HELBLING Family, BEERBOWER Family (Click for Family Tree)

Genealogy always has components of serendipity, even when one really tries to stick to a research or writing plan. This is what happened recently, when a question about membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) led to some new information and connections within our Beerbower ancestors.

The DAR has made documentation of our Revolutionary War veterans a top priority, and they also work with schools and other groups to promote history and patriotism. Women who are interested in joining DAR must research and prove relationships to an ancestor who,

“with unfailing loyalty, rendered material aid to the cause of Independence”

DAR provides some of their genealogical materials to non-members researching their family history. (Thank you, DAR!)

Today is Veterans Day in the United States, when we honor all those who have served our country to create and preserve our democracy. This story includes four ties to Veterans Day: Elsie Janis, a cousin who became a DAR member and served our country in war though not as a member of the military; her British fiancé Basil Hallam, who died while serving in World War I; her husband Gilbert Wilson, who served in the Army in World War II; and the ancestor to Elsie and to the St. Louis Helbling branch and various Beerbowers, Caspar Beerbower/Bierbrauer, who served in the militia during the Revolutionary War. Elsie joined the DAR on Casper Bierbower’s record.

Because this story grew the more it was researched, this will need to be a multi-post narrative. The connections are wonderful through the years, however, so we hope you will enjoy reading. We will start with one of the persons who made “us” possible, our direct ancestor Caspar Bierbrauer (Bierbrauer, Beerbower, Bierbower, Beerbrower, etc.).

It is believed that Casper Bierbauer was born in 1736, possibly in Westerwald, Schaumburg, Niedersachsen, Germany, but this needs more research to verify. Also needing more research is exactly when he came to the American colonies, but a number of sources state it was 1752, when he was 16. He came with his father, Johann Jacob Bierbrauer (1705-1760), and possibly his mother Annae Christiannae Sonderhausen (although we do not know for sure if she made the voyage, since so little was recorded of women’s lives). His siblings made the trip as well. They were a part of the largest wave of German immigration to Pennsylvania, from about 1749-1754. Constant wars in the German principalities, a need there for young men for military service (Casper was about that age), and reports of America being a paradise were some of the reasons that whole families immigrated to the colonies.

When Casper was about 29 he married Elizabeth Ashenfelter (~1740-1821). They may have lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania in the 1760s and 1770s, as a Casper Bierbower witnessed a will there on September 29, 1766, and another record states a Casper Bierbower had 100 acres, 1 horse, and 1 head of cattle in the county in 1770. There are also records for Chester County with a Casper Beerbower (with various creative spellings) being taxed there in Pikeland in 1762, 1764, 1765, and 1766; in E. Whiteland in 1767 and 1768, and 1771 in Vincent, all in Chester County.

The Revolutionary War started in 1775 when Casper was 39, and continued through 1783. Casper signed the Pennsylvania Commonwealth’s ‘Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity’ on May 16, 1778, declaring his loyalty to the revolution, rather than to the king. He may have signed this eagerly, but would have known that what he was doing would be considered an act of treason by the king, if the rebels lost.

Casper signed that Oath in York County, Pennsylvania, so he and Elizabeth were living there by that date. He also paid tax in York’s Dover Township in 1780, and again in 1781 and 1783.

In May of 1779, as the Revolution raged on, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania  required:

” a true and exact list of the names and surnames of each and every male white person usually inhabiting or residing within your Township, between the ages of Eighteen and fifty-three years, Capable of bearing arms.”

Certain persons were exempted from the list, including delegates in Congress or members of the Executive Council, faculty of colleges, Supreme Court judges, Ministers of the Gospel, and purchased servants (white, Indian, or black). (Possibly half of German immigrants came as indentured servants, or ‘redemptioners’ who could not afford passage so had to work off the cost in service, often with cruel masters.)

Male farmers, craftsmen, merchants, and others from the towns and sparse rural areas of the county were thus required to serve the Revolutionary cause when needed. Older citizens, like Casper Beerbower, could perform duties that freed up the younger for the more strenuous marching and battles.

At age 45, on December 8, 1781, Casper’s enlistment as a Private began in Captain John McMaster’s Company of the York militia. “Casper Beerbrower” was listed on John McMaster’s payroll from this date until February 8th, 1782.

The York Militia was stationed at Camp Security, an American camp for prisoners-of-war, from July 1781-May 1782. After Casper’s arrival, it was recorded in John McMaster’s log:

” Camp Security, 24th, Dec., 1781.
This is to certify that Casper Bierbower of the 7th Class of York County Militia hath put up his part of the Stockade and is hereby discharged.

Jno. McMaster, Capt.”

