12 for ’26: Full-text Search at FamilySearch for Ludwig Wilhelm (Louis W.) Wollenweber

The first half of this month’s study is on the Wollenweber family, German ancestors of my husband’s paternal line. After creating a timeline for Ludwig Wilhelm (Louis W.) Wollenweber, it is time to utilize full-text search at FamilySearch. I have found multiple spellings of his surname, so I will be methodological in searching using the different spelling variations. Full-text search is very specific and does not usually find variations. I will search by location, starting with Kentucky, since he was in Louisville the longest. The names searched on were Wollenweber, Wallenweber, Woolenweber, Wollenwebber, and W*weber in Jefferson County, Kentucky

Newspapers
Several articles from Louisville newspapers were returned. I had no idea FamilySearch had digital newspapers, so this was a pleasant surprise. Following the FamilySearch searching, I will also search in newspapers. Although I found them randomly by date, these are now listed in chronological order.

21 Oct 1859. An untitled article about an action Ludwig took.

“Yesterday we were witness to an act of charity, which should incline the ear of pity and succor. A poor, sick German, with a wife and four children, recently came into the city from the country. They came to America several years ago, and moved into a wild tract in this State. They have been sick nearly all the time, and finding a living unattainable there, came hither to seek a subsitence [sic]. They burrowed in a miserable room on Market, near Jackson Street. They had neither money nor food, and were sick. Their circumstances coming to the ears of Mr. L.W. Wollenweber, he collected among the residents of the vicinity ??? [black blob over word], and gave the sum to the unfortunate . . . [cut off]”[1]

COMMENT: the bottom of the newspaper page is cut off, so I cannot read the rest. I checked Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank, Chronicling America, Fulton History, and no one had this paper. Only FamilySearch. I could not check NewspaperArchive as it is still down, as of 15 April 2026. This article shows a good side of Ludwig.

10 Oct 1867. “The Monthly Docket”

“The call of the monthly docket in the City Court is rather slow, only 89 of the 135 cases being disposed of yet, a majority of which have been continued or dismissed. . . The following are the names of the parties found guilty of what they were charged and the amount of fine assessed against each: . . . Baker & Smith, on four warrants for doing business without license, judgment of $100 in each case for forfeited bond was rendered against their security, Louis Wollenweber. . .”[2]

COMMENT: The court case records are listed below. This newspaper explains the case better than the actual case record did. Louis Wollenweber was the security on a bond and that is why he had to pay up because Baker and Smith forfeited.

4 Mar 1868. Notice.

“Notice. This is to give notice that on the 29th day of February AD, 1868, a warrant in bankruptcy was issued against the estate of Louis W. Wollenwebber, of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson, and State of Kentucky, who has been adjudged a bankrupt, on his own petition that the payment of any debts and delivery of any property belonging to such bankrupt, to him or for his use, and the transfer of any property by him, are forbidden by law; that a meeting of the creditors of the said bankrupt, to prove their debts and to claim one or more assignees of his estate, will be held at a Court of Bankruptcy, to be holden  at 14 Ceder Street, Louisville, Ky, before John H Ward, Regi??, on the 10?th day of April 1868 at 9 o’clock.”[3]

COMMENT: If Louis Wollenweber filed for bankruptcy, then these records may be held at NARA. An email has been sent to NARA, Kansas City, 16 Apr 2026.

23 Jul 1868. Mentions his business, Wollenweber’s Exchange.

“Second Ward Club. The Second-ward Democratic Club will meet at Wollenweber’s Exchange this evening, at 8 o’clock, to transact important business. C.R. Long, Sec’y.”[4]

COMMENT: There were several meetings listed in the paper for this club meeting at Wollenweber’s establishment.

24 Oct 1868. An ad for Wollenweber’s Exchange and Restaurant

The ad states: “Wollenweber’s Exchange and Restaurant, Main street, between Shelby and Campbell. Open day and night. Warm meals at all hours. Fresh Oysters served in all styles. Give me a call. L. Wollenweber, Proprietor.”[5]

COMMENT: If he filed bankruptcy, then his business was still going nine months later.

