1883 Clifford GEBHARD (son of Martin and Alice Maud) is born at 100, Herbert Road, Aston on the 20th of April.
On Saturday 17th of November Johann Jacob GEBHARD dies of a heart attack 5 days before his 64th birthday, he had changed address in the same street, he died at 67, Hospital Street; Catherine PEARCE the informant (death certificate). Johann GEBHARD was buried in Plot 27L at Key Hill Cemetery Hockley; at the time of his death his son Johann Martin GEBHARD ("Martin") was 30 years of age.
The electric light bulb is invented this year.
The population of Birmingham is circa 410,000; almost 100% increase since Johann GEBHARD arrived in the city in 1849.
1885 Evaline Laura THOMAS (known as Eva) is born on Wednesday 10th of June in Belgaum India (my Great Grandmother); the daughter of John THOMAS a professional soldier in the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and Margaret KIRWAN who was born in Dublin. She would marry Martin James GEBHARD (my Great Grandfather). Ethel May GEBHARD (known as "Cis") is born (daughter of Martin GEBHARD and Alice Maud – she died of the Spanish Flu shortly after the First World War; she married a Jack COVERLEY).
1888 Marie Katherina MORRIS (nee GEBHARD) dies aged just 33 in Sheffield leaving 4 children; (daughter of Johann Jacob GEBHARD and Elizabeth ISLIP). Alice GEBHARD (known as "Bas") is born in Birmingham (daughter of Martin and Alice Maud).
In August of this year Jack the Ripper would murder his first victim.
Edison’s phonograph is manufactured for sale to the public.
1889 Kate Gertrude GEBHARD is born (daughter of Martin and Alice Maud); Mary Ann GRETTON dies (Alice Maud’s mother) she is buried at St. Mary’s Handsworth (Plot J272).
On the 14th of January Birmingham becomes a City.
1890 First electric tram runs on the Bristol Road, Birmingham.
1891 The census is taken on the 5th of April and Martin & Alice Maud GEBHARD and their first 6 children live at 49, Villa Street, Lozells (1891 Census).
1891 onwards Elizabeth GEBHARD (Johann Jacob Gebhard’s widow) and the two daughters Elizabeth and Johanna Agnes now live at 1, Springfield, off Fentham Road, Erdington.
1893 Spring Hill Library opens.
Labour Party founded.
1894 Howard GEBHARD is born in Birmingham (son of Martin and Alice Maud).
1896 Thomas ISLIP Pearl Button Manufacturer dies aged 69 on the 6th of March at 151, Bristol Road, Birmingham (Johann Jacob Gebhard’s brother-in- law).
The first public trial of a "horseless carriage" or motor car takes place at Cannon Hill Park.
1897 John Gretton GEBHARD (son of Martin and Alice Maud) is born on Monday the 29th of November at 81, New Spring Street, Hockley.
Coverage of all homes by postal delivery is commenced.
Aston Villa F.C. moves to Villa Park.
1899 James GRETTON dies aged 62(Alice Maud’s father). Lischen Marion ISLIP (nee Gebhard) dies on the 15th of March aged 84; she is buried at St. Nicholas Kings Norton (she was Johann Jacob Gebhard’s elder sister).
The Second Boer War commences.
1900 Agnes Johanna GEBHARD (aged 39) is married in Chelsea to John Vickerman T. LILL (aged 23) a Concert Pianist.
1901 Frank GEBHARD is born (the last child of Martin and Alice Maud) he died in infancy. On the day of the census the 31st of March Johann Martin GEBHARD ("Martin") and the first 8 of their 9 kids live at 45, Spring Hill Passage, Hockley (1901 Census). Within a year of his marriage to Johanna Agnes GEBHARD John Vickerman T. LILL dies of T.B. at the age of 24. He is buried at St. Barnabas, Erdington. At back of 210, Lister Street Aston, the 15 year old Evaline Laura THOMAS (my Great Grandmother) lives with her parents the 46 year old John THOMAS born Chelsea and Margaret THOMAS aged 38 born Dublin along with her three sisters and one brother. Eva THOMAS is a Dressmaker and so is her 19 year old sister Henrietta THOMAS (Census).
Queen Victoria dies this year.
1902 First Edgbaston test match takes place – England v Australia (it was a draw!).
Boer War ends.
1903 Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show visits Birmingham.
1906 On the 14th February (hence his middle name) Edward Valentine GEBHARD is born at 36, Heaton Street, B18.
On the 30th September the last horse drawn tram runs (in Nechells).
1907 On Monday the 29th of April my Great Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth GEBHARD (nee ISLIP and widow of Johann Jacob GEBHARD) dies aged 86 at 1, Springfield, Erdington (death certificate). She is buried at St. Barnabas Erdington. Later that year on Saturday the 26th of October Martin James GEBHARD (a "Master Plasterer") and Evaline Laura THOMAS (my Great Grandparents) are married at Aston Register office; their address at the time was 12, Vauxhall Grove, Duddeston.
1907 On Thursday the 22nd of December my Grandfather Clifford John GEBHARD ("Jim") is born at 52, Bacchus Road, Winson Green; the first child of Martin James GEBHARD and Eva.
1908 Alice Maud GEBHARD ("Bas") married Herbert SEABORN in Aston.
1909 Agnes Margaret GEBHARD is born (a sister to my Granddad "Jim").
1910 The Electric Theatre in Station Street, the first cinema in Birmingham opens for business.
1911 On the 3rd of March Alice GEBHARD is born, a sister for my granddad "Jim".
In this year Warwickshire Cricket Club win their first County Championship.
1912 Polly PEARSON ("Mary") is born on 13th March at 7, St Helen’s Place, Church Lane, Aston (my Grandmother).
On the 15th of April the Titanic sinks.
1914 The commencement of the First World War in September.
Johann Martin GEBHARD ("Martin") born Mainz 1853 was 61 years of age at the outbreak of the First World War, he had never been naturalised. On the 29th of September Arthur Claude GEBHARD is born in Elkington Street Aston (younger brother by 7 years of my grandfather "Jim"); his father Martin James GEBHARD had already gone off to war.
Martin James GEBHARD enlisted at the outbreak of the war (Driver 53218 Royal Corps of Engineers); he was put in charge of two horses, these horses pulled a gun carriage, this possibly helped to save his life as it kept him a little back from the trenches; he "christened" these horses Eva and Etta – the names of his wife and her sister!
1916 The Battle of the Somme.