Surname Saturday #25: Kasper

Up until about 2 or 3 years ago, I knew absolutely nothing on this branch of my family. This was partially due to the Catholic parish records not being readily available on microfilm. But thanks to FamilySearch, the records are now digitized and freely browsable on their website. Woo hoo! Here's what I know:

1. Maria Anna Kasper
b. 11 Feb 1834, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. 1914, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin
m. Joseph Weishaupt; 25 Feb 1862, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Joseph Weishaupt, b. 18 Dec 1859, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Theresia Weishaupt, b. 06 Nov 1861, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*August Weishaupt, b. 30 Oct 1863, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Xaver Weishaupt, b. 24 Feb 1865, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Anna Weishaupt, 06 May 1868, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Emma Gertrude Weishaupt, b. 02 Feb 1871, Wisconsin
*Mary Weishaupt, b. Aug 1873, Wisconsin
*Willie Weishaupt, b. 09 Aug 1875, Wisconsin
*Otto Weishaupt, b. 04 Oct 1876, Wisconsin

2. Franz Joseph Kasper, feldgärtner
b. 04 Nov 1803, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. 22 Apr 1846, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
m. Maria Anna Reichenbach; 01 Feb 1827, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Karl Kasper, b. 23 Jul 1828, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Joseph Kasper, b. 18 Nov 1829, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Ignaz Kasper, b. 13 Jul 1832, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Maria Anna Kasper, (above)
*Theresia Kasper, b. 16 Feb 1839, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Stillborn Daughter Kasper, b. & d. 16 Apr 1842, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Augustin Kasper, b. 22 Oct 1843, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia

3. Joseph Kasper
b. unknown (for now)
d. bef. 12 Jul 1832, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
m. Rosalia Wenzel
*Joseph Kasper, b. 28 Jan 1792, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Theresia Kasper, b. 17 Jan 1794, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Theresia Kasper, b. 03 Jun 1796, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Rosalia Kasper, b. 11 Mar 1799, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Joseph, (above)
*Theresia Kasper, b. 05 Mar 1812, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia

4. Joseph Kasper
b. 04 Nov 1733, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. 12 Dec 1764, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
m. Maria Elisabeth Vogel; 23 Dec 1756, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Joseph Kasper, (above)
*Wenzel Joseph Kasper, b. 09 Nov 1757, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Joseph Kasper, b. 25 Jun 1759, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Maria Elisabeth Kasper, b. 19 Jun 1761, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Kasper, b. 31 Oct 1762, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Rosalia Kasper, b. 19 Dec 1764, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia

Wenzel Kasper
b. & d. unknown
m. Elisabeth Habel; 21 Nov 1719, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Anna Rosalia Kasper, b. 25 Jan 1729, Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Joseph Kasper, (above)

Surname Saturday #15: Weishaupt

Weishaupt is the surname of my 2nd-great-grandmother, who is of German-Bohemian ancestry; her nationality was Bohemian, yet her ethnicity was German. I've been able to make a lot of progress on this family over the years, with a lot of thanks to FamilySearch. The Roman Catholic church records for Kravaře, Litoměřice, Czech Republic (formerly Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia) were not previously available on microfilm or online up until a couple years ago. This town has an astounding 31 microfilms! That's HUGE compared to the usual 1 or 2 for the Hungarian parishes! Anyway.. thank you FamilySearch! This is what I know on the Weishaupt family:

1. Anna Weishaupt (photo to the right)
b. 06 May 1868, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. 11 Jan 1951, Antigo, Langlade County, Wisconsin
m. Johann Philipp Julius "John" Stuempges; 28 Sep 1887, Newburgh's Corner, La Crosse County, Wisconsin
*Lewis Carl Stuempges, b. 16 Jul 1888, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Susanna Stuempges, b. 11 Nov 1890, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Ida Stuempges, b. 29 Sep 1891, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Adolf Julius Stuempges, b. 06 Nov 1893, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Eddie Willie Stuempges, b. 07 Sep 1894, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Arthur A. Stuempges, b. 26 Jul 1898, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Walter John Stuempges, b. 10 Jun 1899, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Agnes Stuempges, b. 02 Apr 1902, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Herman Frank Stuempges, b. 08 Oct 1904, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Irvin Albert Stuempges, b. 19 Sep 1906, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin
*Bernice Stuempges, b. 22 Nov 1911, Coon Valley, Vernon County, Wisconsin

