FIVE:  ACH DU LIEBER LUDEKE

"ALLS" stands for Ada Louise Ludeke Smith: Ada Ick in childhood, Ick at college, Icky to her husband, Mom to her daughters, Louise to her in-laws, Momine or Grandma or Goppy to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Smitty as a senior citizen.  Her informal memoirs were written 1983-96, including the Sketches of Family Members [SFM] below.

Internet sources are indicated by tildes (e.g. ~internet).  A complete list can be found on the Sources page.  Due to the transient nature of Internet entries, only a few hyperlinks will be provided to outside webpages; such as ~a (www.ancestry.com), ~f (www.familysearch.org), and ~w (www.worldvitalrecords.com).  The United States Federal Census records for 1850 through 1930 cited below are available at ~a (except for 1890's, which was badly damaged in a 1921 fire and later quietly destroyed).
 

            L-1    The Wuechners
 

  
● A Few More Notes About Southwestern Germany

Alert readers of this and the next two chapters will notice that the homelands of several foreign-born folks have a tendency to "wander."  Baden may be recorded in one census, but Bavaria in the next; or Hesse-Darmstadt gets replaced by variant spellings of Württemburg.  These German states were separate and distinct—if sometimes in a state of flux, between Napoleon's dissolving the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 and Bismarck's amalgamating the Deutsches Reich in 1871.  Yet all were clustered closely together, especially when you factor in Rhenish Bavaria (Rheinbayern) which was not contiguous with the rest of Bavaria, but located south of Rhenish Hesse (Rheinhessen) on the west side of the Rhine.  Click on the thumbnail on the right to see a map of the region: the Hessian provinces of Upper Hesse (Oberhessen) and Starkenburg (whose capital was Darmstadt) were separated by the free city of Frankfurt.  Rheinbayern is unlabeled but present (including the cities of Ludwigshafen, Neustadt, and Speyer) south of Rhinehessen.  "Classic" Bavaria (Bayern) is east of Starkenburg.

As for close-clustering: the city of Mannheim (for example) was in Baden, but only a few miles south of the Hesse-Darmstadt border, and just across the river from the two Rhenish provinces†.  Even so, the inhabitants of Mannheim (then and now) might take umbrage at being called "Hessian" or "Bavarian"—much as natives of Delaware (such as the Laffertys in Chapter S-1) might have bridled if New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Maryland were entered as their native state on official forms.  There may of course have been miscommunication between immigrants and American census takers; or some of the foreign-born might have given a birthplace one decade and an emigration point the next; or changes could have resulted from faulty memories, especially among the aging Ohio-born generation recalling tales of long-deceased parents.  At any rate, the families in this section of Fine Lineage were all emphatically German: most of them from southwestern Germany (previously visited in Chapter P-5) except for the Ludekes who hailed from Hanover to the north.  They all ended up in southwestern Ohio; and there some of them stayed put for several generations, in one particular city.

● A Few Notes About Hamilton, Ohio

Hamilton OH is the seat of Butler County—not Hamilton County, its neighbor to the south, whose seat is Cincinnati.  (Click on the thumbnail on the right to see an 1875 map of Butler County; or here to see a Wikipedia map.)  Founded in 1791 as a fort on the Miami River, Hamilton became a hub of mills and factories drawing hydraulic power from the river and canals.  As early as 1846 three cotton mills, three flour mills, and two machine shops had been established along the river in Fairfield Township.  Future industrial plants—Champion Coated Paper, Beckett Paper, Niles Tool Works, the American Can Company, Estate Stove, and Mosler Safe—earned Hamilton its circa-1900 nickname, "the Greatest Manufacturing City of Its Size in the World."

Like Cincinnati and the rest of southwestern Ohio, large numbers of skilled German workers were drawn to Hamilton's employment opportunities.  By 1875, almost one-third of Hamilton's population were immigrants: including the Wuechner, Koeppendoerfer, Schneider, Ludeke, and Eisel families.

Most fortunately for this and the following chapters, ~a and ~w feature a wealth of images scanned from vintage Hamilton newspapers.  As with all such archives, some of the most sought-after issues are missing; yet a remarkable perspective has been provided by the following publications: the Daily News (1893-98, 1919-33), Daily Republican (1894-95), Daily Republican News (1898-1919), Butler County Democrat (1898-1918), Evening Journal (1908-33), Daily News Journal (1933-37), Journal News (1971-77), and Union-Liberty Journal (1972-76), all at ~a; plus the Daily Democrat (1886-1897), Evening Democrat (1897-1903), and Evening Sun (1902-06), provided by ~w.
 

● Michael and Catherine/Elizabeth

The surname Wüchner or Wuechner (pronounced VEEK-ner) is called "very uncommon and interesting" by ~woakes.  Derived from the Middle High German wuche for "week," it implies a weekly exaction of money (by a wuchner) owed to a feudal overlord by his vassals and tenant farmers.

The surname Köppendörfer or Koeppendoerfer may be deciphered as someone from a "head" or "top" village, or perhaps a village named after a diminutive of Jakob—both cases being Köppen + dörfer. 

According to ALLS, her great-grandfather Michael Wuechner was a carpenter born circa 1818, whose ancestors came from Darmstadt.  In 1865 he built a house at 124 North Front Street ("corner of Front St. and Magnolia St.—an alley—hmm!") in Hamilton.  "It is still standing [in 1983]—in good condition—rented apartment upstairs—Real Estate (office downstairs).  Red brick (now painted)—eight large rooms—bathroom (added much later, of course)—large attic!  This was of course the Wuechner home—housing five children and parents!"  Magnolia Street still exists, between Dayton to the north and Market to the south; but North Front Street has been renamed Riverfront Plaza, and most of the neighborhood cleared away for the Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton hotel (previously the Hamiltonian, built circa 1986).  The entire block on which the Wuechner house stood is now a large parking lot.  (See below for "A Unique Conversation" between the house and hotel, as imagined by ALLS.)  Click on the thumbnail on the right to see an 1875 map of North Front Street, with notes on the location of homes and businesses.

ALLS knew that Michael Wuechner married Elizabeth Koeppendoerfer, older sister of Anna Koeppendoerfer; she thought Elizabeth and Anna's father died not around 1851 and their mother around 1865.  But Elizabeth's mother/namesake was living with her as late as 1880, recorded once as "Lizzie Keppender" and once as "Eliz. Koppendorfer."

A Dec. 27, 1853 entry in Butler County's marriage records (viewable at ~f) says "Eliza Koppendorfer" was married by "Rev. A. Anker" to to "Andrew Wagner."  It's difficult to believe there could have been two marriageable Elizabeth Koeppendoerfers in Butler County at this time, particularly since NO one of remotely similar surname can be found seven years later in Ohio censuses.  But for this to be our Eliza, the groom's name would have to be garbled from Wuechner to Wagner (and Michael to Andrew)—and the wedding date would be only seven months prior to (or five months following) the birth of the Wuechners's eldest child.

In the 1860 census, we find the "Wichner" family living in Hamilton's 2nd Ward: Mike (aged "32"), a German-born wagonmaker; Elizabeth (aged 25), likewise from Germany; and two Ohio-born children, seven-year-old May (female) and five-year-old Lewis (male).  The latter, however, was actually daughter Louisa Elizabeth Wuechner (born Feb. 14, 1855; of whom see more in Chapter L-3), whose first name would be spelled "Leuisia" by a later census).

The 1870 census of Hamilton's 3rd Ward includes the "Weuchler" family:

     * Michael Weuchler (aged 51) born in "Wirtemberg," occupation "proprietor, bending spoke shop," with $9,000 in real estate and $8,000 in personal estate
     * Kate Weuchler (aged 34—entered as "84" on the original form) born in Baden, occupation keeping house
     * Mary Weuchler (aged 17) Ohio-born, occupation helping mother
     * Louisa Weuchler (aged 15) ditto birthplace, occupation attending school
     * Maggie Weuchler (aged 10) ditto birthplace, ditto occupation
     * William Weuchler (aged 7) ditto birthplace, ditto occupation
     * Carrie Weuchler (aged 5) ditto birthplace, occupation "at home"
     * Sopha [sic] Weuchler (aged 3) ditto birthplace, ditto occupation
     * Lizzie Keppender (aged 65) born in Baden, occupation "living with daughter"

The 1880 census confirms the "Miechner" family was living on Hamilton's Front Street:

     * Michal [sic] Miechner (aged 61) born in Bavaria (as were his parents), occupation "hub and spoke manufacturer"
     * Catharine Miechner (aged 45) born in Bavaria (as were her parents), occupation keeping house
     * Mary Miechner (aged 25) Ohio-born, parents both from Bavaria, occupation (blank)
     * Maggie Miechner (aged 19) ditto birthplaces, occupation teacher
     * William M. Miechner (aged 17) ditto birthplaces, occupation "works in hat factory"
     * Sophia A. Miechner (aged 13) ditto birthplaces, occupation at school
     * Eliz. Koppendorfer (aged 76) born in Bavaria (as were her parents), occupation (blank), status "boarder"

Michael Wuechner died aged 65 on Oct. 20, 1883 and was buried three days later in plot 1E 379 at Greenwood Cemetery.  (Located at 1602 Greenwood Avenue, this was "Hamilton's original burial ground [and] a prime example of the rural cemetery movement of the first half of the 19th Century...  Listed in the Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places, Greenwood is noted for its fine collection of marble statuary and large number of impressive Victorian monuments...  Everything in this type of cemetery is designed to impart an intimation of Heaven"—as per ~hamilton/cvb.  Most of the folks in this and the next two chapters would be buried in Greenwood, or the adjacent St. Stephens Catholic Cemetery.)

In the 1888 Hamilton city directory, 124 North Front Street is occupied by:

     * Catherine Wuechner, widow of Michael
     * Maggie Wuechner, teacher
     * Sophia A. Wuechner
     * Anna Koeppendoerfer

By 1900 the household had dwindled to:

     * Elizabeth Wuechner [transcribed as "Wucohner"] (aged 64) born Aug. 1835 [sic] in Germany; immigrated 1856 [sic]; widow, had been married 30 years; eight children, four living; owned home—no mortgage
     * Anna K. Koeppendoerfer [transcribed as "Kolppendoerfer"] (aged 49) born May 1851 in Ohio to German-born parents; single, sister of household-head, occupation "none"
     * Peter B. Holly (aged 46) born Sep. 1853 in Ohio; single, roomer, occupation attorney-at-law

Ten years later, Elizabeth/Catherine was gone and the house was owned by her daughter Maggie Latterner.  From all these records, along with two obituaries and one death file, we may deduce the following:

     * Elizabeth [?Margaret? ?Miller?] was born c.1804-05 in Baden or Rhenish Bavaria; she married Fred Koeppendoerfer by the 1830s; they emigrated to America circa 1848; Elizabeth was widowed after 1851; she died Apr. 29, 1887 and was buried in Greenwood.  She appears twice in ~greenwood's plot 1E 379—once as Elizabeth, with no other info; then as Margaret Koeppendoerfer, noting she was born in Germany and aged 82 at death.  Her funeral took place May 1, 1887.
 
     * Her daughter Catherine Elizabeth Koeppendoerfer (or Elizabeth Catherine Koeppendoerfer) was born Aug. 6, 1834 in Baden or Rhenish Bavaria; she emigrated to America with her parents circa 1848; married Michael Wuechner before 1854, and settled with him in Hamilton OH; was widowed in Oct. 1883; she died Mar. 10, 1904 and was buried in Greenwood on Mar. 14th.  (Newspapers kept changing their mind about her first name: the Daily Democrat called her "Elizabeth" on Sep. 23 and Oct. 10, 1891, as did the Evening Democrat on Dec. 1, 1900; while she was "Catherine" in the Daily Democrats for Feb. 9, 1887, Jan. 3, 1890, and Sep. 20, 1894, plus her 1904 obituary in the Evening Sun.)

     * Her husband Michael Wuechner was born c.1819 in Württemberg or Rhenish Bavaria; he emigrated to Ohio before 1854; and died Oct. 20, 1883.  (It may be that Michael Wuechner's ancestors originated in Darmstadt, as ALLS thought; but the present author is inclined to conclude she was thinking of the Schneider family, who did hail from Darmstadt—or at least the surrounding state of Hesse-Darmstadt.)

The Dec. 20, 1889 Daily Democrat advertised "FOR SALE OR LEASE—The property known as the Benninghofen & Weuchner [sic] Spoke Factory, on Water Street.  Water and steam power.  Inquire of Jacob S. Niedeman, 106 High Street."  Michael Wuechner's partner had been August Benninghofen, a leading local dealer in "COAL: Best Quality at Lowest Prices" as well as cordwood, lime, cement, plaster, sewer pipe and fire brick.  The Oct. 3, 1931 Daily News would nostalgically recall that "fifty-five years ago [i.e. in 1876] August Benninghofen and Michael Wuechner were associated as Benninghofen and Co. in the manufacture of hubs, spokes and all kinds of bent material for carriages and wagons.  Their plant was located on the 'Lower Hydraulic.'"  (The Daily Democrats for Feb. 9, 1887 and May 2, 1888 briefly mentioned a lawsuit brought by "Catherine Weuchner [sic], executrix vs. August Benninghofen et. al," presumably concerning the late Michael's share of the hub-and-spoke business; but no outcome of this suit has been found.)

On Mar. 12, 1904 the Evening Sun reported:

Mrs. Catherine Wuechner, widow of Michael Wuechner, died at her home, 224 [actually 124] North Front Street, Thursday night [Mar. 10th], age 69 years, 7 months and 4 days.  The deceased was one of the best known and most highly respected German residents of this city.  Mrs. Wuechner had emigrated to this country when about fourteen years of age.  She has [sic] lived here for the past fifty years.  Her husband died twenty years ago.  He was one of the best known members of this city.  Mrs. Wuechner was a prominent member of the St. John's church.  She was a faithful and ardent worker for the church and her loss will be deeply felt.  She was also a charter member of [its] Women's Aid Society...  The deceased is survived by four children and seventeen grandchildren.  The children are Mrs. Edward F. Stepp, Mrs. Marie Martin, Mrs. Louisa Ludeke, and Mrs. Margaret Latterner, all [sic] of Bellevue, Neb.  The funeral will take place at 2 o'clock from the residence Monday afternoon.  Rev. Dickman will officiate.  The burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery.

~greenwood agrees with age, dates, and spouse—also that the deceased was named "Catherine."
 

● The Bosch-Schwab Connection

The Wuechner family had a foothold in Hamilton society.  The Sep. 20, 1894 Daily Democrat noted that Catherine Wuechner was current president of the St. John's Church Ladies's Society, hosting a meeting at her North Front Street home in honor of the society's founder, Mrs. Rupp.  Among the attendees was a Mrs. Bosch, most likely Lena Breitling Bosch (aka Magdalena Brittling Bosch) for whom a surprise 65th birthday party had been thrown six months earlier, as per the Mar. 13, 1894 Daily Democrat.  Lena (1829-1900) was the wife of saloonkeeper Frederick Bosch (1829-1888) and mother of Charles S. Bosch (1858-1917), who served as Mayor of Hamilton from 1893 to 1906.

On May 31, 1883 Charles married Mary Katherine Schwab (pronounced "Swope": born July 25, 1859), daughter of Daniel Schwab (1826-1911) the brother of local mogul Peter Schwab (1838-1913), who ran the Cincinnati Brewing Company—which despite its name was located in Hamilton at 336 South Front Street.  The Schwab brothers had emigrated from Bavaria to New Orleans, first Daniel in 1847 and then Peter in 1850; they became coopers and moved north to Ohio.  Peter bought an existing Hamilton brewery and by 1890 "was advertising his Pure Gold brand as 'the beer that made Milwaukee jealous'...  Through aggressive selling and competitive pricing, Schwab's Pure Gold Beer gained a market that stretched from Washington, D.C. to St. Louis, and from Detroit and Pittsburgh into southern states."  (As per ~schwab.)  On Dec. 1, 1900 the Evening Democrat reported:

Yesterday Mrs. Mary Neiderman, the venerable mother of Mrs. Peter Schwab, celebrated the 80th anniversary of her birth.  Mrs. [Mary E.] Schwab planned a neat surprise on her mother by inviting a number of her friends to take dinner with her at the Schwab's [sic] lovely new home on Court and Front streets...  At noon the dining room was thrown open and the ladies, seated about a beautiful table laden with flowers, were served with a delicious collation.  The afternoon was happily passed and a group picture taken of the company.  Those who enjoyed the day with Mrs. Neiderman [included] Mrs. Elizabeth Wuechner...

Peter's brother Daniel Schwab died aged 85 on Dec. 23, 1911 "of indigestion, and general debility, without warning" (or so said the Dec. 28th Butler County Democrat).  His wife and Mary Katherine's mother—Katherine Miller Schwab, born c.1827—had died aged 68 on Nov. 9, 1895.  The 1870 census said Daniel came from "Wurtemberg" and Katherine from Bavaria.  In the 1880 census, "Dan'l" Schwab came from "Rheinofalz" [sic] and "Katte" Schwab from "Neiuberg" [also sic].  Their daughter Mary Schwab Bosch is said (by ALLS in Chapter L-4) to be a second cousin of Louise Ludeke, daughter of Catherine/Elizabeth Wuechner.

The precise connection between the Schwabs and Wuechners is suggested by ~f's database of Ohio deaths.  There Louise Ludeke's parents are entered as Michael Wuechner and Elizabeth Miller—a surname contradicting all other sources, particularly the 1870-80 censuses showing Catherine/Elizabeth's mother to have been Elizabeth Koeppendoerfer.  However: if the entry for Louise Ludeke's mother shows her grandmother's maiden name, that would imply that Elizabeth (?Margaret?) Koeppendoerfer was born a Miller, and Katherine "Katte" Miller Schwab was her niece—making Louise Ludeke and Mary Bosch second cousins.

(If it seems odd that Louise Ludeke's survivors—including Aunt Annie Koeppendoerfer—got Catherine/Elizabeth's maiden name wrong, we need look no further than Annie's own burial entry in ~greenwood, which states that her parents were Catherine and Michael Wuechner: in reality her sister and brother-in-law.)

Charles S. Bosch was first elected Mayor of Hamilton in April 1893 at the age of 34.  Born in Jacksonborough, Butler County OH on July 11, 1858, he came to Hamilton in 1870 and worked as a printer, cigarmaker, railroad clerk, depot master, and member of the school board.  His election as mayor was hailed by the Apr. 4, 1893 Daily Democrat as a "Glorious Triumph for Independent Voters and the Reform Movement."  Re-elected several times, Charles suffered a bout of typhoid fever in 1904; he left office in Jan. 1906 and went into the hotel business, first with the St. Charles and then the Hamilton.  Charles died July 31, 1917; his obituary two days later in the Butler County Democrat praised his "many public improvements suggested, started, and accomplished...  The municipal electric light plant was built, the present extensive sewage system well established, the paving of the streets started... many things that were to bring Hamilton out from the class of an overgrown village into the class of a city with the conveniences of the city."

