Elizabeth, New Jersey (NJ) Archivist: Mary Regan     From Ellis Island, a brief ferry ride will take you to Jersey City, and from there, Elizabeth, NJ, is about ten miles to the south – just across the Arthur Kill [formerly the Staten Island Sound] from Staten Island, and immediately south of Newark. Elizabeth is a port city, one that easily accommodates oceangoing freighters. First settled in 1664, Elizabeth was the first capital of New Jersey. Both Alexander Hamilton and his nemesis Aaron Burr attended school there, and while George Washington may not have slept there, he most certainly stopped for lunch in 1789 on his way to New York City to be inaugurated first president of the United States. By the 1830s, the fledgling railroads began to connect the port of Elizabeth with the interior of the country, establishing its position as an urban center of commerce and industry. The population of Elizabeth began a long term increase during this time, as German and Irish immigrants arrived to take advantage of the increased need for labor.  Many of the newcomers were Catholics, so the first Catholic Church in Elizabeth, St. Mary’s of the Assumption, was established in 1844. Not long after, the German immigrants expressed their need for a German-speaking church, and by 1852, St. Michael’s Church on Smith Street began serving the German-American Catholics of Elizabeth.   Attraction to Elizabeth What was there about the community that it attracted Danube Swabian immigrants to go there?  What were the early years like? By 1870, the population of Elizabeth had grown to 20,832. It’s location near New York coupled with opportunities for employment in its iron foundries, stove works, oil cloth, glass works, shear works and the bustling docks of a major port had already drawn a sizeable number of Irish and German immigrants. Then in 1873, Isaac M. Singer moved his sewing machine manufacturing company from New York City to Elizabeth.  The site was located at the port, where materials for production could be easily received by ship and the product could be quickly sent on its way to anywhere in the world.  It was also directly served by the Central Railroad of New Jersey and its access to the interior of the country. For almost 110 years, the Singer Manufacturing Co. (Singer’s) was the most important employer in the city. In some families, every working male was employed there, for several generations. By 1900, when the Donauschwaben immigrants from Hungary began to arrive in Elizabeth, the population of Elizabeth had more than doubled to 52,130. By 1930, it had doubled again, to 114,589. What was there about the community that it attracted Danube Swabian immigrants to go there? What were the early years like? An Immigrant's Plea to a Powerful Man By Andrew Carroll Letter dated I think 1942, portion of the letter to the president: I belong to German sick and death benefit society and a German Singing Society here in Elizabeth N.J. www.historynet.com/an-immigrants-plea-to-a-powerful-man.htm Local Genealogical Research Aids Elizabeth, Union Co., & New Jersey State Records When did they first arrive and if possible identify some of the individuals and families and where they came from.  How large a concentration of them settled there?  Emigration from Banat in the National Archives Ship Records to Elizabeth David Dryer's extraction database contains 515 entries for Banat emigrants heading to Elizabeth, NJ, between 1902 and 1923. The heaviest concentration of these emigrants arrived in 1906 (114 entries) and 1907 (131 entries). For the other years, anywhere from 5 to 46 entries are noted. Some entries signify a single traveler, but many were traveling with other family members. In many instances, the husband arrived first and then in a year or two the wife followed with the children.  They came from Warjasch (133), Perjamosch (132) and St. Peter (36), with smaller numbers from Alexanderhausen, Apfeldorf, Billed, Bobda, Bogarosch, Engelsbrun, Ernsthausen, Gr. Betschkerek, Gr. Kikinda, Grabatz, Guttenbrun, Hatzfeld, Hodon, Ingrisch, Jahrmarkt, Johannisfeld, Josefsdorf, Kathereinfeld, Kl. Betschkerek, Kl. Sieel, Klek, Knees, Koenoigshof, Lazarfeld, Lenauheim, Lowrin, Lugosch, Mercydorf, Mollydorf, Moritzfeld, Ostern, Pantschowa, Peszak, Rehasch, Schag, Setschan, St. Anna, St. Georgeen, St. Hubert, St Nikolaus, Stefansfeld, Temeswar, Triebswetter, Tschakowa, Tschestereg, and Wiesenhaid. [All village names and spellings above are as recorded on the ship manifest extraction website.] This database is an invaluable and highly recommended resource for tracking Donauschwaben immigrants to Elizabeth.  