Ramcharan-Crowley

Max Seraphin aka Charles Wendling Dietsch

Maximin Serephin Franz “Max” DietschAge: 88 years18281916

Name
Maximin Serephin Franz “Max” Dietsch
Given names
Maximin Serephin Franz
Nickname
Max
Surname
Dietsch

Charles Wendling Dietsch

Name
Charles Wendling Dietsch
Given names
Charles Wendling
Surname
Dietsch
Note: Renamed himself during the voyage to America, taking the name Charles from the ship's captain, whom he admired.
Birth May 19, 1828 40
Note: Grussenheim church records state that he was born 27 may 1828. His family bible, death certificate and obituary all list 19 may 1828.
Birth of a brotherJohann-Baptist Dietsch
February 11, 1830 (Age 20 months)
Birth of a brotherLeonard Dietsch
June 4, 1832 (Age 4 years)

Birth of a brotherAugust Bernard Dietsch
March 25, 1837 (Age 8 years)

Death of a brotherAugust Bernard Dietsch
1841 (Age 12 years)

MarriageMaria Josephine WagnerView this family
February 22, 1854 (Age 25 years)

Birth of a son
#1
Charles Seraphin Dietsch
November 20, 1854 (Age 26 years)

Emigration 1855 (Age 26 years)
Note: The Translation of the Grussenheim papers says "He left France because of trouble in his homeland." Email correspondence from Barbara Peck says "He may have been trying to hide. The church records called him 'fugitiv.'"
Immigration 1855 (Age 26 years)
Note:
The Grussenheim Papers say that when he emigrated, he and his wife accompanied his sister, Marie Victoria, and her husband, Francois Seraphin Dietsch. However, there is no record of anyone on the ship Mercury (the ship on which Francoi s a nd Victoria arrived) with the surname Dietsch or Wendling, or the first name of Max or Seraphin. Other than a "Charles and Maria Brika," both aged 24 from France, there are no obvious candidates. See source for list.
Note: The 1910 census gives the year as 1856.
Death of a sonCharles Seraphin Dietsch
September 1855 (Age 27 years)

Text:
The baby died at 10 months...
Residence 1855 (Age 26 years)
MarriageMary Ellen BerkeView this family
1860 (Age 31 years)

Birth of a daughter
#2
Mary Ellen Dietsch
March 25, 1861 (Age 32 years)

Birth of a son
#3
Charles Wendling Dietsch
August 8, 1862 (Age 34 years)
Death of a wifeMary Ellen Berke
1863 (Age 34 years)

Death of a fatherFrançois Joseph Dietsch
December 20, 1865 (Age 37 years)

Naturalization October 28, 1868 (Age 40 years)
MarriagePhilomene Phedora “Phedora” GainView this family
October 28, 1868 (Age 40 years)
Birth of a daughter
#4
Delia Emily Dietsch
November 1, 1869 (Age 41 years)
Death of a brotherJohann-Baptist Dietsch
October 4, 1870 (Age 42 years)

