{"id":1450,"date":"2023-06-12T13:21:35","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T19:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iseeancestors.com\/comm\/?p=1450"},"modified":"2025-08-06T08:17:05","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T14:17:05","slug":"eureka","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iSeeAncestors.com\/comm\/2023\/06\/12\/eureka\/","title":{"rendered":"Eureka!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Family\"
Joseph Voisin, wife Mary, and children, c. 1907<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The childhood of my great-grandfather, Joseph Voisin<\/a> (1855-1916), remained a stubborn mystery after many years of genealogy research. In other essays I described the known facts and many hypotheses. I explored genetic genealogy and used DNA testing to identify numerous distant cousins. However the lack of traditional genealogical evidence like birth, marriage, and census records did not shed light on Joseph\u2019s birth or who his parents were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until now. While analyzing my DNA test results, I noticed several distant matches who did not fit my known family tree. I had to determine their lineages based on scant information. Next I found matches we shared in common and I determined their lineages too. I began to identify more and more distant cousins who descend from one man, Theobald Koebel.<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Signature\"
Signature of Theobald K\u00f6bel, 1830<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

I had found no records that connect Joseph Voisin to the Koebel family. Nonetheless the DNA matches showed there was a connection. Then I found Joseph\u2019s long elusive birth record. <\/span>2<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Birth<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Notice the phrase filius illegitimus<\/em>, which is Latin for illegitimate son<\/em>. This is a baptismal record from Saint Joseph Catholic Church at Snyder, Ontario. He was born 10 January 1855 to Joseph Voisin<\/em> and Catherina Koebel<\/em> and he was baptized 9 March 1855.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Trendle\"
Magdalena (Trendle) Durliat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Schihl\"
Joseph Anton Schihl, and wife<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Joseph\u2019s mother Catherina was Theobald Koebel\u2019s daughter, which explains my connection to the Koebel family. His baptismal sponsors were two neighbors, Magdalena (Trendle) Durliat, left, and Joseph Anton Schihl, shown here with his wife Elizabeth Trendle. <\/span>3<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

(A PDF version of this essay is available here<\/a>. Enter user name “Guest” and password “seemore” when prompted.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Germany<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saint Joseph Catholic Church was completed in 1849 near Black Creek, but the hamlet soon became known as New Germany due to the German-speaking immigrants who settled nearby. It is on the border of Willoughby and Bertie townships in Welland County, Ontario <\/span>4<\/sup><\/a><\/span> about 9 miles from Niagara Falls. A priest in 1864 wrote, \u201cthere are 50 families here and they are scattered in the woods.\u201d New Germany officially became Snyder when a post office opened there in 1886. <\/span>5<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The immigrant Koebel family arrived at New York City on 13 August 1832 aboard the Ship Marengo<\/em> from Le Havre. <\/span>6<\/sup><\/a><\/span> They eventually settled four miles west of New Germany in Humberstone Township, but I cannot determine when. <\/span>7<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Theobald Koebel died in 1848 and his death was recorded in the parish register. The earliest land purchase I found was not recorded by Theobald, but by his sons Michael in October 1852 and by Martin in September 1853.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 1855 Catherina may have lived with one of her brothers, Michael or Martin, who were 10 and 6 years older than her. Joseph was likely born in Humberstone Township and baptized at New Germany. There was no resident priest then, but one would visit occasionally. That may be why his baptism was a couple months after his birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Likely Father<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The baptismal record indicates Joseph\u2019s father was Joseph Voisin<\/em>. Henry Joseph \u201cJoseph\u201d Voisin (1801-1884) and Anne Marie (Ditner) Voisin (1804-?) had settled about four miles directly north of New Germany in Willoughby Township in 1832. They had two surviving children, a son Joseph Voisin (1827-1899) and a daughter Marie Anne (Voisin) Brinig (1829-?), who were born in Guewenheim in the Haut-Rhin region of France. All four were members of Saint Joseph\u2019s parish. They are listed in this excerpt of a prayer group membership list from about 1852. <\/span>8<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Parishioners\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

