The River Running
"Immigrants: we get the job done" -- Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Mary E Carr, Sophia Wilhelmina Kern and George Herman Sohn
George Herman Sohn married Mary E Carr sometime in or before 1890. George was the son of Annie C and Adam Sohn born in Maryland 1865-1866. The 1900 US Census says November 1866. I have no information on Mary. The only reason I know her name is that one of their sons married in NYC and I have a transcript of the marriage record including the couple's parents' names.
Mary and George had four children still alive as of 1900:
Mary died sometime between 1896 and 1900. As of 1900, George and his four children were living at 1136 North Highland Avenue in Baltimore with his mother Annie, his sister Carrie, Carrie's husband Philip Volke and their two-year-old daughter, also named Annie. George was working as a railroad motorman.
In 1905 George remarried. The issue of Der Deutsche Correspondent published 01 Jan 1905 noted that George H Sohn, "32", and Sophia W Kern, "30", had applied for a marriage license.
Sophia's full name was Sophia Wilhelmina. She was often called Minnie. She was born in Maryland 1865-1868, the daughter of German immigrants. I don't know her last name at birth. She had a sister who, by 1882, had married Henry Kern. Sometime between 1882 and 1888, the sister died, and Henry married Sophia. As of 1900, they were living in Baltimore with Henry's daughter and Sophia's niece Wilhelmina (also called Minnie), born June 1882, and Sophia and Henry's two children, August Maurice born January 1889 and May or Marie born May 1892.
Sophia's marriage with Henry was apparently not a happy one. The issue of Der Deutsche Correspondent published 26 Dec 1902 reported that Sophia had filed a request for an absolute divorce and custody of the two minor children with the Towson district court. Two years later, she married George Sohn.
By 1910, George Jr was still living with his grandmother, aunt and uncle, although now at 302 South Highland Avenue. He was working as a clerk at a grocery store. Meanwhile "Minnie" and George Sr had moved to 419 Furrow Street with what would now be called a "blended family": Minnie's children Maurice and Marie as well as George's children Frank, Emma and Edith. George Sr was working as a fireman at a stationary boiler. (Henry Kern's daughter Wilhelmina from his first marriage had married Joseph Kahler, and Henry was living with them as of 1910.)
The 1910 US Census is the last record I have for both Emma C Sohn born November 1894 and May/Marie Kern born May 1892.
I'm fairly sure that "our" George Sr was the George H Sohn who died 02 Aug 1917 and who was buried in the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Baltimore. Der Deutsche Correspondent reports that he was 51 years old and resided at 340 Garrison Lane.
Certainly Minnie had been widowed by 1920. She and Edith - both Emma and Frank were gone - were living with August Maurice at 2609 West Fairmount Avenue. This was the same address that August, his wife and child had been living at as of 05 Jun 1917, so it appears that Minnie and Edith had moved in with him after George Sr's death. However, by 1920 August's wife was deceased. Besides August, Minnie and Edith, the household consisted of August's son, 18-month-old Charlie M Kern, his widowed mother-in-law Annie C Kessler and his nephew Wilton M (in this census, "William") Geldmacher. According to the 1920 census, Annie had been born in Pennsylvania in or 1857. Based on this information, I would guess that August's late wife was Mary Kessler, born in Maryland June 1891 to Annie and Joseph Kessler.
Wilton M Geldmacher is a bit of mystery. He was born in Maryland in or about 1912. His mother might be either May/Marie Kern or Emma C Sohn.
As of 1920, August Maurice was working as a streetcar conductor, while Edith was working as an operator in a shirt factory. This is the last census entry I have for either of them. The Baltimore City death records include an entry for A Maurice Kern who died 28 Sep 1924.
By 1930 Minnie was living at 243 McCurley Street with her two grandsons, Wilton Geldmacher and 11-year-old "Conrad" Kern. "Conrad" appears to be "Charlie M" from the 1920 census. Wilton was working as a tailor.
