Johanna Louise Baum1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 32, (1836 - 1916)
Adoptive fatherJean Frédéric Lebeau4,5,6 (abt 1815 - 17 Nov 1854)
MotherJohanna Christina Baum1,4,6 (31 Aug 1820 - 21 Jul 1907)

Key Events:

Birth: 17 Jun 1836, Offenbach, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine7,8,9
Marriage: 11 Jan 1856, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Johann Hinrich Wilhelm Fennker (2 Jan 1830 - 7 Oct 1888)10,11,12
Death: 4 Apr 1916, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio13,14,15
Burial: 7 Apr 1916, Linden Grove Cemetery, Covington, Kentucky16,17,18
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Johanna Louise Baum was born on 17 Jun 1836 in Offenbach, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, of an un-married mother.7,8,9
     She was baptized on 26 Jun 1836 in Evangelische Kirche, Offenbach, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, with her mother's future husband's sister, Susanne Louise Lebeau, as godmother.1
     On 30 Aug 1837 Jean Frédéric Lebeau, the future husband of her mother, declared in a statement to the head priest of her parish that he was not her father, but nevertheless wanted to accept the child as his child. On 21 Jun 1839, after he had married her mother, he confirmed the adoption by declaring that he represented himself as her father.1
     After her adoption she used her step-father's surname. All records in the U.S. show here given name as simply Louise or Lousia.2,3,19
     According to family lore, Louisa immigrated about 1849 to Cincinnati, Ohio, smuggled out of Germany by the Moravin church at age 13. It supposedly took 3 months to travel to the U.S., and during the journey they had nothing to eat but dry bread and cheese. Her granddaughter Evelyn Fenker told the story that although bread was baked fresh once a week on the ship that they ate the leftover moldy bread before they ate any fresh bread. She was said to have walked through the Cumberland Gap to get to Cincinnati.20
     She actually immigrated with her parents in 1854, but other details of the family stories may have some basis in fact.21,22,23 She soon moved to Huntingburgh, Indiana, with her parents.4

Marrying and Raising a Family --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     She and her mother moved to Cincinnati after the death of her father.4
     Louisa married Johann Hinrich Wilhelm Fennker, son of Fredrich Hinrich Fenncker and Marie Margarethe Koop, on 11 Jan 1856 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, with Rev. Charles Helwig, pastor of the Congress St. Methodist church, officiating.10,11,12
     Louisa and William appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, enumerated 11 Jul 1860, reporting no real estate but personal estate of $175. Their children John and Frederick were listed as living with them, as was Margaret Hoffman, age 13, relationship, if any unknown.24
     Louisa and William and their family moved 642 Main St., where her mother and step-father, John M. Frey, had been living above his bakery, by 1870.25 Louisa and William appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, enumerated 20 Jun 1870, reporting real estate of $12,000 and personal estate of $2,500. Their children John, Frederick, Albert, Emma and Henry were listed as living with them. They were listed in the same dwelling as her mother and step-father.26
     Louisa and William appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, at 642 Main St., enumerated 10 Jun 1880. Their children Frederick, Albert, Emma, Henry and Theodore were listed as living with them, as were Louisa's mother, Christina Baum, a 15 year old servant, Mation Fryer, born in Kentucky of Prussian parents, and a Prussian boarder, John Hermany, who was a baker, perhaps at William's bakery.27
1815 Scott St., Covington
courtesy Henry Smithies

     Louisa and William moved to 1031 Russell St. about 1884.28

Widowed --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Her husband died on 7 Oct 1888 in 1031 Russell St., Covington, Kentucky.29,30,31
     Louisa moved to 1815 Scott St. after the death of her husband, where she lived until at least 1895.32,33
     Louisa and her sons Frederick, Albert, and Theodore, all moved to Michigan in the late 1890's. Louisa, her mother, and Theodore seemed to have moved together, following the older two. Frederick and his wife settled in Detroit, while the others all settled in Kalamazoo.
     Louisa appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 426 Woodward Ave., enumerated 2 Jun 1900. Her mother, Christina Baum, and youngest son, Theodore, were listed as living with her. She reported her occupation as landlord, apparently referring to her home on Scott St. and perhaps other property in Covington.34
Bodman Widows Home
from Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library postcard collection

     Louisa returned to Cincinnati by 1904, when she was living at 930 W. 9th St. About 1906 she moved back across the river to Covington, Kentucky.35,36 She appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, enumerated 24 Apr 1910, having returned to 1815 Scott Street.37
     Louisa moved to the Bodman Widows Home, in the Mt. Auburn section of Cincinnati, about 1916, after selling her home on Scott St.5
     Louisa died on 4 Apr 1916 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at age 79.13,14,15 She was buried on 7 Apr 1916 in Linden Grove Cemetery, Covington, Kentucky, in her husband's lot.16,17,18

Children:
     Children with Johann Hinrich Wilhelm Fennker

Apparently Emma was adopted, based on family notes that show William and Louisa adopted a daughter, though the two census records and burial records in which she is listed do not reflect that.

