Fredricka Maier Bessmer (obverse)
My wife and I purchased this photograph from a consignment antique shop near Colchester, Vermont. We've had it at least eight years and perhaps as long as ten years. I figured it was time to pull it out again and try to make some progress on researching it.
This photograph is somewhat larger than a cabinet card. The embossed board it's mounted on has been trimmed into an oval to fit a long departed frame. Like so many dealers do, the frame was considered valuable, and the photograph a throw-away piece of ephemera. The nail marks that held it in the frame are still visible on the back. The photographer's logo likely disappeared with the trimmed corners.
I found some information on the LDS site, FamilySearch.org, where Friederike Barbara Maier, daughter of Johann Gottlieb Maier and Caroline Friederike Frey was born 08 Nov 1844, in Kirchheim-Teck, Donaukreis, Wurttemberg; the sixth of twelve children.
On 02 May 1869, she married Gottlieb Bessemer/Bessmer, the son of Michael Bessemer/Bessmer and Anna Maria Uebele.
I caught up with them in the 1880 Barry County, Hastings City, Michigan census. Gottlieb Bessmer, age 35, a cabinet maker, was listed with his wife, Fredrica, age 36, and their children, Menia, age 11, Lucy, age 9, Herman, age 7, Lelia, age 3, and Albert, age 9 months. The oldest three children were born in Wurttemberg; the remaining two in Michigan.
Picking up on the family in the 1900, Barry County, Hastings City, Michigan census, Gottlieb Bessmer, age 55, and still a cabinet maker, was listed with his wife, Friederike B., age 56. She had born 6 children with only 5 still living in 1900. The children listed with them were Lillian, age 23, a school teacher, Albert, age 20, a meat cutter, and Robert, age 14, at school. The dates of immigration to the United States were 1875 for Gottlieb and 1876 for Fredricka.
In the 1910 Barry County, Hastings City, Michigan census, Gottlieb Bessmer, age 65, was listed as a cabinet maker at a table factory and a widower. He was listed within the household of his son-in-law, Fred Pierson, age 32, a machinist at the tool factory. Fred had been married two years to Lillian, and had no children. Gottlieb's son, Robert, age 23, was also in the household, and working as a butcher in the meat market. Next door to them was Gottlieb's son, Albert W. Bessmer, age 30, a sales clerk at a retail meat market, listed with his wife, Lady M., age 28, and their son, Dwight A., age 1. Gottlieb's son, Herman, age 36, a retail meat dealer, was living nearby with his wife, Bessie, age 35, and his step-children, Howard A. Barnes, age 12 and Modesta M. Barnes, age 10.
I was unable to find Gottlieb in the 1920 census. Albert M., age 40, and wife, Lady M., age 31, were listed with two children, Dwight A., age 10, and Charlotte L., age 5, in the 1920 Barry County, Hastings City census. His brother in law, Fred Pierson, age 39, and wife, Lillian M., age 41, childless, were still living next door. Herman D. Bessmer, age 46, with his wife, Bessie E., age 44 were also living nearby. They were listed with their children, Frederieka, age 9, and Herman P., age 4 months.
I learned that Albert and Lady had another son in 1920, Richard Gottlieb Bessmer, who appeared in the 1930 census.
I am seeking descendants.
Fredricka Maier Bessmer (obverse)
My wife and I purchased this photograph from a consignment antique shop near Colchester, Vermont. We've had it at least eight years and perhaps as long as ten years. I figured it was time to pull it out again and try to make some progress on researching it.
This photograph is somewhat larger than a cabinet card. The embossed board it's mounted on has been trimmed into an oval to fit a long departed frame. Like so many dealers do, the frame was considered valuable, and the photograph a throw-away piece of ephemera. The nail marks that held it in the frame are still visible on the back. The photographer's logo likely disappeared with the trimmed corners.
I found some information on the LDS site, FamilySearch.org, where Friederike Barbara Maier, daughter of Johann Gottlieb Maier and Caroline Friederike Frey was born 08 Nov 1844, in Kirchheim-Teck, Donaukreis, Wurttemberg; the sixth of twelve children.
On 02 May 1869, she married Gottlieb Bessemer/Bessmer, the son of Michael Bessemer/Bessmer and Anna Maria Uebele.
I caught up with them in the 1880 Barry County, Hastings City, Michigan census. Gottlieb Bessmer, age 35, a cabinet maker, was listed with his wife, Fredrica, age 36, and their children, Menia, age 11, Lucy, age 9, Herman, age 7, Lelia, age 3, and Albert, age 9 months. The oldest three children were born in Wurttemberg; the remaining two in Michigan.
Picking up on the family in the 1900, Barry County, Hastings City, Michigan census, Gottlieb Bessmer, age 55, and still a cabinet maker, was listed with his wife, Friederike B., age 56. She had born 6 children with only 5 still living in 1900. The children listed with them were Lillian, age 23, a school teacher, Albert, age 20, a meat cutter, and Robert, age 14, at school. The dates of immigration to the United States were 1875 for Gottlieb and 1876 for Fredricka.
In the 1910 Barry County, Hastings City, Michigan census, Gottlieb Bessmer, age 65, was listed as a cabinet maker at a table factory and a widower. He was listed within the household of his son-in-law, Fred Pierson, age 32, a machinist at the tool factory. Fred had been married two years to Lillian, and had no children. Gottlieb's son, Robert, age 23, was also in the household, and working as a butcher in the meat market. Next door to them was Gottlieb's son, Albert W. Bessmer, age 30, a sales clerk at a retail meat market, listed with his wife, Lady M., age 28, and their son, Dwight A., age 1. Gottlieb's son, Herman, age 36, a retail meat dealer, was living nearby with his wife, Bessie, age 35, and his step-children, Howard A. Barnes, age 12 and Modesta M. Barnes, age 10.
I was unable to find Gottlieb in the 1920 census. Albert M., age 40, and wife, Lady M., age 31, were listed with two children, Dwight A., age 10, and Charlotte L., age 5, in the 1920 Barry County, Hastings City census. His brother in law, Fred Pierson, age 39, and wife, Lillian M., age 41, childless, were still living next door. Herman D. Bessmer, age 46, with his wife, Bessie E., age 44 were also living nearby. They were listed with their children, Frederieka, age 9, and Herman P., age 4 months.
I learned that Albert and Lady had another son in 1920, Richard Gottlieb Bessmer, who appeared in the 1930 census.
I am seeking descendants.