Frank Joseph Schirck
SCHIRCK, MONK, REILING
Posted By: Richard Gehling (email)
Date: 11/9/2005 at 22:01:35
Frank Joseph Schirck and Mary Ann Monk were both born in the province of Alsace, France. They seem to have been married before coming to America. Family stories, as recorded by their granddaughter Clara Reiling, indicate that the young couple "crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a sailboat. The sails were wrecked by a storm, and the boat drifted about for 3 months, til finally it was found by the crew of another boat. The people were nearly starved, and Grandfather made a promise to be always satisfied with any kind of food he would later have in America."
After their arrival in the United States, the movements of the Schircks were tracked by the census takers.
Francis Schirck, age 30-40, was listed in the 1840 U.S. Census as a "head of family." He was living in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Although he was already married with two children, his family was not listed. Also in the household was an older man, 40-50, probably a German named Joseph Camp, who later moved with him to Ohio.
In the 1850 U.S. Census, Francis Schirck was listed as a 44-year-old farmer living in Harrison Township, Carroll County, in eastern Ohio. With him were his 37-year-old wife Mary Ann, and their seven children: Henry aged 12, Mary Ann aged 10, Francis aged 9, Rose aged 7, Virginia aged 6, John aged 4, and Philomena aged 1. The first five had been bom in Pennsylvania, the last two in Ohio. Also in the same household was the enigmatic Joseph Camp aged 61.
Ten year later, the 1860 U.S. Census still listed Francis Schirck as a farmer in Carroll County, Ohio. His family remained much the same, but with the subtraction (possibly through death) of Joseph Camp and the addition of son Victor aged 8.
By the time of the 1870 U.S. Census, the oldest son Henry, now aged 28, was listed as the head of the household and a member of the legislature. His father Francis, then 64 years of age, was the landlord of a hotel in Mansfield, Ohio. Francis' wife Mary Ann, at age 57, was in charge of two domestics - Sedelia & Amelia - who helped with the cooking and cleaning for the dozen or so boarders (a painter, a blacksmith, a carpenter, three laborers, and five stone masons, one of whom was married). Still at home, and undoubtedly helping their parents in the operation of the hotel, were daughter Rosa (22) and youngest son Victor (19). Added to the family were Mary Ann's 91-year-old mother, Magdalena Monk, and the three Reiling grandchildren: Joseph (12), Henry (10), and Francis Albert (8).
These last three had been adopted by Francis and Mary Ann Schirck following the untimely deaths of their parents, Salomon and Mary Ann Reiling. Along with the three grandsons came the dream of moving to a new life in western Iowa. Frank and Mary Ann Schirck bought a farm near Mt. Carmel, Iowa, in 1871 and lived there the remainder of their lives. They were listed in the 1880 U.S. Census as living in Kniest Township, Carroll County, Iowa. Francis was 74, Mary Ann 67. He was still a farmer, she keeping house. Still living with them were their 30-year-old daughter Philomena and their 18-year-old grandson (Francis) Albert Reiling.
Francis Joseph died on 21 August, 1881. He was 75 years old. His wife, Mary Ann, survived him for only five years. She died on 5 June 1886 at the age of 74 years. Both were buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Mt. Carmel, Iowa. Their daughters Rosa (who died in 1885 at age 48) and Regina (who died in 1938 at age 84) were buried in the same lot, as was Regina's son, A.E. Bechler (who died in 1929 at age 62).
Francis Schirck's generosity, high moral standards, and dedication to family values became bywords among his many descendants. His granddaughter, Regina Reiling, is said to have encouraged any of her children's accomplishments with the words: "That's the Schirck in you coming out."
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Bluffs/8479
Carroll Biographies maintained by Lynn McCleary.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen