Matrilineal Monday - Elizabeth Nunn and Louis Siebert Wedding Photo

Elizabeth "Lizzy" Nunn and Louis Siebert - June 25, 1905

With many thanks to my new found second cousin, Marion, I know have this lovely photo of my grandfather's sister Elizabeth and her husband Louis Siebert.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever see a photo of Elizabeth, and now I have two!

Elizabeth at age 13 cared for her six younger siblings and took care of her father's affairs upon his death in June 1900.  Their mother was institutionalized following the birth of her tenth child. Upon the father's death, the City of New York Outdoor Poor arrived and took the children, with the exception of Elizabeth, to St. Joseph's Home in Peekskill, NY.  Elizabeth had a strong feeling of family, and as soon as she married, she began bringing her siblings back under her roof. 

Louis was born in 1881 to John and Barbara Sieberbental of Germany.  Louis earned his living driving an ice wagon in New York.  The horse pulling the wagon kicked Louis in the head and he died shortly thereafter of a spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage, on 22 April 1916, just three weeks shy of his 35th birthday.

Elizabeth was left with two young daughters. Thankfully the sisters and brother living with her had work.   

My cousin told me Louis was a bit of a "hot head." Elizabeth was tolerant of his outbursts, but one time she had had enough and when he complained about the dinner she had prepared, she dumped the bowl of macaroni upside down over his head!  Way to go Lizzy!!

Elizabeth Nunn Siebert - Our Heroine

Elizabeth Nunn Siebert
abt 1946
One year before she died of pneumonia

It was June 1900 and the Nunn family, who lived at 2030 First Avenue, New York, was struggling. Katherine, the mother, had just given birth to her ninth child, Charles Casper, born in May. Her husband, Joseph, died in early June 1900.[1]  Katherine’s mental and physical health was frail, and thirteen-year-old Elizabeth was left to care for the family while attending to the final accounting of her father’s harness making business. It was a losing battle. On June 12, the City of New York’s Department of Public Charities arrived at 2030 First Avenue and took the children, with the exception of Elizabeth and infant Charles Casper. The children were placed with the Sisters of the 3^rd Order of St. Francis St. Joseph’s Home in Peekskill, New York. Elizabeth might have stayed with the Louis family who lived in the same building, and would have needed help with their large family.

And so it is Elizabeth who holds the answers to my many questions about this family. It was she who cared for her siblings when her parents no longer could; it was she who at the age of thirteen managed her father’s affairs and came out with $300 – an amount she entrusted to her neighbor, Mrs. Louis.

Elizabeth married Louis Siebert on 25 June 1905,[2] and as soon as they were married, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Nunn Siebert began the process of having her siblings released from St. Joseph’s Home and placed in her care. 

The story goes on as this feisty, devoted young woman made sure she brought her siblings safely back under her wing.  At the age of 18 she sued her neighbor, Mrs. Helene Louis for the $300 Lizzy gave to her in 1900 for safekeeping.  Of course the money was gone, probably paying for rent, food and clothes for Mrs. Louis’ eight children. Lizzy won the lawsuit, and the article made the 19 April 1905 New York Times.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever see a picture of Elizabeth Nunn Seibert. But thanks to my newfound second cousin, Jeanne, Elizabeth’s granddaughter, I now have a photo.  Thank you!!

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[1] 1900 U.S. Census, New York, NY, Population Schedule, Manhattan, ED 905, P. 2B, “Joseph Nunn,” digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com); accessed 7 Nov. 2012. NARA 1900, T623, 1854 rolls.  In this census, Katherine states she is a widow, age 59. The family name is listed under “Joseph,” probably the census taker didn’t understand the last name of “Nunn,” and when pressed for a name, Katherine, in her health state, gave her husband’s first name.

[2] Marriage Certificate number #14058.

Regina Siebert Eberhard - Found!!

My genealogical journey began in the mid-1990s due to curiosity about my grandfather, Harry Nunn. It was a long eight years before I broke through the wall that prevented me from finding him and his family.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the key was his sister, Elizabeth. Elizabeth married Louis Siebert in 1905 and they had two daughters, Regina and Eva. By 1930 Regina was no longer in the household.  She must have married – but whom?

Periodic checking on the www.stevemorse.org website I found a bride card for a Regina Siebert. The card stated the groom was Nicholas Eberhard, Jr.   In mid-December I ordered the film from the local Family History Center. I anxiously awaited the opening of the FHC this week after its ten day holiday. I viewed the film on January 5 and found the bride card was indeed MY Regina Siebert.  She stated her mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Nunn! Success!!

Through the SS Death Index I found Regina Eberhard died 10 Oct. 1987 in Queens, NY. For only $8.00 the Queens Library Archives will provide a copy of the obit.  The letter is in the mail; my fingers are crossed that it provides further information on this family.