George Rolfes, b. 1839 in Germany, imm. to Cincinnati, Ohio

Question

I am looking for any information for George Rolfes, who was born in 1839 and immigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862.  He married Louise or Louisa Meier or Meyers in 1869.

This is the shortest branch in my family tree, because I don't have any idea who his parents were.  He might have come from Hannover, but that might be a different George Rolfes.

I would appreciate any help, and any suggestions as to where to look for more information.  I will be in Cincinnati next Tuesday, and I hope to find some more sources for him while I am there, but I really don't know where to look next!

 

Answer 1

There are 4 different George Rolfes pulling up on the Cincinnati Catholic Cemetery site: https://cccsohio.org/recent-burials/search-burial-records.html So one of those might be a lead.

Cincinnati has a rich German history. There were a few newspapers printed in German only for several years in Cincinnati. So, those could possibly be a resource.

This is a Facebook group that I participate in. There are a lot of knowledgeable people in the group, as well have descendants that may be able to give you a lead before your trip. You may even bump into a cousin or two on there. ;)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TriStateGenealogyConnection/

Comments

Also, Hamilton County has a pretty extensive free archive online. Here's the link: https://www.probatect.org/court-records/archive-categories

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Thank you, I have been trying to find a record of exactly when he died, and it was between the 1900 census and sometime in 1903.  I think this might be him (AUG 18, 1900), especially with how many extended family members are known to be in this same cemetery (St. Mary's in St. Bernard).   Also, thank you for the other links, I might find something useful there.  I'd ideally like to know who his parents are, but perhaps cemetery records could help, now that I finally have a plausible grave for him!

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You're welcome! Another place to check when you are in town is the downtown library. They have many death records on file that are not available on Ancestry and Family Search.

Answer 2

Cincinnati had two German newspapers, the Cincinnati Volksblat and the Volksfreund.   Most Death and Marriage notices will be in those, not the English papers.

The people at the Hamilton County Genealogical Society and the Cincinnati Public Library have been very helpful, and I am in Texas!

The Hamilton County Genealogical Society has many indexes on line, and their little membership fee is worth it for the access to German newspaper indexes.

https://hcgsohio.org/

It is unfortunate that the German's weren't very gossipy people.  Many of the Death and Marriage notices don't contain any other family information, but they usually DID notate where in Germany people were born in the Death Notices.

The German church history in Cincinnati is a mess.  However, there is a Microfilm of the registers that is not on line.  The Cincinnati Public Library also has the Microfilm.  You can find this information at the Hamilton County Genealogical Society webpage!

Good hunting!

Comments

Thanks, I'll look into that!

Answer 3

Looks like Mary Catherine was their daughter:

George Rolfes

mentioned in the record of Mary Catherine Rolfes

Name	George Rolfes
gender	Male
Wife	Louisa Meier
Daughter	Mary Catherine Rolfes

Other information in the record of Mary Catherine Rolfes

from Ohio Deaths

Name	Mary Catherine Rolfes
Event Type	Death
Event Date	05 Jun 1943
Event Place	Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio
Gender	Female
Age	74
Marital Status	Single
Race	white
Occupation	at home
Birth Date	05 Jan 1869
Birthplace	Cincinnati, Ohio
Birth Year (Estimated)	1869
Burial Date	08 Jun 1943
Cemetery	St. Marys
Father's Name	George Rolfes
Mother's Name	Louisa Meier

Citing this Record

"Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X833-BJ1 : 9 March 2018), George Rolfes in entry for Mary Catherine Rolfes, 05 Jun 1943; citing Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, reference fn 37681; FHL microfilm 2,024,134.

 

Comments

Thanks!  I have their children as William (Willie), Louisa, Edward (Eddie), August, and Dora, possibly Mary Catherine, and possibly George Raymond (who only lived 7 days).  I will move her from "probably" to "definitely!"

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Sometimes a marriage record will show the names of the parents of each party, but I did not find the parents for George.

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Perhaps they will have his parents' names or at least his birthplace on file at the cemetery.  

I was able to use your info about Mary Catherine to discover that Katie and Mary Catherine are the same child, which lead to a MUCH better profile for her!  Thanks for your help!