Many related families as well. I regret that I don't have a surname list at this time. I put these pages together by hand, and I don't have a program to make all the links. Please check the pages for related surnames. I'm always glad to add information and family members. Write to me at [email protected]

I think that remembering the lives of our ancestors can help us feel more grounded in the chaotic, rootless present. All too often, our roots, customs, and traditions have been erased through violence or assimilation. I have always been curious about who I am, what makes me different, and I wonder if any of those people back in my ancestry passed down to me something of their interests and passions. History comes alive for me in the lives of the people: I want to keep their stories alive for those who come after me.

I started researching my family history by talking to my parents and relatives. My cousin Vernon Workman gave me a huge pedigree chart and many copies of wills and other information. In the past year, I have been furthering my genealogical research with trips to the Latter Day Saints Family History Center in Oakland. These centers are free, open to anyone, and a great resource. The LDS genealogy website is at http://www.familysearch.com. I hope to put all the information I have on the Web, but until I can purchase a good software program, I will expand on the descriptions as much as possible.

Another great research site is http://genforum.genealogy.com/surnames/ I have met many cousins on this site who have shared research with me. The rootsweb mailing lists have been invaluable as well.

Please, if you can fill in any of the gaps, send me an e-mail message! My address is [email protected]. Living so far from Maryland, where most of my ancestors settled, I am at a terrible research disadvantage. I am always glad to hear from people who have seen this page, and it is wonderful to discover long-lost relations.

Immediate Family

My parents, George Sauer and Wilma Bien Sauer, live in Potomac, Maryland. I have many aunts and uncles and first cousins, but in order to respect their privacy, my policy is not to post personal information about living relatives.

My sister, Julia Sauer, lives in Santa Cruz, California. She has a personal web page all about SHEEP!

My brother, Ben Sauer, is a professor at the University of Sussex Centre for Optical and Atomic Physics in Brighton, England. This is his personal homepage.

My other sister, Martha Brown, lives in Tujunga, California with her three children and her husband, Kevin Brown.

Ancestors

Bien and Lynerd(originally Biene), Baltimore, Maryland and Manchester, Maryland
Rutter and Kemp, Baltimore, Maryland
Fouché, Vienna, Virginia
Sauer, Indiana

Also, we would like to find my husband's people in Nowy Targ, Poland. His grandparent's names were Balthazar and Agnes Pozycki, and they settled in Cresson, Pennsylvania. Agnes' maiden name was Tyletski or Tylecki.

Drake and Wickham from Fergus Falls, Minnesota

Frank, Mamie, Charles and Fred Bien

Bien and Lynerd

The name Biene means "bee" in German. Could they have been beekeepers at some point in history?

Johann Biene and his brothers came from Prussia in the early 1800's. They may have come board the Aeolus from Bremen on April 28, 1852. A family is listed on the ship's passenger list as follows:

Bien, Hinrich, 50, Farmer
Bien, Catharina, 45, Farmer
Bien, Johannes, 20, Shoemaker
Bien, Adam, 18, Shoemaker
Bien, Heinrich, 10, Shoemaker
Bien, Margaretha, 5

In addition, there is a Catharina Latenschler, age 21, travelling alone on the ship. My cousin speculates that this may be Johann's future wife, Catherine.