Be that as it may, Charles Bosch was twice mentioned by the New York Times in a less flattering light.  First on July 14, 1896:

WANTS THE MAYOR IMPEACHED.  Father Henry Anderson, President of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, caused a sensation here [i.e. Hamilton] to-day when he retained ex-Congressman H. L. Morey to draw up the necessary papers to impeach Mayor Charles S. Bosch.  The father complains that he cannot sleep at night on account of hoodlums who gather in front of his parsonage and make [the] night hideous, and he says the Mayor refuses to afford him protection.

Followed on Sep. 2, 1903 by: "MAYOR CAUSES HIS BROTHER'S ARREST.  A sensation was caused this evening when Mayor Charles S. Bosch caused the arrest of his own brother, Frederick Bosch, on the charge of permitting gambling at his house, the Hotel Atlas."

Whether that was any factor in Charles and Mary's going into the hotel business cannot, of course, be said.  They had three children: Walter Charles Bosch (born Aug. 22, 1884: worked at the Hamilton Dime Savings Bank, then in hotels); Edna M. Bosch (born July 15, 1889: a hotel and department store clerk); and Lillian Marie Bosch (born Aug. 5, 1895: married Ralph William Mock on June 29, 1916; had a daughter Mary E. Mock c.1920).  After Charles's death in 1917, Mary ran the Hotel Hamilton on South Second Street with Walter and Edna.  By 1930 Walter and wife Margaret C. Bosch were the Hamilton's proprietors; Mary, aged 70, still lived at the hotel, as did her daughter Edna.

Mary Katherine Schwab Bosch died in Hamilton aged 84 on May 23, 1944.  Edna died aged 59 on Apr. 19, 1949; Walter followed on Jan. 26, 1953, aged 68.  All three were buried at Greenwood.  (As per ~greenwood and Ohio databases at ~a and ~f.)
 

● Four Obscurities

The 1900 census stated that Catherine/Elizabeth Wuechner had borne eight children, of whom four were then living.  The other four are obscurities.

According to ~greenwood, a Carolina Wuechner (daughter of Catherine and Michael) was born Oct. 3, 1858 and died Sep. 1, 1859; she was buried the next day in the family plot at IE 379.  Another Carrie Wuechner (born c.1865, died before 1880) appears in the 1870 census above; this may be same girl recorded by ~greenwood as "Anna O. Wucner," daughter of "L.M. and C.," who died Feb. 4, 1879 aged 14—though that record shows Anna O. buried in "1E 279" rather than "379."

One other Wuechner child, name and birthyear unknown, also died by 1900.  ~greenwood's only likely candidate is John Wichner, who was interred there Aug. 17, 1857 aged six months—but in plot 1E 383, and with no indication of parentage.

As for William M. "Willie" Wuechner (born circa 1863, working in a hat factory in 1880), ALLS said only that he "died young as I recall—can't remember anything about him!!"  ~greenwood says "Weuchner, William M." expired on Dec. 22, 1882, aged 20 (son of "J.M. and E.") and was buried two days later in plot 1E 379.

It should be noted that Louise Wuechner Ludeke named her firstborn daughter Caroline in 1876, and her oldest son William in 1882. 
 

● Aunt Marie Martin

ALLS: "Mary Wuechner, the eldest child [of Michael and Catherine/Elizabeth], married a Mr. Martin, moved to Bellevue, Nebraska, and changed her name to Marie...  I saw Aunt Marie only a few times."

Mary aka Marie Wuechner was born in Hamilton OH on July 24, 1854—as per ~tree/martin-dale and ~tree/martin-redding; the 1900 census said July 1853, which is also indicated by her (unreliable) ages in the 1860-70 censuses.

On Sep. 20, 1888 she married William Franklin Martin, born in Indiana on Aug. 22, 1837 (or 1838) to Kentuckian parents, Moses Samuel Martin (1801-1881) and Frances Read (1806-1885).  It was the first wedding in the Wuechner family since Louise tied the knot with August Ludeke thirteen years earlier; and it received only fleeting, slightly inaccurate mention in the next day's Daily Democrat:

MORTON [sic]-WUECHNER—Miss Mary Wuechner and Mr. W. F. Morton [sic] were married at 8 o'clock last night at the residence of the bride's mother on North Front Street.  Rev. E. C. Simpson officiated.  It was a quiet ceremony[,] only the more intimate friends of the bride being invited.  The presents were very fine.  The couple left on the evening train for New York, Washington and Boston.  They will then go to California to spend the winter.  Their future residence will be Bellevue, Neb., where Mr. Morton [sic] has large property interests.

Indeed the 1900 census lists William as a professional landlord.  He and and Mary/Marie had three children:

   * Frances Read Martin (first name sometimes spelled "Francis"), born June 23, 1889 in Pasadena, California; was attending school in 1900, teaching school in 1910, marrying Frank Burdette Robinson (born Aug. 10, 1890: a carpenter) in Omaha on Aug. 24, 1912, and having daughter Dorothy Robinson circa 1915.  The three Robinsons were living with Marie in 1920 but on the their own by 1930.  Frances died June 3, 1970 in Bellevue NE and her husband Frank on Nov. 22, 1978.
   * William W. Martin, born Feb. 15, 1891 in Bellevue NE; he attended school in 1900, had no listed occupation in 1910, and died that year on Sep. 17th.
   * Ralph E. Martin, born Jan. 1896 in Nebraska; in 1910 (aged only fourteen) was working as a village mail carrier—unless that occupation should have been entered on his older brother's line above; by 1920 he was gone from his mother's household.

Also living with the Martins in 1900 were Marie's sister Maggie and her son Stanley (of whom more momentarily).

Marie's husband William died Dec. 1, 1903 and was buried in Bellevue Cemetery.  Marie would be head-of-household through 1930, when at age 76 she was living alone in a Bellevue NE house worth $4,000.  On Nov. 11, 1926 she revisited Hamilton and was honored there at a family dinner.  Marie Wuechner Martin died in Bellevue aged 85 on Dec. 21, 1939 (as per ~tree/martin-dale) or Jan. 20, 1941 (as per ~tree/martin-redding, which gives a Bellevue Cemetery burial date of Jan. 22nd).
 

● Aunt Maggie Latterner: Complication of Affections

Margaret Wuechner, the third child to live to adulthood, was born in Sep. 1859 (according to the 1900 census) and graduated from Hamilton High School in 1878 (as per ~hamiltonhigh/1894).  She worked as a schoolteacher through the 1880s; then on Nov. 27, 1889 married Gustave Latterner (aka Gustav and Gustavus) of Middletown OH.

That town's 1880 census included Charles Latterner [Sr.] from Bavaria, his wife Maria/Mary D. from Württemberg, and their ten children—the second of whom was Gustav aka Augustus, born circa 1860.  In 1880 Charles worked as a grocer and Gustav as a grocery clerk; but by the end of the decade Charles was the "sole proprietor of the Middletown Pump Works, one of the largest manufactories in the Miami Valley."

Maggie's wedding was the third of a Wuechner girl in fourteen months, and apparently the grandest ceremony of all.  The Nov. 29, 1889 Daily Democrat gushed as follows:

LATTERNER-WEUCHNER [sic]—A charming little wedding was that Wednesday evening of Miss Maggie Weuchner, one of Hamilton's beautiful young ladies and Gustav Latterner, a wealthy young man of Middletown.  The Weuchner residence was crowded early in the evening by a large throng of invited guests, all of whom were old friends.  The mantels were banked with lovely flowers, the fashionable chrysanthemum being prominent among the decoration.  The ceremony was performed by
Rev. E. C. Simpson.  The bride was dressed in a gown of white silk, decollete draped with net, with pearl ornaments.  Shortly after the wedding an elaborate supper was served.  At the plate of each guest was a beautiful souvenir in the shape of two kinds of wedding cake neatly done up in tissue paper and tied with white ribbon.  At 10:30 the newly married couple were driven to the station where they took a late train for Chicago.  Their departure was made amid a shower of rice.  While away they will visit Mr. and Mrs. Stepp [Maggie's sister Sophie] near Bloomington, Illinois.  They will return next week and go to housekeeping in Middletown, where Mr. Latterner has prepared an elegant residence for his bride.

Among the wedding guests were "Mr. and Mrs. Gus Ludeke and family... Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Bosch, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Schwab... Mrs. Mary Martin... and Mr. and Mrs. Lattener [sic], parents of the groom," along with five of Gustav's siblings.  The Dec. 19th Democrat reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Charles Latterner, of Middletown, gave a reception at their residence on Main Street in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Latterner, née Wuechner, who have just entered upon the realities of married life."  This sobering sentiment would be echoed nearly a century later by Maggie's great-niece ALLS:

"Margaret Wuechner ('Maggie') married Gus Lattener [sic], who was wealthy (inherited his money)—lived in a huge house in Middletown, Ohio... had servants, 'the best of everything'—but [Gus] 'hit the sauce' too much, so Aunt Maggie was not particularly happy, in spite of her luxury life (a 'hush hush subject' in the family—ha!).  Had one son [Stanley Wuechner Latterner: born Jan. 4, 1891].  In his adult life, [Stanley] worked and lived in Lima, Ohio (architect and artist... always gave landscape in oils as wedding gift)...  I was frightened of Aunt Maggie—she was very aristocratic in actions and looks (beautiful clothes, furs, jewelry, furnishings in home—always very PROPER in all ways) so I kept out of her way—ha!...  After her husband's death and after all the Wuechner family had left the old home (by death and marriage)—she bought the house and lived in it until her death...  Uncle Bob [Ludeke] then bought the home, and a set of Haviland china 'used on special occasions only'... and the Ludeke family moved in!!"—from 120 N. Front Street, next door.  "Just to confuse you even more—dear old Aunt Annie Koeppendoerfer lived with [Aunt Maggie at 124 N. Front St.], doing all the work!... and a book could be written about her alone" (see below).