While much safer than being on the battlefield or a large camp filled with diseases like smallpox, Casper’s work was still hard labor. Logs would be felled, the ends shaped to a point, and a hand-dug trench was created around the camp. The logs would then need to be raised, with the pointed end up, and fitted tightly side-by-side. Then the men would have backfilled the trench, tamping the earth down to hold the logs in place. Gates, platforms near the top for observation and shooting, etc., would have also needed to be built.

Camp Security was one of many prisoner camps that were located in Pennsylvania. (A McMurray ancestor, Henry Horn, was a Hessian soldier captured at Trenton and taken to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.) Camp Security was built in the summer of 1781 on a 280 acre farm that had been confiscated.  A stockade as well as living quarters were erected by the militia. British General Burgoyne’s troops, captured at Saratoga, New York, in 1777, had originally been housed in Maryland or Virginia. When battles moved closer to those areas, the prisoners were moved- in 1781, to Camp Security in York County.

George Washington’s decisive Seige of Yorktown, with the assistance of French troops, began September 28, 1781. More than two weeks later, on October 19th, General Lord Charles Cornwallis and more than 7,000 of his troops surrendered. Cornwallis, however, was quite ungentlemanly and refused to attend the surrender ceremony. He may have realized that with this battle, the Americans had likely gained their independence from Britain.

The Americans had a new problem though- they had thousands of British prisoners to house. (Officers went free after parole.)

Note the dates- Casper helped build the stockade in December of 1781, so it was likely they were adding to the size of the camp to house the new Yorktown prisoners. The Burgoyne troops were still at Camp Security, but the new prisoners, privates and non-commissioned officers, were moved to Camp Security in the early months of 1782; the York Militia, Casper’s friends and neighbors, acted as guards for much of that year. Some of the more trust-worthy prisoners, such as officers and their families, lived in huts in a small village nearby. Many prisoners received passes to work locally for farmers and merchants, which helped to provide needed articles of clothing, bedding, and even food, and aided the locals since much of their population was off fighting the war. The troops of Cornwallis were a much higher escape risk than the Burgoyne prisoners,, so the new men were confined to the stockade. Estimates of the total number of prisoners varies, but it may have been around 3,000 in York County alone.

Like in so many crowded camps, a wave of fever ran through, killing many inhabitants. Once the war was over in spring of 1783, British prisoners returned to their homeland or were given land in Canada (by the British) for their service. The stockade and Camp Security was abandoned, but is now an archaeological and historical site.

And our ancestor Casper Bierbower? After “render[ing] material aid to the cause of Independence” at Camp Security, he and Elizabeth continued to reside in York County, Pennsylvania. They were enumerated in the first census of the United States, in 1790, with one male over 16 (presumably Casper), and 1 under 16, which could be Casper Bierbower Jr. or their youngest son, John Bierbower; three females lived in the household as well. Tax records suggest the family farmed, although we do not know if they owned the land, as one record over these years stated it was rented.

For the 1800 US Federal census, Casper and Elizabeth (likely) are found in Warrington, York County, Pennsylvania. Casper would have been 64 that year, Elizabeth 60, with their children grown and on their own. We can infer this since they were the only people listed in the household in 1800, both over 45 years of age.

Elizabeth died July 16th, 1821 in Warrington, York County, Pennsylvania per some sources but we have not found any reliable record for that date nor place. Casper, and possibly Elizabeth, may have moved after 1800 as we do not find them again in York County, Pennsylvania. Their sons Henry Bierbower and Casper Bierbower, Jr. lived in Washington County, Maryland, so a move there would be logical as the couple aged. On October 28th, 1820, a man listed as “Casper Beerbrougher” was listed in the 1820 US Federal Census for Hancock, Washington County, Maryland. There is one male listed as 26-45 years old, and one listed as older than 45; this could be Casper Jr., who would have been 38 that year, and Casper Sr., who would have been 84. There is no woman listed as being over 45 years old, so this suggests that Elizabeth had actually died by that date, not the year later, in 1821. There are young children in this household of nine, so this could be an instance when Casper as a widower was being cared for in his old age by his son, daughter-in-law, and his grandchildren. Casper died sometime in 1822.

We thank Casper for his service to our democracy.

Next: Elsie Janis, two of the men in her life, and her service during wartime.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. “German Settlement in Pennsylvania An Overview,” Pennsylvania Historical Society, https://hsp.org/sites/default/files/legacy_files/migrated/germanstudentreading.pdf
2. DAR database for Casper Bierbower– https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/default.cfm

3. House of Bierbauer: Two Hundred Years of Family History, 1742-1942, compiled by James Culver Bierbower and Charles William Beerbower, 1942.

