H0009
The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.Mary Christina Hegnauer
Born at Madison County in 1866 and died at Bates County in 1920.
born about 1866 at Madison County, Illinois died 27 Apr 1920 at Bates County, Missouri
Life story
Mary Christina Hegnauer was born in Illinois late in 1866 or early in 1867, the eldest child of Leonhard Hegnauer, a Swiss-born Union veteran, and Susanna Katharina Hirschi, who had married at Highland, Madison County, that July.1–4 Through her father she was a granddaughter of Luzius Hegnauer, who had brought his family from Igis, in Graubünden, to America in 1856.5–6 Mary grew up in Bates County, Missouri, and married the son of the family next door, with whom she farmed beside her parents' land. When her father and then her mother died, it was Mary who gave the particulars for their death certificates.1, 7–10
Highland and Pleasant Gap
Highland had been founded in 1836 as the centre of a Swiss colony in Madison County, begun five years earlier under Dr. Caspar Koepfli of Sursee, in Canton Lucerne.11 Mary's brother Christian was born in the county in May 1868.1, 4 In 1869 the family moved to Bates County, Missouri, crossing the state in wagons drawn by ox-teams, a journey of three weeks.4 The county, on the Kansas border, had been emptied in 1863 by the Union army's General Order No. 11, and many of the exiles never returned.12 In August 1870 three-year-old Mary was living with her parents and her little brother on their farm in Prairie City Township, post office Pleasant Gap. The next house was Anton Hammer's, whose eldest boy, Fritz, was eleven.1
By 1880 the family, in Pleasant Gap Township, had grown to include Leonard and Katherine, and Mary, thirteen, was at home.2 The youngest, Robert Lucius, was born in 1887.13 Their mother bore seven children in all, and by 1900 two of them had died: a daughter, Margaret M., and probably a son, Emil, born about 1870.4, 13–14
Marriage
On 12 March 1885, at Butler, Mary married her childhood neighbour, Fritz (Fred) Hammer; she was about eighteen and he about twenty-six.1, 7 They farmed in Pleasant Gap Township beside her parents: the county plat book of 1895 shows Fred Hammer's 80 acres in Section 36, directly north of her father's farm.8 By 1900 they had four children, Lydia, William L., Emily C. and Arthur, and her sister Katie Link's family lived close by.15 Their eldest, Lydia, later Mrs. Vogt, named her parents as Fred Hammer and Mary C. Hegnauer when she applied for a Social Security number.16 Mary stands at the far right of a studio portrait of her parents and their five surviving children, taken about 1905–1910.17
Her parents' last years
About 1906 Mary's parents retired to Appleton City, in St. Clair County. When her father died there in October 1916, it was "Mrs. Fred Hammer, Rockville" who gave the particulars for his death certificate, and his obituary said that both his daughters still lived in the old home community.9, 18 Her widowed mother spent her last years with Mary and with Christian, and when she died in February 1918, "Mrs Mary Hammer, R# 1, Rockville" again gave the details.4, 10 Mary and her family were still in Pleasant Gap Township in 1910 and 1920.19–20
Mary died in Bates County on 27 April 1920, aged about fifty-three.21 She was buried in the Prairie City Cemetery, under a stone she shares with her daughter Emily, who had died in 1918. The stone gives 1918 for both of them, but Mary's death certificate shows that she lived until 1920.21–22 Fred outlived her. In January 1923 "Fred and Arthur Hammer", evidently he and their youngest son, spent a Sunday at the Fred Stevener home with Mary's brother Chris and his wife.23
What we know
Proven
- Birth at Madison County, 1866
- Marriage to Fritz Hammer at Butler, 1885
- Death at Bates County, 1920
- Burial at Prairie City Cemetery
- 7 homes, from the census and other records
What's still open
- Sources. The 1870 and 1880 censuses, her parents' death certificates and her father's obituary were read on the images in the surveys of her parents' records.
- Children. The number she had borne by 1900 (the census's "mother of" column) has not been read.
Sources
Sources 1–4
1 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Prairie City Township
1870 U.S. Federal Census, Prairie City Township, Bates County, Missouri, post office Pleasant Gap, page 24, dwelling 173, family 174, Leonard "Heyrauer" [Hegnauer] (27, farmer, born Switzerland), Susan (24), Mary (3, Ill.), Christian (2, Ill.) and Peter Grob (31); the previous dwelling is Anton Hammer's, with his son Fritz (11); citing NARA M593; database with images, Ancestry.com.
