The Interesting Case of Carsten Tietjen (1848-1932)

From Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 82, Number 103, 19 December 1891 --

THE POOR.

Contributions Coming In—C. Tietjen's Generous Act. The appeal on behalf of the poor is bearing good fruit, the following donations having been received yesterday by the Howards: Mrs. Duden, 1023 L street, clothing; Mrs. Joseph, 1120 Eighth street, clothing; Mrs. Redington, 1426 H street, various articles; Mrs. L. G. Shepherd, 1220 Seventh street, various articles; No. 712 H street, clothing; Mrs. Charles J. Ellis, 93l M street, clothing; Mike Smith, clothing; Telegraph Mill, J street, Twelfth and Thirteenth, wood; Mrs. Albert Johnson, clothing; C. H. Stevenson, clothing; A. Rodegerdts, Third and M streets, clothing and blankets; unknown lady, bundle of bedclothing; Dr. Clayton, clothing; F. L. Forbes, bedstead and mattress; Mr. Bonte, clothing. 

In addition to these contributions many citizens and families, who do not care to have their names published, have sent packages of articles to the Howards to be distributed among the poor. 

So, also, in the case of the orphans— contributions of money, clothing, toys, etc, are being sent direct to the asylum by people who prefer to give their mite without ostentation or desire for public credit. Hence there is more real charity being bestowed than the published statements in the newspapers would indicate. This is fortunate alike for the poor and the orphans. 

C. Tietjen, an employe of the Buffalo Brewing Company, has come to the relief of Mrs. Elizabeth Buck, the mother of a family of five children, residing at 1802 Q street, who is in destitute circumstances and bedridden with cancer of the breast. Mr. Tietjen is the owner of a fine piano, which he offers at raffle for $500 for the benefit of Mrs. Buck and her children, knowing them to be worthy objects of charity. 

The family were deserted by the husband and father a year ago. This is one of the cases that appeals to the heart of every person who has a thought above his own comfort and well-being. The $500 worth of tickets in the piano raffle should be applied for eagerly.

From the Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 84, Number 102, 17 December 1892 --

MADE HOMELESS BY FIRE.

A Mother and Her Five Children Have a Narrow Escape. 

An Exploding Lamp Sets Fire to Their house-The Family Rendered Destitute

Mrs. Buck, a widow, and her five children had a narrow escape from a terrible fate at 3 o'clock yesterday morning, the house occupied by them at Eighteenth and U streets having caught fire in such a way that the occupants barely escaped in their night-clothes. 

Mrs. Buck had been in the habit of keeping a kerosene lamp burning low in her bedroom, and at the hour named it exploded, setting fire to the beds and the room. The screams of the woman and children aroused Carsten Tietjen, a lodger, who also had barely time to escape in his night-clothes, and in this condition he ran to the Buffalo Brewery, several blocks away, and turned in an alarm. 

In tho meantime Mrs. Buck was engaged in getting her children out of the burning building, and their escape was almost miraculous. The night was bitter cold—the coldest of the season—and the little ones were nearly frozen before they were able to reach the shelter of a neighbor's house. 

The Fire Department responded promptly to the alarm, but owing to the long run the house was nearly destroyed when the firemen reached the spot. Nothing but a couple of trunks were saved the burning building. The latter was owned by Thomas Kenny. It was valued at $1200 and was insured for $700. 

Aside from the physical suffering to which Mrs. Buck and her five children were subjected at the time, the family's loss is complete, not even their clothing being saved. Our citizens have always been prompt to respond to calls for relief when people in distant places had been rendered destitute by fire or flood, and it would seem that here is a most deserving case right at home where help is needed. 

A remarkable correspondence of occurences one year apart.  Carsten Tietjen was originally married to Mary Goebel (1854-1888).  A widower, the record shows Mr. Tietjen eventually married the Mrs. Elizabeth Buck, the subject of the two articles above.  Because Carsten Tietjen went on to own his own saloon, my premonition is that there is a wealth of records surviving him.  I am just beginning.

Carsten Tietjen was my wife's 2xg-grandfather.

Copyright © 2014 by Kevin W. Walker