Descendants of John George Bauer
of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
also known as John Todd
of Coatesville, Pennsylvania
First Generation

JOHN GEORGE 1 BAUER was born at the Kingdom of Württemberg, now part of Germany, on 2 March 1850, a son of John Bauer and his wife Catherine Corbman. He died at Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pensylvania, on 19 January 1932.[1] He married first at Providence Township, Lancaster County, on 9 October 1870 SARAH HARMON.[2] She was born at Pennsylvania on 24 December 1852, and died at Lancaster on 30 May 1919.[3] They divorced at Lancaster on 2 May 1885.[4] He married second at Lancaster on 1 May 1887 NELLIE A. FELLOWS. She was born at Virginia on September 1862,[5] and was still living in 1900. He married third, probably soon after 1900, MARY KURTZ. She was born at Pennsylvania on 25 November 1870, and died at Lancaster on 20 October 1923.[6] John George Bauer's first wife, Sarah Harmon, married second, sometime after 1900, JAMES LOWERY.[7]

John George Bauer came to America on the S. S. Germania, arriving at the port of New York on 26 November, 1866. "J. Bauer" claimed to be a farmer from Germany, age 20.[8] However, he was only 16. Granddaughter Elsie Roschel claimed that he left Germany at age 16 to escape compulsory military service.[9] Whether this statement is based on reliable oral tradition or speculation, I cannot say. John became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1871, at the age of 21.

John Bauer, of Lancaster, and Sarah Harman of Providence Township, were married by John Strohm, Justice of the Peace, on 9 October 1870, at the Green Tree, in Providence Township.[10]

John and Sarah lived at 709 Manor Street, Lancaster, where their family soon grew. The 1880 Census reported them as follows:[11]

Line Name Race Sex Age Related MS Occupation B FB MB
31. Bauer, John W M 30 M laborer Württemberg Württemberg Württemberg
32. Bauer, Sarah W F 28 wife M keeping house PA PA PA
33. Bauer, Willie W M 9 son S school PA Württemberg PA
34. Bauer, Bertha W F 7 daughter S school PA Württemberg PA
35. Bauer, Elmer W M 6 son S school PA Württemberg PA
36. Bauer, Annie W F 3 daughter S PA Württemberg PA
37. Bauer, Martin L. W M 9/12 son S PA Württemberg PA
38. Snyder, Michael W M 60 M shoemaker Bavaria Bavaria Bavaria

This record also indicated that Sarah could not read or write, and that Martin had been born in August.


John and Sarah Bauer and family
photo provided by Betty Bauer Ranck Kibler

Martin died in 1881; a sixth child, Charles, was also born into this family.

John and Sarah Bauer separated on 14 July 1884. John testified at their divorce proceedings:

I have seen the Respondent my wife on several occasions in company with George W. Miller, with whom she was accused of having committed adultery. At one time I came home to my dinner and George W. Miller was lying in the dining room of my house, drunk. I complained to my wife about it and she always took his part. He more than once came there during my absence, brought beer with him, and he and my wife would get drunk together. One night I came home and they had the children locked up upstairs, and they were together. This was at ten o'clock at night. I remonstrated, but it was of no avail. She would then make violent threats, to cut my throat, or poison me +c +c. On several occasions she went off to dancing parties with George W. Miller, when I was engaged at my work. [12]

On that date, 14 July, a warrent was issued for the arrest of Sarah Bauer on the charge of adultry. She and George Miller left town, going to Philadelphia. They were arrested on 2 August, when Miller confessed [bragged?] to officers that he

had slept with her, that they lived together as man and wife in Philadelphia and went by the name of Kutz. She confessed that she had slept with him three nights. Geo. Miller told me that he had Respondent at Ziegler's Brick Yard, at Love Lane, and at Bauer's house, and had all he wanted from her, and whenever he wanted it. [13]

