12 for '26: The Family of Philippina Wollenweber geb. Voehringer

This is the last post for the April families (Wollenweber & Voehringer), though a day late. But I wanted to get the last piece posted, after doing all the work.

The previous post about Philippina, my husband’s 2x-great-grandmother, covered her timeline from her 1834 birth and baptism in Württemberg to her 1913 death and burial in Louisville, Kentucky. There were hints to some of her family who also immigrated to the United States.

In the small village of Unterhausen in Schwarzwald, Württemberg, lived her parents, Johan Adam Vöhringer and Maria Agnes Reiff. To them were born eight children.[1] Philippina was the second child and was named the same as the deceased first child, Philippina Margaretha.[2]

The church has family registers that list the couple at the top, then their children below. There are reference pages to other families, for example, the husband might be linked to his parents’ page, and the children once married, will be linked to their own family page.

From this register, we can see the birthdate (Geburt) of each child, their confirmation date (Confirmation), marriage date (Verehelichen), and death (Tote). I can use these dates to locate their respective records in the baptism section of the church books.

Line no. 2 is for our Philippina, who was born 26 May 1834 and confirmed in Bronnweiler. Her marriage column lists her departing for North America in 1857, and there is no date for her death. Once in America, ties to the old country were broken.

Another sister, Maria Agnes Voehringer, has a note that she left for North America in 1859. She had to ask permission and did so in January.[3] Maria “Vorringer” arrived in New York aboard the Hoadly from Bremen on 9 April 1859 and listed above her on the passenger list was Jacob “Habe.”[4] She married Jacob Haebe on 18 August 1859 in Louisville, with witnesses, John Springer and W. J. Wallenweber, who was likely Louis W. Wollenweber, Philippina’s husband.[5]

The rest of the family in the list is complete for their births and confirmations, but nothing is written for marriage or deaths except for Johan Friedrich. A note near the middle states they moved to Bronnweiler. Also, there is indication that the wife left for America with the younger children in 1863. Why did Maria Agnes leave her husband who did not die until 1873?

So, the four children, Barbara, Rosina, Jakob, and Friedrich asked permission to leave for America in April 1863.[6] This four page document is difficult to read except for recognizing their names. There are two full pages of text in German script that I need to have transcribed and translated, or at least read by someone who can tell me what it says. I do not understand why the mother, Maria Agnes, is not part of the permission, but her name is in the mix of that text.

Maria Voeringer, age 40, left Bremen and arrived in New York on 1 July 1863, aboard the Bark Australia with four children, and they stated they were headed to Louisville, which is where her daughters, Philippina and Mary Agnes lived. Jakob was listed as a baker.[7]

In Louisville
With Philippina and her husband, Louis W. Wollenweber, already in Louisville, the Voehringer family would have had a support system to give them a good start. Louisville also had a large community of German immigrants. Some of the siblings married and baptized their children at St. Paul’s German Evangelical Church.

Mary Agnes & Jacob Haebe
Mary was the first of Philippina’s siblings to arrive and she married the man listed above her on the ship’s list. Is it possible that they knew each other in Bronnweiler? He does not, however, come up in the Württemberg Emigration Index.[8]

In 1860 he was listed as a shoemaker from Württemberg. Their four-month-old son, Henry, lived with Jacob and Mary.[9] They were not found in the 1870 census. In 1880, they lived at 45 Linden Street. Jacob and Mary had three children, Amelia, 12, Bertha, 10, and William, 3.[10] Henry’s whereabouts is unknown, but he was old enough to have been living on his own.

In Aug 1883, a newspaper reported on another attempt to rob Jacob Haebe’s shoe store at 512 Second Street. “The burglars entered a private alley, using a bar of wood, bent the iron grating over a window so they could slip past. They got the window up, but the shutter inside was fastened tight. Still, they managed to get into the small stockroom, but the door was heavily bolted on the other end. They broke off the door knob but still couldn’t get inside, and perhaps noise frightened them so they left. No trace of the robbers was found. Two years previously, thieves entered the house through a transom and stole 15 pairs of shoes.”[11]

Two years later, another article was printed about Jacob having a fall through cellar doors that were left open. “On one occasion, Jacob Haebe fell through Dr. Keightley’s cellar door at 512 Second Street and fractured his skull. A few months later, a small son of Haebe met the similar accident falling through the same door.”[12]

Jacob died suddenly on 10 August 1886 at home of rheumatism of the heart.[13] He is buried at Eastern Cemetery.[14] Mary raised her three children alone by working as a nurse. She purchased property on Mechanic Street at Preston.[15] They later lived at 709 East Breckenridge.[16]