Whether or not as a side effect of "sauce," Gus Latterner tended to get talked about in the papers.  For example, the Sep. 11, 1893 Daily Democrat:

A good one is told on Gus Latterner, the well-known pump manufacturer of Middletown.  Last week his family were absent from home [visiting Hamilton en route to the Stepps in Carthage IL], and Gus went to the house and changed his clothes, as he was going to a lodge meeting.  When he started for home about 11 p.m., he felt for his night-key, but it was gone.  He remembered that in changing his clothes he forgot to take the key out.  As the hotel was closed Gus was in quite a dilemma how to get into the house.  He finally struck upon an idea, and went to the engine house and had two of the firemen bring a ladder, and by this means gained an entrance.

A more serious matter involving fire engines cropped up in the same newspaper on Nov. 24, 1893:

ATTEMPT TO BLACKMAIL—Gus Latterner, the Well Known Middletown Man—The Men Are in Jail.  Grant Fox and Gus Schlinger were arrested in Middletown at an early hour this morning on a charge of blackmail.  The Middletown Pump works were destroyed by fire last May, and at the time it was thought that the buildings were set on fire by some one who would be benefited, but nothing of the kind was ever proved.  Gus Latterner, one of the stockholders of the Pump company, was confronted last week by the parties above named, Fox and Schlinger, with the statement that they knew that he was the party who had fired the works and that unless hush-money was at once paid to them, they would expose him.  Mr. Latterner at once reported the matter, which resulted in the arrest of the parties by Constable Ike Stevenson, after several days search.  They were locked up in the jail, awaiting their trial before Squire McGreevy.

Eight days later:

THAT ALLEGED BLACKMAIL CASE.  The preliminary hearing of Daniel Schlangen [sic] and Grant Fox, charged with black-mailing Gus Latterner, of Middletown, was heard in Squire McGreevy's court yesterday.  The trial... ended with the prisoners being bound over to the grand jury in the sum of $500 each.  This case originated over the supposed incendiary fire which destroyed the Middletown pump works on the 22nd day of last May and the subsequent attempt to burn the new building on the 8th and 19th of October.  Detectives William Morrison and Al Lowenstein were employed by Gus Latterner, proprietor of the works, and they worked forty-two days upon the case.  Their efforts to fix the crime of arson on suspected parties proved fruitless.  Schlanger [sic] and Fox, who were thought to know something about the origin of the fire, claim that they were lured into a scheme to blackmail Latterner by the latter and his detectives.  They accepted $15 from Latterner and gave a receipt that designated hush money.

In an undated article (from the 1896-97 volume viewable at Google Books), the Ohio Legal News weighed in concerning a different case:

A suit of far reaching importance to bankers throughout Ohio and other states as well, was decided by a jury trial in the Butler [County] common pleas court, before Judge Neilan.  It was the case of the First National Bank of Defiance, O., v. The Middletown (Ohio) Pump Co., wherein the bank brought suit to collect on $10,000 worth of drafts signed by Gus Latterner, as secretary of the Middletown Pump Co.  It appears that the drafts were purely accommodation paper, and when called upon to pay them the company refused.  The point of authority of Mr. Latterner, as secretary of the company, to sign its drafts was also raised.  After a deliberation of twelve hours the jury returned a verdict of $4,598 for plaintiff.  Had the defendants won the case no bank would feel secure in handling paper indorsed by a single officer of any corporation.

Finally on Apr. 20, 1899 the Butler County Democrat reported:

GUS LATTERNER OF MIDDLETOWN DEAD...  Gus Latterner of Middletown, one of the best known residents of that town and a man very well and also very favorably known in Hamilton, died Thursday evening [Apr. 13th?] at 7:30 o'clock of typhoid fever.  Mr. Latterner was born at Germantown, Montgomery County, 39 years ago.  He settled in Middletown at an early age and by hard work, great industry and natural ability pushed to the front until he became one of the most substantial citizens of that town.  Personally he was exceedingly popular.  Mr. Latterner was married to Miss Maggie Weuchner [sic] of Hamilton and besides the grief stricken widow one son of 6 years survives him.  Mr. Latterner contracted typhoid fever while traveling in the south for the Middletown Pump Co. of which he is secretary and treasurer.  He came in from a trip about two weeks ago feeling sick.  In a few days he was taken to his bed with a very severe case of typhoid and he kept growing worse each day until Thursday night when the vital spark fled.  The Elks of this city and Middletown have lost a very prominent member...  He was to have taken part in the recent Elks' minstrel show at Middletown but was too sick to take his part.  He was down on the program for a song entitled "Asleep in the Deep."  Alas, how soon he himself fell asleep in that eternal deep.

In the 1900 census, Gus's widow and son are recorded as Margaret and Stanley "Satterner," living in Bellevue NE with Maggie's sister Marie Martin.  By 1910 "Margt. Latterner" (aged 49) was back in Hamilton, owner of the old Wuechner place.  In her household was 19-year-old son Stanley, 58-year-old aunt Anna Koeppendoerfer, and 49-year-old roomer Arthur Helwig (an insurance agent).  After graduating from Hamilton High School, Stanley earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Ohio State University in 1913.

Margaret Wuechner Latterner died Mar. 14, 1919, and the following obituary appeared in that day's Daily Republican-News:

Mrs. Margaret Latterner, widow of Gustav Latterner formerly of Middletown whose death occurred some years ago, died at her home, 124 North Front Street at 10:30 o'clock last night of a complication of affections [sic], aged 58 years.  Margaret Ludeke [sic] Latterner was born, reared and educated in this city where she was for some years a teacher in the public schools.  She was married to Gustav Latterner in November 1889 and resided in Middletown until the death of her husband in 1899 when she removed to this city and had lived here ever since.  She leaves one son, Stanley W. Latterner, and three sisters, Mrs. E. F. Stepp and Mrs. Marie Martin, of Bellevue, Nebraska, and Louise Ludeke, of this city.  She was for a number of years a member of the Presbyterian church of this city and her death marks the end of a beautiful Christian life.  Due notice will be given of the funeral.

The following year Stanley Latterner (aged 27, occupation architect) was boarding with the Parent family in Lima OH.  He married Margaret McGraw, moved to Toledo circa 1937 and supervised PWA projects in Cincinnati and Chicago.  In 1942, when registering for the draft, Stanley's Toledo address was 2820 Oatis St. and he was employed by Mills Rhines Bellman & Nordhoff at 518 Jefferson.  He died aged 58 on Jan. 29, 1949 in Toledo's Mercy Hospital, and was buried on Feb. 1st in Lima's Gethsemane cemetery (as per ~f and the Lima News for Jan. 30-31, 1949).

Click here to read an ALLS memoir about having to spend New Year's Day with Aunt Maggie.  In a late SFM, ALLS wrote:

I had a Great Aunt who was the "aristocratic lady" in our large family.  Her name was Margaret Wuechner, my Grandma's sister, but she was usually called "Maggie" by the family.  She married Gustavus Lattener [sic], a wealthy likable young man, who had acquired his money from his parents, and thoroughly enjoyed the good life.  This included an adoring wife, a son, and spending his vast funds with happy abandon.  He furnished a three story house in Middletown, Ohio with the best of all things, hired servants to accomplish the necessary duties, and was a "perfect husband and father."  He arose late each day, and after being served a large breakfast, would be driven downtown to one of his many Clubs, where he usually played cards or pool with his idle friends, enjoying small talk while "sipping the bubbly."  Usually he forgot to call his wife, or return home on time for the prepared dinner.

Young Margaret was eager to please her husband, and adjusted to her new style of living.  She was taken each day to the city, leaving her young son in the care of his "Nanny," and she thoroughly enjoyed shopping in the better department stores, buying beautiful outfits to wear when she and her husband attended their many social functions.  Her furs and jewelry were bought by Gustavus.  This lifestyle was thoroughly enjoyed for about five years, but finally Margaret decided she needed to be more productive in her life; boredom had engulfed her, and she began living differently, such as personally taking care of her son more often, including him on her daily walks and excursions into nearby wooded areas for picnics.  When Gus found out, he was very upset with her, and she suddenly realized he possessed a violent temper if his plans were altered even for a small bit.  Fortunately, she did not obey his orders, and each day she became more independent.

Acting like a petulant child, Gus remained away from home for longer periods of time, and imbibed alcohol in greater quantities.  It was very apparent the marriage was in turbulent waters, but Maggie staunchly kept her good wife attitude, and never for a moment decided on a separation or divorce...  [She] moved into different quarters in their house, and Gus slowly drank himself into hopeless oblivion.  Ten years of this existence finally took his life, and Maggie was free at last.  After his death, she realized he had squandered all of their money, stocks and bonds.  So by selling the huge home, most of the contents, her furs and jewelry, and with some financial help from her son [sic], she moved to another city (Hamilton, Ohio), living a few more years, a sad, bitter old woman.  As a youngster, this was an excellent lesson for me, teaching me that money not properly used can be worse than not having a great amount of money.  Also learning to accept, and adjust to any amount you have, and live a happy productive life with that.