2 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township
1880 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 160, dwelling 72, Leonard Hagn[a]uer [indexed "Lenerd Waguner"] (37, farmer, born Switzerland), wife Susan (34), children Mary C. (13, daughter, at home, Ill.), Christian (11, Ill.), Leonard (8, Mo.) and Susan (2, Mo.); citing NARA T9; database with images, Ancestry.com.
3 Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1866
"Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800–1940," database, Ancestry.com, Leonard Hagnauer and Susan K Hirschi, 4 July 1866, Madison County, Illinois (her parents' marriage at Highland; index entry, the same event as the FamilySearch register entry cited on their profiles).
4 History of Bates County, Missouri, 1918
[W. O. Atkeson], History of Bates County, Missouri (1918), pp. 719–721, sketch of Christian Hegnauer, listing the children of Leonard Hegnauer, among them Mrs. Mary C. Hammer of Pleasant Gap Township, and stating that his widow Susan K. Hegnauer lived with her daughter Mrs. Mary C. Hammer and with Christian until her death on 12 February 1918; scan shared by Susanna Vogt, "Bates History - Hegnauer excerpt," Ancestry member tree 37158608, 4 December 2023.
Sources 5–6
5 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1843
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Leonhard Hegnauer [her father], 25 April 1843, Igis, Graubünden; born 25 April 1843; parents Luzius Hegnauer and Margreth Bernet. FamilySearch record 6F8C-L4C6
6 New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1856
"New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957," database with images, Ancestry.com, manifest of the ship Chase [Chace], Le Havre to New York, list dated 30 September 1856 (the ship arrived 29 September), lines 155–161, "Hegemann" family: Lucie 36, Marguerite 37, Johann 15, Leonhard 13 [her father], Christian[e] 10, Martin 8, Christian 5, Swiss; citing NARA M237, roll 167; image NYM237_167-0280 (ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_167-0280).
Sources 7–10
7 Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1885
"Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800–1991," database, FamilySearch, Mary C Hegnauer and Fritz Hammer, married 12 March 1885, Butler, Bates County, Missouri FamilySearch record QKZ7-XY11; also "Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805–2002," database with images, Ancestry.com, and "Missouri, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851–1900," Ancestry.com (Mary C. Hegnauer, Bates, 12 March 1885), attached to her in the family tree (index entries; the image has not been read).
8 Plat of Pleasant Gap, Township 39 North, Range 30 West, 1895
"Plat of Pleasant Gap, Township 39 North, Range 30 West," 1895 plat book of Bates County, Missouri, page 44, Sec. 36: "Fred Hammer 80", with "L. Hegnauer 80" directly south of it on the township line and strips "Anton Hammer 80" and "C. Hegnauer 80" to the east; scan shared by Susanna Vogt, "Bates County, MO 1895 Atlas," Ancestry member tree 37158608, 31 October 2023.
9 Copy of Original Death Certificate, 1916
"Copy of Original Death Certificate" by G. C. Bates, M.D., Missouri State Board of Health certificate of death, Leonhard Hegnauer, died 31 October 1916, Appleton City; informant Mrs. Fred Hammer, Rockville, Mo.; stamped U.S. Pension Office 17 Nov 1916 (original in the NARA pension file); photograph shared by jnel126, "Leonhard Hegnauer Death Cert," Ancestry member tree 154982007, 10 November 2018.
10 Missouri State Board of Health, 1918
Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death no. 4170, Susanna Katharina Hegnauer, died 12 February 1918, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County; father Christian Hirschi, mother Magdalena Stocker; informant Mrs. Mary Hammer, R.F.D. 1, Rockville; Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910–1975 (sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00004307.PDF).
Source 11
11 History of Madison County, Illinois, 1882
History of Madison County, Illinois (Edwardsville, Ill.: W. R. Brink & Co., 1882), pp. 428–429, Helvetia Township: "Under the leadership of Dr. Caspar Koepfli, of Sursee, canton Lucerne, Switzerland, a cluster of Swiss parties arrived in 1831"; in 1836 the foundation of the town of Highland made the north of the township "the centre of life and activity of this Swiss colony" (archive.org/details/historyofmadison00brin, accessed 27 September 2026).
