William F. (Wilhelm Freidrich) LETTER b. 08 May 1852 Kellinghausen, Rhinel. d. 16 Aug 1915 St. Vincent's Hospital, Belleville: Our Family History

1852 - 1915 (63 years)

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Name	William F. (Wilhelm Freidrich) LETTER
Birth	08 May 1852	Kellinghausen, Rhinel.
Gender	Male
Death	16 Aug 1915	St. Vincent's Hospital, Belleville
Burial	Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville
Person ID	I30124596405	Brown/Hayes
Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

Father	John (Johan?) LETTER, b. 28 Jun 1818, Rellinghausen, Guestphal d. 29 Apr 1899, Bellevville, IL (Age 80 years)
Mother	Christina HEMMER, b. 03 Feb 1817, Rellinghausen, Guestphal d. 06 Dec 1900, Belleville, ILL. (Age 83 years)
Marriage	Jun 1847	Rellinghausen, Guestphal
Family ID	F638	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1 Emelia (Amalia) Joanna* TROST, b. 1859, Baden-Baden, Germany d. 30 Jun 1892, Belleville, ILL. (Age 33 years)

Marriage 26 Oct 1880 St. Peters Roman Catholic Church, Belleville, IL

Children

	1. Albert LETTER, b. 03 Aug 1881, Belleville, IL d. Mar 1970, St. Louis, MO. (Age 88 years)
	2. Louise Frances LETTER, b. 15 Feb 1884, Belleille, IL d. 12 Aug 1930, Kingsville, TEXAS (Age 46 years)
	3. William LETTER, b. 03 Dec 1884, Belleville, IL
	4. Emma LETTER, b. 03 Sep 1886, Belleville, IL d. 09 Sep 1967, Sunshine Convalescent Hospital, 8835 Van St., LA., Ca (Age 81 years)
	5. Rosa Hilda LETTER, b. 16 Jul 1888, Belleville, IL d. 15 Dec 1958, Belleville, IL (Age 70 years)
	6. John LETTER, b. 06 Jul 1890, Belleville, IL d. 04 Jun 1956, St. Louis, MO. (Age 65 years)
	7. Eleanor LETTER, b. 23 Jun 1892, Belleville, IL d. 23 Aug 1892, Belleville* (Age 0 years)
	8. Clara KREITNER, b. 18 Jun 1893, ILlinois d. Apr 1973, Mascoutah, St. Clair Co., IL (Age 79 years)
	9. George LETTER, b. 1895 d. 26 May 1911 (Age 16 years)
	10. Eugene LETTER, b. 1895, Belleville, IL d. Aug 1965 (Age 70 years)
	11. Amelia LETTER, b. 1898, Belleville, IL d. Abt. 04 May 1848, East St. Louis, IL
	12. Edward LETTER, b. 29 Sep 1899, Belleville, IL d. Aug 1971, East St. Louis, IL (Age 71 years)
	13. Irwin LETTER, b. 26 Sep 1906, Bellville, IL d. 16 Apr 1934, Bellville, IL (Age 27 years)

Family ID F614 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 28 Jan 2025

Family 2	Annie Mary HAUMESSER, b. 01 Sep 1866, Belleille, IL d. Jun 1921, Belleville, IL (Age 54 years)
Marriage	28 Nov 1894	St. Peters Roman Catholic Church, Belleville, IL
Family ID	F617	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

