The Elberfelds Come to American
Tracking the Elberfelds was a challenge, in part because of the last name. In many transcribed online records, it appears a Eberfeld, Ebberfeld, Eberfelo, etc. Some are misspellings in the original, and some are errors caused by poor writing.
The Elberfelds came from Lambsheim. In the 1850s, Lambsheim was in the Palatinate or Pfalz region of Bayern or Bavaria in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. About 4 miles to the east were the adjoining towns of Oppau , and just to the north, Edigheim. Ludwigshafen now has Oppau and Edigheim as suburbs. Genealogy records use these town names interchangeably.
Johannes Valentine Eiselstein left Oppau and came to Baltmore on the ship Ch. Colombe on July 31, 1840. His daughter, Maria Katherine (Catherine), was only 4 years old at the time of the trip. Maria Katherine would later marry Philip Elberfeld, the father of Norman "Kid" Elberfeld
John Reuter (Reider, Ryder, Reuther, Rider), also from Oppau and the husband of Eva Elberfeld, arrived in New York City on May 14, 1841.
Eva Elberfeld left Lambsheim and on June 24, 1843, Eva and her two children,Christina and Philip, arrived at New York City in the ship Cohacoba. On this same ship was the brother Johannes Valentine, Leonhard Eiselstein, with his wife, Christiana, and five children. I am assuming they were traveling together, and all ended up in Pomeroy, Ohio.
John Reuter and Eva Elberfeld had their third child, Margaret, in Pomeroy, Ohio in June of 1844. John might have known Johannes Eiselstein and joined him in Pomeroy, or he might have come to Pomeroy to be with Eva and the Leonhard Eiselstein family. On May 4, 1846, John Reuter became a naturalized citizen in Ironton, Ohio.
The 1850 census lists John Rider, age 37, a miner, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio, USA with Eve Rider (31), Christina Rider (14), Philip Rider (10), Margaret Rider (6) and Mary Rider (4). The 1850 census also list Johannes Valentine Eiselstein as John Irelstine, age 37, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio, USA with Catharine Irelstine (46), Valentine Irelstine (19), John Irelstine (15), Catharine Irelstine (13), Lena Irelstine (11), Mary Irelstine (8), and Margaret Irelstine (6). As previously stated, Catherine Eiselstein married Phillip Elberfeld.
Frederick Elberfeld, a younger brother of Eva, left Lambsheim, traveled on the Rose Standish, and arrived at New York City on November 21, 1853. Frederick served in the Civil war in the 1st. WV Cavalry as a hospital nurse. A copy of Frederick's service record shows two AWOLs and a desertion charge.
Meigs County Ohio History Book: THE ELBERFELDS - It is recalled through oral tradition and family records that Jacob Elberfeld of Lambshein Canton, Frankenthahahl, Rhemkreis, Bavaria, came to America in his twentieth year, arriving in New York on August 15, 1854. After a journey via Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and thence to Marietta by boat, Mr. Elberfeld arrived in Pomeroy by wagon with his brother-in-law, John Reuter, on September 10. Working in the coal mines near Monkey Run as a stone-mason making water boxes, Mr. Elberfeld saved his money, enrolled in the Pomeroy Academy, and also worked as a clerk in a store. Entering into business for himself on October 1, 1864, by selling goods to the public, Mr. Elberfeld started a mercantile business that survives to the present. Mr. Elberfeld, on January 24, 1860, married Anna Mary Genheimer.
Philip, father of Kid Elberfeld, and his brother, Jacob, traveled together on the American Union from London to New York City, arriving on August 15, 1854. In the passenger list, Philip is listed as a 25 year old grocer from Mecklenberg traveling with a 23 year old Jacob. A descendant of Frederick (Elba Gilman) researched the history of the Lambsheim area and concluded the three brothers were fleeing an impoverished area and probably were avoiding be drafted in the Prussian army. The Mecklenberg listing makes no sense.
John Reuter died about 1856. His will, written in 1855, was signed with a “X” – his mark. The fact John could not write his name explains why there is so much variation in the spellings of Reuter.
In the 1860 census, Frederick Elberfeld is listed as NameF Elberfet, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio with a Post Office in Pomeroy. His a miner living with Mary Elberfet, Sofiah Elberfet, and George Elberfet. On the same page in the next house, Eva Elberfeld Reuter is listed as E Rider, age 43, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio with a Post Office in Pomeroy. She was living with Philip Rider (19), a miner, Margaret Rider (15), Emrilla Rider (12), Laner Rider, (8), and Catharine Rider (4). It is possible that Jacob Elberfeld is listed in the 1860 census as I Aberfelt, age24, living in Salisbury, Meigs with a Post Office in Pomeroy living with Mary Aberfelt (20). Philip Elberfeld could not be found in the 1860 census.
