Vannier/Middendorf
A story written down by Mayme O'Hair Hartzell, with some notes on it by her husband Frank:
"My grandparents on my mother's side came, were both from Hanover, Germany 1831 (note in Grandpa's handwriting "she can't figure out when this was".)
Grandpa John Vannier married Mary Mittendorf. 18 married couples came to America -- came to Peoria County, most of them moved to Scott County, where my mother was born in 1851. Henry Mittendorf and Aunt Minnie lived in New York City, they had no children - their only heir was Mary Catherine Vannier.
"My mother married John O'Hair in Bluffs, Ill. in 1883 - my brother John was born in 1883, Jan 3 - Agnes O'Hair 1886 Sept 22 - Carrie (Caroline) 1888 Mary Elizabeth born 1890 - Lena 1894 - Dan in 1899 - Deke - Francis - in 1902 -"
I can hear her the sound of her voice, telling the story. I also can see them arguing and hear their voices--
"That's not how it was..."
"No, Poppy, I have it right!"
Grandma was old when she wrote that down, and was remembering stories from a hundred years previous. Some of the dates are garbled (her grandfather arrived in 1851 not '31, and her mother was born in '61 not '51), but the sense is there. I can track down names and dates, but she had the memories and story.
A lot of people arrived in mid-Illinois about the same time from Hanover, Germany, mostly through New Orleans, then up the river to St. Louis and then to Illinois. I found graveyard records from Scott County where our group settled; in those days the wife's family name was put on the headstone, and you can see many instances of family interconnections. Grandma thought that her grandparents were married before they came, but the records are that they were married in Peoria. It does seem likely that they knew each other, and maybe were already engaged. In addition, her grandfather's brother Henry was married to her grandmother's sister Anna. It would be interesting to track down who the rest of the "18 married couples" were.
"Uncle Henry and Aunt Minnie" in New York were Herman Heinrich Middendorf (1847-1900) and Wilhelmina Holthaus. Also in New York were another aunt and uncle who later (1875) moved on to Scott County; Herman Gerhard M. Middendorf (b. 1838) and his wife Catherina Stegis (1838-1901), "in the grocery business."
The Middendorfs (also spelled Mittendorf) also came to Scott county and many are buried there,
including Mary Middendorf Vannier's parents, J. George Middendorf (Juergen Gerhard Middendorf)(b. July 21, 1808 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany, d. Aug 2, 1878) and Marie Stumborg (Maria Helena Stumborg) (b. Sept. 15, 1807 in Winkum, Löningen, Germany d. July 4, 1886.) George was a soldier and farmer in Germany who came to America in 1860 "and located at Bluffs, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in August, 1878. Her mother was also a native of Germany, and died July 4, 1886, leaving eight children, of whom Mrs. Vannier was the eldest, having been born Jan. 15, 1828."
I don't find them in the census though, I don't know why. They are in the Neelyville Cemetery, as are the Vanniers.
Middendorf ancestors and kin - dropdown list (click.)
Juergen Gerhard Middendorf (b. 21 JUL 1808 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. 2 AUG 1878 in Scott Co.), a soldier and farmer in Germany. Married: 18 OCT 1827 in Germany to Maria Helena Stumborg (b: 15 SEP 1807 in Winkum, Löningen, Germany; d. 4 JUL 1886 in Scott Co.), a dressmaker. Children: 1. (our ancestor) Maria Catharine Middendorf (b. Ja. 15, 1828 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. Sept. 9, 1905 in Il.) Married: Jan 7, 1855 in Peoria, Peoria Co., Il., USA to Hermann Dietrich Vannier (b: Oct. 1, 1832 in Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. April 20, 1895 in Il.) See the Vannier family below. Her daughter Mary Katharina Vannier (b. 1861 in Il. d.?) Married John O'Hair (b. 1857 d .?) and their daughter Mary Elizabeth (Mayme) wrote the above story. See the O'Hair page. 2. Johann Gerhard Middendorf (b. march 12, 1831 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. ?) m. ? 3. Catharina Margaretha Middendorf (b. Oct. 16, 1833 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. Feb. 25, 1837) 4. Anna Helena Margaretha Middendorf (b. June 3, 1836 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. Sept. 8, 1909 in Scott Co.) Married Johann Heinrich Vannier (b: May 8, 1823 in Nortrup, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. Jan. 28, 1881 in Scott Co.) Five children. 