Declaration of Intent of Henry Menke

Becoming a US citizen in the 1860's involved three different documents: the Declaration of Intent, the Petition and the Certificate. I have found the Declaration of Intent for Henry Menke, still searching for the others.

Here's a quick explanaton of the process from the National Archives website  (https://www.archives.gov/research/naturalization/naturalization.html):

General Rule: The Two-Step Process

Congress passed the first law regulating naturalization in 1790 (1 Stat. 103). As a general rule, naturalization was a two-step process that took a minimum of 5 years. After residing in the United States for 2 years, an alien could file a "declaration of intent" (so-called "first papers") to become a citizen. After 3 additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization." After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the alien. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court. As a general rule, the "declaration of intent" generally contains more genealogically useful information than the "petition." The "declaration" may include the alien's month and year (or possibly the exact date) of immigration into the United States.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                      State of Ohio, Scioto County, SS

I, <Henry Menke>, do declare on oath, that

it is bona fide my intention to become a citizen of the United States,

and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign

Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly

to <The King of Hanover>

Sworn to, and subscribed in open Court, this <Seventh> day of 

<October>, A. D. 18<65>.     <signature of Henry Menke>

<J. C. Seuel>, Probate Judge, S. C.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                 State of Ohio, Scioto County, SS

Be it remembered, that on the <7> day of <October>

A. D. 18<65>, <Henry Menke>, a free white person

an alien and native of <Hanover> , personally appeared

in open Court before me, <J. C. Seuel>, Probate Judge,

in and for said county, and declared on his solemn oath, that he

first arrived in the United States in the month of <September>

A. D. 18<59>, and that it is his bona fide intention to become a

citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance to

every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and

particularly to <The King of Hanover>.

                                <signature of Henry Menke>

Signed and declared in open Court, the day and year above written.

                                 <J. C. Seuel>, Probate Judge. S. C.

The King of Hanover in 1865 was George Fredrick Alexander Charles Ernest, son of Ernest Augustus. George V, as he was known, was the last King of Hanover.

There are several Henry Menke's who immigrated from Germany, but comparing this signature from the top form

to the signature years later from Henry Menke's will, I feel pretty sure it's the same Henry Menke.

A Prequel: Henry & Mary Menke's Family

Mary, first wife of my Second Great Grandfather Henry Menke (1832-1915), was born in Germany about 1835, and died at about 30 years old. They lived in Scioto County, Ohio. Her last name is either Niemeyer or Neuhaus, I've seen it both ways and more. Had she not died so young, I would not be here. Henry's second wife Eliza is my Second Great Grandmother.

In a biography published about Henry in "The History of Gage County, Nebraska" by Hugh J. Dobbs, it says he "wedded Miss Mary Niemeyer of Ohio, she having been born in Germany...".  That biography was published in 1918, over 50 years after her death.  In Henry's obituary which was in 1915, she is called "Maria Neuhaus" and it says they had five children. I only know of four.

In an article from the Portsmouth (Ohio) Daily Times also written in 1915, about Henry and Mary's son John Frederick (1859-1938), it says "He was born in Hanover, Germany, the son of Henry Menke, a farmer, who is still living in Gales [should be Gage] county, Nebraska, at the ripe old age of 82 years.  His mother, Mrs. Emma Niehaus-Menke, died when he was seven years old.  He was only 3 months old when his parents started for this country and six months old when they landed in Baltimore, having been on the ocean for 11 weeks and 3 days."  According to this, they should appear in immigration records in 1859, but I can't find them. John Frederick's obituary in 1938 refers to his mother as Mary Niehaus.

Mary died six years later in 1866, most likely in Scioto County. I've read that there was a cholera epidemic there about this time.  It's also possible that she died giving birth to the fifth child I'm missing, and the child died also. I've never been able to find an obituary or burial place for this Mary Menke (there are others). 


Daughter Emma (1857-1929) the oldest child of Henry & Mary, was about 10 years old when her mother died.  She was born in 1857 and given the name Mary Ellen, but always went by Emma. In the 1870 census at age 13, she is not living with Henry, his second wife Eliza and the rest of the family. Several years ago I corresponded with a descendant of Johann Friedrick Menke (1817-1879) & Anna Maria Klara Richter (1816-1891), who she said had "adopted Maria Emma Menke born April 23, 1857 in Hanover.  She was a daughter of a Wilhelm and a sister to Fred Menke, the grocer.  Emma married January 17, 1875 to William Warner."  Whether or not the adoption was actually an official one or not, I don't know. Johann Friedrick is too young to be Henry's father, but possibly could be a brother. This marriage certificate for Emma and William Warner is dated January 17, 1875, and it has Henry Menke as her father.  

from Ohio County Marriages at Family Search

Emma and William had nine children: Essie, Ella, Jesse, Carl, Pearl, Jacob, John Fredrick, Mayme and William. They later divorced.  Emma died in June, 1929 several months after suffering burns when her clothes caught fire from a gas stove.  She was 73 and is buried in Long Run Cemetery, along with John Friedrick & Anna Maria Klara Menke.

