It is not often in our modern world that we can go back
in time to the places and locations of our ancestors. But with my second great grandparents,
Francois (Frank) and Rose Nufer Loescher that is actually possible. I have written about this couple and their
children several times before (see below for links to previous posts). But how, when and where did their life
together begin?
Frank Loescher came to the US from Alsace, France sometime
around 1873 based on information from the 1900 United States Census and a
record of his naturalization. (1) It is
not known at this time when he made his way to Peoria, Illinois or if that was
his original destination when he left his home in Reichstett, France. But, he appears in the 1877 Peoria City
Directory for the first time. (2)
Transcription - “Loescher Frank, yard man Peoria House,
bds same”.
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Figure 1 - 1877 Peoria City Directory Entry for Frank Loescher
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I infer from this entry that in 1877 he was working as a “yard
man” for the Peoria House. It was a
popular and large hotel and boarding house in downtown Peoria at the corner of Hamilton
and North Adams. This entry also
indicates he was living there as well.
Then in 1879 he is found working as a brewer and living in another
boarding house. (3) The Farmers Hotel was at the corner of Bridge
Street and Water Street.
Transcription – “Loescher Francois, brewer, 709 N. Water;
bds Farmers Hotel.”
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| Figure 2 - 1879 Peoria City Directory for Francois Loescher |
By this time he certainly would have been integrated into
the large German immigrant community in Peoria in what is now the South side of
town. Likely he would have been
attending the church frequented by the community, St Joseph’s Catholic Church at
the corner of Spencer and Prairie Streets (today it is on Richard Pryer Way).
Rose Nufer’s birth place and date of birth are still in
question. But my hypothesis at this time
is that she was born in 1859 in Groveland Township, Illinois. In 1870 we find her and her family living in
Peoria’s 6th Ward. (4) Rose’s
parents, Martin and Maria Nufer were well acquainted with Peoria and during
this time period they were living at “Madison bluff side 1 below Pecan”….just a
few blocks from St Joseph’s Church.
St Joseph’s Church is in the heart of what was the large
Germany immigrant community in Peoria.
This seems to be the likely common denominator for how Frank and Rose
met. See the church's website for the
history of this church and pictures from the restored interior. This church community and building from 1879
still stands and is open and active today!
By late 1879 this young couple (he was 31 and she was 20)
was applying for a marriage license with the Peoria County Clerk (5). I wonder what the conversation was within her
family about the age difference. I think
it is unlikely that the two families had any connection from their old
country. I strongly suspect that the
Nufer’s did not know Frank or any of his family before they both made their
homes in Peoria. What concerns if any
did this present for Martin and Maria?
The marriage took place on 2 November 1879 at St Joseph’s
and was performed by Father Bernard Baak.
He was a longtime priest at the church.
I have found his name on many other marriage licenses and baptismal
records for this family. The actual
church building where this wedding took place was built in early 1879 so Frank
and Rose would have been one of the first couples married there. Witnesses to the marriage are both from the
Nufer family testifying to the fact that Frank was a recent immigrant and had
no family in the area. Frank and Rose
both signed the marriage license so they must have been literate. It’s a wonderful thing to me to find a
document that has the actual signatures of my ancestors; especially for those
that I never knew.
I would encourage anybody in the Loescher family or others
in the Peoria area to visit St Joseph’s Church there. It is a beautiful church and many of the
items around the alter (including mosaics, hand carved wood alter) and the pews
are original. Go stand in the place
where your ancestors stood over 135 years ago!
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Figure 3 - Marriage License - Frank Loascher and Rosa
Nufer
|
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Figure 4 - Marriage License Application - Frank Loascher
and Rosa Nufer
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Copyright ©2016 – Diane Minor – All Rights Reserved.
Links to related posts -
_____________________________________________________
(1) 1900
U.S. census, Peoria County, Illinois, population schedule, Kickapoo,
Enumeration District (ED) 0078, sheet 12-A, line 37, dwelling 231, family 232,
Frank Loascher; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20
Jun 2014), citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 333, FHL
microfilm 1240333.
"U.S.
Naturalization Record Indexes, 1791-1992 (Indexed in World Archives
Project)," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com :
accessed 13 Sep 2014), entry for Frank Loescher, date of naturalization 26 Oct
1880; citing "National Archives and Records Administration (NARA);
Washington, D.C.; Soundex Index to Naturalization Petitions for the United
States District and Circuit Courts, Northern District of Illinois and Immigration
and Naturalization Service District 9, 1840-1950 (M1285); Microfilm Serial
M1285, roll 36," 2010.
(2) Ebert & Clark, compiler, Hawley’s City
and County Directory of Peoria County 1877: (Hannibal, Missouri: Ebert & Clark, Publisher, 1877), 228,
entry for "Frank Loescher"; digital images, Ancestry
(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Oct 2014).
(3) O. E. Root, compiler, Root’s City
Directory 1879: (Peoria, Illinois: O. E. Root, Publisher, 1877), 203, entry for
"Francois Loescher"; digital images, Ancestry
(http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 4 Feb 2015).
(4) 1870 U.S. census, Peoria County, Illinois,
population schedule, Peoria Ward 6, p. 109, line 21, dwelling 765, family 765,
Martin Nufer; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20
May 2014), citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll M593_267,
image 506, FHL 545766.
(5) Peoria County, Illinois, marriage
certificate, Frank Loescher and Rosa Nufer, date of marriage 2 Nov 1879, Peoria
County Clerk, Peoria.
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