The Mysterious Marriages of Arthur Bauman and Margaret Haitz

I've heard of couples who get married twice, but usually they get a divorce first, think better of it, and then remarry each other. What I have never heard of is a couple who seemingly marry each other twice without ever divorcing, but I should never say never. I can now say that I think I have seen one and it's in my own family, too!

In 1929, Arthur Bauman and Margaret Haitz were supposedly married in the parish house of St. George Catholic Church in Cincinnati. I say supposedly because the only source I have found for this marriage is an article in the Ripley (Ohio) Bee dated 12 September 1929 and newspapers are not considered sources of proof. 

   An evening wedding Monday (Labor Day) at the parish house of St. Georges' Church, Cincinnati, united in marriage Miss Margaret Haitz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Haitz and Mr. Arthur Bauman, son of Mrs. Cora Bauman-Streif of New Richmond, O. The only witnesses at the ceremony were Robert and Elizabeth Haitz, brother and sister of the bride.

After a short honeymoon trip to the North they will life [sic] at 1402 Regent Avenue, Bond Hill, Cincinnati.

Everything was all well and good. I had entered this date into my Roots Magic genealogy software and made a note that I needed the marriage documents to consider this proven. Then I found the mystery element of this story. 

I was poking around on the Hamilton County Genealogy Society's website and found a marriage record for Arthur and Margaret in the Index of Marriage Banns at Hamilton County, Ohio Courthouse the society's free database. I thought I had found the document I needed to prove the 1929 marriage, but then I saw the date. This document was not for the 1929 marriage. It was a copy of a form that had been filled out and indicated a signature of Father Antoine Brockhuis. It said that he had married the couple on 20 February 1932 after banns had been twice published in St. George Catholic Church, Cincinnati.

Index of Marriage Banns at Hamilton County, Ohio Courthouse
Hamilton County Genealogy Society (database)

I wish I could say that I know why there are two marriages for Arthur and Margaret, but I can't. It could be that this form was copied, after the fact, into the marriage record book by someone in the church office and they mistakenly put that day's date instead of the date of the actual marriage. Maybe more research will enlighten me or maybe this is one of things that will remain a mystery forever. It wouldn't be my first unsolved genealogical mystery! Let me know by leaving a comment if you have a theory! 

Anthony Koewler Becomes a Naturalized Citizen

Journal of the Probate Court of Brown County, Ohio

Volume 9, page 269

April 1st 1872

Anthony Koewler

Naturalization

This day Anthony Koewler an alien and native of Bavaria and subject of the Emperor of Germany personally came before the judge of the said Probate Court and made application to be naturalized under the Laws of the United States and it appearing by sufficient testimony to the satisfaction of the Court that he the said Anthony Koewler had made application Declaration of his intention to become a citizen of the United States in due form of Law at least two years before making his said application: that he had been a resident of the United States for at least five years then last past and of the said State of Ohio at least one year then last past and also that during that time he had behaved as a man of good moral character attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and will disposed to the good order and happiness of the same. Whereupon By order of the said Court an oath of allegiance was administered in due form of Law to the said Anthony Koewler in open Court that he will support the Constitution of the United States and that he absolutely and entirely renounced and abjured all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Power Potentate State or sovereignty whatsoever and particularly to the Emperor of Germany whose subject he was. And thereupon It was ordered by the said Court that a certificate of Naturalization be granted to the said Anthony Koewler according to the form of the statute of the United States in such case made and provided which by these presents is done accordingly. Therefore the said Anthony Koewler is a citizen of the United States.

S.H. Stevenson

Judge

The Last Will and Testament of Anton Koewler

Anton Koewler wrote his will on November 10, 1894, six years before his death. His wife, Henrietta Fischer Koewler entered it into probate on April 10, 1900. The following is the court file for the Last Will and Testament of Anton Koewler. The original can be found in the Brown County, Ohio Wills, Volume 12, page 238.

In the matter of the last will and testament of Anton Koewler, deceased.

