Anna Maria Rockel, GW

Anna Maria was born in May 1871 in Washington Township, Lehigh County, Pa. to John and Maria (Oberholtzer) Rockel.  There was 20 years difference in age between her parents and Anna was the youngest of the nine children born to them.  Her father was in his 60s when she was born.  Anna was only 15 years old when her father died.  She and her mother and some brothers went to live with their older brother who was widowed and had four children at home, as revealed in the 1900 census.  Anna’s occupation is listed as servant.  In 1910 Anna is living in Slatington, Lehigh County, Pa. as a servant in a private home.  Anna’s mother died in four years later, in 1914.  The 1920 census is the only one in which we find Anna with the Gospel Workers, in Cleveland.  Anna did not stay long with the Gospel Workers.  On 17 March 1926 she married Louis Barbezat in Alameda, California.  Anna was 54 years old, her first marriage, and Louis was 48 years old, his second marriage.  The 1930 census shows Louis and Anna living in Alameda with his twelve-year-old son, Raymond.  Also in 1930, the California voter registration shows the Barbezats registered as members of the Prohibition party.  Anna died on 4 October 1931 in California, but her place of burial remains unknown.