It is possible there was family feud at some time, as the families of Philip, Jacob, and Frederick had little or no contact for almost 100 years until John Elberfeld (Kid Elberfeld was his great uncle) went to Ohio and met with descendants of Jacob and Frederick. Elberfeld family histories in Pomeroy books rarely mention Jacob's brothers.
The Elberfelds came from Lambsheim. In the 1850s, Lambsheim was in the Palatinate or Pfalz region of Bayern or Bavaria in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. About 4 miles to the east were the adjoining towns of Oppau , and just to the north, Edigheim. Ludwigshafen now has Oppau and Edigheim as suburbs. Genealogy records use these town names interchangeably.
Johannes Valentine Eiselstein left Oppau and came to Baltmore on the ship Ch. Colombe on July 31, 1840. His daughter, Maria Katherine (Catherine), was only 4 years old at the time of the trip. Maria Katherine would later marry Philip Elberfeld, the father of Norman "Kid" Elberfeld
John Reuter (Reider, Ryder, Reuther, Rider), also from Oppau and the husband of Eva Elberfeld, arrived in New York City on May 14, 1841.
Eva Elberfeld left Lambsheim and on June 24, 1843, Eva and her two children,Christina and Philip, arrived at New York City in the ship Cohacoba. On this same ship was the brother Johannes Valentine, Leonhard Eiselstein, with his wife, Christiana, and five children. I am assuming they were traveling together, and all ended up in Pomeroy, Ohio.
John Reuter and Eva Elberfeld had their third child, Margaret, in Pomeroy, Ohio in June of 1844. John might have known Johannes Eiselstein and joined him in Pomeroy, or he might have come to Pomeroy to be with Eva and the Leonhard Eiselstein family. On May 4, 1846, John Reuter became a naturalized citizen in Ironton, Ohio.
The 1850 census lists John Rider, age 37, a miner, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio, USA with Eve Rider (31), Christina Rider (14), Philip Rider (10), Margaret Rider (6) and Mary Rider (4). The 1850 census also list Johannes Valentine Eiselstein as John Irelstine, age 37, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio, USA with Catharine Irelstine (46), Valentine Irelstine (19), John Irelstine (15), Catharine Irelstine (13), Lena Irelstine (11), Mary Irelstine (8), and Margaret Irelstine (6). As previously stated, Catherine Eiselstein married Phillip Elberfeld.
Frederick Elberfeld, a younger brother of Eva, left Lambsheim, traveled on the Rose Standish, and arrived at New York City on November 21, 1853. Frederick served in the Civil war in the 1st. WV Cavalry as a hospital nurse. A copy of Frederick's service record shows two AWOLs and a desertion charge.
Meigs County Ohio History Book: THE ELBERFELDS - It is recalled through oral tradition and family records that Jacob Elberfeld of Lambshein Canton, Frankenthahahl, Rhemkreis, Bavaria, came to America in his twentieth year, arriving in New York on August 15, 1854. After a journey via Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and thence to Marietta by boat, Mr. Elberfeld arrived in Pomeroy by wagon with his brother-in-law, John Reuter, on September 10. Working in the coal mines near Monkey Run as a stone-mason making water boxes, Mr. Elberfeld saved his money, enrolled in the Pomeroy Academy, and also worked as a clerk in a store. Entering into business for himself on October 1, 1864, by selling goods to the public, Mr. Elberfeld started a mercantile business that survives to the present. Mr. Elberfeld, on January 24, 1860, married Anna Mary Genheimer.
Philip, father of Kid Elberfeld, and his brother, Jacob, traveled together on the American Union from London to New York City, arriving on August 15, 1854. In the passenger list, Philip is listed as a 25 year old grocer from Mecklenberg traveling with a 23 year old Jacob. A descendant of Frederick (Elba Gilman) researched the history of the Lambsheim area and concluded the three brothers were fleeing an impoverished area and probably were avoiding be drafted in the Prussian army. The Mecklenberg listing makes no sense.
John Reuter died about 1856. His will, written in 1855, was signed with a “X” – his mark. The fact John could not write his name explains why there is so much variation in the spellings of Reuter.
