Power of D2 Biological Solution

I must have touted the power of D2 Biological Solution a hundred times. But pictures say more words than I can. Below are a series of photos taken at the Nassau-Schodack Cemetery from early Summer through early Fall, last year.

The small granite gravestone is that of one of my great-granduncles, George James Eger. George was a younger brother of one of my great-grandmothers, Catherine Eger Gannon. Notice the name spelling. That is a story for another time. But quickly, George's wife thought the name was "too" ethnic and thus the name was changed.

Water, D2, & a Soft Bristle Brush

D2 is the go-to solution for removing biological growth such as moss, lichens, mold, and mildew. It will not harm the stone as other household cleaning chemicals will. The photos below show what happens over time.

June 2017, before cleaning

June 2017, immediately after cleaning

August 2017, beginning to brighten

October 2017, four to five months later

Ancestor of the Week : George Eger

This week's ancestor biography of the week is on one of my great great grandfathers, George Eger. George was born in Trausnitz, Bayern on 29 January 1865. According to my grandmother he had a twin sister, Maria. Their parents were Johann Eger (1825-1904) and Anna Katharina Meindl (1827-1883). George had the following siblings.

• Maria (1865- 1944) married Benedict App
• Josef (1870-1954) married Anna Simon
• Johann (circa 1871-1959)

Josef and Johann remained in Trausnitz. 

Ancestral Eger home in Trausnitz

Not much about George is known while he was living in Germany aside from that he was in the German army for a stint. Below is a photo of him in his military uniform.

George Eger

George and his future bride Katharina Schuster (1870-1935) immigrated from Antwerp, Belgium to the United States and landed at Castle Garden in New York City on 26 May 1891 aboard the Ship Waesland. The next day they were married in Manhattan on 27 May. 

The newly weds headed North to Albany and settled and raised their family. George and Katharina had the following children.

• Margaret Eger (1891-1892)
• Mary Frances Eger (1893-1985) married John Joseph Kane
• Catherine Madeleine Eger (1895-1949) married John Joseph Aloyisus Gannon
• Michael G. Eger (1897-1942)
• Louise Eger (1899-1960) married William Herrington
• George (1902-1968) married Mildred Elmer Smith
• Joseph (1906-1906)

L to R, Louise, Mary, Michael, Catherine, George, George, & Katharina

George received his naturalization papers to become an American citizen on 07 May 1900. Below is his naturalization paper.

George and Katharina became members of the German Catholic parish of Our Lady of Angels where their children were baptized. George was a blacksmith for the New York Central Railroad at the West Albany shops for many years. The family lived in Arbor Hill for many years until land was purchased on Mereline Avenue circa 1914. Mereline Avenue is now know as Tremont Street. Their home which appeared to also be a farm was in the vicinity of what became Public School #26 on Tremont Street. Below are three views of the Eger homestead.

Mereline Street

George Eger & son Michael

George became a member of the German Gun Club located off Central Avenue and his wife Katharina became involved in numerous religious societies in Our Lady of Angels parish. 

George, wife Katharina, & daughter Louise

In 1922 George returned to his former home in Germany to visit his family. Below is a scan of his US passport and passport photo.

On 05 October 1935 George tragically lost his wife Katharina when she was struck by a car while attempting to cross Central Avenue. She was buried in the family plot at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery. George joined her on 21 March 1940.

Anna Simon; 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 8

For this week's ancestor bio I picked Anna Simon who married Josef Eger; younger brother to my great great grandfather Georg Eger.  Tante Anna was picked because of the number of children that she and Josef had.  I believe that I have another ancestor in my database who had more children than Anna but I just cannot remember her name at the moment.

Anna Simon was born on 05 February 1873 in Trausnitz in the German state of Bayern after Bismarck's unification of all German states into the country of Deutschland.  She married Josef Eger who was born on 09 February 1870 in Trausnitz also.  They were married on 08 October 1895 and had the following children.

• Katharina (09 September 1894 - 23 March 1976) married Alois Rottler
• Margarete (06 August 1896 - xxxx)
• Josef (21 June 1897 - xxxx)
• Johann (10 May 1898 - 14 February 1962)
• Josef (16 April 1899 - 08 December 1975) married Anna Lobinger
• Mathias (02 March 1900 - xxxx)
• Maria (22 February 1901 - xxxx)
• Mathias (27 March 1902 - xxxx)
• Margarete (28 April 1903 - xxxx)
• Michael (29 October 1904 - 07 September 1992) married Franzisha Vogl
• Margarete (04 December 1905 - 1974)
• Georg (16 January 1907 - 1907)
• Georg (11 December 1907 - 1993) married Elisabeth Simon
• Maria (11 April 1909 - xxxx) married Georg Schulmeyer
• Barbara (30 April 1910 - xxxx)
• Andreai (05 July 1911 - xxxx)
• Anna (20 September 1912 - xxxx)
• stillborn boy (13 April 1914)

Josef Eger died on 18 August 1954 and Anna died three days later on the 21st.

Below is a photo of my ancestral home in Trausnitz.  My great great grandfather, Georg Eger was born here and Josef and Anna raised their family here also.