Ken,   
just wanted to let you know i  have found some information on the area where Frank lived, from what I understand German was spoken there it was a dialect.   Some what like what the Amisch speak in the US today.   But I will get back to you as soon as I can….
 
Hope all is well with you and the family..  we send greetings..  
 
Take care,
 
Donald Hardenburger


Arrived in USA. 1862

1850 Living Ste Marie, Jasper, Illinois, age 30. 1859

1860 Sophier Hardenburger, living in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa, Note: indicates that he was
born in France, age 38. 549

1870 Census, Madison County, Iowa, age 41. 42
This says he was born in Germany.

1880 Living Brownville, Nemaha, Nebraska, Age 59. 551
This says he was born in Elses, France.(Probably Alsace)

1885 Living Village of Auburn, Nemaha, Nebraska. 1848

1900 Living in Auburn, Nemaha County, Nebraska, 10 Children, 9 living; age 70 (Born in Germany). , 45

Frank Sophier (Xavier Hartenberger) was born in Weyersheim, France 28 Oct 1820. He and his sister sailed steerage to America carrying all his possessions with them. Arrived at New Orleans on 20 May 1848. 1852,
Passenger Name: Xavier Haritenberger
Passenger Age: 26 years
Date: 20 May 1848
Ship Name: Ferriere
Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana
Port of Departure: Le Havre, France
Where coming from: Baveria

Frank and his sister became separated and never found each other again. Frank, a small man of 5'2" left France to avoid the military even though a crippled hand from a birth defect kept him from serving. He traveled west to Winterset,Iowa where he worked his trade as a shoemaker. In 1853, in New Providence, Clark County, Indiana, Frank married Mary Ann Rutherford, born 30 Mar 1830.Daughter of Elijah Marion Rutherford, born 15 Feb 1807, died 18 Jun 1855, and Rebecca Rutherford, born 15 Feb 1807, died 27 Sep 1869. They married 4 Dec 1828 and had eleven children. Frank and Mary Ann had nine children. Frank and famliy came west, crossed the Missouri River at Brownville, Nebraska. and settled in the Auburn area. Frank passed away 9 Apr 1904 and Mary 24 Oct 1907 in Auburn, Nebraska. Both are buried in the Sheridan Cemetery.

Frank Sophier (Xavier Hartenberger) was born in Weyersheim, France 28 Oct 1820. He and his sister traveled to Le Havre, France where they sailed to America carrying all their possessions with them. They arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana on 20 May 1848. Frank, a small man of 5'2" left France to avoid the military even though a crippled hand from a birth defect kept him from serving. He traveled north to Illinois, then to Indiana in the early 1850s where he met and married in 1853, in New Providence, Clark County, Indiana, Mary Ann Rutherford, born in 30 Mar 1830. She was the daughter of Elijah Marion Rutherford, born 15 Feb 1807, died 18 June 1855, and Rebecca Rutherford, born 15 Feb 1807, died 27 Sep 1869. They married 4 Dec 1828 and had eleven children.

Frank and Mary Ann then moved west to Winterset, Iowa where he worked his trade as a shoemaker. Frank and Mary Ann had nine children. Frank and family moved west again, crossing the Missouri River at Brownville, Neb. and settled in the Auburn area. Frank passed away on 9 Apr 1904 and Mary Ann on 24 Oct 1907 in Auburn. Both are buried in the Sheridan Cemetery.

1850 Jasper County, IL; St Marie Precinct.1863

1860 living in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa; 28 Aug; age 38, birth place listed as France; Real Estate value shown as $100.549

1869 shown in the “List of Voters” of 1869 as Hartenberger, Frank, shoemaker.1864

1870 Census, Madison County, Iowa, age 41.42

1880 living in Nemaha County, Nebraska age 59.43
Frantz Hardenburger, age 59, living Brownville, Nb, born Elses France, with. 1865
1885 Living in Auburn, Nemaha County, Nebraska, age 60.1866
1900 Living in Auburn, Nemaha County, Nebraska, age 70. 45
F. Hardenburger, Shows birth date as Oct 1829, Germany. Living in Auburn, Douglas Pct, Nebraska. (Shows that Frank was a naturalized citizen) Includes Mary, wife, born Ind Mar 1840, John, son, born Iowa, Oct 1869, Clayton, son, born Aug 1874, and William, son, born Iowa, Nov 1877.1867

