Amanuensis Monday: Harry STROESSER's birth certificate

After so many years of research, I have mountains of paperwork recording sources, and uncounted megabytes of images saved on my hard drive. Yet, all that information has not necessarily been attached to my gedcom file. That poor gedcom has all sorts of names, dates, and other facts that appear to be sourceless until you tackle my mountains and megabytes. But I am working on it!

Currently I am working to put together good source citations for my numerous Luxembourgish records, including transcriptions and translations. (And in the process I am discovering more facts than I realized I had!) The Amanuensis Monday daily prompt will be a helpful tool in this project, if you will forgive my inelegant amateur translations.

I begin this week with the birth certificate of my great-grandfather, known in the U.S. as Harry STROESSER. But on his birth certificate in Luxembourg, he is known as Johann.

This image has been trimmed from the original at FamilySearch.

Transcription (the italicized parts were handwritten on the record):

Im Jahre tausend acht hundert acht und siebenzig, den neunzehnten

des Monats Oktober um zehn Uhr Vor mittags ist vor Uns

Theodore Welbes Bürgermeister Beamten des Civilstandes

der Gemeinde Wahl , im Kanton Redingen , Grossher=

zogthum Luxemburg, erschienen Peter Stroesser Eisenhändler

alt vierzig vier Jahre

wohnhaft zu Heispelt , welche Uns ein Kind männlichen

Geschlechts vorgestellt hat, geboren zu Heispelt Gestern

um sechs Uhr Nach mittags, im Hause Nr. Erzeugt von seiner Ehefrau

Thines Barbara ohne Gewerb alt dreißig vier Jahre wohnhaft zu Heispelt

und welchem er den Vornamen Johann

geben zu wollen erklärt hat.

Diese Erklärung und Vorstellung sind geschehen in Gegenwart des Biver

Peter Ackerer , alt fünfzig zwei Jahre

wohnhaft zu Kuborn und des Simon Peter

Pächter , alt fünfzig ein Jahre

wohnhaft zu Kuborn und haben die Comparenten diese

Urkunde, nachdem sie ihnen vorgelesen worden, mit Uns unterschrieben.

Line by line Translation:

In the Year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight, the nineteenth

of the Month of October at ten o'clock Before noon is before Us

Theodore Welbes Burgermeister Officials of the Civil State

of the Commune of Wahl , in the Canton Redange , Grand-

duchy of Luxembourg, appeared Peter Stroesser Ironmonger

aged forty-four Years

residing in Heispelt , which to us a child of the male

Gender has presented, born in Heispelt Yesterday

at six O’clock After noon, in House No. Begat by his Wife

Thines Barbara without Occupation aged thirty-four Years residing in Heispelt

and which he the First Name Johann

has declared to want to give.

This Statement and Presentation are done in the Presence of Biver

Peter Farmer , aged fifty-two Years,

residing in Kuborn and Simon Peter

Leaser , aged fifty-one Years

residing in Kuborn and the Comparents have this

Deed, having been read to them, with us signed.

You may notice the unfamiliar word “Comparents.” That is my interpretation of the German legalese word “Comparenten.” The word, as far as I have found, has no direct translation. It refers to the person reporting the event as well as all the witnesses. (*Update: I have since found that “Comparenten” translates to “Appearing party or parties.”)

Harry STROESSER later immigrated to the U.S., where he married and raised his family, so this is the only Luxembourgish civil registration record I have for him.

And just in case you want to try your hand at transcribing and translating a birth record from Luxembourg, I have begun to post some templates I developed for myself. Just keep in mind that I am very much an amateur!

Source:

 

Wahl, Redange, Luxembourg, birth certificate no. 20 (1878), Johann Stroesser; digital image #153, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, "Naissances 1867-1890-- RINDSCHLEIDEN: Mariages 1796-1797, 1800-1804, 1805-1823 -- WAHL: Mariages 1796-1803, 1805-1890 -.," FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : accessed 30 May 2010).

Wedding Wednesday: Edward STROESSER and Jean CUDA

Page 74 of the 3 Oct 1954 issue of Omaha’s Sunday World-Herald:

Miss Cuda Weds E. H. Stroesser

   St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Bee, Neb., was the setting Saturday for the wedding of Miss Jean Cuda and Edward H. Stroesser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry E. Stroesser. The Rev. Michael Pazourek officiated at 10 a. m.

   The bride, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Divis of Bee, wore a satin gown styled with fitted basque bodice and tulle shoulder yoke with pearl trim. The skirt ended in a cathedral-length train.

   A lace cap trimmed with seed pearls held the bride’s fingertip illusion veil and she carried an orchid and stephanotis.

