Person:Valentin Lanzer (1)

Valentin Lanzer was born in Dörrmoschel, Germany, the son of Friederich Lanzer and Marie Margaretha (Thorn) Lanzer, grandson of Urbanus Lanzer and Anna Gerturdis (Edelmann) Lanzer.

He married Carolina Stolz, daughter of Christian and Caroline Susanna (Müller) Stolz, on April 18, 1835.

Valentin and Carolina had six sons and one daughter. Four of the sons and the daughter immigrated to America in 1851 with their parents. Their second son Karl Ludwig died in Germany in 1840, before the family migration. Their two-year-old daughter Caroline makes the trip to America, but cannot be found after their arrival. Their youngest son George William was born in America in 1854, and is the first generation to be named Lantzer.

Most or all of the family eventually change their name to Lantzer.

Valentin’s widowed mother Margaretha (Thorn) Lanzer also immigrated with the family. Her husband, Friederich Lanzer passed away the year before the migration.

The family settled in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and can be found on the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. The consensus is that Carolina died there on September 19, 1876, though I have not found any documentation to prove this.

On the 1880 census, widowed Valentin is living with his son John [Johannes] and family. His son Christian and family are living next door. Valentin’s brother Friederich and family are also nearby. They migrated to America in 1853.

Sometime after the 1860 census, Valentin’s son Friederich Lanzer travels to Indiana where he marries Susannah Weaver. By the 1880 census, he has settled in Michigan.

All the Lanzers on these censuses are listed as "Farmers".

No documented date of death has been found for Valentin.

Bio written by Paul Hart (3d g-grandson of Valentin Lanzer)