Schweers/Balzen Family Tree
 



**NOTE** Many surnames change in this family tree see notes for explanation

Johann Balzen married Marje Berens see notes
Johann Balzen (C.1675- Aug 31st 1728) Marje Berens (Apr 1679-Dec 16th 1766)

Children:
Cathrin Janssen (Aug 24th 1704-?)
Gesche Janssen (Aug 24th 1704-Sept 10th 1704)
Gesche Janssen (Dec 5th 1706-?)
Johann Janssen (Sept 13th 1711-?)
Hinrich Janssen (1715-?)
Berend Janssen (May 12th 1715-?)
Harmen Janssen (Mar 1st 1719/20-Jul 2nd 1778)

Harmen Janssen married Antje Andressen see notes
Children:
Johann Harms (Jan 17th 1750-1751)
Andreas Harms (Feb 26th 1754-Mar 10th 1755)
Andreas Harms (May 19th 1756-May 19th 1756)
Hinrich Harms (Apr 21st 1756-1824)
Barber Harms (Sept 9th 1760-Oct 9th 1760)
Berend Harms (1761-?)
Trienke Harms (1765-?)
Barber Harms (1767-?)
Harm Harms (Apr 5th 1771-Oct 3rd 1773)

Hinrich Harms married Trinke Schweers see notes
Trinke Schweers (1766-Feb 6th 1846)
Children:
Anke Hinrichs (Apr 18th 1787-?)
Marei  Hinrichs  (1789-?)
Trinke Hinrichs (Jan 13th 1791-Apr18th 1798)
Frauke Hinrichs (Aug 23rd1793-Jul 27th 1798)
Harm Balzen Hinrichs (Nov 6th 1795- Jul 15th 1798)
Marje Hinrichs (1797-?)
Reiner Hinrichs ( Dec 7th 1799- Feb 3rd 1800)
Frauke Hinrichs (Feb 20th 1801- Jan 19th 1802)
Harm Hinrichs Balzen (Feb 20th 1801-May 11th 1891) see notes
Frauke Hinrichs (1803-?)
Trinke Hinrichs (1806-?)
Schweer Henrichs Balzen (Oct 8th 1808-?)

Schweer Henrichs Balzen married Zedee (Zeda) Hayen see notes 
Zedde Hayen (Sep 14th 1808-?)
Children:
Trenje Schweers (Dec 13th 1829-Jan 2nd 1830)
Heinrich (Henry) Schweers( April 29th 1832 - Apr 4th 1924)  Married Johanna Muennink
Heyo Schweers (Dec 28th 1835-?)
Trentje Katherina Balzen ( Aug 30th 1839-19th Nov 1902)    Married Mimke Mimke Saathoff
William Schweers (Jan 11th 1843-Jan 1st 1913) (Texas)     Married Elizabeth Muennink
Harm Schweers (Jan 12th 1847-April 19th 1851)
Antje Schweers (Nov 25th 1850-1850)
Harm Schweers Balzen (Apr 11th 1854-1854)

Henry Schweers married Johanna F Muennink  see notes 

Henry Schweers and Johanna Schweers (Muennink) had 17 children (all born in Medina Co. Texas:

Ida  Schweers (Mar 5th 1891-Sept 13th 1973)              Married Fritz Stiegler
Hilda Schweers (Oct 25th -Jan 10th 1962)                    Married Emil Lemberg
Emma Schweers (Jan 29th 1884 -Oct 8th 1938)           Married Pete Bless
George Schweers          Died in infancy
Rica Schweers  (Feb 12th 1881 -Dec 5th 1952)           Married Ben Gerdes
Willie 2nd Schweers (Apr 16th 1879- Jun 1st 1948)      Married Gretchen Herwick
Willie 1st Schweers        Died in infancy
Henry Schweers (Jun12th 1875- Jan 9th 1931)             Married Lillie Grote
Minnie Schweers (Jan 6th 1874-Dec 8th 1908)             Married Fritz Steigler
Janie Schweers (Aug 29th 1872- Apr 4th 1942)            Married George Gerdes
Louisa Schweers (Oct 1st 1870- May 27th 1927)         Married Willie Lampke
Katie Schweers (Oct 15th 1868- Jan 15th 1939)          Married John Zuercher
Anna Schweers (Nov 25th 1866-Dec 12th 1952)          Married John Kothman
John 2nd Schweers (Feb 21st 1864- Jun 2nd 1928)    Married Anna Ellabracht
Fritz Schweers (Nov 25th 1861- Apr 14th 1915)          Married Anna Mary Hardt
Zeda Schweers (Apr 3rd 1860- Mar 6th 1933)            Married William Wiemers
John 1st Schweers         Died in infancy

 

Katie Schweers Married John Zuercher see notes 
children:
Emmet Henry Zuercher

Emmet Henry Zuercher married Ruth Louise Keinappel. see notes
children:
Virginia Zuercher
Virginia Zuercher married Walter Sidney Hickey
children:
Sally Virginia Hickey
Clara Joy Hickey

Sally Virginia Hickey married Orville Lynn Eckhoff
children:
Grant  Mitchell Eckhoff (born August 17th 1956) 
Walter Edward Eckhoff (born  March 21st 1959)
Stephen Lynn Eckhoff ( born Sept 7th 1965)

Notes:

Surname changes
Many surnames in the region of Ostfriesland up until approx 1830's used patronymic, or identification of a person based upon the name of their father. So in this family the following occured the children of Johann Balzen became Janssen from the first name Johann. Harmen Janssens children became Harms from Harmen.
Hinrich Harms children became Hinrichs from Hinrich...and so on.

Johann Balzen and Marje Berens
Johann Balzen and Marje Berens both dies in Aurich Ostfriesland. Birth of Johann C 1675 Birth of Marje Apr 1679. Johann's occupation is listed as peat digger, warfmann.

Harmen Janssen and Antje Andressen
Harmen Janssen and Antje Andressen (parents Andreas Janssen and Barbara Jiljes) were born and died in Aurich Ostfriesland. They married on May 3rd 1750. Harmen Janseen's occupation is listed as peat digger and warfmann in wiesmeer.

Hinrich Harms and Trinke Schweers
Both Hinrich Harms and Trinke Schweers were born and died in Aurich Ostfreisland. The occupation of Heinrich is listed as a peat digger. Trinke's parents were Sweer Rheiners (1723-?) and Marie Broers (1734-?)

Harm Hinrichs Balzen
Born in Aurich, Ostfreisland. Immigration to the US in 15th Nov 1852. Sailed to Galveston, then onto Indianola and Quihi. Occupation is listed as farmer. Married twice, first to Gretje Saathoff then Rickste Henrichs.

Schweer Heinrichs Balzen and Zeede Hayen
Zeede Hayen (14th Sep 1808-?) was born in Akelsbarg, Ostfriesland. Her parents were Haye Williams Ubben (Feb 11th 1769-?) and Anke Jansen (Dec 19th 1765). Zeede and Schweer married Sept 27th 1829 in Holtrop, Ostfriesland. Schweer Heinrichs Balzen is listed as a butcher by proffession.
In 1856 Schweer Balzen and his wife Zeede left Akelsbarg, Germany  because of the cruelty of the Czar and sailed to the New World. They left with 5 sons (Henry, Heye, William, ?, ?) and one daughter (Trentje).
They arrived in New Orleans saddened by the loss of 2 small sons due to measels. These two sons were buried in New Orleans. The family sailed on to Galveston then journeyed onto to San Antonio, TX. Then onto Quihi (Indian word for dove).
Schweer Balzen retained his name but the children Henry, Heyo, William and Trentye changed their name to Schweers after becoming US Citizens .
 

Henry Schweers and Johanna F Muennink They built a house in Quihi, Tx. The house still stands today although it is in poor condition, the widows are damaged and the very big bedroom can now only be reached by a ladder. The old fireplace downstairs still exists.

Henry Schweers and Johanna along with other members of the family are buried at the New Fountain Cemetry, near the methodist Church near Quihi.
 

John Zuercher
John Zuercher came to America when he was 14years old from Switzerland. He came without his parents as he had planned to find work and save enough to bring his parents to the Americas from Switzerland.  John Zuercher had a butchers shop and worked very hard.

Ruth Louise Kienappel
Ruth Louise Kienappel was from Winetka, Illinois. Her mother was Martha Jane Kienappel.

Martha Jane Kienappel, maiden nameSpiggle married Melville Andreas Kienappel.Martha Jane Spiggle's parents were all from Ireland.Melville Andreas Kienappel's parents were from Alsace Lorraine.Martha Jane had 3 brothers they were from North Dakota.



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