Elsie Dauth

Elsie Dauth was born in Westhofen, Germany on April 16, 1851 to Andreas and Elisabeth Dauth.¹Dauth Family Archive. “1888-04-18 – Herald Democrat – Elisabeth Dauth Surprise Birthday Party.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/article/1888-04-18-herald-democrat-elisabeth-dauth-surprise-birthday-party/.²Dauth Family Archive. “1889-01-01 – Funeral Card For Elisabeth Dauth (Elsie Cliffe).” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1889-01-01-funeral-card-for-elisabeth-dauth-elsie-cliffe/. She was given the birth name Elisabeth, after her mother, and was likely the family’s first born child.³Dauth Family Archive. “1869 – Elisabeth Dauth Ellis Island Immigration Record.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1869-elisabeth-dauth-ellis-island-immigration-record/. Growing up her family referred to her as Elsie, and she would prefer this name, along with other shortened variations of Elisabeth.⁴Dauth Family Archive. “c. 1914-1940 – Andreas Dauth Family Tree – Page 4.” Dauth Family Archive. February 15, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/c-1914-1940-andreas-dauth-family-tree-page-4/.⁵Dauth Family Archive. “1889-01-01 – Funeral Card For Elisabeth Dauth (Elsie Cliffe).” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1889-01-01-funeral-card-for-elisabeth-dauth-elsie-cliffe/. At the age of 18, she immigrated to the United States.⁶Dauth Family Archive. “1869 – Elisabeth Dauth Ellis Island Immigration Record.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1869-elisabeth-dauth-ellis-island-immigration-record/. She stayed at least a year in New York City before meeting and marrying Walter Cliffe.⁷Dauth Family Archive. “1870 – Census – Elisabeth Dauth.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1870-census-elisabeth-dauth/. Elsie and her husband arrived in Colorado by June 1878, the date their daughter Blanche was born. By 1880 they were living in Leadville, Colorado.⁸Dauth Family Archive. “1880 – Census – Elisabeth Dauth Family.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1880-census-elisabeth-dauth-family/.

In Leadville, Elsie started a flower business, known as the Leadville Floral Conservatory, where she sold potted plants, cut flowers, and bouquets.⁹Dauth Family Archive. “1883-10-21 – Leadville Daily Herald – Elisabeth Dauth Floral Conservatory Advertisement.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/article/1883-10-21-leadville-daily-herald-elisabeth-dauth-floral-conservatory-advertisement/. The City of Leadville ocasionally hired Elsie to provide flower decorations for holidays and funerals.¹⁰Dauth Family Archive. “1888-07-28 – The Leadville Daily – Elisabeth Dauth Paid By City For Her Flowers.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/article/1888-07-28-the-leadville-daily-elisabeth-dauth-paid-by-city-for-her-flowers/.¹¹Dauth Family Archive. “1886-05-20 – Herald Democrat – Elisabeth Dauth Makes Floral Wreath.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/article/1886-05-20-herald-democrat-elisabeth-dauth-makes-floral-wreath/. She was also active in a local woman’s club known as the Ladies Auxiliary Society.¹²Dauth Family Archive. “1889-01-07 – Carbonate Chronicle – Elisabeth Dauth’s Funeral.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/article/1889-01-07-carbonate-chronicle-elisabeth-dauths-funeral/. In 1885 Elsie ‘s sister Eva Catherine Dauth, who had just arrived from Germany, was staying with Elsie and her family.¹³1885 – Census – Elisabeth Dauth Family In 1888 Elsie’s younger brother, George Dauth, was lodging with her family, while he apprenticed at a local butcher shop.¹⁴Dauth Family Archive. “1888 – Leadville Directory – Entry for George Dauth.” Dauth Family Archive. June 2, 2022. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1888-leadville-directory-entry-for-george-dauth/.

Elsie unexpectedly passed away on January 1st 1889, from a peritonitis infection.¹⁵Dauth Family Archive. “1890-01-01 – Herald Democrat – Elisabeth Dauth Cause Of Death.” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/article/1890-01-01-herald-democrat-elisabeth-dauth-cause-of-death/. She was 37 years old. Elsie is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Leadville, Colorado next to Walter.¹⁶Dauth Family Archive. “1889-01-01 – Funeral Card For Elisabeth Dauth (Elsie Cliffe).” Dauth Family Archive. February 10, 2023. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://dauthfamily.github.io/document/1889-01-01-funeral-card-for-elisabeth-dauth-elsie-cliffe/.