Selected Families and Individuals

Notes


Rick William Leinhas

Occupation: Inventory Manager, Brame Specialty Co. Military 1969-1972, Captain US Army


Judy Louise Schweinberg

Last known address: 4110 Deepwood Circle, Durham, NC 27707

Occupation: dietitian, accountant


Thomas Meehan

No children. "Firp" served as a seargent in the US Army Air Corps in World War II.


Betty Jane Meehan

Obituary:
Betty Jane Meehan Schlegel, 77, of North Braddock, formerly of
Braddock, died Saturday, Nov. 4, 2000, at her residence. She was
born Oct. 17, 1923, in Braddock, and was a daughter of the late
Caroline Schweinberg and Thomas Meehan. She was retired from
UPMC Braddock Hospital and worked in the dietary department.
She was the wife of the late Robert C. Schlegel; mother of Daniel
Schlegel; and sister of Elvira ``Bootsie'' Kramer and Patsy Caravak
and Thomas ``Ferp'' Meehan. Also survived by many nieces and
nephews. Friends will be received Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9
p.m. at the Ronlad V. Lucas Funeral Home, corner of Bell and Jones
avenues, North Braddock, (412) 271-1361, where a funeral service
will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in the Braddock
Catholic Cemetery.


Patsy L. Meehan

Raised by her Aunt Maud.


Franz Jacob Singer

Thomas Singer, MD of New Orleans, LA states the following in his notes: "Frances Joseph Singer was born 11 Nov 1804 (according to church record 4 Nov 1804; according to civil record, 6 Nov 1804) in Bruchweiler, Barenbach, Germany, the son of George Singer (1756-1812) and Apollonia Schatz (1774-1834). He gradually changed the Joseph to Jacob and was known as such." According to Tom Singer, Jacob was the eighth child of George Singer.

Researchers Charles Muth and Irene Fox give Jacob Singer's parents as Jacob Singer Sr. and Anna Perzell.

Dr. Singer cites: Bruchweiler Church Marriage record, Page 16, entry No. 3 for 10 Feb 1834. Marriage of Jacob Singer and Magdelena Zwick.

From "The Singer Family" (Muth and Fox)
In 1843, Jacob (age 39) and Magdelena (age 29) had three children and Magdelena was pregnant when they left their home to come to America. While attempting to board ship in Le Harve, France, they were delayed because of a question regarding their origin and citizenship. (In 1843 "Germany" did not exist as we know it now. It was a conglomeration of independent states.) The postponement of the family's travel plans coincided with Magdelena's advancing pregnancy. The Singers finally boarded the Duchesse d'O'rleans in Le Harve bound for New York.

Jacob and Magdelena's daughter Catherine was born during the Atlantic crossing on 20 Mar 1843. Fellow passengers took up a collection and presented the Singers with the equivalent of about $200 to celebrate Catherine's birth. The Duchesse d'O'rleans arrived in New York on 22 Apr 1843. The sea voyage probably lasted a little over a month.

The route by which the family traveled to Ohio is not known, but Jacob Singer eventually brought his family to Monroe County Ohio. He used the $200 given to him by his fellow passengers along with other money to purchase a tract of several hundred acres of land in what is now Lewisville, Ohio on Willis Creek. He turned this area into a prosperous farm.

Jacob Singer applied for United States citizenship on 26 Jun 1848 as recorded in the naturalization records of the Common Pleas Court of Monroe County, Journal 5, page 140.

In 1850, 46 year old farmer Jacob Singer lived in Centre Twp., Monroe County, Ohio with his wife Mary (35) and children Jacob (15), John (12), Sefila (9), Catherine (7), Christina (4), George (2), and Sebastian (3 mos). The three youngest children are listed in the census as being born in Ohio. Everyone else was born in Germany. Jacob Singer's farm was valued at $1000. Adjacent farms in the census belonged to Jacob Wysant Sr. (Weisend) and Conrad Friday.

After residing in Monroe County for 11 years, Jacob sold his farm and moved to Rado (rhymes with Play-doh) in Noble County, The name Rado was shortened from it's previous name, Colorado. It is also known as Rado Ridge.