On 15 November 1884, Sarah Bauer and George Miller were convicted of adultery. Miller was sentenced to a fine of $100 and eight and a half months in jail following the completion of another sentence. Sarah Bauer was sentenced to a $100 fine and imprisonment of eleven months and twenty days. John Bauer filed for divorce, which was issued on 17 March 1885.[14]

According to granddaughter Beulah, Sarah Harmon was married four times, the fourth being James Lowry.[15] I find no evidence for these supposed second and third marriages. In the 1900 Census she was living with her recently married son Elmer, using the name Sarah Harman.[16] When she died in 1919, her husband was James Lowery. It is also not clear what happened to the children after the divorce. When daughter Bertha married at age 20, she received permission to marry from Samuel Clark, "guardian ad litum."[17]

Two years after his divorce, John Bauer married Nellie Fellows. According to the marriage record, John was a carpenter, age 37. Nellie, age 30, born in Loudon County, Virginia, was a widow. They married at Saint Lukes Reformed Church, Lancaster, Rev. William F. Lichliter presiding.[18] John was described as a carpenter in 1888 and 1890 city directories, a tobacco packer in 1899.[19] He next appears in the 1900 Census at 626 Fourth Street, Lancaster:[20]

Line Name Related Race Sex Born MS B FB MB Occupation
42. Bowers, John G. head W M Mar 1850 M Germany Germany Germany carpenter
43. Bowers, Nellie A. wife W F Sep 1862 M PA Germany Germany
44. Kurtz, Mary boarder W F Nov 1862 S PA PA PA helper + housekeeper

This record included some other information. John and Nellie had been married 12 years. Nellie never had any children. John came to America in 1866, and was a naturalized citizen. He owned his home with a mortgage.

It is not clear what happened to Nellie, or how soon John married his boarder, Mary Kurtz. The birth of their first child occurred 20 days before the 1900 census date, although he was not reported in the census. In the next eleven years John and Mary had seven children. According to granddaughter Elsie, "I think he was living with Mary Kurtz in Lancaster, but my Uncle Will made it so hot for him that he moved to Coatsville."[21] There he assumed a new identity, using the surname "Todd."

I have not found this family in the 1910 Census. In 1920 they appeared at Steel Avenue, Valley Township, Chester County (Valley Township adjoins Coatesville):[22]

Line Name Related Sex Race Age MS B FB MB Occupation
10. Todd, John head M W 69 M Wurttemberg Germany Germany carpenter, steel mill
11. Todd, Mary E. wife F W 48 M PA PA PA none
12. Todd, Clarence O. son M W 19 S PA Wurttemberg PA railroad laborer, railroad
13. Todd, Nellie N. daughter F W 18 S PA Wurttemberg PA clerk, grocery store
14. Todd, Florence daughter F W 17 S PA Wurttemberg PA student, school
15. Todd, Edward son M W 13 S PA Wurttemberg PA student, school
16. Todd, Mollie daughter F W 11 S PA Wurttemberg PA student, school
17. Todd, John son M W 8 S PA Wurttemberg PA student, school

Mary (Kurtz) Todd died in 1923, leaving John with children at home ages 23, 22, 21, 17, 15, 13, and 11. Some of the younger children were taken in by other families; the older children soon married. The 1930 Census reported John Todd living at Lancaster with his son Edward and Edward's family.[23] When John died in 1932, at the age of 81, he was a resident of the Lancaster County Hospital for the Insane. John and Mary are buried at the Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery.[24]


Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery
findagrave.com

The 1940 Census reported the children of John George Bauer (which I have been able to locate) as follows:[25]

Name Location Occupation
Bertha Bauer Dommel Lancaster housewife
Elmer F. Bauer Lancaster agent, life insurance
Clarence Todd Lancaster laborer, plumbing
Nellie Todd Weimer Strasburg Twp checker, laundry
Florence Todd Royer Lancaster Twp watch maker, watch factory
Edward Todd Lancaster print department, cork works
Molly Todd Giberson Lancaster decorator, candy manufacturer
Ada Todd Walton Downingtown housewife
John G. Bauer, Jr. Lancaster Twp watch maker, watch factory

John George Bauer and his first wife Sarah Harmon had the following children:

  1. WILLIAM2 BAUER b. at Pennsylvania about 1870-1,[26]
  2. BERTHA2 BAUER b. at Lancaster on 25 February 1871.
  3. ELMER FRANKLIN BAUER b. at Manor Township, Lancaster County, on 13 September 1874.
  4. ANNIE2 BAUER b. at Pennsylvania about 1876-7.[27]
  5. MARTIN LUTHER2 BAUER b. at Pennsylvania about August 1879; d. at Lancaster on 15 January 1881.[28]
  6. CHARLES2 BAUER

John George Bauer, also known as John Todd, and his third wife Mary Ellen Kurtz, had the following children:

  1. CLARENCE RICHARD2 TODD b. at Lancaster on 11 May 1900; d. there on 5 February 1953;[29] m. about 1929-30 MARY J. JOHNSON,[30] b. at New York on 11 May 1895, d. at Lancaster on 12 December 1963.[31]
  2. NELLIE N.2 TODD b. at Pennsylvania on 20 June 1901; d. on 20 Januart 1988;[32] m. about 1923-4 AMOS EARL WEIMER,[33] b. at Lancaster County on 16 March 1895, d. at Strasburg Township on 16 June 1966, child of Amos Weimer and Mary Rineer.[34]
  3. FLORENCE2 TODD b. at Pennsylvania on 23 April 1902; d. on 23 January 1988;[35] m. about 1926-7 HAYDEN ROYER,[36] b. at Rothsville, Warwick Township, Lancaster County, on 28 May 1889, d. at Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, on 26 November 1936, child of Horace Royer and Susan Adams.[37] Children of Hayden and Florence:[38]
    1. Betty Jane Royer b. at Pennsylvania about May 1928.
    2. Fern Royer b. at Pennsylvania about February 1930
    3. Richard E. Royer b. at Pennsylvania about 1931-2
  4. EDWARD2 TODD b. at Lancaster on 9 September 1906;[39] d. on 20 June 1992;[40] m. about 1926-7 CLARA EDITH MILLER,[41] b. at Lancaster on 23 November 1908, d. on 12 November 1999, child of Isaac H. Miller and Emma Frances Souerbeer.[42] Children of Edward and Clara:[43]
    1. Betty Jane Todd b. at Pernnsylvania about September 1928.
    2. Edward T. Todd b. at Pennsylvania on 4 April 1930, d. on 16 March 2002.[44]
    3. Helen A. Todd b. at Pennsylvania about 1932-3.
    4. Shirley Ann Todd b. at Pennsylvania about 1934-5.
    5. Nancy Todd b. at Pennsylvania about 1937-8.
  5. MOLLY2 TODD b. at Lancaster on 17 January 1908;[45] living 1988; m. about 1928-9 WILLIAM A. GIBERSON,[46] b. at Pennsylvania on 6 April 1907, d. on 24 September 1981.[47] William and Molly had the following children:[48]
    1. William A. Giberson, Jr. b. at Pennsylvania about 1930-1.
    2. Dawn E. Giberson b. at Pennsylvania about 1931-2.
  6. ADA RUTH2 TODD b. at Downingtown on 17 September 1910.
  7. JOHN G.2 TODD b. at Downingtown on 4 December 1911; d. on 27 September 1969;[49] m. NELL MORROW.[50] John and Nell had the following children:[51]
    1. Jack Todd d. at Columbia, Lancaster County, on 18 December 2018; m. Joan Curtis Children of Jack and Joan:
      1. Alison Todd m. ________ Buckwalter
      2. Frebecca Todd
    2. Winnie Fay Todd m/ ________ Nissley
  8. ESTHER2 TODD.

