by Rob Vomund
September 2000

The following paints a partial, but ever growing picture of the history of the Vomund family within the United States. I have gathered some of this information personally, but the vast majority has come from others. Some of the key contributors are mentioned at the bottom of this page. My heart felt thanks goes out to all those who have passed on information to me.

If after reading the history below you spot a mistake, or something I've missed, I will greatly appreciate you passing a message my way at rob@vomund.com.

Bernhard Lorenz Vomund, born August 6, 1815 in Herbolzheim, Freiburg, Baden, Germany, was the son of Ignaz Vomund and Genovefa Loeffler, also of Baden. Bernhard left Germany during an unknown year and traveled to Venezuela, where he lived for several years. While there he had two sons, or adopted them. They were:

• Francis Xavier born in 1842
• Henry born in 1847

I have not yet been able to determine who Francis and Henry’s mother was. If anyone has any information about this, I will appreciate receiving it.

Between 1848 and 1850 Bernhard immigrated to the United States, and on June 2, 1850 Bernhard married Halena (or Helena) Gerritzen in Warren County, Missouri. Census records list Prussia as Halena’s place of birth. They had four children:

• Helena Maria born 1851 in Millwood, Missouri
• Theodore born 1855 in Dutzow, Missouri
• Frances born 1858 in Dutzow, Missouri
• George , unknown date or place

Several family members have told me that there was an additional child, named Ben or Bengerman, but no such name appears on any found legal documents.

Land deed records show that Bernard and Halena purchased property in 1856 near Warrenton, in Warren County, Missouri. They sold this property in 1861, and in 1863 purchased property in Lincoln County, Missouri.

When the 1870 census was taken, Bernhard and his family were living in Prairie Township, in Lincoln County, Missouri. That same census shows that Bernhard’s first son, Francis, was the head of his own household in Millwood, Missouri.

Bernhard died on March 17, 1872. He was buried in Millwood, were his grave marker still stands today. Halena died in 1888 and is buried next to Bernhard.

Bernhard’s Children

Francis Xavier Vomund
Bernhard called him "Frank" and later in life he was known simply as "FX." Francis is believed to have first been married to either Mary Ann Hammett (or Hemmett) or Mary A. Linton. I don’t know which is correct. A Lincoln County deed lists Mary Virginia Hammett as the heir of Mrs. Mary A. Vomund. Also, buried adjacent to Mary A. Vomund in Millwood are Mary Virginia Hammett and Charles H. Hammett. On the other hand, Mary and Francis signed a deed were a Louis Lintin, a single man, also participated in the transaction.

Francis and Mary had a daughter, Catherine Laura and a son, Louis Bernard born in 1870 and 1872 respectively.

Census records show that from at least 1878 to 1889 Francis was married to a woman named "Rose." She was 25 years older than Francis, and it does not appear they had any children.

In 1890 or 1891 Francis married Anastasia "Annie" Murphy in St. Charles, Missouri. They had one son, George Elmer Vomund born in 1893 in Wellsville, Missouri. George, was commonly known as "GE."

Anastasia died in 1924 and Francis married one last time, to Annie Hogan. Annie had been married to George W. Whitehead until he died in 1921. Though Francis and Annie separated in 1922 they remained married until Francis died in 1929.

The descendants of Francis and his children are well documented, and most are living in the area around Martinsburg and Mexico, Missouri. GE’s sons all live on the west coast of the United States.

Henry Vomund
Henry married Ann Gertrude Wheatley and they had three children. They are Lee Clemence Vomund (female), born in 1881, Mary Ellen, born in 1883, William R Vomund, born in 1884, and Elvira Anges Vomund.

Lee married James M Dawson in 1906 in Morgan City, Louisiana, USA and they had three children. Mary died at age 2 and is buried in Millwood, Missouri. William became the owner of the Vomund-Mudd funeral home in Millwood. He never married and died 1884 in Millwood. Finally, Elvira is believed to have married someone with the last name of "Wade."

I have no other information about descendants from Henry’s branch of the family.

Helena Maria Vomund
Helena married Heinrich Schellert in 1874 in Millwood, Missouri. They had eight children. They are Helena Elisabeth born in 1879, Theodore B. born in 1875, Herman Joseph born in 1877, Casper George born in 1882, Peter Paul born in 1882, Heinrick Arnold born in 1884, and Anna Margaretha born in 1887.

In 1888 Helena married Johannes Heitman in the Catholic Church of Old Monroe, Missouri. They had three children, who are Frank Aloysius born in 1889, John Anton born in 1890, and Joseph Alphonse born in 1891.

Descendants of the Schellert and Heitman families are well documented, thanks the work of Leo Schellert and his family.

Theodore Vomund
In 1888 Theodore married Frances Alice Bowles. They had one child, Joseph William, who was born in 1889. Joseph went on to marry Elizabeth Mary Johannesmann and the two of them had thirteen children. Most of Joseph and Elizabeth’s descendants are today located around the St. Paul, Missouri area. Thanks
to work done by Bill and Ruth Vomund and other family members this branch of the family is well documented.

Frances Vomund
Frances married Frank Henry Burkemper on in 1888 in Old Monroe, Missouri. They had six children who are Helena Christine born in 1889, Rosalla Anna born in 1890, Ferdinand Christian born in 1892, Gertrude born in 1892, Peter Bernard born in 1895, Boniface William born in 1897. Much of the family history for this branch of family is centered around the town of Old Monroe, Missouri.

This branch of the family is reasonably documented, though I am missing much of the newer generations (1960 and beyond).

George Vomund
Close to nothing is known about George. Any information will be much appreciated.

Vomund Timeline

Bernard born

1815 - Bernard Vomund born in Germany

Bernard in Venezuela

1842 - Francis Xavier Vomund, son to Bernard, born in Venezuela

1847 - Henry Vomund, son to Bernard, born in Venuzuela

Bernard in Warren County, Missouri

1850 - Warren County Census records list Bernard, age 33; Mena, age 18; Sophia, age 7; and Henry, age 4. Bernards birthplace is listed as "Germany." "Mena" is probably "Helena." What about Francis Xavier? Is Sophia really FX?

1850 - Warren County, Missouri legal records list the marriage of Bernard Tormont and Hellena Gerritzen on June 2 by A. Eysvogels, a Catholic priest. Bernard Tormont is presumed to be Bernard Vomund, as Theodore’s 1914 death certificate lists "Hellen Garritzen" as his mother. The same marriage book lists the marriages of two other Gerritzen women, Dina to Frantz Fisher and Fleuendrina to Wilhelm Lakebrink.

1851 - Helena Maria Vomund, daughter of Bernard Vomund, born on October 22nd.

1855 - Theodore Vomund, son of Bernard Vomund, born on October 6th.

1856 - Land/deed record for Bernard and Hellena in Warren County, Missouri. The land was near Warrenton, Missouri.

1858 - Frances Vomund, daughter of Bernard, is born on January 1st.

1860 - Warren County Census records list Bernard as 44, Hellenia 27, Francisco 15, Henry 13, Hellenia 8, Theodore 4 and Francesca. . Francisco and Henry are both listed as born in Venezuela. Bernard is listed as born in Baden, Germany.

1861 - American Civil War starts

1861 - Warren County land transaction shows that Bernard sold his property

Bernard moves to Lincoln County, Missouri

1863 - Lincoln County deed shows Bernard purchasing property

1865 - American Civil War ends

1869 - Francis Xavier, son of Bernard, marries Mary A. Hammett or Mary A. Linton

1870 - Lincoln County census lists "Foreman'' family living in Prairie Township. Listed are Bernard 55, born in Baden; Lena 48, born in Prussia; Lena 18, Theodore 14 and Frances 11.

A separate 1870 Lincoln County census record lists as "Frank Vonman" age 25. He's identified as having been born in South America and having married in September 1869. His wife is Mary A. and her age is given as 35. Also in the household are Virginia Jeans, age 14 and Anna Jeans, age 9.

1870 - Bernard completes a will on September 30th. He leaves everything to his wife, Halena Gerritzen. Upon her death he ordered his real estate to be divided equally among Francis (whom he called Frank), Theodore (he wrote "Taotor''), Hellena, Frances and George, but excluded Francis from sharing in other personal property. Also, he named his daughter "Heleana'' to be executrix, bypassing her older half-brothers. There was no mention of Henry.

1871 - Francis X. and Mary A. Vomund signed a deed on property that had belonged to her before their marriage, and Louis Lintin, a single male, participated in the transaction.

Bernard dies

1872 - Bernard dies on March 17th.

1873 - Mary A. Vomund, wife of Francis X. Vomund, dies.

1874 - Lincoln County deed filed March 28 lists Mary Virginia (Mrs. Charles) Hammett as an heir of the late Mrs. Mary Ann Vomund, wife of Francis X. Vomund.

1878 - Land deed records lists "Rose" as the wife of Francis X. Vomund. Is this "Rose Whitehead?"

1880 - Census records lists Francis X. Vomund’s children as Catherine, age 9 and Lewis B., age 7. His wife was reported as "Rose" and is listed as 61 years old, 25 years his senior. The census says she was born in Missouri and her parents in either Missouri or Maryland.

1887 - Henry Vomund, son of Bernard dies on December 15th.

1888 - Halena Gerritzen, wife of Bernard, dies. Heirs were listed as Francis, Hellena, Theodore, Frances, George and the children of Henry, Lee, William and Alvira.

1889 - A land deed filed December 7th still lists "Rose" as the wife of Francis X. Vomund.

1889 - Bernard's heirs apparently were unable to agree on a distribution of the estate, and Francis X. took legal action in 1889 against his half siblings to get the estate sold by the sheriff. Francis bought the property himself so that the estate could be liquidated and divided equally. The real estate was close to Hawk Point, Missouri.

1891 - Lincoln County marriage register shows that Francis X. Vomund of Laddonia, Audrain County, married Annie Murphy of Troy on Jan. 1, 1891, in St. Charles. Why was it recorded in Lincoln County?

1900 - Montgomery County Missouri census lists "Frank" Vomund living in Upper Loutre Township with wife Annie, a son George, born February 1894, a 20-year-old servant named William Henry and a young ward named Alma Taylor. Bernard used to call Francis X. by the name of "Frank."

1900 - Audrain County Missouri census lists Lora Vomund living with brother-in-law Henry Leander.

1914 - Theodore Vomund, son of Bernard, dies. Death certificate lists his mother as "Hellen Garritzen"

1929 - Francis Xavier Vomund, son of Bernard, dies on May 11th.

1941 - Frances Vomund, daughter of Bernard, dies on February 12th.

 

Very Special Thanks...

I wish to extend a special thank you to Stephen Hornbostel, who shared with me his vast document research. Most of the documented dates came from him. Also to Leo Schellert, who mailed me 18 pages of family research that he and his family members have done on his branch of the family. Filling in many of the blanks within the Theodore Vomund branch were Ruth & Bill Vomund, as well as many of the other St. Paul area Vomunds. Finally, a big thanks goes to my dad, Les Vomund, who without necessarily trying to, got me hooked on this family research. He has provided continuing insight into the Vomunds that he knew as he grew up in Martinsburg, Missouri.