The Nafzger Heritage News
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See here for the pdf version (scanned images) of this issue.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nafzger Heritage News Vol XX No 3 Raw OCR - 8/03/04 Please see pdf version for original image http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~nafzger/NHN/NHNvXXn3.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (,L ; J erita A US/CAN 92927305 Vol. )O( No. 3 20 Fall 1994 CHRIS hAN NAFFZIGER, Bonrscheid Thi issue of the News will feature the family of Christian Naffziger of Bourscheid near Walteniboarg in Lorraine, France. Christian was born about 1775 and was probably the son of Christian Naffziger and Katharina Samier, who resided near Walternbourg in 1779. Christian’s sister Magdalena married Christian Esch; she died in 1824. Another child was probably Katharina, who was born about 1777 and married Jacob Hauter. Christian married Catharina Maurer, who was born in 1780. [ may have been a sister of Christian Esch we mentioned above who married Magdalena Naffziger, Christian’s sister. Magdalena died in 1824. Their son Christian Esch caine with the Naffzigers to America.] Christian Naffziger died sometime between 1832 and 1837 in France. His widow Catharina (Maurer) Naffziger and son John, and his family emigrated to America in 1837. Their ship Narengo sailed from Le Havre in Holland - and landed in New Orleans on 25 November, 1837. On the ship were Christian’s daughters Magdalena and Catharine. The ship 1 ist shows them brining seven chests , three guns , and bedding . They were “ steerage passengers “ . Vthen Christian ‘ s son Christi an ( Jr ) and the other two daughters Jakobina and Barbara arrived remains unknown . However , Christian ( Jr ‘ ) s daughter Magdalena was born in Illinois in 1841. In the 1840 Illinois Census there were four Naffzigers: Christian, John, Peter and Jakob. In 1850 John Noffziger, then 48 years old, born in Germany, was enumerated with his wife Anna Gerber and their eight children (their son John was born in Illinois in 1838 ) . They lived in Little McKinaw township , which later became Washington township. John died in 1856; Anna in 1885. Jobn Noffziger lived next to Christian Garber and his wife Catharine (Naffziger, sister of John) and their four children. John’s other sister Magdalena married Peter Gungerich and lived in Woodford County, Illinois. In the 1850 Illinois census, Christian Naffziger, then 40 years, his children Catharine (who was born in Illinois in 1840) , Magdalena , John and Anne resided with a Catharine Baer, who was 54 years old. In 1860 Christian resided with his four children and Marthia, who was 51 years old. John Lelet, a 25 year old German also lived with them. In 1870 Christian and Mellen lived together. In 1880, Christian, Magdalena, Katie Hertz, a hired girl and Anna Garber, widow of John and her son Joseph lived in the same household. L)Cbristian died in 1881 and was buried in Union Cemetery. It has been reported that Christian married Barbara Schertz ( 1808- 1 88 1 ) ; however we were unable to substantiate the source . S FAMILY H1CTc , S Continued on page Seven ‘ \ ‘JVEST TEMPLE LAKE CITY, UTAH 8415 Editors Comment ThE NAFZGER HERITAGE NEWS Let me first begin by apologizing for the disruption in the News. Many things have happened 1518 Guthrie Ave. since the last time the newsletter was published. The last issue was Volume )C(, No.2 the Summer Des Moines, Iowa 50316 Issue, 1991. Now three years later I will try resume the News on a regular bas is . I hope everyone will understand. I have received many calls and * * * * * * * letters asking if I have stopped publishing the the News . The answer i s no . , this is a Editor — RAY NOFTSGER hobby; one which I enjoy and receive a great deal of satisfaction. I have other obligations which * * * * * * * obviously must come first . I hope everyone will understand. and is patient with me. Let me add that I cannot make up the missed issues; I can SUBSCRIPTION FEE only try to get the newsletter going again! I will ask the Mast family print the News. The subscription will remain at ten dollars for Ten Dollars Yearly the present. We shall see what the future brings. Hopefully I can get enough interest generated Published quarterly-— Fall, again as it is the readers who keep publications Winter, Spring and Summer. such as the News going. Again, anyone who wants to contribute an article or has any questions, please send them. I will try to cover all queries, whether we have written about them previously or not. Finally let me add that I hope this newsletter finds everyone healthy and prosperous. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Table of Contents Page Featured Family: Christian Naffziger of Waltembourg Front Editor’s Coirrrients and Corrections: Two In The Literature: Three Book Review Four Obituaries and Letters and Queries Five Family Correction/Update The News must make a correction to what it has published in past concerning Christian Naftziger of Mottenhof. In previous newsletters we have written that we believed that Christian was the son of Peter Naffziger and Magdalena Schantz. According to an article printed in the Mennonite Family History by Marjorie Gautsche this is an error. Christian was the son of Johann Nafzieger and Catharine Wageler of Dalheim, Luxembourg He was born March 27, 1777. We will cover Marjorie’s article in the next News . Now an interesting question is who was the father of Johann? An additional note on this family and their immigration to America. John Byler has sent information concerning Joseph Nafzigers arrival in America. Joseph was the second son of Christian. Joseph, his wife Magdelina and their son Christian could be the same family who arrived aboard the ship Erie at the Port of New York on May 25, 1838. He was identified as a farmer from Prussia. Other P on the ship were the Diener orphans and an unidentified Nicholas Zimmerman and his family. We believe this Joseph to be the son of Christian. Page Two In the Literature We provide, from time to time, a short summary of articles which have appeared in ,ther journals/newsletters/publications which may be of interest to Nafzger readers. We \ include the addresses of any new publication which we have not featured previously. Miyone can write to us for additional information or directly to the publishers. The Illinois Mennonite Heritage (published by the Illinois Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 819, Metamora, IL 61548) is printed quarterly and contains a number of featured articles. We will mention a only a few of the articles. March, 1990: Genealogy of Marcella Rocke Stalter. Ms. Stalter’s Rocke lineage traces from John to Christian to Jobn Rocke, a minister from that lived at FlecTcensteiner Hof in the Alsace in 1844 and Limbach in the Alsace in 1855. He died there in 1860. He was married to Catharine (Barbara?) Yordy. Our readers should recall that both those villages have Naffzigers living in them at that time. More importantly, Valentine Naftziger (who was married to Jacobina Schantz and emigrated to America in 1831) had a brother Peter Naffziger who remained at Lembach, where he died. His wife was Veronika Habecker, the widow of Jaques (Jacob) Jordi (Yordi) and mother of Christain Jordi who was born about 1793. Further there was Jacob Naffziger who emigrated to America circa 1847 and settled in Stouts Grove/Danvers Township, McLean County, IL who married first Veronika Rockey, then second Elisabeth Rockey. His background has never been proven but perhaps this connection should be investigated. June, 1990: Bertsche Genealogy traces to Johannes Naffziger of Fleckensteiner Hof in the Alsace. December, 1991: Genealogy of Gene C. Nafziger. One of his Nafziger ancestors came from Ilibach in Hesse-Darmstadt, while another line comes from the Alsace. March, 1992: Amish Emigration through Le Havre: Two October 1830 Departures by Verle C. and V. Gordon Oyer. The authors discuss two groups of emigrants, who left on different ships and their passages to Illinois. Four major families identified are Jacob and Barbara Krehbiel Nafziger, Johannes and Nagdalena (Naffziger) Kennel, Jacob and Elisabeth (Mosimann) Oyer and Joseph and Magdalena (Litwiller) Oyer. : An 1831 Letter from Ohio to France. This letter was written by Peter Murer and Marei Saitner to Joseph A Hauter. The letter was found in a Martyrs Mirror which was brought to the US in 1837 by John and Anna (Garber) Naffziger. : The mish Mennonite settlement of Butler County, Ohio, where Peter the Apostle Naffzigerlived for a period. The Butler county settlement was the third of seven Ohio Amish communities, having been founded in 1819. The article discusses the conflicts within the coninunity and how Peter Naffziger became the leader of more liberal congregation, the “ button” group, in contrast to the stricter “hook and eye” group. September, 1992: An article on the Zehr families from France and Germany, identifies Elisabeth Zehr who married Christian Nafziger at Hopedale, Illinois. He was the first bishop of the Hopedale ? Mennonite congregation. Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage October, 1991: An article on the Mennonite farmers of the German Palatinate in the 18th century by Ernst Correll; and an article on Jacob Martin of Frederick County, MD. January, 1992: An article on Martin Kendig’s Swiss relatives. April, 1992: An article on Abraham Fretz; an 1869 article on Mennonite settlement in Waterloo Township, Ontario, Canada [ is the township where Christian Naffziger settled with Peter the Apostle in 1827]; and an article on Amish agriculture in the 19th and 20th centuries. July , 1 992 : An article by David Luthy on the publ ication history of the Martyrs Mirror, the book read by the Amish, Mennonites and Dunkards Continued on Page Eight Page Three Book Review The Peter Leibundgutt Journal has had a long history . It is now avai lable from it ‘ s compiler Lois Ann Mast, who also prints the News. The journal was translated by Dr E.C. Saylor in 1935 and many copies of the translation were available. The journal has since disappeared so all that is available is Dr Saylor’s translation. What makes the Journal important to the Naffziger family is that Peter Leibundgutt/Livingood was married to Barbara Naffziger. Previously many authors had written that Barbara was the daughter of Jacob Naftziger of Londonderry township, Dauphin County, PA. This supposition is incorrect. In surrmary of what we wrote in Vol X, No. 4, Fall issue, 1981, the Barbara identified in Jacob Naftzigers will in 1783 must have lived at home and was probably unmarried as the will stipulated that she was to receive her chest, bed, bedstead, side saddle, cow, etc, items which would have been included in a dowry if she would have been married. On the other hand, Peter Livingood and his wife Barbara Naffziger had a child in 1761. We are in the process of putting together an article on the early American Naftzigers which we believe will clarify much of the present confusion surrounding the families. The following are excerpts from Peters Journal which pertain to the Naffzigers: page 169, First Part May the 4th, in the year 1767, I loaned my brother—in—law [ italics], John Nafftsger money. June the 10th, made for John Nafftsger 27 yards of tow cloth for Christian (illegible) for 4 ˝ pence the yard is July the 18th, made 45 yards of hemp cloth for John Nafftsger for his father—in—law 11 s italics I , 12 yards of which is , at 5 ˝ pence the yard , and the remainder is the yard pence, all makes together August the 28th in the year 1785, I have reckoned with John Nofftzger and he stayed in my debt page 169, Second Part John Nafftziger’s chain weighed 11 3/4, is 11 feet 5 inches long Henry Nefftziger had woven 6 yards, 7 pence the yard for the half makes 18 ˝ yards of hemp cloth for the widow Henrigson [ s italics Ij , 7 pence the yard and the half is his makes January the 18th, in the year 1786, has his Henry a piece of half linen made, it is 26 3/4 yards for 8 pence the yard and is his, is 1786, the 16th day of February, has John Nefftzger, 22 pounds of hemp tow A genealogical sunirnary of the family was compiled and appended to the Journal by Christine Reid . She identified Barbara Nafz iger as the daughter of Jacob , which she may have been, but not of Jacob of Londonderry township, Dauphin County, PA. On the other hand the diary identifies John Naffziger as Peter Livingood brother-in-law. Additionally John Naffziger’s father—in—law is still alive in 1767. It is up to us to clarify exactly who were John and Barbara Naftziger’s ancestor. Page Four The editors great aunt died in 1992. Having been born in the last century, she was a wealth of family information, the kind that is suggestive of how difficult it can be to trace a path even when you have been told its direction. She will be missed by many for ( ifferent reasons for me she is a generation gone Obituary: Annie Opal Orfield Annie Opal, daughter of Albert Franklin and Ida Mable (Hendrickson) Noftsger, was born January 29, 1897 in Decatur County, Iowa and died October 6, 1992 at the Corydori Care Center in Corydon, Iowa at the age of 95 years. Annie grew up and attended school north of Larnoni, Iowa, the same school that Oscar Orfield attended. She and Oscar were married March 3 1 , 1 9 1 5 at Lamoni by Rev . Henry Stebbens , who had married Oscars parents. Five children were born to this union. They lived mostly in Decatur County before moving to their farm near Allerton, Iowa in 1941. Annie always enjoyed being outdoors, even finding excuses to go out into the rain. She worked hard on the farm alongside her husband, Oscar. Annie kept a big garden, but especially loved taking care of her flowers and watching the birds and squirrels in her yard. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, Oscar and one brother, Henry Nofteger. Survivors include her five children: Opal Hornocker and husband Everett of Allerton, Iowa; Floyd Orfield and wife Edna Mae of Jefferson Iowa; Ruby Van Toorn and husband Roy of Allerton; Garnett Mitchell of Clio, Iowa; and Pearl Vanderwilt and husband Morgan of Oskaloosa, Iowa; 28 grandchildren, two of who were raised by Annie and Oscar-- Alta Dylcstra and Annie Dykstra; 74 great grandchildren, 65 great great grandchildren; 2 sisters: Frances Sellars of Canias, Washington and Helen Gray of Lamoni, Iowa, nieces and nephews and friends. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. October 8, 1992 at the Slade-Oflonnell Funeral Home in Leon, Iowa, with Elder Bill Ballantyne officiating. Burial was in Elk Cemetery west of Decatur, Iowa. Letters and Queries David Stauffer of Palmyra, PA has reported that he and his fourteen year old grandson put up a new limestone wall on the roadside of the Nafzger cemetery near Palmyra. The cemetery dates back to Christian Nafzger, son of Jacok who emigrated in 1750. We appreciate David’s efforts. John Byler of Dorset, Ohio has again furnished the News with alot of great information that can only be obtained from original research. The following list of names are naturalizations which occurred in Wayne County, Ohio in 1836: Christian Schantz age 47, irrmigrated in 1833 naturalized in 1836 Wayne County, OH Jacob Nafziger ‘ 21 1831 Valentin Nafziger “ 54 1831 Peter Nafziger 27 1831 John Gingerich “ 39 1819 Anita Fiedler has sent to the News an clipping from History of Dakota County, Nebraska in which it states that her ancestor John Naffziger came from Bavaria to Canada in 1826, which at the time fit with the suggestion that he may be related to the Christian Naffziger and Maria Statler, who came with Peter the Apostle. Ms Fiedler however has pro\iidec us ith additional information hich introduces another Christian The ce from the book is as follows: Continued on Page Six Pac Five John Naffziger of Dakota County, Neb. Continued from Page Five John Naffziger farmer, is a native of Bavaria. In 1826 came to Canada. In 1851 came to Lee County, Iowa. In 1858 he removed to Dakota County, Neb, where he has since resided. He entered a one—quarter section of land, which he improved; also engaged in merchandising, his being the first goods sold in Dakota tin 1874, when he sold his farm and returned to Dakota City, where he has since resided. Has been Probate Judge one term, County Commissioner two terms, and has held various other minor offices. His son William has taught school several terms, is now engaged in farming. Ms Fiedler identifies another child, Moses, in addition to daughter Mrs Leah Daglish. In John’s obituary it notes that he visited Davis County, Iowa prior to 1856. The 1860 Census enumerates Christian Naffsinger, a 70 year old farmer from Germany. Also there is Moses Nossinger, a Canadian 12 years old, living with the Michael Miller family and John Gingerich, a 67 year old farmer from Germany. Michael Miller was 53 and married to be, then 46. The 1870 census for Davis County, Iowa has Micahel Miller, from Hesse-Darrristadt, Pheobe, from Beiren, Switzerland and Moses Nausinger. The IOOF Cemetery in Bloomfield, Iowa has the following graves: Moses Naffziger, 1847- 1896 husband and father Harriet 1852- 1926 wife and mother Wm. E. 1874- 1949 son Minnie 1875— 1911 daughter Carrie 1882- 1899 daughter In the Pulaski Cemetery, Pulaski, Davis County, Iowa Christian Naffziger 1802- 1882 and C.M. Naffziger, 1852—1887 are buried. David Luthy’s The 1 in P gives the following information on Davis County, Iowa. The first known misbman was Peter Miller, who brought his family from Ontario in 1854. Then caine other Amish families which numbered fifty in 1860. One family was the Kinsingers; another the Swartzentruber. Ms Fielder notes that her great grandfather Jobn’s son William claimed to be a cousin to the Kinsingers. Maybe that is a connection. The family could now be described as follows: Christian (= 1802 + 1887) Children:? (C.M. = 1852 + 1997) Johannes ( = c . 