Bartholomew La Force

Bartholomew, who sometimes went by Bartholomey or Barton,  was born 30 Mar 1817 in Schifferstadt, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany to Benedict LaForce (b. 1777) and his second wife, Maria Rosina Lang (b. 1780). He was baptized as Bartolmä, the next day, probably in St Jakob’s Catholic Church in the St.center of Schifferstadt. This is where we find his grandfather, Bartholomew La Force baptized on 12 Mar 1745. St Jakub’s is still  standing, appears to have been the family’s house of worship.

Bartholomew was the sixth of eight children born to Benedict and Maria.

On the 16 Dec 1840, when Bartholomew was 23, he married Anna Maria Kramb (b. 3 Nov 1818 in Lette, Westfallen, Germany d. 11 Dec 11, 1889 in Rochester NY) presumably in Germany. They had 8 children. The first 5 were born in Germany : Nicholas b. 1841, Anna Maria, b. 1844 (Anna Maria died in 1851 before the family emigrated), Philip b. 1846, Francis, b. 1850, Martin b. 1852.

IMMIGRATION: When Bartholomew was 40, in 1857, the family emigrated to New York.After immigration, Peter was born in Dansville in 1855, Jerome, b. 1862 d. 1864, and Magdalena b. 1865 (m. Anton Hebberger from Schifferstadt).

In 1860, the family lived in North Dansville, NY.  Barton, 43 is a Mason (1860 census, transcribed as Sfarie). He own $300 worth of real estate, and has $50  worth of personal assets. Wife Mary is 40, Nicholas 19, Philip 13, Francis 10, Martin 8, and great grandfather Peter was 5.

On 15 Nov 1863, Bartholomew and Maria’s son Philip died. He was 16 years old. Buried at Greenmount Cemetery,Dansville.

In 1870, family lived in Dansville, NY.Bartholomew 53 (called Paul on the record) was working as a Stone Mason. Anna was 50, and only two children remained in the house:  Peter 14, and Lena 5, were still living at home. The value of the real estate was $1,200.

In 1880, “Bartle” now 63 and Mary 60 are “empty nesters” in Dansville. He continues to work as a stone mason. The census tells us that they and all of their parents were born in Germany.

When Bartamy was 82, on 12 Dec 1889, Anna Maria died while the family was on an extended visit with son, Peter in Rochester NY.                                     Dansville Express, 12 Dec 1889:

“Mrs. Bartholomew LaForce died of heart disease in Rochester yesterday morning.  She and her husband left Dansville six weeks ago to visit in the city and were enjoying themselves pleasantly among relatives.  Her death was sudden, as she was sitting in a chair and with hardly a gasp was gone.  She was the mother of Peter LaForce and will be buried in Rochester to-morrow.”

In 1892, Bartholomey is found living in Rochester’s Ward 16, ED 10, with or near his son Martin’s family. Bartholomey is 75 and lists his occupation as mason.

 In 1900, Bartholomew, 83, now widowed, lived with son, Peter’s family’s Hotel Arlington  (1900 census) at 124 Main Street in Dansville. Also there were Elizabeth, 46, Mabel, 15, Laura 12, and Robert 10. Two servants, Sophia Grumbacher a 53 year old widow from Germany and Samuel Wiley, a 27 year old bartender from New York. George Arnold, 49 year old married man from Germany was boarding with them.  Peter owned the home, free of mortgage.

Bartholomey died at 84 years on 22 Jun 1901 in Dansville.

He is buried on 25 Jun 1901 in Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, sec.D, Lot (tier) 14, Grave 23L, Dansville.