It has been awhile since I last posted so her goes.
I am researching the history of my gg grandfather Frederick H Layman of
Hannover, Germany.
FREDERICK H LAYMAN was born on or around February 16, 1830 in Hannover,
Germany and on or about 1857. When he was around the age of 27 he immigrated
to the United States. It is believed his first stop was around Posey County,
Indiana and then later settled near Benton, Illinois in Franklin County
after a short time in or around Carmi, Illinois.
Said by some:
Spelling of our last name was Americanized (Lehmann, von Lehmann or?).
Frederick immigrated to this country (USA) with a brother (name unknown).
His father may have served as a high-ranking officer in the Prussian Army
or possibly a warden at a local prison.
His father's name may also have been Frederick.
Some say he may have worked on a ship for his passage.
His father may have sent him to the USA to keep him out of the military.
It is likely he may have taken an indirect rout via England and then onto
the United States.
Very little is known of Frederick before his military service in the Civil
War. We have been unable to locate his port of entry, immigration or
naturalization records, and /or any kind of citizenship records. We were
told that an application for citizenship was not needed if one served in the
military, so I may be looking at a dead end. The information we do have is
all based on stories and the information obtained from his Civil War
military records. All I can find is that he was from Hannover, Germany. We
have also located him on the 1870 & 1880 Illinois Fed. Census.
Frederick H Layman enlisted in Company "H" 48th Regiment Volunteers Infantry
from White County, IL. on September 10, 1861 at Camp Butler Illinois (Union
Army) under the command of General Asher Goslen. At the time of his
enlistment he lived near or in Carmi, Illinois (White County) and was 32
years old. He was wounded in the right arm between the elbow and the
shoulder in the battle of Shiloh and saw action at FT. Henry, Ft Donnellson,
Siege of Vicksburg, and lookout Mt. He developed chronic diarrhea and was
discharged from the service for disability at the rank of corporal. After he
was discharged from the military in 1862 he married his first wife (1) Mary
Charlotte Younginger Abt. 1863 in Poseyville, Indiana. They had two
children, Charles Louis Layman born in 1864 and John (?) Layman. After
Mary's death he married (2) Sarah J. Simpson October 15, 1868 in White
County, Illinois. They had no children. Upon the death of Sarah he married
his third wife (3) Mary Downen
on October 01, 1871 in Posey County, Indiana. They had four children named
Archibald Frank Layman, born in 1873, Christopher D Layman, Rachel P.
Layman, born 1881, and Caroline E. Layman, born 1884. An Orphan by the name
of Mary Ormsby born in 1873 is listed as living with them (1870 Federal
Census). We have located a Joan Ausnow who is the great granddaughter of
Nancy Omsby Fisher (Posey County, IN) who is the sister of Mary. She also
had a bother William and they were the children of John Omsby( b 1846 in
Phillipstown, White County, Ill) and Martha Utley. Both died in Posey
County.
Frederick H Layman passed away in 1886 due to complications attributed to
his gunshot wound in the arm. Fred was buried at Knob Prairie Cemetery in
Franklin County,
IL.
Mary Charlotte Younginger (unable to find much information) was born around
1844. Her father was Charles Younginger, and as far as we can gather the
Younginger family emigrated from Germany. Charles owned and operated a
grocery store in Poseyvillie, IN., and may have also worked as a Cooper
(someone who makes wooden barrels or tubs). Nothing is known about her
mother except her name, which was Elizabeth Knight. We do know that she had
at lest one sister who was named Margaret Younginger. It is believed that
Charlotte died during childbirth at the young age of 24. We have located
them on the 1850 Indiana Federal Census.
Children
(`1) Charles Louis Layman married Georgia Ida Puckett and moved to the
Yakima, Washington area around 1900.
(2) John (?) Layman died in infancy
Sarah J. Simpson was born in Arkansas in 1830 and was the 2nd wife of Thomas
Henry Sumpter who was a veteran of the 29th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers
and fought along side Fred H Layman at the Battle of Shiloh and was also
wounded. They were married on January 17, 1867. It was only 14 days later
that Thomas Sumpter died of medical complications from injuries received in
the war. Sarah married Frederick H Layman on Oct 15, 1868 and passed away in
1871.
No Children
Mary Downen was born in Posey County, IN, and was the daughter of David R
Downen and Mary J South. Mary lived on a farm in Posey County, IN., until
1851 when she and her family moved to White County, Illinois and settled on
the present family farm on section 31, Burent Prairie Township. Mary Downen
came from a family of 11 children including herself. On Sept. 4, 1909 at the
age of 63, 23 years after the death of her husband Fred, the Illinois
Christian Conference licensed Mary to preach the gospel. Mary Downen Layman
passed away on Jan. 2, 1932 and was laid to rest next to her beloved husband
Fred at Knob Prairie Cemetery.
Children
(1) Archibald Frank Layman married Minnie McKee
(2) Christopher D Layman died in infancy
(3) Rachel Pressy Layman married Charles E Downs
(4) Caroline E Layman married Charles Haley
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Fred H Layman
sgo@adweb.net
Fred Layman
sgo@adweb.net