Pandemic of 1918

   In week three of the President's  "guidelines" and week two of the county's "Stay at Home" order what is a genealogist to do? I decided to see how my ancestors were impacted by the other great pandemic. 
   First of all, I have a first hand account of what my grandfather experienced.  He was in the Army stationed in Vermont while undergoing Signal Corps training.  He writes:

"It was the first of October I got a Special Delivery letter from Dr. Peter Berns stating that if I wanted to see my Grandmother Tendick alive I would have to come home at once. I took the letter to the Commandant and he informed me we were scheduled to leave soon but he did give me a 72 hour leave – If I made all connections on time, I would have but 6 hours after arriving at Terre Haute until I had to catch a return train there. I decided to try it, caught a train at 11 pm at Burlington and before the train pulled out an orderly was calling my name out. The commandant decided to give me 24 hours longer leave. Spent most of my leave with my grandmother and Mom of course. The stay was short and Grandmother died before I got back to camp.

On arrival back at camp the Flu had invaded it. They used our floor for an emergency hospital. I saw several of my buddies die. After about a week I took it too. It got to be a problem to handle the sick. I was taken to an emergency hospital set up in the basement of a Methodist Church. Evidently we had good care there for all 24 of us survived. The latter part of October we got orders to be shipped to the Signal Corp Embarkation Camp – Camp Alfred Vail, Little Silver, N.J. so we got our last look at Mount Mansfield and The Camels Hump already covered with snow, at beautiful Lake Champlain and Plattsburg, N.J. direct across the lake and far to southwest, Fort Ticonderoga."

  He didn't go into a lot of detail, but it did show how quickly the flue had spread through the camp. He had been gone just four days and returned to camp full of flu victims. And since they were using his floor as a ward, he also caught it. Luckily within a couple of weeks he was well enough to be shipped to New Jersey.

Burlington Daily News,
01 October 1918, page 2
Burlington, VT

Alfred W. Moehlmann, Oct 1918, Linton, IN
Home on leave
from Moehlmann Family Collection

Burlington Free Press,  07 Oct 1918, pg 8
Burlington, Vermont

There were 20 men with influenza in the first article and six days later there were 126.  Here is the paragraph from the above article about the service men:

" There are now 126 men under treatment at the Mechanic' and Signal Corps' schools according to the report given out by the university authorities yesterday. During the last two days there have been nine new cases of pneumonia, eleven Saturday and five yesterday. There have been three deaths bringing the total up to eleven."

 This is the only direct ancestor that I found that contracted the Spanish influenza. However, there were many cousins. The next posting will be about a cousin of Alfred's.  

Single Life to Benedict - Part 10 - 1941 & 1942

It has been a while since I posted anything on Alfred's story.  There was a two week vacation, including a trip to Indiana, and then a return trip a couple of weeks later to attend a funeral. Have just had a hard time getting back into a rhythm.  The story is up to 1941 as Alfred continues:

"My father died on Easter Sunday 1941.  Seemed like 1941 a lot of things happened.  Harold was called to Allison's for a job.  Later that year Avery also got a job there – the boys were making a bigger salary than I was.  Late that summer Mom had surgery and Aunt Ruth again came to our assistance and took care of household duties.  It was a miserable hot summer that year. 

Jane graduated in 1942 and that fall went to Central Business College.  We took her up there on Labor Day.  It is to be remembered that World War II started for the U.S.A. with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941 and of course our anxieties grew from day to day as we knew our boys would soon have to serve with the millions of young men being called.  I think it was in 1942 that Harold enlisted in the Navy.  I took him to Bedford to enlist and was thinking seriously of enlisting myself for I had information that mail clerks were needed and had a chance of getting an Ensign commission, however I found out for the first time I was “color blind.”

Jane finished school and got a fair job with the Capitol Paper Co.  Shortly after that Avery was drafted into the Army.  Mom recovered from surgery quickly and was doing a good job on our Farm Program.  She bought another cow and was raising veal calves, buying baby calves and letting them have practically all the milk – She raised as 3 calves with our cow and the calves brot from 30⁰⁰ to 40⁰⁰ each.  She also had a big flock of chickens that did real well in egg production.  Tunney was doing real well playing basketball and was one of the main stays on a better than average team for 3 years.  The war years were critical; we were allotted stamps for certain foods, gas, tires, etc. but we did not suffer.  In the mean time Jane got a better job with American Railway Express and was making a good salary."

