Anna Gertrude Fricke (1871-1962) and Albert John Licher (1869-1939)

Albert and Anna (Fricke) Licher and Anna's father, John Joseph Fricke

Albert Licher, the first child of Josephine (Moellmann) and Johann Mathias Licher, was born in Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky on 19 June 1869.  He was baptized two days later, on 21 June 1869, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Covington.  His baptism name was John Aloysius Mathias.  His godparents were John Barfield and Sophie Mollmann.  We suspect John and Sophie were relatives, but so far we have not found the connection.

As a adult, he went by Albert, but early records list him under a variety of names:  Aloisius/Aloysius, Louis, and Alvis.

He is found on the 1870 federal census with his parents in Ward 5 of Covington, Kentucky.  He was 1 year old and his name is listed as Aloysius.  On the 1880 census, the family is in Ward 9 of Covington.  He is listed as Louis, age 11, and he has been joined by siblings: Henry, John, Frank and Joseph.

The Cincinnati, Ohio City Directory for 1890-91, lists Albert at 56 E. 3rd Street and working as a porter.

Albert Licher married Anna Gertrude Fricke, daughter of John Joseph and Maria Anna Agnes (Luhn) Fricke, on 4 January 1892, at St. Mary's Church, Anderson, Madison Co., Indiana.

Anna was born 28 October 1871 in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio.  Anna is found with her parents (surname spelled "Frickey") on the 1880 census for Cincinnati.  Anna's mother died in 1888 when Anna was 17, and from that point on, she took care of her younger siblings.  According to stories Anna told her grandchildren, she and Albert corresponded before their marriage.  He lived in Covington, Kentucky and she lived across the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio.   After they married, they moved in with Anna's family so she could continue to care for them.  I've not found anything specific about why Albert, Anna, and her father and family moved to Anderson, Indiana, but suspect it was because factory work was plentiful there.

Their first child, daughter, Josephine Catherine, was born at Anderson, Indiana, on 5 February 1893.

Son, William John, was born 23 October 1894.  Anna Kathryn (called "Katie") was born 9 September 1896.  Agnes was born 19 August 1899. 

The 1900 census for Anderson, Madison Co., Indiana, shows Albert and Anna and their four children in a rented house.  Albert is working as a "nail cutter."  Also living with them is Anna's father, John Fricke, and her two youngest siblings, George and Mary Agnes.

On 25 September 1900, daughter Georgia Ann was born.  In 1902, the family was living at 1516 Louise in Anderson.  Albert was still working as a nail cutter.  His brother, John Licher, was also living there.

John S. Licher was born to Albert and Anna on 7 October 1903.  Edmund Mathias was born 22 May 1906.  And their youngest child, Dorothy Anne, was born 25 September 1908.

Licher family ca 1909: (l to r) Katie, Anna holding Dorothy, Josephine & William (standing), Ed & John on Albert's lap, Agnes, Georgia.

 The 1910 census shows the family still in Anderson.  Sometime around 1911, the family moved to Muncie, Delaware Co., Indiana.  The Muncie City Directory for 1913-1914 shows the family living at 1417 E. Gilbert Street.  Albert was working as a fireman at Indiana Steel & Wire.  Also shown as living at 1417 E. Gilbert were Katherine, who was a stenographer for Gas Belt Coal Co.; Josephine; and William, working at Ball Bros.

On 16 April 1913, their eldest daughter, Josephine, married Elmer Willis Smith at St. Mary's Church, Anderson. 

Josephine (Licher) and Elmer W. Smith on their wedding day

The 1915-16 Muncie City Directory shows Albert and Anna living at 1201 S. Beacon St.  Albert was employed at Indiana Steel & Wire.  Also living in the household were Agnes Mary, student; Katherine A., stenographer and bookkeeper, Gas Belt Coal Co.; and William J., machinist.

On 15 September 1915, William married Mary Louise Westermann in Muncie, Indiana.

According to the 1917-18 Muncie City Directory, Albert was employed at Kitselman Brothers.  The family was living at 1225 S. Monroe Street.  Also living there were Agnes M., stenographer and notary public at Silverburg, Bracken & Gray; Katherine A., bookkeeper at Gas Belt Coal Co.,; and Georgia A., student at Muncie Business College.

