In honor of National Women’s History Month, Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog presents Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts to Celebrate Women’s History Month.

March 1 — Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

I don’t know that I have a favorite female ancestor, but I do have those female ancestors that I always seem to go back to when writing posts or thinking about my family tree.

The top 2 would be Lillian Eichhorn Casell, my great-grandmother, who I wrote about here.  The other would be my great-great grandmother, Anna May Sanderson Whitehead.

Anna May is the catalyst to my becoming a genealogist.  Long story short, she was probably born Elizabeth Ann Sanderson, married, left her husband and family to marry my great-great grandfather, moved to Buffalo and never returned to her family in Canada.  Many years ago my grandmother was contacted by a possibly-very-distant relative about this mystery and I thought it was fascinating.  After this, I started researching, on and off, through my teenage years and college, the story of my family.  Anna May will probably always be the biggest mystery to my search, though I am planning my proof argument for ProGen to be about her.  I will post that when the assignment is due in a few months.

“LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

I, KATHERINE V. TOBIN, residing at 404 Huxley Drive, Town of Cheektowaga, County of Erie and Stateof [sic] New York, being of sound mind and memory and aware of the uncertainty of human life, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament, in mannor following:

FIRST: I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as practicable after my demise.

SECOND: All the rest, residue and remainder of my property, both real and personal, of every nature and wherever situate, whether owned by me now or here-after aquired, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved brother and sisters, as follows:

CLARA E. BUSCH ["CH" written over "H" of original spelling of "BUSH"]

MARIE A. JUHRE

EDNA L. HEINZ

WILLIAM T. EICHORN

to be divided equally between them, share and share alike, survivor take all.

THIRD:  I nominate and appoint my beloved sister and brother, CLARA E. BUSCH ["CH" written over "H" of original spelling of "BUSH"] and WILLIAM T. EICHORN, as Co-executors of the my Last Will and Testament.  I give to my Co-executors the fullest power and authority in all matters and questions, and to do all acts which I might or could do if living, including, without limitation, complete power and authority to sell (at public or private sale, for cash or credit, with or without security), mortgage, lease and dispose of and distribution in kind, all property, real and personal, at such times and upon such terms and conditions as they may deem advisable.  I direct that they serve without being required to give bond or other security for the faithful performance of their duties as such.

FOURTH: I hereby revoke all Wills and Codicile made by me at any time heretofore.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I sign, seal, publish and declare this as my Last Will and Testament in the presence of the persons witnessing it at my request this 6th day of April, 1963.

Katherine V. Tobin [Signed] L.S.

The forgoing instrument, consisting of two (2) pages, was at said date, signed, sealed, published and declared by KATHERINE V. TOBIN, the testatrix, above named, to be her Last Will and Testament in our presence, and we, at her request, and in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses this 6th day of April, 1963.

Hazel F. Levy [Signed] residing at 8155 Sheridan Dr. Williamsville, New York

Robert Schaur [Signed] residing at 232 Wellington Buffalo 16 New York”

Frederick W. Eichhorn, 1875 – 1932

Mary C. Eichhorn, 1886 – 1966

Anne N. Eichhorn, 1913 – 1990

Edward Eichhorn, 1909 – 1993

Located at Acacia Park, Niagara, NY

The chronology of my great-grandmother Lillian Eichhorn Casell’s life:

22 Dec 1908: Lillian is born in Buffalo, Erie, NY to William Eichhorn and Augusta Tross
10 Apr 1914: Lillian’s brother William Tross Eichhorn in Buffalo, NY
18 Feb 1921: Lillian’s grandmother Maria Strassheim Tross dies in Buffalo, NY
11 Jul 1925: Lillian marries Alfred Marco Casell in Buffalo, NY
1928 – 1935: Lillian and Alfred have 4 children, 1 girl and 3 boys, in Buffalo, NY (2 are still living, hence no names and dates)
9 Mar 1931: Lillian’s father William Eichhorn dies in Buffalo, NY
2 Oct 1934: Alfred’s mother Caroline Izzo dies in Buffalo, NY
9 Aug 1936: Lillian’s grandmother Katherine Weiss Eichhorn Gorndt dies in Buffalo, NY
26 Nov 1937: Alfred’s father Marcantonio Casillo dies in Colden, Erie, NY
19 Dec 1938: Lillian dies of Lobar Pneumonia in Buffalo, NY
22 Dec 1938: Lillian is buried at Acacia Park Cemetery, North Tonawanda, Niagara, NY

The first record of Lillian L. Eichhorn’s life is a birth certificate in Buffalo, NY for F. Eichhorn.  No first name name, just an “F” for female, indicating that a new child had come into the world on 22 December 1908, an early Christmas present.  Lillian was the fifth child and fifth daughter born to William Fred Eichhorn and Augusta Tross.  If the weather was anything like it is today, 22 December was cold and snowy, but in the excitement of a new baby, I imagine no one minded.

Six years later, the Eichhorn’s would welcome their sixth and final child, a boy, William Tross Eichhorn into the family.  Life must have been fun for this young family.  William worked for the railroad, while Augusta took care of the home which they were able to buy while Lillian was still young.  There were aunts, uncles, cousins and grandmothers around to be with.

While in high school Lillian would meet Alfred Marco Casell, three years her senior and son of Italian immigrants.  It is hard to say what her German parents thought of him, but they married when she was just 16.  Like her father, Alfred too worked for the railroad and with the money he made they rented a house on Sherman Street in Buffalo.

