(NOTE: That Ludwig "Luis, Louis, Louie" Aben genealogy is the same as Ludwig Heinrich Christian Aben genealogy from Regina Kramer is unconfirmed, but a very good possibility. Genealogies joined based on same birthdate 23.4.1828 and born in same area.)

1. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

Subject: Re: Lookups: 1850, 1860 MI Census

Date: Fri, 14 Jul 2000 09:29:03 PDT

From: Lookup Volunteer <milookup@hotmail.com>

John (Birndt ?) 35ys farmer b.Prussia

Sophie 37ys b.Prussia

Hannah 9ys b.Prussia

Ida 6ys b.Michigan

Albert 3ys b.Michigan

Hannah 67ys b.Prussia

Ludwig had a beard according to granddaughter Hilda Harrell.

I was told that cemetary records list a Christina Krueger buried next to Ludwig. A Michigan Census shows A Christina Creegah as the mother of Dorothea.

There is also a family site of Krueger to the south of Ludwig Aben's plot in area A1, lot 952.

[all-fam.FTW]

(Emigrated in 1850 per 1900 US Census (lived with son Henry and his wife per Gerald J. Aben.).

I was told cemetary records listed a Ludwig Aben who died in 1914, not 1904 as my Aunt Hilda thought. My mother said her brother Donald is buried in Woodmere Cemetary.

Card at Woodmere said that this Ludwig Aben lived at 3857 Fort Street at the time of death. He was buried on 27 Jan 1914.)

father: Aben, Hans Heinrich? (ca. 1803 - ?) Statthalter (governor)

mother: Burmeister, Sophia? (from a [religious] Confirmation Certificate

dated 1842 in Brueel, Germany as a public record entry in

Mecklenburg-Vorppommern, per researcher: Regina Kramer)

"Aben, Ludwig Heinr. Chrian., father: Aben, Hans Heinr., Statthalter

/Golchen,

mother: Burmeister, Sophia

*Golchen 23.4.1828, ~27.4. TP: Inspektor H. Ludwig Carl Heinr. Tausch

/Golchen

Tagel. Heinr. Belling, Fischerkn. Chrian. Grell /Golchen, confirmed Brüel 1842"

Subject: Re: Look up: Civil war record of Ludwig Aben?

Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 22:15:08 EDT

From: LEESECW@

I looked in the 1890's Special Veterans census and he doesnt show up. I

believe the detroit Public Library has the Civil War pension file index and

that would be a place to look. What I have found so far is

Benjamin Aben, Company E, 11th Michigan Cavalry

Jacob Y. Aben, Company B, 33rd NJ Infantry

William Aben, Company B, 3rd NJ Cavalry

[Aben.FTW]

Here are more ideas about the origin of the surname Aben and the possibility of unrelated lineages of Abens in Europe:

"Subj: Aben-family

Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 22:02:55 +0200

Dear Mrs Pletcher Meyers,

Sory that I did not answer your e-mail sooner. But I had only 3 persons with the name ABEN in my familytree, namely ABEN, Cornelia, born 09-04-1755 at Oeffelt, province Noord-Brabant in The Netherland and her father ABEN, Antonis and mother JANS, Maria and Cornelia's twinsister ABEN, Aldegonde. Therefor I have looking in the archives in

's-Hertogenbosch.

I found there that the census of 1947 give 835 persons with the name ABEN. 38% were living in the province Noord-Brabant and 33% in the province Limburg.

In the immigration list I found one ABEN: Aben, Andreus. He went in 1873 to Amerika, he was then 31 years old, farmer, roman catholic and he lived in Escharen(Noord-Brabant). I found an ABEN, Andries born at 05-04-1842 in Escharen. Andries ABEN could be the father of ABEN, Herman and the grandfather of you mother your mother. Perhaps your knows the given name of her grandfather. Perhabs your mother knows givennames of

her uncles or she knows where her father is born and then she knows the given name of her grandfather.

There are books with pedegrees of the family Aben. When I go to the The Hague, I look for that pedegrees.

Sincerely, Nol Hagemans."

"Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 22:07:22 +0100

Dear Katie,

...The surname ABEN is derived from the first name Aab/Abe/Abel. On the European continent the surname came up at the end of the 15th century: instead 'son or daughter of ', the first name of the father was transformed to a surname. Due to the fact that his children became the surname that was derived from his first name, the surname was not a family-name. That took place in the 18th century where surnames became steady.

