America (Hassler) Holmes (abt. 1836 - aft. 1880)

Born about Jan 1836 in Kentucky, United States

Wife of Milton Holmes — married before 1860 (to after 1880) in Kentucky, United States

Descendants

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Biography

• America Hassler appears at age 13 on the 1850 US Census as a member of the Shaker religious community in Union, Logan County, Kentucky.
• Her presumed sister Narcissa Hassler, 17, also appears on the 1850 US Census as a member of the Shakers, but in a separate dormitory.
• By 1860 both America and Narcissa would be married and living with their husbands in Wisconsin.
• The Shaker community was active in taking in orphans and people of all needs, backgrounds and colors.

Research Notes

• No other Hasslers were part of the Jasper Valley Shaker community in South Union, KY. I called the Shaker Museum in South Union. They confirmed the information on the census but had no information on where the girls came from, their parents, or how or when the girls came to be in the community.
• I found an 1849 Jefferson, KY marriage record for a Notburga Hassler, noted as "widow of Fidel Hassler." It is possible that Fidel and Notburga Hassler are the parents of America and Narcissa, and that Notburga placed them with the Shakers after the death of her husband Fidel Hassler or upon her marriage to Joseph Jacquard.

Sources

• 1850 US Census
• 1860 US Census
• 1880 US Census