(updated 1/09/2024 by Jon Heft)
Joseph Sandtner was born October 15, 1864 in Limbach, Austria-Hungary (present day Slovakia, only about 12 miles northeast of Bratislava). He was the son of Joseph Sandtner and Josepha Frass - they were part of the German diaspora living in the Austro-Hungarian empire, who worked as "vinicola" or "weingartner" (wine gardeners, or grape growers or wine makers). He married Elisabeth Mitterholzer on July 1, 1888 in Limbach. After their marriage, they went on to have 8 children:
1889 - Sigmund aka "Sigmond"
1891 - Theresia aka "Rose"
1893 - August aka "Gus"
1895 - Johann aka "John"
1897 - Elisabeth aka "Elizabeth"
1899 - Maria aka "Mary"
1902 - Emma
1910 - William
Because the Sandtners were Roman Catholic, and the Mitterholzers were Lutheran, they agreed that any sons would be baptized in the Catholic faith, and daughters would be baptized in the Lutheran faith.
The Sandtner family decided to take their chances by uprooting their family and starting over in the United States, with the hope of forging a better life for themselves there. On February 16, 1905, Joseph immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City. He joined his younger brother Ludwig Sandtner in Middletown, Ohio. Ludwig had immigrated to the US in 1903 and was already working at the "Rolling Mill Office" (a steel mill) there. Joseph also took a job at the same steel mill, earning money to bring his wife and children over to the United States. In January of 1906, eldest son Sigmond (age 16) arrived in the US, followed by daughter Rose (age 16) in August of 1907. Wife Elisabeth and 6-year-old daughter Emma arrived in January of 1909, followed in November of 1909 by son August (age 16) and daughter Mary (age 10). The last of the family to come to the US were son John (age 14.5) and daughter Elizabeth (age 13) in May of 1910. The 2 younger children were not accompanied by any adult! Youngest son William was conceived and born in Kentucky after the family was reunited.
By May of 1910, when all of the Sandtner family was finally reunited, they had moved from Middletown, Ohio to Newport, Kentucky. Life was hard for the Sandtner family, but Joseph had secured a job at another steel mill there. The family moved around as worked presented itself, eventually ending up in Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph was killed in an industrial accident in a Cleveland area steel mill on December 14, 1919. He is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Cleveland (no headstone).
The Sandtner family used several alternate spellings over the years - including "Sampson" while they were living in Newport, Kentucky; "Sander" or "Sanders" after moving to Cleveland; and eventually "Santner" and even "Sontner". The reason for the use of various spellings is not entirely clear - it may have been meant to mask their German heritage during a time of intense anti-German sentiments (WWI). It may also have been a way to apply for scarce jobs multiple times (by using aliases). In the case of "Sontner", it may have been an attempt to preserve the original pronunciation when spoken in English. We may never known for sure. Joseph's death certificate from 1919 uses the "Santner" spelling, but when wife Elisabeth died in 1924, her death certificate shows the original "Sandtner" spelling.
There were several Sandtner relatives that also came to the United States:
1) Ludwig Sandtner (Joseph's brother - mentioned above) returned to Slovakia by 1908, made another trip to the USA in 1910, and returned to Slovakia for good before 1914.
2) Johann Sandtner (Joseph's first cousin)came to the US in 1906. Johann, who was known as John Sontner, was still in the US in 1919 (after which he may have returned to Slovakia).
3) Franz Sandtner (Johann Sandtner's son) came to the US in 1907, but returned home before 1913.
4) Celestin Sandtner (another son of Johann Sandtner) came to the US in 1912. Celestin eventually made his home in Cleveland, Ohio. Like his father, he spelled his surname as "Sontner".
5) Ciprian Satko - the son of Joseph's first cousin Maria Sandtner Satko - came to the US in 1910. Like Celestin Sandtner (his 2nd cousin), he made his home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joseph Sandtner was born October 15, 1864 in Limbach, Austria-Hungary (present day Slovakia, only about 12 miles northeast of Bratislava). He was the son of Joseph Sandtner and Josepha Frass - they were part of the German diaspora living in the Austro-Hungarian empire, who worked as "vinicola" or "weingartner" (wine gardeners, or grape growers or wine makers). He married Elisabeth Mitterholzer on July 1, 1888 in Limbach. After their marriage, they went on to have 8 children:
1889 - Sigmund aka "Sigmond"
1891 - Theresia aka "Rose"
1893 - August aka "Gus"
1895 - Johann aka "John"
1897 - Elisabeth aka "Elizabeth"
1899 - Maria aka "Mary"
1902 - Emma
1910 - William
Because the Sandtners were Roman Catholic, and the Mitterholzers were Lutheran, they agreed that any sons would be baptized in the Catholic faith, and daughters would be baptized in the Lutheran faith.
