Re: Bohnerts from Baden, Germany
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In reply to:
Bohnerts from Baden, Germany
Barbee Perrance 1/22/01
Updated notes on Daniel and Mary Bohnert of Baden
Daniel Bohnert was not actually from Germany.He was from the "Grand Duchy of Baden" which was a soverign country until it joined the German Empire in 1871, after Daniel's death.His wife Mary was also born in Baden.It is not known yet whether Daniel and Mary married in Baden or in the U.S. There native tongue is listed as German.
Daniel was probably in New York City by 1834, but the earliest record found so far is the 1835 New York Register and City Directory which shows Daniel working as a shoemaker.
The 1839 New York City Directory gives more detail, stating that Daniel worked as a shoemaker at 19 Spruce Street, Manhattan, NYC.
The 1840 New York Census lists Dan'l Bonhart in New York City and his wife, both born between 1800-1810.They have 2 children under the age of five, which would be Caroline, who was born in 1836 and Charles William, who was born in 1840.Since Daniel was in New York in 1835, these 2 children were born in NYC, not Baden.
After 1840, the family started west.It was a good time to leave NYC...did you SEE the movie "Gangs of New York"?
A family Bible recorded that Ferdinand was born in Lexwan, Pike County, Pennsylvania in 1841.I can find a Lackawaxen, Pike County, Pennsylvania.
By 1842 the family is in Wawarsing, Ulster County, New York because we find that two year old Charles William had died and was buried there that year.
Daniel traveled back to New York City in 1844 to appear on October 28th before the Common Pleas Court for citizenship and naturalization.This was witnessed by Sebastian Kohlhepp a shoemaker from Greenwich Village, NYC.The record stated that Daniel then lived in Ulster County, New York.If, in fact, you had to be a resident for 10 years before applying for citizenship, Daniel would have had to be in the U.S. by October 1834.
The 1850 New York Census shows the family still in Wawarsing, Ulster County, New York.This record took a long time to locate because "Bohnert" was spelled "Bouhnard" and the handwriting looked to some like "Bouhesard."It lists Daniel (44 yrs), Mary called "Mariah" (44 years), Caroline (14 yrs), Ferdinand (9 yrs), Daniel Jr. (6 yrs), Mary E. (3 yrs), and Anna, called Ann (1 yr).Daniel, Sr. is still working as a shoemaker.
The 1860 census finds the family in Sangamon County, Illinois.Abe Lincoln country.
It lists D. and M. Bonhert born in Baden, F. Bonhert born in Penn., and D., M.E., and A. Bonhert born in New York.
Daniel, Sr. is now listed as a farmer but I bet they were all well shoe'd.
Their closest Post Office was in Pleasant Plains, as was their church.Google Map the Methodist Church in Pleasant Plains and it will take you to the Peter Cartwright Methodist Church at 205 W. Church Street.
Caroline is not included on the 1860 census with her family, but she would have been 24 yrs old by then, possibly married and out of the house.A marriage record exists for a Caroline Bonherd and G. B. Smith on Sept 3, 1855 in Menard County, Illinois.The Menard County line is about 10 miles away from Pleasant Plains.
Daniel, Sr. died on Feb 3, 1866 and was buried in Pleasant Plains.
The 1870 census shows widowed Mary Bohnert living in Cartwright Township, Sangamon County, Illinois with Daniel Jr., and Anna J. who are both still single.
Ferdinand is not listed because he married in 1866 to Clarissa Davis and moved to Kansas by 1870 with his wife and in-laws.
Mary E. is not living at home in 1870 even though she did not marry Wilson Duggons until Aug 20, 1877 in nearby Springfield, the county seat.
Anna never married but died in 1876 and was buried next to her father in Pleasant Plains.
Daniel, Jr., who was ill for several years after his Civil War service, married in May 17, 1876 to Mary Aschenback.
The 1880 census shows widowed Mary Bohnert living alone at 74 yrs old and keeping house in the village of Pleasant Plains.
It says that she AND her parents were born in Baden.
She died Oct 19, 1881.