Mr. Dreyer has extracted an amazing amount of information from ship manifests from 1897 onward concerning German Hungarians who gave a Banat address as their origin, and he has made the information available here. The list is comprehensive for the years from 1903 through 1907 (excepting 1904) for New York arrivals, and 1892 through 1912 for Baltimore. The database can be searched for surname, town of origin, destination, and name of the ship. Deutsch-Ungarisher Familienkalenders (German-Hungarian Family Kalenders) Sorted by City within State (look for Elizabeth, NJ) Peter Schmidt and David Dreyer have created this database from the Deutsche-Ungarische Familien Kalendar, a cultural publication for Donauschwaben immigrants in America that was published by Josef Marx from 1932 to 1954. The Kalendars included images of the subscription lists, which contained, in addition to the names and addresses of subscribers, their villages of origin and the maiden names of married women.  The online database contains this information and can be searched by U.S. or Canadian city, or by surname. The Kalendar shows 139 separate family subscribers, 1932-54. Although most of ElIzabeth’s German-Hungarian immigrants worked at Singer’s, the group definitely included small business entrepreneurs. Some of the Donauschwaben tradesmen who advertised in the Kalendar during these years are: M. Schneider aus Warjasch, B.R., barber; John Decker aus Hatzfeld, B.R., poultry market; Henry Frank aus Temesvar, ready meats; John Scheer aus Kistelep, barber; Peter Feiling aus Temes Schag, bar and grill; P. Rennich aus Perjamosch, uhrmacher; Nick Sauer aus Ozidorf, men’s and boys clothing; Carl Gaitsch, lieter d. Fidel haus Kapelle; Mich. Tussel aus Warjasch,  dairy; John Wichner aus Guttenbrun, feuerversicherungs – agent; Louis Staubach, homemade bologna, meats & delicatessen; Theo Hintz, photographer; and John & Mary Kreutzer’s beauty parlor (Lovrin-Kistelep). [These village names and spellings are as they appeared in the Kalendar.] Note: this database is not a complete listing of Kalendar subscribers. Researchers seeking answers . . . DONAUSCHWABEN-VILLAGES > 2006-08 From: Bob Davids <drrocks@yahoo.com> Subject: Backhaus/Lambert in Varjas Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 Dear Mr. Leeb, Thank you for shedding light on the Lambert line and your efforts for Backhaus. As noted, Barbara Lambert and Adam Backhaus married in Elizabeth, N.J. in the period 1906. Adam, age 21, sailed on the Pretoria with his brother Franz(18) for New York, arriving 23 March, 1903. Their manifest listed only Hungary as ethnicity, no place of residence. The possible identity for his origins in Varjas come from a later sailing by his sisters, Ferencz(19) and Barbara(15) Backhaus, on the Pannonia arriving New York 28 Oct 1905 who listed their "brother Adam in Elizabeth, N.J." as a contact. Barbara Lambert(15), soon to become Adam's wife, sailed on the Pretoria with her sister Anna(14) and a sister-in-law? Marya(?)(24) arriving 2 May, 1903. Their place of residence was Varjas. Adam and Barbara raised three children, Jacob, Helen, and Anna Elizabeth, my mother. Barbara passed in 1930 before my birth and I never knew her, only through my mother. Adam remarried Mary Winkler later in life and he passed in 1961. He was gifted musically, able to play a number of instruments, and talked of having been a member of a group that played in various towns as a young man. Mother had that gift--where it stopped. Perhaps you can offer some observations on the following: why immigration from the region was so popular towards the turn of the century?  Political, economic? From what you describe for just one Backhaus line there was a lot of movement of people within the region so how reliable is the designation of Varjas, for example, as a place of origin? Was it more of a transport hub in route to the ports? And are church records available to trace our people there or have they been destroyed? As usual, the more one looks the more questions arise. Thank you and all for your patience. Bob Davids (Publisher Note: Warjasch, Hungary (German) Várjás / Varjas, Hungary (Hungarian) Varias, Romania (Official) Danube Swabian Associations and Neighborhoods in Elizabeth What ongoing presence of the Danube Swabians continues to exist there to this day?  