c1880s Joseph Ritner Brenizer
1825 Joseph Ritner Brenizer was the second son born to Michael and Mary Brenizer. His birthdate, reported as 30 July 1825, is not documented and it is not known whether sister Caroline was born before or after him. His age at death suggests that his birthdate was 16 July, 1825. Joseph's birthplace has been reported as Adams County and as Cumberland County, Pennsylvania [Adams was formed from part of Cumberland county]. During his life, Joseph Ritner Brenizer's name appeared as Jacob Brenizer [Ira Gerald Wolfe's obituary and in Homer Wolfe's story], Ritner Brenizer [1], and Joseph R Brenizer [2].
1830 Joseph Brenizer might have been one of 3 males under age 5 in the household of his father, Michael, South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [3] [4]
1834 Sarah Weigle was born to Jonas and Margaret Weigle when her older brother Samuel was 2 years old. [Story, Figuring out which Sarah Weigle was Joseph Brenizer's wife.]
1836 Joseph Brenizer's father died when Joseph is only 11 years old. His mother Mary had 7 children to raise.
1840 Joseph Brenizer's mother, Mary Wise Brenizer, lived in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with 3 boys under age 10 [5] [6]. No son of Joseph's age (15) was listed in the household.
1844 After the births of two more daughters to Sarah Weigle's parents, Sarah's brother Jonas was born and was baptized at the Lutheran German Reformed Church in Arendtsville, Adams County. Later, in 1859, after Sarah Weigle and Joseph Ritner Brenizer were married, they baptized their child Jonas Clayton Brenizer at the same church. Both Sarah Weigle's brother Jonas Weigle and her son Jonas Brenizer were likely named after Sarah's father Jonas Weigle. Joseph Ritner Brenizer's brother Lafayette Brenizer also baptized several of his children at this church.
1850 There were two plausible census listings for Joseph Ritner Brenizer. Joseph Brenizer was listed as a coppersmith (age 23) in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania living in the household of Abraham Edwards [7] [8]. Ritner Brenizer (age 25, born PA) lived in Creagerstown, Frederick, Maryland working as a laborer in the household of James Foster [9] [10]. Perhaps these both refer to Ritner Brenizer, with double reporting to the census.
1850 Sarah Weigle lived in Huntingdon Twp, Adams County, Pennsylvania, at age 15. She was no longer in school. She was the daughter of Jonas Weigle (age perhaps 41), a farmer with land worth $800, and Christina (age perhaps 41), who could not read or write. Elizabeth (13), Samuel (10), Sophia (8), and Jonas (7), all in school, and William (1) were listed as siblings [11] [12]. This 1850 census record links Sarah and Sophia as daughters of Jonas Weigle. The 1910 census record for Ira Wolfe and Clara Brenizer Wolfe lists Sophie English as an aunt. Together with the marriage of Sophia Weigle to Charles English in Ohio, this provides evidence that this Sarah Weigle, sister of Sophia Weigle, was Clara Brenizer's mother.
1853 Joseph Brenizer's mother died in Hampton, Reading Twp, Adams County, Pennsylvania with 4 minor children: Joanna Marie and George, who were about 19 years old, and twins Lafayette and Washington, who were 18 years old.
1856 Ritner Brenizer, of Hampton, and Sarah Weigle, of Huntington Twp, were married by Rev. J Martin on November 4 at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in York Springs, which is several miles north of Hampton. [13] [14] [15] [16]
1857 Son Jacob Addison Brenizer was born on April 13. Jacob was baptized on October 11, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, York Springs, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [17] [18]
1859 Son Jonas Claton Brenizer was born on June 17. Jonas was baptized on May 19, 1860, at Lutheran and Reformed Church, Arendtsville, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [19]
1860 Ritner Brenizer, millwright (age 31), and wife Sarah (age 25) lived in Franklin Twp, Adams County, Pennsylvania, with children Jacob (age 3), and Jonas (age 11 months) with estate valued at $50. Living next door was a Jacob Weigle (age 28). [20] [21] [22]
1862 Clara Vestillia Brenizer, daughter of Sarah A Brenizer, was born on October 14, 186[1,?]. She was baptized on May 26, 1866, at the Trindle Spring Lutheran Church, Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [23]
1863 Ritner Brenizer of South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, was listed by the draft board, on July 1, as age 36, with occupation laborer. [24]
1870 Ritner Brenizer (age 45) and wife Sarah Brenizer (age 34) lived in Shippensburg Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with children Jacob (age 14), Clara (age 7), Anna (age 3), and Ella M (age 2 months). Ritner's real estate was valued at $1000 and his personal estate has value $275. Ritner's occupation was millwright. [25] [26]
