Mary Grant Hillebrandt1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 12145, (1865 - 1941)
FatherWilliam Hillebrandt4,5,6 (12 Jul 1831 - 16 Dec 1867)
MotherCaroline Jane Gibbs7,6 (abt 1832 - 19 Jul 1876)

Key Events:

Birth: 2 Apr 1865, Latonia Springs, Kenton Co., Kentucky8,9,10
Marriage: 28 Oct 1885, 1031 Russell St., Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, Albert August Fenker (19 Sep 1862 - 27 May 1933)11,12,13
Death: 19 Dec 1941, Mt. Carmel Hospital, Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio14,15
Burial: 20 Dec 1941, Cemetery of Spring Grove, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio16,17
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Mary Grant Hillebrandt was born on 2 Apr 1865 in Latonia Springs, Kenton Co., Kentucky.8,9,10
     Mary was named an heir in the will of her father dated 25 Nov 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio, under which her mother was to receive $18,000 in life insurance proceeds, and the income and rent from real estate purchased from the proceeds of his estate to educate and maintain the children. At her mother's death the entire estate was to be divided equally between Mary and her five siblings.18
     Her father died on 16 Dec 1867, when Mary was 2 years old.19,20
     She appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Buena Vista, Kenton Co., Kentucky, in the household of her mother, Caroline Jane Gibbs, and stepfather, James Cruickshank.21
     Her step-father died on 23 Oct 1874, when Mary was 9 years old.22 Her mother died on 19 Jul 1876, when Mary was 11 years old.23,24
     According to family lore, Mary grew up in an orphanage in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. There was an orphanage and school there, started in the 1870's by the Roman Catholic order of the Sister of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd. It closed in 1983, and all that remains is a retirement home for the order known as Pelletier Hall. No record of Mary being there has been found. She is not listed there in the 1880 census, nor has she been found elsewhere.25,26
     An alternate version is that she claimed that she was adopted and the family that adopted her was mean to her. Supposedly she was adopted by her sister's husband's mother, Mrs. Cruickshank. Neither of her sisters married a Cruickshank, but her mother's second husband was James Cruickshank, so it seems likely it was a relative of his. The only Mrs. Cruickshank that has been found in the area at that time was Madeline Lamoine Cruickshank, widow of her stepfather's brother, but no record has been found of them together.26
     It seems most likely that both stories are true in part, and she spent part of the time between her mother's death and her marriage at the school and part with her step-father's sister-in-law.
     Another family story claims that her family had money, and that her sister's husband cheated her. There was supposedly a letter from a brother-in-law stating that the family farm was heavily mortgaged and not worth the cost of getting her inheritance. Her father's will suggests he had assets, but it specifies that no inventory was required, and no records have been found to determine their value other than the 1870 census record that shows her mother reported $30,000 worth of real estate. Whether there were actually substantial mortgages on that property is unknown.27
     According to family sources, she was a schoolteacher in Covington, Kentucky, presumably before her marriage.26
     Mary married Albert August Fenker, son of Johann Hinrich Wilhelm Fennker and Johanna Louise Baum, on 28 Oct 1885 in 1031 Russell St., Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, the home of his parents.11,12,13
     Mary and Albert moved to 520 Lincoln Ave., Detroit, Michigan, by 1894, when they were living at 520 Lincoln Ave., Detroit.28
     Mary and Albert moved to Kalamazoo by 1899, when they were living at 432 Stuart Ave.29 They appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Oxford Twp, Oakland Co., Michigan, on Dennison St., enumerated 2 Jun 1900. Their children Ernst, William, Ruth and Evelyn were listed as living with them.30
     Mary and Albert returned to Detroit by 1903, when they were living at 972 Brooklyn Ave.31,32 They moved to Ohio by 1906, when they were living at 15 Auburn Ave., Columbus.33,34,35 They appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, at 15 Auburn Ave., enumerated 29 Apr 1910. Their children Ernst, William, Ruth and Evelyn were listed as living with them.36
     Mary and Albert moved to 1520 Bryden Rd. by 1915.37 They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, at 1520 Bryden Rd., enumerated 8 Jan 1920. Their daughter Evelyn was listed as living with them.38
     Mary and Albert appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Bexley, Franklin Co., Ohio, at 956 College Ave., enumerated 7 Apr 1930, reporting that they rented their, home for $36 per month, and owned a radio. Their daughter Evelyn and her husband, Edward Emerson Thompson, were listed separately but as living in the same house.39
     Mary and Albert moved to 693 Vernon Rd., Bixley, about 1932.40,41
     Her husband died on 27 May 1933 in 693 Vernon Rd., Bexley, Franklin Co., Ohio.42,43,44
     Mary died on 19 Dec 1941 in Mt. Carmel Hospital, Columbus, Franklin Co., Ohio, at age 76.14,15 She was buried on 20 Dec 1941 in Cemetery of Spring Grove, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the lot owned by the heirs of her father.16,17

