This is part 2 of a 3 part story. Here’s a link to part 1 if you haven’t read it yet. Part 1
At the beginning of 1915, this multi-generational family headed by Henry and Louisa Bedecker was doing well from what I can tell.
Things changed, though
Louisa, Henry’s wife, continued dealing with complications of an illness that began in 1914. She’d had pneumonia that failed to resolve which led to surgery of some kind. Scary business in 1914. She relapsed in 1915 and was hospitalized for two months but rallied after that.
Two men gone
In June 1915, Herman, Carrie’s husband, died unexpectedly. Read the Baltimore Sun article below.
The article talks about the storm seeming to center along the boundaries of Baltimore, Howard, and Carroll counties. Holbrook borders Baltimore and Carroll counties; Marriottsville borders Baltimore and Howard Counties. The storm also went through Granite which is east of Holbrook.
The family regrouped and continued on from what I can tell. Community support was great, so I imagine neighbors helped, too. Three months later, tragedy struck again when Henry was trampled by a horse. Here’s the article from the Baltimore Sun:
Henry died from his injuries on September 21st. According to newspaper records, both men should be buried at Wards Chapel Methodist, but the FindAGrave page for the cemetery lists neither of them.
The family pulls together and endures
The 1920 census shows the family pulled together and not apart from the tragedies. Louisa was the head of her household. Living with her were her son, Louis; her daughter, Lizzie; Lizzie’s husband, Melvin; and their 9-year old daughter, Alice. Louis managed the farm, and Melvin worked on the farm.
Carrie and Hilda lived in their same home, and Carrie’s daughter, Louisa, and her husband, Guy ENOS, lived a few households away. Guy was also a farm laborer.
Their neighbors are basically unchanged, so they were all still in the Holbrook area of Baltimore County. They appear to be working together, though I don’t know if it was a happy situation or not.
Two more loses
The 1920’s brought two more deaths to this family. On 6 March 1921, 28-year old Lizzie died at home from pneumonia. She is buried at Wards Chapel Methodist. Thankfully, the now motherless 9-year old Alice had several mother figures close by.
On 22 Jan 1928, Louis, the only son of Louisa and Henry, died. I can’t find an obituary or grave for him. I only found his death listed in the online Maryland death records. Louis was 54 when he died.
With Melvin and Guy as the only menfolk left, would the family continue to hold together? The final part next week will finish the story.
Copyright © 2017 Nancy H. Vest All Rights Reserved
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