Henry & Mary's son John Frederick was a grocer in Portsmouth, Ohio for over 33 years. From an article in the Portsmouth Daily Times (June 6, 1915) about his successful grocery business:  "Mr. Menke prides himself upon one thing, and that is that he never sold on Sundays during his 33 years in business, with one single exception and that was the one Sunday during the 1913 flood.  He recalls with much pleasure that one day he refused one of his best customers a can of peaches which she wanted to buy on Sunday after unexpectedly receiving company.  He expected her to quit, but a few days later, to his great surprise, she called around and assured him that she thought more of him than ever.  This all goes to bear out the fact that a "grocer does not have to sell on Sundays," says Mr. Menke." 

from the Portsmouth Daily Times, September 21, 1915

But first he was a school teacher in Gage County, Nebraska in 1880. Apparently he soon went back to Ohio. In 1881, he married Anna Strehle and they had seven children: Emma, Ruth, Katie, Clara Nellie, Floyd H, Carl F, and Howard Emmanuel. I don't know if these children ever saw their Grandfather Henry since he lived in Nebraska, but J F did get to his father's funeral in Clatonia.




Henry & Mary's son Henry Jr (1862-1912) became a Presbyterian Pastor. He died in Michigan in 1912. I've written about Henry Jr before, which you can read here. I didn't include this obituary last time.

Click to enlarge

"Rev. Henry Menke
The sad intelligence has been received in this city of the death of Rev. Henry Menke, a brother of Grocer J. F. Menke.  Death overtook the former Scioto countian at a hotel at Cassopolis, Mich., according to a message received by the Menke family, but failed to give the immediate cause of his death.
Mr. Menke visited his brother in this city during the month of August.  Being an ordained minister of the Presbyterian church, while in attendance at the United Brethren church in this city, he delivered several interesting talks.
The deceased was 51 years of age and unmarried.  Besides his brother, J. F. Menke, the local grocer, he is survived by an aged father, located at Friend, Nebr.  Mr. Menke left immediately for Cassopolis, to take charge of the remains and to convey them to the former home of the deceased at Friend, Nebr. 
Rev. Menke a number of years ago, was located in Scioto county and Lawrence county.  During the later months of his life he suffered with stomach trouble.  Only recently he underwent an operation for appendicitis.  It is thought that the death was the outcome of the operation."  Portsmouth Daily Times, Wed., Sept. 4, 1912

Henry & Mary's daughter Mary Elizabeth (1864-1924) went by "Lizzie". Born in Ohio, she was married to John Scheidt in Saline County, Nebraska, on January 1, 1885. Her mother Mary's maiden name is "unknown" on this license (top portion not shown). Lizzie & John Scheidt had six children: Emma, Carrie, Ellen A, John, George and Eddie. Lizzie & John are laid to rest in the Andrew Cemetery in Friend, Nebraska.

Saline County, Nebraska Marriage record

My Relationship to:

Henry Menke: Second Great Grandfather

The lineage:
1. My Great Grandfather Charles Albert Menke
2. My Grandpa
3. My Dad
4. Me

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Most Census Records for an Ancestor

“Saturday Night Genealogy Fun”  is a feature of Randy Seaver’s Genea-Musings blog.  I’m participating in this week’s challenge, which is:

"1) Do you know which of your ancestors appears the most times in the Federal Census records?  How many years?  Are there duplicate entries?

2)  Describe that ancestor’s entries in the records in a blog post of your own, in a comment to this blog post, or on Facebook or Goggle+." 

Without a doubt, my ancestor listed the most times in the Federal Census was Eliza (Knapp) Menke, who lived to be 102 years old.  I’ve found her in every Federal census from 1850 to 1940.

1850 – District #133, Vernon Township, Scioto County, Ohio.  The household is listed as: (Head) Henry Knapp, age 44, Laborer; (Mother) Caroline, age 37; (son) Fredrick, age 14; (son) Lewis, age 9; (daughter) Eliza, age 7; (son) Henry, age 8; (daughter) Mary.  On the next page but included in this household was Wendel Stop, age 30, Laborer.   All of these people were born in Germany except the youngest – Mary.