Source 12
12 Missouri-Kansas Border War, 2020
Jeremy Neely, "Missouri-Kansas Border War," Missouri Encyclopedia (State Historical Society of Missouri, published 24 June 2020, updated 29 June 2020): four days after the Lawrence raid of 21 August 1863, General Order Number 11 "authorized the Union army to eject the residents of Jackson, Cass, Bates, and northern Vernon Counties"; observers called the empty border counties the "Burnt District", and "Thousands of exiles would return after the war, but many others would not", missouriencyclopedia.org/events/missouri-kansas-border-war (accessed 27 September 2026).
Source 13
13 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, 1846
1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, sheet 11, dwelling 225, family 230, Susan K. Hegnauer (wife, born May 1846, Switzerland, 54; married 34 years; mother of 7 children, 5 living; cannot speak English) in the household of Leonhard Hegnauer, with sons Leonard and Robert L.; citing NARA T623, roll 839; database with images, Ancestry.com. Also indexed by FamilySearch (Leonhard's entry): FamilySearch record M3HK-FKS
Source 14
14 Find a Grave, memorial 78556009, 1870
Find a Grave, memorial 78556009, Emil Hegnauer (1870 – unknown), Reform Cemetery, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri, linked as a child of Susanna Katharina Hirschi Hegnauer (memorial 56820862) (findagrave.com/memorial/78556009). Also "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch, Emil Hegnauer, birth 1870, burial place standardised as "Prairie, Greene, Alabama". FamilySearch record QV2K-NN17
Source 15
15 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township
1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, page 1, roll 839, Mary Christina Hammer (wife) in the household of Fritz Hammer (head, farmer, married), with children Lydia, William L., Emily C. and Arthur; Joseph M. Link and his wife Katherine on the same page; database with images, Ancestry.com (index entries attached to the family in the Ancestry tree; image not re-read).
In the archive: O00079
Source 16
16 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification
"United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936–2007," database, FamilySearch, entry for Lydia C. Vogt naming her parents Fred Hammer and Mary C. Hegnauer (index entry, parents' line). FamilySearch record 6KWQ-TKP4
In the archive: O03620
Source 17
17 Studio portrait of Leonard Hegnauer, 2012
Studio portrait of Leonard Hegnauer, his wife Susanna Katherine (Hirschi) and their children Mary, Leonard, Christian, Katherine and Robert Lucius, about 1905–1910; shared by MaggieOhio, Ancestry member tree 9815048, 16 September 2012. A labelled copy (Mary standing at the far right, "Mary Christian (Hammer) 1866-1918") shared by gloriaroach866, Ancestry member tree 56662186, 13 December 2016.
Source 18
18 Appleton City Journal, 1916
"Passing of a Pioneer: Leonard Hegnauer, Well Known German Citizen Succumbs to Paralysis After Brief Illness," Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 9 November 1916, p. 1 (his daughters Mrs. Katie Link and Mrs. Fred Hammer live in the old home community); image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863313858).
Sources 19–20
19 1910 United States Federal Census
"1910 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, index entry for Mary Christina Hammer (record 174901649), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).
20 1920 United States Federal Census
"1920 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 19, index entry for Mary Christina Hammer (record 78186991), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).
Source 21
21 Missouri State Board of Health, 1920
Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death no. 15555, Mary C. Hammer, died 27 April 1920, Bates County, Missouri; Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910–1975 (sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1920/1920_00016386.PDF) (index read 27 September 2026; the image has not been read). Also "Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910–1971," database with images, Ancestry.com, attached to her in the family tree.
In the archive: O00080
Source 22
22 Find a Grave, memorial 72074593, 1866
Find a Grave, memorial 72074593, Mary Christina Hegnauer Hammer (18 Dec 1866 – 27 Apr 1920), Prairie City Cemetery, Bates County, Missouri; created by R. Marti, 27 Jun 2011; two photographs; gravesite note: the marker gives 1918, the date of her daughter Emily on the same marker, while her Missouri death certificate gives 27 Apr 1920 (findagrave.com/memorial/72074593), viewed 27 Sep 2026.
Source 23
23 Rich Hill Mining Review, 1923
"Prairie City Pick-Ups," Rich Hill Mining Review (Rich Hill, Missouri), 11 January 1923, p. 8: "Len Vogt and family, Fred and Arthur Hammer and Criss Hegnauer and wife of Rockville, spent Sunday at the Fred Stevener home"; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/1000206484).
More sources are in the evidence below.
