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[home] [surname index] [Wachdorf index]
PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, MORE TO ADD
To jump straight to photographs, click here: pics
For census, stories, newspaper article etc, click here: paper trail & oral history
She is mentioned in the following letters 1955 Apr 1 Irene (also mentions both her parents, and her father's heart trouble), 1955 June 4, 1956 March Irene (refers only to her youngest son & relatives Cy & Eleanor Cahill), 1956 Mar 23 Irene, 1956 Sept 22 Irene (only mentions eldest daughter), 1956 Oct 18 Irene (letter from her daughter but none from her or Jer); 1956 Nov 9 (all about the kids etc); 1957 Jan 2 (also mentions oldest daughter & Eva Plaehn); 1957 April 11 (also mentions son & mother Eva); 1957 July 6; 1957 July 25 (visit to CA with kids by car, poss trip to Sequoias), 1961 Oct 25 Irene, taking care of Dolores' kids 1966 July Irene; Bowling tournament 1966 Feb 1 Marge; 2-19-1967 Hilda (and her mother); 4-11-1967 Irene (and her mother); Fishing trip involving houseboat & kids discussed 10-25-1967 Irene; trip to Tahoe w Larry 1969 Sept 22 Larry
letters actually written BY Charlotte: 1957 Apr 3 Char & 1968 Feb 21 Char
To jump straight to info about her maternal line, click here: Marx
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Charlotte Helen Plaehn Wachdorf
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Siblings
-Arthur -Josephine |
married in 1941 to
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Children
current generations not listed to protect their privacy
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Charlotte's parents: Arthur Plaehn & Eva Marks |
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Jerry's parents: & |
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Her maternal grandparents: Herman Marx & Margaret Schurheck
Her paternal grandparents: John and Maria Plaehn Maria died 1913 & John married Josephine |
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Her Marx aunts & uncles: Helen, Charles, Frederick
Her Plaehn aunts & uncles: 1894-Emily; 1895-John; c.1902-Alma; c.1906-Mildred
Her great-grandparents were in Germany |
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MORE PHOTOS TO BE ADDED
Click on image to enlarge. Once enlarged, to zoom, move cursor to right of image, back onto image, and click again. Matron of honor in wedding photos is Eleanor Cahill.
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Info from Charlotte: Her father is Arthur Plaehn and her mother Eva Marx. Arthur's father is John, and mother Josephine. Arthur Plaehn had three or four sisters (Emily, Elma, Mildred and ?) and brother John. Eva's mother is Margaret and father is Herman. Eva had one sister, Helen, and two brothers, Charles and Frederick.
Based on that (note that Josephine doesn't appear until 1920, after the funeral of a Maria Plaehn, married to John Plaehn. If they're the right Plaehns, she's his second wife, and not the mother of Charlotte's father, Arthur):
1900 census, Chicago, ward 30, W. 54th St.:
John Plaehn, born March 1867 in Germany, imm 1878 (dift in 1910 census), married 10 years, occupation: store--hardware.
Wife Maria Plaehn, born Dec. 1870 in Germany.
Daughter Alma born Nov. 1892
Son Arthur born April 1893
Daughter Emily born July 1894
Son John born Nov. 1895, all born in Illinois.
1910 census, Chicago, Tract A.D. 16, Ward 30, 5215 S. Halsted:
John Plaehn, age 46, born Germany, immigrated 1882, naturalized, married 19 years, occupation: proprietor of hardware store.
Wife Maria Plaehn, age 40, born in Germany, immigrated in 1880, mother of six of whom five are alive.
Daughter Alma M., age 18
Son Arthur L., age 17, occupation: apprentice handyman
Daughter Emily J., age 15
Son John C., age 14
Daughter Mildred A., age 4, all born in Illinois.
(They have Chinese neighbors, who run a Chinese laundry-- the only Chinese neighbors I have come across.)
2-17-1913 death of Maria Plaehn. Obituary in Chicago Tribune 2-18: Mrs. Maria Plaehn, Feb. 17, age 43 years, beloved wife of John Plaehn, mother of Alma, Arthur, Emily, John and Mildred Plaehn. Funeral services at late residence 5209 S. Halsted st. Wednesday 10 a.m. under auspices of Columbia chapter, Order Eastern Star. Member of Lady Harrison lodge, Knights and Ladies of Honor. Burial by carriages to Mount Hope.
1917 draft registration for Arthur Louis Plaehn of 827 54th St., born in Chicago April 7, 1893, gives his profession as "Timer" or some word that looks like that, for Liquid Carbonic Co of 31st and Kedzie. His reason for exemption: support of wife and sister. A draft registration card also exists for John Charles Plaehn, possibly his brother, born in Nov. 1895 (exact date not legible), single, living at W. 66th, employed as a sheet metal contractor (compare to Arthur being a sheet metal worker in 1930 census).
1917 draft registration for Arthur's brother, John Charles Plaehn, address looks like W. 66th st but hard to read. Born in Chicago Nov. 22 (second digit hard to read) 1895. Occupation: sheet metal contractor, self employed. Where employed: 5209 S. Halsted (compare that to home address in 1910 and 1920 census). Tall, slender, blue eyed, blond.
1920 census, Chicago, Ward 30, 5209 Halsted:
John Plaehn, age 54, dealer--hardware, immigrated 1883, naturalized 1889.
Wife Josephine, age 56, born in Wisconsin, no profession.
Need to find Arthur or Eva in 1920 census, but haven't been able to yet.
