Research on Henry F. Kaiser (1835-1906) for Kaiser Family Tree

Henry and Mary Kaiser and their children (click for more photos, pages 1, 2, 3)

Here are some of my notes and links gathered in researching my Great-Great Grandfather, Henry F. Kaiser (1835 - 1906).

Currently we have some interesting information on him, but none on who his parents were, so he is the dead-end in tracing our Kaiser line. Any further information would definitely be appreciated.

Details and Leads (confirmed and unconfirmed)

• name: Henry F. Kaiser (what is the 'F' for? Is the 'F' from his father's name?)
• born: Mar 23, 1835 (in Alleghany City, PA)
• died: Dec 20/26?, 1906 (Family Bible data says 12/26, tombstone says 12/20)
• Siblings: 1 brother and 3 sisters, all died in their early youth. Don't know if they were older or younger, but since HFKs mother died when he was young, they may have been older.
• Sequence of known events in HFK's life
  • His parents supposedly emmigrated to the US shortly before his birth. Not sure from where, though, in the 1900 census, Henry F. says his parents were born in Germany. (first time we've found that!)
  • Born Mar 23, 1835 in Alleghany City, PA.
  • Grew up in Alleghany City, PA.
  • Went to a German school in Alleghany City, conducted by a Lutheran church until he was confirmed, at about 14.
  • When he was 14, worked for a farmer (Adam Walters) for a year, then ran away.
  • Stayed with his father for about a year, then ran away
  • At 15 or 16, joined the Merchant Marine as a seaman. First voyage was from Philadelphia to Liverpool, on the ship "Annie." Served on a number of different ships over 9 years.
  • Spring 1861: As he was traveling from NYC to Pittsburgh, passed through Lewistown, PA where he enlisted in the Logan Guards.
  • Interesting bit: The Logan Guards and others of the "First Five Companies" went through Baltimore during the great riot of 1861. (see Samuel P. Bates' History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865 for a description of this riot against the "First Five Companies" volunteer units marching through, and their critical role in early defense of Washington D.C. against rebels troops across the Potamac)
  • (served in various units, re-enlisting at least once - add more details later)
  • Discharged from the first service July 29, 1861, and re-enlisted August 5, 1861
  • Treated in the general hospital at Newport, RI for 3 months in the spring of 1862
  • Discharged honorably from the second service at White Oak Church (where?) on the 6th of January, 1863, by reason of blindness.
  • After that discharge, he "started off on a tramp, and finally reached Columbus, Ohio. Then I turned back and came to Harrisbury, where I enlisted in the Veteran Reserve Corps."
  • (I have very little info on what happened between Jan 1863 and his marriage in Mar 1868)
  • After his Civil War service, he 'mostly' lived in the area of Mont Alto and Fayetteville, PA (Franklin County)
  • Married: Mar. 4, 1868 to Mary Elizabeth Black, (b. Apr 20, 1845 - d. Mar. 21, 1906)
  • Their children were:
    • Amanda-Jane Kaiser, b. Mar 7, 1874, d. Jan 17, 1875 (died as infant)
    • Harry Albert Kaiser, b. Nov 3, 1876 (Green Township, PA), d. Feb 18, 1953 (Mont Alto PA)
    • Janet A. 'Nettie' Kaiser, b. Jan 15, 1880, m. Saul Kaufman?
    • Hulda M. Kaiser, b. Jan 11, 1883, d. Feb 4 1883 (died as infant)
  • Died on Dec 20/26?, 1906 (Family Bible data says 12/26, tombstone says 12/20)

What do we know about Henry's Parents and Siblings?

• Emmigrated to the US in 'about 1835'
• Lived in Alleghany City, PA. no mention of living anywhere else in the US.
• HFK says "After coming to this country, my parents always lived in Alleghany City/"
• At least one address was: "on the corner of Chestnut and Main St., Alleghany City"
• HFK's father was a tailor by trade.
• HFK's mother died when he was young, no memory of her
• Not sure when HFK's father died. He said he had written to him but received no responses. May have died at any time after HFK ran away to sea.