No. 1240

Probate Court held at the Courthouse in Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio on the 10” day of April A.D. 1900 before Robert E. Campbell, Probate Judge within and for said county.

Be it remembered that on the 10” day of April A.D. 1900, that Henrietta Kowler [sic] filed in this court a paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Anton Koewler deceased and at the same time filed her application in writing asking that said paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of said Anton Koewler be admitted to probate and entered of record, which said application is in the words and figures following, to-wit,

Application for Probate of Will

Probate Court, Brown County, Ohio

In the matter of 

the Last Will and

Testament of

Anton Koewler,

deceased

To the Probate Court of said county:

your petitioner respectfully represents that Anton Koewler late a resident of the township of Union in said County died on or about the 26” day of March A.D. 1900, leaving instrument in writing, herewith produced purporting to be his last will and testament:

The said Anton Koewler died leaving Henrietta Koewler his widow who resides at Ripley, Ohio and the following named persons his only next of kin, to-wit:

Catherine Schwallie, daughter, Henderson, Ky.

Henry Koewler, son, Evansville, Ind.

Joseph Koewler, son, Henderson, Ky.

Mary DeFosse, daughter, Ripley, Ohio

Louisa Koewler, daughter, Ripley, Ohio

Caroline Koewler, daughter, Evansville, Ind.

Henrietta Koewler, daughter, Evansville, Ind.

Lena Koewler, age 16, daughter, Evansville, Ind.

your petitioner offers said Will for Probate and prays that a time may be fixed for the proving of the same, and that said above named persons resident in this State may be notified according to law of the pendency of said proceedings.

Henrietta Koewler, Petitioner

The State of Ohio, Brown County, ss.

The above named Henrietta Koewler being first duly sworn, says that the facts stated and allegations in the foregoing application contained are true as she verily believes.

Henrietta Koewler

Sworn to before me and signed in my presence this 4” day of April A.D. 1900.

Ernest Bambach

Notary Public

We the undersigned next of kin of the within named decedent, hereby waive further notice and consent to the probate of said Will.

Dated this 4” day of April A.D. 1900.

Mary DeFosse

Louise Koewler

Henrietta Koewler

Lena Koewler

Be it further remembered that on the 10” day of April A.D. 1900, the notice required by law to all the next of kin of said decedent, residents of the state of Ohio was issued by said court, which said notice was afterwards on the 13” day of April A.D. 1900, returned and filed herein which said notice together with the endorsement thereon are in the words and figures following, to-wit:

Notice to Next of Kin

The State of Ohio,

Brown County, ss

In the Probate Court.

In the matter of the last Will and Testament of Anton Koewler, deceased.

To Lena Koewler, a minor over 14 years of age, 

You are hereby notified that on the 10” day of April A.D. 1900 an instrument of writing, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Anton Koewler late of Union Township, in said County deceased, was produced in open Court and an application to admit same to Probate was on the same day made in said Court.

Said application will be for hearing before this Court on the 16” day of April 1900 at 10 o’clock A.M.

Robert E Campbell, Probate Judge

Dated at Georgetown, Ohio, this 10” day of April A.D. 1900

Return

The State of Ohio,

Brown County, ss.

Ernst Bambach being duly sworn, says that on the 11” day of April, A.D. 1900 he served the within notice by delivering a true copy thereof to the within named Lena Koewler.

Fees Serving notice 50 cts.     Ernst Bambach

Subscribed in my presence and sworn to before me this 11” day of April A.D. 1900.

G.G Bambach

Notary Public

due 40 cts.

the undersigned mother of the within minor & with whom said minor resides hereby acknowledges service of the within notice this 11 day of April 1900

Henrietta Koewler

Be it further remembered that at the hearing of the aforesaid application the testimony of the subscribing witnesses to the paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of said Anton Koewler deceased was taken and reduced to writing which is in the words and figures following, to-wit:

Probate of Will

The State of Ohio

Brown County, ss.

