Sepia Saturday - Signs

 This week’s Sepia Saturday photograph focuses on signs on buildings. It reminded me of two family photos that were taken c 1925.

Weissberg Furriers

386 Grant Street, Buffalo, NY

This Fur Store was owned by Frank Samuel Weissberg, son of Morris Weissberg & Rose Bankin, and Florence Gartner, daughter of Leopold Gartner and Fannie Edelstein.  Florence was my Grand Aunt, sister of my maternal grandfather. Frank was born in Austria and Florence was born in New York City where they met and married on 27 January 1907.[1] By 1910 they were living in Buffalo, NY.[2]

The 1925 New York State Census shows the family at 386 Grant Street, Buffalo.[3] Frank was a furrier. This is the location shown in the photographs, as evidenced by the signs.

I am very happy they took the time to pose in front of their store with the signs behind them. Frank & Florence then posed their sons and even the dog in front of the store.

Milton Sydney Weissberg b 1907

Francis Weissberg b 1915

I went to Google Maps to find the same building today. However, it is just an empty lot.

Be sure to take a peek at the other photos posted for Sepia Saturday this week.

---

[1] Certificate of Marriage for Samuel Weissberg and Florence Gartner, 27 January 1907, #2933, State of New York, City of New York; New York City Department of Records, Municipal Archives, 31 Chambers Street, New York City, New York.

[2] 1910 United States Census, Buffalo, New York, SD 14, ED 48, Sheet 6A; Samuel Weissberg family on Walnut Street in Buffalo.

[3] 1925 NYS Census, Erie County, Buffalo, AD 4, ED2, Page 30; 1 June 1925. Frank S Weissberg family at 386 Grant street.

Timelines

Timeline for Leopold Gartner/Gardner Family

Timelines are very useful when doing genealogy research. I have seen various timelines in other blogs. I love timelines with graphics and designs. Those are great to include in a finished book or blog. 

Below is the type of timeline I make for each branch of my family when I start working on that branch. [This sample is a partial timeline.]

I use the timeline as an outline as I write about my family. I put locations in bold so I can quickly track the movements of the family. I include local, state and national historical events that most likely affected my family. I look for gaps in time and try to fill those. If several family members are included I use a different color text for each. Whatever I include I give a source. If I don’t have a source, it is not a fact. When I am ready to write I have my facts & sources ready to go.

c. 1874 or 1875                 Leopold Gartner came from Austria to USA[1]

24 March 1878                   Leopold Gartner & Florence Edelstein m. Manhattan[2],[3]

May 1879                          Daughter, Florence Gartner born[4]

1880                                Leopold Gartner, tailor at 116 Sufolk[5]

1880                                 Leopold Gartner a tailor, living at 59 Pitt St, NYC[6]

1882 – 83                          Leopold Gardner at 59 Pitt[7]

21 July 1882                      Nathaniel Gardner born[8]

4 Sept 1882                       1st commercial transmission electric power NY City

15 June 1884                     Arthur Moses Gartner born[9]

1884 – 85                          Leopold Gartner at 59 Pitt Street[10]

1886                                Statue of Liberty, a gift from France

1888                                Leopold a nat. citizen, at 264 Stanton St, NY City[11],[12]

11 December 1888             Albert Gartner born[13]

1888 – 1889                       Leo Gartner, tailor; r 163 Attorney; h 84 Lewis[14]

1 November 1890               Joanna Gardner born, Manhattan, NY[15]

1891                                Castle Garden welcomes its last immigrants

1893 – 1894                       Leopold Gartner family at 320 East 90th Street[16]

1894 – 1895                       Leopold Gartner family at 525 East 88th Street[17]

1896 – 1897                       Leopold Gartner family at 316 East 77th Street[18]

1900                                Leopold, Florence & 5 children[19]

1899 – 1901                       Leopold Gartner family at 445 East 83rd Street[20]

1901 – 1902                       Leopold Gartner family at 105 East 88th Street[21]

1904                                New York City Subway opens

1905                                Louis Gardner, tailor, wife & 5 children East 87^th St[22]

---

[1] 1900 US Census, New York, New York, Manhattan; SD 1, ED 804, Sheet 6B. The Leopold Gartner family at 445 E 83^rd Street.

[2] Marriage Record for Leopold Gartner and Fanny Edelstein, 24 March 1878, Manhattan, New York, New York Marriages 1686 - 1980, Microfilm #1562246, Family Search.org.

[3] Certificate of Marriage for Leopold Gartner and Fanny Edelstein, 24 March 1878, #1536, State of New York; Municipal Archives of New York, 31 Chambers Street, New York, NY.

[4] 1900 US Census, New York, New York, Manhattan; SD 1, ED 804, Sheet 6B. The Leopold Gartner family at 445 E 83^rd Street.

[5] 1880 New York City Directory, Box 17, Reel 17, page 537; New York State Library, Albany, NY; Leopold Gartner on 116 Suffolk.

[6] 1880 US Census, New York,  New York City; Vol.50, E.D. 143, Sheet 36; Line 44; New York State Library, Albany, NY, Microfilm Box #69; Leopold Gartner at 59 Pitt Street.

