Can anyone help with this engraved Seated Dollar?

DDR

There have been some very interesting threads these past several days featuring engraved Seated and Trade Dollars. Below is one I acquired a number of years ago. I have been trying to find any information about the person in questions, but a multitude of web searches have revealed nothing. The ornately ingraved inscription reads:

An G.O.B.Heydenreich zum 1ten Geburtstage den 14ten Mai 1873. vom G. Alderman

Which I believe translates from German into:

To G.O.B.Heydenreich on first birthday the 14 of May, 1873. From G. Alderman.

Can anyone give me any information on this person or clues where to search?

CaptHenway

Did you try any of the ancestry sites?

DDR

Yep, tried a couple of them.

JBK

1st birthday present. Presumanly involving German immigrants. With the birthdate and two names I would think something could be tracked down.

TLeverage

Interesting. While it does seem more likely that this piece was engraved and presented among members of a first-generation German population in the States, it is possible that an individual in Europe sourced an unusual piece that would seem unique and interesting in order to enhance the appeal. If this branch of the Heydenreich family was still based abroad, it could explain the difficulty in tracking down both census records and U.S.-based descendants.

JBK

@TLeverage said:
Interesting. While it does seem more likely that this piece was engraved and presented among members of a first-generation German population in the States, it is possible that an individual in Europe sourced an unusual piece that would seem unique and interesting in order to enhance the appeal. If this branch of the Heydenreich family was still based abroad, it could explain the difficulty in tracking down both census records and U.S.-based descendants.

Very true. Might need to scrutinize the engraving style to see if it matches American or German styles from that era (assuming there were any differences).

Timbuk3

Cool !!!

CaptHenway

@JBK said:

@TLeverage said:
Interesting. While it does seem more likely that this piece was engraved and presented among members of a first-generation German population in the States, it is possible that an individual in Europe sourced an unusual piece that would seem unique and interesting in order to enhance the appeal. If this branch of the Heydenreich family was still based abroad, it could explain the difficulty in tracking down both census records and U.S.-based descendants.

Very true. Might need to scrutinize the engraving style to see if it matches American or German styles from that era (assuming there were any differences).

But a German community in America, and there were many, could have included an engraver trained in Germany.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

JBK

@CaptHenway said:

@JBK said:

@TLeverage said:

Very true. Might need to scrutinize the engraving style to see if it matches American or German styles from that era (assuming there were any differences).

But a German community in America, and there were many, could have included an engraver trained in Germany.

That damn common sense getting in the way again.... you are right, I am sure there would have been German jewelers/engravers on this side of the Atlantic.

Back to plan A: more research here in the US.

Bayard1908

Child may have died before the 1880 census was taken. The 1890 census was largely destroyed. That still leaves you with 1900-1940 to check. If the child doesn't show up, find where the giver lived and maybe you can find a death record of the child.

ricko

Researching names, and even familial lines, can go either way. Sometimes the path is quick and easy, and sometimes we run into brick walls..... I know that from personal experience. Good luck with your search, it can be frustrating... Cheers, RickO

JBK

You might also focus on areas that had a large German immigrant population.