By 1860, 65 (sic) year old Jacob Singer lived in Jefferson Twp., Noble County, Ohio with his 45 year old wife Magdelena. With them lived nine children: John (22), Sevila (19), Catherine (17), Christina (14), George (12), Sebastian (11), Adam (8), Frank (5), and Lana (3). Also living in the household was a 17 year old day laborer named John McKitrick. The parents and the oldest four children were born in "Hesse," the younger children were born in Ohio. All the children attended school except John, Sevila, and Lana.

According to Muth & Fox, church records at St. Mary's in Fulda show that the Singers adopted a boy named William Jacob who was born on 11 Jan 1856, but not baptized until 3 Jul 1864 when he was eight years old. William Jacob Singer died on 21 Oct 1865, age 9. His biological parents are not known.

In 1870, Jacob (66) and Lena (55) Singer lived in Jefferson Twp. Jacob's real estate was worth $5600, and his personal possessions were valued at $1080. (The combined total was more than twice as much as anyone else on the same page of the census.) Living with them were their five youngest surviving children: George (22), Sebastian (20), Adam (18), Francis (15), and Lena (13). Frank and Lena attended school. Adjacent farms in the census belonged to Thomas Nelson and John Morrison Sr.

By the time of the 1880 census, Jacob (75) and Magdelena (65) Singer had moved to Enoch Twp., Noble County, Ohio. Living with them were their two youngest children Francis (25) and Lene (23). Adjacent farms in the census belonged to Henry Hupp Jr. and John Huffman.

From the Caldwell Citizens' Press 14 Oct 1880:
Old man Singer with his two daughters and wife, left for Cincinnati last week for
a short visit with his sister, who is a sister in the Convent of the Good Shepherd.
In fact, it was his daughter, Christina, who was a nun.

Jacob Singer's obituary was written by his grandson, Rev. Isadore G. Heil:

GONE
Jacob Singer Sr. of near Fulda, departed this life Friday April 22nd 1887 of typhoid
symptoms at the advanced age of 82 years, 5 months. The funeral services occurred at
Fulda in the Roman Catholic Church Sunday, April 24th.
The departed was born at Brucheveiler, Germany November 1804 was the 3d of
8 brothers and sisters all of whom he survived. In 1819 his father died, leaving him in
the sole care of his mother. Being one of the oldest surviving children and his mother
having no help, he spent nearly all of his time at hard work and he enjoyed excellent
health. He, however, did not neglect the cultivation of his mind, but was a careful,
thoughtful reader and culled an extensive fund of useful and practical information. In
1831 he was married to Machdalena Schwick to whom he had been a dutiful and faithful
husband. In 1844 he left Brucheveiler, Germany with his family for America. After a
voyage of 21 days, he arrived safely at New York ; from thence he plodded his way to
Wills Creek, Monroe County, Ohio. After residing in Monroe County for 11 years,
he sold his farm and removed to Colorado (which has since been changed to Rado) at
which place he lived 21 years and having accumulated considerable wealth, he finally
conceived that he was growing old and unable to work, divided his farm of nearly 400
acres among his children and purchased a lot of 80 acres near Fulda, intending this to be
his last removal until he should be removed forever -- which it was.
Mr. Singer was an upright and devoted Christian all his life. "As none are free from
the faults and weaknesses to which the human race is heir, so the departed one no doubt
had his. He displayed traits of character truly admirable and in the deliberation with
which he prepared for the hour of dissolution and in the calmness and complacency with
which he awaited the certain arrival of the grim Messenger, he set an example worthy of
the closest imitation."
He directed the arrangements for his departure to the Great Beyond with the utmost
composure. His sole anxiety seemed to be for his surviving children, calling each one
separately and all together to his bedside giving them advice. All preparations being made,
he expressed his feelings in one sentence: "I am ready, come when It may."
The departed was the father of 13 children, 55 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren,
of whom 10, 50, and 5 respectively survive him. Our grandfather is gone, but his memory
will ever hold a place in the hearts of his children and grandchildren one of whom pens this
brief tribute.
I.G.H.

