Irma Aurelia Sander1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 6, (1883 - 1971)
FatherAdolph Sander4,2,5 (2 Oct 1840 - 18 Nov 1912)
MotherCatharine Mathes6,7,8 (19 Mar 1844 - 25 Mar 1908)

Key Events:

Birth: 17 Jun 1883, Cincinnati, Ohio9,10,11
Marriage: 1 Nov 1905, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Howard Wieman Fenker (5 Apr 1883 - 17 Sep 1974)12,13
Death: 25 Sep 1971, Nashville, Tennessee14,15
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker
Descendants of Maximilian Friderich Wiemann and Anna Maria Margaretha Elisabeth Lüken

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Irma Aurelia Sander was born on 17 Jun 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio.9,10,11
     On 18 May 1892 her father applied for a passport for himself, Irma and her three living siblings, and their mother. He stated he intended to return within six months. The passport was issued 20 May 1892.5 Irma, her parents, and her sisters, returned to New York on 3 Sep 1892, aboard the S.S. Lahn, having departed Bremen. They traveled in first class cabins, with eight pieces of luggage, stating they has last stayed in Oppenheim, Germany.16
     She appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of her parents, Adolph Sander and Catharine Mathes.4
     On 6 Jun 1900 her father applied for another passport for himself, Irma and her sister, and their mother. The passport was issued 8 Jun 1900.17,18 Irma and her parents are listed as departing Hamburg, Germany, on 6 Sep 1900, aboard the Fürst Bismarck, bound for New York, traveling in first class cabins. No record of their arrival in New York has been found.19
     Irma attended Women's College of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, from 1903 to 1905, but did not graduate. The school was renamed Goucher College in 1910.20,21

A Storybook Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Irma married Howard Wieman Fenker, son of John William Fenker and Amelia Louise Wieman, on 1 Nov 1905 in Hamilton Co., Ohio, with Rev. Robert Watson, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, officiating.12,13
     The following newspaper report of her wedding appeared 5 Nov 1905 :
Schoolday Love Leads to Wedding
Miss Irma Sander, Handsome Heiress, Becomes Mrs. Howard Fenker
Cupid Undaunted Through College and Business Separated the Lovers
Romance That Began in Intermediate School Led to the Bridal Affair
Back of the quiet wedding Wednesday night of beautiful Irma Sander, daughter of Adolph Sander, millionaire pork packer, of 3430 Brookline avenue, Clifton, and Howard Fenker, 930 West Ninth street, has developed a romance dainty enough to have formed the plot of a piece of fiction. Miss Sander and her young husband, who are now on their honeymoon trip, met when they attended the First Intermediate. Howard and Irma were "sweethearts" those days and when they entered Hughes High school in the same class the romance grew apace. The boy and girl were ardent lovers all through High school, and the fact that Miss Irma was the daughter of wealthy and admiring parents and had a social career in prospect didn't make a difference with the lovers. Irma was elected the captain of the girl's basket ball team, and Howard was made the captain of the Hughes football team. Both the "captains" graduated in the class of 1902 of old Hughes. Mr. Fenker entered the business world, and Irma went off to Baltimore to school. But the love of yesteryear did not fade, and a steady correspondence was maintained, and the wedding Wednesday was the result. Mr. Fenker and his bride have fitted up a dainty flat in Avondale.22

     Irma and Howard appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, at 264 Hosia St., enumerated 19 Apr 1910, The household also included an 18 year old servant, Florence Haslinger.23,24
     Irma was named an heir in the will of her father, dated 22 Mar 1911 in Cincinnati, in which she was left one-fourth of the capital stock of A. Sander Packing Co. of Cincinnati, and was named a beneficiary for all the balance of the estate, the net income of which was to be paid of her and her three living siblings for their lifetimes, then the principal to be given outright to their children.25

Moving to Florida, then to Tennessee --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Irma and Howard moved their family to Minneola, Florida, about 1919, because they thought the weather would be helpful in restoring his her health after she was very ill for a time.26,27 They appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Clermont, Lake Co., Florida, at 119 Club House Rd., enumerated 14 Jan 1920, with a household consisting of a 23 year old trained nurse, Emily Borwell. Their children Richard and Emilou were listed as living with them.28
     Irma and Howard moved their family to Nashville, Tennessee, about 1924, so Howard could attend the law school at Vanderbilt University.27

