Person:Mary Ayd (1)

Biography

Mary Catherine "Mame" Ayd was born on 8 Dec 1876 in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. She was the first child born to her parents, doctor and pharmacist, Dr. John Ayd and his wife Mary Elizabeth (Kircher) Ayd.

Her grandparents on both sides were part of a wave of German Catholics who had arrived in the United States and established a thriving community in Baltimore in the mid 1800s. In addition to his medical practice, her father operated a well-known and successful pharmacy on East Monument street in Baltimore. As the child of a prominent family, Mame was well-educated and a member of the Baltimore society circles.

In 1897, her family suffered a tragic loss as Mame's beloved sister and companion Carrie (age 18) died unexpectedly during an epidemic of typhoid fever which had gripped the city. Mame (age 20) was now the only daughter in a family of six sons. For the next twelve years, Mame stayed with her parents and probably helped in the raising of her six younger brothers. During this time, her brothers began to enter their professions: Joseph, a priest; Frank, a pediatrician; George, a pharmacist; Ignatius, an electrician; and Charles, a bank clerk.

On a Thursday morning, 21 Jan 1909, Mary Catherine (age 32) was married to Edward Henry Mester at Saint Andrew's Catholic Church in Baltimore.⁹ Ed was five years younger than Mame and the son of a German Catholic father and Irish Catholic mother. His father, originally a butcher by trade, had become a successful salesman for the Armour Meat Packing Company. Ed owned a "provisions" store.

Following their wedding ceremony, a breakfast was served in the couple's honor at her parents home on East Monument street, and the newlyweds moved into an apartment at 2224 East Madison Street in Baltimore. Mame and Ed had three children in the next five years: son William Joseph (1910); daughter Mary Elizabeth (1912) and son Edward Henry Jr. (1915).

In 1913, Mame's brother John (age 29) died after a long illness.

At the start of World War I, Mame and Ed and their three small children had moved into Ed's parents house on Patterson Park Avenue. Ed's father, William Mester, had retired from the Armour meat packing company, and Ed was now employed there as a manager.

By 1930, Mame and Ed and their 3 children had left the city and moved to Long Green Valley in Baltimore County. There they rented a farm on Valley Rd. together with Ed's brother William, his wife Loretta, and their three young sons. Ed was employed as an independent beef salesman.

During the years that followed, Ed's health began to decline. In May 1937, Mame and Ed attended the wedding of their eldest son Bill to Rose Smith, a girl he had met in Long Green Valley. Three months later on 30 Sep 1937, Ed passed away at age 55.

Mame moved back into the city. In 1940, she was renting an apartment at 2105 Boone St. with her two grown children, Mary Elizabeth and Ed Jr. Her youngest brother, Charles "Chick" Ayd (age 47) passed away the next year.

Around 1944, Mame's son Ed Jr. was married to Anabel Waltrup and he moved out to start a family. Daughter, Mary Elizabeth, remained single and lived together with her mother in Baltimore.

In 1954, Mame's brother, Dr. George Ayd, passed away. Three years later, in 1957, daughter Mary Elizabeth (age 45) died from cancer.

Mary Catherine (Ayd) Mester continued to reside in Baltimore city for two more years until her death at age 83 on 13 Dec 1959.

1. ↑ Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1880; Census Place: Baltimore, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland; Roll: 497; Family History Film: 1254497; Page: 261C; Enumeration District: 016; Image: 0523.
   -----
   Name: Mary K. Ayd [Mary Catherine Ayd] Age: 3 Birth Year: abt 1877 Birthplace: Maryland Home in 1880: Baltimore, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Daughter Marital Status: Single Father's Name: John Ayd Father's Birthplace: Maryland Mother's Name: Mary E. Ayd Mother's Birthplace: Maryland

   
2. ↑ Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1900; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 8, Baltimore City (Independent City), Maryland; Roll: T623_611; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 106.
   -----
   Name: Mary C Ayd Age: 23 Birth Date: Dec 1876 Birthplace: Maryland Home in 1900: Baltimore Ward 8, Baltimore City (Independent City), Maryland [Baltimore] Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Daughter Marital Status: Single Father's Name: John Ayd Father's Birthplace: Maryland Mother's Name: Elizabeth Ayd Mother's Birthplace: Maryland

   
3. ↑ Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1910; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 7, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland; Roll: T624_554; Page: 19B; Enumeration District: 0088; Image: 1462; FHL Number: 1374567.
   -----
   Name: Mary C Mester Age in 1910: 33 Birth Year: 1877 Birthplace: Maryland Home in 1910: Baltimore Ward 7, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Wife Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Edmund H Mester Father's Birthplace: Maryland Mother's Birthplace: Maryland

