Here’s Auguste Steger who had her photo taken in Mittweida, Germany, in 1896.
I’m happy to tell you that I have found Auguste in the records. Amalie Auguste Rosinus, born on March 15, 1843, married Carl Ernst Steger on January 6, 1868. Carl Ernst who was a master weaver,
The couple lived and had their daughters Auguste, Laura and Luise in Königinhof (Dvur Králové nad Labem in today’s Czech Republic). According to Wikipedia, Königinhof an der Elbe was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918 and was doing pretty well economically. The industry had flourished after the railway had been built in 1858, the road network had improved, and the Elbe had become navigable. In the 1880s, the first textile factories were established. So Carl Ernst Steger fit right in.
I haven’t found any specific demographic data on the town in the 1870s and 1880s, but that region was generally inhabited by Germans. The town also had a Jewish community. All that changed, of course, with the beginning of WWII.
But now back to Auguste who was about 53 years old when she had her photo taken. Looks like by 1895 her whole family – husband Carl Ernst Steger, daughters Auguste Martha (born in 1873), Laura (born in 1874), Luise (born in 1885) and son Paul – had all resettled to Mittweida. Auguste's youngest, Paul, was born in 1889, just before Auguste's 46th birthday!
Carl Ernst died in May 1920, and Auguste died just 5 months later in October 1920. They had been married for almost 53 years!
Perhaps Auguste's great-grandchildren are out there. I really hope to return this photo.
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