Jacob Singer's tombstone is an obelisk. The top contians a broken piece of stone... it was probably topped by a cross at one time. The following inscription appears on the base of tombstone:
Here he sleeps from care
and sorrow
And the ills of earthy life
Sleeps below no sad tomorrow
With its bitterness of strife.

Researcher Tom Singer showed a transcription of Jacob Singer's tombstone to Ernie Thode, M.A., Director of the Washington County (Ohio) Historical Center (5th & Washington Ave., Marietta, OH). Mr. Thode studied the inscription and translated it into German. In German, the inscription is rythmic and flows, being "much easier on the ear." It is theorized that the tombstone insctiption is the stonecutter's translation from German to English.

The inscription of Jacob's wife, Magdalena, is on the back of the obelisk.


Magdelena Zwick

Records conflict on date of birth:
Laura Singer Schweinberg: "Saturday, 10 Jul 1815" (the 10th of July fell on a Monday in 1815)
Thomas Singer, Charles Muth, Irene Fox: 25 Feb 1814 or Jun 1815; Byrne, Bavaria
Delores Snider: Jan 1815

Dr. Singer cites as his source the Bruchweiler (Bernbach, Germany) church marriage record 1834, page 16, #3, of Frances Joseph Singer and Magdalena Zwick. Witnesses: Michael Singer and John Thomas Zwick.

Family legend and the obituary of Jacob Singer say that Magdekena Zwick Singer gave birth to 13 children. Only ten children are known, plus one adopted child.

On 25 Jan 1883, the Fulda column of The Caldwell Citizens' Press reported:
Mrs. Singer, wife of Jacob Singer, Sr., is very ill; there is hardly any hope
for her recovery.
Magdelena Singer recovered and lived another 13 years.

Following the death of her husband, Magdelena Zwick Singer lived with the family of her daughter Sybilla Singer Fox, Magdelena was blind for a time before her death. She died at her daughter's home and was buried in St. Mary's cemetery.

In January 1896, the Caldwell Ohio newspaper reported:
Died: Grandmother Singer. died January 3 1896 age 81. Her remains were
interred in the Catholic Cemetery here of which church she has been a life
long member.


Christina Singer

Christina Singer was the first child of Jacob and Magdelena Zwick Singer born in the United States. Tradition has it that Christina made a promise that if her mother would recover from a serious illness that she would devote her life to the service of God; she then reportedly left her family farm home near Fulda, OH at age 15 and went to join the convent. Christina Singer was the first young woman from St. Mary's parish at Fulda to ever join the convent. (Source: Muth & Fox)

According to family tradition, Sister Mary of the Victories was involved in the care of orphan children. (source: Muth & Fox)

"Christina Singer, daughter of Jacob Singer and Magdalen Swick, born in Ohio, received the habit on November 21, 1866 at age 21 and took the name of Sister Mary of the Victories. This dear Sister died at the age of 70 years on July 7, 1915, in Cincinnati and was interred in our convent cemetery here at Our Lady of the Woods. No other information relative to this Sister is available in our archives." (source: Provincial Convent of the Good Shepard, Our Lady of the Woods, Cincinnati, OH)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Newspaper Story, July 1915 (source unknown)
Mr. George Singer and Mrs. Fox of Noble County passed through Marietta for Cincinnati Thursday afternoon to attend the funeral of their sister, Sister Mary Victory of the Good Shepard Convent. She was a daughter of Jacob Singer of Noble County.

The deceased at the time of her death was seventy years old and leaves three brothers and three sisters, George of Noble County, Sebass, of Braddock, PA, Adam of this city, Mrs. Anthony Muth of this city, Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Kathryn Heil, both of Noble County.

She had been fifty-three years in the convent. The funeral will be held at 9 o'clock Friday morning at Cincinnati, Ohio.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-


William Jacob Singer

According to Muth & Fox, church records at St. Mary's in Fulda show that the Singers adopted a boy named William Jacob who was born on 11 Jan 1856, but not baptized until 3 Jul 1864 when he was eight years old. William Jacob Singer died on 21 Oct 1865, age 9. His biological parents are not known. William was not listed with the family in the 1860 census.