So Many Josephs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which of the two Joseph Voisin<\/em>s<\/em> was Joseph\u2019s father? Genetic analysis of several distant cousins suggests the elder Henry Joseph was most likely Joseph\u2019s father, but Henry Joseph\u2019s son Joseph is also a possibility. DNA analysis is a matter of probabilities and both alternatives are possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My guess is Henry Joseph\u2019s son Joseph was Joseph\u2019s father. He was 27 and close in age to Catherina Koebel, who was 24 when Joseph was born. Henry Joseph was 53, and since he was older and had standing in the community I doubt it was him. His son Joseph on the other hand was a bachelor and may even have courted Catherina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore the younger Joseph Voisin left the area about when Joseph was born, and sometime before 1861. He married another woman, Catherine Argus, on 1 January 1862 in Buffalo. He spent the remainder of his life as a carpenter there just across the Niagara River. He came back to Willoughby Township at least once to sell his father\u2019s farm in 1882.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had a son with Catherine Argus named Joseph Argus Voisin (1869-1936). It is interesting he would name his legitimate son Joseph when his illegitimate son was also named Joseph. But if Henry Joseph were Joseph\u2019s father, he already had a son Joseph as well. Catherina may have named her baby without regard to the father. It was common to name a child after one of the baptismal sponsors, in this case her neighbor Joseph Anton Schihl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catherina Marries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catherina Koebel went on to marry another man, John Guitar (1818-1894), between 1855 and 1857. That was within two years of Joseph\u2019s birth. <\/span>9<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Alternate spellings of his name are Gittar and Guitard. They had three children together, John (1857-?), <\/span>10<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Michael (1859-?) <\/span>11<\/sup><\/a><\/span> and Nicholas (1860-?). <\/span>12<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Their baptisms were recorded as legitimate children at St. Joseph Church.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Birth<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Curiously, I have a DNA match with the surname Guitar<\/em>. His lineage is unknown, but he may descend from a son of John and Catherina Guitar, making him a distant half-cousin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following chart summarizes the names and relationships of those involved.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Tree\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Guitar family was listed in the 1861 Canadian census (below), although the ages of John and Catherina are inaccurate. <\/span>13<\/sup><\/a><\/span> In this excerpt, notice Joseph Guitar<\/em> was listed along with their three legitimate children. I found no birth record for a Joseph Guitar. He was to be age 7 at his next birthday, meaning he was born in 1855. Therefore Joseph Guitar<\/em> was actually Joseph Voisin<\/em>, living with his mother Catherina. It is unclear whether Catherina\u2019s husband John officially adopted Joseph, or Joseph simply assumed the Guitar surname because that\u2019s where he lived.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"
1861 Canadian Census, Humberstone Township<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Dangerous Situation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Battle of Ridgeway happened in 1866 near Joseph\u2019s home when he was just 11 years old. As one of the Fenian Raids, about 1,300 Irish-Americans left Buffalo by boat and landed across the Niagara River to attack Fort Erie. They were Irish nationalists fighting against British control of Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Battle\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

An encampment of British soldiers was at New Germany only four miles from Joseph on 2 June 1866. <\/span>14<\/sup><\/a><\/span> A chaplain attached to that regiment used St. Joseph church to hear confessions from the soldiers. The battle ensued just four miles south of New Germany that same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the few days it lasted the raiders stole food and horses from farmers throughout the area. Some farmers hid their horses in the wooded areas of their properties. It is likely the Guitar and Koebel families were fearful for their lives and property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following map shows Colonel Peacocke\u2019s camp at New Germany. <\/span>15<\/sup><\/a><\/span> The location of the battle is denoted by crossed swords south of Stevensville and north of Ridgeway in Bertie Township.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Battle\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Catherina Dies<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly Joseph\u2019s mother Catherina died 8 September 1867 at age 37. Joseph was only 12 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Death<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I have not determined what became of John Guitar and Joseph\u2019s three half-brothers. John died in 1894 in Humberstone Township. It is unclear if he lived in the township during the intervening years. A Michael Koabel was the informant for his death certificate. He was probably a son of one of the original Koebel brothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his mother died, Joseph probably did not live with his Guitar half-brothers. At least by 1871 he was living with his aunt Barbara (Trendle) Koebel (1828-1902), widow of Martin Koebel (1824-1871). He was listed in the 1871 census in her household as Joseph Guitard<\/em>, age 15, but he was actually 16. <\/span>16<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Again he was shown as Guitar<\/em> and not Voisin<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"1871
1871 Canadian Census, Humberstone Township<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

