history

The Mystery of Aunt Kathryn Part 7
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The Mystery of Aunt Kathryn Part 7

Luxembourg to America – 1855

Mary had been christened Marie Josephine Heuertz when she was born on April 3, 1842, to Johann M. and Stephania Marie Josephine (nee DeViche) Heuertz in Holzem, Luxembourg, a small farming community, seven miles due west from Luxembourg City.

By 1855, Luxemburg experienced a series of poor harvests while progress meant people were living longer. More people meant the precious resources they had were stretched too thin across the country that had once been part of the German Confederation. Since all of Europe was going through hard times, moving to another German-speaking country wasn’t feasible.

So, the Heuertz family joined the thousands of other Luxembourgers, including Stephania’s brother Constantine DeViche, who had already emigrated to America looking for a better life.

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How Elizabeth Blessing’s Inheritance Was Stolen (Part 2)
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How Elizabeth Blessing’s Inheritance Was Stolen (Part 2)

Mary Blessing

When Mary’s father, Lewis Blessing, died in 1825, he left her 150 acres of land next to the 150 acres that he had bequeathed to her brother, John, “running the whole length of my survey out from the river bending on my son John’s line, the whole length thereof, and such distance from his line so as to include the 150 acres.”

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How Elizabeth Blessing’s Inheritance Was Stolen (Part 1)

While writing the stories about my direct Blessing ancestors, Abraham and his children, I came across a tragic tale that befell Abraham’s siblings who joined their parents in Ohio in the early 1820s.

While each sibling had their share of misfortunes, the one I found the most reprehensible was how Elizabeth was robbed of her inheritance from her father Lewis Blessing. To get the full story, however, I need to start with Lewis’s death and Elizabeth’s brother and sister, John and Mary.

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Blessing Sisters Story Part 4
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Blessing Sisters Story Part 4

This is a multi-post series about the Blessing Sisters. Anna Eliza Blessing Winney is my 3rd great grandmother. You can see all of the posts in the series here: Blessing Sister Stories

Elizabeth Blessing Adjusts to Wisconsin

Although the farmland along the Mississippi River in the southwest corner of Wisconsin reminded her of home in Missouri, Elizabeth missed her brother and sisters terribly. Her father spent up to twelve hours each day in the mine, and when he returned home, he collapsed from exhaustion.

She distracted her mind by making the small cabin homey and ensuring Abraham was eating decent meals to keep his strength up for the grueling tasks. He had stressed his desire to bring her brother and sisters here, and she determined to have the house ready, no matter how cramped it might be.

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