Adam G. Hartman

According to Leander Crock, the ancestral village of the Hartmans was Mittlekalback, Landkreis Fulda, Germany. (This is not in Bavaria.) The 1860 and 1880 US census state that Adam Hartman was born in Bavaria.

In 1860, 30 year old shoemaker Adam Hartman lived in Enoch Twp., Noble Co., Ohio with his 21 year old wife, Mary and their 1 year old son John. Mary was born in Virginia, and Adam in "Byron." (The writing is legible. Perhaps this is a reference to Bayern, known in English as Bavaria.) Their birthplace of their son was left blank, but the census-taker did not fill in the birthplace of anyone born in Ohio. The adjacent households in the census were Mary's parents, Adam and Agnes Brahler, and Peter Noll.

The family has not been found in the 1870 census.

At the time of the 1880 census, 51 year old Bavarian-born farmer Adam Hartman was still living in Enoch Twp. with his wife Mary (41) and children Peter (20), Mary Magdelene (17), George (15), John (14), Elizabeth (12), Joseph (10), July Ann (7), Rosina (4), and Mary Ann (2). All the children attended school except Peter., Rosina, and Mary Ann. The children were all born in Ohio. Neighboring households belonged to the widow Barbara Crock and Anthony Kress.

Adam Hartman's obituary from the Caldwell newspaper (exact source unknown):

FULDA
Mr. Adam Hartman died Sunday, Nov. 9, at 8 o'clock p.m.;
aged 68 years. He was a member of the Catholic Church
where he served his Master all his days faithfully. He was
very tender and kind, expressly to his wife, children and friends.
He left the testimony behind "I am not afraid to die." It was a
happy sight which is seldom witnessed and his walk from this
cold and sinful world was one of great joy. He leaves a mother
and ten children to mourn his death.
O Father, O Father, thou art gone
Away from our hearthstone never to return
O how sadly we miss you no heart can ever tell
But He has taken you from us with Himself in heaven to dwell


Mary Agnes Brahler

Mary Brahler Hartman's death certificate states that was born in Wheeling. (Information provided by her son John.) Her older and younger siblings were christened in St. Joseph Cathedral, Wheeling, VA (now WV), but no christening record for Mary has yet been found.

On 2 Nov 1882, The Caldwell Citizens' Press reported:
On the sick list this week... Mrs. Adam Hartmann.

Mary's great grandson Edward Schweinberg (1908-2005) states that Mary was essentially bedridden. She only had one leg, and took laudanum (opium) to control her pain. The exact circumstances under which Mary lost the leg are not known, but Ed believes it was amputated in the 1860's; she definitely had several children after she lost her leg. Mary was also a non-insulin dependent diabetic. (Treatment of the first human with insulin did not occur until January, 1922; just two months before Mary's death.)

Mary Brahler Hartman is remembered as a small, kind woman who kept a bag of treats near her bed to give to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they visited. In 1900, she lived in the household of her son Peter in Enoch Twp., Noble County, Ohio. By 1909, she had moved in with her daughter Lena Hartman Singer on Seddon Ave. in North Braddock, PA.

At the time of the 1910 census, she was living with the family of her son Joseph at 113 Camp Ave. in Braddock, PA. The census states that 10 of Mary's 12 children were still living in 1910. Mary later moved back in with her daughter Lena and lived there until her death. She was living with Lena on Seddon Avenue in North Braddock at the time of the 1920 census.


John Hartman

John Hartman did not live with his parents and younger siblings at the time of the 1880 census.


Casper V. Muth

First name has been seen with a number of different spellings: Casper, Kasper, Kaspar, Jasper, etc.

Records conflict on date of death. Delores Snider gives 5 Mar 1908, however, Casper Muth has been found in census records after that date. All other sources give 20 May 1937. It is beleived that the 1908 date is the date of his second marriage to Louisa Singer.