What local Danube Swabians and their descendants achieved some kind of prominence or importance in the life of the community or nation if any? The German-Hungarian community of Elizabeth weathered the anti-German era of the first world war, survived the great depression of the 1930s when many breadwinners worked only one day a week if at all, endured the anguish of WWII, and participated in a major strike against Singer’s in 1949. Once automobiles became commonplace, however, around the 1940s, many of the residents of the urban neighborhoods of Elizabeth, like urban residents nationwide, began moving to the suburbs, a gradual process that eventually dispersed many of the Donauschwaben community to Roselle, Roselle Park, and Linden. In the postwar period of the 1950s, their children accelerated the move to the suburbs and were less and less likely to look to Singer’s for employment. Indeed, many moved to other parts of the state or to other states entirely. By December 1, 1982, the final blow was struck when Singer Manufacturing ceased production in Elizabeth and closed the plant doors for good. A Google search for 510 Court St., Elizabeth, NJ, for so many years the address of the Fidel Singing Society, shows it to be the current address for the Liberty Baptist Soup Kitchen. What groups or organizations did they join or form?   Did they become members of specific parishes and congregations?   Did they tend to live in the same neighborhoods or sections of the community? The German-Hungarian immigrants in Elizabeth settled in an area of the city that was little more than a square mile in area. It hugged Trumbull St., which bounded it on the northeast and led directly to Singer’s. The southeast border was Fourth St. (now the New Jersey Turnpike) and the northeastern boundary was Smith St., the location of St. Michael’s Church. A walk of a mile or so or less would take the worker to his job at Singer’s or take the family (they were mostly Catholics) to church or school. It was definitely an urban existence, one in which most of a family’s needs were met by tradesmen within walking distance, or accessible by a short streetcar ride. For amusement, Elizabeth had vaudeville houses and later movie theaters. Early automobiles were there for those who could afford them, and a same-day trip to New York City and back by train and ferry was an ever available business opportunity or treat. Associations: Fidel Singing Society There was more than one German singing society in Elizabeth in the early 20th century. The Donauschwabens belonged to the Fidel Singing Society. The Fidel owned a building on Court St. where their concerts were performed. The building also served as a social center where meetings or family parties such as wedding receptions could be held. The Elizabeth City Directories for 1937, 1939, and 1941 list the Fidel Singing Society at 510 Court St., Ferdinand Schillinger, manager.  In addition, Mr. Schillinger, from Baraczhaza, and his wife, Barbra Backhaus, from Warjasch, appear at 510 Court St. from 1936 through 1942 in the Dreyer-Schmidt Kalendar website. Workmens' Singing Society "Fidel" 1958 Membership Roster & Calendar - OF THE - Workmens' Singing Society "Fidel" Director: Gustav Sonnen Hans Schörghofer, President John Herold, Hon. President Member of Federation of Workers’ Singing Societies of the United States of America Clubhouse: 510 Court Street, Elizabeth, NJ 65 page booklet (PDF file) - 1958 Membership Roster & Calendar of the Workmen's Singing Society "Fidel" Elizabeth, NJ ~ Contributor / Elizabeth, NJ Archivist: Mary Regan   Member of Federation of Workers’ Singing Societies of the USA (Arbeiter-Sängerbund von Amerika) Ladies "Fidel" 50th Anniversary , Sunday, April 28, 1968 - Elizabeth, NJ News Clips Juluis G. Burisch SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, Published: December 15, 1948 UNION, N.J.,  Dec. 14 – Julius Gastave Burisch of 960 John Place, formerly a toolmaker and designer for many years with the Singer plant in Elizabeth, N. J., and a founder of the Fidel Singing Society and the Liedertafel Singing Society, died last night at his home after a brief illness. His age was 85. He retired in 