Unusually large autograph album presented to Henry Rothert by his mother, presumably in 1869. Henry was a student at Baltimore, Maryland, and collected autographs between 1869 and 1871.
I believe the album owner was Henry H. Rothert, born about March 1855 in Maryland to German immigrant parents, but I invite readers' confirmation or alternate theories. That Henry, a carpenter, married Olga Seiler in 1899 or 1900. See an image of Henry's house at 4251 Nicholas Avenue in Baltimore.
Note of September 12, 2015: See the comments section for an alternate theory of Henry's identity and for information on other inscribers.
Many of the pages are inscribed in German. A genealogist in Germany helped me with identifying names and relationships, but the handwriting was difficult to interpret in places, so other sets of eyes would be helpful. Some readers may be able to decode the initials of Baltimore people they've researched.
Any input would be most appreciated; revisions and/or additions will be incorporated into this post in bold.
The album measures approximately 11-1/2" by 8-3/4" and contains the sentiments of 27 of Henry's relatives, schoolmates and friends. An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.
If you find a mistake in the captions of any of the images below, if you have a translation of the sentiment, or if you have information on the inscriber, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
Click on an image to enlarge it.
1869-1871 autograph album of Henry Rothert of Baltimore, Maryland
Presentation page; Henry's mother gave him the album, presumably in 1869
Hermann; inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland on June 14, 1869, or January 14 1869; zum Andenken an deinen Mitschüler; Henry's schoolmate. Page written in German. Not sure if given name or surname
B. Vondrehle, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 16, 1869; Henry's schoolmate, presumably Boston Vondrehle, brother of inscriber Emma Vondrehle
J. H. Rothert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 11, 1869; perhaps John Herman Rothert or Johann Heinrich Rothert
J. H. Meyers, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 19, 1869; Henry's schoolmate
G. A. Plaggemeyer, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 5, 1869; Henry's schoolmate; possibly George Henry August Plaggemeyer
Freund und Mitschüler William Karl Schilling, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on April 9, 1869; Henry's schoolmate. Page written in German
Karl W. Oehm [not sure of surname]; inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 11, 1869. Page written in German
"Your friend Maria"; Deine Freundin Maria. No surname given. Page written in German
W. Meissel [not sure of surname], inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 10, 1869. Page written in German
Friedrich Koote [not sure of surname]; inscribed on April 14, 1869 at Baltimore, Maryland; Henry's classmate. "Dein Mitschüler"; page written in German
Johann Bubert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland on February 24, 1871. Page written in German
Emma Vondrehle, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 18, 1869. Sister of inscriber Boston Vondrehle
F. Muthert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 15, 1869. Presumably Frederick Muthert; page written in German
Charles L. Peters, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 1, 1869; Henry's schoolmate
Caroliene; "deine treue [?] Freundin"; page written in German
Mary Rolker, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 10, 1869; Henry's cousin
Aloisius Lens [not sure of surname]; Henry's schoolmate. "von deinem Schulfreund"; page written in German
C. Kraft, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on April 8, 1869
Eddy Linden, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on June 2, 1869
Anna Rolker, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 22, 1871
W. Meissel, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 26, 1871
Mary Meissel, inscribed on February 3, 1871 at Baltimore, Maryland
John William Bubert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 24, 1871
Mary
H. H. Bubert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 9, 1871
Surnames in the Album
| ? | ? [4] | L | Lens ? | P | Peters |
| B | Bubert [3] | Linden | Plaggemeyer | ||
| D | VonDrehle [2] | M | Meissel [3] | R | Rolker [2] |
| H | Hermann | Meyers | Rothert [2] | ||
| K | Kiel | Muthert | S | Schilling | |
| Koote ? | O | Oehm ? | V | Vondrehle [2] | |
| Kraft |
Inscribers in the Album - Note: Given names within a specific surname might not be in alpha order.
- Hermann; inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland on June 14, 1869, or January 14 1869; zum Andenken an deinen Mitschüler; Henry's schoolmate. Page written in German. Not sure if given name or surname.