Sometime in 1917, Agnes entered the St. Agnes Convent in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.  She professed her calling on 15 August 1919 and took her perpetual vows on 15 August 1922.

Sr. M. Albertonia (Agnes Licher)

The 1920 census for Delaware County, lists the family in Muncie.  Albert, Anna, Katie, Georgia, John, Ed, and Dorothy make up the household.

On 24 November 1920, Georgia married James Mortimer Perry at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Muncie.

Georgia (Licher) Perry seated; Katie Licher, George Kaiser, and Jim Perry on Jim & Georgia's wedding day

The 1921-22 city directory shows the family still at 1225 S. Monroe.  Albert was employed as Nail Foreman at Indiana Steel & Wire.  Also listed as living in the household were Kathryn A., bookkeeper at Warner Corporation, and John S., machinist.

Katie married George Kaiser on 5 September 1922 in Muncie.  I don't have a photo of George and Katie on their wedding day, but they are in the picture above of Georgia and Jim Perry's wedding.

The 1923-24 city directory states that Albert was employed as a foreman at Indiana Steel & Wire.  Anna G. was listed as his spouse.  Also living at 1217 E. Willard were Edmund M. Licher, "helper;" and John S. Licher, "apprentice mach" (probably machinist).

By the 1925-26 city directory, Albert and Anna had moved to 1413 Kirby Street.  This was the house they would live in the rest of their lives. Albert was employed as a Foreman at Indiana Steel & Wire.  Also living there were Anna G.; Dorothy Licher, clerk at 2019 E Willard; Edmund M. Licher, laborer; John S. Licher, machinist. 

According to the 1927-28 city directory, Albert was employed as a Foreman at Indiana Steel & Wire.  His wife was listed as Anna G.  Also living with them at 1413 Kirby Ave. were Dorothy M. Licher, student; Edmund M. Licher, wireworker; and John S. Licher, machinist.

Sometime between the 1927-28 city directory listing and April 1929, Dorothy Licher entered St. Agnes Convent in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Sr. M. Anne Marie (Dorothy Licher)

John S. Licher

On 27 April 1929, John S. Licher died in a motorcycle wreck in Marion, Grant Co., Indiana.  The following story appeared on page 1 of the Muncie Sunday Star on April 28, 1929:  "MUNCIE MAN KILLED IN CRASH AT MARION - J. L. Licher, Motorcyclist, Collides With Pole.      Marion, Ind., April 27 (AP) - John L. Licher, 26, of Kirby avenue, Muncie, was killed almost instantly here tonight when he drove his motorcycle into a telephone pole to avoid collision with an automobile driven by Roy Mickel, of Marion.  Licher's head was crushed and he died enroute to a hospital.
   At the time of the accident he was attempting to pass the machine on the right side, it was said.  To avoid collision with the auto he was forced to drive into the curb, his motorcycle jumping it and crashing into the pole.  Licher was thrown over the handlebars and against the pole. --- 
     MARION ACCIDENT VICTIM WORKED IN FACTORY HERE.     John Licher, 25, of Kirby avenue, who was killed at Marion yesterday was employed as a tool-maker at the Warner Corporation.  The body was brought to the Moffet-Piepho funeral home last night and funeral arrangements will be completed today.
    Surviving are the parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Licher, of Muncie; five sisters, Mrs. Josephine Smith, of Anderson; Mrs. Caroline Kaiser, of Muncie; Sister M. Albertonia, of Victoria, Kans.; Mrs. George Perry, of Muncie, and Sister Anna Marie, of Fondulac, Wis.  He was a member of St. Lawrence Church."

John was buried at Elm Ridge Cemetery, Muncie, Indiana.

According to the 1929 city directory, Albert was a "wireworker."  Anna G. was listed as his wife.  Also living with them on Kirby St. were Edmund M., "machine operator," and Wm. J., "machinist."  William and his wife had divorced, and he moved back in with his parents.

