The sixtieth wedding anniversary of Sebastian Kirchenschlager and wife was celebrated last Monday at their home in this city.  It was a happy event in the lives of this venerable couple who are among the very few who have gone down the pathway of wedded life together for sixty years. Six of their nine children were present.  They were Mrs. Gus White, Mrs. R. R. Clark, and Miss Emma and John who reside here.  Mrs. Carl A. Anderson of Athol and Josie Hillman of Galesburg, Ill. The absent ones were Henry of Monrovia, Calif; Mrs. John Woolley, of Tulare, City, Calif., and William of Kahoka, Mo.

They were married at Washington, O., and came here eighteen years ago.  Mr. Kirchenschlager was 85 years of age last December and his was was 80 last May.  They were given a nice easy chair--a present from their daughters.

The appropriate lines by their daughter Mrs. Carl Anderson of Athol, fittingly tell the story of this worthy couple when they joined hands for life's journey together, sixty years ago:

Sebastian Kirchenschlager, who had been in declining health for many months, died at his home the northeast part of town Tuesday* night at the age of nearly eighty-six years.  His funeral will be held tomorrow forenoon at the Methodist church, of which denomination he had long been a faithful and consistent member.  Burial will be in Fairview cemetery.  The deceased and his good wife, who survives at the age of eighty, came to this place eighteen years ago.  The 10th of last month they had the pleasure of celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary and had with them at that time six of their nine children.

The names and postoffice addresses of their nine children follow: Mesdames R. R. Clark and Gus White, Miss Emma and John Kirchenschlager, all of this place; Mrs. Carl Anderson of Athol; Mrs. Josie Hillman, Galesburg, Ill.; Henry Kirchenschlager, Monrovia, Calif.; Mrs. John Woolley, Tulare City, Calif.; and Will Kirchenschlager of Kohoka, Mo.  The son Henry, who had not seen his parents in twenty years, was here and had a good visit with them only a short time ago, and went home with the thought that he would never see his father again.

*All succeeding documents indicate Sebastian died on September 23, which fell on a Wednesday in 1914.

Sebastian Kirchenschlager was born in Lombuthum, Germany, December 11, 1828, and died at Smith Center, Kans., September 23, 1914, aged 85 years, 3 months and 12 days.  At the age of 19, he with his parents, came to America and located at Chillicothe, Ohio.  In the year 1854 he was united in marriage to Mariah Elizabeth George to which union nine children were born, all of whom with his wife are still living.  The children are: Mrs. Gus White, Mrs. R. R. Clark, Mrs. C. G. Anderson, John and Emma Kirchenschlager, all living in this county; Mrs. J. K. Woolley and Henry Kirchenschlager of California; Wm. Kirchenschlager of Kahoke, Mo., and Mrs. Josie Hillman of Illinois.

In the year 1856 he moved with his family to Illinois and located at Plymouth.  In 1860 he and his wife united with the M. E. church.  He lived in Illinois until the year 1896 and then came to Smith Center, Kans., and lived here until the time of his death.  His consistent christian life has been an inspiration to all.

After 87 years and 7 months and 35 days this devout soul escaped from a tired and pain worn body, on January 12th, 1922, and her life passed into treasured memory for her nine children and twenty-six grandchildren, and fourteen great grandchildren.  For the past year she has been just outside the heavenly gate, knocking for admission, and hoping that it would open to receive her, into that land where the weary are at rest.  Mrs. Krchenschlager was a refined, modest woman, possessing that rarest of all attainments, the charm of a sweet and gracious disposition.  Her life was full of sunshine. It was a common saying of her friends, "Grandma is loved by all."  To know her was to love her. Patient and faithful she has performed the duties attendant upon her as a wife and mother, bearing burdens and knowing well the meaning of sacrifice.

Mary Elizabeth George was born in Wisenhassel, Germany, May 18, 1834.  She came to America with her parents, when five years of age.  She grew to womanhood in Virginia, and was married to S. Kirkenschlager August 10, 1854 in Washington, Ohio.  To this union nine children were born.  Mrs. Gus White of Smith Center, at whose home the mother died.  Mrs. R. R. Clark and Emma of Smith Center, Mrs. Nan Bartlett of Long Beach, Calif; Mrs. Mary Anderson of Lawrence, Kans; Mrs. Josie Hilman of Galesburg, Ill; Will of Garman, Ill; Henry of Monrovia, Calif; John of Mountain Grove, Mo.  She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, having confessed her Savior when quite young.  Her husband preceded her to the life beyond September 23, 1914.  Her funeral was conducted from the Smith Center Methodist church January 14, at 2 o'clock, Revs. Fisher and Arthur in charge.

