Schaeffer and Rieber Families: Evansville, Indiana

I was contacted awhile back by Ray Bland, who is doing research on the SCHAEFFER family of Evansville, Indiana and believes that he's found connections with Corinne's paternal 2nd-great grandmother, Elizabeth "Lillie" (SCHAEFFER) MILLER (1873-1937).  Ray believes that Lillie is the daughter of Charles and Mary (RIEBER) SCHAEFFER of Evansville.


I've previously posted Lillie MILLER's obituary, which states that among others, she was survived by a brother, John SCHAEFER.


The Browning Genealogy Obituary database contains the following obituary card for a Peter SCHAEFER.

So, now we have possibly two brothers for "Lillie"; Peter and John.  Even though Peter's obit card refers to her as Lillian, and spells Schaeffer with only one "F", I still believe we have the same family.  In the 1900 census of Vanderburgh County, Indiana, Lillie is listed as Elizabeth MILLER, age 27, white female, born March 1873 born in Indiana.  In the 1910 and 1920 census, she is listed as Lizzie MILLER.  Her obit card in the Browning Genealogy Obituary database lists here as Mrs. Lillie MILLER:

Looking for Lillie in the 1880 census, we find the family of Charles and Mary (RIEBER) SCHAEFFER in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. 

Charley SCHAEFFER, a 27 year old varnisher, was living at 812 Second Avenue in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.  He was born in Louisiana and both parents were from Germany.  His wife, Mary, was also 27, born in Indiana with both parents born in Germany.  Children were listed as : Lilly, aged 7; Peter, aged 5; John, aged 3; and Katie, aged 9 months; all born in Indiana.

According to Ray Bland, he's found evidence that Charles shot and killed his wife, Mary, on September 16, 1883.  There is a memorial for Maria Eva (RIEBER) SCHAEFFER on the Find A Grave website, buried in St. Joseph Catholic  Cemetery in Evansville. Maria was the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (SCHUHMACHER) RIEBER.

More research needs to be done, and it looks like I have a few new leads to check out.

Surname Saturday: Miller

The MILLER family is Corinne's maternal line. The surname is of Germanic origin, with Corinne's 3rd-great grandfather coming from Hesse-Darmstadt.

Stories and History:

Ahnentafel # 96: Jacob MILLER - the immigrant. Believe to have been from Bavaria. His wife was Elizabeth SPECK. Need to do more research to locate him in census records. Believed to have been naturalized in Posey County, Indiana. Had at least 1 son and 1 daughter.

Ahnentafel # 48: William MILLER (c1827-1901). William was born between 1827 and 1828 in Hesse-Darmstadt. Was living in Posey County, Indiana in 1856 when he married Elizabeth SCHAFER. According to the 1900 census, he emigrated in 1848. Later lived in Kasson, Vanderburgh County, Indiana where he operated a saloon. Father of 9 children.

Ahnentafel # 24: Mathias (Mat) MILLER (1861-1936). Mathias was born 1861 in Indiana. Lived in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Was a foundry worker. Married Elizabeth SCHAEFFER and had 10 children. Mathias died September 15, 1936 in Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

Ahnentafel # 12: Arthur MILLER (1907-1964). Arthur born in Evansville on January 12, 1907. Married Hallie Marie CHIVLARE and had 12 children. Died May 20, 1964 in Evansville and is buried in Park Lawn Cemetery.

Related blog posts :

• Obituary of Lillie Miller (1873-1937), wife of Mathias (Mat) Miller

• Obituary of Mathias (Mat) Miller (1861-1936)

• Mathias Miller family of Vanderburgh County, Indiana

• Miller Family Lineage

• Today in my database, Mathias Miller (b. October 20, 1861)
  

Matthias Miller family - Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Corinne's maternal great-great grandfather, Matthias MILLER and family appear in the 1900-1920 census of Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana in various households and circumstances. Matthias was the son William and Elizabeth (SCHAFER) MILLER.

In the 1900 census, Matthew, as he is listed, was a 38 year old moulder in a stove factory, born October 1861 in Indiana, married for 6 years. Both of his parents were listed as being born in Indiana. He could read and write and spoke English. His wife, Elizabeth, was aged 27, born March 1873 in Indiana, with both parents born in Indiana. She spoke English but could not read or write. She is also listed as the mother of 4 children, with only 1 living. Children living in the household were : Wm. M. aged 7, Carl, aged 5 and Fred, aged 2. Since they were listed as being married for 6 years, Elizabeth should be the mother of at least Carl & Fred, yet the record shows she was the mother of one living child.

