Martin Weindorf marries Elizabeth Lehn in Germany, immigrate to Erie PA, have nine children, including Christina Weindorf, who later marries Eduard Keller, gives birth to Clara Katherine Keller, who marries John Wright and gives birth to Elizabeth Keller Wright who in turn marries Walter Lee Kauffman 2nd. But there is more to this story.
============================================
Martinus Weindorf was born on July 5, 1818, in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany. His father, Johann, was 31 and his mother, Anna, was 28. As the story goes, Martin was working as a gardener at the estate of Petri Lehn, a well to do Jewish family in town.
Elisabeth gave birth to a son, Johannes on February 19, 1843. Martin marries Elizabeth Lehn on April 10, 1843, in Rhina, Hesse, Germany.
Elizabeth and Martin arrived at New York by boat in June of 1843.
They came with their cousin, Johnnes Weindorf. (This factoid comes from Kelley where she cites a Glover Roots ancestry book given to her grandfather by Rhea Weindorf).
They move on to Black Rock, NY where they have two additional children, Martin and Christina. In 1848, they move to Erie, PA. They have six additional children.
Elisabeth dies in 1875 at age 53.
Martin is a successful builder in Erie, including one of the early Catholic churches. He goes on to live to the age of 96. He is buried in Erie Trinity Cemetery in Lot 100 Section C
You will note in the obit that Martin’s date of marriage is 1841. Actually, it was 1843. While I heard that they were run out of town by the father, the records show that their first son was born some months prior to their marriage and that they shortly thereafter got on a boat to USA.
============================================
Christina Weindorf
Christina was born in Black Rock, NY on October 23, 1846. She is the second oldest of nine children. Her family moves to Erie when she is two years old.
She marries Eduard Keller in 1868 when she is 22 years old. Eduard fought in the Civil War as a gunner on the USS Burnside.
They have 4 children, Anna Maria, Clara, Frank and Edward. Clara marries John Wright.
Christina dies on March 9, 1896 and is buried in Lakeside Cemetery. See the Keller Family.