Biography: Michael Lehmann and Marie Madeleine Biam


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:

MICHEL3 LEHMANN
(later known as Michael Lehmann)
son of Michel 2 LEHMANN & Catharine SCHOTT
(Johannes/Jean/John1 Lehmann & likely Catharina HALTER)
and his wife,
MARIE MADELEINE BIAM (aka Mary Magdelena)

daughter of Ignace / Ignatius BIAM & Catharina / Catherine VETTER

by
Audrey7 (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock [ASH]
(Rita6 [nee Lehmann] Shields, John5, Martin4, Michel3, Michel2, Johannes1 Lehmann)
Written 1970 with additions, corrections, revisions to present
Latest revision date below.


Green1.gif (2996 bytes)


MICHEL LEHMANN [Jr.]1 (later known as Michael LEHMANN) was son of Michel LEHMANN [Sr.]2 and his first wife, Catharine SCHOTT3, both of Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France4 (aka Schirrheim, Elsas, Germany)5. Michel Lehmann [Jr.] was born 1790 probably in Schirrhein, France.

Michel Lehmann married on 26 January 1818 in Schirrhein, France6 to MARIE MADELEINE BIAM7 (aka PIAM) at St. Nicolas Catholic Church. Marie Madeleine, daughter of Ignace BIAM8 and Catharina VETTER, was born about 1790-1791. Her sister, Marie Anne BIAM, had married Michel�s brother, Nicolas LEHMANN, and they, too, would eventually immigrate to the United States.


(Courtesy of: GMR: FamilySearch: Marriages: Family History Library INTL Film 673011)


ENLARGED BELOW



(Courtesy of: GMR: FamilySearch: Marriages: Family History Library INTL Film 673011)



Michel Lehmann & Madeleine Biam
married on 26 January 1818
Schirrhein, France

In Schirrheim at 10 in the morning on the 26th of January 1818
Michael Lehmann, the legitimate adult son, born and living in Schirrheim, a farmer
[His Father:] Michael Lehmann, here present and consenting, and
[His Mother:] the deceased Catherine Schott,
married
[Spouse] Madeleine Biam, the adult legitimate daughter, born and living in
Schirrheim, of the
[Her Father] deceased Ignace Biam and the
[Her Mother] deceased Catherine Vetter.
Witnesses were
Simon Schitter, 67, farmer and uncle of the groom.
Joseph Straub, 38, carpenter
Chretien Richter, 41, farmer
Nicolaus Lehmann, 25, day-laborer.
The bride wasn't able to write.

[Translators/Transcribers: 2 March 2013: Brian J. Dinsmore & Etienne Herrbach]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Simon Schitter [uncle-in-law of Michel Lehmann (Jr.) & hus/o Mary Anne Lehmann, sister/o Michel Lehmann (Sr.)],

Joseph Straub;[unknown relationship]

Chretien [Christian] Richter [hus/o Catherine Biam, sis/o Marie Madeleine Biam];

Nicolas Lehmann [brother of Michel Lehmann (Jr.)].


The French civil marriage record of Michel Lehmann & Marie Madeleine Biam documented the names of our French ancestors, whose children ventured away from the motherland and into unknown surroundings. Church marriage records and French Civil Records indicated that Michel Lehmann married on 26 January 1818 Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France to Marie Madeleine Biam.

Marie Madeleine Biam, daughter of Ignace Biam and Catharina Vetter, was born 1790-1791. Marie Madeleine is French name for Maria Magdalena (German) and Mary Magdalene (English). Her sister, Marie Ann, would marry Michel�s brother, Nicolas, and they, too, would eventually emigrate to the United States.

Like his father before him, Michel [Jr.] and Marie Madeleine were members of St. Nicolas Catholic Church, the catalyst for religious values of the Catholic community of Schirrhein. The photos below show the reconstructed church after the old church was destroyed during the liberation of France during World War II in 1945.9


St. Nicolas Catholic Church
St. Nicolas Catholic Church in Schirrhein; An extract of Volume I, The Falter-Scharf Family From About 1585 by Vincent Falter
Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin (Alsace), France
Erected 1752.
Crest date of 1752 is found below the crucifix.