In the 1910 census, Matthis, as he is listed, was a 49 year old moulder in a stove foundry, on his second marriage, and married for 16 years. He was born in Indiana, and his father was born in Germany and his mother in Indiana. He was renting his home, and was listed as being out of work for 30 weeks in 1909. His wife, Lizzie, aged 37 years, was on her first marriage, mother of 6 children, with 6 living. She was born in Indiana, as were both of her parents. She could not read or write. Children living in the household were: Willie, aged 16, working in a furniture factory, Carl, aged 14, working in a furniture factory, Fredie, aged 12, Hellen, aged 7 5/12, Eva, aged 5 7/12, and Auther, aged 3 3/12.

In the 1920 census, Matthias was living as a roomer in the household of Oda M. Veach. His aged was listed as 58 years old. He was married, working as a helper in a furniture factory. He was born in Indiana, with both father and mother born in Bavaria.

In the 1920 census, Lizzie was listed as the head of household in a different ward. She was renting her home. She was listed as a 46 year old female with no occupation, born in Indiana, as well as both of her parents. Living with her were children: Eva, aged 15, Arthur, aged 12, Sadie, aged 8, Lorenz, aged 5, and Fred, aged 21 and Fred's wife Bessie, aged 24.

Apparently, Matthias and Lizzie were separated at this time. Other research has located records in the Vanderburgh County were Lilie Miller filed for divorce in 1926 and later in 1931, both cases were dismissed.

Matthias MILLER b. October 1861, Indiana, d. September 15, 1936 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, m. January 20, 1894 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana to Elizabeth SCHAEFFER. Elizabeth b. March 1873 Indiana, d. July 28, 1937 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Known children :
i. Lily Schaefer Miller b. November 26, 1891 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. before 1900 census
ii. William Mathias Miller b. October 1, 1893 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. October 28, 1956 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, m. Thelma McNeal.
iii. Carl Miller b. March 19, 1896 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. September 2, 1927 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
iv. Fred Miller b. March 1898 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. September 7, 1961 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, m. Bessie ________
v. Mary Miller b. August 23, 1902 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. before 1910 census
vi. Helen Louis Miller b. ca. 1903 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. March 30, 2003 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, m. William Herbert Gregg.
vii. Eva Louise Miller b. August 23, 1904 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. August 5, 1998 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, m. S.E. Dever
viii. Arthur Miller b. January 12, 1907 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. May 20, 1964 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, m. Hallie Marie Chivlare
ix. Sadie Kathryn Miller b. April 20, 1911 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. November 29, 2005 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana, m. ________ Hoover
x. Lawrence Sylvester Miller b. June 6, 1914 Vanderburgh County, Indiana, d. April 2, 1991 Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Miller Family Lineage

Here is the current data I have on my daughter's Miller line, starting with her great-grandfather.

Arthur MILLER b. January 12, 1907 Vanderburgh Co., IN, d. May 20, 1964 Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN, m. September 17, 1928 Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN to Hallie Marie CHIVLARE.

Mathias MILLER b. October 20, 1861 Indiana (prob. Vanderburgh Co.), d. September 15, 1936 Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN, m. January 20, 1894 Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN to Elizabeth SCHAEFFER.

William MILLER b. bet. 1827-1828 Hesse-Darmstadt, d. July 24, 1901 Kasson, Vanderburgh Co., IN, m. January 31, 1856 Posey Co., IN to Elizabeth SCHAFER.

Today in my database : Mathias Miller (b. October 20, 1861)

Today's featured relative in my database is my daughter's 2nd great-grandfather, Mathias Miller.

Mathias was born October 20, 1861 in Indiana, probably Vanderburgh Co., IN, the son of William and Elizabeth (Schafer) Miller. Mathias married on January 20, 1894 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN to Elizabeth Schaeffer. Elizabeth was born March 1873 in Indiana and died July 28, 1937 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN. Mathias died September 15, 1936 in Evansville, Vanderburgh Co., IN.

Children of Mathias and Elizabeth (Schaeffer) Miller :
i. Lily Schaefer Miller
ii. William Mathias Miller m. Thelma McNeal
iii. Carl Miller
iv. Fred Miller m. Bessie ________
v. Mary Miller
vi. Helen Louise Miller m. ________ Gregg
vii. Eva Louise Miller m. S.E. Dever
viii. Arthur Miller m. Hallie Marie Chivlare
ix. Sadie K. Miller m. ________ Hoover
x. Lawrence Sylvester Miller

My daughter descends from Mathias and Elizabeth (Schaeffer) Miller through their son, Arthur, as follows :
Mathias Miller and Elizabeth Schaeffer
Arthur Miller and Hallie Marie Chivlare (her great-grandparents)