1877 Joseph and Sarah Brenizer moved to Union City, Ohio, based on daughter Anna Mary being age 11 when they moved.
1880 Joseph R. Brenizer (age 53) and wife Sarah A. Brenizer (age 47) were listed at East Jackson, Darke County, Ohio with children Clara V (age 17), Anna M (age 14), Ella M (age 10), and John A (age 7). Ella and John were in school. Clara and Anna were single and kept house with their mother Sarah. [27] [28] [29]
188? Daughter Clara Brenizer moved to Kansas and married her cousin Ira Wolfe in 1885.
1889 J.R. Brenizer died on July 8, 1889, at age 63y, 11m, 22d, and was buried at Teegarden Cemetery, Ansonia, Darke County, Ohio. [30] A death summary indicates birth in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania to mother Mary Wise; he was a farmer and died at age 63 yrs, 11 mo, 9 days of abdominal dropsy [31] [32] [33]
1900 Widow Sarah A. Bernizer [Brenizer] (age 65) lived with son-in-law George Shawl (age 36) in Union City Village, Ohio, next door to Ira Wolfe. [34] [35]
1905 Sarah A Brenizer and Nellie Brenizer, perhaps Sarah's grand-daughter, lived at 316 Catherine, Jacksonville, Florida.[37] Son Joseph and Flo Brenizer were also listed.
1907 "Mrs Sara A Brenizer, seventy three years of age, died in North Gainesville [Florida] early Monday morning of consumption … Deceased is survived by two sons and three daughters … interment will be in Evergreen cemetery."
1907 Sarah's sister, Mrs. S. English, and children; J. A. Brenizer, Mr. and Mrs. G. F. Shawl, Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Wolfe; posted a notice thanking friends for sympathy of Sarah Weigle Brenizer. [38]
c 1936 Daughter Anna Mary Brenizer Shawl wrote a letter to her grand-daughter, Mildred [perhaps Edith Mildred, daughter of Leah Mildred], recounting her Brenizer ancestry. [39]
Bradenton, Fla.
My dear Mildred:
Your letter received a few hours ago. It has been just simply pouring rain all day and we did not go to the mail box till evening. Now, Mildred I will do the best I can but possibly will expose my ignorance in the way I get this up. First I will tell you there was three brothers (Brenizer boys) came over from Germany and it is said that it has been traced up and all the Brenizers in the United States are descendants of these three brothers. When Uncle Jake was here he said when he was in Washington D.C. he went to see how long ago that was and it was in 1700, but he forgot the year now I can't even tell their given names. Now I will tell you my grandparent's names. Your Great-great-grandparents - My fathers father was Michael Brenizer. Married Anna Wise. My Mothers father was Jones Weigel. Married Christine Meals. They all lived in Pennsylvania.My father's name was Joseph Ritner Brenizer - named Ritner after Governor Ritner at the time of his birth. He married Sarah Ann Weigel. They were Pennsylvania Dutch. My father was not very tall but heavy set and a mighty muscular man. Had coal black hair and dark eyes. My mother was rather tall and slender. Had rather dark brown hair and gray eyes. My oldest brother Jacob Adison Brenizer is over six feet tall and has black hair and gray eyes. He was always considered a handsome man and is yet in spite of his 80 years. He lives at Jacksonville Beach, Fla. My sister Mrs. Clara Wolfe is not very tall and has black hair and eyes very much like our fathers. At present she is living in El Paso, Texas. Sister Ella Neff passed away about seven years ago and her Brother John Albert Brenizer passed away about four years ago. (Born March 17, 1864. Next is your Grandfather, George Franklin Shawl. He married Anna Mary Brenizer (born October, 12, 1866) on September 25, 1997 He and I were both born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. When he was seven years old they moved to northern Indiana, and when I was eleven years old we moved to Uniono City, Indiana (Ohio side) where we met and were married by C.W. Hoeffer of Versailles, Ohio. We had an elaborate wedding - a double wedding. My first cousin Cora Eichelberger and Sylvester Wolf were married by the same ceremony. We Werer married at Cora's Country mond and there were over 100 guests. Dinner was served and the tables almost groaned with the load of good things to eat. Your grandfather had rather linght brown hair and blue gray eyes and a very fair complexion. He is now seventy three years old. Your grandmother is five foot four inches tall, has black hair and eyes. We have lived in Union City, Indiana, Ohio side, Gainesville, Florida, Alachua, Fla. Willistown, Fla. and now at Bradenton, Fla. We had four daughters. The oldest Minnie May Shawl was born December 11, 1888. She married Jimmy Griggs. They have three children (James, Wilma, and Evelyn). The next daughter is Edith Pearl Shawl born January 20, 1891. She married Hampton Register. They had two children (Lucille and Stanley) Edith passed away four years ago. The next daughter is Leah Mildred Shawl born February 19, 1893. She married James E. Fisher. They have three children. Mildred, Ruth, and virginia. Mildren married Earle L. Stone, They have one daughter Jo Ann. Our fourth daughter is Mary Loretta Shawl. She was born November 3, 1902. She married George E. Betts. They have six children. Louise, Robert, Harry, Donald, Billy and Kenneth.
