I came across Katharina Horneff’s obituary by accident. I wasn’t expecting to find it. Horneff¹ is one of the few unique surnames I have and I search it on any new database I find. In this case it was in GenealogyBank which has the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1834-1922. In my results was an obituary for Katharina Horneff from 1911. It stated that the funeral would be at her grandson, Jacob Carman’s house. Seems cut and dry, but I still had to check to make sure it was my Jacob Carman since there were two of the same age in Philadelphia at the time. It took me awhile to be convinced, too, despite the unique name and the grandson being named. The truth was I thought I would never find Katharina Horneff. Indeed, I didn’t even know that was her name.

My grandmother’s grandmother was Catherine² Horneff Carman and she passed away in 1913. I had no luck in finding her on the Census records³ before she married and only her father was listed on her death certificate. I thought her mother had therefore passed away long before and Catherine’s family had either not met her or had forgotten her name. Not only had they known her, she had passed away only two years before her daughter!

Another new genealogy site, FamilySearch’s Record Search Pilot, brought me more on Katharina Horneff. I found her death certificate which listed her birth date and her parents’ names (Leonhard Faber & Eva Huber). And then, I hit a gold mine. The family I thought I would never get anywhere with, led me straight back to Europe for the first time in my genealogical research.

Record Search has indexed church records from Otterberg, Germany and like a clichéd plot device, that is exactly where my Horneffs happened to be from. I found the Marriage record for Jacob and Katharina Faber Horneff which listed both of their parents. I found Katharina’s christening record with the same birth date as on her death certificate. I found Catherine Horneff’s christening record listing her parents Jacob and Katharina, as well as her full birth date. I had had only the month and year before. I was certain that these were my ancestors.

The Fabers were a bit of a dead end, but the Horneffs were all over the place. I found Jacob’s parents (Georg Peter Horneff and Catherine Cherdron) and grandparents (David Horneff & Susanne Weber and Johann Philipp Cherdron & Margarethe Port). And I found siblings of them all as well.

After doing some googling, I found a book called 300 Jahre Auswanderung aus Otterberg which I was able to get through Interlibrary Loan and which informed me rather mysteriously that Jacob Horneff and his wife and daughter, and later Eva Faber and her son Carl, had emigrated “secretly” from Otterberg in 1846 and 1850 respectively.

This gives me some hope my other dead ends as well: Nicholas & Catharine (Emmering/Emmerling?) Conrad, Joseph & Frances Funston, Charles & Caroline (Brill) Carman, Samuel & Lydia (Burch) Garrison, and more. There will always be dead ends. May they all be temporary.

1. Horneff was also found as Hornef
2. Mother and daughter, Katharina and Catherine, were found as Katharina, Katherina, Kathrina, Katherine, Catherine, etc. I settled on Katharina and Catherine to help keep them straight.
3. I have since found the Horneffs on all the applicable censuses.

Civil War Pension file: Elon Carman, Private, Co. K, 5th Reg’t, Penna. Cav.
Abstracted and Transcribed from photocopies obtained from National Archives and Records Administration

From Declaration for Pension
(Act of Feb. 6, 1907)
State of Penna.
County of Philada.
On this 24 Day of September, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and ten (1910) personally appeared before me, a Notary Public within and for the county and State aforesaid, Elon Carman who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is 70 years of age, and a resident of Philada. county of Philada., State of Penna.; and that he is the identical person who was enrolled at Philada., Penna. under the name of Elon Carman, on the 19th day of September 1864 as a Private, in Co. K, 5th Reg’t Penna. Cavly Vols. (Full service has been stated) in the service of the United States in the Civil war and was honorably discharged at Richmond, Va., on the 19th day of May 1865.
…That his personal description was as follows: Height 5 feet 4 inches; complexion Light; color of eyes, Blue; color of hair, Brown; that his occupation was Bricklayer; that he was born on the 20 day of September, 1840 at Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania.

From form 3-389 Dept. of
the Interior, Bureau of Pensions.
Sir: Please answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below.
…
No. 1. Date and place of birth?
Philadelphia September 20, 1840.
The name of organizations in which you served?
Bricklayers Union No 1, Phila.
No. 2. What was your post office at enlistment?
Kensington post office
No. 3. State your wife’s full name and her maiden name.
Catherine Carman ne Horneff [second f crossed out]
Bo. 4. When, where and by whom were you married?
Philadelphia, Twenty-first day of October 1862 by Minister John Wilson.
No. 5. Is there any official or church record of your marriage?
don’t know
…
No. 8. Are you now living with your wife, or has there been a separation?
death, dead
No. 9. State the names and dates of birth of all your children, living or dead.
Jacob Carman born May 26, 1863 Phila. living
Joseph Elon Carman born April 6, 1872 Phila living
Carolina Carman born August 26, 1869 Phila. dead.

