Biography/Notes

Joseph P. Steinhauser was born May 1867 in New York City shortly after the family arrived from Europe. Joseph's parents and grandparents immigrated together from Bavaria, Germany to New York City. Joseph was born very soon after the family arrived in New York, his mother having been pregnant during the trip. He had an older brother named Anthony.

When Joseph was about six years old, about 1874, his mother died of typhoid fever. Joseph's father remarried, but his new wife didn't want to raise a toddler; therefore, the father signed custody of Joseph to the Children's Aid Society. Apparently, Anthony was old enough to care for himself. Immigrants in New York City at that time had very bleak prospects, and many parents relocated their children hoping for a better life for them than they could provide.

The Children's Aid Society was started around 1853 by Charles Loring Brace. The society arranged for the relocation of homeless and orphaned children in New York City by putting them on "Orphan Trains." The youngsters were loaded onto the train and traveled from town to town. At each town, the children were put on display so that the local residents could pick the ones they might want. Adoption was not required. The families were only required to provide the youngsters with good Christian homes.

Joseph rode the train until it reached Salem, Ohio. There, he was selected by a well-to-do farming family--the Broadmans (Nicholas Broadman and Justina Gruenwald Broadman). The family didn't adopt Joseph but treated him very well. Joseph apparently used the Broadman name as a prayer book exists in the family that is inscribed "To Joseph Broadman." Joseph was raised by this family until their daughter Martha married Michael Theis on October 10, 1876. Martha and Michael took Joseph to live with them on their farm in New Riegel until he was able to care for himself. The Theis farm was adjacent to, just north of the Huss farm. This is how Joseph and Philomena Huss met. They were married May 1, 1894 at St. Boniface Catholic Church by Father Edward Jakob as stated on their marriage certificate. A newspaper clipping recorded the wedding as follows:

"The only event of any importance here was the marriage at this place of Miss Minnie Huss and Joseph Steinhauser. The event was a grand affair and as bad as the weather was, there were about two hundred people present during the day and evening. Among the past times were card playing and music and songs by the choir of St. Boniface Church at New Riegel...The people were also entertained by songs from Nicholas Huss, Mike Gruss, Alois Kern, and J.P. Wagnor. A general good time was had, and that the Huss family are good entertainers is proven by the fact that Nick Huss, John Nubbe, Nick Stark, and Mike Gruss are there yet. Anyone doubting my little description of the jolly time had should ask for Mr. Dumont or Otto Houck of Tiffin. Among the presents were-- pictures,towels, tablecloths, goffine, rug, stand cover, clock, rocking chair, fruit basket, water set, album, napkins, pepper and salt vases, bed spreads, set of knives and forks, silver teaspoons, butter dish, sugar shell, tea set, set of dishes, fruit stand, cup and saucer, 50 cents, center table, fancy lamp, glass pitcher, quilt."

When Joseph and Philomena were first married, Joseph worked as the caretaker at St. Nicholas Church in Frenchtown, Ohio. Later, they bought a farm in New Riegel, and Joseph farmed it until his death. It was a struggle for the family to survive. Philomena made all of the children's clothes. Joseph and Philomena were very frugal and accounted for every cent. They paid all of their debts and never borrowed.

Joseph was known as a very gentle and kind man, and the family always interacted with the Theis family as if they were actually related. They would visit back and forth and share each other's family events. Evidently, Joseph also remained in contact with his brother Anthony in New York. Anthony married and had two children there.

Around 1929, Joseph and Philomena planned to retire from farming. They rented their farm out and had a farm sale to sell their equipment. They were planning on moving to Toledo to be near some of their children. Joseph died before the move was ever made. He was already quite ill when Josephine Huss died. Joseph Steinhauser died of pneumonia on January 4, 1930 and was buried at St. Boniface Cemetery in New Riegel, Ohio.

Philomena went ahead and moved to Toledo after the funeral. She had a home on the east side of town and entered her younger son Ralph in school. Her daughter Louise lived in Toledo working for Paragon Oil Company. Norbert and Blandine also lived there. Philomena became extremely unhappy living in Toledo after about 6 weeks. She lost thirty pounds and was upset about being away from the area she had known as home all of her life. When Charles Huss came to visit, she instructed him to find her a home in New Riegel as soon as possible. Charles found her a home to rent where she lived until the lease was up for the renters of her farm. She bought new farm equipment and resumed operating the farm for about five years. Eventually, she moved into the town of New Riegel and lived in the home Paul and Josephine Huss lived in. She lived there until she died. Ralph Steinhauser leased and ran the family farm until it was sold after her death.

Obituary from the Green Springs Echo, January 9, 1930, page 5, column 2:

Joseph Steinhauser, a well known Big Spring Township, Seneca County farmer died last week after an illness of six days with pneumonia. He had been in serious condition since Sunday. He was aged 63 years, 7 months, and 17 days.

D

The grave of Joseph and Philomena
Steinhauser, St. Boniface Cemetery