1.3.1.6.7.7 Anna Laura ‘Annie’ Kessler Hargett Florey (1904-1947)

Anna Laura ‘Annie’ Kessler married twice, first to Earl Fenton Hargett (15 Jun 1896-30 Oct 1984) on 27 Jul 1920 and then to Louis Florey (30 Oct 1907-5 Dec 1980). Annie and Earl’s first three children were Anna Elizabeth, Mary Catherine, and Irene Gertrude. Their fourth child, John Fenton Hargett was born on 13 May 1927 and died at home only one year and seven months later from pneumonia, on 10 Jan 1929.

The Hargett marriage did not survive, and Annie and Earl divorced in 1930. According to family lore, Earl was a very hard man who treated his wife badly and some had the impression that he could be a “real bastard”. Based on available records, Annie apparently left Earl before John Fenton died in 1929 and moved to Baltimore because Annie’s last child during this period, Charles Edward, was born in Baltimore on 9 Jul 1928. 

The 1930 US Census, taken in April 1930, recorded that Anna was employed as a waitress in Baltimore and lived at 1723 Linden Avenue, while her son Charles Edward, who was not yet two years old, lived with Anna’s sister, Nellie Kessler Miss in Buckeystown, Maryland. The three oldest children were living with Earl’s parents, Lewis and Ella Hargett at 65 S. Market Street in Frederick. 

Earl filed for divorce in Baltimore City on 19 Sep 1930. In the filing he only mentions three of their five children. By this time John Fenton had died, which is why he is not mentioned in the filing. Only their three daughters were listed: Elizabeth (8), Mary Catherine (6), and Irene Gertrude (5). It is likely that Earl believed that Annie had cheated on him and that he was not the father of Charles Edward, although both Annie and Charles always affirmed that Earl was Charles’ father. Through DNA testing done years later by Charles’ children. It appears that Earl was correct, because Charles’ descendants, while genetically related to the Kessler family, were not related to the Hargett family.

In the divorce filing, Earl alleged that on May 29, 1927, Anna abandoned and deserted him without provocation. He claimed the desertion was final and that reconciliation was impossible and requested an absolute divorce and full custody of the three children. Annie’s written answer to the divorce bill of complaint stated there were five children born of the marriage, one of whom was deceased. She noted the youngest child was in her custody and claimed the other three children had been with their paternal grandparents until recently. She alleged that Earl took the children not out of concern, but to support his legal allegations. She denied the abandonment, claiming instead that Earl was “brutal and cruel” and had repeatedly ordered her out of their home. 

After the divorce, Earl married Loriane Catherine Stotler who was born May 16, 1921, in Hagerstown, Maryland and died July 23, 2005, in Frederick, Maryland. Loraine was just one year older that Earl and Annie’s oldest daughter, Anna Elizabeth. Earl and Loraine had one son: Earl Fenton Hargett Jr. (25 Mar 1943).

Annie married Louis Jacob Florey (30 Oct 1907-5 Dec 1980) on 19 Jun 1934. She and Louis resided in Baltimore and parented three children, listed below. Louis’ parents were Jacob Florey and Caroline R Gayleard. Annie and Louis had three children, as detailed below. Louis died on 5 Dec 1980, in Catonsville at the age of 73.

It was reported that Annie’s three oldest daughters had no contact with her after she and Earl separated, but there are a series of letters that she exchanged with each from 1943 to just before she died in 1947. In Dec 1943, she and Mary discussed the fact that Roy was away fighting in Europe (he served from 3 Feb 1941 to 22 Jun 1945) and challenges raising a child (Mary Elizabeth). She wrote Mary again in May 1944, asking why she had not heard from her. She exchanged letters with Irene in 1944. She received a letter from Irene and responded with a Valentine Day card and letter expressing her excitement at hearing from her. At the time, Annie’s youngest daughter, Eloise was only a toddler of three, Herb was six, and Louis was eight, so Annie discussed her daily parenting challenges. The series of letters included frequent requests for her daughters to share details of what was happening among the sisters. When she wrote to Elizabeth in August 1945, she shared that she was very ill and was going to the hospital for a check-up. The last letter to Elizabeth, written in Oct 1947 was shortly before she died. She states in the letter how sick she is and that she has been ill for a very long time. The letters were an expression of love from a mother to her three estranged adult daughters.

Mary, Elizabeth, & Irene Hargett (1940)

Annie and Earl’s children:

1. Anna Elizabeth ‘Libby’ Hargett Hooper (21 Aug 1922-30 Nov 2016). Libby was age 94 when she passed on 30 Nov 2016. She lived in Frederick, MD and was married to Joseph O. Hooper who predeceased her July 9, 2000. They were married June 28, 1943. Libby retired from the Frederick Mutual Insurance Company after 42 years as secretary. She also served as hostess at the Peter Pan Restaurant. She was a lifelong member of the Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ in Frederick, member of the Frederick Chapter #79 Order of the Eastern Star and the Frederick Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.
2. Mary Katherine Hargett Main (4 Feb 1924-23 Jul 1995) 
   • Mary Elizabeth Main Abrecht (22 Mar 1942-15 Mar 2012), 69, of Frederick, passed away on Thursday, March 15, 2012, at the University of Maryland Hospital. She was the wife of Marion Abrecht Sr., her husband of 49 years. Born March 22, 1942, in Frederick, MD, she was the daughter of the late Roy and Mary Main. Mary retired as office manager at the Giant Eagle on 7th Street. She enjoyed playing Bingo, spending time with her family, but most importantly being with her grandchildren. In addition to her loving husband Marion, she is survived by her two children, Margaret Elizabeth Kelly and fiancé Kenneth James of Frederick and Marion L. “Bimmie” Abrecht Jr. and wife Kathy of Frederick, three grandchildren, Lindsay Kelly, Richard Kelly and Ray Dorsey, three brothers, Charles Main and wife Teresa, Earl Main and wife Brenda and Roy Main Jr., one sister, Trudi Shaw and husband Terry, two aunts, Elizabeth Hooper and Irene Leatherman and husband Ralph and a god- son, Cody Lippart.
   • Charles Wesley ‘Pete’ Main (12 Dec 1946), married Teresa Degan
   • Gertrude A. ‘Trudi’ Main Shaw (29 Jan 1948), married Terry Shaw
   • Earl L. Main (3 Jun 1950), married Kathleen Bagby (22 Aug 1953-18 May 2005)
   • Roy Main Jr (6 Sep 1955), married Gail Mahlandt.
3. Irene Gertrude Hargett Leatherman (16 May 1925-25 Nov 2012). Irene, 87, of Frederick passed away on Sunday, 25 Nov 2012. She was married to Ralph C. Leatherman for 66 years. She was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Frederick. She was first employed at the Frances Scott Key Hotel as a waitress, later worked at Routzahn’s Department Store and finally retiring from National Geographic in Gaithersburg. In her retirement she enjoyed traveling, reading, and crocheting.
4. John Fenton Hargett (13 May 1927-10 Jan 1929) died at home of pneumonia at age 1 year and 7 months.
5. Charles Edward “Jack” Hargett Sr. (9 Jul 1928-14 Oct 2005) married Delores June Dornon (28 Jun 1930-2 Dec 1971). They had five children:

• • Robert Earl ‘Bob’ Hargett (21 Nov 1950-15 Aug 2009)
  • Deborah Hargett (abt. 1952)
  • Daniel Earl Hargett (7 Apr 1954-11 Sep 1988). Daniel died at age 44 at his home in Baltimore. He was the son of Charles Earl Hargett Sr. of Berkeley Springs and the late Dolores Jane Dornon Hargett. He was a carpenter. He was of the Protestant faith. He was a social member of Risinger-Stotler VFW Post 4019, Berkeley Springs. In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Gloria Ann Phillips Hargett of Baltimore; his stepmother, Mary Jane “Jeannie” Hargett of Berkeley Springs; four stepdaughters, Karen Lloyd, Tammy Weitzel, Tina Weitzel and Tabitha Johnson, all of Baltimore; one stepson, Ronald Ladd of Baltimore; three sisters, Cynthia Ann Greg, Debra A. Hargett-Messner and Cathy Lynn Hargett, all of Berkeley Springs; four brothers, Robert E. Hargett of Warfordsburg, Pa., Steven R. Stone, Michael J. Stone and Charles E. Hargett Jr., all of Berkeley Springs; nine step grandchildren; one step great-grandson; nieces and nephews.
  • Charles Earl ‘Chuck’ Hargett (23 Apr 1967)
  • Cynthia Hargett (Abt. 1970)

Anne and Louis Florey’s children:

1. Louis Jacob Florey Jr. (3 Jul 1936-10 May 1956). Louis died suddenly at age 19 He was an Airman Third Class in the Air National Guard when his plane (a SA16 Albatross) crashed in the Chesapeake, near the U.S. Naval Academy, killing three of the five-member crew. 
2. Herbert Walker Florey (26 Apr 1938-living as of 3 Feb 2026)
3. Eloise C. Florey Burgess (31 Dec 1941-23 May 2015). She lived in Brooklyn, Maryland and died at age 73.

• • 1910: District 0047 Buckeystown, Frederick County, Md. (21/32 April 21) William A. Kessler 45 (laborer-odd jobs), Alberta G. 33, Blanche M. 16, Edgar F. 13, Nellie V. 12, Charles L. 9, Mabel L. 7, Anna L. 6, Paul 5/12
  • 1920: District 0054 Buckeystown, Frederick County, Md. (11/24 Mar 3) William A. Kessler 60 (painting), Alberta G. 43, Edgar F. 23 (painting), Charles L. 19, Mabel L. 16, Anna L. 15, Paul 10, William 6
  • 1930: District 0217, Baltimore City 1-250, Md. (4/39 Apr 5) Anna Hargett 25 (restaurant waitress) Note: Son Charles E. Hargett 1, living with Anna’s sister, Nellie Miss
  • 1940: 733 N. Fulton Avenue District 4-499, Baltimore City, Md. (37/45 Apr 27) Lewis J. Florey 33 (stock yards), Annie L. 34, Charles E. Hargett 11, Lewis J. Florey Jr. 3, Herbert Florey 23 months
  • 1950: 1517 Desoto Road, Baltimore, Md. (27/42 Apr 22) Carrie R. Florey 72, Lewis J. 42, Lewis Jr. 14, Herman W. 12, Eloise C. 8

Links to pages focused on Annie’s siblings:

1.3.1.6.7.1 Blanche Mae Kessler Schaeffer (1893-1969)

1.3.1.6.7.2 Edgar Franklin Kessler Sr. (1897-1966)

1.3.1.6.7.3 Nellie V. Kessler Miss (1898-1967)

1.3.1.6.7.4 Clara Elizabeth Kessler Stup (1899-1976)

1.3.1.6.7.5 Charles Lee ‘Charlie’ Kessler (1900-1949)

1.3.1.6.7.6 Mabel Lauretta Kessler Diller (1902-1968)

1.3.1.6.7.8 Paul Kenderson Kessler (1909-1972)

1.3.1.6.7.9 William Lawrence Kessler (1914-1975)