Individual Notes
Note for: Henrietta Silverfriend, 29 NOV 1866 - 10 JAN 1944
Index
Occupation: Compositor; Bookkeeper; Manager, Flaming Sword;
Immigration: Date: 1871
Place: 1900 Census
Residence: Date: 1904
Place: One of the original 7 women who lived in the Planetary Court
Event: Type: Elected
Date: 1888
Place: Charter member of K.U. board and treas. until her death in 1944
Event: From Chicago
Type: Arrived in Florida
Date: 1894
Event: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Type: Census/1900
Date: 14 JUN 1900
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida
Type: Census/1910
Date: 23 APR 1910
Event: Estero, Lee, Florida
Type: Census/1920
Date: 2 JAN 1920
Event: Warranty Deed/ Lee Cty. Court House; Estero, FL
Type: Court Record
Date: 25 APR 1924
Event: Played piano
Type: Music
Burial: Date: JAN 1944
Place: Estero, Lee, Florida
Individual Note: THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Henrietta Silverfriend; Born: 29 Nov 1866, Hamilton, Canada; Died: 10 Jan 1944.
FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready; Etta Silverfriend: "Sister and brother. Etta, always on the Board, was treasurer after Evelyn Bubbett no longer held that post. Henry was an expert at reading palms, telling fortunes, etc., so was in demand as an entertainer at "outside" gatherings as well as in the Unity."
1900 U. S. Federal Census; Lake township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film Roll 284; Page 14; SD No. 1; ED No. 970; Sheet No. 14; Ward of City, 31; Enumeration date: 14 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Martha H. Philpot; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999: Henrietta Silverfriend; Residence: 6310 Harvard Avenue; Relation to head of family: Boarder; Color, white; Sex, Female; Month of birth: November; Year of Birth: 1866; Age at last birthday, 29; Single; Place of birth: Canada; Place of birth of father: Austria; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Year of immigration to U. S., 1871; No. of years in U.S., 29; Occupation: Compositor; No. of months not employed, 0; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes.
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida--1910; Enumeration date: 23 Apr 1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Henrietta Silverfriend; Sex: Female; Race: white; Age 43; Marital status: Single; Place of birth: Canada; Place of birth of father: Germany; Place of birth of mother; Austria; Language spoken: English; Occupation: Bookkeeper; Employer or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes.
U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida--1920; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; December 1994: Henrietta Silverfriend; Relation to head of family: Officer; Residence: Planetary Court; Relation to head of family: officer; Age 53; Single; Year of immigration to U.S.: 1871; Naturalized in 1877; Place of birth: Canada; Place of birth of father: Austria; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Occupation: Bookkeeper for Koreshan Unity.
U. S. Federal 1930 Census; Estero, Lee County, Florida; Election Precinct 12; Koreshan Unity Home; Enumeration Date: May 5, 1930; Enumerator: William Howell; ED: 36-17; SD: 6; Page: 199 ;Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff; January 2003: Henrietta Silverfriend; Radio set: none listed; Sex: female; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 63; Marital condition: single; Attended school since Sep 1, 1929: no; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: Canada; Place of birth of father: Austria; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Language spoken in home before coming to U.S.: English; Year of immigration to U.S.: 1872; Naturalized: yes; Whether able to speak English: yes; Occupation: Bookkeeper; Industry: Bookkeeping; Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last working day): yes.
Burial: Koreshan Unity Cemetery--lot 37; Inscription: E. Silverfriend; 1867-Jan 1944
COURT RECORD/Lee County Court House--WARRANTY DEED: Etta Silverfriend; 25 Apr 1924; No. 26759; Deed Book 70; Page 209, Entry Number 1.
Notes from Evelyn Horn: Henrietta (Etta) Silverfriend/Henry Silverfriend
With her brother Henry D. they joined the Unity in Chicago in 1888. They were charter members, serving on the board of the Koreshan Unity. In 1894 they came with the second group from the home on 3 and 4 College Place to Estero via train to Punta Gorda, by boat to Estero.