Life in time
with the history around itabout 1866
Birth , Madison County, Illinois, United States
How we know
Between Aug 1866 and Jun 1867 by her census ages; born in Illinois (1870 and 1880 censuses), where her parents had married at Highland, Madison County, in July 1866. The family tree and WikiTree give 18 Dec 1866 at Highland, without a source.
Aged 3 in the census of August 1870 and 13 in June 1880, born in Illinois both times, so born between about Aug 1866 and Jun 1867. Her parents married at Highland on 4 Jul 1866 and lived in Madison County until 1869 (see their profiles), so she was almost certainly born in Madison County, probably at or near Highland. The tree's exact date, 18 Dec 1866, fits but rests on no record read; her death certificate (1920) should give it.
1870
Residence , Prairie City Township, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Post office Pleasant Gap. Mary, 3, born Illinois, with her parents Leonard and Susan and her brother Christian; the Hammer family, including her future husband Fritz, then 11, lived next door.
Her parents and brother identify the household (image read in the survey of her father's records).
1880
Residence , Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Mary C., 13, daughter, at home, born Illinois, with her parents and her brothers and sister Christian, Leonard and Susan [Katherine].
Her parents and brothers and sister identify the household (image read; indexed as "Waguner").
12 Mar 1885
Marriage, with Fritz Hammer , Butler, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Bates County marriage record of Mary C. Hegnauer and Fritz Hammer (FamilySearch and Ancestry indexes, which place it at Butler, the county seat); the image has not been read.
FamilySearch's index of the Bates County marriage records gives Mary C. Hegnauer and Fritz Hammer, 12 Mar 1885, Butler; Ancestry's Missouri marriage records and compiled marriages give the same marriage, attached to her in the family tree. In 1900 she is the wife of Fritz Hammer with four children, and her daughter Lydia's Social Security record names her parents Fred Hammer and Mary C. Hegnauer.
1900
Residence , Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Wife of Fritz Hammer, farmer, with their children Lydia, William L., Emily C. and Arthur. Her sister Katie and her husband Joseph Link are on the same census page.
Her husband and children identify the household (index entries attached in the family tree; image not re-read).
1910
Residence , Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Index entry attached in the old family tree (E.D. 18); its details have not been read.
The old Ancestry tree attaches a 1910 census entry at Pleasant Gap to her; the index line was not opened in this study.
Oct 1916
Residence , Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Post office Rockville. "Mrs. Fred Hammer, Rockville", informant for her father's death certificate; her father's obituary says both his daughters lived in the old home community.
Her father's death certificate names her by her husband's name, with her address; the obituary names his daughters Mrs. Fred Hammer and Mrs. Katie Link.
Feb 1918
Residence , Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Rural Route 1, Rockville. Her widowed mother lived with her and with her brother Christian until her death; "Mrs Mary Hammer, R# 1, Rockville" was the informant on her mother's death certificate.
Her mother's death certificate (12 Feb 1918) and the county history of 1918, which lists "Mrs. Mary C. Hammer, Pleasant Gap Township" among Leonard Hegnauer's children.
1920
Residence , Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States
How we know
Index entry attached in the old family tree (E.D. 19, taken in January 1920); its details have not been read.
The old Ancestry tree attaches a 1920 census entry at Pleasant Gap to her; the index line was not opened in this study.
27 Apr 1920
Death , Bates County, Missouri, United States
How we know
Missouri death certificate no. 15555, indexed as Mary C. Hammer; the image has not been read.
The Missouri State Archives' index of death certificates gives Mary C. Hammer, died 27 Apr 1920 in Bates County, certificate 15555 (index read 27 Sep 2026); Ancestry's copy of the certificate is attached to her in the family tree. A later label on a family photograph gives her death year as 1918, which the certificate outweighs (she was the informant on her mother's certificate in Feb 1918).
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1866 Birth
Between Aug 1866 and Jun 1867 by her census ages; born in Illinois (1870 and 1880 censuses), where her parents had married at Highland, Madison County, in July 1866. The family tree and WikiTree give 18 Dec 1866 at Highland, without a source.
Aged 3 in the census of August 1870 and 13 in June 1880, born in Illinois both times, so born between about Aug 1866 and Jun 1867. Her parents married at Highland on 4 Jul 1866 and lived in Madison County until 1869 (see their profiles), so she was almost certainly born in Madison County, probably at or near Highland. The tree's exact date, 18 Dec 1866, fits but rests on no record read; her death certificate (1920) should give it.