Frank Hardenburger, one of the oldest men in the community, passed away at home in this city at 11:20 Saturday might. The deceased was avbout eighty-five year of age and was born in Germany. He had been suffering for a number of weeks and on Saturday night, conscious that the end was near, he summoned his wife and two sons, one of whom had come from Kansas and the other from Indian Territory, to his bedside and bid them al good bye. He was a shoemaker by trade and his life was one of usefulness. The funeral was held at the family resident at ll o’clock Monday morning, the service being conducted by Rev. Dieffenbach. Interment was at the Sheridan Cemetery. 1868

1860 living in Winterset, Madison County, Iowa; 28 Aug; age 38, birth place listed as France; Real Estate value shown as $100.549

1869 shown in the “List of Voters” of 1869 as Hartenberger, Frank, shoemaker.1864

1870 Census, Madison County, Iowa, age 41.42

1880 living in Nemaha County, Nebraska age 59.43
Frantz Hardenburger, age 59, living Brownville, Nb, born Elses France, with. 1865
1885 Living in Auburn, Nemaha County, Nebraska, age 60.1866
1900 Living in Auburn, Nemaha County, Nebraska, age 70. 45
F. Hardenburger, Shows birth date as Oct 1829, Germany. Living in Auburn, Douglas Pct, Nebraska. (Shows that Frank was a naturalized citizen) Includes Mary, wife, born Ind Mar 1840, John, son, born Iowa, Oct 1869, Clayton, son, born Aug 1874, and William, son, born Iowa, Nov 1877.1867

Frank Hardenburger, one of the oldest men in the community, passed away at home in this city at 11:20 Saturday might. The deceased was avbout eighty-five year of age and was born in Germany. He had been suffering for a number of weeks and on Saturday night, conscious that the end was near, he summoned his wife and two sons, one of whom had come from Kansas and the other from Indian Territory, to his bedside and bid them al good bye. He was a shoemaker by trade and his life was one of usefulness. The funeral was held at the family resident at ll o’clock Monday morning, the service being conducted by Rev. Dieffenbach. Interment was at the Sheridan Cemetery. 1868

Third Son, Elijah Marion, born 15 Feb 1859 was married to NancyElizabeth Hughes, born 6 Oct 1866. Nancys parents William S.Hughes, born 28 May 1827 at Lebanon, Ohio and JosephineElizabeth Grey, born 6 Apr 1840 and married 14 Mar 1855 inIndiana, came to Nemaha County in May 1856. They lived thefirst year with friends in London Precinct, a settled area nearBrownsville. Nancys grandfather was George Hughes born inDelaware, died 1885, 78 years old; buried in Bedford Cemetery.William died at his farm home 16 Jun 1869.Elijah was a laborer in Auburn and for a time lived in Iowa.Their second child, Pearl Anna was born in Des Moines, Iowa 19Jun 1888. Pearl had five brothers and two sisters.When Pearl was nine 10 Aug 1897, by covered wagon, the familytraveled to Noble Oklahoma along with other family members intheir wagons. Pearl had two brothers at this time. A diarykept by her mother, Nancy states: Near Crab Orchard whilecamped, Pearl fell and broke her arm. It cost $1.50 to have itset,(a sizable amount in those days). They camped close torivers and towns to have a supply of water and to buy necessaryfood. The young men hunted for game. For exercise the childrenplayed and Nancy walked along with the wagons. The last page wehave of the old diary is the 19th day at Blackwell, Ok. Lots ofRain and hardships on the trip but Nancy never complained.Things were always fine even though she was carrying the 4thchild and had a year old baby.Pearl attended school in Norman, Ok. The family farmed, raisingcoton as sharecroppers. Cotton was picked in twelve foot longbags which the pickers dragged behind them. Pearl and herbrother Frank helped pick what was left in the fields.The famliy suffered hardships and missed their family soreturned to Nebraska. Pearl Anna married Jesse Sanford Brookson 28 Feb 1909.Family and friends were always happy to visit Aunt Nan and UncleLige who made all feel welcome and were happy to share. Bothparents passed away at Pearls home. Nancy 20 Nov. 1932 andElijah 8 Dec. 1932. They are buried in Sheridan Cemetery,Auburn Nebraska.