Alfred just briefly mentioned the death of his father, Frederick August Henry Moehlmann, on 13 April 1941. There had not been much contact over the years.  But I do know that Alfred and his family they made the trip up to Indianapolis for the funeral, because my aunt who was fairly young at the time remembers the train ride to Indianapolis.  I did find an obituary that someone had saved but I don't know what paper it was from: 

Alfred's father, at the time of his death, was living in the same Indianapolis neighborhood where Alfred had grown up.  He never remarried and had lived with his widowed brother Lewis, a widowed sister-in-law, Minnie and spinster sister Matilda. The obituary says he had retired from the railroad 15 years previously.  The 1930 census listed his occupation as caretaker in a private residence.  In the 1940 census it was recorded that Fred was unable to work. The only picture I have of him is his wedding photo which you can see here. Alfred doesn't say much about his father, but one of his children relayed to me that they had gone to Indianapolis by train to see their grandfather who was very ill.  He died before they had gotten back to Linton.  So they left the next day and went back to his funeral.

Headstone at Concordia Cemetery
Indianapolis, Indiana

Alfred's son Avery graduates from Linton Stockton High School on 3 June 1941 and then goes to work at Allison's in Indianapolis, joining his older brother Harold.

1941 Commencement Exercise program from Linton Stockton High School
June 3, 1941, Avery Moehlmann's name is outlined.

The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on Dec. 7, 1941 and Alfred is worried about his sons having to go to war.

Alfred and Helen's daughter Esther Jane graduated in 1942. and went to the same Business College that her father had attended in Indianapolis.

    

#52 Ancestors Week 23 - Wedding - Moehlmann & Sargent

Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small has a weekly challenge to write the stories of your ancestors. This is week #23 and the suggested theme is WEDDING.  I am going to highlight my parents wedding.

I was surprised to find that I don't have any direct ancestors that were married in June.  February and March are the most popular months for a marriage closely followed by September and October.  So today I am gong to post about my parents wedding photo.

Weddingn Photo of Esther Jane Moehlmann and Arnold Lee Sargent - 29 Sep 1946, Linton, Indiana
l to r: Alfred Moehlmann, Jane Moehlmann, Helen Moehlmann, Bertha Sargent, Arnold Sargent, Donald Sargent
from Sargent Family Collection

What a solemn photo. Mom is the only one smiling. You might notice her gold front tooth. She was several years away from having it replaced.  The wedding took place in her parents home in the living room. 

It's funny how I never noticed the vibraharp before. The music was provided by one for the wedding. It's like an xylophone and is on the right in the photo. Here is a you tube sample of the vibraharp sound. 

#52 Ancestors Week 22 - Commencement - The Class of 1942

Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small has a weekly challenge to write the stories of your ancestors. This is week #22 and the suggested theme is COMMENCEMENT.  To commemorate the ending of the school year I want to share how my parents school years ended and one of the ways they continued those friendships through the years.

I had been going through the boxes of memorabilia I got while cleaning out my parents home several years ago.  I came across a scrapbook that my Mom had kept.  It was stuffed full of all the pictures, news clippings, and programs from all her class reunions.  My parents grew up in a small farming community in Indiana. 

The picture below is of the eighth grade class of three local schools.

!938 Eight Grade Classes from Greene County, Indiana
Esther Jane Moehlmann is in front row, second from left
From Moehlmann Family Collection

In Green county at the time you graduated from eighth grade common schools and then from High School.  Here is Dad's eighth grade diploma.

Eighth grade diploma for Arnold Sargent in 1936
from Sargent Family Collection

The next commencement exercise was for Dad in 1941:

1941 Diploma and Commencement program for Arnold Sargent
Linton Stockton High School
from Sargent Family Collection

Mom graduated a year later in 1942:

1942 Class of Linton Stockton High School, Linton, Indiana
Esther Jane Moehlmann - 3rd row, 7th from left
Sargent Family Collection

My parents missed the 20th reunion because they had just moved to Florida. But they were there for the 25th reunion.

