(Matrilineal Monday is a weekly prompt from Geneabloggers that encourages bloggers to write about an individual female ancestor or a female ancestor's lineage.)
So far in my blog, I've talked mostly about ancestors about whom I have a decent amount of information. Today, however, I'm writing about a woman and her family about whom I have little information. Helena Janning Bernhold is one of my husband's paternal ggg-grandmothers. According to her birth certificate (see below), she was born September 8, 1841 in Ohio and she passed away January 13, 1910 in or near Minster, Ohio (Jackson Twp, Auglaize County).
So far in my blog, I've talked mostly about ancestors about whom I have a decent amount of information. Today, however, I'm writing about a woman and her family about whom I have little information. Helena Janning Bernhold is one of my husband's paternal ggg-grandmothers. According to her birth certificate (see below), she was born September 8, 1841 in Ohio and she passed away January 13, 1910 in or near Minster, Ohio (Jackson Twp, Auglaize County).
Helena 'Lena' Janning Bernhold Death Certificate
According to the 1900 U.S. Census, she married Frederich ('Fred' or 'Fritz') Bernhold in 1855 or 1856. (I have not yet been able to find a marriage record.) They had 12 children, only 7 of whom were still living at the turn of the century. Her death certificate and the 1900 census form say that she was born in Ohio, yet in the 1860 and 1880 census schedules she is listed as being born in Germany. Grrrr....
1900 U.S. Census, Frederich and Helena Bernhold and family.
Her death certificate also mentions that her father's name was Bernard. There is a record of a 'Bernard Johning," age 53, in Auglaize County in the 1850 U.S. Census. He is listed with his wife Catherine and one daughter named 'Lena,' who is listed as being ten years old. It says he and his wife were born in Germany, but that their daughter was born in Ohio. I am pretty confident that this IS the Janning family I am interested in. I have also found an index of people buried in the "Old Section" of St. Augustine's Cemetery in Minster, Ohio. In this index, there is a record of a Bernard Janning who was born in 1796 and who died January 5, 1851. This date of death would explain why I am unable to find him in any future census schedules, although I have not located an actual record of his death (yet). This 1860 census schedule lists a 60-year old "Catherine Bernholt" living with Frederich and Lena and their young daughters, Catherine and Mary. Even though the surname is incorrect, I'm pretty sure this is the widowed Mrs. Janning: the age matches, Frederich's mom was not named Catherine (and I found her elsewhere in this census, anyway), and older widows usually went to live with family members in this period.
Needless to say, I still have many questions about this particular branch of my husband's tree. When did Bernard and Catherine immigrate to America? Where in Germany were they from? Were they married in Germany or Ohio? What was Catherine's maiden name? Did they have any other children besides Helena - if those children were grown, did they immigrate to America as well or did they stay in Germany? When did Catherine die and where is she buried?
The best chance I have of answering (some of) these questions definitely requires a trip to Minster, Ohio to look through St. Augustine Church's records. Then, I could really find whether Helena was born in Ohio or Germany and I could look for a marriage record for Catherine and Bernard. It's not a short drive from where I live in Indiana, and it would take some planning, but maybe someday.
(How do the Bernholds and Jannings fit into hubby's family tree? Frederich and Helena (Janning) Bernhold are the parents of Anna Bernhold, who married Joseph Schroeder in 1887.)
Needless to say, I still have many questions about this particular branch of my husband's tree. When did Bernard and Catherine immigrate to America? Where in Germany were they from? Were they married in Germany or Ohio? What was Catherine's maiden name? Did they have any other children besides Helena - if those children were grown, did they immigrate to America as well or did they stay in Germany? When did Catherine die and where is she buried?
The best chance I have of answering (some of) these questions definitely requires a trip to Minster, Ohio to look through St. Augustine Church's records. Then, I could really find whether Helena was born in Ohio or Germany and I could look for a marriage record for Catherine and Bernard. It's not a short drive from where I live in Indiana, and it would take some planning, but maybe someday.
(How do the Bernholds and Jannings fit into hubby's family tree? Frederich and Helena (Janning) Bernhold are the parents of Anna Bernhold, who married Joseph Schroeder in 1887.)
