Arthur Wachdorf

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Baby calendar of Irene Pfleger Wachdorf lists: Thursday, March 18, 1915, Arthur Louis Wachdorf born at ten to 7 a.m. weight eight and a half pounds. Sunday, April 11, 1915, Arthur Louis was christened at St. Joachim's church by Father Woulfe, godparents Lou Pfleger and Clara Roster. Nov. 24, 1915, Arthur Louis cut his first tooth on left side of mouth found by Ma (presume she means her mother, Maria Grimm Pfleger, living with them at the time) (Note: Thursday's child has far to go. Note also: all of Irene's children except Larry and Dolores were born at home.)

Cook County birth certificate (only Art, Harry, Larry and Dolores have birth certificates, which I think means they are the only births attended by a physician.) Arthur Louis Wachdorf 3-18-1915, third child, third birth, born at 649 E. 87th Place. Father Edward Wachdorf, age 26, born in Chicago, residing at 649 E. 87th Place. Occupation: agent for Sinclair Refining Co. Oil. Mother Irene Rose Pfleger, born in Jackson Michigan, occupation: housewife. Attendant Mr. C. Muller (Mullin?) MD of 5900 Wentworth (same doctor will deliver Harry).

1920 census, 649 87th Place, 9th Ward (Township: tract Ag. 5 bounded by 84th St. Cottage Grove 88th Place and precinct line State St.--this was out in the country at the time. They even raised chickens):

sister-in-law Adele Pfleger, 35, dress maker in a general merchandise establishment.

Edward J. Wachdorf owns home value $6000, has a radio. 41, married at 21, occupation: agent for Sinclair Refinery.

sister-in-law Adele Wachdorf (no longer Pfleger), age 45, married at 40 (though husband Harry Wachdorf is living down the street with his parents), occupation: seamstress for Dept. Store.

Dolores was a young girl when she essayed her first cake--a 3 layer effort, and it flopped. It stood 4" high at the edges but only 1" high in the center. She was almost inconsolable until our kind-hearted brother Art came home. "It'll be okay, Boop--we can fix it." And they did. They filled the center with bananas and they piled the whole thing high with frosting. And as each of the other brothers came home he told us we had better not make fun of her cake, or else. And we didn't. In fact it was just about the best cake ever, all bananas and frosting.

Art never sent a single birthday card when he could send five. The cards always had bright yellow smiley face stickers on them (not the standard ones, slightly goofier ones) and silly jokes inside. He sent little bits of sunshine, and was a cheerful and deeply considerate person. He was so good-natured that the only time I ever saw him without a smile is in the photograph above, "Wanting the unknown woman to give him that dog." I have an audio recording from the early sixties that transcription will not do justice, as he does Elmer Fudd blustery imitations of everyone getting false starts trying to record, and then goes breathless with laughter.

Chicago Tribune 10-23-2002: Arthur Wachdorf, 87, of East Dundee, beloved husband of the late Irene,; loving father of ***; dear grandfather of ***, *** and ***; great grandfather of ***, ***, and *** and ***; fond brother of Frank "Bunky" (Jinny), Larry and Dolores (Les) Hardison. Funeral Mass 10 a.m. Friday at St. Catherine of Siena, 845 W. Main St., West Dundee...