NOTES

1Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate 7219, John G. Bauer, 1932; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 13 June 2018); Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11, Series 11.90. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Names of parents from: Interview with Elsie Bauer Roschel by Charles A. Maxfield, summer 1987. notes held by Charles A. Maxfield (Lansdale, Pennsylvania).
2Transcription of marriage record in: Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, April Term 1885, case no. 30, Divorce Proceedings, John G. Bauer v. Sarah E. Bauer; Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
3Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate 58339, Sarah E Lowery, 1919.
4Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, April Term 1885, case no. 30.
5Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950, Lancaster County, 1887, no. 1622, Bauer-Fellows; digital images, Family Search (familysearch.org : accessed 15 January 2019); County courthouses, Pennsylvania.
6Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate 106582, Mary E. Bauer, 1923.
7Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate 58339, Sarah E Lowery, 1919.
8"Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897," digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 12 October 2018), S.S. Germania, Nov [26] '66, roll 274, p. [4]; Records of the U.S. Customs Service, Record Group 36. National Archives at Washington, D.C.
9Interview, Elsie Bauer Roschel, summer 1987.
10Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, April Term 1885, case no. 30.
11Tenth Census of the United States: 1880, population, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, enumeration district (ED) 159, roll 1143, p. 213C, household 172, John Bauer family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 11 December 2015); NARA microfilm publication T9; Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
12Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, April Term 1885, case no. 30.
13Ibid.
14Ibid.
15Interview with Beulah Bauer Reed and Mary Ann Reed Henkel, and other family members, by Betty Bauer Ranck Kibler, 1985. notes held by Charles A. Maxfield (Lansdale, Pennsylvania).
16Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, enumeration district (ED) 67, p. 5B, household 97, Elmer Bauer family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 28 April 2015); NARA microfilm group T623; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
17Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950, Lancaster County, 1891, no. 6405, Dommel-Bauer.
18Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950, Lancaster County, 1887, no. 1622, Bauer-Fellows.
19Williams' Annual Lancaster City Directory for 1888 (Lancaster, Pennsylvania: J. E. Williams, 1888), 40, John G. Bauer; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 17 January 2019). Williams' Lancaster City and County Directory for 1890 (Lancaster, Pennsylvania: J. E. Williams, 1890), 45, John G. Bauer; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 16 January 2019). 1899-1900 Directory of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Vicinity (Detroit, Michigan: R. L. Polk & Co., 1900), 60, John G. Bauer; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 16 January 2019).
201900 Census, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 67, roll 1424, p. 7A, household 128, John G. Bowers family.
21Interview, Elsie Bauer Roschel, summer 1987.
22Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population, Valley, Chester County, Pennsylvania, enumeration district (ED) 83, roll 1551, p. 3A, household 51, John Todd family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 12 December 2015); NARA microfilm record group T625, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
23Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, enumeration district (ED) 64, p. 18B, household 459, Edward Todd family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 12 December 2015); NARA microfilm record group T626; Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.
24Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : accessed 18 June 2018), John-Mary Bauer; Created by: Lisa Brown Bushman, Photo added by Leigh Miller.
25Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940, population, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, enumeration district (ED) 36-87, roll 3532, p. 11B, household 231, Harry Dommel family; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 27 April 2015); NARA microfilm group T627. 1940 Census, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-58, roll 3530, p. 62B, household 308, Elmer Bauer family. 1940 Census, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-57, roll 03530, p. 4A, household 94, Clarence Todd family. 1940 Census, Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-146, roll 3535, p. 20A, household 345, Amos Weimer family. 1940 Census, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-99, roll 3533, p. 62B, household 348, Florence Royer family. 1940 Census, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-78, roll 3531, p. 20A, household 408, George Lamparter household. 1940 Census, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-72, roll 3531, p. 18B, household 361, Wm. A. Giberson family. 1940 Census, Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania, ED 15-20, roll 3464, p. 1B, household 13, Earl A. Walton family. 1940 Census, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-99, roll 3533, p. 18B, household 448, Theofore Duus family.
261880 Census. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 159, roll 1143, p. 213C, household 172, John Bauer family.
27Ibid.
281880 Census. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 159, roll 1143, p. 213C, household 172, John Bauer family. Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Find a Grave, digital images (findagrave.com : database 18 January 2019), Martin Bauer; Created by: GerbLady.
29Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate 15014, Clarence Richard Todd, 1953.
301930 Census. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 60, p. 16A, household 367, Clarence Todd family.
31Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate 119897-63, Mary J. Todd, 1963.
32Social Security Administration, "U.S. Social Security Death Index," database, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 15 April 2017), Nellie M. Weimer, 173-03-8534.
33Letter from Ada Walton to Charles A. Maxfield, 17 October 1988; held in by Charles A. Maxfield.
34Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate 59471, Amos Earl Weimer, 1966.
35"U.S. Social Security Death Index", Florence T. Royer, 173-03-9118.
36Letter, Ada Walton to Charles A. Maxfield, 17 October 1988.
37Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906–1966, certificate no. 101945, Hayden A. Royer, 1936.
381930 Census. Lancaster Twp., Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 77, p. 11A, household 258, Hayden Royer family. 1940 Census. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-99, roll 3533, p. 62B, household 348, Florence Royer family.
39Pennsylvania Department of Health. Birth certificates, 1906–1910. Series 11.89, box 61, no. 177959, Edward Todd, 1906; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 6 June 2018); Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania..
40"U.S. Social Security Death Index", Edward Todd, 196-10-2769.
41Letter, Ada Walton to Charles A. Maxfield, 17 October 1988.
42"U.S. Social Security Death Index", Clara E. Todd, 164-52-2467.
431930 Census. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 64, p. 18B, household 459, Edward Todd family. 1940 Census. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-78, roll 3531, p. 20A, household 408, George Lamparter household.
44"U.S. Social Security Death Index", Edward T. Todd, 202-16-8843.
45Birth certificates, 1906–1910. Series 11.89, box 135, no. 8126, ________ Kurtz, 1908.
46Letter, Ada Walton to Charles A. Maxfield, 17 October 1988.
47"U.S. Social Security Death Index", William Giberson, 196-10-1672.
481940 Census. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, ED 36-72, roll 3531, p. 18B, household 361, Wm. A. Giberson family.
49"U.S. Social Security Death Index", John Todd, 196-09-9738.
50Letter, Ada Walton to Charles A. Maxfield, 17 October 1988.
51"Jack G. Todd," obituary, LNP, 20 December 2018; Genealogy Bank (genealogybank.com : accessed 16 January 2019), Recent Newspaper Obituaries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1899-1900 Directory of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Vicinity. Detroit, Michigan: R. L. Polk & Co., 1900. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2019.