She died on 26 November 1909 of ovarian tumor .[17] Her funeral was held at her residence, 929 South Shelby Street and she was buried in Eastern Cemetery. Reverend Mehl conducted the services.[18]

Barbara & John Christian Kilgus
Barbara Anna Voehringer was born 18 May 1841 and was baptized two days later.[19] After arriving in the United States, she married John Christian Kilgus on 8 September 1868 at St. Paul’s church. Her witnesses were her siblings, Frederick and Rosina.[20]

Chris was a baker, also from Württemberg. By 1870, they had two children, Lillie, five, and Christ, four months.[21] Ten years later, they lived on Preston. Besides two more children, George and Jacob, they had boarders who worked in the bakery.[22]  

Barbara died 6 March 1904 at her home on 435 East St Catherine Street from a complication of diseases. The funeral was held on March 8, 1904 from St Matthew’s Evangelical church and burial in Cave Hill Cemetery.[23]

John died on 29 August 1917 at his home at 439 East St. Catherine Street.[24] The funeral was held at his residence and he was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery. He was survived by three sons, one daughter and nine grandchildren.[25] The burial permit listed cause of death as uremia.[26]

Rosina & Carl Hugo Nolting
Anna Rosina was born on 1 December 1843 and baptized two days later.[27] Rosina married Carl Hugo Nolting on 25 March 1867. Her brother, Jacob and sister, Barbara, witnessed the ceremony.[28]

Not much is known about Carl. Perhaps he died before 1870, when Rosina was living with her mother and young son, Charlie. She worked as a confectioner.[29]

When her son grew up, he worked as a bicycle repairer and likely supported her.[30] Besides her mother living with her, so did her brother, Frederick, who had a tinning shop.[31]

She died 5 January 1915 of pulmonary oedema and was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery.[32]

Jacob Voehringer & Louise Eller
Jakob Voehringer was born 2 December 1845 and baptized the next day.[33] He worked as a baker and confectioner, along with his mother and sister.[34] He married Louisa Eller on 28 January 1869 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Church. Witnesses were Friedrich Voehringer and Clementine Eller.[35] They had three children.

He died on 27 August 1919 of lobar pneumonia and was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery.[36] A year later, Louisa had a memorial printed in the paper:

In Loving Remembrance of my dear husband, Jacob Voehringer, who departed this life August 27, 1819.

‘Tis hard to break the tender cord,
When love has bound the heart;
Tis hard so hard to speak the words,
“We must forever part.”

Still in all our earthly sorrows
One happy thought holds sway;
We shall meet again, dear husband,
And be happy, some sweet day.

Sadly missed by wife, Lousa Voehringer[37]

Louisa died 7 June 1932 of cerebral hemorrhage.[38] Her funeral was held at St. Joseph’s Church.[39] and she is buried at Cave Hill Cemetery.[40]

Frederick Vohringer
Frederick was born 27 February 1849 and baptized the next day. He was the youngest child. He used the spelling “Vohringer,” never married, and lived with his mother.

He worked as a tinner, inventing and selling coal hods and rust-proof water spouting.[41] He had partners and in 1890, Francis Wall, Jr. retired from the firm Fred Vohringer & Co.[42] the next year, he advertised for a partner, saying they must have $5000 for a well-established manufacturing business.[43]

He died on 1 March 1895.[44] A newspaper announcement from the Friends of Council No. 5, urged members to attend Fred’s funeral.[45] He was buried in Cave Hill Cemetery in the same plot as his mother.[46]

His will was probated on 6 March. He left his personal property to his mother, his house and lot to his nephew Charles Nolting, the release of the mortgage he held on a house and lot he sold to Harry Stigger, an African American man, and the remainder of his real estate went to his mother to enjoy during her life, then divided equally between his two sisters Rosa Nolting and Philippina Wollenweber, and he left $10 to sister, Maria Haebe and brother Jacob Vohringer.[47] By 10 March, his business stock was put up for sale.[48]

The mother, Mary Agnes Voehringer
Mary worked in the bakery and confectionary for a few years.[49] By 1880, she lived with her daughter, Rosina, who ran the confectionary. Mary was listed as keeping house.[50]

She died on 25 December 1898 at the home of her grandson, Charles A. Nolting.[51] The funeral was held on 27 December and she was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery.[52]

Her will was brought in for probate which left everything to her son, Fred.[53] Her daughter, Mary Agnes Haebe contested the will, claiming her mother was incapable of making a will, and named her siblings Barbara Kilgus, Rosing Nolting, Philippina Wollenweber, and Jacob Vohringer.[54] Further research is needed to determine the outcome of the suit.