● Aunt Sophie Stepp

Sophia A. Wuechner, the youngest child, was born in March 1867.  She graduated from Hamilton High School in 1886 (as per ~hamiltonhigh/1894), followed by a year at the Electric Shorthand Institute, and in 1887 took a job as stenographer with the Phoenix Insurance Company in Cincinnati.  On Sep. 26, 1889 Sophie married Edward F. Stepp Sr. (born 1860 in Illinois to German parents), and the next day's Daily Democrat recounted the ceremony:

STEPP-WEUCHNER [once again sic]—Last evening was the occasion of the marriage of one of our city's brightest young ladies.  Miss Sophia Wuechner and Mr. Edward Stepp, of Carthage, Ill., were at 6 o'clock united in marriage at the bride's home on North Front street by the Rev. Mr. Hermann, of St. John's church.  The florist had tastefully decorated the parlors with beautiful flowers, and when Miss Jessie Stokes touched the keys of the piano and the couple attended by Miss Lillian Lorenz and Mr. Gaylord Davidson entered the parlor, the scene of this happy event was complete in every detail.  The bride was attired in a neat and pretty gown of cream tulle over moire silk, and the groom wore the customary black.  After the performance of the ceremony a very elegant supper was served to the assembled guests.  The good wishes and friendly feeling to the couple of their many friends were expressed not only in words but in a number of handsome and useful gifts.  Mr. and Mrs. Stepp left for Chicago and a tour through Michigan after which they will take up their residence in Carthage, Ill.

Among those in attendance were Mrs. August Ludeke and family, the Martins of Omaha, "Gustave Lattener" and his sisters, and the intriguingly-named Mame Rumple.  This was the second wedding of a Wuechner girl in just over a year, followed—if not trumped—two months later when Maggie married "Gustave"; leaving 124 North Front St. empty except for Catherine/Elizabeth, her sister Anna Koeppendoerfer, and a roomer or two.

ALLS: "I saw Aunt Sophie only a few times.  Liked her the best [of the Wuechner great-aunts]—sweet and gentle."  Ed Stepp "came to Hamilton, O. one time to visit a cousin... he met Sophie at that time—which eventually grew into love-marriage and her move to Bellevue," Nebraska by 1900, joining Sophie's sisters Marie and (temporarily) Maggie.  With Sophie and Ed were their first two children, Mildred L. Stepp (born circa Sep. 1890) and Raymond E. Stepp (born May 1892); in Nebraska they were joined by Katherine M. Stepp (born c.1900) and Edward F. Stepp Jr. (born July 31, 1902).

Ed Jr. kept up acquaintance with his cousin ALLS, and after his death (on June 21, 1981 in Albuquerque NM) she produced a capsule biography: "To make money he had a paper route and in the fifth grade he sold popcorn to Bellevue College students.  At 16, did labor work in Omaha packing houses...  Graduated from Bellevue High School in 1921 [and] University of Nebraska in 1925.  He told me he taught philosophy at the University—but he loved to 'toot his own horn' so well, I didn't believe him.  (Grandma Ludeke always said Ed Sr. was a 'blow gun'—so like father like son???...)  Guess he was telling the truth, because a recent [1983] letter from his wife [Bonnie Morrison Stepp, born 1905: a nutritionist] stated she had given a sum of money in Ed's name to the Philosophy Department to buy books."

A Sophia A. Stepp who had been born in Ohio on Mar. 27, 1867, died aged 74 in Los Angeles on May 11, 1941: as per ~a's database of California deaths.
 

● Aunt Annie Koeppendoerfer: Tante Anna

Anna Katharine Koeppendoerfer, the younger daughter of Fred and Elizabeth Koeppendoerfer, was born May 4, 1851 "in a small community of good German stock."  She can't be located in the 1860 census, but in 1870's we find "Kependaffer, Anna" aged 17, born in Baden, occupation domestic servant in the Hamilton home of William Huber MD with his wife Mary and their seven children, ten households down the page from the "Wuechlers."  This entry implies that Anna's good-stock birthplace was in Germany itself, and that she came over to Ohio during the 1860s—brought perhaps by her mother (likewise unlocatable in 1860) to join their sister/daughter Catherine/Elizabeth.  However, the latter's 1904 obituary said the Koeppendoerfer family emigrated circa 1848.

After 1870 we again lose track of Anna, this time for eighteen years.  Was her surname simply mangled beyond recognition in records and newspapers?  At any rate, by 1888 she was living with her widowed sister Elizabeth in the Wuechner home; and in the 1900 census "Ohio" was given as her birthplace, as would always appear in future.  1910's agrees that Annie was still at 124 North Front Street, living with (if not "doing all the work" for) niece Maggie Latterner; and when Maggie died in 1919, Annie stayed on at the old Wuechner place, though not as permanent owner.  She's listed as head-of-the-house (which she rents) in the 1920 census, and landlady to three roomers: hotel porter William Beatty, traveling salesman Oscar Shubert, and "solicitor for a laundry" Ed Falkenstein—who later married Annie's great-niece Frieda Ludeke.  Shortly thereafter Annie's great-nephew Bob Ludeke bought #124, bringing over his mother Louise to join her Aunt Annie there.  Also brought to #124 was young ALLS, who called Annie "a precious little soul—everyone loved her!"

Annie Koeppendoerfer's great-great-great-niece Mila Jean (the present author's future mother) memorialized her in a flowery 1940s high school essay:

Having many responsibilities in her own home as a young girl, she knew little of the carefree childhood that most of us only take for granted.  [When] her mother died [sic] ...she then did housework for some of the better families, those who could then afford to have a 'hired girl.'  She preferred doing this rather than live with relatives because she did not want to be a burden on anyone...  She was known as Miss Anna, and later, as an aunt to many nieces and nephews, she was recognized as Aunt Anna or Tante Anna to most everyone in the community...  Being deprived of proper schooling didn't prevent her from reading good literature, learning to speak correctly, and having perfect manners...  Annie was taught early that 'children should be seen and not heard,' and she practiced that rule all her life...  I well remember her quietly sitting in her favorite rocker, alert to all being said, but never speaking unless she had something worthwhile to contribute...  But Annie was far from being a shy little mouse.  She patiently taught her nephews and nieces how to whistle through [their] teeth... the best way to shoot marbles... to master the intricacies of 'jacks' [and] how to spin a top...

She possessed curly soft hair, very large expressive grey eyes, small and dainty features, and a smile that was a joy to see.  I never could understand why she didn't marry, for she had many beaux, danced better than any one of her friends, and was very popular, but taking her responsibilities at home very seriously, she no doubt considered her duty to her mother more important than marrying and her own happiness...  [She] possessed a beautiful singing voice too, and she sang in church choirs when a young girl, and I remember on many occasions even when she was quite old, of hearing her softly singing an old German song around the house in her rich contralto voice...  I don't believe I ever knew anyone who was so immaculately dressed at all times.  For morning wear, she always wore a black or dark gray percale or gingham print dress, full apron of checked gingham, and sunbonnet donned if she chanced to go out in the sun, and for afternoon and evening, she always changed to a plain black dress... topped with a snowy white apron.  On the Sabbath (she never referred to it as Sunday) she wore plain black silk, with a touch of white lace around the high collar, and a lovely white lace-edged apron was worn... high black laced shoes, and gloves were an essential part of her costume...  Her fine gray hair was worn simply in little braids at the back of her head for morning time, and in a soft knot and 'frizzed' in the front...

[She was] always helping others, their welfare coming first.  When any of the family or neighbors were ill, they could always count on her being by their bedside to comfort them... either by actual nursing them through their illness, or by just sitting quietly and talking to them and helping them to forget their misfortunes.  Annie had one serious illness when she was very old, and all despaired of her getting well, but after many weeks in bed, she calmly announced one day that she had been a burden on folks long enough, and it was high time she was getting up and about.  So double-pneumonia couldn't even keep her down.  After reaching the age of 92 [sic] years, Annie was still fairly active, and insistent in carrying on some of her daily duties.  She was still cheerful at all times, but she said often that she felt it was time to leave because all of the relatives and friends of her own age were gone, and she felt she had fulfilled all her obligations.

Tante Anna died aged 90 on Apr. 6, 1942, "one beautiful spring morning."  That day's Journal Daily News reported:

KOEPPENDOERFER RITES WEDNESDAY.  Miss Anna K. Koeppendoerfer, age 90, died of pneumonia at 12:15 o'clock Monday morning in the home of her grand nephew, Robert Ludeke, 124 North Front street.  She was born in Hamilton, May 4, 1851, daughter of Fred and Elizabeth Koeppendoerfer, and spent all her life in this city.  She was a member of the Bethel church.  Miss Koeppendoerfer leaves one niece [sic], Mrs. Mary Bosch, and several grandnieces and grandnephews, William Ludeke, Edward Ludeke, Robert Ludeke, Mrs. Walter Charles, Mrs. Frieda Falkenstein, Miss Edna Bosch, Walter Bosch, Mrs. Ralph Mock, and Miss Norma Schneider [sic], all of Hamilton, and Stanley Latterner, Toledo.  Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the residence with Rev. H. A. Dickman, pastor of Bethel church, officiating.  Burial will be in Greenwood.  Friends may call after 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.

Although the Bosches are here promoted from cousins to (grand)nieces/nephew, we are balked at making Katherine Miller Schwab a sister of Catherine/Elizabeth Wuechner.  Had the latter used only the name "Elizabeth," we might believe she'd been born a Miller rather than a Koeppendoerfer, with the much younger Annie as a half-sister.  We might even believe the name K/Catharine could be given to three different sisters—but not that two, alive at the same time, would be called Catherine.  (Note "grandniece" Norma Schneider: the 1920 census identifies her as a hotel servant living with, and working for, the Bosches.  Perhaps she was Annie's housekeeping protégée.)