31 July 1870. Notice about a court case in Jeffersonville.

Louis Wollenwebber yesterday had Judge Mathews issue a writ of replevy against Deputy Collector Henry French, demanding the brandy seized by Mr. French on Friday night. The case will be tried before Judge Mathews Monday.[6]

COMMENT: This case would be found in the Clark County, Indiana, court records. These records are locked.

2 Mar 1871. An article about a case in Jeffersonville, Clark County, Indiana, across the river from Louisville, mentions a Louis Woolenwebber, Jr., as being present when Mr. Guy Jr cut off his father’s signature from document.[7]

COMMENT: Ludwig’s oldest known son was named Louis, born about 1847. This could be about him, but there is not enough information here in the article to substantiate that. Young Louis was living in Jeffersonville in the 1870 census.[8]

Vital Records
The next items are from vital record information.

1858 Marriage bond.

Marriage Bond. The Commonwealth of Kentucky. Be it known, that we Louis W. Wollenwebber as principal, and Jacob Leiff as surety, are jointly and severally bound to the Commonwealth of Kentucky, in the sum of One Hundred Dollars. The condition of this bond is as follows: That, Whereas, marriage is intended to be solemnized between the above bound Louis W. and Phillippene Voehringer of full age as proved by said Leiff. Now, if there is no lawful cause to obstruct said marriage, this bond shall be void, otherwise it shall remain in full force and effect. Dated at Louisville, Jefferson County, this 3rd day of Sept 1858. Att. T. Jack Comm DC. Signed Louis W Wollenweber and Jacob Leiff.[9]

COMMENT: This is the bond only, and not the marriage record. The marriage register has been previous found, as they were married on 5 Sep 1858 by Rev. Augustus Bargas. Jacob Leiff, as surety, would be another member of Louis’ FAN club, either as an acquaintance of Louis or of his future wife.

1859 Marriage license, Jacob Habe and Mary Voringer on 18 Aug 1859.

Marriage certificate, On 18 Aug 1859, Jacob Habe and Mary Voringer were married by J. Connell J. P. in the presence of W. J. Wollenweber & John Springer.[10]

COMMENT: Now we have a Wollenweber witnessing the marriage of Habe and Voringer. Ludwig W. Wollenweber’s wife was Phillippena Vohriner, and Mary was her sister. So, it makes sense that this might be Ludwig as witness. This is also a clue that the Voehringers may have come to America together.

1873 Burial record at Eastern Cemetery in Louisville.

1873, May 29. Interring L. W. Wollenweber, $5.00.[11]

COMMENT: The Find a Grave memorial has L.W. Wollenweber buried in Western Cemetery. I am not sure how the contributor got that cemetery name. It conflicts with this record from Eastern Cemetery.

Burial index cards, Eastern Cemetery in Louisville.

      Frederica Young, buried 27 Nov 1887 in Wolenweber lot.[12]

      Phillip Wollenweber, buried 3 Jan 1913, Louis Wollenweber lot.[13]

      Willie Young, buried 1 July 1888, Wollensweber lot.[14]

COMMENT: These have nothing to do with Ludwig, but his daughter with Philippena was Fredericka and she married William A. Young on 8 March 1881.[15] I do not have death dates for her or her husband. I have one child born to them, Julie Young, born 1880 and died 1925. Julie was living with her grandmother, Philippena in 1900, which gives a hint that her parents have died, and that Fredericka and Willie above may be her parents’ burial record. Philip Wollenweber is really Philippena Wollenweber, who died 1 January 1913 in Louisville.[16]

Tax records

1866 IRS tax record

Woolenweber, L.W., 90 West Market, Louisville, retail liquor dealer, no. 235, rate of tax $25, total $25.[17]

1866 Jefferson County tax record

      Lewis Wallenweber, 1 white male over 21, enrolled militia.[18]

COMMENT: This Lewis Wallenweber could be young Louis, who could have just turned 21. Though Ludwig would have been 44 years old and could have been in the militia.

Court Records

Winter Term 1867. A court listing in the Jefferson County, Kentucky, Court Index: Wallenweber vs. Commonwealth, no. 1626.

1871. L. Wollenweber was listed in an index under Megitton & Kimbrough v. L. Wollenwebber, no. 17476, bundle 571, in Harrison County, Kentucky.[19]

COMMENT: I am not sure if this is the same L. Wollenwebber. Harrison County is further east of Jefferson County. This is probably not Ludwig. Besides, he was living in Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1870.