In the 1860 census, Frederick Elberfeld is listed as NameF Elberfet, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio with a Post Office in Pomeroy. His a miner living with Mary Elberfet, Sofiah Elberfet, and George Elberfet. On the same page in the next house, Eva Elberfeld Reuter is listed as E Rider, age 43, living in Salisbury, Meigs, Ohio with a Post Office in Pomeroy. She was living with Philip Rider (19), a miner, Margaret Rider (15), Emrilla Rider (12), Laner Rider, (8), and Catharine Rider (4). It is possible that Jacob Elberfeld is listed in the 1860 census as I Aberfelt, age24, living in Salisbury, Meigs with a Post Office in Pomeroy living with Mary Aberfelt (20). Philip Elberfeld could not be found in the 1860 census.
It is possible there was family feud at some time, as the families of Philip, Jacob, and Frederick had little or no contact for almost 100 years until John Elberfeld (Kid Elberfeld was his great uncle) went to Ohio and met with descendants of Jacob and Frederick. Elberfeld family histories in Pomeroy books rarely mention Jacob's brothers.
Part of the American Union passenger list on LDS microfilm 017550
Thanks to Mary Paullin Elberfeld Whitman, I have the above paper which I believe confirms the birth and death dates of the parents, and the years the three brothers came to America. If anyone can read the hand-written German, please let me know what it really says. (I'll even send you a copy on paper, if that will help!)
John Reuter is listed as a miner and Frederick is listed as a stone mason in the early census reports. Jacob eventually started Elberfeld's Store. Philip also helped create a competing store with George Eiselstein in 1868. In 1878 Philip moved his family to Cincinnati, where he is listed as a cobbler and shoe merchant. It may be that setting up competing stores caused a family rift because there was little contact among the three Elberfeld lines until very recently.
Once Jacob, Philip, Frederick and Eva settled in Pomeroy, the Elberfeld clan started to grow.
PHILIP ELBERFELD was born April 28, 1831 in Lambsheim Co., Frankenthal, Reinkreit, Bayern (Bavaria) Germany, and died January 18, 1916 in Cincinatti OH. He married KATHERINE (MARIA KATHRYN) EISELSTEIN October 18, 1856 in Pomeroy, OH, daughter of JOHANN EISELSTEIN and MARIA EISELSTEIN. She was born February 16, 1836 in Oppau, Germany, and died January 05, 1917 in Cincinatti OH.
John Reuter is listed as a miner and Frederick is listed as a stone mason in the early census reports. Jacob eventually started Elberfeld's Store. Philip also helped create a competing store with George Eiselstein in 1868. In 1878 Philip moved his family to Cincinnati, where he is listed as a cobbler and shoe merchant. It may be that setting up competing stores caused a family rift because there was little contact among the three Elberfeld lines until very recently.
Once Jacob, Philip, Frederick and Eva settled in Pomeroy, the Elberfeld clan started to grow.
PHILIP ELBERFELD was born April 28, 1831 in Lambsheim Co., Frankenthal, Reinkreit, Bayern (Bavaria) Germany, and died January 18, 1916 in Cincinatti OH. He married KATHERINE (MARIA KATHRYN) EISELSTEIN October 18, 1856 in Pomeroy, OH, daughter of JOHANN EISELSTEIN and MARIA EISELSTEIN. She was born February 16, 1836 in Oppau, Germany, and died January 05, 1917 in Cincinatti OH.
LDS Microfilm 0317446 lists all the marriages. Notice that Philip's last name is listed as Elbafield, and Catharine's name is spelled Eiselstein at the left, but Eiselstine at the right.
Philip (1890) and Katherine (1891) Elberfeld. Philip was Kid Elberfeld's father.
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Ten Children of Philip and Katherine
Left to right: Jack, Charlie, Sam, Wesley, Norman (Tabasco Kid) Left to right: Lill, Mary, Jessie, Maggie, Ella
Adolph died young
Children of PHILIP ELBERFELD and KATHERINE EISELSTEIN are:
Children of EVA ELBERFELD and JOHN REUTER are:
Children of FRIDERICK ELBERFELD and MARY STROHMEYER are:
Children of JACOB ELBERFELD and ANNA GENHEIMER are:
Eiselsteins
Philip Elberfeld married Katherine Eiselstein. According to her death certificate, Catherine Eiselstein was born Feb. 16, 1836 in Germany, and died Jan. 5, 1907 in St. Louis, MO. On the death certificate, filled out by her daughter, her parents are listed as "unknown." Family notes show she was born in Oppau, a very small town just a few miles east of Lambsheim. She and Philip were married Oct 16, 1856 in Pomeroy, OH, according to the court marriage records.