Before that time you should see lineages such as:

Thomas Beckers, marr. Mary Jans, who has a son named:

|

Abel Thomassen, marr. Theodora Peters

|

Martinus Aben, marr. Johanna Bartels

(Thomas became Thomassen, Abel became Aben and Martinus became Martens)

There are many examples of such a transformation in the lineages on my site.

In general there are many ABEN in Europe who aren't in any way connected.

As far as I know there is no connection between your Aben and mine and I do not know of any Aben in Poland.

I hope you'll succeed in your quest.

With kind regards,

Roland Zwiebel"

http://www2.genealogy.net/gene/reg/OPRU/oprus.html Prussian History

In 1772 King Friedrich II annexed western Prussia (Westpreussen), without the Danzig territory, from the Kingdom of Poland, and united it with the duchy of Prussia (it now taking the name East Prussia). In 1793, King Friedrich Wilhelm II annexed the areas around Danzig and Thorn. In 1793 and 1795, larger areas of Poland were added, which were organized into the Provinces of South Prussia and New East Prussia. Like many countries in Eastern Europe at that time, the old Polish Kingdom was inhabited by many ethnic groups, and it is important not to confuse political loyalties with ethnic identities. Many loyal Polish subjects were not ethnically Polish. Western Prussia, including Danzig, had had a ethnic German majority for centuries, while a sizable German minority lived in the Thorn area. Other important ethnic groups, besides Poles, were Jews, Kaschubians and Masurians. Some locals even descended from hardy Scotsmen, who had fled to Danzig in the 16th century, and founded the suburb of Neuschottland (New Scotland).

The kingdom of Prussia at this time was not part of Germany. Königsberg was the capital and coronation city of the Prussian kings. Terms like the German army have no meaning for this time period.

Before 1806 Germany was one kingdom and empire with one Kaiser and one king who resided in Wien (Vienna). He was elected by the collegium of Kurfürsten (electors) who in 1800 were the 3 archbishops of Koeln (Cologne), Mainz and Trier and the 4 secular electors of Rheinland-Pfalz, Brandenburg, Sachsen (Saxony), and Boehmen (Bohemia).

The electors of Brandenburg and Sachsen had also ambitions to acquire the title of king. Since they could not acquire this title inside Germany they succeeded outside Germany: Brandenburg by declaring themselves "King in Prussia" at Königsberg in 1701, Sachsen by getting elected as King of Poland in 1697. The Kaiser in Wien was powerless to prevent this ploy.

The Prussian kings were as follows:

Kurfürst (Elector) Friedrich III was crowned first king Friedrich I in Königsberg in 1701, died 1712, his son was

King Friedrich Wilhelm I, 1712-1740, intolerant, his son was

King Friedrich II the Great (Old Fritz), 1740-1786, [introduced the potato!] his nephew was

King Friedrich Wilhelm II, 1786-1797, intolerant, his son was

King Friedrich Wilhelm III, 1797-1840, his son was

King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, 1840-1861, his brother was

King Wilhelm I, 1861-1888, became Kaiser 1871, his son was

Kaiser and King Friedrich III, 1888 (99 days), his son was

Kaiser and King Wilhelm II, 1888-1918.

In 1806 Napoleon Bonaparte conquered Europe and abolished the German empire and the title of Kaiser for Germany (capital: Wien [Vienna]). The Kaiser in Wien became Kaiser of Austria with no power in the rest of Germany. The titles of Kurfürst (elector) became meaningless and was abolished and changed to Kings of Bohemia, Prussia, Saxony, Bavaria, Wuerttemberg, and Hannover by Napoleon's grace. The archbishops and Catholic church had lost all their secular power in 1803.

After Napoleon's final defeat in 1815 the kingdom of Prussia became known as "Die Vereinigten Preussischen Staaten" (United Prussian States) which now also included provinces like Schlesien/Silesia, Brandenburg, Pommern/Pomerania and areas as far west as the Rhine province. Berlin now became the Prussian capital. Until 1806 the Hohenzollern sovereign had many titles and hats from Head of the Evangelic Church to King, Elector, Grandduke, Duke for the various regions and realms under his rule. After 1806 he simply was King of Prussia. Terms like German government or German army have no meaning for this time period until 1871.

In 1871 Germany as an empire with a Kaiser was re-established with Berlin as the capital of Germany and Prussia and with the Prussian king also having the title of German Kaiser. All monarchies in Germany were abolished in 1918 and Prussia was declared defunct in 1945 by the Allied victors. The original (East and West) Prussia was cleansed of its ethnic German population and given to Poland and Russia. The Western powers were silent on the ethnic cleansing of original Prussia and Eastern Germany resulting in 12 millions of German refugees.

