1.3.1.9 Ann Lighter (1820-1880) – Kessler/Keslar/Kesler Family History (Johann George Bernhard)

1.3.1.9 Ann Rebecca Kessler (abt. 1820-12 Jun 1880)

Ann Rebecca Kessler (abt. 1820-12 Jun 1880) married John Lighter (21 Mar 1823-4 Mar 1869) on 30 Mar 1846. John is listed as a farmer in the 1860 U.S. Census, but according a Maryland census taken in 1866, he was working as a fishmonger in Frederick.

They had three children:

1.3.1.9.1 Alice E. Lighter Cole (b: Abt. 1847 Md-d: abt. 1933). There is no information about Alice E. after the 1850 U.S. Census, when she was three years old. The family cannot be located in the 1860 U.S. Census – perhaps they were on the move or living with another family at the time. There is a record indicating that Alice E. Leiter married Austin H. Cole on 20 Jan 1866 in Washington County, Maryland. There is also an undated directory record of Alice E. Cole living at 632 Schley Avenue, in Frederick, Maryland. Finally, there is an Alice E. Lighter listed in the Washington County Obituary Index as having died about 1933. No additional records could be located.

- 1850: Frederick, Md. (10/71 Aug 1) John Lighter 26 (farmer), Ann R. 20, Alice E. 3, Ann M. 1

1.3.1.9.2 Ann M. Lighter (b: Abt. 1849 Md-d: 8 Apr 1869) died at age 19, only a month after her father died.

- 1850: Frederick, Md. (10/71 Aug 1) John Lighter 26 (farmer), Ann R. 20, Alice E. 3, Ann M. 1

1.3.1.9.3 Clarence F. Lighter (b: Oct 1853-d: 1911 Maryland) and Deborah Jane Lighter (Jan 1871-4 Sep 1903) married in 1888 in Maryland. They both died early, leaving minor children in the mortgaged family home. A guardian was appointed, but the house was sold in 1912. After that, it is difficult to track the children.

- 1860 and 1870 U.S. Census – not found
- 1880: Jefferson Township, Frederick County, Md. (21/33 15 Jul) Israel Kessler 72 (farmer), Sarah 65, Clarence Lightner 28 (nephew)
- 1900: Jefferson, Frederick County, Md (27/30 Jun 25) Clarence F. Lighter 46 (day laborer Oct 1853), Jane T. 29 (Jan 1871), Hazel I. 9 (Oct 1890), Gorman B. 8 (Aug 1891), Alice E. 5 (Dec 1894), Clarence L. 2 (Nov 1897), Emma R. 1/12 (May 1900)

1.3.1.9.3.1 Hazel I. Lighter Barnhouse (b: Oct 1890-d: Aft. 1920 Maryland). Hazel married Leroy ‘Roy’ Gipson Barnhouse on 17 Nov 1908 in Hagerstown, Maryland. According to the 1910 US Census, her siblings Gorman, Clarence and Emma lived with her and Roy. She divorced Roy shortly after the 1910 Census was taken. In the 1920 US Census she and her sister Emma live and work in Baltimore. I could not find additional information about Hazel or Emma after 1920.

- - 1900: Jefferson, Frederick County, Md (27/30 Jun 25) Clarence F. Lighter 46 (day laborer Oct 1853), Jane T. 29 (Jan 1871), Hazel I. 9 (Oct 1890), Gorman B. 8 (Aug 1891), Alice E. 5 (Dec 1894), Clarence L. 2 (Nov 1897), Emma R. 1/12 (May 1900)
  - 1910: District 0146 Hagerstown, Md. (6/19 Apr 18) Roy Barnhouse 23 (RR fireman), Hazel I. 19, Clarence L. 12 (brother-in-law), Gorman B. 18, Emma R. 9
  - 1920: District 0379, Ward 2 Baltimore, Md. (6/29 Jan 13) …. Hazel Lighter 29 (bookkeeper, divorced), Emma Lighter 19 (operator, pants machine)
  - 1930 & 1940: Not found

1.3.1.9.3.2 Gorman B. Lighter (b: Aug 1891-d: Aft. 1910 Maryland). There are Orphan’s Court filings related to Gorman and his three sisters in 1911 that make it clear that the parents are deceased and that the house they are living in is being sold. On 17 Jun 1911 there is a first filing by guardian Christian H. Eckstein, guardian to Alice E., C. L., E. B. and Gorman B. Lighter. On 1 Nov 1912, 2 acres of property mortgaged by Clarence F. Lighter on 25 Mar 1907 is advertised as a mortgage foreclosure sale. This meant that the children no longer had a place to live. There is no additional information about Gorman after this timeframe.

