Amélie (Friedrick) Chittenden
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Amélie Marie (Friedrick) Chittenden (1840 - 1924)

Amélie Marie Chittenden formerly Friedrick
Born in Metz, Francemap
Ancestors ancestors
Daughter of and
Sister of , , , , , , and
Wife of — married 1870 in New York, New Yorkmap
Descendants descendants
Mother of , , , and
Died at age 83 in San Diego, San Diego, California, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 11 May 2013
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Contents

Biography

Amélie (Friedrick) Chittenden was a homesteader in Spokane County, Washington. Join the Homesteaders Project.

Amélie Marie (Friedrick) Chittenden was intrepid. She was the daughter of Charles Guillaume Friedrich and Catharine Celestine (Jaeger) Friedrick. She was born in Metz, Alsace-Lorraine, France in 1840.[1] She and her family immigrated to the United States and settled in New York in 1857.[2]

Amélie was 17 years old when she immigrated to the United States. Her brothers, Alphonse and Ernest Friedrick, were artists, trained in stained glass making. Her brothers established a very successful business, creating stained glass masterpieces for many churches throughout the U.S., as well as installations for the wealthy (in Newport Beach, for example).[3] The family lived first in Manhattan (rumor says on 5th Avenue), but sold that property and bought an entire block in Brooklyn.[4] Amélie lived in luxury. Her mother would not allow her to even roll up her sleeves, because "only servants rolled their sleeves."[5] But, Amélie married an adventurer. Newton Henry Chittenden was a respectable lawyer, sharing office space at his brother's firm on Wall Street,[6] but he had a yen to go west.

After their marriage in 1870,[7] Newton took Amélie to Minnesota. There, they lived in a small log home with no amenities. Amélie gave birth to her first child, Clara Amelie, in Minnesota. Newton was often out exploring. During one of his absences, their tiny log home was ransacked by some Native Americans. Amélie and the baby's lives were threatened, or, at least, she felt very much threatened. Amélie said the Indians were looking for whiskey.[8] The episode caused the family to return to New York before the birth of twins, Henry Lincoln and Edith Lucille, in 1873.

Shortly after Henry's and Edith's births, Newton took the family to California. Their fourth child, Albert Friedrick was born in Los Angeles in 1874. However, only a year later, the family was counted in the New York State Census,[9] and they remained in New York until after the birth of their fifth and final child, Edward Lafayette in 1876.[10] The family returned to California in 1877,[11] but were back in New York in 1880.[12] Not for long, however. The family returned to Santa Barbara in 1881.[13]

In addition to traveling coast to coast again and again, Newton continued to travel extensively. Although officially a lawyer registered to practice in California, Newton made his living by traveling to remote areas (including an official exploration - commissioned by the Canadian government - of the Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia) and writing and publishing tracts concerning the conditions, environment, and available resources of the western regions. No doubt, it was Newton's frequent absences and their unsettled life that ultimately led Amélie to file for divorce. Although there is no denying Newton's frequent absenses, he loved his family and fought to remain married. Failing that, he fought for custody of the children, but did not succeed. The divorce was granted in January of 1882. Amélie received full custody of the children.[14]

After the divorce, Amélie returned to her family in New York. She worked as a Foreman in her brother’s stained glass manufacturing facility. She was not comfortable allowing her children to play unsupervised outside in the streets and parks of New York. The children were shut-ins, and they hated it. Their grandmother’s opulent home, and her strict rules regarding appropriate behavior, was uncomfortable for the children. In addition, Amélie felt very much the “poor relation,” a shameful burden to her family. She ultimately (and ironically) decided (backed by advice of her doctor) to return to the west to raise her family where they could be free from judgement and where they could experience the freedom and joy of fresh air and abundant nature. Amélie decided to move to Spokane, Washington to make a homesteading claim.[15]

In the Spokane Valley,[16] she, alone, raised and educated her children. She and her children built their log home, tilled and farmed the land, raised the livestock and sold the produce.[17] Amélie home schooled her children, and they all graduated from college and beyond.

After the children left the homestead, Amélie's whereabouts are less well known. According to her son Albert's 1899 diary, she was living in or visiting in Santa Barbara, California, Manning, Oregon, and Walla Walla, Washington.[18] She seems to have been traveling about visiting her children in their various homes. The 1910 Census recorded her living in Pasco, Washington with her son, Henry, and daughter, Clara.[19] Thereafter, Amélie may have moved to San Diego, California to live with or near her brother, Alphonse, who had retired in San Diego.

