My Ives Family Genealogy
Grandmother Ives
Georgianna Ives
I'm starting this story about my father's mother, my grandmother "Georgianna Ives" born in Hartford Connecticut - Oct 25.1860 her parents Philo Lawson Ives and Anna Phila Thrall.
Georgianna was from the famed clockmaker and print family Ives. Her father and grandfather Lawson C. Ives were in the clock making industry and inventors for clock mechanisms including various other companies including Cotton Linen, Threads, Copper and Silver. From what I have read, they were not good business men, however, their inventions and patents used for clocks, were some of the first...They were also noted for their generosity and philanthropy.
For years I have seen L. C. Ives clocks for sale, of course now they are way too expensive for me...I wish I'd bought one years ago.
Note: Scraper Protection: If you see this page anywhere else on the Internet besides here...PLEASE contact me...Thank You ~ Delia Pacheco
She was a Baroness
Georgianna was quite beautiful, her hair was snow-white by the age of 25 (thank goodness I did not inherit that!) she had three beautiful sisters Edith, Grace and Annie.
From what I‘ve been told, in the 1800's wealthy American families would send their daughters to Europe to find wealthy husbands...and most likely this was for Edith, Grace, Ann and Georgianna. They moved to Europe and married there, one in England, one in France and my grandmother in Germany. I believe two of them are buried in Europe, my grandmother in Garmisch Germany, where I saw her for the last time.
My grandmother married Ludwig Adolph von Meyer, a Baron giving her the title. I’m not sure for the rest of her sisters titles, but Edith Margaret Ives married Robert John Ralph Boreel (Dutch diplomat) This being her second marriage.
Ives family names
Georgianna von Meyer - Ives
About Georgie
An email from Ancestry.com came, saying, for a few days you can go through the immigration and travel section of the site for FREE...Although I have been there many times and searched I never found much, but within minutes I discovered her photo and passport application, she being about 58...it was noted she was coming back to the US for a visit. I discovered that she still was an American citizen and lived in Lucerne Switzerland traveling through Europe, but no permanent address. When you retain your US citizenship you must come back every few years. I know that they had a vacation Villa in Switzerland but didn't realize she lived there...her other residence was in a huge Hotel in Dresden.
When my husband and I visited Dresden we sat in front of this most beautiful Hotel, commenting on the elegance...When we came home, I found out that this Hotel was where she had lived! Wish I'd known this when we were there, I would have gone inside.
Ellis Island website findings
I was happy to find a ship manifest on Ellis Island.org revealing that my father and my grandmother had visited his Aunt Sophia Owen in New York Oct. 16,1906. I also noted that my grandmother called herself Georgie. My dad was an 18 year old student having more then $50 with him and that he had been to the US before. The ship they came over on, was the S.S. Kronprinz Wilhelm. (pictured)
After my grandfather Ludwig died, grandmother took up living with her assistant-maid in an elegant Hotel in Dresden....like I mentioned before, she also lived in Lucern, Switzerland and came back to the US because she had dual citizenship. Her time was passed traveling all over Europe...until the war broke out.
S.S. Kronprinz Wilhelm
A memory of my paternal grandmother
This brings me to a memory of my grandmother and quite frankly, not a "feel good" memory...you see I was scared of her. She would grab you with a death grip and order you to do something. I remember when visiting her at a German Kur resort where she lived, she would ask me to go and get some candy from a closet, of course I obliged as chocolate was a rarity during the war...in this closet to my surprise were many Hershey Chocolate bars (most likely from American GI's)
I grabbed a bar and delivered it to her. She then very carefully unwrapped this treasure with her bony fine fingers, wearing diamond rings that were glistening in the sun...and then to find the chocolate almost white from overexposure and age. She painstakingly broke off one square and handed it to me, and one square to my twin sister. With a smile on her face she ate the rest of the candy bar. Then ordering us to kiss her hairy thin cheek to thank her... well at least I have this memory...note, a child's memory...I'm sure this is most likely why I love chocolate so much, and myself being stingy with sharing it.
With a chocolate bar
Another memory
One other memory of my grandmother, was her love for Lilacs...It was known that she would always wear Lilacs on her hats.
Supposedly when she got married, the streets to the Frauenkirche (church) in Dresden was lined with Violets and Lilacs...as well as the decorated carriage.
Certainly there must have been a photo of that day, after all they were were always written about. Most likely the 1945 firebombing of Dresden must have destroyed all the newspapers and photos. She lived in Germany during the war, so most likely lost it all, as we did. Just maybe, her relatives might of had some photos and news clips. Doing this research about her in Europe, is none existent and very frustrating.
It‘s my luck to have the paternal family (von Meyer) who were well known on both sides, yet very elusive...except for the famed Vogue photographer Adolphe de Meyer, my first cousin twice removed. I should count my blessings for even finding this much.
