Philip Feiger (1874-1907) and Grace Lee Chandler (1875-1929)
Philip Feiger was born 1 June 1874 in Pennsylvania, the son of Philip and Juliana Krauth Feiger. His family moved to Grand Traverse County, Michigan around 1879 and Philip grew up on the family farm. He was married 1 August 1899 in Grand Traverse County to Grace Lee Chandler. Witnesses to the wedding were Sarah D Wright and Caroline Dayton. Grace was born 23 November 1875 at Fife Lake, Grand Traverse County, the daughter of David Green Chandler and Sarah DeEtte Pierce Chandler. Grace's father was a prominent farmer and was later a state representative for the Grand Traverse area. Her mother was a school teacher who died from a sudden stroke in 1898.
Philip Feiger, ca. 1890-1900.
In 1900, the Feigers lived at 723 Webster Street in Traverse City. By the end of the year, or early in 1901, Philip worked as a deputy sheriff under his father-in-law David Chandler was the Grand Traverse County sheriff in the early 1900s. The family resided in the top floor of the County Jail (which was torn down in the late 1960s). At least one of his children, Byron Chandler Feiger was born there in 1901. Philip and Grace had five children, two of which, Amy and Frederick David, died in infancy. Frederick died of whooping cough and uremic poisoning the day after his sister Bessie was born in 1907.
Grace Lee Chandler Feiger Pierce, ca. 1895. Oakwood Cemetery, Traverse City.
Philip died of septic peritonitis on 9 August 1907 in Traverse City. His death left Grace with three infant children. Grace married again on 30 March 1913 in Grand Traverse County to her mother's cousin Clement Forrest Pierce. Clement was born in August 1858 in Wisconsin the son of John and Eliza Cobb Pierce. He had been married previously in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin to Emma Kuehne. He was a farmer by occupation. Family tradition suggests that Byron did not along well with his step-father whereas Harold and he had no problems. Clement died 1 July 1927 in Grand Traverse County from senile debility.
Grace died 22 December 1929 in Traverse City after suffering from cancer of the stomach. Ruth Knight Moyer, Clement Pierce's grand daughter, remembers Grace as being a small woman with hands that were crippled with arthritis. Both Philip and Grace are buried in Oakwood Cemetery.
Children of Philip and Grace Chandler Feiger
i. Amy Feiger was born 11 February 1900 in Traverse City. Amy died from convulsions on 31 May 1900 in Traverse City.
ii. Byron Chandler Feiger was born 27 November 1901 in Traverse City.
iii. Harold Philip Feiger was born 9 September 1904 in Traverse City.
iv. Frederick David Feiger was born 23 October 1905 in Traverse City. He died there from whooping cough and uremic poisoning on 11 January 1907.
v. Bessie Merle Feiger was born 10 January 1907 in Traverse City. Bessie served in the army as a WAC during World War II and was stationed in England. After the war she worked for NATO in Brussels, Belgium. She retired to Hemet, California and died in Oregon in 1986.
Bessie and friend in London during WW II. Bessie Feiger in her WAC uniform.