[7] 1882 – 1883 NY City Directory, Box 19, Reel 1, page 576; NYS Library, Albany, NY; Leopold Gardner at 59 Pitt..

[8] Letter from Leopold Gartner (Buffalo, NY) to Nathan Gardner (Germantown, NY) 1 November 1940.

[9] World War I Draft Registration for Arthur Moses Gardner; National Archives and Records Administration, M1509, Washington, DC.

[10] 1884 – 1885 NY City Directory, Box 21, Reel 3, page 610; NYS Library, Albany, NY; Leopold Gartner at 59 Pitt.

[11] Naturalization Papers for Leopold Gartner; 1888; Superior Court, City of New York, Bundle #401; Record #164.

[12] New York City Naturalization Indexes; ; G626-G640; G635, Record #164,Bundle #401 ; Family History Center Microfilm #1420281; Gartner, Leopold, Naturalized 2 April 1888,

[13] World War I Draft Registration for Albert Gardner; National Archives and Records Administration, M1509, Washington, DC.

[14] 1888 – 89 NY City Directory, Box 25, Reel 7, Page 694, NYS Library, Albany, NY; Leo Gartner r 163 attorney; h 84 Lewis.

[15] Birth Record for Johanna Gardner, 1 November 1890,Manhattan;  New York Births and Christenings, 1640 – 1962, Microfilm #1322236, Family History Library.

[16] 1893 – 1894 NY City Directory, Box 30, Reel 12, page 487; NYS Library, Albany, NY; Leopold Gartner h 320 E 90^th.

[17] 1894 – 1895 NY City Direcctory, Box 31, Reel 13, page 485; NYS Library, Albany, NY; Louis Gartner 180 Suffolk h 525 E 88^th.

[18] 1896 – 1897 NY City Directory, Box 33, Reel 15, Page 504; NYS Library, Albany, NY; Louis Gartner, h 316 E 77^th.

[19] 1900 US Census, New York,  Manhattan; Vol.169, E.D. 804, Sheet 16; Line 64; New York State Library, Albany, NY; Leopold Gartner family at 445 East 83rd Street.

[20] 1899 – 1900 NY City Directory, Box 36, Reel 18, page 440; NYS Library, Albany, NY; Lewis Gardner 445 E 83^rd.

[21] 1901 – 1902 NY City Directory, Box 38, Reel 20, page 466; NYS Library, Albany, NY; Leopold Gardner 105 E 88^th.

[22] 1905 New York State Census, NY County, Manhattan; ED 13, AD 30, Block A, Page 8; Louis Gardner family on East 87^th Street.

Amanuensis Monday – 1940 letter

An Amanuensis is a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another. Amanuensis Monday is a daily blogging theme from Geneabloggers which encourages the family historian to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. Not only do the documents contain genealogical information, the words breathe life into kin – some we never met – others we see a time in their life before we knew them.

 State of New York, County of ErieTo Whom it may concern. This is to certify that My Son Nathan Gartner was born July 2st, 1882 at 59 Pitt Street, NY, County of NY. His mother deceased.Leopold GartnerSubscribed & sworn to me this 1^st day of November 1940.Milton S Weisberg, Notary Public, Erie County, NY

This letter concerns the birth of my maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Gardner. I have never found a birth certificate for him but I am fortunate that this letter has been saved in the family for 73 years. It is signed by his father, Leopold Gartner/Gardner. Leopold, a retired tailor, had moved from New York City to Buffalo between 1930 & 1935 to live with his daughter, Florence and her family.

Besides being evidence of my grandfather’s birth it also tells me that his mother, Fanny Edelstein, had died before this was written.

In addition the letter is signed by Milton S. Weisberg. Milton, an attorney in Buffalo, NY, was the grandson of Leopold and nephew of Nathaniel.

Although it is a short letter is holds any clues to my Gartner/Gardner and Weisberg family. I have it preserved in an archival safe sheet protector in an archival safe box and I have a scanned digital copy.

Selected Sources:

• 1915 NYS Census, Erie Co, Buffalo, ED 4, AD 21, 1 June 1915. Weissberg family at 264 Parkdale Ave. Samuel F, 38 b. Austria. Tailor. in USA 15 years. citizen. Florence, 33 b NY. Milton S 7 b in NY. Francis 4/12 b NY
• 1925 New York State Census; A.D. 19, E.D.8;289; New York State Library, Albany, NY: Leopold Gardner family at 234 West 120th St.
• 1930 US Census, New York, Erie, Buffalo; SD 7, ED 15-274, Sheet 17A. Sam Weisberg family at 386 Grant Street.
• 1940 US Census, New York, Erie Co, Buffalo, SD 40, ED 64-505, Sheet 62A, April 10. Weissberg family at 77 Manchester Place.
• 1940 US Census, New York, Erie Co, Buffalo, SD 40, ED 64-508, Sheet 63A, April 18. Weisberg family at 116 Bidwell Pwky. Milton S Weisberg, 32, b NY.  Attorney, private practice. worked 44 hours. college 4 yrs. 

