Unexpected Discoveries

Some of my unexpected discoveries are learning that other siblings of our ancestors also came to the United States. We get so busy focusing on our direct lines, that we do not realize other family members immigrated, too. Sometimes they came to the same area, and sometimes they settled in other parts of the country, especially if they came years later.

Unexpected discoveries can also be pleasant surprises. Finding more kin is always great, as their records can aid in taking the family back further generations.

My Husband’s Family
A good example is the Voehringer family. His great-grandmother, Matilda “Tillie” Wollenweber’s parents were Ludwig Wilhelm Wollenweber and Philappina Margaretha Voehringer.[1] Census records hinted that Ludwig was from Bavaria and Philappina was from Württemberg.[2] There was no obituary for Philappina, only death notices, one in English,[3] and one in German.[4] Neither gave information about next of kin. Her death certificate gave no information about her parents. The informant was the funeral home director.[5]

In doing newspaper research, Philippine Wollenweber was mentioned in a real estate transfer with Rosina Nolting, both had interest in an estate of Fred. Vohringer, deceased.[6] If they both had interest, then they were likely related, and since Fred’s surname was Vohringer, spelled slightly differently, he was related, too. It turned out with more research, that Philippina’s brothers, Frederick and Jacob, and sisters Mary Agnes, Anna Barbara, and Anna Rosina, also came to America along with their mother, Maria Agnes (Reiff) Voehringer. There is more research to do, but this was an unexpected discovery.

My Family
Johan Anton Hork arrived in the United States on 5 November 1870 aboard the SS Idaho.[7] His obituary mentioned a brother in Kearney, Nebraska, but it was years before I discovered who he was.[8] 

His brother, Albert M. Hork, was a Catholic priest serving in several towns in Nebraska. Many articles have been found in Nebraska newspapers. Albert was also discovered on a ship list arriving in Philadelphia on 9 November 1891. And unexpectedly, his sister, Clementine, was with him.[9] She lived in New York City until her death, and he served in churches in Nebraska and Oregon until his death. His obituary mentioned sister, only a niece who attended him during his past years.[10]

#52Ancestors: Week 15 – Unexpected

This is my ninth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe. I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.

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[1] St. Paul's German Evangelical Church (UCC) (Louisville, KY), Baptisms, v. 4 1857-1862, no. 974, p 309, Matilda Wollenweber, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99XJ-5PCV : accessed 30 Mar 2026); IGN 007579814, image 170 of 969.

[2] 1860 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, 2nd Ward Louisville, p 367-68, dwelling 1970, fam 3256, L.W. Wollenweber.

[3] “Burial Permits,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 3 Jan 1913, p. 10, col. 3.

[4] “Wochentliche Todesliste,” Louisville Argus, 9 Jan 1913, p. unkn.

[5] Commonwealth of Kentucky, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate, 1483, Jefferson Co., 1913, Mrs. Philipina Wollenweber, imaged, "Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1965," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1222/), citing Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort.

[6] “Real Estate Transfers,” Louisvelle Courier-Journal, 13 Jul 1901, p. 10, col. 1.

[7] "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957" imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7488/records/16548788 : accessed 12 Feb 2026) > Date > 1870 > November > 05 > Idaho > image 5 of 15, Joh Hork.

[8] “The Carbolic Route,” Sheridan Enterprise, 17 Aug 1906, p. unkn.

[9] "Pennsylvania, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1798-1962," imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8769/images/PAT840_15-0686 ) > T840-Philadelphia, 1883-1945 > 15 > image 686 of 817, SS Belgenland, 9 Nov 1891, line 8, Rev. Alb. M. Hork & line 9, Miss Cl. Hork.

[10] "Veteran Pastor is Dead: Rev. Albert M. Hork, of Catholic Faith, to be Buried Today," Oregonian (Portland), 28 May 1912, p 14. Also, “Father Hork,” Catholic Sentinel, 6 June 1912, p. 4.

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