- "Your friend Maria"; Deine Freundin Maria. No surname given. Page written in German
- Caroliene; "deine treue [?] Freundin"; page written in German
- Mary
- John William Bubert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 24, 1871
- H. H. Bubert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 9, 1871
- Johann Bubert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland on February 24, 1871. Page written in German
- Hermann; inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland on June 14, 1869, or January 14 1869; zum Andenken an deinen Mitschüler; Henry's schoolmate. Page written in German. Not sure if given name or surname.
- Heinrich Kiel; Henry's schoolmate. "Zu Erinnerung deines Schulfreundes"; page written in German
- Friedrich Koote [not sure of surname]; inscribed on April 14, 1869 at Baltimore, Maryland; Henry's classmate. "Dein Mitschüler"; page written in German
- C. Kraft, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on April 8, 1869
- Aloisius Lens [not sure of surname]; Henry's schoolmate. "von deinem Schulfreund"; page written in German
- Eddy Linden, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on June 2, 1869
- W. Meissel, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 26, 1871
- Mary Meissel, inscribed on February 3, 1871 at Baltimore, Maryland
- W. Meissel [not sure of surname], inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 10, 1869. Page written in German
- J. H. Meyers, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 19, 1869; Henry's schoolmate
- F. Muthert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 15, 1869. Presumably Frederick Muthert; page written in German
- Karl W. Oehm [not sure of surname]; inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on February 11, 1869. Page written in German
- Charles L. Peters, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 1, 1869; Henry's schoolmate
- G. A. Plaggemeyer, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 5, 1869; Henry's schoolmate; possibly George Henry August Plaggemeyer
- Mary Rolker, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 10, 1869; Henry's cousin
- Anna Rolker, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 22, 1871
- Henry Rothert of Baltimore, Maryland; album owner
- J. H. Rothert, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on March 11, 1869; perhaps John Herman Rothert or Johann Heinrich Rothert
- Freund und Mitschüler William Karl Schilling, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on April 9, 1869; Henry's schoolmate. Page written in German
- B. Vondrehle, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 16, 1869; Henry's schoolmate, presumably Boston Vondrehle, brother of inscriber Emma Vondrehle
- Emma Vondrehle, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 18, 1869. Sister of inscriber Boston Vondrehle
Do you think maybe Henry Rothert was only going to school in Baltimore? There is a Henry Rothert in Buffalo in 1855, age 7, parents both born in Hanover.
ReplyDeletehttps://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K635-SKX
Frederick Mutherd's father was from Hanover, according to his 1870 census:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN3W-3HM
As well as Boston and Emma Vondrehle's parents, according to 1870:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN37-1KS
Anna and Mary Catherine Rolker's parents just say Germany, in 1870 and 1880. 1870 for Anna and "Catherine":
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN39-25F
and 1880 for "Mary", same age, same family:
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNQW-J3F
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If Henry Rothert is the young man from Buffalo, then his parents were William and Catherine, and he had siblings (all younger) named John, Gustavus, and Frederick. see the 1855 census above.
And he is probably married by 1875 to a wife named Lena, with a daughter Caralina.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VNVB-CD3
In 1880, He and Lena have in their home a Henry Vander Veen/Vanderveen/Van Der Veen, age 62, born in the Netherlands. Lena states that her mother was born in the Netherlands, so Henry may be her uncle.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZZY-1DF
Their children on the 1892 Census are called Carrie, William, and Julia.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQSZ-G5N
I don't know if "Hanover" narrows it down any, but it was odd that three of the four families I found from the list of signers were from there.
Amazing work, Ed!
DeleteSigner John H Rothert's parents might also be from Hanover:
ReplyDeleteThis might be John H Rothert in 1850 in Baltimore, as the son in this family.
John H Rothart M 32 Germany
Ann C Rothart F 31 Germany
Catharine M Rothart F 6 Maryland
John H Rothart M 2 Maryland
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD44-3L5
and this might be them in 1860, both parents from Hanover. Remember that Germans used baptismal names, and sometimes they show up as the first of two given names.
John Rother M 43 Hanover Ger
Catharine Rother F 42 Hanover Ger
Mary Rother F 16 Maryland
John Rother M 12 Maryland
So you would have father and son John Henrich or John Hermann, wife Anna Catherina, and daughter Mary Catherine.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M692-KHQ
Again, many thanks for this research!
Delete