Francis or Frank Kirchner was born in 1822 in, Bavaria, Germany, the fourth child of Eva Katherine Mullen and ? Roeder. His actual place of birth is not certain. The 1860 census of Morris Township, Clearfield County, PA. shows Francis' birthplace as Berne, Germany. The " Index to Gravestones of Stearns County, MN" shows Francis being born in Reihn, Baiern, Germany. Finally a family record prepared by a descendant of Francis' half-sister Juliana Katharina shows the Roeder children born in New Berne, Bavaria (I think this is Neuberne or possibly Nuremburg). Francis' Kirchner step-siblings were born in Rannungen which is in the general area of Nuremburg but a considerable distance from Neuberne. The 1900 Federal Census for Munson Township, Stearns County, Minnesota shows Francis' (Frank) birth as June 1822; but the Gravestone Index reports his birth to be January 27, 1822.
His natural father Mr. Roeder must have died around 1823 and his Mother Eva Katherine remarried Jacob Kirchner in 1825. Frank took the name Kirchner, although his older brother Michael and two sisters Sarah and Katherine kept the Roeder sirname, although Katherine or Catherine Roeder is listed as a Kirchner on the passenger ship list. ( I refer to Frank as Frank or Francis Roeder Kirchner to denote the tie with his natural Father). He immigrated to the U.S. in 1850 with his natural siblings , and his step-siblings. Frank's name on the ship's list is Francis which he must have shortened to Frank.
During 1848-1850 a revolution took place in Germany. The revolt was caused by a severe economic depression accompanied by serious crop failures which led to a major famine and increased food prices. This famine was widespread across much of Europe and the British Isles. Increases in the use of machinery and mass production caused unenployment to increase. At this time the Government of Germany began to encourage immigration. All of these factors contributed to an extensive wave of immigration of Germans to the U.S.A. during the 1850's.
Frank married Eva K. Miller, marriage date unknown. According to the "Index to Gravestones of Stearns Count, MN" the initial K in Eva's name stands for Katharina. Frank was granted and received his U.S.Citizenship and Naturalization May 20, 1856. Census reports show that Eva K. was from Bavaria, Germany. They lived in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania until about 1865 when they moved to Stearns County, Minnesota. Their five oldest children Mary, Joseph (our Frank Kirchner's Father), Frank Jr, William and Killian were born in Pennsylvania. They had two more children, Leonard and Benedict both born in Minnesota. The 1870 census verifies the birth years and birth places of the children.
The 1870 U.S. Census shows Frank , and Eva K. living in Stearns County, Munson Township, Minnesota. Frank's occupation was that of a Farmer and Eva K.'s was that of "Keeping House". They stated on the Census, the value of their Real Estate was $2500, and their Personal Estate was valued at $900.
Eva K. died Sept. 18, 1870 shortly after the 1870 U.S. Census was conducted leaving Frank to raise his chidren alone. The 1900 census shows Frank at 78 years old living with his wife of 15 years, Susan, age 75. They were living in Stearns County, Munson Township, in the town/village of Richmond, Enumeration District 163 at the time of the 1900 Census. The Census shows that Susan was born in Germany, immigrating to the U.S. in 1881. The 1900 Census states she had 10 children, with only 3 alive at that time. Her single name and the name of her first husband are unknown. Frank's marriage to Susan produced no children.
The 1900 Census shows Frank and Susan living in a house that they owned free of mortgage. The both stated they could read and write but could not speak English.
Francis (Frank) is buried in Stearns County, Minnesota. He is listed as Franz M. Kirchner in the Gravestone Index but his birth and death years match previous information to provide the certainty that this is indeed Francis.1