Part 2....Children and activities.
MARIE
born September 7,1853 at Wehr; died November 16, 1945, Peoria; married February 20, 1879.
She was the oldest child and married Paul O. Bauer. This was the first marriage in the newly established Sacred Heart Church. This fact was authenticated by an examination of the church records. It is also mentioned in the recently published “History of Sacred Heart Church" under the "Firsts” in the congregation. The first record of Paul 0. Bauer appears in 1877 when he was a clerk for Johnston & Scandreth, dealers in boots and shoes, at 123 S. Adams Street. He lived at 106 N. Monroe Street , a short distance from the Trefzger home. As neighbors, he and Mary became acquainted. Later he became a clerk in the boot and shoe store of Charles Qualman at 107 S. Adams Street. He resided, with his wife, at 708 Fourth Street. In 1881-2 he became manager of that shoe store and moved to 106 S. Monroe Street which is the northerly half of the house bought by his father-in-law, Simon Trefzger. Records show that 106 S. Monroe was a residence before Simon Trefzger purchased it. This refutes the statement sometimes heard that Simon Trefzger, after purchasing the property, added on this ha1f of the house. In 1883-4 Paul 0. Bauer entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Adolph, under the firm name of "Bauer & Trefzger” dealers in boots and shoes, at 311 Main Street. This firm continued until sometime in 1887 at which time Adolph took over the business as his individual business. About that same time, Mary moved in with her father on S. Monroe Street. In 1902 she worked as solicitor for her brother, Adolph, in his insurance business. In 1906, after Adolph's death, she became a partner in the business. Frances, widow of Adolph, was the other partner. The directory shows that during one year, Fred, her brother, also was a partner. Mary carried on the business for many years. She was active, mentally and physically until the time of her death.
EMMA
born November 28, 1854, at Wehr; married in April, 1885; died May 24,1935, Peoria
Emma married Frederick Schmidt in 1885. Prior to the marriage the directory listed her but once, in 1880-1 when she was a "saleslady for Simon Trefzger." Her husband, prior to their marriage, was employed by Simon Trefzger, as a baker and it was there that he and Emma became acquainted. After the wedding they moved to Chi1itcothe, Illinois, where Frederick Schmidt carried on his own bakery until his death. Emma then moved back to her father, bringing her two sons with her. In 1902 she moved to the apartment building owned by her father at 505 Bryan Street (formerly known as Eaton Street). In 1906 she and her son, Louis, moved in with her brother, Charles, at 109 Ellis Street where she kept house for him. In 1908 she moved to the house owned by her father at 507 Bryan Street where she stayed until 1910. Then she again went to live with her father. Her son, Louis, in the meanwhile had gone to California and married.
Later when her son came back to Peoria she lived with him at 507 Bryan Street and at this address she died.
ADOLPH
born January 24, 1857, Cincinnati; died April 3, 1905, San Diego; married October 28,1886.
He was the oldest son. In 1877 he was clerk at 316 s. Water Street. In 1880 he became bookkeeper for Soan-Johnston Company, wholesale grocers. In 1883 he entered into a partnership with his brother-in-law, Paul 0. Bauer (which see). In the year 1887 he operated the shoe business as his own. While operating the store, from 1888 to 1894, he also was president of the Star Fence Machine Company which was located at 803 Hamilton Street. In 1899 he was elected City Treasurer and served two years. His salary during 1899 was $791.70. One of his ads for his shoe business reads, "Complete line of Alfred Dodge felt shoes and slippers." In 1888 he lived at 507 Bryan Street. This property he bought on April 28, 1886. He stayed there until sometime in 1893 or 1894 and then moved to 106 S. Monroe Street. In 1899 he started his own general insurance business with offices at Room 427, Woo1ner Building (now the P. A. Bergner Co.) In 1903 his address is shown as 108 S. Monroe Street and the next year he 1s shown as owner of the business but living 1n San Diego, Calif.
CHARLES
born February 16, 1860, Peoria; died July 21,1941, Peoria; married June 10,1890.
