RUNSER

Carol's cousin, Bob Runser, had done a lot of work earlier for "his" family ancestry and had contacted several other Runsers who also were working on the family. Bob loaned me what he had -- correspondence, data and a book with a family tree generated by Jonathan Runser. Some of the basic information about Runsers was a summary of vital information by a priest from a Catholic Church in Hesingue, Alsace, France. He read the Church records and identified marriages, births, and deaths associated with the Runsers. I looked for information in this summary that was related directly to Pierre Runser and Catherine Bisel, and their children. I identified 4 brothers, which is the number mentioned by Sebastian in his autobiography. Sebastian also stated that one brother had a hard time when he was with Napoleon - initially, I assumed he is the John who is recorded as having died in 1822. Therefore, the remaining 3 brothers, Jean George, Seraphim, and Fridolin would be the ones who left for America with their families. Information learned much latter leads me to a different conclusion. But, I will discuss this aspect later. Because of some information I posted, I was contacted by Calvin Henry who was starting genealogical work on the Runser family because his son was soon to marry into the Runser family. Cal had information on the Runsers who lived in Erie, PA and also did some reading of German records and found additional information about Pierre Runser and Catherine Bisel. He shared this information with me and I will also cover that later.

The information that Bob loaned me had a Cornelus Runser married to a Rossana Frey. However, Church records state that a Jean George Runser son of Pierre and Catherine married a Rosina Frey on April 16, 1815. Rossana versus Rosina are just too similar to be a different person. This would drop Cornelius out of the picture as had been postulated. The only Cornelius Runser found in later years was into a family whose paternal ancestor (a Pugh) carried the name Cornelius.

I entered much of the available information assembled by Jonathan Runser in his book into my PAF database, but only after checking it against the autobiography written by Sabastian Runser. I was fascinated by Sabastian's autobiography. So much so that I then electronically scanned the document, and subsequently manually corrected many character reading errors caused by both the scanning/conversion technology which at that time was limited to about a 95 percent accuracy at best and the poor quality of the typed pages - hard to distinguish among c, e, o etc. But now, as a result, there is a good readable copy of the autobiography. Unfortunately, it may still contain “reading” errors. But, hopefully, it retains only the “quaint” original spellings and phrasing. They may have been in the original, or they could have been caused by the reading and typing done by Jonathan. His was the labor of love.

A search of the ship records in the National Archives for 1832, the year in which the Runsers reportedly came to American, did not disclose any ship with Runsers. Records for other Runsers who did emigrate to America were found -- in 1817 and 1846, and from different areas, namely Strassbourg and Folgensburg. Bob Runser on a trip to Europe met a number of Runsers from Folgensburg, a town near to Hesingue in Alsace and they stated a family did emigrate to America. Unfortunately, Bob does not know the names of these family members.

My initial efforts identified the name of Bob's previously unknown g-
grandfather. This caused further concern regarding the family tree outlined by Jonathan Runser. I found a record that showed a Christopher Fillinger having married a Mary Runer on May 12, 1868, in Hocking, Ohio. Since Bob had told me that his g grandfather died soon after his grandfather's birth and that his g grandmother remarried a Fillinger, I immediately wondered if Runer were a spelling that reflected her being the widow of Bob Runser's ancestor. With a little bit of luck and persistence, I then found another record that showed a Mary Kunkler married to a John Runser on June 11, 1865, also in Hocking, Ohio. (Another marriage record showed that Mary Fillinger subsequently married a Myers, also in Hocking Co Ohio.) This provided both the last name of Bob's g-grandmother (Mary Kunkler) and told us that the g-grandfather was not F. Joseph Runser as had been speculated. It could also explain why, with all Bob's previous effort, he could not find any record of F Joseph! But, who was this John Runser?

Early on I believed one possible answer could be found in the records from the Catholic Church. Namely, that the brother, Jean George Runser, had a son Jean George Runser baptized Feb 6, 1827. A note from another Bob Runser, one who lived in Michigan and provided the Church records, stated that he had not translated the name Jean to John on the first 2 pages, but done so on subsequent pages. Therefore, could it be that the son of Jean George Runser, one of the 3 brothers, may have been this John Runser. Sabastian Runser did state that the family of a dead brother did come along with the Seriphim family to Ohio. Unfortunately, Sabastian did not provide any further discussion about that brother's family.

On the other hand, several e-mail pals provided me with information about their families, the Kunklers. Their records also indicated that a John Runser married a Mary Kunkler; but, there were a number of Mary/Marie Kunklers. In addition, the Kunkler information also has the Runser and Kunker families connected earlier in time. The parents of this Mary were Gallius Kunkler and Mary Ann Runser. The John Runser identified in this Kunkler data was born in about 1839, and would have been younger than the above Jean George Runser.

Carol's cousin Bob reported that during a genealogical trip to Ohio he and his wife Vera saw a grave stone in Ohio with the name John Runser, but he did not record or remember the birth/death dates; therefore, it was possible that this stone, should it contain such information, could help answer the question of who this John may be.

Carol and I visited Logan (Logan is the county seat for Hocking County) on genealogical side trip on our return from Colorado and looked for the gravestones. We were unsuccessful, so upon our return home I wrote a letter to the St. John's Church in Logan and explained what I was seeking. Jim Krannitz responded to my letter; he lives in Logan, Ohio, and has become an e-mail contact. He stated that he has seen the tombstones, but they are not where Carol and I looked. They are a few miles away, at the Old St John's Cemetery. There are 2 stones in that cemetery with the name Runser. One stone states - Joseph Runser, son of Joseph and Catherine Runser, and the other states - John Runser but the age portion can no longer be read. At this point in time I still couldn't identify who was John Runser.


Boats to AMERICA
During a trip to the Library of Congress, I happened upon a book, "Passenger Arrivals at the Port of New York 1830-1832,” transcribed by Elizabeth P. Bentley. The book identified the Runser families I had been searching for months to find, i.e., the Runser families described by Sebastian in his autobiograph and the Hesingue Church records. This transcription showed that there were more Runsers in the 3 families than had been identified in the Church records.

At the current time, boat records known to me identify 5 Runser families as having come to America. There probably are others, but I have not found any boat record for them. The first person, Nicolas Runser, came from Strasbourg in 1817; family members, if any, are not known. The families of 3 brothers - Seraphim Runser/Catherine Wickey, Fredolin Runser/Anna Marie Gruntz and Rosina (Frey) Runser/widow of Jean George Runser - from Hesingue, France came in 1832 on the boat Champion. A passenger listing identifies these adults along with their young charges. This listing is in good agreement with information from a Catholic Church in Hesingue France and the autobiography of Sabastian Runser, a son of Seraphim. The 5th family, a Philip Runser, with an unidentified wife and 6 children came from Folgensburg in 1846.

Federal census records have been found for "Runser" families that have not been linked to one other Runser families. This indicated to me that additional "Runser" families did come to America. For example, one census record shows both Runser parents and some of the children with a birth location of Germany. The younger children were born in America. Based upon the birth dates of the children, the date range of their immigration can be guessed as between 1833 and 1835. In other instances all the listed children in a Runser family were born in America; therefore, it is possible that the parents came as a children in separate families, and married later in America. Associating these adults with another family seldom happens unless there is an unusual name and a consistent birth year.

Patricia Menegetti, my knowledgeable source for Kunkler information, mentioned during a phone call that she had found naturalization information for a John Runser that did not seem to fit any of my other identified John Runsers. Reference is to Probate Case #31424, pg. 125 for John Runser May 1852, Cuyahoga Co., OH.

I recently relooked at the 1840 Federal Census record for Eric Co., PA and noted that there was both a John Runzer and a Frederick Runser on the same page.

I began to re-think who these John Runsers might be. Possibilities considered were the John who, according to Sebastian Runser’s autobiography, "died on the boat and was fed to the sharks" or the John with 3 wives. Both of these men were sons of Pierre, aka the French Runsers. I have been bothered by the autobiographical story told by Sebastian that one of the brothers died during the crossing ever since I found the passenger listing for the Boat Champion. The boat record does not show the third brother as even being a passenger, much less having died on the boat. Whereas, the boat manifest did show that a young sister of Sebastian was on the boat and that she died on the boat. Again this is contrary to the autobiography by Sebastian who said that his young sister died on the boat trip between New York and Buffalo and was passed over to somebody to bury. Perhaps, the 2 events were confused in his young mind.

These inconsistencies encouraged me to compare the composition of the 1840 John Runser family with the known (?) ages for the 2 postulated Johns (a Jean George and John) against the family composition shown in the 1840 census. Neither the age of Jean George or wife Rosina agree with the census. Nor did the ages for their boys and girls agree; also there were too many boys of the wrong ages and not enough girls. Therefore, even if Jean George did come over later and reunite with his wife, he was not the John Runser of the 1840 census. However, when I started to compare ages of the children of John Runser with the 3 wives, I had a dilemma, in that I wondered which of the children from the previous 2 marriages might be expected to be with him. When I compared the ages of John Runser and wife Anna Maria Pflugi (his 3rd wife) against the Erie Co. PA. John Runzer family, I found the ages of both adults checked out. In working backwards from the census record, I found surprisingly good agreement based upon a couple of postulations. The 2 daughters from the 1st marriage, ages would be 22 and 20 in 1840, did not show; this is not too surprising considering their ages. However, the 2 daughters, age 11, and 13, from the 2nd marriage appear to be with him; his only son age 9 does not show--this may be considered a negative. Then if we look at the ages of his son and 2 daughters by his 3rd wife, Anna Maria, there is complete agreement. I find this overall agreement too close to be coincidental. Another email contact provided me with a copy of a will for Johannes Runser, from McKean Twsp, Erie, PA. This will, registered in 1859, mentions his wife Anna Maria and his dear children, son Johannes and daughters Magdalena, Catherine, Ann Marie, Anna, Franziska, and Marianna. The identification of these children provides credence to the comparison discussed earlier in this paragraph.

I remembered reading early in my studying of the Runser family that one brother, John, served under Napoleon, and died early. I initially had assumed this was the John who married Anna Maria Pflugi. But I now believe that it was Jean George Runser who died early. This would explain why he was not on the boat with his wife and family. There is a nice fit of the facts, if I assume the family of the 4th brother came later and joined up with Frederick in Erie, PA. In addition, this could explain the late naturalization date and a source for some of the unknown Runsers who showed up in later census records.


Record Uncertainties
Searching of various census, civil war, and death records has disclosed that spellings of the Runser surname varied, and that the given name for a particular person also was not consistently used. The variations in surname were greatest in the early 1800 records, e.g., Roonser, Runser, Runcer, Runtzer, and Runzer, with Runser becoming the more common spelling in the late 1800s. To connect people (names) in one census with people in another has, on occasion, required me to make assumptions based upon ages and similar names in the family. For example, the boat listing for the 3 brothers' families provides 24 names, not all of which were mentioned in the Church Records nor found elsewhere in any census record. Nicknames as well as either different first or second names appear to be used. Examples are: Jean George Runser becomes John Runser; Fredolin Runser becomes Frederick Runser; and Anna Marie is known as Anna, Ann, Mary and Maria. In addition, the written records of the early 1800s were probably written by an English speaking person based upon his phonetic hearing of the names and in the Runser situation spoken with a French or German accent, and then a subsequent reading and translation of nearly illegible script. It is no wonder that inconsistencies exist. Several probate indices have Rensen or Ranson when upon looking at the actual record disclosed Runser and Rhuntzer!

Another anomaly is associated with the stated birth location. Most state their birth location as France or Alsace, and others state Germany or Baden. It is apparent that there are people with the name Runser who are identified with France and there are others who use the same given names such a Joseph, John, Valentine, and Catherine that are associated with Germany. A connection has not been made between these family lines. Therefore, to simply differentiate between the families, I refer to those known to be from the brothers of Hesingue as the French Runser line; an other group of Runsers as the German line. There are other Runsers who I cannot associate with either family and I suspect that they may have come from the "other" known emigrants to America, but to date no connection has been made.

A search of the French genealogical data discloses many Runsers, whereas I found none in the German databases. (Much later Cal Henry told me that he found both a record of the marriage of Pierre Runser and Catherine Bisel, and the births of many children, and not always in agreement with the Church Records.) This and the differentiation made between northern Alsace and southern Alsace causes me to believe that the Runser line from the north and close to Germany, such as Strasbourg, is the German Runser line and the southern group from Hesingue and Folgensburg is the French line. It is also possible that the difference is caused only by the political situation (which country controlled Alsace) when they left their home.

It is further recognized that the US census records are not 100% complete or accurate. But a couple of very useful pieces of information were extracted from the digitalization of the 1880 US Census. (Subsequently, computerized census data became available for other years.) This made it relatively simple for me to make a listing of all those living in America that were using the "Runser" surname. I found 103 with Runcer/Runser and 12 with Runzer/Runtzer. [About 60 of the 115 people have been associated with those from Hesingue. I found that all but one of the males in the 3 families has been traced, as were most of the females living with Seraphim and Fredolin. But little has been found for either Rosina or her daughters.] Most of the "Runsers" found in the 1880 census may be broadly grouped as living in the Philadelphia, PA area, at the confluence of northwestern PA (Erie and Mercer Cos), northeastern Ohio (Stark Co) and southwestern NY (Buffalo in Erie Co) or in western Ohio (Hardin Co). There is no 1890 census; therefore, 20 years would have passed before another potentially useful census is available. But, since those associated with the boat Champion were born prior to 1830, I believe 1880 is the outer time limit to identify/link many of people who were on the boat. Fortunately, I also have found civil war military and pension records to be very useful. Several people and their families have been identified in these records even though no corresponding census record was found.

