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Charlotte Theresa Doerr (b. August 13, 1888, d. January 14, 1972)
Charlotte Theresa Doerr (daughter of John (Jean) David Doerr, Jr. and Helena/Lena Hochguertel)318 was born August 13, 1888 in Peru, Illinois319, 320, and died January 14, 1972 in Peru, Illinois321, 322. She married Harry James Mauritzen on July 7, 1909 in LaSalle Cnty, IL323, son of James "Jens" Peter Mauritzen and Johanne "Jennie" Peterson.
Notes for Charlotte Theresa Doerr:
April 2003
Charlotte Doerr was the 2nd child of John Doerr and Lena Hochguertel Doerr. John was 21 and Lena was 20 at the time of her birth. Wilhelmina Lowberg was the midwife. She grew up in a house on 7th St. near Roosevelt School. Her father John D. Doerr was a cigar maker in Spring Valley at one time and later owned a tavern. Gramma told me he was a very nice man unless he was drinking, and apparently that was frequently. On Fridays when he would make collectons he came home drunk and was abusive. She remembers hiding under the kitchen table in fear of him. Later on the home of her mother & Carl Hoesch was 7th & Peoria. Don't know if Charlotte lived there or not before she married Harry.
Charlotte & Harry dated six years before they married. According to Aunt Lois, Charlotte's mother Lena couldn't let her leave, as she had provided care to her mother all her life. Charlotte left school in the 6th grade to tend to her mother who always seemed to fear she was dying from something. Charlotte spent her whole life trying to convince her mother she wasn't dying. She lived to be 92 and I remember her very well.
Finally Harry grew impatient and said "either/or" and they were married at the German Church (Zion E & R) in Peru, in 1909, although his family were members of the Congregational Church on 4th & West Street. Charlotte's family were Catholic (St. Joseph's in Peru?) until one Sunday her father John Doerr was asked not to sit in a certain pew that was reserved for the wealthier congregation, so he left with his family to never return again. Also rumored he felt the Church was asking for too much money.
Aunt Lois says she thinks the reason they got married there was because the minister said he could do it quick. Grampa Harry was rumored to have said, "Just make it fast. We've got a train to catch." They were taking the train to Niagra Falls for their honeymoon. Doubtful the wedding was a big family event.
Charlotte's father was a heavy drinker and went on to die from "the drink" in his 40's. I'm not sure how well Grampa Harry knew him since John died so young, but I know he didn't care for his mother-in-law's second husband Carl Hoesch. He thought Carl was lazy -- Carl was also a bartender for John Doerr and Grampa often remarked that Carl was coming in the back door as John was going out the front door (Lena's). It is said Carl immigrated from Germany to escape fighting under Keiser Wilhelm.
Harry did always treat his mother-in-law Lena well, maybe at the insistence of Charlotte. She, on the other hand, was well-liked by his family and vice versa.
After Charlotte gave birth to her first child Murray in 1912, she was told she could never have other children. This is around the time she became interested in Christian Science. She heard of a practioner by the name of Mrs. Coons whom she began working with and subsequently followed the births of Lois, Glen & Helen (my mother), all births being in the family home. She was a lifelong student of Christian Science and all the children attended Sunday School at First Church, Peru. Her husband Harry also attended church and while very supportive, he never joined the Church.
Aunt Lois recalls in the 3rd grade roller skating very fast while her brother Glen was in front of her on his trike and wouldn't move out of the way. She hit the ground in such a way that her leg was broken, according to the local doctor. She was out of school a month, and this was healed through work with Mrs. Coons.
Gramma and Grampa seemed a devoted couple to me, never raised voices, that I heard, and Gramma took care of her husband for 7 years after he became ill with Alzheimer's, until he died at home. I'm sure this must have been a trying experience for her, but I never remember a complaint.
