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Continued: There is conflicting data concerning Anna's birthplace, but there can be little doubt she was born in or near Markham Township in old York County, Ontario, were her parents lived.
The 1870 census erroneously indicates that she was born in New York. The 1880 census for her daughter erronsously recorded that the mother (Anna Perkins) was born in Pennsylvania (which was probably confused with the birthplace of Anna's second husband, Daniel Heller). All other records we have (later census records and the death certificates of her two children) indicate that Anna was born in Canada.
According to a couple letters from George Heller of Prophetstown, IL, dated 1989: George thought that Annie Perkins was likely born in eastern Canada. Annie's first husband was W. J. Steinhoff. She apparently married in Canada and her children were born there, but supposedly U.S. citizens at birth (which may not be correct). The 1933 death certificate for her daughter, Samantha Elizabeth Logie, says that she lived in Canada until she was about 3 or 3 1/2--she was b. in 1857; hence they left Canada abt. 1860 or 1861. If this were the case, they may have been missed in both the 1861 Canada Census and the 1860 US Census, whci would explain why they are not found on either.
Annie and her two children were enumerated on the 1870 census in Geneseo Twp., Henry Co., Illinois (enumerated 10 July 1870 by W. K. Knight), page 11, dwelling no. 93, family no. 89:
"Annie Steinhoff" is noted as 25 years old [she was actually 37], and is listed as a seamstress with real estate valued at $2,000 and personal property worth $250. "Chas." age 15, and "Elizabeth" age 12, were both at school (Charles would actually have been 19 and Samantha Elizabeth was 12 or 13). The census erroneously indicates that they were all born in New York State.
Anna "Perkins" married Daniel Heller in Henry Co., Illinois -- marriage license issued 3 March 1871 by F. G. Welton, Clerk of Henry Co., Illinois. They were married 4 March 1871 by Enoch Freeden, Minister of the Gospel. (Oddly, her name on the license is written "Mrs. Anna Perkins" with no mention of her first married name--Steinhoff.)
They removed to California within a few years and settled near the old Mission of San Jose (in Washington Twp., Alameda Co., Calif.) where they purchased about 60 acres. They sold the farm in 1878 to John Peter Ranzan for $4,500.00 in Gold. Daniel signed the contract and Annie used a mark. The legal description is as follows: 58.59 acres -Lot 107, Survey 163 on the Plat of the Ex-Mission of San Jose as certified 28 Oct. 1865; located in Twp. 5 S, Range 1 W of Mt. Diablo meridian in District of lands subject to sale at San Francisco. An old map of Alameda Co. shows that the property of "D. Heller" was about a mile southwest of Washington Corners (which was later incorporated into the city of Freemont).
Anna died 10 May 1880 and is buried at the Irvington (I.O.O.F.) Cemetery, Washington Twp., Alameda Co., Calif. Her headstone is an impressive marble monument. She was aged "47 y's, 2 m's, 10 d's" which would place her birth date on 28 February 1833. However, some secondary sources claim her birth date was 26 February 1833, so there is a slight discrepancy.
We have no clue as to where Daniel Heller went, or when or where he died. Since it was apparent that he and Annie had decent nest-egg from selling their property near the old Mission San Jose a couple years before she died, we wonder what became of the $4,000 in gold they got from selling their land just a couple years before Anna died.
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