Louisa Vogel Deppermann

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Louisa Vogel (b. August 15, 1853 in New York City; d. April 23, 1898 in Hamburg, Germany), known as Lizzie, was William Steinway's niece, the daughter of his sister Wilhelmina Steinway Vogel Candidus and Theodore Vogel. Louisa married Gustave Deppermann in Berlin on December 7, 1872. Gustave and his wife spent most of their adult lives living in Germany.(2)

During her childhood, William visited with the family and enjoyed activities with Lizzie.(Diary, 1861-12-25, 1863-12-24) Lizzie made her first trip to Germany at age 16, accompanied by her Uncle Theo and his wife.(Diary, 1869-07-08) Most likely she stayed with Theodore. For unspecified reasons, William telegraphed to Theodore that “Lizzie has to leave Seesen at once”.(Diary, 1870-02-09) She returned to New York in July of that year.(Diary, 1870-07-01) Her engagement to Gustave Deppermann was announced from Europe in March of 1872 (Diary, 1872-03-03), and she was the guest of honor at a family gathering that William hosted later that month.(Diary, 1872-03-27) It is certain that the couple had one child, William Deppermann, born July 19, 1879, in Hamburg.(2)(Diary, 1879-07-21) They may have had another child as early as November of 1873, as William mentions going to see the “Deppermann baby” in his diary.(Diary, 1873-11-30) This child may have died at an early age, as there is no further mention of him/her in the diary or documentary evidence.

Louisa saw William and other family members on the occasion of his trips to Germany and remained in contact with him through the mail.(1)(Diary, 1877-01-03, 1880-08-03) Louisa also maintained contacts with her half-brother Gustav Candidus as well as other family members still in the United States. She was in touch with Arthur von Holwede, manager at the Steinway Hamburg factory.(1) She bought the furniture belonging to William’s first wife, Regina Roos, after her death in Nancy, France.(Diary, 1882-09-21) The final time Louisa saw William in Europe was during his 1890 trip to Germany.(Diary, 1890-10-04) William last mentions her in the diary in 1891.(Diary, 1891-06-29)
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Sources:

1. Deppermann, Lizzie, Letter to Willaim Steinway, dated April 17, 1889, Steinway & Sons Collection, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, Fiorello H. LaGuadia Community College/CUNY, Long Island City, Queens.
2. Maniha, Ken, Steinway Family Genealogy.