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While my own great-grandmother and many of my relatives were also born in the Oppau, Ludwigshafen area, I learned while researching Oppau on the web, that the only photos other than a map I was able to find, were those taken after the BASF explosion in 1921 where more than 500 people lost their lives..
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/238116:60642?tid=&pid=&queryId=1d4f837b83b80fc8336c5502f19edb63&_phsrc=igu238&_phstart=successSource -
1848 (excerpts and photo from Wikipedia)
By 1848, a large industrial working class, the proletariat, had developed and, owing to Napoleonic France, the level of education was relatively high and it was politically active. While in other German states the liberal petty bourgeoisie led the uprisings of 1848, in the Rhineland the proletariat was asserting its interests openly against the bourgeoisie as early as 1840. -
cont./. Landkommissariat Frankenthal, Royal Bavaria Rhein, a man named Josef Massar, 30 years old with an occupation as Day Worker. He came to report that his wife, named Susanna, gave birth to a boy at 11 pm the night before. They would like for the boy to be named Jacob.
The document was then signed by several witnesses. Conclusion: His actual date of birth was September 26, 1833 -
Isaac Jacob Massar was born in Oppau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The timeline documents his life, travels & family. Because of varying styles of script, the spelling of his name varies, i.e. Messar, Mayser, Mafsar, etc. He changed his name to Messer in the United States but documents will often show the spelling as seen on the original birth certificate. Here it clearly shows his father Josef Massar reporting his wife Susanna giving birth on the previous evening at 11PM. -
After Jacob returns from the war, Margaretta and Isaac Jacob Massar will spend their lives together for 41 years until her Death on Sep 25, 1906 Bridgeport, Belmont County, Ohio -
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Immigration data obtained from 1900 US Federal Census.
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_130-0034?usePUB=true&pId=1012248. The other information on incoming passengers with his first and last name show other conflicting information. in the 1890 census, it says he came in in 1854. -
A notation in the US Cesus of 1900 states that Jacob Entered the United States in 1854.Now, after 46 years that date had most likely become a blurr to Jacob. Occupation is listed as farmer but a later Census shows him working at a Bromine Chemical plant. http://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Agriculture_and_Farming_in_Ohio#:~:text=Farmers%20in%20southern%20Ohio%20also%20raised%20tobacco.%20It,which%20they%20used%20to%20make%20rope%20and%20cloth.
Ohio Railroad Company March 20, 1850. History.... -
Here it shows Jacob at age 25, His place of birth is Bavaria. The Census shows him as a Farmer with his mother Susanna at age 60. According to his Family also his sister and her family left Germany and immigrated to the United States. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/43220994:7667?tid=&pid=&queryId=dc04cf550115dd419489e97d9fe23d5a&_phsrc=igu456&_phstart=successSource -
At this time a document of this event is not available.
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in Company B of the 2nd Regiment of West Virginia Calvary commanded by Captain Hambleton. Sep 1 1861, Ironton, Lawrence County, OhioU.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865. side: Union, Regiment: West Virginia Cavalry, Regiment Name: 2nd Regiment, West Virginia Cavalry. Company B, Rank in Private, Rank out Corporal. Film Number M507 roll 8. https://archive.org/details/historyofsecondr00sutton -
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U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles: Enlistment Jan 9, 1861 in Company B, West Virginia 2nd Cavalry, Regiment
https://civilwarintheeast.com/us-regiments-batteries/west-virginia/2nd-west-virginia-infantry/ -
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The 6th Regiment, West Virginia Infantry organized at Grafton, Taylor County, Mannington, Marion County, Cairo, Ritchie County, Parkersburg, Wood County and Wheeling, Ohio and Marshall Counties, West Virginia, August 13 to December 26, 1861.[1]
U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 - Ancestry.com
https://wvcivilwar.com/union-regiments/6th-west-virginia-cavalry/ -
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https://www.bing.com/search?q=camp+chase+ohio+1862&form=ANNTH1&refig=a3c8a3b8ef424fab9c1751761a395824&sp=4&qs=AS&pq=camp+chase%2C+ohio&sk=PRES1AS3&sc=8-16&cvid=a3c8a3b8ef424fab9c1751761a395824
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Chase#:~:text=Camp%20Chase%20was%20an%20American%20Civil%20War%20training,meet.%20It%20originally%20operated%20from%20a%20city%20park.
Photo used from Bing website -
Marriage to: Margaretta (Margaret) "Mosis" Masser (born Boernett)
Aug 15 1865
Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61378/images/TH-1-17807-65949-65?usePUB=true&_phsrc=igu240&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=902291870 -
Minersville, Meigs County, Ohio
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Minersville, Meigs, Ohio
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Occupations:
1870 census - engineer at salt works,
1880 census - bromine Chm. works,
1900 census - day laborer -
Jacob is 40 years old and his home is in in Minersville, Meigs, OH where he resides with his wife, Margaretta and his children Magdalena (Lena) age 4, and Catherine age 2. He is currently employed as an engineer at the Salt Works. He was born in Oppau, Ludwigshafen / in Bavaria not in Baden. -
Minersville, Meigs County, Ohio
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Minersville, Meigs County, OH -
Surron Township, Meigs, OH -
Syracuse, Meigs County, OH
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Sutton, Meigs County, OH
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Minersville, Meigs County, OH -
Minersville, Meigs County, OH -
See picture to help locate on page! https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10604-974508/the-daily-sentinel?snippet=7a43de118e5615ac00103ad6e3ce0c89#fullscreen -
Jacob Masser (not Mayar) at age 46 and Margaetta age 40 by now have 7 children, all living at home: Lenna 13, Catherine 12, Peter 10, John 8, Elizabeth 6, Anna 5, and J. George 5 months.