1930 census, Chicago, 5802 Princeton:
Arthur L. Plaehn, age 36, born in Illinois of parents born in Germany, married at 24, occupation: sheet metal worker.
Wife Eva Plaehn, age 35, born in Illinois, father born in Germany, mother Illinois, married at 23; clerk in store.
Son Arthur F., age 12
Daughter Charlotte, age 8, both born in Illinois.
Father-in-law Carl "Maks" (Marx), age 83, born in Germany, immigrated 1882, naturalized
brother-in-law Charles "Maks," age 40, born IL, father born Germany, mother IL; occupation: shipping clerk for drug store
niece Eleanor "Maks," age 13, born in Illinois of parents born in IL (so Charles' missing wife was born in Illinois).
Boarder, Danny McIntyre, a 48- year-old packer for a storage company from New Jersey
Boarder Mathias Schurheek, a 72-year-old houseman from Illinois.
(NOTE: Mathias Schurheek is surely the Matthew Schurheck listed as brother-in-law to Herman Marx in the 1920 census).
A younger sister--Josephine (married name Loringer?)--born after 1930 census
Couple Wed, Leave on Honeymoon Trip to Florida.
Daily Southtown, 6-1-1941:
On a honeymoon trip to Miami, Fla., are Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Wachdorf who were married a week ago in the St. Martin church.
Mrs. Wachdorf is the former Charlotte Plaehn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Plaehn. Mr. Wachdorf is the son of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Wachdorf, 334. W. 58th st.
The bride wore white slipper satin and carried a bouquet of gardenias, sweet peas and lilies of the valley. The matron of honor, Mrs. Eleanor Cahill, wore white marquisette and carried pink carnations and sweet pears. Ruth Plaehn, Ruth Schickling, Mary Papp, and Justina Shannigan (Justina Hannigan?), the bridesmaids, also wore white marquisette and carried pink carnations and sweet peas. Little Charlotte Jean Cahill was the flower girl.
Wilbur Schuch* was the best man. Arthur Plaehn Jr., Harry Wachdorf and Francis Wachdorf ushered.
After the ceremony a wedding breakfast for 36 guests was held in the home of the bride's parents. In the evening a reception for 250 guests was held in the Odd Fellows hall at 63rd st. and Yale ave.
Mrs. Wachdorf is a graduate of Englewood high school, Mr. Wachdorf of De LaSalle high school. They will make their home at 9241 Throop st.
*Wilbur Schuch = Peanut
from a letter by Irene Pfleger Wachdorf 4-1-1955: "How is Char's Dad? Did he have any more heart attacks and is he back at work again and how is her mother?"
Social Security Death Index: Arthur Plaehn born 4-7-1893, died Sept. 1962 in Illinois, but social security number originally issued from Indiana.
SSDI: Eva Plaehn of Palos Heights, born 9-25-1894, died Jan. 1977. (1-31-1977)
1910 census, Ward 29, Chicago, 5410 Laflin St.:
Herman Marx, age 60, born in Germany of parents born in Germany, immigrated 1880, naturalized, married 19 years (listed as M1, or his first marriage), occupation: laborer in stockyards.
Spouse Margaret Marx, age 42, born in IL, married 19 years (but listed as M2, her second marriage), mother of 5 of whom 4 are living.
Stepson Charles Marx, age 23, born in IL, shipping clerk for wholesale drug company.
Daughter Genevieve Marx, age 15, born in IL.
Daughter Helen Marx, age 13, born in IL. Son Frederick Marx, age 10, born in IL
1920 census, Chicago, Ward 32, 7036 Parnell Ave.:
Herman Marx, age 72, born in Germany, immigrated 1882, naturalized 1887, no profession.
(Note on where he's from: Germany is written over a previous reply of
what looks like Pommeria (probably Pomerania, a region of Prussia) for Herman's birth, and written over what looks
like Augustville or Auguschille or something like that for his parents.
Wife Margaret Marx, 51, born in IL, father born Koln, mother Germany
Son Charles Marx 22, born in IL of a father born in "Pommer" and mother in IL, occupation: shipping clerk for drug store.
Son Fred Marx, age 20, born in IL, parentage listed the same, occupation: clerk for railway office.
Grandson Clarence Marx, age 8, born in IL of parents born in IL
Granddaughter Eleanor Marx, age 2, also born IL of parents from IL.
Brother-in-law Matthew Schurheck, age 62, born in IL of a father born in Koln (like Margaret), occupation: clerk at athletic club.
1930 census, Chicago, 5802 Princeton:
Arthur L. Plaehn, age 36, born in Illinois of parents born in Germany, married at 24, occupation: sheet metal worker.
Wife Eva Plaehn, age 35, born IL, father born Germany, mother IL; married at 23, occupation: clerk in store.
Son Arthur F., age 12
Daughter Charlotte, age 8, both born in Illinois.
Father-in-law Carl "Maks" (Marx), age 83, born in Germany, immigrated 1882, naturalized
brother-in-law Charles "Maks," age 40, born IL, father born Germany, mother IL; occupation: shipping clerk for drug store
niece Eleanor "Maks," age 13, born in Illinois of parents born in IL (so Charles' missing wife was born in Illinois).
Boarder, Danny McIntyre, a 48- year-old packer for a storage company from New Jersey
Boarder Mathias Schurheek, a 72-year-old houseman from Illinois.
(NOTE: Mathias Schurheek is surely the Matthew Schurheck listed as brother-in-law to Herman Marx in the 1920 census).
