A brief history of the Phend-Fisher Family Reunions can be found in the post The first Saturday in August
This index has been created to make it easier to locate entries for specific years.
Showing posts with label Phend-Fisher History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phend-Fisher History. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Phend-Fisher Family Reunion Ledger Index
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Phend-Fisher Family History - part 1
In 1928, Clarence Phend, grandson of Jacob and Louisa Fisher Phend through their son Christian, wrote the "Phend-Fisher Family History" which was a five page document recounting what he had been told and subsequently learned of the families. Although it contained several "tall tales" and many bits of misinformation, it was invaluable in my initial research, giving me clues regarding some names to look for as well as some clues on where to look for information. A copy of this family history was given to me by both Helen Rhoades Peil and Mary Alice Phend Koontz, both nieces of Clarence Phend. I don't know which one sent it to me first, so I give credit to both of them!
There are some "facts" stated here that have subsequently been proven to be in error. Also, because his sources are not known, some statements are virtually impossible to verify. Regardless of its pitfalls, we are quite fortunate to have this early record of the Phend-Fisher families, and it certainly makes for an interesting story!
Because it is a rather long document this will be split into several posts. You can click on the "Phend-Fisher History" category at the bottom of this post to view other posts related to this topic. My comments follow each section of Clarence's text, which is indented and set within quotes. These people and events will be discussed in more detail in future posts.
To be continued. . .
There are some "facts" stated here that have subsequently been proven to be in error. Also, because his sources are not known, some statements are virtually impossible to verify. Regardless of its pitfalls, we are quite fortunate to have this early record of the Phend-Fisher families, and it certainly makes for an interesting story!
Because it is a rather long document this will be split into several posts. You can click on the "Phend-Fisher History" category at the bottom of this post to view other posts related to this topic. My comments follow each section of Clarence's text, which is indented and set within quotes. These people and events will be discussed in more detail in future posts.
Comments: Records from the Gsteig bei Interlaken Kirchenbuch, translated by Sonja Reid (a very distant relative) show that John Phend, the father of Jacob, was christened on January 18, 1782 and that "He is the illegitimate child of Catharina Fendt from Armuehli." There is no record of the name of his father, so we don't know the name of Jacob Phend's grandfather. The records show that John's mother, Catharina died April 13, 1797 and his Swiss Passport issued in 1832 gives his age as 50, so he would have been about 15 years old at the time his mother died."Through information gained from various sources it has been possible to trace the Phend family back to about the year of 1750 or 1760 and the Fisher family back to about 1790 or 1800. John Phend the 1st., grandfather of the deceased Jacob Phend (1st) was born about 1750 or 1760. The exact date and place of his birth are not known but it is believed that he lived and died in his native country - Switzerland."
"John Phend (2nd), son of the above mentioned John Phend ( 1st) and father of Jacob Phend (1st), is believed to have been born in the village of Wilderswed, Berne County, Switzerland; in the year of 1782. He was an orphan and was raised among strangers, and was not afforded the opportunity of securing an education."
"It is quite evident that he could not write his name as his mark appears on his passport where his written signature should be. He knew very little about his parents and seldom spoke about anything pertaining to his earlier life or childhood."Comments: After examining my copy the passport, I believe John Phend did write his name on that document. And, on the 1849 deed that records the sale of his land, his signature appears, not his mark. His wife Susanna, made her mark (X). John would have been 18 years old in 1800 so it is possible that he served in the French Army, but I don't know how I'd go about proving or disproving it.
"He served in the French Army for eight years and fought during the French revolution in 1800. At this time he was only 18 years old. During the war he was taken prisoner and when he was released at the end of six months imprisonment, he was so poor he could span his body with his hands."
"In the year of 1824, at the age of forty two years he married Susanna Kubla. To this union was born four children: John, Jacob, Barbara and Marguerite. John and Jacob were born in Switzerland and according to records kept by members of the Phend family, Barbara and Marguerite were born in Holmes County, Ohio after John and Susanna Phend had reached America."Comments: John would have been 42 years old when he and Susanna Kübla were married on January 23, 1824 but the records show that they had only two children, Jacob and an infant who was born two years earlier and died soon after birth. John, Barbara and Marguerite were children of his first wife Barbara Wys who died from complications during childbirth in December 1821.
