She died six days before her son’s first birthday.

Port Richmond, Philadelphia.

My great grandparents, Charles Eiser and Elizabeth Nichter Eiser both died in Philadelphia within months of each other during the flu pandemic. Charles and Elizabeth lived in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. After marrying in February 1917, Charles worked for the Philadelphia Public Rapid Transit and Elizabeth worked in their home as a housewife and mother to their infant son, Charles Jr., born January 1918. Charles had taken sick in the summer of that year and died August 1918. Five months later, six days before her son’s first birthday, Elizabeth followed her husband in death. 

Charles Jr. was left in the care of his maternal grandparents, John and Mary Nichter. Not believing they had the means to raise their grandson, Charles was taken to St. Vincent’s Orphans Home in Tacony. A family story tells of how Charles was rejected by the orphanage when one of the religious staff told his grandparents, “I see the devil in his eyes.” We assume this was a more acceptable reason to give than to tell his grandparents that they simply had no more space to accept flu orphans. 

Charles was taken home and raised by his grandparents who died in the 1940s. He met my grandmother, married in 1945, and went on to have ten children and ten grandchildren before passing in 1991.  A few family photos and documents of Charles and Elizabeth Eiser, John and Mary Nichter, and Charles Jr. are attached. Items that belonged to my great grandparents have been passed down through the family including their camera, a needlepoint made by Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s engagement ring. 

Contributed by Lynsey Lehr, Great Granddaughter of Charles Sr. and Elizabeth.