1860 – Elizabeth Township, Lawrence County, Ohio.   The household (Dwelling #1546, Family #1505) is listed as:  (Head) Henry, age 52, Miner, Personal Estate $800, born in Hanover, can’t read or write; (Mother) Caroline, age 47, born Hanover, can’t read or write; (son) Lewis, age 19, occupation is difficult to read,  born Hanover; (daughter) Louisa, age 17, Servant, born Hanover; (son) Henry, age 14, born Hanover; (daughter) Mary, age 11, born Hanover; (daughter) Hannah, age 9, born Ohio; (son) August, age 7, born Ohio; (son) George, age 3, born Ohio.

1870 – Decatur Township, Lawrence County, Ohio.  Dwelling #161, Family #158.  Listed as:  (Head) Mink, Henry, age 34, Iron ore miner, born Hanover, Citizen; (Mother) Eliza, age 27, born Hanover; (son) John, age 11, born Ohio; (son) Henry, age 8, born Ohio; (daughter) Elizabeth, age 6, born Ohio; (daughter) Caroline, age 2, born Ohio; (daughter) Mary, age 8/12, born Ohio.  Everyone’s parents were both of foreign birth.  Both parents are able to read and write.  The children are not marked as attending school, but on the entire census page there are no marks that I can see under that column.

1880 – Clatonia, Gage County, Nebraska.  Family #96;  The household is listed as:  (Head) Menke, Henry, age 47, Farmer, born Prussia;  (Mother) Louise, age 38, born Prussia; (son) Fredrick, age 21, school teacher, born Prussia; (son) Henry, age 18, Farmer, born Ohio; (daughter) Caroline, age 12, born Ohio; (daughter) Mary, age 10, born Ohio; (daughter) Mathilda, age 8, born Ohio; (daughter) Katherine, age 6, born Ohio; (daughter) Luise, age 2, born Ohio; (daughter) Rosa, age 1, born Ohio.  Almost everyone on this census page has a mark under the columns “Cannot Read” and “Cannot Write”, but I think the enumerator crossed off the “not” part of “Cannot”.   Caroline, Mary and Mathilda attended school.

1890 – If this Federal census record existed it should show Eliza still married to Henry Menke, living in Clatonia, Nebraska, with three more children – George Edward, age 9; Nettie, age 7; and Charles Albert, age 4.

1900 – Clatonia, Gage County, Nebraska.  Dwelling #109, Family #110.  (Head) Henry Menke, born DEC, 1832; age 67, married 33 years, born Germany, Immigrated in 1859, 41 years in US, Farmer, can read & write, Owns Farm mortgage free, Farm #114; (Mother) Lisa, born MAY 1843, age 57, 8 children, 7 living, born Germany, Immigrated in 1859, 41 years in US, can read & write; (daughter) Rosa, born JAN 1879, age 21, single, born Ohio; (son) Edward, born APR 1881, age 19, single, born Nebraska; (daughter) Nettie, born APR 1883, age 17, single, born Nebraska; (son) Albert, born NOV 1887, age 12, born Nebraska.  Ancestry has this family’s last name indexed as “Schenke”.

1910 – Clatonia, Gage County, Nebraska.  Dwelling #122, Family #124.  The household is listed as:  (Head) Menke, Henry, age 77, married twice, 43 years, born Germany, Immigrated in 1853, Naturalized, able to read and write, Owns house;  (Wife) Eliza, age 67, married once, 43 years, 11 children, 8 living, born Germany.  Their youngest son, Albert is living next door to them.

1920 – Clatonia, Gage County, Nebraska.  Dwelling #124, Family #127.  (Head) C Albert Menke, Rents, age 33, parents born Germany, Farmer; (Wife) Charlotte I, age 32, parents born New York; (son) Harold W, age 12; (son) Victor L, age 10; (son) Willis H, age 8; (son) Cecil H, age 7; (daughter) Elsie A, age 5; (son) Raymond E, age 4; (son) Kenneth K, age 2; (daughter) Irene I, age 4/12; Louise K, Mother, age 78, Widow, Immigrated 1860, Naturalized 1865, born Germany; Albert C Wayman, Boarder, age 23, single.  Everyone other than Louise was born in Nebraska. 

1930 – Clatonia, Gage County, Nebraska.  Dwelling #15, Family #15.  (Head) Eliza Menke, Owns farm, lives on farm, age 87, Widow, married at 24, able to read and write, Immigrated in 1865.  She is living alone.  Ancestry has her indexed as “Manke”.

