Eugene & Marianne Emily Grimm-Marriage

Eugene Bessire and Marianne Emily Grimm were married by Wm. B. Rally, minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church,  on December 29^, 1849, Wayne County, Ohio.  

Source:  Ohio.  Probate Court (Wayne Co). Marriage Records, 1813-1951.  Salt Lake City, UT:  Filmed by the Genealogical Soceity of Utah, 1965, 1994.  Family Histry Library film 425754, marriage records vol. 4A-4B, 1835-1851.

These descriptions give some context to the setting of their religious affiliation and marriage.

Source:  Ben Douglass. History of Wayne County, Ohio, From the Days of the Pioneers and First Settlers to the Present Time. Indianapolis, IN: Robert Douglass, Publisher, 1878.

Evangelical Lutheran Church—The first record of this congregation goes back to 1832, the church being built, however, many years prior to this date, a log house, its site near where the present St. Paul’s church now stands.  The members (about twelve families) were mostly Pennsylvania Germans.  Rev. E. Greenwald took charge in 1832.  In May, 1836, he was succeeded by Rev. J.B. Reck, who was in turn relieved in the summer of 1843 by Rev. Edwin Melsheimer, continuing pastor until October, 1846, when Rev. William B. Rally, pastor of St. Paul’s church, Mt. Eaton, supplied the church pro tempore.  Here the record of the church closes.

St. Paul’s Church—This congregation of the Reformed Lutheran church originally attended the Evangelical  Lutheran.  In the summer of 1842 the new church was built, the pastor, Rev. A.L. W. Begemann, and Rev. David Kammerer officiating at laying its cornerstone.  It was finished in 1846.  In March, 1845, Rev. Robert Kochler became minister of St. Paul’s, servine one year.  Rev. W. B. Rally was his successor, continuing until 1851.  The congregation separated into two, a German and French, the former electing Rev. Johann Ackeret for is pastor, while the latter recalled Rev. Kochler.  The congregations retained their common property, creed and name.  Rev. Ackeret served the German congregation until 1868.  Rev. Philip Decker was his successor.  He resigned in 1876, and was succeeded by the presnt pastor, Rev. H. Nau.

Source:  Wayne County Historical Society (Wooster, Ohio). Wayne County, Ohio burial records. Evansville, Indiana Unigraphic, 1980.  Family History Library book  US/CAN 977.161 V38W 1980, p. 500

The original congregation of St. Paul’s was German Lutheran.  It was founded prior to 1825, at which time the log church was built.  In 1843 they joined in building a church with a congregation of French speaking Swiss people who had come to the area in 1835.  The two congregations used the church on alternate Sundays until 1883, when they became fully united. It is interesting to note that many of the people in both congregations came from the same area in Switzerland and adjacent Germany.  Many of their names are well known today in the Mt. Eaton area.

Eugene Bessire-Possible Civil War Draft Registration

Eugene Bessire-Possible U.S. Civil War Draft Registration

Ancestry.com,  a subscription genealogy website, just released the “U.S., Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865.”  The index lists a “Eugene Bossier”, Allen County, Ohio, registering in the 5th Congressional District.  On closer examination of the original online image I believe the name written is “Eugene Bassier.”  I’m inclined to think he is my ancestor Eugene Bessire because of the following facts.

1.       The draft registration lists that Eugene was age 40 as of 1 July 1863. That matches with Eugene Bessire’s birth of June1823.

2.       The draft registration lists his birthplace of Switzerland.  Eugene Bessire was born and christened in Pery, Bern, Switzerland.  U.S. Census records (1850-1880) indicate his nativity as Switzerland.

3.       The draft registration lists his residence as Allen County, Ohio.  Eugene’s family appears on the 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses for Jackson Township, Allen County, Ohio.

While these facts do not prove  that the Eugene Bossier in this record and my ancestor are one and the same, the facts seem very convincing.  (Unless there is another Eugene Bessire in the same locality at the same time.)

Other facts in the draft registration indicate he was registered as “Class 2.”  Class I comprised “all persons subject to do military duty between the ages of 20 and 35 years, and all unmarried persons subject to do military duty above the age of 35 years and under the age of 45.” Class 2 “comprised all other persons subject to do military duty.”