Determining her parents beyond a shadow of a doubt has been a challenge, since very little is known about her. A hand-written note in the family papers shows her father was John Eiselstein, and her mother ___?___ Deus - but the handwriting is hard to interpret. It also states she came to America and arrived in NY in 1838. Unfortunately, no Eiselstein in Meigs County matches this information exactly.
Johannes Eiselstein (1774-1834) and Maria Katherine Bauman (1776-1834) had eight children. Their eldest child, Johannes (1799-1885) was married three times, and in 1840 brought his entire family to America. Their fifth child, Leonhard Eiselstein, married in 1831 and came to America in 1843. Their eighth child, Conrad Eiselstein, came to America also in 1840 and married in 1841. All three settled in the Pomeroy, OH, area.
Of these three families of Eiselsteins in Meigs County, OH, only Johannes (1799-1885) has a daughter of Catherine Eiselstein's age - Maria Kathryn (1837). In the pasesenger list for the Ch. Colombe, which arrived in Baltimore on July 31, 1940, the family of Joh. Eiselstein is listed, but the daughter of Catherine's age is listed as Elizabeth. Since another, older daughter is also listed as Elizabeth, this seems to be an error. The 1850 census, which lists them as the Irelstine family, the same children appear, but with a Catherine (in place of the young Elizabeth on the pasenger list) who is the right age to be my great grandmother. Experts on the Eiselstein family confirmed the Maria Kathryn Eiselstein was the daughter of Johannes and Miaria Katherine Eiselstein.
Left to right: Jack, Charlie, Sam, Wesley, Norman (Tabasco Kid) Left to right: Lill, Mary, Jessie, Maggie, Ella
Adolph died young
Children of PHILIP ELBERFELD and KATHERINE EISELSTEIN are:
- SAMUEL LOUIS ELBERFELD, b. June 04, 1869, Pomeroy OH; d. April 25, 1953, East Boston, MA.
- MARGARET ELBERFELD, b. November 26, 1857, Pomeroy, Meigs, Ohio.
- MARY LYDIA ELBERFELD, b. September 22, 1859; d. December 31, 1928.
- JACOB EDWARD ELBERFELD, b. August 24, 1861; d. September 18, 1898.
- ELLA ELBERFELD, b. February 16, 1863.
- CHARLES ELBERFELD, b. February 02, 1865; d. March 22, 1922.
- WESLEY WASHINGTON ELBERFELD, b. May 04, 1867, Date not positive; d. September 15, 1932.
- LILLIAN ELBERFELD, b. April 06, 1871, Ohio; d. January 22, 1953.
- JESSIE JEANETTE ELBERFELD, b. April 28, 1873; d. January 10, 1939.
- NORMAN ARTHUR "The Tabasco Kid" ELBERFELD, b. April 13, 1875, Pomeroy, Meigs Co., OH; d. January 13, 1944.
- ADOLPH RICHARD THEODORE ELBERFELD, b. September 16, 1877, Pomeroy. Meigs County, Ohio; d. May 1881.
Children of EVA ELBERFELD and JOHN REUTER are:
- CHRISTINA REUTER, b. September 06, 1836, Christened, Sankt Stefanus Katholisch, Lambsheim, Pfalz, Bayern.
- PHILIP REUTER, b. 1841, Lambsheim, Pfalz, Bayern; m. MAGDELENA HOFFNER, January 15, 1864, Meigs County, OH.
- MARGARET REUTER, b. 1845, Pomeroy, Meigs County, OH.
- AMERILLA REUTER, b. June 15, 1849, Meigs Co., Ohio; m. PETER PRIODE, June 24, 1866, Pomeroy, Meigs, Ohio; b. December 15, 1845, Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio.
- EMMA EVALINE REUTER, b. 1852, Pomeroy, Meigs COunty, OH; m. JACOB PRIODE, February 22, 1864, Meigs County, OH.
- CATHERINE REUTER, b. November 26, 1857, Meigs Co., Ohio; d. March 25, 1917, Cincinnati, Hamilton, OH; m. HENRY CLAY GEYER, March 19, 1874, Meigs County, Ohio.
Children of FRIDERICK ELBERFELD and MARY STROHMEYER are:
- GEORGE ELBERFELD, b. April 27, 1860, Meigs Co., Ohio; d. September 19, 1919, Pomerory, Meigs Cnty, Salisbury Twp, OH.
