Person:Lisette Stagge (1)

Notes for Lizette STAGGE:

b. 29 August 1876 near Hannover, Germany d. 4 March 1961, San Jose, CA (buried Pine Hill Cemetery, Cincinnati, OH) m. 25 Sep 1895 John Sess emig. Abt. 1883 (age 7 while on boat)

After her husband's death, she moved in with John Otto SESS and Henrietta ALBERT (in Kenmore area of Buffalo, NY) before moving in with her son, Albert, in San Jose, CA. We believe that after she died in San Jose, her body was sent back to Cincinnati to be buried next to her husband.

Per book by Myrtle Sess Cook, "She was named after her older sister who had already died by the time she was born. When she came to America, she had her seventh birthday while on the boat. ... When Grandma Sess came to America they taught German in the schools, but it was high German. Grandma had to learn high German (she spoke low German) and also English. She learned English so well that she never spoke with any accent. In later years she didn't speak German very much. She had to think hard to speak it, but could understand it very well. She had so Americanized herself that the old time German people in Cincinnati, Ohio would say, 'Shame, shame to lose your native tongue.'"

From the memoirs of Miriam Sess Smith: "Lisette Stagge Sess said that she had been raised on a very poor farm in Germany somewhere near the Dutch border. They had one big room with a dirt floor and in the winter they would bring in the cow to keep it and themselves warm.... How the family settled in Cincinnati I do not know although there was a large contingent of German and Austrian people there. Even in the Westwood area of Cincinnati where they ultimately bought a house, they were surrounded by Austrians, Hungarians, etc.... When my dad was young, they lived on Conroy Street. It was a house way up on a hill. They later moved to Westwood... the street (Cavanaugh) was dirt and would be a muddy mess when it rained."

According to the IGI, there is a large contingent of STAGGEs in Dieslingen, Westfalen, Nordrrhein, Preussen. This is due west of Hannover, about halfway between Hannover and the Dutch border. (1920 census indicates Lisette was from Hannover.)

Clues for information about her family:

1890 City Directory (thanks to Dan Foose, Jr. (DanSFooseJr@@aol.com)): August H. Stagge_ 28 Dudley plasterer Bernard Stagge machinist works Carrie Stagge_ 103 Scioto tailoress* Dora Stagge_ 25 Dudley seamstress Emma Stagge_ 103 Scioto dress maker* Emma Stagge_ 53 Elder 91 Loth saleslady Fred. Stagge_ 270 State avenue brick setter Fred. Stagge 25 Dudley iron wkr. August H. Stagge_ southeast Corner Fosdick and Bellevue avenue Henry Stagge Observatory avenue, Mt. Lookout dairy Herman Stagge 270 State avenue lamp-lighter Julia Stagge 103 Scioto tailoress* Mary Stagge, widow Geo._ 103 Scioto* Robert Stagge Elmwood Place carpet measurer Sarah Stagge_ 103 Scioto dress maker* Wm. Stagge 91 Loth Wm. Stagge 270 State avenue laborer Wm. Stagge, Jr. 91 Loth Wm. D. Stagge 25 Dudley plasterer

• This family found in 1880 census:

Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace 
Mary STAGGE   Self   W   Female   W   51   HANO.   Tailoress   HANO.   HANO.  
Emma STAGGE   Dau   S   Female   W   21   OH   Tailoress   HANO.   HANO.  
Sarah STAGGE   Dau   S   Female   W   17   OH   Tailoress   HANO.   HANO.  
Carrie STAGGE   Dau   S   Female   W   14   OH   Tailoress   HANO.   HANO.  
Julia STAGGE   Dau   S   Female   W   12   OH      HANO.   HANO.  

1900 census:

Cincinnati, Ward 15, ED 125, Prect D, Sheet 6A: 1515 Jones Street (living with David & Alma Shea): August STAGGE, b. Sept 1858 Germany; m17 years; emig 1876; plasterer [therefore m. abt. 1883] Annie, wife, b. March 1857 Ohio (p. b. Germany); m17 years 9 births; 7 living* Albert, son, b. March 1883 OH, 17, single; salesman, grocery Clara, dau, b. July 1884 OH, 15 Alma, dau, b. May 1886 OH, 14, private servant Robert, son, b. Nov 1888 OH, 11 Herbert, son, b. Sept 1890 OH, 9 Helen, dau, b. Dec 1892 OH, 7 Edward, son, b. Mar 1900 OH, 2 months

   [NOTE: This family is in 1910 census, but August is deceased; Anna is widowed and living with her then are Albert, Robert, Herbst, Helen, and Edward; Clara & Alma are still living, but not with them—perhaps married by now; they’re not on Jones Street; I can’t make out the street name; might be Truman.]

