The Family of Michael Zehler and Angeline Kircsh
Second Generation
Michael Zehler was born July 25,
18375 in Nuhweiler, Rhine
Province, Prussia, the fourth child of Peter Zehler and Anna Maria
Klasen. His birth was registered the following morning at the district administrative
center in Wadern5. This record is
the source for his date of birth of July
25th.
Michael's baptismal record4, however, gives her
date of birth as July 26th, a
discrepancy which is common for four of his siblings. (see Peter for
additional comments).
Michael came to America in 1855, along with his sister
Anna. Their names are found on the
passenger list of the Samuel M. Fox, which landed in
New York
on April 21, 1855, with passengers Anna and Michael Zahler. Since Michael left Prussia
in 1855, at the age of 17, it is likely he did so to avoid service in the Prussian army; a mandatory
duty at the time. His departure likely caused considerable trouble for his parents,
especially since his oldet brother, John also left for
America to avoid military service. The effect on his family is part of the mystery surrounding his parents emigration the following year.
Upon his arrival in America, Michael proceeded to join his brothers in Orleans County, New
York, where he worked as a hired hand on the farm of Cornelius
Thomas24. On
February 3, 186425, he married
Angeline Kirsch at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, New York.
Angeline was born on January 15, 184393, at Selbach,
Fürstentum Birkenfeld, Oldenburg, the daughter of Peter Kirsch and
Barbara Dewes. After their marriage, Michael and Angeline lived in Orleans
County, where he continued to work as a hired hand for Cornelius
Thomas94. In
1875, they were still living in Orleans Couty, and Michael still worked as a farm
laborer124. Then
in 1876, Michael purchased a 35 acre farm on Tinkham Road, near the Genesee County line,
where he and Angeline lived for the remainder of their lives. Angeline died June 9,
19072, and Michael died
January 22, 19162,95.
The child of Michael and Angeline is:
Third Generation
| i. |
William P. Zehler
| William was born in September
186633, and he died on May 22,
19388.
|
William Zehler:
William Zehler was born in September, 1866, probably in Clarendon, Orleans County, the only
child of Michael Zehler and Angeline Kirsch.
Known as Willy, he remained unmarried and lived with his parents throughout his life.
Willy worked on the family farm, which he continued to operate after his parents deaths, and he
took care of his father in his old age95. Family
members who knew him indicate that Willy was deaf and somewhat eccentric. He was
an avid reader and lived like a hermit, staying pretty much to himself.
William died on May 22, 19388, and left his
estate to the Church and other charitable organizations. The probate papers filed in
Surrogate Court seeking the distribution of his estate are interesting in that they list 35 first
cousins, many of whom where related through his aunts and uncles of the Zehler
family8. The
record is a rich source of names and addresses for family members. William is buried in
the Sacred Heart of Jesus cemetery in Bennington.
William Zehler - about 1925
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