We met another Janson ☺

Early in April, a bunch of Jansons sat down together and talked family ☺.  It was great fun, and I'm sorry it's taken me this long to post about it, but I knew I'd need to do a little research first.
Part of the fun was the WHO part of it: Tom, Glenn, Bev, Gary, Bob and me.   Bob is a descendant of Johannes Janson, the cousin and traveling companion of Josef Janson on their trip to America in 1883.  He first emailed about the ship our two families arrived on, the Zeeland.  That was December 2014.  So, how does he connect specifically?  His mom was Bette, the daughter of Sophie (Janson) and Nick Daniel.  Sophie, of course, was Johannes & Marie's daughter.
(The rest of us at the meeting were descendants of Joseph's via Sebastian and Anton, but you knew that, right?)

Bob's been doing research into his family that connects to Joseph and Franziska, too, so he's read this blog to see if we have any family stories in common.  One, of course, is How They Left Germany .  Bob questioned it!
Now, Larry and I've found a few dubious stories over the years we've been researching the family, but usually there's something true in a story, even if it's not the WHOLE truth.  However, it sounds like mom's story of 4 adults and 10 kids leaving by night in a rowboat was only true in that they did leave Germany together.
According to Bob's research, they left by...train.
Still, I think I heard the story once, not over and over.  I don't know how old I was, but I recall being thrilled imagining the romance and danger of the river, with dark woods and towering castled promontories along the way and towns that needed avoiding.  Of course it stuck in my head.  In reality, they had to leave because 9 of those 10 kids were boys, and subject to the draft in a few short years.  I imagine tales of America's opportunities were pretty irresistible, too.

Another fascinating question we discovered is this strange photo.  Bob couldn't figure out how it fit with other pics of the John Janson house--it's configured totally wrong to be that house, and yet, the people in the photo are definitely John and Maria and four of their adult kids.  Gary picked it up and recognized the house he grew up in, before the porch was added.  The windows and door configuration, the lean-to on the back (right side, which was gone by the time we knew it; only the cement slab was left, remember?)  So, if the two families were at odds after John moved 4 miles south, why were they sitting here?  Certainly, the original cabin on this spot was long gone, so it couldn't have been nostalgia. (By the look of John & Marie, it was around the time of their 50th wedding anniversary).
It's another cool mystery for us to ponder ☺ **

** Hmm, going thru Pierz Journal clippings today (May 1), I found this puzzling auction bill, from 1921: it was published just days after Reinhard was born.  There was a follow-up note in the paper saying that Anton Janson got good prices for his stuff at the auction (they said that about all the auctions, but it means that the event was actually held).  Since Reinhard, Mom and Loretta grew up in that house, and Reinhard's family after them, what was grandpa doing having an auction?? Still, it might have been an opportunity for John's family to walk around in the yard, then.  OR...did they stop at the farm when they knew Joe and Franziska were not home?  Wow, that's possible, too.

We may never know.....

Here's Bob, by the way--5th adult from the left--white hair and glasses. 

 ☺

THANKS for traveling to Minnesota, Bob.

Meeting you was interesting & fun!

How we're related to the Pennsylvania Jansons

Okay!  Cousin Eileen Wood sent photos and a lovely narrative of her part of the Janson family history.  Knowing your attention span and the fact that "begats" can get overwhelming, I'll break it up into chapters, with pictures.

The ancestor we have in common with Eileen is Georg Valentin Janson (1773), who, with his wife Eva Reissfelder (1781) were the parents of Valentine (1812), below, and younger brother Johannes (1803).  This Johannes was my great great grandfather (mom, Anton, Joseph, Johannes).
I suspect that there were many letters sent back to Balzfeld about what America had to offer.

Here's the first part of what Eileen sent.  I messed with it a little for clarity ☺

"As with the Minnesota Jansons, the Janson family that immigrated to Pennsylvania were also from Horrenberg/Balzfeld, Germany.

Johann Valentin Janson (“Valentine”) was born May 26, 1812 in Horrenberg.  He married Katharina Duerk (“Catherine”) on April 27, 1845 in Balzfeld. Valentine was the son of Georgius Valentinus Janson and Eva Catharina Reissfelder.  Catherine was the daughter of Johann Valentin Durk and Maria Franziska Sauer.   Valentine and Catherine had four children while they lived in Germany: Gertraud Janson, Katharina (“Catherine”), Maria Eva Janson and Joseph Janson.
Valentine Janson immigrated by himself to the United States in 1853.