1940 – Clatonia, Gage County, Nebraska.  Household #19, Owns, Value of home $1000, lives on farm, (Head) Eliza Menke, age 98, Widow, highest grade of school is 0, born Ohio, unable to work, received income of $50 or more from sources other than money wages or salary.; (daughter) Eliza Kiene, age 62, Divorced, highest grade of school is 8^th, born Ohio, doing Home work, received income of $50 or more from sources other than money wages or salary. 

I get 9 not counting the non-existent 1890 census.  Eliza stayed on her farm until about 1942 and died in the Anna Rohe Nursing home in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1944.

Newspaper Clippings - Portsmouth, Ohio 1892

I requested the obituary for my 4th Great Grandfather, Henry Knapp, from the Portsmouth Public Library and they returned this page with a short paragraph announcing his death.  The librarian neglected to give me the exact date of this paper.  Henry Knapp died on January 15, 1892, so this is from a date soon after that.  Here is just a little news from some communities in southern Ohio and northern Kentucky.

Portsmouth Daily Times, January, 1892

Column 1

POWELLSVILLE 

(Correspondence of the Times.)

POWELLSVILLE, Jan. 18. - After a long silence we once more take up our pen to chronicle a few items of interest for the readers of the TIMES.

With feelings akin to sorrow we note the death of one of our most respected citizens, Henry Knapp, Sr.  He was 86 years of age.  He died Friday and was buried Sunday.  His wife is very sick at this writing. and it is not likely that she will survive him long.

The remains of William Adams were brought here for burial.  His life terminated by accident.  He fell into a coal shaft at Wellston.  The distance was eighty feet.  He lived about three hours after the accident.

Albert Hudson, son of A. J. Hudson, had an accident last Thursday morning, which terminated better than such accidents usually do.  He was handling a shot gun carelessly, when the gun was discharged close to his left shoulder, but fortunately he was injured very little.  He had a very narrow escape, and he was taught a lesson which he will not soon forget, and that is to be careful in the use and handling of fire arms.  Never point a gun or pistol, loaded or unloaded at yourself or anybody else.  This rule followed out will dispense with nearly all of the accidents, which are continually happening where fire arms are used.

Miss Kate Lanthorn is visiting friends and relatives near Wheelersburg.

The grip is still raging in this vicinity.  It attacks everybody and respects no one.

Peter Gliem's child died of scarlet fever, and was buried last Friday.

Hartman Ressinger's residence will soon be ready for him.  He will move shortly.

The magic lantern failed to put in an appearance at the Pine Creek school house last Wednesday night, but we don't think the people were much disappointed.

There has been the heaviest sleet in this vicinity that has ever been known.  It has destroyed many fruit trees by breaking them down.

Agents for the creamery at Wheelersburg were seen on our streets the other day soliciting our citizens to take stock.  We are unable to inform your readers whether they were successful or not.

If you want to hear something you never heard of before; if you want to learn something important that you can not find in books of any kind; if you want to hear new measures discussed to the fullest extent; if you want to find the place where free speech has not been infringed upon; if you want to be informed upon all kinds of topics, go to the postoffice of an evening and you will get your money's worth, and we will insure you that you will not be disappointed.

There is plenty of sickness in our neighborhood, and the doctor has been very busy for the last month.

RUGBY

Handsome Versus Homely

Who is that fine looking lady that we just passed, Clara?  Why, that is Mrs. Snow.  Well, there, what a change when I saw her last, her skin was so sallow and muddy looking it's no wonder I don't know her.  What has produced that lovely complexion?  I heard that she took Sulphur Bitters, the great Blood Purifier, and now would not be without them.

If you want to enjoy your meals strengthen your digestion with Simmons Liver Regulater.

Column 2 (unfortunately not the beginning of this paragraph)

p.m. at the home of the bride, the happy couple were pronounced man and wife by Rev. Wm. Evans.  The wedding was quiet, except a serenade that was given them the night of their marriage.  There were but a few invited guests, and they were the nearest relatives of the bride and groom.  Even some of the nearest neighbors knew nothing of the wedding until they heard the bells and tin horns of the serenaders.  The correspondent wishes them success and prosperity.

We hear that James Coughlin, of Augusta, and Miss Lizzie Fannin, of Vanceburg, formerly teacher of the Tannery school, were married one day last week at Vanceburg.

RAMBLER

SLASH BRANCH, KY

(Correspondence of the Times)

Once more after some time we find ourselves engaged in the pleasant and fascinating occupation of writing to the dear old TIMES.  Chippewa is still alive and able to push the pencil after having a dreadful tough spell of the grip, and is still rusticating among the rocky and vine clad hills of North-eastern Kentucky.