1932. Married for Fifty Years SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES - Published: Feb. 7, 1938 ELIZABETH, N. J.,  Feb. 6. – Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Gaitsch of 931 Cross Avenue were honored today, the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, with a luncheon at the Fidel Singing Society Club here. Among the guests were the couple’s three sons. John E. Ford SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, Published: May 30, 1969  ELIZABETH, N. J.,  May 29 – John E Ford, sales director of the Krueger Brewing Company of Newark for 20 years, died last night at his home, 1138 Seib Avenue, of a heart attack. His age was 73. He retired in 1960. A Democratic leader in Union County, he was a candidate for State Senate and the mayoralty here in the 1940s. Mr. Ford was a founder of the Fidel Singing Society of Elizabeth. Surviving are his widow, the former Beatrice Mankus, two sons, a daughter, a brother, four sisters and eight grandchildren. John Niesz Sr. SPECIAL TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, Published: May 25, 1954  ELIZABETH, N.J.,  May 24 – John Niesz Sr. of 737 South Park Street, president of the Fidel Singing Society for thirty-two years, died today at his home after an illness of several weeks. His age was 67. He retired three years ago as an employee of the Singer Manufacturing Company. Surviving are his widow, Barbara, three sons, a daughter, a brother and two sisters.  Mrs. Katherina Kellman Knaus Obituaries - CRANFORD (N.J.) CHRONICLE, Thursday, January 26, 1964 Services were conducted Tuesday for Mrs. Katherina Kellman Knaus, 90, who died Saturday at Delaire Nursing and Convalescent Home in Linden. Mrs. Knaus was born in Austria-Hungary and was brought to the United States and Cranford in 1905: She moved to Newark where she lived for 21 years before moving back here 41 years ago. Mrs. Knaus was a 50-year member of the Emmaus Chapter 183 OES of Linden and of the Fidel Singing Society of Elizabeth. Her husband, Nicholas Knaus, died in 1971. . ,  Surviving are a daughter;. Mrs.Katherine T C. Kratzke of Cranford; two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements were by the Dooley Funeral Home, 218 North Ave. W. Mrs. Elizabeth Ztzwarek Obituaries - CRANFORD (N.J.) CHRONICLE, Thursay, January 16, 1969 Funeral services were held Monday at the Walter J, Johnson Funeral Home, Clark, for Mrs. Elizabeth Ztzwarek, 74; of 10 Lexington Ave, who died last Thursday at home.  Interment was in Rosehill Cemetery, Linden.   A native of Austria-Hungary, Mrs. Zizwarek came to this country 60 years ago.  Before moving to Cranford 17 years ago, she lived in Elizabeth, where she was a member of the Benevolent Society and the Fidel Singing Society.   She is survived by her husband Joseph; three sons, George Danco of Summit, Martin Danco of Westfield and Anton Danco of Clark; a daughter, Mrs.  Theresa Brokaw of Linden; a stepson, Joseph Zizwarek of Oceanport; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Anna Wislaus of Elizabeth and Mrs. Elsie Nebenfuhr of Roselle; a brother Michael Nebenfuhr of Linden; three sisters, Mrs. Rose Hockenbury of Oldwick, Mrs., Mary Kearney of Garwood and Mrs. Eve Botzon of Somerville; 21 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Workmens' Singing Society "Fidel" Deceased Members Transcribed by Mary Regan, Nov 29, 2009 Last Name First Name Date of Death Activ Passive   Adamy Nick. 1932   y   Albrecht Alois  1942   y   Armbrust Karl 1933   y   Armbrust Mathias 1941   y   Bauer Stephan 1927   y   Baumann Fred 1943   y   Bender Albert C.  1926   y   Bender John 1929   y   Beslic Steve 1937   y   Binder Jacob 1937   y   Bittenbinder M. 1942   y   Blum Peter 1945   y   Bratschko Joseph 1941   y   Braun Michael 1931 y   2. Bass Brescher, Jr Joseph 1935   y   Brescher, Sr.  