Catharine Laubscher, my great-great-grandmother, was an interesting research subject. From slightly confusing census records to a total lack of death records, Catharine's story was a difficult one to flesh out.
1. She was baptized on 17 Oct 1808 in Weingarten, Karlsruh, Baden, Germany. 7 She died about 1882 at the age of 74 in Shullsburg, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin. 3 One of the difficulties in researching Catherine has been determining her maiden name. Son William's death registration did give her maiden name, but the recorder's handwriting was extremely poor. Lansher, Lancher, Laubacher and Laubscher were among the best guesses for the name. Catherine's marriage record showed that her maiden name was clearly Laubscher.
The 1850 census for Madison Co., Missouri [the birthplace of Catherine's daughter, Louisa in 1849] listed a George Laubscher [aged 36] in a household of miners. Also in that residence was a Margaretha Wagner [40] with three children, John [8], Henry [6], and Mary [3]. Although this Wagner family is an apparent mismatch, it is interesting to note the 1860 Lafayette Co., Wisconsin census entry for Catherine and her family: Catherine was 50, Henry was 18, William was 16 and Louisa was 13. All four members of the family were exactly ten years older than the 1850 Missouri family. It is possible that the enumerator was given incorrect names or that those were baptismal names. The 1860 ages were high by two years for all three children.
On 12 April 1851 Jacob Lickinger sold the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section # 3, Township # 1, north of Range # 2E [approximately 40 acres] to John Wagner and George Laubscher for $140. [Laf. Co. Deeds Vol. H, p. 15-16 / FHL film # 1476936]
George Laubscher sold the undivided one half of that tract of land to Catherine Wagner for $50 on 17 November 1851. Recorded: 4 March 1867. [Laf. Co. Deeds Vol. 6, p. 568 / FHL film #1476945]
Had John Wagner died between 12 April and 17 November? The latter sale was contracted between George and Catherine, while the former included John. It is fairly certain that John had died by 1855 when the state census listed Mrs. C. Wagner as the head of household with 2 males and 2 females.
On 14 December 1892, Lester Metcalf petitioned the Probate Court in the matter of the estate of John Wagner and Catherine Wagner. Metcalfe was in possession of 40 acres, the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 3, township 1, north of range 2E in Lafayette Co., Wisconsin by virtue of a warranty deed from the heirs of the Wagners [Henry Wagner, William Wagner, and Louisa [Wagner] McHugh]. The deed was recorded 13 April 1885 in Deed Book volume 32, page 556.
Metcalf stated that Catherine Wagner had resided on said tract of land and had died "ten or more years ago." Her husband John had died "many years ago." There was no will left by either of the Wagners and no administration of the estate.
Based on Metcalf's statement, Catherine probably died about 1882. She was alive at the time of the 1880 census enumeration. It is possible that she died as late as early 1885, since the deed was recorded in April 1885.
Metcalf requested that the court officially grant him ownership of the 40 acres.
The 1850 census for Madison Co., Missouri [the birthplace of Catherine's daughter, Louisa in 1849] listed a George Laubscher [aged 36] in a household of miners. Also in that residence was a Margaretha Wagner [40] with three children, John [8], Henry [6], and Mary [3]. Although this Wagner family is an apparent mismatch, it is interesting to note the 1860 Lafayette Co., Wisconsin census entry for Catherine and her family: Catherine was 50, Henry was 18, William was 16 and Louisa was 13. All four members of the family were exactly ten years older than the 1850 Missouri family. It is possible that the enumerator was given incorrect names or that those were baptismal names. The 1860 ages were high by two years for all three children.
On 12 April 1851 Jacob Lickinger sold the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section # 3, Township # 1, north of Range # 2E [approximately 40 acres] to John Wagner and George Laubscher for $140. [Laf. Co. Deeds Vol. H, p. 15-16 / FHL film # 1476936]
George Laubscher sold the undivided one half of that tract of land to Catherine Wagner for $50 on 17 November 1851. Recorded: 4 March 1867. [Laf. Co. Deeds Vol. 6, p. 568 / FHL film #1476945]
Had John Wagner died between 12 April and 17 November? The latter sale was contracted between George and Catherine, while the former included John. It is fairly certain that John had died by 1855 when the state census listed Mrs. C. Wagner as the head of household with 2 males and 2 females.
On 14 December 1892, Lester Metcalf petitioned the Probate Court in the matter of the estate of John Wagner and Catherine Wagner. Metcalfe was in possession of 40 acres, the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of Section 3, township 1, north of range 2E in Lafayette Co., Wisconsin by virtue of a warranty deed from the heirs of the Wagners [Henry Wagner, William Wagner, and Louisa [Wagner] McHugh]. The deed was recorded 13 April 1885 in Deed Book volume 32, page 556.