Directories

I had found Ludwig/Louis/LW Wollenweber in Louisville directories previously for the years 1859, 1861, 1865, 1866, 1867, and 1869, and they are listed in the timeline post. He was often listed on at least two pages, the regular listing, and a listing under saloons.

1855-56. Directory in Louisville

p. 168. Wollinweber, L.W., liquor dealer, 756 Market, b. Jackson and Hancock.[20]

Clark County, Indiana, search for the same.
This search was for “W*weber” which tends to capture all the variations except the double b in weber. Ludwig was here until the end of his life.

Vital Records

1881 Marriage Index for Rickka Woolenweber to William A. Young, 8 March 1881. V. L, p. 81.[21]

COMMENT: This is only an index. These records are locked. Ludwig’s daughter, Fredericka was often listed as Rickka or Rikka.

Search in Ohio.
His youngest son, Albert, was born in Ohio on 24 December 1853. I filtered the search to the 1840s and 1850s, and used the same “W*weber.” There were 84 hits. Below are what I think belong to Ludwig. 

1853. On the 30th day of March AD 1853, C. N. A. Allersh married Ludwig W. Wollenweber and Anna Schmidt in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.[22]

COMMENT: If this is our Ludwig and Anna, then the surname Schmidt conflicts with the name of Anna’s maiden name of Martin/Mertin on her death record, unless she was previously married. Curious, I checked Ancestry for “Wollenweber” in Cuyahoga County and found a marriage license document for Lewis W. Wollenweber to marry Anna Mertens (indexed as Matens) on 30 March 1853.[23] There was a reference to a FHL film, so I found the FamilySearch document by browsing, since it would not turn up in a search.[24] In this document, it is clear to me that the surname reads Wollenweber. He signed it Louis, where the clerk put in Lewis. Now, we have the surname Mertens, as expected. The officiant must have been confused when recording the marriage to the county clerk. It pays to search for the license as well as the certificate.

1855. Louis W. Wollenweber is mentioned in Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, deed/mortgage. Whitman, Standart & Co received land in a court judgment against Louis W. Wollenweber.[25]

1861. L.W. Wallenweber is mentioned in a probate file of Justin Morrison, no. 168. Cuyhoga Co, Ohio. (1861) It is a note.[26]

COMMENT: Even though we have Ludwig living in Louisville in 1860/61, this is a note that he either owed or was owed to him.

Search in New York State.
The three older sons may have been born in New York. The middle boy, had the birthplace of Hamberg. It doesn’t make sense that they went back to Germany and then came back to the U.S. There is a Hamburg in New York state in Erie County. So, I filtered to Erie County.

1867. March 18. Louis and William Wallenweber/Wollenweber were listed as heirs of Daniel Persch of Erie Co, New York. They were the sons of a deceased daughter, who was not named.[27]

COMMENT: The estate file is on FamilySearch. The paperwork for proving the will is there, and paperwork for other estate work is there, but the will is not. The heirs of Daniel Persch were:

·         Anna Maria Persch, Jacob Persch, Margaret Dienen, Elizabeth Persch all of Buffalo, children of deceased;  

·         Louis & William Wallenweber, minor children of a deceased daughter, of Louisville, Kentucky;

·         Mary and Henry Persch, children of the deceased son.

Total value of estate: $2000. Henry C. Persch was named executor in the will. There is a conflict if these boys were the grandsons of Daniel Persch, then Anne Wollenweber, Ludwig’s wife, who he married in 1853 and died in 1858, was not their mother. However, her death record listed 4 children, and 4 children appeared in the 1860 census without her.

What happened to George, who was born in Hamburg, and appeared in the household in 1860? He is not mentioned in this estate in 1867. Did he die? And who was the deceased daughter who was the mother of Louis and William?

I looked at Erie County, New York records that are on the FamilySearch catalog. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was in Erie County. The register begins in 1844. I looked through baptisms, marriages, and deaths but found no Wollenwebers. I browsed the St. John’s Evangelical and Lutheran Church in Buffalo and found no marriage or baptism records of Wollenwebers.

