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. 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 hard 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 almost 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
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
FamilySearch research:
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.
note- 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).
Social visit newspaper piece:
Newspaper piece of visiting Kleinhans cousins
note- In 1910 August (Sr)'s widow, Maria (Scharlow) Kleinhans, and their 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 was the only newspaper piece found that directly showed 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. The presumed Kleinhans brothers and sons/cousins reportedly worked together on the roads in Wolcottsville and threshing straw/grain for their neighbors' farms. There may have been some dispute over money, as often happens in families.
Wedding newspaper piece:
***THE NIAGARA DEMOCRAT, LOCKPORT, JANUARY 8, 1904, At Trinity Lutheran Church [Wolcottsville] on Thursday, December 81, at 8 p. m., the marriage of John Lindeke [sic] to Ellanora Yagow took place. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Knuebel. Miss Minnie Lindeke [sic], Leda Keopsell and Anna Radunce [sic] were bridesmaids, while the groom was attended by Messrs, Fred Yago, Christian Lindeke [sic] and John Yagow. After the ceremony the members of the party were taken to the home of the groom, where a reception was held.
note- In the 1904 wedding announcement above, Minnie was John Lindeke's sister and John Yagow's future wife. Leda/Lydia Keopsell was Malvina (Kleinhans) Koepsel's niece-in-law and August Kleinhans' (Jr) future step daughter-in-law. Anna/ Hanna Radunce/Raduns was Malvina's sister's-in-law niece and future wife of Fred Yago. Fred and John Yago/Yagow were Ellanora's brothers. Christan Lindeke was John's brother.
This is more evidence of the two Kleinhans brother's families' relationship with each other. Ellanora, Fred, and John Yago/Yagow were Frederick's grandchildren. Malvina (Kleinhans) Koepsel was August Kleinhans' (Sr) daughter. Malvina and Ellanora's families lived on the same road within 1,000 ft in Newstead, Erie County, NY, just south of Wolcottsville, for at least 30 years (see above).
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