Our maternal grandmother, Clara Keller, was born on April 2, 1872 in Erie, PA. Her parents, Eduard Keller and Christina Weindorf were married in 1868.
She had two younger brothers, Frank, born in 1876 and Edward born in 1878. Her father was a furniture maker.
Eduard’s father, Franz Peter Keller was born in Hesse, Germany in 1816. He had two sons, Eduard born in 1845 and Heinrich, born in 1949. His wife, Catherina died in 1856.
We know Heinrich as Harry Kellar, a famous magician in his time. Read his story here.
Eduard’s mother, Christina Weindorf was born in 1846 in Black Rock, in western New York. She was the daughter of Martinus Weindorf and Elisabethae Lehn. Elizabeth was the daughter of a well-to-do Jewish merchant, Petri Lehn and Elisabeth Gaertner in Hessen, Germany. Martin was the gardener. They had a tryst. When Petri found out, he banished Martin and Elizabeth. They fled to America. Their son was born on February 19, 1843 in Hessen. They were married on April 10, 1843. This is the Jewish Princess Story.
Clara married John William Wright, a doctor, on October 15, 1900. John was 32, Clara was 28. They visited New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore on their honeymoon.
Their first child, Eduard, was born and died in 1902. Our grandmother, Elizabeth Keller Wright was born on October 31, 1904.
Clara died in 1911, at the age of 39.
Clara is my favorite Grandmother and she was a beautiful woman!
I wish I had known her in person.