The River Running
"Immigrants: we get the job done" -- Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Carrie H Sohn and Philip Christian Volke
Carrie H Sohn and Philip Christian Volke married in or about 1898. Carrie was the daughter of Annie C and Adam Sohn born in Maryland October 1874. Philip was almost exactly the same age, having been born in Maryland 28 Oct 1874. His parents were German immigrants but I don't know their names.
Carrie and Philip had three children, all born in Baltimore:
As of 1900, Carrie, Philip and Matilda ("Anna") were living at 1136 North Highland Avenue with Carrie's widowed mother Annie. The household also included Carrie's widowed brother George and his four children. Philip was working as a day labourer. By 1910, Annie, Carrie and Philip had moved to 302 South Highland Avenue. Carrie and Philip's two younger children had been born. George had remarried and moved out, taking his three younger children with him but leaving behind his oldest, George Jr. Philip was working as a labourer in a cork factory.
Annie died 29 May 1914. By 12 Sep 1918, Carrie's sister Louisa, her husband John Frank and their son had moved into 302 South Highland, while the Volkes had moved to 3900 Foster Avenue. Matilda was gone, having married Edward Brueck in 1915-1916. The 1920 US Census found Philip working as a house carpenter, while Marie was working as a stock girl in a dry goods store.
Marie married Owen Creighton in or about 1923, while Elmer married Lillian Baer in or about 1925.
By 1930 both Carrie and Philip were living and working at the General German Orphan Home on Bloomsbury Avenue in Catonsville, just west of Baltimore. Founded after the Civil War, between 1922 and 1924 the home moved to a former estate in Catonsville in order to provide "more family-like cottages in a rural environment." Carrie in fact was working as a cottage matron, while Philip worked as a handy man. I would guess that they served a surrogate parents to the children in their care.
At some time before 1935, Carrie and Philip moved "off campus" to 31 Bishop Lane, 0.8 km from the orphanage. By 1940, Carrie was no longer working, but Philip was still a general utility man for the orphanage.
Philip died 24 Mar 1946. His obituary was published in the Baltimore Sun 27 Mar 1946. Carrie died 04 Jul 1963. According to Carrie's obituary published 07 Jul 1963 in the Baltimore Sun, she was survived by all three of her children, six grandchildren (Matilda's son and Marie's five children) and 13 great grandchildren.
Matilda Anna Volke and Edward Brueck
Matilda married Edward Brueck in 1915-1916. Edward was born in Buffalo, New York, on 29 Aug 1882, the son of Fredericka and Peter Brueck. Both his parents were born in New York as well. By 1920 Matilda and Edward were living at 2328 Madison Street in Baltimore. Edward was working as a labourer for what appears to be a "street" city.
Matilda and Edward's only child, Edward Richard, was born in Baltimore 21 Oct 1921.
By 1930 the family had moved to the town of Beaver in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Edward was working as a metallurgist for Crown Cork and Seal.
By December 1935, the Bruecks had returned to Baltimore. They also took a trip abroad. The SS Bremen sailed from Southampton 15 Dec 1935, arriving in NYC 21 Sep 1935. The passengers included Edward, Matilda A and E Richard Brueck, all of whom lived at 2112 Mt Holly Street in Baltimore. The 1940 US Census found the family at 504 Overbrook Road in Anneslie, Baltimore. Edward was still working as a metallurgist for Crown Cork. They were still at the same address in 1942.
I wasn't able to find a date of death for Edward, but I know that Matilda survived him. She herself died 12 Feb 1973.
Edward Richard worked as a salesman for Sunshine Biscuit. He married Catherine Marion Plitt, born 17 Apr 1920. They had two children, Edward Richard Jr and Phyllis Ann. Phyllis Ann was born in Baltimore 03 Mar 1947. She's referred to in her grandmother's obituary as Phyllis Ann Alban but she later married James L Steimel. Catherine Marion died 15 Feb 1998. Phyllis Ann died 09 Aug 2004.
Edward Richard Brueck died 05 Dec 2008 in Brick, New Jersey. The name may not sound prepossessing, but in fact the town lies on the Atlantic shore in southern New Jersey. Edward Richard had been summering there since 1949 when he moved there shortly before his death. He was survived by his son Edward Richard Jr, his daughter-in-law Elizabeth, their son Justin and Phyllis Ann's daughter Karen.
Lillian Z Baer and Elmer Philip Volke
Elmer married Lillian Z Baer in or about 1925. Lillian was the daughter of Lillie Belle Pentz and John H Baer. Her parents were both from Pennsylvania, but she herself was born in Maryland 1901-1902. Her father had died in 1903.
As of 1930, Lillian and Elmer were living at 3011 Glendale Avenue in Baltimore with Lillian's widowed mother Lillie. Elmer was working as a manager for the telephone company. Sometime after 1935 they moved to 212 Washington Avenue, where they were living as of 1940. Elmer was working as a "union inside man" for the telephone company.
Lillie died 30 Apr 1947. According to her obituary published 01 May 1947 in the Baltimore Sun, at the time she, Lillian and Elmer were living at 5503 or 5505 Pioneer Avenue. Lillie was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania with her husband.
Elmer died in Baltimore 08 Jul 1974. His wife Lillian survived him. She may or may not be the Lillian Volke born 11 Dec 1900 who died in February 1985 in Edgewater, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Marie H Volke and Owen H Creighton
Marie married Owen H Creighton in or about 1923. Owen was born 1902-1903, but I haven't been able to discover anything else about his background.
Marie and Owen had five children. The four oldest were born in or near Baltimore:
As of 1930 the family was living on Chesaco Avenue in Rosedale. Owen Sr was working as an electrican for a steel company. By 1935 they had moved to the Old Philidelphia Road in Rosedale. Owen Sr was working as an electrician for the FHA.
I don't have any further information on Owen Sr. I'm fairly sure that Marie H Volke Creighton is the Marie Creighton born 02 Aug 1904 who died 12 May 1992 in Lusby, Calvert County, Maryland per the US Social Security Death Index.
I'm also fairly sure that Marie and Owen's son Eugene is the Eugene Creighton born 30 Apr 1926 who died eight years before Marie in August 1984 in Edgewater, Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Carolyn Marie married Harry J Dean. They appear to have had two daughters and four sons. Carolyn died in Edgewater 07 Apr 2000.
Marie Helen married Warren Walker. He was already deceased by the time she died 07 Dec 2008 in Adelphi, Prince George's County, Maryland. She was buried in the George Washington Cemetery in Adelphi. Her obituary notes that besides her husband, her brother Eugene and her sister "Marie Carolyn," she was also predeceased by her brother Owen Jr. She was survived by two daughters, two sons, five grandchildren and a great-grandson.
Bruce Warren died in Umatilla, Florida, 20 Sep 2010. He had moved there from Lusby, Maryland, in 1996, four years after his mother died in Lusby. He was survived by his wife, Carolyn, a daughter and a son.