My childhood home was furnished very simple yet comfortable. When I was a little girl I slept in a trundle bed. I might add that I remember wearing a wool dress that my grandmother spun the wool, dyed it, and wove it into cloth. I can see it yet. It was tan and blue in checks ¼ inch square. I might write many things of interest to you that my mother told me, but of course that was before my day. My grandparents raised flax, that grows in the stems. Grandmother spun it in thread and wove it into linen cloth and made towels and lots of things. To this day I have pieces of that linen. Some day I will make you a small centerpiece of the linen. Another thing mama said her mother didn't have a cook stove but hung the kettle on a hook in the fireplace and had an outside bake oven to bake her bread and make their own tallow candles. I remember our candle molds very distinctly. Also the harvesting was cut by hand. The men used what they called a cradel to cut the wheat and others came and shucked it. All this I remember and I remember when the first harvesters was first used and the twins binders, but of course I can't tell when that was. I know there has been many inventions in my day, but I don't recall them. Of course the more recent inventions the radio, airplane, and automobile. The first automobile I ever saw was an electric one, at Cleveland, O. We called it a horseless carriage and we would smile to see it now beside to ones of recent date. My favorite color is wine color and the church we are members of is the Church of Christ.
Guess this is all of any importance. Sorry I could not write it with ink, but I make too many mistakes. I think faster than I write and leave out many words. If you think it is worth it you or Ruth can copy it in ink or type it when you have time.
Written by your grandmother,
Anna Mary Shawl
[1] Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940, [FamilySearchRecord].
[2] US census, 1880, Reel 1010, Image 617, family 96, [InternetArchive].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] US census, 1830, Reel 0150, Image 58, line 11, [InternetArchive].
[5] United States Federal Census, 1840, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[6] United States Federal Census, 1840, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[7] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] United States Federal Census, 1850, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[9] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[10] United States Federal Census, 1850, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[11] United States Federal Census, 1850, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[12] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[13] Newspaper, Star and Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), 14 Nov 1856.
[14] Pennsylvania Marriages, 1709-1940, [FamilySearchRecord].
[15] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, PA, Adams, York Springs, Lutheran, Holy Trinity Lutheran, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[16] Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive, Republican Compiler, Nov 10, 1856, image 3, col 2, [PSU News Archive].
[17] Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950, [FamilySearchRecord].
[18] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, PA, Adams, York Springs, Lutheran, Holy Trinity Lutheran, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[19] Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950, [FamilySearchRecord].
[20] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[21] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[22] United States Federal Census, 1860, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[23] Trindle Spring Evangelical Lutheran Church near Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Records, 1789-1935, 52, [FHLCatalog].
[24] National Archives and Records Administration, Civil War Draft Registration Records (Consolidated Enrollment Lists, 1863-1865) (Washington, D.C.), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[25] United States Federal Census, 1870, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[26] United States Federal Census, 1870, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[27] United States Federal Census, 1880, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[28] United States Federal Census, 1880, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[29] United States Federal Census, 1880, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[30] Newspaper, Union City Times, 12 July.
[31] Garst Historical Museum, Research Center, Darke County, Ohio (https://www.garstmuseum.org/research-center), Vol 2, page 14, copy not kept, source unknown.
[32] Find A Grave Memorial 195972031, [FindAGrave].
[33] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[34] United States Federal Census, 1900, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[35] United States Federal Census, 1900, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[36] Gainesville Daily Sun, Gainesville, Florida, November 14, 1907, page 11, [NewspapersClip].
[37] US City Directories, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[38] Newspaper, Gainesville Daily Sun, (Gainesville, Florida), 12 and 18 Nov 1907.
[39] Family Document, Typed letter, likely from correspondence with Faith Wolfe.