#52 Ancestors - Live Long - Matilda Moehlmann 97 years 9 months

Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small has a weekly challenge to write the stories of your ancestors. This is week #16 and the suggested theme is LIVE LONG. I am highlighting my great grandmother Matilda Tendick Moehllmann.

Matilda is the only great grandparent that I ever knew.  She was born in Neurkirchen, Rheinland, Prussia in 1872.  At the age of 16 she immigrated to the United States with her parents Peter and Katrina Tendick and five of her siblings.  Two older brothers, already married, stayed behind in Germany.  The family settled on a farm in Greene County, Indiana among a large settlement of German immigrants.  

Matilda had an older brother and sister and a younger brother and two younger sisters.  The family was living in a two room house. I don't know how long she stayed on the farm, most likely not very long.  Instead she moved 65 miles away to the big city of Indianapolis. It was there she met her husband, Frederick Henry August Moehlmann and they were married in 1893 just two months after her 21st birthday.  

Matilda Tendick about 1890
Moehlmann Family Collection

Eleven months later, her only son, Alfred, was born. Frederick worked for the Railroad and soon they bought a four room house on Spann Avenue in Indianapolis.

Matilda & Alfred Moehlmann in front on their home on Spann Ave. 1900
from Moehlmann Family Collection

According to Alfred there was a lot of quarreling in the home and in 1907 the marriage ended in divorce.  Alfred was sent to live with his grandparents on the farm and Matilda stayed and worked in Indianapolis for a while. In 1909 her father died and by 1910 she is living with her mother, two brothers, a sister, and son Alfred on the old homestead.

For a while Matilda worked as a domestic in the home of a prominent doctor in the area. In 1918 she is once again living at home and caring for her ailing mother. Her son Alfred was in the Army and stationed in Vermont when he was called home September of 1918 due to the health of his grandmother. 

Alfred and mother Matilda (Tendick) Moehlmann Sep 1918
from Moehlann Family Collection

Matilda's mother died Oct. 1, 1918 at the age of 80.  In 1920 Matilda is still living on the family homestead with her younger brother Diedrick and son Alfred. In the fall of that year Matilda was ill and ultimately had surgery in Terre Haute.  Alfred was told that her chances of recovery were not at all guaranteed. She did recover, but it was a slow recovery and Alfred and Deidrich hired someone to the housework. In March of 1921 Alfred married Helen Bovenschen.  Since Matilda was still recovering the newlyweds moved in with Matilda and Dietrich.  Alfred was concerned about this arrangement "because of her temperament", referring to his mother.   It lasted until November of that year and then Alfred and Helen set up housekeeping in their own home.

Matilda became a grandmother in January 1922.  Then again in 1923 and 1924 and 1927. In 1930 she was still living with her brother Dedtrich on the farm. Her last grandchild was born in 1935.

Mathilda Margaret Tendick Moehlmann c. 1935
Moehlmann Family Collection

This is the same farm that she was living on when I have my first memory of her sometime in the mid 1950's.  I remember the kitchen being on the back of the house and there was an old fashioned well just outside the back door. Now Matilda was a small woman, very thin and not very tall.  None the less I was scared of her. Well actually I was scared of her shoes.  She wore black boots that laced half way up her leg. I think it was the association with the witches in the "Wizard of Oz".   Also she had a very thick German accent which I was not accustomed to.

Our family moved from Indiana to Florida when I was nine. I don't remember seeing her too many times after that. I know that by the early 1960's she was in a nursing home.  In 1960 my grandparents spent the winter in Florida and it was touch and go whether they would come due to Matilda's health.

Back Row: John Cerar (Gertie's husband) Dietrich Tendick, Alfred Moehlmann
Front  Row: Tillman Tendick, Bill Tendick, Matilda Tendick Moehlmann, Sophie Tendick Nolting, Gertie Tendick Cerar
taken c. 1950
from Moehlmann Family Collection

All of Matilda's siblings preceded her in death. Bill in 1953 at age 88, Tillman in 1957 age 87, Gertrude in 1960 at age 84, Diedrick in 1864 age 84, and Sophie died just two week prior to Matilda at age 87. Matilda died February 18, 1970 at age 97 years 9 months and 2 days.

from Linton Daily Citizen
February 18, 1970

I have a very one sided view of my great grandmother - mostly through the eyes of my grandfather. And that relationship between mother and son was rather rocky.  There was a part of her eulogy from Rev. Stepler that reminds us of others views "I spoke to several of her old friends this week.  They recounted how Tillie liked doing things at the church - preparing food, serving it, quilting and just plain visiting. These were the wistful remembrances of the old ladies transcending the years when they were young, handsome and energetic."

Matilda Tendick and Frederick  Moehlamnn Wedding  Nov. 19, 1893
from Moehlmann Family Colleciton