Children:
     Children with Albert August Fenker:

Citations

  1. [S10535] James Cruikshank household, 1870 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky, shows name as Mary Heldebrand.
  2. [S356] Mary G. Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows name as Mary G Fenker; daughter of Wm Hildebrand.
  3. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows name as Mary Grant Hillebrandt.
  4. [S9885] Marriage Record, Kenton Co., Kentucky, 1882-1887, pg 148, Albert A. Fenker and Mary G. Hillebrandt.
  5. [S356] Mary G. Fenker, Certificate of Death.
  6. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Mary G. Fenker, 20 Dec 1941.
  7. [S10535] James Cruikshank household, 1870 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  8. [S10535] James Cruikshank household, 1870 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky, shows age 5 and state.
  9. [S9885] Marriage Record, Kenton Co., Kentucky, 1882-1887, pg 148, Albert A. Fenker and Mary G. Hillebrandt, shows age 21 at marriage 27 Oct 1885, county, and state.
  10. [S356] Mary G. Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date, town as Latonia Springs, and state.
  11. [S9885] Marriage Record, Kenton Co., Kentucky, 1882-1887, pg 148, Albert A. Fenker and Mary G. Hillebrandt, shows date of issue as 27th.
  12. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows date, as 28th, address, city, and state. In a telephone call 8 Mar 2000, cited the wedding invitation for this information.
  13. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows married 14 years.
  14. [S356] Mary G. Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date, place, city, county, and state.
  15. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Mary G. Fenker, 20 Dec 1941, shows date, hospital, city, and state.
  16. [S356] Mary G. Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date, city, and state.
  17. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Mary G. Fenker, 20 Dec 1941, shows date and lot.
  18. [S10415] Will Books, Hamilton Co., Ohio, 19:396-9, will of William Hillebrandt.
  19. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows date, city, and state.
  20. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Wm. Hillebrandt, 3 Apr 1868, shows date, and late residence as "Cinti.O."
  21. [S10535] James Cruikshank household, 1870 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky.
  22. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for James Crookshank, 24 Oct 1874.
  23. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Caroline Crinkshank, 21 Jul 1876, shows date, and place as Sanitarium College Hill Ham Co Ohio, with residence as Cov Ky.
  24. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows date, and place as Covington, Kentucky.
  25. [S10542] House of the Good Shepherd, 1880 U.S. Census, Campbell Co., Kentucky, lists 77 students, not including Mary.
  26. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000.
  27. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, show claim that a sister's husband cheated her and report of a letter.
  28. [S10505] Detroit City Directory, 1894, pg 21, shows him in the Removals, Alterations and Omissions section, shows company and residence address.
  29. [S10534] F. A. Corey's Annual Directory of Kalamazoo City, 1899, pg 236.
  30. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan.
  31. [S10505] Detroit City Directory, 1903, pg 989; 1905, pg 1051.
  32. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows occupation as commercial salesman.
  33. [S8886] R. L. Polk & Co's Columbus City Directory, 1906, pg 378; 1908, pg 368; 1917, pg 479.
  34. [S483] Albert A. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Ohio, shows occupation as commercial trader in regalia.
  35. [S432] William T. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Erie Co., Ohio, shows he was a commercial trader in regalia.
  36. [S483] Albert A. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Ohio.
  37. [S8886] R. L. Polk & Co's Columbus City Directory, 1915, pg 449.
  38. [S433] Albert A. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Ohio.
  39. [S502] Albert A. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Franklin Co., Ohio.
  40. [S8886] R. L. Polk & Co's Columbus City Directory, 1932, pg 420.
  41. [S308] Albert Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows address with house number 693, town as Bixley.
  42. [S308] Albert Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows date, town as Bexley, county, and state.
  43. [S751] Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, online burial records, record for Albert August Fenker, 29 May 1933, shows date, place of death his residence, and address, town, and state of residence.
  44. [S26] Fogg, Family File "Fenker_Al.FTW," 1 Mar 2000, shows date, city, as Columbus, and state.
  45. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows him as the son of her husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  46. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1917, Monroe Co., no. 357, William T. Fenker and Mary Lillie Cheetham.
  47. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows Ruth as the daughter of Mary's husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  48. [S10572] Marriage Record, Franklin Co., Ohio, 62:510, Edward Pryce Fischer and Ruth Fenker.
  49. [S775] Albert A. Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Oakland Co., Michigan, shows Evelyn as the daughter of Mary's husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  50. [S10572] Marriage Record, Franklin Co., Ohio, 101:180, no. 84963, Edward E. Thompson and Evelyn Fenker.