How You Can Help.  While Eugene Bessire may not have been a veteran of the Civil War, are there any records or history that would support his participation in the draft?  Maybe it was mandatory.  Further study may indicate that is the case. By 1863 Eugene and Mary Ann Bessire had their family of 8 children.

In a Bessire History compiled by Essie May (McCrillis) Cowles, a granddaughter of Eugene Bessire,  a tidbit of history states, “Eugene served 3 years in the Swiss army before coming to the United States.”  More information on his service in Switzerland would be really exciting to find!

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor



Immigrants to America 1905

Eugene Bessire
About 1894, Iowa



Eugene Bessire Comes to America

In a day when the issue of immigration can reach a feverish pitch in political circles, we might forget we really are a nation of immigrants.  In a selfish way, I’m glad the huddled masses I declare as my ancestors were allowed “in” a land of promise.   I don’t know what it took to make a decision to climb aboard a boat and sail to America in hopes of a better future.  Besides the cost of passage there were other costs: leaving family behind that you might never see again, leaving the known for the unknown, and starting over.  The pioneers of America started over a lot and moved a lot.  Their endurance and hard work are remarkable.

Whatever beckoned Eugene Bessire to leave his homeland of Pery, Bern Switzerland, sail across the ocean, and settle in Ohio and eventually in Iowa, would be so interesting to know.  Were there relatives advertising life there in Ohio, life so full of promise, that he couldn’t resist? 

Eugene Bessire’s Application for Naturalization

Fortunately Eugene obeyed the immigration laws and became a naturalized citizen.  The abstracts of application and naturalization can be found in the “Wayne County, Ohio Abstracts of Naturalization Records 1812-1903, published in 1985 by the Wayne County Historical Society, Wooster, Ohio. Remember these are abstracts, not the original records.  I believe those can be found in Wayne County Court records which I will investigate.  There is always promise that the original records might have additional historical clues about an ancestor. (Family History Library US/CAN Book 977.161 P48.  Can also be found on Ancestry.com, “Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s.)   

In page 29 of said book, the abstract of the application from Journal 16 states:  “Eugene Bessier, 29, native Switzerland, emigrate 1849.” (This would indicate his birth year as 1820.)

On page 31, in the Wayne County Court of Common Pleas, Journal 18, under the September Term 1854, the naturalization is recorded:  “Eugene Bessier: native Switzerland.”

This source explains the time table for naturalization:  “An immigrant needed to be a resident of the U.S. for 2 years before filing his application of intent to be naturalized.  He needed to be a resident of the U.S. an additional 3 years before filing for his final naturalization papers.”

Mary Ann Emily Grimm Bessire
About 1894, Iowa

Immigration of Mary Ann Grimm Bessire

Eugene’s wife, Mary Ann Grimm (1830-1916), came to America in 1833 with her parents Jean (1798- ) and Emilie Bueche (1802- ) Grimm.  Essie May McCrillis Cowles (1883-1978) gathered copies of the Jean’s traveling papers through a descendant of Eugene’s son, Alfred Bessire (1854-1946), for her compilation of the Jean Bueche Genealogy and Bessire History, a process that began in 1951. These papers indicate the route of travel for Jean Grimm as from Switzerland to France and then embarking for the U.S. at Le Havre, France, the 21^st of May, 1833.  The history indicates it took 45 days for the crossing.  Eugene may have followed a similar route.

The Modale, Harrison, Iowa 1900 census lists Mary A. Bessire living with her daughter, Mary Z. Bessire McCrillis.  It indicates her immigration to the U.S. as the year 1838 and 62 years as the number of years in the U.S.  The Green River, Emery, Utah 1910 U.S. Census indicates that Mary A. Bessire, once again living with her daughter, Mary Z. Bessire McCrillis,  was born in Switzerland-French with her father and mother’s nativity being the same.

Eugene Bessire’s traveling trunk—where is it?

In a copy of a letter dated June 11, 1958, Bert Austin Bessire (1886-1973)corresponds with Mrs. Charles Bessire [Juanita ] of Hoople, North Dakota.  In the letter Bert states: 

“Grandfather Eugene Bessire came to this country from Switzerland in 1839.  My brother, Blaine, happens to have the home made trunk which he brought with him.  It was made in Paris and on the lock is written, ‘Eugene Bessire, Paris, 1839.’ Grandmother Bessire came to this country from Switzerland a few years earlier.”

