The Bauersfeld Siblings

  • By Hancock County Historical Society
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  • 27 Jan, 2019
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Lewis, Wilhemina, Henrietta, Annie Sophia, and John Bauersfeld were born of German immigrants in New York City.

  • Wilhemina was born circa 1875 in New York City  or New Jersey

  • Lewis, birthdate unknown, but believed to be born before 1876, as he lived in New York City as an adult.

  • Annie Sophia was born in 21 February, 1876 in New York

  • John Benjamin was born 22 Feb 1877 in Brooklyn, New York.

  • Henrietta was born 30 September, 1880 in New York City.

Henrietta (and likely John and Henrietta) entered New York City’s orphan home circa 1890.  “Etta”, Sophie, and John came to Hancock County, Illinois, aboard the orphan train in May 1891.

Henrietta: She was fostered by Risdon Henry and Albertina (Parker) Kirby.  The 1900 census lists her as a boarder and servant (page 23 of the Dallas Township).  Risdon Kirby was a farmer in Lomax and Dallas City, an auctioneer, a promoter of the National Farmers Insurance Co., and president of the National Farmers Institute.

On March 10, 1 904, she left the Kirby home and married Millard F. Krause of Corydon, Indiana.  They lived 3 miles southwest of Colusa. Henrietta had long suffered from heart trouble and dropsy, and died six months after she married, just shy of her 24th birthday. Services were held at the Christian Church  in Dallas City and she is buried in Harris Cemetery.

Sophie: Sophie is listed as taken in by Mr. Vaugh (possibly Vaughn).  We have no information as of yet on the Vaughn family.  By 1896 she was married to Benjamin F. Polhill.  They had 12 children and were farmers.  Sophie died in 1935.  The Polhills are buried in Holly Grove Cemetery in Stephenson County, Illinois.

John: John was taken in by an unknown family, likely in the Dallas City area.  The 1900 census lists him as a servant, living with Stephen Mikels in Durham Township, Hancock County.  He married Cora Barrett and worked as a laborer in the area.  According to his WWI draft registration card, in 1918 he and Cora lived in Muscatine, Iowa where he worked for John Healy as a button maker. (Muscatine, during this period, produced 37% of the world’s pearl buttons.) (Button makers were well paid for their work. By 1930, the couple had moved back to Lomax, Illinois.  He died in 1945; he and Cora are buried in Dallas City.  Descendants are unknown.