"The passport issued to John Phend when he came to this country is still in existence and shows that he and his wife and four children sailed for America. One record pertaining to their voyage to America states that two of Susanna Kubla's sisters and three of her brothers sailed with them. This same record states that their two younger children, Barbara and Marguerite were born in the U.S. This part of the record does check with the passport."Comments: It is possible that Susanna Kubla's sisters and brothers sailed with the Phend family to America. I haven't found a passenger record for the Phend family yet so don't know what ship they sailed on. John Phend was traveling with "sa femme et quatre enfant" i.e. with his wife and four children. Clarence has confused one of the grandchildren of John Phend with one of his children. His daughter Marguerite, born in Switzerland, had a daughter named Margaret, born in Ohio. His daughter Barbara was born in Switzerland.
"Information on the passport shows that they were residents of Arhmule in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland; Switzerland being divided into Cantons just as the United States is divided into States. The passport was issued at Interlachen, Canton of Berne, Switzerland; on April 3, 1832 and shows the signatures of the proper officials as they passed thru from one Canton to another."Comments: Clarence's information ties in with my translation of the passport. Originally written in 1928, "present time" was nearly eighty years ago, He was referring to World War I.
"The description of John Phend as given in his passport shows that he was fifty years old, that he was a man of medium height, being five feet two inches tall; that he was a blond and had grey eyes and a small roman nose. This description does not tally very closely with the Phend descendants of today."
"The name of John Phend as it appears on the passport is spelled Jean B'hend, Jean being the French name for John. The passport reveals that it was their intention to go to America and make their home there, and that the port of debarkation was to be Baltimore, Maryland."
"They sailed from LeHavre, France on June 11, 1832. At the present time LeHavre is a city of about 160,000 inhabitants and no doubt was quite a large city at the time. It is situated at the mouth of the Seine River. The word Havre means harbor or haven. LeHavre has continued to be a haven all thru the years. We will recall that just a few short years ago it was a haven to thousands of our own young men who took part in the World War and who crossed the ocean in transports that sailed through the submarine infested waters along the shores of Europe."
"As the ship was nearing the American shore they encountered a severe storm that evidently drove them off their course to the north-ward and one record states that the boat was driven onto the rocks along the New Jersey shore. Records in regard to this incident are somewhat vague. Apparently some of the passengers went ashore at this point."Comments: Any actual record of these incidents and events has presumably been lost and whether or not they really happened is anybody's guess. I have been unable to locate any record for the B'hend/Phend family in the ship passenger lists for Baltimore or New York. Helen Rhoades Peil stated that she heard the stories of the shipwreck and journey thru Pennsylvania from Grandfather Jacob. Keep in mind that Jacob would have been only three years old when he came to the United States, but his father was still living in 1849 and could have passed these stories on to him.
"It is not known whether the boat was wrecked and the passengers taken aboard another ship or whether the ship proceeded under it's own power, neither does the record state whether or not John Phend and his family disembarked at this point."
"After studying the Atlantic coast line at this point and taking into consideration that they journeyed to Allentown, Pennsylvania and then on to Pittsburgh, one would be lead to believe that they did not land at Baltimore, Maryland."
"At the point where they went ashore they purchased a wagon in which to carry their luggage and the children. When everything was ready they set their faces westward and the four men and two women took turns at pulling the wagon to Allentown, Pennsylvania, a distance of perhaps seventy-five miles."
"At Allentown they secured a horse from some German friends that had come to America a short time previous to this and from here they journeyed on to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a distance of perhaps two hundred and fifty miles. With the assistance of a horse from Allentown to Pittsburgh they progressed much faster. However, the entire distance of about three hundred and fifty miles from the Atlantic coast to Pittsburgh, required about three weeks time."
"Here they stayed with friends and rested a short time before starting on their journey again. From Pittsburgh, their friends directed them to a settlement of their own people in Starke County, Ohio. To which place they journeyed and then set about in true pioneer fashion to make themselves a home."
To be continued. . .
