Louis Weichmann

[RJNorton]

The research you folks do is absolutely incredible. Kudos!

Anyone ever come across what (Louis J. Weichmann) the "J" stood for (if anything)?

[Rsmyth]

Louis Weichmann was a pivotal character in the Lincoln assassination. He was privy, willingly or not, to comings and goings at Mary Surratt’s boarding house in Washington. Louis’s testimony at the conspirator trial probably secured the guilty verdict for his friend, confidant and landlord. There is speculation that while living in Mary’s home Louis had “a thing” for Mrs. Surratt’s daughter Anna. As far as we know, Anna was not interested in Louis as a suitor. But this post is about another Anna in Louis’s life, Anna Johnson and Anna’s final resting place.
After the trial of the conspirators Louis Weichmann moved back to the town where he grew up, Philadelphia. He had gone to high school in Philly and his father, a tailor, still lived there. Weichmann was appointed to a position of clerk in the Philadelphia Custom House through the efforts of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and government prosecutor Joseph Holt. He did not hold this job for very long. He was relieved of the position in November 1866. When Ulysses Grant became president in1869 Louis got his position back.
Shortly after he was rehired he married Anna Johnson of Philadelphia at Grace Episcopal Church on October 25th 1870. Louis was 28 years old and Anna listed her age as 32 although her death certificate says she was born in 1834 which would have made her 36. Perhaps the discrepancy was just a typographical error or perhaps Anna lied about her age. We will never know.
What we may also never know is how they met or what attracted them to each other. Did Anna know of Louis’s background and that he was despised by a great many people? What did Louis tell Anna of his time in Washington and the trial that resulted in the death of Mary Surratt? Those discussions if recorded in a diary or letters would be invaluable to researchers of the conspirator’s trial.
It does not appear that Anna had been previously married. She was still going by the family name of Johnson when she married Louis. Her father was Samuel and her mother was Elizabeth Wallace. Born in Philadelphia, it is possible that her whole life was passed in that city. On her death certificate under trade, profession or particular kind of work, it is filled in as “none.” Could Anna’s family have had money? Doubtful since after Louis moved out ten years later, Anna was reduced to taking in boarders. The couple had no children.
In 1886 Louis lost his job again and moved to Anderson, Indiana where he had family and started a business school. He died in 1902 in that city and is buried there. Anna lived another 18 years before passing away in the city of her birth on June 21, 1920. She died of chronic Myocarditis which is an infection of the heart brought on by virus. She was 86 years old. Anna and Louis were never divorced.
Her body was taken by undertaker Joseph Foff and brought to Monument Cemetery for burial. Anna was interred on June 23rd 1920 in section “C”, lot 355, grave 1S.
Monument Cemetery was located at North Broad and Berks Streets in Philadelphia. Occupying seven acres at the time of the last burial in 1929 the cemetery contained 28,000 graves. Monument, one of Philadelphia’s Victorian cemeteries fell into disrepair and by the 1950’s Temple University which was directly across the street wanted the property for a parking lot and sports practice field. In 1956 Temple took possession of the land and began moving the bodies. Temple University made contact with about 400 families of which only about 200 had their loved ones and markers removed to the location of their choice. The rest would be relocated to Lawnview Cemetery in Rockledge minus any makers.
The headstones and monuments were dumped in the Delaware River to be used as foundation for the Betsy Ross Bridge connecting Pennsylvania to New Jersey which was completed in 1976.
At low tide one can walk along a ½ mile trail through an industrial area below the Pennsylvania side of the bridge and see grave markers sticking up out of the water. Names, dates and epitaphs are plainly visible on the stones.
Along with almost 28,000 other bodies, Anna’s remains were buried in the Susquehanna Lawn area of the cemetery. She occupies Section “C”, lot 355 on June 25th 1956. The remains brought from Monument are buried in an area the size of a few football fields. The markers are under 4 inches of dirt and grass and not visible. We spent two hours with the assistance of a cemetery worker armed with a shovel and probing rod in uncovering the Johnson plaque. This bronze nameplate rests on top of Anna’s body along with whom is presumed to be her father Samuel Johnson and two other Johnson’s Maria L. Johnson and Sarah Johnson. The relationship between Maria, Sarah and the rest of the family is unknown as is what happened to Samuel’s wife, Elizabeth.
Anna Johnson Weichmann, a woman a few steps removed from the Lincoln assassination, married to a pivotal witness to the comings and goings of Booth, John Surratt ant others, rests in a cemetery in the north east suburbs of Philadelphia.

