Adam Bauer

St Wolfgang Church Records, Kehrig, Reinland Prussia On his Baptism record, Adam was born Adan (Michaels) to Anna Michaels, who was not married at that time. There was no fathers name on the record.

His marriage record shows that he was adopted by Gangolf Bauer after Gangolf and Margaretha Michaels were married. He and Margaret Michaels also received a special disposation at the time of their marriage because they were third (3rd) cousins.

Adam Bauer served in the Germany Cavalry in the Revolution of 1848. In the years following he struggled to make a living as a cabinet maker, but was restless and stirred by letters from friends who had emigrated to Gross Point. After an incident in which he ran afoul of the government foresters, he decided to sail to America. With his wife and three children, Gangolf, Mary, and Joseph and his younger brother, Joseph, he took the train to Antwerp and sailed for New York on May 29, 1855. When they reached New York a month later, according to family legend, they took a steamboat to Detroit, a train to Chicago, and an oxen cart to Gross Point.

Adam worked as a cabinet maker and carpenter in Gross Point for the rest of his life. The year before his death he was elected president of the newly incorporated Village of Gross point.

Adam Bauer, his wife, Margaretha Michaels Bauer and their three children, Gangolf, Anna Marie and Joseph John traveled from their home in Kehrig, Germany to Antwerp, Belgium to board the ship Henry Reed for New York and arrived June 26, 1855.

On November 16, 1875 Joseph John and Anna Marie Keil were married at St. Joseph's Chuch in Wilmette by Rev. William Netstraeter before witnesses Mathias Keil, Michael Bauer, Gertrude Bauer and Maria Bauer.

On March 10, 1874 a group of residents of Wilmette got together and incorporated the Village of Gross Point under the the general statutes of Illinois. To provide leadership for the settlement of 450 people, the first village election was held and Adam Bauer was elected President.

Among the trustees elected were Adam and Joseph Bauer. Special dispensation was needed because they were 2nd cousins once removed or a grade four relation. Relations are different in civil law and canon law. In this case the church used canon law to determine blood relations.

Per the church records for Adam's birth, it shows his name as Adamus.

National Archives, Passenger Lists of Vessels arriving at New York: 1820-1897, roll 154,June 24-July 20, 1855, list No. 560, June 26,1855 Ship Henry Reed arrived from Antwerp.

Passenger 161 Adam Bauer, age 36, M, Labor, Germany Passenger 162 Mary Bauer, age 38, F, Germany (name really Margaretha) Passenger 163 Adolf Bauer, age 7, M, child, Germany. (this is Gangolf) Passenger 164 Anna Bauer, age 5, F, child, Germany (really Mary Anna) Passenger 165 Joseph Bauer, age 1/2, M, infant, Germany (Gangolf's brother) Passenger 166 Joseph Bauer, age 22, M, laborer, Germany. (Adam's brother, he is buried at St. Joseph Cemetery, Wilmette. 1821-1901. (Age should have been 27, not 22)

1860 Census.

Adam Bauer, age 41, M, Farmer, born Prussia Margaret Baure, age 44, F, born Prussia Mary Bauer, age 10, F, born Prussia Gangolf Bauer, age 13, M, born Prussia Adam Bauer, age 11, M, born Prussia Joseph Bauer, age 7, M, born Prussia Gertrude Bauer, age 4, F, born Illinois Anna Bauer, age 4/12, F, born Illinois Also at the same house but listed as another family: Elizabeth Bauer, age 57, F, born Prussia. Unmarried sister of Adam's father. John Bauer, age 28, M, born Prussia