Elida Wilhelmina Christina Hollander

Like her future husband, Elida was born in Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin, but unlike William, she was born in the City of Manitowoc on 16 March 1879. She was the second of three children of Emanuel Hollander and Sophia Hemschemeyer who were both born in Germany. Emanuel arrived in New York in April 1854, though Sophia had arrived in the United States about 5-6 years before him. Both of Elida's parents had been married before they married each other in 1876. Emanuel had been married to Emilie Melzner Ricker (who was a widow at that time), and Sophia's prior husbands included William Storch and William Kohlwei.
The exact year, but not the month or day, of Elida's birth is a bit unclear. For example:

	Wisconsin, Births and Christenings Index, 182 6-1908:
	
		Name:
		E WC Hollander [E W C Hollanller]         .
	
		Birth Date:
		16 Mar 1877
	
		Birth Place:
		Manitowoc, Wisconsin
	
		Gender:
		Female
	
		Race:
		White
	
		Father's Name:
		Emanuel Hollanller
	
		Mother's Name:
		Sophia Hanschemege
	
		FHL Film Number:
		1305081

However, her obituary and her death record from the State of Wisconsin both list her year of birth as 1879 as does her cemetery stone. I have chosen to list her year of birth as 1879.

	1880 US Federal Census, Ward 1, Manitowoc, Manitowoc Co., WI
	
		Last name:   
		First name:   
		Sex:
		Age:   
		Relation:   
		Occupation:
		Born:
	
		Hollander
		Ernest?
		M
		49
		
		Brewer
		Bavaria
	
		Sophia
		F
		40
		Wife
		
		Hanover
	
		Alwine
		F
		16
		Daughter
		Dress Maker
		Wisconsin
	
		Charly
		M
		3
		Son
		
		Wisconsin
	
		Elida [sic]
		F
		1
		Daughter
		
		Wisconsin

Alwine Hollander noted above is likely Wilhelmina Maria Elvena Kohlwei, a daughter from Sophia's previous marriage to William Kohlwei. Her father, Emanuel, was mostly listed as a cooper, a brewer, but also made and sold vinegar. An ad in a newspaper listed him as working for an importer and wholesale dealer of wines, liquors and 'segars.'
According to Emanuel's obituary written in 1887, he had been in charge of a brewery in Algoma, Wisconsin, for several years. Algoma was the home of Sophia1s daughter, Elvena Kohlwei Vollmer. It is not known if the Hollander family actually lived in Algoma or if Emanuel commuted from Manitowoc. Elida was only 8-yearsold at the time of her father's death and was living in Manitowoc.
The Manitowoc City Directory can provide some footprints for where Elida was until her marriage to William Kreie in 1902.
1880 Hollander, Emanuel, cooper, resid. 322 s. Main
1897 Hollander, Elida C., Dressmaker, 1509 Washington
1897 Hollander Sophie (wid. Emanuel), resid. 1509 Washington
1899 Hollander, Elida, Dressmaker
1900 Hollander, George
1900 Hollander, Sophie (wid. Emanuel), So. side Greet St., 2d West Main
It is not known whether Elida attended school, or if she did what grade level she achieved. At least by age 18 she had an occupation of a dressmaker.

1509 Washington St., Manitowoc, Wisconsin,photo taken 11/12/2005. Home of Sophie (widow of Emanuel) and Elida C. Hollander. Elida is noted as a dressmaker by the Manitowoc Directory, 1897. — 1509 Washington St., Manitowoc, Wisconsin,
photo taken 11/12/2005. Home of Sophie (widow of Emanuel) and Elida C. Hollander. Elida is noted as a dressmaker by the Manitowoc Directory, 1897.

	1900 United States Federal Census, Manitowoc, Manitowoc Co., Wisconsin:
	
		
		Last name:   
		First name:   
		Sex:
		Age:
		Relation:   
		Occupation:
		Born:
	

		
		Hollander
		Sophie
		F
		61
		Head
		None Listed
		Germany
	

		
		
		George
		M
		19
		Son
		*
		Wisconsin
	

		
		
		Elida
		F
		21
		Daughter
		Dress Maker
		Wisconsin
	

		
		*George listed as a packer of malt coffee.
	

Undated photo of ElidaAssumed to have been taken prior to her marriage to William Charles Kreie. — Undated photo of Elida
Assumed to have been taken prior to her marriage to William Charles Kreie.

Given her listed occupation as a dressmaker, one wonders if the dress she is wearing in the above photograph is one that she made or perhaps was made by her half-sister Elvena Kohlwei who was also listed in references as a dressmaker.

Elida's half-sisters and half brothers from her parents prior marriages included:
   William or Louis Hollander, b. 11May1857, d. Feb 1898
       m. Augusta Krumm
   Alwine Hollander, b. 1864
   August (F. W. A.) Storch, b. 9May1859, d. 20May 1926
       m. Augusta Louise Peters
   William Benjamin Storch, b. 27Nov1860, d. 1947
       m. Emma Elizabeth Rockstroh
   Wilhelmina Maria Elvena Kohlwei, b. 27 Oct 1863, d. 27 Oct 1934
       m. William (Wilhelm) Vollmer

Elida's siblings included:
   E. Carl, b. 28 Oct 1876, d. 26 Mar 1886
   George Emanuel, b. 19 Mar 1881, d. 28 Feb 1959
       m. Lillie Julia Buerstatte

(See Appendix 6 for history of Manitowoc, Wisconsin.)