In her late SFM on Annie, ALLS wrote:

I had the privilege of living with a very special lady, whose influence touched the lives of all the members in our family.  She was the Aunt of my Grandmother, but not much older, and had been shunted from one home to another, serving more or less as a housekeeper.  After her Mother's death [sic] she moved to a relative's house, earning a small salary as a kitchen helper.  Several moves later, came to live with my Grandmother and her family.

Her name was Anna Koeppendoerfer, but everyone called her "Tante Anna" or Annie.  She was a tiny, petite little lady, about five feet tall, always dressed the same each day in dark grey calico long skirt and shirtwaist, an apron, and always a sunbonnet to wear in the sun.  On Sundays, the costume changed to black taffeta ankle length skirt, black silk shirtwaist, and black high laced shoes.  Her one time away from home was going to church each Sunday, and she looked forward to this always.

When any family member or friend or neighbor was ill, the first to help was Annie, bringing flowers from the yard, a favorite bit of food, or just sitting with the patient and soothing him or her with helpful conversation.  She had the ability to sense what should be done around the house, to help someone, in more ways than I would have time to enumerate.  I was told by my Grandmother that Annie had many beaux when she was young, but she always felt her need to help others was more important than marrying and having children.  As a child, I often asked her if she did not get tired of always doing housework, but she assured me that she was happy just knowing that she could help her family, and have a comfortable home to live in.  I could not understand how helping with the washing, ironing, mending, cleaning, and gardening was fun, but later on in my life, I realized the many other things she was giving our family.

She taught my Dad how to whistle, taught one Aunt how to crochet, another Aunt how to set a table correctly, showed an Uncle that planting a stone from a peach into the ground would in time produce a fruit bearing tree.  She even taught me how to spin a top, and many times told me that "Ladies do not cross their knees."  My own daughter had the benefit of sitting on her lap and listening to her stories.  So in her quiet little ways she contributed so much more than just being a servant, and now I realize my life would have been far less interesting had it not been for my darling little Annie.  At nearly ninety-one years of age, she died quietly in her sleep, saying Goodbye with dignity, and no doubt went on to another world to help someone there.

● "A Unique Conversation"

ALLS wrote the following in the early 1990s.  Her imaginative story-weaving veers a bit off the loom with its indication that August Ludeke boarded with the Wuechners from the very start of their marriage.  In actuality, Chapter L-3's censuses show Gus living in Hamilton with his widowed mother Sophia Ludeke as late as 1870.

Hello to you across the street, may I introduce myself to you?  Since we are the two remaining buildings left in this immediate area, we should become acquainted with each other.  I am the large modern hotel built here in the last five years, using the best materials available, and collaborating with a group of experienced architects.  Many rooms are furnished to accommodate any size of potential customers, no conveniences have been overlooked.  I am never empty, providing shelter for travelers, conventions, and any guests visiting the Miami University campus, only fifteen miles from here.  Naturally at graduation times and university sports events, I am a welcome stopover for many visitors.  My spacious dining room can provide the best of foods for all who request it at any time.  The back rooms overlook the Little Miami River, the south rooms face the imposing Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the north rooms view the local St. Stephens Medical Center, with any necessary health needs just a few steps from here.  Also the Police department and Fire department are very near to us for protection.  I am so proud of myself, and I am anxious to hear about you and your history, sometime in the near future.

Greetings Hotel, I enjoyed your recent message with full descriptions of your new building.  I have been here for many years, and I expect to remain here for many more, unless some group decides for progress I should be demolished.  Just after the Civil War was over, this location was discovered by a German man who lived in Cincinnati [sic], and decided to build a house for himself, and future life.  He travelled to Hamilton Ohio, twenty-five miles away, and found a settlement of Germans already living there.  He felt satisfied he had found the perfect spot for his "dream home."  He bought land near to the river, needing transportation from Cincinnati to carry his necessary building materials, and created detailed plans in his mind.

Fortunately there was a local brickmaking company in Hamilton, and he ordered a huge amount of red brick to be made for his use in his building.  This man was Michael Wuechner, a builder in Cincinnati, Ohio [sic] by trade, and a beautiful dreamer.  He finally had all the necessary equipment and supplies delivered to this present site, and only then he realized he needed a younger strong man to help him in finishing his house.  A young man, August Ludeke originally from Germany, had located in Cincinnati also [also sic], and failing to find work there, went to Hamilton for better luck.  He met Mr. Wuechner in a local store, and from mutual conversations was soon hired to be the assistant builder of the potential home.  The work progressed very slowly, but also beneficially, and eventually (without any architects and without blue prints) I was finished, using only four competent hands, strong backs, healthy bodied, and a combination of dreams and hopes for a happy future.

When completed enough for occupancy, Mr. Wuechner sent for his fiancée [sic] living in Cincinnati, and they were soon married [also sic].  They rented a bedroom to Gus Ludeke, and he used it while working on other building projects in Hamilton, Ohio.  From the Wuechner marriage, four daughters and one son were born, and similar to a Fairy Story, eventually Gus fell in love with Louisa, one of the daughters, and later married her.  He built a cottage next door to the big house, and the newlyweds lived there, with eventually their family of seven children.  As the years passed, deaths, marriages, and moving to other cities emptied the original brick home.  Then the Ludeke family moved here into my inviting surroundings.

Compared to your grandeur, I am very humble, but I have always had family love to keep me warm and alive.  Our families have never been without good healthy food prepared by family cooks in a small kitchen.  Our health needs were protected by three experienced doctors living in the immediate neighborhood.  What more could we have had, and used for all of our happy lives?

In conclusion, may I, the story weaver, explain that Michael Wuechner was my great-grandfather, and Gus Ludeke was my paternal grandfather, and Louisa, his wife, was my Grandmother.  My "mentor" in life.  My Mother, my Father, my special advisor always.  I had the supreme good fortune to live in the large three-story brick home (124 N. Front St.) for almost twenty years, and have only the best memories of it all.
 

            Notes

† The two Rhenish provinces were once (and would again in future be) the Rhineland Palatinate or Pfalz, which we encountered a century earlier in Chapter P-1 as the starting point for many who went on to become the Pennsylvania Dutch.

        Hamilton, Ohio

●  Some material on Hamilton OH was obtained from ~butlercounty, ~hamilton, ~hamilton/cvb, and ~ohiohistory/hamilton.
●  "On May 28, 1986, as part of a plan to increase publicity about Hamilton, the City Council voted 5-1 in favor of adding an exclamation point to the city's name.  Thus, Hamilton officially became Hamilton!  While used extensively in the city's documents, letterheads, business cards and on local signage, Hamilton! was not successful in getting Rand McNally to use the new moniker on state maps."  (As per Wikipedia.)
●  Hamilton's 1888-89 Business Directory had the following categories: Agricultural Implement Manufs., Agricultural Implement Dealers, Architects, Art Tile Manufs., Artists, Attorney at Law, Auctioneers, Bakeries, Banks, Barber Shops, Basket Manufs., Bath Rooms, Beer Bottlers, Beer Coolers, Bending Factories, Bill Poster, Billiards, Bird Fancier, Blackboards, Blacksmiths, Boarding Houses, Boiler Feeders, Boiler Manufs., Book Binder, Booksellers and Stationers, Boots and Shoes, Bran Duster Manufs., Breweries, Bricklayers, Brick Yards, Bridge Builder, Brokers (Money), Brokers (Stock and Grain), Broom Material, Broom Manufs., Brush Scourers, Business Colleges, Canned Goods, Carpenters and Builders, Carpet Weavers, Carpets Oil Cloths &c., Carriage Dealer, Carriage Manufs., Carriage Material, Caster Manufs., Chairs Adjustable, Chair Manuf., Chimney Tops, China Glass and Queensware, Cider Manufs., Cigars and Tobacco, Clothiers, Clothing Renovators, Coal Dealers, Collecting Agents, Commission Merchant, Commissioner United States, Confectioneries, Contractors, Cooper Shop, Coppersmith, Cots Adjustable, Daily Markets, Dairies, Dentists, Diamonds, Distillery, Drain Tile Manufs., Dress Cutting Teacher of, Dress Makers, Druggists, Dry Goods, Dye Houses, Elevator Builders, Engineer Consulting, Express Companies, Extension Table Manufs., Fancy Goods, Feed Stores, Fire Brick and Clay, Florists, Flour Mills, Fountain Pen Manuf., Fruits, Furniture Manufs., Furniture, Furniture Cars, Furniture Repairer, Furs, Galvanized Iron Cornices, Gas Company, Gas Filters, Gents' Furnishing Goods, Grain Dealers, Grain Cleaning Machinery, Grain Drills, Grain Elevator, Grinder, Grocers (Wholesale), Grocers (Retail), Guns and Pistols, Gunsmiths, Hair Goods, Hammers Power, Hardware Manufs, Hardware and Cutlery, Harness (see Saddles), Hats and Caps, Hay Fork Manuf., Hay Rake Manufs., Head Blocks, Hides Pelts &c., Horse Dealers, Horse Shoes, Hosiery Manufs., Hot Air Furnaces (see Warm Air Furnaces), Hotels, Hubs Spokes &c., Hydraulic Machinery, Ice Cream Manuf., Ice Dealers, Ice Tools, Ink Mills, Insurance Agents, Insurance Companies (Accident, Boiler, Fire—Foreign, Life—Foreign, Plate Glass), Iron Founders, Iron and Steel, Justices of the Peace, Kindergarten, Lamps and Fixtures, Laundries, Leather and Findings, Lightning Rods, Lime Plaster and Cement, Live Stock Dealers, Livery Stables, Loan Agents, Locksmiths, Lumber Dealers, Machine Tools, Machinists, Machinery Light, Maltsters, Mantels and Grates, Marble Works, Mattress Manufs., Medicines Patent, Merchant Tailors (see Tailors Merchant), Metal Signs, Midwives, Milliners, Mineral and Seltzer Water Manufs., Moldings, Music Sheet, Music Stand Manufs., Music Teachers, News Dealers, Newspapers, Notaries Public, Notions, Nurse, Oils, Oysters Fish and Game, Painters House and Sign, Paints Oils &c., Paper Hangers, Paper Hangings, Paper Makers' Felts, Paper Manufs., Paper Mill Machinery Manufs., Photographers, Physicians, Pianos and Organs, Piano Tuners, Pictures and Picture Frames, Planing Mills, Plasterers, Plastering Hair, Pleasure Garden, Plow Manufs., Plumbers, Poultry Breeder Fancy, Power Punches and Shears, Printers Book and Job, Pumps, Pumps Steam, Rags Metals &c., Railroad Station Pumps, Rake Manuf., Real Estate, Reaper and Mower Dealers, Restaurants, Road Engine Manufs., Roofer, Rope Manuf., Saddles and Harness, Saloons, Salt Dealers, Sash Doors and Blinds, Sausage Manuf., Saw Filer, Saw Gummers, Saw Mills, Saw Mill Manufs., School, Second Hand Stores, Sewer Pipe, Sewing Machines, Sheet Iron Work, Sign Painters, Silver Gold and Nickel Platers, Silver and Plated Ware, Slaughter Houses, Spectacles, Spokes Hubs &c. (see Hubs Spokes &c.), Sporting Apparatus, Stair Builders, Steam Engine Manufs, Steam Fitters, Steam Pumps, Steam Pumping Machinery, Stencil Cutter, Stenographer, Stone Masons, Stone Yards, Stove Manufs., Stoves and Tinware, Tailors Merchant, Tanners and Curriers, Teamster, Teas and Coffee, Telegraph Companies, Telephone Company, Tin Copper and Sheet Iron Ware, Toiler Articles, Toys, Tramway Locomotives, Transfer Company, Trunks, Undertakers, Underwear Manuf., United States Commissioner (see Commissioner United States), Vapor Stoves, Veterinary Surgeons, Vinegar Manuf., Wagon Makers, Wardrobe Manufs., Warm Air Furnaces, Watches Clock and Jewelry, Water Works Machinery, Well Driver, Wheel Manufs., Whiskies (Wholesale), Window Shades, Wines Native, Wines and Liquors, Wood Dealers, Wood Engravers, Wood Working Machinery Manufs., Wooden Shoes Manufs., and Woolen Mills.