The Sandtner family decided to take their chances by uprooting their family and starting over in the United States, with the hope of forging a better life for themselves there. On February 16, 1905, Joseph immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City. He joined his younger brother Ludwig Sandtner in Middletown, Ohio. Ludwig had immigrated to the US in 1903 and was already working at the "Rolling Mill Office" (a steel mill) there. Joseph also took a job at the same steel mill, earning money to bring his wife and children over to the United States. In January of 1906, eldest son Sigmond (age 16) arrived in the US, followed by daughter Rose (age 16) in August of 1907. Wife Elisabeth and 6-year-old daughter Emma arrived in January of 1909, followed in November of 1909 by son August (age 16) and daughter Mary (age 10). The last of the family to come to the US were son John (age 14.5) and daughter Elizabeth (age 13) in May of 1910. The 2 younger children were not accompanied by any adult! Youngest son William was conceived and born in Kentucky after the family was reunited.
By May of 1910, when all of the Sandtner family was finally reunited, they had moved from Middletown, Ohio to Newport, Kentucky. Life was hard for the Sandtner family, but Joseph had secured a job at another steel mill there. The family moved around as worked presented itself, eventually ending up in Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph was killed in an industrial accident in a Cleveland area steel mill on December 14, 1919. He is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Cleveland (no headstone).
The Sandtner family used several alternate spellings over the years - including "Sampson" while they were living in Newport, Kentucky; "Sander" or "Sanders" after moving to Cleveland; and eventually "Santner" and even "Sontner". The reason for the use of various spellings is not entirely clear - it may have been meant to mask their German heritage during a time of intense anti-German sentiments (WWI). It may also have been a way to apply for scarce jobs multiple times (by using aliases). In the case of "Sontner", it may have been an attempt to preserve the original pronunciation when spoken in English. We may never known for sure. Joseph's death certificate from 1919 uses the "Santner" spelling, but when wife Elisabeth died in 1924, her death certificate shows the original "Sandtner" spelling.
There were several Sandtner relatives that also came to the United States:
1) Ludwig Sandtner (Joseph's brother - mentioned above) returned to Slovakia by 1908, made another trip to the USA in 1910, and returned to Slovakia for good before 1914.
2) Johann Sandtner (Joseph's first cousin)came to the US in 1906. Johann, who was known as John Sontner, was still in the US in 1919 (after which he may have returned to Slovakia).
3) Franz Sandtner (Johann Sandtner's son) came to the US in 1907, but returned home before 1913.
4) Celestin Sandtner (another son of Johann Sandtner) came to the US in 1912. Celestin eventually made his home in Cleveland, Ohio. Like his father, he spelled his surname as "Sontner".
5) Ciprian Satko - the son of Joseph's first cousin Maria Sandtner Satko - came to the US in 1910. Like Celestin Sandtner (his 2nd cousin), he made his home in Cleveland, Ohio.
(updated 1/09/2024 by Jon Heft)
Joseph Sandtner was born October 15, 1864 in Limbach, Austria-Hungary (present day Slovakia, only about 12 miles northeast of Bratislava). He was the son of Joseph Sandtner and Josepha Frass - they were part of the German diaspora living in the Austro-Hungarian empire, who worked as "vinicola" or "weingartner" (wine gardeners, or grape growers or wine makers). He married Elisabeth Mitterholzer on July 1, 1888 in Limbach. After their marriage, they went on to have 8 children:
1889 - Sigmund aka "Sigmond"
1891 - Theresia aka "Rose"
1893 - August aka "Gus"
1895 - Johann aka "John"
1897 - Elisabeth aka "Elizabeth"
1899 - Maria aka "Mary"
1902 - Emma
1910 - William
Because the Sandtners were Roman Catholic, and the Mitterholzers were Lutheran, they agreed that any sons would be baptized in the Catholic faith, and daughters would be baptized in the Lutheran faith.
The Sandtner family decided to take their chances by uprooting their family and starting over in the United States, with the hope of forging a better life for themselves there. On February 16, 1905, Joseph immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City. He joined his younger brother Ludwig Sandtner in Middletown, Ohio. Ludwig had immigrated to the US in 1903 and was already working at the "Rolling Mill Office" (a steel mill) there. Joseph also took a job at the same steel mill, earning money to bring his wife and children over to the United States. In January of 1906, eldest son Sigmond (age 16) arrived in the US, followed by daughter Rose (age 16) in August of 1907. Wife Elisabeth and 6-year-old daughter Emma arrived in January of 1909, followed in November of 1909 by son August (age 16) and daughter Mary (age 10). The last of the family to come to the US were son John (age 14.5) and daughter Elizabeth (age 13) in May of 1910. The 2 younger children were not accompanied by any adult! Youngest son William was conceived and born in Kentucky after the family was reunited.
By May of 1910, when all of the Sandtner family was finally reunited, they had moved from Middletown, Ohio to Newport, Kentucky. Life was hard for the Sandtner family, but Joseph had secured a job at another steel mill there. The family moved around as worked presented itself, eventually ending up in Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph was killed in an industrial accident in a Cleveland area steel mill on December 14, 1919. He is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Cleveland (no headstone).