June 5 1880
Their residence is in the Minersville Precinct, Sutton Twp., Meigs County, Ohio -
Sutton, Meigs County, Ohio -
View the Birth Details of all the Parents & Children
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/42154_329959-00266?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=2051719497 -
Minersville, Meigs, OH
Max was married to Carrie Umbar. She was born 1881 and died 1963. Marriage date not available -
Belmont, Ohio -
Family Book showing date for Grandchildren starting withh 1893 -
Belmont, OH -
Residence Bridgeport Village, Belmont, Ohio
1900
photo from 'visitbelmontcounty.com/bridgeport' -
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/38833040:7602?tid=&pid=&queryId=d66027cb743e4c2e5d4d4fa8dd0a8950&_phsrc=igu242&_phstart=successSource Jacob Messer (Masser) is 66, married to Margaret 60, and they have five children living at home: Magdalena 33, John 28, George 20, Margaret 18, and Maxamillian 15.
June 16 1900
District 9, Bridgeport Village, Belmont County, Ohio -
Bridgeport, Belmont County, OH
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Margaretta leaves behind her husband Jacob. Her life was filled with children of their union: Elizabeth McConnaughy, Peter Masser, George Jacob Masser, John Masser, Magdalena Masser, Catherine Burkle, Anna Maria Masser, Margaret Byrd, Maxamillian Wilhelm Masser. She was laid to rest at the Linwood Cemetery at Blaine, Belmont County, Ohio.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88612065/margaretta-masser -
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/368406:8802
Jacob stipulates Jacob Masser to be the Administrator of his will etc. Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 - Ancestry.com -
Jacob Masser is 76, widowed, retired with 4 adult children living at #198 Cadiz Pike with Lena 44, George 32, Annie 35, and Max 26, while John.age 38 and his wife Myrtle age 30 with son Carl age 8, and son Ray just 2 months old live at #199 Cadiz Pike.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RJ6-S7K?cc=1727033&wc=QZZQ-BDH%3A133640001%2C135179101%2C135303801%2C1589088874 -
Death Feb 9 1915
at home in Bridgeport, Belmont County, Ohio
Burial Linwood Cemetery (Colerain Twp.), Belmont county, Ohio -
Jacob died at home in Bridgeport, Belmont County, OH -
Pittsburgh,Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Burial: Linwood (Colerain Twp) Cemetery, Belmont County, OH -
![† Death of Magdalena [Lena]](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.timetoast.com/public/uploads/photo/18948103/image/medium-898ef52e88776cc87a31e0fa522b9339.jpg?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAJB6ZCNNAN7BE7WDQ%2F20250822%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250822T232030Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=2a854e07f6face2b9ba8450d8b94535e662cc0e18c926c7f41d222fd6e5986c8)
Bridgeport, Belmont County, OH -
Wheeling, Ohio County, West Viginia -
Ohio, West Virginia
Burial at Weeks Cemetery, Pease Township, Belmont, OH -
Bridgeport, Belmont County, Ohio
Buriial: Greenwood Cemetery, Bellaire, Belmont County, OH -
Bridgeport, Belmont, OH
Burial: Linwood Cemetery, Colerain Township, Belmont, OH -
Morristown, Belmont County, Ohio -
Martins Ferry, Belmont County, OH -
Most photographs in this timeline are taken by Linda Williams some as late as 100 years after the death of her grandfather Isaac Jacob Massar.
A note from Linda: My Grandfather Jacob Masser's original name was Massar. I have a family bible giving the name as Massar.
Shortly after coming to this country Jacob fought in the Civil War for the Union where his name was changed to Messer. After the war when he was obtaining a pension he had the name officially changed to Masser. -
As you might imagine, Isaac Jacob Massar has left behind many close and distant relatives who have shared information of his life in their own Genealogy Websites. As I am also a very distant relative, I have shared some of their information to create this timeline! What I still need to make this timeline more complete, would be the dates and photographs of the many grandchildren, etc.
![Birth of Magdalena [Lena] Messer](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.timetoast.com/public/uploads/photo/19016901/image/medium-5cd5bb2201c6d2936d2bdeca4033712d.jfif?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAJB6ZCNNAN7BE7WDQ%2F20250822%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250822T232030Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=aab02c7bab65ced2bd7349622ac6775b243e550e213f444fdd440dd37b42e478)
![Marriage of John Messer to Viola Arminta [Myrtle] Ochsenbein](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.timetoast.com/public/uploads/photo/18947384/image/medium-2989bd790090e62fe9971567dc82e7a6.jfif?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAJB6ZCNNAN7BE7WDQ%2F20250822%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250822T232030Z&X-Amz-Expires=604800&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=2dd0f36a806097d2963e0a26cd959814749100a89650689c669d0dbef5744109)