Family History Writing Challenge Day 10

Joseph Kubler and his family were still in Louisville as late as 1869 where he appeared in the City Directory. A second son, William, was born to him and Josephine on 1 May 1870. Multiple census records indicate that William was born in Tennessee, as does a California death index (the state where William died.) However, the 1870 federal census for Indiana shows Josephine Kubler, along with Henry and William, living in Laughery Township, Ripley County. That record has Indiana as the state of William's birth. Joseph is not listed in this record, nor does he appear in a census in Kentucky or Tennessee.

Did Joseph and Josephine separate so soon after the birth of their second child? Or was something else going on that Joseph felt it best to send Josephine and his children back to her hometown? Josephine was living on the same street as her sister Maryann and her family, which would have been helpful to her with a 2 year old and a new baby. What is known is that Joseph and Josephine had a third child together on 15 August 1873; son John was born in Indiana. By 1877 the family had moved to Connersville in Fayette County, Indiana, and that is where son Alfred was born in September of 1877. Joseph was supporting his family as a wood carver.

St. Gabriel's

The family worshipped at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Connersville. The parish was formed in 1851, and a school was opened in 1873. Plans for a larger church were begun in 1874, and the new church opened in 1884. The Kubler family would have attended services in both churches. Father F. J. Rudolf was the parish priest for much of the time period the family was in the area.

In 1883, Joseph opened a grocery and provision store at the corner of Central Avenue and First Street. Offering a general line of groceries and items such as teas, coffees, spices, tobacco and cigars, it was noted in an article that Mr. Kubler "...has built up his present prosperous and lucrative business, and earned an enviable reputation as a conscientious and upright merchant, whose representations will always be found to accord strictly with the facts." It is interesting, then, that two years later he sold the business to Adam Frank. Perhaps the death of his son Alfred, at the age of 8 years, was simply more than he could handle.