There is considerable sickness in our community at the present writing, mostly la grippe and pneumonia fever.

Our old friend Mordecai Walker has been seriously ill of pneumonia, but at the present writing is improving.

One of my friends read an advertisement in some cheap paper, and it read about so:  Send us so much money and give us your express office and we will send you an elegant parlor set.  Our friend was so amazed at this offer that he jumped at the chance and thought that he was going to get a bonanza.  My dear readers, he did catch one in the shape of a doll set.

We have but one wedding to announce this week, but when age and experience are taken into consideration, this one is as good as a half dozen ordinary marriages.  It claps the climax.  The contracting parties were Abraham Logan, of Leatherwood, and Mrs. Anna Boster, of near Greenup, groom being 77 years old, the bride 64.  We hope that their latter days may be their best.

Argentum has one more citizen in the person of William Souders, who moved from South Portsmouth.

Thomas Winters picked up his grip, not la grip, and departed for Ashland, one day last week.

Mrs. Sarah Rawlings, whose illness we mentioned heretofore, we are sorry to state is no better.

Miss Alice Royal was the guest of her sister, Mrs. James Walker, last Sunday.

James McCormick and family spent New Years with home folks at Argentum.

CHIPPEWA.

GLOBE, KY

We noticed Jad Reeves of Ashland, here one day last week.

Rev. Craycraft is building an addition  to his home.

Mrs. Annie Morgan, of Lucasville, is visiting her father and other relatives. 

The members of the L. H. Lodge would be pleased to see their old leader, Rev. Craycraft, in their midst again.  If it were not by request, we would not insert the above, cause he al'ers gets huffy at the sight of his name in the good old TIMES.

T. E. Pugh, an old time pedagogue of Coal Branch, was here on business last week.

Sherman Hannahs, last of Cincinnati, attended church here Sunday.

The latest event of any note was the hop given by Wm. Craycraft.  It was a success in every respect and enjoyed by all. 

SMILAX.

Take Simmons Liver Regulator for dyspepsis, billousness or headache.

Column 3

Jas. M. Lemaster, the popular track walker, says his paper does not come regularly.  He likes the paper, and does not wish to lose a copy.

Charles H. McAllister, at one time a section foreman on this road but who has been in Montana for the past four years, has returned to his old love.  He is at present at Olive Hill, awaiting something to turn up.  "Once a Kentuckian, always a Kentuckian."

Miss Maud Robbins, of Olive Hill, is visiting her aunt, Mrs. Dr. Williams.

Miss Lida Shay, one of Rowan county's bright young lady teachers, spent Sunday at home with her mother.

Henry Fielding, section foreman, has been repairing the switch at this place.

W. L. Hudgins, the drummer, stopped over Sunday with his father-in-law, W. H. Griffey and family.

F. M. G.

SOUTH WEBSTER

(Correspondence of the Times)

Quite a number of folks from this place were in your city shopping last Saturday.

There is a good deal of sickness in this vicinity, and our physicians are going almost constantly.

Edward Canter, boss at the W. F. B. Co's yard, is sick with the grip.

Mr. and Mrs. Jake Heisel gave the young folks a social at their residence last Saturday evening.  Quite an enjoyable time was experienced by all present, including some of our married men, who think that people never grow too old to have a little fun occasionally.

W. E. Tripp, the B. and O. S. W. operator, is on the grip list.

P. E. Cross, an operator on the C. and O. Ry., is visiting friends and relatives here.

The teachers of the M. E. Sunday school have organized a teachers' meeting for every Sabbath evening at 5:30 for the study of the lesson for the succeeding Sabbath.  All who are interested in the good and welfare of the Sabbath school are cordially invited to attend.

ROVER

Irontonian:  Portsmouth may make all the fun she wants to about our contemplated electric street railway, but we will get there just the same.  People who are of a jealous nature will generally kick at others' prosperity.....The Iron and Steel Furnace closed down today permanently, and there is no prospect of its renewing operations in the near future.  The company were just making expenses, but they, however, decided to close down.  This will throw several men out of employment, besides being quite a loss to the city.

A Little Girl's Experience in a Lighthouse.

Mr. and Mrs. Loren Trescott are keepers of the government lighthouse at Sand Beach, Mich., and are blessed with a daughter, four years old.  Last April she was taken down with measles, followed with a dreadful cough and turning into a fever.  Doctors at home and at Detroit treated her, but in vain; she grew worse rapidly, until she was a mere "handful of bones."  Then she tried Dr. King's New Discovery and after the use of two and a half bottles, was completely cured.  They say Dr King's New Discovery is worth its weight in gold, yet you may get a trial bottle free at Fisher & Streich's drug store.

