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Bundenbach is a small town located in the Rheinland-Pfalz region of Southwest Germany. However, in 1823 it was part of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. The nearest large town is KIRN, located about 30 miles to the southeast. It is not far from France or Luxembourg. It would probably take only 90 minutes to drive to either country. It's almost directly west of Frankfurt, about 100 miles.
I have placed an entry on my Rootsweb database for researching some of the Fey individuals born and christened there from 1700 to 1850. They are mainly male and their parents names. Most of the names are legibile, but the names are written in the Latin style common in those centuries.. For example, Maria would become Mariae, Henry would be Henricus, etc.
The link to this: Cary Williams Ancestors and Genealogy Pages
Why is this village of such interest, you ask?
My ancestor Nicholas Fey was born in Bundenbach on March 15, 1823.² I still haven't located his ancestors yet, but hopefully with help with researchers in Bundenbach, I can find them. They were commonly Roman Catholics, which was commonplace in that part of Germany.
Nicholas immigrated to the United States sometime around 1845.
He was married to Katharina Bittlinger, also from Bundenbach. She
was born there in January, 1828¹
Nicholas and Katharina lived in Cincinnati, OH.
Cincinnati City Directory of 1859 lists Nicholas as a horse shoer at Harrison Avenue near C.H.D. railroad in the 24th Ward of Cincinnati.
1860 Census of Hamilton County, OH
NAME |
AGE |
SEX |
OCCUPATION |
PROPERTY |
CASH |
BIRTHPLACE |
Nicholas |
36 |
male |
beer saloon |
1000 |
200 |
Germany |
Catherina |
31 |
female |
keeping house |
Germany |
||
Catherina |
9 |
female |
at home |
Ohio |
||
Peter |
2 |
male |
at home |
Ohio |
1870 Census of Hamilton County, OH
NAME |
AGE |
SEX |
OCCUPATION |
PROPERTY |
CASH |
BIRTHPLACE |
Nicholas |
47 |
male |
blacksmith |
7000 |
300 |
Oldenburg |
Catherina |
42 |
female |
keeping house |
Oldenburg |
||
Peter |
11 |
male |
at school |
Ohio |
||
Mary |
9 |
female |
at school |
Ohio |
||
Magdalena |
7 |
female |
at school |
Ohio |
||
Nicholas, Jr. |
5 |
male |
at school |
Ohio |
||
John |
4/12 |
male |
at home |
Ohio |
1880 Census of Hamilton County, OH (soundex)
NAME |
AGE |
SEX |
OCCUPATION |
PROPERTY |
CASH |
BIRTHPLACE |
Nicholas |
57 |
male |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Germany |
Catherina |
52 |
female |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Germany |
Peter |
21 |
male |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Ohio |
Magdalena |
17 |
female |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Ohio |
Nicholas, Jr. |
13 |
male |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Ohio |
John |
10 |
male |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Ohio |
A book I found in the library in Cincinnati reports the following marriages took place at St. Bonaventure Church, Queen City Avenue.
Restored Hamilton County Marriages 1850-1900, R929.377178 qC5745zh:
NAME |
MARRIAGE DATE |
SPOUSE NAME |
MARRIAGE LOCATION |
Magdalena Fey |
November 29, 1883 |
William Vogel |
St. Bonaventure |
Mary Fey |
May 15, 1879 |
Bernard Bucher |
St. Bonaventure |
Peter Fey |
September 21, 1882 |
Maria Faehr |
St. Bonaventure |
The Cincinnati Freie Presse reported the sad news of the passing of Nicholas Fey on April 7, 1896 as follows:
Todes Anzeige
Wohlverleben mit den heiligen Sterbesakramenten, starb am Dienstag, den 7. April, morgens 11:45 uhr, Nikolaus Fey im Alter von 73 Jahren und 25 Tagen, geborn zu Bundenbach in Grossherzogstum Oldenburg. Die Beerdigung findet statt am Freitag, den 10. April 1896, morgens un 7:30, vom Trauerhause aus No. 1393 Harrison Avenue, worauf um 8 uhr in der Sankt Bonaventura Kirche, ein Seeleamt abgehalten wird.
Rough translation:
Death Notice
Blessed with the Holy Rites, died on Tuesday, April 7, 1896 at 11:45am, Nicholas Fey at the age of 73 years and 25 days. Born in Bundenbach, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. The funeral will take place on Friday, April 10, 1896 at his residence, 1393 Harrison Avenue, thereafter at 8:00am, a requiem Mass will be held at the St. Bonaventure Church.