Amélie died in San Diego, California on April 10, 1924. She is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park.[20] It is interesting to note that her husband, Newton, died one year later, nearly to the day, also in California.[21]

Sources

  1. ↑ See text of birth certificate below.
  2. ↑ Immigration Year is cited in the 1910 Census - "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-GY?i=32&cc=1727033&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMGV8-GF2 : 30 September 2021), Amelia S Chittenden, Pasco, Franklin, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 64, sheet 20A, family 376, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C. : National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1656; FHL microfilm 1,375,669.
  3. ↑ The New York Times, April 2, 1871, p. 8.:
  4. ↑ Gavan, Peggy. 1912: The Cat Lady of Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, and the Mysterious Thanksgiving Day Fire. The Hatching Cat: True and Unusual Animal Tales of Old New York. History Blog. 13 November 2015. (http://hatchingcatnyc.com/2015/11/13/cat-lady-hoyt-street-thanksgiving-fire/ : accessed 29 September 2021). Hoyt Street from #16-30 at the northwest corner of Livingston. 16-18 housed the stained glass business. #20-26 were rented to other businesses (but included apartments above). #30, also known as 201 Livingston, was the family home.
  5. ↑ Duval, Edith Chittenden. Letter to her brother, Albert Friedrick Chittenden. October 22, 1946.
  6. ↑ Chittenden, Newton Henry, Autobiographical Prospectus. San Francisco. No date.
  7. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/HVT : 10 February 2018), Newton Henry Chittenden and Emelie Friedwick, 07 Nov 1870; citing Marriage, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,543,856.
  8. ↑ Duval, Edith Chittenden. Letter to her brother, Albert Friedrick Chittenden. October 22, 1946.
  9. ↑ "New York State Census, 1875," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-65BS-CL7?i=2&cc=1918735&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AVNJZ-G5N : 30 September 2021), Emilia Chittenden in household of Newton Chittenden, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States; citing p. 4, line 8, State Library, Albany; FHL microfilm 1,930,217.
  10. ↑ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/BFC : 11 February 2018), Ametie Frederick in entry for Chittenden, 29 Nov 1876; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 5847 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,324,361.
  11. ↑ Chittenden, Newton Henry, Autobiographical Prospectus. San Francisco. No date
  12. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBV-PJW?i=9&cc=1417683&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZ82-G53 : 30 September 2021), Amelia Chittenden in household of N H Chittenden, Brooklyn Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 71, sheet 557B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C. : National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,844.
  13. ↑ Chittenden, Albert Friedrick. Bingo and a Pioneer Mother - A True Story. 1946. (a memoir by Amélie’s son about growing up homesteading in Spokane, WA).
  14. ↑ Chittenden, Albert Friedrick. Bingo and a Pioneer Mother - A True Story. 1946. (a memoir by Amelie's son about growing up homesteading in Spokane, WA).
  15. ↑ Chittenden, Albert Friedrick. Bingo and a Pioneer Mother - A True Story. 1946. (a memoir by Amelie's son about growing up homesteading in Spokane, WA).
  16. ↑ Spokane Homestead location
  17. ↑ Chittenden, Albert Friedrick. Bingo and a Pioneer Mother - A True Story. 1946. (a memoir by Amelie's son about growing up homesteading in Spokane, WA).
  18. ↑ Chittenden, Albert Friedrick. Diary. 1899.
  19. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYYY-GY?i=32&cc=1727033&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMGV8-GF2 : 30 September 2021), Amelia S Chittenden, Pasco, Franklin, Washington, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 64, sheet 20A, family 376, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C. : National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1656; FHL microfilm 1,375,669.
  20. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25796112/amelie-chittenden : accessed 30 September 2021), memorial page for Amelie Friedrick Chittenden (7 Sep 1840–10 Apr 1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25796112, citing Greenwood Memorial Park, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA ; Maintained by King 43 (contributor 47621754) .
  21. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9SV-8D1R?i=457&cc=2001287 : 30 September 2021), Amelia Chittenden in entry for Newton H Chittenden, 1925.
  • Oral history as told by Kathryn Chittenden Haines.
  • Chittenden, Albert Friedrick. Bingo and a Pioneer Mother - A True Story. 1946. (a memoir by Amelie's son about growing up homesteading in Spokane, WA).
  • Chittenden, Albert Friedrick. Diary. 1899.
  • Duval, Edith Chittenden. Letter to her brother, Albert Friedrick Chittenden. October 22, 1946.
  • Chittenden, Newton Henry, Autobiographical Prospectus. San Francisco. No date (but before 1906).
  • The New York Times, April 2, 1871, p. 8.:
    • "...In Brooklyn we found the well-known establishment of Messrs. Freiderick & Brother moved to very spacious and commodious quarters in order to accommodate their much-increased business. The proprietors, artists themselves of distinguished merit, medalists of the School of Arts at Metz, and pupils of the celebrated MARECHAL, to whom the regeneration of this noble art is mainly due, exhibited to us work in process of completion of the greatest excellence. Notably among the various orders were twelve windows for the Washington Irving Church at Tarrytown. These are memorial windows with the following subjects: Elijah, Nathaniel, Job, Moses, Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham and Jesus in the garden. These gentlemen have just completed the windows of St. Thomas and of St. Anne. Perhaps the glass paintings of St. Thomas are among the finest specimens of the art in the United States. They have yet to finish some very fine windows for Buenos Ayres, South America. The following glass-paintings are now in hand: windows for St. Alphonsus, New-York City,; for a church in Taunton, Mass.; for a Babtist (sic) church in Albany; for Grace Church, New-Haven; for the Congregational Church in the same city; for Franklin, Tenn.; two memorial windows for Boston; for St. Johns Stamford, Conn.; and for Guyons Church, Brooklyn, L.I."
  • Gavan, Peggy. 1912: The Cat Lady of Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, and the Mysterious Thanksgiving Day Fire. The Hatching Cat: True and Unusual Animal Tales of Old New York. Blog. 13 November 2015. (http://hatchingcatnyc.com/2015/11/13/cat-lady-hoyt-street-thanksgiving-fire/ : accessed 29 September 2021).

