Valentin Schlemmer, born 17 Aug 1809 in Canton Pirmasens, Rhineland-Pfalz. (Probably in Donsieders). He died 1868 in Washington Twp, Sandusky County, Ohio. He was the son of Johann Valentin Schlemmer and Catharina Charlotta Martin. This relationship is confirmed by DNA. He was christened 21 August 1809 in Waldfischbach, Pfalz. He married Margaretha Siegenthaler in 1836, in either Pennsylvania or Ohio. She was born 1816 in Ruppertsweiler, Pfalz, Germany, and died 1877 in Washington Twp., Ohio. She was the daughter of Heinrich Nickolaus Siegenthaler and Anna Catharina Hornung.

Canton Pirmasen, from 1798-1814, was part of the First French Empire and was occupied by France. It included the ancestral villages of Donsieders, Hohenoid, Ruppertsweiler and others in the surrounding area. It later became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria. The parish records in Waldfischbach and those of the family in Ohio reflect a year's difference in Valentine's age. This could be the result of an oral mistake on his part or a mistake in trancribing the German record. There were only 207 Lutheran souls in Donsieders in 1802 and in all the viilages of Canton Pirmasens there were only 2565 Lutherans. So the likelihood of there being two Valentine Schlemmers born on the same day a year apart in that area is nil. (Statistics from Michael FREY: Versuch einer geographisch- historisch- statistischen beschreibung des kön. bayer. Rheinkreises Band 4, Speyer 1837.)

Valentin's father died in 1811 and Charlotta remarried Jakob Anstett in 1813. In 1828 Valentin sailed with them and his two half brothers, Adam and Jacob, for America. They stopped first in Pennsylvania where the family is found in 1830 census of Northampton, PA--another brother, John having been born in 1830. They left about 1835 for the Great Black Swamp in Sandusky County, Ohio.

The Siegenthalers arrived at the Port of New York, December 28, 1830. They had left their home in Ruppertsweiler in April and had spent the summer in the Le Havre, France before sailing. They were caught in a horrible storm at sea on Christmas Day. Margaretha and her sister, Maria Anna, vowed to fast every Christmas if God delivered them, which they did.

The Siegenthalers stopped in Allentown, Pennsylvania before going to Ohio. Here their daughter, Mary Ann, married Christian Auxter in 1833. Before leaving for Ohio the family was joined by their daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Jacob Hornung who accompanied the settlers to Washington Township. Henry and Catharine Siegenthaler lived with the Hornungs until they died in 1859 and 1856, respectively. They are buried in Lindsey Cemetery as are Valentine and Margaretha.

The Schlemmers are recorded as Family #35 in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church register in Hessville Ohio. Valentin became Valentine Slemmer and settled near his parents and brothers. He served as administrator of his stepfather's estate when he died in 1852.

Ancestors of Valentin Schlemmer

Parents

Valentin Schlemmer, born 1763; died 1811 in Donsieders, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. He was the son of Johann Valentine Schlemmer and Maria Eva Kettenring. He married first in 1787 Katharina Barbara Hirschelmann b: 1768 in Donsieders, died February 1809. He married (2) Catharina Charlotta Martin 1809 in Canton Pirmasens, Rhineland-Pfalz.Catharina Charlotta Martin, born 1785 in Höheinöd, Sudwestpfalz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; died Aft. 1860 in Washington Twp, Sandusky County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Johann Adam Martin and Catharina Charlotta Anstatt. She married second Johann Jakob Anstett in 1813 Hohenoid, Pfalz.

Grandparents

Johann Valentine Schlemmer, born 1725/26 in Donsieders, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; died 1779 in Donsieders, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.. He was the son of 8. Johann Marx Schlemmer and 9. Rosina Barbara Heilbrunn. He married Maria Eva Kettenring 1746/47 in Salzwoog, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany..

Maria Eva Kettenring, born 1728/29 in Landstuhl, Rheinland-Pfalz, GERMANY; died 1794 in Ruppertsweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.. She was the daughter of Johann Balthasar Kettenring and Anna Margaretha Zimmer.

Johann Adam Martin, born 1755 in Höheinöd, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany died 1799 in Hohenoid, Pfalz, Germany. He was the son of Johann Adam Martin and Anna Catharina Wolff. He married Catharina Charlotta Anstatt.

Catharina Charlotta Anstatt, born 1755 in Hohenoid, Pfalz, Germany; died 1818 in Hohenoid, Pfalz, Germany. She was the daughter of Johann Peter Anstatt and Eva Elisatha Gampfer.

Ancestors of Margaretha Siegenthaler

Heinrich Nickolaus Siegenthaler, born 1781 in Ruppertsweiler, Pfalz, Germany; died 1859 in Lindsey, Sandusky County, Ohio. He was the son of Georg Wilhelm Siegenthaler and Maria Margaretha Krämer. He married Anna Cathrina Hornung.

Anna Cathrina Hornung, born 1775 in Hoenoid, Pfalz, Germany; died 1856 in Sandusky County,Ohio. She was the daughter of 6. Johann Jeremias Hornung and Anna Margaretha Anstätt.

Grandparents

Georg Wilhelm Siegenthaler, born 1737 in Ruppertsweiler, Pfalz, Germany. He was the son of Johann Michael Siegenthaler and Anna Katharina Meyer. He married Maria Margaretha Krämer 1774.

Maria Margaretha Krämer, born Abt. 1740 in Heltersberg, Pfalz, Germany.

Johann Jeremias Hornung, born Abt. 1735 in Hoenoid, Pfalz, Germany; died 1786 in Hoenoid, Pfalz, Germany. He was the son of Johann Ludwig Hornung and Sophia Darmstädter. He married Anna Margaretha Anstätt.

Anna Margaretha Anstätt, born 1742 in Hoenoid, Pfalz, Germany; died 1788 in Hoenoid, Pfalz, Germany. She was the daughter of Johann Jakob Anstätt and Anna Ottilia Matthil.

Germany to Ohio's Black Swamp 1835-1849