Tombstone Tuesday–Marie Bausser

Marie Bausser, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

Marie Bausser, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. (2012 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Marie Bausser, located in row 1 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

MARIE BAUSSER
1887-1905

Marie Catharina Bausser was born 29 September of 1887 in Ohio, the daughter of John and Pauline (Grabner/Grapner) Basser.

According to the records of St. Paul Lutheran, Liberty Township, Marie Catharina Bausser was baptized by Rev. Oelkers on 16 October 1887. Her baptismal sponsors were Adam Fender, Heinrich Grabner and Maria Grabner. Marie was confirmed at St. Paul on 3 June 1900.

Sometimes the church records do not seem to give all the information I would like. At least not at first glance. When all the information is not in one particular event entry the other bits of information become very important clues.

Three Baussers are buried at Zion’s cemetery: Marie (1887-1905), Pauline (1856-1929), and John (1847-1898). However, Marie and John’s burials were not recorded in Zion’s records. Pauline’s death and burial was recorded by the minister, but not under the Bausser surname.

The Baussers attended church at St. Paul Liberty Township and Zion Chatt for a period of time and were mentioned a couple times in their church records. Two Bausser children were confirmed at Zion Chatt—Johann Edward in 1893 and Margaretha in 1896. Those records indicate that John was their father. In addition, John Edward Bausser was a baptismal sponsor for Edward Paul Strebel [sic] in 1896 and for Luther Edward Clase in 1899.

John Bausser’s tombstone indicates that he was the husband of Polly, so Pauline Bausser was very likely his wife. John died in 1898 and according to Zion’s records Pauline Bowser married Wilhelm Andres on 27 August 1899. The information fits. A widow with several children remarries.

Armed with that information I located William and “Caroline” Andrews in the 1900 census, living in Liberty Township. Apparently Pauline was called Caroline then, because living in this household, in addition to four Andrews children, were four Bausser children: Edward, 20; Maggie, 16; Mary 14; and Willie, 9. The Bausser children were listed as step-children.

According to the 1900 census, wife and mother Caroline, aka Pauline, had given birth to four children and all four were living. Mary Bausser was age 14 and was born September 1886 in Ohio. Caroline was born December 1854 in Ohio. [1]

 

[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer County, Ohio, ED 85, dwelling 290, house 196, p. 15B, William Andrews; digital images by subscription, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 June 2014), from FHL microfilm 1241304, from NARA microfilm T623, roll 1304.

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