Hans Martin Auer (1801-1853)
We have no idea who the man in this picture is. The building is a school in Oberhallau which looked little different when we visited in 1988. Hans Martin is the great enigma in Auer family history. I have adopted this image as representing the grossvater as he prepared to leave for his new home in America.
Anna Maria Surbeck Auer (1810-1867)
This image was contained in a small, gold-colored picture frame. The name Anna Maria Surbeck had been typed on a piece of paper and taped to the back of the picture. The tape was discolored and brittle, suggesting that the picture had been labelled many years ago.
About the parents
Hans Martin Auer was born in Oberhallau in 1801 to Balthasar and Elisabetha Hallauer Auer (1). He is identified as a 'miller by trade' in the Parish Register (1,2) and was also a forester (3). Given his occupation as a miller and that of his father (see Ancestors), it is likely that Hans Martin lived in the mill at some point in his life. He served in the Swiss calvary (4), was an adjunct to the mayor (3) and attended the Evangelical (Calvinist) Church (3). The family emigrated to America on 6 March 1850 (2), arriving in New York on 11 June 1851 (5). If we can assume that Hans Martin wrote the notes in the fontispiece of his Bible, the family was in by Syracuse 1852 (6). A paragraph on his son, Michael Auer, appearing in the Onondaga Centennial (p. 422) states that Hans Martin died in 1853 (7). Here the trail ends. Beyond what we may deduce indirectly (see Loose Ends below), we have no information on the date of his arrival in Syracuse, where he lived and what he did there and where he died and was buried.
Anna Maria Surbeck was born in Oberhallau in 1810 (1,3,8) to Friedrich and Anna Maria Hallauer Surbeck Auer (9). She married Hans Martin Auer in March of 1829 (9) at the age of 18; he was 27 at the time. Anna Maria bore 14 children, 6 of whom died as infants (1; see also The Family). It is interesting to note that the names of several children that died as infants were ultimately used for those born later. Names found in the Auer line, representing generations both before and after Hans Martin and Anna Maria are found in the family line today (e.g. Martin and Michael).
Anna Maria is not listed in the Syracuse directories of 1851, 1853 or 1854, but is listed in the directory of 1854 (8), residing at 135 Orange Street (today's ______ Street). The New York Census of 1855 list her as a resident of Syracuse for 2 (8, letter) or 3 (8, worksheet) years. In the 1860 Federal census (10), Anna Maria is listed as a seamstress, living in the 7th Ward (very likely at 18 VanBuren Street, 11) with her seven children. She is listed in the Syracuse directory of 1862-63 as the widow of John and residing at 18 VanBuren Street (10). In 1867, Anna Maria died at her VanBuren street home and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery (12).
Loose Ends
1. Perhaps one of the most compelling mysteries in the Auer family history is "what happened to the grossvater?" We can place him with certainty at the docks in New York in June of 1851. Based on the date of conception for his daughter Magdalena, we can move that date forward to mid-September of 1852, consistent with the date written in the frontispiece of his Bible. If we assume that he wrote the names and dates in the frontispiece of his Bible, then he was alive at the time of the birth of Magdalena, 13 June 1853. He is not listed with his wife in the Syracuse directory of 1854. Thus the undocumented date of death listed in The Family fits well with what is known and, with some confidence, assumed. It would be most satisfying to be able to confirm this date from a newspaper obituary or church or municipal records.
2. Hans Martin's place of his death and burial are a greater mystery. He is not listed as being buried in Oakwood Cemetery, the final resting place of his wife and most of his children. In a way, this is not surprising as Oakwood was not established until 1859 (13). However, one would think that after almost a quarter century of marriage, an ocean crossing and 14 children, someone would have made an effort to have them buried together. It was not prohibitively expense to bury someone at that time with a grave in Oakwood costing $3 (13) and being within walking distance of the Castle Street - VanBuren Street neighborhood. It is possible that he was placed in one of the earlier cemeteries (e.g. Rose Hill) or a potter's field. I have seen a map of the area that showed a St. Mary's Cemetery situated a bit north of the site of Oakwood. If St. Mary's Cemetery pre-dates Oakwood and was later incorporated within it, there may be separate records. This still does not explain why he does not lie with his wife. There are a number of other explanations, totally speculative, and I will leave it to the reader to enjoy these. This mystery remains the 'holy grail' of Auer family history.
3. I am in possession of Hans Martin's Bible. There is a dedication in the frontispiece and dates of birth for the children at the back. These are all in German and in a handwriting that is difficult to decipher. I have scans available of all of the notations and would welcome help in their interpretation.
Notes and Documentation
(1) Records reviewed by Martin T. Auer at the Oberhallau Town Hall (MTA Document #0001).
(2) Letter from Bureau of Statistics in Oberhallau to Mrs. Arnold Pheifer, 239 Ferndale Drive, Syracuse, New York 13205 (MTA Document #0005).
(3) Letter from Edward J. Shephard, Jr. of Bignhamton, N.Y. to Martin S. and Wilma T. Auer of Syracuse, N.Y., dated 5 March 1987; (MTA Document #0023).
(4) Newspaper article announcing the retirement of Michael Auer from his business, Syracuse Post-Standard, 20 August 1917 (MTA Document v#0022).
(5) New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, Ancestry.com
(6) Frontispiece of his Bible; review of document needed; assumes he wrote the material in the Bible
(7) Onondaga Centennial, Family Sketches, p. 422-423.
(8) Letter from Richard N. Wright, President of the Onondaga Historical Association, to Mr. Donald J. Auer, 1355 Dutch Lane, Penngrove, CA 94951, dated 13 October 1976 (MTA Document #0003).
(9) Oberhallau Familien Register (MTA Document #0004).
(10) U.S. Census for 1860, Ancestry.com
(11) Her son Frederick is listed in the 1862-63 Syracuse directory as living at 14 VanBuren Street (12). The 1860 U.S. Census does not provide addresses, but the 'dwelling visited' number is 735 for Anna Maria and 737 for Frederick (10), which would indicate that they lived two houses apart, i.e. 14 and 18 VanBuren Street.
(12) Death notices and Syracuse City Directory entries reviewed by Martin T. Auer at the Onondaga Historical Association (MTA Document #00015).
(13) Shades of Oakwood; http://www.shadesofoakwood.com/pages/oakhistory.html