Genealogical Gems

A coroner’s jury met On This Day in 1881 to determine an official cause of death for John Kirchner. Kirchner had been found lying on the side of the track, horribly wounded, on Saturday, 29 October. He died of those injuries on Monday, the 31 st .   He was discovered by a cartman, John Gorman, who came to dump a load of dirt. It is believed that Kirchner was struck on the head by a passing train. Kirchner is described as a “steady industrious workman.”   Source Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. ( Lancaster , PA ), 4 November 1881. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Library of Congress.      On This Day is a prompt to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Accidents happened quite frequently on the railroads it seems. Some were minor injuries. Others resulted in loss limbs. And occasionally someone, like John Kirchner, died from his injuries. Kirchner was a workman employed by Keller & Reilley. He worked on the new branch of the Pennsylvania railroad just north of Lancaster City .   A news article notes he was struck on Saturday, 29 October 1881 by the railroad cars near the Little Conestoga bridge. His forehead was crushed in and face was badly lacerated. He was almost unconscious when he was found.   He was carried home where he lapsed into a delirious state and then finally unconsciousness took hold. On This Day (Monday, 31 October 1881) Kirchner died .   Source Lancaster Daily Intelligencer. ( Lancaster , PA ), 31 October 1881. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Library of Congress.    On This Day is a prompt to further explore historical events.   ...

John Kirchner was only about 30 when he died. My husband’s great grandmother was a Kirchner by birth so this death notice caught my eye. John, and his father George, however do not fit it with hubby’s family. His obituary reads: John Kirchner, son of George Kirchner, proprietor of the Eagle hotel, on East King street , died yesterday at Carlisle . The body will be brought to this city on the 6 o’clock train this evening. The funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon at 2 o’clock, from the residence of the father of the deceased young man. The internment will be made at Zion ’s cemetery. Deceased was about 30 years of age.   Sources: The Daily Intelligencer. ( Lancaster , PA ), 15 October 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Lib. of Congress.     Sunday’s Obituary is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Evidently it was a slow news day On This Day in 1880. One of the notes – hardly an article – in the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer reported that George Kirchner has a family of opossums that are “very lively and are worth seeing.” George lives on East King Street. A personal note: The article caught my attention, not just because it was silly, but because it mentioned Kirchner. My husband’s great grandmother was a Kirchner. Her father was Johann (John) Kirchner (1821 – 1881). I know very little of John before he married Barbara Kuhn in 1850. I know he lived in Lancaster City and that there were other Kirchners, although I have not connected everyone quite yet.   Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 29 May 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Library of Congress.   On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.          ...

Marcus Kirchner was named president of the St Peter’s beneficial society. Philip Finger was elected Vice President. Peter Rorich, Jr. was elected Secretary and Bernard Rogenstein the Treasurer. The Committee members were alos listed On This Day in the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer in 1800.   Source: Lancaster daily intelligencer. ( Lancaster , Pa. ), 4 May 1880. Chronicling America : Historic American Newspapers . Library of Congress.            On This Day is a prompt I started to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

Amy Johnson Crow, of No Story Too Small , challenges fellow GeneaBloggers each week with her 52 Ancestors Challenge. This week’s prompt is:  Which ancestor is the closest to where you live? Who has a story that hits “close to home”?   The closest physically to me – there are many in Lancaster alone, let alone the County – would be Charles Eckman, his wife Rosa Kirchner and her family. Charles grew up in New Providence but moved to Lancaster City and then married Rosa in 1881. Her parents and siblings lived in Lancaster City . Her parents were both born in Germany . Charles’ family had been here for many generations when they met.   Charles was – for the longest time – very elusive. Once he moved to Lancaster , there was little to be found of him. He shows up in the 1880 census as working for the Telegraph Co. but still living with his folks in Strasburg Township . City Directories place him and Rosa on Manor Street in the City thereafter.    ...

Mary Anna Kirchner was my husband’s great grandmother’s sister. She was born 29 June 1851 in Lancaster to John and Barbara Kuhn Kirchner. I chose her to write about for today’s Matrilineal Monday because it was today – 22 December – in 1913 when she passed away. I know so very little about Mary. Being a daughter of John and Barbara Kuhn Kirchner, I could easily assume she had been baptized at St. Joseph RC Church in Lancaster. The rest of the family was so this would make sense. She married Charles William Janson in 1886. I do not know how the two met or where they married.   He was a collector. The Janson Family shows up on both the 1900 and the 1910 Census as living in Baltimore , Maryland . They had 10 children: Cecilia, Rolendis, Henry, Margaret, Anna, Roman Philip, Jerome A., Gertrude C., Dorothy May, Charles M., and one who passed before 1900. The first five (Cecilia, Rolendis, Henry, Margaret, and Anna) were from Charles’ first marriage. She died on 22 Dec...

