William F. Syska (1866-1956) provides Farming advice in 1906 and other interesting articles

1906 NY Times Article regarding small farms given to New York City residents to cultivate.

William F. Syska , who had farming experience in the 'Far West' and Europe provided expert advice to the farmers.  William, his wife and six children resided in the only house, on the 'old Burke Farm' near White Plains Rd. in the Bronx.  

Article Citations:

...W.F. Syska, who has had farming experience in the Far West and in Europe, was engaged to reduce the wild to a tillable farm....

Mr. Syska cleared and plowed the land....

Expert instruction also is free, and Mr. Syska is consulted at all times about conditions and requirements.  He, with his wife and six little children, lives in the only house on the place- a house that looks to be a hundred years old. 

William's wife was Elizabeth (Zimmermann) Syska and their six children at the time were 14 y.o. Erna, 12 y.o. William Jr., 8 y.o. Chester, 6 y.o. Herbert, 3 y.o. Clara and 1 y.o. Stanley.  The Family had previously resided in Chicago with Lizzie's parents until at least 1903 when Clara was born.  Lizzie's family owned farms in Sheboygan, WI which could have been the 'far west' farming experience referred to in the article.  

William and Lizzie's 6th child, Stanley, was born in Missouri in 1905. Thus, they probably moved to NY about 1906, just prior to this article.  Their second child, William Jr, was born in NY in 1896- perhaps on a visit as William's parents (Adolph & Caroline Szyszka) had settled in the New York city area after coming to America along with several of William's siblings.

William and Lizzie had two more daughters, Adele and Gladys born in 1907 and 1909 in New York. The family moved to Wilton, Connecticut before 1920 and then to Daytona Beach Florida in about 1932, by that time the children were grown and many stayed up North.  In addition to farming, William was a butcher and operated a meat market in Westchester County, NY, as well as owning property in Connecticut and Florida.  In Florida he also owned a Gas station, grocer and orange grove.

Children:  Erna J. (Syska) Braun (1892-), William F. Syska Jr. (1896-1981), Chester E. Syska (1898-1983), Herbert P Syska (1900-1974), Clara E (Syska) Vogt Keller (1903-2001),  Stanley E. Syska (1905-1971), Adele (Syska) Pinkham (1907-1992), Gladys L. (Syska) Ellis Allard (1909-2002)

Randall Syska (1960-1995)

Maud J.(Selleck) Scofield lineage

 

Maud Justina (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968), my great grandmother, married Harry Scofield in 1902 and became the mother of Beatrice P. Scofield, my grandmother, in 1906.

• In 1882, Maud was born to Sanders Selleck (1859-1947) and Sarah Francis Slauson  (1863-abt. 1938). who were married in September 12, 1880.  Their children were Maud, Howard, Claude and a fourth child that died (date unknown).  Sanders was born in Pound Ridge, Westchester Co., NY which is where he and Sarah raised their family while Sanders worked as a Basket Maker, a family trade.  In fact, there was a Selleck Basket factory and Shop in Pound Ridge until about 1944.   Sander's father and grandfather had also owned a farm of more than fifty acres in Pound Ridge which had passed down to Sander's older brother Silvori Selleck who was also appointed  postmaster of Scott's Corners, Pound Ridge in 1897.   

While Maud Selleck, married Harry Scofield in 1902, her brothers, Howard and Claud, continued to live with their parents who moved to Darien CT sometime between 1910 and 1920.   In 1940, Sanders, 82 and widowed, was living with his son Howard.  Sarah and Sanders are both listed on Darien city records in 1937, thus Sarah must have passed away between 1937 and 1940.  Her husband, Sanders, passed away after 1940.

High Ridge Cemetery
Stamford, CT

* Sanders and Sarah were distant cousins.               Lydia Slauson (1778-1845) is Sanders paternal grandmother.  Lydia's brother Daniel Slauson (1765-1846) is Sarah's paternal great grandfather.

• Sanders Selleck was the son of Sands Selleck (1817-1898) and Ann Elizabeth (Betsey) Austin (1821-1901), who were born and lived most of their lives in Pound Ridge, Westchester County, NY with their five children.   Sands Selleck was a farmer and well-known basket maker.  He was active in county politics and served as town selectman.  He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.  Sands and Betsey died in New Canaan, CT in 1897 and 1901, respectively. 