1840 - Birth in Metz France on 7 September 1840:

  • Amélie’s birth certificate obtained and translated by family friend in Metz, France reads as follows:
    • In the year 1840, on the 7th of September at 9:00am before me, Jean Baptiste Pierre, mayor of Metz, has come to me, Charles Guillaume Friedrich, ages 41, born in Leipzig, tailor, living in Metz, rue des Clercs. He has declared a child of feminine sex born today at 1:00am in his house and of his wife, Catherine Jaeger, his wife aged 35, born in Le Locle in Switzerland, homemaker, and to whom he gives the name Amélie. The present declaration has been made in the presence of Jean Frederic Bernutz, aged 40 years, a saddlemaker, and Jean Phillipe Naxel, aged 40, tailor, and the witnesses have signed with us this declaration of birth and have approved the corrections made.

Note: It's interesting to note that in the following official documents, Amélie's name was never once recorded properly. Her first name is recorded as Emelie, Emilia, Ametie, Amelia, and Emily. Her surname appears as Friedwick, Frederick, Fredrick, and Freidrick. Her middle initial, when included was wrongly cited as S and C, but should have been M (for Marie).

1870 - Marriage to Newton Henry Chittenden, son of Albert Cornelius Chittenden and Patience Lavinia (Jones) Chittenden, in Brooklyn, Kings, New York on 07 November 1870:

  • "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/HVT : 10 February 2018), Newton Henry Chittenden and Emelie Friedwick, 07 Nov 1870; citing Marriage, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,543,856.

1875 - New York State Census, 34 years old, living in Brooklyn, Kings, New York with husband, Newton (34), children, Clara (3), Henry (2), Edith (2), and Albert (0), father, Charles Friedrick (75), and brother Alphonse Friedrick (39):

1876 - cited in birth record of son, Edward Lafayette, in Brooklyn, Kings, New York on 29 November 1876:

  • "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/BFC : 11 February 2018), Ametie Frederick in entry for Chittenden, 29 Nov 1876; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 5847 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,324,361.

1880 - Census, 39 years old, living in Brooklyn, Kings, New York with husband, N H (39), and children, Clara (8), Henry (7), Edith (7), Albert (5), and Edward (3):

1910 - Census, 60 years old, living in Pasco, Franklin County, Washington with son, Henry L (37), and daughter, Clara A (39):

1912 - cited in the marriage record of son, Henry Lincoln, to Ethel Hutton Ward, daughter of Oliver D Ward and Josephene (Hutton) Ward:

1923 - cited in marriage record of daughter, Edith Lucille to Harvey M. Duval, son of A.M. Duval and Ellen Irene (Miller) Duval, in Los Angeles, California on 30 May 1923:

1924 - Death in San Diego, California on 14 April 1924:

  • "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/PFL1 : 18 July 2020), Hettenden and Mrs. Amelia C Chittenden, 1924.
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25796112/amelie-chittenden : accessed 30 September 2021), memorial page for Amelie Friedrick Chittenden (7 Sep 1840–10 Apr 1924), Find a Grave Memorial ID 25796112, citing Greenwood Memorial Park, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA ; Maintained by King 43 (contributor 47621754) .

1925 - cited in the death record of husband, Newton H Chittenden in Los Angeles, California on 12 April 1925:

1960 - cited in death record of daughter, Edith Lucille, in Los Angeles, California on 04 February 1960:

1966 - cited in death record of son, Henry Lincoln, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on 26 February 1966:

  • "Canada, British Columbia Death Registrations, 1872-1986; 1992-1993," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/MYR : 8 November 2017), Amelie Freidrick in entry for Henry Lincoln Chittenden, 1966.

See Also

Spokane Homestead location


Acknowledgments

Thanks to Joann H. for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Joann and others.





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Amélie by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Amélie:

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Images: 2
Amelie Chittenden Image 1
Amelie Chittenden Image 1
Bureau of Land Management Patent for Homestead
Bureau of Land Management Patent for Homestead


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Rejected matches › Marie Azelie Frederick (1839-) › Marie Euremise Frederick (1840-)

Featured National Park champion connections: Amélie is 16 degrees from Theodore Roosevelt, 21 degrees from Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruger, 14 degrees from George Catlin, 19 degrees from Marjory Douglas, 25 degrees from Sueko Embrey, 13 degrees from George Grinnell, 26 degrees from Anton Kröller, 15 degrees from Stephen Mather, 22 degrees from Kara McKean, 19 degrees from John Muir, 18 degrees from Victoria Hanover and 27 degrees from Charles Young on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.

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Categories: Spokane County, Washington, Homesteaders