25th Renion of 1941 and 1942 Linton Stockton High School Class in 1967
Top photo - Esther Jane Moehlmann Sargent - 2nd row from bottom, 3rd from left
Bottom photo - Arnold Sargent - back row standing, 3rd from right
Sargent Family Collection

Ten years later they met again:

35th Reunion of 1942 Linton Stockton High School 1977
Esther Jane Moehlmann Sargent back row 3rd from left in blue
Sargent Family Collection

Five years later, 1982, they met again to socialize and reminisce about their high school years. 

40th Reunion of the 1942 Class of Linton Stockton High School - 1982
Esther Jane Moehlmann 5th from left
Sargent Family Collection

This group is not slowing down. They are together again in 1987 for the 45th reunion.

45th Reunion of the 1942 Linton Stockton High School Class 1987
Esther Jane Moehlmann back row 6th from left
Sargent Family Collection

By now  you know what is coming. The BIG 50th reunion. The commencement program had listed 82 graduates in 1942. The news article said that 27 from the class were deceased. That leaves 55 classmate and 42 of them attended the 50th - that's 75%.  I think that is amazing.  I have yet to attend one of my reunions and its getting close to the 45th.

50th Reunion of 1942 Linton Stockton High School Class 1992
Esther Jane Moehlmann Sargent - front row, 2nd from left
Sargent Family Collection

This is a tight knit group. They met again in  1997 for their 55th.

55th Reunion of the 1942 Linton Stockton High School 1997
Esther Jane Moehlmann Sargent middle row 5th from left
Sargent Family Collection

The 55th was the last reunion that Mom and Dad attended. But their classmates sent them a picture from the 60th.

60th Reunion of the 1942 Linton Stockton High School Class 2002
Sargent Family Collection

An interesting note. Harold Powell is the mustached man in the back row to the right.  Mom was engaged to Harold for a short time during World War II.  Both went on to marry and raise families. In 1988 Harold married my father's sister.  So my Mom's ex-fiancee became her brother-in-law.

I feel that the Commencement exercises for this class were not the end but rather the beginning of a lifelong friendship among classmates.  The fact that they would travel from all over the state of Indiana and from far away places such as Texas, Florida, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan, to attend so many reunions shows the value they placed on those friendships.

Single Life to Benedict - Part 5 - Things Take a Turn

Picking up the story of Alfred Moehlmann in 1927 living in Jasonville, Indiana. In March child number four, Alfred William Moehlmann, Jr. "Tuney" was born.

"But alas, near tragedy befell us.  Mom didn’t get along very well after Tuney was born and finally got bed ridden in November.  She got serious and Dr. Osborn made arrangements to send her to the hospital in Terre Haute.  I had to make quick arrangements for this emergency.  First the children, Jane to Aunt Annie, Aunt Tress took Harold, Avery stayed with Grand-ma Bovenschen, my mother came and took charge of Tunney.  We already had Mildred Bledsoe hired to do the house work.  An instant change from the breast to bottle milk for Tunney who was 8 months old wasn’t easy.  Just befor Thanksgiving Day she had surgery, performed by Dr. Jett.  She didn’t respond as she should and about a week later Dr. Jett called me and wanted 2 persons to come to the clinic to have blood typed for Mom would have to have surgery again the following morning.  Mr. Bovenschen and I went up and were typed both at the clinic and the hospital.  My blood was the same type as Moms but Mr. Bovenschen was different.  Dr. Jett told me he thought we should have a special nurse for her, which was soon arranged for.  Mom didn’t need a blood transfusion.  It was a long hard siege and we didn’t get to bring her home until in January.  Moms folks were all so cooperative which sure was appreciated by me, but the hardest lump I ever swallowed was when Aunt Annie asked me if the worst should happen to Mom if she could have Jane.  A few days after Mom got back home we began getting our fold together.  My mother went back home but we kept Miss Bledsoe to do the housework. 

I changed jobs the summer of 1927 and took a position with the Thomas Sales Co., - local Ford Agency, in August.  It was the year that the last Model T was made.  We had a few on hand when I started working there but I had plenty to do for books and records were in bad shape.  Mr. Thomas also had ½ interest in the Duncan Motor Co. (Ford) at Clay City and he also had the sub-agency at Worthington.  I had a girl helper at Jasonville & Clay City and Cletus (Red) Herron was in charge at Worthington. 

