52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 28 (TRAVEL)
The name Barbara means "Traveler from a foreign land" 1
This seems an ideal name for Chris' X2 great grandmother, Barbara Walser.
Anna Barbara (Barbara) Walser
Birth 13 APR 1860 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 1 MAY 1950 • Woodstock, Canada, Ontario, Canada
In the 1881 & 1891 Census her birth place is listed as Switzerland, but there is no arrival date included in those census records.
In 1900 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1879
In 1911 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1878
In 1921 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1880
In 1931 arrival from Switzerland is listed at 1890
We know she was in Ontario when she married Mark on March 18th 1879 in the Methodist Church at Houghton.
This was a first marriage for 20 year old Barbara, and a second marriage for 41 year old widowed Mark. Step mom Barbara was only 3 years older than Mark's oldest child with first wife Sarah Ann Louks.
I have found some records for her siblings that suggest she wasn't the only child who left Switzerland.
In fact her brother Daniel signed as a witness to the marriage. I'm not sure when Daniel went to the United States, but he is found on records there including his death registry from Detroit in 1908.
Daniel Walser
Birth 5 FEB 1853 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 2 SEP 1908 • Detroit, Michigan, USA
married December 24th 1888 Detroit, Michigan, USA
divorced February 4th 1908 Detroit, Michigan, USA
Elisabeth Louisa (Eliza) (Louisa) Biernbaum
Her sister Bertha's obituary notes she arrived in Canada (or maybe it was referencing the USA) at 13 years old in 1877.
Bertha Walser
Birth 18 DEC 1864 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 28 MAR 1927 • Walkerville, Essex, Ontario, Canada
married March 9th 1883 in Houghton Township, Ontario, Canada
William Henry Stephens
I have found DNA matches through the descendants of these 3 siblings.
I have not found a descendant match for brother John who claimed 1869 & 1871 on various census records - he resided in Detroit.
Johannes (John) Walser
Birth 2 SEP 1850 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 2 AUG 1937 • Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
married 1882
Elisa Schiess
The remaining four children did not live to adulthood.
At this time I have no records for the parents beyond birth/marriage/death of their children. I do not know if they came to Canada, the United States, or stayed in Switzerland.
Bartholomew (Bartli) Walser & Anna Elisabeth (Eliza) Oertli
I would be surprised if they stayed in Switzerland since all the children who lived to adulthood were recorded in Ontario & just south of the border in Michigan, USA.
Now back to our traveler Barbara.
Her parents named her Anna Barbara, but at some point she didn't want to be known as Anna (the gracious one), and instead wanted to be known as Barbara (the traveler).
She left Switzerland - with or without her family
She arrived in Canada - possibly USA first
There is much we still don't know about X2 great grandma Barbara.
Anna Barbara (Barbara) Walser
Birth 13 APR 1860 • Teufen, Appensell, Switzerland
Death 1 MAY 1950 • Woodstock, Canada, Ontario, Canada
married: 18 Mar 1879 • Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada
Mark Rearely Buchner
Birth 24 FEB 1838 • Woodhouse Twp., Norfolk Co., ON, Can
Death 12 JUN 1931 • Norfolk, Ontario, Canada
Chris' X2 great grandparents:
 |
| Barbara (nee Walser) & Mark Buchner |
Taking a second look at what you know & what you don't!!!
This is why I search -
Cause ...
You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!
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