Frederick Burkhard (26) traveled aboard the Duchess D'Orleans from Le Harve, France and arrived in New York on 22 Apr 1843. With him were his wife Attilia (25) and children Michael (12), Johannes (10), Marie (8), and Georg (2). Also traveling on the Duchess D'Orleans was the family of Jacob Singer. Both families settled in Monroe County, Ohio and raised large families.
In 1850, 44 year old German-born farmer Frederick Burkhart lived in Malaga Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio with his wife Ottelia (42) and children Michael (19), John (17), Magdelain (15), George (11), Barbara (8), Ottelia (7), Eleoner (5), David (2), and Joseph (2 mos). None of the children attended school. Frederick's farm was valued at $1800. Adjacent households in the census belonged to (Johann) Peter Horn (Haren) and Peter Demuth.
In 1870, Frederick and Otilia Burkhart owned a farm worth owned a farm worth $3767 in Malaga Twp. (near Woodsfield), Monroe County, Ohio. Living with them were their sons Joseph (20) and Adam (17). Frederick's personal possessions were valued at $1100. Their daughter, Helena Burkhart Poulton, lived nearby; and daughter Magdelena Burkhart Reischman lived next door.
According to Monroe County death records, Frederick Burkhart was a widower at the time of his death.
Will of Frederick Burkhard, deceased
The Probate Court, Monroe County, Ohio.
Be it remembered, that on the 19th day of Nov., A.D. 1894, an instrument
of writing purporting to be the last Will of Frederick Burkhard, late of
Malaga Township, in this county, deceased, was produced in open Court
for Probate, and it is now ordered that said Will be filed, and that due notice
thereof, and of the application to admit the same to probate and record, be
given, in writing, - there being no widow, - to all the next of kin of the testator,
resident of the State of Ohio, five days prior thereto, that said application will
be for hearing before this Court, on the 27th day of Nov., A.D. 1894, at 10
o'clock, A.M.
And afterward, on said 27th day of Nov., A.D. 1894, it appearing to the Court,
that due notice of the filing of said Will, and of the application to admit the same
to probate and record, has been give to all the next of kin of this testator, resident
of this State, pursuant to a former order of this Court. Thereupon, came Samuel
(Groux)* and Alex Hardesty, the subscribing witnesses to said will, who were
duly sworn and examined according to law, and their testimony, being reduced
to writing was by them subscribed, and filed. Which said Will and Testimony
are as follows to wit:
By the name of the Benevolent Father of All: I Frederick Burkhart of Miltonburg
Monroe County State of Ohio, do make and publish this my last will and testament:
Item 1st. I give and devise to my daughter, Barbara Poulton the sum of four hundred
& ten dollars ($410.00)
Item 2nd I give and devise to Magdelena Reishman my daughter the sum of three
hundred and forty five dollars ($345.00)
Item 3rd I give and devise to my daughter (Olitla)* Wahl the sum of three hundred
& forty five dollars ($345.00)
Item 4th I give and devise to my son John G. Burkhart, the sum of four hundred
& nine dollars ($409.00)
Item 5th I give and devise to my son David Burkhart the sum of one thousand
dollars ($1000.00)
Item 6th I give and devise to my son Michell Burkhart the sum of three hundred
and eighty three dollars ($383.00)
Item 7th give and devise to my son Joseph Burkhart the sum of three hundred and
eighty three dollars ($383.00)
Item 8th I give and devise to my daughter Ella Poulton the sum of two hundred dollars
($200.00)
Item 9th (Unable to read part **********) Frederick Burkhart three hundred and ten
dollars ($310.00)
Item 10th I give and devise to my son George F. Burkhart the sum of Nine hundred
dollars ($900.00)
Item 11th If any property real or personal is left after the above requests are paid,
and my debts and funeral expenses are paid, then the remainder to be equally divided
amongst my above ten named children:
Item 12th I do appoint and nominate George Wahl executer and administrator of this
my last will and testament.
I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made:
In testimony hereof, I have hereunto, set my hand and seal, this 29th day of
August 1888. (unreadable signature but definitely German)
Signed and acknowledged by said Frederick Burkhart, as his last will and testament,
in our presence, and signed by us in his presence.
Saul Groux
Alex Hardesty
Will of Frederick Burkhard, deceased
Sources conflict on date of birth:
20 Mar 1809 -- Anderson
20 Nov 1809 -- Hartley
The informant for the death certificate of 34 year old widow Matilda Burkhart Froehlich was her mother, Barbara Baker.
In 1900, George (38) and Elizabeth (30) Burkhardt owned a mortgaged farm in Malaga Twp. Monroe County, Ohio with their five children, Edward J. (9), Frederick A. (7), Lawrence (5), Sylvester J. (3), and Mary R. (5 mos). According to the census, Frederick and Lawrence attended school for 7 months during the previous year, but Edward did not. This may be an error on the part of the census-taker... it would have been extremely unusual for a 5 year old to attend school. The census taker may have written the "school" data on the wrong line.
According to his death certificate, George Burkhart was a at the Athens State Hospital for only 4 days prior to his death. Information for the death certificate was acquired from his "probation papers." (Most of the information -- date of birth, parents names -- was missing from the death certificate.)
Records conflict on year of birth:
. 1865 -- Linda Kay Anderson
. 1868 -- Delores Snider, 1870 census
. 1870 -- 1900 censusAccording to the 1900 census, Elizabeth Burkhart had given birth to five children, all of whom were living.
Edward J. Burkhart served in World War I. At one point, he was missing for several days. Details from "Ohio Military Men" are as follows:
Name: Edward J. Burkhart Serial Number: 3532224 Race: W
Residence: R. F. D. 3, Woodsfield, O. Enlistment Division: National Army
Enlistment Location: Woodsfield, O. Enlistment Date: 22 Jul 1918
Birth Place: Monroe Co, O. Birth Date / Age: 22 May 1891
Assigns Comment: 158 Depot Brigade to 12 Aug 1918; Co C 334 Infantry to 9 Oct 1918; Co L 16 Infantry to Discharge Private Meuse-Argonne. American Expeditionary Forces 15 Sept 1918 to 2 Sept 1919.
Honorable discharge 24 Sept 1919.In 1920, Edward Burkhart (28) lived on the family farm in Malaga Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio with four of his siblings: Lawrence (24, head of household), Sylvester (22), Mary (20), and Clara (14). Edward never married.
Researcher Charlie Burkhardt points out that there seems to be little doubt that Michael Burkhart married Rose Caroline Smithberger. However, there are two schools of thought on the parents of Michael B. Burkhart.
1) He is the SON of Frederick J. Burkhart - b. 25 Mar 1807
2) He is the GRANDSON, of Frederick J. Burkhart - b. 25 Mar 1807
CHILD George Michael Burkhart - b. 25 Feb 1831
GRANDCHILD Michael B. Burkhart - b. 31 Aug 1866Charlie Burkhardt presents overwhelming evidence that #1 is not correct. Included among his data are:
1) Age Difference - as though a generation is missing
2) Tombstone of Michael Burkhart (1831-1908) & wife, Otilia Zwick (1835-1907)
3) Death Record of Michael Burkhart in 1900
4) 1900 Census for Rosa Caroline (Smithberger) Burkhart, as a widowed head of household.The research that states Michael B. Burkhart is the son of Frederick Burkhart can all be traced back to a single source..."A History of the Smithberger Family in America 1840 - 1982" by Ralph Smithberger and John Vinton Kasler. The book does not cite sources, but it appears that the authors concluded incorrectly that (George) Michael Burkhart married Rosa Caroline Smithberger. Evidence presented by Charlie Burkhardt strongly suggests that the son of George Michael Burkhart -- Michael B. Burkhart -- is the man who married Rosa Caroline Smithberger.
Monroe County death records list the following:
Burkhart, Michael B 1900 Mar 23 (M) 33 6 23 Malaga Malaga Malaga
Fa: Michael Burkhart
Mo: Tilda ZwickBirthdate calculated from Monroe County death record is 31 Aug 1866. Other sources (Ralph Smithberger) state that the birthdate is 23 Oct 1966.
