I would like to know how I can find my ancestors village/town so that I am able to find documents?
*Ludwig Gruenauer 1878-1951 born in Graz, Austria. He left Munchen, Germany at the Hamburg port on the President Lincoln. His SS application lists his parents as Alexander Laurer Gruenauer and mother as Francisca Groeber. This is the only mention of their names.
*His wife Magdelena Gruenauer born Maria Magdellena Wallner 1881-1953 in Graz, Austria, she went by Madelyn as well here in the States.
*Her sister Rosa Wallner 1878-1961, lists her mother as Rosa with unknown last name, and her father as Alois Wallner, on her death certificate in Erie, Pennsylvania. But on her second marriage license she lists her mothers name as Juliane Schlwynd deceased before 1918 and father as Franz Wallner also deceased before 1918.
I am stuck even on DNA. Rumor was from my grandma that Ludwig Gruenauer was the illegitimate son of the Kaiser. Wallner's a few cousins have said were jewelers, but no proof of this as well.
Answers
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Sorry for the late reply!
I think I found your tree on Ancestry and it looks like you've done a good job with your research in US records - US records are some of the best places to find clues about an ancestor's hometown.
There are a few more places you might consider looking in the US - naturalization records (the 1920 census indicates he was naturalized, while the 1910 suggests he was an alien - I would look between 1910 and 1920 for naturalization records). Naturalization records often give information about the hometown. Here is his naturalization index card that lets us know he was naturalized in February of 1913 in Erie, Erie County Pennsylvania. There should be some additional records available in addition to that index card. Try checking the naturalization section on this page for record availability.
You could also check the FS Wiki for additional records and ideas for research in Erie County.
Do you know what religion your ancestors belonged to? If you can locate church records in the states, those can also be good resources.
You'll also want to do the same research on children, siblings, parents, etc. who came to the United States.
Hope this helps!
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Thank you for replying. I do have his naturalization records. I also have his death records. His children were born here in the USA in Pennsylvania. His sibling I have also had information on. It's the generation before him that I am having trouble finding any information on, I can't find any records of them ever coming over here. I will check out your additional links that you provided as well. Even DNA has only found one relative on the Wallner side.
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You might try signing up for a free virtual research strategy session with a research specialist from the Family History Library. A United States research strategy would probably be a good place to start - they can help you find additional records that might give you some clues about the hometown, and we even have a specialist who knows just about everything there is to know about Pennsylvania. You can learn more about them and sign up here.
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Oh wow, I will have to try that. Thank you so very much!
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You're welcome!
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