The 1870 Census shows that Johann's birthplace was Prussia. In this census, Johann is called John and is listed as a Restaurant Keeper. He is 39, and his wife Catherine is 40. Their children are Charles P., 16, John, 10, Catherine, 8, Henry, 6, Frank (my great-grandfather), 3. and Fred W., 1. The 1880 Census lists John's profession as Saloon-keeper. His wife Catherine is listed as Keeping-House, while the children are listed as follows: Kate, 17, Dress Maker; Henry, 16, works cotton factory; Frank, 13, works cotton factory; Frederick, 11, in school; George, 9, in school. My Uncle Carl reports that my great-grandfather, Frank, went to work in a cigar factory in Manchester, Maryland, as a reader. This was a person who entertained the cigar-rollers by reading everything from newspapers to poetry to Shakespeare. He worked his way up to Superintendant of the factory, and caught the eye of my great-grandmother, Clara Lynerd, who was called Mamie. After they married, she insisted that they move to Baltimore, where they had a dry-goods store and then a grocery store. Later, they had a business providing fresh seafood to the wealthy Baltimore suburbs. Uncle Carl also says that Frank "was also a famous tenor and sang all over the city and for a while with Billy Sunday. A big Baptist church on Fulton Avenue (one of the best streets in the 1890's), Fuller Memorial Baptist Church, engaged him to sing and lead the huge choir. The church had the finest organ in the city at the time. After a few years, he left the Lutheran church and joined Fuller Memorial." That's how that branch of the family became Baptist.

Clara Lynerd's family were from Manchester, Maryland and also Pennsylvania. A friend told me that she knew of a family of Leinerts in Pennsylvania, and it is possible that my ancestors are a branch of that family, as Lynerd is an unusual spelling. The 1870 Census lists them as "Linard". The father, John J. is listed as a Harness Maker, 37. His wife Elizabeth (Frankforter) is 34. The children are as follows: Selina, 15; Gertrude, 8; Harvey, 6; Ida, 4; and C.M. (Clara), 3. In addition, a woman named Catharine, age 69 is listed. Her birthplace is listed as Pennsylvania. Perhaps this was John's mother. Harvey's birthplace is also Pennsyvania. From other sources, I know that there was another son, Jacob B., who would have been 10 years old in 1870. Jacob B. married a woman named Ella and had a farm. Ida, who was a seamstress, married Edward Kneller, a stonemason. Gertie married William Gonder, a cigar manufacturer. My mother says that gertie had a daughter named Geneva, who played the organ and lived in Washington, DC. Harvey married a woman named Jennie, and moved to York, Pennsylvania, where he was a printer. My mother says that their son, Paul, "played the organ beautifully." Selina was a dressmaker and never married.

The Lynerd family was United Brethren, which I believe is a little like the Amish. Many of them are buried behind the Bethel Church in Manchester. John J.'s tombstone also says, "Company F. 202nd regt. Penn. Vol. From Sept. 2nd, 64 to Aug. 3rd, 65." Thanks to Bill Lynerd, who directed me to a list of the 202nd and their service history.

I recently obtained a copy of John Lynerd's military pension application. A David H. Frankforter is listed as a witness. This may be Elizabeth Frankforter Lynerd's brother. On July 13, 1898, John lynerd states that he is a widower, and that he was married February 2, 1854 at Manchester by Rev. D. Howe. He states that his wife's name was Elizabeth C. Frnakforter of Manchester, who died January 21, 1889 at Manchester. He lists seven living children, as follows:

Selina Lynerd, born 1855
Anna Sheirich, born 1858
Jacob B. Lynerd, born 1860
Emma G. Gonder, born 1862
H.D. Lynerd, born 1864
Ida K. Kneller, born 1867
Clara M. Bien, born 1868

Contained in the records are several general and physicans' affidavits attesting to John Lynerd's need for an increase in the pension, as illnesses caused by his time in service made him unable to work. He suffered from neuralgia, cardiac trouble, and rheumatism. He also suffered loss of eyesight and fading memory (this was in 1891, so he was 62 at the time). One physician's affidavit states. "These disabilities have not been due to any vicious or bad habits, as Mr. Lynerd is a good moral man. Everyone speaks of him as a Religious upright sober man ever ready to extend his feeble hand."

The 1878 Carroll County Directory lists "John Lynard" as a Municipal Officer, and also under Harnessmakers. Conrad Frnakforter is listed under Tanners.

