Person:Ann Geiger (2)

This is from a letter from Jim Kocarnik^[3]

"Anna Geiger (6 Jan 1895) is an enigma. Father Urban brought here here in late summer 1904, and put in school in Mt. Angel. She later lived with him in the rectory here awhile, left for nursing school, and then married Alfred Campau, a steamfitter several years younger. Had three boys I think. Alfred later left her and remarried. I have no record of her death but it was in Vancouver some time after 1979.

Father Urban called her niece and she called my mother cousin. Anna was reticent of talking about herself. My mother got quite friendly with her, and she said she was an illegitimate daughter of some nobleman and the maid who worked for him.

Geiger was probably her mother's name, usual in such cases. I can't reasonably fit her into the Fischer family as we so far know it, the dates just don't work.

My personal conjecture is that Anna was possibly raised as a foster child by Father Urban's sister, thereby gaining the appellation "niece", as he one wrote of finding her in his sister's courtyard. Although there is almost 20 year time lapse from Father's time in Krimice, I could also accept some connection of Anna to the House of Lobkovitz. I doubt we'll ever know for sure in this life and in the next it probably won't make a difference.

Oh, and Anna Marie [ his aunt? ] took ill while visiting Anna Campau in Vancouver and died there."

My father told me that he remembered Ann Campau visiting many times when he was a young. He said she was very pretty, and that she "dressed like a movie star". Both his uncle and his father had dated her. He had no idea who she was or how she related to the family, but the above letter puts the pieces together, it seems.

1. ↑ Vermont, Franklin, St. Albans, Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954.

   Dr. Urban Fischer with Annie Geiger (9) arrived in Quebec on the "S.S. Montrose".24 Sep 1904.
   
   "Vermont, Franklin, St. Albans, Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK31-X9RQ : Tue Apr 29 03:04:48 UTC 2025), Entry for Urban Fischer, 1895-1924.

2. ↑ United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

   probable match?
   
   Listed as a nurse at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Yakima, WA
   
   "United States, Census, 1920", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHNX-5M3 : Thu Jan 09 12:56:43 UTC 2025), Entry for Anna B Geiger, 1920.

3. ↑ Larry Rocha, and Nancy Rocha. Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church Centennial History Book. (2011).

   She is mentioned as Father Urban Fisher's neice.

4. ↑ James A. Kocarnik. Fischer Family Tree.
5. ↑ United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).

   Name Ann B Campau
   Sex Female
   Age 43
   Birthplace Czechoslovakia
   Residence Date 1935
   Residence Place Oregon
   Marital Status Divorced
   Race White
   Relationship to Head of Household Lodger
   Event Type Census
   Event Date 1940
   Event Place Election Precinct 84 Vancouver, Clark, Washington, United States
   Enumeration District Number 6-89 Election Precinct 84 Vancouver, Vancouver City Ward 5 bounded by (N) 35th; (E) K; (S) 26th; (W) G
   
   "United States, Census, 1940", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K99F-KSD : Wed Jan 22 02:58:50 UTC 2025), Entry for U Grant Sheppard and Lillian I Sheppard, 1940.

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Anna B Geiger Campau, in Find A Grave.