Ask for Portsmouth beer.  It is the best in the city.  Always fresh and cool from the cellars.     tf

Don't experiment with your health.  You may be sure of the quality of your medicine, even if you have to take much of your food upon trust.  Ask your druggist for Ayer's Sarsaparilla, and no other.  It is the standard blood purifier, the most effectual and economical.

Column 4

M. F. Andrew, formerly of Monroe township, this county, lately of Newport, Ky., has been elected principal of schools at Cheviot, Hamilton county, Ohio - Circleville Watchman.

Martin Moran, a young resident of Athens, was killed on the Toledo division of the C. H. O. & T. Railway on Monday, having only recently entered the employ of the road as a brakeman.

A movement is on foot to reorganize the Athens Water Wheel and Machine company with a view of working it to its full capacity, which if accomplished would give employment to at least 50 or 60 men and probably in a short time to a much larger number.

Pomeroy Tribune:  Capt. William Kirker, who is now at his home on Lincoln Hill, is rapidly improving, and it is expected that he will be able to be around in a few weeks.  The report that he had a stroke of paralysis was not true; it was an attack of the grip.  Capt. Sam Bryant is filling Capt. Kirker's place on the Telegraph.

John P. Eagan, coroner of Franklin county, and his sister, Miss Mary Eagan, both died of malignant diphtheria, at their home in Columbus, last Friday night, only four hours intervening.  Mr. Eagan contracted the disease through contact with diphtheretic corpses, which he prepared for burial as an undertaker.

After spending a great deal of money, time and patience, the Excelsior Salt company, of Pomeroy has concluded that the use of fuel gas cannot be made a success.  The plant will be torn out and the old way, the use of coal, will be resorted to.  It is reported, however, that the experiment will be resumed some time in the future.

Hamden Enterprise:  Ed. Summers, brakeman on the B. and O. S. W., (Portsmouth division) had his hand pinched while attempting to make a coupling in the yards at Wellston, last Saturday evening.  Dr. W. S. Hoy, who dressed the hand, says he will be able to save all of the fingers.  The unfortunate young man is a brother of Conductor Charley Summers.

The Jackson Herald says:  Mrs. John Hull met with a serious and painful accident at her home in Bloomfield township, on Monday of last week.  Going out of the house on a stone pavement, which was covered with a light sheet of snow, she slipped and fell, breaking one of her limbs.  Many friends sympathize with the estimable lady in her sad accident.

A few days ago two men went to the house of L. Depriest, near Waterloo, Lawrence county, and driving out his two children, who were alone in the house, set fire to the building, which with its contents was burned to the ground.  The men were strangers in the neighborhood, and after watching the fire for a time, departed toward Jackson.  The two children, one a girl of sixteen, though driven away from the place, were not otherwise harmed.

Children Cry for Pitcher's Castoria.

Henry Knapp family of Powellsville, Ohio

Heinrich Knapp was born on Christmas Day in 1805 in Germany.  About 1846, he brought his family to America, settling in southern Ohio.  Heinrich, or Henry as he became in America, worked in the ore digging and mining industry.   By 1850 he was in Vernon Township, Scioto County, and by 1860 in Elizabeth Township, Lawrence County where his family remained for many years.  He died January 15, 1892 at age 86 in Powellsville, Ohio and is buried in St John's Lutheran Church Cemetery.  This short paragraph ran in the Portsmouth Daily Times on January 23, 1892.  Ancestry has several years of the Portsmouth Daily Times, but not for the year 1892.  The Portsmouth Public Library emailed me the page this was on, but they didn't find an obituary or death notice for Caroline. 

Caroline Schukky was born December 17, 1813 in Hanover, Germany.  She was the mother of 8 children.  She died on September 4, 1895 at age 81, and is buried beside her husband.

Heinrich and Caroline were married March 8, 1839 in Germany.  Their children were:

Friedrich Knapp was born on January 1, 1837 in Germany.  Friedrich married Elizabeth (last name unknown).  They had seven children:  George, Anna, Caroline, William, John, Henry and Mary.  Friedrich died at only 44 years old on November 20, 1881 in Ohio.  

Louis Knapp was born in Hanover, Germany on September 8, 1840.  Louis followed his father into the Ore business.  There is a nice biography of him in "The History of Scioto County" written by Nelson Evans.  On January 25, 1865, he married Mary Fitzsimmons, at Empire Furnace, Ohio.  They were the parents of seven children:  Lizzie, May, Anna, Joseph, Charles, Ruby and James.  In August, 1882 he married Hannah Fitzer and they had 2 sons, John and Oliver.  Louis died in Cook County, Illinois on May 7, 1923 at age 82. 