Search for Wollenweber in Erie County, New York newspapers (Newspapers.com)

1846. Dec. 16. Ludwig Wollenweber had 3 letters at the post office.[28]

COMMENT: This places Ludwig in Erie County. I did not locate any other article concerning Louis or Ludwig Wollenweber. There is another man, L.A. Wollenweber, who was an editor of a German newspaper in Philadelphia, who appeared in many newspapers across the country. I also searched Persch in the Erie County papers and found a couple of announcements for Persch marriages, but not for the one I am looking for. I also found no notices of deaths. It is possible they moved to Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, she died, and he remarried there.

Search for Wollenweber in Cuyahoga County, Ohio newspapers (Newspapers.com)

1853. January 15. Newspaper notice of death. “Died. On Friday, 14th inst., Catharine, wife of Lewis Wollenweber, aged 28 years. Funeral will be held on Sunday, at 2 o’clock pm at the residence, Pittsburgh street, adjoining Jahrhause.”[29]

COMMENT: Here is a death notice for the wife of Lewis Wollenweber in 1853. This fits with he marrying Anna Mertens in March of 1853. He would have had three young children to take care of. The newspapers also had many articles of a restaurant that that he owned, saying he had worked two years as chief cook at the Weddell House and two years at the American House, so is qualified to run his own business.[30]

Conclusion
After searching at FamilySearch, Ancestry, and Newspapers.com, I have learned that Ludwig W. Wollenweber had three wives, not two. I found records of him living in Buffalo, Erie County, New York; Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio; and Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky.

It appears that the first three boys born (Louis, George, and William) were likely born to the first wife, an unnamed Persch daughter of Daniel Persch of Erie County, New York, but perhaps Catherine. Albert, the younger son, was born to the second wife, Anna Mertens. Lastly, Ludwig had four daughters with the third wife, Philippena Voehringer.

He may have had a bakery in Cleveland, but most certainly sold liquor and had a restaurant in Louisville and Jeffersonville, Indiana.

I have some fixing to do in RootsMagic to show this new information. I am not sure how much more to research I will do, as these first two marriages do not concern my husband’s line. He descends through the third wife, Philippena Voehringer. I only need this if I decide to write up a KDP (Kindship Determination Project) with Ludwig as one of the generations.

I also want to thank Carol, my accountability partner, who pointing me to the records in Cuyahoga County after telling her of the confusing probate record naming Ludwig’s two sons, and how I could reconcile the Persch name with the Mertens name. Liking a challenge, she did some poking and put me on the right track.

Next up will be Matilda Wollenweber’s mother, Philippena Voehringer, Ludwig’s third wife. She lived another forty years.

---

[1] Louisville Daily Democrat, 21 Oct 1859, p. 2, col. 2, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-B3YR-Z3FL : accessed 13 Apr 2026); IGN 009050513, image 374 of 610.

[2] “The Monthly Docket,” The Louisville Daily Democrat, 10 Oct 1867, p. 10, col. 2, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-R3YR-35XZ : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 009050518, image 349 of 629.

[3] “Notice,” Louisville Daily Democrat, 4 Mar 1868, p. 3, col. 8.

[4] “Second Ward Club,” Louisville Daily Democrat, 23 Jul 1868, p. 1, col. 3, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-G3YR-4WDC : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 009050520, image 109 of 720.

[5] “Wollenweber’s Exchange and Restaurant,” The Louisville Daily Democrat, 24 Oct 1868, p. 3, col. 9, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-G3YR-476K : accessed 13 Apr 2026); IGN 009050520, image 474 of 720.

[6] “Jeffersonville,” The Louisville Courier-Journal, 31 July 1870, p. 4, col. 6, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-13YG-1GN7 : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 009053418, image 144 of 856.

[7] “Sharp Practice: Claiming Kin and Going a-Cousining,” The Louisville Courier-Journal, 2 Mar 1871, p. 4, col. 4, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-G3YG-LCT1 : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 009053419, image 289 of 843.

[8] 1870 U.S. census, Clark Co, Indiana, Jeffersonville, 3rd Ward, Jeffersonville, 464 (stamped), dwelling 48, family 46, L.W. Woolenweber.

[9] Jefferson County, Kentucky, Marriage License Col. 1858-1859, marriage bond, p. 47, Louis W. Wollenwebber & Jacob Leiff, 1858, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BN-1QHV-6 : accessed 13 Apr 2026); IGN 007723042, image 450 of 812.