• The parents of Sands were Thomas Selleck (1778-  ) and Lydia  Slauson (1778-1845) who were married in 1798.  Thomas was born in Pound Ridge, NY and Lydia was born in New Canaan, CT.  They resided mostly in Pound Ridge, NY, where their 8 children were born.  Thomas worked as a stone mason and contractor as well as farming the family tract of land..  Lydia passed away in 1845 and records indicate Thomas Selleck remarried Eliza Smith in 1851 at 73 years old.  His date of death is unknown.

• Thomas Selleck was the son of Samuel Selleck (1746-1790) and Amy Dann ( 1750-  ) who were married in 1771.

• The parents of Samuel Selleck were Jonathan Selleck (1720-1790) and Anne ( abt.1730- ).  

• Jonathan was born on Oct. 1, 1720 in Stamford, CT, the son of Nathan Selleck (1686-1772) and Sarah Sands (1696-1789), Nathan's third wife.  

        Nathan Selleck's wives:

Nathan Selleck's house built about 1708 on Farms Rd. Stamford, CT

• Susannah Hooker married Nathan in 1708 and died in 1709 after the birth of their daughter Susannah Selleck;  
• Nathan next wed Mary Sands in 1710, but she died in 1712. 
• Sarah Sands and Nathan were married in 1713 and had six 6 children.  Sarah is the daughter of Capt. Samuel Sands of Queens, NY.  

• Nathan parents were Jonathan Selleck Jr. (1664-1710) and Abigail Gold (1665-1711).  Jonathan and Abigail were married Jan. 5, 1685 in Stamford, Ct.  In 1699, Jonathan Selleck was appointed Justice in the County of Fairfield.                   

Abigail is the daughter of Major Nathan Gold, who arrived in Milford  Ct. in 1643, 

and of Sarah (Phippen) Yeo who arrived in Massachusetts Bay as an infant with 

her family (David Phippen) who settled in Boston, MA.
Abigail's sister, Martha Gold, married her husband's brother, John Selleck, Jr. 
The fathers of the Selleck brothers had also married 2 sisters.

• Jonathan Selleck Jr. is the son of Jonathan Selleck, Major (1641-`1713) and Abigail Law (1637-1711)

• Major Jonathan Selleck was born on on March 20, 1641 in Boston, MA as the son of immigrant and businessman David Selleck (1614-1654) and his wife, Susanna Kibby/Kebby (1616-1713).   David came to America in 1633, arriving in Dorchester MA. 
• In the year 1660, 6 years after the death of their father, Jonathan, then 20 years old, moved from Boston with his younger brother John, 17, to Stamford CT where they became partners as shipping merchants in the same business that had been so profitable for their father.  John transported the cargo, spending weeks or months at sea, while Jonathan stayed in New England to manage the business.  
• The brothers married two sisters, Abigail and Sarah Law, who were the daughters of Richard Law(1601-1686) and Margaret Kilbourne (1607-1689).  
• Richard Law had been the Kings Attorney in England prior to coming to America in about 1635.  He served as legal counsel for the community, town clerk, selectman and Representative to the Connecticut Legislature. 
•  Jonathan Selleck became an officer in the Stamford Militia and, in 1676, was rewarded with Land, for his service against the indians in King Phillips war.
• In 1689, his brother John was captured by the French, along with his ship, and was never heard from again..  

• Their father, David Selleck was born in Overstory, Somerset England, the son of Robert Selleck (1575-1660) and Elizabeth Gray (1574-1618).  David was a soap maker as well as trader.  He owned and leased vessels and conducted trade in Boston, Virginia, Barbados and England.  Record indicate he first came to New England in 1633.  He returned to England in 1636 perhaps for business and also to marry Susanna Kibby.  His name appears in colony records of Dorchester MA in 1640.  David and Susanna were members of the First Church of Boston in 1644, having moved to Boston about 1642.  
• David Selleck is reputed to have been involved in human trafficking of Irish 'servants' taken against their will and brought to Barbados, Virginia and New England.  The Cromwellian policies of England allowed for 'involuntary Irish transportation' for a short period from 1652 to 1657, but the practice may have gone on unofficially for sometime longer.  Once in the new world, the servants were sold into servitude usually for a period of 7-10 years.
•  David Selleck was fined by Massachusetts colony in 1652 for importing Irish servants without permission.  Then in 1653 he was granted license by England for two ships to transport 400 Irish children to the new world.  In December of 1653 those two ships were cleared to sail from England.  There is no passenger list and no record of what happened to their cargo.  

