[home]    [Mae or maybe not]    [surname index]        [Wachdorf index]

Contents

Photographs (Gallery one, this page, Gallery two: Mae or maybe not)

Paper Trail

Letters

More photos of Mae in later years will be added in the spring. Additionally there is a link at the top of the page to the photos that might be Mae, but are not labeled.

Click on image to enlarge. Once enlarged, to zoom, move cursor to right of image, back onto image, and click again.

photo postcard labeled "Mae"	Mae with her mother, Anna Klein Wachdorf, sister Kitty, and sister-in-law Irene (Edward's wife) around 1910	Madge (shorter) and Mae, probably 1916
Mae 3rd from left with (from left) sister-in-law Irene and sisters Madge and Clara. Photo courtesy of Joe's granddaughters, Shirley and Laurie	laughing Mae	Lettie (left) and Mae
Mae with Edward's kids, Ed & Sis, and with Clara's daughters. Click on it to see labeling	same group as previous, but Edward's son Art is also in the shot now	Mae, probably her niece Leona, and Madge
August 1954 from left Mae, Madge, their nephew's wife Marge Kary Wachdorf and their nephew Ed Wachdorf in Tijuana on visit to brother Edward in CA	from left, Clara?, Fran, Lettie, Kitty & Tony, Mae, Madge, unknown Hochertz kin possibly at Kitty's 50th, photo stamp 1962

After the death of their parents, sisters Mae and Madge rented an apartment together, and took in Ruth and Leona, two of the orphaned daughters of their brother, Joe, when the girls came of age to leave the Angel Guardian Orphanage.

Paper Trail

1900 census, Chicago Ward 30, District 945, 418 W. 58th St.

Anton Wachdorf, age 39, born May 1861, married 18 years, immigrated 1865, naturalized, engineer-loco

wife Annie, age 39, born May 1861, mother of 8 of whom 8 are living

daughter Clara, age 17, born June 1883, milliner

daughter Katherine, age 15, born Aug 1884 (no profession listed, nor "at school")

son Henry, age 13, born Aug 1886, at school (Harry)

son Edward, age 11, born Aug 1888, at school

son Joseph, age 8, born June 1892, at school

daughter Coletta, age 5, born May 1895

daughter "Mary," age 2, born July 1897 (Mae)

daughter Frances, 10 months, born Aug 1889

(NOTE: neighbor is John C. Miller, policeman, with sons John F. born in 1887 and Andrew born in 1894. John F. is witness on marriage certificate of Edward Wachdorf and Andrew is witness on marriage certificate of Joseph Wachdorf)

1910 census, Chicago Ward 31, District 1338, 316 W. 58th St.

Anton Wachdorf, age 45, in 1st marriage 25 yrs, column for immigration year says "?", naturalized, engineer--bridge co

wife Anna, age 45, mother of nine of whom 9 are living

daughter Catherine, age 25, packer--Stone Bros.

son Henry, age 23, chauffeur--automobile (Harry)

son Joseph G, age 17, messenger--railroad

daughter Coletta, age 14

daughter "Mary" A, age 11 (Mae)

daughter Frances B, age 9

daughter Magdalena, age 7

(Note son Edward is living at 355 W. 58th with his new in-laws, the Pflegers.)

1920 census, Chicago Ward 31, District 1896, 316 W. 58th Street (owned)

Anton Wachdorf, age 58, immigrated 1863, naturalized 1882, elect. eng--Electric Bridge

wife Anna, age 58

daughter Coletta, age 23, packing--jewelry house

daughter "Mary," age 22, bookkeeper--jewelry house (Mae)

daughter Frances, age 20, packer--jewelry house

daughter Madeline, 17, steno--(illegible)

1930 census, Chicago Ward 17, Block 51, 316 W. 58th Street (owned, not rented, valued at $4000, with radio)

Anton Wachdorf, age 68, married at 21, immigrated 1866, naturalized, engineer--bridge

Wife Anna, age 68, married at 21

Grand-daughter Coletta, age 15, born IL (Joe's daughter)

daughter "Mary," age 32, general office--novelty co. (Mae)

daughter Magdalen, age 27, stenographer--Chicago Motor Co

son Henry, age 42, married at 37, auto mechanic--auto shop (Harry, whose wife Dell is with her sister at 334 W. 58th)

Letters

Letter 11-25-1932 Irene by her sister-in-law to her niece mentions Mae still looking for work, and details doings of the rest of the family.

Mentioned briefly in letter 1955 Feb 13 and 1955 Apr 1 Irene

6-4-1955 letter from Mae's brother Edward in California to his children says, "Mae and Ruth and Leona are coming out here the last week in June and the first week in July and after they leave we are going to Chicago." To read full letter, click here: 1955 June 4

6-14-1955: "We are looking forward to the next treat of visitors which will be my sister Mae and Leona, who are coming out June 26th to July 10th, after which we should be planning to make a visit of our own back to the ones we are anxious to see again." (As a result, there is no letter reporting on their visit, since he was in Chicago). To read full letter, click here: 1955 June 14

7-30-1955: "We hear about Mae from you all but how about Lonie? She was here too and no one can remember as we never hear from her or about her." (Presume Lonie is Leona, Joe's daughter.) To read full letter, click here: 1955 July 30

Also mentioned as California visitor with sister Madeline in letter 1956 Aug 1 Irene and mentioned in reference to friendship with Ann Cooke in letter 1956 Oct 18 Irene. Visiting CA in letter 1957 June 5.

1969 Feb 5 Harry mentions her heart condition.