Other Events:

• Residence: 1900, Elgin Ward 2, Kane County, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1910, Elgin Ward 7, Kane County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Albert registered for the draft for WWI on June 5, 1917. At the time, he was living at 215 Hill St., Elgin, Illinois. He was employed as a watchmaker for the Elgin National Watch Company. Albert was single at the time. He objected to the draft because of his religious convictions. He said he was a member of the Apostloic Christian Church. His description on his draft card shows him to have been of medium build and height, with blue eyes and black hair. It also says that he had a physical disability. Albert died one year later. (Ill. Death Certificate #0027637.

Buried:
Bluff City Cemetery; Section 5, Lot 8, Space 22

Other Events:

• Name: Fred
• Arrival: 1882
• Residence: 1900, Elgin Ward 2, Kane County, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1910, Elgin Ward 7, Kane County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Fred was born in Winnenden, Neckarkreis,Wurttemburg, Germany on September 9, 1861. His German birth name is Wilhelm Friedrich Preiss. He was the son of Matthias Friedrich and Wilhelmina Regina Hagg Preiss. He was one of of 4 children that could be found. Fred had two brothers, Gustave Albert, born Aug. 22, 1862 and Albert Gottlieb, born Dec. 18, 1864. He had one sister, Wilhelmine Caroline, born on April 7, 1866. In 1882, Fred immigrated to the United States. He came over on the Nicolas, along with a young lady named Maria Obenland, who would later become his wife. Whether they met on the ship or knew each other in Germany, its anyone's guess. Fred and Mary were married in Peoria, Illinois on April 12, 1890. The couple had a total of 7 children. Two died at birth or in their infancy. The others were Christian W., Albert Gustave, Henry David, Gustave Anton and Emily R. The 1900 Federal Census shows Fred and his family as living at 552 Franklin St., Elgin, Illinois. Fred listed his occupation as a watchmaker. In 1910, he was listed as an engineer at a watch factory. By 1920, Fred and his wife had lost sons Christian in 1916, Albert in 1919 and Gustave in 1920. Only two of their children died as mature adults; namely Henry, who died at the age of 60, and Emily, who was 95 when she passed away. Only Henry had children. By 1920, Fred and Mary were living at 215 N. Hill St., in Elgin. It was a home that they owned. Fred died on Jan. 25, 1936 in Elgin. He was buried at Bluff City Cemetery, where his sons are buried.

Buried:
Bluff City Cemetery; Section 15, Lot 7, Space 11

Wilhelm married Marie Caroline Obenland 12 Apr 1890, Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, USA. Marie (daughter of Johann Christian Obenland and Auguste Rosine Peter) was born 22 May 1862, Heilbronn, Neckarkreis, Wurttemburg, Germany; died 19 Feb 1946, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, USA; was buried , Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary
• Arrival: 1882
• Residence: 1900, Elgin Ward 2, Kane County, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 1910, Elgin Ward 7, Kane County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Mary was born in Heilbronn, Neckarkreis, Wurttemburg, Germany, on May 22, 1862. She was christened on June 8, 1862 in the Lutheran church in Heilbronn. She was the daughter of Johann Christian and Auguste Rosine Peter Obenland. Mary had an older sister, Friederika, who was born 3 years previously. Marie and her sister came to the United States on the Nicolas. Her future husband, Fred Preiss, was also on the ship. Whether they knew each other in Germany, or met on the ship, is unknown at this time. After coming to the U.S, Marie used the name Mary. The Peoria, Illinois Directory of 1890-1891, lists a Miss Mary Obenland as either living or working at 406 N. Madison Avenue in Peoria. She was a domestic, so she actually could have been living and working at the same address. Mary and Fred Preiss married in Peoria, Illinois on April 12, 1890. The 1900 Federal Census shows Mary and Fred living at 552 Franklin St. in Elgin. Fred was a watchmaker. There are 4 children listed in the 1900 Census: Christian, Albert, Henry and Gustave. Mary stated that she had had 5 children prior to June of 1900, but only these four were living. So one had died at birth or in its infancy. By the 1910 Federal Census, Mary had had 7 children, with 5 living. This means that the family added daughter Emily during those 10 years, but had also lost another child at birth or in early childhood. By 1920, Mary and Fred would have lost sons Christian, in 1916; Albert in 1919 and Gustave in 1920. Only two children died as mature adults; namely Henry who died when he was 60 years old and Emily who died when she was 95. Only Henry had children. By 1920, Fred and Mary were living at 215 N. Hill St, a home they owned. Fred died in 1936. He was buried in Bluff City Cemetery with his sons.

