Nicholas and Louisa Yeager

Submitted by Pat McCarty

My great, great grandfather, Nicholas Joerger/Yeager, was born on 30 December 1830 in Grossweier, Baden, Germany, a small town in the Black Forest area in the southern part of Germany. He was the 8th child of Johann Alois Joerger and Maria Anna Trapp, daughter of Johannes Trapp and Mary Theresa Volz. In 1850, Nicholas, along with 2 brothers and a sister, immigrated to America, leaving behind his parents and other five siblings in Germany. He and his siblings all settled in the Wilder-Cold Springs-Johns Hill area of Campbell County.

 According to his obituary, Nicholas was one of the pioneer residents in Campbell County and one of the best known farmers. Nicholas bought property in the Magisterial District 4, Cold Springs on the Alexandria Pike south of Newport. He married Louisa Kneipp 20 August 1860 in Johns Hill, Campbell County in the St. Johns Catholic Church on Johns Hill Rd., where both of their families attended. She was born 5 March 1830, the daughter of John Kneipp and at this time, Louisa’s mother is unknown. Louisa came from either Bavaria or Germany. The ownership of this part of the country changed hands a lot during this time due to wars.
 

Nicholas and Louisa lived the rest of their lives in Campbell County until Nicholas’ death, raising nine children. As shown on many deeds, (Deeds) Nicholas bought and sold several pieces of property. After Nicholas died, Louisa moved to Latonia in southern Covington in Kenton County where she is found on the 1910 census, and her address is noted on her death certificate as 3503 Carlisle Ave. in the home of her daughter and son-in-law. Sometime during Nicholas and Louisa’s lifetime, the spelling of the last name was changed to Yeager, although I have seen it spelled various ways (Joerger/Jager/Yarger/ Jarger/Yoerger).

Nicholas died 21 May 1904 in the Speers Hospital in Dayton, KY  (Obituary) and Louise died 21 December 1917 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Holtman in Covington. They are both buried in St. Josephs Cemetery in Johns Hill, and I have a photo of the church, cemetery and their tombstone.  I also have a picture of them in later years and many documents including Nicholas’ birth certificate, which is in German, deeds, and his will.
 

1. Louisa Yeager b-1863. She married a man by the last name of Rentz, but nothing else is know about her at this time.
2. Maria Anna Yeager b-9 August 1864. I have no further information on her.

3. Peter Yeager (my direct line) b-17 April 1866. He married Josephine Ernsterhoff on 20 July 1887 in St. Johns Catholic Church in Johns Hill. She was born 11 February 1860 in Highland, Campbell County, the daughter of Johann P. Ernsterhoff and Mary Fabre/Fabrey. All of Peter and Josephine’s children were born in Johns Hill, and about 1908 they moved to Fayetteville, Brown County, OH. They lived the rest of their days there, died and were buried there. Peter died in 1942 and Josephine died 1941. They are both buried in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery, which was just around the corner from their house on East Street. Most of the children later migrated to other areas north and west.

4. Emelia Yeager b-About 1868. Have no other information on her.
5. Bernard Nicholas Yeager b-19 September 1869. I have no further information on him.
6. Barbara Yeager b-23 August 1871. She married Bernard Recknerd on 21 May 1890.
7. Anna Yeager b-Abt 1872. Have very little info on her.
8. Adam Yeager b-7 March 1874. On 23 March 1895 he married Adalina A. Listermann in Newport. All of their children were born in Kentucky, and they later moved to Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH. Adam died 24 December 1950 in Cincinnati and Adalina died 24 April 1950. They are both buried in St. Stephen’s Cemetery in Kentucky.

While searching records at the Campbell County Courthouse in Newport, I found several deeds, leases and a will so far. I am in the process of transcribing these documents. Most of the old books are not indexed, so their names will not appear in the main index book, some of which is online. I am planning to spend many hours indexing one book at a time. (there are way over 200) So far, I have been unable to locate much information on the children except Peter and Adam, and there is one child I have not found yet. I know that one of the children died in early childhood.

Since Peter is my direct line, I have a lot of information on his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. I plan on making many more research trips to that area since I live only about 1 ½ hours drive away in Dayton, Montgomery County, OH.  I intend to find out which of Nicholas and Louise’s daughters married William Holtman. I have been searching the 1910 census, but so far have not found them. But, I still have some of that census to look at. I would appreciate hearing from any others who may be researching these people.