My grandfather was Martin Esau McFall born 1886 in Dubois county most likely Jasper where
his father was a farmer and a lawyer and assistant DA. His mother was Mary Ketzner, of a
German Catholic family. Martin's paternal grandfather was Esau McFall frequently
misspelled in the censes records as Esaw or Esan. He kept a hotel in Fernand and was
married to a Rebecca Conrod. This is a situation that also occurred in his wife's
family where a Protestant Irish or Scot Irish married a German Catholic, However, the
wife is of PA/NY line.
McFall, Conrod and Ketzner are common names in the area and I am having trouble tracing
the lines back.
Esau and his wife were married in 1837 in IN. This is the first record I have on them. I
have found two women in the area who may have been Mary's mother, cannot tell which
one was the mother.
Martin graduated from the Catholic academy in Jasper and his mother and the children at
least were members of the Catholic church. Two of his sisters became nuns, one died young
and a brother, Shelby stayed in the area and may have become a lawyer. Esau and his wife
had per a censes three girls and John. One of the girls died young, two taught school and
never married. Prior to becoming a lawyer John also taught school.
Any information on the family would be appreciated.
Jean Brugger