        The Wuechners

●  In the original Dec. 27, 1853 marriage entry, Eliza's surname appears to be Koppendorfer; an alternate online transcription shows "Koppindorfer."
●  "Rev. A. Anker" was most likely Reverend Alvis Anker, who on Sep. 17, 1848 ("assisted by a Rev. Porter of Cincinnati") dedicated St. Thomas Old Orthodox Lutheran Church in Brookville, Franklin County IN.  "Evidently Rev. Anker was filled with a missionary zeal, for he remained here for but one year and then went on to assist in establishing other new congregations" (as per ~stthomas/lutheran).  Brookville is about 25 miles due west of Hamilton OH.
●  The present author did not realize the "Miechners" in the 1880 census were in fact the Wuechners, till speculating why Elizabeth Koeppendoerfer was boarding with them.
●  Biographical and Historical Sketches: A Narrative of Hamilton and Its Residents from 1792, Volume II (by Stephen Decatur Cone, published 1901, viewable at Google Books) states on pp. 375-76 that August Benninghofen was born Dec. 4, 1827 near Dusseldorf "in Rheinish Prussia."  He came to Hamilton OH in 1856, and "went into the woodwork machinery business in which he was engaged from 1866 to about 1885.  At the end of 1885 Mr. Benninghofen embarked in the business coal" [sic].  He served for two years on the Hamilton City Council, was the first candidate initiated in Lone Star Lodge No. 39 of the Knights of Pythias, and "stands high in business circles; is honest in all his dealings, and is kind to everybody."
●  The Feb. 11, 1888 Daily Democrat announced that August Benninghofen had received the coming season's contract to furnish city buildings with coal.  In the skimpy 1889 Hamilton telephone book (~hamilton/phone), "Benninghofen, August: Coal and Lime" has his office at Fourth and Basin Streets.
●  The Daily News's Oct. 3, 1931 article that mentioned Benninghofen & Wuechner was titled "When Silk Hats Were Made Here!—That's One Industry That Passed by the Wayside But Is Mentioned in the Days of Half Century Ago."
●  Catherine/Elizabeth Wuechner had fifteen known grandchildren (three Martins, one Latterner, seven Ludekes, four Stepps) of whom all but Carrie and Louis Ludeke were alive when she died in 1904.  If the "seventeen grandchildren" in her obituary was not a typo, two others are unaccounted for.
●  Others buried at Greenwood Cemetery include five Congressmen—John Woods (1794-1855), Lewis Davis Campbell (1811-1882), Henry Lee Morey (1841-1902: retained as counsel by Father Anderson against Mayor Bosch in 1896), Warren Gard (1873-1929), and Raymond Hugh Burke (1881-1954: served as Mayor of Hamilton 1928-40).  Also at Greenwood are General Ferdinand Van Derveer (1823-1892), Family Feud host Ray Combs (1956-1996), and brothers Larry and Roger Troutman of the group Zapp (respectively 1944-1999 and 1951-1999); as per ~findagrave/greenwood.

        The Bosch-Schwab Connection

●  The Jan. 27, 1888 Daily Democrat reported the death of Frederick Bosch Sr.  Born in Germany on Sep. 22, 1829, he came to Hamilton in 1870 after serving as a private in Company G of the 167th OVI from May to Sep. 1864.  In the 1880 census Frederick lived in Hamilton's 2nd Ward with 51-year-old wife Lena, 21-year-old son "C." (i.e. Charles, cigar maker) and 19-year-old daughter "L."  In 1900 eldest child Fred C. Bosch (born Mar. 1855 in New York, occupation "restauranteur") was living in Hamilton with wife Emma (born Jan. 1859) and "daughter" Gustave (born Feb. 1880: gender field has F overwritten with M).  Lena Bosch died July 27, 1900.
●  Peter Schwab and two partners purchased the existing Sohn brewery on Hamilton's South Front St. in 1868.  Peter left the group two years later, but bought out his ex-partners in 1874.  Six years after his death—an event headlined by the Sep. 15, 1913 Evening Journal as "Peter Schwab, One of Hamilton's Best Loved Citizens, Passes to His Eternal Reward"—the Cincinnati Brewery succumbed to Prohibition; as per ~schwab.
●  In the 1870 census, Peter Schwab (aged 33, occupation distiller) owned $100,000 in real estate and $125,000 in personal estate.  In 1880 he was a "brewer & malster" living on Front Street; 1900's census located his household at 325 South Front.  His wife transformed from 37-year-old Caroline in 1870 to 41-year-old "C." in 1880 to 51-year-old Mary E. in 1900.  1910's census clarifies that Peter and Mary E. were each other's second spouse, having wedded circa 1888.
●  In 1870, Mary E. Neiderman (age 21, the future Mrs. Peter Schwab) was living near Paddys Run in Ross Township, Butler County OH with seven siblings, her Bavaria-born father Jacob Neiderman (age 58, a farmer), and Bavaria-born mother Marian Neiderman (age 49).  According to ~greenwood, her mother was named Mary M. "Niederman" née Schalk, and died aged 93 on Jan. 10, 1914.  Mary Neiderman Schwab herself died aged 89 on Apr. 5, 1938.
●  Katherine Miller Schwab was buried on Nov. 13, 1895; as per ~greenwood.
●  Daniel Schwab and Katherine Miller at least eight children: Peter Schwab (born c.1851: worked as a distiller/brewer/malster); Elizabeth Schwab (born c.1852, died before 1911); Anna Katherine Schwab (born Aug. 20, 1854: a dressmaker in 1900, died Feb. 24, 1928); Daniel Schwab [Jr.] (born Aug. 9, 1857, worked as a watchman, died of pneumonia Apr. 4, 1913); Mary Katherine Schwab (born July 25, 1859: a milliner in 1880, married Charles S. Bosch in 1883, died May 23, 1944); George Schwab (born circa 1864: a blacksmith in 1880, later a police captain, died 1925); Henry Schwab (born c.1867, a "common laborer" in 1900, died Nov. 1900); and John Schwab (born c.1871, a barkeeper in 1900, died before 1911).  Anna Schwab's record in ~f's database of Ohio deaths shows her mother's maiden name as Metter rather than Miller; but Daniel Jr.'s does shows Miller.
●  Rev. C. A. Herrman of St. John's Church (the "Rev. Mr. Hermann" who married Sophie Wuechner to Ed Stepp) officiated at Henry Schwab's funeral (as "C. A. Herman") according to the Nov. 17, 1900 Evening Democrat; also at August Ludeke's funeral (as "C. A. Herrman") in 1893—of which more in Chapter L-3.
●  In Aug. 1902 the Deustcher Krieger Bund (German Warrior League: a veterans's association) held their four-day national convention in Hamilton OH.  Mayor Bosch, Peter Schwab, and Rev. Hermann were on the hosting committee.  The convention opened at Lindley's Hall (on the southwest corner of High and Front Streets) and paraded from the Courthouse to the Butler County Fairgrounds (as per ~lanepl/bund).  (Just fifteen years later, Ohio would be swept by an anti-German backlash when America entered World War I.)
●  Daniel Schwab's death certificate says he was born in "Germany Bavaria" on June 2, 1826 and was a retired cooper.  His parents's names were both "Don't know" (as per daughter Anna).  Daniel's cause of death was indeed "acute indigestion."
●  "Graceful Edna Bosch" performed an elaborate Russian dance with her third cousin Robert Ludeke in one of "Mabel Chenault's dancing reviews" (mentioned in Bob's obituary).
●  Mary and Walter Bosch are mentioned in connection with the Hotel Hamilton in the Feb. 24, 1919 Daily Republican News and the Jan. 7, 1928 Daily News.  Mary and her children appear as "Borch" in the 1920 census, living with two lodgers and two hotel servants—one of them Annie Koeppendoerfer's "grandniece" Norma Schneider.
●  Mary Bosch's death certificate stated she and daughter Edna both lived at 812 High St. in Hamilton.  Mary's death was attributed to hypostatic pneumonia, cerebral thrombosis, and arteriosclerosis.  She was buried at Greenwood on May 25, 1944.

