Gertrude "Gertie" Ball

Other Events:

• Name: Gertie Ball
• Name: Gertrude "Gertie" Mueller
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43515
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Occupation: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Cuff & Collar, Factory
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic

Other Events:

• Name: Maria Bauer
• Name: Mary Ann Ball
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43510
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; RC
• Residence: 1877, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1891, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Lutheran
• Residence: 1911, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic

Other Events:

• Birth: Hofgeismar, , Hessen, Germany
• Name: Maria Sophia "Sophia" Bauer
• Name: Sophia Kolbert
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-43934
• Immigration: 1854, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1871, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; RC
• Residence: 1881, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic
• Residence: 1891, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Roman Catholic

Notes:

The death ocurred last night at the home of Mr. Jacob Ball, William St., of Mrs. Sophia Bauer, one of the towns oldest and most respected residents. The deceased had reached the ripe old age of eighty-three years. She had been sick but one week, though she had been ailing for some time, and died from paralysis and old age.

Mrs Bauer was born in Hymnencassel, Grossherzogthum, Hesson, Germany. She came to this country in 1853, landing in Buffalo and married Carl Bauer who predeceased her eleven years ago. No brothers or sisters are known to survive. Her youngest brother died years ago. The oldest daughter of the family, Mrs Louis Kuntz died six weeks ago, the other children are, Mrs Jacob Ball of Waterloo; Frank Bauer (died 1895); Aloyes Bauer, Waterloo: Mrs John Wintermeyer, Berlin; Mrs. Joseph Bowman, Walkerton; Mrs. Ed Feherenbach, Berlin; Mrs. Ed Winterton of Waterloo and Charlie Bauer of Waterloo.

The funeral will take place Monday at 8: 30 o'clock from the residence of Mr. Jacob Ball, Willim St. to St. Louis R.C. Church thence to the cemetery.

Berlin News Record, Berlin, Ontario, Friday November 17, 1911

_______________________


Hymmen, Kassel,Grossherzog,Thum Hesson,Germany Sophia was born in 1828, in Hofgeismar, Hessen, which is a small community about fifteen kilometers north of Kassel, Hessen. Sophis'a obituary, which does not mention her parents, does indicate that her siblings had apparently predeceased her, and other information elsewhere suggests that they probably lived their lives in Germany. Sophia migrated to New York, aboard The Lessing and docked there on August 15, 1852. She was 23years old. She came to America to marry her fiance, Johann Heintz, who had preceeded her to the New World and was studying to become a lawyer. He was not there to meet her at the entrance port. She was befriended by a family whom she had met on the ship and stayed with them for a few days, still waiting for her fiance. Since she spoke no English, she went with them to Buffalo, heartbroken and lonely.

In Buffalo, she stayed in an Inn, and she helped with the cooking as she was a trained dietician. This Inn was operated or owned by Carl Bauer's sister, Catherine Able. Carl was staying there as well. After many nights of hearing her crying in her room, he knocked on her door to offer his assistance. He learned of her hardship and offered to assist her. He placed an ad in the New York paper inquiring of her fiance. Months passed and there was no reply. Meanwhile, Karl had fallen in love with Sophia. He asked her to marry him and she accepted.

The night before they were to be married, there was a knock on her door. Two orderlies were there and told her that her fiance was downstairs in a carriage, too weak to get out, but wanted to see her. Sophia saw her beloved fiance and learned that he was very sick with TB. He had been unable to meet her ship; so instead, he sent his friend to meet her with a large sum of money to take care of her needs. His friend nor the money were ever seen again. Apparently, he died within the next 6 months.

Sophia married Karl as planned, but perhaps with a heavy heart. Sophia's surname spelling is Kuhlebert, although it is spelled differently by priests etc.

Karl and Sophia first lived in an area which is located behind the Grand River Hospital in Kitchener -- it was known as Green Bush. They later built homes on King Street, close to Bauer Industries.

Sophia was known to be a small, fair, gentle, mild Saxon. She was a converted Catholic (was Evangelical). She spoke High German to her children. She was always prim and proper. In her later years, she would often be seen knitting stockings. She only spoke German


History provided by Marie Durrer-Voisin, 2010