The Family of Joseph Bernard Willmeng and Elizabeth Sieler Feller

Joseph Bernard Willmeng, son of Bernard, was born on May 28, 1820 at Grussenheim, France. He is reported to have died on June 28, 1900 at Lemont, Illinois. However, this date has not been confirmed. In addition, it has been reported that he immigrated to America about 1852. Bernard is referred to as Barnhart in the 1860 U.S. census return for Lisle, Illinois and as Behnhardt on his tombstone.

Bernard married Elizabeth Feller nee Sieler. Elizabeth is reported to have been born on 13 January 1815. However, the 1860 U.S.census return would suggest that she was born about 1831. She is reported to have died on 8 October 1887 near Lockport, Illinois. To date this information has not been confirmed.

Bernard and Elizabeth had seven children. Because the following children have not been extensively researched to date, the information given here and elsewhere is sketchy and to a great degree unconfirmed.

1. Joseph Willmeng who was born on January 17, 1857 at Naperville, Illinois. He died on January 16, 1946 at Bainbridge Township, Berrien County, Michigan. Joseph was a farmer by profession. He married on January 27, 1880 at St. Joseph, Michigan to Josephine Oehlhaffer, daugther of Joseph Oehlhaffer and Mary Ann Straul. Josephine was born on April 11, 1860. She died on September 18, 1941
2. Elizabeth Willmeng who was born on March 17, 1858 at Naperville, Illinois. She died on September 3, 1943 at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
3. Seraphine Willmeng who was born on March 25, 1860 at Naperville, Illinois. He died on January 6, 1944 at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
4. Magdaline Willmeng who was born on March 16, 1862 at Lemont, Illinois. She died on November 10, 1956 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. Magdaline married on September 25, 1888 at St. Joseph, Michigan to Joseph Oehlhaffer, son of Joseph Oehlhaffer and Mary Ann Straul. Joseph was born on January 7, 1862. He died on March 24, 1941. Joseph was a farmer by profession.
5. Andrew Willmeng who was born on March 12, 1864 at Lemont, Illinois. He died on April 10, 1958 at Bainbridge Township, Berrien County, Michigan. Andrew was a farmer by profession. He married on November 23, 1886 to Mary Brachle, daughter of Peter Brachle and Elizabeth Welter. Mary was born on June 15, 1868 and died on April 14, 1962.
6. Frances Willmeng who was born on March 7, 1868. She died on August 29, 1900. She married Leonard Brachle. Leonard died on August 29, 1900.
7. Louise Willmeng for whom there is no concrete information.

Bernard is reported to have married a second time to Maria A. Bauer. Marie is reported to have been born on 21 May 1815. She is reported to have died on 8 October 1887. This, however, makes no sense as this date is the same as that reported for Elizabeth. Therefore, the date and place of her death are presently unknown. It appears that Bernard and Maria had no children.

In the 1860 United States census return for Lisle, Illinois, there were two chldren mentioned who are not mentioned in any other document review while researching this family. These children were: Hannah, whose age is given as eleven and who was born in France, and Enos, whose age is given as nine and who was also born in France. It appears that they were children from Elizabeth's first marraige. Elizabeth first married Blasin Feller.

Elizabeth and Blasin had at least two children:

• Hannah Feller who was born about 1849 in France.
• Ignace Henry Feller who was born on 16 February 1851 reportedly at Wittalsheim, France. However, no record of his birth was found in the records of Wittalsheim. He died at the age of eighty-seven on 22 March 1938 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery at Benton Harbor, Michigan on 24 March 1938. He was a farmer by profession. Ignace married on 2 May 1872 to Mary Peters, daughter of George Peters and Mary Omar. Mary was born on 2 September 1857. She died at Benton Harbor, Michigan on 1 March 1938. She was buried in Calvary Cemetery at Benton Harbor, Michigan on 5 March 1938.

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