After 1930 I lost both Minnie and Charlie/Conrad. Wilton married Julia Louise Weibe sometime in or before 1936. She was the daughter of Edna Grace Basler and Herman Hugo Weibe born in Maryland 16 Mar 1919. By 1940 they were living at 2939 Frederick Avenue with their two oldest sons, Wilton M born 16 Apr 1936 and Wayne Allen born 12 Jan 1940. Wilton was working as an upholsterer at a bedding factory.
Louise and Wilton were to have three more children, Gary Lee, Charlene S (later Charlene S Ziegler) and Timothy Blair. Wilton M died sometime between 1949 and 1995. Wilton E died 11 Jan 1995. He's buried in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville, Anne Arundel County, Maryland. His mother Louisa died a year later on 21 Jan 1996. Besides her children, she was survived by 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Tragically, her son Wayne, his wife and one of their grandchildren were killed in an automobile accident two months later, on 30 Mar 1996.
Signe Linnea Johansson and George Herman Sohn Jr
Signe Linnea Johansson and George Herman Sohn Jr married 25 Jan 1918 in the Bronx, New York. According to a letter written on behalf of Signe in 1919, George joined the Navy in or about 1911. Sometime between 1920 anad 1918 he also got married and was then widowed. The record of his marriage to Signe gives his marital status as widowed.
Signe was the daughter of Johanna M Andersen and Andis G Johansson born 22 Jun 1890 in Värmland, Sweden, possibly in or near Kristinehamn. Both her passport application and the 1930 US Census give her year of immigration as 1910.
It appears that some months after the marriage, George returned to active service as chief gunner's mate aboard the USS Calhoun. (The spelling is per Signe's passport application and may refer to the USS Colhoun.) Signe remained in the Bronx, where she boarded with Swedish immigrants Charles and Maria Erickson, their daughter Alfhilda and Alfhilda's husband David Stolpe at 678 East 239th Street.
Sometime in June or July 1918, Signe received a letter from her mother Johanna, written in Kristinehamn 31 May 1918. Signe's father was dying of liver cancer. The hospital in Karlstad had "sent him home incurable." Johanna begged Signe to come home as soon as she could. She feared being sent to the poorhouse once her husband died and fretted that she had "no black to put on if he is taken from me."
Signe's marriage had made her a US citizen, so on 18 Jul 1918 she applied for a US passport, stating the she intended to sail for Sweden on 03 Aug 1918 and remain there three or four months due to her father's serious illness. Maria Erickson served as Signe's witness to confirm her identity. With her application, Signe also submitted a notarized translation of her mother's letter. The State Department clerk who accepted her application in NYC added a note of his own: "While the applicant's husband is a gunner's mater on board one of our war ships, nevertheless, I am venturing at her urgent solicitation to submit her application for your consideration, in connection with the attached letter, showing the urgent reasons for a voyage to Sweden."
Alas, the passport was denied. However, in August the Navy assured Signe that permission would be granted as soon as the fighting ceased.
By 21 Mar 1919 Signe's father had died. Because she could not write well in English, Alfhilda Erickson Stolpe wrote a letter on her behalf, painting an affecting picture of the guilt-ridden, broken-hearted daughter who feared that having lost her father, she would now lose her mother the same way. Stuck into the passport file is a hand-written note: "This is a pitiable case - indeed - and - her husband is in Cuba - Navy - Must we refuse - Let her go."
Signe's passport was issued 10 May 1919. She presumably left for Sweden shortly afterwards. On 30 Dec 1919, she set sail from Kristiania, Norway, aboard the SS Stavangerfjord, arriving at Ellis Island 09 Jan 1920. She gave her address as 678 East 239th Street on the passenger manifest. Meanwhile, George gave the same address as his home address when he was enumerated in San Diego for the 1920 US Census. He was still serving as chief gunner's mate, but was now assigned to the USS Aulick.
