Ancestral Clues and Lessons: Hinrich Jacobs Fecht

Hinrich was born in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany, in 1823. He died in Elvaston, Hancock County, Illinois, in 1912. Some things about research that I have learned from Hinrich:

  • those who are poor leave fewer records. Hinrich never purchased real property, does not appear on any tax lists, and has no probate record.
  • immigrants get their names mixed up. Hinrich is enumerated in the 1870 census as Henry Jacobs instead of Henry/Hinrich Fecht.
  • widowers sometimes marry a sister-in-law. Hinrich’s first and second wives, Trientje and Marie Bruns, were sisters. He married Marie after his first wife Trientje died.

Hinrich is my 3rd great-grandfather.

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