5.Herman Gerhard M. Middendorf b. Nov 6, 1838 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. June 20, 1899 in Scott Co.) Married Catherina Stegis (b. February 28, 1836 in Germany d. July 20, 1901.) Six children. "November 6, 1838, Herman Middendorf was born in Germany. He remained there until April 14, 1855, when he came to New York where he resided for fifteen years, six years of that time being spent in the grocery business. April 13, 1861, he was married. His wife was a native of Wopsewede, Germany, and was born February 28, 1836. They moved to Scott county, Illinois in 1875 and the last twenty years of Mr. Middendorf's life were spent on a farm near Merritt. They were the parents of eight children, two dying in infancy. Those living are: George, William, Richard, John, Fred and Anna, all residents of Scott county. Mr. Middendorf died in 1900 and his faithful wife followed after, July 20, 1901. They were members of the German Lutheran church and were excellent people." 6. Johann Middendorf (b. 1840 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. 1865) 7. Helena Catharina Adelheid Middendorf b. June 7, 1841 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. 8 OCT 1887 in Scott Co.) Married: 1861 to Joseph Schultis (b: March 16, 1830 in Baden, Germany d. Jan. 15, 1917 in Scott Co.) nine children 8. Johann Gerhard Middendorf b. Jan. 5, 1844 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. May 30, 1916 in Bluffs Village, Scott Co. Married: 4 AUG 1870 in Il. to Elizabeth M. Lindeman b: Nov. 7, 1851 in Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. March 24, 1938 in Bluffs Village, Scott Co.) ten children 9. Herman Heinrich Middendorf b. Dec. 18, 1847 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. ? in in New York, New York; married Wilhelmina Holthaus; no children-- "Uncle Henry and Aunt Minnie". Were they in the grocery business with brother Herman Gerhard? 10. Anna Maria Elise Middendorf (b. May 10, 1850 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. June 11, 1905 in Il.) Married in 1869 to Heinrich Enoch Tholen (b. May 10, 1845 in Germany d. Aug. 12, 1919 in Bluffs Village, Scott Co.) Six children
And the Vannier ancestors and kin - dropdown list
Johan Heinrick Frederick Vannier (b. 1795 in Germany d. Dec. 10 1851 in Morgan County, Il.; listed in death records of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Morgan County, Il.) married Anne Catharina Schone (b. 1794 in Germany d. Sept. 4, 1853 in Morgan County, Il., also in St. Paul's records) Children: 1. Deitric Vannier b. 1821 In Hannover. 2. Johan Heinrich Vannier b. May 8, 1823 in Bernburg, Hanover, Germany d. Jan 28, 1881 in Il. buried in Neelyville Cemetery) Married our ancestor Maria Catharine Middendorf's sister, Anna Helena Margaretha Middendorf (b. June 3, 1836 in Gross Mimmelage, Hannover, Preussen, Germany d. Sept. 8, 1909 in Scott Co.) Five children. 3. Annie Vannier b. 4. Adeline Vannier b. 5. (our ancestor)Hermann (Harmon, Herman) Dietrich Vannier b. Oct 1, 1832 in Hanover, Preussen, Germany d. April 20, 1895 in Il.; in Neeleyville Cemetery) married on Jan 7, 1855 in Peoria to Maria Catharine Middendorf (b. Jan. 15, 1828 also in Hanover). Children: 1. Henry Wilhelm Vannier (b. May 31,1852 in Il. d. Oct. 27, 1894 in Il.) Married: March 2, 1892 in Morgan Co., Il. to Katie Johnson. (Seward, Ne? was there a second wife, Ada Bloyd?) 2. Anna A. Vannier (b. Nov. 1, 1854 in Il. d. ?) Married: Dec. 3, 1873 in Morgan Co., Il. to John Gausman (b. June 1852 in Germany d. ?) five children; they are probably in Seward Co., Ne. 3. George J. Wilhelm Vannier (b. Jan. 1857 in Peoria d. ?) Married: Feb. 25, 1879 in Scott Co to Emma R. Aldridge (b. Jan. 1860 in Exeter, Scott Co d. ?) 4. Johann Wilhelm Vannier b. 1859 in Il., USA 5. (our ancestor) Mary Katharina Vannier (b. 1861 in Il. d.?) Married John O'Hair (b. 1857, Scotland to irish parents d. ?) See the O'Hair page. My grandmother's mother. Mayme (Mary Elizabeth, my grandmother) named one of her daughters Mary Katheryn. 6. Frederick G. Vannier (b. March, 1870 in Il. d. Oct. 25, 1945 in Scott Co.) Married: April 5, 1896 in Scott Co. to Mary B. Lane (b. March 17, 1866 d. Jan 8, 1897-child b. Jan 1897 --childbirth death-- did the baby survive?) 1880 census shows seven children. 7. William Vannier (b. July 16, 1869 in Il. d. Oct. 2, 1871; Neelyville) 8. Caroline Vannier (b. April 1872 in Il. d. ?) Married: Nov. 18, 1891 in Scott Co. to John Merriman (b. Jan. 1869 in Il. d. ?) five children born in Scott Co. 6. Mary Vannier (b. Aug 1836 in Hanover, Germany d. about 1920 ?) married March 22nd 1853 in Scott Co. to Detrick Vortman (b. July 14, 1830 in Hanover, Germany d. Aug 8, 1882.) Ten children.
