Mina Foth
Mina Foth
Like her brother, Henry, Mina Foth was a brick wall for many years. She did not appear on family records after her confirmation in Buffalo in 1867. I presumed she had married and, not knowing whom she married, it was almost impossible to follow her life. On the 1900 Census for her mother, Friederica, it was recorded that six children had been born to her, five still living, so I assumed that Mina was still alive at that time. But, yet, I struggled to locate her. Using a free weekend from Newspapers.com in February of 2020, I stumbled upon a death and funeral notice for her mother, Friederica Kaiser, and in that notice the boys were all listed as well as a Mrs. F. Pundt – my journey had finally begun! Since then, I have been able to connect to extended family members through DNA to confirm that this was, indeed, a daughter of Christian Fodt.
Maria Christina Mina Fodt was born November 2, 1853 in Lelkendorf in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Her baptismal record indicated that her father was Adolph Joachim Friedrich
Christian Fodt (Vauth) so the surname had reversed itself since the recording of her elder brother, Carl. Christian was an Arbeitsmann (worker) from Lelkendorf.
Mina’s Godparents were recorded as:
Maria Fodt, Dienend (serving) in Lelkendorf
(Maria's father had three sisters who had the name Maria as part of their names so it was likely one of those three)
Christina Röder
geb. (born or formerly) Lindhorst, in Lelkendorf
Mina Jaeger, Dienend (serving) in Karnitz
(The surname Jaeger suggests this was a relative of her mother, whose maiden name was Jaeger.)
Although Mina took the names of all of her godparents, she used the name Mina throughout her early life. Both the departure and landing documents recorded her as Minna/Mine Foth. Mina arrived in New York with her family in 1864.
Mina was first recorded in Buffalo on the confirmation record for Trinity Old Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1867. Her mother’s name had been shortened to Rica and Rica’s and Mina’s names were transposed in the document, which stated that the mother, Mina, and her son, Carl and daughter, Rica, were confirmed.
As Mina was not present on the 1870 Census with her family, it seemed reasonable to me to assume she had gone into service somewhere as she would have been 17 at the time and that was what many young girls of this age did, particularly if they were from poor families who could not support them.
Mina next appeared on the 1880 Census as Maria Frank, age 26, married to a Louis Frank, age 27. They lived at 238 Elm Street in Buffalo. As they had no children listed, it is likely they had been married within a year or two of this census or perhaps had lost a child early. To date, no marriage record has been found. This is the first record I have found that shows that Mina started using her first name, Maria. Also recorded on this census was a boarder, Fred Foch, clearly a misspelling of Fred Foth, Maria’s younger brother. He also was not present on the 1880 Census with his mother, and this explains why.
Maria and Louis Martin Frank had five children:
Maria was listed on the 1892 NY State Census with Josephine (11), Albert (8) and Maria (5). She was listed directly after her mother and stepfather, Frederick and Friedericka (sic) Kaiser, indicating she may have been living with them. Her husband, Louis, was not listed on this census indicating he may have been away at work or possibly even incarcerated. I don’t think he had died as Maria's next child, Augusta, was born in 1893.
By the 1900 Census, Maria had anglicized her name to Mary
and was a widow, living with her family at 8 Neptune Place in Buffalo. Appearing on the census were Mary’s four daughters, listed as Josephine (18), Mamie (12), Gussie (6) and Anna (5). Mary was listed as a housekeeper and her eldest daughter a servant. Josephine may have been living at home and worked as a servant outside the home to help provide for the family. Albert was missing on this census. Of note, the census indicated that Mary had given birth to 7 children, 5 of whom were still alive.
Albert was missing on the 1900 Census because he was incarcerated at reform school. He was listed on the 1900 Census as an inmate at the State Industrial School in Rochester City, Monroe, New York. According to an article I found in the Buffalo Review, August 15, 1901, Albert was on parole from reform school when he stole $2.10 from his mother. His step-father, Fred Pundt, turned him into police. Albert was arraigned and was returned to the reformatory.
From this newspaper article, we can assume that Mary married Fred Pundt between June 5, 1900 (the 1900 Census) and August 15, 1901, the date of the newspaper article. To date, I have not been able to locate a marriage record for Mary and Fred.
On the 1910 Census, Mary was listed at 62 Cayuga St., with her husband, Fred, and with four children all using the Pundt surname – Arthur and Elsie Pundt were Fred’s children and Augusta and Anna Pundt were Mary’s youngest two daughters.
Fred died on November 25, 1911. On the 1912 Buffalo City Directory (compiled in 1911), Mary was recorded as living at 62 Cayuga St. with daughters Elsie, Augusta and Anna. Elsie was a seamstress and both Augusta and Anna worked as book binders. In the 1913 Buffalo City Directory, Mary was recorded as living at 305 Bissell Ave. with Anna and Elsie, both of whom were listed as dressmakers. By 1915, she had moved to 1307 E. Ferry St., but was not listed with any children. Augusta had married in 1912, but Anna hadn’t married until 1918 so I am not sure why she wasn’t living with her mother in 1915.
I have been unable to locate Mary on the 1920 Census and she died Nov. 3, 1926. In Mary’s death notice, she was recorded as (nee Foth) and the sister of Charles and Henry and the late Frederick and Ernest. Her brother, Frederick, had predeceased her by only two months. The funeral left from her daughter Josephine’s house (Mrs. George Schmand).
It is impossible for me to know what kind of life Mary had, but I do know she was loved. Her daughter, Augusta Ley, posted several memorial notices in the Buffalo Evening News in 1954, 1959 and 1960 on the anniversary of her mother’s death.
November 3, 1954
FRANK– In loving memory of my dear mother,
Mary Frank, who passed away Nov. 3, 1926.
Mother dear, your footsteps no more do I hear.
How wonderful it used to be.
When your smiling face I’d see.
To me there is no other
As precious as my own dear mother.
DAUGHTER – AUGUSTA LEY
November 3, 1959
Transcription as original too difficult to read