Harry Scofield (1870-1965) and the Scofield Lineage in the US

Beatrice Scofield (my grandmother) is the daughter of Harry F. Scofield and Maud Justina (Selleck) Scofield, who were married on March 25, 1902. - For more about Harry & Maud's married life,  see the March 11th post, "Family and Life of William F. Syska Jr. and Beatrice P. Scofield Syska". 

My 2nd Great Grandmother, Emily (Seely) Scofield

The ancestry of both Harry Scofield and Maud Selleck can be traced to the first English settlers that arrived in New England in the 1600's.  Many Americans can trace their roots to the English colonists so there are many records of their lives available for research.  
 Our Scofield ancestors can be traced even further back to England in the 1500's, see earlier post titled Cuthbert Scofield Family History.  

The Selleck lineage will be discussed in a later post. 

Harry Scofield (1870-1965) was the son of James E. Scofield (1831-1918) and Emily Seely (1843-1938)  both born in Stamford, CT.   James & Emily resided most of their lives in Norwalk CT although they were married in 1861 in Pound Ridge, NY, in Westchester county along the CT border.  James was a farmer and  milk dealer.  He and his wife were the parents of 3 children named Pauline (b.1865), Harry (b. 1870) and Edna (b. 1874).

 James and Emily can be found on Census records as late as 1910 when they were living in New Canaan, CT, at which time James was 78 years old.  James is believed to have passed away in 1918 at 87 years old, while Emily died in September of 1927 at 84 years old.  Emily is buried at the Mountain Grove Cemetery in Bridgeport, CT, presumably, James is there as well, but I have not confirmed that.

*Emily and James were actually distant cousins as James is a descendant of Richard Scofield and Emily, of his brother, Daniel Scofield.

High Ridge Cemetery, Stamford, CT

 The parents of James Scofield were Samuel Scofield (1805-1885) and Sally Ann Jones (1804-1884).  Samuel was born in Pound Ridge NY and Sally in Connecticut.  According to Census records, Samuel and Sally resided in New Canaan, CT. where they raised 8 children while Samuel worked as a basket maker.

Stillwater Rd. Cemetery, Stamford, CT

Samuel Scofield was the son of Stephen Scofield (1782-1853) and Ann Peck (1785-1812).  Stephen was born in Pound Ridge, NY and Ann in Bedford, NY.    Ann died in 1812 at only 27 years old after which, Stephen Scofield remarried Betsey Brown (1792-1864).  Based on Samuel's date of birth of 1805, Ann is his biological mother.

Sarles Cemetery, 
Pound Ridge, NY

Stephen Scofield's parents were Enos Scofield(1753-1830) and Amy Scofield (1760-1844), both born in Stamford Ct.   They were married on July 22, 1779 in Stamford CT.   They are both buried in Pound Ridge NY in the Sarles Family Burial ground, which is not an accessible Cemetery today (it's surrounded by private property).

**Amy's 2nd great grandfather is Daniel Scofield, brother of Richard Scofield (1613-1660) who is Enos' great grandfather, thus Amy and Daniel were also distant cousins.  

Enos Scofield was the son of Richard Scofield (1717-1772) and Mercy Buxton (1721-1779), both born in Stamford CT.

Richard Scofield's parents were Jeremiah Scofield (1691-1762)  and Abigail Weed (1695-1758).  Jeremiah and Abigail were married in Stamford on Jan. 20, 1714

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• *Note:  Abigail Weed's great grandmother, Elizabeth (Cogan) Holly Kendall was tried and convicted of witchcraft and executed  in Massachusetts in approximately 1647. 
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• Elizabeth imigrated to America with her first husband Samuel Holly in approximately 1635.  She married John Kendall after Samuel's death in 1643.
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• More details about this and  our ancestors involved in the witch trials will be posted in a later blog entry.  

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Jeremiah Scofield was the son of Richard Scofield Jr. (1660-1726)   and Ruth Brundish (or Brondage) (1672-1742).  There are no definitive records of Richard or Ruth Scofield's dates of birth or death, however, their marriage is recorded in Stamford CT on Sept. 14, 1689.  

The parents of Richard Scofield Jr. are Richard Scofield (abt. 1613-1660) and Mary  (1617-   ), maiden name unknown.  After Richard died in 1670, she married Robert Pennoyer and she is cited in Richard's will/inventory as Mary Pennoyer.

