Introduction: In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry writes about the Luitwieler family’s story in America starting in 1836, including the California Gold Rush, the Civil War, and successful family businesses. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History.
On 29 May 1836 a branch of the Luitwieler family came to America from the port of Antwerp in Belgium onboard HMS Gentlemen of Salem, a bark owned by Edward and John Allen of Salem, Massachusetts.
Chaplin Conway and Nehimiah Haskell were masters of the Gentlemen of Salem, and the crew were as follows: Edward Putnam, Thomas Dean Jr., William Edwards, and Charles Adams (all of Salem); Daniel Chapman (of Norwich, Connecticut); Archibald Cameron (of Nahant, Massachusetts); George W. Smith (of Redfield, Massachusetts); Samuel Tucker (of Saco, Maine); and Henry Williams (of Albany, New York).
Here is the passenger list from that 1836 voyage of the Gentlemen of Salem, including the Luitwieler family: husband Hybreght Luitwieler (1793-1897); wife Maria Reijnhout (Rheinwold) Luitwieler (1797-1876); and their seven children Jacob, Adam, Henry, Peter, James, Susan, and Elizabeth.
My subject is one of those passengers, Hybreght and Maria’s son Jacob Luitwieler (1822-1899), who married Matilda Sarah Woods (1824-1908) of Ireland, and his descendants. Jacob and Matilda had five daughters and three sons.
Here is a photo of Jacob and Matilda’s descendants taken around 1904. This includes members of the Rich, Sutherland, and Boulton families who married into the Luitwieler clan. In this colorized photo, you see (bottom row, left to right): Maria Luitwieler, Rebecca Luitwieler, and husband Willard Giles Rich holding grandson Giles Sutherland Rich; (2nd row, left to right): Lillian Luitwieler, Maria Luitwieler, Sarah Southerland Luitwieler, with Giles Willard Rich leaning over; (3rd row, left to right): Florence Luitwieler, Linda Pearl Boulton Rich, and husband Clarence Arthur Rich.
Jacob started a business selling paints and brushes in Rochester, New York, which included his three sons Philander Tobey, Samuel Woods, and James Henry.
Below is an advertisement for his business.
One of the sons, Philander Tobey Luitwieler (1851-1956), married Ira M. Fowler, daughter of Chauncey W. Fowler and Elizabeth “Betsey” Campbell. The couple left descendants.
Last year the GenealogyBank blog published parts of the diary of another one of the sons, Samuel Woods Luitwieler (1847-1931), who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted in Company I, 1st New York Veteran Cavalry Regiment, 24 September 1863, and was a corporal and quartermaster-sergeant; was attached to the Army of West Virginia, and engaged in the battles of New Market, Piedmont, Leetown, Monocacy, Charlestown, and Halltown. He married Miss Sophia Charlotte Maurer of Rochester, New York, moved to California, and had six children.
During his long successful post-war career Samuel served as president of both the Los Angeles and Pacific Railway Company and Los Angeles and Santa Monica Land and Water Company.
In addition, Samuel owned the Luitwieler Cam Pump Company. He patented inventions (a total of 16) to improve the water pump as well as other machine parts and equipment. Samuel was one of the largest suppliers of famous Studebaker farm machinery. Below is an ad for the business.
Another story published a few months back on the GenealogyBank blog is part of the Luitwieler story (see: Nicholson family). The article was about Francis Henry Nicholson, who was among the many Americans who got the “gold rush fever” and headed out to California to make his fortune in 1849. He left a treasure trove of letters.
Samuel Woods Luitwieler’s grandson Samuel Henry Luitwieler (1905-1981), son of George Chichester Luitwieler and Mary Estelle Dillingham, married Mary Elizabeth Nicholson (1905-1982), daughter of Clara Savage and George Henry Nicholson, and granddaughter of gold rushers Francis Henry Nicholson and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Charles. Samuel Henry and Mary Elizabeth had four sons, leaving descendants.
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Note on the header image: Luitwieler family photos (front row): wooden brush engraved with J. G. Luitwieler & Sons, Rochester, New York, Established 1860; (2nd row, left to right): Mabel Eloise Luitwieler (1870-1922) daughter of Samuel Woods Luitwieler and Sophia Charlotte Maurer, Samuel Henry Luitwieler (1905-1981) son of George Chichester Luitwieler and Mary Estelle Dillingham, Adelaide Blossom Luitwieler (1882-1964) daughter of Samuel Woods Luitwieler and Sophia Charlotte Maurer; (back row, left to right): Samuel Woods Luitwieler (1847-1931), his wife Sophia Charlotte Maurer Luitwieler (1849-1826), Thomas Jefferson Trent (1910-1996) and his wife Willia Winzola Ginn (1917-2000). Credit: Denise Bartholome, great granddaughter of Samuel Woods Luitwieler.