Milderd "Millie" Chipman Hosbach (1890-1929)
(Mrs. Franklin B. "Frank" Hosbach)

VU students, 1908

Hosbach - Chipman

On Saturday, July 7, 1917, Miss Mildred Chipman was united in marriage to Franklin Hosbach, at the home of the bride's parents in Crown Point. Rev. W. M. Kelsey, uncle of the bride, performed the ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Byron Chipman, and is a most estimable young lady. The groom is a practicing attorney in Erie, Penn. The bride formerly lived in Lowell, and her many Lowell friends will join us in extending congratulations and best wishes for a happy wedded life.

The newly married couple will be at home to their friends after August 1, at 1151 W. 23rd St., Erie, Penn.

FORMER LOWELL GIRL KILLED

MRS. FRANKLIN B. HOSBACH INSTANTLY KILLED NEAR ERIE, PA., HER HOME.

Mrs. Franklin B. Hosbach, of 720 West 23rd St., wife of Attorney F.B. Hosbach, was instantly killed at 5:30 Friday afternoon when the machine she was operating collided with another auto on Buffalo road, three miles west of North East. Mrs. Hosbach was alone in the car at the time. She died of a fractured skull.

Friends by the score in every walk of life, but particularly at the First Methodist church, where she gave unselfishly of herself, are today draining the very dregs of the bitter cup of sorrow in the tragic death of Mildred Hosbach. To know her in any relationship was to love her and in her eager interest in many activities, entirely without the slightest ostentation, but rather with a beautiful retiring modesty, Mrs. Hosbach, perhaps has influenced more varied worth-while activities in the city than has been the lot of most women to enjoy.

Born at Grant Park, Ill., December 21, 1890, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Byron Chipman, who survive, she received her early education in her home town, early showing a genius for things musical. It was while she was a musical student at Valparaiso University in Indiana that she met Franklin B. Hosbach, who was a law student, and it was there that was started the beautiful romance which later culminated in their marriage at Crown Point, Ind., July 17, 1917,* following her graduation from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago where her talent won for her high honors.

In 1915* Mr. Hosbach, who was born in this county south of Sterretania, brought his bride to Erie, and with the energy and enthusiasm so characteristic of her, Mrs. Hosbach at once sought out channels for her kindly and helpful talent. As head of the junior department of the First Methodist Sunday school, the impress of her personality and life on the many children who came under her influence is of a lasting nature. It was she, who first started the musical activity at the Florence Crittenden Home, making is possible for the girls at that place to take up music and receive its inspiration. Especially in Class 34 at First church, where for many years her husband, Franklin B. Hosbach has given so much of himself in building up this remarkable organization, was her interest of the keenest. In her quiet, modest and unassuming manner she entered all activities with a ready enthusiasm. In the musical undertakings of the class she was always the natural leader, and success of an unusual kind always attended her efforts. Mrs. Hosbach started and directed the first and only Glee Club at First Church, was a member of the board of directors of the Humane Society, of Florence Crittenden Home, was a member of the Eastern Star, the Woman's Club, Dames of Malta and an officer in the Inter Nos Club.

With the coming of her daughter, Rose Marie, two years ago, the only child, happiness knew no bounds in the life of Mrs. Hosbach and her husband. During the past week the Hosbachs have been enjoying a vacation at Beemis Point with Mrs. L.D. Osborn, Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Salisbury and Mr. and Mrs. C.O. Peters, close friends in Class 34. Mrs. Hosbach had returned to Erie Friday afternoon to see her little daughter who had been left with her grand parents, and it had been Mrs. Hosbach's intention to take the little girl back to Beemis with her to see her daddy, but after talking the matter over with the child's grand parents, decided to make a trip to the cemetery instead and place flowers on the grave of Mr. Hosbach's father and this was done.

Mrs. Hosbach took a modest but gratifying delight in the success and popularity of her husband, and in his work in his Sunday school class she was his ever ready helper. First church and Class 34 will not be able to fill her place and her tragic going in the hey-dey of so useful a career, has torn to shreds the great heart of her devoted husband.

Mrs. Hosbach is survived by her husband and daughter, her parents Mr. and Mrs. A. Byron Chipman of Gary, Ind., a sister, Mrs. Robert Engele, of Gary, and a brother, Judge Albert Chipman of Plymouth, Indiana.

-- Dispatch-Herald, Erie, Pa. August 3, 1929.

The deceased spent a great part of her life in and around Lowell and was a young woman who bore the respect and esteem of all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. Her untimely death came as a great shock to her hosts of friends here at her old home. The bereaved family have the sincere sympathy of their large circle of friends here in their bereavement.

* Note -- In this article, the date of her marriage was listed as July 17, 1917, although she is also referred to as a 1915 bride. The real date of the wedding, however, is most likely July 7, 1917, as published in the July 12, 1917, Lowell Tribune article above.