Sophia Hovestadt
(Post No. 3) Sophia was Michael Gorman's wife, my great-great-grandmother. Our women ancestors were fifty percent responsible for all of us being here, so they will get equal time as much as I'm able to find information on them.
Margaretha Sophia Antonetta Hovestadt was born in 1821 in Munster, Germany. She emigrated to America in 1835 with her parents, sister, and twin brothers, settling first in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sophia was married to someone before Michael, a German man named Valentine Sellinger, in 1839. He was in the grocery business. Sophia was 18 and Valentine was 23. They lived in Allen County, Ohio, and had a son in 1840. However, the child does not show up in the 1850 Defiance Census, where they had moved to. Sophia was suddenly hit hard by life. She lost her little boy to a fate unknown to us, then she lost her husband Valentine after his appearance in the 1850 Census. He died of tuberculosis in 1851.
It was common for women to marry again ASAP so she did, to an Irishman this time, Michael Gorman, in 1851. Sophia started all over, at age 24, and went on to have seven children with Michael. Five of them survived, one of whom was Bernard, my great-grandfather. All the surviving children lived into their 60s, 70s, or 80s. I have plenty of information on all of them that will make it into this blog in the future.
Sophia's obituary ends with: "Mrs. Gorman has been a consistent and devoted member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help church since its organization. She was lovely of character and disposition, and greatly admired by all who knew her. In her death, Defiance loses one of her oldest and most highly respected pioneers." Sophia died in August 1895 at the age of 73, six years after Michael's death.
P.S. The silhouette is not of Sophia; it is clip art. I am searching for a real photo of Sophia and will announce it when I do!
COMMENTS:
Rocky - October 5, 2019
Great post. Must have been simple yet harsh life back in the 1800s.
Nancy - October 6, 2019
Thanks, Rocky. The 1800s are pretty interesting all right. Glad you like the post.
Susie - October 5, 2019
Nancy, this blog is awesome!
Nancy - October 6, 2019
Thank you Susie! Our family is awesome!
Kendra - October 7, 2019
Oh, I just want to wrap her in a hug and thank her for working so hard at being my
great-great-great-grandmother (do I have the right number of "greats," Mom?) Ten children
birthed, pioneer woman-style. Five lost young. I can't even imagine. I love her. And I love
your blog, Mom! This is wonderful. Thank you so much!
Nancy - October 7, 2019
Thanks, Kendra. I'm glad you like it. It was a tough life back then! No modern conveniences
like we have and medicine was kind of still in the dark ages. I hope to find out much more about
Sophia, especially a photo! High on the list. And yes, she is indeed your great-great-great-grandmother!
Johnny - October 9, 2019
Very cool Nancy! Thx!
Nancy - October 9, 2019
Thanks for reading, Johnny!