Elizabeth "Eliza" Knapp, my Great Great Grandmother, came into this world on May 15, 1841 in Wurttemberg, Germany.   She married Henry Menke on January 13, 1865 in Scioto County, Ohio.  She was the mother of 11 children:  Caroline, John, Mary, Matilde, Katherina, Eliza, Rosa, Edward, Nettie, Charles and Lewis.  Eliza lived to be 102 years old, dying in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 2, 1944.  She was survived by 30 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. 

Henry Ernst Christian Knapp was born on September 22, 1845 in Hanover, Germany.  His first marriage was to Catherine Elizabeth Hobstettler with whom he had 10 children.  Catherine died in 1894 and Henry married Mrs. Elizabeth Mehl in 1896.  Henry's children were:  Adam, Fred, Henry, Callie, Charles, John, Jacob, George and 2 more whose names I can't read because of a smudge in the newspaper with his obituary.  There is a nice family photo on Henry's findagrave memorial here. 

Mary Knapp shared a birthday with her brother Henry on September 22, born three years later in 1848.  She was the first child in the family born in the United States.  She was married to John W. Boggs on October 17, 1871 in Ohio.  They moved to Nebraska sometime before 1881.  Nine children were born to them:  Charles, George, Albert, Caroline, Rosa, Elizabeth, Walter, Jennie and Emma.  Mary died in Tobias, Nebraska on March 28, 1930 having reached 81 years old.  She was survived by 27 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. 

Hannah Charlotte Knapp was born March 23, 1849 in Clinton Furnace, Scioto County. She married Conrad Smith on February 6, 1869 in Lawrence County.  About 1893 they moved to Nebraska, joining her two sisters already there.  Their 11 children were:  Caroline, Frederick, Henry, Anna, John, Mary, Elizabeth, William, George, Carl and Viola.  Hannah died on September 5, 1928 in Garden County, Nebraska at age 79.  She was survived by 53 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.  

August Knapp was born March 21, 1852 in Ohio and was deceased by 1921.  

George D. Knapp was born August 28, 1857 in Ohio.  George was married to Elizabeth Schmidt.   He died on December 20, 1921 in Empire Furnace, Ohio.  He was 64 years old.

I want to find the German marriage record for Henry & Caroline, and birth records for their children.  Also any immigration record for the family.  I would like to get to Portsmouth, Ohio someday to do some work there and see the area where Henry Knapp's family once lived.

A few years ago I corresponded with a granddaughter of Hannah Smith and shared information with her.  It would be great to hear from another descendant of Henry & Caroline Knapp.

Sunday's Obituary - George Knapp

"George Knapp

The death summons came very suddenly to George Knapp of Empire Furnace, Lawrence county, just beyond Powellsville this morning about 5:30 o'clock.  He arose as usual and had been out to feed the cattle when he returned to his home and seated himself on a chair.  In a few seconds he expired, death being caused by a sudden attack of heart trouble.

Undertaker Frank McCurdy of Wheelersburg who was called, notified the Lawrence county coroner that death was caused by heart trouble, so that the coroner would not have to make the trip to Empire Furnace.  Mr. Knapp was about 65 years of age.  He had been a farmer in the Empire Furnace community for a number of years and was well known in that section.  

He is survived by his widow and two nephews, George and John Knapp at Empire Furnace.  Henry Knapp of Powellsville and Louis Knapp of Chicago are brothers and a sister in the West also survive."   from the Portsmouth Daily Times, December 20, 1921 

Actually, George was survived by three sisters "in the West", Hannah Smith, Mary Boggs and Eliza Menke, all in Nebraska.  It seems he and his wife may not have had any children.  

Sibling Saturday - Henry Menke Jr

Several of my direct ancestors' siblings never married or some did but didn't have children.  They have no direct descendants.  I want to give them their 15 minutes here once in a while on Sibling Saturdays.  

First Henry Menke Jr. Actually he was a half brother to my Great Grandfather Charles Albert Menke.  Henry's mother died near Portsmouth, Ohio when he was about 4.  I knew that Henry became a preacher, but I didn't know where he had gone after 1880 when he was 18 and still living in Clatonia.  

I thank Ancestry for having the Portsmouth Daily Times included in their newspaper database.  I also curse Ancestry for not having that database accessible through the Library Edition.  I’m not a subscriber, just a registered user at Ancestry.  Searching that database at home for the name MENKE gave me a few hits, but all I could see was a few lines of text and the date.  The date!  

