The story of the Hohenrein family of butchers and it’s tribulations during WW1 is well documented. Many of the family are buried in Hull General Cemetery, and are commemorated with an impressive marble monument. The family originated in Mosbach, Baden- Wũrttemburg, Nr Heidelburg, Germany, Georg Friedrich Hohenrein (1832-1902) emigrated to Hull in 1848, and established pork butchers shops in Waterworks St and Princes Ave.
This story relates to one of Georg’s gt grand children, Jean Bartel, who, although not buried in Hull General Cemetery, has direct links to it, and is another of the inspirational women associated with HGC.
Georg and his wife Katherina (Myer) had 6 children, 2 of which died in infancy. During WW1 the family suffered from anti-German sentiment, and Charles Henry (1883-1974) changed the family name to Ross.
Charles Henry’s brother, George William (always referred to as William) (1865-1933), married Julie Bierman, and had a son, William born 1897, and a daughter, Else, born in Hull 3/2/1898. Becoming increasingly concerned at the anti-German sentiment during WW1, he emigrated to Germany with his family. However, as British subjects, George William. and his teenage son, William were immediately interred in the Ruhleben Internment Camp, near Berlin until the end of the war.
After the war, his daughter Else, married Alfred Leonhardt Bartelmeh, and in 1922, the family moved to America. They had a daughter, Jean who was born in Los Angeles 26/10/1923. Jean shortened her name to Jean Bartel and became Miss America in 1943, becoming the first college student to be crowned Miss America. She worked on Broadway as an actress/singer, and later worked in films and TV. She once claimed that “I was never beautiful, but I had vitality and looked healthy”. She married William Hogue but had no children. She died 6/3/2011 aged 87.
Sadly, her brother William, who became a doctor, was killed in an allied bomb attack in Germany in WW2.
You can read more about the problems faced by the Hohenreins during WW1 on the excellent humberfirstworldwar website.