   Mrs. William Rowe, matron of honor for her sister, wore a gown of aqua-marine satin and net. Bridesmaids, the Misses Melvene Horacek and Joan Stroesser, the latter a sister of the bridegroom, wore rose gowns. Attendants wore matching hats and carried chrysanthemums.

   Daniel Stroesser was his brother’s best man. Ushers were the bride’s brother, Sgt. Richard Divis, Hamilton Air Force Base, Cal., and Miles Semrad, Fremont, Neb.

   After a church reception the couple left on a wedding trip to Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Stroesser will live in Omaha.

The groom, Edward Henry Stroesser, was my grandmother's older brother. They were both children of Harry and Mary Stroesser of Omaha, Nebraska. Ed, as my grandmother, Rose, called her brother, was the seventh Stroesser child to be married.

Wedding Wednesday: Joe STROESSER and Genevieve RAMM

Page 59 of the 25 June 1950 issue of Omaha’s Sunday World-Herald:

Autumn Wedding
Couple to Have
   Alphonse J. Ramm has announced the engagement of his daughter, Miss Genevieve Ramm, to Joseph P. Stroesser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser. An autumn wedding is planned. Mr. Stroesser attended Creighton University.

This announcement, with its odd Yoda-speak headline, was published on the first anniversary of my grandparents’ wedding. Doubtless, the date is merely coincidental, but still interesting. Joseph STROESSER was my grandma’s younger brother, and the eleventh child of Harry and Mary STROESSER.

The marriage is described in the 3 Sept 1950 edition of the same newspaper: 

Page 35:

Genevieve Ramm September Bride

   Miss Genevieve Ramm, daughter of Alphonse Ramm, and Joseph P. Stroesser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser, were married Saturday at Holy Name Church at 10 a. m. by the Rev. Raymond Gruenke.

    The bride wore a white slipper satin gown with a panel of lace on the bodice. An illusion headpiece held her fingertip veil and she carried a bouquet of white gladioli.

   Miss Geraldine Burke, maid of honor, wore a dusty rose pink crepe and carried deep pink gladioli. Miss Sue Stuckey, bridesmaid, wore blue satin and lace and carried deep red gladioli.

    Edward H. Stroesser was best man. Daniel Stroesser ushered. A reception took place at the home of the bride’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Emmett McAndrew. The couple will live in Omaha.

The best man and usher were both brothers of the bridegroom (and my grandma); I am unfamiliar with the names of the maid of honor and bridesmaid.

Wedding Wednesday: Rose Edith STROESSER and Francis Albert “Jack” HOYT, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser

request the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughter

Rose

to

Mr. Francis Albert Hoyt, Jr.

Saturday morning, the twenty-fifth of June

Nineteen hundred and forty-nine

at nine o’clock

Saint Cecilia’s Cathedral

Omaha, Nebraska

Rose Edith STROESSER and Francis Albert “Jack” HOYT, Jr. were my grandparents. I have already recorded the story of how they met one another here. The announcement of their engagement went out on page 70 of the 8 May 1949 edition of Omaha’s Sunday World Herald:

Stroesser-Hoyt Wedding June 15
   Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser have announced the engagement of their daughter, Miss Rose Stroesser, to Francis A. Hoyt, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. Hoyt, Sr., of Council Bluffs.
   Miss Stroesser and Mr. Hoyt will be married June 25 at 9 a. m., in the St. Cecilia’s Cathedral.

Rose was the fourth STROESSER girl to marry in St. Cecilia’s Cathedral. A couple weeks before the wedding, her sister Clare (who had been married nine years before), threw her a bridal shower.

Page 18 of the 2 June 1949 issue of the Evening World-Herald:

Shower to Honor June Bride-Elect
   A bridal shower will be given this evening by Mrs. Robert Hill for Miss Rose Stroesser, who will be married in St. Cecilia’s Cathedral June 25 to Francis A. Hoyt, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. Hoyt, Sr., of Council Bluffs. Miss Stroesser is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser.

An unidentified newpaper clipping found in Grandma’s family album announced the upcoming wedding.

Cathedral Rites For Miss Stroesser

In a ceremony Saturday morning at St. Cecilia’s cathedral, Miss Rose Stroesser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser, will become the bride of Francis Albert Hoyt, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. Hoyt, Sr., of Council Bluffs.

Matron of honor will be Mrs. Robert Hill, sister of the bride, and two other sisters, the Misses Therese and Joan Stroesser, will be bridesmaids. A brother, Edward Stroesser, will be best man and Dan and Joe Stroesser will usher. Rita Johnson, niece of the bride, will be ring bearer.