4. John McMaster’s payroll, as transcribed in Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volume II, page 650. https://www.campsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/camp-security-listing.pdf

5. Discharge of Casper Bierbower– Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volume II, page 730.
6. Some Camp Security links–
   https://yorkblog.com/universal/new-camp-security-booklet-is-available-for-students-and-teachers/
   https://yorkblog.com/universal/how-many-revolutionary-war-pri/
7. Siege of Yorktown– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Yorktown_(1781)
8. See Wikimedia for key to Yorktown surrender image– https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reddition_armee_anglaise_a_Yorktown_1781_avec_blocus_naval.jpg

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Original content copyright 2013-2020 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

HELBLING Family, BEERBOWER Family (Click for Family Tree)

Today is the anniversary of the death of Anna May (Beerbower) Helbling, who left her beloved and loving family on November 9th, 1954.

Anna May was born on 26 May 1881 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Anna Missouri (Springsteen) Beerbower (1854-1939), and Edgar Pater Beerbower (1849-1916), their fourth of five children. She married Gerard William “G.W.” Helbling (1882-1971) on 24 Nov 1904.

Focusing on her as a young woman, full of joy and sweetness, is something that she would be happy about. So here are a few pictures of May, as her loving “G.W.” called her.

There are many family pictures that have been glued to a heavy pasteboard that have amazingly survived over 110 years! This is one of those compositions:

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Family treasure chest of photos.

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Original content copyright 2013-2020 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

HELBLING Family, SPRINGSTEEN Family (Click for Family Tree)

After his divorce from Mary Galvin Springsteen Mithen, John Mithen continued his tailoring business in Indianapolis. He ran an ad regularly in the The Recorder- A Negro Newspaper, published in Indianapolis Indiana. The paper included his ad on 21 Oct 1899 on page 1, and he repeated the ad regularly, including in the 29 Dec 1900 issue of the paper.

An interesting article appeared in the Indianapolis News of 29 Aug 1900- “Inquiry About a Brother.” A man named Martin Mithen had sent a “peculiar communication” to the Indianapolis Sheriff asking for a search of the county records, as he was trying to find his brother, John Mithen. John was supposed to have been in the Insane Hospital for a period of nine years, according to Martin. John had written his brother in Carpenteria, California, stating that he had been released from the hospital, and had also divorced his wife. This information is fairly correct, as John was to be committed in July of 1889, and had divorced his wife in 1899, within a year or two of the stated ‘nine years.’ We have been unable to find anything about John during the time between those two events, so he may well have been in the Insane Hospital. (That is something to research too.)

Martin Mithen continued his letter to the Sheriff stating that he had another letter from 23 Indiana Ave., but did not believe that was actually from his brother John. Indianapolis records were searched and none were found for any man named Mithen to be admitted to the Insane Hospital. The Sheriff would contact Martin Mithen, and try to find out who actually sent the second letter.

Two days later, on 31 Aug 1900, the Indiana Tribune, had an article on page 5 that included the names Martin Mithen and John Mithen. The problem was that this was a German language newspaper, and the typeface used was as above. This made it difficult to put into a translation program, and it was tempting to give up, since it seemed like it might be similar to the first news article. Luckily, however, a friend was born in Germany, and he was able to read it:

“Martin Mithen asked the local Sheriff to help with the search for his brother John Mithen. Sheriff Clark found a tailor named John Mithen who lived at Indiana Ave, No. 23, who turned out to be his missing brother.

“John Mithen now wants to move to California.”

So good call to check that one more thing!

We do not know when or where John Mithen died. His son, Patrick James Grattan Mythen stated in his 18 Oct 1920 Passport Application that his father was dead, but some of James’ facts have been wrong. Had John died in Indianapolis, or Massachusetts, where one daughter married, or in California near his brother? We have looked at death records and cemetery listings in all three states but have not yet found anything substantial to indicate when John Mithen passed away.

During these years, we have found Mary Agnes Galvin Springsteen Mythen mentioned or involved in a number of things. The 15 Sep 1900 issue of the Indianapolis News stated that” James Mythen, son of Mrs. Mary Mythen… has gone to Baltimore [Maryland] to enter a seminary.” Mary’s stepson, James planned to become a Catholic priest. (It is interesting that his father is not included in the announcement.) In August of the next year, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Y.M.I. (Young Men’s Institute) held a garden party at Mary’s home at 324 S New Jersey St. It was well- attended, and featured Japanese lanterns lighting the lawn, dancing, a phonograph, and a palm reader. As the article says the entertainment would be repeated in the evening, it may have been a fund-raiser. The Y.M.I. was a group that supported members of the African-American community. Another group that Mary participated in, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, was a Catholic organization that celebrated their Irish heritage. Mary was in charge of a refreshment booth at an event in August 1903.

