Eve Ann Yundt,
Baltimore, Maryland,
1828

Sampler size:
22¾" x 22"

Price: $5800

Enlarged and Printer Version

It is a pleasure to offer this fine Baltimore sampler which was worked by eight-year-old Eve Ann Yundt. It is an unusual and very large alphabet sampler embellished with many narrow bands and line-end motifs, all surrounded by an intricate border. Indeed this was quite an impressive accomplishment. Eve worked the aphorism, "Labor here rest in heaven," between her two largest alphabets and we can imagine that the project felt laborious to her at that point!

Eve's family history is an interesting one and we include here the entire report compiled by our genealogist:

The Baltimore Patriot newspaper ran a notice that on October 7, 1821 Mrs. Eve Ann, consort of Mr. Lewis Kalbfus, Senr., died after a short illness in the 54th year of her age. "She has left a disconsolate husband and nine children to mourn their irreparable loss."¹ Among the nine surviving children of ten was Eve Ann, who married George Kraft at Baltimore in 1824.² Her oldest sister was Catherine Kalbfus, who was wed by Rev. Otterbein at Old Otterbein Church in Baltimore to Leonard Yundt, Jr. on September 26, 1808.³ Their daughter, Eve Ann Yundt, probably named for her maternal grandmother, was born about 1820. The Sun newspaper announced the marriage of Eve Ann Yundt, as the granddaughter of Lewis Kalbfus, to Livingston M. Bennett on October 21, 1841.⁴ Nine years later, the obituary for Eve A. Bennett, wife of Livingston, stated she had died on October 12, 1850.⁵ According to the 1850 federal census, Eve (30 years old) and Livingston Bennett had four children between the ages of 7 and 1, and the family was residing in Baltimore's 20th Ward. Mr. Bennett's occupation was that of Letter Carrier.

The philatelic community has documented that Livingston M. Bennett was a Baltimore letter carrier appointed to District 9 on July 12, 1849. "For postal historians, few post offices offer anything comparable to the challenge posed by the government carrier or private enterprise system that handled mail during the growth period of mid-nineteenth century America. The 1844 Independents and the numerous Locals innovated and competed in ways that forced the United States Post Office to emulate—or annihilate through the postal monopoly. Drop boxes for letters, adhesive stamps, discounted postage, registration of valuable letters, door-to-door and special delivery are among the measures introduced by private enterprise long before the government adopted them."⁶ Thus, Mr. Bennett issued his own carrier stamps, and there is an extant example on an 1849 letter.

Evidently, Lewis Kalbfus took a second wife, Susannah E., because her 1847 obituary stated she was the widow of Lewis [the wives of Lewis, Jr. (1794-1868) were Sarah Louisa and Julia].⁷ Based on Baltimore city directories, his occupation was "morocco manufactory," and he was known as a morocco dresser. On May 24, 1826, the Baltimore Patriot announced, "Lewis Kalfbus, Sen. Respectfully informs his friends and the public in general, that he has declined the Morocco Leather business, in favour of his sons, Daniel & Lewis Kalbfus, jr. all persons indebted to him, will make payment to them, as they are duly authorized to receive the same. He still continues the Wool business, and has on hand and will constantly keep, a constant supply, suitable for manufacturers, hatters, &c." Following it was the announcement of the new firm of D. & L. Kalbfus, Jr. offering Morocco Leather and Lining Skins.⁸ Lewis Kalbfus, Sr. died August 3, 1840.⁹ Using the 1840 census, he was born between 1751 and 1760.

On June 21, 1825, the Republican Star printed this obituary, "—On Wednesday [June 15] morning, at his residence in Baltimore county, Mr. Leonard Yundt, in the 70th year of his age. Mr. Yundt was born in Switzerland, near the City of Balse. He emigrated to this country about the year 1769, resided in Philadelphia, near which place he learned the printing business, and in the year 1792 removed to Baltimore and established the Baltimore Federal Gazette. Retiring from the turmoil of active life, he resided on a farm in the vicinity of Baltimore.—Sincerity was his distinguished characteristic; he has lived the life and died the death of an honest man. Truth pronounces over his grave this motto."¹⁰

In July 1824, Leonard Yundt, along with Roger B. Taney and Solomon Etting, were elected directors of the Union Bank of Maryland for the ensuing year.¹¹

In October 1794, Yundt and Patton announced the completion of the first volume of The Baltimore Daily Intelligencer, and they were dissolving their partnership. Future business would be carried under the firm of Yundt and Brown.¹² They continued the newspaper as the Federal Intelligencer and Baltimore Daily Advertiser through 1806. Their partnership was dissolved on January 1, 1807, but the newspaper was continued by John Hewes.¹³

It has not been determined to whom Leonard Yundt was married, but matrimony notices show he had a son, Leonard, Jr. and daughters, Ann, Sarah, and Margaret. No Leonard Yundt was listed in the Baltimore city directories between 1819 and 1829. In this period, only two Yundt's were listed in the 1824 directory, being George A. (wheelwright in Old Town, from Germany per 1850 census) and Jacob (grocer at corner of Baltimore and Liberty streets).

It is interesting to note the federal censuses for 1800, 1810, and 1820 only recorded one Leonard Yundt; and based on his age, it was the elder Leonard. However, the household composition in 1810 could support Leonard, Jr. and his wife, Catherine Kalbfus, living there as well. The 1820 census for Leonard Yundt, Sr. could be interpreted the same way, except the younger Yundt had apparently died by that time and their daughter, Eve Ann, was not born when the census was taken. With the elder Leonard dying in 1825, Catherine Yundt may have relocated her family to the household of her father, Lewis Kalbfus, Sr. By the 1840 census, Catherine Kalbfus Yundt may have died, and her children were still residing with their grandfather and his second wife. The 1840 census supports this notion and might explain why Eve Ann Yundt's matrimony announcement stated she was the granddaughter of Lewis Kalbfus.

The sampler was worked in silk on linen and is in excellent condition, with one very minor area of weakness. It has been conservation mounted and is in a period maple frame.

¹ Baltimore Patriot, 10-09-1821 from Newsbank for Early American Newspapers on 10/25/08
² Baltimore Patriot, 03-24-1824 from Newsbank for Early American Newspapers on 10/25/08
³ Marriages & Deaths from Baltimore Newspapers 1796-1816 by Robert Barnes and Maryland Marriages 1801-1820 by Robert Barnes
⁴ Index to Marriages & Deaths in The (Baltimore) Sun 1837-1850 Compiled by Thomas L. Hollowak
⁵ Index to Marriages & Deaths in The (Baltimore) Sun 1837-1850 Compiled by Thomas L. Hollowak
⁶ http://www.siegelauctions.net/1999/817/817intro.html and http://www.siegelauctions.net/1999/817/yf81724.htm
⁷Index to Marriages & Deaths in The (Baltimore) Sun 1837-1850 Compiled by Thomas L. Hollowak
⁸ Baltimore Patriot, 5-27-1826 from Newsbank for Early American Newspapers on 10/25/08
⁹ Index to Marriages & Deaths in The (Baltimore) Sun 1837-1850 Compiled by Thomas L. Hollowak
¹⁰ Republican Star and General Advertiser, 06-21-1825 from Newsbank for Early American Newspapers on 10/25/08
¹¹ Baltimore Patriot, 07-09-1824 from Newsbank for Early American Newspapers on 10/25/08
¹² The Baltimore Daily Intelligencer, 10-29-1794 from Newsbank for Early American Newspapers on 10/25/08
¹³ History of Baltimore City and County, Part II by J. Thomas Scharf, pg. 608

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