1856 URBAN

Fred URBAN immigrated in 1856, from Drachhausen, at the age of 35. He followed 2 pioneering URBAN women, Wilhelmine in 1848 and Pauline in 1852. Both women had traveled with STEMPEL parties, and may have been their nannies. Fred is presumed to be the brother of Wilhelmine, though his birth precedes the earliest Drachhausen church books, so it is not possible to prove.

 

Fred was born in October of 1821, in Drachhausen. He likely went directly to PONTOOSA TOWNSHIP, HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, where his sister was living in 1855. Being just across the MISSISSIPPI RIVER from FORT MADISON, IOWA, where so many Wends were living; he likely met his future wife, Liese MUSCHICK, during visits to the Fort Madison Wends.

 

After 5 years he married Liese MUSCHICK, who had immigrated from Drachhausen,

in 1857, at the age of 16. They married in St, John’s Church in FORT MADISON, 11 Sept 1861. This was truly a summer-winter marriage; Fred was 40 and Liese, who was by then know as  americanized “Lisa” or “Louisa,” was only 20.

 

All of their children were born in PONTOOSAC TOWNSHIP, HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, just across the MISSISSIPPI RIVER, and near Fred’s presumed sister; Wilhemine URBAN Huebotter.  Liese and Fred’s children were:

 

1)      Louisa A, b 1863; married J Honn

2)      Minnie, b 1864 (perhaps named after her Aunt Wilhelmine) married Logan and in the Drachhausen tradition had twins.

3)      Elisabeth “Lizzie,” b 1866, married Harry Crane

4)      Fred, Jr., b 1869, married Emma Congrove

5)      Albert, b 1872, married Mary Bylow

6)      Clara, born 1879,

7)      Harlan, born about 1881, married Fern Weeks

 

Not living in a nest of Wends, none of the children married Wends.

 

Fred URBAN Sr. and Louisa MUSCHICK URBAN, apparently lived their lives out, farming, in Pontoosac Township, Hancock, Illinois.         

(Added 3 Nov  2009)