Sgt. Fritz Kieber

FREDERIC “SGT. FRITZ” KIEBER

Fritz Kieber, was born in the wee hours of 3:00 AM on 24 Jun 1844 in Oberhoffen-lès-Wissembourg, a small village outside of the border town of Wissembourg, Bas Rhin, Alsace, France. This is the capitol of Outre-Forets or the Outer Forest. Situated in the foothills of the Vosges Mountains, Wissembourg is one of the gateways into Northern Vosges (pronounced ” voj “– with a long O sound) Regional Natural Park.

His parents had both been born in Oberhoffen. Fred Kieber, a tailor/ linen weaver and farmer, was 34 years old and Elizabeth Bürger was 33. His godparents were Jean Bernhardt, 50, a laborer in Oberhoffen and Phillipe Rohe, 47, Oberhoffen, a manufacturer of “table” oil for home use. Note, there is a discrepancy with the marriage record transcribed below, which says that Martin Rohe, a farmer is the godparent.  Philippe Rohe (Likely the same Philippe) was the mayor of Oberhoffen in 1844.

Here is a translation of the birth record:

Birth record for Frédéric Kieber, who was born in Oberhoffen on the 24th of June 1844, at 3 o’clock in the morning, legitimate son of Frédéric Kieber, 32 years of age, laborer, domiciled in Oberhoffen, and Elisabethe Bürger, without particular occupation, 33 years of age, domiciled in Oberhoffen. The child that was presented to us was recognized as male.
First witness: Jean Bernhard, 51 years of age, laborer, domiciled in Oberhoffen.
Second witness: Philippe Rohé, 27 years of age, oil-miller, domiciled in Oberhoffen.
This was recorded upon the declaration made to us by said  Frédéric Kieber, the child’s father, and after it was read aloud it was signed.  This record was made according to the law by us, Philippe  Rohé, mayor, acting as the civil registrar, in presence and upon the declaration of the witnesses stated above.

As far as his patrilineal DNA, Fritz belongs to the R1b Haplogroup, subclade R-U106. R1b1a2a1a1a. It is a common sub-clade  of the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium. But we know that the Kiebers hail from Erlinsbach, Aarau, Switzerland (German Switwizerland) before they emigrated to Alsace. Yes, we are French, but only for 200 years!

In 1856, Fritz’  father sold the house and they moved to the other side of Oberhoffen. Fritz was 12 year old and lived here until he married. The original house no longer stands; its been replaced with a newer home that remains owned by a family member from the Engel line, a Mr. Guttman. The original barn still stands. You can imagine Fritz doing his chores there as a young lad. The vineyards behind the house were probably there as well as the kitchen garden and orchard beside the barn.

At 20 years of age, Fred, a laborer,  was conscripted in the French army. His draft record in 1864, county of Wissembourg, says that he could read as well as write was found at the Strasbourg archives. And for those who were wondering, the draft notes that great grandfather was 5 ft. 7 in. tall. We have not yet located his actual military records, which would be in Paris (the Vincennes archives, I believe).

Fritz was in the prime of his life, 26 years old, when the first battle of the Franco-Prussian War was fought in Wissembourg on 4 Aug 1870! Aptly called The Battle of Wissembourg, the French were greatly outnumbered and defeated by Germany’s Crown Prince Frederick’s Chief of Staff, General Leonard Graf von Blumenthal’s troops. The Prussian army then moved into France.The French General, Abel Douay, was killed in combat and  there is a large tomb for him and many other soldiers at the Geisberg cemetery.

At any rate, Fred rose to the rank of sergeant. Then, according to some cousins, Fritz was wounded from lying in a trench filled with cold water. Disabled for life, in later years, he ran the family farm from a wheelchair. The war ended, with France losing and Alsace coming under German control in May 1871.

On our visit in 2014, we were fortunate to spend an afternoon in Woerth, Bas Rhin, visiting Fritz’ brother, Martin’s great-grandaughter (my 3rd cousin!) Carolina Pflug Ott. What a delight it was to meet another redheaded Kieber (move over grampa John and Lynn Rice who also had red hair). “Lina” and her husband Bob were most cordial as we sat around their dining room table sharing photos, drinking juice, and examining the exquisite old linens made by her grandmother, Salomea Kieber (Martin’s daughter).

A few months later, on 19 October 1871, Fritz married Madeleine Grimm of Oberhoffen with four witnesses present. The Marriage Witnesses were: Henri Kieber, uncle of Fritz, (a weaver from Oberhoffen),  Jean Jacques Zimmerman – farmer Rott, uncle of Fritz, and Martin Rohe – farmer Oberhoffen, godfather of Fritz, andGeorges Bürger (a farmer in Oberhoffen) uncle of Lena, The records had not switched to German yet, they remained in French for a bit more, so Lena’s name was  spelled ‘Madeleine.’  Here is a transcription of Fritz and Lena’s marriage:

