I'm way behind in this challenge, but I'm still continuing on!
Juliana Schroeder was born 131 years before I was, on August 15, 1848 in Hanover, Germany. When she was 17 years old, she immigrated to the United States at the tail end of the Civil War, and at some point, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, which had a large German immigrant population.
Sometime between 1865 and 1870, she met and married George Bernard Knoppe, but the actual date hasn't yet been found. Unfortunately, the City records for this time period were lost in a fire. I know that they were Catholic as they were buried in a Catholic cemetery, but the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has closed its archives and has no plans to re-open them for genealogy research any time soon. So I cannot check their records for any marriages or birth records.
Julia had 11 children total, with only 8 surviving until the 1900 census. Her first child, Henry A Knoppe, was born in 1870. At the time, Julia, George and Henry were living at 12 Noble Court, Cincinnati, an address which no longer exists. Anna Marie Knoppe was born in 1871.
There was a three year break before Julia's third child, Louis (Ludwig), was born in 1874. Unfortunately, Louis would die at the age of 10 in 1884. By 1874, the Knoppe family had moved to 179 Barr street, Cincinnati.
Son George Bernard Knoppe Jr., was born in 1876 and the family was in a new home at 20 Wilstach Street, Cincinnati (another street that no longer exists). Daughter, Ella Knoppe, was born in 1878. At this time, I can only assume that Ella was a twin as there is another baby who is listed as being born and dying on the same day in 1878. This child was unnamed.
After Ella, another daughter, Mary J. was born in 1880. Mary was born at 20 Wilstach street, but shortly after her birth, the family moved to a house on "Washington Avenue, north of Warsaw."
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| The Price Hill Streetcar Incline Photo 1906 picture from Shorpy |
All this time, Julia's husband George had been progressing in his job. George worked for the Cincinnati police department and had been promoted to Lieutenant. A family set-back occurred when there was a "shake-up" in the Cincinnati Police Force. According to the Greater Cincinnati Police Historical Society Museum, "During 1886, there was a great upheaval in the Cincinnati Police Department. Literally, on one day, the entire police department was fired; all 400 of them. On the next day, the City hired 300 to replace them. Some were from the 'old' department and some were not. In any case, there is a clear gap in our records with regard to those who were not. And, clearly, Lieutenant Knoppe was not."
George switched professions and became a carpenter. He was apparently able to earn enough to stay in the home on Laclede, as the family lived there until 1903.
Four years after Charles was born, Julia and George's last son, Edward Thomas Knoppe was born in 1888.
The family lived a comfortable middle class existence. When he was old enough, son Henry joined George at the Carpentry business and other children got jobs as they grew up. Some becoming carpenters, others becoming bartenders. The girls worked as receptionists, stenographers, or hair-dressers.
In 1893, tragedy struck with Julia's husband dying suddenly at the age of 48. In 1900, Julia is working as a laundress, and all the other children are working except for young Edward who is "at School."
In 1897, Julia made the newspapers (the Cincinnati Enquirer) in a not-so-usual way. Here is a transcription of the article:
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| Cincinnati Enquirer, October 8, 1897 |
One of the largest cyst tumors of the scalp of which there is any record was removed from the head of Mrs. Julia Knoppe of 3645 Laclede avenue, Price Hill, on Wednesday afternoon. The operation was performed by Dr. G. W. Moor, assisted by Dr. Perry Jacobe. The indications are that the work will result successfully. The tumor had been growing for years, because Mrs. Knoppe would not undergo a surgical operation. At last, when the growth attained the size of a large cocoanut, thereby preventing her from making her appearance in public, she decided to have it removed. It grew at the top of the forehead in the center.
I can only assume that she was stubborn about going to the doctor, much like several of her descendants whom I know very well. I have not found any medical history records about this.
In 1903, Julia sold the house at 3645 Laclede Ave, and moved around the corner to 1025 Sturm Street. They were there for a year before moving around the next corner to 3703 St. Lawrence Avenue. Julia lived at 3703 St. Lawrence avenue until her death in 1915. She is buried in Old St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery.
Julia is my great-great grandmother on my father's side.
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