Weppler Archives

Census records offer genealogists wonderful information about their ancestors, but many times it is inaccurate. Considering all this record taking was done by a man going around with a notebook, knocking on doors and writing down information given by whomever answered, it's amazing we have anything at all. Still, it's a challenge to sift through these old records, trying to determine fact from fiction. Misspellings and wrong dates abound!

Lena's real name remains a mystery. It shows up most often as Lena, but it also appears as Caroline, Carolina and Magdalena. It's clear that she preferred to be called Lena.

Ludwig's name appears sometimes as Louis. Weppler is sometimes spelled incorrectly.

Lena and Ludwig had only been married 4 months when they filled out the 1880 Census.

I have been unable to find them in the 1910 Census.

I will eventually upload blank census forms so you can see the questions that were asked. Most of the information asks about jobs, birth of self and parents, naturalization, etc, but each census is different.

Interesting Facts: The 1890 U.S. Federal Census was destroyed by fire in 1921 at the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C., so the information gathered on 63 million Americans was lost. The 1940 U.S. Federal Census will not be made available to the public until 2012. (The Federal Privacy Act forbids the release of records less than 75 years old.)

Click thumbnails to read the census records.

These are assorted documents I have collected about the Weppler family over the years.

From what I gather, Ludwig left Germany aboard the Donau on May 26, 1871 and arrived in New York on June 10th. (A two week trip!) He was probably in a 6' x 6' cabin with 2 triple decker bunk beds on each side of the room.

He came over with his cousin, Justus Weppler, whose father is listed as Johann Weppler (which would be Ludwig's uncle.) Justus had a brother named George, who would also have been Ludwig's cousin. Burghard Weppler shows up in various places, so I assume he is related somehow.

When Ludwig arrived in New York he was processed at Castle Garden, a converted amusement park on the tip of Manhattan. (Ellis Island replaced this proecessing center in 1892.)

Click thumbnails to read the images