Christian (Christ, Chris, Christopher) Speiser had no record in America until the 1860 census because he did not emigrate to the U.S. until 1857. His birth record in Germany appeared in Deutschland Geburten und Taufen 1558 - 1898, as such:
Christian Friedrich Speiser born 15 May 1835 and christened 17 May 1835 at the Evangelisch (Lutheran) Church at Horrheim, Neckarkreis, Wuerttenburg to father, Carl Friedrich Speiser and mother, Margaretha Schek.
The Wuerttemberg Emigration Index indicated that he applied to leave Germany in April, 1857. The passenger list of the ship, Wellfleet, listed him as a passenger, arriving in New York City on 4 June 1857, at the age of 22. He had departed from the LeHavre (France) port. No other family of the same name was listed with him.
In 1860, the census enumerator found Chris Speiser living in Tiffin Township with the F. and Caroline Vanbehren family and their ten children. Caroline was also born in Wurtemberg. Perhaps she was a relative to Christ; that is not known at this time. Christ worked as a farmer there and had $100 in personal wealth.
At 25 years old, the new citizen joined Company K, 107th Ohio on August 15, 1862, where he served two years, nine months and twenty-five days. At one point, he was also in Company E. Christian was wounded at Chancellorsville with a gunshot wound to the left foot. He also reported on the 1890 census of veterans that he suffered sunstroke and rheumatism as a result of his war experience. He was discharged on July 10, 1865, and by December 8th of that year, had applied for his pension.
On May 31, 1866, he married Friederika Grossman in Defiance County, and they settled into a farm in Noble Township. By 1870, they were the parents of two little daughters - Louisa, 3, and Malissa, 8 months. They owned real estate worth $600 and had a personal wealth of $300. Here they stayed through 1880, adding children - Ellen, Frank A., and Anna, as well as Minnie and Glen G. by 1900. In the 1880 census, he was located as Christian Speicer, and in the 1900 census, he was found as Christopher Spicer.
Christian was 65 by the 1900 census and had no occupation listed. Their address was given as 1028 Sixth Street, so perhaps they had moved into town by this point. Mrs. Friederika (Reka, Rika) Speiser died on December 15, 1903. Her obituary appeared in the Defiance Express on Christmas Eve, 1903
Christ followed her in death on May 20, 1918. According to his death certificate, he lived on Jefferson Street in Defiance, and his doctor treated him for about six months for valvatory heart disease. He was 83 years and 5 days old. The informant, his son, Walter, did not know the names of his grandparents, Christ's parents.
His obituary appeared in the Defiance Crescent News on May 20, 1918:
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| www.findagrave.com |
Children of Christian and Friedrika Speiser as listed on Find a Grave; dates of birth and death may be found there:
Fredrika
Louisa C
Melissa
Ella
Frank B
Nettie Alice
Walter Albert
Glen Christopher
(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city. Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle. The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived. If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)
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