Anna Maria Kurtz

Lifespan: July 18, 1837 – January 21, 1915

Summary

Born July 18, 1837 in Baden, Germany. Daughter of M. Kurtz (father’s first name unknown — only initial). Married Christian Vollmer on December 18, 1857 in Long Grove, Lake County, Illinois. Seven children (1 son, 6 daughters). Lived in Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois (1860), Minnesota (by 1870), and Cleveland, Le Sueur County, Minnesota (~10 years). Died January 21, 1915 in Elysian, Le Sueur County, Minnesota, age 77. Buried in Elysian — likely German Lake Lutheran Cemetery (same as husband Christian and daughter Minnie).

Relationships

• Father: M. Kurtz (initial only — born Baden, Germany)
• Mother: Unknown
• Husband: Christian Vollmer (Jan 31, 1815–Aug 15, 1894) — m. Dec 18, 1857, Long Grove, Lake Co, IL. She was his second wife.
• Children (7 — 1 son, 6 daughters):
  • Anna Maria Sophia Dorothea Volmer (1858–1901)
  • Fred Vollmer (1859–?)
  • Louisa Vollmer (1861–1937)
  • Wilhelmina Vollmer (1862–?) — likely died young
  • Maria Katharina Wilhelmina Vollmer (Feb 28, 1863–Sep 10, 1905) — direct line. m. Charles Frederick Schmidt
  • Caroline Vollmer (1867–1931)
  • Caroline Vollmer (c. 1873–?)
• Stepchildren (from Christian’s first wife): Frederick Vollmer (c. 1833), Caroline Vollmer (c. 1840), Henry Vollmer (c. 1852)

Sources

• FamilySearch (birth, marriage, death, burial, parents)
• 1860 US Census, Ela Township, Lake County, Illinois — listed as “Mary” age 22, born Baden, in household of “C. Wallmore”

Research Notes

• Born in Baden (Grand Duchy of Baden, now Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany) — confirmed by 1860 census. ~400 miles south of husband Christian’s Hanover.
• Father “M Kurtz” — only an initial. Could be Michael, Martin, Matthias, Maximilian, etc. No mother listed. This is a very thin lead.
• Emigrated to Illinois — met and married Christian Vollmer in the German immigrant community of Lake County, IL
• Listed as “Mary” on 1860 census — Americanized form of Maria/Anna Maria
• Outlived husband by 21 years (Christian died 1894, Anna Maria died 1915)
• Outlived daughter Minnie by 10 years (Minnie died 1905, age 42)
• Lived in Cleveland, Le Sueur Co for ~10 years — near daughter Minnie and son-in-law Charles Frederick Schmidt
• Died in Elysian, Le Sueur Co — same town as German Lake Lutheran Cemetery where Christian and Minnie are buried
• A widow for 21 years. Christian died 1894 when Anna Maria was 57. She lived to 77.
• Next steps: (1) Search for Baden emigration records for Kurtz family. (2) Look for 1870 census in Minnesota. (3) Check if death record names her father’s full name. (4) Search for other Kurtz families in Lake County, IL area c. 1850s.