Todo List

• We now have contact with 2 of Janet Kaiser's decendants. See what they have.
• See if I can find obits or death records for any of the following. See if any relatives have them. They might have good info on HFK, and would be good to have in any case.
  • Henry F. Kaiser (1835-1906)
  • Mary Elizabeth Black (4/20/1845 - 3/21/1906), try Fayetteville area?
  • Janet A. 'Nettie' Kaiser (1/15/1880 - ?)
  • Harry A. Kaiser (11/3/1876 - 2/18/1953)
  • Emma (Wingerd) Kaiser (9/26/1876 - 2/4/1969), obituary
• Look for obits or death records of HKF's siblings or mother in Alleghany City records. See if the address of "on the corner of Chestnut and Main St." is any help. Date range for death would probably be 1835 - 1850.
• Might find death or naturalization records for HFK parents or siblings in Alleghany City, or birth records for siblings if HFK wasn't the youngest. (if he was youngest, the others would have been foreign-born)
• From the National Archive papers I have, scan or transcribe useful details, particularly dates and locations, his unit, etc. Consider posting complete scans of the docs.
• Post photos from Ellen Shaffer of HFK and family. Done. Here they are. (We may have 1 more)
• Check box of photos from Mom.
• Parents, Siblings, Alleghany City
  • Could check Alleghany County, PA census records for HFK and his parents. perhaps on the 1840 or 1850 census. Look for address on Chestnut and Main St., Alleghany City, Pa.
  • Would there be any Alleghany City business listings mentioning HFK's father, who was a tailor? (probably only if he had his own business)
  • Is there an AC historical society who would know where AC docs are?
• Emmigration leads:
  • One family story says that HFK was born 3 days after his parents arrived in the US (from Germany perhaps?). If true, that should make it easier to determine what ship they emmigrated on and to find their names, but so far we haven't been able to locate them for sure on any ships' passenger list. Since he was supposedly born in Alleghany City, it is probably unlikely that the 3 days is strictly true. Not sure where this family story came from.
  • Find out what entry port is closest to Alleghany City, PA, where HFK was born.
  • Search ship passenger lists for Kaisers to that port around his birth date.
• HFK's Marriage / Wife's background questions:
  • Amy's tree says that HFK's marriage was "in Allegheny City,PA." is that known/confirmed? if so, how?
  • Consider how I could search on Mary Elizabeth (Black) Kaiser to find more info on both of them.
  • Where did Henry and Mary get married? Where did they live afterwards?
  • See if I have any more info on his marriage. If location, perhaps that'll help find census, marriage or other records.
• Civil War Questions:
  • "Treated in the general hospital at Newport, RI for 3 months in the spring of 1862" ... would there be any medical records that might have additional details?
  • Find out why the docs also mention his re-enlisting in the 49th Regiment, Company E. Find info on the 49th. (Bates on the 49th)
  • Using his unit information, check civil war sites for more information about HFK.
  • See if any resources list recipients of the medal HFK received. (probably not helpful)
• Could search census for Harry Albert Kaiser (1876-1953) or for Janet A. as children to see if it has more info on their parents, then work back.
• Search census info for Fayetteville, PA (Franklin County) for Henry, Harry, Janet or Elizabeth (after their marriage date)
• His pension application mentions that he was a merchant seaman for a time. Does that help in any way? crew lists perhaps? Probably not. He was on a number of ships, and may not have given any more info than he'd given during his deposition.
• Note: check my spelling of Allegheny vs HFK's docs. Correct spelling is Allegheny, and I've been using Alleghany sometimes. See if it's my mistake or if some use the other spelling.

Possible Hits

• 1870 Census: Henry and Mary Kyser, with Christina Black
  Year: 1870, Pennsylvania, Franklin Country, Guilford township, Quincy PA post office
  Enumerated July 28, 1870. Lines 34-36.
  • line 34, Kyser, Henry, age 33, male, white, "Works in Ore? (One?) Bank"
  • line 35, Kyser, Mary, age 30, female, white, keeping house
  • line 36, Black, Christina, age 60, female, white, boarding
  Comments:
  • Hit: This looks to be Christina Black, mother to Mary E. (Black) Kaiser
  • Read/write columns are checked on each. Not sure if a check means "can" or "can't" read and write.
• 1880 Census: Henry and Mary 'KASER' (with son Harry and daughter "Jennett") in Fayetteville.
  Year: 1880; Census Place: Fayetteville, Franklin, Pennsylvania; Roll: T9_1131; Family History Film: 1255131; Page: 191D; Enumeration District: 96; Image: 0386. Lines 41-44. (link, LDS link)
  
  

  Name	Relation	Marital Status	Gender	Race	Age	Birthplace	Occupation	Father's Birthplace	Mother's Birthplace
  Henry KASER	Self	Married	Male	White	35	PA	Farm Laborer	PA	PA
  Mary KASER	Wife	Married	Female	White	35	PA	Keeps House	PA	PA
  Harry KASER	Son	Single	Male	White	3	PA	-	PA	PA
  Jennett KASER	Daughter	Single	Female	White	3M	PA	-	PA	PA

