Something a bit different: I’m exploring the family history of someone I’m not related to, at least that I know of. But I have a connection with her still, my hometown of Buffalo is her hometown.
I was walking around the Buffalo Zoo taking pictures of the animals when I realized a fountain with a plaque dedicated to a young woman named Esther Taylor WETTLAUFER. This caught my attention for 3 reasons: (1) I was struck by how young she was – it lists her birth year as 1902 and her death year as 1914, (2) My cat’s name is Esther, so that name was intriguing to me, (3) The two birds just below the inscription were pleasing to the eye. A picture of the fountain and plaque is to the left.
Naturally, I wanted to know more about Esther, so when I got home I started researching.
Here’s what I learned. She was the daughter of Dr. Conrad WETTLAUFER and Irene TAYLOR.
Conrad was born in Canada and he was the son of German immigrants, Conrad WETTLAUFER and Elisabeth EIDT. He grew up in Stratford, Ontario, attended Philadelphia Dental College, and in the 1890s he went to Buffalo, where he opened up a dentist office on North Pearl St.1
He married Irene TAYLOR, the daughter of Henry Dickinson TAYLOR and Esther Isabella NEWTON, on Dec. 18, 1901 in Buffalo. Her father H.D. TAYLOR was a wealthy industrial hardware man. Shortly after marrying, Dr. WETTLAUFER left his dentistry practice and joined his father-in-law’s company. He was named president in 1903, a year after his daughter Esther was born.
The Conrad & Irene family is found on the 1910 U.S. Census at 1234 Delaware Ave. Here’s what is recorded about them:
Wettlaufer, Conrad E., head, age 40, married 8 years, President, Hardware Co.
1910 U.S. Census / FamilySearch.org
Irene T., wife, age 33, married 8 years, 3 children, 3 living
Esther T., daughter, age 7
Gretchen T., daughter, age 5
Conrad T., son, age 1 6/12
There are 7 servants in the house (surnames BURKHARD, ATWATER, BOEHRINGER, BENNETT & RADKE) & a chauffeur (Frank RADKE, age 38, born Germany). A 50-year-old cousin, Emma J. TRESS, a widow born in England, also lives with them.
Some more on Esther – she was born Sept. 8, 1902 and died Apr. 26, 1914. While I wasn’t able to find a cause of death (one is not provided in her death notice), it’s such a tragedy for Conrad and Irene having lost their eldest child at just 11 years old. She was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The memorial at the Zoo was another way to honor her memory and that plaque is more than 100 years old.
I found an August 7, 1921 news article about the fountain in The Buffalo Times:
The Shelton Square bird fountain erected in memory of Esther Taylor Wettlaufer is an impressive illustration of how a kindly quality of the human heart can result in enduring good. The fountain which commemorates her love for birds, has proved a blessing these hot days and weeks to thousands and thousands of her feathered friends.”
Given that it is referred to as the Shelton Square fountain, it is likely it was moved to the Zoo at some point in time.
As for a potential connection to my family, if there is one… WETTLAUFER is a Hessian surname, and I do have Hessian roots, with Becker being a main surname of interest. Ontario, Canada was a place Hessians commonly settled and some of my relatives from Hesse ended up there. So maybe at some point further back I have a distant relation to this WETTLAUFER / TAYLOR family. No matter what, we have that shared Buffalo connection, and I do love the Buffalo Zoo. Rest in Peace, Esther.
