MORE ON SWEET ADELAIDE

For the past month, I have been distracted preparing to host a reception for 70 people -- incoming UCLA students and their parents.  We hosted the wonderful reception yesterday at our home.  I now am back on my "genealogical" track and will be devoting more time to my genealogical research and blogging.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Adelaide Mayer (the woman on the far right) was my Grandma Theresa's best friend since they were girls. Since she was an important part of our family (including godmother to my brother) I decided to do some research on her too.

Adelaide's father Bernard Mayer was born in Illinois but his parents were born in Prussia.  His father's name was Bernhard Meyer (interesting the name or spelling change).  Bernard was a printer and worked for a printing company.  Adelaide's mother Marguerite Heil was born in Germany and immigrated to the US in 1874.

Now, for a little bit about Adelaide's spouse Adolph Haberstroh, Jr, who she married on Dec. 31, 1919.  Adolph was born in 1897 to Adolph Haberstroh, Sr and Mary Price.  His father had been born in Germany but immigrated to the US, while his mother had been born in Illinois.  Mary Price Haberstroh died in 1906 after giving birth to Adolph's younger brother Joseph.  Baby Joseph died 13 days later.  Adolph also had a few other siblings -- older sister Ann (who died at 1 year of age), younger brother Harold and a younger half brother Edward.

Adolph Jr. was an apprentice seaman in the 4th Division of the Illinois Naval Militia during World War 1. In 1923, Adolph was an assistant buyer for Rothschild and Company (chicagoancestors.org).  In the 1930 census, Adolph was living in the Norwood Hotel in Chicago, listed his marital status as single and was a rug salesman.  In the 1940 census, Adolph was living with his father and stepmother and brother Edward in Maine, Illinois.  His occupation was rug salesman. Adolph died in 1948.

It looks as though Adelaide and Adolph were only married for a short time.  How long?  I am not quite sure. I do know that Adelaide had 3 siblings -- Marguerite, Veronica and Bernard.  I remember Adelaide as a very sweet and independent lady who loved us as if we were her grandchildren.

SWEET ADELAIDE

Sometimes, old family friends seem to feel more like family than just friends of your grandparents or parents. Adelaide Mayer was one of those people.  According to my Grandma Theresa (Nebgen Sherlock), she was her oldest and dearest friend.  She told me that they had been friends since they were girls. I don't know if they went to school together or met after that.  I decided to do some research and see if I could possibly pinpoint when their two paths first met.  Is that even possible?

All I knew about Adelaide was that she was about Grandma Theresa's age and that her current last name was Mayer.  She had been married when she was younger but that marriage hadn't lasted and there were no children.  I located a marriage certificate for Adelaide.  How lucky is that?  So, according to the license, her maiden name was Mayer and that is also the name she returned to after her divorce.  Adelaide married Adolph G. Haberstroh, Jr. on Dec. 31, 1919 (which was New Year's Eve).  They were married by the Assistant Pastor of Queen of the Angels Parish.  The license lists Adolph as 22 years old and Adelaide as 20 years old.  I wished they would have listed witnesses on the certificate because I would bet that Theresa was her maid (matron) of honor.

Now, to located Adelaide Mayer in the US Census. According to the 1900 US Census, Adelaide was living in Chicago with her father Bernard, her mother Marguerite, her older sisters Marguerite (age 8) and Veronica (age 2).  Adelaide was listed as one years old, but her birth date was listed as May 1899.  According to the 1910 US Census, Adelaide lived in Chicago with her father, mother, and older sister Marguerite and younger brother Bernard.  There is no mention of her older sister Veronica, who would have been 12 years old at the time. I wonder if she died between 1900 and 1910.  The organist from the church, William Esswein, also lived with them. The 1920 US Census lists Adelaide (now with the last name of Haberstroh) living with her parents and her spouse and younger brother Bernard.

Back to my research and more news about Adelaide in my next post ...