Taken 1999, Permission to use photo granted 21 June 2001; Courtesy of: Lisa9 (nee Dornbirer) Lauricella
(Harold8 Dornbirer, Bernice7 (nee Falter) Dornbirer, Philip M.6 Falter, Mary Hannah5 (nee Wurm) Falter, Johanna "Hannah"4 (nee Lehmann) Wurm, Nicolas3, Michel2, Johannes1 Lehmann)
Descendant of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel, the subject of this biography

     
Taken 1999, Permission to use photo granted 21 June 2001; Courtesy of: Lisa9 (nee Dornbirer) Lauricella
(Harold8 Dornbirer, Bernice7 (nee Falter) Dornbirer, Philip M.6 Falter, Mary Hannah5 (nee Wurm) Falter, Johanna "Hannah"4 (nee Lehmann) Wurm, Nicolas3, Michel2, Johannes1 Lehmann)
Descendant of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel, the subject of this biography

[Note: Lisa is a descendant of Nicolas Lehmann, brother of Michel Lehmann [Jr.], the subject of this biography. Nicolas Lehmann married Marie Ann Biam. Michel Lehmann [Jr.], Nicolas' brother, married Marie Madeleine Biam. Their BIAM wives were sisters. ASH]

St. Nicolas Catholic Church9 crest indicates that the old church was originally built in Schirrhein in 1752, but the Catholic community and congregation was probably established before that. It was the church where most of the village inhabitants were baptized, confirmed, and attended services. Based upon records found at St. Nicolas, we can probably safely assume that our LEHMANN ancestors were Catholic and worshipped regularly at this church, except perhaps during those early and late warring times, when many families left the Alsace area in fear.10

Michel's and Madeleine's first child, Elizabeth, was born 23 November 1818, and died ca 1820, and was buried in her French homeland. Within the next ten years four other known children were born to the couple. Soon after the birth of their probable fourth child in February 1828, Michel, a day laborer, made application to leave France. He was granted a passport for himself and his family of five to emigrate to America.


L'HISTOIRE DE NOS DEUX COMMUNE',
LES EMIRANTS DE SCHIRRHEIN ENTRE 1828 u 1838

by Vincent E. Falter
Chef de familee   Profession de emport�e   Nombre de famillee personnes;  Somme (in francs)
"Michel Lehmann, journalier, family of 5, 3000"
[Name, occupation, Michel plus 5 (wife + 4 children), francs]

Within the list we also find his brother, Nicolas Lehmann and Joseph Lehmann (perhaps a cousin); and friends, relatives and acquaintances from the area.

[Source: French Immigration Record of 1828: Schirrhein Emigrees posted by Vincent E. Falter]



Soon after receiving permission to leave, they said their good-byes to their loved ones who stayed behind. They began their adventure and journey toward a new life in America. Michael and Madeleine with children (Martin, Juliann, Regina Rachel, and Catherine) embarked on their surely memorable journey when they boarded the ship "L'Esperance" at the port of LaHavre, France. After a journey of two to three months, if no other ports of call, they would arrive at the Port of New York.


Ship: "L'Esperance"
Manifest
1828


_____ LEHMANN, age 22 [sic], laborer;
Magdaline, 36;
Martin, 7;
Julia, 3;
Requin (misidentified as a male) [Rachel Regine], 3;
Christine [Catharine], 6 months
[French Civil Birth Records of children give parents' names and ages, which aided in identifying the above mentioned children.]

[NOTE: It is evident that regardless of the mistakes in the manifest that this is the Michel Lehmann family aboard the ship. Also, listed as arriving on the same ship from Schirrhein was Antoine Hahn & his family, and others. Evidently, the manifest recorder could not understand French or whatever our ancestors were speaking at the time. Discrepancies are frequently found like this in old records, as the recorder was often interpreting based upon phonetic pronunciation given by the immigrants who were often illiterate or unable to speak the language of the recorder.]