Johan Heinrick Frederick Vannier (b. 1795), gunsmith, soldier and farmer in Prussia, married to Anne Catharina Schone (Kate Shown.) From Prussia, Frederick Vannier had gone to London, enlisted in the English army, and was sent back to Germany to fight the French from 1812 to 1815. He emigrated with his family to the US in 1851 on the "Tousan" out of Bremen, eight weeks and three days to New Orleans and then went to St. Louis and then on to Morgan County in Illinois, where he died in December of the same year at age 62. His wife died in 1853. Their funerals were at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Morgan County, but I don't know where they are buried.
Their son Hermann Dietrich Vannier came with them to the US in 1851 at age 19. In Germany he had been minimally educated and then had done farm labor for his father. In America, he went to Peoria and worked on steamboats traveling the Illinois River, and in 1855 married Maria Catharine Middendorf in Peoria. He continued working on steamboats until 1857 when he was able to rent some land in Scotts County. He worked that land until he 1865 when he was able to purchase 80 acres. Eventually he owned a substantual farm for the time (290 acres) and was remembered for the Clydesdale work horses he raised.
His brother Henry (married to MC's sister) shows up in the Scott County census of 1860 with the name spelled "Vannear" (Varnier seems to be another variant) (that's REAL VAL. and PERSONAL VAL. amounts):
1860 Census of Scott County, IL p.52 23 390 403 VANNEAR Henry 34 M Farmer 1,200 200 Hanover 24 390 403 VANNEAR Anna 23 F Hanover 25 390 403 VANNEAR Mary 7m F IL
1870, Hermann is spelled "Harmon" and Vannier still "Vannear":
34 188 188 VANNEAR Harman 37 M Farmer 2,400 500 Prussia 35 188 188 VANNEAR Mary 42 F Prussia 36 188 188 VANNEAR Henry 18 M Farm Labor IL 37 188 188 VANNEAR Anna 15 F IL 38 188 188 VANNEAR George 13 M Farm Labor IL 39 188 188 VANNEAR John 11 M IL 40 188 188 VANNEAR Mary 9 F IL
Interesting that 13 year old George is identified as a laborer.
Here they are spelled differently in the 1880 census.
Harmon VANNIER Self M Male W 47 HANOVER Farmer HANOVER HANOVER
Mary VANNIER Wife M Female W 52 HANOVER Keeping House HANOVER HANOVER
Henry VANNIER Son S Male W 28 IL Farmer HANOVER HANOVER
John VANNIER Son S Male W 21 IL Farmer HANOVER HANOVER
Mary VANNIER Dau S Female W 18 IL At Home HANOVER HANOVER
Fritz VANNIER Son S Male W 16 IL At Home HANOVER HANOVER
Caroline VANNIER Dau S Female W 8 IL HANOVER HANOV
Where are Frederick Vannier and his wife buried? They are in the records of St. Paul's Lutheran -- and their family is mentioned as a founding family -- Church records for St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Morgan County, Il show three Vanniers-
Vannier, Catharina 4 Sept 1853 59Y Vannier, Friederich Husband Vannier, Friedrich 10 Dec 1851 56Y Vannier, Catherina Wife Vannier, Wilhelmina 6 Feb 1863
but it doesn't say where they are buried.
Notes on the life and times in the 1800s--
Something sad:
Buried next to the senior Middendorfs are these grandchildren:
MIDDENDORF, Edward Johann H. 7 Jul 1889 2y11m27d Son of George & Elise Middendorf MIDDENDORF, Anna Maria Elise 16 Jul 1889 4y4m20d Dau of George & Elise Middendorf MIDDENDORF, Louisa Anna Maria 16 Jul 1889 6y3m10d Dau of George & Elise Middendorf MIDDENDORF, Ida Elise Bernardine 4 Apr 1891 27 Aug 1891 Dau of G. & E. Middendorf
I find that there was a flu epidemic in Illinois in 1889-1890 that killed thousands.
Something amusing (after noticing that the 13 year old was "farm labor") From Thomas Campbell's diary, Scott county 1844-1857:
"I commenced plowing at eight years old and spent every summer in assisting with the crops until the corn was all in the crib then put in the balance of the winter at school until time to cut corn stalks in the spring which was always done with the hoe. All our time of mornings and evenings was occupied in feeding and preparing fuel. Saturday was occupied in hauling up wood to last through the next week and preparing enough to last over Sunday. At home we had no time for recreation or amusement so I drew upon the hours that should have been spent profitably at school for recreation, so far as the strict rules and vigilance of the teacher would permit."
(He grew up to be a teacher.)
And about those huge families--here's a quote from a "Historical Sketch of Scott County, Illinois"by N. M. Knapp in 1876; here he is explaining why the population of Scott County isn't growing very fast:
"Again, thousands of the children of the original settlers, on reaching their majority, have emigrated and made homes elsewhere. If all born and reared in the county had remained here, the increase would be matter of surprising interest. It is a parent hive, ever sending forth its swarms."
Yikes! Is that supposed to be a complement? Sounds like modern-day hysterics talking about today's immigrants.
