What Was Her Name?

My husband had to drive up to Buffalo, NY a few weeks ago to do some Super Secret Shopping for my birthday (that I wasn't supposed to know about. teehee.), so I asked him to stop by the library and get some obituaries and such for me. He brought back a nice surprise that I really wasn't expecting.

"I found Hertha's birth certificate," he said proudly as he handed the photocopied image to me. (Hertha Kirchberger is my great-grandmother. I've talked a bit about the family in this post over here.)

I looked at the image. Name of Father: Erhard Kirchberger. Born in Germany. Age 26. Yep, that's about right. Name of Mother: Sophia Beck. Age 21. Sounds good!

Name of Child: Rosa Hattie

Huh? "Oh, you mean you got her sister Rose's birth certificate?" I said aloud as my eyes wandered over to the date. 1883. Nope, that was definitely Hertha's birth date. Her sister Rose wasn't born until 1886.

From the letters of Hertha's I have, and the stories from family members, I know she usually went by the nickname Hattie, even though her "real" name was Hertha. But now I wonder, was it really? Is there a second certificate somewhere with a name change? Or did they just decide to call her something else? And why? And poor Rose, getting a "second-hand name" three years later!

At least now I have a proper source for her birth date... but now I have a new mystery regarding her name!

Treasure Chest Thursday - Past Meets Present

I am very lucky to have so many family treasures. The one I'd like to share today isn't necessarily a treasure as far as genealogical information goes, but it is one I love nonetheless. It is a copy of The Odyssey of Homer that was owned by my great-aunt Viola Rose (Lempke) Dobstaff.

I'm not exactly sure when she owned it, but the date on the first page is 1923, and inside the front cover is written in her own handwriting:

Miss Viola Lempke
Technical High School
Buffalo, N.Y.

I've been reading Ulysses this week for Banned Books Week and since it echoes Homer's Odyssey, I've been thinking about this book. I do plan on reading Odyssey as well, but in a slightly different way than my great-aunt read it.

In case you've been wondering why I haven't been around, it's because I bought a Kindle a few weeks ago and have been madly in love ever since. (My husband approves. I have enough love for both of them.) Nothing will ever replace a "real" book, the feel of the pages, that old-book smell - but there's something to be said for being able to carry around your ENTIRE library in your pocket. And not having to get out of bed to fetch another book to read. And having access to thousands of free books, right from your couch. And... okay, I'll stop now.

Most of the treasures I have are because of my Auntie Vi (as we always called her). She kept everything. Because of her, I have books, photographs, scraps of papers with names and dates, funeral cards, funeral books, obituaries, old letters (English and German), bibles, and so much more. Long after her death, she is still helping me fill in the blanks on that branch of the family tree.

Surname Saturday: Kirchberger

I had a nice surprise waiting for me in my mailbox this morning: my great-great-grandfather Erhard Kirchberger's death certificate! I ordered it earlier this week from Buffalo, New York. This is the second time in two weeks I've been pleasantly surprised by how quickly I've received a document.

Erhard Kirchberger was born in Germany on 6 June 1857, and died in Buffalo, NY on 25 June 1913. The cause of death listed on the certificate is listed as "Lobar pneumonia; contributory cause: acute alcoholism." That last bit shouldn't have surprised me so much - after all, he was a saloon-keeper. The most exciting part of the certificate is finally having his parents' names: Conrad Kirchberger, and Anna Kirchberger. (No maiden name, curses!)

This is one of the few pictures I have of Erhard and his family. Erhard is sitting in the front row with his wife Sophia (Beck) Kirchberger (1863-1937), and their son Arthur (1899-1955). The back row from left to right: Anna (1882-1954), Hertha (1883-1918), Erhard (1885-1973), and Rose (1886-1920). Anna, Erhard, and Arthur never married or had any children (that I know of!), and both Hertha (Lempke) and Rose (Schenk) died relatively young (35 and 33, respectively).

Out of all the families I research, this one is probably my favorite. I am lucky enough to have several letters written by members of this family, so I've really been able to get a glimpse of their everyday life and feel like I "know" them. Of course, I don't feel like I know nearly enough - isn't that how it always is with genealogists? ;)

Friday the 13th

It has been a particularly wonderful Friday the 13th for me! In my last entry, I said that I sent away for the death certificate of a woman I hoped was my great-grandmother. Well, I received the DC in the mail today - AND IT IS!!

I'd like to introduce you to Mary C. (Lothringer) Eckam, widow of Fred Eckam, who died 12 November 1941 in Aurora, Erie County, NY. She was born in Buffalo, NY to Charles Lothringer and Barbara Martz on 23 September 1874. (DC actually says 1864, but lists age as 67. I have multiple other sources that also confirm 1874.) The death certificate lists the place of burial as Mount Hope Cemetery in Ebenezer, NY. I've been to that cemetery countless times and I've never seen a stone for her (or her husband!). I've heard my dad mention they may not have had a headstone. Next steps - contacting the cemetery, and finding her obituary. I can't believe all the times I've been to that cemetery -- and may have walked right over her head! How frustrating!

I am absolutely blown away by how quickly I received the death certificate! I received the date of death on Tuesday (August 10th!), mailed a check and request for the certificate to the town clerk the next morning, and received it today! It's amazing.

I hope your Friday the 13th has been as exciting as mine!