Church Records

The Lutheran church kept official records from 1815-1874.

Civil Registration Records

Civil registers of births, marriages, deaths were introduced in October of 1874. The Civil registry office is called Standesamt. Before this time, the Lutheran church records (1815-1874) or special Dissidenten-Register (1847-1874) served as official registers, and a duplicate copy was deposited at the local court (Amtsgericht). Many of the Standesamt civil registers have survived in the Southern part of Ostpreussen (East Prussia) which was annexed by Poland in 1945. The story is quite different in the Northern part of Ostpreussen annexed by the Soviet Union in 1945 as the Kaliningrad Oblastj. The Red Army followed a deliberate course of annihilation and looting. Records had no priority for saving, art treasures and books were destroyed or taken to Russia. The burned-out Royal castle in Königsberg was levelled as late as the Brezhnev era. In 1997, the Russian parliament, the Duma, voted against returning German records and artifacts, overriding a veto by Russian President Yeltsin.

Religious Divisions

The majority in 1890 was Evangelical (83.5%); the Catholics (12.8%) were concentrated in the four Kreise of Ermland (Allenstein, Braunsberg, Heilsberg and Roessel).

As for the Aben history, it is not easy to find. My mother considers my grandfather to be of German heritage. Aben could be a derivation of German ''Abend" meaning evening, which seems to be the meaning in Danish (åben) also. With genealogy searches, I find the Aben name only in the Netherlands. In the German telephone books, I find Aben families only in northern Germany - no families below Cologne / Köln. If the rumors are correct that our Abens came from Stetten (German: Stettin, Polish: Sczczecin?) - today's Poland, formerly part of German Empire or Prussia - then you can imagine the Aben movement from east to west along the former Hanseatic trade cities of northern Europe!

Sometimes the word Aben comes up in Spanish. I don't know what it means or if it is a Spanish surname, but a probable Aben genealogy could relate to the historical connection between Spain and the Netherlands. The following excerpts from various emails from Frank Aben, a history lover, shines a light on my speculations:

"Subject: Re: Aben genealogy

Dates: 31 Mar to 1 Apr 1999

Hi Katie,

...I reread your first email and can understand why they could come from Stettin. This has nothing to do with the Hanzeatic league. After the great religious wars the house of Brandenburg-Prussia had very close ties with the house of Orange and this continued up til the Napoleontic era. Many craftsmen resettled in Prussia to help cultivate the area (If I'm correctly informed either stettin or konigsberg (Kallingrad) still has part of the city in typical 17th century dutch buildingstyle.) and it wouldn't be such a crazy thought your ancestors were a part of this. I know up til this century most of them were small-time farmers (most of them in the ardennes still are actually) and in an area ravaged by war and filled with bogs and bad land the expertise of wetland farming was a welcome craft in those regions...

...Hanseatic league never really encouraged resettling and most people in that day and age didn't use last names, so immigration to the area had to be of later date. Most likely they moved there somewhere between 1650 and 1805. Prussia had acquired some areas o the rhine and along the modernday dutch/german Border, so an ambitious Aben wanting to climb the social ladder might've resettled. Who knows...anything is possible...

...Okay...now, the european Abens are basically based in Flanders, the ardennes and the southern netherlands, with their core in the area around Antwerp. Rumour has it we fled the spanish oppresion there because our ancestors were part of the radical protestant revolts of the time. We're still checking on that because the records of those days were mostly lost in the numerous wars fought in the area, but chances are you'll be able to backtrack the lineage til the mid 1600's....

It might well be that some of them settled there. Know my branch of the family never moved beyond southwest of the Rhine so to say."...

...What I gathered from them the family originated from the Flemish part of modernday Belgium, a place called "het Westkwartier", which is basically the area south and west of Antwerp under the name of LU. this changed through abt van-lu to Aben (don't ask me how exactly. I was 10 when they explained it all to me >) )....

... Anyways, during the religious wars of the 16th and 17th century they scattered over northern europe. My branch can be found mainly in the southern part of the Netherlands and the Ardennes. The "westkwartier" still seems to harbour most Aben's in the world....

Going purely on last names though it's more likely tat they settled there in the post-napoleontic era (when last names became mandatory) or that there's two complete different trees of Aben's out there....

