Anna Barbara Wick
Name Anna Barbara Wick
Born 26 Nov 1791 Ehningen, Böblinger Landkreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany [1]
Name Anna Barbara Hespeler
Eby ID Number Waterloo-86860
Died 21 Dec 1881 Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada [1]
Family Johann Georg "George" Hespeler, b. 8 Nov 1784, d. 1840, , Germany (Age 55 years)
1. Jacob Hespeler, d. Yes, date unknown
2. William Hespeler, d. Yes, date unknown
Died - 21 Dec 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
Obituary - We record this week the close of a very remarkable life, in the death of Mrs. Hespeler, aged 90 years and a few days, one of the oldest, if not the oldest, person in Galt. Mrs. Hespeler was one of the links connecting the present life with that of the last century. She was born at Ehningen, Wurtemberg, Germany, and witnessed there for many years most of the stirring events which occurred during the Napoleon wars. She frequently saw Napoleon 1, and many of the Crowned Heads of Europe at that time, as well as many of very celebrated Generals of the allied armies. In 1812 she witnessed the return of the French Army on its retreat from Moscow, and her description of their terrible sufferings and appearance from wounds, frost-bites and hunger, were most thrilling. Her description may be best appreciated when it is known that of the Wurtemberg contingent which accompanied Napoleon 1, in the Russian campaign, only five percent, ever again reached their homes. Early in the present century Mrs. Hespeler and her husband were largely engaged in business with the House of Meyer Anschel Rothschild, of Frankfurt, the founder of the great Banking House. She often spoke of the little back parlor at Zion Rothen Schilde, and the quiet steadfast business manner of the great man who has since left his mark upon the financial dealings of all Europe. In 1840, her husband died, leaving her with all the responsibility of a large family to bring up and educate. In 1852 she decided to emigrate to Canada, where her children had preceded her, her two sons, the late Jacob Hespeler, and Mr. Wm. Hespeler, then occupying prominent positions as Millers, Merchants and Manufacturers at Preston, Hespeler and Waterloo. In 1872 Mrs. Hespeler returned to Germany, thinking there to end her days, but returned, we believe, within the year, finding, like so many under similar circumstances, that so far as her native country was concerned, she had outlived her friends and could no longer enjoy the changed features of the old home life. Possessed of a very retentive memory, and having been a most extensive traveler in that country and Italy, her reminiscence of scenes there were always powerfully described and very interesting, and when in her later years she met her old friends, nothing gave her greater presence than when talking over the eventful scenes through which she had passed her long life.
Unidentified Newspaper Obituary - Dec 23 1881 pg 1 (2 parts)
[S2403] News - Unidentified Newspaper Obituary, Obituary of Anna Barbara Wick - Hespeler - 23 Dec 1881, pg 1.