Anna, Frederick, Fred R., and Emmy Bammann, c.1899 1
William Dames photo
The Bammann family ran the Fred Bammann Hardware store for many years in the Melrose neighborhood in the 1900s.
Frederick Bammann (December 6, 1851 – November 15, 1928) was born in Germany, and came to the U.S. in the late 1860s. Anna Catherine Scherhage (Bammann) (July 7, 1852 – March 21, 1931) was also born in Germany, and came to the U.S. in the early 1870s. They married about 1881, and had 2 children, Frederick ("Fred") Richard Bammann (December 11, 1881 – January 12, 1956) and Emma Louise ("Emmy Lou") Bammann (July 19, 1883 – November 17, 1946) in San Francisco.
By the 1892 directory, the family had moved to Alameda, and Frederick worked as a carpenter. In some listings, his profession is builder or contractor. By the 1900 census, they were at a different location in Alameda, and Fred was working as an apprentice carpenter.
Fred R. married Sophie Spies (Bammann) (May 11, 1883 – July 17, 1948) in 1903, and they had a son, Frederick ("Freddie") Richard Henry Bammann (August 26, 1906 – February 27, 1978). Around that time, Fred resigned his position as a post office clerk in San Francisco, and opened the hardware store. The 1910 census shows them living on High Street in Oakland.
Sophie,1903
Emmy Lou, 1906 at UC Berkeley
2000 - 45th Avenue 1916 2
The 1915 directory lists Frederick and Anna living at 2000 - 45th Avenue, along with Emmy Lou. The above photo is of Emmy Lou and Anna in front of the house in 1916. 2 Zillow, et al, list 1915 as the year the house was built.
By the 1920 census, Fred, Sophie, and Freddie were living at 2001 - 45th Avenue, across the street from Frederick, Anna, and Emmy Lou. Zillow, et al, list 1916 as the year the house was built. Both homes are still standing, across from the Fremont High School athletic field. Frederick died in 1928, and Anna died in 1931.
Freddie / Fred R.H. married Mildred Viola Johnson (Bammann) in 1932. It appears that a number of items related to her family were donated to History San Jose at the same time as the above photos; see items starting with the accession number 1997-395. Of note are the "Mildred Johnson" School Group photo by Oakland photographer Hugo Weitz, and the George Theodore Johnson Confirmation photo taken in Chicago.
Emmy Lou worked as a teacher and was still living at 2000 - 45th Avenue at the time of the 1943 directory. She died in 1946.
Sophie died in 1948. Fred R. died in 1956, and his obituary notes that he was a Mason, a past president of the California Retail Hardware Association, and a past president of the of the Fruitvale Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West. At the time of his death, he was living in Newark, and had re-married following Sophie's death. 4
Frederick, Anna, Emmy Lou, Fred R., and Sophie are all buried in Evergreen Cemetery. 3
Links and References
- 1997-395-14 History San Jose
- 1997-395-18 History San Jose
- Bammann memorials at Evergreen Cemetery FindAGrave.com
- Final Services Scheduled For Frederick R. Bammann, 74 Oakland Tribune January 14, 1956