Etta lived in the Damkohler house and Henry lived in the log house with the brothers until the Planetary Court was built in 1904. (Then) They both lived in the Planetary Court, Henry lived there as man of the house with all of the seven sisters. He lived in the cupola.
Etta was manager of "The Flaming Sword" and was treasurer of the Koreshan Unity until her death on January 9, 1944, at the age of 77 years. She was buried in the Koreshan Unity cemetery. Dr. Teed relied more on her judgment of things, I suppose than any other person ever connected with the Unity says, Brother Claude Rahn in the August 1, 1909 American Eagle.
Sister Etta was loved by all who knew her, a warm, loving personality--so kind and generous. She listened to everyones troubles and cares. She was a beautiful person with cool blue eyes, dark hair that turned salt and pepper. She was about 5 foot 5 inches tall and of medium build. She always dressed so well. In the winter she always wore a black velvet cape-coat.
Brother Henry served as town clerk of Estero in 1905 and through the years served his community well. He was a lecturer for Koresh and in the early years did a lot of traveling around the country. Henry was always a part of the religious services held in the Art Hall. Henry had dark hair and dark brown eyes. He was a short man about 5 foot 5 inches tall, well dressed and always wore dark colored suits.
Etta Silverfriend died January 9, 1944, at age 77. Henry Silverfriend died May 15, 1949. Both were buried in the Koreshan Unity cemetery.
FLAMING SWORD, Community Current Events by Rose Gilbert, November 1940: "We all rejoiced to have Sister Etta Silverfriend return to us on October 4 from the Dr. Nichols Sanitarium at Savannah, Missouri, where she had been under treatment for a few weeks. She is much improved and on the road to complete recovery."
FLAMING SWORD, Community Current Events by Marie Fischer, February 1944: "With deep regret and sorrow we report the passing of Sister Etta Silverfriend at Orlando, Florida on January 9. As previously mentioned Sister Etta undertook another hurried journey to Savannah, Missouri, on December 16, hoping to be benefited by the treatment at Nichol's Sanitarium. On her arrival there, however, she was informed that her condition was such that they could do nothing more for her, and so regardless of the inclement weather and congested transportation, she left for home on December 30, arriving at Orlando, where Brother Allen met her, on January 1st. She was in no condition for further travel so Brother Allen placed her in a nursing home where pneumonia soon developed to which she succumbed.
Brother Henry had gone to Orlando to be with her, and on Monday evening, January 10 he returned with the remains which were interred the following morning in the local cemetery. Sister Etta was born in Hamilton, Canada and came to Chicago from Kaukauna, Wisconsin, in 1888, being one of the three remaining charter members of the Koreshan Unity, which was organized in Chicago on September 6th of that year. She was for more than forty years secretary and accountant of the corporation and one of its most active and valued members, and leaves a host of friends to mourn her passing. She was 77 years of age and is survived by her brother, H. D. Silverfriend of Estero, and several sisters in northern states."
THE AMERICAN EAGLE; Vol. 79; April 1993; Page 3: "The beautiful Planetary Court residence, so named for the seven planets then known to exist, still stands proudly in the Koreshan settlement. It was built in 1904 to house the original seven Koreshan women charged by Koresh to manage the affairs of the Unity. Each had her own bedroom, and the eighth room, on the main floor, served as their council chamber or meeting room. These Stellar Women Were: Virginia Andrews, Berthaldine Boomer, Evelyn Bubbett, Eleanor Castle, Rose Gilbert, Ella Graham and Etta Silverfriend. ETTA SILVERFRIEND. Etta and her brother, Henry, were charter members of the Koreshan Unity and served on the board as long as they lived. They came to Estero with the second group of pioneers, and both became residents of the Planetary Court. Henry as man of the house, lived in the one-room cupola set into the roof of the building. Etta was manager of The Flaming Sword and Treasurer of the Unity until her death at age 77. Dr. Teed relied on her judgement a great deal in many matters concerning the Unity. Henry served his community faithfully and well all his days. He was Town Clerk of Estero after its incorporation. Etta died in January, 1944, and Henry in May 1949. Both are interred in the Koreshan Cemetery.