AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Direct descendant is highlighted in red

FATHER

Andreas Groeninger

MOTHER

Elizabeth Hornberger

WIFE

Eva Koehler
b. 08 Sep 1837
d. 04 Sep 1876

CHILDREN

1. Fredrick Groeninger
    b. 22 Oct 1861
    d. 30 Jan 1921 Harrisburg, Saline, IL

2. Elizabeth Groeninger
    b. Abt 1864
    d. 7 Apr 1884

3. Louis Groeninger
    b. 11 Sep 1866
    d. 26 Jan 1932 Burnt Prairie, White, IL

4. Henry Groeninger
    b. Abt 1868
    d. 11 Apr 1892

Biography of Jacob Groeninger
by Susan Brooke
April 2015

Jacob's father, Andreas Groeninger, died when jacob was thirty-three. However, by that time he and his brother, Fred. were established as partners in the "J and F Groeninger company as carpenters.  There is a notice in the Daily Evansville Journal for December 6, 1862 stating that "Groeninger Bros repairing and repainting doors of Union Engine House (due) $9.60."

In the 1868 Business directory for Vanderburgh County, Indiana, Jacob and his brother Fred were partners in the "J and F Groeninger" -  carpenters at the corner of Fourth and Goodsell.  The next year, Jacob died. Fred died the year after that.  Both brothers left young children.

Eva, the widow of Jacob Groeninger, continued caring for her four children.  She continued living in her home at 4th and Goodsell.  She is listed there in the 1872 City Directory.  In 1874 Eva remarried to Henry Koehler, a barber.  She died just two years later leaving the four young children as orphans. Jacob's mother, Elizabeth Hornberger Groeninger, had died just four months earlier.  Henry Groeninger was appointed guardian.  In Vanderburgh County Probate order BK 6, pg 481, Henry Groeninger is named the guardian of Frederick, Elizabeth, Louis and Henry. The value of estate is $2,000. The guardian wants to settle debts to estate out of the income of his wards. Case # not listed. November Term. 1876.  The children were still young.  Fred was 15, Elizabeth 12, Louis 10 and Henry 8.

By 1884 Charles Henze was listed as the guardian of the four children.  Charles was married to Catharine Groeninger, a first cousin to Jacob Groeninger, the father of the four children.  (Catharine Groeninger was the daughter of Friedrich Groeninger.) In Vanderburgh Probate Order BK 10, pg 118, Charles Henze as guardian for Fredrick, Elizabeth, Louis and Henry is giving Fredrick his inheritance since he is of full age.  Two years later in 1886, Order BK 11, pg 354-355, Charles Henze is again redistributing the money since Elizabeth had died.