Who were Rudolf Hartwigs parents?

+3 votes
86 views
Help me break down this brickwall! Who were August and Johanna Hartwig Berger, as named in his obituary?
WikiTree profile: Rudolph Berger
in Genealogy Help by Dan Berger G2G1 (1.8k points)

2 Answers

+6 votes

Hi Daniel,

Went to the profile and ran WikiTree Sourcer.

Family Search says Augustus and Johana Hartwig are Rudolf's parents. No sources are given. It is strange that The WikiTree Profile says his name is Rudolf (Hartwig) Berger. His wife is Alma Berger, the daughter of William and Francisco Berger.  All his children carry the name Berger.

How did Rudolf's surname become "Berger"?  I guess that can happen!surprise Very strange! Maybe there was a reason when coming to America, he had to take his wife's maiden name!

Rudolph A Hartwig was born on 14 June 1863, in Kreis Leipzig, Saxony, Germany as the son of Augustus Hartwig and Johanna. He married Alma Berger in 1888, in Kreis Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He died on 5 July 1931, in Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States, at the age of 68, and was buried in Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States.

Source: Family Search profile 2Q1B-6W7 Rudolph A. Hartwig

Alma Berger was born on 7 April 1864, in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany as the daughter of William Berger and Francisco. She married Rudolph A Hartwig in 1888, in Kreis Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. She immigrated to Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States in 1893 and lived in Rochwitz, Dresden-Neustadt, Dresden, Kreis Dresden, Saxony, Germany in 1893. She died on 18 September 1948, in Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States, at the age of 84, and was buried in Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown, Fulton, New York, United States.

Source: Family Search Profile G7Y1-1GX Alma Berger

1910 United States Census shows Rudolf Burger as the head of the household and Alma is his wife. 

"United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M54G-YHT : Fri Mar 08 16:36:36 UTC 2024), Entry for Randolph A Berger and Alma F Berger, 1910.

by David Draper G2G Astronaut (3.7m points)
edited by David Draper
+5 votes
I have a friend who purposefully took his wife's surname so the name wouldn't die out with her and her sister.  it happens.
by Rick Morley G2G6 Pilot (167k points)
Exactly as Rick said, I have a number of cases of husbands adopting their wife's surname (in Germany), particularly where the wife's family was more prominent and/or had more assets.

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