52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks #13 ~ Elizabeth "Lizzie" Zaugg

Written for Amy Johnson Crow's Challenge 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks. (click on the icon in the sidebar for details at Amy's blog) 


First just the facts:
Name: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Zaugg
Born: 1821/1822, Eggiwil, Bern, Switzerland
Married: John Wanner, 25-Apr-1845, Eggiwil, Bern, Switzerland
Died: 06-May-1888, Adams Co, Indiana [Find-A-Grave memorial]


Relationship: Lizzie is my 3rd great-grandaunt.  I am descended through her younger brother, Jacob:


 - his daughter, Emma (Zaugg) Graber (1860 – 1919)
 - her daughter, Ella Rosa (Graber) Saurer (1883 - 1963)
 - her daughter, Lela Mabel (Saurer) Ritchie (1913 - 1991)
 - her son, my father, Donald John Ritchie (living)

For many years, the above page from my grandmother's copy of the Record of the Jacob Zaugg Family was all I really knew about Lizzie.  Since then, I've learned just a little more.

Lizzie and John Wanner and their two young daughters, 7 year old Anne and 3 year old Elizabeth arrived  at Castle Garden, New York aboard the Cotton Planter on 10 Jun 1853. They were just days behind the rest of Lizzie’s family, her parents and all her siblings having arrived 30 May 1853 aboard the Roger Stewart.


















Immigrants at Castle Garden, New York City, 1866. Wood engraving in "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper", 20 January 1866, vol. 21, p. 280-281.
By Unattributed [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

While the rest of the Zaugg family went to Wayne County, Ohio, the Wanners journeyed on to Adams County, Indiana settling near Berne.  As shown in the 1860 census, besides 15 year old Ann and 10 year old Elizabeth, they now have 2 more children, 7 year old Frederick and 4 year old Mary Ann.  Both of these last two children were born in Indiana so it appears that the Wanners were in Indiana by 1853  - or pretty much right after they got off the boat.

I wonder why there is no mention of these children in the Jacob Zaugg book?  By the time of the 1870 census, none of these children are at home, but now Emmanuel is there (6 yrs) but also Isaac (8 yrs)  Yet in Oct, 1870 the oldest girl, Ann, is specifically mentioned in her Grandfather, Jacob Zaugg's will. "Item 2nd I devise and bequethe to my grand daughter Ann Wanner daughter of John and Elizabeth Wanner four hundred dollars"  That seem like an unusually large amount since her mother was only left $100.00.

Of course this book was published in 1923 in Ohio and it's very possible that the Ohio part of the family had lost touch with the Indiana branch.  The most complete part of the family page revolves around Emanuel but even that has many errors and omissions.  I have a revised version that was completed by one of Emanuel's grandsons.

I plan to visit Berne, Indiana later this year.  They have a Swiss Days festival that should be fun. I will also be visiting the local library to see what else I can find out about this part of the family.  Unfortunately there wasn't room at the bed & breakfast where I first wanted to stay - because the house was BUILT BY EMANUEL WANNER!!  It was a sign - I had to go.  And besides, who wouldn't want to visit the rural mid-west in July??