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Patsy and Ralph Watermeier live in New Orleans, Louisiana and they emailed us to see if Patricia’s great-great grandparents Leon Cahn and Flora L. Cahn were buried in Natchez City Cemetery. They had been trying to locate their gravesite in New Orleans, which is where they died. During her research Patricia found an obituary in an old issue of the New Orleans Times Picayune that indicated Flora was to be buried in Natchez.
Don Estes, Cemetery Director, searched the cemetery records and found their burial site to be in the Zurhellen 2 area of the cemetery. When informed of this Patsy emailed saying they were going to come up to Natchez to visit her great-great grandparent’s gravesite. She spoke with Don about helping her locate the graves when she arrived, but Don was going to be out of town the date of their arrival. However he placed a red flag to mark the grave so Patsy and Ralph could easily find it.
On their return to New Orleans Patsy sent several pictures along with a short history of her great-great grandparents.
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Leon and Flora L. Cahn
“My great-great grandparents were born in Europe. Leon Cahn was born March 26, 1839 in Saverne, France My great-great grandmother Flora Lehmann Cahn was born June 20, 1837 in Landan, Germany
“They were married in Europe and had three children who were born in Strassburg, France. The first child - Delphine Cahn was born March 23, 1862. They had two other two children born in 1863 and 1864; however, both died on the same day, October 21, 1865 in Haves, France.
“The family was obviously waiting to sail to New York, because the fourth child was born in January 1866 in New York City. There were a total of 11 children (8 born in New York City). My great grandmother was the oldest child - Delphine.
“Leon Cahn was an upholsterer and the family lived in New York City (in 1900 they were living on West 121st Street, Manhattan). They moved to Natchez sometime between 1900 and 1910. In 1910 the census shows them living on South Union Street in Natchez. By the time they were in Natchez, Leon had retired.
“I don't know why they moved to Natchez, but I do know that one of their daughters (Anna) had married a man named Mr.? Joseph and was living in Gloster, MS. She died sometime in the 1950's. Another daughter Amelia died in Natchez in 1918.
“In the meantime, my great grandparents had met and married. My great grandfather Henry Samuel was born in Vernon, LA but was working in Mississippi when he met Delphine. They were married April 27, 1881 in Vidalia, LA. They lived for a time in New Orleans where their first child Jacob was born. However, shortly after his birth in 1882, my great grandfather acquired a small plantation in Public Pond, MS where their other two children were born.
“Both Delphine and Henry Samuel are buried at Hebrew Rest Cemetery #1 here in New Orleans.
“Their second child - first daughter - was Fannie Isabelle Samuel. She married my grandfather Simon Marx here in New Orleans on February 9th, 1904. There were three children - Simon, Jr. who died at the age of 10 months, Dorothy Elaine (my mother - born April 18, 1911) and Jack Samuel Marx (married but no issue).
“My mother married LeRoy David Kohler on January 12, 1932 and they had two children. I was first - Patricia Gail (February 21, 1944) and my brother Ronald Lee was born Oct.3, 1945. My mother is still alive - soon to be 94, but my Dad died in 1996.
“I married Ralph Nicholas Watermeier, Jr. on June 9, 1961 and we have two sons. David Wayne Watermeier now has two daughters - Rachel Claire and Sarah Katherine (ages 3 years and almost 2 respectively) and my other son Blake is married and expecting his first in September. I don't mind being a grandmother, but being married to a grandfather can make you feel old. Sorry, old joke.
“Well, that is probably way more than you ever wanted to know about my family. The gravesite of Leon and Flora is very close to the Natchez Cemetery office - but not in the "old Jewish section". Don tells me that there are 6 places left in the plot and it was purchased in the name of Mrs. Leon Cahn. One of the pictures I sent you is of their grave - it has a large arched tombstone and is pretty impressive. Don had marked it with a small red flag so that I could find it easily.
“Thank you again for all of your help in putting me in touch with Don.”
Patsy and Ralph Watermeier |