Gramma was the dearest, kindest, most gentle person I have known. She was a wonderful part of my life, someone I leaned on, confided in and trusted. I loved being in their home on 6th Street. Taking a rest on Sunday afternoon in Gramma & Grampa's bedroom, with the windup Westclox softly and steadily ticking is as vivid a memory as if it happened yesterday. Mom said Gramma always had to have a clock ticking in her bedroom. Or sleeping in their room in the evenings while the adults played pinnocle in the next room. Great memories. I don't thinks she ever swore, but the story goes she called her son Glen a dummkopf, probably the only German she spoke, when he flubbed at playing cards.
Almost every summer we would spend a week in Wisconsin on the lake with Gramma & Grampa. How I looked forward to that! We swam endlessly ( I didn't like to fish) and when I was a young teenager I got to take the rowboat with the 7hp engine on it out by myself. My first taste of freedom!
I was 12 when she and Grampa moved out of the house I loved to a smaller place on 14th & Fulton. She was never judgmental and never really offered advice, just listened. After I left home at 18 I went to live with Gramma on 14th St. She had recently lost Grampa and I think was grateful for the company. I lived there 2 years while working at the Peru Bank until I married in 1966.
Gramma was a terrific cook. She used the best ingredients she could afford and made wonderful sauces-- always chopped vegetables very fine to bring out the flavor. Coleslaw had to be very finely shredded with a potato peeler, and her bacon sweet & sour sauce took me years to perfect. She canned, as most women did then, and she baked a lot. I remember sitting with her in the basement at her work table while we pitted cherries with a hairpin to make pies.
Her famous rump roast and raisin pie made Mike's mouth water when we were dating. He told me in later years that he never had realized his mother couldn't cook until he married me and began eating at my mom & gramma's tables. He fondly recalls her habit of drinking hot water, not coffee or tea, and usually after dinner with a little piece of something sweet.
During the period I lived with her she taught me how to cook. I certainly had learned my way around the kitchen from my mother, but this was hands-on daily training. I copied all of her recipies and have used them all my married life. I don't use the recipies anymore--it's just the way I cook.
Holidays were always special because we spent them with my grandparents. I loved to help her get ready for the large group coming for dinner. The good china and crystal came out, linen napkins and the special individual salt bowls. They really impressed me, and my "company" table is never set properly unless my salt bowls are in place.
She always had parakeets, which I can remember, and she was very successful in training them and teaching them to talk. She liked Manchester Terriers and had a number over the years, but I remember the Fox Terrier Spotty while I was living there. Her pets were royally treated.
In her later years she still dressed in her corsette and stockings every morning, and I remember her telling me she had a plan for each day before she got out of bed. She loved the Chicago White Sox and always watched the games on television. One morning as Aunt Lois stopped in to visit her on her way to work, as she did every morning, Charlotte died peacefully at 7:35 a.m. in her favorite rocking chair 1904 14th St., Peru, Il.
QUESTIONS; Where did Doerrs attend church after they left the Catholic Church.
Which Catholic Church did they attend? St. Josephs in Peru? It's possible this church could have some records on baptisms & marriages. Also should check Congregational Church.
Birth cert. in file
Death cert. in file
Marriage cert. in Harry's file
Obituary in file
8 photos
1870 Census in her father's file
1880 Census in file
1900 Census in file
1910 Census in file
1920 Census in file
1930 Census in file
More About Charlotte Theresa Doerr:
Baptism: St. Joseph's Catholic/Peru.324
Burial: January 16, 1972, City Cemetary, Peru, IL.325, 326
Census: 1900 Census in file.326
Died 2: Cert in file .326
Social Security Number: 342-09-7788.326
More About Charlotte Theresa Doerr and Harry James Mauritzen:
Marriage 1: July 7, 1909, LaSalle Cnty, IL.327
Marriage 2: Zion E&R Church, Peru, IL.
Marriage 3: July 6, 1909, LaSalle Cnty, IL.327, 328, 329
Children of Charlotte Theresa Doerr and Harry James Mauritzen are:
- +Murray J. Mauritzen, b. April 24, 1912, Peru, Illinois329, d. January 28, 2003, Venice, Florida.
- +Lois Mauritzen.
- Glen Mauritzen, b. February 28, 1924329, d. July 7, 1990, Overland Park, Kansas329.
- +Helen Mayme Mauritzen.

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