[STS Lincolnite]

(02-07-2015 12:20 AM)Pamela Wrote:  What a great find! It's not the federal census but what kind is it? I see the date was November 1870 which was right after their marriage of Oct 25. Maybe the post office had this done because of a change in address? Also Annie and Lou's ages are wrong and brings them closer to each other in age. I wonder who gave the wrong ages? Their address is Race St which I believe is near Cherry. Interesting! Another piece to the puzzle. How did you find it?

I found this record as well (on ancestry.com) and it is the 1870 Federal census. The other census record was recorded earlier in the year (more like June if memory serves). Apparently, they got married and when moved to the new address that area had not yet had the census completed. Hence being in the 1870 Federal census twice. In doing genealogy research, I have seen this happen a handful of times. As far as who reported the ages, who knows. Most of the time it was whoever was around when the census worker came. It could have been any members of the household or even a neighbor. I'm sure it also depends on the diligence of the census worker. This one did not get this record completed until November and did not even record the day so he doesn't seem like one of the better ones.

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Rich, thanks for the great summation of Louis Weichmann and Annie in later years. Several years ago I visited Anderson, IN on a mission for Richard Sloan and among other things took photos of the home in which Weichmann died {belonging to his sister Wilamena (Wiechmann) O'Crawley}. It still stands and is a residence today. I will dig through my files and see if I can find the photo in my files. This mission is what piqued my interest in Weichmann and planted the seed of the article I have written (see post #30).

Roger, I seem to remember seeing his middle initial somewhere before but can't remember. I will do some checking and see what I come up with.

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OK. Found my photo of the home. It is attached.

[Gene C]

Rick, thanks for you and others taking the time to find out all this interesting information. It is always amazing to me to see the number of people Abraham Lincoln touched, directly and indirectly, and the impact it had on their life.

I think the reverse is true also, which is why I enjoy the visits to Springfield and the New Salem areas with new friends from this forum. You get to see the places, learn about the events and people that helped shape his life. I always learn something new, have new friends and memories I will treasure for a lifetime.

[Pamela]

What a nice house! Whilemina and her sister Matilda did not finish their days there, though. There is a 1930 federal census that lists them as "boarders" at St John's Hospital in Anderson. Whilemina was 71 and Matilda or "Tillie" only 57. Many of the listed boarders are named as Sisters so it might have been a home for nuns who worked at the hospital. Whilemina's occupation was servant and Matilda dress maker.

Annie Weichmann led a financially comfortable and intellectually and emotionally satisfying life, IMO. She was well travelled, including at least two European trips and held officer positions all during her 56 years as a Good Templar. She was honored by her fellow Templars for her golden anniversary of service by a gift of an autograph book signed by Good Templars she worked with from all over the world. Whoever wrote 'none' on her death certificate didn't know her. I noticed some of her boarders were priests so I bet they were Good Templars.

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(02-07-2015 01:50 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Rick, thanks for you and others taking the time to find out all this interesting information. It is always amazing to me to see the number of people Abraham Lincoln touched, directly and indirectly, and the impact it had on their life.

I think the reverse is true also, which is why I enjoy the visits to Springfield and the New Salem areas with new friends from this forum. You get to see the places, learn about the events and people that helped shape his life. I always learn something new, have new friends and memories I will treasure for a lifetime.

That's a wonderful perspective.

[L Verge]

Rich - a great bio on Mrs. Weichmann. Thank you. I know that you have spent many years traveling the country in search of the full stories behind many gravestones. When is that book (and the book on the artifacts) coming out???

[Eva Elisabeth]

(02-07-2015 01:50 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Rick, thanks for you and others taking the time to find out all this interesting information. It is always amazing to me to see the number of people Abraham Lincoln touched, directly and indirectly, and the impact it had on their life.
...I always learn something new, have new friends and memories I will treasure for a lifetime.