By the 1930 census, the household was Albert and Anna, plus sons William and Ed and William's two children, Charles (born 20 August 1916) and Marietta (born 5 October 1917).  This configuration of the household continued at least through 1938 (per the various city directories). 

Ed Licher married Dorothy Mann on 11 January 1936.  By 1938, Ed and his wife, Dorothy, were also living with the family.

Ed Licher, Sr. Anne Marie, Dorothy (Mann) Licher

Albert and Anna never owned a car.  He would walk to downtown Muncie once a week to make his house payment.  They would walk to mass at St. Lawrence Church.

On 29 April 1939, Albert J. Licher died at his home at 1413 Kirby Ave., Muncie, Indiana.  The cause of death was cardio-renal disease.

Albert J. Licher

An obituary appeared in the Anderson Daily Bulletin:  "FORMER LOCAL RESIDENT DIES -  Albert John Licher, age 69, former resident of this city and veteran Indiana Steel and Wire Company employee, expired late last night at the family home in Muncie, where he had lived for 28 years.  Prior to that time he had resided in this city for a long period of time.  He was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Eagles Lodge, all at Muncie.
   The body was removed to the Piepho funeral home in Muncie, and arrangements for the funeral services have not been completed.
  Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Anna Gertrude Licher; five daughters, Mrs. Elmer Smith, of this city; Sister Albertonia, Decatur; Sister Anna Marie, Fond du Lac, Wis., Mrs. James Perry, Muncie; two sons, Edmund and William Licher, both at home; a brother, John Licher, of this city, and 24 grandchildren."
   
The Muncie Evening Press, on May 2, 1939 wrote: "ALBERT JOHN LICHER.  Final rites for Albert John Licher, 69, who died Friday at the family home, 1413 Kirby Ave., were conducted at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Lawrence Catholic Church with Father E. J. Houlihan officiating.  Burial was in Elm Ridge Cemetery." 

After Albert's death, Anna's son, William continued to live with her at the house on Kirby St.  The 1940 federal census shows just Anna and William in the household.  This arrangement continued until William died in November 1946.  The city directories for 1948-1960 show Anna living at 1406 E. Washington St., which was the home of her daughter, Katie, and Katie's husband, George Kaiser.  Some of that time, though, Anna lived with daughter Georgia Perry and Georgia's husband, Jim Perry. 

Anna Gertrude (Fricke) Licher died 17 January 1962 at Maplewood Nursing Home, Delaware Co., Indiana.  Cause of death was myocardial infarction.  At obituary appeared in the Muncie Star on 18 January 1962:  "Mrs. Anna Licher.  Mrs. Anna Gertrude Licher, 90, 1406 E. Washington St., died Wednesday morning in the Maplewood Nursing Home following an extended illness.  She had lived in Muncie 52 years, moving here from Cincinnati, Ohio.  She was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church, the Daughters of Isabella and the Altar and Rosary Society of the church.
  She is survived by four daughters, Mrs. George Kaiser and Mrs. James Perry, Muncie, Mrs. Elmer Smith of Anderson, and Sister Rose Marie, Fon DuLac, Wis.; one son, Edmund Licher, Muncie; a sister, Mrs. Frank Nelson, Baltimore, Md., and 26 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
  Friends may call at the Piepho Funeral Home after 2 pm Friday.  Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in the St. Lawrence Catholic Church with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Emil Schweier officiating.  Burial will follow in  Elm Ridge Cemetery.  The rosary will be recited at the funeral home by members of the Altar and Rosary Society at 8 pm. Friday."

She was buried at Elm Ridge Cemetery, Muncie.

Licher Family sometime between 1939 - 1946

The children of Anna and Albert Licher are:
Josephine Catherine (1893-1987) married Elmer W. Smith
William John (1894-1946) married Louise Westermann
Anna Kathryn (1896-1976) married George C. Kaiser
Agnes Mary (1899-1957) became Sr. M. Albertonia
Georgia Anna (1900-1977) married James M. Perry
John S. (1903-1929) did not marry
Edmund Mathias (1906-1963) married Dorothy Mann
Dorothy Anne (1908-1993) became Sr. Anne Marie