Mathilde Friedrike Mayer, GW #154 

Mathilde “Tillie” was born on 12 July 1885 in Ebingen, Germany, according to naturalization records.  Tillie immigrated in 1913 when she was 28 years old. It appears she came to the USA without her parents; the ship manifest lists Tillie’s mother as W. Mayer of Ebingen.  Tillie traveled on the vessel President Lincoln and arrived at the port of Hoboken, NJ on 25 August 1913.  These were very unsettled times in Europe with anarchists creating havoc in many places.  In the ”Declaration of Intent” for naturalization, she had to swear “I am not an anarchist,” among other things.  When she was naturalized on 9 March 1923, her address was 3085 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio, which is a bit of a hike from the Gospel Worker Society headquarters.  Nevertheless, her residing in Cleveland is probably how she learned of the Gospel Worker Society.  By 1930 she has joined the Gospel Workers.  On the federal census of that year she reports that the language she spoke at home before coming to America was German.  I did not find her in the 1940 census.  In 1950, she is found with the Gospel Workers in Cleveland.  Presumably she remained with the Gospel Workers for the rest of her life.  She died on 30 October 1959 and is buried in the Brooklyn Heights cemetery with other Gospel Workers.