In Probate Court

Personally appeared in open Court G. Bambach and Ernst Bambach the subscribing witnesses to the last Will and Testament of Anton Koewler late of Union Township in said Brown County deceased who being duly sworn according to law, to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, in the relation to the execution of said Will, depose and say: that the paper before them bearing date the 10” day of November A.D. 1894, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Anton Koewler, now deceased, is the will of said deceased Anton Koewler that they were present at the execution of said Will and at the request of the Testator, respectfully subscribed their names to the same as witnesses in the presence: that they saw the said Anton Koewler deceased sign and seal said Will and heard him acknowledge the same to be his last Will and Testament, and that the said Anton Koewler at the time of making, signing and sealing said Will, was of full age of sound mind and memory, and not under any restraint.

G. Bambach

Ernst Bambach

Sworn to and subscribed by said witnesses in open Court, this 16” day of April, A.D., 1900.

Robert E Campbell, Probate Judge

Be it further remembered that on the 16” day of April A.D. 1900, an entry was placed upon the Journals of said court which is in the words and figures following to-wit:

In the matter of the last will and testament of Anton Koewler, deceased.

The last will and testament of Anton Koewler late of this county, was this day presented to the court for probate and record, and it appearing to the court that the widow of said decedent and all the next of kin residents of the state of Ohio have been duly notified of the presentation of said will for probate - thereupon G. Bambach and Ernst Bambach, subscribing witnesses to said will appeared in court and were duly sworn and examined according to law, and their testimony was reduced to writing and filed. And it appearing to the court the testimony so taken that the said will was duly executed and attested and that at the time of executing the same the testator was of full age and of sound mind and memory and not under any restraint, the court now admits the said will to probate, and it is ordered that the same together with the testimony so taken be recorded according to the statute in such case made and provided.

Be it further remembered that the paper writing in said matter produced and ordered to be probated and entered of record as aforesaid is in the words and figures following to-wit:

I, the undersigned Anton Koewler of Union Township Brown County, Ohio, being of sound mind and memory, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say - 

Item I.  I desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be first paid by Executrix hereinafter named as soon as covenient [sic] after my death.

Item II.  I give devise and bequeath all of my property real and personal wherever the same may be located or situated to my beloved wife Henrietta Koewler -

Item III.  I hereby constitute and appoint my said beloved wife Henrietta Koewler the Executrix of this my last Testament and request that she be not required to give a Bond as such.

Item IV.  I hereby revoke all former wills by me made.

In testimony whereof I have here to set hand this 10” day of November 1894.

Anton Koewler

Signed in our presence and by us signed as witnesses in the presence of said Testator and in the presence of each other.

G. Bambach

Ernst Bambach

Anton Koewler

The News Democrat

Georgetown, Ohio

29 March 1900

 The death of Anthony (Anton) Koewler, my great-great grandfather, on 26 March 1900 was not unexpected. It came after receiving three gun shot wounds, including one in the chest, just over six months earlier.  His death left his wife, two sons, and six daughters to mourn him. 

  An argument over possession of a gun changed the lives of not only Anthony and his family, but, no doubt, the life of the young man who delivered the shots, William Sidwell. 

The News Democrat
Georgetown, Ohio
7 September 1899

  The newspaper article written at the time of the incident tells the story of what transpired in the melon patch on that Sunday afternoon. Anton is said to have had a reputation for being quarrelsome which really makes me wonder how he earned that description. We will never know what angry words were passed between the two parties to cause Anton to point his weapon at Sidwell which in turn enraged the 28 year old enough to retrieve his gun and actually fire three times. Were his actions those of a "peaceable young fellow" as the writer of the article claimed him to be? Was it regret that made him turned himself in for his crime?  Sidwell paid for his crime by serving four years in the penitentiary for killing Anthony Koewler. He can't be found in the 1910 or 1920 censuses, but is found living with his widowed mother on South Second Street in Ripley, Ohio in 1930. He was single and a farm laborer. Two years later, he was a resident of the County Home in Georgetown where he died at the age of 60 as a result of chronic nephritis.