Chosen Families #23: Anna Catherine (Lampert) Eberhardt and the Story of the Lampert and Eberhardt Families - RELATIVE FOUND
Hello everyone!
Welcome to another episode of the Chosen Families Project!
Today I am discussing the story of a photograph I bought in a lot of found photographs in an antique store in Asbury Park, NJ.
The cabinet card portrait is a middle aged woman, with dark hair and features. She is wearing a white dress, with a pendant on her collar, and necklace. The photograph was taken by Hopkins & Holcomb in Salina, Kansas. Although “It has not yet been determined when Hopkins and Holcomb were partners” they worked both together and separately in Salina, Kansas in the late 19th century.
The back of the photograph states that she is a “Mrs Chris Eberhardt.” After looking for Chris Eberhardt’s in Salina, Kansas from around this time period, I identified an Anna Catherine (Lampert) Eberhardt as a possible woman in the photograph. I reached out to a relative, who I already sent the photograph back to, and was able to confirm this was her.
Here is the story of Anna Catherine (Lampert) Eberhardt and the Lampert and Eberhardt families.
Anna Catherine Lampert was born on Nov 29, 1842 in Flasch, Switzerland to parents Jacob Lampert (1814-1848) and Anna Katherine Lampert (1813-1902). I wanted to highlight, prior to getting into them, one of the most in depth family genealogy texts I have seen. Historical genealogy accounts like these for families are so crucial because they provide not only vital details, but also how generations of families relate to one another. This account, titled A Genealogical Record of the Lampert Family was compiled by Margaret Lampert Weisenburg, and printed for private circulation in November 1939.
About Jacob and Anna Katherine:
To continue, after their 1846 immigration and death of her father in 1848 at the age of 5, Anna, her mother and siblings resided in Polk and West Bend in Washington County, Wisconsin in 1850 and 1860. By 17 Sep 1865, Anna Catherine married her civil war veteran husband, Christopher Eberhardt in West Bend, Wisconsin at the age of 22. They had 10 children between 1866-1887. The family migrated to Kansas as of 1866, following Chirstopher’s time in Kansas during the Civil War, and resided in Salina, Kansas from 1870 throughout the rest of their lifetimes.
The Lampert genealogy account describes the family and their children further in detail:
Anna Catherine Eberhardt would pass away on 3 June 1912. Although some accounts recall her death in Salina Kansas, some accounts recall her death in Alberta Lea, Minnesota:
The Topeka State Journal June 5 1912 Topeka Kansas Page 10
McPherson Daily Republican 14 June 1912 McPherson, KansasPage 3
Her obituary from The Salina Sun - Saturday - 8 June 1912 describes her also in detail:
She is buried in Gypsum Hill Cemetery located in Salina, Kansas alongside her husband, Christopher Eberhardt, who died on 26 Dec 1922 at the age of 81:
His obituary from the Salina Evening Journal, Dec. 26, 1922, page 1 states:
Christopher Eberhardt, a pioneer citizen of this community, died this morning at 2:40 o'clock at the family home, 121 North Eighth street. The deceased had been in failing health for a number of years. An operation for cataracts of the eyes, performed in Wichita about the middle of October, while successful in restoring his sight, was a severe shock to an enfeebled condition of health. He was brought to his home in Salina from Wichita in an ambulance five weeks ago. The end was not unexpected.
The funeral services will be held at the First Methodist church Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The body will lie in state at the family home on Eighth street from 10 to 12 o'clock Thursday morning.
Christopher Eberhardt was born January 25, 1841, in Guntirsblum, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. He came to this country with his parents when seven years of age, and settled in Wisconsin. He served throughout the Civil War as a member of the Twelfth Wisconsin Infantry. At the close of the was in 1865 he married Anna Catherine Lampert, and with his wife went to Leavenworth, Kan., from which place, two years later, they moved to Salina, arriving here in August, 1867. A continuous residence here of fifty-five and a half years distinguishes this citizen of Salina. Ten children were born, eight of whom survive. Mrs. Eberhardt passed away ten years ago, in 1912. The surviving children are: Miss Catherine, John J., Charles C., Henry H., Fred F., Frank L., Mrs. Edna Eberhardt Litowich and Mrs. Vera Eberhardt Hiller, all of whom make Salina their home, except Charles C. Eberhardt, who spends most of his time abroad in the United States Consular Service.