Mary Agnes Galvin Springsteen Mithen died of cancer less than 3 years later, on 15 April 1906 in Indianapolis. She was only 44 years old! Mary was remembered in the Springsteen Family Bible, so was still loved by her adoptive family.

Obviously there are some Mithen/Mythen researchers out there as a query by one of them inspired this review of Mary and her family. Mary had three children with John and they each had families of their own, so hopefully there are still some direct descendants today. Please let us know if we need to correct any of this information, or if you have any additional knowledge. We would really love to see a picture of Mary Agnes Galvin Springsteen Mythen or her husband John Mithen!

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. “Springsteen Family Bible,” Heritage Ramblings, 9 Jun 2016. https://heritageramblings.net/series/the-springsteen-family-bible/
2. Newspaper articles are from GenealogyBank.com and Hoosier State Chronicles. https://newspapers.library.in.gov

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Original content copyright 2013-2020 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Helbling Family (Click for Family Tree)

As children across America are already sitting at school desks or getting their supplies ready to start a new year of learning, here is a photo that was in with the Helbling-Geier unknown family photos we have recently posted. The above is obviously a school photo, but the dear little girl in the front who was holding the sign apparently turned it around- there is no identification of the school or year that we can see on her tablet!

It is interesting to see a child of color in the photo, and along with the dress, this  photo is most likely post CivilWar, and more likely 1880s or later. The doors of the building look so tall- perhaps this was a church school?

Do you have any idea of the time or place this was taken, the school, or any of the persons in the photo? Please use our ‘Contact Form’ if you have information to share.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Helbling-Geier family photo shared by cousin Mary Lou. Thank you!

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Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

HELBLING Family (Click for Family Tree)

Today we showcase some of our wonderful ancestors that we can’t identify. These images have been lovingly passed down in the Helbling-Geier family from a time when having a portrait taken was a big event. No cell phones or small cameras to capture what was for breakfast, crazy antics with friends, or your haul from the craft store- just photos of the family at their very best.

We hope that someone out there can help us date these pictures or identify individuals. If you have a copy similar, please let us know through our Contact Form!

The beautiful photo above looks like it could be three sisters, since they are fairly close in age and fairly young. Although not a photo expert, it seems this image might be from the 1860s by the dresses they were wearing and the hairstyles. What do you think?

The above photo may be from the same studio, same time period, as the borders, etc. were the same. Could this be a portrait of an older sister, on her wedding day, and the portrait of the younger sisters was taken as well as a keepsake? (OK, family historians do have vivid imaginations, but we have seen a lot and could be right.) Or could this be the mother of the girls? Their eyebrows are similar.

Above and below are portraits of one or two children, possibly taken in the 1870s or later. The chair in the photos may be the same- could this be the same child, but older? Two siblings? The design of the physical photo itself is similar, so may be from the same studio.

Here is another cute child, taken at the Dabbs Photo Studio in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The London, England-born Benjamin L. H. Dabbs opened his photography studio in Pittsburgh in 1861 and died in 1899, so we at least have a range of time for when this photo was taken. Dabbs was considered to be the finest photographer in Pennsylvania, and was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln and the steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie. An image Dabbs took of Carnegie has been hung at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, and you may have a Carnegie library in your town with a portrait. Back then, most photographers allowed customers to sit again if they did not like a finished portrait, but not Benjamin Dabbs. Because of Dabbs’ reputation, this portrait may have been a bit more costly from the start, and the family would have had to settle for a portrait they didn’t really like, or pay again.

We are moving into more recent times now with our unknown family, with the above possibly a turn-of-the-century photo– that would be 19th going into 20th century, or around 1900. Small cameras were becoming available to the masses, and cute, spur-of-the-moment pictures could be taken by families who would then have the roll of film developed and pictures printed on paper. (What a concept today!)

Here are three lovely ladies, strolling in the park or the yard, with the family dog most likely. People took pictures of their pets back then too! And wonder how long it took to get their hair put up neatly in that ‘do’?

This serious young little guy is resting his arm on a Craftsman-style chair, which would put the portrait sometime between about 1880-1920.  His outfit looks like some seen in the 19-teens or so, but again, no photo dating expert here.

Could this possibly be the same little guy a couple of years later? Or maybe not, as the portrait could be from the 1920s or 30s.

This last picture seems to be a much more recent image- maybe even from the 1950s or 60s.

We have about 100 years of photos from the Helbling and/or Geier family in this post! We do hope that maybe someone can help us identify the time or individuals in each one. Please use our ‘Contact Form’ if you can help solve our family photo mystery.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Benjamin Dabbs bio– https://cabinetcardgallery.com/category/photographer-dabbs/
2. Thanks again to our cousin Mary Lou for sharing all these wonderful photos of times past!

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Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.