THIS ISSUE'S PROFILE

This issue of The Boßecker Newsletter will focus on the most enigmatic immigrant Boßecker family; the Peter Boßecker family. I use the term enigmatic because the source documents, particularly parish records, that have been located on the Karl & Johannes Boßecker families have not been so easily unearthed for Peter's family.

The earliest date reference found so far on this family refers to Peter's birth. According to an abstract of his naturalization application papers, Peter Boßecker was born on 10 Dec 1802 and he was a "native of Saxony".

Chronologically, the next account was previously reported in the June 1996 issue of The Boßecker Newsletter. Eisveld, Germany Parish Records note the baptism of Peter Boßecker's eldest known child on 3 Jun 1827. This record notes that the father, Peter, was "from Veilsdorf" and also gives us the identity of the mother, Margareta Barbara Schmidt.

On 16 Jun 1846 Peter Boßecker, his wife and his 6 children arrive in New York City on the Danish ship Skjold. A little over 2 years later, on 6 Aug 1848, Peter's oldest child, Caroline, marries Philip Benz at St Pauls Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, IN.

In the 1850 census, Peter listed as the head of his household along with his wife, Margaret, and his children, John, Charles, Henry, Christian and Fredricka. The Peter Boßecker family is living in St Joseph Township of Allen County, Indiana.

In 1852 Peter applied for naturalization in Allen County and that is the last time Peter is associated personally with any written record found to date. In a biography,

Peter's son, Christian, noted that his father was a miller and his death occurred in 1857. Despite that report, I find Peter's wife, Margareta (Schmidt) Boßecker, and their daughter, Fredricka, taking communion in 1856 on the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and in this record she is listed as wittwe Boßecker .

Pentecost is celebrated on the 7th Sunday after Easter. In 1856, Easter was on the 23rd of March and Pentecost was on May 11th. Seventeen Sundays after May 11th is September 7th. From this communion record it seems reasonable to assume that Peter Boßecker was dead by 7 Sep 1856.

In the 1860 census we find Peter's wife, Margareta, living at home in St Joseph Township, Allen County, IN, with her children, Charles, Henry, Christian & Fredricka. Also in the household is Charles Boseker's wife, Fanny (Bell) Boseker. The census notes the family is served by the Ridge Road Post Office.

The 1860 agricultural census lists Peter's son, Charles as the "Owner, Agent or Manager of the farm". The farm consists of 160 acres, 35 improved and 125 unimproved. Livestock on hand as of 27 Jul 1860... 3 horses, 3 milk cows, 6 "other cattle" & 9 pigs. It is not clear at to me at this time if the Boseker family owned the farm property or not.

By 1861 Peter' son, Henry has moved to 114 Madison, Fort Wayne, IN and Henry's mother is living with him there. Christian Boseker's biography states that his mother died in 1865. I am still trying to locate the final resting place of Peter & Margareta (Schmidt) Boßecker. I ask anyone with knowledge of cemeteries in southern St Joseph Township, Allen County, IN to contact me.

Click here for a graphical depiction of the first 3 generations of the Peter Boßecker family.

MORE VETERANS

Here are more Boßecker descendant veterans that have been documented since the last issue. The second known female veteran is included in this issue's list.

Claude M. Alcorn [1894-1966], World War I.
Great-Grandson-in-law of Johannes Boßecker.

Edwin F.C. Strauss [1896-1978], US Marine Corps, World War I. Great-Grandson of Karl Boßecker.

George F. Thiel [1921-1974], "Sea Bee", US Navy
World War II. GG-Grandson of Karl Boßecker.

Richard D. Strauss [Born: 1931], US Marine Corps, Korea. US Army, Viet Nam.
GG-Grandson of Karl Boßecker.

Roland K. Kunde [Born: 1941], Sp5 US Army.
GGG-Grandson of Johannes Boßecker.

Alvin B. Buss [Born: 1941], Sp5 Medical Corps,
US Army 1961-1964.
GG-Grandson of Johannes Boßecker.

James D. Harris [Born: 1940], Chief, US Navy.
GG-Grandson-in-law of Karl Boßecker.

Timothy S. Edwards [Born: 1964], E-5, US Army.
GGG-Grandson-in-law of Karl Boßecker.

Tami (Harris) Edwards [Born: 1964], E-3, US Army 1983-1985. GGG-Granddaughter of Karl Boßecker.

NEW ARRIVALS!

Sydney Danielle Miget, GGGG-Granddaughter of Karl Boßecker , was born on 24 Jul 1997.

MARRIAGES!

Michelle Renee Morgenthaler, GGG-Granddaughter of Karl Boßecker married Todd Cullen Bryant on 11 Oct 1997.

IN MEMORY OF...

Walter Wilhelm Valentine Bosecker

[3 Sep 1901 - 14 Jan 1997], Great-Grandson of Johannes Boßecker, passed away at Toledo, OH at the age of 95 years, 4 months and 11 days.

Margaret (Couch) Bosecker

[15 Oct 1923 - 31 Mar 1997], Great-Granddaughter-in-law of Johannes Boßecker, passed away at Evansville, IN at the age of 73 years, 5 months and 16 days.

Kate (Davis) Strauss

[25 Apr 1908 - 10 Jul 1997], Great-Granddaughter-in-law of Karl Boßecker, passed away at Richardson, TX at the age of 89 years, 2 months and 15 days.

James Warren Boseker

[14 Oct 1929 - 5 Aug 1997], GGG-Grandson of Peter Boßecker, passed away at Columbus, OH at the age of 67 years, 9 months and 22 days.

Reno Beardsley

[21 May 1911 - 9 Nov 1997], Great-Grandson-in-law of Johannes Boßecker, passed away in Portland, OR at the age of 86 years, 5 months and 19 days.

Dorothy Lee (Bosecker) DeLau

[26 Jun 1928 - 12 Nov 1997], GG-Granddaughter of Johannes Boßecker, passed away at Evansville, IN at the age of 69 years, 4 months and 17 days.

VOLUME 2 INDEX AVAILABLE

As I did last year, I will compile an index for Volume 2 of The Boßecker Newsletter. To obtain an index simply send me a post card or letter and state that you would like to have an index. Your index will be sent with the next newsletter.

PHOTOS OF JOHANNES & LOUISA BOßECKER ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

In July I made a copy negative of each of the photographs of the immigrants Johannes & Louisa (Thomin) Boßecker that are in the possession of Al & Audrey Buss of Minneapolis, MN. Al & Audrey have graciously given me permission to make copies of these photographs available to any family member who would want them.

The photographs, which are black and white in a matte finish, are about 4 inches by 6 inches in size. The cost, which includes postage, is $4.00 for the first set (a set consists of two photographs; one of Johannes and one of Louisa) and $3.00 for each additional set.

To order, please send a letter requesting the number of sets you desire and a check to cover the cost.

ERRATUM

In the New Arrivals! article in the last issue, I reported one of the Boseker triplets names incorrectly. I had reported a name of James Jared Boseker; the name should have been Jared James Boseker.