“Fred” Kieber

Great Great Grandfather, Frederic aka “Fred” Kieber was born 24 Feb. 1810 in Oberhoffen-lès-Wisembourg, Bas Rhin, Alsace to Georges Frederic Kieber and Juliana Magdalina Walter. Here is a translation of his birth record:

Certificate of birth for Friedrich Kieber from Oberhoffen.
Born on the 24th of February 1810, at 10 o’clock in the morning, as a son to Friedrich Kieber, linenweaver, and his wife Juliana née Walter, legitimate couple, domiciled at this town of Oberhoffen in the department of Lower Rhine. The child’s sex was recognized as male, and it was given the name of Friedrich. First witness is Friedrich Steffan, miller at Retzenmühle Mill, 30 years of age. Second witness is Michael Walter the younger, linenweaver, 30 years of age, domiciled in Oberhoffen. This record was made upon the declaration made to us by the child’s father by me, Michael Scherer, mayor and civil registrar. Said witnesses signed it with me in Oberhoffen on the year, month, and date as stated above.

Fred had 4 siblings: Barbara b.1809, Henri b. m. Elisabeth Sattler, 1812 Madeleine “Julie” b. 1817 m. Nicholas Federman, and Elisabeth b. 1813 d. 1844. Henri and his son, Henri maintained a close relationship to Fred’s family, and would play important roles in the life of Fred’s son, great-grandfather, Fritz Kieber.

When only 8 years old, Fred’s father, Georges Frederic Kieber, farmer and assistant Mayor of Oberhoffen, died.  The year was 1818.

With 5 children to support, his mother, Juliana married Balthasar Engel, sn. sometime between 1818 and 1821. Juliana and Balthasar had 3 children, Fred’s step siblings: Jean Balthasar b. 1821 m. Eve Jacky, Michael b. 1824, and Jacques b. 1828.

The year before he married,  1836, Fred lived with the Engels in House # 28 Oberhoffen.

When Fred was 27 years old, he married Elisabeth Bürger (daughter of Michael and Rosine Margeurethe Zimmerman) on 15 Jun 1837 in Oberhoffen. Though they came from different religions, the folks would have all worshiped at the same church. Elisabeth was a Calvinist and Fred (as were all the Kiebers) was Lutheran. It didn’t seem to be much of a deal, especially since they were both Protestant. Alsace was much more tolerant of different religions as compared to the rest of Catholic France.

Here is a translation of the marriage record: Friedrich Kieber

Marriage record of Frédéric Kieber, bachelor of age, tailor, domiciled in this town, 27 years of age, born in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, on the 24th of February 1810, legitimate son of the late Frédéric Kieber, who died in this town on the 22nd of June 18181, according to the civil death register which is kept in this town hall, and Julienne Walter, 52 years of age, domiciled in this town, here present and consenting to this marriage.

And Elisabetha Burger, daughter of age, without particular occupation, 26 years of age, born in Oberhoffen, Bas-Rhin, on the 29th of April 1811, legitimate daughter of Michel Burger, here present and consenting to this marriage, 58 years of age, laborer, and Rosine Marguerithe Zimmermann, here present and consenting to this marriage, 54 years of age, without particular occupation.
The proclamations  (what we call Banns) took place in Oberhoffen on the Sundays 4th and 11th of June of this current year. Said couple produced their certificates of birth.
These records as well as those required by the Code Civil were read aloud by me, civil registrar, according to the law. Said couple declared that they want to take each other as a spouse, on one side Elisabeth Burger, on the other side Frédéric Kieber, in presence of four witnesses, namely:
1. Louis Kieber, 51 years of age, farmer, domiciled in Birlenbach, the groom’s paternal uncle;
2. Martin Wenner, 33 years of age, tailor, domiciled in this town, the groom’s cousin by marriage;
3. Martin Zimmermann, 51 years of age, laborer, domiciled in this town, the bride’s cousin;
4. Jacques Eckert, 53 years of age, barrel-maker, domiciled in Retschweiler, Bas-Rhin, the bride’s cousin.
Thereupon me, Philippe Rohé, mayor and civil registrar, pronounced that in the name of the law said couple is joined in marriage. After it was read aloud, this record was signed by said couple, witnesses, and comparants, and me, the civil registrar.