Buried:
Bluff City Cemetery; Section 4, Lot 252, Space 4

Died:
certificate 006624

Matthias — Wilhelmina Regina Hagg. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Departure: Hamburg, Germany
• Name: Christian Obenland
• Occupation: Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; blacksmith, worked in a sugar factory in Heilbronn
• Birth: 16 Sep 1824, Ilsfeld, Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
• Arrival: 29 Sep 1894, New York, New York, USA; on the Elbe

Notes:

Johann went by his middle name of Christian. He was born in Ilsfeld, Wurttemburg, Germany to Jakob Obenland and Marie Elisabet Widmann. He was first married to Christiane Luise Schulkraft on April 30, 1854. Christiane was the daughter of Georg Adam Christian and Anne Katherina Vogelman Schuhkraft and was born May 11, 1833. Christiane passed away on Sept. 25, 1858. On May 5, 1859, Christian married Auguste Rosine Peter. Rosine was born to Jacob Friedrich and Sophie Dorothea Rumerlin Peter on January 5, 1827. Christian and Rosine had two children that have been found at this time: Friederika Dorothea Caroline, born on October 31, 1859 and Marie Caroline, born May 22, 1862. In 1882, their two daughters immigrated to the United States. Christian and Rosine followed Friederika and Mary two years later. They left Bremen, Germany on the Elbe and arrived in New York on September 9, 1884. The Elbe was in service from 1881-1895. It was owned by the North German Lloyd shipping line. The ship was built by John Elder & Co., of Glasgow, Scottland. It's maiden voyage was from Bremen-Southampton to New York on June 24, 1881. The Elbe collided with another steamer, the Crathie in the North Sea on January 30, 1895. Over 330 lives were lost when the ship went down. Christian was a blacksmith. The Peoria, Illinois Directory for 1890-1892, lists him working for John Schneider at 100 Cross St., in that town. For some reason, Christian returned to Germany and then came back on the Prussia on September 29, 1894. Christian died in 1897. If he is buried in the same cemetery as his wife, daughters and grandchildren, Bluff City Cemetery has no record of it. His estate was probated in Kane Co., Illinois in 1897 under the name Obenlandt. LDS Batch M947017

Johann married Auguste Rosine Peter 8 May 1859, Heilbronn, Neckarkreis, Wurttemburg, Germany. Auguste (daughter of Jacob Friedrich Peter and Sophie Dorothea Rumerl) was born 5 Jan 1827, Grossbottwar, Neckarkreis, Wurttemburg, Germany; died 22 Jan 1918, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, USA; was buried Jan 1918, Elgin, Kane County, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Auguste Rosine (Rosa) was born in Feburary, 1827 in Wurttemburg, Germany to Jacob Friedrich and Sophie Dorothea Rumerlin Peter. She was one of 4 children born to the couple. Rosine had one sister, Luise Regine, born October 23, 1831. She died September 20, 1832. Rosine had two brothers, Christian Ludwig, born November 17, 1834 and Gottfried Friedrich, born October 23, 1831. On May 5, 1859, she married Johann Christian Obenland. Johann was the son of Jakob and Marie Elisabet Widmann Obenland. The wedding took place in the church in Heilbronn, Neckarkreis, Wurttemburg. Their daughter Friederika Dorothea Caroline was born on October 31, 1859. Another daughter, Marie Caroline, was born May 22, 1862. Their daughters immigrated to the United States in 1882. Their parents left Bremen, Germany on the Elbe. They arrived in New York on September 27, 1884. Rosa's husband was a blacksmith. The Peoria Directory of 1890, 1891 and 1892 shows him working for John Schneider at 100 Cross St. in Peoria. We can assume that the couple lived in the area. Rosa's husband died in 1897 in Elgin, Illinois. The 1900 Federal Census shows Rosa as then living with her daughter Maria (Mary) and her husband Fred Preiss. Rosa died on Jan. 22, 1918, in Elgin, Illinois. Her Illinois State Death Certificate number is 0021713.

Buried:
Bluff City Cemetery; Section 5, Lot 8, Space 17

Notes:

Christened:
Lutheran Church

Jakob married Marie Elisabetha Widmann 21 Jul 1819, Ilsfeld, Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. Marie (daughter of Thomas Widmann and Christine Dorothee Frank) was born 26 Jul 1795, Ilsfeld, Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany; was christened 27 Jul 1795, Ilsfeld, Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany; died 5 Jan 1831, Ilsfeld, Heilbronn, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Alternate Spelling of Middle Names: Elisabeth, Elisabethe, Elisabet, Eisabete
• Alternate Date of Birth: 19 Jul 1795

Notes:

Christened:
Lutheran Church

Jacob — Sophie Dorothea Rumerl. [Group Sheet]