Richard Scofield, emigrated to America in 1635 aboard the ship called,  "The Susan and Ellen," where he is cited on passenger list as "Richard Skofield, 22." Most sources state that Richard came with his brother Daniel, however Daniel is not included on that passenger list.  Either way, Daniel also emigrated to America around the same time.  Richard died on March 6, 1670 and is buried in the Scofield Cemetery in Stamford CT.

Richard and Daniel are  the sons of Alexander Scofield (1588- ) and Mary Norton (1583-)

Schofield/Scholefield Hall

Site of Scholfield Hall - Hollingsworth Lake, Rochdale

On a picturesque grassy knoll, overlooking Hollingworth Lake in Lancashire England, sits the remains of Schofield Hall and over 400 years of family history. The Hall was the home of the Schofields, whose ancestry can be traced back to the reign of Edward I. 

The most ostentatious member of the family was, ofcourse, Cuthbert Schofield (my 10th Great Grandfather) who died in 1605 of indeterminate age, and who was buried at Rochdale, but not before wreaking havoc! Cuthbert gained favor when he was knighted by Elizabeth in 1588 for his service against the Spanish Armada.  However, this quarrelsome gentleman appeared at the Duchy Court more frequently than any other inhabitant of the parish.

At the Bishop's Court, Chester, in 1561 he sued his wife Ann for divorce -see prior blog for details of this sordid affair.  Then in 1565, in another outlandish episode, Cuthbert Schofield and his followers, besieged the Milnrow Chapel of St. James the Apostle in Bridge Street.  Cuthbert and Sir John Byron were engaged in a dispute over the ownership "Goseholme,” the land upon which the Chapel was built. That fiasco ended up with Cuthbert back in court resulting in access to the Chapel being restored to the people of Milnrow.

Nonetheless, Cuthbert’s care of the Scholfield Hall and it’s estates which included the Round House (farmhouse), Booth Hollins and the Holt, was above reproach.  When Cuthbert died, in 1605, the estate passed to his nephew, Gerard Schofield.  Yet another court battle ensued when Cuthbert’s illegitimate son, Alexander, sued for ownership of the Hall.  Alexander lost his case and Gerard Scofield’s family retained ownership 

Schofield Hall in 1829

Photograph: Iain Spencer Gerrard

According to church records, by 1626, “Mr. Gerrarde Scolfelde” held the family estates of Scholefield Hall, The Round House, The Holt, and Booth Hollins. He died at The Holt on 01 October 1638 passing Scholefield Hall on to his 18 year old son and heir James Schofield. James was the last Schofield to inhabit the Hall.   By 1673, James Scholefield, impoverished, due to his support for the King during the English Civil War, sold Scholefield Hall to his son-in-law Seth Clayton, Esq. The Claytons lived in the Hall until they sold it in 1770 to Robert Entwisle.

In his "History of the Parish of Rochdale" Henry Fishwick states that in 1889 Schofield Hall was still owned by descendants of the wealthy Entwisle family. By this time the Hall was in a ruinous state, but still habitable. At the turn of the century, Schofield Hall was converted into cottages. One former tenant told how she used to go to bed with an umbrella and awoke one morning to discover snow drifting onto her bed! The Hall became uninhabitable, the roof, it was said, leaked like a colander, but the farmer at Rakewood Farm stored farm machinery there, until about 1925, when, a substantial part of the building collapsed.  In 1939 the two-storeyed porch which formed a prominent feature at the front of Schofield Hall was still standing.

In the 1800’s the Rochdale Canal Company published plans to submerge the Schofield Hall Estates under two reservoirs. Initial plans were abandoned in favor of one large lake, as it exists, today. Water is carried by drain to Summit with the aid of a steam-driven pumping engine, which raised water from Hollingworth Lake up to the level of the drain.

Reference:   http://www.littleboroughcivictrust.org.uk/SUMMER%202009.html

History of the Scofield Name

Our Scofield family heritage can be traced back 400 years in America to the birth of our country, and another 300 years in England to the middle ages in England.  

However, the Scofield name is most likely Nordic in origin from skali and feld - meaning "dweller by a field with a hut."

Scofield Family Crest

Scofield/Schofield is a common surname, especially in Lancashire, England where today there are an estimated 8000 Scofield families.

