Louis Lynn Becker's Birth Record

Louis was the first child and only son of Nicholas and Anna (Beyersdoerfer) Becker.  The line below Louis's record is that of his cousin, Errol Beyrsdoerfer, son of Anna's brother, Conrad.

Death of Anton Koewler

I am going to let the newspaper articles tell the rest of the story.  For all of this to have happened over money and watermelons is just shameful.  

News Democrat - Georgetown, Ohio

March 29, 1900

"Anthony Koewler died at his home near town at 10 a. m., Monday, as the result of a shot fired by Wm. Sidwell on September 3, 1899.  His body was paralyzed from the waist down and it is almost a miracle that he lingered so long.  He was born in Germany 60 years ago, but has lived here many years.  He leaves a wife, two boys and three girls, besides many friends, to mourn his demise.  The funeral will take place from St. Michael's Church on Thursday morning at ten o'clock; interment in Maplewood.  His family have the sympathy of all.  Sidwell was re-arrested and taken to Georgetown and lodged in jail where he awaits the action of the grand jury."

Marietta Daily Leader - Marietta, Ohio

April 1, 1900

page 4

"Quarreled Over Melons

Ripley, O.,  March 31. - Anthony Koewler, a prominent farmer who was shot on the 3d of last September by Wm. Sidwell in a dispute over a crop of melons, was buried here on Thursday.  Koewler's death was due to the effects of the wound.  Sidwell was tried on the charge of shooting with intent to kill, but the jury disagreed.  He has been rearrested and jailed, the charge now being murder in the second degree."

Daily Public Ledger - Maysville, Kentucky

15 February 1901

page 1

"At Ripley a verdict of manslaughter was returned against William Sidwell, charged with the killing of Anthony Koewler last September.  Application for a new trial was made."

Daily Public Ledger - Maysville, Kentucky

28 February 1901

page 1

"William Sidwell, for the killing of Tony Koewler near Ripley over a year ago, has been denied a new trial, and was sentenced by Judge Markley to four and one-half years in the Ohio Penitentiary."

Anton Koewler's Story - Part 2

Daily Public Ledger 

Maysville, Kentucky

September 5, 1899 

The canteloupe and watermelon crop in West Kentucky this season has been exceedingly large, the product of many patches being allowed to rot in the fields, as prices will not pay for hauling them to market.

This was the state of things that late summer of 1899.  Anton Koewler had recently purchased the old James Stephenson farm just east of the town of Ripley.  Early in the season, Anton rented a small patch of land on the bank of the Ohio River to Daniel Sidwell and his sons to raise watermelons.  As the crop grew, Anton had concerns about the amount of money that would be realized from it, however, fearing the melons would be stolen during the night, Anton had lent the Sidwell boys his gun to protect themselves.  

On Sunday, September 3, Anton decided he wanted his gun back and went to retrieve it from the Sidwells who were tending the watermelon patch. Angry words were spoken and William Sidwell resented Anton's demeanor.  Anton turned and pointed his gun at Sidwell, "pulling it off".  Sidwell ran to his house,  returned with a revolver, and shot Anton three times.  Two of the bullets did little harm, however, one entered his left breast and came to rest upon his spine.

Anton was taken home, and the Doctors Prine and Francis were called.  Anton was soon partially paralyzed and, fearing the worst, the priest was summoned to administer the Holy Sacrament of the Church.  Meanwhile, William Sidwell had started to town to turn himself in when he met Sheriff Miller to whom he surrendered.  On Tuesday, September 4, he was released on $2000 bail.   One week later, Anton's condition remained the same.

This story is taken from newspaper articles in the September 7 and 14, 1899 issues of Georgetown, Ohio's News Democrat.   I want to sincerely thank Alison at the Union Township Public Library in Ripley, Ohio for taking the time to hunt for the articles in the unindexed newspaper microfilm.  I am sure she had better and much more important things to do.  If you are wondering why the story is not taken from the Ripley Bee, it is because that newspaper microfilm is not available for the year 1899.  I am just so thankful that the library does have access to the News Democrat!  You may have also noticed that the Hamilton, Ohio newspaper in which I first found my clue for this story named the shooter as William Tidwell, instead of Sidwell, so I am doubly glad that I was able to read it from a newspaper closer to the actual location.

I cannot imagine how the Koewler family felt that September day.  I found it very interesting and sad that the article's author described Anton as having a reputation of being quarrelsome, yet standing well in the community.  I can't help but wonder what sort of man he was that he would be thought of in this way.

In case you are wondering, Anton's injuries did turn out to be deadly and in my next posting you will be able to read his obituary and all about the fate of William Sidwell.

 

Uncovering the Death of Anton Koewler

The death of my great - great grandfather, Anton Koewler, has driven me mad for years!  His daughter was Henrietta, wife of Joseph Haitz.   She and Joseph were the parents of sixteen children, the ninth being my grandfather, George Henry Haitz.

From census data, I knew Anton had immigrated from Germany to Ripley, Ohio sometime around 1866 with his wife, Henrietta Fischer, and their daughter, Catherine.  Henry their second child was born in Ohio around 1867.  Anton and Henrietta would go on to have 12 children, eight of whom I have at least some information.  