In 1841, Fred is listed as a tailor. He and Elisabeth were living in their own home, #3 in Oberhoffen. Here are Uwe Porten’s notes from the property record of 1840 with some minor changes for clarity’s sake:

In 1840 he got his first house, which was located on the plot E 33. He acquired it from Michael Bürger  (Elisabeth’s father). We may assume that it was part of his wife Elisabeth Bürger’s inheritance portion. He sold it immediately, and acquired a  house on the plot E 2. The family lived there until 1856, when it was transferred to Martin Pflug (Fred’s son, Martin’s son-in-law). Fred then purchased a new house from Caspar Rupp which stood on plot E 91.

Fred’s younger sis, Elisabeth died on 17 Oct 1844. She was single, and 31 years old. His eldest son, Fritz, was fours months old.

In 1846, Fred and Elisabeth were living in House# 2 Oberhoffen with 2 year old son, Fred “Fritz. “ Fritz was listed as Protestant, which meant Lutheran. Fred’s occupation was listed as “tisserand chef de ménage” which meant weaver and head of household, though perhaps he has achieved a higher ranking as weaver/tailor. More research into how these archaic occupational names were used is needed.

The 1851 Oberhoffen census shows our Fred (40) living in House #2, next door to Elisabeth’s brother, Michael’s family.  Fred is listed as “propriétair cultivat.” I’m guessing this means that he owned his own land? Son Fritz is 7 years old.  Daughter Madeleine would be born later in the year.

In 1856, Fred (46) lives in House #38, next door to his brother, Henri’s family. Both brothers are tisserands (weavers), though the notations are a bit different and too difficult for this researcher to decipher. This reminds me of the brothers, Drs. Bob and Dave Kieber, who would enter similar fields of chemistry. For a while, the Doctor Kiebers shared a desk in Miami, leading to much confusion and confounding of their students, since they both looked alike! The Kieber humor expressed itself full force then, as now, much to the chagrin of their students.

At any rate, in 1856, son Fritz is 12 and daughter Madeleine is 4 years old.

the 1861 Oberhoffen census has our Fred (51) living with his wife Julie (50) and 3 children, Fritz (17), Magdeleine (9), and Martin (5) in House #38. Fred is a “Tisserand,  adjoint chef de ménage” which translates as “weaver and deputy head of household.” Make of it what you will. They still live next door to brother Henri’s family.

In 1866, the final record that is online, our Kiebers lived in House #29, next door to brother Henri Kieber’s  family. Fred(56) remains a Tisserand with some other notations fairly indecipherable, son Fritz (22), Martin(10). and Madeleine (16).

Here are some notes from genealogist, Uwe Porten:

Friedrich Kieber (husband of Elisabeth Bürger) was a tailor and farmer in Oberhoffen. Over decades he constantly expanded his property until it reached a size of about 10 acres in the mid of the 1870s. This is the land that he owned in Oberhoffen, he might have owned additional land within the boundaries of the neighboring towns.

On 23 July 1884, at the age of 74 years, he transferred his property to his three
surviving children, under the reservation of the right to use particular rooms in the home and some specified fields as long as he or his wife were going to be alive. Among other things this 1884 document also proves that his son Friedrich had received 560 marks for the voyage to America.

Friedrich’s wife died in 1887, he in 1890, so a few weeks later their son Friedrich sold the land that he had inherited in 1884. The deal was performed by his cousin Heinrich Kieber, who acted as Friedrich’s representative.