On 19 June 1871 Joseph received the Sacrament of Confirmation at Saint Joseph\u2019s. In this excerpt, he was listed as Joseph Gittar, along with his younger half-brother John. <\/span>17<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Confirmation\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"Kaufmann\"
Joseph’s godfather Mathias Kaufmann, and family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Joseph\u2019s godfather was Mathias Kaufmann, who was a neighbor. He is shown here with his wife Anna Schihl and children. <\/span>18<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems Joseph was known as Joseph Guitar<\/em> from infancy, perhaps until age 16. In 1871 he may have written his name in his journal. <\/span>19<\/sup><\/a><\/span> I had thought he wrote it when he was much younger. The year 1871<\/em> seems more refined, and written in ink. The missing letter h<\/em>, the malformed V<\/em> and misspelled Voisin<\/em> seem more childlike. However, he may have simply been doodling his \u201cnew\u201d name.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Name\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

By 13 June 1875 though he apparently had taken the surname of his father. In this excerpt he was listed as joining the Gebetsapostolat<\/em> at St. Joseph\u2019s. <\/span>20<\/sup><\/a><\/span> This was an apostolate of veneration started by French Jesuits. It was a charitable prayer group.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Gebetsapostolat\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Joseph was finally listed as Joseph Voisin, Jr.<\/em> Note junior<\/em> was generally used to distinguish older from younger individuals. Henry Joseph was probably the senior Joseph Voisin in the parish. Joseph\u2019s father, Joseph, had already moved to Buffalo well before 1875.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In das Gebetsapostolat, errichtet in New Germany an St. Joseph’s Kirche am 30 Mai 1875, wurden aufgenommen” translates to “These individuals were incorporated into the Apostolate of Prayer established in New Germany at St. Joseph’s Church 30 May 1875.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joseph also wrote a whimsical poem in his journal later that same year on 19 November 1875.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Poem\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

He was 20 then, and this poem could be more significant than just a play on rhyming words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joseph Voisin is my name and my pen wriets [writes] the same
the grass is green and the rose is red
and that is my name if I am dead Amen
* *
Joseph Voisin
Township of Humberstone
Netherby PO Ont 1875, 19 November<\/code><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was he making a declarative point his name was<\/em> Joseph Voisin, and no longer Joseph Guitar? He writes Joseph Voisin<\/em>, asserts that\u2019s his name even if he is dead, reemphasizes with an Amen<\/em>, and adds two stars. He then \u201csigns\u201d Joseph Voisin<\/em> and adds the location and date as if to \u201cmake it official.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Childhood Home<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I next determined where Joseph lived as a child and teenager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following map is an excerpt of an 1862 map of Welland County, Ontario, showing portions of Crowland, Willoughby, Humberstone and Bertie townships. <\/span>21<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Upper right in Willoughby Township is the farm of Henry Joseph Voisin, denoted J. Wesaw<\/em>. Here Voisin<\/em> was spelled more like it sounded in French. The spelling was corrected in later land transfer records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The red star on the right is the hamlet of New Germany, today known as Synder, Ontario. That is the location of Saint Joseph Catholic Church. The red star on the left is the hamlet of Netherby, Ontario, where Joseph indicated in his journal he was on 19 November 1875.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the left are properties owned by Martin Koebel, denoted M. Kable<\/em> and Martin Cable<\/em>. On the bottom is the farm of Michael Koebel, denoted Mich. Kable<\/em>. Martin and Michael were brothers and were also Joseph\u2019s uncles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1861 Canadian census includes an agricultural schedule that pinpoints the location of family farms. The entry for John Guitar shows his farm was in Concession IV, Lot 6. <\/span>22<\/sup><\/a><\/span> The farm marked J. Gidaugh<\/em> near Martin Koebel must be a misspelling of John Guitar<\/em>. Thus Joseph lived at this farm from infancy probably until his mother died in 1867. The map inset shows the immediate vicinity of Netherby and the John Guitar and Martin Koebel properties in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"1862\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

