Christian Schlottmann 1860-1940, Will County, Illinois

Why do I want to know the name of the father of Harry Christian Schlottmann 1896-1946? Harry married Lizzie Dralle in Monee, Illinois in 1916. According to my research, Lizzie was my first cousin twice removed. So, research adds family to my tree.

The following are the records, the bare bones, from me to you as your family researcher, someone who never knew the family.  If YOU know or knew this family, please share YOUR family stories.

My search brought to the surface two men named Christian Schlottmann in Will County as possible fathers; one man was born 1857 the other man was born in 1860. A timeline is needed to separate or conclude that this is the same man.

Records for Harry (1896-1946) suggest that he was born, married, died and lived his whole life in Will County, Illinois. See the U.S. census records for 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940. Harry’s baptismal records may be viewed on FamilySearch.org. My citation: Schlottmann, Herry [Harry] Christian Henry, baptized 31 January 1897, birth 4 December 1896. father: Christian Schlottmann, mother: Marie Buchholz pg 75, image 101 of 504. St Peter's Evangelical Church of Green Garden and St Peter's United Church of Christ, Frankfort, Illinois. Book 2. Family History Library. film #8166731. www.familysearch.org. accessed 4-7 December 2018.

Church marriage records for Harry’s father and mother may be viewed on Family Search.org. My citation: Schlottmann, Christian of Green Garden age 23 & Maria Buchholz of Green Garden age 18, marriage 25 January 1883. pg 292, image 127 of 504. St Peter's Evangelical Church of Green Garden and St Peter's United Church of Christ, Frankfort, Illinois. Book 2. Family History Library. film #8166731. www.familysearch.org. accessed 4-7 December 2018.

According to the church record with the marriage in 1883, Christian was born in about 1860 and Maria was born in about 1865. Another marriage was recorded in 1880 in the same church book. This marriage was between Henry C, born about 1857, and Sophia. My conclusion: there are two men of the same name married to two different ladies with the same surname.

Follow the census records, Henry Christian Schlottmann, born 1857, moved out of state shortly after his marriage in 1880. The probate records for Christian Schlottman who died in 1870 provide information that these were two brothers Henry Christian born 1857 and Christian born 1860.

Keep searching!!! More records are waiting to be found! Heritage Quest provided easy access to probate records for Christian Schlottman who died 1870 in Will County, Illinois. In the 1870 probate packet is Proof of Heirship given by Velna Schlottmann Voigt of Monee, Illinois dated 1941. Velna is the daughter of Christian, 1860-1940 and the sister of Harry, 1896-1946. My citation: Schlottmann, Christian, died 25 December 1870 in Green Garden Township, Will County, Illinois. Will County, Illinois probate case files, ca. 1847-1889; Author: Illinois. Probate Court (Will County); Probate Place: Will, Illinois. Ancestry.com. Illinois Wills and Probate Records, 1772-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Illinois County, District and Probate Courts Heritage Quest Accessed 23 December 2018. With so many males named Christian, Velna probably used the earlier will as her proof that Christian who died 1870 was father of Christian who died 1940 who had a son Harry Christian born 1896.

How do I know that. . . Christian Schlottmann, 1860-1940, was the father of Harry Christian Schlottmann, 1896-1946. My assumptions are rooted in the clues of census, in church records, and in probate records. Please let me know if you have other information to add to this search! Thank you!

My searching will never end, for updates check out my Roots Digger tree on Ancestry.com, MYHeritage.com and geni.com.

Happy tree climbing and roots digging,

Selma Kampe Blackmon, aka Roots Digger