The predominant theory is the Scofields came to England during the  migration following the Norman conquest of England in 1066.    After the Conquest,  Normans, Frenchmen and Bretons from other parts of France settled in England. Early records mention John de Scolefeld who was recorded in the year 1343 in Lancashire and Edward Scholfield recorded in 1343 in Wakefield, Yorkshire. William Scoffield of County Lancashire, was documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377).

The Scofield name is thought to have originated in  Escoville, Normandy, a small village near Caen, France.  Several sources indicate the Schofield family was granted lands in Lancashire by Duke William of Normandy for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.  I haven't found actual documentation, instead, it may be a logical assumption based on the origin of the name as well as records, beginning in 1300s, documenting the Scofield family of Kent as landholders in Lancashire. 

A similar theory is the Scofields descended from Sir Esbern de Cillesfelle, a Norman Knight who came to England with the invading armies of Duke William in 1066. Sir Esbern's name appears in the "Domesday " Book of Kent.  Yet, this reference lacks evidence that the Scofields descended from De Cillesfelle.  In fact, De Cillesfelle is translated in English to Chelsfield, "open field."  Chesfield is an English Village aproximately 240 miles south of Rochdale, the home of the Scofield Hall.  It appears more likely that Sir Esbern de Cillesfelle established the village of Chelsfield, but is not an ancestor of the Scofield family.   

The Scofields indeed may have descended from the Normans who came to England in the 11th century gaining land and titles from the Duke of Normandy.  It is also possible that they simply took the name Scofield from their land, "Dweller by a field with a hut."  The Norman invasion is said to have transformed England's culture, language, politics and way of life.

If the Scofields did descend from the village of Escoville, Normandy France, what does that mean for our heritage, considering the Normans conquered northern France  about 100 years prior to the English, conquest....
Escoville is a tiny village in northern France with little documented history.  The nearby city of Caen, is actually known as "The City of William the Conquerer," for the buildings erected during his reign, including  Château de Caen, one of the largest medieval fortresses, circa 1060, but also because William is buried in the city.  The first mentions of the name of Caen are found in acts of the dukes of Normandy inferring that the Normans may have built the city.  Certainly the Normans had great influence in the area, still there is no way to ascertain if a person emigrating from Escoville descended from French or Normans. In either case, the Normans, and Vikings before them, were, by nature, conquerers who migrated and assimilated with many cultures.

Spelling variations of the name include: Scofield, Skofield, Schofield, Scholefied, Schofelde, Scofielde, Scholefelde, Scholfield, Scofelte. Old and middle english did not have definitive spelling rules, thus it was not uncommon for one person to use different spellings within their lifetime.  In fact, our ancestor Richard Scofield is listed on the immigration ship to America in 1633 as "Richard Skofield," but in American records he used "Scofield."

Cuthbert Scofield Family History

Beatrice P. (Scofield) Syska (my grandmother) is the daughter of Harry Scofield (1870-1965) and Maud Justina (Selleck) Scofield (1882-1968).  The families of both Harry and Maud can  be traced back to the first English colonies in Connecticut and Massachusetts.  In fact,  Richard Scofield  (my 9th great grandfather) came to America from Rochdale, Lancashire England in 1635 aboard the "Susan and Ellen" ship.  His brother, Daniel Scofield (my 8th great grandfather) followed in 1641, both settling in Stamford, Ct.

Beatrice is related to both Richard and Daniel, as well as a number of other early american settlers.  Beatrice's ancestory consists entirely of American colonists from the 1600's. I'll post more about that in subsequent blog (the ancestry is quite intertwined with a number of cousins marrying - due to limited number of settlers)

The Scofield (Skofield/Schofield/Scholefield) family can be traced in England to the middle ages.  Cuthbert Scofield (Richard and Daniel's grandfather) was born about 1540 to 1550 at the Scofield Hall in Lancashire England. Sir Cuthbert was knighted for his service against the Spanish Armada.  

•  A photocopy of a page headed: Encyclopedia of Biography, from A History of England shows a sketch of Sir Cuthbert Scofield and identifies him as a younger son of the Scofields of Kent, who was knighted in 1588 by Queen Elizabeth I, for his services in the fight against the Spanish Armada. This entry indicates that Arms were granted to the family in 1582 and Cuthbert was granted Arms upon his knighthood. 

• In 1290 the family became known as the 'Scofields of Kent'. Arms were granted to the family in 1582, under Queen Elizabeth I, as: Gules, a fess between three Bulls Heads, couped, argent. (Red shield, a silver band between three silver bulls heads cut off straight at the neck) 

• The Scofield family took their name from the estate of Scholefield. Early references of the family include  'John de Scolefield' as witness to a charter around 1310 (Coucher Book of Whalley, p.692). More about the Scofield name and history of Scholefield Hall in next blog entry.