Manifest Passenger List
Courtesy of Vincent E. Falter11
Courtesy of Ted Barthelme.
[I am grateful to both men for their genealogical acts of kindness. ASH]


Their journey across the ocean ended on 6 September 1828. From New York, they and others made their way via land, rivers, and the canals toward the developing Catholic community within Stark County, Ohio. Michel and Madeleine (Biam) Lehmann, and their four children, were not among the early French arrivals in Canton, Stark County, Ohio who arrived on 10 February 1828, but they would join those who had preceded them. Since this LEHMANN family was of the Catholic faith, it appears they settled in Stark County, Ohio due to its close proximity to a Catholic Church, where they attended [Historic] St. John Catholic Church in Canton, Ohio. The excerpts given below from Landmark of Catholicism, St. John Catholic Church; Canton, OH Sesquicentennieal 1824-197412 tell us that the Ohio and Erie Canal was opened from Cleveland as far as Akron by July 4, 1827. In 1828 another section of the canal opened from Akron to Massillon in Stark County. Thus the canal provided an all-water route from New York to their destination utilizing the river canals along the way.

By 1830 the family had established itself in Plain Township (near Canton) in Stark County, Ohio. Here they were enumerated at the time of the 1830 United States Federal Census. Here they lived near their fellow Alsatians; namely, Anthony HAHN and Michael AMANN families from Schirrhein and probably within visiting distance to others from their homeland. It is given that Nicolas Lehmann did not emigrate at the same time as his brother, Michel, for some unknown reason. However, Nicholas did eventually join Michel some years later in Stark County, but perhaps rather briefly.

In the 1830 Federal Census, we find residing as neighbors in Plain Township (near Canton, OH), Stark County, Ohio these families of which some are probably from Schirrhein, France. Here enumerated in sequence are: [Line 20]: Michael Lehman (sic) ["L" looks like an "S"]; [Line 21]: Michael Amen (sic-Amann); [Line 22]: Anthony Hahn; [Line 23] Ignatius King; [Line 24] Michael Mertz; [Line 25] Martin Wise. This census merely gives place of residence, the name and age of the head of the family, and age categories and sex of individuals.


1830 United States Federal Census
Stark County, Ohio
Plain Township
[Line 20:] Michael Lehman (sic)
Males: 1 (10-under 15) [Martin]; 1 (40 under 50) [Michel/Michael]
Females: 2 (0-under 5) [Catharine & Regina Rachel]; 1 (5-under 10) [Juliann]; 1 (30-under 40) [Marie Madeleine]

(Heritage Quest: Page 5)

(Source: Internet, Retrieved 17 Oct 2009: Heritage Quest)


Once in the United States we find the records corrupted both the given names and the surnames of our ancestors. The record keepers often written by English speaking clerks who did not understand and know foreign languages. They tried their best to understand, translate and record what the German, French, etc. speaking immigrants were telling them. We find Michel listed as Miguel, Michael, etc. and the surname listed as Lehmann, Lehman, Layman, Laymon, Lamon, etc. Marie Madeleine is found listed as Magdaline, Magdelena, Malinda and Helena.

Mary Magdelena Lehmann as "Magdelenam", daughter of "Michelis Lehmann" & "Magdelenae Biam," was born 25 Jan 1833 in probably Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio. Her baptism is recorded in the books of St. John Catholic Church, Canton, Stark County, Ohio on 3 February 1833. Her sponsors were "Josephus Lehmann" and "Eva Volker." Joseph was probably the same Joseph Lehmann who applied for a passport at the same time as Michel and his brother Nicolas. However, a relationship to this Joseph is unknown, and it is not known if there was a relationship to Eva Volker.

Courtesy of Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock


In August term of 1834 in the Court of Stark County, Ohio "Michael Miller, Michael Layman, and Christian Witt" filed their first petition to become a citizens of the United States. In those days, the head of the household took the oath of allegiance for himself and his family. [See Court Document below dated 5 May 1837. ASH]

On 15 March 1835 "Anton Hahn" was the godfather and "Maria Eva Wachlerin" was the godmother of "Joseph," son of "Michaelis Lehman" and "Magdelenae alias Biam." He was baptized in St. John Catholic Church in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. Anton was Antoine / Anthony Hahn, a fellow Schirrheinian and neighbor in the 1830 Census. The relationship, if any, to Maria Eva Wachlerin is unknown.

Courtesy of Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock


Michel Lehmann as "Michael Layman" along with Christian Witt (a probable relative), John Creps (perhaps Krebs), and Michael Miller (perhaps Mueller/Moeller) took the Oath of Allegiance at Court, renouncing the King of France on "Friday, 5th May 1837" thus giving up his and his family's French citizenship while residing in Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio.




Friday, 5th May 1837

"Now comes Christian Witt, John Creps, Michael Layman [sic], and Michael Miller natives of France within the dominions of the King of France and proves by the records of this Court that more than 2 years ago to wit the said Michael Miller, Michael Layman, and Christian Witt at the August term of this Court AD 1834 and the said John Creps at the April term of this Court AD 1833 they filed the requisite declaration of their intention to become citizens of the U. States and further prove to the satisfaction of this Court that they have resided within the United States for the term of 5 years last past and within the state of Ohio during the last year and that during the time aforesaid they have behaved as men of good moral character attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same and the said Christian Witt, John Creps, Michael Layman, and Michael Miller now here in open Court declare on oath that they will support the Constitution of the United States and that they do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince potentate state or sovereignty whatever and particularly to the King of France to whom they were heretofore subjects. Therefore it is ordered that a certificate of naturalization issue to them----- on payment of the costs of this proceeding."

Transcribed 1 August 1986
by Audrey (LEHMANN-SHIELDS) HANCOCK,
(Descendant of son, Martin Michael LEHMANN of Ft. Loramie, Shelby Co., OH)
at Canton, Ohio Public Library:
microfilm: Court House Records of Stark County, Ohio Common Pleas Office,
Record Journal 1837-1838, Volume H,
"Aliens/Aliens Application"

Within a year after taking the Oath of Allegiance for himself, wife, and family, the Michael Lehmann family again ventured forth into unknown territory to settle in the "howling, wilderness"13 of Shelby County, Ohio (as told by his daughter Magdelena). It appears that he was accompanied by other families from the Stark County, Ohio settlement who probably journey with him overland to settle in what was then known as Berlin, Ohio (now Ft. Loramie, Ohio).

Cropped Image Source: Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987; Fort Loramie Historical Association, 1987 (paperback 8 1/2 x 11), p. 41

Berlin area map (perhaps between 1870-1880)
(Part of Undated Map of McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio)

Known as Berlin, 1837 until Spring of 1889
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, pp. 27, 65)

Here he purchased land in October of 1838. Here he established "a house between Loramie and Mile creeks" according to his daughter, Magdelena (nee Lehmann) Hochwalt, as written in a family Bible. Here in Berlin, Ohio he reared his family and was noted as one of the early pioneer parishioners14 of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church.



ABSTRACT of DEED
WARRANT
Shelby County, Ohio
Benjamin Mendenhall to Michael Layman (sic-Lehmann) of Shelby County, Ohio
Book H; Page 464, Dated 3 Oct 1838; Recorded 20 Jan 1840
William Clark Ayers, J.P. and Jacob House
46 acres + 10 acres $650.00
McLean Township: West of Loramie River
East 1/2 of Fractional Section 15, Township 8 South; Range 4 East and South End of East 1/2 of SE 1/4, Section 10, Township 8, South Range 4 East


1983, Courtesy of Larry Foland
>

Cropped Image Source: Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987; Fort Loramie Historical Association, 1987 (paperback 8 1/2 x 11), p. 41

Undated Map
"M. Lehmann on the map indicates where the LEHMANN family resided.
Homestead of "M. LEHMAN" (Michel LEHMANN from Schirrhein, Alsace, France to Ohio)

In 1850, son, Martin Lehmann, wife, and daughter, resided with his parents (Michael and Madeleine Lehmann). This homestead eventually passed to Michael's eldest son, Martin Michael LEHMANN according to Michael's will of October 1851 (See below).