The Sandtner family used several alternate spellings over the years - including "Sampson" while they were living in Newport, Kentucky; "Sander" or "Sanders" after moving to Cleveland; and eventually "Santner" and even "Sontner". The reason for the use of various spellings is not entirely clear - it may have been meant to mask their German heritage during a time of intense anti-German sentiments (WWI). It may also have been a way to apply for scarce jobs multiple times (by using aliases). In the case of "Sontner", it may have been an attempt to preserve the original pronunciation when spoken in English. We may never known for sure. Joseph's death certificate from 1919 uses the "Santner" spelling, but when wife Elisabeth died in 1924, her death certificate shows the original "Sandtner" spelling.
There were several Sandtner relatives that also came to the United States:
1) Ludwig Sandtner (Joseph's brother - mentioned above) returned to Slovakia by 1908, made another trip to the USA in 1910, and returned to Slovakia for good before 1914.
2) Johann Sandtner (Joseph's first cousin)came to the US in 1906. Johann, who was known as John Sontner, was still in the US in 1919 (after which he may have returned to Slovakia).
3) Franz Sandtner (Johann Sandtner's son) came to the US in 1907, but returned home before 1913.
4) Celestin Sandtner (another son of Johann Sandtner) came to the US in 1912. Celestin eventually made his home in Cleveland, Ohio. Like his father, he spelled his surname as "Sontner".
5) Ciprian Satko - the son of Joseph's first cousin Maria Sandtner Satko - came to the US in 1910. Like Celestin Sandtner (his 2nd cousin), he made his home in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joseph Sandtner was born October 15, 1864 in Limbach, Austria-Hungary (present day Slovakia, only about 12 miles northeast of Bratislava). He was the son of Joseph Sandtner and Josepha Frass - they were part of the German diaspora living in the Austro-Hungarian empire, who worked as "vinicola" or "weingartner" (wine gardeners, or grape growers or wine makers). He married Elisabeth Mitterholzer on July 1, 1888 in Limbach. After their marriage, they went on to have 8 children:
1889 - Sigmund aka "Sigmond"
1891 - Theresia aka "Rose"
1893 - August aka "Gus"
1895 - Johann aka "John"
1897 - Elisabeth aka "Elizabeth"
1899 - Maria aka "Mary"
1902 - Emma
1910 - William
Because the Sandtners were Roman Catholic, and the Mitterholzers were Lutheran, they agreed that any sons would be baptized in the Catholic faith, and daughters would be baptized in the Lutheran faith.
The Sandtner family decided to take their chances by uprooting their family and starting over in the United States, with the hope of forging a better life for themselves there. On February 16, 1905, Joseph immigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City. He joined his younger brother Ludwig Sandtner in Middletown, Ohio. Ludwig had immigrated to the US in 1903 and was already working at the "Rolling Mill Office" (a steel mill) there. Joseph also took a job at the same steel mill, earning money to bring his wife and children over to the United States. In January of 1906, eldest son Sigmond (age 16) arrived in the US, followed by daughter Rose (age 16) in August of 1907. Wife Elisabeth and 6-year-old daughter Emma arrived in January of 1909, followed in November of 1909 by son August (age 16) and daughter Mary (age 10). The last of the family to come to the US were son John (age 14.5) and daughter Elizabeth (age 13) in May of 1910. The 2 younger children were not accompanied by any adult! Youngest son William was conceived and born in Kentucky after the family was reunited.
By May of 1910, when all of the Sandtner family was finally reunited, they had moved from Middletown, Ohio to Newport, Kentucky. Life was hard for the Sandtner family, but Joseph had secured a job at another steel mill there. The family moved around as worked presented itself, eventually ending up in Cleveland, Ohio. Joseph was killed in an industrial accident in a Cleveland area steel mill on December 14, 1919. He is buried in Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Cleveland (no headstone).
The Sandtner family used several alternate spellings over the years - including "Sampson" while they were living in Newport, Kentucky; "Sander" or "Sanders" after moving to Cleveland; and eventually "Santner" and even "Sontner". The reason for the use of various spellings is not entirely clear - it may have been meant to mask their German heritage during a time of intense anti-German sentiments (WWI). It may also have been a way to apply for scarce jobs multiple times (by using aliases). In the case of "Sontner", it may have been an attempt to preserve the original pronunciation when spoken in English. We may never known for sure. Joseph's death certificate from 1919 uses the "Santner" spelling, but when wife Elisabeth died in 1924, her death certificate shows the original "Sandtner" spelling.
There were several Sandtner relatives that also came to the United States:
1) Ludwig Sandtner (Joseph's brother - mentioned above) returned to Slovakia by 1908, made another trip to the USA in 1910, and returned to Slovakia for good before 1914.
2) Johann Sandtner (Joseph's first cousin)came to the US in 1906. Johann, who was known as John Sontner, was still in the US in 1919 (after which he may have returned to Slovakia).
3) Franz Sandtner (Johann Sandtner's son) came to the US in 1907, but returned home before 1913.
4) Celestin Sandtner (another son of Johann Sandtner) came to the US in 1912. Celestin eventually made his home in Cleveland, Ohio. Like his father, he spelled his surname as "Sontner".
5) Ciprian Satko - the son of Joseph's first cousin Maria Sandtner Satko - came to the US in 1910. Like Celestin Sandtner (his 2nd cousin), he made his home in Cleveland, Ohio.
