There used to be a prosperous village of Thanisch with a population of 160.

Bernkastel-Kues. Very few citizens of the city of Bernkastel-Kues and the surrounding area know that, during the 30 Year War, there used to be a prosperous little village on the beautiful hillside near the Graach sheep farm in the District of Thanisch Woods.

The village of Thanisch was located on a thoroughfare, which connected the two cities of Bernkastel and Trarbach and went on to Maria-Zill(Forest between Trarbach Heights and the Buchborn District).

This road remains today as a vineyard road and is known locally as the “trarbach Weg”. The village with its population 143 to 160 belonged to the Catholic parish of Bernkastel. It consisted of 18 stately farms, all of them dedicated to agriculture and viticulture. Behind the vineyards, fruit, grain and flax were grown.About 1630-40 a passing traveler or wagoner brought the plague into the village. In a very short time the entire population fell victim to the then incurable epidemic – with the exception of one male inhabitant.

Seeking help, this man was taken in by the community of Graach. According to oral tradition, all the deceased were buried in Graach as well. It was further related, that the resident of Thanisch married a woman from Graach and took the name “Thanisch” after his unlucky village. The Thanisch are families dedicated to viticulture either in Bernkastel-Kues, Graach, Lieser or Rachtig. They have remained faithful to the profession of their ancestors well into the 20th century.

From the “Trierischen Voldsfreund”From the “Trierischen Voldsfreund”

That is my great grandfather, Peter Thanisch (Tharnish) who was born in Sheldon, New York, on July 7, 1841. His parents were John Jacob Thanisch and Catherine Meier (Meyer) Thanisch. Both John and Catherine are buried on St. Cecilia’s cemetery. So is Lucia Thanisch who is the mother of John Jacob, but we have never been able to find her grave. Catherine is the daughter of Peter Meier and Maria Dorsheid. I know those are all old names connected with St. Cecilias. Peter and Maria are also buried on St. Cecilia’s. Peter was a cannonier during the American civil War. He enlisted from the State of New York and spent a great deal of his time in New Orleans, Louisiana. His group was shipwrecked during the American Civil War, and the details of that are in the New York State Archives. That is about all I know about his Civil War Experience, because my sister has the records, and she can’t find them right now. When I find them, I will send more information.  For your information Peter married Maria Arendt at St. Cecilias on February 5, 1866, and my own grandfather, John Tharnish was born in Sheldon in 1867. So our family history goes back a few years in Sheldon. I am really sorry never to have visited there before last year. My great grandfather came to Iowa in 1870, because they offered Civil War Veterans 160 acres of land. He stayed in Iowa and died there in 1901.

Anthony was a school teacher Anthony was a school teacher And a town clerk in SheldonAnd a town clerk in Sheldon

They were from Boerange, Mersch, Lux

in August 1854

They remained in Sheldon for 15 years