In October 1854 the rest of Valentine’s family immigrated to the United States. Catherine Duerk Janson traveled aboard the SS William Tell with her daughters Gertraud, Catherine and Maria Eva and son Joseph. They departed from LeHavre, France and arrived in at Castle Garden, New York on October 23, 1854. Ellis Island was not open yet but the immigration record is on the Castle Garden website.

According to the 1880 United States Census Valentine Janson was a laborer/farmer. Lancaster County in the 1850’s would have had a lot more farmland than it does today so it would make a good location. It is situated along the Susquehanna River so it would be easy to transport crops/goods. Columbia was also a transportation center with a number of mills: steel, lace, silk, and other products.

As of yet, I do not know a lot about Valentine and Catherine Janson except what I know about their children.

After arriving in the United States, Valentine and Catherine Janson had three more children:  Frank Janson, Valentine Janson, and Martha Mary Janson.

Valentine Janson died on October 9, 1881 in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery (Tenth and Manor Streets) in Columbia. Upon his death, Catherine Durek Janson lived with her daughter Catherine Janson Kasel and her family until her death on January 20,
1904. She was laid to rest alongside her husband Valentine at Holy Trinity Cemetery.

While the Minnesota Jansons settled there because of Father Pierz, I believe that the Pennsylvania Jansons may have chosen Columbia in part because of Father William Pieper. Father Pieper hailed from Germany also and was the Priest at the German Catholic Church in Columbia,  (Holy Trinity). The other Catholic Church was St. Peter’s. St. Peter parishioners were primarily Irish. My Dad’s side of the family went to St. Peter’s, my Mom’s went to Holy Trinity. Father Pieper was the second Priest at Holy Trinity. He was responsible for purchasing land for its cemetery.
Prior to 1865, all Catholics were buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Klinesville, just outside of Columbia. Father Pieper also saw a need for a parochial school. Holy Trinity School opened in 1865.

Valentine and Catherine Janson’s oldest daughter was Gertraud (“Gertrude”) Janson. She was born on March 1, 1846 in Horrenberg. She died in 1868 in Pennsylvania (probably Columbia). I am still trying to get information about her. Death Certificates were not required statewide in Pennsylvania until 1906.
For that reason, it is more challenging to research people who passed away before 1906.
Maria Eva Janson was the third daughter of Valentine and Catherine. She was born on October 6, 1849 in Horrenberg. She died on August 6, 1914 from "heart exhaustion". Contributory cause of death was cancer of the uterus, bladder and intestines.
Katharina (“Catherine”) Janson was the second daughter of Valentine and Catherine Janson. She was born on February 20, 1848 in Horrenberg. This is my 2X Great Grandmother. Catherine married Frank P. Kasel from Prussia at Holy Trinity Church on October 22, 1870. Frank immigrated to the United States in
1866. Father Pieper performed the ceremony.

Frank and Catherine Janson Kasel had eight children: Mary Catherine Kasel, Joseph Kasel, Edward Kasel, Frank Valentine Kasel, Edmund Joseph Kasel, Catherine A. Kasel, William Charles Kasel, and Ada Genevieve (“Genevieve) Kasel.
Mary Catherine Kasel was the oldest of the Kasel children. She was my maternal Great Grandmother. Mary Catherine was born on Christmas Day 1871. She was married to William Pieper Weisser (Pieper after Father Pieper I think) on October 26, 1898 at Holy Trinity. The Weisser family originated in Talheim, Germany. Mary Catherine and William had six children: Catherine A. Weisser Watson, William Bartholomew Weisser, Edmund Joseph Weisser, Mary Elizabeth Weisser Charles, Swidbert E. Weisser, Sr. and Gertrude Weisser. Gertrude Weisser became Sister Mary Bernard, O. S. F. when she took her vows. My Uncle Bernard Weisser was named in her honor.
Mary Catherine Kasel Weisser passed away on February 16, 1936 in Columbia. She was buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery. She died of endo______ malignancy. I could not decipher the Doctor’s writing on her Death Certificate. Secondary cause of death was listed as abdominal tumor.
The youngest of the Kasel children was Ada A. Genevieve Kasel (they called her Genevieve). She was born on August 14, 1892 in Columbia. She died on February 7, 1919 from influenza. This was at the time of the influenza pandemic. She was buried at Holy Trinity Cemetery on February 10, 1919.

