Breadhead,
Thank you for sharing the photos of the Alexander H. Siegfried rifle. I suspect there was a working relationship between Siegfried and John Parks, Jr.. Parks was only a few years older. It's possible and quite feasable that they both apprenticed under John Parks Sr. Below is the biographical information I have on Alexander H. Siegfried. I suspect, but don't know for sure, that there is a relationship between A. H. Siegfried and rifle barrel maker John Seigfried that lived and worked nearby.
Mark Loudenslager
Alexander H. Siegfried (or Siegfred)
Born: October 5, 1821 Pennsylvania (possibly Berks County)
Died: January 20, 1886 Salem, Penn Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania
Buried: Row’s Cemetery, Row’s Lutheran, Salem, Penn Township, Snyder County
Alexander Siegfried was a gunsmith that worked in South Bend, Indiana before moving back to his native state of Pennsylvania. He moved to Indiana sometime before 1847 and moved back to Pennsylvania sometime between 1871 and 1884. He married Mary E. Camper on September 28, 1847 in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
The following was taken from “The History of Row’s Church”, Salem (near Selinsgrove). The original records are written in German. In the 1930’s the records were translated and rewritten in English as a WPA project.
“A building next to the Moyer homestead (now belongs to Ira Yoder) was torn down in 1884. This building was built from the logs from the 1st Row’s Church sometime around 1855. Mr. A. H. Siegfred for many years pursued the trade of gun making in this building.”
It is possible that Alexander was the brother or cousin of gun-barrel maker John Siefried that worked in the nearby Penn’s Creek area in Centre Township, Snyder County. Future research may tie these individuals to the Siegfried gun-barrel makers from Berks County.
1850 Federal Census, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Portage Township
Alexander H. Seigfried, age 28, occupation “Gun Smith”, b. PA; Mary S., age 23, b. VA; Francis, age 1, b. IN; Adaline Camper, age 12, b. IN; James Camper, age 14, b. IN
1860 Federal Census, Indiana, St. Joseph County, South Bend, p. 26
A. H. Sigfred, age 38, occupation “Gunsmith”, b. PA; Sarah F., age 26, b.NY; Ella, age 5, b. IN; Estella, age 3, b. IN; Rachel Van Norden, age 59, b. NY.
1870 Federal Census, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Portage Township, p. 89.
Alex. H. Seifried, age 46, occupation “Life Insurance Agent”, b. PA; Fanny, age 20, b. IN; Frank, age 21, b. IN; Alla, age 15, b. IN; Estella, age 13, b. IN; Lilla, age 10, b. IN; Ettie, age 8, b. IN; Maggie Biddle, age 22, occupation “Dressmaker”, b. IN.
1880 Federal Census, Pennsylvania, Penn Township, District 147, p. 1
Alexander H. Siegfried, age 58, occupation “Tempering Steel Tools”, b. PA; Sarah F., age 30, “Wife”, b. IN; Lillie C., age 19, b. IN; Etta R., age 17, b. IN; Edward B., age 9, b. IN; Hiram A., age 6, born PA; Sarah F., age 4, b. PA; Grace C., age 1, b. PA.
