Notizen zu dieser Person
Marie Antoinette Fleith (age 18 or 20) came to America to visit her cousine, Josâephine Wurth, of Paducah, KY. She traveled from Antwerp, Belgium on the ship, State of Nevada, to New York arriving Sept.20, 1875. She traveled on to Paducah, Kentucky and while there met Albert Duflot. They were later married at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Paducah. The ceremony was performed by Father Finn and witnessed by *Theresa Woltz who was Marie's first cousin, and Albert's brother, Ed. Marie and Theresa came from France to America toget her on the same ship. From Filby, "Germans to America" Passenger Lists Vol.32, Jan 1875 - Sept 1876. The book lists Theresa as "F. Woltz 31, male and farmer from Germany". Mariewas listed as "Antoinette Flith, 21,male and farmer from Germany". Perhaps they disguised themselves asmales for protection while traveling. Or this passenger list wasmisread.
She was the daughter of Joseph and Marie Fleith. Joseph was the Burgomaster (Mayor) of Colmar, France, for about 20 years. Marie attended St. Martin's Catholic Church, located in the center of the old part of Colmar, France. She also played the piano quite well. It is notknown where the family home was in Colmar. Marie had three brothers andone sister: August Flieth, operator of a bakery in Paris; Joseph Flieth, who when last heard of was living in Paris; George Flieth,whose residence is not given, but in all probability he, too, went to Paris; and Josâephine Flieth. According to the last report on her, she was living in Paris. We have no record of her marriage. Marie said that when the Germans moved intothe Alsace-Loraine area following the Franco-German War in 1871, her brothers immediately left home and went to Paris in order to escape being drafted into the German Army.
*Thâeráese "Woetlz" is found on 1880 Census for McCracken Co., KY.She was 34 yrs. old working as a Servant for a lawyer, James Campbell, his wife and four daughters. It shows Therese, as well as her parents, being born in Alsace. Several variations of spelling of her name. There was a "Teresa Flieth" listed along with "Stephen Duflot" as sponsors for the baptism of Albertine Duflot dated July 29, 1877, No. 1057 in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Paducah, KY. Thisis probably "Theresa Woltz (Woeltz)", Marie's cousin.
On Film #1,240,523, 1900 Graves Co., Mayfield, KY, the whole familyis listed. Marie's age was 44, saying she was born in Aug. 1855 in Germany. She emigrated to the U.S. in 1875 and said both her parents were born in Germany. Note: Germany did occupy this part of France offand on in 1800's and also at the time Marie emigrated to the U.S.
On Film #1,820,072 ED 67, Sh 16 (I have copy) 1920 Cen. Miller Co., AR -the information for Marie's immigration looks like "Pmar 1900 - NA....shewas evidently naturalized, but not sure when.
Sept. 1995 - My friend, Francesca Moreau, of Colmar, France, researched the records of Colmar and Archives Center in Gubewiller, France. She could not find a birth record for Marie A. nor her father, Joseph Flieth. She checked the Archives Center in Colmar and looked in abook which lists all the Mayors of Colmar back to 1700 and there was no Joseph Flieth listed as Mayor. (I looked at this same book when I was in Colmar too). There was no birth record for Marie in Colmareither. On abrass plaque at the train station in Colmar there are listed some "Fleith's" who fought in WW II. Could be kin.
However, there was a birth record for a "Josâephine Fleith", born Sept. 2, 1853, to an unwed mother named "Rovine (Rosine?) Fleith". WhileI was in Colmar and looking in these same old record books, I saw the name "August Fleith". I believe he was born in 1856 also to an unwed mother. But I didn't get the name of the mother. It is possible that this Josâephine and August are Marie's siblings. I noticed in the telephone book that there are some Fleith's listed with the otherspelling "ei" and not "ie".
Marie Antoinette and her husband, Albert, named their sons after her brothers. Marie also said that her family in Colmar never wrote to herafter she married Albert because they didn't approve of the marriage. Marie never went back to visit France.
From the "Centre Dâepartemental d'Histoire des Familles" in Guebwiller, France (south of Colmar), they found two birth certificates in Holtzwihr for Marie. One said her name was "Marie Antoinette Fleith, born in 1854, daughter of JosephFleith and Marie Anne Kappler" and the second one said "Marie Anne Fleith, born in 1857, daughter of Joseph Fleith and Marie Anne Kappler".
From the "Duflot Genealogy 1856 - 1956 by Joseph Leo Duflot, he writes about his mother:
"Marie Antoinette was born in Colmar, Haut Rhin, France on the 17th day of November 1855. She died from an embolism of the brain on the 21stof February 1932. She was buried in State Line Cemetery by the side ofher husband. She was baptized in the Catholic Church.
Marie was the daughter of Joseph Flieth who was the burgomaster of Colmar for about 20 years. At the age of 18 she came to America to visither cousin, Josâephine Worth of Paducah. There she met and married Albert. In education, she completed a course of study in the VolksSchool comparable to the second year of high school in America.
She had three brothers and one sister, namely, August Flieth, operator of a bakery in Paris; Joseph Flieth who when last heard of wasliving in Paris; George Flieth whose residence is not given but in allprobability he, too, went to Paris; and Josâephine Flieth. According to the last report on her she was living in Paris. We have no record of her marriage. I heard my mother say that when the Germans moved into the Alsace-Loraine area following the Franco-German War in 1871, her brothers immediately left home and went to Paris in order to escape being drafted into the German Army.
