Chronology of Michael Kohn family

1844.07.19—birth of Michael Kohn in Wasserliesch, Kreis Saarburg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Deutschland. His baptism record of 1844.07.21 gives the birth date and  his parents.

1854—approximate birth of Theresia Loerscher, as calculated from the marriage registration. Her birth may be 1853.10.19 in Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen.

1871.06.17—application for emigration by Michael Kohn, as also reported in the Wasserliesch Kirchenbuch. His occupation is reported as "Schreiner" (cabinet maker or carpenter).

1872.11.01—application from Michael Kohn to the Wisconsin Circuit Court for naturalization.

1874.04.21—marriage of Michael Kohn and Theresia Loerscher (spelling uncertain) in La Crosse, La Crosse county, Wisconsin. The date and names of the couple and their parents are documents in a list of Wisconsin marriage registrations from 1851 to 1907.

1875—enumerated in the Kansas State Census of Beloit township, Mitchell county, Kansas.

1876—residence reported for Michael Kohn "on Second Street between King and Jay Streets" in the La Crosse city directory. A lag of up to a year can be expected between the information gathering and publication.

1879.07.22—death in Leavenworth of Francis John Kohn, who was born 1874 in "Omaha, Nebraska." The death index identifies this entry as "line 990" in some primary source. (The name "Francis" and the location seem to be unusual for the family, but the information needs to be checked to eliminate it or contradict my assumptions.)

1880—enumeration of the Michael Kohn family in Beloit city, Mitchell county, Kansas. The U.S. Federal Census enumerates them at that location under the name "Mike Cohen" age 36 born in Prussia with wife "Thressa" age 27, son Theodore age 5 born in Kansas, son Matt age 3 born in Kansas, and son Mike age 2 born in Kansas.

1882—residence reported as "Kohn, Michael, carpenter, r 909 7th" in Green's Leavenworth Directory, p 121.

1883—residence reported as "Kohn, Michael, carpenter, Willcott & Steir, r 909 7th" in Green's Leavenworth Directory, p 138.

1883.05.05—death of John R. Kohn, who was born 1881.01.05. The death index identifies this entry as "line 1278" in its primary source, which reads "[died] Leavenworth 1883.05.05, [cause] measles, [parents] Mcl - Teresa Kohn, [marital status] single, [location] Single Grave, [remarks] German church, [priest] J.F. Cunningham".

1884—residence reported as "Kohn, Michael, carpenter, Willcott & Stier, r 720 Kickapoo" in Green's Leavenworth Directory, p 153.

1884—calculated birth of John Kohn.

1885—enumeration of "Michl" Kohn (carpenter age 40 born in Germany) family in Kansas State Census of Leavenworth county, Leavenworth. Members: wife Teresa age 28 born Germany, son Theodore age 10 born Kansas, son "Mattew" age 8 born Kansas, son "Michl" age 7 born Kansas, and daughter Gertie age 4 born Kansas. A census index in the Leavenworth library cites three entries under Kohn: a Geo numbered 142 on page 469, a Geo numbered 142 on page 473, and a Michl numbered 142 on page 581.

1891.11.22—death of Theresa Kohn age 40 at 720 Kickapoo in Leavenworth. Her burial occurs on the next day at Mount Calvary. The death is caused by "paralysis," and Michael Kohn is identified as the next of kin. The Interment Register has line number 3243 (page 75) "Theresia Kohn, Germany 1852, Leavenworth Kan  21.91, paralysis, Theodore & Gertrude [Donebar or Dauter? inserted above], married, Single grave, German church, J.F. Cunningham".

1895—enumeration of Michael Kohn (carpenter age 50 born in Germany) family in Kansas State Census of Leavenworth county, Leavenworth. Members: Mathias age 17 born Wisconsin occupation cook, and Michael age 15 born Wisconsin (studying to be) carpenter.

1900.06.08—enumerated Michael Kohn as a widowed carpenter born June 1843 in Germany in the U.S. Federal Census of Leavenworth, with a location of North First Street in Ward 4. Family members include: son Michael born Dec. 1877 in Wisconsin, daughter Gertrude born Aug. 1880 in Kansas, son John R. born June 1884 Kansas, and son Peter born May 1877 in Wisconsin. Problematic is the statement that Michael Jr. and Peter were born seven months apart. Perhaps Peter is not a son, but the nephew Peter, the son of John M. Kohn who was born 1877.07.17?

1900.11.22—marriage of Gertrude Kohn to Arthur N. Wales, as listed in the marriage index in the Leavenworth library, which cites an entry in book K, page 164.

1901 to 1917—divorce proceedings between Gertrude Kohn and Arthur N. Wales, as listed in the divorce index in the Leavenworth library, which cites an entry 146-78.

1905—family of Michael Kohn (carpenter age 60 born in Germany) enumerated in Kansas State Census of Leavenworth county, Leavenworth. Members: son Michael Jr. age 27 born Kansas occupation carpenter, son John age 20 born Kansas occupation Bookbinder, son Leo age 17 born Kansas occupation R. Road Fireman, and daughter Annie age 15 born Germany. This information was reported by another researcher, and some of the assertions are now suspect (particularly concerning Leo and Annie).

1905.07.24—death of John Kohn at St. John Hospital of consumption at age 21. Burial is at Mount Calvary with Haas & Brown undertakers and A.J. Smith as certifying physician. The death index identifies this entry as line 4422. The Interment Register has line number 4422 (page 124) "John Kohn, 11worth 1884, 11worth Kan, July 24/05, consumption, Michael & Teresa, single, single grave, St. Joseph's, John Ward".

1905.09.04—death of Michael Kohn, Jr. at St. John Hospital of consumption at age 28. Burial is at Mount Calvary with Haas & Brown undertakers and Risdon as certifying physician. The death index identifies this entry as line 4440. The Interment Register has line number 4440 (page 125) "Michael Kohn, Leavenworth 1878, 11worth [Leavenworth]  Sept 4/05, consumption, Michael & Teresa, single, single grave, St. Joseph's, John Ward".

1907.08.26—death of Michael Kohn, Sr. at 784 Osage Street of tuberculosis at age 62. Burial is at Mount Calvary with O'Donnell undertakers and Darrah as certifying physician. The death index identifies this entry as line 4555. The Interment Register has line number 4555 (page 132) "Michael Kohn, Germany 1845, 11worth Aug. 26/07, Consumption, [no entry], married, single grave, St. Joseph's, P.R. McNamoran[?]".

1915.09.04—death of Arthur N Wales with no corroborative information.

1924.09.29—death of Theodore Kohn at age 49. Burial is at the Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery, location 2266-B. He was a Technical Sergeant in the U.S.Army and a veteran of the Spanish-American War.

Difficulties Encountered

At least one other Kohn family of Leavenworth in this period is unrelated. The family is likely Jewish. Their residences or businesses are likely at these addresses:
612 Cherokee (Charles Kohn and George Kohn, 1879, 1882)
North Shawnee (Charles Kohn and George Kohn, 1879)
311 Osage
111 N. Broadway (Charles Kohn and George Kohn, 1882)
407 N. 3rd
585 Miami
771 Osage
518 S. Esplanade

Gertrude Kohn-Wales is unaccounted for after her marriage in 1900.

Matthew Kohn is unaccounted for after the 1895 census.

The son Peter Kohn of 1900 is unreliable, but reported in the transcribed census index available from the LDS website.

Uncorroborated Assertions

In the 1900 census Theodore Kohn is found serving in the U.S. Army in the Phillipines.

The 1905 Kansas State Census of Leavenworth, Leavenworth Co. includes these members of the Michael Kohn family:

• John Kohn age 20 born Kansas occupation Bookbinder (there is a John Kohn 1884-Jul. 24, 1905 buried in Mt. Calvary Cemetery)
• Leo Kohn age 17 born Kansas occupation R. Road Fireman
• Annie Kohn age 15 born Germany

Research trip journal, day 11

2014.05.19 Monday

2014.05.20 Tuesday

2014.05.21 Wednesday

2014.05.22 Thursday

2014.05.23 Friday

2014.05.24 Saturday

2014.05.25 Sunday

2014.05.26 Monday

2014.05.27 Tuesday

2014.05.28 Wednesday

2014.05.29 Thursday

I drove due south from Osborne to reach I-70 as soon as possible. The route was nice via KS 281 to Luray, KS 18 for a few miles to Lucas, and then a scenic highway across Wilson Dam to the interstate. The entire leg took 2.5 hours. (I was expecting a drive time of 1.5 hours!)

Millie Corbett-Fink Interview

The interview with Millie Fink was more an introduction to each other, since we've carried on an exchange of emails prior to this meeting. Millie is an active genealogist, though she confesses to doing her documentation and name entry to make it convenient to her needs. Perhaps, she advised, that the result is not in line with "established practice." To me, that is okay as an interim step, since many family history buffs barely write anything down.

I pulled out my audio recorder soon after sitting at her kitchen table. It's a good thing, since her information came like leaves falling in an autumn windstorm. Lots of isolated tidbits that eventually get pulled together into a bushel basket.

When I interviewed Fronnie Slothower, Millie's information was stressed as an important source of all the family detail that my database lacks. Millie was happy to work with me to create a GEDCOM from her data software... The name of the software escapes me, but it seemed to perform a good part of the functions of Legacy, which I use. The key was to export a GEDCOM, which the software seemed to hang on, after it had paced through all the individuals. Its progress screen didn't report processing marriages, locations, or sources. So I hope the result is complete.

More to come after I've checked the recording and the output file...

On to Leavenworth

The drive to Leavenworth was through stretches of I-70 that I knew well from traveling to and from KU. My phone connectivity was very poor, and messages I left for Paul Deneke and Joe Hyde were likely too garbled to be understandable. I tried to leave two each, hoping that some part of the drive had better connectivity.

I was arriving so late that I went directly to the Leavenworth Public Library instead of checking in at the Econolodge as I drove past it. I would have to retrace my path by about five miles to do so.

I researched the Leavenworth City Directories and found five or more addresses for the family from 1879 through 1918. I photographed them all, opening to pages for "Cohn," "Cone," Kone," "Kohn," "Krohn," and "Kuhn" to make sure that typical misspellings were available for later review. Before she left a bit after 5:00 p.m., the librarian brought several other books with indexes to marriages, deaths, and burials. She said the birth indexes were online and at the courthouse. The marriage index at the library showed Gertrude Kohn's marriage. The death index and burial index may help me find the graves for the family in Mount Calvary cemetery. I finished by 8:30 with photographs of the relevant index entries, a half hour before the library was to close.

After a passable Thai meal downtown, I spent the evening at the hotel identifying the files. Unfortunately the internet connection in the motel was unavailable throughout the evening. I had not printed any materials in advance, so an online connection was critical here. When I called the front desk about the connection, I was assured the internet would be available by the morning. I woke at 4:00 a.m., found the wireless could not connect, complained again, and was given a tech support number. The service set up an exception for my computer so I could pass through the firewall, whether it was theirs or mine. With that, I was able to plan my drive through the city to photograph homes and churches, as well as to plan alternative routes for the drive home.

Chronology of the Leavenworth Kohn Family

The Michael Kohn family did not have a happy time in Leavenworth. He continued to work as a carpenter, and one son followed the same occupation.

2014.05.30 Friday

A Kohn family: lost, found, lost, found, and repeat

The Familienbuch 1 Pfarrei St. Aper Wasserliesch 1752-1899 (the first family book for the St. Aper parish in Wasserliesch, Germany) has a similar notation beside the baptism entries for Matthias Kohn (b. 1829.08.16), Johann Matthias Kohn (b. 1839.01.10), and Michael Kohn (b. 1844.07.19) that reads "nach Nord-Amerika ausgewandert." Before reading this, I had known only of my great-grandfather Johann Matthias as the emigré from Germany. Afterwards, I knew I had two other emigrés to account for.

