
They didn't smile much for these photos. I don't think the idea, that they had to look like they were having fun, occurred yet. They are more like formal portraits. Sometimes I'm frustrated at how everyone in modern photos IS smiling - is everyone really that happy?
Anna Maria Fredicker Schuerfeld was born 10/13/1860 in Quincy Illinois to German immigrant parents. I know that she spoke English because letters to her, from her children, were in English. She married Adolph/Adam Wachenheim 5/27/1880. He was a butcher. As apparent from letters, he spent at least some of their early marriage in Chicago while she remained in Quincy raising children. From 1881 to 1901 she gave birth to 10 children - Rosa (Rose), Adolph, John, Florence, Lorenzo (Lawrence), Ralph, Arnold, Alice, Thelma, Thane. She saw 6 die in infancy or early childhood. A son (Lawrence) left for military service and war, in his late teens, and returned to Quincy afterwards. He later married and had 3 sons. One daughter (Alice) married, the others did not. I see in her obituary that she had a sister, Minnie Schwagmeier - she could be the other child in the preceeding photo. She was a member of the "Royal Neighbors of America" (a fraternal benefit orginization) and of the Eastern Star organization (which appears to be an extension of Freemasonry that includes women).
Even in this informal photo late in life, she's not smiling! However, it is noted in her obituary that "even during her long illness she remained cheerful and smiling, characteristics that won for her innumerable friends". There is a man behind her in the shadows.
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