Ad from the Jasonville Ledger 

A year or so befor I took this job I wrote on a Railway Mail Clerk examination and had a grade of 87.7 plus 5 for military preference.  The Depression was already started, mines worked very little and money was getting tight.  The new model A didn’t come out until late 1928.  We got very few cars and the summer of 1929 Mr.  Thomas sold the Jasonville Agency and also his interest in the Clay City franchise.  I worked for the Jasonville folks and also supervised the Bookkeeping Department for the new owners at Clay City.  The new set-ups did not click – a combination of bad management and the effects of the depression.

Alfred W. Moehlmann's letter indicating the Railway Postal Clerk exam was taken 23 Apr 1927
from Moehlmann Family Coillection

Early in 1930 Paul Fry saw me in Linton and asked me if I would consider a position of bookkeeper for him at his Ford Agency.  I was interested and when I told Mom she was elated for she didn’t like living in Jasonville.  Salaries were low, I only received 35⁰⁰ per week and we were having a hard time breaking even and our bank balance was slowly swindling away.  We rented a house on F street N.E. and Mom was happy to be back in Linton.  I learned a lot from Paul Fry as a business man.  He had that something, business instinct that made him successful.  To him a dollar was worth one hundred cents and he saw to it that he didn’t loose a single cent of it on transactions or trades.  He was one man that knew every phase of his business and could spot a leak as soon as it happened.  Business was bad, but somehow Paul Fry could still operate in the black.  We had a small organization.  Rea Reed was Parts Department Manager; Hubert Heaton was Salesman; Claude Sipes, shop foreman; Lester (Red) Uland, mechanic; George, porter.  We worked long hours 7 am – 8 pm. But we all worked in harmony.  I would handle the Parts Dept. in the afternoon so Rea Reed could sell cars.  Later this cooperation paid off for me from Mr. Reed."

This is the ad that ran when Paul Fry took over the Linton Motor Sales:   

   Effective today, the Forld Motor Company has appointed Mr. Paul Fry, local business man, as dealer to succeed the Linton Motor Sales in this territory. Mr. Fry will operate his business under the name of PAUL FRY SALE AND SERVICE in the building until now occupied by the Linton Motor Sales.

   Mr. Fry regards his business of sellling and servicing Ford products as a very real service to the community and commits himself and his organization to a strenuous and willings effort to deal happily with all.

   We invite you to call upon us and to make our place of business your headaquarters for your convenience.

   We will, as soon as possible, have Ford products on our floor and invite you to see the new and improved models. 







So Alfred is out of the filling station business and back to bookkeeping, but still not far away from automobiles.  Although he has the Railway Clerk exam in his back pocket. 

There were several other mentions of the Moehlmann family in the newspapers during this time. This was a very interesting one for me.

William and Gesena Bovenschen had married on March 26, 1891 and were celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary.  Two of their children - Anna and Helen - were married on March 26th as well.  So Anna and Carl Kramer were celebrating their 18th anniversary while Alfred and Helen celebrated 8 years of marriage. Until I saw this announcement I never realized there was a significance to the date that Alfred and Helen chose. 

I love how small town newspapers print the gatherings of its citizens.  This dinner was given by Alfred's aunt, Gertrude (Tendick) Cerar.  Gertrude's sister Sophia Nolting and brother Diedrick also attended as well as John's brother, Jacob Cerar. I don't know if or how Matt Hagaman is related.

As Alfred mentioned, the Depression was already beginning. We will have to see if it has an impact on the Moehlmann household.

From Single Life to Benedict - Part 2 - Big Events in 1922

The second year of marriage for Alfred and Helen (Bovenschen) Moehlmann is very eventful, as Alfred tells it:

"About this time, I got a promotion at Tower Hill – I was on a steady monthly salary of 240⁰⁰ a month and was the weigh boss and general bookkeeper.  I rode the miner's train from Linton to Midland and walked from there to the mine a distance of a little over a mile.  The train left Linton at 6 o’clock and we got back about 5 pm.  Had to leave home about 5:30 in the morning and it was a common sight to see fire spouting from chimneys where the soot had caught fire.  In those days we had coal stoves, both kitchen and heating and usually to start a fire, kerosene was used and a liberal charge of “coal oil” generally started the soot burning.

