Margaretha Hennes and Charles Friehauf's Family

Margaretha Hennes, daughter of Peter, was born on February 13, 1846 at Silberberg, Germany. She was baptized the same day in St. Mark's Catholic Church. Her godparents were Frances Hennes, son of Mathias Hennes and Elizabeth Malampre, and Margaretha Hostert, daughter of Joannes Hostert and Maria Rossler. Margaret died on March 6, 1921 at Lemont, Illinois.

Margaret married in 1865, probably on November 8, at Lemont, Illinois to Charles Friehauf, son of John Friehauf. He is the brother of John Friehauf, husband of Catherine Hennes. Charles was born on January 21, 1840 at Wittlich, Germany. He died on September 29, 1926 at Lemont, Illinois. Charles was a farmer by profession. The 1900 United States census reports that Charles came to America in 1857 and that he was a naturalized citizen. The census also listed his occupation at that of landlord.

Charles served in the Union army during the American Civil War. Company E 8th Illinois Cavalry’s rooster listed a Charles Freehauf from Lemont, Illinois who was recruited on September 22, 1864 and mustered out of June 21, 1865. His occupation was given as blacksmith. This service was confirmed by a copy of the “Muster and Descriptive Rolls 8th Cavalry,” which was obtained from the Illinois Secretary of State’s archives. In addition to the preceding information, one learns that Charles was twenty-three at the time of his joining the Union Army, that he was five feet and seven inches in height, that he had dark hair and gray eyes with a fair complexion. Charles was recruited and enrolled at Chicago, Illinois and was discharged at Washington, D.C.

Margaret and Charles had at least two children. The 1900 United States census return indicated that Margaret had had two children but only one was living at the census was taken.

1. Mary Friehauf was born on January 12, 1864 at Lemont, Illinois. She died on January 18, 1954 at Joliet, Illinois.

   Mary married on November 8, 1887 at Lemont, Illinois to John B. Graf. John was born on June 20, 1864 at Brooklyn, New York. He died on December 30, 1954 at Joliet, Illinois. In the 1900 United States census return, John's occupation is given as a railroad conductor. In the 1910, 1920 and 1930 census returns, his occupation is given a carpenter. One researcher tells us that John was an insurance agent and a carpenter and as a younger man he served as the village clerk and a fireman.

   Mary and John had seven children: Carl, Margaret, Maria, Aloysius, Raymond, Agnes, and Isidore. In 1915, tragic struck Mary and John's family when on July 24, 1915 their son, Raymond, drowned at the age of sixteen in the tragic capsizing of the S. S. Eastland while moored at the dock on the Chicago River, taking on passengers for a picnic cruise on Lake Michigan from Chicago to Michigan City. The casualty list provided the following information.

   "Graf, Raymond, age: 16, Sex: M, Status: Single, Occupation: Clerk, Comments: Buried In Lemont, IL"

2. Unnamed daughter. According to a transcription of the headstones at St. Alphonsus Cemetery at Lemont, there is Susanna Freehauf buried with Karl and Margaretha Freehauf. She is reported to have been born on February 24, 1867 and to have died on August 1, 1867. This information is further confirmed by data provided by the Lemont, Illinois Historical Society, which mentioned a Susanne Freehauf.

Sources:

1. The following United States federal census:
   • 1860 for Homer, Will, Illinois, Page 99, Dwelling 848, Family 775.
   • 1880 for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Page 54B, SD 1, ED 205, Dwelling 476, Family 490.
   • 1880 for Walnut, Bureau, Illinois, Page 33, SD, 3 ED 25, Dwelling 99, Family 103.
   • 1900 for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 9B, SD 1, ED 1163, Dwellings 173 & 174, Families 180 & 181.
   • 1910 for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 16A, SD 1, ED 24, Dwelling 314, Family 321.
   • 1910 for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 23A, SD 1, ED 34, Dwelling 461, Family 468.
   • 1920 for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 6A, SD 2, ED 95, Dwellings 123 & 124, Families 127 & 128.
   • 1930 for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 14B, SD 7, ED 16-2144, Dwelling 333, Family 351.
   • 1930 for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 19B, Dwelling 435, Family 462.
2. Baptismal registration for Anna Margaretha Friehauf.
3. The Muster and Descriptive Roll for Company E, 8th Illinois US Cavalry obtained from the Office of the Secretary of the State of Illinois.
4. Letter from Agnes Graff of Lemont, Illinois dated 16 April 1983.
5. The Internet GEDCOM file complied of Mr. Thomas J. Smith of Portland. Oregon as found at Ancestry World Tree Search at http://www.ancestry.com.
6. An RTF file provided by Barbara Bannon of Lemont, Illinois.
7. A written summary of the Hennes Family provided by Gwen Leno of Bismarck, North Dakota.
8. Information on the S.S. Eastland disaster can be found at http://www.eastlanddisaster.com.
9. Obituary for:
   • Aloysius Graf, which appeared in the January 3, 1985 edition of The Lemont Metropolitan.
   • Margaret Graf, nee Passinger, which appeared in the October 19, 1989 edition of The Lemont Metropolitan.
   • Henry Isidore Graf, which appeared n the February 17, 1983 edition of The Lemont Metropolitan.
   • Mary J. Graf, which appeared in the January 20, 2006 edition of The Lemont Reporter/Met.
   • John A. Graf, which appeared in the January 6, 1955 edition of The Lemonter.
   • Mary Graf, which appeared in the January 21, 1984 edition of The Lemonter.
   • Margaret Mary Graf, which appeared in the June 23, 1971 edition of The Herald.
   • Viola Graf, which appeared on the December 9, 1976 edition of The Lemont Metropolitan.

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