[10] Jefferson Co, Kentucky, marriages, Jacob Habe to Mary Voringer, 1859, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9S7-M9ZJ-B : accessed 13 Apr 2026); IGN 005558618, image 20 of 605.

[11] Eastern Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky, burials, 1856-1873, L.W. Wollenweber, 1873, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99XF-KC1S : accessed 13 Apr 2026); IGN 007578192, image 137 of 865.

[12] Eastern Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky, lot cards, 1840-1900, Frederica Young, 1887, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99XC-H9W9-C : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 007577002, image 1807 of 5971.

[13] Eastern Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky, lot cards, 1900-1949, Phillip Wollenweber, 1913, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3HK-S9HM-R : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 008640920, image 5483 of 5897.

[14] Eastern Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky, lot cards, 1840-1900, Willie Young, 1888, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9XC-H9WV-Z : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 007577002, image 1860 of 5971.

[15] "Indiana Marriages 1811-1959," database & digital images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org), Clark Co 1880-1884 Vol L, p 81, No. 440, Young-Woolenweber, citing FHL film 1415855.

[16] “Kentucky, Deaths, 1911-1967,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y4-JS4Y-K : accessed 16 April 2026), Jefferson Co, no. 1483, Mrs. Philipina Wollenweber, 1913; citing IGN 004185246, image 1507 of 3337.

[17] “United States, Internal Revenue Assessment Lists, 1862-1874,” imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WM-GZ1S : accessed 16 Apr 2026) > Kentucky (M768) > Jefferson > 20, District 5, annual and monthly lists 1866 > p. 189, division no. 5, district no. 5. (licenses), line no. 15, L. W. Woolenweber; IGN 007109617, image 199 of 1060.

[18] Jefferson County, Kentucky, tax record, 1866, p. 270, Lewis Wallenweber, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-F3CB-5DD : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 008671479, image 274 of 648.

[19] Harrison Co, Kentucky, Circuit Court, Judgment Index, v. M, Megitton & Kimbrough v. Wollenwebber, no. 17476, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLX-23X8-D : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 008192276, image 271 of 794.

[20] The Louisville Directory and Annual Business Advertiser for 1855-6 (W. Lee White & Co, 1855), p. 168, L.W. Wollinweber, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-13YG-RWSK : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 009053389, image 93 of 154.

[21] Clark Co, Indiana, marriage index, 1880-1890, Books L-O, p. 145, William A Young to Rickka Woolenweber, 1881, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSZX-Y9TY-N : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 007941165, image 510 of 1027.

[22] Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, marriages, v. 5, p. 337, Wollenweber to Schmidt, 1853, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939K-BGFT-6 : accessed 13 Apr 2026); IGN 004016929, item 2, image 225 of 337.

[23] “Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61378 : accessed 17 Apr 2026) > Cuyahoga > 1851-1856 > image 340 of 1134, Lewis W Wollenweber license, 1853; citing FS film 000872468.

[24] Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, Application for Marriage License, Jan 21, 1853 to Jan 30, 1854, Lewis W Wollenweber to Anna Mertens, 1853, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DTPS-FT4 : accessed 17 Apr 2026); IGN 004016912, image 365 of 1167.

[25] Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, deeds, v. 82, p. 143, Whitman, Standart & Co to Andrew Graf, 1855, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-P3RK-H : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 008332013, image 77 of 939.

[26] Cuyahoga Co, Ohio, probate, case files, Justin Morrison, no. 168, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939N-GXRM-J : accessed 16 Apr 2026); IGN 004124882, image 475 of 900.

[27] Erie Co, New York, surrogate court, case file 17191, estate of Daniel Persch, 1867, petition to probate of will, 18 Mar 1867, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9C7-7SVF : accessed 10 Apr 2026); IGN 007358994, image 539 of 1909.

[28] “Brief Liste,” Der Weltburger, 16 Dec 1846, p. 3, col. 5.

[29] “Died,” The Cleveland Daily Plain Dealer, 15 Jan 1853, p. 2, col. 4.

[30] “Wollenweber’s New Bakery and Confectionery,” Cleveland Daily Express, 5 Jul 1854, p. 4, col. 1. 

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