Lancaster Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2019.

Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas. Lancaster County Courthouse. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

LNP. Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 20 December 2018.

"Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897." Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2018.

Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950. Digital images. Family Search. familysearch.org : 2019.

Pennsylvania. Death Certificates, 1906–1966. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2018

Pennsylvania Department of Health. Birth certificates, 1906–1910. Series 11.89. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2018.

Reed, Beulah Bauer and Mary Ann Reed Henkel, and other family members. Interview. 1985. Notes held by Charles A. Maxfield, Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

Roschel, Elsie Bauer. Interview. summer 1987. Notes held by Charles A. Maxfield, Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

United States Department of the Census. Tenth Census of the United States: 1880, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2015.

________. Twelth Census of the United States: 1900, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2015.

________. Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2015.

________. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2015.

______. Sixteenth Census of the United States: 1940, population. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2015.

United States Social Security Administration. "U.S. Social Security Death Index." Database. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2017.

Walton, Ada. Letter. 17 October 1988, to Charles A. Maxfield. Privately held by Charles A. Maxfield.

Williams' Annual Lancaster City Directory for 1888. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: J. E. Williams, 1888. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2019.

Williams' Lancaster City and County Directory for 1890. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: J. E. Williams, 1890. Digital images. Ancestry. ancestry.com : 2019.

Willow Street Mennonite Church Cemetery, Willow Street, West Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Find a Grave. Digital images. findagrave.com : 2018.

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