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1870 Residence
Post office Pleasant Gap. Mary, 3, born Illinois, with her parents Leonard and Susan and her brother Christian; the Hammer family, including her future husband Fritz, then 11, lived next door.
Her parents and brother identify the household (image read in the survey of her father's records).
Source 1
-
1880 Residence
Mary C., 13, daughter, at home, born Illinois, with her parents and her brothers and sister Christian, Leonard and Susan [Katherine].
Her parents and brothers and sister identify the household (image read; indexed as "Waguner").
Source 2
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1885 Marriage, with Fritz Hammer
Bates County marriage record of Mary C. Hegnauer and Fritz Hammer (FamilySearch and Ancestry indexes, which place it at Butler, the county seat); the image has not been read.
FamilySearch's index of the Bates County marriage records gives Mary C. Hegnauer and Fritz Hammer, 12 Mar 1885, Butler; Ancestry's Missouri marriage records and compiled marriages give the same marriage, attached to her in the family tree. In 1900 she is the wife of Fritz Hammer with four children, and her daughter Lydia's Social Security record names her parents Fred Hammer and Mary C. Hegnauer.
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1886 Daughter born: Lydia Hammer
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1888 Son born: William L. Hammer
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1893 Daughter born: Emily C. Hammer
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1897 Son born: Arthur Anton Hammer
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1900 Residence
Wife of Fritz Hammer, farmer, with their children Lydia, William L., Emily C. and Arthur. Her sister Katie and her husband Joseph Link are on the same census page.
Her husband and children identify the household (index entries attached in the family tree; image not re-read).
Source 15
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1910 Residence
Index entry attached in the old family tree (E.D. 18); its details have not been read.
The old Ancestry tree attaches a 1910 census entry at Pleasant Gap to her; the index line was not opened in this study.
Source 19
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1916 Residence
Post office Rockville. "Mrs. Fred Hammer, Rockville", informant for her father's death certificate; her father's obituary says both his daughters lived in the old home community.
Her father's death certificate names her by her husband's name, with her address; the obituary names his daughters Mrs. Fred Hammer and Mrs. Katie Link.
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1918 Residence
Rural Route 1, Rockville. Her widowed mother lived with her and with her brother Christian until her death; "Mrs Mary Hammer, R# 1, Rockville" was the informant on her mother's death certificate.
Her mother's death certificate (12 Feb 1918) and the county history of 1918, which lists "Mrs. Mary C. Hammer, Pleasant Gap Township" among Leonard Hegnauer's children.
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1920 Residence
Index entry attached in the old family tree (E.D. 19, taken in January 1920); its details have not been read.
The old Ancestry tree attaches a 1920 census entry at Pleasant Gap to her; the index line was not opened in this study.
Source 20
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1920 Death
Missouri death certificate no. 15555, indexed as Mary C. Hammer; the image has not been read.
The Missouri State Archives' index of death certificates gives Mary C. Hammer, died 27 Apr 1920 in Bates County, certificate 15555 (index read 27 Sep 2026); Ancestry's copy of the certificate is attached to her in the family tree. A later label on a family photograph gives her death year as 1918, which the certificate outweighs (she was the informant on her mother's certificate in Feb 1918).
Source 21
- proven
- family event
Hover or drag along the line, or select a point and use the arrow keys.
Places in this life
6 places, in order- 1 Madison County, Illinois Birth about 1866
- 2 Prairie City Township, Bates County Residence 1870
- 3 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County Residence 1880 · Residence 1900 · Residence 1910 · 3 more
- 4 Butler, Bates County Marriage 12 Mar 1885
- 5 Bates County, Missouri Death 27 Apr 1920
- 6 Prairie City Cemetery, Bates County Burial
Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.