Cause: Pneumonia
Note: Contracted pneumonia while hunting.
Birth of a daughter
#5
Harriet Phedora Dietsch
February 8, 1871 (Age 42 years)
Birth of a daughter
#6
Helene Elizabeth “Lena” Dietsch
July 28, 1873 (Age 45 years)
Birth of a son
#7
Joseph Alphonse Dietsch
September 9, 1875 (Age 47 years)
Birth of a son
#8
Artemus Eugene Dietsch
April 24, 1877 (Age 48 years)
Birth of a son
#9
Alphonse Edward Dietsch
May 21, 1879 (Age 51 years)
Birth of a daughter
#10
Josephine Catherine Dietsch
January 19, 1881 (Age 52 years)
Note: 1900 census gives the date as sep 1881.
Birth of a daughter
#11
Martha Belle Dietsch
March 31, 1883 (Age 54 years)
Occupation
Baker
1886 (Age 57 years)
Address: 437 South River Street
Birth of a granddaughter
#1
Louella Sharrah
1893 (Age 64 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#2
Angeline Smith
1893 (Age 64 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#3
Hattie Linders
October 1893 (Age 65 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#4
Irene E. Sharrah
1895 (Age 66 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#5
Dorothy Smith
1895 (Age 66 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#6
Nellie Linders
February 1896 (Age 67 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#7
Ethel B. Sharrah
1897 (Age 68 years)
Birth of a grandson
#8
Charles Smith
1897 (Age 68 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#9
Dora Linders
August 1898 (Age 70 years)
Birth of a grandson
#10
Michael Fred Smith
1899 (Age 70 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#11
Louella Dietsch
1900 (Age 71 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#12
Irene R. Dietsch
1900 (Age 71 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#13
Josephine Dietsch
1902 (Age 73 years)
Birth of a grandson
#14
Artimus James Dietsch
1902 (Age 73 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#15
Mary Thedora Dietsch
1903 (Age 74 years)
Birth of a grandson
#16
Clarence Alfred Dietsch
February 18, 1904 (Age 75 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#17
Margaret Frances Smith
July 19, 1905 (Age 77 years)
Birth of a grandson
#18
Charles B. Sharrah
August 9, 1905 (Age 77 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#19
Eleanor Margarett Dietsch
1905 (Age 76 years)
Death of a sisterMarie-Victoire Dietsch
October 23, 1905 (Age 77 years)
Address: Home of her daughter, Anna Soener
Birth of a granddaughter
#20
Margaret Blanche Dietsch
1907 (Age 78 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#21
Mildred Catherine Dietsch
January 2, 1909 (Age 80 years)
Occupation
Storekeeper
1910 (Age 81 years)
Corporation: Grocery Store
Birth of a grandson
#22
Alphonse Dietsch
1911 (Age 82 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#23
Clara Cecelia Dietsch
1912 (Age 83 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#24
Genevieve Dietsch
1912 (Age 83 years)
Birth of a granddaughter
#25
Loretta Martha Dietsch
1915 (Age 86 years)
Baptism of a daughterMary Ellen Dietsch

Citation details: Page 38
Text:
She was baptized at an Irish Catholic Church in Aurora, Illinois (Family Bible)
Baptism of a sonCharles Wendling Dietsch

Text:
He was baptized at an Irish Catholic Church in Aurora, Illinois (Family Bible)
Death December 27, 1916 (Age 88 years)
Burial February 1, 1917 (36 days after death)
Cemetery: Mount Olivet
Family with parents - View this family
father
mother
Marriage: 1812Houssen, Canton of Andolsheim, Colmar, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France
23 months
elder sister
23 months
elder sister
3 years
elder sister
4 years
elder sister
22 months
elder brother
20 months
elder sister
2 years
himself
21 months
younger brother
2 years
younger brother
5 years
younger brother
Family with Maria Josephine Wagner - View this family
himself
wife
Marriage: February 22, 1854
9 months
son
Family with Mary Ellen Berke - View this family
himself
wife
Marriage: 1860
15 months
daughter
16 months
son
Family with Philomene Phedora “Phedora” Gain - View this family
himself
wife
Marriage: October 28, 1868Kane, Greene County, Illinois, USA
1 year
daughter
15 months
daughter
3 years
daughter
2 years
son
19 months
son
2 years
son
20 months
daughter
2 years
daughter

ImmigrationImmigrant Ships Transcribers Guild: Volume 7 - Ship Mercury
NaturalizationChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
OccupationChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
Occupation1910 US Census: Illinois, Kane, Aurora Ward 2, page 8B
NameChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
NoteChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
Citation details: page 41
Text:
(See Grussenheim Papers sources below for more detailed information)
Note1880 US Census: Minnesota, Brown, New Ulm, page 27C
SourceChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
Citation details: page 27
Text:
Maximin Serephin Franz born 27.5.1828. Married Maria Josephine Wagner of Obersaasheim on 22.2.1854. He traveled with his wife to America. They went with his sister, Victoria, and his brother-in-law, Franz Serephin Wendling. Ihey settled themselves in Naperville in the boundary area of Chicago. In 1871 they left Naperville. Franz Serephin purchased a farm in Independence, Iowa. Max Serephin settled near New-Ulm (Minnesota) and worked at his profession as a baker. *It appears that he died early and only his son was left behind. John, who on 4 November, 189O, married Maria Gratwohl (according to a letter from the rectory of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of New-Ulm from 4.3.1980.[F24] * This Maximin Serephin Franz a.k.a. Charles Wendling Dietsch moved to Aurora, Illinois. A section on him is in the back of this document.


