Individual Details
Augusta Emilie Graefe
(17 Jan 1834 - 6 Jan 1916)
They made their way north to Louisville Kentucky where there was a large growing German community. By 1850 Louisville was reported to be the tenth largest city and Kentucky the eighth most populous state. By the 1850's 35% of Louisville's population would be German, totaling 18,000. Augusta and her sister soon married, Augusta in 1853 and Wilhelmine in 1854, both to other German immigrants. Sadly, Augusta and GH Hollenkamp's first two children died young. Letters dated from the summer of 1856 show that the two new husbands traveled together to visit relatives back home in Wintersdorf. In one of them GH asks how little Lisette is getting along. This daughter was not listed in 1860.
At first her husband ran a tavern. The family is listed in 1860 surrounded by a boarding house and coffee house with two young children, her father working as a salesman and her husband's first cousin Theodore Hollenkamp, as the barkeep. No information is available on how the Civil War affected the family. According to Louisville history many Germans were pro-north and opposed Kentucky seceding to the Confederate States. Since GH was too old and her children too young, nobody in the family took part in the American conflict.
Sometime before 1870 their circumstances changed. In the 1870 census, GH Hollenkamp is found working as a traveling salesman in Fayette Co. Kentucky while Augusta, her three children, and her father, are still in Louisville living with her sisters family, the Ruewe's. Henry Ruewe was well off financially though he and Minnie never had any children. Augusta, two of her children, John Henry and Minnie, along with her father John Graefe are still making their home together in 1880. GH Hollenkamp is missing from the census, possibly he is still traveling as a salesman. Daughter Mary Augusta had recently married. An article written in 1888 about son-in-law Lafe DeWitt says how, "On Jan. 29 1880 he married Miss M.A. Hollenkamp, an educated, charming young lady, niece of the late J.H. Ruwe." Obviously her uncle was better known in the community than her father. The Ruwe's had their own residence in 1880.
Whether she ever lived with her husband again is unknown. On 11 May 1887 G H Hollenkamp entered The Little Sisters of The Poor, a Roman Catholic charitable home for the aged that first came to Louisville in 1869. He died there on 27 Nov 1890. Augusta lived with her widowed sister the rest of her life at 619 Lampton Street. There she raised her granddaughter Nellie Dewitt. Nellie, born in 1895, is listed with her grandmother in both the 1900 and 1910 census.
Augusta outlived everyone in her family. Her husband, her sister, and all her children, passed away before she did. She died of influenza on Jan 6, 1916, age 81 years 11 months 19 days. Her sister Wilhelmina Ruewe died the day before on Jan 5, 1916. Her funeral was held at the Third German Methodist Church, and burial was at Cave Hill A-559.
Events
Families
Spouse | Johann Gerhard Henrich "G Henry" Hollenkamp (1820 - 1890) |
Child | Elizabeth Louise Hollenkamp (1854 - 1860) |
Child | Lisette Hollenkamp (1856 - 1860) |
Child | Johann Heinrich "John Henry" Hollenkamp (1857 - 1900) |
Child | Mary Augusta Hollenkamp (1859 - 1905) |
Child | Wilhelmine "Minnie" Hollenkamp (1862 - 1884) |
Father | Gottfried "John" Graefe (1803 - 1894) |
Mother | Christiane (1806 - ) |
Sibling | Wilhelmina "Minnie or Miena" Graefe (1826 - 1916) |
Notes
Birth
17 Jan 1834 is the birthdate on her death certificate. She gives her age as 76 in both the 1900 and 1910 censuses. Birth as July 1824 in the 1900 census. 1860 census calculates to abt. b. 1830, and 1870 also calculates to abt. b. 1833.Baptism
Name: Auguste Aemilie GraefeRecord Type: Taufe (Baptism)
Birth Date: 11 Jan 1834
Baptism Date: 17 Jan 1834
Baptism Place: Wintersdorf, Thuringen (Thuringia), Deutschland (Germany)
Father: Gottfried Graefe
Mother: Christiane Graefe
Author: Evangelische Kirche Wintersdorf (AG. Meuselwitz)
City or District: Wintersdorf
Parish as it Appears: Wintersdorf
Page Number: 1
Immigration
Steerage passengers15 Gottfried Graefe 45 m merchant Wintersdorf (Country to which they belong)
