I have many questions regarding the family of my great grandfather Bernard Lithman(Litman
or Littmann) born 01 August 1859. On the 1860, 1870 and 1880, he is listed as the son of
Henry who's age makes him born around 1825 and Catherine who is listed as somewhat
older with birthdates probably from 1815 to 1818. On the 1860 census is listed Henry age
18. What I want to know are the following questions:
Was Catherine married before and is Henry actually her son and the step son of the older
Henry? The elder Henry was only about 17 when the younger man was born which doesn't
possible and somewhat creepy if it is true. There is also no listing afterward of a Henry
Littman born in 1842 which leads me to believe that he actually had a different surname
and that the census taker didn't bother to put that down in 1860.
On the 1900 census of her daughter Mary Ann Kruthaupt is listed Catherine, age 85 as
mother. In an earlier census, a different mother named Mary is listed (presumably her
husband's mother). Could that be Catherine?
Henry and Catherine must have been married in Ohio since Mary Ann is listed as a native of
that state.
The world tree lists Catherine's name as Willemburg. I remember seeing something like
a marriage list from Franklin County which listed Bernard's mother as Wilhelm (close
enough). A member of my family said that Bernard's mother's name was Anna Pund
which I can not even substantiate anywhere and wonder if that's a name either farther
back.
Any information would be helpful. I find the possible story of a younger man marrying a
slightly older widow to be interesting but am unable to find any more information.