With a bit more research, I found that in addition to my great-grandfather's emigration in 1865 were Matthias Kohn's emigration around 1855 and Michael Kohn's in 1871. Because of information from Irene Streit-Keller, I found evidence of Matthias Kohn's life in La Crosse, Wisconsin quickly. He owned a saloon, which he operated as a restaurant and hotel. He married Josephine Becker, the "oldest settler of La Crosse," (as reported in the La Crosse obituary for her) and had 11 children and adopted 2 children who had been orphaned by a family friend. I found a descendant of Matthias, Cindy Bistodeau, who supplied ever increasing detail about the family and introduced me to the last Kohn family member still living in La Crosse, her grandmother Charlotte Kohn-Troyanek.

But Michael Kohn was apparently lost.

With more detailed research, I found Michael Kohn in La Crosse. He had been a Schreiner in Germany, and he continued his trade as a carpenter in La Crosse. I believe he worked at first for a furnniture maker, but he had a business listing as a cabinet maker in the city directory of 1876-1877. The only other evidence of his life in La Crosse was a marriage in 1874 to Theresa Loerscher, who was born about 1854. And their names were not in the 1880 census of La Crosse.

Again, lost.

Then I happened to find a Michael "Cohen" in the 1880 census. In Beloit, Kansas. So much matched correctly: age 36, occupation carpenter, born in Prussia, parents born in Prussia, wife "Tressa." Her age was given as 27, and they had 3 boys: Theodore age 5, Matt age 3, and Mike age 2. I felt enough matched to have confidence that I had found the Michael Kohn family again.

I asked the Mitchell County Historical Society to request a search of the church records for any baptisms for children of Michael and Theresa Kohn through the next ten years. Nothing. I asked also for a search of city directories and tax records for the next few years. Nothing.

Again, the family seemed to be lost.

Then I searched the 1900 census nationwide for Michael Kohn and his family. There seemed to be matches in Leavenworth, Kansas. I wrote a query on the Leavenworth county message board hosted by Ancestry.com. Within a day, a fellow researcher provided summaries for the state and federal censuses of 1885, 1895, 1900, and 1905. Found again!

But the family seems to have little presence there after 1905. Are they lost again?

Update, 27 June 2013.

Further online research suggests these facts:

• Wife Theresa Loerscher-Kohn died in Leavenworth on 22 Nov 1891 (age 37).
• Daughter Gertrude Kohn married Arthur Wales on 26 Dec 1900 (ages 20 and 35). They had at least one child, Millie T, born in 1903.
• Son John R. Kohn died in Leavenworth on 24 Jul 1905 (age 21).
• Son Mike Kohn died in Leavenworth on 4 Sep 1905 (age 27).
• Husband Michael Kohn died in Leavenworth in 1905 (age 61).
• Son Theodore Kohn died 29 Sep 1924 and was buried at the Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery.
• Children Matt, Peter, Leo, and Annie are not accounted for. 

Update, 8 May 2014.

Further online research in the census databases available from the Family History Library suggests these facts:

• 
  Gertrude Kohn-Wales and her husband Arthur and child Millie are enumerated in the 1910 census. Their address is in Ward 4 (ward locations are not known, not identified in 1878 and 1903 plat maps of the county and city). I note the transcription error "Anthin" for "Arthur.
  
• It's unclear whether the Kansas censuses of 1915, 1925, and 1935 exist or whether the enumeration included city residents.
• 
  Gertrude remarried to a BROWN, who is not enumerated with her and daughter Millie Wales in the 1920 census. Their address is in Ward 1. A changed family name implies that Arthur Wales was divorced from Gertrude or deceased. The name "Brown" could be a transcription error, since no husband is enumerated. I presently feel trying to uncover further linkages is not worth the return.

• Neither Gertrude nor Millie appears in the 1930 or 1940 censuses.

I have planned a research stop in Leavenworth for May 29-30. At the city library, I will review and photograph entries in the City Directories and their databases of births, marriages, tax returns, school records, and deaths. I plan to visit the Mt. Calvary cemetery to see if more burials are there than the seven reported in the county database of burials. I will take a bike or auto tour of the city's historical locations and the six locations of family homes. Finally, I'll visit St. Joseph Catholic Church and request scans of their sacramental registers for known family dates.

Chronology of the Leavenworth Kohn Family

© Thomas G. Kohn, 2013, 2014.