16 Wilhelmine " 21 f "
17 Augusta " 15 f "
Gottfried Graefe
Arrival Date: 17 May 1849
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany
Ship Name: Johann Smidt
Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana
National Archives' Series Number: M259_30
Marriage
Saint John German Evangelical Church, Gerhard Hollenkamp 27, born in Ankum, to Augusta Emilia Grafe 20, born in Altenburg. Witnessed by Henrich Hollenkamp and Whilomena Riebe?Gerhard Hollenkamp b. 1829 to Auguste Grefe b. 1833
Oct 17, of full age as proved by Bernard Reiling. Witnesses Fred Holencamp
Census (family)
surrounded by a boarding house and coffee house -1221, 1336, Hollenkamp, G.H., 40, M, Tavern Keeper, Hanover, 2000 personal
Augusta 30 F Saxony
Henry 3 M Kentucky
Mary 1 F Kentucky
Md. Schunicht 20 F Domestic Hanover
Lisette Frerker 20 F Domestic Hanover
Theo', Hollenkamp, 25, Barkeeper, Hanover
Geo' Grafe 50 Hucster Saxony
Census
1870 Census, 4th Ward, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, Page 55 -306, 450 Reve, Henry 62 M,W, No Occupation, 15,000,20,000, Oldenburg
Reve, Minnie 42, F,W, Keep House, , Saxony
Graffa, Gotfried, 67,M,W, at home, , Saxony
Hollenkamp, Augusta, 37, F, W, at home, , Saxony
Hollenkamp, Henry, 12,M,W, at school, , Kentucky
Hollenkamp, Mary, 10, F,W, at school, , Kentucky
Hollenkamp, Minnie, 8, F,W, , Kentucky
Census
Augusta is living with her father, Godfrey Graffe, and her newly married daughter Mary A Dewitt is next door.125 Lampton Str.
Godfrey GRAFFE WM Self 76 Retired Merchant SAXONY SAXONY SAXONY
Augusta HOLLENKAMP WF Daughter widowed 46 Keeps House SAXONY SAXONY SAXONY
Henry HOLLENKAMP WM Son Single 23 Shipping Clerk KY SAXONY SAXONY
Minnie HOLLENKAMP WF Daughter 18 Sales Lady KY SAXONY SAXONY
Census
Living together at 621 Lampton Street -Holenkamp, A head W, F, birth July 1824, 76, widow married 48 yrs. 5 children , 1 living.
born Germany, parents Germany. Immigrated 1849, 51 years in US
can read, write, speak English. Own house free of mortgage.
Weaber, Wilhelmina sister, W, F, Feb 1828, 72, widow married 36 yrs. (no children listed)
born Germany, parents Germany. Immigrated 1849, 51 years in US
can read, write, speak English.
DeWitt, Nellie Grandchild. W, F, Nov 1895, 4 yrs. born Kentucky, parents born Kentucky.
Soundex:
Holenkamp, A. Vol. 35, ED. 32, Sheet 12, Line 95
White, Jany 1824, age 76, Germany birthplace NR citizenship
Jefferson Co., Mag District 5
Louisville Lampton (Street) 621 (House No.)
Other Members of family -
Wenber, Wilhemina, Si. Feb 1828, age 72 Germany NR citizenship
DeWitt, Nellie G. Ch. Nov 1895 4 Kentucky
Census
Jefferson, Louisville SD 5, ED 70, sheet no. 10 B28, April, 1910. 187, visit 252
Hollenkamp, Augusta, Head, F, W, 76, Widowed, 5 childern born, 0 living. Germany
Rueve, Minnie, sister, F, W, 82, Widowed, 0 childern born, 0 living. Germany
DeWitt, Nellie, Granddaughter, F,W, 14, single, Kentucky.
Sisters Augusta and Minnie immigrated to the US in 1849. Augusta has none listed for her occupation while Minnie's says Own Income.
Death
Died of Influenza. Chas Barker (grandson-in-law) name on death certificate.81 years, vol. 16, certificate 01707
Owensboro Messenger (Owensboro, Kentucky) Fri. Jan 7, 1919, Page 7
Death has reunited Mrs. Augusta Hollenkamp, eighty-one years old, and Mrs. Wilhelmina Ruewe, eighty-nine years old, sisters, who had been inseparable during their long lives. Twenty-three hours after the death of her sister, Mrs. Ruewe, Mrs. Hollenkamp died at 5:45 o'clock this morning at her home, 619 Lampton street.
Both were victims of the grip. A double funeral will take place at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) Fri, Jan 7, 1916, Page 5
Aged Sisters, Who Died of Grip, To Be Buried In Cave Hill To-day
MRS. AUGUSTA HOLLENKAMP. MRS. HENRY RUEWE
Double funeral services will be conducted this afternoon for Mrs. Wilhelmina Ruewe and Mrs. Augusta Hollenkamp, sisters, who had been inseparable for four-score years. Services will be held at 2 o'clock at Schildt's chapel, 700 East Broadway, and at 2:30 o'clock at the Third German Methodist Episcopal church, of which they were among the oldest members. Burial will be in adjoining graves in Cave Hill cemetery.