HERE IS Uwe’s summary of the German document:

Upon the request of Friedrich Kieber, farmer, and his wife Elisabetha Bürger,
domiciled in Oberhoffen, Heinrich Seltenmeyer, notary public in Wissembourg,
documented the following donation and division of estate to the benefit of their
children, which are specified as:
1. Friedrich Kieber, farmer, domiciled in America.
2. Magdalena Kieber, without particular occupation, wife of Martin Schneider,
farmer, domiciled in Oberhoffen.
3. Martin Kieber, farmer, domiciled in Oberhoffen.
Magdalena Kieber and Martin Kieber were present and accepted the donation. On
behalf of Friedrich Kieber his representative Heinrich Kieber, farmer in Oberhoffen,
was present. Heinrich Kieber was furnished with a letter of authorization that had
been issued by the former notary Piché in Wissembourg on 28 October 1871.
The donated estate consists of:
1) 50 plots of land situated within the boundaries of Oberhoffen. These are fields,
meadows, vineyards, orchards, gardens, as well as the premises, which are described
as a one-storey residential house, with courtyard, barn, stable, pig-pens, orchard and
all belongings, located in Oberhoffen on the plots E 90 and 91.
2) 240 marks in cash.
3) Three claims specified as:
a) 560 marks, owed to the estate by Friedrich Kieber, who had received this
amount as trip money for the voyage to America.
b) 2,268 marks, owed to the estate by Friedrich Kieber for real estate, that had
been sold by auction on 29 September 1874.
c) 800 marks, owed to the estate by Magdalena Kieber, under the reservation
of further claims.Reservation:
The donors reserved the free usufruct of the following items as long as both or one of
whom is alive:
1. The real estate specified by the order numbers 1 through 7, 24 through 28, 42
through 47 (altogether 1 garden, 9 fields, 4 meadows, 4 vineyards).
2. In the residential house the rear chamber, and the attic on top of it, the front half
of the room on top of the stable for the storage of crops, enough space in the
cellar for the storage of wine and vegetables, and in the old barn for the storage
of wood.
3. The joint use of the kitchen, the kitchen-chamber, the chamber in the barn, the
courtyard, the entrances and exits.
4. Half of the fruit and vegetables that grow on the plots with the order numbers 48
through 50.
Conditions:
1. The donees are set in possession of the items immediately.
2. The donees are liable to pay the taxes and duties for the real estate from 1 April
1885.
3. The real estate is transferred including all related rights, privileges, and
obligations.
4. The donees have to divide this yet undivided estate among themselves
immediately.
The division of the estate was performed right subsequent to the donation.
Son Martin Kieber received the items with the order numbers 29 through 50, which include the house and belongings. These items had an overvalue of 640 marks compared to the other donees’ portions, thus each of the donees is entitled to an equal compensation of 213.33 marks. Martin Kieber was instructed to pay the amount of 213.33 to each of his two siblings.
Son Friedrich Kieber received the items with the order numbers 1 through 7 (4 fields,  1 meadow, 2 vineyards); the debts that he owed to the estate in the amounts of 2,268 and 560 marks; 240 marks in cash; and said 213.33 marks from his brother Martin.
Daughter Magdalena Kieber, married Schneider, received the items with the order   numbers 8 through 28; the debts that she owed to the estate in the amount of 800 marks; and said 213.33 marks from her brother Martin.  This deal was witnessed by Peter Koehl, farmer, domiciled in Oberhoffen, and Jacob Heckmann, farmer, domiciled in Steinseltz.
The document was signed by the parties, witnesses, and the notary, except for Mrs.     Kieber, who declared, to be neither able to write nor to sign.

As you can see, it was quite a sizeable and complex estate.

As Uwe noted, Fred’s wife, Elisabeth died on 1 Feb 1887 and 3 years later, Fred passed on 24 Dec 1890 in Oberhoffen.  He was 80 years old.

Here is a translation of his death certificate:

Before the undersigned civil registrar there appeared today the farmer Martin Kieber, personally known, domiciled in Oberhofen, and indicated, that Friedrich Kieber, farmer, widower of Elisabetha née Bürger, 81 years of age, of Protestant denomination, domiciled in Oberhofen, born in Oberhofen on the 24th of February 1810, son of the farmers and wedded couple Friedrich Kieber and Juliane née Walter, both late of Oberhofen, died in the declarant’s home in Oberhofen on the 24th of December 1890, at 6 o’clock in the forenoon. 

Read aloud, approved, and signed.  Martin Kieber The civil registrar:Schneider