In light of Thomas MacEntee’s “Genealogy Do-Over” (which I have been watching since its inception but haven’t jumped into), I decided to do a “Go-Over” for some of the families in my tree. I decided to pick families that I haven’t really pursued seriously since I did the initial research on them.
One family in my tree that makes me scratch my head endlessly are my 2nd great-grandparents Massimo Hazeltime Pisani (Sr.) and Rosine Margarethe Epple. Both were immigrants, he from Italy in the late 1850s and she from Germany in 1852. I still have many questions about Massimo but I decided to first take another look at his wife’s family.
My original research on this family started in 2003, when I first caught the genealogy bug. Unfortunately, my grandmother passed away in 2002, so I never got the chance to talk to her about the family. So, I talked to my mother, my great Aunt Ruth Pisani Allen and my great aunt’s cousin. I inherited 3 pictures of Rose that my grandmother had. All 3 photos were from after she married my 2nd great-grandfather. Only one picture had any date on it and another was the only picture that had any names associated with the people in the picture. Beyond the pictures, after those conversations, I had names, birth dates, death dates and spouses for three of Rose and Massimo’s five children. I knew a couple places in Baltimore that they lived and that Massimo was a fruit dealer and confectioner. But what I knew about my 2nd great-grandmother herself was that her name was Rose Epple, and she was born in Germany. That was it. No dates, no parents.
So I started my research. It looks like I didn’t source the information I have very well but as of today the information I have for Rose is:
Rosine Margarethe Epple was born in Germany (presumably Waldenbuch) and came to the United States, more specifically Baltimore, on 29 November 1852 when she was 3. She arrived with her parents (Johan Georg-47 and Catherine-37) and 2 sisters (Albertina-13 and Paulina-5). The Wuerttemberg, Germany Emigration Index and the Baltimore, Passenger and Immigration list (the ship name was Bessel) as sources for this.
Once in Baltimore, 1860 census information lists the family (minus Albertina) in the 14th Ward of Baltimore City along with 2 more sons (Lewis, who is actually a daughter Louise-7 and August-3) who were born in Maryland (presumably Baltimore).
I was unable to find Rose in the 1870 census but I did find her mother and 3 of her siblings. Her father Johann (or John) seems to have died, her mother Catherine (listed as being 26 years old) appears to have remarried a John Gerth (a 45 year old laborer who was born in Prussia). Pauline (23), Louisa (14) and August (12) are also in the household in the 16th Ward of Baltimore City, Maryland.
By the 1880 census Rose had married Massimo and they were enumerated at 141 West Baltimore Street in the 9th Ward of Baltimore City, Maryland. Also in the household was M. Fisher, a 39 year old single female, listed as a servant.
The 1900 and 1910 census’ list Rose and Massimo living in the 9th District of Baltimore County, on York Road.
In the 1920 census finds Rose and Massimo living with their daughter and son-in-law Adelina and Louis Vicari. Rose is listed as immigrating in 1852, Massimo in 1858. Both are naturalized, with a date of 1885 for Massimo.
The 1930 census lists Rose as a widow (Massimo died in 1924), renting part of a house at 517 Turnpike Road in the 27th Ward of Baltimore City, Maryland. She is listed as first being married at age 20, immigrating in 1853, and being naturalized.
“Rosey M. Pisani” died on 4 Oct 1937 at 500 Murdock Road in Anneslie, Baltimore County, Maryland. She died of cardio-renal disease. Her birth date is listed as 23 May 1849 and she is listed as being born in Stuggart, Germany. Her father’s name is not supplied and her mother’s name is listed as “Katherine J. Epple”. The informant for the information was her daughter “Mrs. Vicari” who lists her address as 500 Murdock Road. Wm. Cook was the undertaker. Rose was buried on 7 Oct 1937 at Western Cemetery in Baltimore City, Maryland. It is also important to note that in the area of the deceased name, “Katherine Jacobina” was originally written and then struck through and “Rosey M.” written above.
So now I want to start filling in some of the information about Rose’s early life. I also want to make sure I go back and source all the bits and pieces I already have.
I have collected several newspaper articles, city directory pages, random documents that I haven’t sourced, or even organized. I plan to go through all that information as well and see what I can learn from all the “stuff” I already have.
Stay tuned for more!
Aunt Barb's Papers 