Jack Lynerd recalls the farm in Manchester

Frankforter

The following information on the Frankforters comes from census records, the LDS Ancestral File, and a Frankforter website, which lists information on other descendants not mentioned below:

I. Johann Nichlous Frankforter, b. 1736 in Germany, d. July 31, 1795 (or Dec. 1794) in Lancaster, PA.
m. January 1759 in Manchester, MD
Mary Elizabeth Stoll, b. c. 1740 in Lancaster, PA d. c. 1798 in Baltimore Co., MD

Their children were:

Anna Catharina "Catrina" Frankforter (8 Mar 1760 - After 1794)
Johann Philip Frankforter (5 Feb 1762 - 11 Jul 1828)
Mary Magdalena Frankforter (19 Dec 1765 - About 1798)
Christina Frankforter (3 May 1768 - 13 Jun 1847)
Catherine Frankforter (About 1769 - After 1803)
Susana Frankforter (About 1772 - After 1803)
Frederick Frankforter (31 Mar 1773 - 10 Jan 1864)
Johann Adam Frankforter (27 Jul 1778 - 20 Dec 1837) m. Elizabeth Klay (About 1777 - 14 Nov 1871)

II. Johann Adam Frankforter and Elizabeth Klay had the following children:

Catherina Frankforter (18 Oct 1800 - )
David C. Frankforter (12 Jul 1802 - 8 Oct 1852) m. Anna Mary (22 Jun 1797 - 20 Nov 1881)
Jacob Frankforter (2 Jun 1807 - 31 Aug 1853) m. Sarah (1810 - )

III. David C. Frankforter and Anna Mary had the following children:

Carolina Frankforter (29 Sep 1821 - After 1880)
Samuel Frankforter (26 Aug 1823 - 15 Sep 1828)
Daniel C. Frankforter (23 Apr 1825 - 6 Sep 1889)
Conrad Frankforter (31 Dec 1826 - After 1900)
Anna Maria Frankforter (31 Jul 1831 - 20 Feb 1835)
Elizabeth Christina Frankforter (11 Feb 1836 - 21 Jan 1889) m. John Jacob Lynerd (11 May 1829 - 19 Oct 1898)
Regina Frankforter (13 Dec 1841 - 28 May 1859)
David Frankforter (3 Jun 1843 - After 1850)
Lovina Catharine Frankforter (4 Aug 1845 - Before 1874) m. Cornelius Miller

IV. Elizabeth Frankforter and John Lynerd had the following children:

Selina Lynerd (Feb 1855 - 1949)
Anna Lynerd (1858 - 1950) m. Emmanuel Sheirich (1854 - 1930)
Jacob Boring Lynerd (22 Apr 1860 - 21 Feb 1947) m. Elizabeth Ellen (Ella) Zaun (14 Nov 1854 - 8 Aug 1925)
Emma Gertrude (Gertie) Lynerd (2 Jun 1862 - 30 Jun 1947) m. William Gonder (Feb 1836 - )
Harvey D. Lynerd (1864 - )
Ida C. Lynerd (Jan 1867 - 1945) m. Edward H. Kneller (Jan 1870 - 1958)
Clara May Lynerd (1868 - 11 Aug 1942) m. Frank G. Bien (Feb 1867 - 1954)

Jack Lynerd sent me Frank Bien and Mamie Lynerd's wedding notice:

On Thursday, August 7th, at the home of the bride, Mr. Frank G. Bien of Baltimore, and Miss Clara M. Lynerd of Manchester, were unitedin the bonds of holy matrimony by Rev. J.P. Anthony, pastor of the U. B. church at this place.  At 2:30 when all things were ready, and at the sound of the organ-presided over by Miss Mettie Miller-the intended couple were ushered into the parlor by Messrs. Fred W. Bien and H.D. Lynerd (brothers of the bride and groom) where they were made man and wife.  The bride was dressed in a cream Henrietta cloth, trimmed in silk and lace, and carried a bouquet of lilies.  The groom was dressed in a full black suit.  After the ceremony they received the congratulations of the many relatives and friends, then all repaired to the dining room and partook of refreshments prepared for the occasion.   The presents were very numerous and consisted of silverware, glassware, linen, etc.