March 31, 1915
(signature) X Elon Carman

From Application for Reimbursement
State of Pennsylvania
County of Philadelphia
On this 13th day of Oct, A.D. one thousand nine hundred and nineteen (1919) personally appeared before me a Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid, Mary J. Hoy, aged 77 years, a resident of Phila., County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, who being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain reimbursement from the accrued pension for expenses paid (or obligation incurred) in the last sickness and burial of Elon Carman, who was a pensioner of the United States by certificate No. 1083859 on account of the service of Elon Carman in Private Co. K 5th Reg
Penna. Calvary.
…
6. Were any sick or death benefits paid on pensioner’s account?
Bricklayers Union #300.
[Schuyler] Post G.A.R. #30
…
19. What was your relation to the deceased pensioner?
Sister
20. Are you married?
Widow
…
24. Give the name and post-office address of each physician who attended the
pensioner during last sickness.
Howard M. [Shriner] Cumberland St. near Jasper St.
…
28. When did the pensioner die?
Sept. 8, 1919.
29. Where was the pensioner buried?
Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Phila. Pa.
…
Also appeared Anna Doyle and Rose Henry.
…We knew pensioner 21 years.
…
Give name of each person who rendered service as nurse, and who has made or will make a charge for such service.
Sister Mrs. Mary J. Hoy 338 E. Somerset St.
Nephew John P. Hoy 338 E. Somerset St.

1850 Census: PA Phila
Penns Dist., p128
Date 25 Jul 1850

670 806 Carman, Charles R. 39 M Stone Mason PA
                  Caroline ?? F             PA
                       Eli  9 M             PA in school
                 Josephine  7 F             PA in school
                 William P. 5 M             PA in school

1860 Census: PA Phila
19th Ward, p172
Date 7 Jul 1860

1253 1374 Charles Carman 49 M Stone Mason 200 PA
                Caroline 48 F                 PA
                  Joseph 20 M                 PA
               Josephine 18 F                 PA
                 William 16 M                 PA in school
                   Sarah  8 F                 PA
         Eliza Hendricks 51 F Widow           PA

1870 Census: PA Phila
83rd Dist., p93
Date 18 Jun 1870

247 267 Carman, Charles 52 M W Bricklayer ___ 200 PA
               Caroline 50 F W                    PA
           Hoy, Michael 34 M W Boatman            IRE 
                    Father & Mother foreign born
              Josephine 27 F W                    PA
                Charles  8 M W                    PA 
                    Father foreign born In School
                Michael  5 M W                    PA 
                    Father foreign born
                   John  2 M W                    PA 
                    Father foreign born

1870 Census: PA Phila
18th Ward, 56th Dist., p454
Date 9 Jun 1870

307 335 Carman, Elon    29 M W Bricklayer       ___ 100 PA      
                 Mother foreign born
           Catherine    24 F W Keeping House            Bavaria 
                 Father & Mother foreign born
               Jacob     7 M W Attending School         PA      
                 Mother foreign born
            Caroline 10/12 F W                          PA      
                 Mother foreign born  Aug(month born)

1880 Census: PA Delaware
Lower Chichester, ED34
Date 18 Jun 1880

298 307 Carman, Elon W M 39 Head Married Bricklayer       
                  6mths unemployed PA PA PA
           Catherine W F 35 Wife Married Works in Hosiery                  
                                            Baden Baden Baden
               Jacob W M 17 Son  Single  Laborer                           
                                            PA PA Baden
              Joseph W M  8 Son  Single  At School                         
                                            PA PA Baden

1880 Census: PA Phila
ED538, p12/317
Date 8 Jun 1880

166 Tioga
89 96 Carman, Wm P. W M 36 Head    Married Bricklayer PA PA PA
          Mary Jane W F 42 Wife    Married            NY NY NY
 Huntley, Rennie E. W M 10 Stepson         At School  NY NY NY

1900 Census: PA Phila
ED351, p2
Date 1 Jun 1900

1649 Eyre Street                                               immig
26 26 Carman, Elon Head  W M Sep 1840 59 M  38     PA  PA PA           
             Bricklayer R H
         Catharine Wife  W F Jun 1845 54 M  38 3/2 Ger Ger Ger 1846 53 
          Jacob H. Son   W M May 1861 39 Wd 14     PA  PA  Ger         
             Bricklayer
         Joseph E. Son   W M Apr 1873 27 M   5     PA  PA  Ger         
             Bricklayer
        Wilhelmina GDau  W F Jan 1890 10 S         PA  PA  Ger         
             At School
         Joseph E. GSon  W M Dec 1891  8 S         PA  PA  Ger         
             At School
          Annie M. DauIL W F Jan 1876 37 M   5     PA  PA  Ger
         Catharine GDau  W F Apr 1878 22 S         PA  PA  Ger
[Annie is wife of Joseph E. Granddaughter Catharine was actually 2, 
born 1898, Annie's mom was actually born in England. BP of mom of 
Wilhelmina and GS Joseph unknown]

