Theisen/TysonStephan Theisen (1818-1906)On May 22, 1851, four months after his wife's death, Stephan married Gertrude Huth, daughter of Nikolaus Huth and Anna Kirstges. Gertrude was born in January, 1827, in Kaperich, Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany. This union also produced two children. Johannes was born August 17, 1852, in Oberelz, and daughter Luzia was born in 1855. Two years after Luzia's birth, conditions in Germany and the lure of a better life, caused the Theisen family to leave Germany and emigrate to the United States. They first traveled to London, then boarded the Black X Line sailing packet Devonshire (below)for the long voyage to New York City. The Devonshire normally averaged 30 days for the westbound voyage, although the trip could take as few as 19 days and as many as 41. The length of this particular trip is not known, but the ship arrived in the New York City harbor on June 29, 1857. (Although it seems likely that Luzia and Johannes, the two youngest children, came to the United States at the same time as their parents and siblings, the Passenger Manifest for the Devonshire's voyage lists only the parents and the two oldest children.) By 1860 the family was living in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where Stephan had found work as a day laborer. Anna Maria (who by now was going by the name of Mary Tyson) contributed to the family income by working as a domestic servant in the nearby home of A. H. Musselman, while Johann Nikolaus (John Tyson) worked as a laborer on the farm of Michael Musser. Johannes, who, like his half-brother, now went by the name of John Tyson, continued living at home and attending a nearby school. By 1870, now a naturalized American citizen, Stephan was working as a repairman for a railroad. Luzia, fifteen years old, was now called 'Lizzy'. She still lived at home, and no doubt helped her mother with her five younger siblings, for Stephan and Gertrude Theisen had continued to add to their family after emigrating to America. A daughter, Catherine, was born about 1859, followed by Jacob a year later, William two years after that, Anna about 1867 and Joseph in 1870. Mary by now had started a family of her own. She was living in West Hempfield with her husband, George Smith, and their young daughter, Margaret. Three more children, Elizabeth, Peter, and John would soon follow. The younger John H. Tyson (Johannes) was working as a farm laborer on the farm of Henry Musser, the brother of Michael Musser, for whom his brother had worked several years earlier. By 1880 Stephan and Gertrude, with their younger children, had moved to West Hempfield Township where Stephan had taken up farming. Their oldest son John (Johann Nikolaus) was still in East Donegal where he lived with his wife, Elizabeth, and their newborn baby, Annie. In the next few years, three more children, Albert, Alice and Mary, would round out their family. John was working as a Coach Painter, an occupation in which he continued for the next 30 years. The younger John (Johannes) had married and was now living in West Hempfield with his family. Twenty years later, Stephan and Gertrude Theisen were living in the home of their daughter Mary and her husband George Smith. Stephan was now working as a shoemaker. Stephan Theissen died at the age of 88, in the town of Cordelia, Pennsylvania. The cause of death was listed as cancer. The photo here, courtesy of George Tyson, shows the tombstones of (left to right) Stephan Theissen, Gertrude Theissen, George Smith and Mary Smith.John H. Tyson (Johannes H. Theisen) (1852-1922)Harry Wertz Tyson (1874-?)According to information gathered when he registered for the draft in 1918, he was of medium height and slender build, his eyes were blue and he had brown hair. By 1930 he and Millie owned their own home at Mount Joy, and his son John was now back living with them. Millie died in the mid-1940's, and Harry went to live with John, who was now married and had two daughters. That lasted only a year or so, however, as the arrangement eventually caused friction in the family and Harry was asked to leave. It is not known when or where he died.John Henry Tyson (1901-1991)Shirley Anne Tyson (1934- ) |