Our first Big Event was or rather happened on Jan. 15, 1922 when Harold was born.  Shortly befor the event Mrs. Bovenschen asked me if I had some good whiskey in the house and I told her I didn’t have any.  She simply said, “Get some.”  I didn’t ask any questions but I wondered where I could get some since prohibition was the law.  I finally went to Avery Murray who had a Drug Store and of course he said he would have to have a doctors prescription.  When I told him my story he sold me a pint.  I think one of the ills of today is that fathers don’t witness child birth.  The idea of pacing hospital floors has its anxious moment to be sure but to witness a birth is frightening.  You see the pallor of death and the birth of a new soul in the form of an infant child.  After the anxiety was over I still wanted to know what the whiskey was for.  I soon found out, Mother Bovenschen put some warm water in a teaspoon, put a few drops of whiskey in it and that was the first nourishment the baby got.  Then she told me that it was what her mother did, that all of her own children got the same start and none of them even had the colic.  There must be something to it for I can’t remember that we ever had to walk the floor with any of our children with the colic and they all got the same treatment except possibly Helen M. who was born in the hospital, but I did tell the nurses I would appreciate it if they would follow the same procedure.

Alfred, Harold, Helen Moehlmann, 1922
Moehlmann Family  Collection

In 1922 we had the long Coal Mine Strike – from April 1^st to September.  I guess I was holding my luck for being a monthly I received my pay straight through the strike – But that year we experienced some anxiety.  We first had a painful experience with Harold; he was crawling on the floor and ran a needle with a black thread in the fleshy part of his hand and the needle broke off somewhere in the hand; when we tried to pull on the thread it “gouged” deeper in the flesh.  We took him to the doctors and 3 doctors and a nurse (Drs. Craft, Fleetwood & Thayer & nurse Mrs. Hubert Heston) had to cut the needle out – Mom about passed out and I had to go down stairs for fresh air. 

Then on Thanksgiving Day we were at Uncle Karl and Aunt Annie’s for dinner and all the Bovenschen family was there.  Harold was sick and cried constantly & Mrs. Bovenschen said we had better take him home and get a doctor, which we did. At first the doctor thought it was a cold but he seemed to get worse and on Sunday morning Dr. Porter said he had pneumonia. I think it was the Sunday that Aunt Tress & Uncle Paul were married; anyhow Mrs. Bovenschen came that afternoon and her help was a big reason of his recovery.  Also in January of 1922 I was elected as secretary to the Consistory of Saron’s Church.  This was the first office I ever held and with such devout men as Mr. Bovenschen, Herman Schloot, & Jake Hahn;- elders; Hubert Bredweeg, Otto Harting & Wm. Kramer Jr. – deacons; and trustees Fred Strietelmeier, Wm. Harting and Ernie Steward.  I learned a lot."

Boy there were lots of ups and down during the couple's first year of marriage.  A promotion, then Harold's needle accident.  Our daughter, just prior to her first birthday, fell and had to have stitches. I remember how my husband said "No problem, I'll hold her while they sew her up."  Except just moments later they were bringing him to the waiting room - white as a ghost. So I can sympathize with my grandparents.  

The two articles below announce the beginning of the miner's strike.

                                                                               

The coal miners strike had quite an impact on the area as it lasted six months. The strike was called by the United Mine Workers of America and impacted more than 500,000 miners nationwide. 

I found it interesting that during prohibition you could get alcohol at a drug store with a doctor's prescription. Although Alfred managed without one.
This is an article in the Linton Daily Citizen on July 22, 1939 about the remodel of the Murray Drug Store. The article states that the store has held a prominent spot for the last half century. It is located at 69 North Main Street and the proprietor is  Avery Murray. The building was first owned by Henry Haseman and purchased by Murray and Dr. Berns in 1921.  In April of 1937 it became a Walgreen's agency selling Walgreen's products. Avery Murray remained the proprietor and says that it is strictly a "home-owned" store with "quality merchandise at cut prices."





















 Another Bovenschen sister is married. There are just three of the seven children left in the home of William Bovenschen. It's apparent that they are a close family. Alfred has mentioned many gatherings at his in-laws home.




Alfred mentioned being elected to the consistory in 1922.  It appears he did a good job as he is re-elected in 1923, along with his father-in-law who was elected deacon for another three years.

