Dorothy Mae Burmeister Unland

GEDCOM Note

Ancestor Family Trees: Kelli Knopf Family Tree, Kelli Knopf; Brittany Johnson Family Tree, Brittany Johnson.

There is some confusion with Dorothy's records. Paul Knopf told me her name was Dorthy Mae Burmeister, but her Social Security Claims index shows her name as Dorothy Mae Unland Knopf. Her date of birth on this record the year of death on the cemetery records. The SS Claim index lists her mother as Fannie Bermeister. In December 2018, I contacted Kelli Knopf through Ancestry.com. Kelly is a DNA match to me and from her tree, I though she might be descended from Paul Knopf (b1916 in Deutsch Schutzen). Paul was my dad's first cousin. As it turns out, Kelly Knopf is his granddaughter. Her reply to my Ancestry query is dated 12/29/2018 and states the following: "Hello Rita, Yes Paul was my Grandfather! I was lucky enough to visit Deutsch Schutzen with him and my Grandmother Dorothy and visit the home he grew up in and meet our Cousins over there. I can share more of this if you like...just let me know. To answer your question My Grandmother Dorothy was born to Lester and Gertrude (Boly) Burmeister. They also had one child that died at birth before she was born. Gertrude died when my grandmother was 18 months old...Lester gave my Grandmother to his sister Fannie May (Burmiester) and her husband William Unland. There was no relationship between Lester and Dorothy and she was very hurt by this. The only time in Dorothys life he tried to get involved was when she married my Grandfather Paul Knopf...he did not approve which in turn made her not even want her surname. At 28 she petitioned to the court and legally had her surname changed to Unland with an actual adoption by Fannie and William. My Grandmother never spoke about this even to her children (3 boys) or us her grandchildren. I felt it was important to show the lineage on ancestry. So I show her both ways in my tree. Who was your father? I would love to tie our information, i am having a hard time tracking info on his mother and fathers side. If you would like more info please either give me a call or email me back...nice to meet you cousin! Kelli Knopf 314-701-5356" This clarifies my confusion regarding Dorothy.

I have listed Dorothy in my tree as Dorothy Mae Burmeister Unland. Thanks to Kelli for this information.

1920 Census: Dorothy Unland was living with her (adoptive) parents, William and Fannie Unland at 3411 Klein St, Ward 2, Saint Louis, Missouri. Dorothy was 1 10/12 at the time of this census, born in Missouri. Her father was a conductor in the locomotion industry. Also living in the household was her father's sister-in-law (sister to Fannie?), Mary Burmeister. Source: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. For details on the contents of the film numbers, visit the following NARA web page: NARA. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 are on roll 323 (Chicago City). Online ancestry.com : 16 Oct 2016.

1930 Census: Dorothy May Unland was living with her (adoptive) parents, William E and Fannie M Unland, at 1529 Herder St, Ward 2, Saint Louis, Missouri. Dorothy was 12 at the time of this census, born in Missouri. Her father was working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Also living in this household was Edward Hankey, a foster son, age 5. Source: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls. Online ancestry.com : accessed 16 Oct 2016.

US Social Security Death index: Dorothy M Knopf, 494-01-5086, born 14 Feb 1918, died Dec 1990, born Missouri (before 1951). Source: Number: 494-01-5086; Issue State: Missouri; Issue Date: Before 1951. Online ancestry.com : accessed Mar 12 2015.

SS Claims: Dorothy Mae Unland [Dorothy Unland Knopf] [Dorothy Knopf]. SSN 494015086. Female, white. birth 14 Feb 1918, St Louis, MO. died Dec 1990. Father William Unland. Mother Fannie Bermiester. Note Dec 1936 name listed as Dorothy Mae Unland, Apr 1938 name listed as Dorothy Unland Knopf, 04 Jun 1993 name listed as Dorothy M Knopf. Source: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007. Index online ancestry.com : accessed 16 Oct 2016.

Find a Grave: Dorothy M Knopf, born 1918, died 1990, buried Mount Hope Cemetery Mausoleum, Lemay, St Louis County, MO. Source: Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi. Online ancestry.com : accessed Mar 12 2015.