Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Jacob and Mary Ditzenberger: Grandparents

I was previously confused about the identity of Jacob Wesley's youngest "children," unable to follow them through the records.  The reason has now become clear, because of my realization that there were TWO census records listing them in the same year.

There is a census record for 1870, Eagle, Boone, IN, which names Jacob as head of household and at the bottom of his household are three males, George, Charles and Conrad, whose ages dovetail so well into those of the older children that they appear to be Jacob and Mary's sons, thus...

Jac Ditzenberger      61
Mary Ditzenberger     52
Alexander Ditzenberger     14
Lewellan Ditzenberger     13
Mary Ditzenberger     11
Jonathan Ditzenberger     8
George Ditzenberger     7
Charles Ditzenberger     3
Conrad Ditzenberger     1

HOWEVER, another record for the same year, 1870, but for Center, Boone, IN shows the same three males, George, Charles and Conrad, this time residing with C.A. (Charles Augustus) and Henry, thus...

C A Ditzenbarge      35
Henry Ditzenbarge     8
George Ditzenbarge     6
Charles Ditzenbarge     4
Conrad Ditzenbarge     1

The records for these four boys as sons of Charles Augustus are readily found (with the exception of Conrad), but if trying to piece together a history for any of them as sons of Jacob and Mary, there's nothing. 

The reason is that these boys are grandsons of Jacob and Mary, despite the appearance as sons on the Eagle, Boone Co. census.  The lack of relationship data on the 1870 census led me to the mistake, but finding the census for Center, Boone Co., set me back on the right track.  As the Ditzenberger biography states at the Boone County Historical Society's webpage, there are fourteen children (not seventeen) of Jacob and Mary.


Hopefully, this will help others piecing together their Ditzenberger heritage.

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