Also from the census, I had an approximate birth year, 1840, for Anton, however, his death remained a mystery.   When Anton was not found with his family in the 1900 census and Henrietta is listed as a widow, the first thing that obviously popped into my head was that Anton was dead.  I entered his death into Reunion as "before June 1900" keeping in mind that the death date is nothing until proven. 

Then, along came, my Newspaper Archive subscription!  I entered KOEWLER into the search engine and several prospects appeared.  I looked at each, making notes, sometimes printing, when a small front page article in the September 5th issue of the Hamilton Daily Republican News caught my eye.  Now Hamilton, Ohio is quite a distance from Ripley, but not wanting to miss anything, I clicked on the link.  A small five sentence paragraph with the dateline "Ripley, O., Sept. 5" became a clue that would send me on the journey of discovering Anton's story.

The article was titled, "Farmer Shot While In His Melon Patch".  It read, 

"Tony Koewler, aged 62, a farmer, was shot while in a watermelon patch by William Tidwell.  The two met and had hot words.  The result of the wound can not yet be determined.  He is apparently paralyzed.  Tidwell gave himself up."

Could Tony be my Anton?  The age/birth year calculation was pretty close and I had found him sometimes listed as Anthony.  I immediately e-mailed the most helpful librarian at Union Township Public Library in Ripley to see if the town newspaper, the Ripley Bee, was available on microfilm for 1899.  She quickly responded that unfortunately, it was not, but that she would check the News-Democrat, the paper for the nearby town of Georgetown.  I couldn't wait to hear from her!  You'll have to stay tuned for the rest of the story!  It's an interesting one!

St. Michael's Parochial School

Next door to St. Michael's Catholic Church is the parochial school that educates children from preschool through grade 8. The school has been in existence since before 1864.  Several different buildings and locations have been used for the school and the cornerstone for the present building, located at the corner of Fifth and Market Streets, was laid in 1923 during the time of Father Ambrose. * 

Many of my ancestors attended St. Michael's Catholic School including my mother and her sister.  At the time of their attendance, there was no preschool and classrooms consisted of the children in two grades - first and second, third and fourth, fifth and sixth, and seventh and eighth.  The Sisters of Devine Providence taught my mother and were strict taskmasters.  I have heard stories of how my left-handed mother was made to use her right hand to write and how rulers were rapped on knuckles.  At recess, girls played on one side of the playground and boys on the other.  Uniforms were worn by all, and my mother's ponytail was frowned upon.  

The photograph below is a picture of the dedication of the school.  I would assume that it was taken sometime during 1923 - 1925 depending on how long it took for the building to be completed after the cornerstone was laid.  The crowd of people illustrates how important the school was to the town of Ripley.  

* Ripley, Ohio  Its History and Families by the Sesquicentennial Historical Committee, 1962

Becker's Millinery Store

In 1866, Nicholas Becker opened a millinery store on Second Street in Ripley, Ohio.  He, his wife, Catherine, and son, Nicholas, Jr. had settled in the small town just two years earlier.

Catherine, whose maiden name was Thill, had come from a family of hat makers.  Her father, Nicholas, and her brothers, George and Joseph, owned and operated hat stores in Cincinnati.  In 1876, a men's hat and cap department was added to the Second Street store.  Nicholas, Jr. conducted that aspect of the business along side his mother who still operated the millinery shop.

Located on Second Street, the store served as both business and home.  Nicholas, Catherine, and their son's family all lived upstairs above the store.  It must have been tight quarters as Nicholas, Jr. and his wife, Anna Beyersdoerfer, were the parents of three children, Louis, Edith, and Ethel.

I do not know the date of this photograph, but I am fairly sure that the older lady on the sidewalk is Catherine.  I believe the man standing next to her is her son, Nicholas.  The other ladies were possibly employees of the store and I do not know who the young men are.  I am very curious as to who is looking out of the second story window.  I would assume it is a family member or housekeeper.  The 1900 census lists a housekeeper named Anna Fauth.  Or maybe it is Anna Beyersdoerfer Becker.  I will have to read up on techniques for dating photographs and then maybe I will have more of an educated guess.

Michael Beyersdoerfer, Cigar Maker

The History Of Brown County, Ohio

Michael Beyersdoerfer was a cigar maker.  He is listed as such in the 1883 History of Brown County Ohio book published by Beers.

However, Michael wasn't always a maker of cigars.  When he arrived in Levanna, Brown County, Ohio in 1852 from his native Germany, he was a blacksmith by trade.  After a year in Levanna, he purchased some land and opened a vineyard.  He must have seen some success in his endeavor as his name is listed as producing wine in the Vintage of 1858.  Then tragedy struck.  In the summer of 1865, while tending his grapes, Michael suffered sunstroke and was forced to end his career as a grape grower and wine producer.  The following year, he established his cigar making business and enjoyed a good trade in Ripley.

The photograph shows Michael in front of his store which was probably located on Main Street.  To his left is his son-in-law, Nicholas Becker.  The young man to Michael's right is unknown.