- - 1900: Jefferson, Frederick County, Md (27/30 Jun 25) Clarence F. Lighter 46 (day laborer Oct 1853), Jane T. 29 (Jan 1871), Hazel I. 9 (Oct 1890), Gorman B. 8 (Aug 1891), Alice E. 5 (Dec 1894), Clarence L. 2 (Nov 1897), Emma R. 1/12 (May 1900)
  - 1910: District 0146 Hagerstown, Md. (6/19 Apr 18) Roy Barnhouse 23 (RR fireman), Hazel I. 19, Clarence L. 12 (brother-in-law), Gorman B. 18, Emma R. 9
  - 1920 to 1940: Not found

1.3.1.9.3.3 Alice Erwin Lighter Smith (b: Dec 1894-d: 13 Feb 1978 Maryland) is listed in the 1900 U.S. Census, and she is listed in the filing by the guardian noted above in 1911. She married John Harry Smith (14 Dec 1891-22 Aug 1977). They had six children: Andrew Eugene Smith (19 Jul 1914-10 Aug 1992), Leona A. Smith White (Mar 1916-aft. 1940), Muriel L. Smith Dowling (31 Dec 1917-18 Jan 2013), Wanda Lorna Smith Mulkey (5 Feb 1923-Oct 1994), Odette I. Smith Roesch (3 Sep 1926-15 May 2013), and John Harry Smith Jr. (22 Feb 1928-?).

- - 1900: Jefferson, Frederick County, Md (27/30 Jun 25) Clarence F. Lighter 46 (day laborer Oct 1853), Jane T. 29 (Jan 1871), Hazel I. 9 (Oct 1890), Gorman B. 8 (Aug 1891), Alice E. 5 (Dec 1894), Clarence L. 2 (Nov 1897), Emma R. 1/12 (May 1900)
  - 1910: Not found
  - 1920: District 0418, Ward 25 Baltimore, Md. (36/36 Jan 13) John H. Smith 25 (RR signalman), Alice E. 25, Andrew E. 5, Leona A. 3 9/12, Muriel L. 2 0/12

1.3.1.9.3.4 Clarence Lee Lighter (Leiter) (b: 16 Nov 1897-d: 7 Mar 1996 Indiana). We know that Clarence changed his name to Leiter because his WW II registration card spells his name that way. He registered for the draft on 6 May 1943 in Baltimore. His birthplace is listed as Jefferson, Maryland and he was working at Glenn L. Martin at the time. Interestingly, Clarence’s WW I registration, dated 12 Sep 1918 lists his name the same way, but his birth year is listed as 16 Nov 1898. Also his next of kin is listed as George B. Leiter — could this be Gorman? They live in Cleveland in 1918. Clarence married Florence V. Leiter (5 May 1896 South Bend, IN-15 Dec 1950 IN) and they lived in Indiana. Clarence and Florence had at least one child: Clarence Lee Leiter Jr. (4 Mar 1945-21 Mar 2013), who is buried in Hamilton County, Indiana.

- - 1900: Jefferson, Frederick County, Md (27/30 Jun 25) Clarence F. Lighter 46 (day laborer Oct 1853), Jane T. 29 (Jan 1871), Hazel I. 9 (Oct 1890), Gorman B. 8 (Aug 1891), Alice E. 5 (Dec 1894), Clarence L. 2 (Nov 1897), Emma R. 1/12 (May 1900)
  - 1910: District 0146 Hagerstown, Md. (6/19 Apr 18) Roy Barnhouse 23 (RR fireman), Hazel I. 19, Clarence L. 12 (brother-in-law), Gorman B. 18, Emma R. 9
  - 1920: District 0086 Jackson, Kosciusko County, Indiana (1/23 Jan 2) Clarence L Leiter 27, Florence V. 24, Clarence Jr. 6, Eugene 4 11/12, Irene 1 4/12
  - 1930: District 0643 Baltimore, Md. (6/29 Apr 7) Clarence L Leighter 32, Florence V. 33
  - 1940: According to his WW II draft registration card, in 1942 Clarence lived in Baltimore and worked at Glenn L. Martin in east Baltimore. His last name is spelled Leiter.