Family
Records
Search the archive →Marriages
- 12 Mar 1885 probable Marriage “Mary Christina Hegnauer” Bates County, Missouri 2 index entries: Ancestry O00081 · Ancestry O00082
Deaths and burials
- 9 Nov 1916 confirmed Obituary of father Leonard “Fred (Mrs.) Hammer”, daughter Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06104
- 10 Nov 1916 confirmed Obituary of father Leonard “Fred (Mrs.) Hammer”, daughter Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06663
Census, land and residence
Newspapers
- 14 Jan 1916 confirmed Newspaper items (illness; bank article) “Fred (Mrs.) Hammar”, daughter Rockville, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06636
- 1 Feb 1917 confirmed Social item (visit) “Fred (Mrs.) Hammer”, daughter Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06684
- 26 Apr 1917 confirmed Social item (visit) “Fred (Mrs.) Hammer”, daughter Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06688
- 25 Oct 1917 confirmed Social item (visit) “Fred (Mrs.) Hammer”, daughter Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06702
Also cited as evidence: 9 records filed under relatives
- 25 Apr 1843 probable Baptism “Leonhard Hegnauer”, filed under Leonhard Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 25 Apr 1843 probable Baptism “Leonhard Hegnauer”, filed under Leonhard Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 25 Apr 1843 probable Baptism “Leonhard Hegnauer”, filed under Leonhard Hegnauer FamilySearch
- 15 May 1846 probable Birth “Susanna Katherine Hirschi”, filed under Susanna Katharina Hirschi Ancestry
- 4 Jul 1866 probable Marriage “Susanna Katherine Hirschi”, filed under Susanna Katharina Hirschi Ancestry
- 1900 probable Residence “Susanna Katherine Hirschi”, filed under Susanna Katharina Hirschi Ancestry
- 1900 confirmed Census “Leonhard Hegnauer”, filed under Leonhard Hegnauer FamilySearch
- date unknown probable Burial “Emil Hegnauer”, filed under Emil Hegnauer FamilySearch
- date unknown probable Burial “Emil Hegnauer”, filed under Emil Hegnauer Find a Grave
The evidence 11 facts with their grades, 23 sources, and the research notes
Facts
| Fact | Date | Place | Grade | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | about 1866 | Madison County, Illinois, United States | proven | 1 , 2 , 3 |
| Residence | 1870 | Prairie City Township, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 1 |
| Residence | 1880 | Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 2 |
| Marriage with Fritz Hammer | 12 Mar 1885 | Butler, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 7 , 15 , 16 |
| Residence | 1900 | Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 15 |
| Residence | 1910 | Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 19 |
| Residence | Oct 1916 | Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 9 , 18 |
| Residence | Feb 1918 | Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 4 , 10 |
| Residence | 1920 | Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States | proven | 20 |
| Death | 27 Apr 1920 | Bates County, Missouri, United States | proven | 21 |
| Burial | Prairie City Cemetery, Bates County, Missouri, United States | proven | 21 , 22 |
Research notes
- Sources: The 1870 and 1880 censuses, her parents' death certificates and her father's obituary were read on the images in the surveys of her parents' records. Her marriage, her 1900 census and her death are known from indexes (FamilySearch; the Missouri State Archives' death-certificate index, read 27 Sep 2026; Ancestry records attached in the family tree); the images have not been read. The 1910 and 1920 census entries were attached in the old family tree and have not been opened. The historical background is from Brink's history of Madison County (1882) and the State Historical Society of Missouri.
- Identity: Mary C., 13, daughter of Leonard and Susan Hegnauer (1880), is Mary C. Hegnauer who married Fritz Hammer in 1885; Mary Christina, wife of Fritz Hammer, in 1900; "Mrs. Fred Hammer", informant for Leonhard Hegnauer's death (1916); "Mrs. Mary Hammer", informant for Susanna's (1918); and Mrs. Mary C. Hammer, Leonard Hegnauer's daughter, in the county history of 1918.2, 7, 15, 9, 10, 4 The Mary C. Hammer who died in Bates County in 1920 is identified by the name, the county and the date that the family tree gives.21
- Birth (open): Between about Aug 1866 and Jun 1867 by the censuses; the family tree and WikiTree give 18 Dec 1866 at Highland, Illinois, with no source. Her death certificate (1920, image free at the Missouri State Archives) should give the date and her parents.1, 2, 21
- Death year: A handwritten label on a copy of the family portrait gives "1866-1918" for her.17 She was alive to give the details for her mother's certificate on 12 Feb 1918, and the death certificate index gives 27 Apr 1920; 1920 is accepted.10, 21
- Children: The number she had borne by 1900 (the census's "mother of" column) has not been read. Her daughter Lydia (Mrs. Vogt) and the other children have profiles.
- Burial: Find a Grave memorial 72074593, read on 27 Sep 2026, places her in the Prairie City Cemetery, with photographs of a marker she shares with her daughter Emily (1893–1918). The marker's 1918 is wrong for Mary, as the memorial's creator also notes: her death certificate gives 27 Apr 1920, and she was the informant for her mother's death in February 1918.22, 21 An earlier version of this profile placed the memorial in the Reform Cemetery. That was a misreading of a link from her mother's memorial. The certificate image should confirm the cemetery.
