Amelia Helfer was born in 1825 at Lesnig on the Elba River, near Dresden, Saxony, Germany. Her father was a painter of frescoes and porcelains at Meisen and Dresden. He died of a stroke at the age of 56. Her mother died at 83 after three strokes. Amelia had two sisters Lizette and Wilhelmina. Lizette married a judge Lettow or Lette who lived in Braunsweig, Germany. Wilhelmina was a spinster and died at age 60 in Dresden, Germany.
She met and married Adolph Herman Reh (1826-1864) who was working at the French embassy at Dresden, Saxony, Germany. At the time Amelia was companion to the wife of the French Ambassador. Amelia was also in charge of entertainment at the embassy.
Child:
• Justus Adolph (1863-1943)
In 1864, Adolph was struck down with what was then known as galloping consumption (probably pneumonia) and died at the age of 38. Amelia, with her young son, Justus Adolph, 1½ years old, took a position as companion to the wife of Baron Von Hahns (Russian - German) and left her son with her parents.
The Von Hahns had a yacht and were cruising in the Mediterranean when a storm came up and disabled the yacht. The captain gave up the ship but a guest took over and landed the yacht safely on shore at Gibraltar. The yacht had a broken mast. During the storm the Baroness, who was quite corpulent lost her balance and fell overboard. Amelia, who was standing at the rail and saw her go over board, started to laugh at the Baroness as a colored deck hand rescued the Baroness and brought her safely to shore. The Baroness did not appreciate her companion's sense of humor and fired her.
In 1871, Amelia met Phillipp Ernest Kossak in Dresden, Germany. He was a skilled tailor and they were married in 1872. Phillip was an Austrian and served in the Italian war of 1858.
Amelia borrowed some money from her nephew, Theodore, and she and Phillip left Germany for the United states in 1872. They settled for a while in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she sent for her son who was then about 10 years of age. In 1888, Amelia and her husband moved from Philadelphia to Chicago and he went into business there. Her son, Adolph Justus, stayed in Philadelphia.
Amelia died at age 76 in Chicago, Illinois. She is buried as Amelia Kowsak at Forest Home Cemetery.
In 1897, her husband, Phillip, went to Philadelphia to deliver some jewelry and other keepsakes to his stepson from his mother. Shortly thereafter, Phillip left for California and was never heard from again by his stepson.
She met and married Adolph Herman Reh (1826-1864) who was working at the French embassy at Dresden, Saxony, Germany. At the time Amelia was companion to the wife of the French Ambassador. Amelia was also in charge of entertainment at the embassy.
Child:
• Justus Adolph (1863-1943)
In 1864, Adolph was struck down with what was then known as galloping consumption (probably pneumonia) and died at the age of 38. Amelia, with her young son, Justus Adolph, 1½ years old, took a position as companion to the wife of Baron Von Hahns (Russian - German) and left her son with her parents.
The Von Hahns had a yacht and were cruising in the Mediterranean when a storm came up and disabled the yacht. The captain gave up the ship but a guest took over and landed the yacht safely on shore at Gibraltar. The yacht had a broken mast. During the storm the Baroness, who was quite corpulent lost her balance and fell overboard. Amelia, who was standing at the rail and saw her go over board, started to laugh at the Baroness as a colored deck hand rescued the Baroness and brought her safely to shore. The Baroness did not appreciate her companion's sense of humor and fired her.
In 1871, Amelia met Phillipp Ernest Kossak in Dresden, Germany. He was a skilled tailor and they were married in 1872. Phillip was an Austrian and served in the Italian war of 1858.
Amelia borrowed some money from her nephew, Theodore, and she and Phillip left Germany for the United states in 1872. They settled for a while in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she sent for her son who was then about 10 years of age. In 1888, Amelia and her husband moved from Philadelphia to Chicago and he went into business there. Her son, Adolph Justus, stayed in Philadelphia.
Amelia died at age 76 in Chicago, Illinois. She is buried as Amelia Kowsak at Forest Home Cemetery.
In 1897, her husband, Phillip, went to Philadelphia to deliver some jewelry and other keepsakes to his stepson from his mother. Shortly thereafter, Phillip left for California and was never heard from again by his stepson.
