Sophia Elizabeth (Derle) Trautvetter was born in 1808 in Helmershausen, Thuringen, Germany, and died in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1877. She married John George Trautvetter in the 1840s in Helmershausen. Some things I learned about research from Sophia:
- sometimes people cannot be found–Sophia cannot be located in the 1870 census even though it is known she died in 1877 and immigrated in 1853.
- don’t overlook church records. The church entry for Sophia’s death and funeral contained her village of birth.
- immigration is not always easy. Sophia’s husband returned to Germany about 1869 and lived there until his death. Sophia and their children remained in the United States.
My ancestor table can be viewed on my site. Sophia Elizabeth is my 3rd great-grandmother.
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