  
  Comments:
  • Issue: HFK's age is listed as 35, which would make his birthdate 1845, whereas other sources all list it as 1835.
  • Issue: HFK's parents are listed as born in Penna, whereas his deposition says they emigrated in 1835. (lazy entry? data from neighbors?)
  • Note spelling used here: Jennet=Janet, Kaser=Kaiser
  • Considering the other matches in dates, names and that we know they lived here at this time, these are probably just errors.
• 1890 Census: not yet found.
• 1900 Census: Henry, Mary, Harry, Emma, Lawrence and Stella Kaiser
  Need to download details. Stella is on next sheet from the rest.
• Looking for the location HFK said his family lived "on the corner of Chestnut and Main St., Alleghany City", I found what might be it in an 1872 map. That is late enough that HFK's father was probably long-dead by then.
  • Historic Pittsburgh - Maps Collection - 1872 - Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs
  • See plate 82 (4th ward). Chestnut runs down to the river, and ends at the Mechanics Bridge.
    It crosses Main St. about 2 blocks from the river. (zoom)
    Is this the one?

Details from the Pension Application Testimony

• Born in Alleghany City, Pa
• resident of Guilford Township in Franklin County as of 4/8/1878, post office address at Mont Alto (Iron Works)
• His address is Blacks Gap (5 miles from Mont Alto) as of 1884
• Enlisted in the Logan Guards at Lewistown, Pa. (3 month service)
• The Logan Guards were later merged into Company "B," 25th Regiment, Pa Vols.
• Re-enlisted 8/1861 in Company E of the 49th Regiment of Penna Vols, commanded by Capt. Amos W. Wakefield
• Honorably discharged at White Oak Church on 1/5?/1863
• Treated in the general hospital at Newport, RI for 3 months in the spring of 1862
• Afterwards he was in the Veterans Reserve Corp.
• Occupation after his service was as a laborer
• HKF: "I went to school when a lad, and attended a German school in Alleghany city. The school was conducted by a Lutheran church. I attended this school until I was confirmed in the Lutheran church, at the age of about 14 years. I kept bachelor's hale with my father, on the corner of Chestnut and Main St., Alleghany City. My mother died when I was quite small, and I have no recollection about her. I had one brother and three sisters, but they all died in their early youth. My father was a tailor by trade.
  When I was 14 years of age, I was sent to work for a farmer by the name of Adam Walters, who lived about 12 miles up the Alleghany River, close to Deer Creek. I worked for Mr. Walters for nearly one year. Walters whipped me and I ran away from him. Then I stayed at my father's for about a year, when I left and went to sea. Father and I had a falling out, and I ran away from him and shipped."
• HKF: "I was about 15 or 16 years of age when I first went to sea. I was in the merchant service, and my first voyage was from Philadelphia to Liverpool, on the ship "Annie."
• HKF: "I was a sailor on a merchant vessel for nine years prior to my enlistment... I left my ship which was 'The Cultivator' early in the spring of 1861 at New York City. I set out on foot for Pittsburgh, Pa. When I was at Lewistown, Pa., in Mifflin County, they were organizing a company for the war (3 months new) and I enlisted."
• HKF: "After leaving "The Cultivator," I started to tramp to Pittsburg, with the intention of taking a steamer to New Orleans, and there shipping again. That was in the spring of 1861. When I reached Lewistown, Pa. I heard the martial music, and enlisted in the service. I had been in Lewistown but a few days when I enlisted and joined the Logan Guards, which, or part of which, was merged into Company "B," 25th Regiment, Pa Vols."
• Q: "After your discharge from the first service, where did you go?"
  HKF: "I went back to Lewistown, where I remained for about 5 days. I was discharged from the first service July 29, 1861, and re-enlisted August 5, 1861, for three years or during the war. I was discharged from the second service on the 6th of January, 1863, by reason of blindness."
• Q: "Then where did you go?"
  HKF: "I started off on a tramp, and finally reached Columbus, Ohio. Then I turned back and came to Harrisbury, where I enlisted in the Veteran Reserve Corps."
• Q: "Have you any relatives living in that vicinity (Alleghany City) or elsewhere?"
  HKF: "None that I know of. My father and mother emigrated to this country in about 1835. My brother and sisters are all dead, and I know of no relatives living in this country. After coming to this country, my parents always lived in Alleghany City."
• Mentions that he was with the Logan Guards as they went through Baltimore during the great riot of 1861.
• The Logan Guards were later organized as part of the 25th Regiment of Penna Volunteers.
• HFK says at one point that he was in Company B, not Comp. E of the 25th Regiment. Both Company B and E are referred to in the depositions. It looks like there was a documented transfer from E to B on on 7/26/1861.
• His father was a tailor

Supporting Documents

Here are a few scans of documents, obituaries, etc., as well as links to information that is definitely about my family. They give some interesting additional information. If you have more related docs - particularly obituaries, please send me a scan, text/doc/html file or link.