---

[1] Evangelische Kirche Unterhausen (OA, Reutlingen, Württemberg), Familienregister, p. 209, Johan Adam Voehringer; FamilySearch Library (FSL) film 1569155. Locked films.

[2] Evangelische Kirche Unterhausen (OA, Reutlingen, Württemberg), Taufen 1808-1875, p. Philippina Margaretha Voehringer, 16 Feb 1832; FSL 1569153. Also, ibid, Toten 1808-1875, 1833, no. 6, Philippina Margaretha, 14 Apr 1833; FSL 1569154. I also have images of the other seven children’s births & baptisms, but since these are locked from home, I need to view them at a FSC to update their citation.

[3] Reutlingen, Württemberg, Oberamt, Auswanderungen [Emigration], Bd. 29 1847-1870, Maria Agnes Voehringer, Jan. 1859; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSP7-144F-K : accessed 26 Apr 2026), IGN 008236549, image 705-06 of 709; Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg [Ludwigsburg City Archive], Germany.

[4] "Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1957," imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_190-0543 : accessed 26 Apr 2026) > Date > 1859 > April >09 > Hoadly > image 3 of ., 14th in line, Maria Vorringer;  Records of the U.S. Customs Service, NARA RG 36, Washington, D.C.

[5] Jefferson Co, Kentucky, marriage register, v. 7, p. 161, 1859, Jacob Habe to Mary Feringer; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89S9-1QXC : accessed 25 Apr 2026), IGN 005553515, item 2, image 219 of 298.

[6] Reutlingen, Württemberg, Oberamt, Auswanderungen [Emigration], Bd. 29 1847-1870, Maria Agnes Voehringer, Jan. 1859; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSP7-1446-3 : accessed 26 Apr 2026), IGN 008236549, images 686-688 of 709.

[7] "Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1957," imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_230-0429 : accessed 24 Apr 2026) > Date > 1863 > July > 01 > Australia > image 6 of 6, line 13, Marie Voringer.

[8] “Württemberg Emigration Index,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3141/ : searched 26 April 2026), “Jakob Haebe.”

[9] 1860 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Louisville Ward 1, p. 193 (penned), dwelling 1004, family 1728, Jacob Hebbe.

[10] 1880 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Louisville, ED 118, p. 44 (penned), dwell/fam 318, Jacob Habe.

[11] “Wanted Shoes,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 26 Aug 1883, p. 12, col. 4.

[12] “A Fateful Cellar Door,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 1 Mar 1885, p. 12, col. 5.

[13] “A Sudden Death,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 10 Aug 1886, p. 2, col. 5.

[14] Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95251326/jackob-haebe : accessed 28 Apr 2026), Eastern Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Jackob Haebe (1830-1886), photo by Peggy Dawson.

[15] “Real Estate Transfer,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 18 Sep 1886, p. 7, col. 6.

[16] Caron’s Louisville City Directory 1878, p. 475, Mary Haebe (wid J).

[17] Jefferson Co, Kentucky, deaths, mortuary record, v. 15, p. 8, Maria A. Haebe, 1907; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C336-53YZ-R : accessed 26 Apr 2026), IGN 008525589, image 321 of 460; citing Jefferson County Board of Health.

[18] “Dies of Tumor,” The Louisville Times, 27 Nov 1909, p. 4, col. 5.

[19] "Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898" FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1473000 : 28 Feb 2014), FSL film 1569100, Bronnweiler, Württemberg, Anna Barbara Voehringer, 20 May 1841. This film is locked.

[20] Jefferson Co, Kentucky, marriages, v. 10, p. 38, Kilgus to Vehringer, 1868, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9SS-9T3Q : accessed 25 Apr 2026); IGN 005553512, image 109 of 409. For church record, see St. Paul’s German Evangelical Church (UCC) (Louisville, Ky), marriages, v. 3, p. 497, no. 1274, Kilgus to Vehringer, 1868, imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89XJ-K968-Z : accessed 25 Apr 2026); IGN 007580258, image 821 of 992.

[21] 1870 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Louisville Ward 5, p. 170 (penned), dwelling 890, family 1407, Chris Kilgas.

[22] 1880 U.S. census, Jefferson co, Kentucky, Louisville, ED 120, p. 30 (penned), dwelling 21, family 20, J. C. Kilgus.

[23] “Mrs. Kilgus Dead,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 7 Mar 1904, p. 2, col. 3.

[24] “Deaths,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 21 Aug 1917, p. 5, col. 6.

[25] “John Christian Kilgus,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 22 Aug 1917, p. 3, col. 6.

[26] “Burial Permits,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 23 Aug 1917, p. 10, col. 5.

[27] "Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898" FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1473000 : 28 Feb 2014), FSL film 1569109, Bronnweiler, Württemberg, Anna Rosina Voehringer, 3 Dec 1843. This film is locked.

[28] St. Paul's Evangelical Church, Louisville, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, marriages 1855-1868, p. 438, no. 1097, Carl Hugo Nolting to Rosina Voehringer, 1867; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XJ-K9DM-7), IGN 007580258, image 792 of 992. 

[29] 1870 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Louisville Ward 6, p 120, 634/820, Mary Ferring.

[30] 1900 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Louisville Ward 5, ED 48, sht 11b, family 127, Rosa Nolting.

[31] 1880 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Louisville, ED 114, p. 20, family 202, Rosina Nolting.

[32] Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificates, no. 1357, Jefferson Co, Rosina Nolting, 1915; imaged "Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1953," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1222/images/KYVR_7016171-1362 : accessed 26 Apr 2026).

[33] "Germany Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898" FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/1473000 : 28 Feb 2014), FSL film 1569109, Bronnweiler, Württemberg, Jakob Voehringer, 3 Dec 1845. This film is locked

[34] Edwards' Annual Directory to the City of Louisville (Southern Publishing Co, 1867), p. 412, Confectioners, Jacob Voehringer.

[35] St. Paul's German Evangelical Church (UCC) (Louisville, KY), marriages, v. 4, p. 77, 1869, Jacob Vehringer to Louisa Eller; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89XJ-K9D1-4 : accessed 25 Apr 2026), IGN 007580258, image 870 of 992.

[36] Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate, 1919, no. 23529, Jacob Voehringer; imaged, "Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1965," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1222/images/KYVR_7016222-0434 : accessed 27 Apr 2026).

[37] “In Memoriam,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 29 Aug 1920, section 4, p. 5, col. 7.

[38] Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, death certificate, 1932, no. 14024, Louise Voehringer; imaged, "Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1965," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1222/records/401296 : accessed 27 April 2026).

[39] “Announcements,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 8 June 1932, p. 17, col. 4.

[40] Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com/memorial/127209054/louise-voehringer : accessed 22 July 2021), Louise Voehringer (4 Dec 1845–7 Jun 1932), memorial 127209054, Cave Hill Cemetery, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky, maintained by Jayne Dunn (contributor 46810848).

[41] Louisville Courier-Journal, 21 Mar 1885, p. 8, col. 4. Also, “Notice to Tinners,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 29 May 1892, p. 5, col. 4.

[42] “Notice is Hereby Given That,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 18 Oct 1890, p. 5, col. 6.

[43] “Wanted,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 26 Apr 1891, p. 2, col. 7.

[44] Jefferson Co, Kentucky, mortuary record, v. 9, 1895, p. 20, Fred Vohringer; imaged, "Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1965," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1222/images/kyvr_7007129-0026 : accessed 27 Apr 2026) > Death Records (Large Cities,) 1852-1910 > 1895-1902 > Film 7007129: Jefferson County, Books 9-11 > image 7 of 972.

[45] “Funeral Notices,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 4 Mar 1895, p. 5, col. 8.

[46] Photo of tombstone, Fred Vohringer (1849-1985), taken by author, 28 May 2025.

[47] Jefferson Co, Kentucky, wills, bk 19, p 416-17, Fred Vohringer, 1895; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9066/images/004819929_00550 : accessed 27 Apr 2027) > Jefferson > Wills, vol 18-19, 1887-1895, image 550 of 666.

[48] “For Sale,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 10 Mar 1895, p. 6, col. 7.

[49] 1870 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, Louisville Ward 6, p 120, 634/820, Mary Ferring.

[50] 1880 U.S. census, Jefferson Co, Louisville, ED 114 p 20, fam 202, Rosina Nolting.

[51] “Death of Mrs. Vohringer,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 27 Dec 1898, p. 8, col. 3.

[52] Photo of tombstone, Mary Agness Vohringer (1811-1898), taken by author, 28 May 2025.

[53] “Two Wills,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 19 Mar 1899, p. 8, col. 1. Also, Jefferson Co, Kentucky, wills, bk. 22, p. 316-19, will of Mary Agnes Vohringer, 1899; imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9066/images/004819931_00167 : accessed 27 Apr 2026) > Jefferson > Wills, vol 21-23, 1896-1901, image 167 of 673.

[54] “Not Her Will,” Louisville Courier-Journal, 19 Sep 1899, p. 6, col. 7.

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