Certificate of marriage, that was celebrated in public in the town hall, for Kieber Frédéric, 27 years of age, born in Oberhoffen on the 24th of June 1844, which was verified in the civil birth register of this town, farmer, domiciled in Oberhoffen, legitimate son of age of Kieber Frédéric, 63 years of age, farmer, domiciled in Oberhoffen, here present and consenting, and Bürger Elisabeth, 60 years of age, without occupation, domiciled in Oberhoffen, here present and consenting.
And Grimm Madeleine, 23 years of age, born in Oberhoffen on the 15th of July 1848, which was verified in the civil birth register of this town, without occupation, domiciled in Oberhoffen, legitimate daughter of age of Grimm Georges Michel, 50 years of age, stonemason, domiciled in Oberhoffen, here present and consenting, and Müller Catherine, 52 years of age, without occupation, domiciled in Oberhoffen, here present and consenting.
The proclamations took place in Oberhoffen on the Sundays 8th and 15th of October 1871, each at noon, without any objection being raised, as it is recorded in the register of this town. These records as well as chapter 6, title V, 1st chapter of the Code Napoléon, were read aloud by us, civil registrar, according to the law. Said couple declared that they want to take each other as a spouse, on one side Grimm Madeleine, on the other side Kieber Frédéric, in presence of four witnesses, namely:
1. Kieber Henri, 59 years of age, tailor, domiciled in Oberhoffen, who said to be the future
husband’s uncle;
2. Bürger Georges, 53 years of age, farmer, domiciled in Oberhoffen, who said to be the future husband’s uncle;

3. Zimmermann Jean Jacques, 57 years of age, farmer, domiciled in Rott, Bas-Rhin, who said to be the future wife’s uncle;
4. Rohé Martin, 46 years of age, farmer, domiciled in Oberhoffen, who said to be the future
wife’s godfather.
Thereupon we, Wenner Georges, mayor and civil registrar, pronounced that in the name of the law said couple is joined in marriage. Afterwards I asked the couple, as well as those present who authorized the marriage, to declare whether or not a marriage contract had been made. They answered, that a marriage contract had not been made. After it was read aloud, this record was signed by said couple, witnesses, and comparants, andme, the civil registrar.

According to a donation made by Lena’s father on 8 Nov 1871, and notarized by Achille Piché, Lena , who had emigrated to America, it is noted, received 800 Francs, that she had already received. Her sisters, Catherine and Margeurethe both received land . Catherine received a coach as well. This amounted to the girls’ inheritance and it obviously paid for Lena’s passage.

What this says is that at some point during the 18 days following the marriage, Fritz and Lena emigrated. As can be seen below in the document of 1884, Fritz received 560 marks from his father for the voyage. Though we have not found the actual records yet, Fred and Lena emigrated in Oct/Nov 1871. Though Fritz’s parents and siblings stayed in Alsace, all of Lena’s parents as well as her sisters and their families emigrated to East Amherst NY.

The 1880 US census lists Fred and Lena living in Amherst. They are #73 on the census; Fred is 33 and a farmer, Magdalena is 32, son Frederic is 6, George 5, John 3, and daughter Emma is 1. They live next door to the Pfohls.  Fred is disabled. Fred acquired a 150-200 acre farm in East Amherst NY, a community where many Alsatians were settling. According to cousin, Kris Kieber Nordby, the house is still standing on Muegel Road! If you examine the old stone foundations, you’ll be able to find it.

The growing family attended the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church, which is currently at 8950 Transit Road, Amherst NY. Though the original one room church was moved to the living history site in Amherst, it is well worth a visit, for inquiring minds.

Fred and Lena bore eleven children, 10 of whom lived to adulthood: Magdalena (she died at one year old), Fred sn, George, John, Emma, Martin, Margaret, Kathryne, Lena, Mary, and Clara.

On 23 Jul 1884, Fritz’ father divided his property and gave it to his children, Magdalina and Martin still lived in Oberhoffen; Fritz, of course was long since in America.  As was usual, they retained the right of usufruct for as long as they lived. Note, primogenitor was NOT practiced in Alsace at this time period. According to this document, the elder Friederich Kieber gave his son, 560 marks for his voyage to America.

At 40 years of age, Fritz became a naturalized citizen on 3 Oct 1884 in Buffalo NY.

On 1 Feb 1887, Fritz’ mother, Elizabeth Bürger Kieber died in Oberhoffen and 3 years later, Fritz’ father, Friedrich died on 24 Dec 1890 in Oberhoffen. This left Fritz free to sell the 7 plots of land left to him, that his parents had reserved the usufruct of.  This included 4 Fields, a Meadow, and 2 Vineyards.

There is a notarized letter of 20 April 1891 transcribed by genealogist, Uwe Porten:

I, he undersigned Friedrich Kieber from Oberhoffen, domiciled in East Amherst, County Erie, State of New York, hereby confirm to have received from my representative Heinrich Kieber the younger (note, this was Fritz’ cousin). through intermediary of Notary Seltenmeyer, the exact amount of 1,215 marks, which is the proceeds from the auction of my real estate by Notary Seltenmeyer on the 24th of February 1891.

                                                                                Fred suffered a nasty case of pneumonia (related to his trench days possibly?) and died when only 50 years old on 20 Feb. 1895. Ten of his children remained alive. Son John was 18; daughter Clara was 2.

Side note: Daughter Clara, Grandson, Robert John, and at least one great-great grandson also suffered from bouts of pneumonia. Clara died from pneumonia at only 29 years old.

The family must’ve known Fritz was dying because he created a Will three days earlier, on 17 February. His brother-in-law, Lena’s sister, Catherine’s husband, Philip Guenther, was the Executor. The estimated value of his “real property” was $1500 and his “personal property” was $500. As expected, everything was left to Lena, as long as she remained his widow. The Will went through Probate court on the 1st of April, 1895. How much longer Probate takes today!

He is buried at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church grounds, 8950 Transit Road, Amherst NY, which is known as White Chapel Memorial Park. This plot is adjacent to the Transit Valley Country Club, the first nine holes of which were the Kieber family farm. The easiest way to 

visit the ancestral burial ground, is to park on the far right end of the Club parking lot and walk through scrub.

At left are Great-grandchildren, Dave and Rabi, and greatgreat grandchild, Helen, at Fritz Kieber’s monument
2011 Amherst NY
(c) 2013 barefoot photos.