Note:
Introductory letter from Marg Saunders: Alice Mosley Siedelman and Barbara Mosley Peck have been working for over twenty years researching our family's history. A few others have joined with them, but the bulk of the work and time has been theirs. Recently Janet Fries of Bloomington received some very interesting papers and she passed them on to Barb and Alice. These papers are 12½ single spaced, typewritten pages. They were compiled by Abbe Raymond Seeman of Grussenheim, France. This is a part of his ongoing search for the descendants of the villagers of Grussenheim. There was only one problem with these papers. They were written in medieval and modern French and German. We tried, unsuccessfully, to find someone who would translate the papers for us. Being stubborn and naive, I decided to translate the papers myself. I was fully immerged and in eminant danger of being fully submerged, when a good friend came to my rescue. Inga Kremeyer is a well educated lady who speaks German and French. She was raised in Germany and has a good understanding of German-French history. After I had researched each word, and listed all the possible meanings, Inga and I would place ourselves mentally into the historical time frame and then Inga would translate. As she read, I would check the words against my research and sometimes I was able to correlate English words or terms that eluded Inga. There is one word that we were unable to translate: SIGRESTEN. If you know the meaning, please let us know.* I have placed this document in notebook form so that it can be expanded. When we have more information we will share it. At the end of the papers you will find a form that you can use for your own family history sheet. - I have used slash marks (/) to separate my own comments from the main body of the translations. I hope these comments and explanations will clarify the more confused parts of the papers. You will also note that the European method of dating has been used. Example: 29.5.1856, 29th of May, 1856 — day/month/year. If you can add anything to our information about our family, we would like to hear from you. ------ *As we go to the printer's, we have found the meaning of the word "Sigresten". It is of Swiss dialect, a sacristan, an officer in church entrusted with the care of the sacristy, a sexton.
Note: The footnotes in the pdf version of the document refer to the "Corrections to the Translation of the Grussenheim Papers" by Abbe Raymond Seemann. You can find that document in the Mulitmedia Object section below.
SourceChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, Corrections to the English Translation
Citation details: page III
Text:
[F24] Page 27.It seems that the information about Max.Ser.born 27.5.I828. got from the rectory of the Cathedral of New-Ulm,is wrong...because Max.moved from New-Ulm to Aurora...and died there.
Note:
These are Abbe Raymond Seemann's corrections to The Translation of the Grussenheim Papers, referenced in footnote form. You can find the Grussenheim Papers here: http://gene.crowley.cx/source.php?sid=S322
SourceChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
Citation details: page 37
Text:
MAXIMIN SEREPHIN FRANZ DIETSCH All information is from Abbe Seeman's church records from Grussenheim, France. He was born in Grussenheim on 27.5.1828 He was baptized in Grussenheim He was married on 22.2.1854 to Maria Josephine Wagner of Obersaasheim He and his wife traveled to America in 1855. They accompanied his sister Maria Victoria and her husband Franz Serephin Wendling. They settled in Naperville, Illinois In 1871, both couples moved to Independence, Iowa Max Serephin moved to New Ulm, Minnesota He worked at his trade as a baker He sold a field in Grussenheim for l60 marks on 27.4. There is no further record of him.