According to Family lore the Fenkers adopted a son, John Wesley, born 18 Sep 1864. No other sources show him, and he does not appear with the family in the 1870 or 1880 censuses. A survey of the Linden Grove Cemetery tombstones in 1965-66 shows a W. __. Fenker, born 1__ Sep 18__, died __ Oct 1864, with the remaining information not then readable, buried next to William and Louisa. The similarities in dates, and the fact that this child is otherwise unknown, strongly suggest they are the same son.44,51,52

Citations

  1. [S10923] Evangelischen Kirche Taufregister (Lutheran Church Baptism Register),, 1836, pg 87, Johanna Louise Baum.
  2. [S792] Restored Marriage Records, Hamilton Co. Probate Court, B/10:298, William Fenker and Lousia Lebeau, 10 Jan 1856.
  3. [S92] Christine Baum, shows name as Louisa Fenker, shows father's name as Lebeau.
  4. [S92] Christine Baum.
  5. [S277] Louise A. Fenker, ""The Fenker Family" and "The Wieman Family.""
  6. [S307] Lousia Fenker, Certificate of Death.
  7. [S10923] Evangelischen Kirche Taufregister (Lutheran Church Baptism Register),, 1836, pg 87, Johanna Louise Baum, shows date mother unmarried.
  8. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows date and city, as Frankfort-Au-Marne, country, as Germany.
  9. [S307] Lousia Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date and country, as Germany.
  10. [S792] Restored Marriage Records, Hamilton Co. Probate Court, B/10:298, William Fenker and Lousia Lebeau, 10 Jan 1856, shows date and C. Helwig, minister, as officiant.
  11. [S10919] Minutes of the Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1855, pg 639, shows Charles Helwig as pastor of the Congress St. church in Cincinnati.
  12. [S159] William Fenker household, 1870 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as husband and wife.
  13. [S307] Lousia Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date, hospital, city as Cincinnati, county, and state as Ohio.
  14. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows date, city as Covington, and state as Kentucky. I assume that this was based on her having lived in Covington, but assume her death certificate is more accurate.
  15. [S403] William and Louisa Fenker tombstone, Linden Grove Cemetery, shows year.
  16. [S284] Linden Grove Cemetery, burial records, no. 9431, Louise Fenker, shows date, lot.
  17. [S307] Lousia Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date and cemetery as "Linden Cem."
  18. [S403] William and Louisa Fenker tombstone, Linden Grove Cemetery.
  19. [S307] Lousia Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows name as Louisa Fenker, father Louis Lebeau.
  20. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000.
  21. [S92] Christine Baum, shows his calling, year, with daughter, and came to Cincinnati.
  22. [S10920] Engelhard Riemenschneider, Edwin A. Riemenschneider, and Don Heinrich Tolzmann, Engelhard Riemenschneider, pg 142, shows John sold his home and immigrated because of the persecutions and restrictions.
  23. [S776] Louise Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows Christina and Louise immigrated in 1854, and had been in America 45 years.
  24. [S320] William Fenker household, 1860 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky.
  25. [S10366] Covington City Directory, 1871, pg 50, shows William with residence as 642 Main.
  26. [S159] William Fenker household, 1870 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky.
  27. [S160] William Fenker household, 1880 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky.
  28. [S10504] Williams' Covington and Newport Directory, 1884, pg 65, shows his residence as s.w.c. 9th & Russell; 1888, pg 65, shows residence as 1031 Russell.
  29. [S6638] Wm. Fenker obituary, The Enquirer, shows he died "yesterday."
  30. [S284] Linden Grove Cemetery, burial records, no. 3770, Wm Fenker, shows date, street address, which is also listed as his "late residence."
  31. [S410] Smithies, copied documents, Return of Death for William Fenker, no. 618, shows month and day, and cause of death as cerebral apoplexy.
  32. [S10504] Williams' Covington and Newport Directory, 1890, pg 75, shows her residence as w.s. Scott first house south of 18th; 1895, pg 78, shows residence as 1815 Scott.
  33. [S277] Louise A. Fenker, ""The Fenker Family" and "The Wieman Family"", shows that they lived in 1800 block of Scott St., Covington.
  34. [S776] Louise Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  35. [S10413] William's Cincinnati Directory, 1904, pg 756.
  36. [S10504] Williams' Covington and Newport Directory, 1906, pg 89.
  37. [S162] Louisa Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky.
  38. [S354] John Wm Fenker, Certificate of Death.
  39. [S309] Fred John Fenker, Certificate of Death.
  40. [S9885] Marriage Record, Kenton Co., Kentucky, 1882-1887, pg 148, Albert A. Fenker and Mary G. Hillebrandt.
  41. [S308] Albert Fenker, Certificate of Death.
  42. [S159] William Fenker household, 1870 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky, appears in household of William and Lousia.
  43. [S284] Linden Grove Cemetery, burial records, no. 2364, Emma Fenker, shows parents Wm & Louisa Fenker.
  44. [S277] Louise A. Fenker, ""The Fenker Family" and "The Wieman Family"", shows that William and Louisa adopted a daughter, who is not identified by name.
  45. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows as natural son in the file, but Donald said in a telephone call 8 Mar 2000 that he understood that John Wesley was adopted.
  46. [S3387] Sexton and Meyer, Linden Grove Cemetery, pg 39, shows him buried next to William and Louisa.
  47. [S10582] Marriage Record, Greene Co., Ohio, 17:21, Henry C. Fenker and Miss Myrtle Dodd.
  48. [S359] Henry C. Fenker, Certificate of Death.
  49. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Lousi Fenker and Helen Townsend.
  50. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1901, Kalamazoo Co., no 5711, Theo. L. Fenker and Ella F. Carpenter.
  51. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, the Fenkers adopted a son, John Wesley, born 18 Sep 1864.
  52. [S3387] Sexton and Meyer, Linden Grove Cemetery, pg 39, shows a W. __. Fenker, born 1__ Sep 18__, died __ Oct 1864, with the remaining information not readable, buried next to William and Louisa.