John and Susan Zehler - late 1800s
"John Zehler is insane, and a proper person for care and treatment in the Northern Michigan
Asylum for the Insane, at Traverse City."
This decision was arrived at on the grounds that he was:
"Afraid that some one was plotting to kill him or to do him great injury. Also from his
general conversation and becoming uncontrollable at times . Also imagining attending his
own funeral, etc."
Presumably, John spent some time in the Traverse City asylum prior to his death, although we
have no direct evidence of this
John Zehler was born June 16, 18314,5, in Nuhweiler, Rhine
Province, Prussia, the first child of Peter Zehler and
Anna Maria Klasen. He was baptized the same day. John's
formative years were spent on the family farm in Nuhweiler, during which time he received his
education.
John Zehler's Birth Record
A major turning point in John's life, and probably that of his family, came in 1847, when he left
home and emigrated to America. John was 16 or17 at the time and had was near the age
of mandatory, two-year military service. Clearly, he left without the required
governmental permission to avoid serving in the Prussian Army. Although we don't know
whether this was a family decision or John's personal choice, the move certainly caused
problems for his family and may have led them to name their next son,
Frederick, after the King of Prussia.
At the time, emigration to America was on the rise and was being actively promoted. In
addition to letters from prior emigrants, societies were forming in the States to promote
migration and shipping companies had agents in Europe who touted the advantages of migrating
and competed to book passengers. John was most likely aware of other families from the
area who were already in America, particularly the Meyer family of nearby Mettnich and the
Hahn family of nearby Kastel. Both families came to America in 1840 and settled in
Wyoming County, New York1.
John's Baptismal Record
John's journey, whether alone or in the company of friends, would include travel by train to a
port of embarkation, and a sea voyage of one or two months. Upon arriving in New York,
John likely made his way to Wyoming County, New York, to join the Meyer and Hahn families
as part of the growing community of German immigrants in and around Sheldon. This
would involve travel by steamship up the Hudson River to Albany and by train to Batavia, with
the final leg of the trip by wagon or horse.
Our first glimpse of John in America comes from the 1855 New York State Census, at which
time he is working as a farm laborer on the farm of Thomas Cornelius in the Town of Murray,
Orleans County, New York24. John
had
undoubtedly worked in similar jobs since his arrival, both to earn a living and, perhaps, to help
bring the rest of the family to come America. John continued to work as a laborer for
much of his life.
On May 11, 1857, John married Susan Hahn at St. Mary's RC Church in
Buffalo25. Susan
was born on June 18411, the daughter of
Peter Hahn and Barbara Hahn. The Hahn family initially settled in
Sheldon after their arrival in 18401, but soon moved to
Buffalo, where their daughter was married. John and Susan initially lived in Murry, in
Oleans county, where John continued to work as a farm laborer. Then in 1866, John
purchased two small parcels of land in Sheldon, possibly the start of a life of
farming23.
However, the following year John and Susan sold their land to his
father23. At the
time of the 1870 census, they still lived in Sheldon and it appears John continued to farm the
land he had recently sold26.
Then, in 1870 or 1871, John and Susan moved to Michigan. They were accompanied by,
his brother Martin and Martin's wife. The reason for this move is unknown, but a likely
motive was economic opportunity in the lumber industry. The land records of Mecosta
county show that Susan Zehler purchased a lot on Second Avenue in Big Rapids, Michigan, in
August of 187117. John
and Susan built their house on this lot and made their permanent home in Big Rapids.
John
worked as a day laborer and apparently earning a comfortable living.
Insight into John's later years comes from the Probate Records of Mecosta County. The
records for 1899 contain the following court finding:
John and Susan celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in
1906
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