By 1922 George and Signe had settled in San Diego, where they had two children. Signe E or Signe Amelia was born 22 Feb 1922. (Signe's mother's 1918 letter had mentioned that Signe had a younger sister whose name was given in the English translation as Emily.) George Andrew Leonard was born 02 Apr 1925. (Does "Andrew" derive from Signe's late father's name?) Unfortunately George Herman did not live to see his children grow up. He died in San Diego 10 Nov 1928.
As of 1930 Signe Linnea and the two children were living in San Diego at 4668 36th Street. Signe Linnea had no occupation. It's possible that the family was receiving a pension from the Navy. At some point before 1935, they moved to 3804 Madison, still in San Diego. Signe Linnea and her son George were still living there as of 1940.
George in the US Army in Korea. He died in San Diego County 27 Oct 1976 and is buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery. Signe Linnea survived her son by almost a decade - she died in San Diego County 10 Jul 1986.
Signe Amelia married Donald Samuel Kuehni, apparently before April 1940. Donald was the son of Swiss immigrants Anna M Weber and John O Kuehni born 04 May 1921 in Dane County, Wisconsin. One of his older brothers moved from Wisconsin to San Diego sometime in the 1920s. Donald followed suit between 1935 and 1940. In the 1940 US Census he was enumerated as living at 4334 Taylor Street, working as a gardener for a commercial nursery and being married - but Signe Amelia was nowhere to be found. However, their oldest daughter, Donna Marie, was born 03 Jun 1941.
Donald enlisted in the US Army 10 Aug 1944. After the end of WWII, he returned to Signe in San Diego, where they had five more children born 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1960. Signe died 14 months after the birth of her last child, on 12 Aug 1961. She's buried in the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Donald remarried 25 Nov 1966, his second wife being May Harriet Anger (AKA Clemmer and Duit due to her previous marriages). He died 20 Mar 1992 and is buried with Signe. May died 13 Nov 2010 in Beaverton, Oregon.
Signe and Donald's oldest daughter, Donna Marie, married Donald Klingebiel in San Diego 30 Jun 1963. They lived in California until 1992, when they moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, 27 km west of Beaverton. She died 10 Jun 2009. She was survived by her husband, four children, six grandchildren, a great-grandson and all five of her siblings.
Grace Cecelia Murphy and Charles Franklin Sohn
Are Frank H Sohn born August 1892, probably in Baltimore, and Charles Franklin Sohn born in Baltimore 17 Aug 1892 the same person? I don't know. I know that Frank H disappears after the 1910 US Census and that the first record I can find for Charles Franklin is his WWI draft registration dated 05 Jun 1917.
Charles Franklin married Grace Cecelia Murphy in or about 1914. Grace was the daughter of Lucretia Rebecca (Pilkerton?) and James A Murphy born in Maryland, probably in Charles County, July 1894.
Grace and Charles had 10 children, all born in Maryland:
As of 05 Jun 1917, Grace, Charles and their oldest child were living at 1922 Ramsay Street. Charles was working as a chauffeur and assistant mechanic. By 1920 their second child had been born. The census specified that Charles was working as a chauffeur at a packer. Grace's mother had died by then. Her two younger sisters, Olive and Myrtle Murphy, were living with her and Charles.
By 1930, the Murphy sisters were gone. Grace, Charles and their children had moved to 2554 Frederick Street. Charles was working as a plumbing salesman. The family continued to live at the same address at least through 1946. As of 1940, Charles was working as the assistant boss at an incinerator. George was working as a pipe fitter for a ship repairer. Charles Jr was an office clerk in real estate. Dolores Elaine was a stenographer for a retail store, while Lydia was a stenographer for a retail furniture store.
The next few years brought several changes to the family. Sometime in 1940 - although after the census in April - Dolores Elaine married Theodore Henry Ripke, the son of Emma and Henry Ripke born in Maryland in or about 1917. They had two daughters, Delores Joan born 02 Aug 1941 and Constance E born 30 Sep 1942.
