Elkel Iglauer

Edited according to the chronicle of Moritz Tuchmann, with the notes of Dr. Martin Oettinger and the comments of Mr. Fritz Bamberger,

Moritz Tuchmann writes: "My sister Elkel ‐ just as my sister Ele was matched with Winkler ‐ was almost forced against her inclination to marry an old Boy named Simon Iglauer, who dealt in woodturning goods, because she too would have preferred to choose a capable young man in Ühlfeld. But, as already mentioned, the man in Burgkundstadt possessed a little more fortune, and the inclination of her heart did not come into the equation. Her only consolation was that her sister Jette already lived in Burgkundstadt. Elkel died of ₁Childbed Fever in 1847 at the early age of 30. I was told that her husband had ordered her to go down to the cellar to fetch some woodturning articles during this dangerous crisis for women. She obeyed this ruthless order and forfeited her life. I do not want to investigate further what is true about this thing told to me by my sister Reitzenberger, but as I knew Iglauer, he was no friend of tenderness towards his wife and even less towards the outside world". ‐ Only one letter from Mrs. Elkel Iglauer, who died so young, has been found. She writes a greeting to a letter addressed by Babette Tuchmann to her bridegroom Salomon Bing:

Ühlfeld, 6 May 1837

My dear brother‐in‐law!

Although I did not have to enjoy any greetings in your most recent letter, I cannot let this one go without having addressed a few words to you. I must tell you frankly that I am usually, indeed almost always, in a rather bad mood, because the separation of my dear Babette is coming ever closer. If I didn't have Sister Gelle, I don't think I would stay here. I would go with you, if you could spare a maid at the same time. It is really very hard for me, but I think that when a few weeks have passed, you will get used to it. For today you will excuse the little note, badly written. The rest will be verbal. Farewell, that's the wish of

of your

Elise Tuchmann, your sister‐in‐law.

Dr. Martin Öettinger now continues the chronicle: "After the death of his first wife Elkel, Simon Iglauer married one Karoline ‐ born Lenkersheimer, from Scheinfeld. This woman, who gave birth to several children, does not seem to have been affectionate with her husband's first children. In any case, my mother, Ida, who was very belated in her great goodness of heart, never showed her stepmother any affection later on, in fact the opposite. Mrs. Karoline Iglauer later moved to Gunzenhausen and died there in 1899. Simon Iglauer lived with his son Heinrich in Nuremberg from 1870‐73 and ran a hop business with him, while he had previously been a wood turner. He returned to Burgkundstadt in 1875 and died there soon after." ‐

In the blessing book of the Bamberg teacher Ottenstein, already mentioned in the biography of Mrs. Jette Reitzenberger, I found the following entry which is of interest here:

7‐ 6‐ 1870. Bless Lord and Father the recently engaged:
Maiden Clara Hofmann from here and Mr. Heinrich Iglauer from Nuremberg.
May this union be indissoluble and eternally happy. Amen.

Heinrich Iglauer also married Klara Hofmann, daughter of Gabriel Hofmann from Memmelsdorf near Bamberg, on 26 December 1870. Heinrich Iglauer had settled in Nuremberg in 1864 as a hop merchant under his father's company. ‐ His wife is still living with the eldest of their four sons at an advanced age.

Dr Öettinger now tells us about his mother, Elkel's eldest daughter: Ida, the second child from the marriage of Simon Iglauer and Elkel née Tuchmann, was taken to her grandmother Marianne Tuchmann in Ühlfeld after the early death of her mother in 1847 and stayed there until she was 17. Marianne Tuchmann is said to have been a robust, somewhat coarse woman. The following episode is said to be characteristic, but the truth of it is not known.