[The notice was cut off at this point, and is undated.]

Frank and Mamie had two sons, my grandfather, Charles Benjamin Franklin Bien. and Frederick W. Bien, who was born March 1893. Fred married Bessie Leigh, and they had two children, Edith Bien and Thomas Leigh Bien. Fred died 12 Feb 1967 at his home at 4216 N. Charles Stree, Baltimore, Maryland. My mother says that they never saw Fred's family, so I am curious as to what happened to them and where their descendants are living.

Charles went to the Maryland Institute of Art and played violin with the Baltimore Symphony for awhile. He met my grandmother, Mae Aurora Rutter, in the Baptist church they attended. They had a butter and eggs route during the Depression. My grandfather had a Model T, and he broke both arms one morning winding it up. The crank snapped back and broke first one arm, and then the other. My mother says that they had to sell all of their furniture during the Depression, and she thinks that that is why they always went to auctions and yard sales, perhaps forever seeking their old furniture. They kept chickens in the yard. They lived on Moser Street, and then on Reisterstown Road in a big old house that has since been torn down. They later had a printing business. They had seven children: Ruth, Carl, Janet, Lucille, Wilma (my mother), Alice, and Claire. Ruth and Carl caught rheumatic fever as children, and Ruth died when she was eight years old. Alice also died, as a baby. Charles had a printing press in the basement of the house on Reisterstown Road. My grandmother Mae did the accounting, and Frank Bien, called Pop by the children, lived with them after Mamie died. He had a job as night watchman for the Baltimore Sun.

My mother says that Charles always wore a suit, even just to walk down the street. Charles and Mae loved to garden, and had beautiful rosebushes. Mae could sit down at the piano and play anything. They had friends come once a month to play classical music together. My Uncle Carl told me, "My father had studied violin at the Peabody . When the depression came it became more and more difficult to keep up with playing. My dad had a wide range of friends in all walks of society. One of these was a man named John Paulus who owned an electrical supply business in Baltimore. Somehow they met and my Dad found out that J.P. also had a great interest in classical music and had a similar problem of finding people to play with. So after talking it over they ran an ad in the Baltimore Sun asking for people who would like to play together on a friendly basis. This was positively not to make any money at any time and this was important to them. One by one others joined and this went on for years with people dropping in and out. There was always a core group of, I would guess, about 8 people, They met once a month rotating between various homes. When we moved from Mosher Street to Reisterstown road, we had a house with a very large room and in later years they all came to our house. Before that we had to have some people playing out in the hallway. Everybody brought some food or other and there was always a sit down dinner after playing. This group was called "The Music Lovers Orchestra" In addition they would get together and play at some event that various members would have such as weddings and graduations or whenever there was an excuse to do so. They were heavy on Mozart and poppa Haydn but would have a "go" at more modern works also. This was still going on when my parents died so I would say had been in oporation for about 15 - 18 years. In addition, my dad played on a regular basis in our church and in his Lodge and in many other places. I think that I have told you about my fathers hands bleeding after he took a part time job during the depression of unloading box cars full of lumber and of my mother crying about it. ...My father could play just about any instrument with strings. He had a double violin case with a violin and a viola that your mother has. I would like to see that again one of these days. I can remember carrying it many times as he hauled me here and there in a vain attempt to get me started. One thing was that we did not have any money for my lessons, and he tried to teach me himself, which didn't work out too well. Did I mention that he had a lot of students who would come to the house, just as your mother is doing."

My aunt Claire recalls that her father allowed them to wear jeans on Sunday afternoons, after church, and that this was a very liberal attitude for the times. They also always had cats, just like my mom and me. There are many pictures of my granfather holding a cat.

My grandparents died on the same day: my grandfather was working in the garden and had a heart attack. When my grandmother found out, her heart broke. My mother was only nineteen at the time.

I always wish that I had had a chance to know them.