Lydia married Charles Norbert Nitsch in or about 1941. He was born in Maryland 06 Jun 1917, probably the son of Elizabeth and Cletus Nitsch.
Charles Jr was single at the time he enlisted in the US Army 12 May 1942, but his older brother George had married by the time he enlisted in the Army three years later on 11 May 1945. Joseph also served in WWII, in the Navy.
Charles Sr never saw his oldest son enlist. He died 03 Aug 1943. That the Charles F Sohn listed in the Baltimore city death records is "our" Charles is confirmed by the fact that after Dolores Elaine's husband Theodore died 08 Sep 1946, the Baltimore Sun described his funeral as being held at "the home of his mother-in-law, Mrs. Grace Sohn."
Grace died 10 Oct 1961. She was survived by almost all of her children except Virgina Audrey.
George died 08 Sep 2006 according to the US Social Security Death Index. This is to some degree confirmed by the fact that he's mentioned in Nancy's obituary in 2004 as a surviving sibling, but not in Dolores Elaine's obituary in 2007. I don't know anything else about him.
Charles Jr married Agnes Marie Hauf, the daughter of Anna M and Charles R Hauf born in Maryland 08 Nov 1921. They had two daughters, Cecelia and Mary. Charles died in Catonsville 14 Oct 1977 and Agnes, 25 Jan 1996.
Dolores Elaine married a second time sometime before 1953. Her second husband was Frank Kolarek, the son of Frances Luza and Joseph Kolarek born in Maryland 08 Nov 1920. Elaine and Frank had five sons, Frank, Bob, John, Mike and Thom. Frank died 31 Jul 1991. Dolores Elaine died 24 Jun 2007. She was survived by her daughter Dolores Joan Ripke Floyd, her five sons, 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her other daughter, Constance E Ripke Orem, had already died five months earlier, on 17 Jan 2007. Connie was survived by two daughters, a son and four grandchildren. Delores Joan outlived her mother by only eight months. She died 26 Feb 2008. She was survived by her husband, Charles Thomas Floyd, a daughter, a son and two grandchildren.
Lydia and her husband Charles Nitsch had seven daughters and six sons. Their oldest son, Charles Jr born 27 Jul 1942, died 12 Jun 1997, leaving behind a wife, a daughter and a grandson. Charles Sr died 09 Dec 2013, survived by Lydia, the other 12 children, 32 grandchildren and "several" great-grandchildren.
Joseph married Marlene W Clayton, born 02 Feb 1934, in or before 1964. The had a son, Joseph Jerome Jr. Marlene and Joseph were living in Eldersburg at the time Joseph died on 10 Dec 2013. Besides his wife and son, he was survived by a grandson and by his two remaining siblings, Lydia and James. Marlene died 28 Dec 2016.
James' wife, Shirley May, was born 15 Sep 1927. She and James married in or before 1956. They had two children, James Jr and Susan. Shirley May died in Sykesville, Maryland, 05 Feb 2017.
Nancy was referred to in her mother's obituary in 1961 as "Mrs. Terrance Rosko." By the time her brother William died in 1971, she had remarried, her second husband's last name being Hall. They had a daughter, Ann, and three sons, Randy, Richard and Robert. Robert was already deceased by the time Nancy died 05 Apr 2004. Besides her three remaining children, she was survived by five grandchildren.
William married Marlene Frances, born 23 Jul 1941, in or before 1966. (Frances is Marlene's middle name, I don't know her last name at birth.) They had two children, Alicia Ann and William H Jr. Sadly, William Sr was killed in a traffic accident 21 Sep 1971. Marlene then remarried, her second husband being Ronald R Davis. "Ron" died 10 Dec 2016.
John Robert, called "Bob," married in or before 1965. His wife's name may have been Ann. He died 24 Jul 2003, survived by two daughters, Brenda and Chris, two sons, John Robert Jr and Doug, and two grandchildren.