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Marie C. Pfleger Traut

c.1908 to 7-17-1969

Siblings

 

  Catherine Pfleger (Seaman)

  Leona Pfleger (Brennan)

married

to

Henry Bernard Traut

4-20-1908 to 2-25-1991

 

Children

 

Daughters

Marie & Helen

drowned

in separate incidents

(see below)

 

Current

generations

not listed

to protect

their privacy

 

parents:

Lou Pfleger

&

Gert Bornhofen

spouse's parents:

Henry Traut

&

Sarah Ann Cameron

maternal grandparents:

John Bornhofen & Catherine Merten

 

paternal grandparents:

Johann/John Pfleger & Maria Grimm

maternal aunts & uncles:

Joe Bornhofen & Katherine Bitner

 

paternal aunts & uncles:

c. 1878-Henry Pfleger & Louise Lift; 1880-Oscar Pfleger & Annie Wirtz; c.1885-Dell Pfleger Wachdorf & Harry; 1888-Irene Pfleger Wachdorf & Edward

Click on any photo to enlarge. Once enlarged, to activate zoom, move cursor to right of image, back onto image, and click again. *photo loaned by one of Marie's daughters.

perhaps Marie?

close-up

Marie (identified by her daughter)

alternate pose

Marie and little sister Catherine (identified by Marie's daughter)

*her uncle Joe, Marie, grandfather John Bornhofen, grandmother Catherine Merten Bornhofen, sister Catherine, father Lou Pfleger, mother Gert, Leona

50th anniversary of Marie's grandparents. She's seated, far left, I think. Next shot is same with some labeling.

same as previous. Best viewed by printing out (change page orientation to landscape) Kids' #s get cut off, 63 on left to 57 on right.

looks like Marie Pfleger, but have no positive i.d.

back: her aunt Dell, her mom, herself. Front: her cousin Edward (Oscar's), Catherine, Leona, her uncle Oscar, her dad, her cousin Eleanor (Oscar's)

label of previous photo by Marie's daughter

cousins Eleanor & Ed on ground w. their Mom, Annie. Standing, unknown, Bernard Traut & Marie, her uncle Oscar, Gert, Lou, aunt Dell & Harry Wachdorf

Bernard, Marie, Eleanor, Gert, Ed, Harry & Dell, Annie & Oscar, Lou

1910 census, Chicago, 7429 Harvard: In the household of her grandfather, John Bornhofen, grandmother Catherine and uncle Joe Bornhofen (Gert's parents and brother) is Louis J. Pfleger, 27, married 5 years, a cashier, born in Michigan, father born in Germany, though he slips and puts his mother's birthplace as Iowa, with wife Gertrude, 25, born in Illinois, of a father born in Michigan and a mother born in Wisconsin, plus daughter Marie, age 2, born in Illinois.

1920 census, Chicago, 7429 Harvard: still in the Bornhofen household with John, Catherine and Joe. Lou now lists his parents as born in Bavaria and Ohio, his occupation as: book keeper--factory. Gert now lists that her father was born in Coblenz and her mother in Wisconsin. Marie is 11, Catherine 7, Leona 3 years and four months.

In 1923 Marie was named godmother of her cousin Frank Wachdorf (son of her father's sister, Irene Pfleger Wachdorf). The godfather was her cousin John Pfleger (son of her father's brother, Oscar). Got this info from Irene Pfleger Wachdorf's baby calendar.

On Sept. 7, 1923, Marie was cited in the Surbanite Economist (a Southtown newspaper) for winning a gold medal in the individual athletic test.

11-26-1924, same newspaper, in an article about the Carthaginian's Club play, "specialties were provided by... Catherine Pfleger accompanied by Clement Slowy...and Marie Pfleger..." This notice appeared in the paper in reference to a performance on Nov. 17 & 18. Between performance and publication, Marie's Grandma Pfleger died on 11-23-1924.

The photos of the road trip with her cousins and uncle and aunts are stamped May 30, 1930. Her husband (or future husband--see census info below) Bernard "Bunny" Traut is along on the road trip.

In the 1930 census, Marie is still in her parents' home, still single. Her profession is listed as teacher of dramatic arts.

At some point after the 1930 census, Marie married Bernard Traut, who was a certified public accountant by the 1950s. References in the Daily Southtown put them at 9341 Damen Ave. from 1943 through the 1960s.

April 7, 1943 (from the Daily Southtown, with misspelling of Pfleger left in place): Three Sisters Become Mothers Within 11 Days: Within 11 days the three daughters of Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Psleger, 7429 Harvard ave., each gave birth to a baby girl. The Pslegers now have 12 grandchildren. On St. Patrick's day, March 17, an eight-and-one-half pound girl was born to Mrs. Lawrence Seaman of the Harvard ave. address in the St. Bernard hospital. The baby had been named *** ***. Friday, March 26, also in St. Bernard hospital, *** ***, weighing eight pounds, 12 1/2 ounces, was born to Mrs. Bernard Traut, 9341 Damen ave. Two days later, Sunday, March 28, little *** Brennen was born to Mrs. John Brennen, 245 W. Marquette rd. in the Michael Reese hospital. The baby weighed seven pounds 15 ounces at birth.

July 13, 1950: Marie's daughter, Marie Antoinette, drowned at Michigan City, Indiana, at age 14

June 18, 1951: Marie's daughter, Helen, drowned at an indoor pool, age 11 (transcription at: article on drowning).

In the 1950s and 1960s Marie and Bernard are mentioned often in the Daily Southtown, Marie as chairman for publicity for the Mother's Club of St. Joseph's College, as girl scout troop leader, as alumnus of the Academy of Our Lady (and Bernard as chairman of a committee to raise funds to construct a new building for the Academy), or member of her church, etc. Personal favorite: 5-19-1954 (in a column where citizens have their say, in this case on the subject of relaxation), "Mrs. Bernard Traut, 9341 S. Damen ave., housewife: I can relax by bowling, although that might sound strange to some people. When I bowl once a week it doesn't matter what else happens and I don't even stop to eat. With five children, Girl Scout and church work, it's hard to find time to do a lot of bowling, but I really relax when I bowl."

Obit 7-18-1969 Chicago Tribune: Mrs. Marie Traut, 61, of 9341 Damen Ave, died yesterday in Christ Community Hospital where she had been since Monday for treatment of a heart condition. She is survived by her husband, Bernard; three sons, ***,*** and ***; two daughters, ** and Mrs. ***; two sisters; and 8 grandchildren. Mass will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow in Christ the King Catholic Church

2nd obit: Marie C. Traut, nee Pfleger, late of 9341 S. Damen avenue, beloved wife of Bernard H.; dear mother of ...; sister of Mrs. Catherine Seaman and Mrs. Leona Brennan; loving grandmother of eight; sister-in-law of Mrs. Mary Margaret Doffin and James J. Traut. At the Heeney Funeral Home, 2100 w. 95th at Hoyne after 3 p.m. Thursday. Funeral Saturday 9:30 a.m. to Christ the King church. Mass 10 a.m. Interment St. Mary. Please omit flowers. Donations may be made to St. Xavier college, 103d and Central Park Avenue, Chicago 60655.

Relative to the name Traut: Marie's son referred in an email to his Uncle James Traut, a Chicago policeman (wife's name: Ethel) whom he said was good friends with a Wachdorf.