Christina Ford Anderson’s Heritage from Germany

Christina Ford Anderson = James C. Hoskins GGreat Grandmother

Miss Julia Smith (Christina’s mother) was born in Germany , Kathryn Rogers typed Brorkheim unknown city or typo? A 1850 census of Vermillion County Illinois showed her to be 51 so she would have been born in 1799.

When a young woman deprived of her mother, she accepted a position with a private family in Heidelburg, which place she retained for 12 years. Being paid yearly. The family was large. They were good, grand people, occupying an important office pertaining to the cities model welfare. As we might say in the U.S. Very Wealthy. They were the owners of a large manufacturing plant which compounded their own medicine of herbs, in their Apothecary shop. Many were employed at this facility, among them was Frederick Voth. Mr. Voth well understood the compounding of medicine, as he was a graduate of medicine and chemistry at Heidelburg University.

Julia had 2 brothers Frederick and William. Her brother William served in the war under Marshal Bleucher von Wahlstatt, the German division of the Duke of Wellington’s English Army Against Napoleon at Waterloo. William was severely wounded being thrust threw the chest with a sword. He was mourned as dead for some time, but much to the happy surprise of his family , returned home one snowy day almost recovered.

The Family to whom which Julia made her home was Bussell (?) A lady (who was a sister of the former family) and her family accompanied Julia to America, as well as the young man Frederick Voth.

After landing in America Julia Smith and Fredrick Voth were married in Philadelphia, Penn. They lived in Philadelphia for four years. There first born was Fredrick, also Christina (b.1831) and Catherine (b.1833) were born there.

They then moved to Ohio where they bought a farm. Two children were born here Mary (b.1835) and Julia (b.1838). In a few years they sold this farm and moved to Fairmount Illinois. Where Sarah (b.1840) was born. After two years Frederick died of the Bilious Flu. Being left with a family Julia looked about for a home and settled on a small farm near Oakwood. Here by dint of hard work and economy she and the children made a comfortable home for themselves with livestock, hogs, sheep, and cattle. From the sheep wool they wove their own yarn and made cloth for dresses. Julia and the girls also did the shearing of 10 head of sheep to get the wool. She suffered a severe stroke after the death of her son Frederick, who died from pneumonia after getting chilled from swimming in the river with Press Trimble. This was prior to 1850 as he was not listed in the 1850 census. Also may have been just before Julia moved to Oakwood.

Julia observed the annual Pilgrimage of the Catholics up to Rome to see the miracles of the Apostles. After an absence of 2 weeks coming home to tell of the healing powers manifest by the priests, men, women, and children all went in one company. Upon coming home everything would be grown up in weeds.

From Some history of Vermilion County Illinois:

It was this road (Old State Road) that Abraham Lincoln traveled when attending Circuit court in Danville. The Willis Hubbard family, living at the eastern edge of the school district, knew Lincoln well. They operated a roadside tavern from their pioneer homestead on the State Road and Lincoln stopped there during his circuit riding days. Historian H.A. Coffeen wrote in 1870, “.. it was their privilege to have Abraham Lincoln as their guest, in his regular trips to Danville…. Many of Lincoln’s best jokes are well remembered by this elderly couple.” Catherine Voth (Christina’s sister) (1833-1916) was employed by the Hubbards when she was a young girl and recalled seeing the gaunt Lincoln during his circuit riding days. Catherine Voth married Abraham Illk in 1857. Her family had also emigrated from Germany but Catherine was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The family changed their name from Voth to Ford after reaching the United States. The Illks’s homesteaded a quarter mile south of the Lake Shore School House. Abraham Lincoln was well aware of the number of Germans living in the area. While campaigning in Vermilion County in September 1858, he wrote a letter from Danville to Norman Judd pointing out, “Our friends here wish a German speaker before the election, can you send one?”

Cathrine Voth Ford’s sister Mary, married William Calvin Eldrige On November 9, 1859. The newlyweds took up residence in the timber just north of the Illk homestead. On October 14, 1860, they named their first born son William Lincoln Eldridge in honor of the circuit riding attorney so well known in the community. In less than a month the attorney would be elected president.

Left a copy of a chalk drawing of

Christina Ford Anderson in her

younger years. Original drawings

were about 18 X 24 with names

written on the back. Artist unknown.

Was handed down to Virginia Kelly

After Dorothy Nugent passed away.

Dorothy was Christina’s

Granddaughter.