The "French" Line
By combining all available census records (1840 thru 1880) and civil war records, I believe I have identified family members of the French Runsers, starting with Seraphim and wife Catherine in 1840 thru 1880. Their children and the grandchildren are essentially identified. As described in the autobiography, they are found to be living in the Erie (NY and PA) area and south in Mercer PA and Stark Co, Ohio. Some members subsequently moved west into Hardin Co.

Fredolin became known as Frederick Runser, and is shown in the 1860 census and is mentioned in both a civil war record of son Frederick, and may be found in a burial notation. His wife Anna Marie also was mentioned in their son's civil war record and a death record was found for an Anna Marie Runzer, who died 4/24/1878 at age 78. Sons Henry and Valentine are found in the 1860 and 1880 census records. Son Frederick is identified in a civil war record. Since only age ranges were provided by the 1840 census, so there is no earlier mention of family members by name.

No record has been found which can definitively be said to be for Rosina Frey Runser, the wife of Jean George Runser. There is a Erie Co, PA burial notation for a Rosina Runser, age 85, who died 9/8/1912. This is not likely our "Rosina." The Church records have her marriage in 1815, which is consistent with the boat age of 43. More likely, this Rosina is the yet-to-be identified daughter in a related family. But, several unidentified Annas of the approximate age were found. A record for Rosina's sons, Pierre, aka Peter Runser, Joseph and maybe even John have been found. A John Runser, born in France and of the approximate age, 50, was found, with family, in Buffalo, NY in the 1880 census. However, a John George Runser, age 51y 9 m, is recorded as having died 12/5/1879; this would say his birth would be Feb/Mar 1828. The time of year is correct and the date is within a year - fair agreement with what is known. The Church records state John was born 2/6/1827. A biographical write up was found for son Joseph Runser, which does mention his siblings, and this also has been a source of information regarding Rosina's daughters.

The Dakota Territory had a Philip J Runser, born in France with family, and father, Phillip, age 72. The father's age, birth location and name compare well with those of Philipe Runser, b 1810, who came to America, with wife and 6 children, from Folgensburg in 1846. If so, he may be a source for the some of the unassociated Runsers.

An Antoine Runser, listed as being born 1851 in France, shows as living in Illinois.

A widow, Mary Runcer, is shown living in Philadelphia with 2 sons. She and her husband are identified as being born in Strausburg. Since one son is named Niclous, and the given name Niclous, is not common among the living Runsers, this family may be descendants of the Nicolas Runser who came from Strasbourg in 1817 on the boat Unity. In addition, a burial record in Erie, PA has a Mary C Runser and Nicholas J Runser in the St Boniface cemetery. This Church also is associated with other members of those that I call the French Runsers; therefore, they may be related.


The "German" Line
The German Runser family starts in Perry Co. Ohio with a Joseph Runser with wife Catherine and children. A French marriage record for a Catherine Baumann married 1822 to Joseph Runser was found, but it is not known to be a fit. Their eldest known child, Mary Ann, was born 1828 in Germany. Other children were Sebastian, Joseph, Earl/Carl (name is uncertain /hard to read), Valentine, John, and Catherine. Census records for 1840 and 1850 show them living in Perry Co, Ohio. No other Runsers are known to have lived in this Ohio county. Church records exist for various activities involving 4 of these children, and maybe the fifth, John Runser who is believed to have married Mary Ann Kunkler. The Church records involving the children cover the time period between 1840 to the mid 1860s, and involve Fairfield and Hocking Co., which adjoins Perry Co. Joseph was on the tax rolls in 1851 and his Will/probate records show that Joseph died before June 9, 1852. Probate records also identify the minor children and that a guardianship was established. It should be noted that the names on the County record index has them listed variously, as Runsen and Ransen. Since the family of Joseph Runser and his children are the only Runsers known to be living in this area of Ohio, I believe strongly that the John in this family is the distant fraternal ancestor of Carol and her Cousin Bob. The marriage of John Runser to Mary Kunkler shows in the St John Church records. The baptism of their son, Joseph Augustus Runser was also found in the same Church’s records. They are the only Runsers known to be in that Church's records. Therefore, there are a number of strong inferences that the German Runsers living in Perry Co are my Carol's family.

Patricia Menegettti and I have exchanged information extensively since she is related to the Kunklers and also has an interest in the Runser line. And she has provided a great deal of information, much of it from a Fr Paul Konkler who lived in the Perry Co area of Ohio in the 1980s and while there he transcribed the old marriage/baptism information in the Church records. She and Fr Konkler have also enabled me to communicate directly with a Don Schlegel who is editor for a bulletin published by the Catholic Record Society in Columbus. Don has also been a great help. As a result, all family members of the "German" Runsers have been identified and traced. And Patricia has notes that speculate that the German Joseph Runser might be the brother of the Mary Ann Runser who married Gaius Kunkler daughter of Mary Kunkler. Time might answer this.