...I did some looknin around on www.ancestry.com and according to death certificates there's a group in Michigan and a group in NY. One of the Abens mentioned there was an immigrant from Belgium. I suggest you look into it, because it will help you track down most US based Abens with ease. I never delved deep into it mainly because it was US based and there was a pricetag on most information...."

"Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 08:42:22 +0200

hey there,

Well..seems you got a hook.

Prussia has always been known for an efficient populace headcount (given the fact they had conscription since forever there. At least since the 1720's) So if one Aben shows up there should be more Abens popping upleft right and center >)

Dunno however how many of the draftrecords have been saved after the war. Especially the area of Mecklenburg/Pommerania had suffered extensive damage, but it might be worth to check. Experience tells me most records can be traced back til 1650 AD...anything you find of before that time is short of a miracle.ESPECIALLY in Germany (or anywhere else in Northern Europe and France.)

oh..one thing I haven't thought of and that came to me as I was typing this. Your best bet for easy searching is the mormon church. They got THE most extensive geneaology database in the world (has something to dowith their belief or so) Dunno if they got their center in Salt Lake or Atlanta, but my bet is

if you contact the local Mormons they'd be able to direct you in the right direction. With the leads you got so far they're a good bet to discover more of the branches of your familyand maybe even more of the stem.

okay..so far from me. Good luck

-Frank"

"Katie:

> Thanks again for all your history background. I am so glad this is all moving somewhere! But I am afraid this means we are'nt distant cousins? Do you think the Dutch and German Abens are 2 distinct lineages? That would be sad for me.

>

[Frank Aben]

Don't really think they're 2 distinct lineages, but the split is somewhere beginning 19th century (your findings would support this) In the end we all derive from the Belgian Abens really ;-P It's not a name like mueller or fischer or so indicating a profession and it isn't a such'n'so son, so knowing history a little at ground zero we come from the same ancestors.

> I don't know much about Mormons but I think they have to research back 7 generations, but don't ask me why. But good for genealogists!

>

[Frank Aben]

Has something to do with Armageddon and the end of time so all ancestors of mormons can be asked to convert and live in paradise with the family...Not sure about the details but it was something like that.

> The Mormons or Latter Day Saints just started a search site:

> http://www.familysearch.org/Search/customhomepage.asp

>

> Abens and anything sounding like it show up but I have not seen a match - yet!

>

see ya,

Frank"

A Rootsweb surname search turned up a request for Mecklenburg- Vorpommern Bundeslander (Federal State) in Germany. This state was in the former East Germany and is near Stettin in today's Poland:

Jochim Heinrich Christoph Aben ca 1748 in Brüel. It was posted by R. Kramer from 06112 Halle.

"> Onderwerp: Genealogy: Aben

>

> Hello!

>

> I did a search for "Aben" and your name came up for the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Bundesland, Germany. I do not know if we have a connection. But I would appreciate any advice you can give me. I am a beginner and started as a promise to my mother last Christmas.

>

> My mother is an Aben and her great grandfather came from somewhere in Prussia. My cousin thinks near Stettin.

"Hello dear Katie!

Thank you for your very very interesting letter! I needed some time for the translation. My english is not so god.

I am interesting in all ABEN I can find. Stettin- area is near my Schwerin- area. My ancestor Jochim Heinrich Christoph Aben cames to Brüel around 1770. I think he was a immigrant. The older people in our family say: He cames from Flandern. Thats way I looked for dates around Netherland and Belgium. There is a book "The ABEN- family from Mill" in a library in netherland. I have to look for

the right title.

A researcher in the US, with ancestors from Belgium, says: the ABEN cames from Abensberg in Bayern (south-germany). In the 14 century Aben lived in Quedlinburg and means: noble descent. This information I got from the book: "Die Familiennamen Quedlinburgs und der Umgebung" author: Dr. phil. Selmar Kleemann, 1891

At home I have an old dead-body-sermon for Martin Aben *9.10.1558, +Salzungen in Thüringen 23.11.1626 (Thüringen near Bayern). A other Aben was born around 1685 in Halle- Saale (middle of germany). He went to Braunschweig. And Braunschweig has connections to Mecklenburg. It is a example for a route from south to north.

-

But I think: the words " ... Anyways, during the religious wars of the 16th and 17th century they scattered over northern europe." are the decisive words in your correspondence and the important movement was from west to east (line: Franc, Belgium and Netherland - Mecklenburg - Stettin )

I added only some little pages about various ABEN /Aven on my homepage:

htpp://mitglied.tripod.de/GinaKramer/index.htm. You can watch.

>From time to time I am going to add more dates.can watch.

Unfortunately I have no material about the Stettin- area. I have only the most marriage-register for Mecklenburg- Schwerin from the beginning till 1800 and the complete register of the census in 1819.

But what about ship-lists?

Thats all for today. I hope you can understand my english and I hear from you.

Many greatings: Regina from germany"

As a naive researcher, I just recently came across the idea of spelling surnames as they sound (soundex / miramex: A-150). This is what happened at immigration ports where immigrants did not speak English and those recording names - as at Ellis Island - were there because they could read and write, not because they spoke the mother-tongue of the diverse immigrants. So, at a conference of the Genealogy Association of English Speaking Researchers in Europe (GAESRE) in Germany (whit"jas-net.de) - depending upon if my ancestor prounounced Aben with a long or short AA" - I found out that Aben could be spelled: Abin, Abyn, Aeben, Ahben, Abben, Abend, Ayben, Ebin, Ebyn, Eben, Ebben, Eyben.

Here are more ideas about the origin of the surname Aben and the possibility of unrelated lineages of Abens in Europe:

"Subj: Aben-family

Date: Tue, 06 Apr 1999 22:02:55 +0200

Dear Mrs Pletcher Meyers,

Sory that I did not answer your e-mail sooner. But I had only 3 persons with the name ABEN in my familytree, namely ABEN, Cornelia, born 09-04-1755 at Oeffelt, province Noord-Brabant in The Netherland and her father ABEN, Antonis and mother JANS, Maria and Cornelia's twinsister ABEN, Aldegonde. Therefor I have looking in the archives in 's-Hertogenbosch.

Baptism: 27 April 1828, Inspektor H. Ludwig Carl Heinr. Tausch /Golchen

Confirmation: 1842, confirmed Brüel

Emigration: Bet. 1850 - 1853, At abt 22 yrs old; direct to North American?⁸

Naturalization: Bet. 1855 - 1858, not sure of date or place

Property: 1900, farmed 50 acres, State Street now Southfield Road

Residence: Bef. January 1914, 3857 Fort Street

There was not US Naturalization Service or INS prior to 27 Sept. 1906 (nonaturalization records for Ludwig?)

Buried in Woodmere Cemetery Sec. A, 952 sw 74. Aben and Kruger lots are near each other.

General Rule: The Two-Step Process

Congress passed the first law regulating naturalization in1790 (1 Stat. 103). As a general rule, naturalization was a two-step process that took a minimum of 5years. After residing in the United States for 2 years, an alien could file a "declaration of intent" (so-called "first papers") to become a citizen. After 3 additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization." After the petition was granted, a certificate ofcitizenship was issued to the alien. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court. As a general rule, the "declaration of intent" generally contains more genealogically useful information than the "petition." The "declaration" may include the alien's month and year (or possibly the exact date) of immigration into the United States.

Exceptions to the General Rule

Having stated this "two-step, 5-year" general rule, it is necessary to note several exceptions.

The first major exception was that "derivative" citizenship was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized

men automatically became citizens. This also meant that an alien woman who

married a U.S. citizen automatically became a citizen. (Conversely, an American

woman who married an alien lost her U.S. citizenship, even if she never left the

United States.) From 1790 to 1940, children under the age of 21 automatically

became naturalized citizens upon the naturalization of their father. Unfortunately,

however, names and biographical information about wives and children are rarely

included in declarations or petitions filed before September 1906. For more information about women in naturalization records, see Marian L. Smith, "Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802-1940," Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives, Vol. 30, No. 2 (Summer 1998): 146-153.

The second major exception to the general rule was that, from 1824 to 1906, minor aliens who had lived in the United States 5 years before their 23rd birthday could file both their declarations and petitions at the same time.

The third major exception to the general rule was the special consideration given to veterans. An 1862 law allowed honorably discharged Army veterans of any war to petition for naturalization--without previously having filed a declaration of intent--after only 1 year of residence in the United States. An 1894 law extended the same no-previous-declaration privilege to honorably discharged 5-year veterans of the Navy or Marine Corps. Over 192,000 aliens were naturalized between May 9, 1918, and June 30, 1919, under an act of May 9, 1918, that allowed aliens serving in the U.S. armed forces during "the present war" to file a petition for naturalization without making a declaration of intent or proving 5 years' residence. Laws enacted in 1919, 1926, 1940, and 1952 continued various preferential treatment provisions for veterans.