1910 Census: PA Phila
ED283, p10B
Date 21 Apr 1910

1823 Memphis Street
225 230 Carman Elon Head    M W 69     M 48     PA PA  PA  
               Bricklayer              W   No 0 Y Y R H
          Catharine Wife    F W 64     M 48 3/2 PA Ger Ger 
               None                             Y Y
            Elon J. GrSon   M W 18     S        PA PA  PA  
               B??? Boy/ ????? Factory W   No 0 Y Y
   MacBeth, John C. GSonIL  M W 26     M  3     PA PA  PA  
               Retail Dealer/Groceries Emp      Y Y
         Wilhelmina GrDau   F W 20     M  3 1/1 PA PA  PA  
               Saleswoman/Groceries W  No     0 Y Y
            John J. GrGrSon M W 1 9/12 S        PA PA  PA  
               None

1910 Census: PA Phila
ED551, p13A-B
Date 20 Apr 1910

2762 Martha St.
251 244 Carman, Joseph Elon Head M W   38 M        PA PA PA 
                          Bricklayer/Building W No 17 Y Y   R H
                      Annie Wife F W   34 M 15 8/6 PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y Y
                  Catherine Dau  F W   12 S        PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y Y Y
                   Florence Dau  F W    7 S        PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y
                     Joseph Son  M W    9 S        PA PA PA 
                          None                        Y
                      Naomi Dau  F W    5 S        PA PA PA 
                          None
                      Jacob Son  M W    3 S        PA PA PA 
                          None
                     Robert Son  M W 8/12 S        PA PA PA 
                          None

1910 Census: PA Phila
ED388, p12A
Date 29 Apr 1910
Park Street
228 234 Carman, William P. Head    M W 65 M2 11     
                       PA PA PA                 None O F H
                   Mary B. Wife    F W 58 M2 11 0/0 
                       PA PA PA                 None
       Marks, Alexander A. Boarder M W 76 Wd        
          PA Switz(germ) Switz(germ) Farm Laborer General Farm W

1920 Census: PA Phila
ED1706, p4B
Date Feb 1920

3859 Coral St
82 84 Carman, Joseph Head R M W 46 M PA Eng Eng Bricklayer Houses    
                Anna Wife   F W 42 M PA PA  Eng Clothmill           
            Florence Dau    F W 16 S PA PA  PA  None
               Naomi Dau    F W 14 S PA PA  PA  Knitter Hosiery Mill  
                   Attended School
               Jacob Son    M W 12 S PA PA  PA  None                   
                   Attended School
              Robert Son    M W 10 S PA PA  PA  None                   
                   Attended School
             Anna M. Dau    F W  8 S PA PA  PA  None                   
                   Attended School
               Alice Dau    F W  6 S PA PA  PA  None

1930 Census: PA Bucks
Bristol Twp, ED9-15, p11A
Date 14 Apr 1930

Christie Ave
244 246 Carman, Joseph E. Jr. Head R 18 M W 29 M 18 PA PA PA 
                    Driver Truck 
                 Helen C.     Wife      F W 29 M 19 PA PA PA

1930 Census: PA Montgomery
Conshohocken Borough, p15A/82
9 Apr 1930

West Sixth Avenue
239  255  295  Culp, Alvin B.  Head    0  4000  M W 72  Wd PA PA PA  
              Carman, Mary B.  Sister           F W 78  Wd PA PA PA
              Culp, George D.  Son              M W 47  M  PA PA PA  
                    Painter

Transcribed from a photocopy obtained from the Pennsylvania Division of Vital
Records.

Certificate of Death
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Health
Bureau of Vital Statistics

City: Phila.
No. 1456 [E. Wilt?] St. 18 Ward
Name: Catherine Carman
Sex: F
Color or Race: W
Married
Date of Birth: Not Reported
Age: 69 yrs 5 mths
Occupation: Housewife
Birthplace: Ger.
Father name: Jacob Horneff
Father birthplace: Not Reported
Mother name: Not reported
Mother birthplace: Ger.
[Informant’s last name is Barrett]
…
Date of death: 4 9 1913
…
Usual residence: 145[3] [E Will?] St.
Place of burial: Mt. Moriah
Undertaker: [last name is Barrett]

[Note: transcribed from a poor quality photocopy]