In 1863, at the age of 14, Agnes left – unaccompanied by family – on the barque (a sailing vessel) ‘Maryland’ from the German port of Bremen. On the ship manifest, her place of origin (‘the country to which she belonged’) was listed as Oldenburg, a district in Northern Germany, and her destination – “Cincinnaty”. On 30 Oct 1863 she arrived at the American port of Baltimore. On 13 Jul 1873, Agnes married Christoph Toepfer at St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. Agnes gave birth to 12 children; 5 preceded her in death. Through much of her 50 plus years in Cincinnati, she lived with her husband Christoph (until his death in 1895) and children in rented housing, predominately in the areas referred to as ‘Over-the-Rhine’ and the ‘West End’. (Per the year 1900 Census, Agnes could not speak English).

German to English Translation of the Death Notice from the "Cincinnatier Freie Presse" German newspaper:

Am Donnerstag, den 18. Februar 1915, ~ On Thursday, the 18th of February 1915,
um 11 Uhr 25 Minuten vormittags, ~ at 11:25 in the morning,
starb in ihrem 67. Lebenjahre, ~ died in her 67th year of life,
unsere geliebte Mutter, Großmutter, ~ our beloved mother, grandmother,
UrGroßmutter, Schwiegermutter, ~ great-grandmother, mother-in-law,
Schwester und Schwägerin. ~ sister and sister-in-law.

Agnes M. Töpfer ~ Agnes M. Toepfer
geb. T i e m e y e r, ~ born T i e m e y e r (maiden name)

Witwe der Herrn Christopher Töpfer.~ Widow of Mr. Christopher Toepfer.

Die Beerdigung findet am Samstag, ~ The funeral will be held on Saturday,
den 20 Februar, 8 Uhr morgens, ~ the 20th of February, 8 in the morning,
von der Wohnung ihrer Töpfer, ~ from the home of her Toepfer (her daughter - maiden name),
Frau John E. Müller, No. 2121 Loth Strasse, ~ Mrs. John E. Mueller, No. 2121 Loth Street,
aus statt worauf um 8:30 Uhr ~ whence at 8:30
in der St. Johnannes Kirche, ~ in the St. John's Church,
ein Requiem Hochamt abgehalten wird, ~ a Requiem High Mass will be held,
wozu Verwandte und Freunde ~ to which relatives and friends
höflichst eingeladen sind von den ~ are invited to kindly by the
trauernden Hinterbliebenen ~ grieving Families

Zu schmerzlich war für uns Dein scheiden, ~ Too painful for us was your separation,
Zu bitter Dein zu früher Lob, ~ Too bitter to your earlier praise,
Bist nun befreit von allen Leiden, ~ Are now freed from all sufferings,
Befreit von aller Erdennoth. ~ Free from all Erdennoth*.

* (Erden = Earth; Erdennoth is an archaic word and eludes translation – but the meaning can be imagined many ways)

Note: There is a correction to this Death Notice. Agnes was 66 - not 67 - at the time of her death.

(Interment 20 Feb 1915)

Sir_Williams