Barnsback, Minna A.

Other Events:

• Census: 1850, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Birth:

     In many documents, the given names of this woman are reported as Minna A. Barnsback. There are, however, some variations. In a biographical sketch published in 1887 of her brother, Henry C. Barnsback, she was identified as Minna C. Barnsback. This is also the form of her name which appeared on her own marriage license as reported in the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900, an online database of the Illinois State Archives.
     The form of this woman's name as it appears in this genealogical database is an arbitrary choice until a more definitive answer is discovered.

Census:

     According to the 1850 U.S. enumeration, Mina C. Barnsback, age 16 and attending school, lived with Julius L. Barnsback (age 50) and Mary Barnsback (age 42). There were three other children in the home: Henry Clay Barnsback, age 12; Julius Barnsback, age 9; and, Mary E. Barnsback, age 5. Also in the household were four male boarders, ages 20 to 42, from Switzerland, Germany and Pennsylvania.

Buried:
She and family members were buried in Section II, lots 105-106.

Minna married Gillespie, David 8 Oct 1855, Madison County, Illinois, USA. David (son of Gillespie, Matthew and Gordon, Nancy) was born 30 Sep 1828, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA; died 1 Aug 1881, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA; was buried , Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
According one biographical sketch of David, published in 1899, he and his wife were the parents of six children, four of whom survived him. At this time, this genealogical history has details of only four children.

Census (family):

     According to the 1880 U.S. enumeration, the household in Ward 2 consisted of David Gillespie, a 51 year old lawyer, his wife, Minna Gillespie, age 45, keeping house, and their four children: Julia Gillespie (age 23); Edwin Gillespie (age 18); Henry Gillespie (age 15), and Mary Gillespie (age 10). There were two single boarders: Carrie Houck (age 23) and Clay H. Lynch (age 32), a grain dealer. Also living in the home were two single servants: Mary Mansfield (age 18), born in Maryland of Irish parents; and William Meek (age 26), a farm laborer, he and his parents were born in Bohemia.
     The next household enumerated in this census consisted of Moses Sherman (age 42, a grain dealer), his wife, Isabella Sherman (age 38) and their daughter, Martha Sherman (age 12). Also living in the household was a servant, Mary Childres (age 16).
     And the dwelling enumerated after the Sherman's was the home of Wesley R. Brink (age 30, a publisher), his wife, Nellie Brink (age 26), and their two daughters, Florence Brink (age 3) and Julia Brink (age 1). Also living in the household was Wesley's mother-in-law, Martha Gillespie (age 64, a widow), and Louisa Bernius (age 20), a servant.
     What the 1880 census does not reveal is the close family ties woven through these three homes and foreshadowing extended family associations. Wesley Brink's mother-in-law, Martha A. (McGrew) (Hynes, or Hinds) Gillespie, the second wife of Matthew Gillespie, would have been the mother of Wesley's wife, Elizabeth Eleanor "Nellie" (Gillespie) Brink. Martha was also the mother of Isabella J. (Gillespie) Sherman and the step-mother of David Gillespie, who was the son of Matthew Gillespie and his first wife, Nancy Gordon.
     In 1882, Julia B. Gillespie, daughter of David and Minna (Barnsback) Gillespie, became the first wife Dr. Edward William Fiegenbaum. Clay Hardin Lynch, one of the boarders living in the Gillespie home in 1880, married one of Dr. Fiegenbaum's sisters, Martha Lizette Fiegenbaum, in 1884.

1. Gillespie, Julia B. was born 1856, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA; died 18 Mar 1886, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA; was buried , Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA.
2. Gillespie, Mattie C. was born 1859, Illinois, USA; died 22 Jun 1866, Illinois, USA; was buried , Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA.
3. Gillespie, Edwin David was born 17 Feb 1862, Illinois, USA; died 11 Apr 1929; was buried , Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA.
4. Gillespie, Minna A. was born Abt 1862–1863, Illinois, USA; died 22 Oct 1870, Illinois, USA; was buried , Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA.
5. Gillespie, Henry Sherman was born Abt 1864–1865, Illinois, USA; died 1926.
6. Gillespie, Mary E. was born 6 Mar 1871, Illinois, USA; died 28 Jan 1942, Santa Clara County, California, USA.