1808 + 1905) m. 1 . ? 2 . Lurinda Packard Children: Moses (= 1847 + 1896) Leah William Henry (= 1858 + 1939) Mary Laura John Frank Jr ( =1866 + 1911) Hattie Flora. The following people have written the News with queries and br information. We will get to everyone sooner or later. Please be patient. Some who wrote are Jay Noffsinger, III of Virginia Beach, VA, Carl Noftsger of Colfax, IA, Paul Baker of Madison, ‘1I, Rene Davis of Bloomington, IL, Steven Tonkinson of Hixson, TN, Schuyler Brossman of Rehersburg, PA, Tom Armour of Oakland, CA, John Byler of Beilville, OH, Geneva Shelton of Bozernan, MT, Don Dunitharn of Elkhart, IN, George Nafzgar of Norristown, PA, Raymond Bell of Washington, PA, Dave Stewart of Augusta, KS, Lannie Dietle of Houston, TX, D. Nofsinger of Olathe, KS, Robert Bowlin of Findlay, OH, Jane Pate of Niceville, FL and Greg Watson of Sunrise, FL. Page Six Family of Christian and Catharine (Maurer) Naffziger Continued from Page One Christian (= Ca 1775 + between 1832 and 1837) m. Catharina Maurer (= 1780 + 1845) 1 1 . Johannes (= 13 February 1802 + 7 October 1856 m. Anna Garber (= 30 July 1807 + 26 feb 1885) in 1832 111. Peter (= 1834 France ± 1886) m. Barbara (= ? + ?) 1111. Anna (= 1860 + ?) 1112. John H. (= 1861 ± ?) 1113. Peter E. (= 1863 + ?) 1114. Melissa (= 1868 + ?) 1115. Barbara (= 1870 + ?) 1 1 1 6 . SOlomon ( = ? + ?) 112. Catharine (= 1836 + 1909) m. Gungerich(=?+?) 113. John ( = 1838 Illinois + ?) m. Catharina (+ ? + ?) 1131. Susan (= 1865 + ?) 1132. Lena (= 1866 ± ?) 1133. Anna (= 1867 ± ?) 1134. Pheobe (= 1869 + 1135. &ma (= 1873 + ?) 1136. William H. (= 1874 + ?) 1137. Samuel J. (= 1877 + ?) 1138. Benjamin (= 1879 + ?) 114. Anna (= 1840 + ?) m. Sweiter (= ? + ?) 115. Magdalena (= 1842 + ?) 116. Barbara (= 1844 ± ?) m. Risser (= ? + ?) 117. Joseph (= 1846 + ?) 118. Elisabeth (= 1848 + ?) m. Engel (= ? + ?) 119. Lena ( 1849 + ?) 11—10 Pheobe (= 1850 + ?) m. Kinsinger (= ? + 7) 12. Christian (= 1808 + 1881 Union Cemetery, m. Barbara Schertz (= 1809 + 1881) 121. Katharine (= 1840 Illinois + ?) m . Valentin Naffziger ( = 3/0 Valentin Naffziger II 122. Magdalena (= 1841 + 7) 123 . Johannes ( = 1 843 + ?) m. Catharine (= 1851 + ?) 1231. Peter (= 1869 + 7) 1232. Christian (= 1871 + 7) 1233. Joseph (= 1872 + ?) 1234. Jobn(= 1875 + 7) 1235. Ema (= 1877 + 7) 13. Magdalena (= 1811 + 1892) m. Peter Gungerich ( = 1 8 1 1 + ?) 14 . Barbara ( = 1 8 14 + 1 5 June 1850) 15 . Jakobina ( = 1 8 17 + 10 Oct 1848) 16. Catharine (= 2 Jun 1818 + 3 Oct m. Christian Garber (= 1814 + 1877) Washington twp) (see issue XIX, No 4.) 1876) Page Seven In the Literature Continued from Page Three Mennonite Family History an, I 99 2 : On the Trail of Our Nafz iger Ancestors . Ms Marj one Gautsche traces the lineage of Peter and Magdalena (Schantz) Naffziger of Fleckensteinerhof near Lembach in the Alsace. She followed the Naffzigers from there to Fronsburgerhof, Diesburgerhof , Mottenhof and Reckingerhof. Charlan Graff inquires how two families are related: 1. Mary Nafziger, second wife of Joseph Rocke, who emigrated to the US in 1850 and 2. Catharine Nafziger, d/o of Johann N and Catharine Gingerich and second wife of Michael Jantzi. The two families shared a home in Illinois in the 1850s for a period of time. [ the notes that we made concerning the Rockey family above.] April, 1992: Special articles on the Herrfort family of Ontario, Canada; Kauffman family of the Alsace and South Dakota; Smith family from Somerset County, PA and Ontario, Canada; the Ficher-Wertzfamily connection; and the Hertzler family of Eppstein, Germany. July, 1992: An article by Marjorie Gautsche on the Peter Scthantz/ Christian Naffziger Bible. This article should be read in conjunction with the January article mentioned above. October, 1992: Mentioned in a 1908 letter on a visit to Alsace, France are the Naffzigers of Lewis County, NY and Newton County, IN and Schlawrihof. An article on the Kenipf families, which had Naffziger marriages in Lorraine, France. Again, I wish to apologize for not having published the News during the past three years. This is a hobby for me and it takes a reasonable amount of time to write, edit and get the newsletter ready for publication. Hopefully everyone will understand this and will be patient with me. The Nafzger Heritage News 1518 Guthrie Ave 1: No, IA 50316 Page EightSee here for the pdf version (scanned images) of this issue.
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