From Single Life to Benedict

I had to look up the term "benedict" after seeing the title that Alfred gave to this section of his story. According Webster's dictionary a benedict is  "a newly married man who has long been a bachelor." In 1921 Alfred is 26 years old and Helen is 24. He's not that old, although many of his friends have been married and started families. This entry tells about his wedding day and the next few months of married life.

"March 26, 1921 was a beautiful day – bright sunshine all the day but a strong wind, yet it was warm.  I cranked up the Model T Ford and went to Mom’s house.  The trip to Bloomfield was a sort of joy ride.  I don’t think we ever had been together in the morning befor.  Yes, we were sort of embarrassed when we went to the County Clerks office to

get our marriage license.  I don’t remember for sure but I think the fee was 2^50, anyhow, I pulled out a ten dollar bill and the clerk jokingly said that the bride gets the change.  On our way back the strong wind broke one of the straps that held the top to the windshield of the car so we had to leave the top down (convertible?)  We stopped in Linton and got a couple of boxes of cigars and a quantity of candy for we knew we would have a big charivari.

Marriage License issued in Greene County Indiana 26 Mar 1921
for Alfred W. Moehlmann and Helen Bovenschen
from Moehlmann Family Collection

I am sure I ate dinner at Mom’s home and then was the long wait for 6 pm the hour set for the ceremony.  Cranked up the Model T – Mom was ready and dressed in a new suit, hat and all, Aunt Grace and Uncle Russell were waiting too for they were our witnesses and we drove to the parsonage at Sarons Church and were married there.  Rev. A.R. Fledderjohann in a simple ceremony – not even a ring – I had a feeling of my own, relative to a wedding ring.  I saw the wide, plain band wedding ring my mother wore and somehow I felt it took something more than a ring to make marriage a success and also a happy one – I felt that if we would make God our Boss and we would be His Stewards, we would have no controversies. 

Marriage Certificate issued by Saron Reformed Church
for Alfred W. Moehlmann and Helen Bovenschen
from Moehlmann Family Collection

Rev. Flederjohann went back to Mom’s house where we had our wedding supper with Mom’s folks and my mother & Uncle Dietz the only guests.  Then the wait for the gang to charivari and they didn’t disappoint us.  Even had to ride a rail.  They stayed with us untill 2 am.  The following day was Easter Sunday.  The day started out nice and clear but a big dark band of clouds was pulling in from the west and by the time we left for Sunday School it started to rain.  Aunt Grace & Uncle Russell went with us and during church service I never saw the sky light in the church get such a pelting of rain.  After church we went to Uncle Karl and Aunt Annie’s for a surprise birthday dinner for Uncle Karl.  Again just north of the Winters Corner the rain came down in torrents.  At that time this was a clay road.  All of the Kramer family and the Bovenschen family were at the dinner.

The parsonage is located to the right of the church.

 The first week we stayed with Mom’s folks.  I think that was a custom required by Mr. Bovenschen. The next day (Monday) I worked in the mine again.  That noon as we were about to eat our lunch on the “Parten” (where loaded cars were gathered to be pulled to the mine shaft) and I made the remark that I would eat the first dinner that my wife had fixed for me.  Well what happened was that Uncle Dietz and me had the same kind of lunch pails and we got them mixed in the washhouse, so he ate the first lunch that Mom made.  The worst part of it was that I didn’t eat any of our wedding cake at the supper and the last piece was put in the lunch pail so I didn’t get any of my wedding cake.

 The big mistake we made was that we started off to live with my mother and Uncle Dietz.  They insisted on this arrangement for my mother still was unable to take care of the house due to her surgery the fall befor.  I was afraid that the arrangement wouldn’t work out - account of my mother’s temperament.  It didn’t and the least said the better - So we set up housekeeping to ourselves at 189 C St. N.E. in Linton the middle of November. 

In the mean time, Aunt Grace and Uncle Russell were married and the week befor we moved into our new home, while we were staying at Mom’s folks I had the misfortune to step on a rusty nail in the mine that punctured my foot by entering the ball of my foot and coming out at my instep.  They called Moms folks that I was injured at the mine and asked Mr. Bovenschen to come there at once.  Mom was pretty worried but we drove past the house on our way to the doctors and assured her that I wasn’t hurt too bad.  We went to Dr. Thomas who had his office where Welch & Cornett are now located.  I had a painful foot that gave me a lot of trouble.  I took a “shot” for lock jaw.  As long as I could keep my foot higher than my head it didn’t hurt but would throb so I couldn’t stand it if I lowered it.  This lasted for about a week; then I was on crutches for a couple of weeks.  So we started our new home with me on crutches.  I think we started housekeeping the day befor Thanksgiving for Aunt Grace and Uncle Russell ate their first Thanksgiving dinner with us."