Notes

Emigrated from Germany in 1854. First place I have found them is Shamokin Borough, PA. Worked as a coalminer in PA and IL. He served as a City Policeman for 14 years, ending abot 1905. After that, he served as janitor for the Cathedral School Building and last he earned hisliving by Canvassing. He was a member of the Catholic Knights of Illinois At the time of his death they were living at 402 W. Second St. 1900 Census IL, St. Clair Co, Belleville City, SD 15, ED 85, Sheet 12, 5th ward. Letter, William Head, w, m, May 1854, 46, m, 6 years (Mary Haumesser Kreitner was 2nd wife) , b. Germany, poth parents b. Germany immiraed 1854, resident 45 years. Policeman, can read, write and speak English, rent Annie (mary) wife, w, f, Sept, 1868, 31, married 6 years, five children, 4 living, b. IL, both parents b. Germany, can read, write and speak English Willie, son, w, m, Dec, 1884, 15, b. IL, father b. Germany, Labor ??, can read write and speak English Emma, daughter w, f, Sept, 1886, 12, single, b. IL, father b. Germany Hilda, daughter, w, f, July, illegible, single, b. Il, father b. Germany, at school John, son, w, m, 1892, 6, single b. Il, faather b. Germany Kreitner, Clara, stepdaughter, w, f, Oct (?) 1892, b. Il, both parents b. IL Letter, George, son, w, m, Oct, 1895 4, single, b. IL, Father Germany mother, IL In 1910 census, lived at 616 N. Spring St. 1910 Census, IL, St. Clair Co., Belleville, 1st precinct. SD 13, ED85, ward 2m no. written on page 4745 Letter, Willam, head, m, w, 54(I think this is wrong), married 16 years, b. Germany, both parents b. Germany immigrated 1854, naturalized, speaks Englsh, eamster, workingcan read and write Mary, 46, wife, f, w, maarried wnd, 16 years, had 7 children, 6 living, , b. IL, parents b. Ger. can read and write William J., son, male, white 25, single, b. IL., father b. Germany, mother IL (???) can speak English, works as glass blower, was working all ear, can read and write. Hilda, daughter, f, m, 21, single, b. IL, parental data same. can read and write. George, son, m, w, 14, b. IL, parent data same, can read and write, did not attend school that year. Amelia, daughter, F., W, 12, birth data same, can read and write, attended school Edward, son, m, w, 10, birth data same, can read and write, attended school Eugene, son, m, w, 5, b. IL., parents same, not in school Irwin, son, m, w, 3, b. IL, parents same, not in school Christina Letter is also enumerated w/this family --- at least that is what it looks like -- very poor copy. Should be more --- very poor copy. He is listed in the 1891-92 Belleville City Directory, on p. 161 Letter, William F. , miner, res 322 Julia Obituary from the Belleville Advocate, 16 Aug., 1915. William F. Letter, 62 years old, died at the St. Vincent's Hospital at 05:30 oclock Saturday afternoon, after a lingering illness. Letter was born in Essen, Germany, May 8, 1852, but came to this country with his parents, John and Christine Letter, while a young man and settled in Belleville while still in his early manhood. Letter served 14 years as a policeman in this city, but resigned from his work in that department about 10 years ago. For several years afterwards he served as janitor at the Cathedral School building and during the latter years of his life earned a living by canvassing. He was married 35 years ago, in this city to Miss Amelia Trost. She departed life on June30, 1892. Six children born of this union , survive as follows: Albert, William and John in St. Louis, Mrs. Louise Brooks, Kingsville, TX, Miss Emma Letter, Los Angeles, CA, and Mrs. hilda Schoenborn of this city. Letter was married a second time on Nov. 28, 1894, to Mrs. Mary Kreitner of Belleville. She survives with four children born of their unions: Edward, Eugene, Irvin and Amalia. One step daughter, Miss Clara Kreitner, and two sisters, Miss Anna Letter of Denver and Christina Wuertz of this city, also survived. He was a member of the local organization of the Catholic Knights of Illinois. The funeral will be held at nine-oo'clock Tuesday morning, from the late residence, 403 W. second street to the St. Peter's cathedral, thence to green Mount cemetery. According to the St. Peter's Cathdral Census 1888-1895, the Letter children attended the Cathedral School. the Zletters were pewholders. FHL INTL Film496667, item 2 == Transcrips of the Cathedral Church Sankt Johann of Essen, Rheinland, Prussia, Baptisms 1783-1862, Wilhelm Letter -- and his sister - are listed as baptised, William in 1852., Anna in 1854. I found no listings for Christina Letter, John F. Leetter or Christina Hemmer.