Actually, there were SEVERAL years with "Two Augusts" , causing Miss Marge NO END of consternation (and occasional outbursts of moderately foul language, used with correct grammar, of course!)
August POHL, born in Prussia 28 Feb 1863, arrived in Boston 27 Apr 1884, on board The Marathon. He traveled with his older brother, Anton POHL, Anton's wife, Anna (geb. WOLKE) and their three young sons, Robert (age 4), Otto (age 2) and Richard (age 1). The ship's passenger list gives EVERYONE'S Place of Birth as "Sweden" , and last address as "England" .
( "So much for finding THIS bunch in 'Germans to America'" , mutters Miss Marge.)
In Boston, on 28 Apr 1889, August POHL married Elizabeth ALLENHEIMER of Brooklyn, NY. The marriage record did not give parents' names for either bride or groom, but DID disclose that the ceremony was performed by a Lutheran minister.
( "OBOY!" , says Miss Marge. "Just what I needed... ONE brother is Roman Catholic, and the OTHER brother is Lutheran!" )
One bit of information from the civil record of that marriage - August POHL's occupation was given as "milkman" .
A search of Boston City Directories divulged the following POHL entries - and NOW the PLOT THICKENS!!!
| OCCUPATION |
| |||||
| 1920 | POHL | Adolphus F. | laborer | 743 E Fifth | South Boston | boards |
| 1930 | POHL | Albert R. | clerk | 175 Holbrook | Wollaston | house |
| 1895 | POHL | Anton | shoemaker | 182 E Street | South Boston | house |
| 1905 | POHL | Anton | shoemaker | 182 E Street | South Boston | house |
| 1910 | POHL | Anton | shoemaker | 182 E Street | South Boston | house |
| 1895 | POHL | August | laborer | 13 Silver St | South Boston | house |
| 1895 | POHL | August | produce | West St | Roslindale | house |
| 1905 | POHL | August | grocer | 10 West St | Roslindale | house |
| 1910 | POHL | August | machinist | 8 West St | Roslindale | house |
| 1920 | POHL | August | carpenter | 8 West St | Roslindale | house |
| 1905 | POHL | Augustus | machinist | 764 E Sixth | South Boston | house |
| 1910 | POHL | Augustus | machinist | 743 E Fifth | South Boston | house |
| 1920 | POHL | Augustus | machinist | 743 E Fifth | South Boston | house |
| 1930 | POHL | Elizabeth | widow/Auguste | 8 West | Roslindale | house |
| 1935 | POHL | Elizabeth | widow/Auguste | 4 Orange | Roslindale | house |
| 1910 | POHL | John | laborer | 4 Schrepel | South Boston | house |
| 1920 | POHL | John | laborer | 55 I Street | South Boston | house |
| 1920 | POHL | John P. | machinist | 52 I Street | South Boston | house |
| 1905 | POHL | Otto | driver | 182 E Street | South Boston | boards |
| 1910 | POHL | Otto P. | machinist | 182 E Street | South Boston | boards |
| 1905 | POHL | Richard | waiter | 182 E Street | South Boston | rooms |
| 1910 | POHL | Richard | machinist | 182 E Street | South Boston | boards |
| 1920 | POHL | Richard A. | machinist | 123 Pembroke | Boston | boards |
| 1905 | POHL | Robert | machinist | 182 E Street | South Boston | boards |
| 1910 | POHL | Robert | machinist | 18 Fulda St | Roxbury | house |
| 1920 | POHL | Walter A. | clerk | 821 E Fourth | South Boston | boards |
| 1920 | POHL | Walter F. | machinist | 13 Oakdale | Jam. Plain | house |
| 1895 | POHL | William | paperhanger | Emerald St | Boston (?) | house |
| 1905 | POHL | William | paperhanger | 36 E St | Dedham | house |
| 1910 | POHL | William | paperhanger | 36 E St | Dedham | house |
| 1920 | POHL | William | paperhanger | 36 E St | Dedham | house |
Census searches helped to determine that it was indeed "the Roslindale August" that was "the RIGHT August". Searches of Boston Vital Records Indices DID fill in some "missing places" in August's Family Group Sheet. He and Elizabeth had at least 6 children (all born in Boston) - Lillian E, b 1891; a female child born 1892; Minnie, born Apr 1896, died 17 Jul 1896; Elizabeth L., born 1899, Bernard A., born 1906, died 1927 and Albert R., born 1907.
Then the REAL fun started!
Miss Marge realized that the children of Albert R. POHL, August's youngest son, might still be alive, and might live in the Greater Boston area. So she wrote to ALL of the POHLs listed in the Boston phone book, and, of the ones who replied, ALL were descended from "the OTHER August", and could give no information about "our August"!
This sad story reminded Miss Marge of a VERY old (and very "BAD") joke - a Genealogist was walking on the beach, throwing rocks at birds. When reprimanded by a passer-by, the Genealogist remarked, "I'm only doing what all the HOW-TO books tell me to do when my research is "stuck", I'm leaving NO TERN UN-STONED".
(Miss Marge can see you picking up a rock and aiming at her August Personage... now STOP THAT!!!)
Can you think of any other ways to locate descendents of August POHL that won't deplete the research "budget"? Living on "the Left Coast", Miss Marge can't just pop down to the Suffolk County Courthouse for a look-see... ANY help or ideas that YOU can provide will be MOST appreciated!
Marge Reid--[email protected]
This page was updated 4 January 1999.
copyright © 1997, 1998, 1999 - Margaret V Reid