Very nicely worded, Gene! I feel the same!

[LincolnToddFan]

Rick, thanks for you and others taking the time to find out all this interesting information. It is always amazing to me to see the number of people Abraham Lincoln touched, directly and indirectly, and the impact it had on their life. ]

I agree with Eva, Gene...this is beautifully worded. It's especially moving for me to meet and hear of non-Americans who feel impacted by the life of our 16th President.

[Pamela]

Yes Gene, and nice to meet you. That's it in a nutshell!

[BettyO]

Fascinating information, ya'll - love the photo of the house and so very, very glad to know that it still exists!

[Pamela]

Hi Betty, I agree and want to see the house in person!

I've been working my 2 week free ancestry.com trying to glean every bit of info I can. I apologize for any mistakes I might make. I'm trying to get this info right.

This comes from city directories for Philadelphia:

Samuel Johnson was Annie's father

1863 Samuel Johnson 1226 Race St flour merchant
1875 Samuel Johnson (Stauffer and Johnson) 1620 Cherry St
1876 Samuel Johnson 1620 Cherry St
1883 Samuel Johnson 1610 Cherry St
1897 Samuel Johnson 1610 Cherry St

1868 Louis Weichmann 1528 Callowhill Rd
1871 Louis Weichmann 1528 Callowhill RD clerk
1872 Louis Weichmann 1528 Callowhill RD customs clerk
1873 Louis Weichmann 1226 Race St
1874 Louis Weichmann 1708 N 17th St
1877 Louis Weichmann 1620 Cherry St
1879 Louis Weichmann Annie Weichmann 1620 Cherry St
1880 Annie Weichmann Boarding 1620 Cherry St
1883 Louis Weichmann Powelton Ave
1892 Annie Weichmann Boarding 1610 Cherry St
1893 Annie Weichmann Lodgings 1610 Cherry St
1901 Annie Weichmann Boarding 1610 Cherry St

Census
1880 Louis Weichmann married boarder
1890 Louis Weichmann Anderson Indiana boarder Whilemia, Charles

Samuel Johnson was a flour merchant. In 1875 he was listed with Stauffer and Johnson. There was a Stauffer Biscuit Co started in York, PA in 1871. Animal Crackers. I don't know if there is a connection. I don't know if Samuel Johnson owned any of these locations.

The 1870 Susan posted show Samuel, Annie, Maria and Louis living at 1226 Race St. In 1871 and 1872 Annie may have been living with Louis at his parent's house. Louis's mother and sister are not listed and were living there. Annie may have been living with Louis in 1874 but not listed.

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I finally found the census I forgot to save!! I thought it important for a few reasons and because at first I thought there was a really juicy fact which turned out to be a misreading of the original census forum. Samuel Johnson's race is listed as mulatto.

Federal Census July 12 1870 District 28 Ward 10 Philadelphia

Samuel Johnson 59 M(arried) W(hite) Occupation Ice Dealer Value of Real estate $25,000 Value of personal estate $3000
Annie Johnson 32 S(ingle) W keeps house
Maria L Johnson 28 S W school teacher
Lillian Johnson 5 S W place of birth NY father of foreign birth
Carrie Johnson 7 S W place of birth PA father of foreign birth

The street address is not on the form and unfortunately there is no relationship category so we don't know the relationship of the young girls except the same last name.

What would the financials be equivalent to today?

[STS Lincolnite]

(02-07-2015 11:52 PM)Pamela Wrote:  Hi Betty, I agree and want to see the house in person!

Pamela, Let me know if and when you plan a trip to see the house. It is not too far from where I live and I would be happy to be a tour guide of sorts.

[RJNorton]

Many thanks to Eva for sending the correct pronunciation for Louis J. Weichmann's last name!

Weichmann: CLICK HERE

Wiechmann:CLICK HERE

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Roger. The background is I received this request from a forum member and thought others might like to know, too.

[STS Lincolnite]

(02-08-2015 10:09 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Many thanks to Eva for sending the correct pronunciation for Louis J. Weichmann's last name!

Weichmann: CLICK HERE

Wiechmann:CLICK HERE

Roger, I can't get these links to work.