Fredericka was August's older sister. She was born in 1818, 14 years before August. In 1840, at the age of 22 she married a physician, Dr. Carl Peter aged 23, newly arrived from Germany . In the Catherine (Schmidt) Joss autobiography the couple is mentioned on pages 105 and 106 although not by name. Fredericka was described as the "only educated young lady anywhere," and Fredericka's (and August's) mother was described as "more of a lady than a house-keeper." Fredericka was employed in the Schmidt household to learn housekeeping skills. Her husband (almost certainly in jest) complained to Fredericka that he was tricked into a marrying a "hired girl" at which time Fredericka "went into a hysterical fit." Fredericka may have been a bit unstable. Relavent book passage here: PDF
Frederika bore Dr. Peter nine children. Of the first five, four on them "died young," typically within six months. It must have been difficult. Her last child was born in 1855, but Dr. Peter went on to marry a second wife and father another eight children (grand total: 17), the first of the second batch being born in 1857. Examine record here: PDF
Earlier family history presumed Fredericka "died about 1855." However, records contradict this, showing that she died in 1890. Examine record here: PDF Also there is a prominent gravestone in the Swiss cemetery behind the Zion Church and the gravestone agrees with the written record. Picture here: Photo
A search of old Holmes County Court records turned up a divorce proceeding (two records) between Frederika and Carl Peter. One might suppose that Fredericka got tired of pumping out babies or that the doctor strayed from the marriage, but that is not what happened. Fredericka was accused of (and found guilty of) adultery in 1855. The other party was a person named Conrad Roth. A Dr. Conrad Roth is listed as a sponsor (godfather) for Caroline Hirner, baptized on 4 Nov 1855 in the church birth records (record #758, page 55). He was probably in the area to visit friends or relatives. See record excerpt here: PDF
The two court records can be viewed by clicking on the appropriate blue, underlined PDF link, following. The documents are difficult to read, so typed versions are also linked and provide as much as could be deciphered. The first, an 1855 document, can be found here: PDF, and the typed version here: PDF The second 1856 document is here: PDF, and the typed version here: PDF Her signature on the 1856 document is that of a well educated person.
Dr. Peter's ninth child (the first by his second wife) was baptized on 11 August 1857. Two of the three sponsors (today's godparents) were Frederick and Maria Frederick, Frederika's father and mother. Apparently there was some fence mending going on. See record here: PDF
As can be seen, Fredericka lost her children and all support from Dr. Peter. Apparently, however, she did not fade quietly into the night, so to speak, as her rather prominent (for Winesburg) gravestone attests. Also, it is apparent that she used her maiden name.
The Story of Fredericka Frederick