Remembering Petrus Stumer
Today is the birthday of my 3rd great-grandfather, Petrus Sturmer. He was born on March 16, 1779 in Filzen, Bernkastel-Wittlich, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, the youngest known son of Stephan Sturmer (1740 – 1807) and Maria Josefa Sidonia Klein (b. 1736). His oldest brother, Cornelius, was thirteen when Peter was born. Between Cornelius and Peter were three more siblings: sisters Maria Catharina and Anna Catharina and a brother Joannes.
Baptismal Information for Petrus Sturmer from Family Search.
As an adult, Peter’s occupation was that of a shoemaker. This information comes from family history about his son, John. On 29 Nov 1815, Peter married Susanna Cornelius in the Roman Catholic Church in Filzen. Since we have a record of his brother, Joannes, being circumcised in the Catholic church in Filzen, it indicates the family belonged to the Roman Catholic church in their hometown.
Peter and Susanna had ten children: Peter, Jr., John (my 2nd great-grandfather), Antonius, Susanna, Maria Anna, Anna Barbara, Jacob, Gerardus, Elisabetha, and Maria Eva. I have not yet found the dates of death for either Peter or Susanna.
When their children grew up, Peter, Jr., John, and Jacob and two of the sisters (according to family stories) immigrated to the United States. John and Peter settled in Grant County, Wisconsin; Peter and Jacob went to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Peter was killed on his way back home to Wisconsin and Jacob stayed in California.
Whence We Come 
Peter Sturmer is also my 3rd great-grandfather. My line is through his daughter Anna Barbara who married Peter Crackenberger.
Peter and his wife Susanna Cornelius actually had 11 children. Their first child was Magdalena christened 14 Apr 1816. I have recently been researching this line as my grandmother didn’t have much information on her grandparents, but I have been finding lots of records in Germany.
Thank you for adding Magdalena to my family tree. I found her on Family Search and am pleased to have that branch all the more accurate. I appreciate your help!