Kaspar's father Franz Muth wanted him to stay and work on the farm at Noble County OH on Pawpaw Creek. Kaspar refused and moved to Pittsburgh where he spent the rest of his life. He worked at Faust Bakery in Pittsburgh, PA and lived on Ohio Street. In early 1906 he bought a store in McKeesport, PA. and his wife Melani were going to operate it, but she died. Kaspar asked his brother Anton Joseph Muth to send his daughter Louvina and son Rinehart Anton to help him. Rienhart ran the store for a year until he sold out. He then returned to Marietta, Ohio. Louvina stayed in Pittsburgh.

Casper Muth has not been found in the 1900 census.

At the time of the 1910 census, 48 year old Casper (or Jasper -- unclear) Muth and his wife Louisa (25) rented a home at 917 Chestnut St. in Pittsburgh's 23rd Ward. Casper worked as a laborer in a sheet mill (difficult to read first word.) According to the census, this was Casper's second marriage and Louisa's first. The couple had been married for two years. The children living in the house were Clara (10), Paul (4), and Walter (1 yr 2 mos). Clara attended school. Information in the census including relationship to head-of-household, number of children Louisa gave birth to, and parents place of birth indicates that Clara and Paul are the children of Casper's first marriage, and Walter is the son of Casper and Louisa. However, Paul is known to have been born several months after the death of Casper's first wife.

In 1920, 50 year old Casper (or Jasper or Kasper, unclear) rented a house at 5 Salter Way in Pittsburgh's 23rd Ward. Casper worked as a millwright in a machine shop. Other members of the household were Casper's wife Louise (36), and children Paul (14), Walter (11), Elenora (9), Mary Louise (7), James (4) and Raymond (1). The four oldest children attended school. According to the census, everyone in the home was a native of Pennsylvania, as were their parents. (This is known to be incorrect.)

In the 1930 census, the family still lived in the 23rd Ward of Pittsburgh. At that time, they rented a house at 1100 River Ave. for $20 a month. Members of the household were Casper V. Muth (65), his wife, Louise M. (46), and children Walter F. (21), Elenor M. (18), Mary L. (16), James H. (13), Raymond J. (11) and Virginia A. (9). The youngest three children attended school. Casper was not employed. According to the census, he could not read or write. The three oldest children all worked... Walter as a sawyer in a box factory; Elenor and Mary as packer and a bottler in a brewer (?) factory.

Casper and his family attended Holy Name Church, Trot Hill, Pittsburgh, PA. Kaspar is buried in St. Mary`s Cemetery, Mt. Troy, Pittsburgh, PA.


Louisa A. Singer

"St. Mary's 150 Years Fulda, OH" by Delores Snider gives child's name as Mary S. Singer, and date of birth as 24 Sep 1884. All other sources give her name as Louisa.

Louisa's aunt Helen Singer married her husband's brother, Anton Muth.

In 1900, 15 year old Louisa Singer lived with her parents and siblings in the family's rented home at 18 Hickory Street, North Braddock. Louisa was employed as a clerk in a store. She did not attend school that year.

Records conflict on middle initial:
1) Larry Singer has Louisa's middle initial as "M" based on the funeral card.
2) The Record of Births from Noble County Probate Court gives her middle initial as "A."


Reinhart Joseph Singer

Records of St. Mary's church in Fulda, OH show the subject's name as Joseph, but family members referred to him as Reinhart.

In 1900, 13 year old Joseph Singer lived with his parents and siblings in the family's rented home at 18 Hickory Street, North Braddock. Joe worked as a day laborer. He did not attend school that year.

Joe left for St. Louis, MO as a young adult and later had limited contact with the rest of the family. It is said that he did not get along with his father.


Virginia

Edward Schweinberg states that his uncle Reinhart Singer's wife was Virginia. Thomas Singer gives her name as Bella.

Virginia wae eletricucted in a household accent. She was plugging in the washing machine and was standing in a puddle of water.


Reinhart Joseph Singer

Records of St. Mary's church in Fulda, OH show the subject's name as Joseph, but family members referred to him as Reinhart.

In 1900, 13 year old Joseph Singer lived with his parents and siblings in the family's rented home at 18 Hickory Street, North Braddock. Joe worked as a day laborer. He did not attend school that year.

Joe left for St. Louis, MO as a young adult and later had limited contact with the rest of the family. It is said that he did not get along with his father.