Tragically, Catherine Kasel Janson died on February 10, 1919. The VERY day that her youngest daughter Genevieve was laid to rest. She died of vascular disease of the heart according to her death certificate. I feel as though she was grieving so much that her heart just gave out. She did have a previous history of heart disease. (Tragically, her husband) Frank P. Kasel also died in 1919. Before I read the Death Certificates for Catherine, Frank and Genevieve I had already felt a sense of tragedy involved.  Frank died on March 31, 1919. His cause of death is also listed as vascular disease of the heart. I feel that his condition probably deteriorated after the death of his youngest daughter and that of his wife of more than 40 years".

So that's the family background. The photos Eileen sent are mostly of the sons born to Valentine and Catherine here in the US, and what became of them.  I'm building a little anticipation here. Stay tuned!

Visiting Balzfeld in the 1950s

Here's something I've had in "My Pictures" file for about a month, since I met Diana on Facebook.  She lives in Balzfeld/Horrenburg, Germany--the villages that our Jansons left in 1883.  She found "Janson" online then connected on FB--isn't the world amazing these days?  Diana posted about it  on "Heimatdorf BALZFELD"and a friend of hers names Ute posted this stunning photo.  She said too that younger woman in the pic has a daughter, Irene, who still lives in Balzfeld.

Anyway, if the man on the steps was a Janson from America...he might have been one of John's sons, or Stefan's (who settled in Michigan) or Daniel who settled in Rice, Minnesota, because he's not Wendelin,  Sebastian, Eugene or Grandpa Anton.  Still, I'm thrilled someone went back to Balzfeld. 

Do you recognize the gentleman? The woman on the right reminds me of Grandpa Jansons' sisters Rose and Frances (both of whom were born in Minnesota). 

THANK YOU to Diana and Ute!

Postcards from Balzfeld & Dielheim

"Greetings from Dielheim at Heidelberg"

"Greetings from Balzfeld"

(Found online by our fav researcher ☺)

Another Janson heard from

Remember the post last week about Joe Janson?  I e-mailed him, he answered, and forwarded the e-mail to his brother, Tom....who (duh) lives within 10 miles of my house.  Tom said he's collected lots of Janson history over the last few years.  In fact, "Some years ago, Glenn and I stayed with relatives in Horrenburg, and visited the church in which our grandfathers were baptized and our great grandparents were married. We also ate at the restaurant our great, great, great grandfather, Georg, owned and sold to pay legal fees. He sold it to a fellow named, Knopf. Knopf's great, great, great grandson, Walter Knopf, still owns the restaurant (Der Wildenman--The Wild Man)".  (Glenn is Tom's cousin, son of Sebastian's son Joeseph).

"The Janson cousins (Kai and Lars) gave me a family book of Horrenburg/Deilheim, with a fantastic family tree of all the town families, including the Jansons and the Fuchs (Franziska). The house is still called the Fuchs house and we met the lady who now lives in it. The fellow who wrote the book is a guy named Ronellenfitch"...Cool!  There are Ronellenfitchs in our tree (as well as in Buckman).  With any luck, Tom, Glenn and I'll get together soon to compare notes.  Hooray!

The IGI (International Genealogical Index)

Jansons and Fuchs came from a town called Balzfeld, in the municipality of Deilheim, district of Rhein-Nekkar in Karlsrhue County, in the state of Baden-Wurttemburg, Germany...., and, they were Roman Catholic (RK).
HERE'S the LINK to the beginning of theGerman IGI; since I posted this, they've updated  and streamlined it.  If you use Chrome, it'll translate automatically (if you've set it that way).  If not, type Balzfeld in the "suchen" box.  You'll get a page with Balzfeld listed 4 times for different eras.  Click the blue links in the second last column for the lists of names.

These are church records from a Catholic town, so the lists includes pretty much every family who had a wedding or kids in those years.  It's fun to scroll thru them and see all the names you recognize from Buckman and central Minnesota, as well as from the Janson family tree--Epp, Ronellenfitch, Janson, Brentzinger, Froehlich, Greulich, Fuchs, Knopf-- families who lived there for generations, but who finally decided to leave for America, so we could have a better life, not to mention more choice of whom to marry.