Village of Loramies, Spring of 1889-1890
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 65)

Loramie, 1890-1910
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 65)

Ft. Loramie, January 1911 to present
("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 71)



Warrant for $100.00
Laymon, M. from B. Mendenhall & J. House
Book H, page 470
In Lot #22 & Out Lot #9 Berlin
October 19, 1839
Recorded January 22, 1840

1983, Courtesy of Larry Foland




At the time of the 1840 United States Federal Census, we find Michael Lehmann residing in McLean Township, Shelby County, Ohio. He was listed as Michael Layman (sic). The "L" resembles an "S".


1840 United States Federal Census
Shelby County, Ohio
McLean Township
[Line 1:] Michael Layman (sic)
Males: 1 (5 under 10) [Joseph Christina]; 1 (15-under 20) [Martin]; 1 (40 under 50) [Michael]
Females: 1 (5-under 10) [Mary Magdelena]; 2 (10-under 15) [Rachael Regina & Catharine]; 1 (15-under 20) [Juliann]; 1 (40-under 50) [Marie Madeleine]
(Heritage Quest: Page 1 of 8)

(Source: Internet, Retrieved 17 Oct 2009: Heritage Quest: Series: M704; Roll: 426; Page: 270; Image: 1 of 8)



Warrant for $65.00
Laman, Michael to C. Schitz
Book K, page 424
In Lot #22 & Out Lot #9 Berlin
April 13, 1841
Recorded Nov. 30, 1842
Michael Laman & Magdalena, his wife to Charles Schiltz & Catharine, his wife

1983, Courtesy of Larry Foland





Parishioner's Roll
of
St. Michael's Catholic Church
Ft. Loramie, Shelby County, Ohio
ca 1905
"Michael Lehman (sic)"
(Bigot, The Reverend Wilhelm P., Annals of St. Michael's Parish in Loramie (Berlin), Shelby County, Ohio..., Shelby Co., Anzeiger, 1907, p. 202)


In this 1850 Census we find the family listed as LAHMAN, and there are numerous misspellings. Residing with Michael and Madeleine are sons, Joseph and Martin and his wife & daughter. Martin M. Lehmann has married Katharina Reichert and they are the parents of a daughter, Maria Magdelena Elizabeth Lehmann. Also, living with the family are various members of the SCHABEL/SCHEBEL/SCHABLE/SCHEBLE/etc. family. According to oral tradition, the parents were deceased and the LEHMANN family took the children into their home. There was a cholera epidemic in the summer months of 1849 and many in a wide area were lost to that scourge. Other diseases such as typhoid, whooping cough, diptheria, measles, consumption (tuberculosis) and mumps were uncontrolled diseases of that era.



1850 United States Federal Census
Shelby County, Ohio
McLean Township
21 October 1850
#17-17
Miguel (sic-Michael) Lahman (sic-Lehmann), 60, male, farmer, Real Estate $700, b France
Malinda (sic-Madeleine) Lahman (sic-Lehmann), 59, female, b France
Martin Lahman (sic-Lehmann), 30, male, farmer, b France
Catherine (sic-Catharine) Lahman (sic-Lehmann), 21, female, b Germany [nee Reichert]
Frederick Schayer (sic-Schabel), 17, male, operative, b Germany
Joseph Lahman (sic-Lehmann), 16, male, operative, b France [s/o Michael & Madeleine]
John Schayer (sic-Schabel), 3, male, b France
Maria Lahman (sic-Lehmann), 3/12, female, b France [dau/o Martin & Catharine]
Maria Schayer (sic-Schabel), 9, female, b France
(Internet, Heritage Quest: Pages 2 & 3)



