Eda and Matilda were daughters of German immigrants.  Though the girls were born five years apart, they had grown close to each other in the tragedies that had befallen their family during the past few years. 

Diphtheria struck the Westphalens in the winter of 1883.  Two days before Christmas, six-year-old Frederick died.  Six weeks later, their father, Peter, deranged by grief, hanged himself.  Since then their mother had managed alone with six children.