Albert G. Kirchner married Mary McCrea. She died in October of 2013 and her obituary reads: Mary E. Kirchner, 91, of Lancaster, PA, passed away peacefully at Conestoga View on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. Mary was the wife of the late Albert G. Kirchner. Born in Kirkwood, PA, she was the daughter of the late Hugh F. and Grace L. (Gruber) McCrea. Surviving is a son, Larry E., husband of Carol Kensinger, of Stevens, PA, and two daughters, Diana E., wife of Robert Long, of Holtwood, PA, and Darlene L., wife of Robert Long, of Lakeland, FL, five grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. Mary was a member of Church of Christ, the Women of the Moose Chapter 767, Happy Hours Club, AARP 4221, Better Home Booster #2, and Senior Hospitality of Sacred Heart. Internment will be private in Riverview Burial Park at the convenience of the family. Kearney A Snyder Funeral Home Sunday's Obituary is a genealogical prompt of GeneaBloggers.

Thursday, I had the day off from the Nursery so instead of housework or other work, I naturally headed to the Lancaster County Historical Society. First I looked up an obituary for Sue Fuller Graham for someone else. Piece of cake! Facebook is really great for making connections in places one has no access to and this was just that case. A guy mentioned in a group that he was looking for this particular obituary from 1991. It is old enough that the local paper here would only give access if you have a paid subscription. I mentioned I was heading over to the Historical Society this week and could look it up on their microfilm. He knew the exact date that the obit was published so that made the search quick and easy. My next project was admittedly a brick wall. I was asked to find out information about a Laura Manley Seats. The person making the request knows little about the woman except that she passed away sometime around 1961 due to complications after an operation. Needle in ...

I spent a recent afternoon at the Lancaster County Historical Society where I found St. Joseph's Directory. St. Joseph's is a Roman Catholic parish, originally founded in 1849 by German immigrants, in Lancaster City, Lancaster County, PA. I was looking for information on John Kirchner, my husband's great great grandfather, who died in a work related accident on 31 October 1881. I did find his information, but I also found and infant Kirchner! Listed in 1881 was: Kirchner, infant, filia illegitima Rosa Kirchner, mortua statim post partum, 26 m June sepulta est codem. Translation: Kirchner , baby , illegitimate daughter of Rose Kirchner , died immediately after birth , on 26   June and was buried the same (day) . Burial for the child (and for John Kirchner as well) is at the Old St Joseph Cemetery, 440 St Joseph Street. The cemetery, which sadly has fallen into such a disaster, adjoins the church. Rosa, my husband's great grandmother, just keeps getting mo...

Dr. G. Gary Kirchner, 79, of Lancaster, passed away surrounded by family on Friday, August 2, 2013 at the Lancaster General Hospital. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late George W. and Betty (Conn) Kirchner. He was married 54 years on June 13 to Betsy (Shirk) Kirchner. Gary graduated in 1951 from Lancaster Catholic High School, in 1955 with a B.S. from Franklin & Marshall College, and in 1959 with a Doctor of Medicine from Hahnemann University, Philadelphia. He served his internship at Lancaster General Hospital from 1959-60, and his residency at the Mayo Clinic in surgery from 1960-64. During the Vietnam War he served as Lieutenant Commander with the US Navy in the Medical Corps and as a U.S.S. Forrestal Medical Officer at the time of the Forrestal disaster. He began private practice in General Surgery and joined L.G.H. in 1964, where he was Chairman of the Department of Surgery from 1986-1989. He retired from surgical practice in 1998. He serve...

Rosa Kirchner is my husband's great grandmother (John, Frank, Glenn). She was the daughter of John (Johannes) Kirchner and Barbara Kuhn and was born 4 September 1859 in Lancaster, PA. She was the youngest of four known children. Her siblings are: Mary Anna (b 1851), Philip (b 1852), and John (b. 1857). I know little of her childhood. The family lived in the Cabbage Hill section of the City with many other German immigrants. The family was Roman Catholic and attended St. Joseph, which at the time was primarily made up of German families. On 24 August 1881 she married Charles Henry Eckman, the son of John Henry Eckman and Catherine Kezia Creswell. Their son John was my husband (Glenn)'s grandfather. Charles preceded her in death, passing in 1886. She married Peter Weber some time after. They had one son - Charles - who was born in October 1897. She passed sometime after 1924.

I came across an article this week title " Jewish Surnames Explained " by Bennett Muraskin and wanted to pass it along today. The article is quite a good reference, not just for those of Jewish descent but all Eastern Europeans. Muraskin explains the evolution of "patronymics" and "matronymics." These are the most common surnames. Place names are the next common group of surnames, then occupational names. The article also covers religious names and personal traits as well as insulting names, animal names, Hebrew and Yiddish names, and made up names. Regardless of your ethnic background, the article is a good read. My husband is part German (big surprise right with Eckman as a last name)! One of his ancestral surnames is Kirchner. Muraskin mentions the name as an occupational name relating to tailoring. Specifically he says: "Futterman/Kirshner/Kushner/Peltz — furrier".  Interesting that when John (yes really Johannes) Kirchner came to Lancas...