• so not likely that Lizette is from this family because 7 living children are enumerated in this census, Lizette is not among them (she married 1895); in addition, August emigrated 1876 about the time Lizette was born; might be an uncle? Or a very older brother?

Cincinnati, Ward 22, ED 176, Precnt B, Sheet 1A: West Dudley Street (can't make out #): Stagge, William, b. Jun 1856 Germany; m 22 years; emig 1873, plasterer [older brother of August above?]; therefore m. abt. 1878 -, Lottie, wife, b. Apr 1857 Germany; 4 births, 3 living (all in this census; therefore not mother of Lizette), -, Amanda, dau, b. Dec 1879, 20, single, b. OH, stenographer -, Edwin?, son, b. Aug 1882, 17 -, Laura, dau, b. Nov 1881, 10 [same house?]: Stagge, Fred?, head, b. Nov 1832, 67, m. 48? years, b. Germany, emig 1882 [better time frame for Lizette] -, Maria?, wife, b. Mar 1830, 70, 7 births, five living; emig 1882 Looks like Fred and Maria are the parents of William (and possibly August?) and that they came over after their son(s) initially came over. Too old to be Lizette’s parents; perhaps her grandparents? [This couple still living in 1910 census at 1523? Dudley: William 54; Charlotte, 54; Laura, 20.]

Cincinnati, ward 11-A, ED 84, sheet 7A: 2257 Loth Street, boarding with Charles Ulrich & family: Stagge, Frieda, b. Nov 1884, 15, single, b. OH, pb Germany; seamstress [possibly a younger sister of Lizette, but born in OH!]

Cincinnati, ward 11-A, ED 84, sheet 9B: 2269 Loth Street? Stagge, George, b. Feb 1868, 32, m11 years, b. OH (pb Germany), contractor plasterer -, Minnie, wife, b. Aug 1869, 31, 4 births, 3 living, b. OH (pb Germany) -, George, son, b. May 1890 OH, 10 -, Archibald, son, b. Jan 1895 OH, 5 -, Alice, dau, b. Sep 1897 OH, 2 [Indication of an earlier migration of STAGGEs to Cincinnati. Possibly an older brother of Lizette, and younger brother of August and William, above; note the plastering occupation consistent throughout.] [This family is on Valencia Avenue in 1910 census; altogether.]

Cincinnati, ward 11-A, ED 85, sheet 6A: boarding with Pinker family at 2112 Loth Street: Stagge, Hilda, b. Oct 1881, 18, single, b. OH; pb Germany; seamstress [again possibility for a sister of Lizette, but note: born OH]

Cincinnati, ward 26 H?, ED 229, sheet 7A: 3029 Cinnamon Street: Stagge, Jos / Joseph B., b. Sep 1869, 30, m6 years, b OH (pb Germany); policeman -, Mary, b. Nov 1877 OH (pb Germany); 2 births, 2 living -, Marie C, b. Feb 1895 OH -, Gertrude, b. Dec 1896 OH [This family is living at 2016 Madison Road in 1910 census; all together

Cincinnati, ward 1, ED 1, sheet 3 Stagge, Joseph, b. Aug 1839, 60, m34y, b. Germany; emig 1865, teamster -, Cecilia?, wife, b. Jun 1832, 64; m34y (births/living info not provided), b. Germany; emig. 1862 -, Frank?, son, b. Jan 1883 OH, 17, single, laborer [right age to be Lizette’s parents, but the emigration year is wrong; more likely the parents of Jos. And George, above.] [He’s still alive in 1910 census, living at 2nd ward, 2124 Madison, further supporting relation to Jos. Above; Cecilia also still living; indicates she had 7 births, 2 living, one of which we know to be Frank (see 1910 below; the other is likely Joseph above; meaning she’s not likely to be Lizette’s mother).]

Cincinnati, ward 31, ED 270, Sheet 2A: servant in Jon. Frenkel's family, 3571 Alaska Ave: Stagge, Mamie L., servant, b. Jan 1878, 22, b. OH (pb Germany); cook

Cincinnati, ward 22, ED 174, sheet 6B: Evans Street (# illegible); hired man in Evans family? Stagge, William, hired man, b. Jan 1868, 32, single, b. Germany; emig. 1868 (occup. illegib.)

None of these above show strong evidence of being the parents or siblings of Lizette. Do we even have any indication that she came over with family? Note the number of single people around the same age (or generation) of Lizette:

•Stagge, Frieda, b. Nov 1884 OH, 15 working as a seamstress in someone else’s home •Stagge, Hilda, b. Oct 1881 OH, 18 working as seamstress… •Stagge, Mamie L., servant, b. Jan 1878, 22, b. OH, cook… More likely these are daughters of Joseph & Cecilia, above.

1910 census (in addition to what’s been incorporated above):

11th ward Cincinnati: Stagge, Anna, widow, 73, 0/0, b. Germany; emig. 1854; own income; earliest indication of a Stagge in Cincinnati.

3rd ward Cincinnati: May Street: Bernard J. Stagge (see 1890 city directory above; where is he in 1900? Can’t be the same guy; too young; his son?), brother-in-law of Mary G. Kalverleye? (wife’s sister?), 29, first marriage; m2 years, b. OH, pb Germany -, Clara, wife of Bernard, sister of Mary G…, 26, b. OH -, Jeannette H., dau of Bernard; niece of Mary G., 9, b. OH [see Benjamin Stagge, below, in 1920 census; same guy]

13th ward, Cincinnati, OH; Longview Hospital for the Insane: Stagge, Bessie, patient, 31, m8 years, 2 births, 1 living, b. OH (pb OH)

1st ward, Cincinnati, OH: Porter? Road? Stagge, Edward, 35, m8 years, b. Germany; emig. 1890 -, Amelia, wife, 29, 1 birth, 1 living, b. OH (pb Germany) -, Margaret, dau, 4, single, b. OH

2nd ward, Cincinnati, OH: Freeman? Stagge, Frank J., 29, m5 years; b. OH (pb G) [see son of Joseph in 1900] -, Marie E., wife, 26, 4 births, 4 living, b. OH -, Jos. H., son, 3 -, Helen E., dau, 2 or 3 -, Frank G., son, 1.5 yrs -, Marie E., dau 0 months (newborn) – census date: 19 Apr 1910

12th ward, Cincinnati: 234 Fosdick Street: Henry A. Stagge, 57, m1, m23 years, b. OH; pb Germany; -, Amelia F., 55, 1 birth, 1 living, b. OH -, Edna F., 20, single, b. OH Blumberg, Fredericka, mother-in-law, 85, widow, b. Germany

1920 Census:

Ben Stagge, 38, born OH (parents b. Germany), living at 2326 Summer St., Cincinnati, OH (ED 156) with wife Clara, 36, and children: Theresa (5), Carl (10 mo), niece Jeanette (19), and sister-in-law Mary Katwelage? (46).

Henry A. Stagge, 65, living at 248 Fosdick Street with wife, Amelia, 63 and daughter Edna, 30, and Edna's husband, Carl Kramer, 30. Henry was born in OH; parents from Germany. He's a manager of a department store.

1. ↑ Miriam Smith Interview.
2. ↑ Vine Street Cemetery Records - Cincinnati, OH
   Card #60268.

   Age: August 29, 1874. (Does not match other birth year we have)

3. ↑ 1920 U.S. Census - Ohio.

   Lisette, age 45, born Hannover, Germany

4. ↑ Vine Street Cemetery Records - Cincinnati, OH
   Card #60268.

   Date of death: 3-7-1961 at residence: 2298 So. 1st Street, San Jose, CA.

5. ↑ California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997
   http://www.vitalsearch-ca.com.

   Last_Name First_Name Middle_Name B_yr B_mo B_dy Mothers_Last_Name Fathers_Last_Name Sex Bp County_of_Death D_yr D_mo D_dy SS_Number Age idno
   SESS LISETTE 1874 08 29 FEMALE GE SANTA CLARA 1961 03 07 - 86 0

6. ↑ Vine Street Cemetery Records - Cincinnati, OH
   Card #60268.

   Disease: senility

7. ↑ Vine Street Cemetery Records - Cincinnati, OH
   Card #60268.

   Sess, Lisetta; Residence 2298 So. 1st Street, San Jose, CA; Interment: March 11th, 1961; Date of death: 3-7-1961; Age: August 29, 1874; Disease: senility; Parents: Unknown; Lot owner: singles; sec. 24, Grave 1242. Size and kind of grave Baxter Conc. V with grass lining; Funeral director: John Gump; place of death: residence; widowed wife of John [Sess]. Charges: $100 maint. care $10.

8. ↑ Evangelische Kirche Cannstatt (Stuttgart). Kirchenbuch, 1558-1929. (Evangelischen Landeskirchenamt Stuttgart).
9. ↑ California. Department of Public Health. Bureau of Vital Statistics. Death Index, 1940-1997.

   www.vitalsearch-ca.com
   Last_Name First_Name Middle_Name B_yr B_mo B_dy Mothers_Last_Name Fathers_Last_Name Sex Bp County_of_Death D_yr D_mo D_dy SS_Number Age idno
   SESS LISETTE 1874 08 29 FEMALE GE SANTA CLARA 1961 03 07 - 86 0

10. ↑ 1920 U.S. Census - Ohio.

    Emigrated 1881; naturalized 1882 or 1884