Kleinhans / Petitjean Family
Embedded Files
Scanned copy of August Kleinhans' 1862 naturalization form witnessed by Frederick Kinghans.
Despite the slim evidence (see below), Frederick and August (Sr) appear to have been (half) brothers fathered by Jacob Kleinhans. Although Frederick was nine (9) years older than August, they made the trip to America in the same year (see German/ Prussian/ French Roots and Emigration). In 1856 Frederick would have been 31/32, making August 22/23. Frederick's first NY-born child Mary was born in 1858, and August was married in NY in 1858 and had his first NY-born child Malvina in 1859.
Hard Evidence
Significant or not, the dates, names, and locations on the naturalization form above mostly match the known facts of the two men. Although in 1862 August (Sr) should have been 28/29 not 26 (he was about 22 when he immigrated) and Frederick's name is misspelled "Kinghans". In the 1860 US Census, Frederick's surname was misspelled "Klinhang" which could have been his fault. Historians will point out that because of their lack of education, many immigrants couldn't spell their names properly. A quick FamilySearch lookup doesn't return anyone named Kinghans in NY or anywhere else. Curiously, August's surname is spelled correctly. There's no other evidence of a relationship between the men except for this form.
note- Frederick must have had trouble speaking and spelling his name in English since several documents (census, maps, and the form above) had his surname misspelled. His presumed brother August (Sr) didn't seem to have the same issue.
Soft Evidence
Frederick and August (Sr) had several other marital and casual connections. For instance Mrs. Dena/Dina (Teifel) Raduns (August Jr) Kleinhans (see August Kleinhans branch) was the aunt of Frederick Teifel who was married to Agnes Kleinhans daughter of William Kleinhans (see Frederick Kleinhans branch). Dena was also the aunt of Hanna (Raduns) (Fred) Jago who was Wilhemina (Kleinhans) Jago's daughter-in-law. These types of marriages, where several people in one family marry several people from the same second family, happened regularly years ago in a small close-knit community where mostly everyone attended the same church.
note- August (Jr) Kleinhans was working for widow Dena (Teifel) Raduns on her farm when he was 45/46 in the 1920 US Census (see 1910-1920 Homesteads & Census). August (Jr) married Dena in 1923 when she was 56/57.
Still another connection, in the 1910 US Census (and 1920, 1930, and 1940 US Census) for Newstead, Erie County August Kleinhans' daughter and son-in-law Malvina (Kleinhans) and Henry Keopsel were farming next to John and Elnora (Jago) Lindke, Frederick Kleinhans' granddaughter and husband, on the same road within 1/4 mile of each other. (see 1910-1920 Homesteads & Census) As close neighbors, their children all attended the same one-room school, and they likely all went to the same church and possibly assisted each other with their farms.
***LOCKPORT (N. Y.) UNION-SUN AND JOURNAL, MONDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1934
STATEMENT OF CLAIMS Audited and Accepted by the Board of Supervisors of Niagara County, N . Y. for the Current Year 1933 Claims Allowed by the Board Other Than The Foregoing
Nov. 3, 1933 William Kleinhans & August Kleinhans . . . . . . . . 250.00
Additionally, considering the newspaper report above, if William and August (Jr) Kleinhans were not cousins as the children of Frederick and August (Sr) respectively, they must have been at least familiar with each other. The August Kleinhans mentioned above would be August (Jr) since August (Sr) died in 1899. Since brothers Herman and August (Jr) reportedly worked together scraping and clearing roads in Wolcottsville in the winter, William may have also been involved.
It's likely the men were either brothers or half-brothers. According to records on the FamilySearch website, Frederick's and August's father was Jacob Kleinhans, although more definitive proof has yet to be uncovered. Unfortunately, any relative who would've known passed away long ago, so we may never know unless August's unfound obituary mentions his connection to Frederick.
Still and all, there are no newspaper marriage announcements or obituaries of the presumed brothers', Frederick (Sr) and August (Sr), children or grandchildren attending each other's family functions (see below). However, looking at many newspaper announcements including all the participants wasn't common until perhaps after WWII.
New Evidence
According to FamilySearch Jacob Petitjean / Kleinhans was born on 20 November 1795, in Grenz, Prenzlau, Brandenburg, Prussia/ Germany. He married Marie Christine Ruthenberg on 13 April 1817, in Trampe, Prenzlau, Brandenburg, Prussia, German Empire. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 2 daughters. Jacob died on 21 November 1870, in Battin, Prenzlau, Brandenburg, Prussia, German Empire, at 75. Reportedly two of his sons were Frederick and August Petitjean / Kleinhans. The names, locations, and dates all match up pointing to the conclusion that Jacob Petitjean was their father and they were brothers. However, there's no supporting English written documentation except the naturalization form above.
update- Once again according to FamilySearch, Jacob Petitjean was the sixth Petitjean patriarch stretching back to Jean Petitjean in 1628 in southwest France. Jean Petitjean moved his family around 1655 from France to Germany / Prussia to possibly avoid religious persecution (see German / Prussian / French Roots).
Newspaper piece of visiting Kleinhans cousins
In 1910 August (Sr)'s widow Maria (Scharlow) Kleinhans and his son Herman visited Frederick's son William Kleinhans' family in South Royalton (Akron Rd) according to this newspaper report. So this was Aunt Maria and first cousin Herman visiting nephew and first cousin William. This is the only newspaper piece found that shows the two Kleinhans families were familiar and friendly with each other although it happened after the two presumed brothers Frederick and August had both died. This could have been an attempt by Aunt Maria to repair a rift in the Kleinhans family although there's no actual proof or direct evidence of a problem between them.
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