Monday, January 27, 2025

Challenge

          My challenge is Henry (Heinrich) Reisner/Reissner.  I briefly alluded to this ancestor in last week’s post.  And I have written about him in a previous blog entry.  I am trying to find out who his parents were.

Here is what I know – Henry was born 19 Sept 1814 in Poppengrun (Naila/Doebra region), Bavaria.  Parent names are unknown.  He married Maria Margaret Haueisen in Poppengrun circa 1847.  He emigrated to New York in 1848.  Rented a farm in Stoughton, Dane Co, Wisconsin.  In 1859 the family moved to Fayette Co, Iowa (lived in either West Union or Clermont).  He purchased the farm in Iowa in 1864.  Henry died on the 19th of Dec 1891 in West Union, Fayette Co, Iowa.  His wife, Maria, died the 23 Oct 1912 in West Union.  They had 10 children starting in 1850 and ending in 1871.

I have the following census records – both State and Federal for Henry.

·      1855 Dunkirk, Dane Co, WI

o  H Risner (2 Male & 1 Female)

o  All foreign birth

o  Lived next door to a John Risner & a female (foreign birth for both).

·      1860 Township of W. Union, Fayette Co, IA

o  H., Mary, Ch., E., M., and Geo. Risner

o  First 3 were born in Germany, the rest in Iowa

·      1870 West Union Township, Fayette Co, IA

o  Henry, Mary, Christian, Elizabeth, Margart, George, James, Susan, Henry, Lewis, and Mary Reisner

o  Henry & Mary were born in Bavaria, next four born in Wisconsin, rest in Iowa.

o  Henry is a citizen of the USA

·      1880 West Union Twp, Fayette Co, IA

o  Henry, Mary, George, James, Susanna, Henry F, Louis, Mary, and Louisa Reisner

o  Henry & Mary were born in Bavaria.  George in Wisconsin, rest in Iowa.

·      1885 West Union Township, Fayette Co, IA

o  Henry, Mary, James, Susan, Mary, Louis, Henry and Louisa

o  Henry & Mary were born in Germany, the rest in Fayette Co, IA.

o  Henry & James were entitled to vote.

o  James, Louis, & Henry (son) were subject to military duty.

o  Son, George, has his own entry indicating he was born in Wisconsin, subject to military duty, and eligible to vote.

·      1900 Union Township, Fayette Co, IA

o  James Reisner and his family are listed with him being born in Iowa.  Owns farm (mortgaged).

o  Louis A Reisner and his family are listed along with his mother (Mary) and sister (Louisa M).  Louis & Louisa are shown being born in Iowa.  Mary as being born in Germany.  She immigrated in 1852.  She had 10 children (8 are now living) and she is a widow. Louis owns his farm free.

·      1910 Union Township, Fayette Co, IA

o  Louis Reisner and his family are listed along with his mother (Mary) and sister (Louisa M). Louis & Louisa are shown being born in Iowa.  Mary as being born in Germany.  She immigrated in 1852.

o  James Reisner and his family are listed with him being born in Iowa.  Owns farm (mortgaged).

Other documents I have include

·      1892 West Union, Fayette C, IA Farmers Directory

o  Lists an Adam Reisner, Henry Reisner, H. Reisner Jr, and Geo. Risner.

·      Naturalization Index Card for Henry Risner

o  Certificate no Rec. #2 pg 89

o  Dist. Court Fayette Co, West Union, IA

o  Country of birth or allegiance:  Bavaria

o  Date of Naturalization:  October 29, 1860

 

        I have not been able to locate church records in Wisconsin or in Bavaria for online research.  I would like to obtain his naturalization documents in the hope that it will contain additional information.

Monday, January 20, 2025

Overlooked

            There are a lot of ancestors that I have “overlooked”.  Yet, I’m trying to methodically work through my tree by doing a “go-over”.  I’m making sure I have the right documents to back up the information.

Unfortunately, it seems I start over every year and don’t get very far.  Yet, if I really look back over the past year, I have done quite well.

I started with my maiden name.  I worked back to my immigrant.  Then I worked on my immigrant’s wife’s family until I was able to verify her parents’ names.


Now, I’m working on my paternal great grandmother’s parents.  I know their names, but I don’t know their parents’ names.  DNA analysis is the tool I’m using now.  Although, I will eventually need to locate church records either in Wisconsin or in Bavaria.

So, you can say that I am overlooking my mother’s family tree.  However, I will eventually start working on them again.  Especially, once I finish determining the blank spots on my paternal 3x great grandparents.

Monday, January 6, 2025

Favorite Photo - my Grandfather, Edward William Kludt


             
Last year I talked about family reunions and the photos from them.
  About 12 years ago, I inherited a lot of photos from my aunt, Lois Haynes (she was my dad’s sister).  I’ve recently been looking at them.  I really liked the photos of my grandfather, her Dad.

What a dapper of a man!  I don’t think I’ve ever seen him all dressed up.  He was usually dressed in his work clothes.  Papa worked for Weyerhaeuser in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington – as a mechanic and as a foreman on constructing logging roads.

He also spent a lot of time helping his family – either on their farm or clam digging.  He loved being with his family – whether it was his own children or his grandchildren.