An excerpt (below) from an 1876 map shows the same area. <\/span>23<\/sup><\/a><\/span> This is a composite of four separate township maps. I adjusted the scale and loosely positioned them relative to one another. Henry Joseph Voisin is again denoted Joseph Wesaw<\/em> upper right. The red stars are Netherby, left, and New Germany, right. The property denoted John Koabel<\/em> could by that time be John Joseph Koebel, a son of Michael Koebel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Koebel then had three parcels, denoted Michael Koabel<\/em>, including the property shown on the 1862 map as owned by John Guitar. However, property records indicate Michael Koebel purchased that parcel in Concession IV, Lot 6 in 1852. <\/span>24<\/sup><\/a><\/span> I did not find a record of John Guitar purchasing or selling it. I suspect Michael Koebel had owned it all along, and by some arrangement with his sister Catherina, she and her husband John Guitar lived there. After Catherina\u2019s death in 1867, it was shown as Michael Koebel\u2019s property again. (Note Michael apparently changed the spelling of his name to Koabel with an a<\/em>. His descendants still use that spelling.)<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Koebel\"
Joseph’s aunt Barbara (Trendle) Koebel, and his cousin Frances<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Kodbel Heirs<\/em> is the Martin Koebel property. He died in 1871 and his wife Barbara (Trendle) Koebel and their children still lived there in 1876. Barbara was Joseph\u2019s aunt and as indicated in the 1871 census, Joseph also lived there as a teenager. He may have stayed there shortly after his mother died in 1867, until he left the area altogether in 1877.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aunt Barbara is shown here with one of her daughters, Frances, who was Joseph\u2019s first cousin. <\/span>25<\/sup><\/a><\/span> On Frances\u2019 grave marker is written, \u201cMay her soul rest in peace. She looked after this church for over 40 yrs.\u201d She must have been the caretaker of St. Joseph\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the map below, the inset on the left shows the immediate vicinity of Netherby and the Koebel properties. The inset on the right is a detail of New Germany. Saint Joseph\u2019s is denoted by a church icon below the words New Germany<\/em> on the Willoughby Township map (upper). The same icon is repeated on the Bertie Township map (lower), although the church is actually across the road in Willoughby Township.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"1876\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

On His Own<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joseph left home about 1877 at age 22. He made his way to Waterloo County, Ontario where two of his uncles lived. Adam Koebel and Philip Koebel were half-brothers, and sons of Theobald Koebel. Philip was the brother of Joseph\u2019s mother Catherina. Adam was her half-brother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incidentally Joseph\u2019s granduncle Peter Joseph \u201cJoseph\u201d Voisin (1807-1892) lived near the Koebel brothers. Peter Joseph was Henry Joseph\u2019s brother, and Joseph\u2019s granduncle. Both Voisin brothers went by the name Joseph<\/em> later in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wellesley Township in Waterloo County is 90 miles from Netherby. In another journal entry, Joseph wrote he began working for H. Otterbein near Hawksville, Ontario on 4 April 1877, for perhaps $12 per month.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Hawksville\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

There was at least one Otterbein family in the area, but it is unclear where Joseph worked. He may have worked on a nearby farm or in the village of Hawkesville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joseph emigrated to America a year or so later in early 1878 and settled in Isabella County, Michigan. He likely accompanied Clements and Elizabeth (Fate) Starr. Clements\u2019 father Ambrose Starr also lived nearby. Joseph would later marry Mary Ann Yuncker (1866-1943) in 1885 and raise a large family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following 1861 map excerpt shows friends and relatives, sixteen years before Joseph\u2019s 1877 journal entry. <\/span>26<\/sup><\/a><\/span> Peter Joseph\u2019s farm is denoted Joseph Voisin<\/em>, center, between the villages of St. Clements and Heidelburgh. Hawksville is shown upper center. (Village names are slightly offset on the map.)<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Waterloo\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n