Barbara Bauer Young Wenser

Barbara Bauer was born about 1816 somewhere in Bavaria, Germany. She arrived in this country before 1843 which is the year her first daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Cincinnati.

Whether Barbara was married when she came to this country is still a mystery. I believe her husband's last name was Young. They had three daughters, Elizabeth, Anna M., and Mary. In 1850, he was not counted with the family in the census. I am assuming he was dead by that summer as Barbara and the girls could be found living in Ripley, Ohio in the household of Thomas and Anna Mariah Shafer. Their last name is recorded as Young. Next door was, who I believe to be Barbara's brother, Albert Bower, his wife, Elizabeth, and their son, Albert. I also believe that Anna Mariah Shafer was a Bauer/Bower by birth and this is possibly for whom Barbara named her second daughter.

By the 1860 census, Barbara's last name is Winzer and she has two additional children, Eva (8yrs. old) and William (6 yrs. old). There is no adult male living with the family and Elizabeth, Anna, and Mary are all listed as Winzer's. They are still located in Ripley, Ohio.

By 1870, Elizabeth had married Michael Beyersdoerfer. They and their children were living in Ripley. Barbara can be found in the same household along with another daughter, Minnie. Their last name is spelled Wensor in this census and Minnie appears to be 19 years old. It is possible that Minnie is the same daughter who was listed as Eva in the 1860 census. In addition to the Beyersdoerfer's and Wensor's, a sixteen year old boy, William Bauer, is also living in the house. He is apprenticed to Michael Beyersdoerfer as a cigar maker and I assume he is also related to Barbara in some way.

Barbara and Mena (Minnie) continue to live with Elizabeth and Michael through 1880 and that is the last record I can find about Barbara. Her gravestone in Ripley's Maplewood Cemetery shows her death was in 1898.

One can speculate about her husbands and name changes. There is a 35 year old George Young listed in the 1850 Hamilton County, Ohio mortality census as having died in August of 1849 from cholera. He was from Germany and his birth year makes him a possibility of having been Barbara's husband. Hopefully, one day I might be able to determine if he is connected or not. As for William Wenser, the only records of his existence are the notations on the death certificates of his daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, and Minnie as having been their father. I cannot explain why they do not name a Young as their father. I can find nothing else other than a listing in the IGI on www.familysearch.org that shows a William Wenser marrying a Barbara Bender in Cincinnati in 1850. The IGI source is named as Hamilton County, Ohio marriage records. Maybe Barbara Bender is my Barbara and her name was misunderstood. Again, maybe time will tell. Until then, I just keep on doing what I know to do - search, search, search.

Emma M. Koewler Zimmer

I never met Emma Koewler Zimmer. She was only a name in the database of my genealogy program, RootsMagic. I don't remember entering her there although looking back, I can see that my knowledge of her came from a found 1930 census record in which a family with the last name of Koewler was recorded as living in Union Township in Brown County, Ohio.

Any record of a Koewler in Brown County, or anywhere for that matter, arouses my interest because there are so few of them and the name seems quite scarce. I happened to find Emma again in the obituary section of August 13th edition of The Ripley Bee. She and I are second cousins twice removed, which in the grand scheme of the things, is really nothing. But all in all, she is a member of my family. We have two ancestors in common - Henricus Koewler and his wife Marie Anna Fichter. Henricus and Marie were my three greats grandparents while they were Emma's great-grandparents.

Neither of us ever met Henricus or Marie. They had been born in Schonau, Germany which is somewhere in Bavaria. He in 1806 and she is 1808. That's it; that's all I know about them. I have no idea if they even came to America although at least six of their nine known children did, one of which was my great great grandfather, Anton or Anthony, who came around 1866 and settled in Ripley.

Anyway, this morning, as I read a small town newspaper, Emma Koewler Zimmer reminded me that a family is a huge entity. Through her obituary, I learned a tiny bit about her, and she led me to think about people and how, sometimes, connections are there even though we have no idea they exist. Because we share a few of the same genes, Emma M. Koewler Zimmer is a member of my family; distant to be sure, but a member none the less. I'm glad I found her.

From The Ripley Bee, August 13, 2009, page A6, Column 1 -

Emma M. Zimmer, 95, of Dayton, formerly of Ripley, died August 9,
2009.
She was a member of the Altar Rosary Society, the Free Spirits Club,
and the Charles Latrum Senior Center.
Mrs. Zimmer was the daughter of the
late Anna and John Koewler. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert F.
Zimmer; two sons, Donald and Michael Zimmer; three sisters-in-law, Marcella Bent
and Doris Zimmer, both of Dayton, and Garnet Zimmer of Bellbrook; one
brother-in-law and spouse, Elmer and Edris Zimmer.
She is survived by
numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many
friends.
Visitation will be held 9 - 11 am Friday, Aug. 14 at Immaculate
Conception Church, 2300 Smithville Rd. in Dayton. Mass of the Christian burial
will be 11 am Friday, Aug. 14, at the church. Interment will be in Calvary
Cemetery. The Tobias Funeral Home - Belmont Chapel serving the family.
If
desired, memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Church.
Online
condolences may be made at www.tobiasfuneralhome.com