1900 Census of Hamilton County, OH (soundex)
NAME |
AGE |
SEX |
OCCUPATION |
PROPERTY |
CASH |
BIRTHPLACE |
Catherina |
72 |
female |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Germany |
Nicholas, Jr. |
33 |
male |
not given |
not given |
not given |
Ohio |
The Cincinnati Freie Presse reported the sad news of the passing of Catharina Bittlinger Fey around October 10, 1908 as follows:
Todes Anzeige
Am 8. Oktober, 1/210 uhr abends, starb Frau Katherina Frey (Fey) geb. Bittlinger, Witwe des verst. Nikolaus Frey, (Fey), im Alter von 81 Jahren. Die Beerdigung findet statt am Montag, den 12. Oktober, um 8 Uhr morgens, von der Residenz 1393 Harrison Ave. Requiem hochmesse in der St. Bonaventura Kirche um halb 9 Uhr morgens.
Rough translation:
On the 8th of October, at 9:30 pm did pass Mrs. Catherina Fey, neé Bittlinger, widow of the late Nikolaus Fey at the age of 81 years. The funeral will be held on Monday, the 12th of October, 1908 at 9:00am, at the residence: 1393 Harrison Avenue. Requiem High Mass will be held at the St. Bonaventure Church at 8:30am.
The 1913 directory lists the following Fey family members:
NAME |
OCCUPATION |
WORK ADDRESS |
HOME ADDRESS |
Alexander Fey |
clerk |
1643 Westwood Avenue |
|
Clara Fey |
phone operator |
2265 Spring Grove Avenue |
1643 Westwood Avenue |
Mary Fey (widow Peter) |
at home |
1643 Westwood Avenue |
|
Nicholas Fey, Jr. |
blacksmith |
2812 Spring Grove Avenue |
2816 Spring Grove Avenue |
Frank C. Fey |
blacksmith |
2816 Spring Grove Avenue |
|
Richard Fey |
clerk |
1643 Westwood Avenue |
Now we come to Peter Fey, son of Nicholas and Catherina Bittlinger:
Peter was born in December, 1858 in Cincinnati more than likely. He married Maria Faehr on September 21, 1881 at the St. Bonaventure Church on Queen City Avenue in Cincinnati.
1900 Census of Hamilton County, OH (soundex)
NAME |
RELATIONSHIP |
BIRTHDATE |
AGE |
BIRTHPLACE |
Peter |
self |
December 1858 |
41 |
Ohio |
Mary |
wife |
September 1862 |
37 |
Ohio |
Alexander |
son |
April 1886 |
14 |
Ohio |
George |
son |
December 1887 |
12 |
Ohio |
Mamie |
daughter |
November 1889 |
10 |
Ohio |
Clara |
daughter |
January 1892 |
8 |
Ohio |
Flora |
daughter |
October 1893 |
6 |
Ohio |
Hilda |
daughter |
January 1896 |
4 |
Ohio |
Richard |
daugther |
March 1898 |
2 |
Ohio |
Peter and Mary's son George married Philomena Stoffers on April 10, 1910. They had four children. One of whom was my dear grandma, Esther Marie Fey. My grandma just passed away on June 1, 2000 and I am still very sad for her. I miss her terribly and she was instrumental for me to find out this information about the Fey family.
One time I had asked her, *what was your grandfather's name*. She actually had to think for a split second, because at 85 years old, she might not have had that name on the tip of her tongue. She replied, *Peter Fey*. Therefore, her great memory at her advanced age and the stories she told me, were priceless in my research of my ancestors.
1920 Census of Hamilton County, OH (soundex)
NAME |
RELATIONSHIP |
BIRTHDATE |
AGE |
BIRTHPLACE |
George |
self |
December 1887 |
32 |
Ohio |
Philomena (Minnie) |
wife |
September 19, 1895 |
25 |
Ohio |
Ruth |
daughter |
June 5, 1911 |
8 |
Ohio |
Esther Marie |
daughter |
October 15, 1913 |
6 |
Ohio |
Howard *Bud* |
son |
April 11, 1915 |
4 |
Ohio |
Charlotte |
daughter |
January 3, 1917³ |
died in infancy |
Ohio |
Virginia |
daughter |
November 18, 1918 |
1 |
Ohio |
see additional Fey history on
¹ Census of Hamilton County, OH 1900
² Obituary in Cincinnati Freie Presse, April 10, 1896
³ Charlotte died in infancy and is buried in the St. Mary cemetery where the other Fey's are buried, including my grandma.