CANCER IN A FAMILY
Cancer is a horrible disease. It has been around, in varying forms, for many, many years. It has affected countless numbers of individuals and families, and while great strides have been made in conquering cancer, it continues to occur.
I did some research on the history of cancer and learned that the disease was first called by the name of "cancer" by the Greek physician, Hippocrates, who lived from 460-370 BC. As we know, Hippocrates was considered the "Father of Medicine".
While cancer may have been a known disease for many generations I admit that I was surprised to see it listed as a cause of death for my great-grandmother, who died in 1907, as well as the deaths of both her parents who died in 1885 and 1892.
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My great-grandmother, Christine Katharine Juliane Feucht, (known as Juliane) was born February 16, 1870 in Detroit, Michigan. She was the sixth of ten children of parents, Johann Jacob Feucht and Magdalena Helena Bauer.
Juliane Feucht, ca 1884:
Juliane married Rudolph Myer Schulte on October 7, 1891 and they had two children:
1. Irene Elisabeth Schulte, born and died on May 14, 1892 in Detroit.
2. Elmer Meyer Schulte, born August 4, 1894 in Detroit (my grandfather).
Juliane and Rudolph Schulte with son, Elmer, ca 1906:
Juliane had a very short life, dying at the age of 36 on January 14, 1907 in Detroit. Her death certificate stated her death was from "liver cancer". She was the only one of her 9 siblings to succumb to cancer:
While I was somewhat surprised to note that cancer was used as a diagnosis as early as 1907, I was more surprised to learn that both the parents of my great-grandmother, Juliane, also died from cancer.
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Juliane's father, Johann Jacob Feucht, was born August 12, 1826 in Tamm, Ludwigsburg, Wuerttemberg, Germany. He immigrated to the US in the mid-1850's and on February 20, 1859 he married Magdalena Helena Bauer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan.
Together Johann Jacob and Helena would have 10 children. I wish I had photos of Jacob and Helena but unfortunately I do not.
Jacob outlived his wife, Helena, by 7 years. He died at the age of 66 on November 25, 1892 in Detroit. His death certificate listed the cause of his death as cancer of the stomach:
Juliane's mother, Magdalena Helena Bauer, was born January 30, 1840 in Schwarzenbach by Nürnberg, Bavaria, Germany. She immigrated to the US in the mid-1850's as a young girl where she met and married Johann Jacob Feucht. Together they had 10 children.
When Helena died on September 22, 1885 she was only 45 and her four youngest children were only 4, 8, 10 and 15. Her death certificate lists her cause of death as cancer of the liver:
Sad indeed.
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