A Career in Pre-School Education --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     While her husband was studying law at Vanderbilt, Irma was attending George Peabody College for Teachers, across the street. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aug 1926, and a Master of Arts degree in Jun 1929.29,30
     She was started the preschool program for Peabody Demonstration School, and taught there for many years. She later becoming a supervisor there, also holding the title of assistant professor at Peabody College.31,32,33
     The program was the subject of and Associated Press story, that was printed in newspapers all over the country in the fall of 1928. The story read, in part:
Children Are Taught Right Way to Play
     Nashville, Tenn. –Children, two to four years old, are attending college here.
     The George Peabody College for Teachers at Nashville is conducting a nursery school where the children are allowed to develop their own ideas of play.
     They are furnished saw-horses, planks, packing boxes, slides, swings, and other equipment and turned loose to adapt themselves to their own small world. Without being consciously directed by adults, they are supposed to learn to respect one another’s desires, exercise their inventiveness, climb, tumble and slide as much as they wish.
     The adult care is there, however, in the person of Mrs. Irma S. Fenker, director of the nursery school. She put in practice some very definite ideas on discipline.
     The infants must wear regulation “sun suits” which allow a maximum of sun-rays to reach their bodies. Each youngster is assigned a cubby-hole to keep his belongings in and three hooks in a bathroom on which to hang a towel, wash cloth and tooth brush. The respective cubby-holes and hooks are identified by a distinguishing picture: a teddy bear, a duck, cat, tree, or dog, which the child learns to recognized as his own.
     Lunch time comes and the children server themselves milk and crackers, wash and dry the dishes and set the table for the next meal. After eating, they take rag rugs from each cubby-hole and spread them under trees for 15 minutes of rest and sleep. Then more play and finally mother or father comes to take each youngster home.34

     Irma and Howard appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, at 1920 20th Ave. South, enumerated 3 Apr 1930, reporting that the family owned a home worth $15,000, and had a radio. Their children Richard and Emilou were listed as living with them.35
     Irma and Howard appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, at 1920 20th Ave. South, enumerated 3 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a home valued at $7,000, and had lived in the same house in 1935. Her sister, Emma, was listed as living with them.36
     During the War Irma traveled all over Tennessee starting day care centers so that mothers could work as part of the war effort. She retired in the fall of 1946.37,38,39
     They moved to 3507 Belmont Blvd. by 1949 with their daughter Emilou, her husband Homer Thomas Frazier, and their children.40,41
     Irma and Howard appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Nashville, Davidson Co., Tennessee, at 307 Belmont Blvd., enumerated 1 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm and they lived in the same house the year before. Their daughter Emilou was listed as living with them, as were her husband, Homer Thomas Frazier, and their three children.42
     Irma died on 25 Sep 1971 in Nashville, Tennessee, at age 88.14,15

Children:
     Children with Howard Wieman Fenker:

Citations

  1. [S10417] Adolph Sander, Passport Application (8 Jun 1900), shows name as Irma Sander.
  2. [S8685] Marriage Record, Hamilton Co., Ohio, 185:16, Howard W. Fenker and Irma Sander.
  3. [S250] Interview, Emilou Fenker Frazier, 3 & 5 Jul 2000, gave name Irma Aurela Sander.
  4. [S212] Adalf Sander household, 1900 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  5. [S10416] Adolph Sander, Passport Application (18 May 1892).
  6. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Irma Sander Fenker, Soc. Sec. No. 410-76-3314.
  7. [S250] Interview, Emilou Fenker Frazier, 3 & 5 Jul 2000.
  8. [S91] Martha Fenker, personal notes, typed list prepared by MCF.
  9. [S212] Adalf Sander household, 1900 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows age 16, month, year, and state.
  10. [S10417] Adolph Sander, Passport Application (8 Jun 1900), shows date, as 16th, city, and state.
  11. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Irma Sander Fenker, Soc. Sec. No. 410-76-3314, shows date, as 17th, city, and state.
  12. [S8685] Marriage Record, Hamilton Co., Ohio, 185:16, Howard W. Fenker and Irma Sander, shows date and officiant.
  13. [S213] Howard W. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows married 4 years.
  14. [S47] Fenker, Family File "Fenker.FTW," 29 Sep 1998.
  15. [S91] Martha Fenker, personal notes, typed list prepared by MCF, shows year only.
  16. [S10426] Lahn arrival 3 Sep 1892, Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897.
  17. [S10417] Adolph Sander, Passport Application (8 Jun 1900).
  18. [S10424] "Men and Matters," The Cincinnati Enquirer, 13 Jun 1900, shows farewell dinner and travel plan.
  19. [S10429] Fürst Bismarck departure 6 Sep 1900, Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934, pg 1975.
  20. [S10496] Donnybrook Fair, 1904, pg 60, shows here in freshman class; 1905, pg 55, shows here in sophomore class.
  21. [S8818] Directory of the Alumnae and Non-Graduates of Goucher College, pg 94, listed as a non-graduate, shows as 1902-1904.
  22. [S91] Martha Fenker, personal notes, newspaper clipping marked "Cincinnati, Ohio, November 5, 1905" in her hand.
  23. [S213] Howard W. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  24. [S178] Richard Fenker, Certificate of Birth, shows same residence in Oct 1910.
  25. [S10415] Will Books, Hamilton Co., Ohio, 120:506-8, will of Adolph Sander, 27 Nov 1912.
  26. [S250] Interview, Emilou Fenker Frazier, 3 & 5 Jul 2000, recalling they moved to Florida before she started in school, and story of health issues and schooling.
  27. [S260] Richard M. Fenker, Sr., "Richard M. Fenker Sr. biography", shows moved to Florida after First World War, then to Nashville 1924.
  28. [S428] Howard W. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Lake Co., Florida.
  29. [S4124] Nashville City Directory, 1926, pg 314, shows her a student at Peabody Coll, and him at V U Law Sch.
  30. [S10497] George Peabody College for Teachers, Commencement Program, program for 25 Aug 1926 and 7 Jun 1929.
  31. [S250] Interview, Emilou Fenker Frazier, 3 & 5 Jul 2000, said Irma started the preschool program and taught there.
  32. [S485] Howard W. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Davidson Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as teacher, in a college.
  33. [S10385] Polk's Nashville City Directory, 1933, pg 341, shows her as tchr at Peabody Demonstration Sch; 1935, pg 369, shows her as asst prof at Peabody College; and 1937, pg 290, shows her as supvr at Peabody Nursery Sch.
  34. [S10498] "Children Are Taught Right Way to Play," Colton Daily Courier, 27 Sep 1928, same story appears in many other newspapers, including Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa, 30 Sep 1928, pg 40; The Portsmouth Herald, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 26 Sep 1928, pg 8; and The Morning News, Wilmington, Delaware, 25 Sep 1928, pg 7.
  35. [S485] Howard W. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Davidson Co., Tennessee.
  36. [S5288] Alice Tuck household, 1940 U.S. Census, Davidson Co., Tennessee.
  37. [S5288] Alice Tuck household, 1940 U.S. Census, Davidson Co., Tennessee, shows occupation as primary teacher, industry as private school.
  38. [S250] Interview, Emilou Fenker Frazier, 3 & 5 Jul 2000, told of starting day care centers.
  39. [S10499] "Top O' the Mornin'," The Nashville Tennessean, 23 Sep 1946, shows her as one of five Peabody College faculty retiring.
  40. [S10385] Polk's Nashville City Directory, 1949, pg 300, shows Howard and Irma, and pg 329, shows Homer and Emilou, at 1920 20th av S.
  41. [S177] Howard Wieman Fenker Death Certificate.
  42. [S13325] Howard W. Fenker household, 1950 U.S. Census, Davidson Co., Tennessee.
  43. [S29] Cemetery of Spring Grove, burial records, for Howard Sander Fenker.
  44. [S353] Howard Sander Fenker, Certificate of Death.
  45. [S178] Richard Fenker, Certificate of Birth.
  46. [S428] Howard W. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Lake Co., Florida, shows him as the son of her husband.
  47. [S428] Howard W. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Lake Co., Florida, shows Emilou as the daughter of Irma's husband.
  48. [S10387] Emilou Fenker Frazier obituary, Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Woodlawn Memorial Park.