2. Joseph Weishaupt
b. 29 Nov 1827, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. 20 Sep 1914, Viroqua, Vernon County, Wisconsin
m. Maria Anna Kasper; 25 Feb 1862, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Joseph Weishaupt, b. 18 Dec 1859, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Theresia Weishaupt, b. 06 Nov 1861, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*August Weishaupt, b. 30 Oct 1863, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Xaver Weishaupt, b. 24 Feb 1865, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Anna Weishaupt, (above)
*Emma Gertrude Weishaupt, b. 02 Feb 1871, Wisconsin
*Mary Weishaupt, b. Aug 1873, Wisconsin
*Willie Weishaupt, b. 09 Aug 1875, Wisconsin
*Otto Weishaupt, b. 04 Oct 1876, Wisconsin

3. Franz Joseph Weishaupt
b. 23 Nov 1799, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. 01 Dec 1860, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
m. Anna Maria Müller; 06 Feb 1827, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Joseph Weishaupt, (above)
*Stillborn, b. & d. 28 Aug 1829
*Ignatz Weishaupt, b. 27 Apr 1831, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Augustin Weishaupt, b. 05 Aug 1834, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Theresia Wesiahtup, b. 06 Aug 1838, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Wenzel Weishaupt, b. 08 May 1842, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Maria Anna Weishaupt, b. 26 Jan 1845, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia

4. Franz Weishaupt
b. unknown, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. after 1831, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
m. Anna Dorothea Tietze; date unknown, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franciska Weishaupt, b. 02 May 1798, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Joseph Weishaupt, (above)
*Benedikt Weishaupt, b. 18 Mar 1802, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Anton Weishaupt, b. 24 Mar 1804, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Veronika Weishaupt, b. 05 Jun 1807, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Katharina Weishaupt, b. 12 Sep 1809, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Theresia Weishaupt, b. 14 Oct 1813, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Anna Dorothea Weishaupt, b. 13 Jan 1818, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia

5. Anton Weishaupt
b. about 1722, Schönau, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
d. 02 Jan 1801, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
m. Anna Maria Sandrich; 14 May 1753, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Johann Joseph Weishaupt, b. 23 Oct 1754, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Maria Elisabeth Weishaupt, b. 15 Apr 1756, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Anton Weishaupt, b. about 1762, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Ignatz Weishaupt, b. 08 Jun 1765, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Johann Wenzel Weishaupt, b. 27 Sep 1766, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Rosalia Weishaupt, b. 08 Jun 1768, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Benedikt Joseph Weishaupt, b. 13 Oct 1770, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Anna Dorothea Weishaupt, b. 07 Mar 1775, Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Franz Weishaupt, (above)

6. Christoph Weishaupt
b. unknown
d. probably Schönau, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
m. Dorothea; date unknown
*Johann Joseph Weishaupt, b. May 1716, Schönau, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Johann Christoph Weishaupt, b. Jun 1718, Schönau, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Johann Franz Weishaupt, b. Aug 1721, Schönau, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Anton Weishaupt, (above)
*Jacob Weishaupt, b. Mar 1724, Schönau, Leitmeritz, Bohemia
*Johann Franz Weishaupt, b. Jan 1727, Schönau, Leitmeritz, Bohemia

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Ahnentafel Roulette!

Here are the rules for any who wish to join in, as well! You can find the original rules and post >>here<<. :)

1) How old is your great-grandfather now, or how old would he be if he had lived? Divide this number by 4 and round the number off to a whole number. This is your "roulette number."

2) Use your pedigree charts or your family tree genealogy software program to find the person with that number in your ahnentafel (ancestor name list). Who is that person?

3) Tell us three facts about that person with the "roulette number."

4) Write about it in a blog post on your own blog, in a Facebook or Google Plus note or comment, or as a comment on this blog post.

5) If you do not have a person's name for your "roulette number" then spin the wheel again - pick a grandparent, a  parent, a favorite aunt or cousin, or even your children!


Here's mine:

My great-grandfather, Alex Gombash, was born on 07 Nov 1896 in Tiszadob, Szabolcs county, Hungary. If he were to be alive today, he would be 114 years old. Divided by four is 28.5, so I'll round up to 29.