An Interesting Historical 'Affair'

Cuthbert Scofield was son of James Scofield and Anne Lathom, daughter of Edward Lathom of Parbold.  Cuthbert married Ann Halgh, daughter ( illegitimate) of Sir John Byron and Ann the wife of George Halgh, date unknown.   Around 1561 Cuthbert filed a suit in the Bishop's Court of Chester for a divorce from "the Lady Byron's daughter" on the plea of adultery. 

• Documented depositions from Cuthbert's tailor and sister, Helen Scofield, both witnesses to the incident which state, Mrs. Scofield and Michael Goodricke were alone in an upper chamber of Scholefield Hall while Cuthbert was away with his mother at the Rochdale market. When Cuthbert returned, the tailor told him of the goings on, and he,  "got to his sword" in an attempt to slay Michael Goodricke and Ann Scofield who both escaped out a window.  Cuthbert pursued the couple and was seen chasing them across fields, swearing vengeance before they escaped to Rochdale.

• William Lathom and his wife deposed that Michael Goodricke "brought a gentlewoman" into their house whom he called his wife and they stayed there for two months while waiting for passage to Ireland. Upon discovering she was Mr. Scofield's wife, they "presentlie rid ye house of them." 

• Michael Goodricke and Ann Scofield soon afterward left for Ireland. Ann Scofield's friends testified that Cuthbert was remarkable for "hys hatrid that he bare vnto women" and his numerous infidelities.

Cuthbert Scofield fathered two sons out of wedlock with Jane Langley: Alexander Scofield, born 1588, and John Scofield, born 1590. The Rochdale Parish Register notes, “b 1588, baptized Alexander, filius of Mr. Cuthbeard Scofeld et Jane Langley."  

Since Cuthbert did not have any legitimate heirs, his estate, along with Scholefield Hall went to his nephew, Gerrard Scofield.  Cuthbert's illegitimate son, Alexander, under the guardianship of Cuthbert Holdsworth, sued his cousin Gerrard in 1601 for the "Manor of The Holt" (Scholefield Hall), but lost the case.   Alexander married Mary Norton and fathered Richard (1613-1669) and Daniel (1620-1671), both of whom emigrated to America.

Scholefield Hall once stood in the field in the foreground below the lake. The site was in hands of Schofield family for over 400 years.  In it's heyday, the Hall, most probably built about 1500, was one of the most spectacular in the region.  The ruins and remains are a tourist attraction in Rochdale, England, in part because many Americans can trace their heritage to the emigration of Richard and Daniel Scofield.

KEUPER Immigration to America

KEUPER FAMILY  

Elizabetha Keuper (my 2nd Great Grandparents) and Michael Emil Zimmermann are the parents of Lizzie Zimmermann Syska. 

Eliesabeth (Elizabetha) Keuper was born in 1841 in Lewis, NY.  She was the first child born to Johann Jacob Keuper (1807-1889) and Maria Dorothea Pfeiffer (1816-1886) a year after the family came to America.  The father, Jacob, had come first in 1836 and then in 1840 he went back to Prussia to get his wife.  The family lived in the Adirondacks region of NY - close to the border of Montreal- for three years then moved to Waukesha County, Wisconsin.  Four years later, in 1847, they relocated to Plymouth, WI.  They had three more children, Jacob, Maria and Charles, all born in Wisconsin.  The father Jacob was a farmer and in the livestock business.  His son Jacob, engaged in a number of businesses and local politics in Plymouth.  Elizabetha Keuper married Emil Zimmermann in Sheboygan, WI in 1866 and moved to Chicago, Illinois.

• An article published regarding their son, Jacob (1845-1931), states Johann Jacob Keuper (b.1807) and his wife, Dora,  were from Troyer which is in the German state of Bayern or Bavaria, the southern part of the country that borders Austria, Switzerland and a small part of France.  Other sources state the parents were born in Thalfang which is father north along the western border shared with Belgium.  The Keupers list their homeland as Prussia on all Census records.  