Same Middle names: All boys named Henry after father, girls Augusta after mother! Seem same as Ludwig and his father.

[Aben.FTW]

(Heinrich - per Hilda's baptism certificate 18 Sep 1898)

retired famer born in Ecorse Township, MI, USA. Died at 71, 1 mth and 16 days. (from Bible above) [Michigan death certificate 581 106, register No. 24, city Lincoln Park, Wanye Co. Residence was 1726 Cleophus St. for 27 yrs.]

[Pletcher.FTW]

Family spoke German.

Religion: 1898, Ev -Evangelisch=English -Lutheran?

Residence: 1626 Cleophus Parkway, Detroit?, MI;USA³⁸

Augusta(e) Henrietta(e) Wilhelmina(e) or Wilhelmeina(e)

(Backaus? on death certificate),

(13 Feb 1866 - 25 November 1937) born in Springwells, MI, USA. Housewife died at 71 yrs, 9 mth, 12 days [Michigan death certificate 584 254, register No 52, Lincoln Park, Wayne co. Residence 1728 Cleophus St. (not 1726 as with husband Henry)].

All their children born in Allen Park or Lincoln Park, Michigan; all except Hilda are buried in Glen Eden Memorial Park; 35667 8 Mile Rd, Livonia, Michigan 48152; Tel.: (248) 477-4460. [Pletcher.FTW]

[Aben.FTW]

January 19-20, 1920 - Edison Rd in Oakwood Village in Ecorse Township (the last line of my photocopy has the start of this family):

Dora - wife (nothing else visible on my photocopy)

Jon Heft

Property: Bet. 19 - 20 January 1920, Edison Rd, Oakwood Village, Ecorse Township

[Toms.FTW]

Did you know Mom and Pop [Florence nee Toms aka Trebilcock and Herm Aben] eloped? It was 1914 and they didn't want her to marry a German. When her sister (Hilda nee Toms aka Trebilcock Johns) was killed, I was less than a year old. Mom to [took] me to Virginia with her to help her mother through a bad time. I took my first steps there. Also in the package are three letters that Pop sent to her while she was there.

Military service: World War I Civilian Draft Registration Database

[Toms.FTW]

Florence Toms/Trebilcock and Herman "Herm" Aben were married either 1914-15. Winifred was born 7/7/1916 when mom was twenty. Married in Virginia, Minnesota.

The Trebilcock/Toms tried to book passage on the Titantic but it was full. They took another boat.

Adoption: Bef. 1913, by stepdad Samuel Trebilcock⁷³

Hilda's baptism certificate 18 Sep 1898, signed by a Johanna Aben and a Frederick Lang.

My Aunt Hilda Johanna Augusta(e) Aben Theel Le Blanc Harrell turned 101 on August 15th 1999. Here are some of her thoughts and memories compiled by her family:

"...I was born in Ecorse Township, Michigan, USA. My father was a farmer, and later was a janitor at Horger School, Lincoln Park, Michigan. My mother was a homemaker.

Some of my most memorable times we had together as a family were the get-togethers at Grandpa and Grandma Backus' house. The men would sit together and talk in the back yard and the women were in the house fixing food and cleaning up. Cousin Edna (Lange) and I would go outside and play....

One hot summer day my father bought straw hats for the boys for protection from the sun. When he caught them one day without their hats, my dad took each one and held him upside down in the rain barrel. The boys always wore their hats after that!

My grandparents on my mother's side were the Backhaus'. They were both born in Prussia. The original spelling was later changed to Backus by the children of Amelia, my aunt. My grandfather on my father's side was Ludwig Aben. Backus and Aben both resided in what was originally Ecorse Township.

Grandpa Backus built a brick house, which still stands on Englewood in what is now Allen Park. We visited Grandma and Grandpa Backus often, and always on August 3rd to celebrate Grandma's birthday. She was a nice old lady. I remember one time she cooked fat pork and potatoes for me before I walked home through the fields (two farms) in the dark.

One day one of the Backus' sons, August, was sitting on his front porch and shot Uncle Louie's (his brother) cow which was in its own yard.

I remember grandpa Aben had a beard. They lived on Sanctum Line (Pepper Road) where they farmed. Grandpa also grew apricot trees.

One of the first memories I can recall as a child, our family lived in a log cabin and paid $300.00 a year rent. Later our landlord built a 3 bedroom house on State Street, now Southfield Road. My parents farmed 50 acres. We kids would play Hide & Seek and Tag.

A memorable incident I remember from my childhood is when I sang "Everybody's Doing It" (a dance called the >'Turkey Trot"). I got a whipping from my dad!

The only pet I had as a child was Shep, a sheepdog.

Christmas was different when I was a child. We were poor. We didn't have a tree. My mother would fix a soup plate for each one with a banana, an orange and an apple, a few cream candies and a few chocolate drops. I got an undressed doll one year, a premium from the Union Tea Company, that my mother bought baking powder from.

My mother always roasted a goose for Christmas. She raised them herself.

We never went to the movies. I never bought a candy bar. The only >'trip" I had was to go to the market with my mother. We took the horse and buggy!

I remember my mother's cooking. Fred liked her chicken soup. My favorite was her potato pancakes.

In my neighborhood, all of the people were farmers. William Raupp was one of the few men who didn't drink, but everyone in the area knew that Mrs. Raupp did!

When I started school, I was about 7 years old. My favorite subjects were Spelling and Language. I didn't like History. I went to Strowig School.

My favorite teacher was Hattie La Belle Johnson. She was patient. She taught all 8 grades in one room.

I walked to school each day - a mile each way. I liked to play baseball. [photo of Hilds's 8th grade diploma from May 29, 1912].

My first date - My cousin, Joe Tuchelski, took me to the Rex Theatre when I was 16. We rode the Fort Street Car.

I remember as a teenager, I did housework until I was 18. Then I worked for Mrs. Kretchman, whose husband owned a bar.

Other than housework, I was a telephone operator once. I worked at the Main Office at Woodward Avenue and Fort Street. It was a long ride by street car back and forth. I sat at the switchboard, plugging in the numbers requested. I really liked that job!

Rudolph Theel was the brother of Mathilda Coll, who introduced him to me. He was a good-looking red head....

Samuel P. LeBlanc - Sam's brother, Joe, who was a school custodian, knew my father. He told my father there was an opening for a key operator in the telegraph office at the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit. The hours were 12 midnight to 8a.m. This is where Sam worked....

...We bought our first house, 12894 Omaha, Detroit, for abut $4000.00.

Our first car was a Chalmers touring car that Sam already owned. Later he bought a Dodge sedan. Our yearly outing was a drive to the beach for swimming and a family picnic....

As an adult, I enjoyed several hobbies and pastimes, including - card playing, Fishing, Bowling, Crocehting, Baking/Cooking and gardening.

For two years I was President of the Ladies Aid of Calvary Lutheran Church in Lincoln Park, Michigan."

After reading this, I remember my mom said her dad raised rabbits. She had goose with apple and raisin stuffing for Christmas. When she visited us for Christmas 1978, my husband Gary roasted a goose with apple and raisin stuffing for her. I also remember that my dad drove a trolley in Detroit for awhile in the 1940's.

Baptism: 18 September 1898, Lutheran; certificate in GERMAN

Education: 29 May 1912, 8th grade, Strowig School

Residence: 2000, Aurora, Colorado

George and Hilda Aben Theel LeBlanc Harrell had no children.

[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1 A-L, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.2598.138]

Individual: Aben, Emery

Social Security #: 362-09-0529

Issued in: Michigan

Birth date: 25 May 1903

Death date: 30 Jan 1990

Social Security Number: Social Security #: 362-09-0529¹⁶⁰

Residence: Bet. 1973 - 1994, Lincoln Park, MI 48146

Social Security Number: 1963, 377-48-5632

[frank_aben.FTW]

Born in 1901, Elie lost his father at about the age of 9 year old in 1910. He was orphaned at the age of 16. For the next several years, Elie and his two brothers were shunted from family member to family member. It was commonly thought that properties of his mother may have been taken over by other family members at the time of his mother's death.

Elie met Mary Magdalen Fahndrich sometime around 1921-1922. They were married at the St. Francis Xavier Church in Ecorse Michigan. Their first and only child Gerald Joseph was born August 2, 1922.

Many stories are told about the home that Elie and Magdalen owned at 36 Perrin street in River Rouge. Thier home for several years, this one story bungalow provided a friendly place where friends and family alike would gather. More intersting things took place in the garage 'out back'. Apparently Elie's younger brother was involved with the 'rumrunning' trade on the Detroit River. During prohitibion, the 'boys' dug a basement in the garage, while convincing the police officer accross the alley that they were putting in a footing for the garage. This 20x10x4 foot basement was accessed by a fake workbench that folded away from the wall on hinges. Contraband liquor was brought in by trucks that would enter the garage from the front and leave by the back.