In 1900, 29 year old widow Rosa Buurkhardt owned a farm in Malaga Twp., Monroe County, Ohio. The census-taker visited her home on June 9th, 1900... Rose's husband and infant son had died less than two mmonths earlier. Rosa lived with her two surviving sons, Clarence (Clemence?) (5) and Herman (3), and her unmarried brother, Michael Smithberger (18). Simon Burkhart (relationship unknown) lived next door.
Rosa Burkhart's obituary was published in the Zanesville Signal on 6 Oct 1951:
WOODSFIELD -- Mrs. Rosa Burkhart, 83, died at her home in
Woodsfield Friday morning. Surviving is a son, Herman Burkhart.
The body was removed to the Schumacher funeral home where
the rosary will be recited at 8 o'clock Sunday evening.
Funeral services will be conducted at 9 o'clock Monday morning
in the St. Sylvester Catholic Church with Rev. Father Robert Brown
officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
In 1930, John W. Brubach (55) and his wife Rosa K. (53) owned a farm in Malaga Twp., Monroe County, Ohio. Living with them were their children Benjamin P. (18), Lawrence (17), and Paul C. (12), as well as John's widowed father, Jacob (84). Lawrence and Paul both attended school. Adjacent farms in the census belonged to Josephus Schell (57) and Edward Reich (52).
According to his death certificate, William Brubach fell from a hay wagon on July 4th, and suffered broken ribs and internal injuries that resulted in his death six days later.
Sources conflict on date of birth:
Apr 1878 -- 1900 censusAccording to the 1930 census, both of Rosa's parents were born in Germany.
Paul C. Brubach, 82, of Miltonsburg Calais Rd., Woodsfield, died June 9, 1999 at the Monroe County Care Center in Woodsfield. He was born May 31, 1917 in Monroe County, a son of the late William and Rosa Burkhart Brubach. He was a retired farmer and a member of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Miltonsburg.
Surviving are a brother, Albert Brubach, of Bridgeport, several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers Benjamin and Lawrence Brubach; three sisters, Marie O'Connel, Clara Hall and Lillie Calvert.
Friends were received at the Bauer-Turner Funeral Home, Woodsfield, June 10, Funeral Liturgy with Mass was celebrated June 11 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Miltonsburg, with Monsignor Thomas Petronek officiating. Burial followed in the St. John the Baptist Church Cemetery. Vigil Services were held June 10 at the funeral home.
Fred Burkhart served in the Army during World War I. Details from "Ohio Military Men" are as follows:
Serial Number: 3374885 Race: W Residence: R. F. D. 3, Box 25, Woodsfield, O.
Enlistment Division: National Army Enlistment Location: Woodsfield, O.
Enlistment Date: 08 Aug 1918 Birth Place: Monroe, O. Birth Date / Age: 31 March 1893
Assigns Comment: Co K 67 Infantry to 14 Oct 1918; 1 Co Development Battalion Cp Sheridan Ala to Discharge Private
Honorable discharge 29 Dec 1918.In 1930, Fred (37) and Caroline (32) Burkhart rented a farm in Warren Twp., Belmont County, Ohio. They lived there with their son, Francis (8). Fred was a veteran of the World War.
According to the 1930 census, Caroline and her parents were natives of Ohio.
Following the death of his parents, Lawrence Burkhart became the head of the household. In 1920, 24 year old Lawrence lived on the family farm in Malaga Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio with four of his siblings: Edward (28), Sylvester (22), Mary (20), and Clara (14).
The names of Wesley and Clara Hossman were included on a list of Oil and Gas Wells that appeared in The Zanesville Signal on 12 May 1946. The well was found on 23 Feb 1946 in Malaga Twp., Monroe County, Ohio.
In 1920, Clara Burkhart (14) lived on the family farmin Malaga Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio with four of her older siblings: Edward (28), Lawrence (24, head of household), Sylvester (22), and Mary (20).