Sebastian Kirchenschlager was the son of Sebastian and Elizabeth Kirchenschlager, and they were indeed located in Chillicothe, Scioto Township, Ross County, Ohio, in 1850.  The elder Sebastian apparently died prior to June 1, 1870.

Assessing the statement that Sebastian and Maria were married in Washington, Ohio: a marriage license was issued to Maria George (misspelled Geroge on an index) and Sebastian Kirchenslager in Fayette County, Ohio.  They were married on August 10, 1854, which matches the dates reported in the above news items.  Fayette County borders the northwest corner of Ross County.  The Fayette county seat is a municipality named Washington Court House.  See maps of Fayette County and Ross County presented by Wikipedia. Return to this webpage with your browser back indicator.

Sebastian's obituary stated that the move to Illinois was made in 1856.  This dovetails with George family history, which reported that Maria's parents, John George and Catherine Kube, came to Illinois in 1855.  The Georges settled in Hire Township, McDonough County.  Whether or not Sebastian and Maria actually lived in the town of Plymouth (also from Sebastian's obituary), is unconfirmed, but it's safe to say they lived for a time in St. Mary's Township, Hancock County; they were counted there in the 1860 Federal census.  In 1870 they were in Fountain Green Township, Hancock County, and in 1880 they were in Hire Township, McDonough County.

In addition to Sebastian and Maria, most of their children also eventually left Illinois.  Son John may have led the way; his eldest child born in Kansas in the fall of 1892.

The nine Kirchenschlager children were:

i.	Catherine "Kate" Kirchenschlager, born in 1855 in Ohio, perhaps Ross County.  She died in 1942 and was buried at Fairview Cemetery near her parents.  At right, Kate with her husband, Gus White, in 1888.	Gus and Kate
ii.	John Kirchenschlager, born about 1858.  He died after January 1, 1920.
iii.	Nancy Jane Kirchenschlager, born February 18, 1858, in Hancock County.  John Karl Woolley was a native Illinoisan, born in either Hancock or McDonough County on February 1, 1857.  He was the son of Pardon Woolley and Maria L. Coney. On September 23, 1879, Augustus White, Nancy's brother-in-law, applied for a McDonough County marriage license for John Woolley, age 23, and Miss Nancy Kirchenschlager, age 20.  The application stated that both parties were "single and unmarried". McDonough County license #491 was issued and John and Nancy were married on the same day at Macomb by J. H. Baker, County Judge.  Marriage Documents In 1880 Nancy and John were in Walnut Grove Township, McDonough County.  In 1900 and 1910 they were living in Los Angeles County, California.  John died September 13, 1916, in Tulare, Tulare County, California.  Nancy subsequently married Daniel C. Bartlett and was again widowed (according to the census listing) before April 1, 1930.  She died after that date.
iv.	William Kirchenschlager, born about 1862, died after January 1, 1920.  Will remained in Illinois when his parents and most of his siblings moved to Kansas.  He taught school for some period of time, married (twice) locally, lived also in Missouri.
v.	Henry Kirchenschlager, born about 1864.  Henry married Elizabeth Bradley, from Canada, had several children and lived for a number of years in Los Angeles County, California.  He died after January 12, 1922.
vi.	Ella M. Kirchenschlager, born about 1866.  In 1887 Ella was teaching at Woodville School District 105 in Hancock Township, Hancock County.  In 1900 she and husband Russell R. Clark (born about 1855 in Iowa) were counted in the household immediately following her parents in Smith County, Kansas.  Ella died after January 12, 1922.
vii.	Mary E. Kirchenschlager, born about 1869, died after January 12, 1922.
viii.	Emma Frances Kirchenschlager, born November 17, 1871.  Emma also taught school in Illinois before the family left for Kansas. The Republican Carthage, Illinois - April 6, 1892 Excerpted from Pansy's East Fountain Green column: Emma Kirchenschlager commenced her school at Shake Rag Monday; Rosetta Schuerer at Eagle. In 1900 Emma was living with her brother-in-law and sister, John and Nancy Woolley, in Monrovia, Californa; her occupation was listed as teacher, but she had been unemployed for a full year.  In 1910 she was a nurse in Denver, Colorado.  By 1920 she had returned to Kansas, perhaps to aid her widowed mother.  Emma died March 21, 1950, in Los Angeles County, California, apparently never married.
ix.	Josephine "Josie" Kirchenschlager, born about 1874.  She married Art Hillman and remained in Illinois.  She died after January 12, 1922.