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1820, USA

Notes:

Birth:
Julius was the son of Ludwig Heinrich Julius Berensbach, who died in 1806.
     A biographical sketch of Julius's son, Henry C. Barnsback, published in 1887, contained this explanation of the change of the family name in the U.S.

     "During their residence in this country, the orthography of the family name has been slightly altered, owing to the difficulty which Americans found in giving it the correct pronunciation. The original name is Berensbach, and the history of their family was compiled by Maj. August Berensbach in Hoyershausen, in 1818, and was translated into English in 1842. When George Frederick Julius Berensbach [Julius's uncle] came to the United States he found it was very difficult for the people to pronounce the last syllable of his name properly, and rather than attempt it, the neighbors frequently called him Barns. Not wishing to lose his name entirely, he found himself compelled to alter the final letter of his name to "k," and the name finally became Barnsback, and he has since used that form of orthography, entering his land and executing his papers with that signature."

Immigration:
Julius purchased land in Illinois, where his uncle, George Frederick Julius Barnsback lived, and took up farming.

Died:
The place of death is not known at this time.

Julius married Gonterman, Mary Melinda Mar 1827. Mary was born 29 Mar 1807, Christian County, Kentucky, USA; died 7 Jan 1903, Madison County, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Census: 1860, Madison County, Illinois, USA
• Census: 1870, Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, USA
• Residence: 4 Jun 1896, Madison County, Illinois, USA

Notes:

Birth:
Mary was the daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Ball) Gonterman.

Census:

According to the 1860 U.S. enumeration, the household connected to the Edwardsville post office consisted of Mary Barnsback, a 53 year old housekeeper; Henry Barnsback, a 21 year old printer; Julius Barnsback, a 19 year old law student; and Mary Barnsback, a 14 year old student.

Census:

     According to the 1870 U.S. enumeration, the household consisted of Mary Barnsback, age 63 and keeping house; and, Henry C. Barnsback, a 31 year old merchant.
     Living in the same dwelling, but constituting a separate household were J. M. Armstrong, a 32 year old physician, and Mary E. Armstrong, age 24 and keeping house. Mary E. Armstrong was very likely Mary Barnsback's daughter and youngest child. Also in that household were Ethline and Mary E. Armstrong, both age 2; and, Fanny Tracy, age 10, and identified as a nurse.
     In the next dwelling listed in the enumeration was the household of J. G. Barnsback, a 29 year old merchant, and Mary O. Barnsback, age 24, keeping house. J. G. Barnsback was very likely one of the sons of his neighbor, Mary Barnsback. Living with J. G. and Mary O. was Sally F. Smith, age 18. This could very well be a relative (sister?) of Mary O., whose maiden name was Smith.

Residence:

     The following article was published in the Edwardsville Intelligencer (Edwardsville, Illinois) on Friday, 6 June 1896.

     "On Wednesday, 4 June 1896, the annual meeting of the Old Settlers Union of Madison County was held at St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church at Edwardsville, Illinois. In the afternoon session the organization honored its eldest members.
     "Three pairs of beautiful bouquets brought by Mrs. Eleanor Montgomery, Mrs. A. P. Barnett and Miss Jennie Barnett, were awarded to the ladies and gentlemen according to seniority. Mrs. Mary Barnsack, born in 1807, was the oldest lady, Mrs. Polly Jarvis came next, and Mrs. Emma Rice was third. John W. Coventry, born in 1809, was the oldest gentleman, John Weaver was second and Volney P. Richmond came next."

Died:
At the time of her death, Mrs. Mary Barnsack had been the oldest living resident of Madison County.

Notes:

Census (family):

     According to the 1850 U.S. enumeration, the household consisted of Julius L. Barnsback, a 50 year old merchant born in Germany, with real estate valued at $10,000; Mary Barnsback, age 42, born in Kentucky; and four children: Mina C. Barnsback, age 16; Henry Clay Barnsback, age 12; Julius Barnsback, age 9; and, Mary E. Barnsback, age 5. All of the children were born in Illinois; the three eldest had attended school within the year. Also in the household were four male boarders, ages 20 to 42, from Switzerland, Germany and Pennsylvania.