May 12 to May 18

BIRTHS:

Although there are a number of births on this week’s calendar, the name that caught my eye first was that of John Nicholas Schmitt. Six years older than my great-great grandmother Elisa, big brother John was born in Hellimer, Moselle, France on the 16th of May 1841. As I mentioned here, John’s death certificate held the clue that led me to the home village of our Schmitt ancestors.

It feels appropriate on this Mother’s Day that John is surrounded by some of the women in his life; his wife, his sisters, his sisters-in-law, and his nieces in this photograph. If only I knew when, where, why and by whom the picture was taken!

John played a significant role in my 2nd great-grandmother’s life. They lived within walking distance of one another and their sister Anna in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago for years.

Even after Elisa’s death in 1901, John and Elisa’s husband Jacob Koebe Mueller (my 2nd great grandfather) remained close. John was a witness to Jacob’s final wishes, signing Jacob’s last will and testament in 1910.

MARRIAGES

Coincidences in my tree always pique my interest, but weddings may have occurred on the same date simply because May and June are popular months to get married here in the Midwest.

Two Landstrom brothers were married on May 12th. Johan Willhelm Landstrom married Olivia Carolina Wind in 1888 and his brother Charles Werner Landstrom married Mary Nilson on the same date in 1894. Both grooms and both brides had immigrated to the United States from Sweden. I hope these sisters-in-law enjoyed celebrating their wedding anniversaries on the same day.

Swedish immigrants from another branch of my family tree were married on May 17th. Gustav Tolf and Nettie Johnson tied the knot in 1879 in Batavia, Kane, Illinois.

Closer to home, my paternal grandfather Harold Clarke Mueller married his second wife Florence Martha Francis Stromski on 17 May 1944 in a civil service in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

DEATHS:

Thinking of my 4th great-grandmother Britta Catarina Isaksdotter who died 13 May 1844 in Svenarum, Jönköping, Sweden and my 2nd great-grandmother Maria Mangels who died 14 May 1934 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois.

Another coincidence occurred in the French branch of my family tree this week. Jules François Schmitt died in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio on the 15th of May (1895). His grandfather (my 4th great-grandfather) François Schmitt died in Hellimer, Moselle, France also on the 15th of May (1854).

As a seeker of stories, I am always interested in learning more about the people in my family tree. Are you related to anyone I mentioned above?