Grace Bovenschen Pope & Russell Pope
from Moehlmann Family Collection

How the the customs of dating have changed since Alfred's time. His wedding day is the first time that he and Helen have been together in the morning.  Again I had to look up the meaning of the term "charivari".  Here is a page explaining the practice. 

 

#52 Ancestors Week 17 - Prosper - Frederick Henry William Moehlmann

Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small has a weekly challenge to write the stories of your ancestors. This is week #17 and the suggested theme is PROSPER. I am highlighting my great great grandfather Frederick Henry William Moehlmann.

I have written about my 2x great grandfather before but it was in relation to having a long marriage.  This week I want to talk about his successes. I so admire all of my immigrant ancestors who had the courage to travel to new lands, seeking their fortune.  Frederick and his wife Ida Sophia came to the US in September of 1867.

I don't really know the circumstances around the decision to leave Beckedorf, Germany and settle in Indianapolis, Indiana.  There had been recent changes in the government with the formation of The North German Federation after the Austro-Prusian War ended in July 1866. The following year a new constitution was adopted.  I am just beginning to research the history of Beckedorf, where he was born, but it certainly seems logical that all the political changes may have had an impact on Frederick.  

One think I know for sure it that the decision for Sophia to travel with him was most likely last minute. There was a notation made in the marriage record at the church in Meinsen on 15 Aug 1867 stating:  "Very short notice was given for intended marriage. They married at 7 in the evening because their ship is going to America."  Also the manifest for the ship "Hansa" which arrived in New York on 2 Sep 1867, listed Ida with her maiden name of Krentler.

Passenger List for the "Hansa" 

Just three years later in the 1870 census, Frederick is working as a railroad laborer and has real estate valued at $1800 and they have two children. By 1880 the family has grown to six children and Frederick is still working as a laborer. According to an 1890 Indianapolis directory Frederick is working for Hendrickson, Kepler & Co., a hat and glove maker. By 1910, 72 year old Frederick is the owner of a cigar stand and owns his home free and clear.  

Frederick Moehlmann - Death 1911
Indianapolist Star April 21, 1911

Here is the transcript of his obituary:

                             "DADDY" MOEHLMANN IS DEAD

                                 KEPT STAND IN COURT HOUSE

 Paralysis Attack Causes Death of

 Familiar Figure, Whose Name Was

    Known to Few.

 ---------------------------------

Frederick W. Moehlmann, known universally as "Daddy" at the Court House where he had kept a cigar stand is dead.  Few of his many patrons knew his right name, and as he was away from his stand for only a little more than twenty-four hours before he died, few knew of his illness.  He became ill Tuesday afternoon and when he made his last sale, a 5-cent piece of chocolate, he was hardly able to make change.

  He protested at that time he was only slightly ill.  His little grandson,who had gone to the  Court House in the afternoon had to assist him in locking the case which contains the cigars, tobacco and candies.  Shortly after Mr. Moehlmann reached home he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which resulted in his death at 10 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, 607 McCarty street.

                                       WAS AT STAND DAILY.

 "Daddy" as he was called by every one about the Court House for the last two years had become almost a fixture.  He opened his stand regularly with the offices and courtrooms and closed promptly at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. He was always ready to exchange a pleasant word with his customers.

Mr. Moehlmann was born in Germany seventy-three year years ago and came to Indianapolis forty-three years ago.  For twenty-five years he was connected with a hat company.  About two years ago he purchased the Court House cigar stand.  He is survived by two sons, Frederick and Lewis Moehlmann, and two daughters, Miss Mathilda Moehlmann and Mrs. Anna Lichtsinn.  The funeral will be conducted at 2:15 o'clock Sunday afternoon at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Burial will be made in the Lutheran Cemetery.

I think Frederick lived the American dream that allowed him to assimilate in a new culture, raise a family, buy a home, and eventually buy his own small business.