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Michael and Christenia Fisher - Immigrant Ancestors
In previous posts I mentioned that the last of my ancestral lines to come to the United States, Phend and Wiseman, both came from Switzerland in 1832 and 1833, respectively. There is another family line that I forgot to mention at that time, Michael Fisher and his wife Christenia Houck, who came to the United States prior to 1840.
Sad to say, I've neglected the Fisher family since 1991 when they were included in a chapter of my book "The Phend Family: Some Ancestors and Descendants of Jacob and Louisa Fisher Phend". The topic of the upcoming Carnival of Genealogy "Family Myths, Legends, and Lore" got me to thinking about them again.
In 1928, Clarence Phend, grandson of Jacob and Louisa Fisher Phend through their son Christian, wrote the "Phend-Fisher Family History" which was a five page document recounting what he had been told and subsequently learned of the families. Although it contained several "tall tales" and many bits of misinformation, it was invaluable in my initial research, giving me clues regarding some names to look for as well as some clues on where to look for information.
According to Clarence:
Well, I still don't know where in Germany the Fisher family came from or when they came to the United States. It's something that I need to investigate a bit further. Michael Fisher is listed in the 1840 census in Paris Township, Stark County, Ohio. In December 1840, he purchased 62 acres of land, neighboring the Phend family, in Brown Township, Carroll County, Ohio. Other census records indicate that, Katherine, born about 1833 was their last child born in Germany and Sophia, born about 1836, was their first child born in Ohio.
Katherine was born about 1833 in Germany (she was 17 years old in 1850, and age 27 in 1860), but there really isn't any way, at least at this time and without further research, to determine if there was a problem with the ship they came over on. First I have to find the name of the ship and when they came!
The names of the children correlate to those named in the will of Michael Fisher. However, the children born in Ohio would probably have been born in either Stark or Carroll county.
On January 7, 1862 Solomon Fisher enlisted in Company "I", 48th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was living in Elkhart County, Indiana at that time. More research needs to be done to verify this but I have in my notes that Solomon died on September 19, 1862 at Iuka, Mississippi.
This is where some confusion comes in, and no wonder! The first statement is correct, Louisa Fisher did marry Jacob Phend. However, Caroline Fisher married Christian Ringenberg, they had seven children. Katherine Fisher married George M. Walter and they had six children. Sophia Fisher was married to William Foltz, they had one child that may have died young. About 1863-1864 both William Foltz and Katherine Fisher Walter both passed away. Sophia Fisher Foltz and George Walter were then married April 11, 1864 and they had five more children. I have some information on the Ringenberg/Rinkenberger and Walter children.
Samuel Fisher was found in Douglas County, Kansas where his marriage on November 25, 1867 to Lucretia Davis is recorded. Among those living in his household there in the 1870 census was "Alida Fisher" a weaver. Both Samuel and Alida were born in Ohio and their parents were both foreign born. I'm guessing that Alida was Samuel's sister Lydia. An undocumented record online shows that this Samuel A Fisher was born in Stark County, Ohio on February 24, 1840 and was the son of Christopher Fisher and Christine Houk. He died in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas on September 7, 1913 and his spouse was listed as Lacretia Amelia Davis. Although his father's name is given as Christopher, his mother's name matches other records. I still need to see if there is an obituary or death record for Samuel. I've found him in the 1880 federal census and the 1875, 1895 and 1905 Kansas state census records so do have some information on his children.
Twelve year old Rachel Fisher was enumerated with her mother and several other siblings in the 1850 census in Scott Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana but I haven't found a record of her marriage to John Harvey or any other information about her. Leah Fisher married William Ream and lived in Rochester, Indiana. They had eight children and I have found quite a bit of information on them, although I was unable to locate any living descendants in 1991.
Lydia Fisher may have lived for a while with her brother Samuel in Kansas, if she is the Alida listed with him in 1870, and if he is the "right" Samuel. About 1871 Lydia married Aaron Conroy. They have been located in federal census records for Pitkin, Gunnison County, Colorado in 1900, 1910 and 1920. In all three, she was listed as having been born in Ohio and her parents were both born in Germany. Census records also indicate that she may have had one or two children but no children are enumerated with them in the census records found for them.
