I have a bicentennial birthday to share with our readers today. The Bodenschatz name arrived fairly early in Perry County but that name was not part of the original immigrants arriving in 1839. Once the Bodenschatz name arrived here, it spread throughout the area. There were Altenburg Bodenschatz’s, New Wells Bodenschatz’s, Uniontown Bodenschatz’s, etc. I figure the pioneer Bodenschatz may have been today’s birthday boy.

Johann Erdman Gottfried Bodenschatz was born on May 12, 1824, making today his 200th birthday. Erdman was born in Gefell, Germany. Jenni Wachter has a family tree on Ancestry.com, and hers is my go-to family tree when I am looking at Bodenschatz or Wachter descendants. She lists Erdman’s parents as Johann Christian Gottfried and Augusta Maria Fredericke (Kno___) Bodenschatz. I was unable to locate much information about Erdman’s time in Germany, but it is recorded that he got married in 1845. His wife’s surname is another one that becomes a prominent one all over the Perry County area. Her name was Johanne Christiane Friedericke Wachter, who was born on June 24, 1827. She was also born in Gefell, Germany. Christiane was the daughter of Johann Christoph Erdmann and Catharine Anna Christiane (Grosskopf) Wachter.

Erdman Bodenschatz married Christiane Wachter on October 12, 1845 in Gefell. It appears that one child was born to this couple in Germany. Our German Family Tree speculates that the Bodenschatz’s immigrated to America sometime between 1846 and 1849. However, I did not locate them in the 1850 census. Another Bodenschatz and some Wachter’s arrived in 1853 aboard the ship, Minerva.

A strong case can be made that there were plenty of connections between these two surnames in the early history of this area. There is another name on the above list that looks like Zoepfele. There is a likelihood that name is the same family that is named Saalfeld. There were Saalfeld’s in the original Stephanite immigrants who arrived in 1839.

The second Bodenschatz child was born in 1853 and baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg. Then, when the split occurred between Trinity and Immanuel Lutheran churches in 1857, the Bodenschatz’s became charter members of Immanuel.

We find the Erdman Bodenschatz family in the 1860 census living in Altenburg. There were 4 children in their family, and Erdman was a blacksmith. I have to admit that when I see a man with either the name Bodenschatz or Wachter, I immediately think that I might be dealing with someone who was a blacksmith.

During the Civil War, we find that Erdman served in the Union Army. I found 2 different records for his time in the military. In one document, it said he served under Captain Estel, and in the other he served under Captain Boehme. Both of those men were German Lutherans from East Perry County.

When the 1870 census was taken, we find the Bodenschatz’s with 5 children. It looks like Erdman was teaching his son, Frederick, the blacksmith trade.

In the 1880 census, we find just the 2 youngest children in Erdman and Christiane’s household. Erdman and his teenage son, Theodore, were called blacksmiths.

Later in their lives, Erdman and Christiane had this photo taken.

Erdman did not live long enough to appear in the 1900 census. He died in 1899 at the age of 74. His death record is found in the books of Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, so at some point in time, it looks as if he and Christiane returned to become members of that congregation. In the 1900 census, we find Christiane as a widow living with her daughter who had married Henry Kaufmann. Henry was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Christiane Bodenschatz died in 1901 at the age of 75. Her death record is also found in the Trinity, Altenburg books. Both Erdman and Christiane are buried in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Altenburg. However, neither one, as of the time I am writing, has an entry of Findagrave.com. I took a trip to the cemetery to look for their gravestones. I was partially successful. I located Christiane’s gravestone, but not Erdman’s. I am hoping that our friend Diane “Miss Findagrave” Anderson will create an entry for Christiane after she reads this post.

So, today we send special bicentennial birthday greetings to Erdman Bodenschatz.