- Brother Emil (possible): A son of her parents born about 1870, known only from a Find a Grave memorial in the Reform Cemetery; the evidence is on his profile.14
- Her widower in 1923: The "Fred and Arthur Hammer" of the Jan 1923 item are taken to be Fred and his son Arthur, who spent the day with Mary's brother Chris and his wife (see Fred's profile).23
- This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.
Working notes
- Tree's 18 Dec 1866 Highland is a lead; MO cert 15555 image to read
Sources
- 1
1870 U.S. Federal Census, Prairie City Township, Bates County, Missouri, post office Pleasant Gap, page 24, dwelling 173, family 174, Leonard "Heyrauer" [Hegnauer] (27, farmer, born Switzerland), Susan (24), Mary (3, Ill.), Christian (2, Ill.) and Peter Grob (31); the previous dwelling is Anton Hammer's, with his son Fritz (11); citing NARA M593; database with images, Ancestry.com.
- 2
1880 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 160, dwelling 72, Leonard Hagn[a]uer [indexed "Lenerd Waguner"] (37, farmer, born Switzerland), wife Susan (34), children Mary C. (13, daughter, at home, Ill.), Christian (11, Ill.), Leonard (8, Mo.) and Susan (2, Mo.); citing NARA T9; database with images, Ancestry.com.
- 3
"Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800–1940," database, Ancestry.com, Leonard Hagnauer and Susan K Hirschi, 4 July 1866, Madison County, Illinois (her parents' marriage at Highland; index entry, the same event as the FamilySearch register entry cited on their profiles).
- 4
[W. O. Atkeson], History of Bates County, Missouri (1918), pp. 719–721, sketch of Christian Hegnauer, listing the children of Leonard Hegnauer, among them Mrs. Mary C. Hammer of Pleasant Gap Township, and stating that his widow Susan K. Hegnauer lived with her daughter Mrs. Mary C. Hammer and with Christian until her death on 12 February 1918; scan shared by Susanna Vogt, "Bates History - Hegnauer excerpt," Ancestry member tree 37158608, 4 December 2023.
- 5
"Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Leonhard Hegnauer [her father], 25 April 1843, Igis, Graubünden; born 25 April 1843; parents Luzius Hegnauer and Margreth Bernet. FamilySearch record 6F8C-L4C6
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"New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957," database with images, Ancestry.com, manifest of the ship Chase [Chace], Le Havre to New York, list dated 30 September 1856 (the ship arrived 29 September), lines 155–161, "Hegemann" family: Lucie 36, Marguerite 37, Johann 15, Leonhard 13 [her father], Christian[e] 10, Martin 8, Christian 5, Swiss; citing NARA M237, roll 167; image NYM237_167-0280 (ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_167-0280).
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"Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800–1991," database, FamilySearch, Mary C Hegnauer and Fritz Hammer, married 12 March 1885, Butler, Bates County, Missouri FamilySearch record QKZ7-XY11; also "Missouri, U.S., Marriage Records, 1805–2002," database with images, Ancestry.com, and "Missouri, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851–1900," Ancestry.com (Mary C. Hegnauer, Bates, 12 March 1885), attached to her in the family tree (index entries; the image has not been read).
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"Plat of Pleasant Gap, Township 39 North, Range 30 West," 1895 plat book of Bates County, Missouri, page 44, Sec. 36: "Fred Hammer 80", with "L. Hegnauer 80" directly south of it on the township line and strips "Anton Hammer 80" and "C. Hegnauer 80" to the east; scan shared by Susanna Vogt, "Bates County, MO 1895 Atlas," Ancestry member tree 37158608, 31 October 2023.
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"Copy of Original Death Certificate" by G. C. Bates, M.D., Missouri State Board of Health certificate of death, Leonhard Hegnauer, died 31 October 1916, Appleton City; informant Mrs. Fred Hammer, Rockville, Mo.; stamped U.S. Pension Office 17 Nov 1916 (original in the NARA pension file); photograph shared by jnel126, "Leonhard Hegnauer Death Cert," Ancestry member tree 154982007, 10 November 2018.
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Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death no. 4170, Susanna Katharina Hegnauer, died 12 February 1918, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County; father Christian Hirschi, mother Magdalena Stocker; informant Mrs. Mary Hammer, R.F.D. 1, Rockville; Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910–1975 (sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00004307.PDF).