Metcalf stated that Catherine Wagner had resided on said tract of land and had died "ten or more years ago." Her husband John had died "many years ago." There was no will left by either of the Wagners and no administration of the estate.
Based on Metcalf's statement, Catherine probably died about 1882. She was alive at the time of the 1880 census enumeration. It is possible that she died as late as early 1885, since the deed was recorded in April 1885.
Metcalf requested that the court officially grant him ownership of the 40 acres.
Catharina/Katharina "Catharine" Laubscher and John Wagner were married on 21 Jul 1841 at German Reformed Church in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.5,8 He was born in Baden, Germany. 2 John Wagner was born in Baden and immigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania. He married Catherine Laubscher at the German Reformed Church in Philadelphia on 21 July 1841. The eldest of the Wagner children, Henry, was born in Pennsylvania. The family moved to Missouri shortly thereafter. William and Louisa were born in Missouri.
It would appear that the Wagners were attracted to the mining opportunities near Fredericktown, Madison Co., Missouri. There was a heavy German migration to that area during the 1840s. Catherine's family may have been part of that migration as well. George and Louis Laubscher were both miners in the area. They are believed to be Catherine's brothers.
John must have left Catherine and the children in Missouri to check out land in the lead mining district of Lafayette Co., Wisconsin.
There was a George Laubscher, miner, living in Madison Co., Missouri in 1850. Residing in the same household was a Margaretha Wagner and her three children [John, Henry, and Mary.] It is possible that the enumerator incorrectly recorded the names or was misinformed by whoever provided the names. The ages of Catherine and her children in the 1860 census matched those of the Missouri-based Wagners in 1850.
John and Catherine were invoved in a handful of land deals with George Laubscher in 1851. Based on those deeds and Catherine being listed as the head of household with three children in 1855, John must have died between 1851 and 1855.
It would appear that the Wagners were attracted to the mining opportunities near Fredericktown, Madison Co., Missouri. There was a heavy German migration to that area during the 1840s. Catherine's family may have been part of that migration as well. George and Louis Laubscher were both miners in the area. They are believed to be Catherine's brothers.
John must have left Catherine and the children in Missouri to check out land in the lead mining district of Lafayette Co., Wisconsin.
There was a George Laubscher, miner, living in Madison Co., Missouri in 1850. Residing in the same household was a Margaretha Wagner and her three children [John, Henry, and Mary.] It is possible that the enumerator incorrectly recorded the names or was misinformed by whoever provided the names. The ages of Catherine and her children in the 1860 census matched those of the Missouri-based Wagners in 1850.
John and Catherine were invoved in a handful of land deals with George Laubscher in 1851. Based on those deeds and Catherine being listed as the head of household with three children in 1855, John must have died between 1851 and 1855.
John Wagner and Catharina/Katharina Laubscher had the following children:
Sources:
1. Fran Matl, Research Report on the Wagner Families of Lafayette County, Wisconsin, Recipient: Terry Prall, Author Address: Shullsburg, WI, Recipient Address: Arcadia, FL (10 July 2002).
2. Death Registration for Lafayette County, WI: William Wagner, Record Type: death, Name Of Person: William Wagner, Volume: 2:201.
3. John Wagner and Catherine Wagner, E-2762, Court Clerk's Office, Lafayette Co. Court House, Darlington, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, FHL US/CAN film # 1476922.
4. Lafayette Co., Wisconsin Deeds, 32: 556, Lafayette Co. Court House, Darlington, Wisconsin.
5. 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Shullsburg, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, Record Type: census, Household: Catherine Wagner, Location: Lafayette Co., WI, Record Info: p. 465, Film: M653_1416 (14 July 1860).
6. Henry Cleve, 1850 US Federal, Madison Co., Missouri, p. 9, household 136; Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry 1972 [filming].
7. Lutherische Kirchenburcher, "Baden, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages & Burials 1502-1985," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 December 2017), Laubscher records; fimed by LDS.
8. Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, "Pennsylvania & New Jersey Church & Town Records, 1708-1985," database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 March 2015), Johannes Wagner / Catharina Laubscher marriage; Historical Pennsylvania Church & Town Records; Reel 166.
9. Charles McHugh, Notes, Letters, and Interviews from "Uncle Mutt" Charles McHugh, Interviewer: Terry Prall, Informant Address: Augusta, GA, Recipient Address: Arcadia, FL (1991-????).
10. The Heritage and Landmarks Commission & The Madison Co. Historical Society, Historical Madison: The History of Madison County, Missouri 1818-1988 (Topeka, Kansas: Jostens Printing & Publishing Division, c 1989), p. 28.
11. 1850 US Federal, Madison Co., Missouri, p. 9, household 136, 977.891X2p 1850.
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