My number 29 ancestor is listed as Anna Weishaupt (1867-1951); here is her entry:

29. Anna Weishaupt was born on 06 May 1867 in Graber, Auscha District, Leitmeritz, Bohemia. She was the daughter of Joseph Weishaupt and Maria Anna Kasper. She was married to Johann Phillip Julius "John" Stuempges on 28 Sep 1887 at Newburgh's Corner, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. She died on 11 Jan 1951 at Antigo, Langlade County, Wisconsin. (Picture: Anna Weishaupt with husband John Stuempges and children, circa 1897.)

Three facts about Anna Weishaupt:

1) Anna was an ethnic German from Bohemia, immigrating as a two year old child on 10 Jun 1869 aboard the ship Helvetia.

2) Anna had a total of 11 children, 9 of them living to be adults and have children of their own. If she were to live to see all her grandchildren born, she would have had 28 grandchildren.

3) Anna had diabetes. I don't know which type and the severity of it, though. (I honestly don't know too much about diabetes to begin with). I was told by my great-aunt (sister to my grandmother..granddaughters of Anna), that my great-grandmother (Anna's daughter-in-law) was the family member to give Anna her insulin shots.

My article for the 22nd Edition of Carnival of Eastern and Central European Genealogy

When I first received the email from Al Wierzba asking me to write a genealogy article, I was very excited by the idea. The article would be included in the 22nd edition of The Carnival of Eastern and Central European Genealogy. The topic of this edition is roadblocks and breakthroughs.

I immediately began to think of which family line I would write about. I have several lines of ancestry originating from Eastern or Central Europe. As I was thinking about the article and which line I would write about, it dawned upon me that I really haven't had very many roadblocks in my European research. I finally decided on one specific family, thinking the significance of this family would give a sliver of hope to others.

My decision rested upon my 2nd-great-grandmother, Anna Weishaupt, and her family. Anna was born in 1867 in Bohemia to Joseph Weishaupt and Maria Anna Kasper. She was one of eight children. Anna married my 2nd-great grandfather, Johann Phillip Stuempges, 20 years later.

When I initially started my research about 7-8 years ago, I knew very little on Anna and her family. Not long after I began, I obtained a 'family story' written in the 1960's by Erma Stuempges Kerska, about the Stuempges and Weishaupt families. The story went into great detail about the personalities of every family member, passing on the memories she remembered as a girl. As I read, I finally came upon information on Anna's parents. It had stated that her father, Joseph Weishaupt, had been a soldier in the Austrian army prior to the family's immigration.

This tiny piece of information would finally lead me to find out where the Weishaupt family had come from in Bohemia. I then went to my local FHC and ordered a microfilm containing Bohemian military personnel records for the years 1820-1864. On these records I found exactly what I had been hoping for! The record listed his name and birthyear (which was correct), along with his birthtown and the county it was in, in Bohemia.. Graber, Leitmeritz, Bohemia. Graber is known today as Kravaře, Litoměřice, Czech Republic.

Using that information I then proceeded to check the Family History Library Catalog for records for this town. Nothing existed. Further research along with correspondence with the Leitmeritz archives revealed that the records had never been filmed and there were no plans in the future for them to ever be filmed. Knowing that informtion, I figured the only way to research this line was to physically go there and do the research or hire a professional. Neither of those would have worked at 17 years old; I never could've afforded either! I had completely given up on that line for good.

Six years passed and the LDS released great news that they were beginning to digitize and put online their mountain-full of microfilm. Knowing the records for Graber had never been microfilmed, I didn't give much hope or thought to the idea of Bohemian or Czech Republic records appearing on the LDS's new website, RecordSearch. Now boy was I surprised when I logged onto RecordSearch one day in late 2008. I saw Czech Republic records from the Litoměřice archive! I immediately clicked on the database and scrolled through the list of towns and villages and saw neither Graber or Kravaře.. I had gotten my hopes up for nothing! It wasn't until six or seven months later when RecordSearch updated the database a second time, when Kravaře finally appeared!

Now the records available on RecordSearch ended in 1833/1834, so I knew I couldn't find Anna's baptism or even her parent's marriage record. Thankfully, I knew both of her parents full birthdate.. her father Joseph being born in 1827 and her mother being born in 1834 (how lucky was I that it wasn't after 1834!) I've now been able to trace at least 6 generations of ancestors for Anna and her siblings

I know this article isn't necessarily a brick-wall or a roadblock, but it is by far a breakthrough. Researchers all over the world are now gaining the capability of knocking down brick-walls, that we never would've imagined possible.