Michael Fisher signed his will on March 19, 1845 and it was brought before the court of Carroll County, Ohio on April 21, 1845. Michael named his wife Christenia and his nine children Louisa, Caroline, Catherine, Sophia, Rachael, Samuel, Leah, Solomon, and Lydia. The oldest child, Louisa, was 15 years old and census records indicate that the youngest, Lydia, was born in March 1845 - she would have only been a few weeks old when her father died.
In 1850, Christina Fisher was listed as head of household in Scott township, Kosciusko County, Indiana. Living with her were Catherine, Sophia, Rachael, Samuel, and Lydia. Eight year old Leah Fisher was enumerated with Jacob and Louisa Phend in Taylor Township, Greene County, in southern Indiana near his half-sister Barbara Phend Feutz. I have not found a record of Christina's marriage to Peter Smith or, for that matter, any record of her beyond the 1850 census.
Once I get my information on these families a bit more organized and do some additional research, I'll be posting more about the Fisher family. It sure would be nice to make contact with some descendants, hopefully they would have more information than I have on Michael and Christenia!
Sad to say, I've neglected the Fisher family since 1991 when they were included in a chapter of my book "The Phend Family: Some Ancestors and Descendants of Jacob and Louisa Fisher Phend". The topic of the upcoming Carnival of Genealogy "Family Myths, Legends, and Lore" got me to thinking about them again.
In 1928, Clarence Phend, grandson of Jacob and Louisa Fisher Phend through their son Christian, wrote the "Phend-Fisher Family History" which was a five page document recounting what he had been told and subsequently learned of the families. Although it contained several "tall tales" and many bits of misinformation, it was invaluable in my initial research, giving me clues regarding some names to look for as well as some clues on where to look for information.
According to Clarence:
"Michael and Christenia Fisher were residents of Weimen Ligen, Germany, and sailed for America with three children in the year of 1832. It was thought by some that perhaps these people sailed on the same boat on which John Phend and Susanna Kubla Phend came to America. However, some of the older members of the Phend and Fisher families claim that these families did not sail together."
Well, I still don't know where in Germany the Fisher family came from or when they came to the United States. It's something that I need to investigate a bit further. Michael Fisher is listed in the 1840 census in Paris Township, Stark County, Ohio. In December 1840, he purchased 62 acres of land, neighboring the Phend family, in Brown Township, Carroll County, Ohio. Other census records indicate that, Katherine, born about 1833 was their last child born in Germany and Sophia, born about 1836, was their first child born in Ohio.
"A little incident that took place while these people were crossing the ocean has been related by some of the descendants. The ship on which they were sailing to America began to leak and the passengers were transferred to another ship that came to their rescue. At this time Katherine Fisher was six months old and had been placed in a basket on the ship and as the excited passengers were being transferred to the rescue ship, someone placed the basket near the edge of the ship. In the confusion and excitement one of the passengers bumped into the basket. Just as it was about to topple over the edge someone saw what was happening and grasped the basket just in the niche of time."
Katherine was born about 1833 in Germany (she was 17 years old in 1850, and age 27 in 1860), but there really isn't any way, at least at this time and without further research, to determine if there was a problem with the ship they came over on. First I have to find the name of the ship and when they came!
"There are nine children, seven girls and two boys in the Fisher family: Louisa, Caroline, Katherine, Samuel, Sophia, Rachael, Solomon, Leah and Lydia. The three older children,Louisa, Caroline and Katherine, were born in Germany and the others were born in America in Holmes County, Ohio."
The names of the children correlate to those named in the will of Michael Fisher. However, the children born in Ohio would probably have been born in either Stark or Carroll county.
"Very little is known about Michael and Christenia Fisher's children. Solomon Fisher never married and was killed during the Civil War. Records do not give any of the details in regard to his death."
On January 7, 1862 Solomon Fisher enlisted in Company "I", 48th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was living in Elkhart County, Indiana at that time. More research needs to be done to verify this but I have in my notes that Solomon died on September 19, 1862 at Iuka, Mississippi.
"Louisa Fisher married Jacob Phend (1st) on August 28, 1848. Caroline Fisher was married to George M. Walters. Sophia Fisher married William Foltz and then after the deaths of her husband, William, and her sister, Katherine, she married her brother-in-law George M. Walters."