Note:
Introductory letter from Marg Saunders: Alice Mosley Siedelman and Barbara Mosley Peck have been working for over twenty years researching our family's history. A few others have joined with them, but the bulk of the work and time has been theirs. Recently Janet Fries of Bloomington received some very interesting papers and she passed them on to Barb and Alice. These papers are 12½ single spaced, typewritten pages. They were compiled by Abbe Raymond Seeman of Grussenheim, France. This is a part of his ongoing search for the descendants of the villagers of Grussenheim. There was only one problem with these papers. They were written in medieval and modern French and German. We tried, unsuccessfully, to find someone who would translate the papers for us. Being stubborn and naive, I decided to translate the papers myself. I was fully immerged and in eminant danger of being fully submerged, when a good friend came to my rescue. Inga Kremeyer is a well educated lady who speaks German and French. She was raised in Germany and has a good understanding of German-French history. After I had researched each word, and listed all the possible meanings, Inga and I would place ourselves mentally into the historical time frame and then Inga would translate. As she read, I would check the words against my research and sometimes I was able to correlate English words or terms that eluded Inga. There is one word that we were unable to translate: SIGRESTEN. If you know the meaning, please let us know.* I have placed this document in notebook form so that it can be expanded. When we have more information we will share it. At the end of the papers you will find a form that you can use for your own family history sheet. - I have used slash marks (/) to separate my own comments from the main body of the translations. I hope these comments and explanations will clarify the more confused parts of the papers. You will also note that the European method of dating has been used. Example: 29.5.1856, 29th of May, 1856 — day/month/year. If you can add anything to our information about our family, we would like to hear from you. ------ *As we go to the printer's, we have found the meaning of the word "Sigresten". It is of Swiss dialect, a sacristan, an officer in church entrusted with the care of the sacristy, a sexton.
Note: The footnotes in the pdf version of the document refer to the "Corrections to the Translation of the Grussenheim Papers" by Abbe Raymond Seemann. You can find that document in the Mulitmedia Object section below.
SourceChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
Citation details: page 38
Text:
CHARLES WENDLING DIETSCH Sources of information are listed after each event. Anything without a source listing is oral family history. He was born on 19.5.1828 (Family Bible, Death Certificate, Obituary Aurora Beacon News 1916) He was born and baptized in Grussenheim, France (Family Bible) He left France because of trouble in his homeland He changed his name for the same reason. He assumed the name of ship's captain, whom he admired greatly Josephine Dietsch Backus was named after her Grandfather Dietsch's first wife He lived in Aurora, Illinois in 1856 — 9 miles west from Naperville (City Directory of Aurora) He lived in Aurora for one year before Aurora received its special charter to unite East Aurora and West Aurora, said charter granted in 1857 (Aurora Beacon News, Dec. 1916) In 1860 he married an Irish girl(c) She was Mary Burke (Death Certificate of Charles Deach (Dietsch ) She was Mary Ellen Berke (Death Certificate of Mary Ellen Dietsch Sharrah) #1 a daughter was born to them, Mary Ellen Wendling on 25.3.1861 (Family Bible) She was baptized at an Irish Catholic Church in Aurora, Illinois (Family Bible) #2 a son was born to them, Charles Wendling on 3.8.1862 (Family Bible) He was baptized at an Irish Catholic Church in Aurora, Illinois (Family Bible) Mary Berke (Burke) died in 1863(c) Charles Wendling married Philomene Phedora Gain on 28.10.1368 in Aurora, Illinois (Family Bible, Marriage License) She was born in Plattsburg, New York, on 4.4.1843 (Family Bible)