Census Sunday – Learning Something New from the 1940 Census

Have you found something interesting in a census report? This one added new information for my family tree.

Anna Gartner, b. 1891, was my maternal grandfather’s younger sister. I knew that she was born and lived in New York City. Like my grandfather, she worked for the Western Union Telegraph Company. Census reports and city directories from 1910 to 1930 show Anna Gartner/Gardner living with her father, Leopold. {Her mother died in 1908.]

By 1935 Leopold Gartner had moved to Buffalo, New York to live with his oldest daughter, Florence (Gartner) Weissberg and her family. What happened to Anna?

Leopold died in 1948 in Buffalo. His obituary gave me the first clue about Anna’s life. She was listed as Mrs. Anna Bearman of New York City. Who did she marry? What was she doing?

1940 US Census, New York, Bronx

The 1940 US Census might hold answers. I looked for & found an Anna Bearman living at 1215 Grand Concourse in the Bronx [SD 49, ED 252, Sheet 12A]. She was married to Benjamin H. Bearman from Lithuania. New York City is a big place and there could have been more than one Anna Bearman. The age did not match exactly but I have found that is often the case. I continued to read the census report and got quite excited when I saw Anna’s occupation. She was a book keeper for the Western Union Telegraph Company! Hurray! This was my grand aunt.

I wonder what the next census report will reveal. Here I am in 2012 and looking forward to 1950!

FOUND: Marriage Record for Samuel Weissberg & Florence Gartner

Florence (Gartner) Weissberg

Sometimes writing an old fashioned letter works wonders. Not everything can be found on the internet. I knew that my grand aunt, Florence Gartner, married Frank Samuel Weissberg in New York City about 1906. In the 1905 New York State Census Florence was living with her father. I knew Florence’s oldest son was born 27 December 1907. By 1910 she was living in Buffalo, New York as a married lady, mother of one son.

I went to the web site for the New York City Municipal Archives

http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/home.html

I printed out the PDF form to request a marriage certificate by mail, filled in what I knew, including the range of years when they were most likely married and mailed it to: the New York City Municipal Archives, 31 Chambers Street, New York. About 4 weeks later they mailed me the certificate. I love my mailbox when it has a genealogical treasure.

Samuel Weissberg & Florence Gartner were married on 27 January 1907 in Manhattan. Samuel had been living at 646 East 6 Street. He was a 27 year old Tailor. Florence was living at 340 East 87 Street. She was 23. [As with almost all genealogical advancements, this one comes with a question. It says Florence was born in Hungary whereas all other records show her birth in New York City.] 

Another small family fact has been uncovered. What’s next?

Nathaniel Gardner (21 July 1882 - 7 December 1944)

Nathaniel Gardner was my maternal grandfather, an interesting character who died long before I was born.

Nathaniel Gardner

21 Jul 1882 NY - 7 Dec 1944 NY

Son of Leopold Gartner & Fannie Edelstein

Nathaniel was the second of five children of Leopold Gartner (April 1860  Austria – 13 June 1948 Buffalo, NY) and Florence (b. October 1860 in Austria). The other children were: Florence Gartner Weisberg (May 1879 in NY – 19 February 1954 in Buffalo, NY); Arthur Moses Gartner (b. 15 June 1884 in NY); Albert Gartner (b. 11 December 1888); and Anna Gartner (b. November 1891 in NY)

In 1900 Nathaniel was living with his parents and working at Western Union as a telegraph operator. He had worked his way up to that position, beginning as an errand boy and delivering telegrams. Nathaniel would work for the Western Union for the rest of his life, until he retired about 1944.

On 9 May 1921 Nathaniel Gardner married Helen Francis Coyle (9 January 1897 – 13 October 1965). They were married by a Justice of the Peace in Manhattan. He was 39 and she was 24. Both families disowned them. At that time a Jewish man did not marry a Roman Catholic woman.  

Nathaniel’s 1923/24 New York State Drivers’ License shows him to be 5 foot 5 inches tall; with black hair and black eyes. He lived at 216 Mt. Eden Avenue in New York City.

Nathaniel and Helen had one child, Alberta Joy Gardner b. 26 March 1928 in the Bronx. She was named for Nathaniel’s brother, Albert, who had died before she was born. She was usually called Joy. Nathaniel took every opportunity to spoil his daughter. They loved to go swimming together. Joy said her father could float on his back and read the newspaper, never getting the paper wet. He called Joy his ‘Pal’.

In 1940 the family moved to Germantown, NY. Nathaniel continued to work in NYC during the week, staying in an apartment there, and taking the train on weekends to his family in Germantown. He had planned to retire but Pearl Harbor was attacked and telegraphers were badly needed. He was a supervisor by then. His health was poor but he worked long hours. When he did retire because of his deteriorating health, it was a short retirement. He died on 7 December 1944, 66 years ago today. My mother always missed him. I wished I could have had him as my grandfather.

The data in this blog post may not contain the most recent research.

For updated information check recent posts related to this family or go to my website.