Joseph 1950   y   Broeker Fred  1916   y   Bruckler John 1950     Senger-Ehrenmitglied Bukva Nikolaus 1953 y     Bunth Mathias 1955   y   Burisch Julius 1948   y   Dahlberg Dr. Walter J.  1951   y   Dehmer George 1946   y   Dinger Paul  1948 y   1. Bass Doell Emil 1938 y   1. Bass Endresz John 1922   y   Endresz John 1928   y   Engel John 1957   y   Erdely Peter  1955   y   Fackelmann Joseph 1952   y   Feiling Peter 1952   y   Fink John 1918 y     Fischer Alex 1943   y   Fischer George 1955 y     Frank John 1930   y   Frank Henry  1937   y   Frank Charles 1946   y   Frank, Sr. Nick. 1957 y     Fretz Adolph 1944   y   Fuehrbacher, Sr. John  1937   y   Germann Ernst  1956   y   Gilyum Peter  1954   y   Glawitch Franz 1946   y   Gommel E.G.  1931   y   Gross Joseph 1955   y   Gruliow George  1944   y   Habenschuss Stephen 1936   y   Hafner Alois  1943   y   Harrasz George 1943   y   Heriet John 1932   y   Hermann Ernest 1931   y   Hoehfeld Max 1956   y   Jeck Peter 1940   y   Jeck Philip  1955   y   Kaczmarek August 1949   y   Kellner Hermann 1948   y   Kessler David 1947   y   Kilburg Franz 1913   y   Kilburg George 1940   y   Kilburg Jacob 1953   y   Killian Andreas 1930   y   Kleb Henry 1951   y   Knapp John 1930 y   2 Bass Knopf Mathias 1953 y     Koenig Nikolaus 1934   y   Kreutzer John 1956   y   Kunc John 1957   y   Lambert Jacob 1930 y   1. Bass Lambert John 1935   y   Lambert Michael 1950   y   Lassel Michael 1956   y   Lenhardt Frank 1937   y   Lichtfuss Joseph 1937 y   1. Bass Lichtfuss Stefan 1952     Ehrenmitglied Litvin Roy 1935   y   Lochner Erwin E.  1954 y     Lochner Arthur 1956   y   Lomnitzer Anton 1926   y   Longauer Steve 1936   y   Lukenics Bernard 1940   y   Lupp Philip 1938   y   Malsam Gabriel 1933   y   Maricic Andrew 1952   y   Martin Adam 1956   y   Marz John 1925   y   Mayer Jacob 1952   y   Menzler Henry 1948   y   Mesz Frank 1923   y   Misteli John 1942   y   Mudrak William 1932   y   Mueller Peter  1951   y   Mueller Andreas 1957   y   Nagele, Sr. Frank 1954 y     Niesz William 1948   y   Niesz, Sr. John 1954 y     Nitzel Oswald 1940   y   Opelz Jakob 1919   y   Pankuch, Sr. Joseph 1948   y   Pazcik John 1940   y   Pents, Jr. Anton 1942   y   Pentz, Sr. Anton 1953   y   Piatka Jacob 1926   y   Pocsics John 1953   y   Poth Mathias 1927   y   Poth John 1931   y   Prohammer, Sr. F. 1946   y   Reckenwald Math. 1927   y   Reichert Karl 1954   y   Rennich Peter 1943 y   1. Bass Repholz Frank 1950   y   Reuter John M.  1949   y   Rieder John 1922   y   Rieder Mathias 1944   y   Rieger Joseph 1947   y   Runkel Herman F.  1956   y   Sauer Nick 1947   y   Schaeffer, Sr. John  1957   y   Schatz Martin 1931   y   Scheer John 1949   y   Scheurmann Peter 1938   y   Schmidt, Jr. Geo. 1941   y   Schmitz Nick 1945   y   Schneider Peter 1923   y   Schneider Joseph 1938   y   Schneider Mathias 1957 y     Schollenberger Lorenz 1924   y   Scholz John 1951   y   Schortye Nikolaus 1952   y   Schuch Jacob  1935 y   1. Bass Schumann Emil 1930   y   Schweitzer, Sr. Nick 1950   y   Schwiegerat Peter  1921   y   Selbrick Louis 1954   y   Sellner Michael 1953   y   Skramovsky John 1939   y   Stockler Simon 1950   y   Stollmayer Jacob 1955   y   Strifler Martin 1946   y   Stroebel Frank 1935   y   Stroebel John 1953   y   Stumpf Michael 1931   y   Surchek Frank 1939   y   Szakaszky John  1927   y   Szilagyi Stephen 1927   y   Toker Joseph 1938   y   Tussel Michael  1938   y   Uhlig Max  1940 y   1. Bass Urban Leonhardt 1926   y   Voges Fred 1941   y   Vollmann John  1925   y   Vollmann George 1950   y   Vollmann, Jr. Frank 1953   y   Wantan Paul  1940   y   Weber John 1942   y   Wichner, Sr Adam 1952   y   Wiener John 1943   y   Wilhelm Willie  1951 y   Saenger Zelinka John 1925   y   Zelinka Frank 1957 y     Zerbus Daniel 1931   y   Zoeller Joseph 1956   y   St. Michael’s School was staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Mendham, NJ, an order founded in Germany in 1849 by Pauline von Mallenckrodt. The sisters spoke German and taught the children in German and English, although the German was not necessarily the dialect spoken by the German-Hungarian children at home. St. Michael's graduating class of 1936. The clergyman in the front row is Monsignor Hubert J. Behr, DD, who had been the pastor of St. Michael's since 1901. The young woman on the left as you look at the picture is Rose Schmidt, my godmother, whose parents were Anton Schmidt and Mary Hatzelhofer, from Arad St. Martin. The young woman immediately to his other side is Elizabeth Krier, my mother, whose parents were John Krier from Kleinbetschkerek, and Mary Schuch from Kleinsiedel. [Mary Regan] Neighborhoods The city directories for 1937, 1939, and 1941 also show an association called the Deutsche Ungarische Kranken und Sterbe Kassenvon Elizabeth, NJ. Meetings were at 510 Court St. the first Friday of each month. DVHH < Destination: The Americas < United States < Elizabeth, New Jersey (NJ)