Their deaths resulted from the grip and occurred withing twenty-three hours. Mrs. Ruewe died Wednesday morning at the Deaconess Hospital. She was 89 years old, and the widow of John Henry Ruewe, founder of the Farmers' Home Hotel, on Market street, between Preston and Jackson streets. His death occurred in 1888. She was survived by her sister, Mrs. Hollenkamp, with whom she made her home, 619 Lampton street, and several grandnieces and grandnephews.
Mrs. Hollenkamp died at 5:30 o'clock yesterday morning. She was 81 years old, and the widow of Henry Hollenkamp, a grocer. She is survived by fourteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. The sisters were natives of Germany, coming to Louisville with their father when they were girls.
Burial
Went to Cave Hill today, found one Hollenkamp in the whole grave yard, and its a big grave yard. Hollenkamp, Augusta Mrs. Sec A Lot 559 burried January 7, 1916. She has no stone. The good thing is she is in a Dewitt family plot.Edna Parrott
Section A, lot 559, grave 10. Owners of lot 559 are John H Ruwe and George Kramer.
from the Schildt Funeral Home Records (Filson Club)
Augusta (Grafe) Hollenkamp
619 Lampton Street
Died 1/6/1916 age 81 years 11 months 19 days Cause of death influenza
Born in Saxony, father John Grafe, mother unknown
Funeral 3rd German Methodist Church Burial Cave Hill A-559
Husband Henry died 1890
Sister Wilhelmina Ruewe died 1/5/1916 (day before Augusta)
Endnotes
1. U.S Federal Census - 1870, 4th Ward, Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY (researched by Shirley Duncan rec'vd Oct. 3, 1998).
2. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Kentucky., Certificates of Death. Hollenkamp surname. (Copies made and sent by Carol Miller and Edna Parrot, April 2001), File # 1707, Reg # 77.
3. "Thuringia, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1591-1875," database, Ancestry.com (: accessed 12 May 2020), Auguste Aemilie Graefe.; citing Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirchengemeinde Weimar, Thüringen, Deutschland..
4. US Federal Census - 1900, Kentucky, Jefferson Co. Louisville City (read 27 Dec, 2000 by Nancy Prouty).
5. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1910 census.
6. Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/ Copyright © 1998-2000, MyFamily.com Inc. and its subsidiaries.), Ancestry.com. New Orleans Passenger Lists, 1820-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2006..
7. US Federal Census - 1900, Kentucky, Jefferson Co. Louisville City (read 27 Dec, 2000 by Nancy Prouty).
8. "Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 22 October 2016), Gerhard Hollenkamp and Augusta Grefe, Oct 1853; citing Jefferson County, Kentucky, reference bk 5 p 234; FHL microfilm 482,707..
9. US Federal Government, 1860 US Federal Census, Kentucky, Jefferson Co., Louisville, 5th Ward. pg. 184 (read 6/2001 Nancy Prouty).
10. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1860 > KENTUCKY > JEFFERSON > 5-WD LOUISVILLE Series: M653 Roll: 376 Page: 184.
11. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1870 > KENTUCKY > JEFFERSON > 4-WD LOUISVILLE Series: M593 Roll: 474 Page: 364.
12. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints., Transcription of the United States Federal Population Census - 1880 (http://www.familysearch.org/ Oct. 2002).
13. US Federal Census - 1900, Kentucky, Jefferson Co. Louisville City (read 27 Dec, 2000 by Nancy Prouty), Magisterical District No. 5, S.D. #5, E.D. #32, sheet 12. Ward of City - 3.
14. Soundex - Kentucky, 1900, No. 81, containing H452 (Hollenkamp) (read by Nancy Prouty, Nov. 19, 2000).
15. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1900 > KENTUCKY > JEFFERSON > 3-WD LOUISVILLE Series: T623 Roll: 529 Page: 151 HOLEN KAMP A .
16. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1910 > Kentucky > JEFFERSON > 3-WD LOUISVILLE Series: T624 Roll: 484 Page: 97.
17. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Kentucky., Certificates of Death. Hollenkamp surname. (Copies made and sent by Carol Miller and Edna Parrot, April 2001).
18. KENTUCKY DEATH INDEX 1911-1986 (Kentucky Vital Records Index,
19. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Kentucky., Certificates of Death. Hollenkamp surname. (Copies made and sent by Carol Miller and Edna Parrot, April 2001), File # 1707, Reg. # 77.
20. Gary Hollenkamp, Hollenkamp Genealogy (http://www.hollenkamponline.com/ : accessed 3 March 2010), .