The Heermann Family


Every vintage photo in a collection holds a quiet mystery, waiting for the right pieces to fall into place. For a long time, a beautiful turn of the century cabinet card in my collection was simply a photo of a Victorian-era family.

​The front of the card proudly bears the mark of the Stierle Bros. studio in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Run by John and Joseph Stierle from their ground-floor studio on East Third Street, they were renowned regional photographers. 

​But who were the subjects posing so formally in their Sunday best? The breakthrough came by flipping the card over.

On the back of the card, a faint cursive inscription reads:

​"Mrs + Mr. Hearmann."

​Spelling variations are incredibly common when tracking down late 19th century families, particularly those of German descent. Cross referencing the location, the approximate era, and the surname led straight to the federal census records under the spelling Heermann (and occasionally Herrmann).

​By analyzing the ages of the children in the photograph, the piece can be securely dated to approximately 1899–1900.

Through the lens of the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, the faces in the portrait suddenly have names, ages, and stories:

  • ​Louis (Ludwig) Heermann: Born around 1865 in Germany, Louis immigrated to the United States to build a new life, working hard as a farmer and laborer in the Upper Midwest.
  • ​Mary Margaret Heermann: Born Mary Schirmeister around 1867 in Wisconsin, she stands proudly in a plaid dress typical of the late 1890s.
  • ​Eleanor Heermann: Standing on the bench next to her father, Eleanor was born around 1895.
  • ​Lorena Heermann: Seated safely in the center, little Lorena was born in June 1898. She is just a toddler here.

​A single photo captures only a second in a family's lifetime. After this portrait was taken in Marshfield, the Heermann family's journey continued.

They eventually left the Marshfield area and permanently settled in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Louis and Mary’s household continued to grow, welcoming three more children into the family: Clara, George, and Julia.

​The tiny toddler seated on the bench, Lorena, grew up alongside her four siblings in Sheboygan. In 1926, she married a man named Paul A. Koehler. She lived a full, long life in the community, passing away on September 28, 1968. She rests today in Sheboygan.

​It is incredibly rewarding to bridge the gap between a nameless piece of antique ephemera and a documented family history. The next time you hold an old cabinet card, remember to look closer—there is always a story waiting to be told.


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