A Tribute to Lillian Eichhorn Casell

The only known photo of my great-grandmother, Lillian L. Eichhorn

The Chronology of her life is available here

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.

Written for the Carnival of Genealogy: A Tribute to Women

Timeline: Lillian Eichhorn Casell

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

Intercultural Communication - Part 1

My first class in Hamburg is a week long workshop on Intercultural Communication which began today.  Prior to taking the class today, I had been thinking about what it means to be an American, how I view the world and how the world, though primarily Germany, views me.  I had not thought that this class would have me thinking so very much about genealogy.  Surprisingly, intercultural communication plays a huge role in genealogy and history and as family historians, we should be thinking about it when looking at our ancestors.

What is culture?  According to the forth definition on dictionary.com it is the behaviors and beliefs characteristic of a particular social, ethnic, or age group."  In short, it is how people see the world and why they act the way they do.  One subculture would be genealogists.  The genealogists I have met all seem to have a deep reverence for family, enjoy meeting new people, are curious, enjoy history and are dedicated, among other things.

According to the iceberg model of cultural elements our professor gave us, basic things such as food, clothing, language and behaviors are easy to see, but they are only the tip, the small portion above the water.  Other things like values, beliefs, assumptions, perceptions and ways of communicating are below the surface, harder to see and understand.  An excellent image of the iceberg model is shown here.

Why is this of use to us as we search for our ancestors?  We need to remember that our ancestors lived n different cultures than we do today.  This is particularly true if you find an event you disagree with or do not like.  How many genealogists have had family members not give them the whole story because of how they judge an event in the past?  Before we judge, it is tremendously important to remember that how they acted was a product of their time and culture.  Imagine what you ancestors would think of some of the things you do today!  By studying the culture of a time and place, we can better understand the motivations of our ancestors and have a better overall picture of their lives.

Tomorrow I will discuss how my time here is making me look at stereotypes and the effect they may have on genealogical research.

Fearless Females: 6 Word Tribute

To my mom: Strong, loving, my cheerleader, my hero.

Fearless Female prompt from Lisa Alzo at The Accidental Genealogist

Hohenstaufen, Germany

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 =)))

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun: Your Gratitude Story

This weeks Saturday Night Genealogy Fun by Randy is:
* Read Megan Smolenyak's article 120 Years of Smolenyaks in America: A Note of Gratitude from a Great-Granddaughter

* Do you have an ancestor like Megan's great-grandfather that was the first one to come to America (or your present country of residence) that you would like to thank?

* If so, tell us about that ancestor - and why you are thankful for their effort.


Maria Strassheim Tross, on the 24 June 1884, you arrived in New York City and then traveled to Buffalo from Eberstardt, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany with 6 children, all under the age of 10, including an infant, and only 3 pieces of baggage.  I believe your husband had died in the prior few months and yet you still set out to a new country, relatively alone.  I cannot even imagine doing something like that, even in todays world of quick airplanes.  Thank you great-great-great grandmother Tross, for being such an incredible, strong woman.

Fearless Females: In the News

Publish Post

From an unknown Buffalo, NY newspaper.  Ironic that one her daughters married a Democrat who was very politically involved and town supervisor a couple times.  Vera (Mrs. William H.) Whitehead was my great-grandmother.


Fearless Female prompt from Lisa Alzo at The Accidental Genealogist