Note:
Introductory letter from Marg Saunders: Alice Mosley Siedelman and Barbara Mosley Peck have been working for over twenty years researching our family's history. A few others have joined with them, but the bulk of the work and time has been theirs. Recently Janet Fries of Bloomington received some very interesting papers and she passed them on to Barb and Alice. These papers are 12½ single spaced, typewritten pages. They were compiled by Abbe Raymond Seeman of Grussenheim, France. This is a part of his ongoing search for the descendants of the villagers of Grussenheim. There was only one problem with these papers. They were written in medieval and modern French and German. We tried, unsuccessfully, to find someone who would translate the papers for us. Being stubborn and naive, I decided to translate the papers myself. I was fully immerged and in eminant danger of being fully submerged, when a good friend came to my rescue. Inga Kremeyer is a well educated lady who speaks German and French. She was raised in Germany and has a good understanding of German-French history. After I had researched each word, and listed all the possible meanings, Inga and I would place ourselves mentally into the historical time frame and then Inga would translate. As she read, I would check the words against my research and sometimes I was able to correlate English words or terms that eluded Inga. There is one word that we were unable to translate: SIGRESTEN. If you know the meaning, please let us know.* I have placed this document in notebook form so that it can be expanded. When we have more information we will share it. At the end of the papers you will find a form that you can use for your own family history sheet. - I have used slash marks (/) to separate my own comments from the main body of the translations. I hope these comments and explanations will clarify the more confused parts of the papers. You will also note that the European method of dating has been used. Example: 29.5.1856, 29th of May, 1856 — day/month/year. If you can add anything to our information about our family, we would like to hear from you. ------ *As we go to the printer's, we have found the meaning of the word "Sigresten". It is of Swiss dialect, a sacristan, an officer in church entrusted with the care of the sacristy, a sexton.
Note: The footnotes in the pdf version of the document refer to the "Corrections to the Translation of the Grussenheim Papers" by Abbe Raymond Seemann. You can find that document in the Mulitmedia Object section below.
SourceChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
Citation details: pages 39 and 40
Text:
On 28.10.1868, Charles Wendling Dietsch of Aurora, Illinois, received his naturalization papers in Kane County, Illinois (Aurora Herald Newspaper, 1868 List of Eligible Voters) #3 a daughter was born to the couple, Delia Emily Wendling on 1.11.1869 (Family Bible) She was baptized in a German Catholic Church in Aurora, Illinois (Family Bible) #4 a daughter, Harriet Phedora, was bom to the couple on 8.2.1871 (Family Bible) She was baptized at an Irish Catholic Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa (Family Bible) #5 a daughter, Hellene Elizabeth, was born to the couple on 28.7.1873 (Family Bible) She was baptized at an Irish Catholic Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa (Family Bible) Charles had come to this country with his sister Victoria and her husband Franz. They moved to Iowa with then. They left Iowa and Victoria and Franz behind and went on to Minnesota. His occupation from the time he arrived in Aurora was as a baker (City Directory of Aurora) #6 a son, Joseph Alphonse, was born to the couple in Austin, Minnesota on 9.9.1875. (Family Bible) He was baptized in an Irish Catholic Church in Austin, Minnesota (Family Bible) #7 a son, Artemus Eugene, was born to the couple in New Ulm, Minnesota on 24.4.1877 (Family Bible) He was baptized in a German Church in New Ulm, Minnesota (Family Bible) #8 a son, Alphonse Edward, was born to the couple in New Ulm, Minnesota on 21.5.1879 (Family Bible) He was baptized in a German Catholic Church in New Ulm, Minnesota (Family Bible) #9 a daughter, Josephine Catherine, was born to the couple on 19.1.1881 (Family Bible) She was baptized at a German Catholic Church in New Ulm, Minnesota (Family Bible) At this time Charles received a large sum of money from the sale of property in France He returned to Aurora and built a bakery on S. River Street #10 a daughter, Martha Belle, was born to the couple on 31.3.1883 (Family Bible) She was baptized in a French Catholic Church in Aurora, Illinois (Family Bible) Charles Dietsch, Baker, 437 S. River Street 1886 (City Directory for Aurora) Charles and Phedora obtained title to the property at 437 S. River Street, Aurora, Illinois on March 15, 1893 (Kane County Land Records) Charles and Phedora took a $3000 loan from the Fox River Valley Savings and Loan (Kane County Land Records) Charles Wendling Dietsch gave money to his oldest son, also a baker, to start his own business In 1888(c)Charles F. Dietsch rented and rail a bakery and confectioners on W. Main at the corner of Second, Aurora, Illinois (Kane County Directory) Charles Wendling Dietsch died 27.12.1916 at the home of his daughter, Martha Belle Larson (Death Certificate) He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Aurora, Illinois on 1.2.1917 (Death Certificate) At the time of his death he had 36 grandchildren


Note:
Introductory letter from Marg Saunders: Alice Mosley Siedelman and Barbara Mosley Peck have been working for over twenty years researching our family's history. A few others have joined with them, but the bulk of the work and time has been theirs. Recently Janet Fries of Bloomington received some very interesting papers and she passed them on to Barb and Alice. These papers are 12½ single spaced, typewritten pages. They were compiled by Abbe Raymond Seeman of Grussenheim, France. This is a part of his ongoing search for the descendants of the villagers of Grussenheim. There was only one problem with these papers. They were written in medieval and modern French and German. We tried, unsuccessfully, to find someone who would translate the papers for us. Being stubborn and naive, I decided to translate the papers myself. I was fully immerged and in eminant danger of being fully submerged, when a good friend came to my rescue. Inga Kremeyer is a well educated lady who speaks German and French. She was raised in Germany and has a good understanding of German-French history. After I had researched each word, and listed all the possible meanings, Inga and I would place ourselves mentally into the historical time frame and then Inga would translate. As she read, I would check the words against my research and sometimes I was able to correlate English words or terms that eluded Inga. There is one word that we were unable to translate: SIGRESTEN. If you know the meaning, please let us know.* I have placed this document in notebook form so that it can be expanded. When we have more information we will share it. At the end of the papers you will find a form that you can use for your own family history sheet. - I have used slash marks (/) to separate my own comments from the main body of the translations. I hope these comments and explanations will clarify the more confused parts of the papers. You will also note that the European method of dating has been used. Example: 29.5.1856, 29th of May, 1856 — day/month/year. If you can add anything to our information about our family, we would like to hear from you. ------ *As we go to the printer's, we have found the meaning of the word "Sigresten". It is of Swiss dialect, a sacristan, an officer in church entrusted with the care of the sacristy, a sexton.
Note: The footnotes in the pdf version of the document refer to the "Corrections to the Translation of the Grussenheim Papers" by Abbe Raymond Seemann. You can find that document in the Mulitmedia Object section below.
SourceChronicle: The Grussenheim Papers, English Translation
Citation details: page 50: Direct Lineage of Margaret Keiner Saunders
Text:
MAXIMIN SEREPHIN FRANZ, the Baker. Born 27 May 1828 a.k.a. CHARLES WENDLING DIETSCH, the Baker. Born 19 May 1829. Died 29 Dec. 1916 1st Marriage to Maria Josephine Wagner on 22 February 1854 2nd Marriage to Mary Berke. She died about 1863, buried in Aurora, Illinois. She was from Ireland (also spelled Mary Burke). Children: Charles Wendling, Jr. a.k.a. Charles F. Deach Born 8 Aug. 1862 Married to Elisabeth Deach. He was born in Illinois. Retired from St. Paul, Minnesota, Fire Department in 1933. Died 16 Sept. 1937. Buried in Calvary Cemetery, St. Paul, Minnesota. Mary Ellen Dietsch Born 25 March 1861 Married Dell Sharrah. Lived in Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Died 24 February 1950, buried in Tony Cemetery at Tony, Wisconsin. 3rd Marriage to Phedora Gain, born 4 April 1842 in Plattsburg, New York. She was the daughter of Delia Paridise and John Gain. She died 23 December 1920 in Aurora, Illinois, buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Aurora. Children: Delia Emily, Harriet Phedora, Hellene Elizabeth, Joseph Alphonse, Artemus Eugene, Alphonse Edward, Josephine Catherine, Martha Belle.