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History of Madison County, Illinois (Edwardsville, Ill.: W. R. Brink & Co., 1882), pp. 428–429, Helvetia Township: "Under the leadership of Dr. Caspar Koepfli, of Sursee, canton Lucerne, Switzerland, a cluster of Swiss parties arrived in 1831"; in 1836 the foundation of the town of Highland made the north of the township "the centre of life and activity of this Swiss colony" (archive.org/details/historyofmadison00brin, accessed 27 September 2026).
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Jeremy Neely, "Missouri-Kansas Border War," Missouri Encyclopedia (State Historical Society of Missouri, published 24 June 2020, updated 29 June 2020): four days after the Lawrence raid of 21 August 1863, General Order Number 11 "authorized the Union army to eject the residents of Jackson, Cass, Bates, and northern Vernon Counties"; observers called the empty border counties the "Burnt District", and "Thousands of exiles would return after the war, but many others would not", missouriencyclopedia.org/events/missouri-kansas-border-war (accessed 27 September 2026).
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1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, sheet 11, dwelling 225, family 230, Susan K. Hegnauer (wife, born May 1846, Switzerland, 54; married 34 years; mother of 7 children, 5 living; cannot speak English) in the household of Leonhard Hegnauer, with sons Leonard and Robert L.; citing NARA T623, roll 839; database with images, Ancestry.com. Also indexed by FamilySearch (Leonhard's entry): FamilySearch record M3HK-FKS
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Find a Grave, memorial 78556009, Emil Hegnauer (1870 – unknown), Reform Cemetery, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri, linked as a child of Susanna Katharina Hirschi Hegnauer (memorial 56820862) (findagrave.com/memorial/78556009). Also "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch, Emil Hegnauer, birth 1870, burial place standardised as "Prairie, Greene, Alabama". FamilySearch record QV2K-NN17
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1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, page 1, roll 839, Mary Christina Hammer (wife) in the household of Fritz Hammer (head, farmer, married), with children Lydia, William L., Emily C. and Arthur; Joseph M. Link and his wife Katherine on the same page; database with images, Ancestry.com (index entries attached to the family in the Ancestry tree; image not re-read).
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"United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936–2007," database, FamilySearch, entry for Lydia C. Vogt naming her parents Fred Hammer and Mary C. Hegnauer (index entry, parents' line). FamilySearch record 6KWQ-TKP4
In the archive: O03620
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Studio portrait of Leonard Hegnauer, his wife Susanna Katherine (Hirschi) and their children Mary, Leonard, Christian, Katherine and Robert Lucius, about 1905–1910; shared by MaggieOhio, Ancestry member tree 9815048, 16 September 2012. A labelled copy (Mary standing at the far right, "Mary Christian (Hammer) 1866-1918") shared by gloriaroach866, Ancestry member tree 56662186, 13 December 2016.
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"Passing of a Pioneer: Leonard Hegnauer, Well Known German Citizen Succumbs to Paralysis After Brief Illness," Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 9 November 1916, p. 1 (his daughters Mrs. Katie Link and Mrs. Fred Hammer live in the old home community); image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863313858).
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"1910 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, index entry for Mary Christina Hammer (record 174901649), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).
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"1920 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 19, index entry for Mary Christina Hammer (record 78186991), as attached in the old Ancestry family tree "Hegnauer (Old)" (details not read in this study).
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Missouri State Board of Health, certificate of death no. 15555, Mary C. Hammer, died 27 April 1920, Bates County, Missouri; Missouri State Archives, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910–1975 (sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1920/1920_00016386.PDF) (index read 27 September 2026; the image has not been read). Also "Missouri, U.S., Death Certificates, 1910–1971," database with images, Ancestry.com, attached to her in the family tree.
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Find a Grave, memorial 72074593, Mary Christina Hegnauer Hammer (18 Dec 1866 – 27 Apr 1920), Prairie City Cemetery, Bates County, Missouri; created by R. Marti, 27 Jun 2011; two photographs; gravesite note: the marker gives 1918, the date of her daughter Emily on the same marker, while her Missouri death certificate gives 27 Apr 1920 (findagrave.com/memorial/72074593), viewed 27 Sep 2026.
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"Prairie City Pick-Ups," Rich Hill Mining Review (Rich Hill, Missouri), 11 January 1923, p. 8: "Len Vogt and family, Fred and Arthur Hammer and Criss Hegnauer and wife of Rockville, spent Sunday at the Fred Stevener home"; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/1000206484).