Bottom of Page 2


Continued at Top of Page 3


Michael Lehmann wrote his Last Will and Testament on 21 October 1851 in Shelby County, Ohio. The original will came from the will packet in the file and shared 1983 by Larry Foland of Dayton, Ohio. Another erroneous transcribed copy exists and it has a major error. This other version was transcribed by a clerk of the Court and shared 1983 by Eugene Lehman (dec'd) of Dayton, Ohio. Both versions have been xeroxed and scanned and transcribed and presented for your perusal.

In the original the children are named as Martin, Julian, Rachel, Catharine, Magdelena, and Christian J.. In the transcribed version the children are named as Martin, Julian, Rachel, Catharine, Magdelena, and Christina, which created a problem for Martin Michael Lehmann, Jr., the grandson, when he attempted to settle in 1895 his grandfather's will after the decease of his own father, Martin Michael Lehmann, Sr. (1820-1892). Christian J. in the will is Christian Joseph Lehmann, who went by Joseph when signing papers.


Click on the picture

:
Last Will & Testament
of
Michael Lehmann
of McLane [sic] township,
Shelby County, Ohio

1983, Courtesy of: Larry Foland



Sometime after this census date, Michael and Madeleine did leave Berlin (Ft. Loramie) and removed to Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, where they apparently lived with or among their daughters (Juliann Larger, Celestine & Regina Rachel Zinck; Ferdinand & Catharine Frick, Henry & Mary Magdelena Hochwalt), who had all married and resided in Dayton. Their son, Joseph Christian moved between Shelby County, Ohio; Mercer County, Ohio; and Montgomery County, Ohio.

Michel died in Dayton on 16 May 1853. Madeleine lived almost six years longer and passed away on 23 April 1859 in Dayton. Both were originally buried at the now defunct St. Henry Cemetery (established 1844) in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. They were later reinterred in Calvary Cemetery at Dayton. In records they are found buried in the same gravesite as members of the ZINCK family. No gravestone marks their burial place, but office records indicate the site. They were reburied in the same site and under Joseph Zinck, Theresa Zinck, & Carolina Zinck. Cemetery Record names Madeleine as "Helena" Lehmann.



Courtesy of: Helen Lehman of Dayton

With the passage of time, we find the LEHMANN surname corrupted and written as "LEHMAN" within the pages of history. In Rev. Bigot's 1907 book, Annals of St. Michael's Parish in Loramie (Berlin), Shelby County, Ohio in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati from 1838 to 1903;..., we find on page 34 Michael Lehman, and his son is recorded as Martin Lehman on page 35 and 105.


  


In the Sesquicentennial book, on p. 148 under "Native Origins" is found Hagenau, U. AL.    Lehmann for Haguenau, France, Ulter Alsace, Lehmann. The surname as Lehman is also found on pages 24, 61, 70, 72, 73, 97, and 132.

("Early History of Ft. Loramie, Sesquicentennial, 1837-1987," Fort Loramie Historical Assn., 1987, p. 148)


Almost all of the descendants of Michel/Michael Lehmann and Marie Madeleine/Mary Magdelena Biam now carry the LEHMAN spelling of the surname except for the grandchildren of John Michael5 Lehmann, s/o Martin Michael4 Lehmann (Michel/Michael3, Michel2, Johannes1) & Katharina Reichert. John insisted that his children always add the double "n" to the end of their surname, thus today his male descendants still spell the name as it came down through the generations. His daughters carried the Lehmann spelling of the surname within their maiden names.



Michel/Michael3Lehmann & Marie Madeleine/Mary Magdelena Biam
(Michel2, Johannes1 Lehmann)
Third Generation Decendants
Elisabeth4
Lehmann
Martin Michael4
Lehmann
Julian/ Julia Ann4
Lehmann
Regina Rachel4
Lehmann
Catharine Elizabeth4
Lehmann
Mary Magdelena4
Lehmann
Joseph Christian4
Lehmann

  1. Elisabeth Lehmann was born 23 November 1818 in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, (Alsace), France. Elizabeth evidently died in France before 1828 when the rest of the family immigrated to the U.S.A.
  2. Martin Michael Lehmann was born 12 November 1820 in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, (Alsace), France
  3. Julia Ann Lehmann was born 16 Apr 1823 in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, (Alsace), France
  4. Rachel Regina Lehmann was born 27 Aug 1825 in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, (Alsace), France
  5. Catherine Lehmann was born 1 Feb 1828 in Schirrhein, Bas-Rhin, (Alsace), France
  6. Mary Magdalena Lehmann was born 25 January 1833 in probably Plain Twp., Stark Co., OH. She was baptized at (Historic) St. John's Catholic Church, Canton, Stark Co., OH.
  7. Christian Joseph Lehmann was born by 15 March 1835 in probably Plain Twp., Stark Co., OH. He was baptized 15 Mar 1835 at (Historic) St. John's Catholic Church, Canton, Stark Co., OH.



See: LEHMANN FAMILY HOMEPAGE




SOURCES & ENDNOTES


 1. [Jr.] Term used in this writing to distinguishe the son from his father with the same given name. They have never been found in records as yet with "Jr." or "Sr." attached to their names.

 2. [Sr.] Term used in this writing to distinguishe the father from his son with the same given name. They have never been found in records as yet with "Sr." or "Jr." attached to their names.

 3. Parents of Michel Lehmann [b 1790] are named in his marriage record as Michel Lehmann and Catherine Schott. Also, Michel Lehmann [b 1761] was given as widower of Catherine Schott at the time of his 2nd marriage to Catharina Schmietter/Schmitter in St. Nicolas Catholic Church record.  4. Schirrhein is a commune of the Bas-Rhin D�partement in France in the said Alsace region near Strasbourg. It is a small village not far from the Rhine River and near the German town of Baden-Baden. Originally a part of Germany, then a part of France, reverted back to Germany, and then finally back to France in 1872 as a result of the various wars in that region.

 5. Schirrheim was the original German name given to the commune of Schirrhein when under German control in the Alsace region.
Click on the link to learn more from the article by Vincent E. Falter.

 6. Marriage Record: St. Nicolas Catholic Church, Schirrhein, France

 7. Marie Madeleine is French name for the German name of Maria Magdalena.

 8. The surname BIAM has also been spelled PIAM.
Vincent E. Falter advises that the surname of Biam is also found as Piam due to the German pronunciation. [I have found that Babst is also found as Pabst. ASH] [I also to date have never found the surname of either BIAM or PIAM in records other than what Vincent Falter has provided. ASH]

 9. 1995, Information provided by researcher, Vincent E. Falter, and also found on his website: St. Nicolas Church in Schirrhein, Alsace, France

10. Read article by researcher, Vincent E. Falter. General Sebastien Steinmetz of Schirrhein and Schirrhoffen

11. Vincent E. Falter is an avid researcher and has published a book. He is not a direct LEHMANN/LEHMAN descendant, but has interconnecting family lines via the ancestor, Nicolas Lehmann & Marie Ann Biam.
  • Anna Lehman m: Joseph Falter, Vincent's 1st cousin 2 generations removed.
  • Elizabeth Lehman m: John Gerhartstein, Vincent's great, great uncle
  • Johanna Lehman married John Christian Wurm, Vincent's great, great uncle
  • John Frank Lehman married Vincent's cousin Rosa Mueller
  • Leo Lehman married Vincent's first cousin, two generations removed, Cecelia Ball
  • Victoria Lehman married Frank Joseph Ruffing, Vincent's first cousin, two generations removed.
    See: The FALTER-SCHARF Family Home Page dated February 5, 2005

    12. Michel and Madeleine (Biam) Lehmann, and their four children, were not among the arrivals on 10 February 1828 in Stark County, Ohio, as chronicled below.


    From the booklet, "Landmark of Catholicism" of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Canton, Stark County, Ohio, Sesquicentennial 1824-1974, pages 4 & 5, we learn the following information:

    "From 1796 to 1817 there were no priests in all Ohio. Prior to that, some missionaries had travelled out of French Detroit as far east as Sandusky. From 1797, while still a wilderness, the Canton area had been part of Ohio's Jefferson County, but later, in 1803, it was carved out as part of the newly formed Columbiana County (which also included present Carroll and Summitt Counties).

    Canton was laid out in 1806; and Stark County was detached from Columbiana and sprang into separate existence in 1808. Prior to 1808 the entire country was in the single diocese of Baltimore, headed by Bishop John Carroll. In 1808 the diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky was created and it included all lands north and west of the Ohio River. In 1812, its Bishop, Benedict Flaget, assigned a single priest to the entire territory of central and southern Ohio. Not until 1817 however was he able to visit northeastern Ohio, stopping at both Dungannon (Columbiana County) and Canton, fledgling communities with a small number of Catholic residents.

    Canton St. John, where construction was begun in 1823, was the second Catholic church in northern Ohio, following the 1820 founding of tiny St. Paul the Apostle at Dungannon. St. John's history as a congregation, however, dates back to 1817, when itinerant priest Father Edward Fenwick said the first Mass here under the Shorb oak tree."

    "There were only about 15 Catholic families in 1823 when Cantonians began their first church, at a time when there were no Catholic churches whatever in the ultimately much larger towns of Cleveland, Akron and Youngstown. Once the Canton church was established, it acted as a base for serving other Catholics within a radius of 50 miles and provided travelling clergy to serve the missions which sprang up around it. It also was a magnet, drawing many Catholic immigrants anxious to settle where Mass and the sacraments were available. The Ohio Canal was opened from Cleveland as far as Akron by July 4, 1827, providing an all-water route from New York via the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers and the Erie Canal.

    On February 10, 1828, U. S. Catholic Miscellany stated that `thirty Catholic families arrived from Lorraine, France at Canton, their chief motive in selecting this spot being the convenience of a Catholic church'."

    On page 17 we find another reference to the arrival of the French families: "Though St. John's began as a congregation in 1823 with only fifteen families, in 1828 alone thirty Catholic families arrived from Lorraine, France. Most of those `Frenchmen' spoke German or the guttural Alsatian dialect."

    However, we also learn from page 17 that relations between the German's and the English/Irish were not always the best. The Germans decided in l844 to establish their own German speaking church, St. Peter's, to preserve their native language.



    13. Mary Magdelena Lehmann married 1853 in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio to Henry Hochwalt.

    "Mary Magdalen Hochwalt (Lehman) Was the fifth child of Michael and M. Magdalen Lehman who came to America from Alsace there in province of France settling at Canton Stark Co Ohio where Mary Magdalen was born Jan 25 1833 when about 3 years old she came with her parents to Berlin (Now Loramie, Shelby Co Ohio there a howling wilderness establishing a house between Loramie and Mile creeks."
    (Source: 1983, Letter to ASH from R. M. Hochwalt of North Canton, Stark Co., OH: Bible Entry)


    14. Annals of St. Michael's Parish in Loramie (Berlin), Shelby County, Ohio in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati from 1838 to 1903; Early History of Loramie and Pioneer Period from 1769 to 1838, by The Reverend Wilhelm P. Bigot, Pastor of St. Michael's Parish, Shelby Co. Anzeiger, Sidney, Ohio, 1907, p.34: THE PIONEERS OF THE PARISH: "Michael Lehmann"




    Webpage by:
    Audrey (Lehmann-Shields) Hancock
    of Portage, Michigan




    Created: 30 October 2001
    Revised: 26 April 2015
    Revised: 20 April 2017






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