A wedding breakfast will be held in the Commanders’ Room of the Legion Club and in the evening a recetpion [sic] is planned at the Stroesser home.

The wedding took place on 25 June 1949. Two newspaper clippings, one which I have been able to identify and one I still have not found in any archives, described the wedding.

Page 56 of the 26 June 1949 issue of the Sunday World-Herald:

St. Cecilia’s Scene of Rite

Rose Stroesser Wed to Francis Hoyt

    St. Cecilia’s Cathedral was the scene of the wedding Saturday of Miss Rose E. Stroesser and Francis A. Hoyt, Jr., of Council Bluffs. Mrgr. Ernest Graham performed the 9 a.m. ceremony. Mrs. Winifred Traynor Flanagan was organist.

    The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser. Mr. Hoyt is the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Hoyt of Council Bluffs.

    The bride’s gown of white satin had a marquisette yoke outlined with seed pearl embroidery. The full skirt had a three-yard train. A tiara of sequins held her fingertip illusion veil. She carried white roses with streamers of stephanotis.

    Mrs. Robert Hill, matron of honor for her sister, wore a gown of pink satin brocade and carried green carnations. She had a matching floral tiara.

    Miss Therese and Miss Joan Stroesser, bridesmaids for their sister, wore similar gowns of taffeta and net in orchid and yellow. They carried contrasting bouquets of carnations, and wore similar flowers in their hair.

    The bride’s brother, Daniel Stroesser, was best man. Michael Ferryman and Richard Rosso ushered.

    An evening reception was given at the home of the bride, and a wedding breakfast at the Legion Club. After a trip to Denver, Colo., the couple will live in Omaha.

Hoyt-Stroesser

   In St. Cecilia’s cathedral in Omaha, Miss Rose E. Stroesser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser of Omaha, became the bride of Francis A. Hoyt, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. Hoyt, sr., of this city, Saturday morning.

   Msgr. Ernest A. Graham celebrated the nuptial mass, at which time a double ring ceremony was used.

    Mrs. Winifred Traynor Flanagan was the organist.

   The bride wore a gown of white satin with a marquisette yoke outlined with seed pearls. The skirt swept into a three-yard train and her finger tip veil fell from a tiara of sequins. She carried a bouquet of white roses with a shower of ribbon streamers.

   Mrs. Robert Hill, sister of the bride, was matron of honor and wore a gown of rose brocaded satin with a bolero jacket. She carried a bouquet of green carnations and a tiara of matching carnations was in her hair.

   Misses Joan and Therese Stroesser, sisters of the bride, were the bridesmaids. They wore matching gowns of taffeta and net in shades of orchid and yellow respectively. They carried carnations which were in contrast with their gowns and wore matching carnation tiaras in their hair.

   Rita Johnson, daughter of Sgt. and Mrs.K. L. Johnson, niece of the bride, was the ring bearer.

   Daniel Stroesser, brother of the bride, was the best man and ushers were Richard Rosso and Michael Ferryman.

   A reception followed the ceremony at the home of the bride’s parents, 417 North Fortieth street, in Omaha.

  Out-of-town guests at the wedding were Mrs. John J. Korman and family of Philadelphia, Pa. Warrant Officer and Mrs. George Ehmen, jr., and family of Denver, Col.

   The couple left on a wedding trip to Denver, Col., and on their return will reside in Council Bluffs.

The last newspaper clipping related to my grandparents’ wedding appears to contain text, but upon closer examination the text has nothing to do with their wedding. The picture is the star of this clipping. I remember Grandma being still very proud of this picture in the newspaper, more than fifty years later. The original is a beautiful, hand-tinted photograph too large to fit on my scanner.

You can easily see where I stitched the two halves of the photo together. A note inserted into the envelope with this picture identifies it as the original of the one in the paper, however close inspection (the sweep of the fabric, position of the veil, etc.) disproves that. It is, however, extraordinarily similar and clearly taken during the same session.

Wedding Wednesday: Joan STROESSER and Thomas WELSH

Page 34 of the 26 Dec 1957 issue of the San Diego Union:

Marriages

William Schwake, 26; Charlotte Koehler, 30.
Thomas Welsh, 24; Joan Stroesser, 24.
Norman Peace, 22; Theresa Augustin, 22.
Lawrence Howard, 24; Joyce Littleton, 19.

John Maher, 32; Harriet Bobbs, 28.

Leland Brown, 44; Janette English, 44.

Carmel Cordova, 22; Dolores Velasquez, 19.

Benjamin Buzzell Jr., 28; Lydora Johnson, 22.