Elie, a mechanic, would apparently tend to the speedboats that were used by the rumrunners. It is told that on one occasion, that he was asked to leave Canada while working on a boat for one of the rumrunners.

Burial: 24 February 1976, HOLY SEPULCHRE, southfield, Oakland County, MICHIGAN¹⁶⁶

1. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

2. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

3. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

4. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

5. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

6. Statewide death index Wayne Co. Detroit, #.

7. 1860 MI Census, Greenfield Twp, pg. 113 and 1870 MI Census, p.76R.: Ecorse, Wayne Co., Michigan..

8. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

9. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

10. Genealogical Death Indexing System - Michigan; Ledger pages: 275, record # 1452..

11. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

12. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

13. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

14. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

15. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

16. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

17. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

18. 1860 MI Census, Greenfield Twp, pg. 113 and 1870 MI Census, p.76R.: Ecorse, Wayne Co., Michigan..

19. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

20. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

21. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

22. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

23. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

24. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

25. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

26. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

27. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

28. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

29. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

30. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

31. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

32. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

33. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

34. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

35. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

36. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

37. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

38. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

39. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

40. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

41. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

42. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

43. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

44. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

45. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

46. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

47. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

48. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

49. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

50. 1860 MI Census, Greenfield Twp, pg. 113 and 1870 MI Census, p.76R.: Ecorse, Wayne Co., Michigan..

51. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

52. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

53. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

54. 1860 MI Census, Greenfield Twp, pg. 113 and 1870 MI Census, p.76R.: Ecorse, Wayne Co., Michigan..

55. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

56. frank_aben.FTW, Date of Import: 10 Jun 2000.

57. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

58. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

59. frank_aben.FTW, Date of Import: 10 Jun 2000.

60. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

61. frank_aben.FTW, Date of Import: 10 Jun 2000.

62. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

63. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

64. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

65. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

66. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

67. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

68. Michigan Certificate of Death, State file # 0005594.

69. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

70. Michigan Certificate of Death, State file # 0005594, Allen Park Convalescent Home, Wayne County, Michigan, USA.

71. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

72. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

73. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

74. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

75. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

76. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

77. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

78. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

79. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

80. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

81. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

82. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

83. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

84. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

85. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

86. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

87. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

88. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

89. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

90. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

91. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

92. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

93. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

94. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

95. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

96. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

97. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

98. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

99. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

100. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

101. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

102. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

103. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

104. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: 5 Sep 1999.

105. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

106. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Nov 20, 1999.

107. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

108. Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.62962.131

109. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

110. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

111. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

112. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

113. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

114. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

115. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

116. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

117. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

118. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

119. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

120. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

121. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

122. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

123. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

124. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

125. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

126. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

127. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

128. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

129. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

130. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: Jun 11, 2000.

131. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

132. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

133. Johns.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

134. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

135. Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.2598.140

136. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: Jun 11, 2000.

137. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

138. Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.2598.140

139. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: Jun 11, 2000.

140. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

141. Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Jun 11, 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.2598.157

142. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

143. Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.2598.140

144. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: Jun 11, 2000.

145. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

146. Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.2598.140

147. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: Jun 11, 2000.

148. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000.

149. Burial in Woodmere Cemetery Inc.; 9400 W Fort St.; Detroit, Michigan, Tel. (313) 841-0188.

150. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

151. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

152. Toms.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

153. Aben.FTW, Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

154. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: 2 Sep 1999.

155. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: Sep 2, 1999.

156. Marriage witnesses-Frederic Lorenz of Detroit & August Bochert of Greenfield (researched . Gravestone in Woodmere Cemetary, Lot A1 per Gerald J. Aben., Date of Import: 31 Aug 1999.

157. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 3, 1999.

158. Pletcher.FTW, Date of Import: Sep 5, 1999.

159. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

160. Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1, Ed. 6, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: 11 Jun 2000, Internal Ref. #1.111.6.2598.138

161. frank_aben.FTW, Date of Import: 10 Jun 2000.

162. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

163. frank_aben.FTW, Date of Import: 10 Jun 2000.

164. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

165. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 17 Nov 1999.

166. frank_aben.FTW, Date of Import: 10 Jun 2000.

167. all-fam.FTW, Date of Import: 15 Sep 1999.

168. frank_aben.FTW, Date of Import: 10 Jun 2000.