• HFK served in the American Civil War but was discharged early for vision problems that eventually led to legal blindness. He applied for disability benefits (pension?), on the assertion that the blindness was a service-related injury. The benefits were eventually denied, but there is an extensive and interesting file on the case in the U.S. National Archives, including information about HFK's early life. I have a paper copy, as do other family members. If you're family and you'd like a copy just ask. (Barbara Petroff notes that there was more material in that file than what she copied. Someone should see what else is there.)
• Family Bible data, from Lawrence E. Kaiser
• Henry F. Kaiser, Mary E. Kaiser, tombstone New!
• Samuel P. Bates' History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865
  See rosters for the Logan Guards, later organized into PA volunteers, 25th regiment, Company B.
  See also the "First Five Companies" chapter about their actions.
• PA Civil War Soldiers: Regimental Rosters
• First Five Companies, Logan Guard, Roster, Recruited at Lewistown, Mustered on April 18, 1861, at Harrisburg. This unit was part of the "First Defenders." the first five units that volunteered for the Civil War.
• 25th Regiment, Company B (E also?), Roster, Regimental History, Recruited in Schuylkill and Berks Counties, Mustered in April 18, 1861, Haskin Guards
• 49th Regiment, Company E, commanded by Capt. Wakefield, where is info on this?
• Civil War Veterans' Card File, 1861-1866 - Henry F. Kaiser (from here) (mentions transfer from Company E (Logan Guards) to Company B on 7/26/1861).
• Harry Lee Kaiser Jr. has a 'First Defenders' medal that was given to HFK for his early enlistment in the civil war. (photo) It says:

  First Defender
  Medal of Honor
  Presented by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  Henry F. Keiser
  Logan Guards
  Allen Infantry
  Washington Artillerists
  National Light Infantry
  Ringgold Light Artillery
  First in Defense of the Capitol April 18, 1861

Online Resources for this Research

• Alleghany City (& Pittsburgh) Resources
  • Historic Pittsburgh, (good FAQ) good searchable digital library of maps, census data, books, etc
  • Historic Pittsburgh - Maps Collection - 1872 - Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs
  • WPGS Library (Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society)
  • Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh: Pennsylvania Records & Directories, Pennsylvania Department, good info on where to find records for Alleghany City
  • Rootsweb: Allegheny County, PA Genealogy
  • Rootsweb: Alleghany, PA
  • Allegheny River Family Archives
  • Three Rivers Genealogy
  • Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -- Cemetery Tombstone Inscriptions & More
• Franklin Country, PA Resources
  • Franklin County, Pennsylvania USGENWEB
  • Rootsweb: Franklin PA
• Various Pennsylvania Resources
  • Firstmom's Pennsylvania Genealogy Resources
  • Census Online: Pennsylvania Census Records
  • Pennsylvania Archives Census
  • Old Family Photos - Western Pennsylvania
  • Historical Maps of Pennsylvania
  • Pennsylvania County USGS Maps
  • Pennsylvania Marriage Records
• Civil War Service Resources
  • Pennsylvania Civil War Soldiers - PA Genealogy - Rosters, Pension Rolls, Draft, Diaries, Flags, Regimental Histories, Biographies. (must pay to access data, free trials available)
  • How to Locate your Civil War Ancestor
  • Samuel P. Bates' History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865
  • Carlisle Military History Institute: Civil War Unit Bibliographies
  • U.S. Census Collection Browse page (searchable)
  • Genealogy.com free 14-day census trial
  • Historic Pittsburgh Census Schedules(includes Alleghany City, 1850-1880)
  • Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the war for the suppression of the rebellion, 1861-1865 not much of use here.
• General Resources
  • USGenWeb Census Project
  • Obituary Daily Times
  • Social Security Death Index (SSDI) (few records for those who died before 1962)
  • Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
  • Vital Records
  • Ancestry.com - 1880 United States Federal Census (free!)
• Surname-based Resources
  • Daniel Wenger's DLW database has a number of details we hadn't had and it goes back on the Wingerd side for many generations. Start at Hezekiah Wingerd or Harry Albert Kaiser. (DLW periodically reloads his database, changing IDs and URLs, so you might need to search for it if these links fail)
  • Amy Blumberg (my cousin) has a tree with info on the family of Henry F. Kaiser
  • Kaiser Family Genealogy Forum
  • GenealogyBuff.com - genealogy data for the KAISER surname
  • Monn and Williams extended families (rootsweb)
• Web Sites at RootsWeb - Franklin PA, Alleghany, PA, KAISER