Note:
Introductory letter from Marg Saunders: Alice Mosley Siedelman and Barbara Mosley Peck have been working for over twenty years researching our family's history. A few others have joined with them, but the bulk of the work and time has been theirs. Recently Janet Fries of Bloomington received some very interesting papers and she passed them on to Barb and Alice. These papers are 12½ single spaced, typewritten pages. They were compiled by Abbe Raymond Seeman of Grussenheim, France. This is a part of his ongoing search for the descendants of the villagers of Grussenheim. There was only one problem with these papers. They were written in medieval and modern French and German. We tried, unsuccessfully, to find someone who would translate the papers for us. Being stubborn and naive, I decided to translate the papers myself. I was fully immerged and in eminant danger of being fully submerged, when a good friend came to my rescue. Inga Kremeyer is a well educated lady who speaks German and French. She was raised in Germany and has a good understanding of German-French history. After I had researched each word, and listed all the possible meanings, Inga and I would place ourselves mentally into the historical time frame and then Inga would translate. As she read, I would check the words against my research and sometimes I was able to correlate English words or terms that eluded Inga. There is one word that we were unable to translate: SIGRESTEN. If you know the meaning, please let us know.* I have placed this document in notebook form so that it can be expanded. When we have more information we will share it. At the end of the papers you will find a form that you can use for your own family history sheet. - I have used slash marks (/) to separate my own comments from the main body of the translations. I hope these comments and explanations will clarify the more confused parts of the papers. You will also note that the European method of dating has been used. Example: 29.5.1856, 29th of May, 1856 — day/month/year. If you can add anything to our information about our family, we would like to hear from you. ------ *As we go to the printer's, we have found the meaning of the word "Sigresten". It is of Swiss dialect, a sacristan, an officer in church entrusted with the care of the sacristy, a sexton.
Note: The footnotes in the pdf version of the document refer to the "Corrections to the Translation of the Grussenheim Papers" by Abbe Raymond Seemann. You can find that document in the Mulitmedia Object section below.
Source1910 US Census: Illinois, Kane, Aurora Ward 2, page 8B
Text:
Name: Charles Dietsch Age in 1910: 75 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1835 BirthPlace: Germany Relation to Head of House: Head Father's Birth Place: Germany Mother's Birth Place: Germany Spouses's Name: Phedora Home in 1910: Aurora Ward 2, Kane, Illinois Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Year of Immigration: 1856 Neighbors: View others on page Household Members: Name Age Charles Dietsch 75 Phedora Dietsch 66 Hattie Lyndres 16 Nellie Lyndres 14
Source1880 US Census: Minnesota, Brown, New Ulm, page 27C
Text:
Name: Charles Drischt Home in 1880: New Ulm, Brown, Minnesota Age: 50 Estimated birth year: abt 1830 Birthplace: Alsace Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head) Spouse's name: Victoria Father's birthplace: Alsace Mother's birthplace: Alsace Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Baker Marital Status: Married Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Charles Drischt 50 Victoria Drischt 36 Maria Drischt 20 Lilia Drischt 10 Harriet Drischt 8 Helena Drischt 6 Joseph Drischt 4 Adamus Drischt 3 Alfons Drischt 1 Frank Wendling 24 View Original Record View original image
Birth
Grussenheim church records state that he was born 27 may 1828. His family bible, death certificate and obituary all list 19 may 1828.
Emigration
The Translation of the Grussenheim papers says "He left France because of trouble in his homeland." Email correspondence from Barbara Peck says "He may have been trying to hide. The church records called him 'fugitiv.'"
Immigration
The Grussenheim Papers say that when he emigrated, he and his wife accompanied his sister, Marie Victoria, and her husband, Francois Seraphin Dietsch. However, there is no record of anyone on the ship Mercury (the ship on which Francoi s a nd Victoria arrived) with the surname Dietsch or Wendling, or the first name of Max or Seraphin. Other than a "Charles and Maria Brika," both aged 24 from France, there are no obvious candidates. See source for list.
Immigration
The 1910 census gives the year as 1856.
Name
Renamed himself during the voyage to America, taking the name Charles from the ship's captain, whom he admired.
Note
Parallel Points Between Maximin Serephin Franz Dietsch and Charles Wendling Dietsch: Birthplace and birth month and year Religion Sister's name First wife's name Association with the name Wendling Arrival in the United States of America Residence in Naperville, Illinois area Time of departure for Iowa Time of residence in New Ulm, Minnesota Ownership of property in France Sale of that property Time of the sale of property Occupation as baker Time of departure from New Ulm, Minnesota Spelling of the name Dietsch Sixteen (16) parallel points seems to rule out coincidence and establishes the fact that the two names are really the same man. It is also a fact that there is nothing known about either man that disagrees with the conclusion.
Note
Charles' nephew (his sister Victoria's son), Frank Wendling, appeared to be living with him and his family in 1880.
DeathDietsch Family Plot MarkerDietsch Family Plot Marker
Format: image/jpeg
Image dimensions: 600 × 451 pixels
File size: 274 KB
Type: Photo
Media objectMax Seraphin aka Charles Wendling DietschMax Seraphin aka Charles Wendling Dietsch
Format: image/jpeg
Image dimensions: 350 × 500 pixels
File size: 120 KB
Type: Photo
Highlighted image: yes