 2nd great-uncle by marriage

James was the husband of Frederick's sister-in-law's sister. A little convoluted, but shows how doing cluster research is very important. Without James, I most likely would never have found this article.

I discovered the information using a method called cluster research. Many times, cluster research helps answer questions. Cluster research is defined as "a research technique employed by genealogists to learn more about an ancestor by examining records left by the ancestor's cluster. A person's cluster consists of the extended family, friends, neighbors, and other associates such as business partners"

The newspaper article gave us new family information to research. When did they purchase property in Westminster? As far as I knew, the family always resided in Baltimore City, Maryland.

Also, the amount of money that changed hands. Checking a conversion website, $1,250 dollars in 1911 is worth $36,933.16 today. Where did James acquire these funds? In the post "The Bride Wore Gray", we learn both of Cecelia's parents passed away by 1910. Did she and her sister, Lillian, receive an inheritance? Enough to purchase this property? 

By searching this ancestor's in-law, we discovered an interesting family story. Additional research is needed to discover the Walther family's connection to the town of Westminster. Off to find records to answer these questions!

Several excellent resources for using cluster research in genealogy.

Free Genealogy Help: Cluster Research by the Occasional Genealogist

How to Use Cluster Research a.k.a. FAN Club Research from GenealogyTV

One of the Happiest Mortals

David L. Potter and Emma Myers

daughter-in-law's 4th great-uncle & his wife

(permission given to use photograph by Ancestry cousin)

While researching my daughter-in-law's Potter family line, discovered this wonderful photograph. Here we have David L. Potter and his bride Emma Myers. David was born March 30, 1852 in Bedford, Pennsylvania and died October 22, 1928 in Blair, Pennsylvania.

• The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.), 24 Sept. 1880. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83032041/1880-09-24/ed-1/seq-3/>

How fun to research a newspaperman in the newspapers! Above we find a mention of David's marriage to Emma. The first thing we notice is the play on David's last name with "pottered through a whole week ...". Wonder how David felt when reading this bit of cleverness? 

Even with such a small article, we learn important facts. David was a young business manager for the Altoona Tribune. Also, verifies the date of marriage. And most importantly, he is "no doubt one of the happiest mortals this side of kingdom come."

Date Confirmed via Newspaper ~ Rev. Ruth in Alaska

Rev. C.W.. Ruth (husband's grandfather) standing center, Skagway, Alaska ~ 1905

Newspapers are one of the family historian's best tools. Rich with dates and facts, making our ancestors come to life. Also, they verify events, we know or don't know. When someone was born, died and married. Did they move to another location? Do we find them as being famous or even more fun ... infamous. 

One of my favorite descendants to research is Rev. Christian Wismer Ruth (known as Rev. C.W. Ruth).  He was my husband's paternal grandfather. From the time he was a young man, Christian was a traveling preacher. I have documented his career from the late eighteen hundreds, to his death, May 27, 1941. 

Christian was born into the Mennonite faith in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on September 1, 1865. In 1884 he became a preacher with the Evangelical Christian Church. He then reorganized the church as the Holiness Christian Association. In 1908 Christian, and about half of the congregation, joined the Church of the Nazarene.

Over the years, I have been in contact with researchers around the globe. Some with information about the churches, some about Rev. C.W. Ruth. They have kindly furnished important facts to complete Christian's timeline. Some have even gifted us with special photographs.

Last year we came into possession of the above picture. Here are known facts shared:

• the two men are C.W. Ruth and E.L. Wilson
• Peniel Mission, Skagway, Alaska
• date circa 1905

Periodically, I set aside time for "C.W. Ruth" newspaper searches. This morning hit pay-dirt! While using the Library of Congress "Chronicling America" site found the following.

• The daily Alaskan. [volume] (Skagway, Alaska), 29 Sept. 1905. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014189/1905-09-29/ed-1/seq-1/>

From the article we have the following:

• C.W. Ruth and E.L. Wilson
• Peniel mission, Skagway, Alaska 
• date September 1905

Thanks to a newspaper website, I believe we have verified our photograph.