Ferdinand Waldmann (1872 - 1914)

Born 14 Aug 1872 in Klein-Libental, Odessa, Odessa, Kherson, Russisches Kaiserreich

Husband of Ottilia (Bitz) Waldmann — married Nov 1892 in Klein-Libental, Odessa, Odessa, Kherson, Russisches Kaiserreich

Died 22 Dec 1914 at age 42 in Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri, United States

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- needed: Kleinliebental or Klein-Libent(h)al, Kuchurhan, Odessa, Odessa, Kherson, Russisches Kaiserreich

Biography

Ferdinand was born in summer 1872, the son of Georg Waldmann & Marianna Euphemia née Heier. His widowed father later married his widowed mother-in-law, Leokadia Bitz née Fieger.

In Nov 1892, he married Ottilia Bitz, his "step sister", in Kleinliebental (or Klein-Libental), Odessa.

According to Ellis Island New York Immigration Records, Ferdinand & Ottilia arrived on 13 Jul 1893 aboard the ship “Spree”, departing from Bremen, Germany.

In 1893 and 1895, his wife gave birth to two daughters, Leokadia (married Peter Ziegler) and Julian(n)a (who joined and became a Sister, spending her life in the New York area).

They returned to Kleinliebental after 1895 -- rumor has it that their parents might have encouraged it -- and like all young men at that time, Ferdinand was forced to serve in the Russian Army for at least 4 years.

In 1901, their first son Georg was born there.

In 1903, Ferdinand and Ottilia (with their then 3 children), Leokadia and Georg emigrated together from Kleinliebental to the United States aboard the ship “Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse”, again departing from Bremen, Germany, and arrived in Ellis Island, New York, on 25 Aug 1903. So, not only did Ottilia and Ferdinand migrate to the US but they did it twice.

Sadly, just a few weeks later in autumn 1903, their little boy (Georg) passed away in Kansas as a toddler of almost two and a half years.

In Dec 1914, Ferdinand Waldmann, aged only 42y 4m, passed away in Kansas City, Missouri, while his wife was pregnant with a son, born a month later and named Ferdinand like him.

Sources

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 05 February 2021), memorial page for Ferdinand Waldman (14 Aug 1872–22 Dec 1914), Find a Grave Memorial no. 54673811, citing Sacred Heart Cemetery, Park, Gove County, Kansas, USA ; Maintained by Dıehard (contributor 46809256) .

• https://www.blackseagr.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=120