   
4. ↑ Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1920; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 7, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland; Roll: T625_661; Page: 17B; Enumeration District: 92; Image: 423.
   -----
   Name: Mamie Mester [Mamie Mesta] Age: 41 Birth Year: abt 1879 Birthplace: Maryland Home in 1920: Baltimore Ward 7, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland Race: White Gender: Female Relation to Head of House: Daughter-in-law Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Edward H Mester Father's Birthplace: Germany Mother's Birthplace: Maryland Able to Read: Yes Able to Write: Yes

   
5. ↑ 64109031, in Find A Grave
   [no headstone photo], last accessed Jun 2018.
6. ↑ Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States. 1930 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1930; Census Place: Election District 10, Baltimore, Maryland; Roll: 846; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 49; Image: 962.0; FHL microfilm: 2340581.
   -----
   Name: Mary E Mester Gender: Female Birth Year: abt 1877 Birthplace: Maryland Race: White Home in 1930: Election District 10, Baltimore, Maryland Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Wife Spouse's Name: Edward H Mester Father's Birthplace: Maryland Mother's Birthplace: Maryland

7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule.

   Year: 1940; Census Place: Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland; Roll: T627_1516; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 4-221.
   -----
   Name: Mary C Mester; Respondent: Yes; Age: 63; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1877; Gender: Female; Race: White; Birthplace: Maryland; Marital Status: Widowed; Relation to Head of House: Head; Home in 1940: Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland; Street: Boone Street; House Number: 2105; Inferred Residence in 1935: Long Green, Baltimore, Maryland; Residence in 1935: Long Green, Baltimore, Maryland; Sheet Number: 8B; Number of Household in Order of Visitation: 176; House Owned or Rented: Rented; Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 30; Attended School or College: No; Highest Grade Completed: High School, 3rd year; Weeks Worked in 1939: 0; Income: 0; Income Other Sources: No

8. ↑ Baltimore, Maryland, City Directory, 1922.

   Name: Mary C Mester
   Gender: Female
   Residence Year: 1922
   Street Address: 3411 Oakenshaw Place
   Residence Place: Baltimore, Maryland
   Spouse: Edward H Mester
   Publication Title: Baltimore, Maryland, City Directory, 1922

9.   Baltimore Sun. (Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States)
   21 Jan 1909.

   Miss Mary Catherine Ayd, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Ayd, was married to Mr. Edward Henry Mester, son of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Mester, Thursday at St. Andrew's Catholic Church. Miss Mamie V. Mester, sister of the groom, was bridesmaid, and Dr. William J. Schultz best man. The ceremony was performed by the pastor, Rev. Joseph A. Cunnane. In the sanctuary were Revs. Thomas J. Murphy, Robert J. Acheletter and Joseph J. Ayd, a brother of the bride. The ushers were Messrs. William A. Mester, Joseph M. Mester, Charles J. Gaff, Francis J. Ayd, Francis X. Huthman and Joseph J. Zimmerman. The bride wore an ivory satin directoire gown, with picture hat to match, and carried American Beauty roses. The bridesmaid wore a corn satin directoire gown, with picture hat. She carried white carnations. After the ceremony breakfast was served a the home of the bride's parents, 1937 East Monument street, after which the couple left for the South. They will live at 2224 East Madison street.

10. ↑ Baltimore Sun. (Baltimore (independent city), Maryland, United States)
    15 Dec 1959.

    MESTER - On December 13, 1959, MARY C. AYD (formerly of 320 East Cold Spring lane), beloved wife of the late Edward H. Mester and beloved mother of Messrs. William J. and Edward H. Mester, Jr. and the late Mary E. Mester. Services from the funeral home of Wiedefeld & Son, Greenmount avenue and Twenty-second street, on Wednesday at 9:15 A.M. Requiem High Mass in the Church of the Blessed Sacrament at 10 A.M. Interment in Holy Redeemer Cemetery. Friends may call 2-9 P.M. Kindly omit flowers.
    
    MESTER - The Alumnae Association of The Institute of Notre Dame regrets the passing of MARY AYD MESTER, honorary member. Alumnae members please meet for prayers at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 15, at 7:30 P.M. KATHERINE BUCKLEY, President.

11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} L55Y-CGV, in FamilySearch Family Tree
    last accessed Jun 2018.

    [includes additional sources]