Hello:
I am new to this list and hoping some of its members might be able to
assist me in researching possible IN relatives of my ggrandparents,
who arrived in Valparaiso around 1880 (give or take a few years).
Samuel MUSTER, b. 1828 in Densburen, Kt. Aargau, Switzerland and his
wife Susanne Koensler (spelling is questionable), b. c1830 in Kt.
Zurich, Switzerland, emigrated to NY in 1864. They had a number of
children, at least three of whom (Rosina, Heinrich, and Fritz) died in
infancy in NY. The only one we know was with them when they moved to
Valpo was my grandmother, Sophia MUSTER, b. 1866 in NY. Samuel died in
Valpo in 1891, and Susanne died in Chicago (at her daughter's house)
in 1905. Both of them are buried in Maplewood Cemetery in Valpo.
Samuel was a carpenter by trade.
Sophia married John Patrick FANNING, from Jeffersonville, IN in 1886
in Pullman, IL. They lived chiefly in Chicago; but were in Valpo at
least in 1892 when their third child was born. Both Sophia and John
Patrick are buried in St. Paul Cemetery, Valparaiso next to their
eldest child, who died as a teenager.
Sophia's feelings for Valparaiso must have been very strong since she
buried her son there in 1917, her husband there in 1923, and was
herself buried there in 1927--even though they all had been living in
Chicago for at least 20 years.
I can't help but think there must have been relative MUSTERs or
KOENSLERs in the Valpo area when Samuel and Susanne came there from
NY. Or at least other Swiss whom they knew from "the old country."
Otherwise I cannot account for their striking out for Indiana from the
east coast. Any connections that Listers might know about would be
most appreciated.
Thank you.
Judy