Henry Watkins, 31; Barbara Wahler, 26 [?].

Robert Bianco, 31; Marie Smith, 43.

John Reid, 24; Barbara Dow, 23.

Cecil Brooks, 21; Lily Vosgerau, 25.

Benjamin Strick, 23; Patricia Bryngelson, 19.

Boyne Kirkham, 27; Margaret Mitchell, 26.

Clarence Carman, 39; Joan Scott, 39.

Charles Stell, 27; Dorothy Waite, 26.

Frederick Hearn, 58; Sylvia Westfall, 49.

Richard Cowan, 29; Dorothy Gibbins, 26.

Waldon Riggs, 19; Carolynn Murphy, 18.

Arthur Sutorus, 21; Alice Preibisius, 21.

Kenneth Harmon, 24; Mary Burns, 21.

Joe Hull, 18; Carol Rogers, 17.

Herbert Ledgerwood, 27; Christine Eagerton, 25.

This is the only article I have run across regarding the marriages of Tom WELSH and Joan STROESSER. Joan STROESSER was the daughter of Harry and Mary STROESSER of Omaha, Nebraska, and my grandmother’s youngest sister.

Wedding Wednesday: Anne STROESSER and George EHMEN

Page 18 of the 1 Oct 1943 edition of Omaha’s Evening World-Herald:

Tell Engagement of Miss Stroesser
   Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser have announced the engagement of their daughter, Miss Anne E. Stroesser, to Warrant Officer George Ehmen, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. George Ehmen of North Platte. Miss Stroesser attended Technical High school. Mr. Ehmen is with the army air force at Mitchel field near New York City.

This Anne STROESSER was my grandma, Rose Edith STROESSER’s, older sister and the fourth daughter of my great-grandparents, Harry and Mary STROESSER.

 Page 5 of the 20 Nov 1943 of the Evening World-Herald:

Miss Stroesser Wed to George Ehmen, Jr.
   Miss Anne Stroesser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser, was married Wednesday in Our Lady’s chapel at St. Cecilia's church to Warrant Officer George Ehmen, jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. George Ehmen of North Platte, Neb. The Rev. John Downey officiated.
   After brief visits in Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D. C., and New York City, the couple will reside near Fort Dix, N. J., where the bridegroom is stationed.

Anne was the third of the STROESSER girls known to have been married in St. Cecilia’s cathedral.

Wedding Wednesday: Clara STROESSER and Robert Leo HILL

Page 8 of the 23 Nov 1940 edition of Omaha's Evening World-Herald:

Clara Stroesser to Be Wed Monday
   Miss Clara Frances Stroesser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Stroesser, will be married Monday to Robert Leo Hill, son of Mr. and Mrs. George A. Hill. Msgr. E. J. Hunkeler will perform the morning ceremony at St. Cecilia’s cathedral.

Clara STROESSER was the second daughter of Harry STROESSER and his wife Mary Josephine (CRAIG), and my grandmother’s older sister. One of their other sisters, Kay, had been married the previous year, also at St. Cecilia’s cathedral. Clara and her husband were always referred to by my branch of the family, and, I believe, all the other STROESSER branches, as “Clare and Tudd.” They continued to reside in Omaha for the rest of their lives.

In the same issue of the Evening World-Herald, but on page 14, Clare and Tudd appeared in the list of marriage licenses.

MARRIAGE LICENSES
Name and Address.                            Age.
Theodore Gurazany, 2922 Gold St. .....31
Vera Grezywa, 4436 G St. ............27

Monroe Wells, Sioux City, Ia. .......33
Roberta Olson Binder, Sioux City, Ia. .26

James Raymond Penny, 3511 Harney St. ..........................over 21
Mary Ann Falcone, 1230 South Seventh St. ...................over 21

Joseph E. Eakley, 2537 Cass St. ......21
Margaret Roach, 4418 Cass St. .......21

Robert Leo Hill, 4011 Cuming St. .....27
Clara Stroesser, 417 N. 40th St. .......22

Joseph P. Faluck, St. Louis, Mo. ......27
Marcia Dillon, 2612 C St. ............21

Donald C. Higgins, 2020 S. 20th St. ....22
Marjorie M. Milotz, 2440 Redick Ave. 19

Paul R. Vannatten, Minneapolis, Minn. .........................over 21
Gloria E. Meadows, 1004 N. 49th St. ..............................over 21

Allan L. Means, 2309 S. 33d St. ......23
Naomi Chapman, 2853 Fowler Ave. ...22

(I have included all the marriage licenses in my transcription for the benefit of those who might be related to others on the list.)