1. Johann Jacob Keuper was born the son of Johann Zacharias Keuper (b.1775) and Anna Elizabetha Fetzer (b.1782) both born in Germany, deaths unknown.                                      -
2. Zacharias Keuper's parents were Johann Michel Keupper (1745-1780) and Elisabetha Barbara Schmidt (1742-1786). Michel was born in Luckenberg, Elisabetha in Gielroth, Germany. They were married in 1775 in Thalfang, Germany.                                                  -
3. Michel's parents were Johann Nickel Keupper (1714-1780) and Anna Elisabetha Weinig (1716-1781). Nickel was born in Luckenburg, Anna in Talling and they were married in 1738 in Thalfang Germany. 
1. The Keupper name appears to have been changed to Keuper in the 1700's          -
4. Nickel's father was Johann Georg Keupper (1677-1728) born in Burtscheid, Germany. Mother unknown.

All of the family surnames (Keuper, Fetzer, Schmidt, Weinig) can be traced to the 1600's in Germany.  

The Zimmermann Family - Great Great Grandmother's family

PUBLISHED HISTORY OF GOTTFRIED AND CAROLINE ZIMMERMANN'S JOURNEY TO AMERICA WITH THEIR 8 CHILDREN.  

Gottfried and Caroline's granddaughter, LIZZIE (b.1871), married  William F. Syska, SR. (b. 1866) and is our Great Great Grandmother.  

Lizzie is the daughter of Michael Emil Zimmermann(b.1838) and Eliesabeth Keusser (Keuper) Zimmermann (b.1841)

ZIMMERMAN FAMILY IMMIGRATION TO AMERICA

In April of 1848, ‘Gottfried’ Friedrich Zimmermann (1799-1873) and his wife Dorothee Leceralin Caroline Thieme (1806-1885) -my great-great-great grandparents- left their homeland of Brandenberg, Germany and set sail for the New world on a ship named the ‘Howard’ with their eight children, ages 6 to 23.  Their journey aboard the Howard, from Brandenberg to the New York Harbor took 5 weeks and 3 days.  The family did not, however, settle in NY, instead sailing up the Hudson River to Albany, New York.  From there, the family headed for Wisconsin via a train, arriving in Evergreen City in Sheboygan county, WI on June 5, 1848.  Along the way the family stopped in Buffalo and Rochester and passed by three great lakes.

Gottfried and Caroline were married March 1825 in Germany and had 7 sons and 1 daughter,  all born in their native country.

Gottfried was the son of Fredrick Zimmerman (b. 1770) and Sophia Sejdow (b. 1774) both of whom were from Brandenberg in Central Germany.  Records indicate that they had 2 sons in addition to Gottfried who also emigrated to the united states.  The oldest, Johann, also settled in Wisconsin although his year of arrival is unknown. Caroline’s ancestry is unknown.

Upon arriving in Wisconsin, Gottfried, who was a shepherd in Germany and perhaps also a lawman, according to his application for emigration, purchased a ‘quarter section of land (160 acres) to farm in Wilson township.  In 1850 he added 120 additional acres.   Gottfried passed away in 1873.  Caroline then moved in with her daughter, Caroline Zimmermann Georges and resided with her daughter’s family until her death in 1885.  The oldest son Frederick Zimmerman (1825-1895) remained in Sheboygan county owning several business’ and holding political office.  Much of the family history is documented in a historical biography of Frederick Zimmermann in the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.  Additionally, some records and photos were found at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Sheboygan.

The third youngest child, Michael Friedrich Emil (Emil) Zimmermann (1838 -1919)  married Elizabetha (Lizzie) Keuper  (1841-1935) on June 25, 1866 in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin- also my great-great grandparents.   Lizzie Keuper was born in Lewis, NY (near Syracuse), the daughter of Johann Jacob (John) Keuper (1807-1889) and Maria Dorothea Pfeiffer (1816-1886) who were both born in Thalfang, Germany which is in the southwest part of the country near the border of Belgium and France.  It is unknown when they emigrated to America or if they were married in Germany or the United States.  John Keuper’s family can be traced back another 4 generations in Germany to Johann Nickel Keupper (1714-1780) and his wife Anna Elisabetha Weinig (1716-1781).

Emil and Lizzie Zimmermann moved to Chicago between 1870 and 1880, according to the census records.  They had 6 children, one of whom was Dorothee Louise Elizabeth (Lizzie) Zimmerman.  The younger Lizzie married William F. Syska, Sr. in 1891.  The Syska family moved to New York sometime between 1900-1910.  Refer to previous post for the continuation of the Syska family tree.