Boston Keasenslagle, 35, male, laborer, born Germany
Elizabeth, 34, female, born Germany
Solaston, 22, male, carriage maker, born Germany
John, 17, male, cooper, born Germany
Elizabeth, 16, female, born Germany
Catharine, 11, female, born Germany
Martin, 8, male, born Germany, attended school within the year

See 1860 and 1870 listings for this family, below.  The ages for the elder Kirchenschlagers were understated by a decade in this census year.

Sebastian [or Sabastian] Kerchenschlager, 32, male, farmer, value of real estate 300, value of personal estate 175, born Germany state unknown
Mary, 24, female, born Germany state unknown
Catherine, 5, female, born OH
John, 3, male, born IL
Nancy, 1, female, born IL

Kirchenslager, S, 41, male, white, wagon maker, value of real estate - 1000, value of personal estate - 200, born Darmstadt, both parents foreign born, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Mary E, 36, female, white, keeping house, born Prussia, father foreign born, mother foreign born
Catherine, 14, female, white, born OH, father foreign born, mother foreign born, attended school within the year
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Kerchenschlager, John, 12, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Nancy, 10, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
William, 8, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Henry, 6, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Ella, 3, female, white, born IL, both parents foreign born
Mary E, 1, male, white, born IL, both parents foreign born

Kirchenschlager, S, white, male, 51, married, farmer, born Germany, both parents born Germany
Mariah, white, female, 45, wife, married, keeps house, born Germany, both parents born Germany
John, white, male, 23, son, single, works on farm, born IL, both parents born Germany
William, white, male, 19, son, single, works on farm, born IL, both parents born Germany
Henry, white, male, 17, son, single, helps on farm, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany
Ella, white, female, 14, daughter, single, at home, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany
Mary, white, female, 11, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany
Emma, white, female, 9, daughter, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany
Joseph [sic], white, male [sic], 6, son, single, at school, attended school within the year, born IL, both parents born Germany

Kirkenslayer, Sebastian [or Sabastian, last portion partially obscured], head, white, male, Dec 1829, 71, married for 46 years, born Germany, both parents born Germany, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1848, number of years in the U.S. - 52, naturalized, [occupation - no entry], spoke English, owned his home free of mortgage

Mariah ? [last letter partially obscured], wife, female, May 1834, 66, married for 46 years; mother of 9 children, all living; born Germany, both parents born Germany, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1839, number of years in the U.S. - 61

Kirchenschlager, S, head, male, white, 81, married (1st) for 55 years, born Germany, both parents born Germany, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1859 ; naturalized, spoke English, own income, could read and write, owned his home free of mortgage

Maria, wife, female, white, 75, married (1st) for 55 years; mother of 9 children, all living; born Germany, both parents born Germany, year of immigration to the U.S. - 1850, naturalized, spoke English, could read and write

George, grandson, male, white, 8, single, born MO, father born IL, mother born PA, spoke English, could read and write, attended school after April 1, 1909

Kirchenschlager, Maria, head, renter, female, white, 85, widow, year of immigration to the United States - 1839, naturalized, year of naturalization - 1854, could read and write; born Germany, native tongue German; both parents born Germany, native tongue German; spoke English

Emma, daughter, female, white, 48, single, could read and write, born IL, both parents born Germany, native tongue German; spoke English, nurse, [for] others, working for wages

George, grandson, male, white, 18, single, could read and write, born MO, both parents IL, spoke English, salesman, dry goods, working for wages

Sebastian Kirschenshlager, 55, male, laborer, born Hessen Darmstad
Elisabeth, 54, female, born Hessen Darmstad
Martin, 18, male, born Hessen Darmstad

Keim, Henry, 31, male, white, keeps ret grocery, value of real estate 5000, value of personal estate 1000, born Bavaria, both parents foreign born, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Catharine, 30, female, white, keeping house, born Hesse Darmstadt, both parents foreign born
Catharine, 9, female, white, attending school, born OH, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Anna, 5, female, white, attending school, born OH, both parents foreign born, attended school within the year
Albert, 11/12, male, white, born OH, both parents foreign born, born August
Kirchenschlager, Elizabeth, 64, female, white, lives with daughter, born Hesse Darmstadt, both parents foreign born
Ecterly, Mary, 18, female, white, domestic servant, born OH, both parents foreign born
Kirchenschlager, Martin, 27, male, white, keeps saloon, value of personal estate 1500, born Hesse Darmstadt, both parents foreign born, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more