        Aunts Marie Martin, Maggie Latterner and Sophie Stepp

●  Almost a year before wedding a Nebraskan, "Miss Mary Weuchner [sic] of North Front Street was pleasantly surprised by a number of her friends last night.  She leaves next Monday for Omaha, Neb., where she expects to locate."  (As per the Oct. 12, 1887 Daily Democrat.)
●  A separate "Society Gossip" squib in the Sep. 21, 1888 Daily Democrat referred to the newlywed bride as "Miss Marie Weuchner" [sic], but spelled "Wm. F. Martin" correctly.
●  Some info on "Mary or Marie Wuchner" [sic], her husband, daughter, and son-in-law was obtained from an ~f entry that grossly underestimates Marie's birthyear as circa 1867—presumably taken from her daughter Frances's Pasadena birth certificate.
●  The full roster of Charles and Maria/Mary D. Latterner's ten children: Mary A. Latterner (born circa 1855-57), Gustav/Augustus Latterner (born 1860), Caroline Latterner and Rosina/Rosanah Latterner (born circa Aug. 1861: twins?), Catharine Latterner (born c.1865), Elizabeth Latterner (born circa Sep. 1866), Charles D. Latterner (born circa 1868-69), Frederick H. Latterner (born 1870), Edward Latterner (born circa 1873), and Louis A. Latterner (born circa 1874-76).  They were settled in Middletown as early as 1870, when Charles Sr. (born Mar. 1833 in Bavaria: emigrated in 1851) was a retail grocer with $6,500 in real estate and $6,700 in personal estate.  By 1900 his wife Maria/Mary (born c.1833) had died, and only Rosina, Elizabeth, and Louis still lived with their father in Middletown.
●  In the 1900 census, Charles Latterner [Sr.]'s occupation is "Manufac-Buggy Bds," and son Louis is a bookkeeper.
●  The 1885-86 Teachers' Blue Book for the Public Schools of Ohio (Boyd, Joseph; Groneweg Bros., Dayton, viewable at Google Books) says Maggie Wuechner had taught primary school in Hamilton OH for the past six years.  In 1887 she was at the Third Ward School; two years later she and a Miss Klein were moved to the old Masonic Building at Third and Dayton, which had been rented by the Hamilton school board for class recitations.  (As per the Jul. 12, 1887 and Apr. 3, 1889 Daily Democrats.)
●  ALLS hazarded that Aunt Maggie had died in "1918 or '19," and Uncle Bob bought the old Wuechner place at that time; but the 1920 census shows the Ludekes still in the cottage at 120 N. Front St, while #124 next door was being rented by Aunt Annie Koeppendoerfer and her three roomers.
●  The Latterner set of Haviland china eventually ended up with ALLS's daughter Mila Jean Ehrlich.
●  The June 24, 1895 Daily Republican remarked that "Judge Giffen today handed down several decisions of importance.  Among them was the case of Grant Fox vs. The Middletown Pump Co. and Gus Latterner et. al. in which the Judge granted a new trial to the pump company...  This was the case in which Latterner and Fox arrested [sic] for alleged blackmail, of which charge Fox was acquitted."
●  However many scrapes Gus Latterner got into, they paled beside those of his brother Charles Jr. in the Oct. 11, 1893 Daily Democrat:

PUT ON SKIRTS.  Charles Latterner, Jr., son of Charles Latterner, the wealthy manufacturer of Middletown, is again in custody.  It will be recalled that he was arrested in Santa Fe, N.M., for forgery committed in Durango, Colo.  Following his capture he was released on habeas corpus proceedings...  A dispatch from Santa Fe Monday night stated that since the young man's release he has been hiding in the house in the suburbs of the city.  Monday night he appeared on the streets in female attire, his disguise doubtless being prompted by a desire to communicate with friends.  He was taken in charge by officers and given a sentence of sixty days in jail for his nocturnal jaunt in girl's togs...  [Charles Jr.] was one of the first young men of [Middletown], but became dissolute and went west, three years ago.  He has never returned home since his departure.

   (The description of Charles Sr.'s Middletown Pump Works was taken from this article.  Charles Jr. cannot be located after 1893.)
●  Stanley Latterner's birthdate was Jan. 24, 1891 on his draft registrations for both World War I (at ~a) and World War II (at ~f).  His birth record (also at ~f) shows Jan. 4th, but with his mother's maiden name as Wagner; Wechner is the spelling on his death record.
●  The architectural firm of Mills Rhines Bellman & Nordhoff (Stanley's employer) designed such Toledo landmarks as the National City Bank Building, the Secor Hotel, and University Hall.
●  Stanley's death certificate said he died of a myocardial infarction and coronary arteriosclerosis.  His address in Jan. 1949 was 2006½ Kensington in Toledo.
●  The 1900 census said Sophie Wuechner was born in Mar. 1868.  Her stenography training and career was found in the May 12, 1887 Daily Democrat.

        Aunt Annie Koeppendoerfer and the Hubers
 
●  ALLS consistently spelled Annie's surname "Keppendoerfer," but all (non-garbled) outside sources show it as Koeppendoerfer.  I have silently added the first O to all ALLS citations.
●  On Annie's 1942 death certificate, her mother's maiden name is entered as "Elizabeth (unknown)"—the second word not absolutely clear, but very likely given its parantheses.  Elizabeth and Fred Koeppendoerfer's birthplaces are both Germany; Annie's is Hamilton OH.
●  In a very late retelling of Tante Anna's story, ALLS noted that "years ago, if money was necessary to a family, young girls were sent to other homes to do general housework.  Sometimes these girls finished grade schools, sometimes they were as young as twelve years old.  They washed, ironed, and mended clothes, scrubbed floors, washed dishes after meals, took care of very young children, and other hard tasks.  They had no privacy, so slept on a cot in the cellar.  This was fine in the winter, but in the summer, with no windows for air, it was uncomfortable."
●  The Huber family (Annie's employers) lived at 127 North Front, across the street from #124.  Head of the household was William Huber, Doctor of Medicine (born 1813 in Lebanon PA), who in 1870 had $30,000 in real estate and $10,000 in personal estate.  He relocated to Hamilton OH in 1841 and five years later married Mary Downs Budd of Pemberton NJ (1825-1915).  They had seven children: Anna Huber (born circa 1849, married James A. Martin, died by 1935), Clara B. Huber (born circa 1853-54, married W. N. "Nick" Gray), Mary B.  Huber (born circa 1855-56, "died in early womanhood"), William L. Huber [Jr.] (1857-1928), Alice D. Huber (born May 19, 1860, "one of the outstanding teachers in Hamilton's public schools," died Oct. 22, 1935), Eloise Huber (1865-1938, lived in Olney IL), and Lilian Huber (1868-1957).  In the 1870 census, Eloise and Lilian appear as "Eleanor" and "Lenarda."  Their father died May 7, 1889 and that day's Daily Democrat eulogized him (slightly redundantly) as "a gentleman of fine attainments [who] stood high in his profession and was a thorough and polished gentleman."
●  Alice and Lilian Huber were the "old-maid Huber sisters [who] kept calling for help" during the Great Flood of 1913.  After the deaths of their mother Mary and brother William, they were the last to occupy "the beautiful old homestead on North Front street, near High street" (as per Alice's fulsome obituary in the Oct. 22, 1935 Daily News Journal.)
●  Annie's surname is spelled "Koeppenderfer" in the 1938-39 Hamilton city directory, and on her 1942 death certificate.  The latter says she died of lobar pneumonia (onset Apr. 1st) and "general debility."  Frieda Ludeke Falkenstein was listed as informant and signed the certificate.
●  ~greenwood says Anna K. "Koppendoerfer" died aged 40 (rather than 90) and was buried Apr. 8th in the Wuechner plot 1E 379—adding that her parents (actually her sister and brother-in-law) were Catherine and Michael "Weuchner."
●  Another branch of the Koeppendoerfer clan came from Regelsbach, Bavaria and settled in Frankenruth, Michigan.  These were four daughters of Georg Ko(e)ppendoerfer (1797-1846) and Barbara Ruhl (born 1805): Sibylle Koeppendoerfer Held (1832-1856), Anna Kunigunda Koeppendoerfer Roth (1833-1877), Catherina Koeppendoerfer Brenner (born 1836), and Margaretha Koeppendoerfer Haubenstricker (1841-1901), plus their brother Johann Andreas Koeppendoerfer (1843-1917): as per ~cousins.  No connection can be found to the Koeppendoerfers who settled in Hamilton OH, other than a (possibly) mutual Bavarian background.
 

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