This is where some confusion comes in, and no wonder! The first statement is correct, Louisa Fisher did marry Jacob Phend. However, Caroline Fisher married Christian Ringenberg, they had seven children. Katherine Fisher married George M. Walter and they had six children. Sophia Fisher was married to William Foltz, they had one child that may have died young. About 1863-1864 both William Foltz and Katherine Fisher Walter both passed away. Sophia Fisher Foltz and George Walter were then married April 11, 1864 and they had five more children. I have some information on the Ringenberg/Rinkenberger and Walter children.
"The records of Samuel, Rachael, Leah and Lydia Fisher are very incomplete. Samuel Fisher visited friends here at the reunion of the Phend-Fisher families several years ago. His home had been at Lawrence, Kansas for many years but apparently he died in California at the home of a relative or one of his children."
Samuel Fisher was found in Douglas County, Kansas where his marriage on November 25, 1867 to Lucretia Davis is recorded. Among those living in his household there in the 1870 census was "Alida Fisher" a weaver. Both Samuel and Alida were born in Ohio and their parents were both foreign born. I'm guessing that Alida was Samuel's sister Lydia. An undocumented record online shows that this Samuel A Fisher was born in Stark County, Ohio on February 24, 1840 and was the son of Christopher Fisher and Christine Houk. He died in Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas on September 7, 1913 and his spouse was listed as Lacretia Amelia Davis. Although his father's name is given as Christopher, his mother's name matches other records. I still need to see if there is an obituary or death record for Samuel. I've found him in the 1880 federal census and the 1875, 1895 and 1905 Kansas state census records so do have some information on his children.
"Rachel married John Harvey. Leah married John Reams and lived at Rochester, Indiana. Lydia married a Mr. Conroy and lived at Pitkin, Colorado. There were no children in this family except an adopted daughter of whom we have lost all trace."
Twelve year old Rachel Fisher was enumerated with her mother and several other siblings in the 1850 census in Scott Township, Kosciusko County, Indiana but I haven't found a record of her marriage to John Harvey or any other information about her. Leah Fisher married William Ream and lived in Rochester, Indiana. They had eight children and I have found quite a bit of information on them, although I was unable to locate any living descendants in 1991.
Lydia Fisher may have lived for a while with her brother Samuel in Kansas, if she is the Alida listed with him in 1870, and if he is the "right" Samuel. About 1871 Lydia married Aaron Conroy. They have been located in federal census records for Pitkin, Gunnison County, Colorado in 1900, 1910 and 1920. In all three, she was listed as having been born in Ohio and her parents were both born in Germany. Census records also indicate that she may have had one or two children but no children are enumerated with them in the census records found for them.
"Michael Fisher evidently died and was buried in the state of Ohio, and after Jacob Phend moved to Marshall County. Indiana, Christenia Fisher moved from Ohio and made her home with Jacob and Louisa Phend near Hepton, Indiana. After the death of her husband she married Peter Smith, but there were no descendants by her second marriage."
Michael Fisher signed his will on March 19, 1845 and it was brought before the court of Carroll County, Ohio on April 21, 1845. Michael named his wife Christenia and his nine children Louisa, Caroline, Catherine, Sophia, Rachael, Samuel, Leah, Solomon, and Lydia. The oldest child, Louisa, was 15 years old and census records indicate that the youngest, Lydia, was born in March 1845 - she would have only been a few weeks old when her father died.
In 1850, Christina Fisher was listed as head of household in Scott township, Kosciusko County, Indiana. Living with her were Catherine, Sophia, Rachael, Samuel, and Lydia. Eight year old Leah Fisher was enumerated with Jacob and Louisa Phend in Taylor Township, Greene County, in southern Indiana near his half-sister Barbara Phend Feutz. I have not found a record of Christina's marriage to Peter Smith or, for that matter, any record of her beyond the 1850 census.
Once I get my information on these families a bit more organized and do some additional research, I'll be posting more about the Fisher family. It sure would be nice to make contact with some descendants, hopefully they would have more information than I have on Michael and Christenia!