The first reference to him in the directory is in 1879 where he 1s listed as "KARL” a baker at 523 Main Street. In 1867 he is listed as a partner in the firm of Trefzger & Son. In 1890, after his marriage, he took over the business of his father and moved upstairs where his father formerly lived. In May 1896 he moved to 109 Ellis Street where he resided until his death. His daughter, Marie, still resides there. In 1904 he moved the bakery around the corner to 102 S. Monroe Street. But since people would not go "around the corner," in 1906 he again moved back to Main Street. In 1909 he occupied both the Main Street and S. Monroe Street addresses.
ANNA
born December 1, 1867 in Wehr.
In 1887 and 1888 she worked for her father as a clerk in the bakery. After that she stayed at home 1ooking after her parents and undertaking the management of the household. She took time to develop her artistic talents and devoted much of her time to china painting. Later she devoted her spare time to oil paintings. She stayed at the homestead until illness necessitated her going to the hospital for care and treatment. At this writing she is in the St. Francis Hospital.
GUSTAV RUDOLPH
born July 21, 1869, Wehr; died, December 26, 1955 at San Diego; married June 27, 1899 and April 25, 1913.
He first worked for his father and brother in the bakery as a baker in 1887. In 1888 and 1889 he was a helper for Nailon Brothers, plumbers. In 1893 he worked for F. McLaughlin, plumber. In 1896 and 1897 he was in business for himself with his shop at 531 Main Street. In 1898 he joined his brother, Fred, in forming a firm known as "R. & F. Trefzger Co" with shop at 515 Main Street. They were among the leaders in the plumbing business at that time, undertaking many big jobs including the entire installation of plumbing and heating in the Sacred Heart parsonage and school. In 1900, evidently after his marriage, he moved to 507 Bryan Street where he stayed until 1903. His residence then became 108 S. Monroe Street. Then he moved to San Diego. During the last year, before going west, he operated the plumbing business by himself. One of the ads he had showed a picture of a bathroom with the latest and most modern fixtures. Another large ad showed a tub. Over the center was a head shower and a circular pipe
from which hung the shower curtain. He was active in Catholic societies serving on the finance committee and on the board of directors of the ST. Antonius Unterstuetzungs Verein.
FREDERICK
born February 22, 1871 at Wehr; married October 18,1899
He too began working for his father and brother being a clerk in 1887. In 1888 he became bookkeeper for brother, Adolph. That year he was secretary of the Germania Maennerchoir, which position he held for 3 years. This shows both his popularity and ability since he was serving in this manner at the young age of 17 years. He continued as bookkeeper for his brother until 1895 when he became a salesman for his brother, Adolph. In 1898 he joined his brother, Rudolph, in a plumbing partnership (which see). After his marriage he lived at 111 Ellis Street, next door to his brother, Charles. In 1899 he was elected secretary of the Illinois Plumbers Association and served 3 years. In 1890 he served also as secretary of the Peoria Plumbers Association. In 1902 he moved to 505 Bryan Street. In 1903 he again became solicitor for his brother’s insurance business. He took part in dramatics and various programs show him as playing important roles. During the convention of the DRKCV (see page 3 of history) held in Peoria in 1900 (September), he served on the entertainment and program committees. He married a daughter of John and Mary Berger, old time friends of his parents who visited each other on their arrival in this country.
ROSA PETRONELLA
born October 3, 1875 in Peoria; died April 28, 1956 in Cincinnati; married October 12, 1897.
She was the "baby" of the family. She accompanied her parents and sister, Anna, on a trip to Europe in 1892. She kept a complete diary of this trip. This diary is now in the possession of her son, ALfred. In it she tells about stopping in Cincinnati and staying with the Bergers on the way to the coast and on her return. A son of John Berger, George by name, took a liking to her. In 1895 she was in the bridal party of the wedding of a daughter of John Berger, Amanda, to John Ecker1e. George was also a member of the wedding party. He made several trips to Peoria to press his suit and suggested they get married. "Nellie" as she was called, was but 20 years old at the time. She suggested they wait until she was 22 years old. When she was 22 years and 9 days old, she married George in Sacred Heart Church in Peoria.
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