Christina Theresia Laurier

Christina Theresia Laurier

• Father: Franz Peter Laurier b. 8 July 1828, d. 31 October 1891
• Mother: Luisa Hofstetter b. 18 July 1833, d. 5 April 1910

• Christina Theresia Laurier was born on 9 October 1861 in Speyer, Rheinpfalz.
• She married N. Freymuller on 8 February 1881 in Speyer, Rheinpfalz.
• She married Edmund Theobold Becker on 9 July 1892 in Manhattan, New York.
• Edmund Theobold Becker and Christina Theresia Laurier appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Fort Ogden Precinct, DeSoto County, Florida. In view of the erroneous information recorded (her name and both of their births), perhaps one of their boarders was the informant.
• The following appeared on 31 August 1905 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: (Wauchula) Mrs. E. T. Becker, who has ben visiting Wauchula friends, has returned to her home at Holder.
• The following appeared on 17 June 1908 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: A treat of unusual pleasure was afforded last evening at her home, by Miss Hulda Kreher, the gifted teacher, to the pupils of her large music class, and their parents, by the performance of the genius Ludwig Laurier, a noted violinist. The great virtuoso held his enraptured listeners spellbound, playing with masterful strokes. The delightful program rendered follows: . . [six pieces] . . .
       Laurier was born in Speir on the Rhine, Germany. At the early age of 8 years he began his studies under the most celebrated masters of the time. In 1888 Laurier came to Buffalo, N. Y., continuing his studies until his return to Europe. In 1895 he entered the Royal High School of Music in Berlin, Germany, where he studied six years. His remarkable ability and zeal winning for him the friendship and interest of the most famous virtuoso and instructor, James Joachim, whose favorite pupil he became. Laurier was also very successful as instructor among the royalty in Berlin, his pupils being Princess Ratibor, Count Reischach, County Thiele Winkler, Count Hoheman. While in Europe Laurier made concert tours with the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra through France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium. In 1902 he returned to America, accepting the high position of first violinist at the Metropolitan Opera company in New York, which position he still fills.
       Laurier, accompanied by his niece, Miss Mulz, has been the guest of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Becker, of Holder, Fla., for the past six weeks, Mrs. Becker being the sister of Laurier. Mr. Becker is one of Florida's prominent phosphate men.
• The following appeared on 5 April 1910 in the Buffalo Evening News: [Died] April 5, 1910, Louise Laurier (nee Hostetter), widow of Franz Laurier; mother of Fritz Laurier of Newport, Ky; Mrs. Edward L. A. Schwabe, Mrs. E. T. Becker of Holder, Fla; Eugene Laurier, Niagara Falls, N. Y; Mrs. Theodore Mulz, Brooklyn, N. Y; Ludwig Laurier, New York city; aged 76 years. Funeral from the residence of her son-in-law, Dr. Edward L. A. Schwabe, 417 Swan street, Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Burial at the convenience of the family.
• The following appeared on 8 July 1910 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: (Ocala) Mrs. E. T. Becker of Holder has gone to Niagara Falls and other places. Mr. Becker will join her in a couple of weeks and they will pay a visit to their former home in Germany.
• The following appeared on 12 June 1911 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: (Ocala) Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Becker, of Holder, were prominent visitors to our city Friday. Mr. Becker is head bookkeeper of the Buttgenbach Phosphate Company. They passed last summer in Europe, and had such a pleasant time that they may repeat their visit this year.
• The following appeared on 28 July 1917 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: (Inverness) Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Becker and Mrs. Packer of Holder were guests of Mrs. Paul Edwards Monday.
• The following appeared on 4 August 1918 in the Tampa Sunday Tribune: (Avon) Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Dewey, Mrs. M. F. Rogers, all of Punta Gorda, Mr. and Mrs. P. Burns of Dunnellon, and Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Becker of Holden, Fla., formed a congenial party visiting in Avon Park on Tuesday.
• The following appeared on 21 April 1919 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: (Inverness) Judge and Mrs. E. C. May entertained as guests recently Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Becker of Holder.
• The following appeared on 30 September 1919 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: (Dunnellon) The officers of the J. Butt[g]enbach phosphate mines have been moved from Holder to Dunnellon, where the former home of N. H. Boswell will be used for both offices and residence of the head of the office force, Mr. Becker, and wife.
• The following appeared on 12 October 1919 in the Tampa Sunday Tribune: (Dade City) Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Becker, of Holder, expect to move to town as soon as their house is finished. Dunellon's gain will be Holder's loss.
• Christina Theresia Laurier became a widow at the 11 January 1922 death of her husband Edmund Theobold Becker.
• The following appeared on 27 August 1922 in the Tampa Sunday Tribune: (Punta Gorda) Mrs. E. T. Becker of Dunnellon, old time friend of Capt. and Mrs. A. F. Dewey, is their guest here this week.
• The following appeared on 10 October 1922 in the Tampa Morning Tribune: (Punta Gorda) Mrs. E. T. Becker, formerly an esteemed resident of this town, after a protracted visit here to the family of Captain A. F. Dewey, returned to her home at Wauchula, Tuesday.
• Photographs of present-day Speyer.

• Last Edited: 10 Apr 2014