- SOPHIA ELBERFELD, b. Abt. 1860, Ohio; d. December 13, 1914, Athens County, OH. (Committed as a lunatic)
- CHARLES ELBERFELD, b. 1865
- CAROLINE ELBERFELD, b. 1868
- ELIZA ELBERFELD, b. August 18, 1869, Pomery, Meigs, Ohio.
- MARY ELBERFELD, b. November 28, 1871, Pomeroy. Meigs County, Ohio.
Children of JACOB ELBERFELD and ANNA GENHEIMER are:
- LYDIA ANN ELBERFELD, b. December 14, 1861, Pomeroy, Meigs, Ohio; d. June 17, 1942, Los Angeles, CA; m. C. H. VICKERS.
- WILLIAM PHILIP ELBERFELD, b. September 12, 1863, Ohio; d. May 18, 1910, Pomeroy, Meigs County, OH.
- EDWARD JOHN ELBERFELD, b. November 12, 1865, Pomerory, Meigs Cnty, Salisbury Twp, OH; d. February 03, 1920, Columbus, Franklin Co., OH.
- JACOB BAUER ELBERFELD, b. January 07, 1868, Pomerory, Meigs Cnty, Salisbury Twp, OH; d. October 23, 1963, Pomerory, Meigs Cnty, Salisbury Twp, OH.
- SAMUEL ALEXANDER MILTON ELBERFELD, b. March 22, 1870, Pomerory, Meigs Cnty, Salisbury Twp, OH; d. March 07, 1919, Columbus, Franklin Co., OH.
- HENRY DANIEL ELBERFELD, b. June 30, 1871, Pomeroy. Meigs County, Ohio; d. April 16, 1945, Los Angeles County, CA.
- ALFRED GENHEIMER. ELBERFELD, b. May 12, 1873, Pomerory, Meigs Cnty, Salisbury Twp, OH; d. February 20, 1935, Columbus, Franklin Co., OH.
- ADA MAY ELBERFELD, b. June 14, 1875, Pomeroy. Meigs County, Ohio; d. September 11, 1876.
- SIEGWARD ELBERFELD, b. January 12, 1877; d. September 06, 1877.
- ONWARD BENJAMIN ELBERFELD, b. June 15, 1878, Pomeroy. Meigs County, Ohio; d. May 04, 1955; m. GOLDIA MOORE; b. May 05, 1881; d. January 1969.
- MAUD HELEN ELBERFELD, b. April 29, 1881, Pomeroy. Meigs County, Ohio; d. November 17, 1885.
- JOSEPH ELBERFELD, b. January 25, 1885; d. September 06, 1885
Eiselsteins
Philip Elberfeld married Katherine Eiselstein. According to her death certificate, Catherine Eiselstein was born Feb. 16, 1836 in Germany, and died Jan. 5, 1907 in St. Louis, MO. On the death certificate, filled out by her daughter, her parents are listed as "unknown." Family notes show she was born in Oppau, a very small town just a few miles east of Lambsheim. She and Philip were married Oct 16, 1856 in Pomeroy, OH, according to the court marriage records.
Determining her parents beyond a shadow of a doubt has been a challenge, since very little is known about her. A hand-written note in the family papers shows her father was John Eiselstein, and her mother ___?___ Deus - but the handwriting is hard to interpret. It also states she came to America and arrived in NY in 1838. Unfortunately, no Eiselstein in Meigs County matches this information exactly.
Johannes Eiselstein (1774-1834) and Maria Katherine Bauman (1776-1834) had eight children. Their eldest child, Johannes (1799-1885) was married three times, and in 1840 brought his entire family to America. Their fifth child, Leonhard Eiselstein, married in 1831 and came to America in 1843. Their eighth child, Conrad Eiselstein, came to America also in 1840 and married in 1841. All three settled in the Pomeroy, OH, area.
Of these three families of Eiselsteins in Meigs County, OH, only Johannes (1799-1885) has a daughter of Catherine Eiselstein's age - Maria Kathryn (1837). In the pasesenger list for the Ch. Colombe, which arrived in Baltimore on July 31, 1940, the family of Joh. Eiselstein is listed, but the daughter of Catherine's age is listed as Elizabeth. Since another, older daughter is also listed as Elizabeth, this seems to be an error. The 1850 census, which lists them as the Irelstine family, the same children appear, but with a Catherine (in place of the young Elizabeth on the pasenger list) who is the right age to be my great grandmother. Experts on the Eiselstein family confirmed the Maria Kathryn Eiselstein was the daughter of Johannes and Miaria Katherine Eiselstein.
