Elizabeth Markowsky was my grandmother’s Aunt Lizzie. I first learned of her from her sister’s death notice (i.e., my great-grandmother). Elizabeth and her sister, Edith “Ida†Markowsky were born in Chicago before the turn of the century, just two of many supposed children their mother had – and the only two to survive to adulthood. She married Edward Erichsen, an older man, when she was still a teenager. They had four children together, and as far as my grandmother knows, these cousins of hers are all still alive.
I was able to find Edward and Elizabeth Erichsen in Montrose Cemetery in Chicago, by Foster and Pulaski. Ed died in July of 1957, and Lizzie died May 24, 1966, and I was able to find both of their death notices and a full obituary for Lizzie:
ERICHSEN - Edward W. Erichsen, beloved husband of Elizabeth; dear father of Walter, Frances Wichman, Edward, and Charles, fond brother of Emma Erichsen and the late Frances Krietling, Augusta Nielsen, Mary Wagenknecht, and Henry Erichsen; loving grandfather of Carol, Robert, and Barbara Wichman, and Jeanette Erichsen.
May 24, 1966 - Chicago Tribune Obituaries
Mrs. Elizabeth Erichsen, 77, of 4137 Addison st., died yesterday in a northwest side convalescent home. She was the widow of Edward W., founder and president of the Ericksen company, jewelry manufacturers at 10 S. Wabash av. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Frances Wichman; three sons, Walter H., Edward W. Jr., and Charles A.; four grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and a sister.
Death Notice
Erichsen - Elizabeth Erichsen, beloved wife of the late Edward W.; loving mother of Walter H. [Lillian], Frances [Elmer] Wichman, Edward W. [Violet], and Charles A. [Dorothy]; grandmother of four; great-grandmother of one; fond sister of Edith Block.
What I was able to find out from Lizzie’s information is that she did have a great-grandchild, unnamed. It would not be unreasonable to assume that there were more, and possibly even great-great grandchildren nowadays.
I do not believe Walter and Lillian Erichsen had any children. I do not know whether or not Charles and Dorothy had any children, though it is theoretically possible that they, in their 40s, had children after 1966.
Edward and Violet (Whiteley) Erichsen are still alive, according to an anonymous phone tip I got a couple of years ago (actually, the guy gave me his name, but I forgot to write it down). He also told me that their daughter Jeanette married a man named Ellis Patterson. Elmer and Frances Wichman did have three children as stated above in her father’s death notice; Robert, Barbara, and Carol Wichman.
This is all I know about the Erichsen and Wichman families.
Any help, clues, or information you can provide me with would be much appreciated. :)
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/a/a/Kevin-Baase...