Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse Family
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- WHAT: Portrait of Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse
- WHO: Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse, daughter of Jobst Kraus and Anna Margaretha Goeppner
- WHEN: Circa 1890 – assuming that Barbara is about 50 years old.
- WHERE: St, Louis, Missouri – as per the photographer identification “Genelli 929 Olive St. ST. LOUIS, MO.”
- SOURCE: Grandmother Kirmse’s Album. Ella (Kirmse) Krueger shared this photograph December 30, 2003.
Family Lore
The family lore from grandmother, Martha (Cordes) Kirmse, was that Barbara came to the USA from Hutschdorf, Bavaria.
Baptism Record
Barbara Kraus’s baptism record of the Ev. Lutheran Church at Hutschdorf, Bavaria:
Translation: Barbara Kraus was born on May 7, 1842 in Hutschdorf, her parents are Jobst Kraus, a homeowner and day laborer (paid by the day), and Anna Margaretha, born Göeppner, of Wernstien. (See Chapter: Kraus – Hutschdorf Letter)
Immigration To USA
Family lore has that Barbara entered the USA via the Port of New Orleans. She then traveled up the Mississippi River by riverboat to Cape Girardeau.
No passenger manifests or other records of Barbara’s immigration to the USA have been found. However, the most probable date of immigration is considered to be around 1862. (See Chapter: When Did Barbara Kraus Immigrate?)
According to Helen (Kirmse) Hacker, during Barbara’s voyage to the USA, she developed an ear infection that eventually caused her to be essentially deaf. In later years, a person had to shout very loud at Barbara in order for her to understand what was said.
Marriage Record
The first record found of Barbara in Perry County, Missouri was her marriage to Julius Kirmse. Barbara married Julius Kirmse, son of Christoph Kirmse and Justine Kratsch, on 20 Nov 1866 in Perry County, Missouri, USA. He was born on 6 Feb 1835 in Fichtenhainichen, Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg (Now Altenburger Land, Thüringen, Germany). He died on 12 Dec 1915 in Farrar, Perry, Missouri, USA. (See Chapter: Julius and Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse for more details)
Census Records
Death Record
From Barbara’s Death Certificate, we have;
- Age: 77 yr 9 mo 13 da
- Birth Date: May 07 1842
- Death Date: February 20, 1920
- Birth Place: Germany
- Death Place: Salem Township, Perry County, Missouri,
- Burial: Farrar Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery
Notes
Barbara’s son, Joe, incorrectly reports Barbara’s father’s surname as Krauss (instead of Kraus) and did not know her father’s given name or her father’s birthplace. While the Birthplace of Mother is given as “don’t know”, it appears that Hutschdorf is written in as Maiden Name of Mother and then is struck through.
Gravestone
Barbara Kirmse – Widow of Julius Kirmse – Born 7 May 1842, Died 20 February 1920 Age 77 year 9 month 13 day
Information Source
See Barbara Krause Kirmse Find A Grave Memorial #41980728
Notes
Sisters
Barbara supposedly had two sisters (possibly one was a step sister) living in Perry County, Missouri. The two sisters of Barbara (Kraus) Kirmse were found to be Margaret Schuetz, wife of George Schuetz, and Renada Krauss, wife of George Krauss (See Chapter: Sisters – Barbara, Margaretha, Renada).
Kraus vs Krauss vs Krause
The spelling of Barbara’s maiden surname varies in documents. From Barbara’s birth/baptism record and her marriage license, it was concluded that Barbara’s maiden name was Kraus.