1.3.1.9.3.5 Emma R Lighter or Leiter (b: May 1900-d: Aft. 1920 Maryland). Big sister Hazel seemed to take care of the baby, Emma. They are together in both the 1910 and 1920 U.S. Census. Likely due to marriage, Emma cannot be located after the 1920 U.S. Census.

- - 1900: Jefferson, Frederick County, Md (27/30 Jun 25) Clarence F. Lighter 46 (day laborer Oct 1853), Jane T. 29 (Jan 1871), Hazel I. 9 (Oct 1890), Gorman B. 8 (Aug 1891), Alice E. 5 (Dec 1894), Clarence L. 2 (Nov 1897), Emma R. 1/12 (May 1900)
  - 1910: District 0146 Hagerstown, Md. (6/19 Apr 18) Roy Barnhouse 23 (RR fireman), Hazel I. 19, Clarence L. 12 (brother-in-law), Gorman B. 18, Emma R. 9
  - 1920: District 0379, Ward 2 Baltimore, Md. (6/29 Jan 13) …. Hazel Lighter 29 (bookkeeper, divorced), Emma Lighter 19 (operator, pants machine)

GENEALOGICAL FOOTNOTES:

In addition to concerns about 1.3.1.4. Emanuel Kessler, another problem that I encountered in my family tree was that I, like many other Ancestry family trees, had Rebecca Ann Kessler (b: 6 Mar 1812 – 12 Jun 1880) included in the family tree twice, as the daughter of Andrew but also as the daughter of his brother, Jacob. Her birth certificate lists her mother’s name as Rachel, which is the name of Jacob’s wife, and it appears that this Rebecca Ann never married. However, to complicate matters, in Andrew’s last will and testament, he left one thousand dollars to Ann Rebecca Lightner. There is an Ann R. Lighter in the 1850 U.S. Census in Frederick, married to John Lighter, but she is only 20 years old, born in 1829 or 1830. Also, in Andrew’s will, she is listed last, after two other daughters, suggesting she was born after Lucinda, who was born in 1821. Was Ann Rebecca the only daughter of Andrew and his third wife, Mary Marshall, whom Andrew married in December 1830, or was she the last child born to his second wife May, and possibly part of the reason that Andrew and May separated? I have elected, based on Andrew’s last will and testament, to differentiate between Rebecca Ann, daughter of Jacob, and Ann Rebecca, daughter of Andrew.

Notes

Rebecca Kessler married John Lighter on 30 Mar 1846. Her birth date is a little difficult to determine. Some suggest she was born in 1812, but in the 1850 U.S. Census John’s age is 26 and Ann’s age is 20, which implies that she was born in 1829 or 1830. So how could she have been born in 1812? Or is there two different Rebecca Kesslers?

The most substantive piece of information we have about Rebecca is a headstone in the Jefferson Reformed Cemetery, which says Rebecca A. Kessler, born 17 Mar 1812 and died 12 June 1880 at age 68. So this creates confusion. Was this Andrew Kessler’s daughter? Was she born in 1812, and if so, how could she be 20 years old in the 1850 US Census?

Researching the Lighter clan has been a challenge, caused primarily because the girls married and there were no official records of their marriage. Therefore, they could not be traced and because children with minimal schooling used phonetic approaches to providing the surname, which often led to different spellings, such as Leiter instead of Lighter.

Note that there are entries in both the 1850 and 1860 US census for an Ann Kessler, who was the same age as Rebecca, but these entries are likely for Rebecca’s cousin, who was daughter of David Kessler, Andrew’s brother:

- 1850 U.S. Census, Frederick Town, 13 July 1850, p 54 of 136: Ann C. Kessler, age 31, living with Araminta Kessler, age 66, baker, and Francis M. Crum, female, age 14. Andrew’s brother David married Aramantha and they had a daughter named Ann, born in 1812.
- 1860 U.S. Census, Frederick City, 15 June 1860, p 82 of 284: Ann Kessler, age 45, living with Nancy Metter, age 80.