Lilacs
My aunt Margot
Stories shared by my Aunt
The last time I visited my Tante (Aunt) Margot (my mom's sister) in Nürnberg, she shared something about my grandmother. My Aunt said that Georgianna was not friendly but very elegant, upright (almost snobbish looking) always wearing beautiful clothing and jewelry, large brimmed hats that she adorned with Lilac flowers (like I mentioned above) going for walks using her beautiful Russian walking stick, accompanied by her personal maid.
Here again I wish I had asked more questions, but then when you're young, the questions don't come easily because you really don't know what to ask.
My Grandfather
Baron Ludwig Adolph von Meyer
I don't know too much about him, except for the facts that he was born in Dresden 5/27/1860 died in Paris 8/7/1930 buried in the family grave at Trinitatisfriedhof (Cemetery) in Dresden Germany....He was a handsome man, marrying Georgianna Ives 6/1/1886 a known European beauty. As mentioned before, they were married in the famed Frauenkirche (church) Dresden...
After his divorce, in 1916 he married Elsa Eysler in Hessen.
Having never asked anything about him or his parents, and failing to do that...I certainly have regrets. Now knowing that my sister and I are the only living von Meyer's left... I have a sadness.
At the Library
Someone told me there was a data base for Hartford Connecticut newspapers on the Ives family at the Madison Historical Society in WI. The day I visited it was too crowded, so we left...on our way out, my eye caught a glimpse of a stand with little booklets in them, a word actually caught my eye "Hartford." Curiosity got the best of me so I picked up the booklet, and on the first page I saw the words "IVES"...hmmm Thank You God, I said! I made copies of this article written by a woman named Paula Ross "Lawson C. Ives and the Ives Widows' Homes: The Man, The Women, and The Missing Pieces," written for a course at the Trinity College .
The Book - The Letter
More then just a Room - Immanuel House
While looking in the Connecticut magazine I found information in an article, and now knew that my research failure was not me, it was the elusiveness of the Ives family in particular Georgianna's family. This article brought me to a man named Mr. Robert L. Edwards who also wrote a book "More then a Room Immanuel House and it's Predecessor" in regards to the Ives family and their involvement of a particular house that was once set up for Civil War Widows...now known as the Immanuel House.
I was happy to find information I was looking for, and it gave me more for new research
The Book - The Call
This little book is very interesting, regarding some of the Hartford Connecticut residence and their kind deeds that left an effect on the city. Mr.Edwards had called me and we talked briefly about the book and that I should be proud of my Ives family for their generosity.
I'm happy to know that my grandmother's Ives family were philanthropist, just like my paternal Meyer side in Germany, all this about the same time period...I find that interesting.
From the author Mr. Edwards
L. C. Ives information in the book
Philo L. Ives my great grandfather
Manufactory of the Willimantic Linen Co.
Cotton-Spool-Thread-Linen-Textile-Clocks
I received an email with this image, a book related to my Great grandfather Lawson C. Ives and his involvement in being one of the original founders of the Willimantic Linen Co. also a page on his Clock Co. involvement.....
The image here is from the book "The Great Industries of the United States" 1872. Published by J.B. BURR & HYDE CO.
A nine page article on Spool-Cotton-Thread and a five page article on Clocks.
Lawson C. Ives Clock
Information about the Ives
I found this reading information about the Ives family interesting...elusive maybe, but still information I never knew.
- The Ives Geneaology Zone All about the Ives genealogy
- C and LC Ives Antique Clock
Find Antique Clocks by Manufacturer Name C and LC Ives See many more antique C and LC Ives clock prices, photos and descriptions at Antique Clocks Price Guide.com Get Unlimited Access Now Search the Entire Database of 17,966 Antique Clock Description
- Death of Lawson C. Ives, of Hartford. - Article Preview - The New York Times
Death announcement of L.C.Ives
- Willimantic Cotton Mill Co.
Lawson C. Ives and Austin Dunham originally founded the Willimantic Linen Company in 1854 to process flax into linen goods.
Hartford Times - America's Door
Hartford connection
During my research and using my dad's original handwritten Ahnentafel (Genealogy Chart) I noticed the Hartford Connecticut connection. I had then gone through my suitcase and found some articles to the Hartford Times were mom was looking for a sponsor of the Ives family to bring us to America...not surprising, no one wanted a widowed, penniless Baroness with two small children. By th Grace of God, an American soldier friend of mom's found someone to sponsor us, this would avoid the potential of having become a ward of the state.
Maternal grandparents Adelbert Fredersdorff & Frida Juris with aunt Margot & my mom Elfriede
Do you enjoy researching Genealogy?
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Comments Welcome
Very interesting hub! You sure did a good job researching on your illustrious grandparents.
Another interesting peek at your ancestry. It is so fascinating what you keep discovering of them.