Rode Here On Horseback
With the passing of Christopher Eberhardt, ends a long and influential life. He is one of the last of the sturdy pioneers who laid the foundation for a prosperous community, through the hardships of frontier life. Not only was he identified with the beginnings of his home town, Salina, but he was also a member of the original townsite company of McPherson, and helped to start a number of smaller towns in this vicinity. When he made his preliminary trip to Salina, leaving his little family in Leavenworth, he rode here from Abilene on horseback, so little had transportation progress been made. He was influential in securing eastern capital for railroad facilities here, and made a number of trips east with this object in view. In the second year of his residence, he was foremost in organizing the defense of the settlers against the famous Indian raid of that year. In addition to the demands of his large private business interests, he was a leader in all activities for community betterment and held positions of trust in many of Salina's leading institutions.
Mr. Eberhardt was a life-long active member of the First Methodist church. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Kansas Wesleyan University from its founding until three years ago, when, upon his resignation, he was made member emeritus; he was influential in establishing the old Normal; he lent his financial and moral support to every worthy cause.
Into Lumber Business
The lumber business which he established upon his arrival here, and which has now developed into the Eberhardt Construction company, under the management of his son, Frank L. Eberhardt, was one of the best known of the pioneer business concerns. Lumber was sent by wagon train to many parts of the state. The company did a regular business with Wichita when that place was in its infancy. At the opening of Oklahoma lumber was sold in Guthrie by the board from a box car, and there are many other instances of the enterprising spirit of the man who directed the company's business. Until his recent illness, which almost entirely incapacitated him Mr. Eberhardt went every day to his office and performed some routine work.
The Eberhardt home has been known for many years for its genuine hospitality. The life of Christopher Eberhardt contributed its full share to the best of family and community life.
Another obituary from the Salina Daily Union, Dec. 26, 1922, page 1 states:
PIONEER MERCHANT AND LUMBERMAN IS CALLED IN DEATH
Chrisopher Eberhardt Dies Early Today at Age of 81 Years
Became Resident of Salina in 1867--Funeral at 2:30 p.m. On Thursday
Christopher Eberhardt, Salina's well-known pioneer lumberman and merchant, died at his home, 121 North Eighth street, at 2:40 a.m. today, at the age of 81 years, death resulting from the infirmities of old age.
Christopher Eberhardt was born January 26, 1841, at Guntersblum, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. He came to the United States when he was 7 years old with his parents and they settled in Wisconsin. When he was 20 Mr. Eberhardt enlisted in the Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which body he served throughout the war. He saw service around Chattanooga and Gettysburg, a brother of his being killed at Gettysburg and two brothers-in-law at Chattanooga.
Returning from the was he married Anna Catherine Lampert in September, 1865, and they proceeded directly to Leavenworth, Kans., where they lived two years. They moved from Leavenworth to Salina, arriving here in August, 1867, and he has resided here continuously for 55 1/2 years, during which time he was in the lumber business.
Ten children were born to this union, eight of whom are living now. Mrs. Eberhardt passed away ten years ago, 1912. The surviving children are Miss Catherine, Messrs. John J. Eberhardt, Chas. C., Henry H., Fred Fr., Frank L., Mrs. Bernard I. Litowich, Mrs. Edward A. Hiller, all of whom make Salina their home, except Charles C., who spends most of his time abroad in the U.S. consular service.
Mr. Eberhardt was a life-long, active member of the Methodist church, active in forwarding Kansas Wesleyan University and other educational interests of the community, and he stood for aggressiveness and betterment of the city. He was an active member of the local G.A.R. post, spending many hours with his comrades at the hall. He was also a member of the Masonic bodies.
The funeral services will be held at the First M.E. church Thursday afternoon, 2:30 o'clock. The body will lie in state at the home, 121 North Eighth street, from 10 a.m. until noon, Thursday
One of the most interesting things I found was an original oil painting of Anna Catherine (Lampert) Eberhardt on Ancestry. Recall that she was an oil painter. I am not sure of the details, but I utilized this oil painting when I began my search in the first place to compare the photograph I found too, and I found that it was a match. I also found another photograph on FindaGrave of Christopher and Anna, who am trying to recover currently.
Courtesy Evon Vogt, Ancestry
18 Dec 2020
Wow, there was so much plentiful information on this family, especially on Anna Lampert Eberhardt, her family, and her husband Christopher Eberhardt.
I am so happy to say that I was able to send the photograph over to the relative! I also made a family tree for Anna and her family.
If you have any questions or comments please let me know at thechosenfamiliesproject@gmail.com
Remember that you are loved, and you are always welcome here
Take care!
