Wilhelmina Luisa Fiandt (1880 - 1949)

Born 2 Jun 1880 in Opfingen, Freiburg, Baden, Germany

Wife of Alfred Späth — married 8 Feb 1921 in Gallenweiler, Staufen, Baden, Germany

Descendants

Died 4 Aug 1949 at age 69 in Gallenweiler, Staufen, Baden, Germany

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Biography

"Mina" was the eldest daughter and fourth of sixth children.

On 11 May 1905 in Gallenweiller, Mina married Wilhelm Föckler. They were close in age at nearly 25 for Mina and 26 for Wilhelm. After nine years of marriage, Wilhelm died in combat in France during World War I.

Two years later, in January 1917, Mina gave birth to Alfred. Alfred was given his mother's surname of Fiand (a variant spelling) and noted as an "unehelich kind" (illegitimate child) with Mina's (very) late husband's death detailed under her name.

Two years after Alfred was born, in December 1918, Mina gave birth to son Eugen(e) in Gallenweiler. She was 38 at this time. Eugene's surname was also his mother's maiden name. Godparents for Eugene were listed as Gustav Scholer and (Mrs.) Louise Miller.

Later, in September 1936, Alfred and Eugene's birth records were amended by a W. Waag. The German script is hard to read, but the name "Späth" is underlined in both. By this time Mina and Alfred Späth had been married for nearly 15 years and had two daughters, Frida and Emilie (who died as an infant).

Also at this time, a note was made that Eugene's father was Wilhelm Scholer of Gallenweiler (note: same surname as godparent). No amendment was made for Alfred, leaving the identity of his biological father unknown unless information is in the annotation made by W. Waag.

Alfred, a gardener, died at age 24 in 1940 and was buried in the church in Gallenweiler. He is recorded as "son of Alfred Späth".

Eugene's death record from 1994 lists his parents as Alfred and Mina. It is unknown whether Eugene was aware of his biological father's identity.

Mina lived to the age of 68 and passed away a couple of years before her two remaining children, Eugene and Frida, emigrated to the United States and Australia, respectively.

Sources

• Kirchenbuch, 1648-1962, Evangelische Kirche Gallenweiler (Gallenweiler, Baden, Germany), Family History Library.
• Baden, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1502-1985. Ancestry.com.
• Australian Vital Records Index. Death record of daughter Frida Gawlik states that her mother was named "Wilhelmine". (Also stated in immigration records for Frida.)
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007. Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.