 Can it be assumed that the date on the lock is the emigration date? I would think in applying for his naturalization, Eugene would have put the correct date he came from Switzerland, that being 1849 as found in the abstract.  Something to verify.

Eugene Bessire family bible-where is it?

Later on in the letter, Bert references a Eugene Bessire family bible as being in the possession of “Uncle Albert, living at Grand Junction, Colorado” [that] had “names and dates of birth of his children.” Bert continues with the speculation that the bible might be in possession of George Bessire or Dwight Bessire.

How You Can Help.    My intent is to find the exact date Eugene Bessire left Switzerland, departure port, name of the ship, and arrival port in the United States. What do you know of the story of Eugene Bessire coming to America?  Do you have any documents or family stories that might shed light on his journey?  Did he come alone?  What was the calling card to America, land? Where is the Eugene Bessire family bible?  And the same for the 1839 trunk?  Even photographs of these precious heirlooms would be fascinating!

Genesis of My Family History Passion

My genealogical education began by watching my mother and grandmother strategize searches, rejoice in successes, and experience the inevitable serendipitous moments that come with the territory. I have faint recollections of tagging along on their "gathering" adventures.  Oh, I wish now I could go back with my more experienced eyes and pay attention!  Genealogy and family history work is all about "capturing the moment."

I've spent a fair amount of my lifetime trying to add to what my mother and grandmother accomplished.   In my generation the tools to search and the tools to assemble the information have changed dramatically.  Hand-written inquiries or letters typed on old manual or the "modern" electric typewriters were our basic means of communicating with relatives or archives in other parts of the globe.  Oh, don't forget the rotary-dial telephone.  We had a pretty pink one in our house, conveniently tied to the wall.  (One could get fairly tangled up in the 30-foot cord in your excitement of hearing from a new genealogical connection!)

Now our computers, laptops, and smart phones connect us with the world-wide community in seconds and put snail mail to shame.  Wow, how exciting!  (I still love getting genealogy mail though.  There is something about opening a package, for whatever purpose.) Just think, if my 4th great grandfather had Facebook, I would know what he ate for lunch everyday, or how the herds were doing, or what his family in the "old country" were up to, or why he moved so many times without the convenience of a U-haul, or what it was like to feed and clothe their large family!) 

Since my marriage, my husband and I have developed a satisfactory partnership in our family history escapades.  He supplies the dough for technical tools (great computer, printer/scanner and digital camera), drives to remote cemeteries to take pictures, assists in the technical part of class presentations, has read his fair share of microfilms, and hears me out on strategies.  I do the rest.

We've pulled our children into this too. Ask my children about visiting cemeteries and you will have varied answers.  One adventure involved my two oldest daughters and myself trying to find a particular burial spot in a remote region.  To cap off our glorious discoveries, we managed a run in with an elk as we entered the main highway.  No one was hurt and we spent an exciting ride home in the dark with a smashed windshield and elk hide stuck in every crevice of the car.  We figure our guardian angels, who just might have been the people we were searching for, kept us safe.  One son having been forced at a young age to have picnics in some of the more remoter cemeteries with me and his granny, and spending a fair share of his birthdays, which often land on Memorial Day weekend, in commemorating our dearly departed, refuses to "assist" any more. Another son studied French in high school and recently returned from an LDS mission in Paris.  His assignment will be reading those French records of our Swiss ancestors.  Can you see how providence is making it come together?

What makes us do it, this thing called genealogy or family history? The passion connected to pouring through old books and photographs, reading a newly-found diary, rejoicing in a cemetery, and connecting with some long-lost relative just might be driven by some very deep spiritual DNA.  That tie that binds us to those who've gone beyond and those who are yet to come is very, very strong.  When we make those connections it gives us purpose for our existence in the chain of generations.  I've grown to love the new television series, "Who Do You Think You Are." That desire and passion to continue searching escalates within me, often to the point of tears, every time I see someone else make the same exciting journey of discovery.

The last words of the Old Testament speak volumes towards this connection with our progenitors and our descendants, "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6).

I don't need any more curses than I'm presently handling, so I'll continue to fill up extra slots of time pulling these "fathers" and "children" all together.  I hope you will join me and together we can make it happen even faster!

Next up...they came to America, Eugene Bessire and Marianna Emily Grimm