Jakob Pontius, born 1820 in Germany

Jakob Pontius was born in 1820 to Nikolaus Pontius (b 1796) and Anna Maria Lauer (b 1790).  He married Margaretha Staudt and the couple emigrated to America in 1854 along with their sons Jakob and Franz.  (This information from the Chronik der Pontius-Familien by Rudi Pontius.)  They arrived in the Port of New York on the ship Howard in April 1854.

Census records find this couple living in Buffalo, Erie County, New York.  It is from census records that we derive the following family information:

Jacob Pontus (sic), born c1820 in Prussia

Margret, wife, born c1826 in Prussia

Jacob, son, born c1849 in Prussia (may have moved to Chicago, IL but identity is uncertain)

Frank, son, born March 1852 in Prussia

     Wife Magdalena, born May 1853 in Germany

     Children:

          Felix, son, born December 1887 in New York

          Fred, son, born March 1892 in New York

          William, son, born December 1895 in New York

Margret, daughter, born c1857 in New York

Joseph, born c1864 in New York

Frederick, born November 1869 in New York (remained in Buffalo, Erie County, NY)

     Wife Anna M., born July 1860 in New York of German parents, married c1891

     Children:

          Fred, son, born July 1892

          Joseph, son, born February 1895

          Jacob, son, born November 1895