The Portsmouth Public library, for a reasonable fee, was kind enough to send me the articles I was able to request because I had the date.  That’s how I found out what happened to Henry Menke, Jr.  (His brother, John Frederick, also had his name in the paper often and I also got a few articles about him!)

Learning that he died in Cassopolis, Michigan, I contacted the Cass District Library.  They sent me his obituary and 2 clippings from 3 different newspapers.  They also sent me a copy of the death register listing and small copy of a photo of the Presbyterian Church in Cassopolis.  Kudos to the people at the Cass District Library in Cassopolis! 

From the Cassopolis Vigilant, Sept. 5, 1912:  "He had been pastor of the Presbyterian church here for more than a year past, and was highly esteemed, not only by the members of his congregation but by the public generally for his scholarly attainments and earnest Christian character."

Census records show him in Carter County, Missouri in 1900 and Cherokee County, Iowa in 1910.  Has anyone else noticed that the celebrities on "Who Do You Think You Are?" all seem to follow the same script?  I mean every one of them says "I've learned that my X Great...", and "I'm curious to know..." and "I want to find out..." and "I'm hoping to...".  Of course the details change.  Well, here I go.  I'm curious to know where Henry went to school or seminary.  I want to find out where all he preached.  I'm hoping to score a photo of him! 

Henry never married.  He died unexpectedly September 2, 1912 at age 50 in his room in the Hotel Goodwin.  Official cause of death was peritonitis from gall bladder infection. Some time before that he had had surgery in the Presbyterian hospital in Chicago for appendicitis.  He had lived in Ohio, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa and Michigan.  A preacher, not real estate novelist, who never had time for a wife --- (freely stolen from Billy Joel's Piano Man if it sounds familiar.)

Eliza (Knapp) Menke - Lived 102 years

Lived 102 years, 8 months, 17 days
Had 11 children, 5 died before her, 2 of those were infants
Survived by 6 children, 30 grandchildren 23 great-granchildren and 1 great-great grandchild 
Born May 15,1841 in Wurttemberg, Germany
Age 4 came to America
Age 26 married Henry Menke
Age 27 had her first child
Age 38 moved from Ohio to Nebraska
Age 45 had her last child
Age 74 widowed
Died  February 2, 1944 at the Anna Rohe nursing home in Lincoln.

How does someone live that long?!

Eliza's parents were Heinrich Knapp and Caroline Schukky.  She grew up in the area of Portsmouth, Ohio.  They were with a United Brethren church there, her parents are buried in St John's Lutheran Church cemetery.  She had brothers Frederick, Lewis, Henry, August and George and sisters Mary and Hannah.  Both of her sisters moved to Nebraska also and lived near her around Clatonia for several years.  Hannah married Conrad Smith and Mary married John Boggs. I've just interrupted myself writing this post by spending a couple of hours finding Mary & John Boggs in census records.  I haven't checked on her brothers, but that can wait, I want to get this finished.  I wonder how often she saw her parents after she moved to Nebraska.  They lived another 10 plus years after that.  How expensive was it to travel by train? 

Eliza married Henry Menke on January 13, 1867 in Portsmouth, Ohio and immediately became a mother to 4 children ages 2 to 11.  Henry & Eliza and their family traveled by boat on the Ohio river to Cincinnati and then took a train to Atchison, Kansas, then probably went by wagon to Clatonia, Nebraska in the spring of 1879.  If they homesteaded their land, there would have been nothing there when they arrived.  Nevertheless, it became her Tara.  She lived there well into her 90's.  As God as her witness, she never went hungry!  

She was known for her beautiful flower gardens, extensive vegetable gardens and orchards.  She had the first mechanical chick incubator and brooder and she was the earliest operator of a sorghum mill in her part of the country.  In her obituary it said "She led a life of feverish activity.  How she held up under the strain, doubtless puzzled many."

The Beatrice Times for Women, Feb. 16, 1944 included this poem in her obituary, "in the words of Rozelle Montgomery:
You are not dead - Life has but set you free!  
You have but passed beyond where we can see.  
For us who know you, dread of age is past!  
You took life, tiptoe, to the very last; 
It never lost for you it's lovely look; 
You kept your interest in its thrilling book; 
To you Death came no conqueror; 
in the end - you merely smiled to greet another friend" 

I have a picture of her, but I scanned it from a book and I probably can't post it here.  It's very grainy anyway, I don't know how to photoshop.  

So, what was her secret to long life?  Was it her strong faith?  Was it because she kept busy and was always interested in new things?  She must have had a low stress level.  At any rate, she kept breathing for 102 years!