Jeanette Eckart (VI 17)

This silhouette of Jeanette Eckart adorned a China mug from the time. This heirloom is in the Eckart Family Archive.

Jeanette Friderike Wilhelmine Eckart, née Wich, (VI 17), (*April 28, 1801, in Benk, Germany; †May 11, 1874, in Emskirchen, Germany), married David Eckart on May 1, 1825, in Emskirchen, Germany

Jeanette Wich was the daughter of Emskirchen’s priest Isaac Friedrich Wich. She married David Eckart in 1825. Her father himself wed them and presented a touching marriage sermon. The sermon has been handed down and it states, among other things: "Even though I have already confirmed and consecrated so many marital unions, being in office for a long time, even though my conscience bears witness that I have never done so without sympathy of my heart, never without pious wishes for the wellbeing of the newlyweds, nonetheless, no such marriage ceremony has appealed so much to my feeling as this one."

Jeanette Wich enjoyed "…respect and esteem everywhere. She was very well-read and familiar with classical literature." In 1826, one year after the wedding, David’s daughter Henriette was born. His son Friedrich followed in 1827, then Jacobine, Minette, Christian, Julius, Louise, Babette, Benjamin, Johannes, Christine and Maximilian. David and Jeanette Eckart had a total of twelve children.

Jeanette outlived her husband by 21 years. Following David’s death in 1853, she had a hard time fending for the family. Between 1853 and 1855, she was forced to sell all the remaining agricultural assets, except a field, a garden and a cow. In 1856, Jeanette Eckart reached out to Emskirchen’s municipal authorities and asked for aid. Her petition listed her children and aimed to clarify how difficult her financial situation was. Sources do not provide any information as to whether the municipal authorities complied with her request.

Even though David und Jeanette Eckart’s children did not have an easy time of it due to their economic hardship, it was with much love that they remembered their parents: "Although our parents were not able to leave us riches, we have received from them an honest, spotless name. We can look back on them with pride and love, and to this very day, all who knew them and, of the present generation, all who heard of them have fond memories of them. They both had education and good-heartedness, according to which they lived and acted."

Family

His marriage with Jeanette Fridericke Wilhelmine Wich produced twelve children.

• Henriette Christine Johanna Caroline Kunigunda Barbara (Da VII 1), (*April 27, 1826, in Emskirchen, Germany, †January 15, 1902, in Munich, Germany).
• Friedrich Gottfried Georg August Ernst Sigmund (Da VII 2), (*June 27, 1827, in Emskirchen, Germany, †May 7, 1907, in Munich, Germany), pharmacist, factory owner, member of the Landtag (Bavarian parliament), königlich bayer. Kommerzienrat (an honorary title for distinguished businessmen in Bavaria).
• Jacobine Louise Caroline Wilhelmine Antoinette (Da VII 3), (*January 1, 1829, in Emskirchen, Germany, January 11, 1900, in Munich, Germany), housemother.
• Minette Adeline Maximiliane Kunigunde Sofia Johanna (Da VII 4), (*June 9, 1830, in Emskirchen, Germany, †January 25, 1901, in Brunnenreuth, Germany).
• Christian Johann Adam Daniel Wilhelm Gerhard (Da VII 5), (*December 7, 1831, in Emskirchen, Germany, †January 21, 1875, in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA), jeweler.
• Julius Georg Leonhard Ferdinand Ernst Gottfried (Da VII 6), (*June 5, 1833, in Emskirchen, Germany, †May 4, 1845, in Emskirchen, Germany).
• Louise Elisabetha Katharina Johanna Albertina (Da VII 7), (*September 27, 1834, in Emskirchen, Germany, †August 27, 1849, in Langenfeld, Germany).
• Babette Johanna Marie Eleonore Emilie (Da VII 8), (*April 12, 1836, in Emskirchen, Germany, †August 25, 1905, in Munich, Germany), nursery teacher.
• Benjamin Eduard Philipp Robert Friedrich (Da VII 9), (*September 12, 1837, in Emskirchen, Germany, †December 1, 1863, in Córdoba, Mexico), French foreign legionnaire.
• Johannes Theodor Georg (Da VII 10), (*January 23, 1840, in Emskirchen, Germany, †November 26, 1899, in Munich, Germany), estate owner, canning factory owner.
• Christine Marie Luise Fredericke Theodora (Da VII 11), (*January 31, 1841, in Emskirchen, Germany, †November 26, 1925, in Munich, Germany).
• Maximilian (Da VII 12), (*February 7, 1842, in Emskirchen, Germany, †April 18, 1918, in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, USA), jeweler.