Our mother was most devoted to her family and held high ambitionsfor all her children. There was no sacrifice too great out of her meagerfamily budget for her to make in her zeal to educate her children andgive them the best cultural advantages within her means. She seemedalways to have in reserve a little pin money for things which gave addedstatus to her brood in the community circle---such as an organ and then apiano which was quite a luxury in those days. Scarcely a week would passthat children from good substantial homes failed to gather in the "parlor" and sing the latest hits. From out of a stocking somewhere camesmall change with which to buy little refinements in dress and pay forpleasure jaunts andfurnish treats for her children so that they would bewell received in their respective age groups. In other words, she wantedthem to have the best of everything she could afford to enable them toassociate with "decent and respectable people" as she would say. To dothis she toiled and spun with tireless energy to provide the means forthese and other worthy ends.
In temperament, mother was inclined to the cheerful, optimistic sideof life. In times of crises as in sickness, financial stress and strain,major family problems and worries, when others were anxious anddisturbed, somehow she maintaineda calmness, poise, and control whichserved as ballast in rough sailing. When the children were small shespoke sharply and firmly when the circumstances demanded it, but in themain she was patient and tolerant in a crowded household of ten growingyoungsters full of energy, unending wants, and cross purposes. It mustnot be implied from this account that she was unique in these motherlyvirtues. But as commonplace as these are in the world of motherhood, yetwith her they seemed to radiate from her features with a naturalresplendent beauty like the soft luster of a ruby, or the mellow colorsof an autumn sunset.
After her husband Albert died, her son Joseph Leo unable to attend his funeral, wrote his mother this letter:
"My dear Mother: By the time you receive this letter papa will belaid away. It is needless to sat that this sweet soul is better off inthe sleep of death than awake in an anguishing body. His last days werethose of sorrow, and the sadpart of it, we could do nothing to alleviateit. While his death brings us grief it should also give us a sense ofjoy in that his death brought him the realization of a wish for which heprayed in his more lucid moments.
No children ever had a kinder, more gracious, and a more sacrificingfather than we. No woman ever had a husband whose life approached morenearly the ideal of marital love and devotion than you. His love for hishome occupied the first place in his heart. It was there he demonstratedChristian virtues and plied his neighborly deeds. That was the place hebuilt his alter and worshipped God and offered the sweet incense of loveand generosity. My mind goes back over the yearsand I find him a sweetand inspiring memory. No, Papa is not dead. He still lives. His spiritwill always speak to us; his influence will linger with us like thefragrance from a broken bowl. Death does not have the horror for me,Mother, thatit seems to have for many people. Death is natural; it is agift from nature. But a full, vigorous, dynamic, joyful, wholesome lifesuch as Papa lived is an achievement for which we are grateful.
Now, dear Mother, you must bear this parting of your life'scompanion with bravery. I know you will do it in a most exemplarymanner. While you have suffered physical pains and illnesses yourself,you still have a good body and a keen mind and we want you to live withus many more years to cheer us with your optimism and to comfort us withyour endless love. You have your children to sustain you and give youhope. We are proud of our mother and I wish you could make the roundandvisit with all your children in their homes.
I would like to be remembered to all the good neighbors whoministered so generously to Papa and you. I doubt if the Owen familycould have done more for their own people than they have done for you. Ishall always remember them with loveand appreciation. Then there is Dr.Maddox who has always been such a good counselor and friend to thefamily. May he live long to minister to others as he has to us. Yoursons-in-law have been unusually good to you. They have done more thantheir share to keep up the spirit and morale of the family, and I am surethey are now giving you comfort in your hour of grief.
I shall not close this letter without expressing a word ofappreciation for the timely visitation of Gus. As Ruble suggested, hecame just in time to be of the greatest service to his beloved parents.I feel sure he was as glad to be at home to relieve you and Albertine ofthe constant care of waiting on Papa as you. While no one of yourchildren believe that you have shown more partiality to one child than tothe others, but we are convinced that if you have for a moment regardedGus as your favored child, this affection has been amply rewarded. Whenyou feel rested, I shall be glad to hear from you. Just a short letterwill suffice. With a heart full of love for you in this hour of sorrowand with best wishes for your good health, I am...Your devoted son, Joe."
From cousin Dorothy Sue Patterson: Marie and Albert entertained allthe time. She remembers Marie would make potato salad using bacon greasebecause there was no mayonnaise back then. She and Albert would putstraw under the living roomcarpet to make it softer for the kids to layon in front of the fire while Albert read them the bible every night."The farm was located on the Texarkana to Fouke Road in AR. Later theymoved to town to a house on 24th and Garland in AR. ClaraSorsby was theonly relative who lived on the Texas side of Texarkana.
From the old Duflot Family Bible: "This Book was purchased about 1881 inPaducah, Kentucky. It contains Old and New Testament - Copyrighted 1881".
"This Certifies that the Rite of Holy Matrimony was celebratedbetween Albert Duflot of Paducah, Kentucky and Marie Antoinette Fleith ofHoltzwihr, France on Sept. 19, 1876 at Paducah, Kentucky by Father Finn.Witnesses: Tresa Wealtz (Teresa Woeltz) and Ed Duflot."
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Locality: Holtzwihr
Co-ordinates: Postal code: 68320
Department: Haut-Rhin (68)
Area: Alsace
Key figures: Population: 1064 hab. · Altitude: 182 m · Surface: 645 ha
Historical general information: The name (Heloldowilare 760) means "firmof Helold" (Germanic first name). The village belonged to the abbey of Murbach, it was usurped by its solicitors, Habsbourg with 13th. Destroyed to 80 % in the battle ofthe pocket of Colmar (winter 1944-1945).
Roland
Flickinger