I have an interest in genealogy too. You've done a great job of uncovering some pretty interesting family history. You come from a fascinating family.
Quite fascinating. You are a diligent researcher!
Love this! I am a descendant of Lawson's daughter Sophie who married Henry Owen. Your lens is helpful and absolutely lovely! I seriously enjoy genealogy and love to find cousins! THANK YOU!
Stellar genealogy research, and authentic familial affection, void of partial nuance are visibly evident in your "Lens.". The intricate perfection of the clocks "created" by your grandfather is a valid reminder of the Divine Creation we see in the stars and galaxies of the universe, in the microscopic DNA of the laboratory, and the beautiful shells you find on Captiva Island.
Love family stories... keep them coming. There is more information online EVERY DAY. Try again sometime. Some of it is only available by subscription, so carve out some time, take out a subscription, you'll be amazed at what you can find, with patience. My wife does it every day... ;-)
Love this story about your family member. It's so surprising what one can learn by following one's inquisitive nature.
My dear, this is a beautifully presented story on your Ives family genealogy ... how did you ever find that passport application? By the way, I love that photo of you in your bio on this page!
hello baroness, moving story about your family. glad that you could jot down your genealogy for future generation and posterity.
by the way, you should get a purple star on this.
What a great site I have had quite a venture with my fathers line as their mother died when the children were young and they were divided in many states. It took me a few years but found descendents of all but one of his brothers although I found out Raymond Purvis died in Florida that was all never found any descendents for him. I know how you feel with every new bit of info I receive I am as happy as a child in a candy store sometimes the smallest thing can lead to a new surname in the family.
Hello there, I happened upon your site which is intruiging. My great great grandmother was Ann P Thrall and great great grandfather Philo Lewis Ives; their daughter Edith Margaret Ives married Robert John Ralph Boreel (Dutch); they had two daughters Helen Barbara Isabel Boreel (my grandmother) and Edith Wendela Dorothy Boreel (my great-aunt). This is the first time I have seen anything about the Thrall/Ives family so if you have any more information I'd be really interested. Many thanks
How cool to have a Baroness in your tree. I haven't done anything on my tree in a few years. Makes me want to get to work again. Nice lens.
@Virginia Allain: How great that you found another photo. I need to poke around on ancestry.com. Maybe I should get a one month membership and immerse myself in it.
Fascinating. I believe it was fashionable for wealthy Americans to take their pretty daughters to Europe in the 1800s, hoping to marry into an aristocratic family. I'm not sure how you would find more about that.
I love the thought of having a Baroness in the family. What a lovely family history to have.
What a fascinating family history you have. I love the old photographs of your grandparents as well.
Great lens! I enjoy genealogy stories from everybody. They are all impressive.
Wonderful genealogy lens, Im so much into it. Have you looked in Geneanet? I am there and have finally completed my family tree, tracked back to 1325. Your grandmother looks like a very nice Lady and so pretty! Great lens :)
In the dirt at the site of an old town in Alabama I found a brass comb last week that was stamped "L.C.Ives & Co." which is how I found your site.An interesting story , your is , and I enjoyed the history of it.
Genealogy is pretty interesting and I love looking into something like this. When I visited Goa last January, we visited one of my dad's cousin at her ancestral home and we were looking into old pictures and it was amazing to make some of those connections. You did excellent work on this lens!
Scaling the family tree is difficult when you find some of the branches missing. May the pieces to your puzzle fall into place, and may your journal become a best seller.
Thanks for letting me know about this lens. I've lensrolled it to my Currier and Ives lens. Was nice to learn more about the Ives from a relative.
Family histories are interesting when you can flush them out as you have. I especially like your description of your scary grandmother and the Hershey bars. My grandfather used to stash away Hershey bars and would give them to us (and a couple dollars as well when we got older). The Hershey bars were often white from the heating and re-cooling, and always tasted great!
My dear, I can't possibly express in words what this Ives genealogy "means" to me or how it impacts me. You see, it was the genealogy of my grandmother and grandfather which was largely responsible for me getting started with our family genealogy ... and bringing IT to Squidoo to search out the family tree. Your grandmother is a WOW! Oh my, to have known her? I am honored to count you as a friend. And, I thank YOU for that!
It sounds like you've got a fascinating family history! My mother (my family's resident genealogy buff) has run into similar problems with the records in Germany. I believe she mostly relies on our German relatives to check local church records and the like when possible. Anyway, good luck with hunting down the family tree!
nice lens, i too love to share my family history but mine was not so exciting like yours.
What wonderful stories and memories! I wish you every success with your book, great Lens!
Once again, a fascinating true-life tale. I've found genealogical research to be both exciting and at times incredibly frustrating. I hope more comes to light to help you continue your research.
Interesting story and lens - thanks for sharing about your family. I appreciate that you don't sugar-coat it and tell the bad with the good.
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