Joseph and Elisabeth

Joseph Koch: May 1, 1861-December 1924
Marie Elisabeth Schneider Koch: 7/2/1864 - 03/01/06
Joseph born at Saarensmingen. Father is Jean Koch and mother is Catherine Eidesheim.
Marriage: 1886 at Saarensmingen, Lorraine
Arrived at Ellis Island, New York, on 12/04/1893
Settled in Alton, Iowa

Children: Back - Josephine
Front: Leona, Peter, John

Children born in Lorraine (Lothringen) France: Josephine, Pierre (Peter), and Leonie (Leona). Another child, Paul, died shortly after birth.
Children born in Alton: John, Nick, Otto, Joseph Peter, Rita

Joseph (5'8") died in Alton, Iowa, at the age of 63 from stomach and liver cancer. He and Elisabeth are both buried in St. Mary's cemetery in Alton. Elizabeth died after "many months of suffering" according to the Alton newspaper. They report her as an exceptionally industrious woman.

Joseph and Elisabeth came from Sarreinsming in Lorraine (Lothringen in German), a territory of the German Empire following the Franco-Prussian War, later becoming known as Reichsland. French troops entered this area in 1918 and it reverted to France at the Treaty of Versailles. It was again annexed by Nazi Germany in 1940, but reverted again to France in 1945 at the end of World War II. It is located in the upper reaches of the Meuse and Moselle rivers, bounded in the north by Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. Nearby Bliesbrucken is heavily wooded, mountainous, and the site of major battles in WW II.

The family traveled from the port of Hamburg in Germany on the ship Suevia. The passenger list shows Elisabeth's name as Marie. Her name is most likely Marie Elisabeth, as it is common to go by the middle name and the first name is usually the name of their baptismal sponsor. Both Peter and Leona had their names Americanized. They traveled with a young woman Emilie Koch, age 27, born approximately 1866. The ship's passenger list says she is married and from Elberfeld, Rheinprovinz. The Hamburg departure list shows she traveled with 2 children - Adelheid age 2 and Emma age 11.

Joseph was a farmer in Germany, and was a laborer and did odd jobs for a living after coming to America. His first job in America was at the mill in Alton, Iowa. Most of this family is Catholic, particularly the first 3 generations starting with Joseph and Elisabeth.


Picture of the ship Suevia and
passenger list.

The ship was built by Caird & Company in 1874. 3609 gross tons, 360' long, 41' wide. Compound enginers, twin screw. Speed 13 knots. Carried 770 passengers, 100 in first class, 70 in second class, 600 in third class.

It was built for Hamburg-American Line, German flag and serviced Hamburg to New York. It was scrapped in France in 1898.

This is Saareinsming, the village Joseph and Elisabeth came from:
Joseph went to Belgium, France, and Holland in 1921 to visit his brother and sisters. He was 60.