Oct 19, 1869
Gottfried grew up in Diez. His father Georg was a shoemaker but already died when he was only 6 years old. His mother Maria earned money as a seamstress but also already died when Gottfried was 11. He had at least 3 brothers. Wilhelm was 5 years older, Johann Georg 3 years younger and Carl 5 years younger than him. I don't know who looked after them after the early death of their parents. But probably inspired by his mom, Gottfried became a taylor. He was so successful that he could hire other taylors who worked for him.
He first married Katharina Garland and had three daughters with her. But she already died in November 1868 leaving him with 3 little girls. So a year later he married again.
Helene Friedericke had grown up in Herborn, a place not far from Diez. Her father was a shoemaker like Gottfried's father. She and Gottfried only had one son, my greatgrandfather Jakob. Gottfried passed away when Jakob was only 2 years old.
I have no idea what happened to the taylor shop or what Helene did afterwards. But Gottfried's brother Carl seems to have helped her with the kids as he was a painter like later my greatgrandfather Jakob. Helene died in 1914 so she didn't get to know my grandfather but she lived long enough to see his three siblings.
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