Craig Kanalley 
65 responses to “Buffalo Zoo Memorial: Esther Taylor Wettlaufer (1902-1914)”
Diversity and inclusion
[…]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a couple of unrelated data, nevertheless genuinely really worth taking a look, whoa did 1 discover about Mid East has got more problerms at the same time […]
LikeLike
FiverrEarn
[…]please visit the sites we adhere to, including this 1, because it represents our picks through the web[…]
LikeLike
Generator Repair Manchester
[…]usually posts some quite fascinating stuff like this. If youre new to this site[…]
LikeLike
amyl guard scam or legit
[…]here are some links to web pages that we link to because we believe they are really worth visiting[…]
LikeLike
cheap sex cams
[…]usually posts some really fascinating stuff like this. If youre new to this site[…]
LikeLike
best probiotics for dogs
[…]below youll locate the link to some web-sites that we assume you ought to visit[…]
LikeLike
french bulldog puppies
[…]Here is an excellent Weblog You may Obtain Interesting that we Encourage You[…]
LikeLike
live sex cams
[…]although internet sites we backlink to beneath are considerably not connected to ours, we really feel they may be in fact worth a go as a result of, so possess a look[…]
LikeLike
live sex cams
[…]the time to read or go to the material or web-sites we have linked to below the[…]
LikeLike
live sex cams
[…]here are some links to internet sites that we link to because we feel they are really worth visiting[…]
LikeLike
live sex cams
[…]The details talked about within the post are a few of the best readily available […]
LikeLike
live sex cams
[…]Sites of interest we have a link to[…]
LikeLike
dehydrated water
[…]although internet websites we backlink to below are considerably not connected to ours, we really feel they are truly worth a go via, so possess a look[…]
LikeLike
frt trigger
[…]The facts talked about inside the post are a number of the top available […]
LikeLike
efos y edos
[…]please go to the internet sites we comply with, which includes this one particular, because it represents our picks in the web[…]
LikeLike
Taxi Southampton to Gatwick
[…]usually posts some really fascinating stuff like this. If youre new to this site[…]
LikeLike
Alienlabs Gelato
[…]although web sites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we feel they’re essentially really worth a go by means of, so have a look[…]
LikeLike
늑대닷컴
[…]Every as soon as inside a though we select blogs that we study. Listed beneath would be the most up-to-date web pages that we pick […]
LikeLike
Turnamen slot
[…]we came across a cool internet site that you could take pleasure in. Take a appear in the event you want[…]
LikeLike
OnePeace Live Action AMV
[…]here are some links to sites that we link to since we consider they may be worth visiting[…]
LikeLike
One Peace AMV
[…]that may be the end of this write-up. Right here you will come across some web pages that we consider you will appreciate, just click the hyperlinks over[…]
LikeLike
nang delivery
[…]the time to study or visit the subject material or web pages we’ve linked to beneath the[…]
LikeLike
superslot
[…]we came across a cool website that you could possibly get pleasure from. Take a search for those who want[…]
LikeLike
mobile app developer
[…]Here are a number of the internet sites we suggest for our visitors[…]
LikeLike
allgame
[…]below youll come across the link to some sites that we think you ought to visit[…]
LikeLike
918kiss
[…]that could be the finish of this report. Right here you will find some internet sites that we consider you will value, just click the links over[…]
LikeLike
หวย24
[…]usually posts some very fascinating stuff like this. If you are new to this site[…]
LikeLike
Beauty Of Joseon
[…]the time to study or check out the subject material or sites we’ve linked to below the[…]
LikeLike
clothes french bulldog
[…]one of our visitors a short while ago suggested the following website[…]
LikeLike
pg slot
[…]Every the moment inside a while we opt for blogs that we study. Listed beneath are the newest internet sites that we choose […]
LikeLike
leak detection london
[…]always a huge fan of linking to bloggers that I adore but do not get quite a bit of link enjoy from[…]
LikeLike
AI Attorney
[…]The facts talked about inside the write-up are a number of the very best readily available […]
LikeLike
la bonne paye règle
[…]Here are some of the web-sites we advise for our visitors[…]
LikeLike
cybersécurité
[…]we came across a cool internet site that you just might take pleasure in. Take a appear if you want[…]
LikeLike
Raahe Guide
[…]The details mentioned within the report are several of the top readily available […]
LikeLike
aplikasi slot gacor tanpa deposit
[…]The info talked about within the post are a number of the very best available […]
LikeLike
judi slot
[…]just beneath, are several absolutely not related sites to ours, on the other hand, they’re certainly really worth going over[…]
LikeLike
Dating Classes
[…]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we really feel they’re in fact worth a go by means of, so have a look[…]
LikeLike
Couples Therapy in Mayfair
[…]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a number of unrelated information, nonetheless actually worth taking a appear, whoa did 1 understand about Mid East has got far more problerms at the same time […]
LikeLike
catskills hotel
[…]Every when inside a even though we pick blogs that we study. Listed beneath are the latest web pages that we decide on […]
LikeLike
hotel on lake placid
[…]please take a look at the websites we comply with, including this a single, because it represents our picks from the web[…]
LikeLike
health supplements
[…]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I really like but do not get a good deal of link adore from[…]
LikeLike
online visa application
[…]please take a look at the web pages we stick to, including this one, as it represents our picks in the web[…]
LikeLike
duromine
[…]Here is a superb Blog You may Find Fascinating that we Encourage You[…]
LikeLike
30-30-winchester-ammo
[…]one of our visitors a short while ago recommended the following website[…]
LikeLike
44-40 ammo
[…]Here are some of the sites we suggest for our visitors[…]
LikeLike
sicarios baratos precio
[…]Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine some unrelated information, nonetheless definitely worth taking a search, whoa did a single study about Mid East has got extra problerms also […]
LikeLike
SaaS Law Firm
[…]just beneath, are many entirely not related sites to ours, even so, they’re surely really worth going over[…]
LikeLike
itsMasum.Com
[…]although websites we backlink to beneath are considerably not connected to ours, we feel they’re in fact worth a go through, so possess a look[…]
LikeLike
catégories logiciel malveillant
[…]Every when inside a whilst we pick blogs that we study. Listed beneath would be the most up-to-date web-sites that we pick out […]
LikeLike