LOSS OF CHILDREN
In studying the history of our ancestors it is quite common to find couples who suffered the loss of multiple children. There were many causes for infant mortality in the 1800's and early 1900's. In Germany infant mortality was very high with one out of three newborn infants not living past the age of 1.
In my research on my maternal Kolberg family I found two such instances of multiple deaths of children born both in Germany and in the US.
My great-grandfather, August Kolberg, and his 6 brothers all had large families. August and 4 of his brothers came to the US bringing their children born in Germany with them and continuing to have children in this country. His two brothers who remained in Germany also had large families. Together these 7 brothers had over 70 children between them.
The oldest Kolberg brother, my 2nd great uncle, Friedrich-Wilhelm Kolberg, Jr. and his wife, Hermine Augusta Melchert, however, suffered the great loss of all of their children as infants.
Friedrich-Wilhelm Kolberg, Jr. was born September 28, 1852 in Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Germany. On January 7, 1881, in Reinwasser, Kreis Rummelsburg, Pommern, Germany, he married Hermine Augusta Melchert. As was common in those days they immediately started a family, however, all 7 of their children died as infants or young children as follows:
Martha Marie Franziska born May 28, 1882 and died July 19, 1882 at 1 month, 22 days old.
Paul Willi born December 25, 1883 and died August 3, 1886 at 2 years, 7 months old.
Fritz Wilhelm born May 27, 1885 and died April 21, 1886 at 10 months, 25 days old.
Erich Ernst Franz born November 12, 1886 and died January 24, 1887 at 2 months, 12 days old.
Ernst Friedrich Paul born January 17, 1888 and died February 5, 1888 at 19 days old.
Max Friedrich Adam born November 1, 1889 and died November 20, 1889 at 19 days old.
Clara Maria Emilie born in 1893 and died February 10, 1893. Death record only shows exact date of death. Birth is shown as 1893.
I was fortunate to be able to obtain the birth/baptism records for each of the children along with their death records which verify the above information. As was typical in that time period Hermine Kolberg was giving birth in rapid order through the years. After giving birth to these 7 children, and losing all of them, Hermine herself passed away on January 5, 1898.
In the near 17 years that Friedrich-Wilhelm was married to Hermine he lost all of his children as well as his wife. These would have been very sad and depressing events for him to shoulder.
During these years, 4 of Friedrich-Wilhelm's brothers were already living in the US and growing their families. I often wondered if the brothers stayed in touch with Friedrich-Wilhelm by mail and knew of the tragedies he was experiencing.
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On to the next generation in my Kolberg family and a similar experience of multiple losses of children. My great aunt, Hedwig Johanne Auguste Kolberg, was born June 2, 1880 in Klein Tuchen, Kreis Bütow, Pommern, Germany to my great-grandparents, August Kolberg and Bertha Kramp. On November 25, 1883 she and her parents arrived in New York on their way to southwest Michigan. She was 3 1/2 years old at the time.
On November 4, 1899 Hedwig married Emil Fred Kuse in St. Joseph, Berrien County, Michigan and they immediately started a family which would consist of 10 children. They would lose 8 of their children as infants and even as young adults, lose a 9th child as an adult due to the effects of WWII and only one daughter, their 10 child, would live a full life:
Norma Kuse born September 5, 1900, died January 26, 1928 due to tuberculosis at the age of 27. She had already married and had two young children ages 7 and 5 when she passed away. Her husband never remarried and raised the children himself.
Arlie Kuse born July 12, 1902 and died March 20, 1903 of convulsions. He was 8 months old.
Edna Kuse born February 5, 1904 and died November 8, 1949 of acute myocarditis. She also was married and had two sons when she passed away. She did live to the age of 45 years but predeceased her parents which was another loss for them to bear.
Elsie Helen Kuse born April 19, 1905 and died November 13, 1924 of pulmonary tuberculosis at 19 years old. She had been married just a little over 1 year and was yet another child who predeceased her parents.
Lawrence Kuse born May 27, 1909 and died August 17, 1909 at 2 months of cholera infantum.
Clarence William Kuse, twin brother of Lawrence, born May 27, 1909 and died July 21, 1910 at 13 months of congestion of lungs and convulsions.
Robert Kuse born January 16, 1913 and died January 18, 1913 at 2 days old of spontaneous hemorrhage and prematurity.
George Kuse born November 19, 1914 and died March 24, 1923 at 8 years old of diphtheria.
Earl Eugene Kuse born February 13, 1917 and died January 13, 1972 at 54 years old. While he did outlive his parents he spent most of his adult life, following his service in WWII, in a VA Hospital for what would be referred to today as PTSD. This was a continuing heartbreak for both his parents for the remainder of their lives.
Doris Laverne Kuse born July 20, 1920 and died April 7, 2005 at the age of 84. Doris was the only one of the 10 children of Hedwig and Emil Kuse who lived a full life, married and had children and grandchildren.
I remember my great aunt, Hedwig, very well despite the fact that I was not quite 8 when she passed away. Whenever I was able to visit with her she was always sweet, pleasant and upbeat. She had a great faith which certainly carried her through the tough times of her life.
I remember my great uncle Emil a bit less as I was only 5 when he passed away but I do know that he appeared gruff and a bit scary to a young child. Perhaps the losses he and Hedwig had in their life made him appear so.
Losses were certainly a huge part of the life of my great aunt Hedwig and her husband as well as HER uncle Friedrich-Wilhelm Kolberg and his wife. Despite the losses I do know that my great aunt Hedwig did manage to rise above the pain and provided love for her great nieces and great nephews.
Here is a photo of myself as a newborn with great aunt Hedwig and great uncle Emil, the only photo I have of him:
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