Alan F. Kirchner, Sr., 53, of Lancaster, died Monday, September 5, 2005 of malignant melanoma. He was the husband of the late Dorothy E. "Dottie" Brooks Kirchner, who died in 1991. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Edward W. and Mary E. Rampulla Kirchner. He was a graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, a veteran of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era, attaining the rank of Sergeant before being Honorably Discharged. He was a tradesman printer, but also a former bartender with past memberships in several local clubs including the Union Home Association, the Active and Alert Clubs, and the American Legion. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was of the Catholic faith. Those who knew him know he loved his wife and children dearly. Surviving are five children: Alan F. Kirchner, Jr., Francesmary E. Kirchner, Melvin A. Kirchner, Trinda L. Hunter and Harold E. Zeamer, Jr. as well as several grandchildren. Also surviving are five brothers ...

James J. Kirchner Sr., 76, of North President Ave., Lancaster, died at Essa Flory Hospice Center on December 11, 2004. Born in Lancaster he was the son of the late Othmar and Elizabeth Brophy Kirchner. He was married to Margaret Welsh Kirchner. In February 2005 they would have celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Surviving is a daughter, Ann M. Able, wife of Tony of Wrightsville; three sons, James J. Jr., husband of Tina of Lancaster; John M., husband of Tracey of Elizabethtown; and Stephen T., husband of Susie of Lancaster; eight grandchildren, Jordan and Jenna Abel, Joshua, Laura, Alex, Erica, Gregory and Andrew Kirchner. There are two surviving brothers and two sisters, Thomas Kirchner of Douglasville; Michael Kirchner of Lancaster; Helen Bitts, and Mary Ann Welsh of Lancaster. He was preceded in death by a brother, Othmar Kirchner, and a sister, Margaret Kilhefer. He is a member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. Jim attended Lancaster Catholic High School. In...

Alan F. Kirchner served in the Air Force during Vietnam. His name caught my attention as I am still searching for some Kirchners on my husband's side. Alan is buried at St. Joseph's RC Church in Lancaster, which is where our Kirchner family members attended. His obit reads: Alan F. Kirchner, Sr., 53, of Lancaster, died Monday, September 5, 2005 of malignant melanoma. He was the husband of the late Dorothy E. "Dottie" Brooks Kirchner, who died in 1991. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of the late Edward W. and Mary E. Rampulla Kirchner. He was a graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, a veteran of the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era, attaining the rank of Sergeant before being Honorably Discharged. He was a tradesman printer, but also a former bartender with past memberships in several local clubs including the Union Home Association, the Active and Alert Clubs, and the American Legion. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He w...

There are many Eckmans buried at the Zion UCC in New Providence, Strasburg Twp., Lancaster County, PA. Here - close to the road near the church drive - lie John Eckman and most of his family. John Henry Eckman b 12 Aug 1830 - d 8 Dec 1889 Catharine Kezia Cresswell (his wife) b 13 Oct 1840 - d 1 Aug 1898 their children (buried here with them): Dora H - 16 Oct 1861 - 28 June 1882 John Grant - 18 April 1868 to 27 Aug 1887 Martha Ann - 25 Sept 1865 - 26 June 1924 Clara - 26 June 1858 to 4 March 1927 Oscar Dale - 21 April 1878 - 20 March 1933 John and Catharine also had two other sons - Charles Henry and Darius J. - and four other daughters - Margaret Estella, Winona Sue, Kate Bernice, and Edith Alberta. In all, John & Catharine had 11 children. John & Charles are my husband's great great grandparents. Charles is our great grandfather. He married Rosa Kirchner. Their son, John Charles, is our grandfather. He married Mable Florence...

Lawrence J. Kirchner Lawrence J. Kirchner, 90, of Lancaster, died peacefully Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at LGH. Born in Lancaster to the late Philip A., Sr. and Ruth Kerckhoff Kirchner, he was married to Lois H. Fellenbaum Kirchner for 61 years. A 1940 graduate of Lancaster Catholic High School, he earned a professional diploma from Charles Morris Price School in Philadelphia. Lawrence served with the US Air Force during WWII. He was a proofreader for Lancaster Press for 35 years. A member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, he enjoyed traveling, square dancing and camping. Lawrence is survived by his loving wife Lois, daughter Linda Lackey, Lititz, son Larry Kirchner, husband of Ann, Conestoga; 2 grandchildren, Todd Bookman, husband of Michelle and Jennifer L., wife of John B. Stipe, III; 4 great grandchildren, Alex and Ryan Bookman, Milania E. and Jett Kirchner Stipe; and 2 sisters, Regina Garreth, Lancaster, and Corrine Ortega, Chicago. He was predeceased by siblings Philip J...

Just found info on john kirchners death!

At library searching kirchners I found note on 2 Nov 1881 in Lancaster paper about a john vanhorn in Jersey city!