Between 1928 and 1935 they had four children, first a girl, followed by three boys.  I always imagine the promise that life had for them.  Then, at 2:45 pm, 19 December 1938, just three days before her 30th birthday, Lillian died of lobar pneumonia at their home on Division Street.  Suddenly, everything changed for Lillian’s young family.  Lillian was buried on her 30th birthday in Acadia Park Cemetery, North Tonawanda, NY.  Her young widow could not afford a plot, so her brother-in-law let them have a space in the grave site he had purchased.

Life was not easy for the family she left.  Her mother, Augusta, was so overcome with grief, she died of a broken heart a mere 13 days later, on New Year’s day 1939.  Alfred, unable to take care of four young children and work, put them into an orphanage in October of 1939, where they stayed for nearly 8 years.
Alfred died in 1981, never remarrying.  His eldest son, Robert and his wife had purchased four plots in Acadia Cemetery some years earlier, and placed Alfred in one of them.  Until that time, when a cemetery worker happened to mention it, neither Robert, nor any of his siblings knew that that was also where their mother had been buried.  In fact, standing on Alfred’s grave, one can see to where Lillian is buried and it is just a short walk.  Using part of their inheritance, the four siblings placed a marker on their mother’s grave site, marking her place and short life for those visit there.

According to the marriage record of Charles Herman Thorn and Catherine Wise in Chippewa, Ontario, Canada, Cathrine was born in Hohahstrefen, Wurtemburg Kingdom, Germany.  The correct spelling for this town is Hohenstaufen and it is located in the Baden-Württemberg part of present day Germany.

In 1206, Hohenstaufen was “mentioned”1.  A small village, its current population being 1300 residents2, it is most well-known for the large mountain of the same name, for which the city sits at its southern base.  Additionally, the ruin of Hohenstaufen Castle, sits atop the mountain.  Hohenstaufen Castle was build in approximately 10703.  The castle was destroyed in 1525 in the Peasants War4.  Currently, it is a German national monument.  ”The year 1971 marked a turning point, when it was incorporated as part of the overall administrative location, with the exception of the farms in Ottenbacher valley in the “city of Göppingen Hohenstaufen”"5.

If you are interested in researching Hohenstaufen, the FHC hastheir church records microfilmed from 1558 to 1897.  Also, Kathy Brandt Bonnell has created a website that features much information from town records.

This was written for the March Edition of the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy.

Image used with Creative Commons rights as follows: (((Information | Description = ((en | The village of Hohenstaufen (Göppingen) and the same mountain, seen from Aasrücken)) | Source = own work | Date = 2006-06-11 | Author = M. Rust | Permission = own work | other_versions =)))

Augusta Tross Eichhorn, 1877 – 1939

Each Saturday this year I am posting one of my surnames, going in alphabetical order.  This weeks surname is Eichhorn/Eichorn.  The names in red are my direct line ancestors.


1-Nicholas EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>b: calculated 16 January 1799, , , , Germany
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Canada:Ontario:Niagara:Welland " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>d: 28 July 1878, Welland, Niagara, Ontario, Canada
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "SCHNEIDER:Dorothea " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>+Dorothea SCHNEIDER
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>b: , , , Germany
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Charles Herman (b. 1848) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . 2-Charles Herman EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>        b: 25 December 1848, , , , Germany
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>        d: 25 February 1907, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "WEISS:Katherine (b. 1849) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . +Katherine WEISS
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>        b: April 1849, , , , Germany
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Canada:Ontario:Welland:Chippewa " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>        m: 3 September 1871, Chippewa, Welland, Ontario, Canada
        d: 1936
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:William Fred (b. 1874) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-William Fred EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Canada:Ontario:Welland:Chippewa " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                b: 22 June 1874, Chippewa, Welland, Ontario, Canada
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                d: 9 March 1931, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "TROSS:Augusta M. (b. 1877) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . +Augusta M. TROSS
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "Germany " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                b: 6 September 1877, , , , Germany
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                m: 14 June 1899, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                d: 1 January 1939, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Kathryn V. (b. 1901) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Kathryn V. EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                        b: about 1901, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: before 16 June 1966
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Clara Evelyn (b. 1902) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Clara Evelyn EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                        b: 3 February 1902, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Marie A. (b. 1905) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Marie A. EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                        b: about 1905, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Edna L. (b. 1907) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Edna L. EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                        b: about 1907, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                        d: 2 November 1985
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Lillian L. (b. 1908) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lillian L. EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                        b: 22 December 1908, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                        d: 19 December 1938, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:William Tross (b. 1914) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Tross EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                        b: 10 April 1914, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Frederick William (b. 1875) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-Frederick William EICHHORN
                b: 14 July 1875
<!–[if supportFields]>xe ":Mary C. " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . +Mary C.
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Edward M. " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Edward M. EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Dorothy " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Dorothy EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:George (b. 1878) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-George EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                b: about 1878, , , New York, USA
                d: 1928
<!–[if supportFields]>xe ":Lauretta Flynn " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . +Lauretta Flynn
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                m: 21 November 1900, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN: (b. 1884) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-EICHHORN
                b: before 1884
                d: before 1884
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN: (b. 1884) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-EICHHORN
                b: before 1884
                d: before 1884
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN: (b. 1884) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-EICHHORN
                b: before 1884
                d: before 1884
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Clara C. (b. 1884) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-Clara C. EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                b: 9 August 1884, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
                d: 1967
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EHRIG:Ernest (b. 1884) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . +Ernest EHRIG
                b: 1884
                m:
                d: 1951
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "EICHHORN:Marie (b. 1891) " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . 3-Marie EICHHORN
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "USA:New York:Erie:Buffalo " \f B<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>                b: 21 December 1891, Buffalo, Erie, New York, USA
<!–[if supportFields]>xe "GRAFF:William " \f A<![endif]–><!–[if supportFields]><![endif]–>. . . . . . . . +William GRAFF
                m: