Sunday, February 25, 2018

Brick Wall #3 Christof Barg or Berg of Germany and Wisconsin?

Linda B. has provided us with a detailed research plan for her research question about Christof Berg.  Looking for one or two people to go over her plan with her.

Research Plan for Christof Berg (or Barg?)


Research Question: Is Christof Barg the same person as Christof Berg, my great grandfather?

Hypothesis: The two could be the same person, as the marriage dates and name of spouse are similar, allowing for different spellings. My father mentioned that cousins from Lower Michigan (the Lower Peninsula) came to visit his family when he was young. The last name was Barg, and he didn’t understand why the last name was different. Adults refused to answer his question. He assumed one of our ancestors had been, in his words “a horse thief, or something.”


What I Know:
My grandfather, Frank Berg, was married on October 19. 1907 to Emma Ehlert. The marriage record information listed on Familysearch.org, derived from Wisconsin County Marriages, 1836 to 1911 indicates that his parents’ names were Christ Berg and Cath Kenney and Emma’s parents were August Elert and Fredricke Oldenburg. Other records show Christ Berg’s wife’s name as Catherine Hennig. My guess is the original record, not shown on the website, is hard to read.
The birth record information for Frank Berg, also found on Familysearch.org, Wisconsin Births and Christenings, 1826-1926 lists his birthdate as 05 Jun 1885 and his parents as Christof Berg and Katherine Hennig.

US Census records show several different spellings of both Christof and Katherine’s names:
1870: Christof Berg listed as a 16-year-old laborer living with Ernst and Caroline Miller, farmers in Oak Creek, WI.

1880: Christian and Catherine Berg, with one son, George
1890: Many records destroyed, not found in 1890 US Census record fragment
1900: Crist and Caterine Berg, now with 5 sons, one of them is my grandfather, Frank, age 14. Crist and Caterine have been married 23 years (1877). Record indicates they have been naturalized citizens for 20 years (1880). Interesting note: Crist was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and Caterine was born in Wisconsin. Neither speaks English. Living at 623 15th Avenue, Milwaukee, WI.
1910: Christ and Catherine Berg, two sons at home. Frank, who was married in 1907, is not in this household, but his younger brothers, Fred and Alfred still live there. She indicates she gave birth to 12 children, only 4 living. Year of immigration listed as 1869. They own a farm in the Town of Greenfield, WI.

Also 1905 Wisconsin State Census: Christ and Kate Berg, with two sons, Fred and Alfred. Now farmers in Greenfield, WI.
So far, I’ve found entries for (various name variations of Christof) Berg in the City of Milwaukee Directories, his identity confirmed by the listed address, which is the same as the 1900 US Census record (623 15th Avenue.)
These are:
1893: Christopher
1894: Christophus
1897: Christ
1900: Christopher

Finally, U.S. Find-A-Grave listing in Good Hope Cemetery, Greenfield, WI, a Christoph Berg: b. 28 Sep 1854, d. 22 Jan 1916. Assumed relationship: Katherine Hennig Berg, b. 1854, d. 1920. This memorial was added to the entry, no source indicated:
Birth Name: Christian Wilhelm Johann Barg His parents were Carl Joachim Friedrich and Maria Sophia Dorothea Barg. He married Katherine "Kate" Hennig on January 23, 1877 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

So…Huh. He was a Barg? Who wrote this? Where does the information come from? The spouse name, year of marriage, location, all add up.
Then this: Wisconsin Historical Society,Wisconsin Pre-1907 Vital Records Collection, marriage record for Catherine Henig and Christoph Barg, Milwaukee County, 23 Jan 1877. I have ordered a copy of this.

Looking for hints and more possible records for Christoph Barg, another researcher found on Hamburg Passenger Lists 1850-1957, Hamburg to New York on Borussia departing 31 Oct 1868 , these names:
Carl Berg age 57, Sophia Berg age 56, with ”kinder” Christian age 15, Mina age 7, Caroline age 3 and Ernst, baby.

And similarly, on New York Passenger lists, 1820-1957, arr. In NY from Hamburg on Borussia on 27 Nov 1868, the same names and ages. This researcher found several marriage records and baptismal records that connect Carl Barg to the births of the children listed and would suggest that two of his wives died and he married again. I do not have the international membership so I cannot view those records directly. The information I can see, which is Ancestry’s listing of the information on the record, shows the family name as Barg, Berg and Borg

Next steps:
How to verify that this is my ancestor?
Find Carl Berg or Barg in the US after he arrives in 1868, Wisconsin the likely location.
1870 US Census
Wisconsin Census
City Directories
Naturalization record?

Locate Mina Berg or Barg, Caroline (Lena) Berg or Barg, and Ernst. (US and Wisconsin Census, marriage records, death records.


To further confuse the issue, a researcher on Familysearch has Christoph Barg in her tree, cites the same marriage record to Katherina Hennig, but has connected him to a different Carl Berg, and several siblings, none of which match those on the 1868 passenger lists. Since she has fewer sources, I am inclined to think her research is incorrect…..but is it?

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