Amelia Helfer was born in 1825 at Lesnig on the Elba River, near Dresden, Saxony, Germany. Her father was a painter of frescoes and porcelains at Meisen and Dresden. He died of a stroke at the age of 56. Her mother died at 83 after three strokes. Amelia had two sisters Lizette and Wilhelmina. Lizette married a judge Lettow or Lette who lived in Braunsweig, Germany. Wilhelmina was a spinster and died at age 60 in Dresden, Germany.
She met and married Adolph Herman Reh (1826-1864) who was working at the French embassy at Dresden, Saxony, Germany. At the time Amelia was companion to the wife of the French Ambassador. Amelia was also in charge of entertainment at the embassy.
Child:
• Justus Adolph (1863-1943)
In 1864, Adolph was struck down with what was then known as galloping consumption (probably pneumonia) and died at the age of 38. Amelia, with her young son, Justus Adolph, 1½ years old, took a position as companion to the wife of Baron Von Hahns (Russian - German) and left her son with her parents.
The Von Hahns had a yacht and were cruising in the Mediterranean when a storm came up and disabled the yacht. The captain gave up the ship but a guest took over and landed the yacht safely on shore at Gibraltar. The yacht had a broken mast. During the storm the Baroness, who was quite corpulent lost her balance and fell overboard. Amelia, who was standing at the rail and saw her go over board, started to laugh at the Baroness as a colored deck hand rescued the Baroness and brought her safely to shore. The Baroness did not appreciate her companion's sense of humor and fired her.
In 1871, Amelia met Phillipp Ernest Kossak in Dresden, Germany. He was a skilled tailor and they were married in 1872. Phillip was an Austrian and served in the Italian war of 1858.
Amelia borrowed some money from her nephew, Theodore, and she and Phillip left Germany for the United states in 1872. They settled for a while in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she sent for her son who was then about 10 years of age. In 1888, Amelia and her husband moved from Philadelphia to Chicago and he went into business there. Her son, Adolph Justus, stayed in Philadelphia.
Amelia died at age 76 in Chicago, Illinois. She is buried as Amelia Kowsak at Forest Home Cemetery.
In 1897, her husband, Phillip, went to Philadelphia to deliver some jewelry and other keepsakes to his stepson from his mother. Shortly thereafter, Phillip left for California and was never heard from again by his stepson.
She met and married Adolph Herman Reh (1826-1864) who was working at the French embassy at Dresden, Saxony, Germany. At the time Amelia was companion to the wife of the French Ambassador. Amelia was also in charge of entertainment at the embassy.
Child:
• Justus Adolph (1863-1943)
In 1864, Adolph was struck down with what was then known as galloping consumption (probably pneumonia) and died at the age of 38. Amelia, with her young son, Justus Adolph, 1½ years old, took a position as companion to the wife of Baron Von Hahns (Russian - German) and left her son with her parents.
The Von Hahns had a yacht and were cruising in the Mediterranean when a storm came up and disabled the yacht. The captain gave up the ship but a guest took over and landed the yacht safely on shore at Gibraltar. The yacht had a broken mast. During the storm the Baroness, who was quite corpulent lost her balance and fell overboard. Amelia, who was standing at the rail and saw her go over board, started to laugh at the Baroness as a colored deck hand rescued the Baroness and brought her safely to shore. The Baroness did not appreciate her companion's sense of humor and fired her.
In 1871, Amelia met Phillipp Ernest Kossak in Dresden, Germany. He was a skilled tailor and they were married in 1872. Phillip was an Austrian and served in the Italian war of 1858.
Amelia borrowed some money from her nephew, Theodore, and she and Phillip left Germany for the United states in 1872. They settled for a while in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she sent for her son who was then about 10 years of age. In 1888, Amelia and her husband moved from Philadelphia to Chicago and he went into business there. Her son, Adolph Justus, stayed in Philadelphia.
Amelia died at age 76 in Chicago, Illinois. She is buried as Amelia Kowsak at Forest Home Cemetery.
In 1897, her husband, Phillip, went to Philadelphia to deliver some jewelry and other keepsakes to his stepson from his mother. Shortly thereafter, Phillip left for California and was never heard from again by his stepson.
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